Chapter Twenty Six: Getting up to Speed

Daniel didn't really know what to expect when the doorbell rang and he walked over to open it, finding a cart in front of the door with five boxes piled high and McAdams pushed it inside and gave Daniel a shy smile.

"What's this?" Daniel asked.

"What the office recommends for you to get the children ready to enter the grades they are supposed to be in. Luckily if you can get them close enough then we will just see them in a lower grade if need be."

Daniel gave him a glare and McAdams just looked away.

"Oh gawd, what did we get ourselves into?" Jack demanded as he walked in to see the boxes.

That broke Daniel's glare as he chuckled at his husband, belatedly he realized that was Jack's point. With a roll of his eyes, Daniel gave Jack a shove for manipulating to which Jack just shrugged and winked.

"Well there are pretty helpful instructions for every level as well as the tests to get them through to the next grade. You would honestly do better to just take it at your own pace, with the help of personal tutors for each child and just give them some time. I don't see this being a short endeavor."

Jack snorted, "You clearly don't know my Doctor Jackson nor my children."

Daniel grinned at that and McAdams beat a hasty retreat, which Daniel didn't mind. He had no intention of speaking to the man more than absolutely necessary. Janet had already given Daniel the names of several tutors that were well versed in multiple topics and he was going to take as much time to be with the kids and Jack was going to be with them most of the day to help keep them focused while giving them equal opportunity to be kids as well.

McAdams was out the door quicker than Jack could wave goodbye and he just shrugged, "You really disturb that man," Jack said as they started opening boxes. Daniel opened the one on top and found records for all the kids, they'd already had birth certificates as well as adoption papers drawn up so all five of the children belonged to both of them and Greer Sky Merrick was a foster son of theirs so he was protected as well from people thinking they should remove Greer from their care. All of this paperwork was about immunizations and some of the testing they had already had, Daniel was impressed how quickly Hammond and Janet got it all together. Inside each box had containers, some stating they were for Zale and Zada and others for Janet and Claire while others still were for Greer and Johnny though it seemed that McAdams was going to continue with the belief that Johnny would never find a way to function without speaking. Daniel took a deep breath so he didn't chase after McAdams and punch the guy out.

"Mama Bear," Jack said with a chuckle.

"Papa bear, you saying this doesn't piss you off just as much?" Daniel hissed at his honey.

Jack laughed again, "Of course it pissing me off but you are doing enough bark and bite for the both of us which really isn't very nice for me love."

"Why is that?" Daniel asked, frowning over the workbooks and texts. It had been too long since he was in school but in a strange way this was going to be as fun for him as well as the children. He'd always loved teaching and learning, otherwise he wouldn't have achieved so many degrees in such a short time.

"Because I'm supposed to be the quick to temper and action in this relationship and your supposed to be the kind hearted, chatty one."

"Chatty?" Daniel asked, not knowing what Jack was talking about really.

"Daniel, don't pretend. You love to talk, to teach and correct. Its one of your most annoying and beloved qualities and lately I find it lacking in our home."

"If its so annoying why do you care?" Daniel snapped, frowning at his spouse.

Jack grinned, "I think you're trying to start a fight but its not going to work. I'm enjoying your snippy attitude right now," Jack snickered before he leaned in close and kissed Daniel gently.

"What? Why?" Daniel asked, flabbergasted by his bizarre spouse who was grinning like a loon as he took a couple of the books into the living room to spread them out on the couch next to him. Daniel stood over him with his arms crossed.

"Daniel, you have been so quiet for far too long, it's been just as scary for me and the kids watching you become a different person after what happened. I was started to think you would never be my pissy archeologist who hates to wake up without coffee in hand again."

Daniel stared at Jack in shock, his arms uncrossing to flop at his sides. Sometimes it was still easy to pretend that Jack didn't know Daniel better than anyone else in the entire universe. He'd been so wrapped up in the fear that he forgot to talk to the kids and Jack about the things he loved in life and in their life. He didn't know that even his morning attitude had so been broken by what happened to him. He pushed the books out of his way and made to sit next to Jack when the older man tugged Daniel to sit across his lap instead. Daniel sighed then leaned close to press his forehead against Jack's.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Jack shook his head, dislodging Daniel's for a second before foreheads touched once more. "You have nothing to be sorry for, just know that I am grateful for your strength and ability to bounce back from anything."

Daniel grinned and slipped his lips across Jack's mouth who quickly took small touch and turned it into deeper connection. Daniel allowed Jack free reign for a few seconds, then turned into a few minutes before he finally found himself pushing away from the kiss. Daniel then decided to stay where he was and opened up the nearest textbook and looked through the math of kindergarten and heard as Jack groaned. Daniel chuckled, "We do it for them right?" Daniel asked, letting his shoulder bump Jack's shoulder.

Jack nodded, "I would do anything for you, and for them."

Daniel kissed Jack again and refocused on the books in front of him. He took notes in one of his spiral notepads. He would be able help with a lot of these subjects and there were things that Jack would be able to take care of but he would be calling several of the tutors just because teaching six kids most of them at different levels was going to be an interesting prospect.

"Will we have what we need to pay the tutors?" Daniel asked Jack, who had a better handle on their finances at the moment.

"My retirement payments put us well above what we need but we were also compensated for the years we were POW, it wasn't much but it will help."

"How do you know what I have?" Daniel asked with a smile.

"Because as your husband, we have a joint account, you just haven't really been touching yours because we have been getting much of what we need through Hammond and the SGC. The bills when we were in Boston weren't much because you are one of my dependents."

Daniel snorted, "I am not your dependent."

"No Danny, if anything I depend on you way more."

They shared another smile before refocusing on the paperwork. After a while Jack whistled, bringing all the kids into the room. Daniel got up and set Zale and Zada in armchairs with their first workbook and a spiral notebook. They were focusing on math for now, and next JC and Claire were set to work in the kitchen at the table to start on some simple science and English. Daniel wasn't worried about them, all four of them were incredibly quick on their feet and learn at an alarming rate, this would just be another challenge for them.

Daniel settled on the couch with Greer and Johnny, started with reading. Greer knew letters but he was still struggling with them despite all the time he used to spend in Daniel's classroom. The Vannas didn't really use written languages, as far as Daniel could tell they spoke English because it was the language on Earth. Daniel didn't really know for sure because neither had Akina, who'd been raised with English as her dominant language.

Johnny, in the midst of Greer telling his story not understand the significance of the book but doing what Daniel asked of him, touched Daniel's arm. "Daddy?"

"What baby?" Daniel asked before he even realized again that Johnny was talking in his mind.

"What what?" Jack questioned and Daniel stared at Johnny.

"Johnny, are you talking in my head again?" he asked his son.

"The block is gone, I am strong enough to reach out with my mind to you and Papa."

"Jack, he's talking to me," Daniel stated with tears in his eyes and Jack moved away from the girls with a hand on each of their heads before he took Johnny's face into his hands.

"JJ?" he asked gently.

Daniel was shocked when he continued to hear Johnny even though he was clearly talking to Jack; Johnny had never been able to speak to both of them at the same time. "Papa, I did it. I am strong enough to talk to you."

Daniel watched as the tears filled Jack's eyes, knowing they were blurring his vision as well. JC and Claire rushed over to hug Jack's middle as Zale and Zada walked back into the room and asked what was going on.

In answer Johnny whispered into all of their minds, "My family."

With laughter and tears of gratitude, they smothered Johnny with kisses and hugs, high fives and snuggles. And at the end, they all returned to their studies as if their world didn't just tilt again. At least this time the tilt was welcomed.

Daniel smiled as he listened to Greer haltingly read, even while Johnny spoke much of the words clearly in his mind. Thankfully Daniel and Jack had both had a lot of practice over the years with listening to spoken conversations while hearing telepathic messages in mind thanks to Zada and Zale who enjoyed talking through more private channels when they could. Most of the time, Daniel and Jack made them say it again but they continued the tradition. And now Daniel was thankful for the years of training because he could give attention to Greer and admire Johnny's persistence as well.

And so would begin the long journey of teaching their children in this world.