Author: Amberfly.
Series: The Coffee Shop.
Category:
Kidfic:
Warnings: None.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Title: Coffee
for Two.
Hefting the backpack off his shoulders, and dropping it onto the small cafe table, Daniel grimaced as the cutlery scattered, causing the Eiffel Tower salt'n'pepper shakers to roll around in protest. Realizing he'd completely misjudged the size of the table, and clicking his tongue with irritation; he grabbed at its straps, and dragged the bag back to the floor with a satisfying bang. Giving the bag a final kick, pulling out a chair, the young teen threw himself gracelessly into it and patting his jeans pocket, pulled out his iPOd, and shoved in his earplugs.
Jack scowled at the resulting teen chaos, and rearranging the table, sighed quietly. Sedately pulling his own chair out, he was determined that he and Daniel would have a pleasant brunch, even if it killed him. Which, he figured looking at the boy's face, it probably would.
Leaning across and yanking Daniel's ear plugs straight out again, followed by a warning shake of his head; Jack O'Neill strived for a feeling of calm. Bristling at the petulant look thrown his way, he lowered his voice warningly, and said, "Daniel, we came to this over priced coffee shop to talk, not to stare morosely out the window listening to jungle music."
"Oh, puhlesse! " Rolling his eyes, and dramatically huffing, Daniel shoved his bottom lip out making himself look even younger," It's Green Day, Jack, so why's that jungle music, huh? Who says jungle music anyway? You are sooo fifties. And for your information, Ja-Jacck, I'm not being morose, I'm being reflective."
"Give me strength." Jack felt his paper napkin shred in his fingers.
"Whhatt?" Daniel kicked at the table leg and the Eiffel Tower salt'n pepper shakes took another hit.
Pleased with the on going condiment destruction Daniel huffed with satisfaction. Every pore of the shaggy haired young archeologist oozed teenage angst, and lowering his eyes, he mumbled," Besides, what's the point of me talking, we both know you just want to tell me what to do, what to say, and where I can live." Slumping back onto his spine, Daniel blew his cheeks out, and rubbing his hand across his chin, sighed, and worried at another pimple.
Resisting the urge to get up, walk out, and drive off the nearest cliff, Jack watched as the young scientist squinted at the menu, pushing his glasses up his nose repeatedly. Tucking his longish hair behind his ear, Daniel scratched at his chin determined to make the latest pimple disappear. Glaring at his friend, he replaced the dangling earplugs, and scrolled through his growing list of songs, drumming the beat expertly on the table.
"Oh, don't mind me." Sitting back, and watching the young teen ignore his existence, Jack bent his head, and with his mind wandering, thought of why he came to be in such a bizarre situation. The meet and greet to PX: 1-543 had been routine, nothing out of the ordinary.
The villagers had been ecstatic to meet the travelers, and SG1 found themselves plied with food and drink. Shaking his head and ordering water and rations, people, Jack watched Daniel work the crowd with a growing amusement. Good company and conversation meant they all dropped their guard, ever so slightly. Lai-lia-nt, the hospitable old chieftain, however, had been wily, and deftly tricked Daniel into drinking an odd brew of tea and flowers. Sensing the atmosphere subtly change, the hairs on Jack's neck bristled, and seeing the look of glee on the chieftain's face, knew it was a trap. Screaming for Daniel drop the cup, SG1 found themselves drawn into a battle they were ill equipped to win. The pleasant villagers morphed into a well-trained army, and the day turned ugly in a heartbeat. Fighting for their lives, Jack cursed softly as he realized too late that they had lost sight of Daniel completely. Eager to learn from these strange people, Daniel ignored his standing orders, and paid a terrible price.
The fight was bloody and over whelmed by sheer numbers, very one sided. Finally returning Daniel a day later, the warriors of PX: 1-543 appeared to lose all interest in them, and returned to their every day business as if the travelers didn't exist. The chieftain appeared several hours later, and clapping his hands, tersely ordered SG1 to be untied. "Are you well? Can you move?" Concern etched on his tired old face, he ordered food and clean water. His shrewd eyes narrowed as he studied SG1's wounds, wincing at the mayhem his warriors had caused. Leaning forward, uttering his apologies, Lai-lia-nt, casually touched the gaping wound on Jack's brow, and lightly caressed Carter's broken hand, healing them both. Turning on his heel, and leaving SG1 healed but stunned, Lai-lia-nt, lowered his voice, and looking around covertly, whispered for them to leave and never return. He had done what he could for Daniel, kept him alive at least.
Confused by the contradictory act of kindness, SG1 trudged back to the Stargate the dire warnings of retribution ringing in their ears. His face streaked with dirt and dry blood, the colonel walked in grim silence, carrying the unconscious body of Daniel, now just a thirteen-year-old boy. Jack didn't understand what had transpired, what could have been in that drink, but knew with the instincts of a soldier, that he wouldn't get to ask.
When they returned from PX: 1-543, Jack couldn't bring himself to leave the infirmary, not even when ordered to by Doctor Frasier. He tried to make her understand that he needed to be with Daniel when he woke, and that he couldn't bear to let him out of his sight. Exhausted, his eyes red rimmed, it was though his watchfulness would somehow fix the terrible situation they all found themselves in. Shaking her head, Janet ordered coffee and food brought to the colonel, and kept her own silent vigil. Jack stared so hard at Daniel while he slept; Teal'c had eventually taken his arm, asking, "O'Neill, why do you stare so hard at the boy, what will this accomplish?"
Jack felt his face flush, and snatching his hand back, blinked with confusion. Stammering a reply, his face lined with exhaustion, he whispered, "What? Was I staring? I just trying to picture Daniel but when I look, all I can see is this boy." His chin dropping to his chest, he added, "How? How can this be possible?"
Teal'c leant close to Daniel and studied the sleeping child with a look of sorrow crossing his face. "I can not tell you this, O'Neill. What can not be changed must therefore be endured." Nodding, and adding his silent strength to the colonel's vigil, Teal'c sat on the other side of Daniel, equally watchful and protective.
Looking at the head bobbing, fresh faced teen with affection, Jack felt a stab of paternal love. He knew he'd always be Daniel's protector, his wall against the world. Leaning across the table, and tapping his arm, Jack asked gently, "Glasses bothering you, Danny?" Not really expecting an answer to his question, Jack gently removed the busy hand worrying at the blemish, and added, "Ah-huh, don't. Trust me, sport, it will only get infected and look a whole lot worse." Shrugging and by way of an explanation, he added softly, "Nothing the girls like more than a red zit in the middle of your face."
Shrugging a shoulder at the expected monosyllabic reply, Jack scanned the room, suddenly desperate for strong coffee. Signaling for the server to stop talking and actually serve them, he chewed his bottom lip, and wondered if he was really up to this. Pointing to the menu, he barreled on bravely, and urged Daniel to co-operate. "Come on, kid, order something, anything, my treat."
Daniel shrugged. "Not hungry."
It had been a rocky couple of weeks, and Daniel and Jack had issues that needed ironing out before they killed each other.
Daniel exuded an intrepid air, not exactly rude, but intrepid. As the days ticked by, Jack began to doubt that anything could really subdue him; he was a boy whose physical and mental vitality shone brightly. His former work colleagues unsure what to do, insisted on treating Daniel as an enigma. Encouraged to be overly forward by these friends, he occasionally overstepped his mark, and found himself ruthlessly put back into place by Jack.
"Daniel, my office now!" Jack was serious, and Daniel knew he was choiceless in the matter. It was leave and follow him with whatever dignity he could muster, or...not.
Furious, red cheeked with embarrassment, Daniel trailed miserably after the colonel, and head bowed, listened to his reprimand. He constantly wriggled away from his friend's tight restraints, and confided to Sam he felt Jack suffocated him.
Sam ran interference with the colonel, when she felt it became necessary, but often was clearly reluctant, refusing to push certain issues.
O'Neill became paternal overnight, and Daniel found the attention both exhilarating and confusing at the same time. Trapped in a teen's growing body that needed sleep, and regular nourishment, Daniel struggled with its limitations. He tired easily, and needed food almost on an hourly basis, and ignoring his body's warnings, he became cranky and over stressed.
Jack tuned into Daniel's moods remarkably quickly, and lay down fundamental rules from day one. Astounded that he thought he had any say in his life, Daniel waved his friend away, refusing to listen to him, or to obey his orders. After several heated discussions, they came to an uneasy truce. As much as he fought it, the new boyhood reached out and claimed Daniel, and it made him feel isolated and free. Jack was everything his foster parents hadn't been, and day by day, he felt the connection grow stronger and stronger.
Jack felt it as well. His weather-beaten face showed little sign of the strain he had been through content to have this second chance at happiness. While he had always thought of Daniel as family, it surprised him how strong his paternal feelings were towards the boy. Without realizing it, they had turned into a family unit overnight.
Earlier that week after a series of spats and arguments, the colonel had loped into young archeologist's office ready for round two, but had watched him silently instead. The young genius worked feverishly; unaware he had company. Spilled files and bookmarked pages of journals lay indiscriminately all over his desk, and covered his spare chair and half the floor. Daniel's office resembled a car-boot sale. Grinning as a pile of papers fluttered to the floor, Jack bumped against the frame gently, arms folded across his chest, and thought carefully. He had come down to Daniel's office to force to eat some lunch, and to continue the discussion he couldn't even really remember. Leaving several unanswered messages, and fed up with the boy's lack of response, Jack patience had snapped.
"Ah, kiddo! Nothing changes. Does it?" He watched as Daniel flitted from book to book, and then throwing himself on his stool, fixated on hieroglyphics dancing across his computer screen. Eyes narrowed with concentration, pen jammed in his mouth, and pencil tucked behind his ear, Daniel was firmly entrenched in another world. Focused, and clearly enthralled, Jack felt humbled, and understood he had no right to disturb him.
Turning on his heel softly and walking away, Jack left his kid to his important translations and research. Sandwiches and apple juice could wait. The colonel sighed, understanding nothing he could do would really keep Daniel in his place. Smiling to himself, he knew his young friend always overran boundaries; it was merely Daniel's nature to question, and then struggle with authority. Why he thought a younger version of Doctor Daniel Jackson, would be different amazed him. Strolling into the dining room, O'Neill sat down, stirred his coffee, and re thought his strategy for survival.
The apartment debacle had been Jacks' first indication that Danny would be a handful. The thirteen-year-old boy refused flatly to discuss any relocation. Enlisting Sam's aid, Daniel argued his case to his older friend, hotly.
Jack tried hard to understand, listening to Daniel and Sam's objections and pleas intently. Finally raising his hand and shaking his head, he'd decided he'd heard enough. Growling and showing Sam the door, he firmly suggested she stop interfering, and go blow up a sun. Shrugging, and throwing Daniel a look of resignation, Sam stumbled out the door while asking coolly, "Of course, sir, got one in mind?""
"Is that snippiness, Carter?"
Booking no nonsense, and making up his mind, Jack had been adamant that Daniel pack up his gear and move that day. "Come on, no time like the present."
"Huh? Have you been listening to anything I've said?" Daniel's face scowled with fury, and shoving his hands into his pocket, he mumbled. "There's a perfectly good reason I can't move today, Jack."
Arching an eyebrow, Jack impatiently demanded, "Well, what is it?"
Looking up and holding his gaze firmly, the boy said,"Cos, I don't want to. Okay? "
Feeling a smile creep across his face, and smiling back at the furious child, Jack said," Well, no, that's not okay, but good try kiddo. Now, this is the end of the discussion, Daniel. I'm sorry this has happened to you, but my hands are tied. Like it or not, you're a kid, and the law says you need a guardian. That's me, so buck up, go with the flow, and pack what you need.
While Jack sympathized with his reluctant young friend, he finally lost patience with the many, obvious stall tactics, and packed the apartment up for him. Watching with increasing horror, Danny saw his life neatly packed into large boxes, and frustrated, threw himself onto his couch refusing to budge. His eyes shone with tears, and his mouth trembled. Folding his arms, and jutting out his chin, Daniel was determined to see how far he could push Jack's good nature.
Tired, and with his back aching, the colonel walked out of the kitchen, and raised his eyebrow at Daniel's fallen face. Cocking his head to the side, and throwing his hands out in a questioning manner, Jack waited for the boy to move his ass and offer to carry the boxes. Standing calmly with arms folded on the back of the high backed chair, he looked at the boy and exhaled noisily." Daniel? "
"Yeah?" Daniel rolled his shoulders, wincing at the way Jack drawled his name; and decided his apartment was his last stand. Clearing his throat nervously, he continued to sit stubbornly, folding his legs under his butt. Fidgeting under the cool glare, Danny looked everywhere but at his unimpressed and increasingly cranky sounding friend. Feeling the heat of a flush start at his neck and grow to his ears, Daniel decided that if he pulled the hood of his jacket over his head, then maybe Jack would magically disappear.
"Oh, fer cryin' out loud! Daniel! "Jack threw his hands into the air, amazed with such convoluted teenage logic. His face darkening, and patience slipping, he growled, "Good try, kiddo, but invisibility is over rated, and I'm not a pack mule." Firmly taking Daniel by the arm, he pulled him to his feet, and with a push, shoved him towards the opened front door. He fixed Daniel with his gaze, and warned, "Move it, Daniel, now."
Stumbling forward, furious with himself at being removed so easily, Daniel shrugged Jack's hand. Swallowing a cry, he bolted to the trucks passenger's door. With tears running down his face, Daniel threw himself into the front seat, and slammed the door in fury. "I hate you! You are the meanest man in the world!" Danny raised his knees, and hugging them tightly, hid his face behind them.
"Yeah, well, get used to it, kid! Get your damn feet off the seat and sit up." Stashing the packed boxes into the trucks boot, checking to make sure they were secure, Jack got into the drivers seat, and carefully turned the key. Fiddling with the radio, he tuned into the game of the day, and checking for traffic, drove out in heavy silence.
Daring to throw a cautious look at the friend who spent all day tirelessly packing up his stuff, Daniel wriggled uncomfortably when he noticed just how tired and worried he looked.
His high pitched voice muffled by his knees, Daniel's sighs sounded as though they came from the depth of his being, and he muttered quielty,"Thanks for the help, sorry if I don't look happy about it, but this sucks." Misery and unhappiness made Daniel sound even younger, and sniffing, he batted at an errant tear. "I hate this, you know?"
The last of the sighs jolted Jack from his thoughts, and he shot an enquiring glance at the boy, noticing the despondent droop of the fair head.
"What's the matter, kid? He asked gently.
"Nothing." The single word came out strangled and barely audibly.
"Aren't you feeling well? Are you tired? A tone of anxiety came into Jack's voice. Behind the sheltering hand, he could see Daniel's mouth trembling.
Sighing quietly, Jack reached his hand out and ruffled his hair gently, saying, "Daniel, you have to talk to me, I can't guess what you want. I know this has been hard but we have to pull together. If you sulk and throw tantrums every time I ask you to do something, then you can take my word for it, you won't like the consequences. Here's the deal, I'll stop yelling, if you stop sulking, deal?"
Not hearing a reply and suddenly irritated by the ongoing sulk, Jack lightly cuffed the back of his head, and warned," Daniel, what did I just say about sulking."
The unsuspecting teenager looked up, surprised by the definite cooling in the atmosphere, and rubbing his head, he squeaked, "Sulking? I don't sulk, but you sure yell a lot." Muttering under his breath, Daniel's mouth open and shut, ready to continue an argument he had no hope of ever winning.
The surprised look of indignation on Daniel's face amused Jack, and with a smile twitching at his lips, he laughed aloud. To his surprise, he found his annoyance disappearing, and he thought about his next words carefully. Turning into a corner, and clicking his tongue at an asinine comment made on the radio, he decided to go with brutal honesty, "Well you ungrateful little wretch, I suppose that's a start." Nodding at the radio, and banging his hands on the steering wheel for emphasis, he groaned," Jesus, Daniel, can you believe this jerk? Is he even at the same game as the rest of those shrubs? How hard can it be? Some guy hits the ball, and then others chase it, hardly rocket science."
Danny sniffed, and turned his face to his outraged, sports freak of a friend. With a smile, he laid his hand impulsively on Jack's arm, picking at a piece of imaginary fluff, needing to feel connected to the warmth and solidness of his friend. Guffawing at the sight of yet another exaggerated eye roll as another comment made Jack pound the steering wheel, Daniel sucked in a deep breath. With childlike swiftness, his temper fled, and he morphed into a happier, almost carefree kid. Wriggling his fingers free from his over long jacket, Danny reached over and deftly switched off Jack's college game. A crooked smile appeared on his lips, he pushed in his new cd, the one he figured Jack would loathe. Sniggering at the look of horror that flicked across the colonel's face, Doctor Jackson happily sung the chorus, and sneaked up the volume.
Jack burst into noisy laughter, and arching an eyebrow, just as deftly turned the game back on.
TBC….