Daniel

Soooo… Here I am…a teenager. Again!

I have to say this all sucks!

Sam says they'll change me back but I have serious doubts about that.

I have had to move in with her. That was a bit of a blow too. My own stuff, well, what I could fit in, is crammed into her spare room. She's been great really. She lets me have my own space and she tries not to treat me how I look (currently, 14 years old). I'm grateful for that at least. It doesn't always work though. Sometimes my teenage mind gets the better of me and I have the odd…tantrum! I don't like that…the lack of control. It's very…challenging. I also have the overwhelming urge to lie in. (Not that unusual, but I've always been very driven, to work, and achieve.) I also find myself arguing about things that…I am…wrong about. It's just not me, not 'the me' that I know. Sam seems to understand but I don't. I'm still really struggling but then it's only been two weeks.

I've been to my apartment. Sam, Teal'c and me, we packed it up. It seemed, well, it seemed like the right thing to do. Sam said that I can't live alone and Teal'c agreed. General Hammond got quite irate when I tried to point out that I could manage but I don't think that slamming the door to the conference room helped much there. He more or less dragged me back by my shirt collar and told me to stop being unreasonable. I'd shouted a lot before the door-slamming incident. I suppose that didn't do my cause much good either.

'Damn hormones!'

So here I sit, on the bottom of a bunk bed, listening to an 'ipod'. I feel a fool. I haven't been much good at the mountain for the past few weeks either. Mind wanders, I fidget. The coffee just makes it worse. I've already had a lecture from Janet about that!

Sam's made no progress with the technology that caused this. 'Two weeks! It feels like forever!' My grip of my adult side seems to slip a little with every hour that passes. I worry about that. Sam says not to worry. Maybe that accounts for the 'ipod' and the surfing the internet for pointless games. I have a 'Facebook account' now too. I dunno. It keeps me occupied, well, my adolescent side, anyhow. I snicker to myself, my 33 year old self is still mentally kicking my ass for it but my 14 year old me, well, he thinks it's cool.

Arrr! That's the teenage thing again! I have to get a grip!

I need to work, or at least try to but there's the small matter of Jack!

For once, it wasn't me that touched something, it was Jack! He always insisted on fiddling with stuff in my office. I say 'Put it down Jack!' and he just glares and picks up something else.

Juggling! With artefacts! Jesus Christ! What was he thinking of? One minute I was asking him not to do that and the next thing I was lying, face-down, across my desk. Jack was on the floor, in a heap. He came around at the same time as I did. He looked as young as I do, give or take a year, maybe. He was, well, he was shocked and then pissed, really pissed. He didn't say anything to me, apart from asking if I was okay.

I nodded and he called Janet.

Well, that's it in a nutshell. Well, apart from the fact that he's sharing a room with me!

Jack

Sam's asked me to put the trash out. Hmmmm? My second in command, asking me…to put the trash out! That's rich!

I'm trying to shelter from the storm in the bedroom. She doesn't take to kindly to me calling her Carter at the moment. Actually, if the truth be known, she sent me here. I think she's sick of the back chat. Sent to my room, I'm forty- something for-cryin'-out-loud! I might look 14 but that's not the point!

Daniels lying on the bed below me. He's having a job to talk to me since the accident. I get the occasional 'hi' and 'I'm fine'. That's it really. I dunno what to say anymore. I think he needs to come to terms with stuff a bit. He was really distraught about his apartment; I've never seen Danny like that before. He shouted at the General, real loud. The general actually man handled him. I was shocked. Me, I could understand but Danny?

It was me, I suppose. That'll teach me. Daniel always moans about me fiddling with this stuff. I'm always telling him not to touch when we're off world and yet here we are, because I touched something in his office!

Carter…Sam, I keep forgetting. Anyway, she's really struggling with trying to sort this out. I know she keeps trying to reassure Danny but I got a funny feeling it's all bluff before they break the news that we're stuck like this. We've seen nothing of 'the Asgard', or 'the Tok'ra', or anyone else that may have been able to help. I reckon the big guys have already said they can't do anything and they just haven't told me and Danny yet. Everyone's really kept us in the dark, more for Daniel than me, I think.

I have to say, the whole teenage body thing has its plus points. Better knees, obviously, less aches and pains, more energy and no gray hair! Cool. I think I'm quite 'a looker' really! I've tried winking at Sam but she just frowns at me or tells me off for being cheeky. Oh well, it's worth a try I suppose.

I'm trying to embrace being a kid again and that's caused me a little grief, I have to admit. Sam's let Daniel and me stay at her place with her. Well, she insisted actually but only two bedrooms means bunk-beds. I think maybe we're a bit old for that. Didn't stop me claiming the top bunk, with some force I might add. Daniel just rolled his eyes. Sam laughed though. She commented about the fact that I would have done that as an adult. She was right.

We've closed my house up for now, but Sam says we might have to go there, if we're like this for to long. There's a little more room there than here but she didn't have time to move her stuff and as she's the guardian… for now… we're here.

Danny's books are everywhere and my stuff, well, that's everywhere too. I don't think 'Gameboy's' and 'PS2's' take up as much room as books but maybe I should make more effort to pick up the laundry. Danny's much better at that than me. He doesn't pick up my stuff on principle though and Sam moans. I just have more important things to do, like playing hockey and stuff. I have to make the most of it after all, don't I?

I do miss being useful at the mountain though. The General asks my opinion on some stuff still, like security and that, but I get more bored than ever now and that means people get annoyed. I feel like I don't know what I'm doing most of the time now, well, I never did but I definitely don't now. I have to say I do use that as an excuse sometimes though.

Earlier in the week, I decided to play a trick on the marines, took their clothes while they were showering. I thought it was hilarious, even Daniel sniggered when I told him and I was hiding in his office. The General wasn't that amused though. He removed me…to his office...by the ear. Owww! That hurt and it was more than a little embarrassing, being dragged through the SGC, by the ear. I complained to the General that the marines deserved it. He didn't agree, nor did Sam actually. She was kind of… quiet. I think she said something about being 'disappointed'. Well the General shouted and I looked at the floor, couldn't help but smirk…He saw that and put me in the corner, like a kid. He said it was to think about my actions. I did think, for a bit anyway.

Well, half an hour later he let me go with a flea in my ear and a warning to behave. Daniel actually said he saw naked marines in the corridors and he laughed. It was worth it to see Daniel laugh at least.

Anyway, that's my adolescent side. I have to say its overwhelming at times and makes for a great excuse. I know, I know, I should think of my team and my friends but I need to laugh otherwise I think I'd cry and that's strictly between you and me.

I am gutted about this, probably for Daniel more, but we've got to move on. I know I'm driving people crazy and Sam's bearing the brunt of me acting up but it's my coping mechanism, for now anyway. I'll make it up to her. She has shouted a lot, at me anyhow.

Well, she says we all need to chat about stuff later and I definitely need to talk to Danny. Otherwise he might kill me in my sleep!

Sam

Holy Hannah! I've just looked in 'The Colonel's' and Daniel's bedroom. Ohhh… Jack, it's Jack! I'm really struggling with that. The General said we can't wander around calling each other sir and Colonel. I have to say, the whole concept's not so hard to get my head around when he's being such an unholy terror! How did his parents not kill him the first time around?

I should have expected this but it's getting worse, not better. Daniel's withdrawing into himself a little more every day, and The Col… Jack, well, he's just pushing all the time. The incident with the marines; I was so angry I couldn't even speak! We still need to talk about that.

We need to all talk about a lot of things. I'm not even sure about their memories anymore. They seem to be less prevalent and the whole adult reasoning, that seems to be slipping away. Daniel has voiced his concerns to me about it and I've tried to reassure him. Janet says she's not surprised and that I should just carry on the way I'm going.

Surely Daniel can't get as bad as Jack? No, no, that's not in his nature, although I did see him laughing with Jack about the marines. I hope Daniel told him it was a bad idea but I've got a funny feeling that he didn't. He's been on his laptop a lot; I've glanced at it, just to see what he's doing. Daniel… 'A Face-book Account'? Not work? Yes, well, between that and the 'Ipod' and the long silences I think I've got two opposite ends of the teenage spectrum here, but Daniel does appear to question what he does. I don't think Jack does? Who knows?

I know that the whole 'feeling sorry for them' has to change though. I'm fairly sure that's where I've been getting it wrong. I think I thought ' Ah well, they'll be back to them selves in a few weeks, I'll just let them get on with their own thing. We'll just all be together for a bit.' What I didn't count on was the whole 'teenager thing'. Their memories, yes, and smaller bodies are one thing but this hormonal mischief, arguing and silences is another. No real fighting as yet. I think that may come though, when Daniel really gets his bearings.

Jack! His laundry, the mess! In fairness to Jack, Daniel's mess seems to have gotten worse too.

I've tried to respect their privacy and treat them like adults. It's not working; we need ground rules. I hate the fact that I only ever seem to shout at Jack. He's so pushy and unreasonable. I don't think that that helps Daniel either.

Yep, we definitely need rules and I have to enforce them. This is so hard. They're my friends and colleagues and I suppose for that reason I have to approach this from the point of view that I am, actually, the adult here and they're not anymore. God, this stinks!

The general took me aside today and pointed out that he couldn't tolerate Jack's pranks, and there have been others, not as bad as the marines though! Thankfully. He has asked me to talk to them both and then report back to him. He's really concerned and deep down he knows that neither of them are going to take much of an active part in the SGC, not for a while at least. I think we're working up to breaking it to them, although I don't think they'll find it as much of a blow as he thinks, not with the behavioral changes that I have seen in both of them. That just brings me back to wondering about their memories again. Maybe they are losing them, little by little. The way that they are now, they're not the people that I remember, not really. They are still Jack and Daniel, but they don't seem to have the concerns about the work that we do anymore. I think that I need to talk to Janet too about that.

We've contacted everyone that we can think of. Nobody seems able to help. There's been a lot of 'umming and arrring', but no real answers. 'The As'gard' may have something in a few weeks; although they were quick to point out that it was in no way a sure thing. That says to me they can't do anything. Call me a kill joy but there you go. I've looked at the technology and I have no idea. They just look like rocks, feel like rocks, what can I say? No energy being emitted, nothing to go on. I don't see what else I can do? I'll carry on my investigations but I'm running out of options fast.

And now, I'm standing here, looking through the door to their room. They've gone to the store now. I can't even see the floor! The beds are covered in stuff, there's even pants hanging from the light fitting! I'm not even stepping over the threshold, they can sort this out. I have to be firm. Maybe The General's stance is more the way to go after all?

Yep, I need to talk to them, seriously, and then maybe to Janet. She's a mom and she's good with 'the looks'. I need to enlist Teal'c's help more too. He hasn't really said much, maybe because I've tried to take it all on myself. Maybe I've shut him out of this situation a bit. I think he wants to help, I just haven't let him. I have to admit, help is definitely required.

Maybe The General can give me some tips too?

The Infirmary

Sam had been asked to take Jack and Daniel to the infirmary for some follow up tests after the initial checks that had been carried out when the incident had originally happened. There had been much moaning and groaning when she had eventually told them where they would be going.

"Sam, why do we have to go to the infirmary again? I thought that Janet had said that we were fine when this first happened?" Daniel looked up at Sam as they walked down the corridor towards the infirmary.

"Yeah, Danny has a point. We don't wanna be poked and prodded by Janet again. She always wants our blood, literally!" Jack trailed behind playing with a yoyo that he had obviously found in his old desk the last time he'd been in there.

"Look, guys..." Sam glanced around and took in the sight. Daniel was glancing down at his 'Ipod', fiddling with it with one hand and his other hand was in the pocket of his jeans. Jack wasn't looking were he was going at all and nearly walked into Sam. "Jack! Look where you're walking, will you." He glanced up and grinned at her, starting to take in what she was saying. "Janet has asked for these follow up tests, it isn't me. We have to be sure that you're okay, that's all."

Jack sidled up next to her and put his yoyo in his pocket. "I s'pose it's not all bad. There's some really nice nurses in there at the moment, Danny." Jack grinned and Daniel caught onto what he was saying and smiled back, shaking his head as he looked back at his 'ipod'.

"Jack! I'm warning you! Do not give them any trouble, do you understand?! I have no qualms about leaving you completely in Janet's hands!" Sam was frowning at him now as they entered the infirmary.

"Okay, okay! I was only joking, gee! A guy can't even make an innocent comment anymore!" Jack was still grinning, which unnerved Sam slightly. She would have liked a quiet day, but this obviously wasn't going to turn out to be one.

Jack did consider that upsetting Janet at any time was never a good thing, but he had excuses, well, at least what he thought were well formulated excuses. He got his yoyo back out and stood with Daniel while Sam went to find Janet to tell her that they had arrived.

Sam found Janet in her office, reviewing some files. "Hi, Sam, how are you? Are they still driving you crazy?" Janet smiled and indicated for Sam to take a seat. Janet glanced outside at the boys who had once been her colleagues.

"Well, Janet, I wanted to talk to you about that. I know that I've mentioned about their ability to reason things out and you've said that, although they have their memories, they essentially have a teenage mind and hormones and that that will inevitably affect them, but I'm worried. I'm starting to wonder if their memories are in tact. Daniel can be so withdrawn and he only acts like the Daniel I remember a small amount of the time now. Jack, well, he's Jack. It's hard to tell, he was always the embodiment of a child in an adult's body a lot of the time anyway, but he still seems too adolescent. It seems to be getting worse. I have tried to talk to them, but it's a touchy subject." Sam looked a little upset, so Janet offered to get Jack and Daniel off to a CAT scan for a start, so that they could have time to talk.

A nurse came to take them to the department and Janet saw the inevitable wink that Jack gave Daniel before indicating the nurse's behind. Janet stepped into the door way and leaned forward holding onto the doorframe while she shouted at Jack as he followed the nurse. "Jack O'Neill! I'm watching you and if you give my staff any problems you'll have me to answer to! Do you understand?"

Jack turned, gave a little shrug as he smiled and shouted back "Come on, doc! Who d'ya take me for?" He then disappeared around the corner. Daniel appeared to have turned beet-red and was obviously trying not to be seen as he hurried to catch the nurse up.

Janet returned to her chair and smiled at Sam. "He's incorrigible! How do you manage Sam?" Sam gave a weak smile and Janet continued. "If they are losing their memories, the CAT scan might help to show a change in their brain formation, but the only real way I can tell is if I talk to them. I'll try to be 'not too obvious'. I would even go so far as to suggest a talk with Dr McKenzie, if I thought that they would co-operate."

"Some how Janet, I don't think they would., I would imagine that their co-operation with him now is less likely than when they were adults."

"I know. Well, I'll see what I can do, but if I have to refer them, so be it, okay?" Janet frowned, knowing fine well that Sam was making a valid point. If they were losing their memories, she was sure that she could ascertain that without to much of a problem.

"Okay, as long as I know what I'm dealing with. If they have regressed that much then maybe I won't feel so bad… That sounds horrible, doesn't it, but it's like kicking them when they're down, being all parental, especially if they have all their old life in there and in tact."

"I understand, Sam, its okay. Now have you got any other concerns about their physical wellbeing or anything else?" Janet gave a broad reassuring smile.

"Well… no. This was my biggest concern. I don't want to be treating them like kids, but they leave me no choice sometimes. They argue, their room looks like a tip and it's getting worse; if there's trouble, Jack's there and in the last week or so, Daniel hasn't been that far behind. Daniel's been doing some work, but to nothing like the degree he used to. He's so easily distracted, and distracted by Jack. I just don't know what to do, Janet." Sam was looking at Janet pleadingly now.

"Sam, don't panic. I think you should treat them how you feel is appropriate for their behaviour. If it's 'the old them' bubbling over, then treat them as you always would have done, but when they act as adolescents then your reaction needs to be appropriate. We will all back you up, Sam, and you need to explain to them why you are reacting the way you are. I trust your judgement and so do the General and Teal'c." Janet was now patting Sam's hand across the desk.

Sam seemed a little more at ease now.

"Thanks, Janet. I know you're right, I'm really grateful for this." Sam stood and moved towards the door. "I'll wait for your results. There's a meeting at 1500 this afternoon. Will you be okay with them?" Sam now smiled broadly, as Janet nodded and mirrored Sam's look. "I'll be fine. I can handle the terrorists! I'll let you know when we're done."

Sam gave a little wave and made her way through the infirmary to the exit. Janet went back to her desk and collated the tests that she needed to carry out and all was quiet for a while.

oOo

About an hour later, Janet was deep in thought, completing work that she had needed to get finished in her office, when a nurse knocked at her door, looking rather flushed.

"What is it, Nurse Tyler?" Janet looked up and refocused on the young nurse who had been asked to collect blood samples from Jack and Daniel some 20 minutes previously.

"I-I'm sorry to bother you, Doctor Fraiser, but I don't seem to be able to get the blood from Doctor Jackson and Colonel O'Neill." She was rather red now and looking put upon.

"Why on earth not, Nurse, what's the problem?"

"Well… urmmm… every time I get a tourniquet in and turn to get ready to take the blood, I look back and the vials have gone. I must have got out at least five and I don't know quite how to deal with it, Ma'am." The nurse obviously knew that 'the terrors' were giving her the run-around, but she was to afraid to say anything. "And ma'am, one of them pinched me on the behind." The nurse blurted out the fact so very quickly and quietly that Janet hardly heard what she'd said.

Janet stood up. "Okay, I'll sort this out and I apologize now for their behavior." Janet took her clipboard, and fixed her face with her best 'stern doctor' look. As she approached the beds, she could see the two miscreants grinning from ear to ear. At least Daniel was trying to stifle his amused smile, which was more than could be said for Jack.

"Okay, you two, what did I say to you about not giving my staff the run-around?" Janet gave her patented stare.

Jack looked at the bed, obviously still highly amused. Daniel now squirmed a little under Janet's gaze. "I… we… we were just having some fun, that's all, Janet, sorry." He was now trying to push his hands into the front pocket of his hooded top and using the 'puppy dog look'.

Jack butted in to back up his friend "Come on, Doc, give us a break! We were only messing with her." Jack swung his legs, glancing between Janet and his feet.

"Jack! That is not the point. My nurse couldn't do her job and it could have been dangerous, and now I'm going to have to take your blood." She gave Jack a cold stare. Daniel was about to say something, but Janet stopped him with a raised finger. "I want you to sit there, be still and be quiet and both of you can apologisze to the nurse when we've finished. Okay?"

"Yes, Janet," they both drawled. Daniel sighed and went back to his music while Jack had his blood taken.

"Owww! Take it easy, Doc." Jack scowled at her.

"You, young man, are treading a very fine line. If you man handle another nurse again, your backside's mine, understand?" Janet gave him a hard questioning look and raised an eyebrow.

Jack decided that he couldn't deny this latest incursion of the rules and swiftly apologized, giving his best innocent look. He didn't want Janet to be any more annoyed when she stuck Daniel with the needle, after all.

After Janet had made her point with Jack, she went to Daniel and did the last blood test. That went off without a hitch so she decided to take them to her office for a chat to see what she could ascertain, hoping that she would be able to reassure Sam at the meeting.

oOo

The meeting started promptly at 15.00. Jack and Daniel were left in Daniel's office 'with some work to do' they were told, but with strict instructions about behaving themselves. Siler had agreed to check on them at intervals.

They started by going over the physical checks that they had made on the boys. They were all fine and there were no issues as to growth and development. Normal hormone levels… etc… etc. Janet then moved onto the touchier subject of Jack's and Daniel's current memory status.

"As far as I can make out, sir, the recollections of their adult life seems to be some what dim and distant now. They are aware of what they used to do, but it's fragmented and they have to dig around a lot for the details. They obviously know the here and now, and us, but are very much coming to consider us as 'the adults' in their life and not their equals. I think that this is why Sam has seen such a marked change in their behavior." Janet was glancing up from her notes and taking in the looks from around the table.

"So, I was right then, they are more altered than we thought. Do you think this will carry on?" Sam was clasping her hands together in front of her with nearly white knuckles.

"I really couldn't tell you, Sam, I think the detail is there, but their priorities have changed in relation to their reasoning and hormone levels and therefore, what they were, has been tucked away. Maybe it's their minds' way of protecting them from the confusion of the change or it's the technology." Janet shuffled her papers and then closed her file.

"If there are any further changes, all I can suggest is that they see Dr McKenzie and we all know that probably won't be very productive. I honestly think all we can do is watch and wait, and treat them with reference to their behavior. I can't believe that either would have any qualms about saying something if they thought it was inappropriate. Have either seemed put out when you've had to chastise them or give them some ground rules?"

"Well, no. It's been pretty hard work really, any of their previous considerations seem to have disappeared." Sam looked rather upset, mainly for the further loss of connection with her adult colleagues. "At least I know what I'm dealing with… and they're not dead." She didn't seem to be focusing on anyone or anything particularly when the last comment was made and gave a long sigh.

"No, Major, they're definitely here, with us, and, in fact, I might be the one doing the killing if Jack carries on the way he has been!" The General smiled warmly, which in turn made everyone else grin at his comment. "But to conclude, we haven't heard any more from our alien allies, so I have nothing to add on that point, but before we wrap up, can you advise whether they'll able to work, Dr Fraiser?" General Hammond sounded slightly concerned, as if he didn't want to add pressure where it wasn't required.

"Well, I'd suggest reviewing their job roles if we don't hear something soon, but keep things as they are for now. I think Daniel will do what he can, but his ability to concentrate on the more complex work has been impaired, and therefore, for now, I would just not give him as much to do, so that he doesn't notice. Jack, given the right encouragement could well be of use, but don't hold your breath, General." Janet smiled at the last sentence and so did General Hammond.

"Okay, people, we'll reconvene in two weeks from now to review the situation, unless we hear anything back before then. Major Carter, if you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask… I think we've got our hands full for a while!" The General smiled and got up from the table.

Even Sam was smiling now, which could only be a good thing. She now knew that she really would have to talk to them!