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Untitled MPREG part 7 (whaddya know? the end!)
Now I just need to find someone willing to actually BETA an MPREG *g*
As usual, the previous parts can be found here
Wordcount of the day: 1,874
wordcount in all: 10,155
---
Setting foot on the other side of the 'gate, Jack caught Daniel as the other man stumbled. "Easy, Daniel," Jack said, arm around the other man's shoulder.
"Jack... I... I feel strange," Daniel ground out, shoulders hunched and leaning heavily on Jack.
Lya came through the shimmering surface behind them just before the energy dissolved and the 'gate deactivated. She moved to Daniel's other side, put her hand on his belly and frowned. "We must hurry, my friends," she said in a worried voice.
They were quickly joined by other Nox, and Jack watched with worry how Daniel seemed to grow paler as they moved towards the small settlement of huts the Nox used.
"Please let us care for him, O'Neill, your... worried mind will upset him, make it difficult for us to help," Lya softly pleaded. "It would interfere with what we are to do, hamper out abilities to help, to deliver and heal, if we are submitted to negative thoughts... such as your worry for him and the child."
Jack nodded reluctantly. He felt a small pang of regret. He'd wanted to be there when the child was born, to give Daniel his support, but he wasn't foolish enough to disregard what Lya was saying. If his presence would do more damage than help, he would just swallow the regret.
Lya placed a hand on his arm, before she left with the others and Daniel. "Trust us," were her parting words as they led the younger man inside one of the huts, leaving Jack on his own.
With a sigh Jack sat down, back to a huge rock, not far from the entrance. He bent his head, closed his eyes and forced himself to breathe evenly. He would be no help at all to Daniel if he lost his mind. A moment later, he looked up to find a child of the Nox standing in front of him. "Nafrayu?" he asked, recognising the features of the smiling face.
The child nodded, "It is, Jack."
Jack leaned back a little. "You've... grown older," he finally said. The child hadn't been that tall when they'd first come through the gate to the Nox homeworld. He couldn't help the smile forming on his face. He really liked this kid.
Nafrayu returned the smile, "So have you." He reached out to touch Jack's grey hair.
Jack chuckled, a sadness flickering through him, most of those grey hairs were Daniel's fault. Not that Jack would trade that for anything. It was a small price to pay for having the other man in his life. "You here to keep me occupied?" he asked the young Nox.
"I am, but I'm also... curious."
"Now there's a surprise," Jack muttered lovingly. "Curious about what?" he asked, Nafrayu joined him, back to the rock.
"Tell me about your world," Nafrayu asked.
Jack shook his head. "I don't know what to tell you," he said absentmindedly, most of his thoughts still with Daniel.
Nafrayu put his hand on Jack's arm. "Good things," he said, "what children do."
"Play, live a carefree life, share their curiosity and findings with their parents, friends and their dogs, of course," Jack finally began.
"Dogs?" Nafrayu interrupted with a frown.
"Dogs... they come in all shapes and sizes, it's a four-legged animal with fur, we keep it as a pet, for companionship, to care for, to love." Jack trailed off, lost in the memories of his own childhood.
Nafrayu chuckled, eyes rapt on Jack's face.
Jack couldn't help but smile in reply. "I need to talk to Daniel about getting one, once the child's big enough." His smile faltered a little. "I hope his allergies will allow it..."
"Tell me about... Daniel," Nafrayu asked, as he cuddled up against Jack's side.
Chuckling Jack put his arm around the child. "Oh, I'll get really sappy," he said.
"Sappy?" Nafrayu queried.
"Yeah," Jack sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, "mushy, emotional..."
"Emotions are good, compassion, feelings..." Nafrayu interrupted.
Jack opened his eyes and stared of into the distance. "Compassion... That's Daniel. Curiosity, like yours," Jack turned his head to give the child a small smile.
"No matter what he's been through, he still has this... childlike awe of new things, knowledge, always sees the best in others..." Jack trailed off again. "He's as stubborn as a mule, but has the patience of a saint. He's an annoying know-it-all, who's saved our lives... my life, so often." Jack closed his eyes again, before continuing, "I remember the first time I lost Daniel, to a staff blast that killed him... a blast meant for me, which he took without thinking." Jack felt the pain clench his chest again, as his thoughts moved on.
"When he stayed on Abydos, when I had to leave him behind... How we... I thought we'd lost him to Nem, lost him when we blew up Klorell's ship..." Jack took a deep breath and felt how the pain lessened and was replaced by a growing warmth. "I'll never forget when we returned to Earth, and he stepped out to greet us in the 'gate room... unharmed." Jack swiped his free hand over his burning eyes.
"So often his curiosity has brought us trouble, but nevertheless, that same curiosity has saved us on so many occasions." For a moment Jack sank into silence, warmed by years of memories.
"It's amazing that he puts up with me... I wasn't... and still am not the easiest person to be around..." Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. "I've taken some of his innocence, so has the universe in general. It's been necessary to survive." With another smile, Jack turned his attention back to the entrance of the hut. "He's taught me how to think before I do, to feel instead of following protocol and orders... to interact instead of just acting and reacting... with other people. To not judge anyone until I know them. Allowed me to learn how to care again, to be cared about to.. love and be loved."
Jack paused for a moment. "God knows he's got a temper that should clash with mine more often than it does." Jack chuckled. "Actually it does, but... our relationship seems to always come out stronger." Pausing, searching for words, Jack suddenly remembered... "Oh God, I just remembered that little temper tantrum he threw... The planet may have influenced us both, but I was so angry with myself, because I found it... endearing... cute," Jack shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips.
Nafrayu finally broke the silence, "Angry with yourself?"
Jack nodded, a little sad, "Back then I didn't want to admit to us, least of all to myself, how I felt about Daniel." Jack's mood became sombre. "I was a fool and we both wasted so much time. He got hut, I got hurt, and not just physically," Jack admitted.
"But why? If you both felt the same?" Nafrayu looked up at him with a frown.
"Foolishness, stubbornness, not thinking the other felt the same... the world we live in not making it any easier..." Jack pulled Nafrayu a little closer. "We humans have a lot to learn still, huh?" he asked.
Nafrayu didn't answer, simply smiled knowingly.
For every tale Jack shared with Nafrayu, the heaviness in his chest lessened, and his mind seemed to be filled with warmth. And the child let him ramble on, only rarely interrupting to get Jack to explain one thing or another.
Suddenly Lya stepped out from the hut, smiling at the two. "Come," she said, reaching out for Jack.
"Daniel? The child?" Jack felt his nervousness return.
"Daniel is asking for you," she said, smile never faltering.
"He's okay? The baby's...?" Jack had to know.
"They are," Lya assured him, as she led him inside the hut.
Jack felt a moment's hesitation, then Nafrayu's hand slipped into his free one for a few seconds, reassuring him.
"Jack!" Laying on a soft bed of moss and leaves with a bundle in his arm was Daniel, looking a little tired, but happy nevertheless.
Jack finally let go of the two Nox to slowly move to Daniel's side. Kneeling by the bed, he leaned forward and captured Daniel's lips in a slow, sweet kiss. "Hi," he said, not knowing where or how to begin.
"Hi, yourself," Daniel grinned back. Tilting his head a little, he gestured to the bundle. "Say hi to our daughter."
Jack noticed with pride that his hand didn't shake as he pulled the blanket back a little. Okay, maybe it did shake... but not much. "So Frasier was right, it's a girl."
"Yeah," Daniel grinned up at him. Then the younger man's expression turned serious. "You okay, Jack?"
"I'm fine... now." Jack smiled softly. The baby was bundled up in the blanket, small hand raised to the mouth, thumb popped inside the mouth. "And you...?"
Daniel frowned. "I think they removed everything in there that wasn't meant to be part of my body, only... how do we feed her?"
Jack didn't know what to answer, but didn't have to, as Lya joined them, giving them both one of her radiant smiles. She handled Jack a bottle, "It will provide her with the right nourishment," the Nox said.
"We... we can't go back, can we?" Daniel finally asked, smile faltering.
"Not yet," Jack sighed. "The General will send word once it's safe to come back.
"And until then?"
"You are welcome to stay here, with the Nox," Nafrayu said, standing on his toes to get a look at the baby.
"You sure?" Jack asked. It wouldn't be the worst place to stay while they waited. Safe and surrounded by friends.
Lya came over, nodding her agreement. "You are free to stay for as long as it is required."
"It may take a while," Daniel warned her.
"It does not matter, Daniel, you are friends of the Nox." Lya gave him an overbearing smile.
"I thought you might not want us here, since we're still... a childish race," Daniel just couldn't let it lie.
"You are..." Lya began, "how do you say it?" She broke into a smile, "Ah yes, the 'exception to the rule."
Jack couldn't help laughing. "There is that, it seems," he grinned. He put down the bottle Lya had given him. "Is there room for me up there?" he asked with a tired smile. The last couple of hours had zapped the last of his energy.
Daniel chuckled sleepily. "There's always room for you, Jack."
Not really giving a damn about the Nox, Jack slipped into the bed next to Daniel. "Sorry I wasn't here for you, Daniel," he mumbled into Daniel's neck.
"You were," came the sleepy, if enigmatic answer.
"Huh?" Jack carefully pulled both Daniel and their child a little closer.
"The Nox... let me hear you, feel you... during the birth..." Daniel's sleep-filled voice drifted up to Jack. "It's all I remember from the actual delivery, Jack, you and then the baby in my arms."
Jack smiled as sleep claimed him and he felt the whisper of a child's hand run over his hair. He wondered if the Nox would ever cease to surprise him... wondered if he wanted them to.
FIN
As usual, the previous parts can be found here
Wordcount of the day: 1,874
wordcount in all: 10,155
---
Setting foot on the other side of the 'gate, Jack caught Daniel as the other man stumbled. "Easy, Daniel," Jack said, arm around the other man's shoulder.
"Jack... I... I feel strange," Daniel ground out, shoulders hunched and leaning heavily on Jack.
Lya came through the shimmering surface behind them just before the energy dissolved and the 'gate deactivated. She moved to Daniel's other side, put her hand on his belly and frowned. "We must hurry, my friends," she said in a worried voice.
They were quickly joined by other Nox, and Jack watched with worry how Daniel seemed to grow paler as they moved towards the small settlement of huts the Nox used.
"Please let us care for him, O'Neill, your... worried mind will upset him, make it difficult for us to help," Lya softly pleaded. "It would interfere with what we are to do, hamper out abilities to help, to deliver and heal, if we are submitted to negative thoughts... such as your worry for him and the child."
Jack nodded reluctantly. He felt a small pang of regret. He'd wanted to be there when the child was born, to give Daniel his support, but he wasn't foolish enough to disregard what Lya was saying. If his presence would do more damage than help, he would just swallow the regret.
Lya placed a hand on his arm, before she left with the others and Daniel. "Trust us," were her parting words as they led the younger man inside one of the huts, leaving Jack on his own.
With a sigh Jack sat down, back to a huge rock, not far from the entrance. He bent his head, closed his eyes and forced himself to breathe evenly. He would be no help at all to Daniel if he lost his mind. A moment later, he looked up to find a child of the Nox standing in front of him. "Nafrayu?" he asked, recognising the features of the smiling face.
The child nodded, "It is, Jack."
Jack leaned back a little. "You've... grown older," he finally said. The child hadn't been that tall when they'd first come through the gate to the Nox homeworld. He couldn't help the smile forming on his face. He really liked this kid.
Nafrayu returned the smile, "So have you." He reached out to touch Jack's grey hair.
Jack chuckled, a sadness flickering through him, most of those grey hairs were Daniel's fault. Not that Jack would trade that for anything. It was a small price to pay for having the other man in his life. "You here to keep me occupied?" he asked the young Nox.
"I am, but I'm also... curious."
"Now there's a surprise," Jack muttered lovingly. "Curious about what?" he asked, Nafrayu joined him, back to the rock.
"Tell me about your world," Nafrayu asked.
Jack shook his head. "I don't know what to tell you," he said absentmindedly, most of his thoughts still with Daniel.
Nafrayu put his hand on Jack's arm. "Good things," he said, "what children do."
"Play, live a carefree life, share their curiosity and findings with their parents, friends and their dogs, of course," Jack finally began.
"Dogs?" Nafrayu interrupted with a frown.
"Dogs... they come in all shapes and sizes, it's a four-legged animal with fur, we keep it as a pet, for companionship, to care for, to love." Jack trailed off, lost in the memories of his own childhood.
Nafrayu chuckled, eyes rapt on Jack's face.
Jack couldn't help but smile in reply. "I need to talk to Daniel about getting one, once the child's big enough." His smile faltered a little. "I hope his allergies will allow it..."
"Tell me about... Daniel," Nafrayu asked, as he cuddled up against Jack's side.
Chuckling Jack put his arm around the child. "Oh, I'll get really sappy," he said.
"Sappy?" Nafrayu queried.
"Yeah," Jack sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, "mushy, emotional..."
"Emotions are good, compassion, feelings..." Nafrayu interrupted.
Jack opened his eyes and stared of into the distance. "Compassion... That's Daniel. Curiosity, like yours," Jack turned his head to give the child a small smile.
"No matter what he's been through, he still has this... childlike awe of new things, knowledge, always sees the best in others..." Jack trailed off again. "He's as stubborn as a mule, but has the patience of a saint. He's an annoying know-it-all, who's saved our lives... my life, so often." Jack closed his eyes again, before continuing, "I remember the first time I lost Daniel, to a staff blast that killed him... a blast meant for me, which he took without thinking." Jack felt the pain clench his chest again, as his thoughts moved on.
"When he stayed on Abydos, when I had to leave him behind... How we... I thought we'd lost him to Nem, lost him when we blew up Klorell's ship..." Jack took a deep breath and felt how the pain lessened and was replaced by a growing warmth. "I'll never forget when we returned to Earth, and he stepped out to greet us in the 'gate room... unharmed." Jack swiped his free hand over his burning eyes.
"So often his curiosity has brought us trouble, but nevertheless, that same curiosity has saved us on so many occasions." For a moment Jack sank into silence, warmed by years of memories.
"It's amazing that he puts up with me... I wasn't... and still am not the easiest person to be around..." Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. "I've taken some of his innocence, so has the universe in general. It's been necessary to survive." With another smile, Jack turned his attention back to the entrance of the hut. "He's taught me how to think before I do, to feel instead of following protocol and orders... to interact instead of just acting and reacting... with other people. To not judge anyone until I know them. Allowed me to learn how to care again, to be cared about to.. love and be loved."
Jack paused for a moment. "God knows he's got a temper that should clash with mine more often than it does." Jack chuckled. "Actually it does, but... our relationship seems to always come out stronger." Pausing, searching for words, Jack suddenly remembered... "Oh God, I just remembered that little temper tantrum he threw... The planet may have influenced us both, but I was so angry with myself, because I found it... endearing... cute," Jack shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips.
Nafrayu finally broke the silence, "Angry with yourself?"
Jack nodded, a little sad, "Back then I didn't want to admit to us, least of all to myself, how I felt about Daniel." Jack's mood became sombre. "I was a fool and we both wasted so much time. He got hut, I got hurt, and not just physically," Jack admitted.
"But why? If you both felt the same?" Nafrayu looked up at him with a frown.
"Foolishness, stubbornness, not thinking the other felt the same... the world we live in not making it any easier..." Jack pulled Nafrayu a little closer. "We humans have a lot to learn still, huh?" he asked.
Nafrayu didn't answer, simply smiled knowingly.
For every tale Jack shared with Nafrayu, the heaviness in his chest lessened, and his mind seemed to be filled with warmth. And the child let him ramble on, only rarely interrupting to get Jack to explain one thing or another.
Suddenly Lya stepped out from the hut, smiling at the two. "Come," she said, reaching out for Jack.
"Daniel? The child?" Jack felt his nervousness return.
"Daniel is asking for you," she said, smile never faltering.
"He's okay? The baby's...?" Jack had to know.
"They are," Lya assured him, as she led him inside the hut.
Jack felt a moment's hesitation, then Nafrayu's hand slipped into his free one for a few seconds, reassuring him.
"Jack!" Laying on a soft bed of moss and leaves with a bundle in his arm was Daniel, looking a little tired, but happy nevertheless.
Jack finally let go of the two Nox to slowly move to Daniel's side. Kneeling by the bed, he leaned forward and captured Daniel's lips in a slow, sweet kiss. "Hi," he said, not knowing where or how to begin.
"Hi, yourself," Daniel grinned back. Tilting his head a little, he gestured to the bundle. "Say hi to our daughter."
Jack noticed with pride that his hand didn't shake as he pulled the blanket back a little. Okay, maybe it did shake... but not much. "So Frasier was right, it's a girl."
"Yeah," Daniel grinned up at him. Then the younger man's expression turned serious. "You okay, Jack?"
"I'm fine... now." Jack smiled softly. The baby was bundled up in the blanket, small hand raised to the mouth, thumb popped inside the mouth. "And you...?"
Daniel frowned. "I think they removed everything in there that wasn't meant to be part of my body, only... how do we feed her?"
Jack didn't know what to answer, but didn't have to, as Lya joined them, giving them both one of her radiant smiles. She handled Jack a bottle, "It will provide her with the right nourishment," the Nox said.
"We... we can't go back, can we?" Daniel finally asked, smile faltering.
"Not yet," Jack sighed. "The General will send word once it's safe to come back.
"And until then?"
"You are welcome to stay here, with the Nox," Nafrayu said, standing on his toes to get a look at the baby.
"You sure?" Jack asked. It wouldn't be the worst place to stay while they waited. Safe and surrounded by friends.
Lya came over, nodding her agreement. "You are free to stay for as long as it is required."
"It may take a while," Daniel warned her.
"It does not matter, Daniel, you are friends of the Nox." Lya gave him an overbearing smile.
"I thought you might not want us here, since we're still... a childish race," Daniel just couldn't let it lie.
"You are..." Lya began, "how do you say it?" She broke into a smile, "Ah yes, the 'exception to the rule."
Jack couldn't help laughing. "There is that, it seems," he grinned. He put down the bottle Lya had given him. "Is there room for me up there?" he asked with a tired smile. The last couple of hours had zapped the last of his energy.
Daniel chuckled sleepily. "There's always room for you, Jack."
Not really giving a damn about the Nox, Jack slipped into the bed next to Daniel. "Sorry I wasn't here for you, Daniel," he mumbled into Daniel's neck.
"You were," came the sleepy, if enigmatic answer.
"Huh?" Jack carefully pulled both Daniel and their child a little closer.
"The Nox... let me hear you, feel you... during the birth..." Daniel's sleep-filled voice drifted up to Jack. "It's all I remember from the actual delivery, Jack, you and then the baby in my arms."
Jack smiled as sleep claimed him and he felt the whisper of a child's hand run over his hair. He wondered if the Nox would ever cease to surprise him... wondered if he wanted them to.
FIN
Re:
Okay, that's truly a compliment...
And yeah, I'm from Denmark *g*
And yay for enjoying the MPREG - sorry about the level of sappiness on the final part *g* -- I kinda got carried away.
Re:
Well, that explains it then! Several of the writers in QL slash are also from Denmark, and their English is also impeccable. I think the schools there just must be really, really good.
And yay for enjoying the MPREG - sorry about the level of sappiness on the final part *g* -
Sappiness is good in small doses. I like it!