Chapter 21

"So Jack, I heard you're going off to your house in Minnesota for a week," said Loki suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"I've also heard that a certain Jaffa has never fished before."

"And?"

"I want to see Teal'c fish."

"Uh-huh. What's the real reason?"

"Let's just say you'd probably prefer a more...private...setting for what I'm about to say. Trust me, you might end up using your vacation time thinking this offer over."

"What's this all about Loki?"

"Your son."

Jack stiffened. Few knew about what happened to his son Charlie and even fewer were willing to bring up such a painful memory in front of his face. While he appreciated the blunt manner, it was still a very sore subject.

"You're right, I think I would prefer to hear this in a less public setting," said Jack finally.

"Okay, what's this about and what does it have to do with Charlie?" demanded Jack.

"What if I said I could bring him back, no questions asked and it would only require ten years?"

Jack stared at him.

"You can bring my son back," he said, not showing any disbelief.

"I have the ability to bring the dead back to life, within certain limits. However there always has to be a price to maintain balance. In your case, I could probably get off with taking ten years from you as 'payment', which would keep Hel off my ass about using the stone I really hate."

"Hell?"

"Hel, as in the Goddess of Death in Scandinavian mythology. Daniel would likely be happy to explain who she is to you. While I could override her and just bring him back for free, keeping her from coming after me if I lost the power is much safer in my opinion."

Jack considered the offer. It was extremely tempting, and Charlie's death haunted him to this day.

"He would be back exactly as he was when he died?" asked Jack.

"He would remember what happened, if only as a warning not to repeat it," said Loki, "Otherwise he would be the same child you had to bury before you got involved with the Stargate."

Jack sat down hard on his chair.

"Can I think about this?"

"Like I said, you'd likely spend your vacation thinking about it. It doesn't have to be immediate, and I can do this whenever you want. The only reason I'm even offering to bring him back is because you're one of the few humans I actually like enough to do so. About the only ones who qualify for something like this are the Winchester brothers, and a few of the Avengers like Tony, Clint, Bruce and Natasha."

Jack would still be sitting there when Teal'c arrived.

"Okay, what weren't you telling him?" asked Gabriel. He had overheard the entire exchange.

"I said I would take ten years off him. What I didn't say was that it would be ten years off his age. Basically I would be giving him an extra ten years," said Loki.

"Devious. Always ask for the fine print when dealing with a lawyer, especially one that can outdo a demon."

"Can't say he doesn't deserve it," said Loki.

Gabriel's grin didn't drop. It was times like these that reminded him why he was friends with this version of Loki.

"Wonder how he'll react when he finds out that you're actually de-aging him by ten years and taking away most of his ailments like the bad knee," said Gabriel.

"Be interesting to see how Doctor Frasier would react if he agrees."

Gabriel snickered.

Jack talked it over with Teal'c, and later Sam and Daniel when they heard from the Jaffa. Finding out Loki could bring back the dead was a real shock, but when he mentioned a price it made sense. Especially after Daniel told them who Hel was.

He could see why Loki insisted on what Sam called 'equivalent exchange' to keep it from coming back to bite them in the ass.

Apparently Sam was a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist. Who knew?

"So you could get your son back for ten years?"

"Ten years of what though?" asked Daniel.

"I assume off my lifespan," said Jack. Though now that Daniel mentioned it, Loki never said that.

"So are you going to agree to it?" asked Daniel. He knew how much Charlie meant to Jack.

"I...I don't know. What can you say if someone says they can bring your dead child back for ten years?" said Jack.

"Well generally, that kind of deal would end up with you in hell for eternity once the ten years are up. Sorry, overheard Loki talking to his more annoying counterpart about it," said Dean.

"So this is common to you?" asked Jack.

"Demon deals made at crossroads yeah. But if Loki said he can bring back your kid for ten years, I'd believe him. And I don't think he'd take your soul like the demon would once the time limit was up. Knowing him he's leaving something out, but the resurrection offer I would have to say is genuine," said Dean.

"So he can really bring back the dead?" asked Sam.

"Let me put it this way, I saw him resurrect like two hundred guys who were killed because he made a copy of the items that give him the ability to use one of some pretty cool powers. However in return he had to destroy all the copies that were around, including some his friend made. Pissed off his adopted dad pretty good from what I heard," said Dean.

"What kind of ability?" asked Sam, curious.

"He said it was the 'Power' stone, meaning any latent abilities were unlocked if you could master it. The guy who had the copy was planning to destroy an entire planet just because of something that happened before he was even born, and the worst part was the race he belonged to could have cared less he was killing children. Needless to say Loki was pretty pissed when he found out the guy had it, so he made the deal with Hel to bring back those killed because he made the copy."

"HE made the copy?" said Sam.

"He might make you one to play with, but it wouldn't last long. He's not going to make any duplicates like the one he fooled his dad with for a long time."

Jack took a long pull from his beer. This...this...was big.

"Did he give you a time limit?"

"He said I could take as long as I needed," said Jack.

"Well look on the bright side. If you do agree to the deal, you won't have to kiss him," said Dean, enjoying the way Carter, Daniel and Jack all choked on their alcohol.

"What?" said Jack, trying to breath.

"Most, if not all crossroad deals are sealed with a kiss."

"What if it's a guy and he's homophobic?" asked Daniel.

Dean snorted, "Then it's likely some demon inhabiting a guy would show up to seal the deal, if only to make the human uncomfortable. Most demons are assholes. Though from what I heard, the angels are worse."

It was shortly after he got off vacation that Jack gave him an answer. While he had some reservations about giving up ten years of his life, Charlie's death had hit him harder than anything else. Especially since it had been because he had been so careless about forgetting to lock up his gun.

The chance to have his son again, even if it meant losing ten years, was too good to pass up.

"I'll do it. Even if it means cutting my life ten years short," said Jack.

"I suspected you might agree, which is why Pinkie has been working overtime making up a plausible explanation for why he hasn't aged for a few years, and where he's been. She can also smooth over adding him to the local schools," said Loki.

"Thanks," said Jack relieved.

"However you're on your own explaining to your ex-wife how you got your son back," said Loki. Jack winced. He hadn't thought of that.

"...Can I use your brother as a shield or at least sufficient distraction?" asked Jack hopefully.

"Sure," snickered Loki.

Hammond, when informed of what Loki was about to do, insisted that he be present just in case. The rest of SG-1 and those who were genuinely close to Jack weren't far behind. Particularly Dr. Frasier, who was going to be doing a very extensive body of physical and mental tests to see if it was Charlie O'Neill, not to mention a full DNA test.

Loki had the armband on his right arm, though he had it covered so no one got a good look at it.

He started to channel the energies inside of him, controlling the output of the Gems.

The Gauntlet was a fancy artifact, but a true master of the Gems didn't need the bulky thing to use the stones properly.

Loki focused entirely on the soul of Jack's son Charlie. Once he had a grasp on it (using Jack as the focal point through familial recognition) he pulled. At the same time Jack felt something happening to himself. He didn't know what it was, other than really, really weird.

Before him a form started to take shape. It was small, about eight or nine years old. And there was a clear family resemblance to Jack. Loki seemed to manifest something in his other hand, before he shoved it into the body. The child took a sudden gasp of air before he focused on Jack.

"D...Dad?"

Jack was quick to hug his son, back from the dead.

Loki used the rest of the energy he had collected by removing ten years off of Jack's physical age to make sure his son didn't get recalled. He would keep his memories, but anything his body learned over ten years he would have to relearn all over again...like staff training with Teal'c.

Dr. Frasier was quick to take father and son to the infirmary for a long series of exams. She wanted to make sure Loki hadn't done anything to Jack...and that it really was his son.

Unseen by the rest, Loki was leaning pretty heavily on the chair nearby.

"You alright?" asked Dean.

"Bringing back the dead, even one, is exhausting. And that's before they find out I left out the other half of what I did to Jack."

"What did you do to Jack?" asked a voice. It was Daniel.

"I may or may not have left out the actual price of the agreement."

"Which was?" said Daniel.

"Ten years off his age. I like Jack too much to take years off his life...adding them, on the other hand..."

Daniel blinked.

"You're actually a nice person, despite the way you act, aren't you?" said Daniel.

"Anything his muscle memory learned over the course of ten years will have to be relearned, but other than that I remove ten years of damage from him."

"So why are you so drained?" asked Sam.

"I used the accumulative years Jack's body had taken as the fuel behind reviving his son, as opposed to adding them, which meant it took a lot more effort than normal. Using the soul as fuel, which is what demons do, is relatively simple. Adding years in order to give his son life, also simple. Stealing time already spent is a major pain in the ass, especially if you don't want to accidentally turn them into a teenager," said Loki.

"Why?" asked Dean.

"Because it requires an insane amount of focus."

"Well?"

"According to this test, it's Jack's son. He has half of Jack's DNA, and another from Jack's ex-wife. The age is right as well. Every test I've done comes up clean...though I would like to know why he left the memory of the accident behind."

"He said something about avoiding a repeat," said Jack.

"That's not all he did. Look in the mirror lately Jack?" asked Daniel.

"Why?"

"Just go look."

Jack did...and his jaw dropped.

"He said he'd have to take ten years off!"

"Yeah, but he didn't say off what," said Daniel, grinning.

"Daniel?" asked Sam.

"Loki took ten years off Jack's physical age. He'd have to relearn a few things, but he just gained ten more years instead of losing ten," said Daniel.

"Always check the fine print, especially with someone as dishonest and devious as a thousand-year-old demon," said Sam Winchester.

"...Did you just partially quote The Fairly Oddparents?" asked Jack incredulous.

"Actually Pinkie Pie did shortly after we became roommates. The thing was that it stuck."

"Well Doctor?" asked Hammond.

"Jack is in better physical condition than before, though if Loki removed ten years that would explain quite a bit. Several older injuries were removed as well."

"Now that you mention it...my arthritis isn't as bad..." said Jack.

"Either way you're on bed rest for a few days until we're sure everything checks out."

"What about Charlie?"

"Him as well...though I don't envy you sir, having to bring a dead child back to life in your own way," said Frasier to Hammond.

"Loki said Pinkie Pie would help smooth things over...though I'm on my own with my ex-wife when she finds out..." said Jack, before he added "Though he did say I could borrow his brother as a meat shield."