Author's Note: All disclaimers apply as always, Vannas are mine as well as the children of SG-1 while SGC, SG-1 all belong to their creators.
Chapter Two: Truth of Genes
Jack walked forward and took Johnny's hand as he watched Daniel walk upstairs and disappear into his bedroom, a place that Daniel had once been welcome in as Jack's friend before their disappearance. This house saw the birth of their friendship after Shau'ri was taken. Jack wanted to follow Daniel immediately but he knew he had to get the kids settled in first, they both still had to be fathers' first. He looked around noticing the living room had several long couches and when he walked into the den, father into the house, he found it had quickly been furnished with couches and a couple beds. It made the space seem smaller but with nine kids and four adults, they were going to be cramped for a while.
Jack got all the kids settled into the couches and spoke to them quietly, asking how they were doing with all this. "Why is Daddy sad?" Zale asked gently.
"I am going to go find out," Jack said as he kissed Zale on the head.
Sam was settling her little ones on one of the beds and Jack turned to walk out of the den when Teal'c gripped his arm, "I too am concerned for DanielJackson's mood."
"Are you surprised he's upset?" Jack asked as he tugged his arm away from his best friend. Teal'c had in past years had questioned Jack and Daniel's inability to be in love in this world, and it seemed he still didn't really understand the frustration Daniel was dealing with, what they were both feeling.
"We are back in our time finally, or close enough to be back among those we called friend," Teal'c responded.
Jack sighed, rubbing his fingers into his eyes for a moment before he spoke. "T, you and Sam gonna get married here?"
"Of course, that is the way of your people and I would speak the words of forever to her once more." Teal'c said as he looked over at Sam who smiled up at him only to focus on Jack's words. Sam knew Daniel's concerns, she knew about DADT and all the regulations that bound them within the USAF.
"Daniel and I can't get married here, DADT prevents it as well as fraternization regs because I am technically his superior. We can't even have an open relationship. Not to mention, biologically our children don't belong to both of us, and they will be forced to hide who they are here. That is why Daniel is upset right now!"
Teal'c touched Jack's shoulder in a firm but gentle grip; "You will do what you must to make DanielJackson happy, correct?"
Jack nodded, "Of course, I love him. That hasn't changed."
"But you are home where you need to fight the Goa'uld. You are back to fighting against your love and country."
"Thanks for the reminder Teal'c, I had no idea," Jack griped and pulled away towards the stairs. Sadly though he didn't make it far before there was a knock and Hammond and Janet walked into the house without invitation. Jack sighed but called out to Sam and Teal'c then up to Daniel as well. The children would be fine on their own for the time it would take to discuss some of what had transpired.
Jack led Hammond and Janet into the living room and they moved to sit down. Daniel walked in; quiet and morose as he leaned against the wall as far from Jack in the room as he possibly could get while Sam and Teal'c settled together on the couch not touching but close and comfortable with each other, Jack noticed bitterly. He resented their continued ease with each other and just as quickly squashed the emotion since they did not deserve his unkind thoughts.
Hammond started quickly, his voice strong and even as to not allow his words to carry to the other room and the children beyond the wall and door. "Well it looks like you have made it home without any contagions that would be dangerous to others. Janet has also told me that you are all very healthy despite your new age. Some of your readings were strange but nothing that Frasier can keep your quarantined for just yet. What I want to know is why those children, besides Greer, are all genetically your children."
"I would think that would be obvious," Daniel stated rudely before he took a deep breath and spoke in a kinder tone. "Greer was caught up in whatever happened to us, he is the son of one of our allies, we should remain a guardian for him since we have known him for quite a few years already."
Jack was amazed that Daniel was able to speak so calmly about Greer since his Magis was the reason they were here but then again they had learned the hard way that Zale and Xylander were two different creatures sharing the same mind and body. He also was amazed at the attitude Daniel was allowing to come out but he understood that Daniel was scared of losing their children.
"Seems fair," Janet started as she chose to ignore most of Daniel's outburst. "Jacob, Ishtar and Haikon belong to Sam and Teal'c genetically and don't think I didn't notice that you are no longer a Jaffa Teal'c."
"It is true, the people we were with were able to heal me after the larvae became ill and died." Teal'c responded with a simple nod.
Janet continued as though Teal'c had not spoken, "As far as I can tell; Zale, Janet and Claire belong to Daniel and Zada and Johnny belong to Jack. What is interesting to me is that the mothers are genetically matched as well."
"Twin sisters," Jack stated, figuring they would need to tell these two the truth others Jack and Daniel would not have the help they needed to keep their children.
"Ah," Janet returned and made a note on her chart. "Why didn't you return with the mothers?"
Jack sighed, there was no getting around this part. He watched Daniel as the other man returned Jack's constant gaze even as he spoke. "They might have been genetically the mothers to our children but they were never a parent to them," Jack stated calmly. He watched Daniel who was shifting but seemed unwilling to speak. It was Jack's career at stake, not Daniel's so it was Jack's story to tell.
"Surrogates? But why?" Janet asked, interested in their story more than getting the answer to questions that her tests brought to her.
"Because we wanted children but couldn't have them without a little help," Jack stated with a shrug and kept holding Daniel's gaze. Daniel's eyes were growing damp as he realized what Jack had every intention of saying.
"Who did?" General Hammond asked, frustrated at the conversation as a whole.
Jack switched his tactic, "General, I am 59 years old and I cannot stay a Colonel on an active SG team. I need to retire." Jack did not miss the sigh and tightening around Daniel's bright blue eyes.
"What? Jack! No!" General Hammond replied, looking from Jack to Daniel in confusion.
"Jack," Daniel whispered but Jack shook his head.
"No Danny, I can already feel this world pulling the heady youth from my skin and bones. My knees ache already and I won't give up you for the fight anymore, I made that decision in the Vannas world and I will not go back on my promise to you."
"Wait," Janet demanded, "You and Daniel are together? You are the parents of all five children?" she asked shocked.
Jack nodded to her, Janet looked at Daniel who shrugged as well. Jack wished Daniel would come over so he could touch the archeologist in love and comfort. The younger man though stayed where he was, frozen in the moment.
"Jack, you would not be sent to Leavenworth for being with Daniel anymore, DADT is more like a guideline than a law anymore. I will find a way to keep you in the SGC even if it isn't on active teams. I promise you that."
"Can you promise our children will not end up in the hands of the NID? Or Area 51?"
"Why would your children end up there?"
"Time traveling munchkins," Jack returned, "You don't need to know what they are capable of, and you should have plausible deniability. Plus, Daniel and I have five children and we promised ourselves and each other that they wouldn't be raised by strangers."
Hammond frowned at Jack, "Well you cannot really choose to leave as of yet. You will need help to end the MIA that is attached to your names plus I am sure you will need time and money to reset your lives to some sort of normalcy."
Jack nodded, "So we'll be spending some time at the SGC until all this is taken care of?"
"Jack, you know it has to be done, you have ten years worth of debriefing to do, for now though I will leave you here to settle in and rest. You will be picked up in the morning at 0700."
Jack nodded and walked the General and the doctor to the door. Sam and Teal'c removed themselves from the room and Daniel was still standing against the wall. Jack walked towards him, reaching out to touch Daniel's hand gently.
Daniel looked at him, his eyes still wet but there was that illusive hope in his light blue eyes as well. Jack stepped forward, crowding close to Daniel's chest, leaning down to rub his forehead against Daniel's.
"You did it again!" Daniel accused, frowning which was bellied by the sparkle in those eyes that sent Jack's heartbeat galloping even now after all this time.
Jack chuckled, "What?"
"You gave up the fight—for me."
"For you Danny, for our family too but I can't live without you in my arms and I have no intention of hiding the way I feel for you for the rest of our lives. Plus we need to keep our children away from the SGC as much as possible, I may trust Janet and Hammond but NID is everywhere and I would not have them in danger."
"Jack?" Daniel pleaded, looking up at him.
"Danny?" Jack returned quietly, leaning close to nuzzle at Daniel's throat.
"I love you so much Colonel Jack," Daniel responded. "Please kiss me?"
Jack had no intention of ignoring such a request, especially since he wanted the same. He leaned down, taking Daniel's lips in a searing kiss that forced Daniel's mouth open with a shared moan that spoke of the stress Daniel had been under and the love he felt safe enough to release finally.
Jack pulled back just enough to whisper into Daniel's mouth, "I love you too my beautiful Danny."
Daniel heard the words and leapt at Jack, wrapping his arms around Jack's shoulders and pressing his chest and hips flush against Jack's body. He slipped his tongue into Daniel's open mouth and sucked the air from Daniel in barely restrained passion. Jack lifted Daniel into his arms and pulling Daniel's legs around his hips and he dragged Daniel around the corner and dropped his legs so Daniel could run up the stairs. Jack followed, taking a stop in the bathroom where he had lube from his lonely nights; luckily some was still there. If not then they would have made it work, it didn't really matter what they did right now only that they were together.
He found Daniel in his bedroom, pulling at the clothes he wore. They were the last pieces that reminded them of the home once lost where their children were safe. Jack eyes followed as each bit of tanned skin was revealed and Jack continued to watch the spectacle. With a grin, Jack slowly started undressing as well but kept his gaze on Daniel. It had been far too long since they were doing anything more than sleeping in bed and most days through the sickness they didn't even get to sleep together as one of them was usually resting with Zada.
"It has been too long Danny, I don't know how long I'm going to last."
Daniel grinned, dropping his underwear and moving quickly across the room to grip Jack by the back of the neck and pulled him close, "Then we shall have to do what we can." Daniel kissed Jack harshly, pulling at the last of Jack's clothing before they moved backwards to the bed to tumble down among the blankets.
Jack was pushed down on the bed as Daniel moved sinuously against Jack's chest. Daniel slipped the lube from Jack's slack hands and leaned down to kiss Jack once again. "What do you think about some friction for now?"
Jack grinned, "Sounds like a good plan for now Dr. Jackson."
Daniel returned the grin, leaning down to take Jack's mouth into another kiss even as he hands slipped together to warm the lube he somehow got in his palm. Jack gasped when Daniel's hand slipped across Jack's shaft. He jerked his hand gently in a rocking motion that stoked the fire inside Jack quickly. Then Daniel joined him, pulling Jack's hand down to wrap around Daniel's straining erection as well and they moved quickly together.
Jack moaned into Daniel's lips as they moved towards completion and when it comes, they fall together. Daniel stayed where he is, breathing heavily into Jack's neck and plastered against his chest and Jack would have him stay there as long as possible.
"I love you Daniel," Jack told him and kissed Daniel again.
"I will love you forever Jack O'Neill."
Jack hoped that continued to be the case now that they were home once more and no longer protected from the small minds of people.