A soft clattering sound came from the direction of the sink. Jack looked out from the shower.
“Whatcha doin’, buddy?” he asked Davy. The boy had carried a chair in and knelt up against the sink to see into the mirror. Jack rinsed and turned the shower off. He gave himself a quick rub down with the towel and wrapped it around his waist before stepping out of the shower. Davy had a can of shaving cream out.
“Shaving,” Davy told him.
“Oh, I see,” Jack nodded. He took a clean razor, left the protective cap on it, and waited until Davy had his smooth face covered in white foam. Jack stepped behind the boy and held the razor to Davy’s cheeks. He carefully instructed the boy in the art of shaving, leaving the smooth skin gleaming. Davy rinsed his face and studied himself proudly. Jack wiped foam from his ears and lifted the boy down.
“My turn,” Jack said as he pushed the chair out of the way. Davy rushed off, patting his cheeks. Jack smiled and shook his head as he spread foam on his own face.
“What was he doing?” Daniel asked as he stumbled in. He used his head against the wall to prop himself up as he leaned over the toilet.
“Shaving,” Jack said.
“And he came to you for lessons?” Daniel said. He flushed and turned the shower on. “I’m surprised you have a face left, the way you shave.”
The smell of peppermint filled the room as steam began to come from the shower. Jack’s butt was still feeling a little sore from their evening of romping through various scented oils.
“Shower is slippery,” he heard Daniel comment.
“The oils,” Jack said.
“Oh, right. Jack? My ass hurts. How many times did we go at it?”
“Don’t know,” Jack said. “There were six flavors of oil and I think we went through all of them. I don’t think I’ve slept, yet.”
“Sam was already gone when I got up,” Daniel said.
“She got up just before I did. I don’t know how she does it, Danny; she was all wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.” He leaned over the sink and spat out the toothpaste.
“This is her fault,” Daniel informed him. “She’s the one who insisted on tasting each of the oils.”
“Did she have to use us as her tasting boards?” Jack asked. “This isn’t her fault, this is your fault. You bought the damned things.”
“Is that a complaint?”
Jack opened the shower curtain. “No, it isn’t,” he said and leaned in to peck at Daniel’s mouth. “But you do know that she’s a little behind schedule in jumping one of us with one of her fantasies.”
Daniel paused. “Oh, dear. We’ve created a monster and she hasn’t fed in a while.” Jack flicked soap from a nipple and left before he was tempted into doing something his body wasn’t up for.
Jack put Fang on his runner and filled his dish while Olivia ran barefoot in the grass. She fell on her diapered bottom, her face stunned for a moment before something in the grass took her attention. Jack was at her side before she could eat the worm.
“Nasty,” he told her, swinging her up onto an arm. “When you are in a remote village somewhere, you can eat the worms. Not at home, though. It makes Daddy cringe.” She babbled and pointed. Not having much else to do, Jack let her steer.
They explored the trees, discussed the mailbox in great length, and watched a neighbor’s cat stalk a Bluejay and fall head over tail as it missed the feathers. Olivia thought it was a very humorous moment and pointed at the humiliated animal as she blew raspberries at it. The rocks on the driveway crackled and he saw an SF coming up the drive.
“Good morning, sir,” the man said with a salute. Jack returned it.
“It is a nice morning, isn’t it, Major?” he asked. Olivia jumped against the arm under her butt. Jack tightened his grip. “Livie thinks so, too.”
“Sir, may I speak freely?” the major asked, almost breaking a smile as the baby babbled.
“Sure.”
The SF glanced at the baby. “It’s….”
“She’s eleven months old, Major,” Jack pointed out. “Speak.”
“Yes, sir. There’s been a few complaints,” the major said. “Well, more like grumbles.”
“About what?” Jack asked, switching Olivia to the other arm.
“Colonel Davis, sir.”
Jack thought about it, waiting. “What about him?”
The SF shifted feet, clearly uncomfortable. “It seems he and Nick like to… play outside? They’ve startled a few families a couple of times. Parents don’t know what to tell their kids when they ask why they can’t play in the woods.”
Jack chuckled and nodded. “I’ll talk to him. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Any complaints about my house?” The major hesitated, shamefaced. “It’s okay, Major; we will keep it closer to home, too. How’s your wife?”
The SF brightened. “She’s fine, sir, thank you.”
“When’s she due?”
“In October,” he said proudly. “It’s a girl.”
“Congratulations,” Jack said, shaking the man’s hand. He gave Olivia’s fuzzy head a stroke. “It’s a strange species, but well worth the effort.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dad!”
Jack looked back at his house. Katie stood in the doorway, wrapped in an orange robe with her hair in a green towel. She was holding a small mirror up and poking at her face. “Dad! I need you!”
“What?” he called.
“I have a date with Josh! Freakin’ pimples! Fix it! Pleeeeeeze!”
Jack sighed and looked at the SF. “Honest. They really are worth it. Face the teenage years with courage, soldier; they will be the most trying.” He went back to the house and redacted the red blemish with a peck on her head.
“You know chocolate does that to you,” he reminded her. She scowled at him and went back to watching her skin heal.
“When a boy gives you chocolate, you eat the chocolate,” she informed him. She pulled the towel off and fluffed her hair as she spun around and rushed back up the stairs.
“Daniel!” Jack called out. Daniel looked out from the library. “You haven’t bought me chocolate in a while.”
“Yes, I did,” Daniel said. “I ate it.”
Jack set Olivia on the floor and she toddled quickly to Daniel. He caught her and lifted her, putting noisy kisses on her face as she inspected his face with curious little fingers. The TV was on and Jack looked over to see Davy sprawled on the floor watching his Saturday morning cartoons.
“Where’s Stacey?” Jack asked.
“Bike riding with some of the girls.”
“Which girls?” Jack asked. Daniel shrugged.
“Girls up and down the street,” he said. “Her usual cohorts.”
“Oh. Would one of those girls happen to be Molly Than?”
Daniel held Olivia up and blew on her belly. She screeched and kicked.
“I think so, why?”
“Nothing,” Jack said. Daniel slowly lowered Olivia to the floor.
“Why?” Daniel asked again.
“It’s probably just coincidence,” Jack said. Daniel moved in until they were nose to nose.
“Why? And don’t make me use the full name.”
Jack frowned. “That’s mean, Danny. The Thans live next door to the Kaplans.”
It took Daniel a moment….. “As in Simon Kaplan?”
“Could be.”
Daniel headed for the door and was pulled back.
“She’s fine,” Jack assured him. “She’s doing normal little girl things with other normal little girls. Giggling over normal little boys happens to be one of those things.”
“Daddy, Sheriff Richardson wants you,” Davy informed him without taking his eyes from the TV. Jack looked at him and then at Daniel. Daniel shrugged.
“Did the sheriff call, buddy?” Jack asked.
“No,” Davy said, shaking his head.
“So how do you know he wants me?”
“Don’t know. He does.”
Jack reached. He then looked at Daniel and picked up the phone. “Andy. Jack. Oh, you know…. Yeah, sure, how many? Tell them to come by my office on Monday and let me get a look at them. I’ll decide what we can do with them. Anytime.” He inclined his head and walked toward his office. Daniel shut the door behind them.
“You know those ex-cult boys around here?” Jack asked, perching on the edge of his desk.
Daniel thought about it. “You mean the boys who were kicked out of their homes? The off-shoot Mormon cult?”
“Yeah, them. Andy’s boys arrested a few of them last night. B&E. He wants me to see if I can do anything with them. The boys are so clueless, they’d be eaten alive in jail.”
“And they’ll probably need some remedial classes to catch up on what they were not taught in school. If I remember right, there is no more draft,” Daniel said. Jack waved a hand at him.
“I’m not going to draft them,” he said. “Just find them a job. You can help me interview them and see if we can come up with an appropriate place for them.”
There was a knock and the door opened. Sam stuck her head around the door.
“Hi, honey,” the men said. She came in, wiping the sweat from her neck with a towel.
“How was your run?” Jack asked.
“It was very nice,” she said. “You two need to start joining me.”
Jack lifted his shirt and looked at his flat stomach while Daniel pulled self-consciously at his t-shirt. Weight had always been his enemy.
“What are you saying?” Jack asked her.
“I’m saying you two are starting to huff and puff when you walk a long distance,” she informed them. “If we were still at the SGC and going off-world every week, would you qualify us for duty?”
Jack thought about it. “No, I guess I wouldn’t. Alright, we’re back on a regimen.” He looked at his watch. “Matty’s game is in three hours. Are we all going?” Sam and Daniel would be going with him. Sam went for a shower while Jack reminded David of his brother’s ball game. Daniel was still lying on the couch in Jack’s office. Jack went back in and looked down at him.
“What’s the problem?”
Daniel lifted an arm from his face. “Nothing. Just tired.” Jack went back into squatting position.
“Danny, you know we love you,” Jack said. He put a hand under Daniel’s shirt and stroked the smooth skin. “A few extra pounds won’t change that.”
“I know,” Daniel muttered. “I like the muscles and all, but I don’t want my life to revolve around the gym.”
“Then don’t,” Jack said with a shrug. “I like your muscles, too, but you’re no longer required to live up to military standards. You’re a civilian, not a meat-grinder. Sam’s right in that I need to start working out again; I need to set an example for the men and women under my command. And who knows when I’ll need to be in combat again? I don’t have a problem with your extra inch, Danny. I believe I heard Paul refer to you as a teddy bear. You’re our teddy bear.” He put a kiss on Daniel’s stomach.
Daniel glared at him from under an arm. “Alright. I’ll give myself to Major Brice’s tender mercies.”
Jack leaned in and kissed him. Daniel reluctantly responded and began to relax under Jack’s attentions. “Only if you want to,” Jack told him, holding Daniel’s eyes. “A few extra pounds isn’t going to get you kicked outta bed. Danny, you’re not lazy and you’re not a junk-food junkie. Any more than the rest of us, anyway. We have our days. Relax and enjoy life. You’ve earned it.”
“Daddy.”
Jack looked toward the door where Davy stood. “How come you didn’t tell us you were going to be on TV?” the boy asked. Jack looked at Daniel. Daniel got up and they went into the living room. Jack didn’t know he was going to be on TV because whoever had the camera had hidden it.
“…. and this isn’t the only so-called healing that has taken place,” the reporter was saying over a shaky, grainy video of Jack picking up a little girl from a fallen bike. She was crying and holding her arm. Jack knelt in front of her, talking low and reassuringly as he gently touched her arm. The girl soon stopped crying and nodded, flexing her arm. The camera zoomed in and the image was split: one side showing a bloody gash in the arm and the other side doing a fast forward, showing the wound seeming to repair itself in seconds. Jack recognized the girl from one of the neighborhood families.
“…… there are also rumors of military personnel being healed after General O’Neill visited their hospital rooms,” the reporter said. “There is a report of General O’Neill being shot, yes, shot, ladies and gentlemen, in the chest, injuring a lung, and yet he is out of the hospital within 48 hours.”
“Get Sam out of the shower,” Jack told Daniel. “And round up the rest of the kids.” He picked up the phone and called the guard house, putting them on alert.
The news image switched to a man whose identity was obscured.
“The general isn’t the only one with odd things happening,” the man said. “His daughter volunteers at the Academy Hospital and she has a remarkable degree of…..”
Jack picked up the phone again. “Are you watching the news? Look at Channel 8. Hell might be about to break loose.”
“You still want me to ignore this?” he asked when Daniel came out of the bedroom with Sam right behind him. She was dripping wet and wrapping a towel around her body.
“Yes, for now,” Daniel quickly said. “We already have the story of leaping to back us up; we can pin all this on that. Just let this happen, Jack. We knew it would come out eventually.”
“We have a leak,” Sam said as she watched the news. “Who the hell would know about you being shot? It was on the base and you were operated on upstairs.”
“No, I want him to…. never mind, I can deal with it a lot faster,” Jack said into the phone. “Call Washington and warn Maynard and Hayes. I don’t know yet. Daniel is still telling us to sit on it. His weirdness radar has been a little off lately, but he’s usually right.”
“In researching this story, we came up with something unexpected,” the reporter was saying. “All over the world, there are stories just like these beginning to crop up. Millions of children are doing unusual things and learning at an elevated speed, and a few are going the extra mile. Although spontaneous healing, such as General O’Neill has been seen to do, has been spotted in a few other people, no one seems to be doing anything as advanced as O’Neill. Watch this home video of the general in action.” A video was shown of Jack yelling and a red line suddenly appearing in the green grass. “Not hours later, that patch of grass was dug up and removed by government officials. General O’Neill’s oldest son is seldom seen and mysteriously absent, any threatening elements have disappeared, his neighborhood is guarded by Special Forces, and his house is a no-fly zone. There is also a report of a cadet from the Air Force Academy who was taken abruptly out of class a year early and given a field promotion. According to the young man’s family, he is on a special assignment off-world. Students at the Academy say that this young man, Grant Kendrick, was able to read minds! Yes, you heard me, folks –read minds!”
Jack made another phone call and put the base on alert. “Call Kalam,” he told Landry. “Tell them to stay away, and for God’s sake, keep Kendrick out of the area completely! Send a couple of SF to Kendrick’s folks and make sure they’re alright.”
The door opened and Paul came in, holding the earwig as he talked quietly into it. Nick came in after and shut the door.
“…no, sir, he is advising that we hold,” Paul said into the tiny filter. He and Nick stood and watched the news, waiting for Jack to issue an order. “Well, sir, the leaping information would actually take care of it. I’m putting together a statement for the press. Yes, sir.”
Nick opened his mouth and Jack held up a hand. He closed his eyes and concentrated. After a moment, he went into his den and quickly ran over the bookcase until he found what he was looking for. He pulled it down and rapidly skimmed through it, scanning faces. He stopped.
“Get me this man,” he said, tapping the picture and handing the book to Nick. The man memorized the face and the name and left the house. Jack picked up the phone again. “George, I’m sending Nick to fetch one of your kids. Sorry if I’m stepping on toes. Again. Oh, I’m a little ticked. I also want to know who the leak in the hospital is. I’m going to look at ID’s in a moment. My bigger concern is who leaked my medical records. There are extremely few people who have access to those. No, not yet. I’ll let you know. Thanks, George.”
Katie slowly came down the stairs, hearing the commotion.
“No one goes anywhere alone today,” Jack told her. “Josh may come here and visit, but I don’t want you outside without an escort. That means one of us or a guard.”
The door opened again and Michael came in. “Jack, what….?”
“Mike, I really need you to stay with Mom for a while,” Jack said. “I’ll send a couple SF with you. I don’t want her bothered. And unplug her phone.”
“The SF have this neighborhood blocked off to anyone except locals,” Michael said. “They weren’t going to let me through except that one of the men recognized me. If it’s that serious, shouldn’t I take the kids with me?”
“No,” Jack said. “They’re safer here. I’ll have the kids taken off-world, if I need to. You and Mom, too, so don’t worry. Daniel and Paul will put a statement together and we can hope that it takes care of most of the damage.” Michael reluctantly nodded and left.
“How about Gabriel?” Paul asked. Jack looked at him. “Well, he is the Director-General of the World Health Organization. If he steps forward and makes a statement, won’t his presence give greater credence to the fact that there is nothing for people to get upset about?”
“Good,” Jack said, pointing in emphasis. “Call him. And I want a closed studio when I speak with the press. Just one reporter, one camera. Not someone excitable.” He took note of the baby sleeping on a large pillow. “I want my children to live normal lives. This needs to be taken down a few notches.”
Ignoring advice from Paul, the family attended Matty’s ball game. Jack’s personal guard took deep breaths and followed the family. They didn’t usually all go to the games, but it was time for a show of unity. Since Matty’s team was composed of all SGC off-spring, there were a lot of military present at the ball field. Seeing Jack, Sam, and Daniel, and all the kids, the military made room in the center of the bleachers. Once the family was seated, the troops surrounded them. The reporters wandering around the field took one look at the blockade and decided to wait. The Anthem was played, everyone stood and sang, and the game was on.
“Any news on the leaks?” Landry had joined them to cheer on their team.
“One of Kendrick’s former roommates,” Jack said. “He’s about to be dishonorably discharged. Still hunting down the med tech from the hospital. Seems he’s MIA. I’ll find him. Dr. Thorn and I will be holding court in New York tomorrow in a news studio. Colonel Davis and Daniel are writing responses.”
Landry looked at Daniel who was clapping and whistling at their team. “I see he’s working hard at it,” Landry commented. Jack glanced at Daniel.
“Actually, he is,” Jack said. “Daniel –healing abilities….”
“Just another one of those odd things happening with evolution. Saves on band-aids in the house. Wave to Matty, Liv.” Daniel held Olivia up high so she could see her big brother. It was a bit far for her to make out exact faces, but she jumped against Daniel’s shoulders and yanked on his hair anyway.
“See?” Jack said to Landry. “The band-aids thing is good. I didn’t think about that one.”
“Jack.” He looked at Reynolds who was trying to get his attention. Kevin jerked his chin and Jack turned.
“Sic ‘em,” Jack told him. Reynolds climbed down from the bleachers and moved silently across the grass to the ice cream stand. Stacey was getting Grandma Maggie a Sno-Cone. Before the man behind Stacey knew what was happening, he was surrounded by Reynolds and a couple of SF. Startled, the man dropped his cell phone which he was snapping pictures and recording onto his voice mail. Reynolds ‘accidentally’ stepped on the phone and apologized. While the SF escorted the protesting man out of the park, Kevin stayed with Stacey and walked her back to her family. Daniel looked at them.
“What’d I miss?” he asked. Jack told him. “Where is he?”
“He’s gone,” Jack said. “Stace, honey, we’re having a problem with the media today, so please keep one of us or an SF with our. You want to tell us what the man said to you?”
Stacey handed Maggie the Sno-Cone and wondered if she was in trouble.
“Jack, it’s my fault, don’t blame her, please,” Maggie said, feeling terrible for getting the girl into trouble. Jack waved at her.
“I’m not blaming anyone, Mom, I’m just concerned,” he said. “No one’s in trouble except that reporter for not identifying himself and sneaking in a conversation with our daughter.”
“I didn’t say anything important,” Stacey said. “He asked me if I was one of the O’Neill kids. I said I was a Jackson kid but you’re my Dad, too.”
Daniel hooked an arm around her, pulling her in and planting a kiss on her cheek, “That was very good,” he told her. “Did you say anything else?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “That was when Colonel Reynolds came over.”
“She’s fine, guys,” Sam said. “The Tigers are about to win, so chill!” Sam put an arm around Stacey and pulled her down to the bench. They were up moments later, yelling and jumping as two boys ran home while the run to first base was called out. The ball thrown to the catcher was missed and the last boy slid across the base. Tigers 4-3!
While parents rushed to find their children, Jack motioned to Reynolds.
“Tell both teams they’re invited to my house,” Jack said. “I’ll get dogs and burgers on the way home.”
Matty ran up and Jack caught him. “You made a great triple!” Jack informed him. “And that run from second! Like the wind!” Matty hung off Jack’s neck for a moment and then slid to the ground. “What?” Jack asked, seeing the look on the boy’s face.
“It’s just….. my… father… always told me what I did wrong. When he came to my games at all.”
Jack pushed the hair from Matty’s face. “Do you know what moves you did wrong?” Matty gave a nod. “Then why should I waste my breath telling you? Don’t worry about it; we’ll practice and you’ll do your best even better in the next time. It’s just a game, Matt. The world won’t end if you drop the ball. Bombs, yes, baseballs, no. I’m proud of you, so forget Andrew. He doesn’t deserve your memories. Come on; you can help me find stuff for a cook-out. And maybe a stop at the barber’s.”
The next day Jack sat in a private New York studio and talked with a famous reporter. Gabriel came in from Geneva, deciding at the last minute that he wanted lunch at his favorite Greek restaurant. Which wasn't in Greece.
They assured the talk show host that there was nothing untoward going on. Odd things were happening to a few people because of the entire evolutionary thing, but there was nothing for people to get upset about. Jack demonstrated his abilities by healing a freshly made scratch on the host’s hand and Gabriel told everyone that Jack had done the same thing to him and he had seen Jack heal others. He made a point that he had never seen Jack harm anyone and didn’t think Jack was the type of person to harm someone. Outside of a battle situation.
When asked about getting shot, Jack laughed and opened his uniform, showing the world his bared chest. Even his battle scars had mostly faded away, much to his disappointment; he earned those scars, dammit! He didn’t know where the story came from about almost losing a lung, but he was sound and healthy. Sure, he had been shot a couple months back; a graze on his shoulder. He flexed for the camera. His shoulder was fine. The two of them spun a good story and Gabriel filled it in with science talk about evolution.
And the missing cadet and Jack’s son? Jack laughed it off. Yes, the cadet was on assignment for him; the young man had done a service to his country, no Jack wasn’t going to specify, and the young man was rewarded with an off-world mission. As for Jonathan, well, he was living off-world because that’s where he wanted to live. He was helping some friends establish a colony. Not an issue, as far as Jack was concerned.
Once more, Jack and Gabriel warned the world not to be afraid of the changes some people were going through. It was normal. Weird things might begin to crop up, but it was now normal. And maybe some reporters should learn to be a little more responsible about their reporting.
While Jack was playing in front of the cameras, Daniel had stopped at a gas station on his way home from the store. Olivia was in her carrier in the backseat. She was making noises and enjoying the sound of her own voice as she looked around.
“Dr. Jackson.” He looked around and saw that a local newspaper reporter had pulled up to the pump next to him. Daniel knew there were two SF close by; it was his concession to Jack for leaving the house. He glanced at Olivia. She was watching the strange man, but she wasn’t upset about anything.
“Bill Weller,” Daniel acknowledged, recognizing him from around town. “How’s the Fifth Estate?”
The man smiled in appreciation. “It’s well, thanks to all the fodder over the past year.”
Daniel also smiled in appreciation. He wasn’t too nervous about this particular reporter; Weller wasn’t the hyper type, which kept his articles usually buried somewhere in the center of the paper.
“I’m honestly not following you,” the man said. “I just saw you as I was driving by and thought I’d stop. Can I get a quote from you?”
Daniel thought about it. “What we have to do is to be forever curiously testing new opinions and courting new impressions.” Walter Pater.”
Weller smiled again and nodded. “That’s a good one, I hadn’t heard it before. Doctor, I live in this town, so I know there’s nothing to be feared about all these changes going on with people. Hell, my own kid is learning things faster than I ever did at his age and I envy him. I had a hell of a time in school. I think like all good parents, I want better for him than I had. At least I hope I’m being a good parent. Is there anything you can say to the parents about their kids?”
“Love them,” Daniel said. He put the hose back and leaned against his car. “Love them and support these new things that are happening. This is a normal thing that is occurring. We’ve known about evolution for decades. We’ve seen it happen in other species, right before our very eyes. Now it’s happening at home. Yesterday the world was flat, today it’s round.
“This is still the same world and we are growing up. We are being told to accept responsibility for our actions because if not, we will destroy ourselves. Look at North Korea. The actions of one man who refused to accept his neighbor. Eleven million people are dead because of one man. Eleven million, Bill. And the rest of us billions will be cleaning up his mess for years and God knows what all that radiation is going to do to the population and the planet. Chernobyl is still coming up with oddities and that was only a small localized spill. Mother Nature is telling us that we are no longer children. She thinks we are ready to be adults. Let’s honor the Mother by accepting Her challenge.”
“And do all these changes have anything to do with this alien partnership?” Weller asked.
“You mean the Unified Worlds?” Weller nodded. “No, not really,” Daniel said. “We aren’t the only humans to be going through this leap, just the largest concentration of humans. It’s happening on a planet called Langara, too.
“The Unification is about worlds coming together to support each other. To look out for each other. Our world happens to be one of the few with such diverse separation of countries. Most worlds are under one government. Most worlds have only a few million people to their populations, thanks to the Goa'uld decimating them.
“We are just barely squeezing into the Unified Worlds. There are rules, a treaty, which all members need to follow. Believe me, we’re barely making it. I think the UW Council is taking a few shortcuts because of General O’Neill. After the Korean incident, I certainly wouldn’t have accepted us on the membership roster.”
“Treaty? Can we read it?” Weller asked.
Daniel shrugged. “Sure, it isn’t a secret.” He took out his BlackBerry. “What’s your email?” Surprised, Weller told Daniel his email address. “I’m sending this from my public email, so don’t abuse it…. there you go.”
“Who wrote it?” Weller asked. “The… who are they…. Anun….”
“An-un-naki,” Daniel supplied, and spelled it out. “They had input, but I wrote most of it. The initial council representatives tweaked it for their needs.”
Weller glanced at his cell phone which was recording the conversation. “What about colonization? This is a pretty crowded planet.”
“There will be no colonization unless people start behaving themselves,” Daniel told him. “If they can’t get along here, we are certainly not going to inflict the rest of the galaxy with our garbage. Responsibility begins at home.”
Daniel cut the conversation off and excused himself. “My responsibility begins with making sure my children eat and have my attention while their other two parents are out of town.”
He drove out of the gas station and glanced at Olivia in the mirror. “How was that, Liv?” he asked. “Not too much damage?”
She considered him and then held out her bottle. It was empty. “Da! Bbbbbbbrrrr….” He reached into the bag at his side and came up with another bottle. He handed it back to her and she sucked happily on the watered-down juice.
As Daniel waited at the stop light, a parade of classic cars went by. He took his sunglasses off to better admire the view. A thought struck him and he picked up his cell phone. It took about ten rings.
“What? Daniel, I’m doing an interview.”
“Then why did you answer the phone? You owe me a birthday present, right?”
Jack looked at Gabriel and their host and the red light on the camera. “Yes?” This should be good, he thought to himself, and put the phone on speaker while holding a finger to his lips, shushing everyone.
“A car.”
Jack looked at the phone. “You have a car.”
“I don’t have a cherry red ’67 Mustang.”
Gabriel put a hand to his mouth, trying to keep silent. Their host took the cue and also kept silent.
“A what? Daniel, do you know how much a ’67 Mustang costs?”
“Jack, it isn’t too often that I splurge, so I’ll get it myself, if I have to.”
Jack rolled his eyes and lowered his face into a hand for a moment. “I’ll go halves,” he finally said. “We may need to take out another mortgage…. Daniel?”
“Yes, Jack.”
“While you’re on the line, how about answering a few questions from our LIVE audience.”
There was silence. “Why did you answer the phone?!” Daniel hissed. Gabriel and their host, as well as the crew, began laughing.
“Well, I was kinda hoping you were going to talk dirty to me,” Jack said, arousing more laughter. Daniel swore at him in Jaffa. “Knew I could count on you, honey buns.”
There was silence. “Honey buns?”
“Sweetie pie?”
“Sweet…… Jack!”
“What’s that song I seem to remember hearing years ago…… sugar kisses.”
…… “Gabriel?”
Gabriel got hold of himself and cleared his throat. “Yes, Daniel?”
“Do me a really big favor? Smack him.”
Gabriel backhanded Jack’s arm as the crew laughed.
“Dr. Jackson? It’s Larry. Can we talk a moment?”
“Yes, of course,” Daniel said. Jack moved his phone closer to the microphone. “And it’s Daniel, please. How are you, sir?”
“I’m fine, thank you. We’ve been discussing these rumors of miraculous healings, as I’m sure you are aware. Could you comment on this?”
“I’m sure both Jack and Dr. Thorn have been reminding everyone about this leap we are going through, so I won’t bother to repeat them. All I can say is that it’s nothing we haven’t seen others do. Off-world, I mean. I think we would have begun this sooner if not for our societies being semi-phobic about anything that a sacred text doesn’t tell them exists.”
“Are you saying our society is in the midst of religious hysteria, Daniel?”
“Do you disagree?” Daniel countered. “We have lots of examples of so-called strange things happening through the history of this planet, but no one believes it if it isn’t verified by the AMA. How many people, mostly women, were burned or drowned in recent history in Africa for no other reason than a freak fever or whatever? We are barely out of the dark ages, Larry. It’s happening and people need to accept it.”
Their host leaned over the table, looking thoughtfully at the innocent cell phone. “According to General O’Neill, he’s able to heal cuts and scrapes. We cut my hand and he healed it right in front of us, so I’m certainly not going to deny his skill. How far does it extend, though?”
“Are you asking if he can raise the dead?” Daniel asked. Jack lowered his head for a moment, knowing what was coming by the tone in Daniel’s gentled voice. “His father and his niece, the mother of the children he adopted, are dead. His son Charlie died about ten years or so ago; if Jack had had the ability then, he certainly would have saved his son. No, Larry; Jack’s our band-aid guy, no more, no less.”
The crew was silent. “Thank you, Daniel,” Larry said after a moment. “General, I’m sorry for bringing up those memories. I knew about your family, but I didn’t follow the pieces.”
“I’m fine,” Jack said. “It’s okay, Danny. How about we change the subject? I believe the topic of marriage was on the list.”
Their host nodded, grateful for the opening. “Daniel, would you mind?”
“Not at all,” Daniel said. “I’m all for marriage. What about it?”
“There’s another round of arguments to amend the Constitution, specifying man-woman only marriage,” Larry said.
“Short-sighted of them,” Daniel said.
“How so?” Larry asked, curious.
“Well, out of the hundreds of worlds that we know, only a very small handful are specific on that subject. Most planets don’t care about who marries whom as long as everyone is legal age and consenting. Actually, most planets have what we call common-law marriage or hand-fasting, which is what we did for our ceremony. And no one places emphasis on numbers within the union.
“Other planets consider it legal because there is a contract between the parties and there were witnesses to the vows and the signing of the contract. A few planets have a spiritual leader that blesses the union, but it isn’t necessary; other than that, it all boils down to contracts. We may be more advanced than most worlds in the technology department, but our social skills are lacking. We need to catch up and remind the government that the bedroom is none of its business. The government’s business is civics, not my bedroom. …. Oh, hey, I need to go. The baby is making her bad diaper face and hell is about to break loose.”
“Thank you for taking time for us, Dr. Jackson,” their host said. “You’ll be on the show with your new book soon?”
“Yes, in a couple of weeks,” Daniel said hurriedly. “Jack –Mustang.”
“Yes, Daniel.”
There was the sound of an unhappy baby making her situation known just before the line was disconnected.
“Larry, do you see what I deal with everyday?” Jack whined. “Out of left field, Lar. I never know what Daniel or Sam are going to come up with, much less the kids, and yet people seem to think my family is a danger to the American way of life. He wants a ’67 Mustang, Lar. Cherry red. How American can you get?”
“And you’re going to get it for him,” Gabriel continued.
“And I’m going to get it for him, God help me,” Jack said, leaning back wearily in his chair.
“And speaking of the Man,” Larry said, watching the two in amusement.
“Who –Daniel?”
Gabriel shook his head. “Capitol M, Jack.”
“Oh. How about we not go there?” Jack suggested.
“I read an advance copy of Dr. Jackson’s book,” Larry said. “There are enough holes in it to drive a spaceship through.”
Jack lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a good one,” he said, shaking a finger. “But I’m afraid you’ll need to ask Daniel about any holes. I didn’t help him write it.”
“Come on, Jack, you are infamous for your anti-religion stance,” their host said.
“And?” Jack asked. “I am anti-ignorance and anti-intolerance. I don’t care what other people do or how they worship, so give me the same consideration. And I’m not going to explain myself; it’s no one’s business.”
After discovering that no one goes where Jack doesn’t want to go, they took phone calls from their listening and viewing audience. Many people tried to push Jack into the discussion and they all failed. A few military personnel wanted to know about gays in the military. Jack told them that if Alexander the Great could deal with it, so can they.
Gabriel was more helpful, answering questions from worried parents about the odd things their kids were doing. He also encouraged anyone not tagged with the new locator ID’s, that they should do so. He assured people that the tags did not monitor thoughts or any brain activity; the tags only told a machine where that person was at any given moment. It was a great invention in the face of kidnappings and runaways. The tags were being given out for free, so if anyone tried to charge them they were to notify the authorities. Gabriel also swung the conversation to medicine and let everyone know that his office was putting a protocol together for Stage 3 human trials for diabetic and heart disease cures, and they could thank General O’Neill’s people for bringing the ideas in from the stars. The phones began to ring off the hooks.
Once out of the studio and away from people, Gabriel picked up a newspaper from a vendor before they got into the cab.
“Jack, I don’t know what you’re hiding, something to do with religion, but is it that serious?” he asked quietly. “I get the feeling this is more than personal preference; you know something.”
“Enough to destroy the world,” Jack said after a moment. Gabriel studied him for a moment and then nodded.
“Alright.”
After contacting most of the world’s religious leadership, Jack was confused. None of them wanted to attend a meeting with him. As far as they were concerned, there was nothing he could tell them that would make the world a better place. Their own faith was more important than anything he could say, and if his words and whatever he had that he was calling facts would do nothing more than cause war, then they didn’t want to hear it. Jack took a step back. He had to admit that he was wrong to try and force this on them. They were right –if it would not bring peace, don’t bother them with it.
“Religion and society have a symbiotic relationship,” Daniel had told him. “One does not grow without the other. If society is in a growth spurt, it will need religion to grow with it. Take away the religion and the society falls apart. As important as that ship is, we need to destroy it. It kills me to say it, but I’m saying it. Destroy the ship.”
They were all conflicted about the ship, changing their minds in mid-sentence, having no previous experience to rely upon to guide their decisions. None of their allies were helpful, not even Thor or Enki. They even sent a message to Thanatos. He didn’t know about the ship, either, and also recommended getting rid of it. No good could come of it, if the information brought death and destruction. Society would revert to the Dark Ages and have to start over again.
Jack called in the Prometheus and had the ship towed to a far solar system that had no habitable planets, and dropped the ship into the giant ball of fire. The explosion seared several nearby planets to a crisp, making Jack and Sam thankful that the ship wasn’t sent to their own star.
Jack’s day wasn’t any better when he got home. Malek was sitting on his couch and Katie was sitting close by. Jack did feel a little better when Josh Reynolds came out of the bathroom and sat next to Katie after greeting Jack.
“Who needs what?” Jack asked.
“Pardon?” Malek looked blankly at him.
“Well, you only visit when you need something,” Jack said. There was a squeal and Olivia toddled across the living room at him, arms waving, trying to keep her balance. Jack picked her up and kissed her before setting her on his hip. “I’m feeling used, Mal. You don’t write, you don’t call…..”
“Dad,” Katie reproved. “He brought Uncle Danny some archaeology things they can’t translate.”
“Oh. Alright. Staying for dinner, Mal? Hey, where is everyone? I assume Daniel is holed up downstairs.”
“Yes, and Aunt Sam is taking care of those cult boys,” Katie said, following Jack into his bedroom. “She’s getting them tested. Finding out what they can do and everything. Matty is with grandpa at choir, Davy went to a movie with Nana, and Stacey is at Major Brice’s house with Jerrie. Helping, I think.” Jerrie had been excused for a few days while the major took his wife on a small vacation. Aunt Jerrie was watching over her nieces.
“Good,” Jack commented. He put Olivia on the floor and found a fresh shirt.
“Why is Josh smiling at Malek?”
Katie’s cheeks pinked.
“Can we talk about that later?” she begged.
“Now, please. Have a seat.” Katie flopped onto the bed. “What’s going on?” Jack asked, standing in front of her.
“I like both of them,” she whispered. “Josh likes both of us.”
“He’s bisexual?” Jack asked. Katie shrugged.
“He isn’t sure,” she said. “He thinks he might be.”
“And where is Malek in all this… liking?”
She shrugged. “We haven’t talked about it,” she said. “I’m not an idiot, Dad; Malek doesn’t even live on this planet. Long distance relationships don’t work here, much less across the galaxy.”
“Watch it,” he warned. He went to the door and stuck his head out. “Joshua! Front and center. Malek, please hang for a moment.” He waited until Josh was in the room and shut the door. Josh looked from Jack to Katie, wondering what was going on.
“Mr. Reynolds, teenage crushes are usually cute, but I have a lot going on,” Jack informed him directly. “Save me some time playing guessing games and tell me what you have in mind for Katie and Malek.”
Josh’s face changed colors as he tried to look anywhere except at Katie and Jack.
“Sir, I…..”
Jack shook his head. “Come on, Josh; consider my current lifestyle. I’m the last person to judge you. My main concern is Katie getting hurt.”
“I wouldn’t hurt Katie, sir,” Josh immediately said. Jack sensed the truth in him.
“I know, son, but you and Katie are both interested in a man with a snake in his head who happens to live on another planet. Do I need to forbid Malek from stepping foot on this world?”
“No, sir,” Josh said, shaking his head. “I haven’t said anything to him. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. I…. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
Jack studied him for a moment. “Kate, go keep our guest company,” Jack told her. “And do not mention this conversation to him. Talk about…. medicine.”
“Yes, sir,” she said and reluctantly left Josh alone with Jack.
“Have a seat, son,” Jack said, giving a nod toward the foot of the bed. He was pretty sure Reynolds wouldn't mind this chat. Josh sat. “You’ve never gone out with another boy?”
Josh hung his head. “No, sir,” he confessed. “I’m not even sure…..”
“Be sure,” Jack told him. He pulled up a chair and turned it around, sitting backwards on it. “I can’t guide you in gay relationships, I’m not gay. I can tell you that communication is a little different. You talk with your friends differently than you talk with a girl you like, right? That kind of difference. I certainly don’t have an issue with multiple relationships. My concern is your age. You don’t have the experience to know how to manage one relationship let alone two. I’m fifty-five, son, and there are days I’m still running in circles. Have you talked with your father?”
“No, sir,” Josh said, shaking his head. “He knows that I…. look at other guys. Sometimes.”
“Well, I think you should talk with him about this,” Jack said. “Your father is a good man. He may be a little confused by all this, but he’s trying. I trust him at my back; you can trust him, too. And I’d like to trust you with my daughter. She’s been hurt, she doesn’t need more pain.”
He gave Josh money and told him to take Katie out for dinner. Josh’s stomach bottomed out, knowing that the general was going to open a discussion with Malek.
“Malek, I want to talk privately with you,” Jack said, sitting on the couch, keeping an eye on Olivia. “Just us, toss formalities out the door.”
Curious, Malek nodded. “Alright.”
“Those two are both just barely entering adulthood,” Jack told him, jerking a thumb at the door. “They are confused with hormones and I don’t want to see them hurt. They both like you. I mean, they are both sexually interested in you.”
“I know,” Malek said, not sure where Jack was going with the conversation. “I have been mindful of your wish to not invite Katie’s advances.”
“Yes, you have, and I appreciate it,” Jack acknowledged. “I’m not sure what to do about this. Same gender preferences, while not new, are becoming more and more prevalent in young adults. I don’t have a problem with that. My concern is it’s new enough that our kids, and their parents, don’t understand it much less how to deal with it. Josh is very confused. He knows he likes girls, he certainly likes Katie, but he also has a growing crush on you and that’s a new thing for him.”
Malek took a thoughtful deep breath as he slowly nodded. “I, too, do not know how to proceed,” he said. “I admit that I…. we… could possibly have feelings for Katie. She is young, though, by your planet’s standards. Joshua is a handsome young man, and he has a kind heart, but he is also young. If he were able, I would invite him to the Tok’ra and consider him as a bedmate. I do not wish to risk the wrath of Colonel Reynolds. What is your recommendation? Should I stay off this world?”
“No,” Jack sighed and rubbed at the stubble on his cheeks. “They need to learn how to control and focus their feelings. Absence won’t help them to do that. You just continue to be yourself and let them deal with their emotions.”
“Good,” Malek said. “Because there are few that I would trust to bring you private information. There is evidence that new Goa’ulds are taking planets along the outer rim.”
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