Disclaimer: Jack and Jonas are not mine. If they were, I would be living these stories instead of writing them.
New Beginnings
By The Huntress
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"Do I have permission sir?" Jonas asked General Hammond.
"Yes, Mister Quinn. You've been cleared to leave this complex for the day. I don't like the idea of you going off on your own though."
"I can drive sir and I only want to go into Colorado Springs."
"You have the phone numbers in case of an emergency?"
"Yes sir."
Hammond nodded. "We'll see you back here at 2100 hours, no later."
"Yes sir!" Jonas grinned. "Thank you sir!" He turned so quickly that he walked into the door. "Later sir!"
Hammond sighed. "Now why do I get the feeling this is *not* a good idea?"
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"Ah, now this is the life." Jack was happier then Teal'c at a buffet. "Three days downtime, an ice cold six-pack, nachos with freshly melted cheese and the Avalanche playing on a brand new fifty inch surround sound HDTV." He propped his feet up, leaned back, kicked up the sound through the speakers...and the phone rang. "I don't think so." On the outside chance it was George with an offworld emergency, he did lower the speakers, but opted to let the machine pick it up.
BEEP
"Colonel O'Neill? I, uh, I need some help."
'Jonas,' he thought, 'just deal with it. Your IQ is two hundred gazillion.'
"Excuse me, how many phone calls do I get?"
Jack stared at the machine. 'Who's he talking to?'
"Just one? But...it was a misunderstanding. I still don't know why I've been arrested."
He spit his beer all over the couch. "ARRESTED?!" Jumping up, he ran for the phone. "JONAS!"
"Colonel?"
"Where are you?"
"Jail sir."
"What are you doing in jail?" Jack was doing his best to remain calm.
"It was a mistake. I didn't...Colonel, please come get me."
"Put someone on the phone so I can find out exactly where you are." Jack talked to an officer and debated for a moment whether or not to let Jonas stay in a cell for a while...at least until the game was over. "He's a big boy; he can take care of himself." He sat back down and propped his feet back up. A moment later, the pregame show broke for a commercial and Jack watched a preview of the new season of OZ on HBO.
He was out the door thirty seconds later.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I'm here for Jonas Quinn."
"Quinn, Quinn...oh yeah. Him," said the desk sergeant.
"What did he do?" Jack asked warily.
"Solicitation."
"He picked up a HOOKER?!" Jack took a deep breath. "However much his bail is, I'll take care of it."
"You have to wait until morning, when he's arraigned."
"Excuse me?"
"Look, he stays until morning. You can't have him until then. Got it?"
"No," Jack said calmly, "I don't 'got it'. I said I'll pay his fine or bail, or whatever. Just get him up here."
"I suggest you calm down or you're going to be joining him." He gave Jack a menacing look.
Jack however was not intimidated and returned the look tenfold. He pulled out his ID, slamming it on the desk. "You see that?"
"Yeah, and....?"
"How would you like to be drafted?"
"Riiight." He motioned over two other officers and glared at Jack. "If you don't leave, you'll join him in a cell."
Jack nodded. "Captain Anders still running this asylum?"
"You know Anders?"
"Is he here?"
"Maybe."
"Well, why don't you get him on the phone and tell him Jack O'Neill is here."
The sergeant picked up the phone. "Captain, there's a Jack O...yes sir, O'Neill. He wants me to...yes but...I know sir, but....yes he did mention something about that. He can?" The sergeant's voice was rising. "Second-in-command of NORAD?" He swallowed hard, looking fearfully at Jack. "Yes Captain. Immediately sir." He hung up the phone. "He says to do whatever you want. I'll have Quinn brought up right away."
"I'll keep the draft option open for ya." Jack smirked, secretly thankful that Hammond had set up that cover for him. "Do you know where Antarctica is?"
"I'll go get him myself!"
Jonas was brought up and Jack looked him over, searching for any bruises.
'He looks okay,' Jack thought.
Jonas stared at the floor for a few moments, but finally brought his eyes up. "Colonel."
"You okay?"
"I...yes sir."
"You get hurt in there?" Jonas hesitated and Jack noticed. "Well?"
"No sir," Jonas replied quietly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes sir."
Jack didn't quite believe him, but let it go. "Come on. I'm taking you home."
"Yes sir." They walked outside and Jonas stopped, looking up at Jack. "I don't want to go back to Kelowna sir."
"What makes you think you're going back to Kelowna?"
"If you get arrested and you're not a citizen, you get deported. I saw it on Court TV."
"Nobody is deporting you."
"I was supposed to be back at the Mountain at nine o'clock, er, 2100 hours. I won't be allowed out again."
"Get in the truck."
Jonas climbed in, and turned to Jack. "I didn't do anything. It was a misunderstanding."
"You can tell me all about it later."
The ride was made in complete silence, with Jack glancing over every few minutes to look at Jonas. The younger man was staring out the window, looking absolutely terrified.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Where are we sir?" Jonas asked.
"My house. I'm tired and it's closer. I'll take you back in the morning."
"Yes sir." Jonas lowered his eyes again, following Jack inside, taking a seat on the couch.
The phone rang and Jack picked it up, not taking his eyes off Jonas. "O'Neill. Yes General. He's with me." Jack paused. "It was my fault." Jonas gaped at him. "I, uh, found him in town and we went to eat. Yes sir, but I told him I'd call. I forgot. I know I should have called. I'll tell him. The car? It's still in town. We'll get it in the morning. Goodnight to you too General." He hung up, shaking his head. "You owe me your soul."
"Why did you do that?" Jonas asked.
Jack took a seat next to him. "To put you in debt to me for the rest of your natural life and maybe after also. Now, why did you pick up a hooker?"
"A what?"
"A hooker...prostitute."
"I didn't know what she was sir. She came over to me and asked me if I wanted to have some fun."
"And you told her....?"
"That I liked to have fun."
"You told her you liked to have fun?" Jack was biting the inside of his cheek, fighting back a chuckle.
"She told me fifty for an hour and I said that was too much for fun."
Jack was losing control, the corner of his mouth twitching. Any anger he had was slowly dissipating at Jonas' innocence. "And then?"
"She asked me how much I was willing to pay and I told her we could talk about it, and the next thing I knew I was being arrested. Why did they arrest me sir?"
"Because prostitution is illegal in forty-nine states."
"Why? It's her body."
"You've been with hookers before?" Jack, at this point, was wondering just how innocent Jonas really was.
"No."
"That's good."
"Yes sir."
"Would you stop calling me sir?"
"Yes sir."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I think we're at the stage where you can call me Jack."
"Yes sir. Jack, sir."
Jack sighed. "I'm gonna take a quick shower. You just make yourself comfortable. Watch some TV and eat something."
"Thanks Colonel...Jack."
Jonas picked up the remote and turned on the TV, channel surfing. "I don't understand this. Over two-hundred channels and nothing worth viewing." He stopped at a channel called 'Spice', smiling to himself. "A cooking channel. I wonder why I don't get this on my dish on base." He started to watch a movie called 'The Pizza Boys', figuring he'd get a new recipe he could try out in the commissary kitchen. But after a few minutes his mouth dropped open and his eyes widened considerably. "Oh shit." He didn't hear the shower go off, nor did he hear the footsteps behind him.
"What are you watching?" Jack asked.
Jonas fumbled for the remote, but he wasn't quick enough. "I, uh, I thought it was a cooking show."
"Oh, they're cooking all right," Jack snickered.
Jonas tilted his head as the camera panned sideways. "They're...men."
"So they are Jonas."
Jonas' head fell back and he found himself looking into warm brown eyes. "Sir, those men are...they're...." He turned crimson.
"I know," Jack nodded, taking a seat beside Jonas.
"Sir?"
"Jack."
"Jack, you watch this stuff?"
"Oh yeah," Jack grinned.
"You enjoy it?"
"Yep. How about you?"
"I...it's...different."
"Don't tell me men don't do this sort of thing on Kelowna."
"I don't know. But we're not a repressed society, so maybe. That man in the cell asked me to...." he let his voice trail off.
"What man?" Jack shut off the TV.
Jonas hesitated. "A man in the cell with me. He asked me to...and he...."
"I thought you said nobody touched you!"
"He didn't!" Jonas shrank into the corner of the couch. "I mean he did but...."
Jack took a deep breath, calming himself. "He touched you?"
Jonas was hesitant, but nodded. "He told me I was a 'pretty boy'."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jack asked in a soft voice.
"I was afraid you'd be angry, that it was my fault, that I did something wrong."
"The only thing you did wrong was in not telling me." Jack was concerned now. "*What* did he do?"
Jonas' eyes lowered. "He groped me hard, told me I wanted it." His eyes slowly came up. "I didn't sir! I didn't want him to touch me! Honest!"
"What else?"
"He kissed me. It was...he tasted like dirt. He...I thought he was going to hurt me, force me to, you know, but then the police officer came to get me out of there. If you hadn't come to get me, he would have...." Something in Jack's face made him stop. "I did do something wrong, didn't I?"
"No, but I did. At least I nearly did."
"You couldn't have done anything wrong sir...Jack. You were home."
"Jonas, when you called I was going to leave you there until morning, to teach you a lesson."
Jonas lowered his eyes again. "Oh. I probably deserved it, whatever he was going to do."
"WHAT?!"
"I'M SORRY OKAY!" Jonas shouted, jumping to his feet. "I should be punished. I have to go back to the Mountain and tell General Hammond he was right, that I shouldn't have been allowed off base by myself." He headed for the door. "I'll walk back."
Jack got to his feet, turning Jonas around so they were facing. "You did *nothing* wrong. *Nothing*. All you did was talk to someone, try to be friendly, just like you always do."
"Sam says I'm too friendly sometimes. She says I trust too easily. Is she right Jack? On Kelowna, it's okay to trust, to be friendly to people you don't know. But here...."
Jack put his hands on Jonas' shoulders. "No, it's not wrong. You just have a lousy gut instinct, that's all."
"I wish I could be like you."
He gave Jonas a half smile. "Yeah? How so?"
"You can turn your emotions off when you need to. I've seen you do it on missions. I wish I didn't feel anything like you do."
"Is that what you think? Jonas, you are waaay off the mark with that one."
"But I've seen you sir. Your face gets blank and there's nothing there."
Jack steered Jonas back to the couch, pushing him down. He sat beside him, thinking for a moment. "What you see, is not who I am. I have to *appear* to turn everything off, because if I didn't, I'd be no good as a commander. I feel more then you could possibly imagine when someone under me gets hurt. You don't want to turn off your emotions, because that's not who you are. Daniel was the same way."
"But you kept him on your team for so long."
"Of course I did. He was the team's conscience, our emotions...my best friend...*my* conscience. If he didn't care so much, your people would be dead now."
"That was my fault also," Jonas said softly. "He's dead because of me. You said so yourself."
"No," Jack shook his head. "He's gone because he was brave and caring. Yeah I blamed you, but Teal'c and Carter pointed out that I was wrong. And if I didn't think you could do the job, you wouldn't be traveling the galaxy with SG1. Besides that," Jack shrugged, "he's not dead."
"He's not dead?"
"I don't think so. Maybe I'll tell you about this ascension thing sometime. But not now. And if I thought you did something wrong, don't you think I would have told you?"
Jonas nodded. "Without hesitation."
"You betcha," Jack smiled. "Now, *you* need to take a shower because you smell wretched. I am going to call for a pizza. You like pizza, don't ya Jonas?"
"Yes sir...I mean Jack." Jonas finally smiled at him. "Can we have it with pepperoni?"
"Fine with me. Now, towels in the closet over there, and the bathroom is the door after. There's soap and shampoo under the sink." Jack saw Jonas look down at himself. "I have a tee shirt and some sweatpants that might be a little big, but they'll do for tonight."
"Thank you Jack. For everything."
"Okay," Jack nodded. "Just keep this conversation between us."
"I will." Jonas got his towels and went into the shower. Jack then took clothes out for him, left them on the guestroom bed and called for the pizza.
A few minutes later his phone rang. "O'Neill. What is it Lou?" Pause. "Tommy told ya huh? Okay, here's what happened." He paused, not realizing that Jonas had gotten out of the shower and was standing behind him. "Jonas had a bit of a problem and I had to get him out of jail. No, don't ask, and yes, he's fine." Pause. "He's okay, I promise you." Jack was about to hang up when something Lou said caught his ear. "I *will* take care of him. No, I will not take advantage of him. Good night Lou."
"You told Major Feretti I was arrested?" Jonas asked.
Jack whirled around, mouth dropping open. "I...no, I didn't. Jonas, in order to get you out, I had to pull some strings with the Captain in the precinct, who's an old friend of me and Lou's. He called Lou and Lou called me. Lou doesn't know what happened and he *won't* tell anyone you were in jail."
"Okay, I believe you." He thought for a moment. "Jack, why did you tell him you wouldn't take advantage of me?"
"Because you're here with me and...I like men." He watched Jonas take a step back away from him. "I won't touch you Jonas. I swear."
Jonas backed up further, turning to the guestroom, going in and locking the door.
Jack punched the wall. "OWW! FUCK!!" He heard the doorbell, knowing it was pizza, composed himself and took care of the delivery. Carrying the box into the kitchen, he glanced at the room, shaking his head. "You should have told him Jack. Everybody knows. It's not like it's a secret." He stared at the pizza, appetite gone. "You fuck up everything, don't you." He plopped down on the couch and just stared at the walls. He didn't want to watch TV, didn't want to do anything. His eyes kept moving to the guestroom door, wondering how he was going to make this right. "Yeah, sure Jack. The kid is scared of you now. He thinks you're gonna rape him."
He heard the guestroom door open, watching Jonas come out. "I have to brush my teeth."
Jack breathed a sigh of relief, giving Jonas a small smile. "There's extra toothbrushes in the closet." Jonas nodded. "Jonas, if it would make you more comfortable, I'll go to my room."
"That's okay sir. I'm just going to brush my teeth and go back to bed."
"You need to eat. The pizza is on the table. I am going to bed and you are going to eat some dinner. I am still your CO and that is an order. Got it?"
"Yes sir." Jonas walked into the kitchen, staring at the box. He jumped when he heard Jack behind him and backed away again.
"DAMMIT JONAS! I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH YOU!"
"You don't understand," Jonas said softly.
Jack knew that tone and what went along with it. He grabbed Jonas by the shoulder, turning him around, seeing the tears. "Make me understand." Jonas' eyes moved down, Jack's following, stopping at Jonas' crotch, the erection quite apparent. "Did I cause that?" Jack asked innocently.
"Uh-huh," Jonas answered, not raising his eyes.
Jack took his chin in hand, lifting Jonas' face, wiping his tears away. "I told you I wouldn't touch you and I meant it. Not unless you want me to."
"I don't know what I want. I'm confused Jack and I'm afraid."
"Well I know what I want," Jack smirked.
"You do?"
"I want some dinner. My appetite just came back. How about you? Pizza and beer?"
"Yes sir." Jack cocked an eyebrow at him. "Jack."
They sat at the table and ate, and Jack was happy to see Jonas relaxing. "It's no secret that I like men," Jack said.
"I thought the military had a policy of something called 'don't ask, don't tell'?"
"They do. But me, I spent so many years in Special Ops that I sort of have 'special dispensation'. In other words, I know so many dirty little secrets that they leave me alone." He finished his third slice, as did Jonas. "I'm full."
"Me too."
"Wanna watch some cartoons?"
"Yeah. I like cartoons," Jonas grinned.
The two sat on the couch and Jack watched as Jonas' eyes started to shut, the younger man forcing them open. "Come here kid." Jonas was hesitant, but Jack reached over and pulled him close, feeling Jonas tense up. "It's okay. I'm not going to do anything." He pulled Jonas' head to his lap, making sure to keep it away from his crotch. "Stretch out and just relax." He stroked Jonas' hair slowly with one hand, the other rubbing up and down his arm. "That's it, time for sleep." He watched Jonas' eyes drift shut. "Shhh. Nobody is going to hurt you. I'm going to keep you safe. I promise."
"Love you Jack," Jonas murmured as he fell asleep.
"I know," Jack whispered back. He thought for a moment, then nodded to himself. "And I think I love you too." Jack sat there for a while, waiting for Jonas to fall into a deeper sleep, before half-carrying Jonas to his bed. He lay with him, cradling him close, enjoying the feeling of holding someone again, someone he loved.
He looked over at the photo of him and Daniel on his nightstand, swallowing hard, whispering, "I miss you so much." A brief tear rolled down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away. Jonas snuggled in closer, Jack kissing the top of his head. "I'm here Jonas. Go to sleep." He glanced back at the photo. "I don't want to be alone anymore."
As he drifted off to sleep himself, Jack could have sworn he felt Daniel's lips on his cheek, heard Daniel's whispered voice in his ear. "You deserve to love and be loved. It's time for a new beginning Jack. Learn to be happy again."
Jonas' eyes cracked open and he saw something for just a moment. He sat up and tried to focus, but then it was gone. He closed his eyes again, moving into Jack's outstretched arm, the arm closing around him.
"Take care of him Jonas," a soft voice whispered.
"I will." Jonas mumbled. "I promise."
FIN
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Liked it? Hated it? Lemme Know....The Huntress