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Life Sure Ain't Ever Easy... Part 8
wordcount of the day: 2,272
wordcount in all: 17,869
size: 99kb
Previous parts
You know the drill... WIP, sequel to 'Tales to Tell Your Grandchildren' not beta'd yadda...
+----+
The morning seemed to set the theme for the rest of the day. When they arrived at the Mountain, Jack was told to report to the General, ASAP. Exchanging worried looks with Daniel, he kissed Aislinn goodbye and went to see his CO. The look on Hammond's face didn't exactly bode well. The older man looked worried, tired... and a lot older than Jack remembered him.
"Sir?" Jack knocked at the open door. "You wanted to see me?"
"Come inside and close the door... Jack." Hammond gestured at the chair across from him.
Jack raised an eyebrow, but did as he was asked, noticing the worried expression. "Sir?"
"George, at the moment, Jack, just... George." Hammond took a deep breath.
Sitting down Jack braced himself for whatever the man could possibly want to discuss off the record. The list of things wasn't exactly small at the moment.
"The NID is asking questions, Jack." Hammond seemed to sink even further into he leather chair.
"What else is new?" Jack rolled his eyes. They could do without the NID... he preferred to do things without the NID. *If* he ever had things his way, they'd send the NID through the gate and destroy the DHD on the other side.
"They are asking questions, not only about Aislinn and her origin, but about you and Dr. Jackson as well," the General met Jack's eyes.
"Shit." Jack felt his world sink. The NID had been investigating them before they'd left for the Nox home-world. More the fool he was for forgetting that.
"Fairly good assessment, Jack, I'm afraid." Hammond tapped his pen against the file folder on his desk.
"So, you'd say they're..." What? Onto them? That they'd use it against them?
"Asking for Aislinn to be turned over to them or they go for your throats... either way they'll have her." The idea sounded as if it sickened Hammond. Considering that they'd tried similar tactics kidnapping his grand daughters to force him to retire... Jack understood perfectly.
"But what the hell do they want her for?"
"Who knows? Maybe they think she's alien, maybe they think they'll find something... but I think they've somehow learned about her rapid growth... Then there's the fact that they'd get her and get rid of you and Dr. Jackson." Hammond chuckled without much mirth. "It's no secret that SG-1, and more specifically you and the good Doctor have been a thorn in their sides for a very long time."
Jack nodded, then frowned. "How the hell could they know about Aislinn?" Jack sneered. "Only Janet knows and only for around two days."
"Major Carter's on it... but she seems to think that someone's had access to Dr. Frasier's computer files." Hammond shrugged. They tried to keep up enough security to keep even the NID out, but since the NID more or less answered to no one, they weren't exactly your average garden variety opponent.
"Great." Jack hid his face in his hands, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Why hadn't they stayed away? Why had the Asgard asked them back? And more so... where were the little grey guys when you needed them?
"What about the Asgard?"
Hammond shook his head. "As much as they have... nicely asked for you to take my seat, I'm sure the NID would love to have something on you to keep you on a tight leash. Whether that means intel on Aislinn or the two of you, I'm sure they'd put it to good use if you weren't... cooperating."
Jack sighed. "Yeah, of course they would. As much as I adore Thor and this place, I wouldn't ever risk the safety of my family."
Hammond nodded. "And no one would expect you to, Jack... no one."
"So what do we do?" Jack looked at his CO, hoping the man could come up with some idea, because at the moment Jack had no ideas whatsoever. Well, okay, ideas, yes. Only problem would be the nature of his ideas varying between nuking the NID, nuking Kinsey, fleeing earth... None of them were particularly effective, at the moment at least.
"We'll take things as they come, but I'd prefer if you would stay at base..."
"Sir..." Jack shook his head. "How can we do that to Aislinn?" Biting his lower lip, Jack continued. "We don't know for how long. The strain of staying apart, for both Daniel and me... not to mention Aislinn. We're all she knows."
"Which is what will be used to defend the two of you staying to together." Hammond frowned. "I had Carter do a sweep of your house just before you went back to it the other day. She of course found several bugs and cameras placed around the house. But I think you might want to do a daily sweep."
Jack grunted. How could he have forgotten that when they'd returned? He was getting sloppy. Just their luck that Hammond and the key personnel at the SGC were on their side. At least he hoped they were. Hammond would help when he could, so would Carter and Teal'c. No one seemed actually hostile towards them, so Jack hoped that wouldn't change. Well, apart from the moron the other day in the commissary.
"Jack, I'm not saying that it will be easy, but I'm not saying it'll be impossible either..." Hammond trailed off, and odd little smile on his face. "Truth be told, SG-1 have delivered the impossible time and time again, so my idea of impossible has definitely been moved a bit."
Jack grinned. "Yeah, I guess." Taking another deep breath he looked at the older man. "Thanks George... for everything."
"Just remember... *when* you take over this place... run a clean show and make me proud?"
Jack stood. "Yes sir!" he saluted the man with a wry grin.
Hammond shook his head. "Dismissed, Colonel... and Jack?"
Jack turned, his hand resting on the door handle. "Yeah?"
"Be careful."
"Always, George, always."
Nodding to the man, Jack left the office, feeling his guts clench at the thought of what they would have to face down the road.
---
Not long after their return, with a little help from people that were loyal to them, they managed to have Daniel adopt Aislinn and that night they'd all celebrated. Now, their family was a little bit closer, a little more secure. Jack only felt the pang that he'd never be able to put his name on the same piece of paper.
Daniel knew that and that night, as they'd laid down to sleep, the younger man had held him close, whispering to him why it wasn't important what some piece of paper said. In the end Jack only partly agreed. At least Aislinn was closer to becoming part of the world her parents called home.
---
Oddly enough, things settled down fairly fast and in less than a couple of months, things were more or less back to normal. Apart from the fact, of course, that Jack and Daniel didn't go off-world anymore. Aislinn was growing and she was closer to being eight years old now in appearances, a regular sponge when it came to knowledge.
They were still waiting for the Asgard to show themselves, and Jack was beginning to feel antsy. Hammond seemed to have foreseen this happening, because instead of sitting Jack down with paper work, he had him working with the new recruits.
One Friday, Jack wasn't too sure Hammond was doing him a favor. God, had he ever been that green? That wet behind the ears? Probably, snarked his inner voice. Such times Jack truly felt how old he was. Nah, the recruits would be fine once they dropped that cocky attitude. Not all of them were bad, but some of them would end up dead or causing some one else's death if they kept it up.
Following the newest batch out from the gym, Jack hung back a bit as he overheard three of the recruits discussing their lessons.
"I still don't understand why they force us to sit through endless lessons in ancient history with Doctor Jackson." The dark haired youth that had spoken sighed deeply.
"*I* don't understand what the hell we need civilians for." His friend grumbled as he wiped sweat from his brow. The third guy nodded.
Jack cleared his throat, making the three men jump. "I'd like to remind you gentlemen that without said Doctor Jackson, we wouldn't be going through the 'Gate at all."
The first one who had spoken frowned at Jack. "But sir, surely you see the liability a civilian is in the field?"
Jack snorted. Some time in the past he'd have wholeheartedly agreed. Before Daniel. "Aforementioned linguist is one hell of a soldier, recruit and he's helped save our asses more than once, so I suggest you pay him the respect he deserves."
At the grumbling 'yes sir's Jack frowned. "I suggest you look into the mission reports that are open to you, I'm quite sure you will find them all very... informative and more than a little... thought provoking." Jack pursed his lips as the response was no more enthusiastic as the prior one. "I didn't quite get that, recruits," he said in a sterner voice.
"Yes sir!" The three voices rang through the now empty gym.
"Dismissed," grinned Jack as he pulled out the pen and noted a few things on the clip board. Actually, these recruits might make fine soldiers eventually, but damned, they had a long way to go.
Life was oddly easy at the moment. Sure, it was a bit out of the ordinary. He was living with a man under the pretense they were doing that for the benefit of a child they'd brought back from the Nox home-world, to make sure she was in the same environment as she was used to. That in truth it was to keep the family together... well, no one had to know. Jack swept the house for bugs and cameras when he got home from work and as much as it annoyed Daniel, he knew how important it was. They were being careful, so damned careful.
Half an hour later Jack was ready to hurt someone. An hour after that he was prepared to kill. Because the shit had certainly hit the fan... big time, as two SFs trooped up at the door to Hammond's office. Jack was going over some papers that he'd promised Hammond he'd have a look at while the General was in Washington for two days. Half his mind was on the thought of taking Aislinn to the zoo the some time that weekend. And he knew that Cassie had asked to baby sit at some point. Jack was sure Aislinn would love it and besides, it would be one night with Janet at Janet's place anyway. And it would let Jack do to Daniel what he'd wanted for a long time. Cook dinner and seduce him all over again.
The knock at his door disturbed Jack's thoughts. "Door's open," he called.
Two SFs entered the room, both trying to look extremely detached, but neither fully succeeding. Jack raised an eyebrow as another man entered behind them, this time a man in a dark suit.
"Yes?"
"Colonel Jonathan O'Neill?" asked the man.
"Yes?" Jack felt the urge to make a glib comment but swallowed it quickly as his inner alarms went off.
"I am Colonel Green," started the other man. "Colonel O'Neill, you are hereby arrested and taken into custody on conduct unbecoming an officer in the US Air Force, sodomy and fraternization." The man almost looked as if he was enjoying his task.
Jack stared at him for a moment. He almost opened his mouth to tell the man to go to hell, but that wouldn't be very productive, he had other things to see to, other things that had to be taken care of.
"Am I allowed to make arrangements for the base before I leave?" he asked, voice low.
"Yes Colonel, but hurry up."
Jack took the phone with heavy heart. This was what they'd feared, but it had come a hell of a lot sooner than he'd expected. Damned... he couldn't even tell Daniel, he had to... had to... A quick phone call later and he'd told Ferretti to run things until the General returned from Washington. As Jack had asked Ferretti to tell the team... Well, Lou had quickly understood why Jack was being taking away and Jack hated himself for leaving it up to Ferretti to tell his friends what had happened. To tell Daniel what had happened.
But Lou understood. He'd understood Jack's request to look after his house, to lock it up securely. They still had Daniel's department and it wouldn't look good if Daniel stayed at Jack's place while they got through this... shit.
Locking up Hammond's office, Jack let Colonel Green and the SFs escort him topside. He ignored the questioning looks he got on the way there, but they still cut. He just hoped Daniel wouldn't kill him for this, or do something equally stupid that would drag the linguist and Aislinn deeper into it as well. They had other obligations now than just themselves. They had to ensure that Aislinn was well, that she was with people she trusted. Daniel... Jack swallowed a lump. God, he'd miss Daniel...
Without looking behind him, Jack got into the car that was waiting for them. Somewhere he was glad they'd made it out of the Mountain without Daniel stopping them. It would only have made things worse for all of them.
---
TBC
wordcount in all: 17,869
size: 99kb
Previous parts
You know the drill... WIP, sequel to 'Tales to Tell Your Grandchildren' not beta'd yadda...
+----+
The morning seemed to set the theme for the rest of the day. When they arrived at the Mountain, Jack was told to report to the General, ASAP. Exchanging worried looks with Daniel, he kissed Aislinn goodbye and went to see his CO. The look on Hammond's face didn't exactly bode well. The older man looked worried, tired... and a lot older than Jack remembered him.
"Sir?" Jack knocked at the open door. "You wanted to see me?"
"Come inside and close the door... Jack." Hammond gestured at the chair across from him.
Jack raised an eyebrow, but did as he was asked, noticing the worried expression. "Sir?"
"George, at the moment, Jack, just... George." Hammond took a deep breath.
Sitting down Jack braced himself for whatever the man could possibly want to discuss off the record. The list of things wasn't exactly small at the moment.
"The NID is asking questions, Jack." Hammond seemed to sink even further into he leather chair.
"What else is new?" Jack rolled his eyes. They could do without the NID... he preferred to do things without the NID. *If* he ever had things his way, they'd send the NID through the gate and destroy the DHD on the other side.
"They are asking questions, not only about Aislinn and her origin, but about you and Dr. Jackson as well," the General met Jack's eyes.
"Shit." Jack felt his world sink. The NID had been investigating them before they'd left for the Nox home-world. More the fool he was for forgetting that.
"Fairly good assessment, Jack, I'm afraid." Hammond tapped his pen against the file folder on his desk.
"So, you'd say they're..." What? Onto them? That they'd use it against them?
"Asking for Aislinn to be turned over to them or they go for your throats... either way they'll have her." The idea sounded as if it sickened Hammond. Considering that they'd tried similar tactics kidnapping his grand daughters to force him to retire... Jack understood perfectly.
"But what the hell do they want her for?"
"Who knows? Maybe they think she's alien, maybe they think they'll find something... but I think they've somehow learned about her rapid growth... Then there's the fact that they'd get her and get rid of you and Dr. Jackson." Hammond chuckled without much mirth. "It's no secret that SG-1, and more specifically you and the good Doctor have been a thorn in their sides for a very long time."
Jack nodded, then frowned. "How the hell could they know about Aislinn?" Jack sneered. "Only Janet knows and only for around two days."
"Major Carter's on it... but she seems to think that someone's had access to Dr. Frasier's computer files." Hammond shrugged. They tried to keep up enough security to keep even the NID out, but since the NID more or less answered to no one, they weren't exactly your average garden variety opponent.
"Great." Jack hid his face in his hands, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Why hadn't they stayed away? Why had the Asgard asked them back? And more so... where were the little grey guys when you needed them?
"What about the Asgard?"
Hammond shook his head. "As much as they have... nicely asked for you to take my seat, I'm sure the NID would love to have something on you to keep you on a tight leash. Whether that means intel on Aislinn or the two of you, I'm sure they'd put it to good use if you weren't... cooperating."
Jack sighed. "Yeah, of course they would. As much as I adore Thor and this place, I wouldn't ever risk the safety of my family."
Hammond nodded. "And no one would expect you to, Jack... no one."
"So what do we do?" Jack looked at his CO, hoping the man could come up with some idea, because at the moment Jack had no ideas whatsoever. Well, okay, ideas, yes. Only problem would be the nature of his ideas varying between nuking the NID, nuking Kinsey, fleeing earth... None of them were particularly effective, at the moment at least.
"We'll take things as they come, but I'd prefer if you would stay at base..."
"Sir..." Jack shook his head. "How can we do that to Aislinn?" Biting his lower lip, Jack continued. "We don't know for how long. The strain of staying apart, for both Daniel and me... not to mention Aislinn. We're all she knows."
"Which is what will be used to defend the two of you staying to together." Hammond frowned. "I had Carter do a sweep of your house just before you went back to it the other day. She of course found several bugs and cameras placed around the house. But I think you might want to do a daily sweep."
Jack grunted. How could he have forgotten that when they'd returned? He was getting sloppy. Just their luck that Hammond and the key personnel at the SGC were on their side. At least he hoped they were. Hammond would help when he could, so would Carter and Teal'c. No one seemed actually hostile towards them, so Jack hoped that wouldn't change. Well, apart from the moron the other day in the commissary.
"Jack, I'm not saying that it will be easy, but I'm not saying it'll be impossible either..." Hammond trailed off, and odd little smile on his face. "Truth be told, SG-1 have delivered the impossible time and time again, so my idea of impossible has definitely been moved a bit."
Jack grinned. "Yeah, I guess." Taking another deep breath he looked at the older man. "Thanks George... for everything."
"Just remember... *when* you take over this place... run a clean show and make me proud?"
Jack stood. "Yes sir!" he saluted the man with a wry grin.
Hammond shook his head. "Dismissed, Colonel... and Jack?"
Jack turned, his hand resting on the door handle. "Yeah?"
"Be careful."
"Always, George, always."
Nodding to the man, Jack left the office, feeling his guts clench at the thought of what they would have to face down the road.
---
Not long after their return, with a little help from people that were loyal to them, they managed to have Daniel adopt Aislinn and that night they'd all celebrated. Now, their family was a little bit closer, a little more secure. Jack only felt the pang that he'd never be able to put his name on the same piece of paper.
Daniel knew that and that night, as they'd laid down to sleep, the younger man had held him close, whispering to him why it wasn't important what some piece of paper said. In the end Jack only partly agreed. At least Aislinn was closer to becoming part of the world her parents called home.
---
Oddly enough, things settled down fairly fast and in less than a couple of months, things were more or less back to normal. Apart from the fact, of course, that Jack and Daniel didn't go off-world anymore. Aislinn was growing and she was closer to being eight years old now in appearances, a regular sponge when it came to knowledge.
They were still waiting for the Asgard to show themselves, and Jack was beginning to feel antsy. Hammond seemed to have foreseen this happening, because instead of sitting Jack down with paper work, he had him working with the new recruits.
One Friday, Jack wasn't too sure Hammond was doing him a favor. God, had he ever been that green? That wet behind the ears? Probably, snarked his inner voice. Such times Jack truly felt how old he was. Nah, the recruits would be fine once they dropped that cocky attitude. Not all of them were bad, but some of them would end up dead or causing some one else's death if they kept it up.
Following the newest batch out from the gym, Jack hung back a bit as he overheard three of the recruits discussing their lessons.
"I still don't understand why they force us to sit through endless lessons in ancient history with Doctor Jackson." The dark haired youth that had spoken sighed deeply.
"*I* don't understand what the hell we need civilians for." His friend grumbled as he wiped sweat from his brow. The third guy nodded.
Jack cleared his throat, making the three men jump. "I'd like to remind you gentlemen that without said Doctor Jackson, we wouldn't be going through the 'Gate at all."
The first one who had spoken frowned at Jack. "But sir, surely you see the liability a civilian is in the field?"
Jack snorted. Some time in the past he'd have wholeheartedly agreed. Before Daniel. "Aforementioned linguist is one hell of a soldier, recruit and he's helped save our asses more than once, so I suggest you pay him the respect he deserves."
At the grumbling 'yes sir's Jack frowned. "I suggest you look into the mission reports that are open to you, I'm quite sure you will find them all very... informative and more than a little... thought provoking." Jack pursed his lips as the response was no more enthusiastic as the prior one. "I didn't quite get that, recruits," he said in a sterner voice.
"Yes sir!" The three voices rang through the now empty gym.
"Dismissed," grinned Jack as he pulled out the pen and noted a few things on the clip board. Actually, these recruits might make fine soldiers eventually, but damned, they had a long way to go.
Life was oddly easy at the moment. Sure, it was a bit out of the ordinary. He was living with a man under the pretense they were doing that for the benefit of a child they'd brought back from the Nox home-world, to make sure she was in the same environment as she was used to. That in truth it was to keep the family together... well, no one had to know. Jack swept the house for bugs and cameras when he got home from work and as much as it annoyed Daniel, he knew how important it was. They were being careful, so damned careful.
Half an hour later Jack was ready to hurt someone. An hour after that he was prepared to kill. Because the shit had certainly hit the fan... big time, as two SFs trooped up at the door to Hammond's office. Jack was going over some papers that he'd promised Hammond he'd have a look at while the General was in Washington for two days. Half his mind was on the thought of taking Aislinn to the zoo the some time that weekend. And he knew that Cassie had asked to baby sit at some point. Jack was sure Aislinn would love it and besides, it would be one night with Janet at Janet's place anyway. And it would let Jack do to Daniel what he'd wanted for a long time. Cook dinner and seduce him all over again.
The knock at his door disturbed Jack's thoughts. "Door's open," he called.
Two SFs entered the room, both trying to look extremely detached, but neither fully succeeding. Jack raised an eyebrow as another man entered behind them, this time a man in a dark suit.
"Yes?"
"Colonel Jonathan O'Neill?" asked the man.
"Yes?" Jack felt the urge to make a glib comment but swallowed it quickly as his inner alarms went off.
"I am Colonel Green," started the other man. "Colonel O'Neill, you are hereby arrested and taken into custody on conduct unbecoming an officer in the US Air Force, sodomy and fraternization." The man almost looked as if he was enjoying his task.
Jack stared at him for a moment. He almost opened his mouth to tell the man to go to hell, but that wouldn't be very productive, he had other things to see to, other things that had to be taken care of.
"Am I allowed to make arrangements for the base before I leave?" he asked, voice low.
"Yes Colonel, but hurry up."
Jack took the phone with heavy heart. This was what they'd feared, but it had come a hell of a lot sooner than he'd expected. Damned... he couldn't even tell Daniel, he had to... had to... A quick phone call later and he'd told Ferretti to run things until the General returned from Washington. As Jack had asked Ferretti to tell the team... Well, Lou had quickly understood why Jack was being taking away and Jack hated himself for leaving it up to Ferretti to tell his friends what had happened. To tell Daniel what had happened.
But Lou understood. He'd understood Jack's request to look after his house, to lock it up securely. They still had Daniel's department and it wouldn't look good if Daniel stayed at Jack's place while they got through this... shit.
Locking up Hammond's office, Jack let Colonel Green and the SFs escort him topside. He ignored the questioning looks he got on the way there, but they still cut. He just hoped Daniel wouldn't kill him for this, or do something equally stupid that would drag the linguist and Aislinn deeper into it as well. They had other obligations now than just themselves. They had to ensure that Aislinn was well, that she was with people she trusted. Daniel... Jack swallowed a lump. God, he'd miss Daniel...
Without looking behind him, Jack got into the car that was waiting for them. Somewhere he was glad they'd made it out of the Mountain without Daniel stopping them. It would only have made things worse for all of them.
---
TBC
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I know... but you'll just have to wait like everyone else *g* -- I hope to get a bit written tonight, though ^_^
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I'll just take the Daniel-approach in that case... ^_~
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