Chapter Twenty-Four: They Don't Understand

Daniel and Jack got back to the infirmary to find all six of the kids sitting with adults who were speaking quietly with each of them. Zale and Zada were speaking animatedly as well as a little sarcastically for some reason. Janet and Claire were quietly proud but Daniel worried about Johnny who was sitting there with his hands tucked under his thin thighs so Daniel walked over and knelt down next to him, "What's wrong JJ?"

Johnny leaned sideways and touched his forehead to Daniel's cheek and again he heard something that he never expected, "I cannot use words Daddy, they don't understand my thoughts. They think I am stupid."

Daniel gasped and tugged Johnny away from the military personnel who was sitting next to his youngest son, "My son is not stupid!" he shouted, shocking everyone.

"Daniel?" Jack questioned even as the teacher was stammering to say something. The complete inability to speak made Daniel glare at him.

"No Jack, Johnny is our son and he's just as smart as the rest of our kids, he just can't talk!"

"I would never determine a child's worth by his speaking abilities but if your son can't speak then he has no place in a public school who will determine him dumb."

"No, you just don't know how to talk to him! This is screwed up, I am not going to let the school system determine the intelligence of my child!"

Jack walked over and tried to soothe Daniel, even as he cuddled Johnny who had his head tucked under Daniel's chin. Johnny's hands were clenched into Daniel's jacket and refused to even go to Jack, and Daniel wouldn't release him either.

"This is why I don't know if I can be here with them, with the military! They judge and they are narrow minded in everything including determining what our children are worth!"

Jack touched Daniel's cheek gently, "Danny, calm down. Remember where we are."

Daniel shook off Jack's hand and glared at the man in question who stood and stepped away from the others. Daniel followed him with his eyes as the man walked out of the infirmary and everyone took a deep breath. Daniel sat down and cuddled Johnny to his chest. He kept an eye on the rest of the teachers and waited for them to talk to the kids about their language skills and he looked to Janet and motioned her over.

"Have they asked them about their language skills?" he asked her.

Janet shook her head, "They were sticking close to what schools would be looking for, behind in math and science but well beyond the needs for language and writing. You did well with them. They don't think of secondary languages for children at their age."

"Well they need to be put into secondary language classes if I have anything to say about it, they are all so very smart and they deserve the chance to be heard." With that Daniel turned towards the kids again and called out a greeting in Spanish, their stronger secondary language and everyone stopped while Daniel had a fast paced conversation with all of them besides Greer and Johnny of course. Daniel watched the flabbergasted expressions on their collective faces when he switched cleanly into Latin and even Claire and Janet were able to keep up though they were still tripping here and there.

Daniel told all of the kids how proud he was of their accomplishments and all their continual hard work in this area. He kissed Johnny on the forehead and went silent after about a half an hour of basically calling all the teachers to carpet about underestimating the abilities of his children.

Jack snorted and shook his head and Daniel looked over at his husband, "What?" he asked.

"You are such a Mama Bear when someone could be hurting your babies," Jack responded.

"Oh you gonna tell me you aren't?" Daniel demanded.

"Heck no, I'm worse but I feel the need to tell you something," Jack leaned in close, away from the shoulder where Johnny was still tucked in close to his daddy to whisper to Daniel, "It makes me want you so much. I want to take you back to that broom closet and show you how much it turns me on, especially when you speak different languages."

Daniel blushed but kept Jack close, "Je t'aime, Jack."

I love you in french.

Daniel didn't stop there, "Eres el único hombre para sostener mi corazón. Sólo existo para ti y para ellos."

You are the only man to hold my heart. I only exist for you and them, in Spanish. Jack smiled even though he didn't know exactly what Daniel was saying his face clearly said that he was smart enough to figure it out.

"I love you too Danny, we'll make sure they are getting what they need okay?"

Daniel nodded and turned back to watch the teachers filling out some worksheets and all of the children were not even paying attention anymore to what was going on with the adults. Daniel might find the actions rude if it wasn't for the fact that the teachers and testers were already pissing Daniel off.

He just hoped that whatever these tests were, it would give Daniel and Jack what they needed to allow their children a chance to succeed in this world.

After Daniel and Jack sent the kids with Janet towards the doctor's office to play, the couple sat down in front of the teachers and Daniel was still fuming. It had taken Jack quite a bit of convincing to get Daniel to release Johnny but he finally got him when he said that whatever the teachers had to say might not be what the smart and sensitive little boy would like to hear. Daniel conceded the point and they sat down with the lead teacher, a man with twead jacket and a button up shirt, something not unlike what Daniel would have worn once upon a time, the thought made Jack snicker. That just brought Daniel's glare to him so he sobered and listened closely.

"My name is Justin McAdams, I have looked over these test scores from each of the six children and I don't understand some of the inconsistences. For one thing, Greer does not have the same level of competency as the other children in some areas, was he not taught the same way?"

"He is not our son, so any learning he did it was outside our home."

McAdams nodded, "Okay, they have a great grasp on the written language though possibly out of practice. As you proved, they can clearly pick up languages very well but their math and science skills are sadly lacking."

"We were living in a world where those particular disciplines were not necessary for survival. I took an interesting in the teaching of letters and speaking secondary languages."

Jack rubbed a hand across Daniel's back; his younger husband was letting this become personal. He knew Daniel was still feeling out of sorts despite the leaps they had made the night before. All Jack would do is keep being patient and make sure his handsome partner didn't completely destroy the man sitting before them.

"What would you have us do?" Jack asked.

"Well there are some tools and classes that you can get them into so they can get caught up. They are going to have quite a few classes and tests to get through before the next school year starts because the older ones have four years to get caught up on. And the twin girls will have about two years of catch up."

"Just give us what we need to see it done and how long before they must be registered and what school?" Daniel asked, rubbing his head then nudging his newly reacquired glasses back into place. Janet handed them to him after Johnny was calm again, stating that in the last exam she did with him, the eyes were bad enough again that Danile needed his spectacles once more.

McAdams nodded, "We will see it to you by the end of the day, delivered to your home address. Greer is going to have quite a bit more work ahead of him and you would do well to bring in some extra teachers and tutors others they won't be ready."

"And Johnny?" Daniel asked with gritted teeth.

McAdams shook his head and shrugged, "Does he use sign language?"

"Of a sort," Jack responded, he didn't know how to explain the emotional transference that Johnny spoke to them with or the moments of telepathy as well. They didn't need sign language when they had their own.

"Without learning a standardized language or way to communicate, he would not be conducive to learning with others and in a classroom where they won't have time to make sure he understands the lesson."

Jack placed a gentle hand on Daniel's shoulder to keep him in his seat, "We understand that, Johnny is capable of writing though, why can't he use pencil and paper to speak his words?"

"It won't be enough, teachers don't have enough time to spend on one student."

"Well why should we put any of our children into school when you guarantee a mediocre education and level of care?"

Jack winced as did McAdams, who stuttered a little before speaking, "You would set yourself up to teach all six children multiple grades without any help?"

Daniel stood and stepped closer to McAdams, "I would do what I have to so I could see my children to a better future than you are offering them." With that, Daniel turned and walked out of the area to the snickers and chuckles of several of the MP's in the room. Jack watched as McAdams struggled for something to say while Jack watched him bluster and fidget. "Send us what you have and be done with it." Jack stood from his chair and walked closer to McAdams, "And I would advise you keep your teachers in line, my son is not dumb and my husband knows how to make your life a living hell and every single one of them is going to be legal and true."

McAdams blinked in shock at Jack, "You can't threaten me!"

"Who said it was a threat, just a warning to keep a civil tongue in your head," Jack responded and McAdams didn't know what else to say so he nodded and Jack walked away to find Daniel sitting on the floor with his arms wrapped around Claire and Janet with Johnny sitting in his lap while he spoke to Janet.

"Do you think there is any way that Jack and I could find some tutors to help us get these lessons done, so the children can go back in the fall?"

Janet was nodding, "We can make it work Daniel. When Cassie first came to me, we had to get her caught up much in the same way. I have some friends who would gladly find the time to help you with your wonderful babies."

Daniel smiled, "Thanks Janet."

At that Janet looked up at him and smiled, "What Daddy?"

Jack grinned, since they were spending so much time with Doc Frasier with their daughter owning the same name, so Jack and Daniel had spoken to her about being called 'JC' which she was excited about for some reason but at almost seven, they were taking some time to retrain her of when to answer.

"Remember baby, you are JC," Jack said as he walked in.

"Right Papa, I remember."

"Can we go home Papa?" Zale asked quietly.

"Of course Z-Man, we're going now."

Daniel nodded and helped everyone to his or her feet. Jack turned and nodded to Janet before he led Zale, Greer and Zada out of the room. Daniel followed close behind with the twins and Johnny. Daniel let Johnny hold his hand and Jack watched his lover who seemed to be very quiet until they got to the car and strapped everyone inside and closed the door. Daniel didn't get into the passenger seat so Jack turned and leaned aganst the side of the vehicle.

"What is it Danny?" Jack asked gently, reaching out to take one of Daniel's hands between his.

Daniel watched his hand, "Do you remember when we were fighting, you wanted so badly to come back here?"

"Of course Daniel, why do you ask?"

"Jack, I wish more than anything else in this entire galaxy that we could go back to the safety and acceptance that was just a part of life there."

Jack tugged Daniel into his arms, kissing Daniel on the head gently, "I know love. I also remember this genius of a man telling me that we had to be grateful for what we had found there, that we could have a life together. Being back here has not taken our chance from us like we so believed, it just comes with different challenges."

Daniel sighed into Jack's shoulder; his hand gripping the back of Jack's coat while his other hand was tucked inside the coat's pocket. Jack grinned, used to Daniel's comfort blankie moments that seemed to pop up out of nowhere sometimes unless someone like Jack was keeping track of his moods. The need for comfort had been constant thing and just because they made love the night before would not magically make all the fear and trauma Daniel had been dealing with go away in the light of the morning. So Jack kissed Daniel's temple again and then shoved him playfully into the passenger seat with a wink. He walked around and stepped into his seat and started the car. They passed the ride back in silence and Jack didn't feel the need to break it though at some point he would have to start doing so otherwise Daniel might do the unthinkable and be the quiet person in this relationship and Jack wasn't ready for that.

Once they were inside the house again, everyone settling in to a nice lunch in the kitchen and Jack watched Daniel push his food around before he grabbed a bite on the fork and slipped it close to Daniel's lips. His beautiful husband gave him that look that was one of the reasons Jack fell in love with him, it pretty much read 'knock it off'. That sounded weird to some but when everyone Jack ever met kowtowed to him or was afraid of him, Daniel's complete irreverence had become a mainstay in their friendship, it put them as equals in the team and then later after they got married and had the kids.

Then when Daniel realized Jack clearly had no intention of letting this go, the blue-eyed man took the bite into his mouth and he hummed in happiness of the flavor and decides he might as well enjoy the meal he had before him and dug in. Jack grinned at him whispering, "Love you," to him.

Daniel smiled in return before he gathered himself up and started his Spanish talk with all the kids as if it were any other day because it was for them. Jack didn't know what school they would go to if they went to any, he didn't know if Henry's case would go to court or not.

Jack only really knew one thing: that Daniel and he were together and the kids were safe. Daniel took his first small step back to Jack, no longer a shade in their home, a welcome return. Nothing else mattered to Jack at the moment.