Chapter Twenty: Family Reunited
Daniel sat in the back of the van with Jack holding his hand gently in Daniel's lap. Jack was tapping an uneasy rhythm on the back of Daniel's knuckles. He was nervous and Daniel wanted to soothe him but he didn't know what Jack was worried about. He could guess, that he would have to talk to Ben and Lauren about Henry, that they would have to punish Zale for misusing his powers again and that Daniel barely let Jack touch him for more than a second since the attack almost a week ago.
Daniel wanted Jack to touch him but he'd been getting flashes of Henry pressing him up against the wall, exposing him to the elements and the humiliation of the moment. The degradation he had inflicted upon him was dragging the love he felt for Jack away from him but there was no way to fight the loss in the hospital. They needed home and the kids around them to find the normalcy once more.
And Daniel wanted that.
They parked outside Ben and Lauren's house and Daniel took a deep breath before they tumbled out of the backseat, Daniel turned to thank Marcus who was driving them but he just waved and jumped into his own car to leave. Jack retook Daniel's hand and they walked up to the house together, Daniel's movements still a little slow since he'd started with wounds on his legs and chest. Thanks to Zale's unneeded healing, Daniel's concussion and intracranial bleeding that had been on the first x-rays were doing quite well and when Jack demanded they be released so they could return to the Springs, no one dared to argue with General O'Neill or Janet.
Jack opened the front door and their children immediately surrounded them, giving gentle hugs and sweet pats on any available body part. Daniel smiled and kissed them each in return. He made sure to tell them honestly that he was hurting but he would be okay since their empathy would have just branded him a liar if he said he was perfectly fine or some such nonsense.
They moved everyone to the living room and Daniel sunk into the soft cushions with Jack on one side and Johnny on the other. The girls were sitting between Daniel's legs on the ground and Zale and Zada were sitting on Jack's other side and across his lap. Ben and Lauren reached around and over children to hug and kiss Daniel, thanking God for his safe return to them.
Daniel frowned at Lauren in confusion, "Thank you?"
"I'm so glad your okay Daniel," she responded.
Daniel looked at Jack again and he smiled a little and gave a nod as well as a shrug, as if to say 'she came around'.
"There is something we need to discuss when the kids are not here," Jack stated before Daniel got even more tongue tied about Lauren's turn around and said something he would regret later. Daniel smiled in relief then realized what the news was and his smile fell away.
Ben nodded, "We know, Henry called us from jail to give his side of the story not that anyone believes him here."
"What?" Daniel asked a little more enthusiastically than he wanted to, startling Johnny. Daniel kissed his little boy on the head so Johnny would curl up close to him again. Lauren was watching them both with a small smile, which Daniel returned, still cautiously optimistic.
"I realized on the day of the wedding, or maybe a day later that you left with Henry and that he led you out there where you wouldn't have an escape if he pinned you down. I am sorry this family has been so bad for you Daniel, I hope you can forgive each of us?"
Daniel frowned, "Why would you need forgiveness? Henry believed I corrupted Jack, Lauren believed I had done the same and I was taking her daughter-in-law away from her. That I had replaced Charlie with our children and maybe your right."
"What?" Jack demanded.
"No!" Ben responded at the same time.
"Daniel," Lauren spoke, silencing the men easily. Daniel really would have to ask her where she learned that because he couldn't get Jack to shut up to save his life sometimes. "Just because we think something is true doesn't make it so. I saw in you what I had been denying at the wedding, you move when Jack moves and he moves only for you. That sort of gravity is not something seduced or corrupted, it pure and unadulterated love and I would be a cruel and unfeeling mother to not see it in both of you. I am incredibly sad for Henry but he'd been going down the wrong path for some time, I'm just sorry he happened to snap here with you."
Daniel nodded and turned to look at Jack as the newly minted General's insistent touch on the back of his neck, "What I said at the hospital was the god's honest truth Danny, you saved me from me."
Jack leaned forward and Daniel presented his lips for a quick peck on the lips and looked back at his father-in-law who seemed saddened by the slight show of affection.
"I know you will find your way back into the light of your love, just give it time," Ben stated and Daniel frowned at him. He could have sworn Ben was reading his mind or something because he worried about kissing and hugging Jack, of allowing Jack to lay at his back again. It would undoubtedly take time and patience from them both.
They stayed at Ben and Lauren's for much of the afternoon, sharing lunch with them before they went back to the hotel to pack up for their flight back to the Springs the next day. The kids hugged Lauren and Ben and she paid close attention to the twins and Zale, letting them know they were loved and accepted as well. Daniel smiled as they scooted out the door and loaded the children into the van before they turned to speak to Ben and Lauren.
Daniel watched as Jack hugged his dad then Daniel hugged the man who was incredibly gentle with Daniel. Ben gripped the back of Daniel's head, holding him close to Ben's shoulder for a long moment. Daniel took in a deep breath and Ben felt and smelled a lot like Jack, safety and comfort. Ben pulled back and looked into Daniel's eyes, "Welcome to the family Daniel."
Daniel smiled and nodded, "Thanks Ben for everything you did for me. I haven't been a part of a family for a long time, Jack and Sam and Teal'c taught me it was possible but this is different and you did more for me than anyone had done for me in quite a while."
"Daniel," Ben chided gently. "You gave our son back, you gave us five beautiful grandchildren. You have given us so much more than we have given to you."
Daniel sniffed and hugged Ben again before Jack elbowed his way into the hug, "Alright Dad, get your own archeologist, this one is mine!"
Ben laughed, "Yeah you better treat him well so no one can snap him away from you."
With that Jack hugged his dad again as Daniel turned to Lauren who took Daniel's hand gently between her hands and leaned close to kiss his cheek before she tugged him close for a hug as well. "Thank you for bringing your children here and letting us meet them despite your understandable misgivings."
Daniel nodded, "Thank you for making room in your heart for all of our children."
Lauren looked sheepish at that very subtle reminder of Lauren's need to separate the children as 'Jack's kids' or 'Daniel's kids'. "Watching you with Zada and Johnny, the way you would never allow them to think they belong to one of you or the other, its very loving and honest. I am glad you didn't give me the chance to hurt that familial bond between them."
Daniel nodded and pulled away from Lauren and Jack walked him back to the van and tucked him into the passenger seat then Jack walked around. He got in and started the car and they drove back the hotel and got them up the elevator and into their suite again. The children were settled down in the living room with various school projects that Daniel had started with them before the wedding to make sure when the school year started up in a couple months they would be ready to join others in their age group. When they were happily working on their homework Jack tugged Daniel towards their bedroom and Daniel slipped down to sit on the side of the bed. Jack knelt down to untie Daniel's shoes and the scientist was left to watch the bent head in front of him. He reached out and touched the silky silver hair on the side of Jack's head and pulled his attention away from his task. Jack looked up and smiled at Daniel, "You okay?"
Daniel sighed, "Yeah, just tired all of a sudden."
"Well you have been laying about for a week now, it's going to take some time. You know the drill, since you have been through it so often."
Daniel smiled at Jack rolling his eyes about that then pointed to Jack, "Pot," and himself, "Kettle."
Jack laughed at that and Daniel sighed at the sound, always having loved to hear it whenever he was able to. Jack went back to tugging Daniel's shoes and socks off before he helped Daniel out of his jacket. Any other time Daniel would be pushing Jack off, claiming the mother hen act wasn't working for him but Daniel seemed to need it as well. Jack motioned to the bed and Daniel leaned back and Jack unbuckled Daniel's belt and started slipping his slacks down his legs but Daniel stilled awkwardly which stalled Jack's movements.
"Danny?" he asked gently.
Daniel nodded shakily, "I'm okay Jack. I can't really sleep in my pants."
"Sure you can, this is going to be the first night we are in bed together since the wedding and I can wait. I can even sleep in the other room."
Daniel shook his head, he didn't know what kind of fear was still wrapped up in his head but he did know that the best sleep he ever had was when Jack was with him. That had always been the case, even when they were friends and ignoring their feelings, sleeping in the same tent on different worlds. Jack had always been Daniel's safe place. "I always need you Jack."
His Colonel Jack nodded and slipped Daniel's pants off his legs before Jack pulled the blankets back, with some shifting around so Daniel could climb under the blankets and Jack moved to lay down next to him. Daniel turned and took Jack's hands in his and just watched Jack's brown eyes and his face as Jack returned the favor.
"Can I touch your face Danny?" Jack husked as he moved closer, now only a breath away from him.
"Please Jack," Daniel returned. Jack hand slipped up to Daniel's cheek and wrapped around his jaw then slipped back gently to move around the shell of Daniel's ear and into his hair at the base of his neck. Daniel was grateful that the pain and bruises had easily faded so he could enjoy this touch now. He watched as Jack's eyes glazed with passion and couldn't stand to look away.
"Can I kiss you Danny? I wanna kiss you bad."
Daniel never saw something like that from the assault with Henry so Jack's love and lust for him had not been soured by the attack and when Jack leaned in gently Daniel had no choice but to lean the rest of the way and kiss Jack on the lips. Henry hadn't wanted to kiss him; there had been no corruption of this one aspect of their relationship. The rest would take time. Jack moved away even as Daniel's heart sped up and Daniel denied him retreat. He pulled Jack back with a whimper of need and Jack smiled into their contact. Daniel slipped his hand around the back of Jack's neck, pinning them close together. Daniel didn't know how close he could get to Jack before something popped up in his head but he was willing to risk it for a few minutes anyway. Jack seemed happy to stay at his mouth for the time being so Daniel returned the kiss. His mouth opened and his tongue slipped against the seam of Jack's lips and wondered how long his Colonel would be able to deny Daniel which was soon answered as Jack's mouth opened and their tongues met deliciously for several minutes before Daniel couldn't help but slide close to Jack's warmth and their bodies slipped against each other's in the bed. Daniel waited for some sort of flashback so when none came, he slipped one of this legs over Jack's hip and slipped even closer into contact. Jack moaned, the sound something so beloved and familiar that is spurred Daniel even closer. He was draped suddenly across Jack's chest and he grinned into the contact.
Jack pulled away; leaving one more peck on Daniel's lips, "As much as I would like to continue this I'm not going to."
Daniel sighed and settled back on the bed, Jack leaned down and kissed Daniel before he left the bed and paused at the door, "Danny."
"Colonel Jack?" Daniel returned with a small smile.
"I love you," Jack responded.
"I love you too," Daniel returned before he snuggled into the pillow and fell into a deep sleep that for the first time came from knowledge of safety and love.