The Trip Home Part 2
The next morning Jack was woken by bouncing on his bed. "What?" he said drowsily looking at the clock.
"Morning Jack," Danny said laughing.
"Go back to bed, it's early," Jack said pulling the covers over his head. More bouncing continued.
"It's your fault for putting me to bed so early." Jack moaned.
"Danny," a voice called, "Leave Jack alone and come help me with breakfast." Danny flashed a look at Jack who was grinning.
"Rose, Jack could help, he's good at making pancakes," Danny shouted.
"Danny, come on," there was a hint of a warning in her voice.
"I'm coming," he leapt off the bed and ran through. Jack had noticed that Danny was doing a lot of running, as if he was full of energy all the time. How was he going to keep up with him? He was determined to get some more sleep so he snuggled back under his covers. He could hear Danny chattering as he drifted off.
About half an hour later he felt his covers moving, the shock of something cold being pushed down the back of his t shirt had him jumping out of bed., "You little…." Danny was standing at the door laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes. He also had a camera in his hand.
"Teal'c and Sam are going to love these photos, and so will everyone else when I post them on the internet.
"Your butt's toast when I get you," he said as he raced out after him. They ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. Danny dived behind Rose, dodging one way then the other out of Jack's reach.
"Boys!" Rose said. "Stop it and go get dressed or there's no breakfast."
"But I helped make it, "Danny pouted.
"Dressed." As Danny went passed Rose she swatted him softly, "That's for putting an ice cube down Jack's back. He giggled.
Jack and Danny came back together. "Now, sit down and behave both of you," Rose said. They had a pleasant meal of pancakes and lots of syrup. "Carries coming over for lunch with the children. What are you going to do until then?"
"I brought the bikes out of the garage if you want to go for a ride," John said.
"That would be good," Jack said, "I could show you around."
"No, I'll just stay here and read."
"Come on, I can show you all the places I used to play when I was your age."
"I told you Jack I don't want to go. You go." Danny was getting agitated and Jack didn't know why.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Jack asked.
"I just told you, why don't you damn well listen?" he shouted angrily.
"That's enough, Danny, you don't need to shout or be rude."
"Yes, I do, you never listen to me. I hate it when you ignore what I say, "He continued in a loud voice.
"Go to your room," Jack said. "And calm down."
"Fine," Danny jumped off the seat and ran up the stairs to his room banging the door. Jack got up to follow him.
"Let me," John said. He went up the stairs to Danny's room and knocked on the door.
"Go away, Jack," Danny said.
"It's John, Danny, can I come in?"
"Yes." Danny sat up.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't want to go on a bike. Jack just doesn't listen to me."
"He can be a bit like that at times but you didn't have to shout or be rude. He's trying his best."
"I know," Danny conceded.
"What's wrong with riding a bike?"
"I can't," Danny said in a small voice. "I never learned."
"Then why didn't you say so. You're not too old to learn. Jack can teach you. Come on and next time tell Jack what's wrong, he doesn't read minds."
"Sorry."
"And Danny."
"Yes."
"I don't like children shouting at adults or using bad language. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now go get Jack and enjoy learning to ride a bike."
Danny and Jack spent the next 2 hours out the front of the house. It wasn't as difficult as Danny thought and soon he was riding, albeit a bit wobbly, on his own.
A car drew up in front and a woman and 3 children got out. "Jack, "she shouted, ran over to him and gave him a hug. The 3 children followed shouting Uncle Jack. Danny stopped pedaling and watched. The children were all clamouring to get Jack's attention. He turned to Danny.
"Michael, Brigid, Johnny this is Danny."
"Hi," they all said.
"You live with Uncle Jack?" When Danny nodded, Johnny said, "Lucky you, he's cool. Wanta go play with my lego, it's in the house?"
Danny looked at Jack, then said," Okay." He just knew he was not going to like this, he had nothing in common with children, he was 36 for God's sake. Danny really hated playing with the lego, his fine motor skills were quite poor and it was difficult getting the pieces together.
Michael shouted," Mom, Brigid and I are going to the park, we'll be back for lunch."
"Okay, be careful, "Carrie shouted back.
Johnny looked at him, "Can we come?"
"No, you two babies stay and finish your toy. We'll be back later."
Danny was furious, no one called him a baby. "Johnny, you want to get your own back on your brother for not taking us and calling us babies."
"He always does that, says I'm the baby of the family. He doesn't mean anything nasty."
"Well I don't like it, you going to help me." A plan was already forming in his mind. He went into the kitchen and grabbed the things he needed. Johnny kept watch.
"We're going into the back garden," he shouted.
"Okay, but no further," Jack answered.
They both went out to where the hose pipe was.
"We gonna make water bombs?" Johnny asked when he saw the balloons.
"Sort of." Danny held up a jug and poured some flour into it, then he added food colouring and water. It made a thick coloured paste. "We're making flour paste bombs and they're all going to be different colours."
"Wow, you sure are clever, Danny."
They added some more water to make it more runny then added it to a balloon. When they'd finished they had 6 balloons all different colours.
"Now for part 2 of the plan," Danny said. "I'm going to climb that tree and hide in the branches." Johnny nodded, he was glad he didn't like heights. "You need to bring Michael here, he marked a spot on the ground with twigs, then stand back."
The plan was so simple. Danny managed to get all 6 balloons up into the tree. He hid himself when he heard Michael and Brigid's voices. Johnny shouted to them and they came into the garden right to the spot he wanted. "Look up there," Johnny said.
As they looked up, Johnny stepped back. Danny dropped 2 balloons. The first hit Michael right on the face, blue paste dripped off his nose, chin and ears. Brigid was hit by a purple one. Johnny started laughing and Michael grabbed him.
Danny trying to help his friend dropped 2 more. However as he moved he overbalanced and slipped taking the two other balloons down with him.
By the time Jack, Carrie and their parents came out, all 4 children were covered in all the different pastes and were rolling around trying to stuff it down each other's t shirts and trousers.
"Enough!" a voice bellowed. All the children stopped, they stood up.
"Whoops!" Danny said. Jack and Carrie were furious. Jack was just about to shout again when John and Rose burst out laughing.
"It's not funny, mom, dad," both Jack and Carrie said at once but it didn't stop them laughing. The children were beginning to giggle too realizing that their grandparents were on their side.
When Rose and John were clam enough to talk they said, " Well whose bright idea was this?"
Danny looked down at his feet and Johnny looked at him. Oh no thought Jack, it would be Danny.
"He fell out the tree," Michael said. Jack was immediately at his side checking him.
"I'm okay, Jack. Stop it!" But Jack was determined. He wasn't satisfied until he'd checked him all over.
"How on earth are we going to get them clean?" Carrie asked.
"I'll run baths," Rose said," They're not coming into the house like that. They can strip on the porch and then come in." Danny flushed bright red. He couldn't do that. When it was his turn Jack wrapped a towel round him.
"Thanks Jack."
Half an hour later four very clean children were sitting at the table eating. "That was a great idea, Danny. Wait till I tell my friends at school" Jack gave another groan. His sister was not going to be happy.
Rose looked at Danny, "Oh and another thing, young man, just where did you get the ingredients for your bombs?"
TBC