Reversal of Fortune: Part 15
By
Gemsong

November came, bringing with it early snows, which Jack greeted with childlike enthusiasm. The park, covered in blankets of snow, had become a wonderland. Jack constantly begged Daniel to take him sledding on the sloping hills that made up one side of the park. Sometimes the answer was no, which caused Jack to try pouting at his Dad for a few minutes, hoping to change his mind. When that didn't work Jack would get dressed in his warm snowsuit, then go outside to play in the yard, creating forts and snow soldiers. After an hour or so he could come back in, cold and soaking wet, ready for a warm bath and a hot drink, which would warm him up quite nicely. If anything, the cold weather seemed to make Jack even more active than he usually was, causing Daniel to find himself struggling to keep up with his active ball of energy.

Teal'c, having become a regular visitor at Daniel's, was happy to take Jack out to play. Though Jack would make up new games with changeable rules, the former jaffa didn't mind at all and just played along. He was glad to see how happy Jack was in his new life and doubly glad to be a part of it. When out in public, Jack would always remember to call him Uncle Murray instead of Uncle Teal'c, as he called him in private.

It was a couple of weeks into November when Daniel, having a major project to work on, had to spend a long day at the Mountain. Jack's interest in the translations waned after the first hour quickly, leaving him quite bored. So he wandered around his Dad's office, getting into everything. Teal'c, stopping by to see how they were doing, noticed this, so he took Jack to the gym for some physical training. Though young and small, he was still a strong little boy, and some of his adult fighting skills had stayed with him.

With Jack out of his hair Daniel was able to dig into his work without the distractions of his young son. He was still deep into the translations he was working on, not realizing how late it had gotten until Sam came into his office, interrupting him. In her arms was a sound asleep Jack, snoring softly.

"You're not going to make a habit of this are you, Daniel?" Sam asked, frowning at him.

"Habit of what?" Daniel asked, looking confused.

"It's after 2200 hours," she replied, nodding down toward the sleeping boy in her arms.

Daniel looked up at the clock hanging on the wall. After 10 pm. He had no idea that it had gotten so late. He quickly closed down his computer and put his papers away.

"Absolutely not," he said getting up to take the sleeping child from her arms. "I had no idea it was so late." Jack snuggled into his arms, not awakening during the transfer. No, he would not let this become a habit. He had to take better care of Jack than this. "Where was he?" he asked as he left his lab with Sam walking along with him.

"Teal'c had him most of the evening," she said. "Jack was asleep in his quarters while he was doing his kel'nor'reem." Sam followed him out of the mountain and to his car, where she helped him get Jack settled in his booster seat.

"Thanks Sam," Daniel said. "I owe both you and Teal'c for this."

Sam found herself smiling. "Yes you do," she said. "I'll have a list." She watched as Daniel settled into the driver's seat before turning away to get into her own car.

Daniel was pensive as he drove home. The translations he had been doing were important for some upcoming talks on a planet whose inhabitants call Creana. The talks were scheduled to take place in a few days, not a lot of time for him to translate the documents, but he was surprised how focused he had become on it. Since becoming a father he had never let work become more important than his son. Perhaps old habits died hard after all.

He glanced into the back seat where Jack was sleeping peacefully, his space monkey clutched under his arm as he sucked on his fingers. As much as Jack loved spending time with Teal'c and Sam, it was surprising he hadn't become difficult. When it started to get late he would become whiny and clingy, which usually led to Daniel getting them home at a reasonable hour. Daniel wondered why Jack hadn't done it this time. It was usually Jack who kept him from working too long. It had also been something Jack had done before his... change. He would nag and bother Daniel until finally the archeologist could take it no more, and would pack it in for the night. In his subtle way, Jack had been doing exactly that now. Daniel couldn't remember the last time he had been exhausted by working long hours. Exhausted by an active 6-year-old, yes, but not by work.

A little while later Daniel pulled into the driveway of his home. The house was totally dark, with not even the porch light illuminating the walkway, as it normally did. He would have to remember to set the timer for that light. The days were getting shorter and more than once they had come home after dark. He frowned, thinking that he had turned the light on before they left, but then shrugged it off.

Daniel got out and opened the back of the truck. It was the cold air that roused Jack a little from his sleep. "Daddy?" he mumbled around his fingers.

"Yes, Jack, we're home," Daniel replied as he unhooked the belt and pulled Jack out into his arms.

"All done?" Jack asked, his voice muffled against Daniel's shoulder.

"Not quite, but I can finish later," he replied pushing the door closed with his hip and walking with his burden toward the front door.

"You could have finished," Jack said. "I was content with Teal'c."

"I'm tired," Daniel said with a smile. "You're tired. I'd rather sleep in my bed than a cot on base. How about you?"

"Tired," Jack murmured in agreement.

Daniel just smiled. He shifted Jack to his hip so he could hold him with one hand while he fumbled with getting the key into the shadowed lock. As he was silently cursing the lack of light he didn't hear the sounds coming up behind him. The sudden blow to the back of his head stunned him for a moment as Jack was jerked from his grasp.

Jack's scream galvanized him to shake off the pain and he spun, fighting off his attackers, trying to protect his son. The blows came back at him hard and fast, pummeling him until he fell, hitting the cold concrete of the steps. As darkness reared up to take him away the last thing he heard was Jack's frightened wail.

"Daddy!!!!!"

---

At first Daniel was only aware of the softness beneath his back. Which puzzled him, as he was sure it should have been hard and cold. Then the pain kicked in and he let out his breath in a hiss in response to the throbbing of his head.

"Daniel?" a soft voice asked from close by.

With effort he opened his eyes just a crack. The lights were dim, so it didn't add to his pain. He was in the living room with Janet hovering close beside him where he lay on the couch. Why was Janet here? Then he remembered.

"Jack!" he sat up abruptly Every part of his body howled in protest as the pain hit him, causing the room to spin like a roulette wheel.

Janet pushed him back down. "Take it easy," she said.

"Where's Jack?" he asked through gritted teeth, his blue eyes steely.
"
Sam appeared beside Janet as the doctor gave him the shot she had just prepared. "We don't know yet," she said. "We have security combing around the outside of the house where we found you."
She paused for a moment, looking down at Daniel's pained expression. "That shot I just gave you should deaden the pain you're feeling very shortly."

Daniel felt the warmth of the medication relaxing his muscles, reducing the pain down to a more tolerable level. He sat up again slowly, and this time the room decided not to go spinning.

"Daniel, what do you remember?" Sam asked.

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. "We had just gotten home," he said. "I was carrying Jack, trying to unlock the door and someone hit me from behind." He reached for the back of his head, feeling the lump that was tender to the touch.

"That's not all you got," Janet said. "You took a beating."

Daniel swung his legs to the floor, holding his head in his hands. "They took Jack," he said quietly. "They took my son."

Sam sat down beside him, her hand on his shoulder. "We'll find him, Daniel," she said. "I promise."

Daniel rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"

Janet glanced at her watch. "About 12:30 am," she said.

Daniel frowned slightly. That meant Jack had only been taken a couple hours ago. He looked between Sam and Janet. "How did you know?" he asked.

Teal'c entered the room then. "Shau're came to me," he said, his face a neutral mask that hid the fury behind it. "We came as soon as we could."

"Shau're?" Daniel asked in surprise. Then he realized he shouldn't be surprised. Shau're was a presence in Jack's life, there when he needed her. And he had obviously needed her tonight. Not being corporeal, she did the only thing she could. She went for help from the one person who would not only take her seriously but would act quickly.

Twenty minutes later, the chief investigator at the scene, Major Jim Tomasello, came into the house. From the look on his face they all knew immediately that the news was not good.

"Whoever they were, they were good," he said. "Other than footprints in the snow, they left little evidence behind." He was having a hard time meeting Dr. Jackson's eyes. "We'll keep looking, but...." He trailed off.

Daniel nodded. He turned away to stare out the window at the darkness outside. Somewhere out there was his son. And the people who took him. As the major continued to speak to Sam, Teal'c and Janet, he tuned out the sound of their voices. There was only one voice he could hear. Jack's final terrified wail before he had been knocked unconscious.