Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG1, this is only a fanfic… but you already knew that didn't you?

They could take away the SGC from him. Fine, it's not like he hadn't retired (twice) before. They could take away the Stargate, he'd seen enough of the universe to last him at least three life times… and considering that he had died more times that three wasn't saying much. They could NOT however take away Daniel. Nope, no way, not gonna happen. Daniel was like … like a brother to him… okay, more like a son considering how many times he had had to tell the archaeologist not to touch things. Carter… Carter he could deal with. Although he had strong feelings for her, there were plenty of other fish in the sea... not to mention if he asked her out now, she might laugh in his face… Teal'c, well, the big guy would leave one day anyway. Plus, with them, well… Carter would probably feel weird about it and Teal'c… umm… it was hard to contemplate… but it would feel strange and weird and wrong. Daniel was special though. Daniel could look past what you look like to see the real you. Daniel had helped him through a lot of hard times, but… well… he wondered if this was pushing it.

John O'Neil, age fifteen, stared at the buzzer for a few moments. He really, really shouldn't be doing this. The Old man would probably kill him for one but…

"Hello?" the familiar voice said. John stiffened, shit, did he press the button?

"Er… Hiya… Danny," John said awkwardly.

"Umm… who is--" Daniel began. John cut him off.

"It's John, John O'Neil with one 'L' uh… you know… the short one?" silence for a moment. Then.

"Come on up John, you know the way." And Angels came forth singing Halleluiah. John pumped his fist in the air in joy and quickly opened the door.

Daniel was waiting for him in front of his door. The archaeologist gave him a small smile. John couldn't help but grin in return.

"Come on in," Daniel said moving out of the way. John stepped into the building looking around.

"Sweet, redecorated I see." John commented. He took the couch and Daniel took the chair. There was an awkward silence for a moment. Daniel clasped his hands and raised his eyebrows.

"Well this is…"

"Strange?"

"No… more…"

"Weird?"

"Yeah,"

"But in a good--"

"Way… yeah,"

The two smiled again. John had missed these conversations.

"How's high school?" Daniel asked. John noticed he frowned a little as he said it.

'Worried about me Danny?'

"Ahhhh, well I joined the basket ball team, so that's pretty good. As far as classes go English would be a good if the teacher didn't yak so much and go on about my messy handwriting. Science is okay, but it makes me wish I had Carter around because Mr. Parsons likes using those big words she loves so much. I thought I had gotten away from tecno-babble. Math's a lot harder than it was in my day." he mentally patted himself on the back to see the small smile that formed on Daniel's face, "And social studies, God help me, is the easiest class in the world. It's all those lectures, they actually stuck in my brain somehow and now they won't go away." Daniel chuckled.

"I knew you listened,"

"I know you knew,"

"I know."

"Right."

"Right."

"Yup, these are the conversations that I missed," John nodded. Daniel frowned again.

"So, why are you here Ja—John?" John sighed. Okay, time to face the music.

"Ah, well… how can I put this? I really missed those odd conversations we had and… aw come on Danny; you're my best friend. You expect me to just give that up because of some lame Viking wannabe? I miss you," Daniel ran his hands through his hair.

"Come on Danny, it's hard to make friends with a bunch of kids that are rebelling against nothing… I just miss adult conversation…"

"You? Adult?" Daniel raised his eyebrow. John beamed.

"Danny, you wound me, besides, I never said anything about my part of the conversation being adult." Daniel leaned back crossing his arms with a small smirk.

"So you want to…"

"Hang out, yeah."

"Like…?"

"You know, beer and pizza."

"No beer for you young man."

"Very funny, it is to laugh."

"I thought so."

"Hmph, come on, come to some of my games and just hang out a bit with me. It's not like I've changed or anything."

"Other than pant sizes."

"Yeah, yeah, come on, please?"

A small pause.

"Oh, alright… don't let Jack know though."

"Why?"

"Cause."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Probably throttle me… that's what I'd do, ha ha."

"I see your humour hasn't improved…"

Oh yeah, he really missed these conversations…

Hawk: Clone Jack's back. TBC rEaD aNd ReViEw