Chapter Twenty-Three: Life Changes

Daniel waved away the airman who drove the van away and he waved the children in through the door and they all walked down to the medical unit where Janet was going to administer some more tests to make sure the children were still doing well and then there were people coming in to test their intellectual levels and their strengths and weaknesses. Daniel knew that Janet was going to want to give some shots to the kids otherwise they wouldn't be able to attend school.

Daniel still didn't really know what he was going to choose and General Hammond was going to try to convince Jack to stay but that would be Jack's decision alone. Daniel would have to make his decision as well especially after the second attack, this one happening on the base. Daniel refused to be a victim but he also wouldn't make it easy for others to attack him, so he was going to report Elliot and Blake and decide what he wanted to do after that.

When he arrived at the edge of Janet's domain Daniel wanted to turn tail and run like the coward he wasn't trying to be. Jack was talking to Janet in her office but he looked up and saw them which brought Janet's eyes over as well. She stood and came over and threw her arms around the girls. Zada and Zale still tended to take a slow approach with doctors but Johnny had warmed up to Janet as well. Daniel smiled at Janet, sending her a little wave before turning to walk out.

"Daniel?" Janet questioned gently, "Are you okay?"

"Fine, just need to see the General."

"There's a General in my office who really needs to talk to you."

Daniel shrugged, "I tried and he left me there. So he can watch me walk away this time."

"Okay well we are going to take some tests again to make sure they are transitioning well then I have a few friends from the school district within the military that can help to determine where they are school wise," Janet was saying.

"Great," Daniel said with a smile. As much as he wanted to retain a lot of influence in the children's schooling, in this world there were different important subjects that he had done as best he could but Daniel's focus and intelligence was in several specific areas, not really someone prepared to teach them what they would need to know to graduate and succeed educational. So Daniel was conceding his need for their best chance though he would continue their language training as he'd been doing since they were very young.

"Thanks Doc," Jack said with a grin as he walked up to them.

Daniel sighed, turned and walked towards the exit. Jack rushed after him, blowing kisses to the kids before giving chase. It wasn't a rough chase by any means since Daniel wasn't running away, just going about his day.

Jack moved to walk with Daniel, slinging a gentle arm across his shoulder. Daniel sighed but didn't push him away, they didn't need any more rumors and stories flying around about them, "So Hammond's office right?"

"That's where I'm going and I would appreciate if you didn't go in with me," Daniel responded.

Jack pulled away slowly, "What? Daniel!"

"No Jack, we're just hurting each other today. Maybe we should take a real break. You refused me in bed last night and I freaked out on the kids this morning. If this was just about me it wouldn't be a problem but this crap is hurting our kids now."

Jack pulled Daniel to a stop, looked around and opened a nearby door. Daniel looked around and found them in a cramped broom closet. "We need to talk about this now Daniel."

"Let me out of here Jack," Daniel demanded but Jack just shook his head.

"You think I don't want you anymore?" Jack asked, shock evident in his tone.

Daniel looked away but he nodded, "I'm more broken than you can possibly ever heal Jack. I needed you to push past the flashbacks and prove we could save our love life and you denied me. That must mean that you agree with me."

Jack sighed but said nothing and Daniel just waited while Jack started shuffling around and after a few minutes Daniel couldn't handle the suspense anymore. He looked up and found Jack stripping out of his jeans and kicking his shoes off. He was left in his boxer shorts and Daniel reared back in shock.

"Jack what are you doing?"

"I am going to prove to you this one thing, that I desire you more than I have any person in my life."

Daniel shoved himself as far away from Jack as he possibly could. "No, stop this Jack. We're on a military base."

"Relax Daniel, I am not going to touch you," Jack responded as he leaned against a stool in the corner.

"You're going to prove that you want me by not touching me?" Daniel asked in confusion.

Jack grinned, "You can touch me Daniel, if you like but it seems like any time my hands are on you for too long that's where the problems are right now."

Daniel frowned and crossed his arms in annoyance but couldn't tear his eyes away from Jack. He kept his eyes on Jack's chest, and the way his stomach, which tapered to the most amazing, hips. Daniel knew who amazing that looked when it was thrusting into Daniel. He shook away the image, could feel his cock taking an interest in his lover's body on display.

Daniel watched as Jack slipped his hand over his neck and spoke softly, "I wouldn't mind if your hands were always on me. Sometimes I wish we could just live out the rest of our days in bed together." Jack's hand slipped down his chest to sweep across his nipples, leaving them pebbled delightfully. Daniel wished he could force himself forward to touch all the bounty of skin he was being presented with.

All the while Jack continued to speak, "I thrive on the thought of your hands, I should have been flagging in the sex department long ago but when you're anywhere near me, I get hard and I cannot wait to spend myself inside you or across the sheets with you inside me. Maybe even pressed up against you, finding release with friction or your mouth or your hands. Really Daniel, as long as your touching me, I would find release."

Daniel's breathing was ragged and he itched to touch himself or something. Daniel wanted to follow through on the words Jack spoke to him. He took a step forward inadvertently just as Jack reached between his legs and took his cock in hand and started stroking. Daniel whimpered, moving forward and shoving Jack's hands out of the way so he could force himself between Jack's thighs and took up the action himself. Jack was right, when Daniel was in charge there was nothing to fear; only the pleasure he sought in Jack's arms. He pressed close and pulled Jack up to kiss him. Jack for one of the few times took the beta role while Alpha Daniel rolled on the scene.

Daniel slipped his tongue inside Jack's mouth, letting him slip into the moment even as his grip remained loose and slow on Jack's hard erection. "Gawd Jack, you know how to wind me up." He whispered the words into Jack's lips.

"Now do you understand," Jack grunted, his chocolate brown eyes blown wide from pleasure. Daniel held Jack's gaze even as he slipped down Jack's body not even giving the man time before he took Jack's erection deep into his mouth and sucked until Jack exploded into the back of his throat. Daniel continued sucking for a few strokes after he was done ejaculating before he slipped back up to stare at the dreamy expression on Jack's face.

"We can get this back, a little at a time Danny."

Daniel sighed at the words slipping sluggishly from Jack's mouth and smiled, "And you still want me?"

Jack chuckled, "Always Danny, I am going to always want you more and more."

"But?" Daniel asked.

"Just that I will not do what you asked me to do last night, I will not force the fear away with more pain. You can be the Alpha for a while in the bedroom because that is hot!"

Daniel nodded and kissed Jack then slipped his hand down between his legs where his cock was still straining against his pants. "You up for returning the favor?" Daniel asked shyly.

Jack moved with lightning speed to deposit Daniel on the stool, opening his jeans and shoving his boxers out of the way. Daniel snickered then sucked in a deep breath as Jack indeed, returned the favor with fervor.

Jack pushed Daniel up against the wall just outside Hammond's office, running his fingers through Daniel's hair as Daniel returned the favor with a quick kiss. Shortly after fooling around in the broom closet, they found the nearest bathroom, rinsed their mouths out and headed to Hammond's office. Jack hoped he didn't look as pleased with himself as he thought he did but there was really no hope for that and Daniel's shoulders weren't as tense as they'd been for weeks now.

Jack nodded and Hammond waved them inside and looked from one then the other with a shake of his head, "Did you make sure you weren't caught on tape?" was all he asked.

Jack laughed as Daniel stared at Hammond in shock.

"I promise sir, nothing caught on tape."

"Thank god for small favors," Hammond mumbled under his breath.

Jack sat down and Daniel followed suit, still looking at Hammond in silent shock.

"Daniel, we both look a lot mussed right now and satiated as well."

Hammond chuckled then focused on Jack, noticing his civvies in place of a uniform, "No uniform, is that an indication of your decision?" Hammond asked even as he smiled to Daniel and Jack neutrally. Jack knew there was nothing he could say to make George feel any differently about them, he would do what he could to keep them then just as quickly release them from the SGC.

"General Hammond, you know that I have lived and breathed this base for a long time but when we were taken we all of us had to admit somewhere along the way that we may never make it home then we had to accept the life we were gifted with there and I did, after a lot of struggle."

Daniel snorted at that and Jack shot him a wink.

"A lot of struggle, I said that Danny!"

"Still an understatement."

Hammond laughed at that, "And?"

"And then we had the children and we realized that there is no way around the fact that I am about 60 and should have been retired ages ago if I hadn't been separated from this place. We have what equates to three special needs kids and they need me more than this program does. You have survived without us for years and I would have you continue to do so."

Jack kept his eyes on Hammond but could see Daniel smile next to him as Hammond just nodded, "Of course I understood that this might be your choice. We have survived without you but I will not pretend that it has come without loss since you went missing. Without your clear command and Daniel's heart and Sam's mind and the tactics and knowledge Teal'c brought, it hasn't been easy."

"I understand that Sir and I appreciate the sentiment but I have a higher calling."

"Be with your family and Daniel. Well it's probably for the best, as a General you would have been sent from the SGC and actually they were hoping to pin you to a desk job in Washington."

Jack raised a brow in surprise, "Why would I want to do that?" he laughed.

"Because the SGC needs someone in Washington to work closely with the President and keep the money rolling in."

Jack shrugged even as Daniel took a deep breath of worry that Hammond's words could pull Jack back. It seemed he was worrying for nothing, Jack had made this decision and Daniel was glad and worried about it in the same breath.

"Then we shall tender your retirement and get the ball rolling. Doctor Jackson?" General Hammond turned his gaze on Daniel as Jack kept his eyes on his lover. Daniel took a deep breath and saw the instant when Hammond realized Daniel had a few new bumps and bruises. "What happened?"

"That is my first portion of business this morning." Daniel stated and handed the sheet, detailing the attack from the previous evening with his signature and pictures of all the bruising which Jack helped him document last night before they went to bed. General's eyes slipped over the words slowly then rose to meet Daniel's then Jack's gaze in succession.

"Blake and Elliot?" Hammond queried.

Daniel nodded, "They accused me of turning Jack and proceeded to beat me before I was able to escape the attack and get home but they shot through my windows and that's where the red and scratched face is from."

"They will be punished, lucky if they don't end up kicked out of the Air Force for this. We don't allow this kind of treatment of our consultants or military."

Daniel nodded again, "Which leads me to my second concern: I don't know if I can be here George, not where people are going to be constantly blaming me for Jack not being here, for Jack not being straight, for turning him from Sarah or whatever the hell everyone is thinking and where so many of them are willing to tell me in front of others. I don't know if this place is safe for me anymore."

George frowned at Daniel, "Doctor Jackson, would you make this choice before really coming back? This program cannot lose you, Daniel as the one who opened the gate and continued to teach us every step of the way before you were taken from us."

Daniel shook his head, "I don't know Sir. I can try to stay here for a trial period and see if the people here are willing to just leave me be. I cannot be the man who screwed Jack O'Neill. We love each other and we deserve to live our life together without slander."

"And assault," Jack added.

George stared at Jack but there was nothing he could say, Daniel had been almost killed by a member of Jack's family and then when he was mostly healed someone in the Air Force attacked him. George couldn't protect Daniel from hate and Jack missed the Vannas who never judged Daniel and him for loving each other.

"Okay well try to stay for six weeks and see where we are, it will give you a chance to catch up on some of the translations that the rest of your team were incapable of translating. There's quite a bit of it."

Daniel nodded, "And without Sam, Teal'c or Jack here I won't be going off world."

"Of course," General Hammond responded quickly.

"Well then, maybe we should go and see how Doc Frasier is doing with the kids and decide what they are going to be doing as well."

Daniel nodded to Jack and so Jack stood and shook George's hand, "Sir, It has been my greatest honor to work within your command for the time I was with you. I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to different worlds and you will never really know how grateful I was to find him," he spoke before he turned to look at Daniel who flushed under the unadulterated love in Jack's gaze. "So you must understand the magnitude of a shitstorm I will rain down if anyone hurts him again."

George didn't laugh as Daniel suspected he might, he just nodded resolutely, "I will do what must be done to make sure harm does not find him again."

Jack nodded and reached his hand out to Daniel and he had no reason not to take it. Daniel looked at George, "I will call you later when we know more about the kids schedule and can figure out when I am going to be here."

"Soon though right?" George asked.

Daniel nodded before they headed back the way they had come, towards their children.