Jack was already bored with the pre-mission briefing by the time General Hammond's secretary poked her head in the door saying there was an urgent call for him.

"Sir, with your permission?" he asked motioning with his hand to a phone placed conveniently atop the credenza positioned along the wall. Receiving his CO's nod, Jack pushed his chair back from the conference table. He walked the short distance to the phone and pressed the button steadily blinking red. "O'Neill," he identified himself to whoever was on the other end of the line.

"Jack," he heard his cousin's wife, Helen, greet him and the hitch in her voice told him everything else.

"He's dead," Jack stated quietly, but not quietly enough to avoid the notice of the others in the room with him.

"An industrial fire," Helen confirmed on a sob. "Stephen was with him."

"Stephen?" Jack questioned in confusion. "What was Stephen doing..."

"Stephen joined the department, Jack" Helen informed him. "He was working the fire too. He says its his fault Bull died. Jack, he's like you were after Charlie..."

Jack well remembered those dark days. He'd learned to handle the guilt he felt at his son's death, but not before it was almost too late. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Helen" he assured her vowing to himself to help his younger cousin before guilt and grief could destroy him as they had nearly destroyed Jack.