Reversal of Fortune: Part 19
By
Gemsong

The infirmary was quiet. The muted sounds of equipment were the only things that broke the silence, but in a way it was soothing. Janet walked quietly to the curtained off area in the corner. She pulled aside the curtain and wished she had a camera. Some sights were too precious to forget.

Daniel was sleeping with Jack on the infirmary bed. His arms around the little boy, holding him against his chest. Jack lay with his head pillowed on Daniel's shoulder, the fingers of his left hand in his mouth. His right arm was held stiffly, strapped to a board that kept him from moving his arm that had an IV drip.

Janet checked the contents of the bag, then brushed her fingers over Jack's forehead. His temperature had finally returned to normal. She glanced up to see Daniel's blue eyes staring at her.

"His temperature is down," Janet said, her voice low so she wouldn't wake Jack.

"Is he going to be all right?" Daniel asked, his voice equally soft.

Janet nodded as her fingers brushed aside dark curls on Jack's temple. "He's a little dehydrated but other than exhaustion, he's none the worse for it. I've given him a little something to help with the headache. All he needs is rest now."

"Thanks, Janet," Daniel said, nuzzling the dark head on his shoulder. He couldn't express the relief he felt now that Jack was safe.

Janet smiled and headed back to her office. She didn't attempt to try to tell Daniel to leave Jack and get some rest himself. You couldn't pry Daniel from Jack with a crowbar. She had heard some of what occurred at the warehouse. Most considered Daniel a quiet peaceful man. Which he was. But the threat to Jack had brought out another side of him. A side that was fiercely protective. It was as if he had been channeling the adult Jack.

Elsewhere in the mountain Julia Mathers found herself in a cell deep within the SGC. She sat at the small table with her head in her hands. She had been questioned for hours. She had told them everything she knew. Everything she knew about the project they had taken Jack for. Even projects that were going on elsewhere. And the really bad thing about it was she didn't know why she was spilling her guts so much.

Julia had been known for her ability to keep her mouth shut. She may not have liked what was going on around her, but she did her job to the best of her ability. And her ability to keep her mouth shut was one of the reasons she survived in that environment. Right now though, if they asked about her childhood she probably would have spilled that too.

She rubbed her eyes. She remembered the expression on General Hammond's face as she talked. There were times she imagined him as a bull and she was the idiot with the red cape. He had been sickened by some of what she told him. And she hadn't tried to excuse herself for participating.

The only reason she wasn't being transported to Leavenworth with the rest was that Jack kept asking for her. He was the reason she was behaving like this. There was no other explanation. He touched something in her and now she couldn't shut up. She would probably be sent somewhere worse than a military prison. She would have to be kept isolated. Between her blabbing and those she had blabbed on, her life wasn't going to be worth much.

But there was one thing she had to admit even it was only to herself. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her silence had been her sin and she felt dirty. Now, though she didn't feel clean, she felt cleaner. Now, if only she knew what her fate was to be.

A week had passed and Jack had returned somewhat to normal. To say he was subdued was an understatement. Janet had allowed Daniel to take him home after the third day of his temperature returning and staying normal. Jack had very clingy with Daniel and nightmares plagued him worse than before.

This time Shau're wasn't there to make the bad dreams go away. She would be a while recuperating the energy she had expended in helping him find their son. Daniel was awakened several times during the night by Jack's screams. All he could do was hold him, and murmur soothing nonsense until the sobbing eased.

Daniel had brought Jack back to the mountain. Janet had wanted to do a follow up exam on Jack to make sure he was recovering. She pronounced him fit and they were off to meet with General Hammond. Daniel was carrying Jack on his hip as he knocked on the door to the general's office.

"Come in," came the response.

Daniel stepped into the room. "Good afternoon, sir," he said.

"Doctor Jackson," Hammond said getting to his feet. "How are the two of you doing?"

"Still dealing with nightmares, but I think we'll get through this," Daniel said.

Jack squirmed in his grip and Daniel set his feet on the floor. The little boy walked over to Hammond and held up his arms. The general picked up Jack and hugged him as small arms went around his neck. He closed his eyes a moment while Daniel watched silently. His relationship with Jack had always been complex, but there had always been respect and admiration coupled with a heavy dose of affection.

"You're safe now, Jack," he said quietly. The arms tightened around his neck a moment before they relaxed.

Since Jack wasn't letting go, Hammond moved back around his desk to sit down with the boy on his lap. Daniel took a seat opposite him, watching his son get comfortable with 'grandpa George'.

"Were you able to get anything on Kinsey?" Daniel asked.

Hammond shook his head. "Nothing we can go to the president with," he replied. "However, we were able to recover a great deal of information. And thanks to Dr. Mathers, there are a number of projects that are being investigated and terminated."

"What happens to her now," Daniel asked as he leaned back in his chair. He saw Jack lift his head to look at the general with intense interest in the answer.

"We're not sure," Hammond said. "We're still holding her here, but we seem to have a problem."

"What problem?"

"She'll answer any question with the absolute truth and in detail," the general replied. "She can't help herself and she's tried. She's a security risk. But we can't keep her here indefinitely and we certainly can't incarcerate her in a standard prison."

"Oops."

Daniel and Hammond looked at Jack. "Jack... did you do something to Dr. Mathers?" Daniel asked.

Jack looked guiltily at his father. "She... has good heart," he said. "She... she needed to tell someone."

Daniel rubbed the bridge of his nose while Hammond leaned back in his chair with a sigh. Daniel had been shielding Jack from doing anything remotely related to the Ancients knowledge or ability, but this was something that had to be addressed.

"I can fix her," Jack said.

"Are you sure, Jack?" Daniel asked. "I don't want you sick again."

"I am sure," Jack replied confidently. "I will be careful."

Daniel looked at Hammond and received a nod. Before he could move Jack looked up at Hammond his brown eyes intense and pleading. "What will you do with Julia?" he asked.

Hammond had received the same looks from his granddaughters when they wanted something badly. "She has a lot to answer for, son," he said.

"Let her atone with deeds, Grandpa George," Jack said. "She is good doctor. She tried to help me. She helped me pretend being very sick. Please."

Hammond sighed again. "I'll do what I can for her," he said finally. With her knowledge the best place for her might be the SGC. There weren't that many doctors out there with her knowledge and experience who also had the clearance needed for some of the situations they encountered. There might be one or two favors left he could call on.

Jack beamed at him. The first bright smile since his rescue. He reached up and hugged Hammond hard. "Thank you, Grandpa George," Jack said. "I love you."

Hammond found himself blinking rapidly for a moment as he hugged the small body. "I love you too, son," he said.

Daniel was smiling as Jack climbed off the general's lap and walked around the desk to Daniel. For a moment he wondered if Jack had done something to Hammond. If he could alter Dr. Mathers like a truth serum, what would prevent him from manipulating the rest of them in the same manner?

Blue eyes locked with brown eyes and Daniel had his answer. Jack wouldn't-couldn't do something like that to someone he loved. It simply wasn't in his nature. Child or adult that wasn't who Jack was. It wasn't duty or honor or some high moral code. It was because he cared.

Daniel smiled and hugged Jack tightly for a moment. With a nod to the General he took his son's hand and they left the office. They walked down the corridors until they came to the cell where Julia Mathers was being held. The sergeant unlocked the door to allow them to go inside.

Julia looked up from where she was sitting and was stunned by who her visitors were. Her face lit up with relief. "You're all right..." she said breathlessly.

Jack let go of Daniel's hand to run the short distance across the room and into Julia's arms to hug her tightly. The woman's eyes over flowed with tears as she held the now healthy child in her arms. No one would tell her how he was. Now, here he was, exactly as he should be. Healthy and a bright smile on his face. She looked at Daniel who returned her smile. He understood the sense of relief she was feeling.

Jack drew Julia's attention back to him and put his hands on either side of her face. She stared into his brown eyes suddenly unable to look away. She felt... something she couldn't describe, like a tingle down her spine and then it was gone. He had done something, but she didn't know what it could be.

"You'll be all right now, Julia," Jack said patting her cheek.

"What?" she asked blankly.

Jack turned to Daniel. "She is all right now," he said.

"Only one way to test that," Daniel replied. "Dr. Mathers, don't answer this question. How old are you?"

Julia opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again. She closed her eyes with a sigh of relief. It was over.

"Well?" Daniel asked with a slight smirk.

Julia looked at him and arched an eyebrow. "I don't have to answer that," she said. Then she looked at Jack. "Thank you," she said.

"You are welcome," Jack said. He kissed her cheek and then walked back to Daniel holding his arms up.

"Good luck, Dr. Mathers," Daniel said with a smile as he picked up his son.

"Thank you, Dr. Jackson," Julia replied with a matching smile.

Jack waved goodbye as they left the room. As they walked down the halls, Daniel felt Jack grow heavy in his arms, the small head nestled against his shoulder. That little exertion had tired him out. But that's all. All Jack needed was rest. And Daniel would make sure he got that and more.

TBC