Chapter Twenty-Two: Watching Over Him

After the aborted attempt at making love, Daniel stayed pressed close to Jack, tears shimmering in his eyes and sniffles preceding little sobs. Jack just stayed where he was, rubbing a gentle palm across Daniel's neck with fingers slipping through the silky strands at Daniel's temple. Daniel calmed slowly, sighing into Jack's touch until finally Daniel slipped into sleep. Even in sleep though Daniel's grip remained constant on Jack's neck and chest. It might be uncomfortable but Jack refused to let that matter. He was going to do anything to make sure Daniel was safe in his arms.

The time passed slowly for Jack as he watched Daniel sleep and slowly but surely Daniel's grip loosened. Jack leaned close and kissed Daniel's forehead then his slack lips but the touch made Daniel tense so Jack backed off again. He sighed, he didn't know what Daniel had gone through, could never imagine what it was like to be so hurt by someone he knew. Jack had done horrible things and had horrible things done to him but Daniel had been hurt by Jack's family, his brother and that Jack had no clue about.

He hated that Daniel believed that Jack could ever leave him over this, he hated that his touch scared Daniel. Jack hated that Henry tainted the connection they shared for more than a decade. He didn't know how long it would take to get it back but they would, Daniel was too determined to save it and Jack was too determined to make sure that when it did happen for them again, it would be perfect and not the fiasco Daniel was so desperate for earlier.

With the hope for the future welling deep in his heart, Jack slipped close to Daniel but with a blanket between them so Daniel wouldn't wake to skin-on-skin contact and slept with the knowledge that as long as his hands were on Daniel then he was safe.

What seemed like moments later, Jack heard the over annoying beep of the alarm and before he could reach up to turn it off Daniel was out of the bed and crawling into his robe. He was out of the room and into the master bath before Jack had the chance to turn off the alarm and fully wake up.

He frowned at the actions of his husband, sighing sadly that Daniel's morning grumpiness had been changed by the assault as well. He wondered if any part of Daniel hadn't been changed and hurt by that day. After the shrill of the alarm was silenced Jack followed Daniel into the bathroom to take care of his morning ablutions before he slipped back out, aware of Daniel silently cleaning himself in the shower. Daniel used to sing and hum in the shower.

Jack walked back to the bedroom and pulled boxers, jeans and a t-shirt from the dresser before he walked out of the bedroom and across the hall to the other bedroom. Zale was already awake and getting dressed while Greer was sitting on his bed with his legs up to his chest and Johnny was sitting in his bed, legs swinging down over the edge of the bed.

"Good morning boys!" Jack called happily, hiding his anxiety over Daniel under the excitement he felt to wake up his kids and get them ready for another day.

"Morning Papa!" Zale called as he made his bed. Jack smiled, moving closer to kiss Zale on top of his head. He moved to sit next to Johnny and gave him a kiss as well.

"You okay Johnny?" he asked. Johnny nodded and Jack turned to Greer who still wasn't moving. "And you Greer? You want to change and go downstairs for some breakfast?"

Greer shrugged.

"What is it Greer?" Jack asked, touching the back of the kid's neck. He looked over at Jack with those bright green eyes and tried to smile.

"I'm ready for breakfast," Greer forced out.

Jack looked to Zale and Johnny and they both walked out of the room. Zale and Zada would get the twins dressed and then they would get some food out for everyone. Jack was left alone with Greer who looked around anxiously.

"I didn't want to bring you here, it was Varrick," Greer blurted.

"I know Greer, we don't blame you for what happened. We do want to make sure that you are protected and loved as long as you're with us."

Greer looked at Jack in shock, "Are you sure?"

"Very sure," Jack returned.

"I am going to try to get us home," Greer promised.

Jack pulled Greer close to his chest; "I know Greer but don't do anything to hurt you for our sake. I would get you back to your parents as soon as possible if I can but I would much rather have us all safe and happy here together."

Greer hugged Jack's stomach and after a few minutes, they both stood and started down the stairs. He found all the kids in the kitchen, pouring cereal into bowls and splashing milk into them as well. Jack grinned, he knew Daniel wasn't going to be please with the change in their diet but the kids enjoyed the change so Daniel would just have to deal with it until they were back into some sort of routine. Cereal was easy when Jack spent a good portion of his time watching over Daniel and Daniel spent too much of his time still struggling to maintain some sort of functionality.

"Jack," Daniel spoke as he came into the kitchen behind Jack.

He turned to grin at his husband, "Daniel?"

"What are you feeding the children?" demanded Daddy Daniel.

"Cereal."

"I'm sorry?" Daniel asked angrily.

"Cereal, Daniel, its easy for them to make."

"Its also full of sugar and crap they don't eat! You're lucky they're not throwing up!"

Jack winced, "Actually they have, a few times."

"How long has this been going on?" Daniel demanded.

Jack winced again and he mumbled, "Since Boston."

"Really Jack! Really! They are used to eating a completely organic diet and you have them eating processed crap. Goddammit Jack, I don't want to deal with this too!" With that he walked over to the table and started dumping bowls of cereal into the sink, cracking a dish before Jack walked over to him and pulled him from his violent reaction. Daniel shoved against Jack's shoulder but he just held the younger man close and waited until the surge of strength and emotion ran its course.

"You're right Daniel, I know you are. They have been living in the healthiest of lifestyle and I shouldn't allow my laziness to affect them. Lets just let go of this anger and make them some real breakfast."

Daniel nodded and pushed gently against Jack, turning his head away from the General before Jack could try to kiss him. Jack tried to ignore the sting of hurt from the rebuff and then went to the table and looked at the children who were watching Daniel in apprehensive silence. Jack comforted them with touches and looks before he started pulling eggs and sausage as well as toast and butter. Zada got up from the table and grabbed some fruit from the table and handed them to Daniel who was still leaning over the sink. Jack watched from the stove where he started cracking eggs into a pan as Daniel turned towards Zada and smiled down at her. There were tears in his eyes again, a constant in their lives these days that Jack did not love at all.

"Daddy, its okay." Zada whispered and Daniel stumbled to his knees in front of her, pulling her close.

"I'm so sorry baby, I would never hurt any of you. You guys can eat cereal if you want, I'm sorry."

The words broke something inside Jack; he'd never heard Daniel so devastated in front of their children. Zada took it pretty well; rubbing her little hands over Daniel's back gently. Jack scrambled the eggs slowly on a low heat and just watched as Zale walked over to his Daddy as well to hug him from behind. The twins and Johnny followed and when Jack smiled to Greer the little boy joined in the little group hug as well.

Jack just watched as he cooked, throwing some sausage in another pain and popping bread into the toaster, four slices at a time before slathering some butter on a few of them while leaving others dry. He wished he could climb into the midst of the Danny pile but he felt like he wouldn't be welcome there. So he put all the eggs into a serving bowl, the sausage in another and the toast on small plates, keeping the dry from the buttered toast.

"Breakfast is served," he spoke softly and the children each kissed Daniel on the cheek before they climbed back into their chairs at the table. Jack slipped some food onto a plate for himself and then another for Daniel but his young spouse shook his head as he grabbed a cup of coffee. Jack sighed and watched as Daniel walked over to sit at the table and pulled himself together enough to speak some Latin and teach the girls some more in their third language. Jack stayed at the island and ate his breakfast quickly before he cleaned up the mess of the cereal breakfast. He threw away the shards, being careful about cutting himself.

Jack wanted out of the house after last night and this morning, Daniel avoiding him and the anger towards the cereal thing was so not like Daniel. He needed to go to the mountain and fill out he paperwork for his retirement and Daniel needed to report the guys who attacked them. They would need to call for a ride since the Jeep was going to need to have the window replaced. He reached across the kitchen counter after the sink was cleaned up and gripped the phone in his hand. He listened to the laughter behind them and leaned against the sink, taking a few deep breaths before he dialed the mountain and put in for an airman to come pick them up. Then called for a tow truck to pick up the jeep and take it to an auto shop. He didn't really notice when the chattering behind him thinned out and quieted but he did feel Daniel's hand along the dip in his lower back. He put the phone down and continued stacking dishes that appeared next to him on the counter.

"Jack," Daniel whispered, settling close to Jack's back.

"What are we going to do Daniel? You have never been that angry about something so small, and to do so in front of the kids."

Daniel's arms slipped around Jack waist, "Jack please look at me."

"I don't want to see you pull away again Daniel. Just go get ready to go to the mountain. We have to report the assault and I have to retire."

"Jack," Daniel whispered.

"Just go Daniel!" Jack shouted and felt as Daniel's hands slipped away, leaving Jack bereft and guilty. He grabbed his shoes and jerked them on over his bare feet and grabbed his jacket. Daniel would take the kids when the airman came to pick them up but Jack had his recently retitled truck. He opened the door and waved to the tow guys, giving them his spare key to the jeep before he jumped into his truck and left.

It seemed all Jack and Daniel were capable of lately was walking away from each other.

Daniel heard the truck start and he went to look out the window, seeing Jack peel out of the driveway while a tow truck loaded his jeep onto its bed. Daniel frowned then realized that the window would have to be fixed but now he was stuck here with the kids and no vehicle.

He turned away from the window and slumped on the side of the bed. He pulled off his glasses and fought the ridiculous urge to throw them against the opposite wall. He clung to them instead, flopping back to lay down on the bed. He'd been quick to temper about the cereal and he'd broken a dish, things he'd never done before. Daniel knew part of it was the epic failure of the night before, that Jack rejected him in bed. Daniel needed Jack to push through the flashbacks and reclaim Daniel's body, to bring passion instead of pain and Jack wouldn't do it. He didn't desire Daniel anymore. And now, they were both screwing up with the children.

If Daniel couldn't be a good husband then at least he could do what must be done for his children. That was one of the reasons they were going to the mountain today, so the kids could be tested to find out where they would have problems in school and what Daniel and Jack would need to focus on in the weeks before they returned to the school year.

So Daniel sat up slowly and put his glasses back on. Daniel trudged across the room to grab clothes and slip into them. He was clipping his new ID on his jacket when the doorbell rang and he shouted to the children, "You guys ready?"

When he heard a round of assents, Daniel walked downstairs and opened the door to find an airman at the door and Daniel frowned, "Yes?"

"I am here to talk you and your wards to the Mountain. Are you ready?"

Daniel nodded and called out to the kids again. "Let's get going."

They were suddenly surrounded by excited giggling kids, Daniel wouldn't let the airman help him get them into the car seats, just pointed to the front seat and the airman obeyed with a snarky salute. Daniel rolled his eyes before he clicked the last belt into place and got into the passenger seat.

"Let's go then," Daniel said with a fake smile that Jack would have seen through in a second but the airman just returned the smile and started the van. Good thing Daniel wasn't looking for any new friends because all of a sudden all his diplomatic abilities and people skills had left the building with Jack not that long ago.