Chapter Fifteen: Reception

After kisses were spread around to friends and well-wishers, Jack led Daniel over to the table where the Pastor was waiting for them. He signed off on their marriage license and Jack watched as Daniel's shaking hands as he was given the pen to sign. He watched as Daniel looked up at him as if asking Jack was sure he wanted to do this. Jack nodded a little so Daniel heaved a sigh of relief before he turned back to the document on the table, all the while his other hand gripping at Jack's. The Colonel rubbed his spare hand up and down the edge of Daniel's spine, soothing his lover as best he could. They were married in their own time, something that neither of them ever imagined to be possible. And not only that but also many people had insisted on being here to support them.

When Daniel handed over the pen, Jack kissed Daniel again before he leaned down to sign the document as well. He then handed the pen to his father and then Sam to stand as their witnesses before Hammond stepped forward and turned Jack to face the room.

"I have been given the permission of those above me to give Jack a special gift on this day. He has served our country and world to the highest order, willing to give up life and freedom for the cause we fight for and I would see that rewarded. I hereby grant you station of Brigadier General Jonathon O'Neill."

"What?" Jack demanded a little more passionately then he was planning. This wasn't anywhere in his plans for the day. Daniel reached over and hugged him in congratulations all the while Jack stood in strangled now silent awe.

"See, he has always sounded like a General with a bark like that, now it won't be insubordination," George said with a laugh. The audience filled the room with laughter then fell silent as Jack stood to attention and Daniel stepped away from him. The Colonel bars on his Class A's were replaced with those of his new station and Jack saluted George and the military people around him who were all standing at attention though Daniel wasn't as per usual not that he had to. Jack had never really wanted Daniel to kowtow to him because of his military station, he'd always wanted the scientist to respect him because of who Jack was as a man, not the fact that he was Daniel's commanding officer.

When General Hammond stepped back, Daniel was suddenly at his side again taking Jack's hand in love and support. He looked at George in uncertainty, he'd had every intention of signing off on his retirement papers, become a stay at home father.

"Don't worry about it Jack. This wasn't a last ditch effort to get you to stay, we talked about you earning this," George whispered to Jack before they rejoined the crowd who were still cheering and clapping.

The pastor handed them their paperwork before Jack called for silence. "So we have rented a room at mine and Daniel's hotel for the reception, please come and join us for some fun and food."

Everyone cheered and started to leave when Daniel pulled Jack to a stop, he turned and caught sight of those shimmering azure eyes and smiled.

"How did you do all this? Why would you do all this?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Jack asked with a grin, "I love you Danny and this is what you deserve to be treated like all the time. I'm sorry I forget sometimes how lucky I am to have you. And how I did this, well that is a family secret," Jack winked and tugged Daniel after him out the door and back into the limo which the couple now had to themselves.

Jack pulled Daniel close even as he removed his cover, swiping damp and loving nips up and down the side of Daniel's neck even while his younger lover was trying to form words to speak, "The kids?" he husked.

"With Pop as they will be for the whole day and evening. Just you and me tonight."

"Is he taking them back to his place?" Daniel asked, pushing Jack to glare at him.

Jack sighed figuring he'd better figure this out now otherwise Daniel wasn't going to have any fun, worrying about the kids. "Danny, Pop is staying with them in the room next to ours, far enough away that we will have the freedom to do whatever we want, wherever we want but not somewhere you can't trust right now."

"You made your dad rent a room?" Daniel asked, crossing his arms mulishly.

Jack smiled, "Nope, I paid for the room so you and I could be guaranteed their safety and protection even while we take an anniversary/honeymoon."

"Well you just thought of everything," Daniel said with a saucy grin. Jack felt the punch of desire low in his belly, pooling there to remind Jack that they hadn't had much chances recently to be together through the crisis of family crap and being in close quarters again with their children. Jack took Daniel's words, as freedom to reclaim Daniel's neck with his mouth. He worried the skin gently, enough to illicit response without marking his love's skin. Daniel didn't like love marks where people might be able to see them so Jack respected him in that area. Jack just chose to mark his lover in another areas that were unavailable to him at the moment but would be on full display later if Jack had his way.

"I'm pretty sure we're here Jack," Daniel husked even as he turned into Jack's touch.

Jack pulled away from Daniel's neck, kissing his way up to Daniel's mouth, "Just give me a minute."

Daniel nodded then pressed his hand into the back of Jack's neck to bring their lips together in a kiss to put their 'first kiss as married couple' to shame. Jack moaned into Daniel's mouth as their tongues tangled and Jack found Daniel's other hand slipping down Jack's chest but he grabbed it before Daniel found his way to Jack's very interested shaft. He didn't want to mess up his Class A's till much later and he didn't need to go find a cold shower before they joined their guests.

Jack regretfully pulled away from Daniel's devastating lips giving one last kiss before he pressed his forehead into his lover's head, "Danny what you do to me."

"Prove it, lets go upstairs and you can make up to me this morning when you denied me your body," Daniel whispered as he kissed the shell of Jack's ear.

"Insatiable and very tempting my love but a lot of people came here from the Springs to see us get married. Do you really want to disappoint them?" Jack asked and Daniel sighed. Jack grinned, Daniel was such a kind and loving heart that it was impossible for him to be selfish when he could possibly hurt or disappoint anyone. He gave Jack another kiss then moved away from him to pull himself together and cool off from the heady kissing and touching. Jack pouted but realized his lover was right, they needed a minute to cool the hunger for each other that seemed to be an ever-deepening part of their relationship.

Jack laughed suddenly and Daniel turned and looked at him as if he was crazy, "What are you laughing about?"

"We've gotten married twice and I've heard that sex flies out the window when you get married and have kids and yet I still find myself desperate to find any dark corner where I can accost you."

Daniel grinned in return before he pulled open the door and scooted out to stand, "Well let's go see if we can find any."

Jack jerked into action, taking Daniel's hand as soon as they were out of the vehicle, his cover tucked under his other arm as they walked inside, the new silver wedding bands gleaming in the cool sunshine. Inside, they were led to the banquet hall where everyone cheered at their arrival, marveling at how well the room was decorated, in blue and gold with tables off to one side and a dance floor with a DJ set up in the corner. The lighting was dimmed but not so dark that the photographer couldn't take a few shots of them who now stepped forward to pull them away to do a couple of shots of Jack and Daniel together.

That took about fifteen minutes then Daniel put his foot down, saying they would have pictures with their children as well and so they retrieved the children and started taking family pictures as well. Jack watched Daniel talk to the little ones, letting them know what the guy was doing, what the pictures were and looked to his family who were standing across the room. Jack watched the understanding wash over his mother, that sadness which was tempered by clear acceptance. Jack had a family with Daniel and their children; it did not undo the love he felt for his old family and for Sarah. It was just different.

Jack smiled over to her and she smiled back a little, wiping away the tears before they had the chance to smear her makeup.

Then he refocused as Daniel had the children standing calmly and smiling and so the pictures began and kept going to include Teal'c and Sam, then their kids followed by a few pictures for Jack with Marcus, Ben and Lauren, no one was sure where Henry was though a guest said they saw him head for the bar a while ago. It was something that Jack decided, to not have alcohol available in the banquet room because Daniel would get weirdly smashed on a glass of champagne and Jack wanted his lover alert and wild, not headachy and woozy.

So then they were done with pictures and Jack and Daniel finally got to grab their lunches and sit down at the family table where the children were also munching on their meals as well. Jack watched as Daniel tugged each kid to his lap, one after the other and asked how each one was doing and that he loved and missed him or her that morning. Jack just tucked his head on his closed fist and watched Daniel at work with his babies. Jack copied the action then tugged Johnny into his lap and hugged their youngest son, filling Johnny with the sensation of love and contentment only to have it returned in full. Jack was glad to feel that from Johnny because the youngest Jackson-O'Neill didn't know how to lie to make other people feel better. So when he tightened his grip on Jack's arm and felt the pain rupture into the side of his head, Jack knew he was seeing something. Jack coughed to get Daniel's attention to let him know he was going to take Johnny with him for a minute to try to figure out what their son was seeing.

"Where is it?" Jack asked, pressing his lips to Daniel's ear.

Daniel didn't need to clarify what Jack was asking for, "The memory device is in my book bag in the room."

Jack nodded, tugging Johnny close and kissed Daniel on the side of his face before he stood up. "Be back in a little while."

Daniel nodded and frowned, "Do you want me to go with you?" he asked quietly.

Jack shook his head, "No, I got this." He said and patted Daniel on the shoulder before he left the hall with Johnny squirming to try to return to the table.