By the time they were rescued Jon and James had shared many kisses, though they had gone no further. As James had said they were taking it slow. Over the next months they slowly grew more comfortable with the relationship. They desided right at the start in the cave to keep it to themselves that they were dating, well, they'd never been on a date but they were definatly in a serious relationship. The problem was finding time for it, they both still lived with their adoptive fathers neither of whom knew about them. When they weren't at home they had work or were away on missions and tents certainly kept no secrets.
So on the few occasions that either Doctor Jackson or General O'Neill were away the two boys would make use of the empty house. It was that which lead to the argument. The General had been in Washington for the week and was supposed to be gone for another few days but the meetings had gone well so he had been able to come home early. Normally he would have rung ahead but this time he forgot. He pulled up in the drive way to see Jon's Jeep was there. He went straight in and found a mess in the lounge, Jon had left his clothes all over the place and the TV was on with some random comedy show. Jack turned it off with a huff. He should have known that the kid would make a mess of the place. Then he heard a kind of strangled cry from upstairs. Instantly his gun was in his hand as he crept up the stairs. He heard a crash and a moan as he approach the open bedroom door. His other hand was reaching for his mobile as he swung round the door.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" He shouted at the boys in the middle of fucking on the bed. James had just been pushing into Jon who was lieing on his front. Both heads flew round to the door in shock. Jon rolled putting James behind him and pulled the sheets up to cover them.
"Jack, what are you doing back?" The boy tried to ask casually.
"Get out." He growled at them.
"Look, Jack, we're sorry we didn't tell you but we can talk about this."
"You!" He said pointing at James. "You damn queer! Get out of my house now before I really loose it." He yelled. James span terrified and pulled on the pair of boxers by the bed, Jon's boxers actually. He ran out the door past Jack who suddenly realised why there were cloths all over the lounge but none on the bed room floor other than socks and boxers. Jon glared at Jack.
"You bloody homophobe." He growled holding the sheets while he pulled on boxers and a clean pair of pants from his draw.
"At least I'm not some sick queer. He's not even human!" Jon just looked at him and shook his head before following James and leaving.
James was stood by the jeep with his phone out about to call for a lift.
"Hey, don't worry, I'll drive us." Jon said as he emerged dressed. They got in the car in silence and neither of them said anything for ages, "I'm sorry James." Jon said reaching across to hold his boyfriends hand.
"It's not your fault Jack."
"I love that you call me that."
"Where are we going?"
"Your place."
"What if the general phones and tells him?"
"It's Daniel, he won't mind."
"Yeah well we both thought that the general would take it well. And now because of me you've been thrown out your own house."
"Hey," Jon squeezed his hand, "it's not your fault he's a asshole." James didn't reply.
When they arrived at Daniel's, James didn't want to let go of Jon's hand being shouted at by the general like that had left him really shaken. Jon pulled his hand away slowly and opened the door before coming round the car and taking James' hand again. He gently pulled on it and coxed the boy in to the house. James was so worried that he barely noticed where he was until Jon turned back to him inside the door and lifted his free hand to his face.
"Hey, James, are you okay? Your not going to have a flash are you?"
"I'm okay Jack. I'm okay." He said nuzzling against his hand and covering it with his own. Then they hear a throat being cleared. They both turned still holding hands to see Daniel watching from the door to the sitting room.
"You guys have something to tell me?" He said raising his eyebrow in a teal'c like fashion. James swallowed but Jon gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Yeah, Daniel. Me and Jon are dating, have been for a while." Daniel was still for a moment before he grinned broadly.
"Congratulations, I was wondering when you two would give in to it." He said moving forward to give them both a hug.
"You knew?" James asked.
"James you two have been making eyes at each other for ages. A blind man could see it."
"So your not angry at all?" James said cautiously.
"No. Why would I be angry? I'm a little disappointed you didn't tell me straight away but that's your decision." Daniel said.
"Sorry, it's just..." Jon trailed off.
"What happened before you came over? I thought you were staying at Jacks for the week."
"Well, Jack got home early." Jon said sourly. Daniel's brows furrowed.
"Did Jack have some sort of issue...?"
"Yeah, he called James a damn queer and then threw both of us out the house. He called us sick." Jon spat. Pulling James closer and worming an arm around his waist.
"I can't believe Jack would be like that. Maybe ten years ago but not now." Daniel said shocked.
"Well he did. You don't mind if Jon stays here?"
"No." Daniel said with a smile. "After all it's not like I'll need to make up the spare room for him." Jon and James looked surprised.
"You really don't mind if we..."
"As long as your not going to be having wild, loud sex at all hours of the morning."
"I think we can manage to control ourselves." James said smiling and relaxing enough to let go of Jon's hand and slip his into Jon's back pocket.
Later once the two boys had retired to James' room Daniel picked up the phone and rang Jack. He picked up fairly quickly.
"Hello?"
"Jack." He said in a stern tone.
"Daniel." He said in a similar tone.
"Did you call my kid a 'damn queer'?" He hissed into the phone.
"Your son was arse fucking my clone in my house!"
"And when exactly Jack did you become so closed minded? What the hell is your problem with Jon and James being together?"
"Jon isn't gay! He's just confused or something."
"Jon isn't gay or your not gay, Jack?"
"What's the difference?"
"Jack, just because he has the same DNA doesn't mean he's the same as you. So don't you dare persecute the two of them just because it's causing you to have a sexual identity crisis."
"I'm not having a sexual identity crisis, I'm straight."
"What's the problem then?"
"It's wrong and...and..." said Jack running out of excuses, "It's illegal. Don't ask don't tell after all."
"Jon isn't you Jack and if you hadn't noticed no matter how much military training you make him take part in he is a civilian. A civilian who can not be persecuted for being homosexual."
"Just cause your fine with this whole arse bandit stuff doesn't mean I have to be Danny." He said before hanging up.
The General didn't back down quickly, a few days later a van showed up with all of Jon's stuff at Daniel's house. He was completely professional at work, gone was any concern for James when he had a bad spell as well as the banter normally shared between the two boys and their sudo parents. He also became very harsh on Jon and James visiting one another during breaks. It was frustrating and heartbreaking to be so shunned by someone who had been such a large part of all their lives for so long. Daniel was the most annoyed with his best friend, he really couldn't understand what the man's problem was.
In august Jon and James had made their choice about university, they weren't headed for Berkley. They were going to Cambridge in the UK. James had broached the subject to Jon and after attending the open day Jon had fallen in love with the tiny town. About two weeks before they left they had loaded up their stuff that they couldn't fly with to be shipped ahead of them. The next week they would be packing up at the base, finishing up or handing over their projects. Daniel walked into Jacks office.
"Your just going to watch them go?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Jack, they're leaving for England in a week, they won't be back for two months and you haven't said one non protocol word to them in months. You can't fool me, you're not angry any more, this is all just about pride now." Daniel pointed out.
"Look, what do you want me to say, Danny. Sorry, I'm sorry but that doesn't mean anything after what I did."
"Jack they don't hate you. They just want your acceptance, a sorry is enough."
"You don't know what I said."
"You called them queers, they know you were in the moment and that you didn't mean it."
"Daniel, after James was gone I... I... I said to John that James wasn't even human." Daniel was silent for a while.
"How could you Jack? I mean I thought... with Teal'c and Cassey and all those others. How could you take a shot at them for that?"
"I know okay, I feel like a complete shit. The worst is that I'm still not completely comfortable with it. It's better for them to leave without me getting in the way."
"Jack there is no way they can leave happily with this thing still between you all. So if your ready to talk, then come round for dinner."
Jon opened the door when he arrived. He knew the face he was wearing, it was his face at times. The one that promised swift punishment for any harm done to his own. Jack knew he was on a very short leash at this dinner.
"Come on through." He said turning and leading his older self through to the kitchen. It seemed like ages since he's last been in this house. He didn't try to make conversation with his clone knowing it wouldn't be appreciated. Daniel was cooking while James appeared to be doing paper work.
"I hope that isn't confidential." Jack joked to the teenager.
"No sir, financial stuff for college." He said formally. Jack felt a complete arse for letting their relationship get to the point were they couldn't joke. He looked at Daniel who just gave him a look back.
"No need for the sir James, it's Jack." The boy gave his... his boyfriend a look before replying.
"Sorry, general." That one word hit hard, the kid had once been so relaxed around him. "Hey Jack, I need some help with this paper work." Before Jack could react Jon headed to him and sat and helped. When had that happened? Since when had James called Jon, Jack?
"Jack, grab some beers would you?" Daniel said to him. As he passed the doctor a beer he leaned close.
"Since when did Jon go by Jack again?" Daniel looked around at him.
"James has always called him that. Don't worry, your still Jack for everyone else."
"Wh...why would James do that?" Daniel shrugged.
"Well, Jon did spend most of his life as Jack, I think it's just they're thing."
"Since when do they have things?!" He asked urgently. Daniel laughed.
"Jack, they've always had things. Your seriously telling me you didn't see any of the signs before you walked in on them?"
"Not a whiff. I just assumed they were good friends."
"So it escaped your notice that two fairly good looking boys never once had a date?"
"Yes... yes it did. Okay, so I've really been dense haven't I?"
"Oh yeah." Daniel said still cooking. Jack just stood and watched as Jon leaned over James and looked at the paper work, his chest pressed to the other boys back as he occasionally turned his head to sniff James hair. The two were so comfortable. They looked relaxed for once, which was a rare view of James who had been fairly uptight since the wings started coming in. James seemed to finish reach the end of the paper work ans he turned and gave Jon a peck on the lips. It was slow but completely modest and caused a lump in Jacks throat as they pulled away from each other with smiles on their faces. He remembered being love like that when he was younger and couldn't understand how he could have ever damned the two of them for it.
"James, Jon, could we talk before dinner?" Jon's stone face was instantly back in full force but James looked hopeful.
"Of course General." James said. Jon wrapped an arm around James defensively. Jack moved across the room and sat opposite the two of them. Jon moved to sit next to his boyfriend.
"I would like to apologise for my actions." Jack started. "I reacted to the situation with out ever listening to the two of you, with out thinking and with out looking it seems. I should have said all this to you weeks ago but I let my pride get in the way. Watching you two together, you clearly have a healthy, happy relationship. I'm really pleased for the two of you for that. I'm happy knowing the two of you have each other. I know that I have yet to mention my homophobic out burst. I want to appologise to you about that. I never thought of myself as bigotted but having been career military though I told myself I had no problem with homosexuals I have never actually had to deal with homosexuality at such close quartres and my knee jerk reaction was to attack. I'm sorry for that so much, I hope that we can get past all this cause I really miss having the family together." He finished looking at them and then Daniel.
"We are a family, aren't we?" James said.
"I've always thought so." Daniel chipped in from the kitchen area. "After all the two of you never were able to make up your mind where exactly you were living. I swear the guest bedroom pretty much belonged to Jon."
"How about we just put this down to a family spat then?" James said smiling.
"There is one more issue I'm not satisfied on." Jon stated. Jack swallowed.
"I know. James I don't know if Jon ever told you but that day after you left the room I made a comment I regretted instantly. I asked Jon how he could be with you when you aren't even human." James looked hurt. "I would like to say a profound sorry for that and assure you that I didn't mean it in that way. I was angry and I don't know. I have never seen you as an alien, half the time I think of you as a son." James turned a little and looked at Jon who nodded.
"Thank you for the apology and I'm really glad about the last part because me and Jon need to tell you both something." Daniel wandered over to be more part of the conversation now Jack had finished his apologies. "As you know we're going to the UK for university, well, we've decided to get a civil partnership when we finish university." Jack looked a little confused.
"It's like getting married, with out the religion. For legal purposes they would be married." Daniel explained to the air force general whose eyes went wide.
"Wow, congratulations! So after university?" Jon nodded.
"Yeah, we decided that since we're still young and James has the change to come it would be better to leave it till then. I mean we're both pretty sure this isn't going to go away overnight but university is going to be very different."
"I can't wait, guys." Daniel said smiling and giving them both a quick hug before he went back to the cooking.
"Daniel, how long is the food going to be?"
"About another 20 minutes. Why?" Daniel asked from where he was checking the vegetables.
"I'll be back in a bit." Jack said standing and pulling out his car keys.
"Where are you going?"
"Store, this calls for some Champagne."
"Jack, they're under-age."
"Not in England we aren't." Jon said with a smile.
"What the kid said." Jack threw out as he left.
Settling in at the College was interesting. They had had issues when they were there for interviews, boy did Jon remember that:
They had beamed into an empty train station toilet with they're bags. Luckily James had made sure they got some money before they left so they had been able to hop on the bus into town and then after a lot of searching, Churchill College. They arrived in the end twenty minutes before James first interview and went straight to the porters lodge.
"Hey, we're here for interviews. O'Neill, two ells and Jackson." Jon said. The porter had checked his list and handed them a clip board to sign while he dug out two keys.
"Right," He said grabbing a map. "O'Neill is in 47G, thats this corner and Jackson is 52E, over here." He said circling two areas on the map. "You can either take the path round this way or this way." He said drawing lines on the paths.
"Wait, we need joint accommodation." Jon complained.
"I have a medical issue, I need constant supervision, I can't be that far away from him." The Porter looked at the two of them disbelievingly. Jon checked his watch.
"Look, we'll take these for now because we have an interview in ten, but we'll be back later. Check the files, we did inform the college that James is not to be left unattended." Jon said. "Now where do we go for the interviews?"
"End of the corridor, turn left up the wide stairs there's a table to your right at the top."
"Thank you." He said before both of them left and hurried up the steps. Jon let James take the lead at that point, after all it was his interview.
"Hey, James Jackson and Jonothan O'Neill checking in. I think I have an interview any minute."
"Ummm, yeah, if your friend wants to wait here with your bags or take them to your room for you, I can take you over straight away." The student helper said after ticking both they're names off his list.
"I'm coming with him." Jon said simply.
"Interviews are private. You can't sit in." They explained back annoyed and James sighed, so it was going to that kind of a time.
"I have a medical condition, he needs to be within shouting distance in case I have an episode or need my medication. But he can and will wait out side the door." The student looked uncertain, then checked her watch.
"Fine, I guess. It's not like your getting the same interviews." She lead round to the accommodation that was apparently being doubled up for use as interview rooms.
"I'll need to stick my head in at the start and just explain about James condition." Jon said as they entered the right stairway.
"Jon, I can explain."
"I'd like to make sure they know which face they're looking for." James just sighed. The student really didn't look very sure but left the two of them outside the room. The previous person came out and wished James luck on his way past then after a few minutes the door opened again.
"James Jackson?" The person asked.
"That's him but I need a quick word first." Jon answered.
"I'm afraid it will have to wait we're in the middle of interviews."
"It'll take five seconds and might make all our lives easier."
"It's about my medical condition. It's either that or he'll insist on sitting in the room."
"Fine." The doctor said with a disapproving tone and opened the door for both boys to enter.
"Okay, James 101. James has a condition relating to night and day terrors. It's possible that at some point he will become delusional or start speaking in a different language. He could also become violent. I'll be sat outside, give me a shout. I'll come in and deal with it. The only other one is back cramps. If he gets one that needs medicating you'll know, he'll probably start screaming. Again, I am fully trained in administering his medication so just call me." With that he walked out again.
"Don't worry, really. It's highly unlikely I'll go off during the interview it's just that high pressure situations and unfamiliar surroundings can often set me off so for every ones sake, he's being over protective."
"So, what do you have exactly?"
"Well, my childhood wasn't brilliant and I at times have flashbacks and they can be really real. I don't even remember afterwards but I can get fairly dangerous to myself and others when it happens."
"Wow, so he's your nurse?"
"Not exactly, the condition started about two years ago. Jon was my best friend before that and when it was decided I needed a minder the whole time, he volunteered to do all the training and stuff." The interview had gone fine along with the other two that day, it seemed they had been forewarned that the two boys could not be separated. Though they still hadn't managed to sort out their rooms the real action had happened in the dinning hall that evening.
James and Jon had been sat across from each other talking. Jon had gone to get himself another drink and left James at the table. He was just looking at his food when it happened. The College was clearing out so the place so fairly empty but there had been a couple of lecturers at the other end of the table. When Jon heard the shouts he had dropped his drink and run back into the large hall. James had his steak knife, and had obviously been making use of his fists. Jon ran in between the knife and everyone else who was now stood around watching. He efficiently twisted James wrist so he dropped the knife, he was good enough now not to hurt the wrist. He then slammed his fist into the side of James face so he dropped straight away. Then kneeling down he and checked his pulse before reaching into his bag and pulling out an icepack that activated when snapped. He placed it where he had hit him then turned around seeing as expected the porters had been called.
"I can explain."
They were sat in a small nurses room Jon perched on the bed next to James.
"He wasn't himself and trust me that was the best way of containing him. When he wakes up he'll be out of it at first but recover. Otherwise it can take ages to get him to come back to himself. If you don't believe me ring our doctor in Colorado. He'll be up at this time." They did phone them, and the doctor went over the whole thing and confirmed everything he said.
"Now, I'd like to put him in an actual bed. So could you guys sort out a double room for us?"
They quickly found a room that was set up with two beds for conferences. And Jon refused to let anyone else take James as he carried him up the stairs. Just after he had put him in the bed someone knocked at the door. He opened it to find the lecturer who had gained a black eye when James had gone off.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
"Yeah, I was wanting to talk to you about what happened." The Scottish scientist asked.
"There's nothing to discuss." Jon said trying to close the door.
"I don't know what crap you fed the porters but when he was shouting he wasn't using english."
"He speaks nonsense when he's like that. Don't take any notice." He said still not opening the door.
"You know, I might specialise in mathematics but you'll never guess what my field is." The doctor said "It's ancient mathematics, the number systems and mathematics used through time and how older numerical systems and ideas can even now revolutionise the maths today. It's leads me to a lot of research of dead languages. He was speaking ancient Egyptian."
"His parents were archaeologists, he learnt it when he was little. Probably just a remnant memory." Jon said trying to close the door.
"I don't think so. Now you will tell me what's going on here." The doctor said threateningly.
"Back off. It's just a condition. If you want to know more look it up on Wikipedia, it's called Gatsta Syndrome." He closed the door and sighed. James was fine the next morning and Jon had managed to steer them clear of the Lecturer for the rest of their interviews.
When they arrived their rooms had been sorted, thanks to their special requirements they had been assigned two rooms next to one another. One had their beds and the other their desks and more storage. It was not the best set up other but it would work, they would make it work. For that first week every time they turned around they were having to explain that they needed to stay together. They ended up organising a meeting with everyone who might need to know including porters and such about James' condition. Jon had spotted the Lecturer in the back of the room, his eyes said he was not going to drop what he had started the previous December.
He was right. As they finished their talk and everyone filed out he remained.
"So Gatsta Syndrome... a condition that came into existence all of two years ago. Suddenly over night hundred of webpages began to appear on the condition and yet I could not find one other diagnosed case of it on earth."
"Who are you?" James asked.
"Oh, well at least the memory loss part is true. I'm Dr Rush, Mathematics of the Ancient World." He said strolling over to them.
"I told you before to back off." Jon growled.
"I don't like this. I think there's far more to this than either of you are willing to say. You see I have seen reference to something with the same symptoms as Gatsta, you see I get to see a lot of manuscripts often they have very little to say but I was looking at one a while back and it spoke of a protector of a young warrior who appeared at the the age of 16 in a Celtic tribe. For the first two years he was normal and the tribe adopted him and trained him. Then it speaks of a madness that comes apon him. He would dream of dark times and ancient history and some times during the day he would forget that they were dreams. It speaks of him ripping his back open in pain. Of course they called it a trial of the gods. At the end of this madness it was said he arose on wings like an eagles a true warrior of the gods. Now I don't know about the ending but I looked into it and I found several other tales, from all over the place of a boy arriving out of the blue at the age of 16 and then two years later being over come with a madness and then at the age of 20 they all either die or came out of the madness, stronger and wiser. Now I noticed that these accounts were spaced out over centuries and I thought to my self that maybe this isn't a condition, maybe it's something else.
"I don't know what your implying, but it sounds insane." Jon said Rush just shrugged.
"Maybe it is. But I will be watching you two." He left and James let out a long breath.
"We better ring Jack."
"Yeah, I think that would be a good idea." He pulled out his cell phone it took a while to connect.
"General O'Neill."
"Hey, Jack, it's Jon. We might have an issue."
"What happened?" He asked worried.
"There's a Lecturer, Dr Rush. He's getting concerningly close to the truth of James. We either need him gagged or were going to have to tell him the truth." He said.
"Ah, hell. You've been there for a week, Jon. What is it with you two and trouble."
"Look whose talking we learnt from the best."
"Okay, I'll call Daniel, he'll be over in a couple of days and I leave it to him to decide."
"Thanks."
"Can you two manage for two days."
"Yeah, lecture start tomorrow. They've all been notified about James so it shouldn't be a problem."
James had his first lecture with Rush a few days later there had been an incident and Daniel hadn't arrived yet. James and Jon woke late thanks to James stealing the alarms battery for something or other. They had quickly pushed the beds together after moving into the room. The lateness meant James was sneaking into the hall minutes before the start which had the advantage of not giving Rush a chance at starting anything. About half way through though, James cringed feeling a cramp coming on he reached down into his bag and pulled out an injection and pulled his phone out.
"I'm sorry Mr Jackson but what exactly are you doing?" Rush asked from the front indicating the syringe and phone in his hands.
"I have a cramp coming on, I need a muscle relaxant to avoid a major cramp. The phone is to inform Jon in case something happens, so I'm not going to get an over dose." James explained briefly as he rolled his sleeve up to administer the injection. The rest of the room was starring at him as though he were a druggie shooting up in the lecture. He was dealing with a genuine medical condition.
"In future take the drugs before class." Rush said before returning to his Lecture. James dropped a text to Jon. Rush was obviously out for blood and the people sat around him all looked like they would be moving seats as soon as they got the chance. As the class moved on he knew the muscle relaxants weren't working as well as they could be. He managed to get notes but come the end he knew he wouldn't be able to stand up with out falling over. His back had completely seized up and felt like it was about to rip open. He couldn't even reach into his bag for his phone. He was left sat there while Rush stood at the front.
"Planning on leaving at some point Mr Jackson?" He asked.
"Look, Dr Rush, my back has seized up I can't stand or bend to get my phone. I would be grateful if you could get my phone for me so I can phone for some help." Rush looked at him for a minute clearly considering if he could push this. "Please, I need some help before this gets worse."
"Tell, me what's really wrong with you. Tell me the truth."
"You bastard. I'm suffering here."
"Well, you could just tell me." He said leaning in towards the 18 year old.
"Actually he can't. I would ask you to move away from my son." Daniels voice sounded clearly through the room. Rush turned quickly at being caught. "Hey James. I arrived earlier, me and Jon were waiting for you outside so that we could have a chat before we got into this, but we obviously were wrong to wait." Rush had steppe back and Jon moved with out a word grabbing a syringe and pumping a strong muscle relaxant into James system. His boyfriend slowly recovered a little. While Daniel faced off with Dr Rush.
"I take it you are Dr Rush."
"And you would be?"
"Dr Daniel Jackson. Father of James Jackson."
"Well, Dr Jackson, what is it you wished to discuss with me." Jon turned about to go for Rush's throat for being so casual but Daniel stopped him.
"Be glad General O'Neill was busy Dr Rush, he is not known for his patience and I assure you he will not be pleased to hear about what happened here."
"And where exactly does he come into this?"
"As well as being the Uncle and Guardian of Jon here he is the one who has finally say on how we deal with you."
"Really? Need I Remind you that I am a Scottish citizen and that we are not in America?"
"We're very aware of that, and I can assure you we have the full support of your government." the archaeologist said with his patented Daniel smile.
"James, how you doing?" Jon asked. James back still hurt but the relaxants meant he could now move.
"Better." He said giving his shoulders a move.
"Now, lets talk, what is it you think you know?" Daniel asked.
"Gatsta is a fake syndrome. I don't know what it is that's going on. But I know that there are tales of this through out time, the accounts are centuries apart but they do exist."
"Tell me, Dr Rush, would it not make sense that they also had Gatsta ? Just because the name is knew doesn't mean the condition is?"
"That comes on at the same age every time?"
"What age did it start?"
"18."
"James' condition first became obvious at the age of just under 17."
"Dr Jackson, lets stop fucking about here. The truth!" Daniel was not threatened by the shouting Scots man. Facing down system lords does give one a thick skin.
"I've spent some time looking into your background Dr Rush and speaking with some people. It has been decided that you will be cleared. Before we go any further we will need you to sign a none disclosure agreement." Daniel put his brief case down and pulled out a sheath of paper that would need signing.
"I'm not signing anything yet."
"Trust me, you'll regret it if you don't." Daniel teased.
"Really, you sign that, nothing will seem the same again. And from the sound of it. People already have plans for you."
"There is a project we would like you to take a look at for us. For now, we need someone here to keep an eye on these two." Daniel said with a look to the two boys.
After half an hour of persuasion, Rush signed the contract and Daniel asked if he was doing anything for the rest of the day that couldn't be cancelled and once everyone's schedules were clear they were all beamed onto the Prometheus. Rush of course was shocked and amazed when he was told he was on a spaceship but Jon and James used the chance to talk to old friends and catch up on all the stargate program gossip.
"So Dr Rush." Daniel said after Rush had been taken through the basics of the stargate and the intricacies of James case. "What do you think?"
"I can't believe it really. Well, I can it all makes sense but, wow. And James, Gabriel! Bloody Gabriel? What exactly were you planning on doing when he sprouts wings in two years?"
"We know that he will be able to hide them. According to him, they will fold back into his back and appear to just be bad scarring on his back. The bigger worry is actually flight practise. He can't keep his wings in apparently for too long with out it causing them damage and he will need to fly often to prevent the muscles weakening. What with modern day monitoring of airspace and such, that is going to be next to impossible." Rush laughed at that. "Seriously, Jon and James have been through a lot both of them, Jon isn't actually General O'Neill's nephew you know. He's actually his clone. Thanks to a rogue alien who thought the General's DNA was the key to the survival of his race. He has all the memories of a divorced 50 year old black ops air force Colonel who lost his kid. Jack and Jon try to pretend they're completely different and in some ways they are. Jon's not so old, he's younger, more immature. He's full of life, but sometimes I look in Jon's eyes and I see the same loyalty and determination and wrath I see in Jacks. That boy would do anything to protect his family. He and James are engaged, they have two years of hell ahead of them an ocean away from us. We would love to keep them at the SGC this whole time with doctors who have a better chance of understanding what's happening and with us there to bale them out. Where James can move freely cause most of the base can safely deal with him. But they're kids, they deserve a normal childhood and they wanted to go to college. They need this and when they come back to the SGC afterwards they will be far more valuable to us."
"So that's all they are assets to be trained for use?"
"No. That's the company line." Daniel said with a small smile. "To be honest, those two boys mean the world to me. I consider them both sons. I know for a fact that those two are the children pretty much of stargate command, you mess with them you mess with us all. We couldn't keep either of them out and both have spent large periods of time living and working on base. I love them both and mostly I want them to be happy, and working for the SGC seems to do that. Plus James already has one of our off world bases picked out for flying practise."
Jon was worried, James had been getting worse. The dreams were now very recent and he had collapsed five times in the last four days. He was even more concerned when Rush pulled them in after a lecture.
"What's this about doctor?" Jon asked.
"I'm sending the two of you back to Colorado. I spoke with Dr Jackson about the situation yesterday and they want you home."
"What?" James asked.
"Look we all know whats wrong, we all know that sometime very soon you are going to need your specialist to look at you and support that you can't get here. Go home, I'll square it here. Your flight leaves in two hours so go pack." Over the previous two years they had developed ways of discussing classified material with out talking about it. They two hours till beam out to pack before they were sent to the SGC so that James could be nearer doctors with alien experience.
Two weeks later James lay craddled in Jon's bed having just died again in his sleep. He had woken up to an odd feeling. He couldn't go back to sleep as he felt him self changing so slowly, like his skin was strange. He rolled over and shook his fiances shoulder. Jon blinked slowly at him.
"Jon, it's time. I need to go."
"What? James? Go where?" He asked sleepily.
"The convergence Jon, we don't have long and I need to get out into the open, a field or something."
"Oh, shit. I'll just get... I'll go..." He said rolling over and pulling his jeans on. "I'll tell Jack." He said leaning over to give him a peck on the lips, so pleased to be able to do this in both their homes now. "You get yourself dressed." He said leaving him to bang on the door down the hall.
"What! What do you want? It's two in the morning for gods sake!" Jack shouted through his door.
"Get up Jack, James apparently going to converge or something tonight. I'm going to ring Daniel and the base, James is getting dressed so sort yourself out."
"Fuck, why did it have to be now? Could not have been like three in the afternoon?"
"Sorry, but it's coming now."
They all scrambled around getting themselves sorted. James wrapped himself up till he looked even younger than normal. James hadn't aged in four years and still looked the same as when he was 16. Jon thought it was cute as anything that his badass boyfriend who had kneecaped gaffa looked like a kid still. Though he often got looks and had been called a pedo in the street with his older than normal looks and him. He didn't care though, James was worth anything to him. Eventually the three of them got into the jeep and headed for a clearing in the woods that surrounded the mountain that was still inside the fence, Daniel and other people would meet them there.
In the back of the car James started talking.
"You have to make sure no one touches or helps me. Don't ask me why I just know that it's bad."
"So it's happened before?"
"No but as far back as I remember I've warned people not to and remember there is a good reason. I think I should remember more after tonight."
"Okay, so no one touches you. What else?"
"It's going to be hard and there will most likely be a lot of pain involved. My wings are going to rip they're way out and my entire body will pretty much regenerate itself inside out. I'll be sick, my skin will come off, I'll bleed, a lot. I'm going to be screaming in agony, but you mustent touch me. I'll be okay and when it's over I'll collapse with the wings on show and everything, just to warn you."
"I don't know if I can watch you suffer like that." Jon said cupping his cheek.
"Don't worry Jack, it'll be okay. I'll make it through. I promise."
"I thought that was a given?"
"There have been a few times in the past where this has killed me, but those times I was weak and/or injured in some way to start with. In this state of health there should be no worries."
"I wish you told us this sooner."
"I didn't want you to worry." James said softly as he snuggled against his lover.
"You always worry me, I'd rather know in advance though." They reached the clearing. "How long do we have?" Jon asked him quietly.
"Ten minutes maybe twenty."
"Do you mind if I hold you till then?" Jon asked. James laughed a little at that.
"Not at all." They stood outside the car watching the middle of the clearing, Jon wrapped his arms around him from behind as a few more people arrived. Daniel, Teal'c, Siler and Walter all arrived in the next 15 minutes. They were just in time as James let out a yelp and dragged himself away from Jon.
"Everyone keep back!" Jon shouted. "No one touches him now till this is done." He said pain in his eyes.
James dropped to his knees as the pain tore through him. His mind seemed to fracture and explode as memories became part of him, he experienced thoughts and feelings, a hundred lives and deaths. He became all of them. They all became part of him. His body burned and felt like it exploded at the same time. He felt his clothes dissolved off him and his skin started to slough off, he bled and bled and screamed as his hair fell from his head and his bones seemed to shatter and grow back all at once, he felt it even worse as something touched him. He didn't know what but he pushed it away screaming. The pain remained as bad as everything grew back. His muscles reformed, his skin came back tender and new at first, his hair grew back in long and his feathers sprouted. He lay curled in on himself and tried to breath through what felt like new lungs. Real lungs. He blinked new eyes up at the sky and saw all the stars sharper than he ever had before. Slowly he moved, tender and awkward like a newborn colt. He was taller, stronger. He had grown those four years all at once. He stretched out his limbs including his wings which he starred at briefly unsure and yet so familiar at once. They were beautiful and he knew that his new bones would allow them to carry him into the sky. He turned and looked at those observing. Jon stood closer than all the others.
He felt an urge to go to Jack and wrap himself in his arms. He walked towards him and Jack took a step back from the man before him. He wasn't his sweet looking James.
"What's wrong Jack?" He asked in his newly deeper voice.
"Your James?"
"Yes, and no. I'm James but I'm also Gabriel at the same time." He said stepping closer and reaching for him. Jon stepped back once and then twice and James didn't chase him.
"I... I think I need a bit of time." He said before turning and going to the car.
"Jon, what's wrong?" Jack asked.
"It's not James. Or at least not entirely. I think I need to get away. Could I borrow the car? I'll leave it at the house."
"Where are you gonna go?"
"The cabin I think. I'll be back soon. Actually no, I'll be back when I know what I'm doing." He said. Jack reluctantly handed over the keys and watched as he drove away before turning back to see Daniel hugging James who was looking more than a little distraute. He went over to them.
"I don't understand" He heard James say. "He knew this was going to happen."
"I think it was the sudden ageing thing that caught him out. It is a little disconcerting. We're all so used to you not changing." Jack said reaching to pull James into a hug himself. It had been hard seeing the boy he thought of as a son in so much pain. "the wings are cool though. Can you use them?" James smiled at him through his tears.
"Oh, yeah."
"Well, lets see about getting you off world so you can try them out."
"Is he coming back?"
"Not straight away. He's gonna go to the cabin for a while and get his head back on straight. If he's not back in a week I'll go after him and kick his butt though. Just give him a week." He said carefully.
"Don't forget James, he's an O'Neill, they take a while to process stuff like this." Daniel said smiling at Jack remembering how hard it had been for Jack to accept his ascension.
"I guess." He said allowing himself to be lead to the cars and given a blanket to cover him till they reached the SGC and were able to procure a uniform that fit his new larger frame. James looked a little fragile but no one was surprised given what he'd just gone through. Approval for their trip off world went through fast and everyone who could swing it gathered in the gate room to go with them and watch James fly for the first time. He was looking forward to it. He remember the rush it gave him. He looked at the gate and headed up the ramp feeling a little queazy, then again it had been a long nervous night. He just wanted to step through and see the open sky and fly again.
"Come on kid. Easy as falling over, remember?" Jack said as they approached the event horizon.
"Oh, yeah, and those memories are all me." He stepped through with his two 'fathers' on either side of him missing the hand he had always thought he would be holding when he did this. They emerged on the other side and James instantly felt a hundred times worse, he staggered forward and fell over rolling down the sites ramp. As he came to a stop he was sick his whole body was in pain again.
"James!" Daniel shouted rushing over to him and rolling James to face him saw the pain on his expression.
"Back, I need to go back." He breathed out between clenched teeth.
"Tell them not to come through, then shut it down and dial back." Jack ordered have heard what James said. It took a few moments but the gate was redialed quickly and Jack picked up James surprised by how light he was and carried him back through. On the other side everyone was waiting looking worried.
"Call a medical team." Jack shouted as he came through and placed James down on the ramp, he was shaking and sweating. "James, what is wrong with you?"
"Bond, need bond" He muttered before passing out.
Over the next week James was in and out of consciousness always muttering or shouting about a bond or something when he was awake. According to the doctors his internal organs were failing. Jack couldn't wait any longer. He picked up the phone and dailed Jon's cell.
"What?" Jon asked not sounding pleased to hear from him.
"Jon you need to get your ass back here. James isn't doing well."
"What do you mean?"
"He seemed fine and we tried taking him off world so he could fly but the moment we got him through the gate he collapsed. He's been in and out ever since. This morning the doctors said his organs are failing as well as they can tell anyway."
"Why the hell didn't you call me sooner?" Jon said down the line. Jack could hear him getting up and moving around.
"I was hoping you were going to come back on your own. Were you?" There was silence for a while on the other end of the line.
"Not yet." He said simply.
"Well this might be the time to change your plans. He doesn't have long."
Jon packed up and jumped in the his car however he felt what ever there was of James left in the world was dying, he wanted to be there. He arrived late at the gates and parked before jumping out and running for the elevator as quickly as possible. He needed to see him. Suddenly he didn't know why he left, he was supposed to be with James.
He rushed into the infirmary. James was lying in the bed tossing and turning and mumbling. Jon walked over and took his hand. "Please, James, please don't leave me." He said kissing his hand. Jon turned over and opened his eyes looking at his. He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Jon.
"Thank god it's you." He said.
"I wouldn't let you go with out me here." Jon said his eyes beginning to tear up.
"No, you didn't listen."
"What do you mean?" Jon asked confused.
"I told you to stay back. You touched me. We're bonded."
"What do you mean bonded?"
"I can't live with out you."
"James, please explain this."
"Now your here I'll get better. I don't understand it myself entirely. You bonded with me. I can't be too far away from you now. I'll die if I leave you for too long."
"What the hell, James, why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I didn't know before."
"What can I do?" He asked eventually. James smiled and squeezed their joined hands.
"Stay close."
"Of course." Jon agreed and slipped onto the bed next to James.
"So your telling me that your bonded as you say to anyone who touches you while you go through the convergence?" Daniel said at the briefing.
"Yes, I don't know why but I am."
"It's a good question, why would a race evolve to be entirely dependant on another in that way and in such an involuntary fashion." Carter asked looking around the table.
"Well, in some cultures it's quiet normal that say a wife not leave her husband for long periods after marriage. This could be something like that." Daniel countered.
"No, it's not. It's a bad thing. I know that this is a bad thing and that I have never wanted it in the slightest. Not even as a sense of duty." James said sat next to Jon and feeling much better than he had before. "It's not that I have a problem with being with you all the time Jack, I just want to choose it rather than it being a biological imperative." James said to his fiance.
"It is odd. Do you know more about where you came from?" Daniel asked.
"Not really, I know I'm not from here but it's like my harddrive only has so much memory or I've forgotten or something. I only remember back so far."
"Any hints?" Jack asked.
"I'm afraid not. Though I think I came through the gate. I have very little familiarity with the idea of space travel. I mean most things I've had some knowledge of for a long time. Like computers don't seem new, neither does other stuff like MRIs."
"So there's a chance we could fine your people through the gate some time?"
"I guess." James said with a shrug. "More immediately, when can we get back to out studies?" Jack, Daniel and Carter all looked at each other.
"It'll be a while. We need to know what exactly the limits of this bond is and also there is the issue of you keeping your wings in good condition." Jack said carefully.
"So not for a few months?" Jon asked bluntly.
"No, not for a few months." Jack confirmed.
"I'm not sure you should go back." Carter said. They both looked at her. "I know you two wanted a normal university but what ever we do that's not going to happen. How do we explain the change in your appearance, the disappearance of all your symptoms and Jon still needing to be close to you. You could go to somewhere closer and come back at the weekends to allow James time off world and if anything you'd be more normal."
"She may have a point James." Jon said to him.
"I know." He said quietly.
They stayed in Colorado Springs and got their degrees, they even got married... in the Gateroom. They got special permission to be on a gate team despite their married status. It was hard, they couldn't be apart, not that they wanted to be most of the time.