He wiped the sweat off of his forehead with his sleeve. It had grown steadily warmer as the season had progressed into this world's summer and today was quite hot.

He heard a squeal and looked over at the two boys who were playing with a set of building blocks in the corner. He was watching them, and the store, while Ethan went to pick up more supplies.

He'd been with Ethan and his grandsons for over two months now. He'd finally gotten over his wounds – at least the physical ones – and out of gratitude for having his life saved, had begun to help the older man around the store.

He started to take on more and more of the physical labor, moving shipments and supplies, which allowed Ethan to concentrate on the business side. Jack had also found himself acting as teller and store clerk as his host spent more time in his back office. The business had been growing steadily, and Jack's help had become invaluable.

Jack didn't mind at all. It kept him busy while he was recuperating, and also helped him learn more about the place he'd ended up.

While he had been bed-bound – and from Ethan's demeanor, he'd assumed that he'd landed in a small village, reminiscent of a mid-western 19th century town. When he'd managed to leave the house, however, he'd been in for a surprise. They weren't in a village at all, but rather a city. It still looked like something out of 19th century Earth, but it was much bigger and much more affluent looking.

He found out that there were over 200,000 people living in the city, which was called Hjem. It was a thriving and seemingly peaceful metropolis. It was also quite lovely, with quaint houses and tree-lined streets.

He found out that there were other towns and cities dotted around Varld, the name of the planet, but Hjem was the capital and center of commerce. It turned out that Ethan was a well-off merchant, who provided goods that were hard to find anywhere else in the city. He had a very loyal clientele, but his new customer base was also growing as word got out about his products.

The thing Jack appreciated was that Ethan was not only smart and successful, he was also a very humble man, and a very hard worker. The neighbors had shared that Ethan had started out small, but that his business had grown over the years, and he was now one of the more prominent members of the community.

The older man was also obstinate, and had refused to hire anyone to help him, thinking he could do everything on his own. Jack had had to insist on giving his assistance, and although reluctuant, Ethan have finally agreed. Jack had soon he became invaluable to him.

He had also become something of a full-time caregiver to the two little boys, a job he didn't mind in the least. Ethan loved the boys dearly but struggled to know what to do with them. When he realized how good Jack was with children, he'd happily let him watch the boys. He was still a loving grandfather,– but he was not as hands-on as Jack.

The fact was that Simon and Jankin were the one light in Jack's otherwise very dark world. The fear and guilt over Sam practically consumed him, as did the memories and trauma of his own experience. If it hadn't been for Ethan's grandsons, he didn't know if or how he would have coped.

He spent a good part of the day watching the two boys. He would take breaks to play with them, and also to start teaching them simple things. He was teaching Simon his letters and numbers, and surprisingly, Jankin had picked up some things as well.

The boys were sweet, although they could be mischievous, so he had to watch them carefully. Much to his embarrassment, and Ethan's joy, they'd already wrapped Jack around their little fingers.

As for Sam – well, he started looking for her the moment he'd been able to get around and any time he had a moment – usually late in the day or on the one day a week that Ethan closed the store. He would watch his grandsons while Jack took one of the horses – or rouncey's as they were called here – and searched for miles outside the city. He'd also begun to ask people in Hjem if anyone had seen a golden-haired woman. It was an unusual hair color here, so he hoped that someone would remember her. The problem was that the city was big, and Jack knew it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

So, unfortunately, he had no luck. There was no trace of her anywhere and he had begun to lose hope.

He had also tried finding out if Hjem had a stargate but had only received shrugs and blank looks when he brought it up. Ethan had told him directly that he'd never heard of a stargate but he sent Jack to their version of a library to see if there were any references to such a thing. There had been nothing.

Jack hadn't gotten to the point of giving up looking for Sam, or hoping to find a way home, but he had started to acknowledge that he might be stuck on Hjem for the rest of his life. This wasn't the first time he'd faced that dilemma, but familiarity didn't make it any easier. The only thing that made the idea at all bearable was his friendship with Ethan, and his love for the two little boys.

"Fair day to you Jack." Magnus Evergood was one of Ethan's best customers, and also one of his best friends, even though he was quite a few years younger than the merchant. He was a stern looking man, tall and very, very thin. He gave the impression that he was harsh and unyielding but, in fact, the opposite was true.

Jack had come to like the rather cadaverous looking man. He'd learned that Magnus was both kind and generous, although rather shy. He'd helped Ethan when Jack had first been found, and came regularly to check on him, and to make purchases.

"Fair day, Magnus," Jack smiled from behind the counter. "How are things with you?"

"Fine, fine," the tall man said. "I'm here to buy some of Ethan's excellent colao. If you have some with hallon berry, that would be excellent."

"I think we do, let me check." Colao was the Varld version of chocolate. It tasted similar, although it had a slight tartness to it that Jack liked. Ethan stocked some of the best and there was a big market for it. It was quite rare and therefore expensive, which was probably a good thing or Jack would have eaten way too much of it.

"Here you go," he said, putting down the package on the counter. "Is this a gift?" he asked, although he was sure it wasn't. Magnus was a quiet man and didn't seem to have an extensive social life.

It was only when Jack glanced up, to see Magnus looking very uncomfortable, that he revised his opinion. Maybe this was a gift.

"Would you like me to wrap it?" he asked gently.

Magnus nodded. "Uh yes, please."

Jack carefully wrapped the package, using the prettiest paper that Ethan had behind the counter. He wanted this to be special for Ethan's friend.

"It's for Magda," Magnus blurted out. "It's her name-day."

"Magda?"

"My next-door neighbor," the other man confided. "I've known her for five years. She's very nice."

The way he said it made Jack wonder if Magnus feelings were more than "neighborly" ones, although all he did was nod. "There are some pretty flowers behind the store," he told the other man. "Why don't you pick a few. It's always nice to get flowers for your – uh – name-day."

"You don't think it would be too much," Magnus asked worriedly.

"Well," Jack leaned against the counter. "Are you good friends?"

"Uh – yes, I believe so. She often bakes me things and has invited me for drinks on a number of occasions. She is very sweet."

Jack had to bite his lip so that he didn't grin. He suspected that Magda liked Magnus although the poor man probably hadn't picked up on it. He wondered if he should play the role of Cupid? "I think you should give her flowers. And why don't you ask her for dinner – unless someone else is celebrating with her."

"No – she said her family is in Orebro," Magnus said, mentioning a town about a day's ride from Hjem. "She will be alone."

"Then definitely invite her for dinner. You can give her the flowers when you pick her up and then give her the candy at the end."

"Are you sure that it is not too forward of me?"

"I think she'd appreciate it," Jack told him. "Is Magda – uh – close to you in age?" He didn't want to make something happen if it turned out she too young – or too old.

"Yes. A few years younger, I suspect, but close. We seem to have much in common."

Jack smiled and nodded. "Then definitely dinner," he said. "Do you dance?"

"Me? Dance?" Magnum looked at him with shock. "I have not danced for many years."

"But you do dance. So why don't you take Magda to a nice restaurant with a dance floor. I'm sure she'd appreciate that."

By the time Magnus left the store, he had an entire plan in place to celebrate Magda's name-day and hopefully, let the woman know how he felt. Of course, Jack hadn't been that blunt, but he hoped his suggestions would help. Magnus deserved some happiness.

"Uncle Jack, Uncle Jack!" Simon ran into the store from the house in back. He and Jankin had been relegated to playing in the room with their Grandfather while he looked at the books.

"What is it?" Jack reached down and gently moved a strand of Simon's hair out of his eyes. He needed a haircut, he thought randomly.

"Grandpa says we can go eat by the river tomorrow and go swimming!"

"He did, did he," Jack looked at him with his brows raised. Tomorrow was the weekly rest day and all stores were closed. Usually, Ethan and the kids stayed around the house, but it sounded as if the older man was planning an excursion.

"Do you know how to swim?" he asked the little boy.

"Uh huh," he said. "My Da taught me." Simon looked sad and went silent, although a moment later was chatting again. Jack knew that the little boy still grieved for his parents, although both he and Jankin were incredibly resilient.

"And what about Jankin?" Jack asked. "Can he swim."

Simon shook his head. "He was too little," he said. "Can you teach him?"

Jack sighed, realizing that his plan to search for Sam, was not going to happen. He'd have to go with Ethan and the boys. He refused to acknowledge the slight feeling of relief. The constant searching, with no evidence that she was alive, was getting to him.

"Yes, I can teach him," he sighed again, suddenly feeling guilty for his thoughts. He should tell Ethan he couldn't go, but knew that wouldn't be fair. Ethan had done so much for him and he owed it to the man to help out on their day off. He also was a bit worried about leaving the older man to look after his grandson's by the river. He could sometimes be absent-minded when it came to the boys, and Jack would never forgive himself if something happened to one of them. That was especially true if Jankin couldn't swim.

"Good! It will be fun," Simon said happily. "Grandpa said we could take snacks!"

Snacks was a word that Jack had introduced to the boys, which had caused Ethan to raise his eyebrows, although with a twinkle in his eye. The two brothers now constantly asked for them, although Jack knew enough to include healthy food in their "snacks". "He did, did he?" Jack chuckled.

"Mmm hmm. And he said you would be respon –i-bel for them," Simon struggled with the word.

Jack laughed and just shook his head. "Okay – but I'll need some help," he told Simon.

The little boy grew excited. "Can I help? Really?"

"Yes you can, but right now you'd better get back into the house and watch Jankin. He may get into trouble without you there."

Simon rolled his eyes, which again made Jack chuckle. He was pretty sure that the older of the two boys had picked that habit up from him. "Now you get going!" he told the little boy. He pretended to be stern, but Simon knew him well enough and simply grinned and headed back to the main house.

Jack shook his head. The two boys really did know how to manipulate him. His teammates would be shocked at how they got their own way. He was turning into a softy.

With a shake of his head, Jack began stacking some shelves. If it wasn't for Sam, and his memories, this would be a good place to be.