The Trip Home Part 3

Danny was not happy. He was standing in the corner of the living room staring at the wall. He could hear Rose moving about in the kitchen. He wished Jack was back. He turned when he heard the door open. When he saw Jack he ran over straight into his arms.

"What on earth's wrong, Danny?" he asked.

"It wasn't my fault. I didn't mean it."

Rose came in. Jack sent her a questioning look. "Danny has something to tell you, don't you?" Danny looked at Rose. A stubborn look crossed his face. "Do I need to get John to explain or will you tell Jack?" The look disappeared. Danny had really enjoyed being treated like their grandson but he'd found out there could be drawbacks.

"Okay, Danny, let's sit over here." Jack led Danny over to the couch where he could speak to him in private. "Spill it." Danny looked guilty.

"It really wasn't my fault, how was I to know the mower would hit the tree. It's a big garden, Jack, how come it managed to hit the only thing in the garden that would break it."

"Want to start at the beginning Danny."

"Well, John brought the mower out to cut the grass," he hesitated.

"And?" he could tell Danny was trying to avoid telling him something. There was always an and with Danny.

"I told him I could do it for him but he said I wasn't to touch it. I just wanted to help. Honest."

"So what did you do?" Jack was dreading the answer.

"I pulled the handle to make it go and it just took off. I couldn't stop it. It hit the tree. John was really angry. He shouted at me and then he.." Danny looked down.

"Look at me Danny," Jack could already guess what his dad had done," What did he do?"

"He spanked me, Jack" his voice was full of indignation. "You should have told me tears wouldn't work with your dad. They worked with General Hammond."

"You were told not to touch it," John said from behind them," If I tell you not to touch something I expect you to obey me. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now do you want to come help me plant those bulbs?" He held out his hand.

Danny looked unsure then put his hand in John's and went out. A few minutes later he heard Danny giggling and laughing.

"He's alright, Jack. We got such a fright when we saw him being trailed behind the mower. And then it hit the tree. He could have been killed."

"I'm going to be completely grey before he grows up, "Jack said to his mum.

"Call them in for lunch will you?"

Danny came running in," John's going to take me to the History Museum tomorrow, want to come?"

"Sure Danny."

"I'm going to look it up on the internet."

"Lunch first." Danny ate as quickly as he could get away with and then ran up the stairs to get his laptop. He carried it down to the living room. He sat totally engrossed for the next hour.

"He loves history," Jack said. "He would spend ages researching it if I let him."

"He's a very smart boy," Rose said. "But he needs to have fun too."

"I'm trying mom. I intend to make sure he has lots of fun."

"You'll also need to watch that stubborn streak he has. It's going to get him into trouble. He thinks he can flout all the rules if he doesn't like them."

"He's had a lot of freedom dad, it's not easy for him to adjust." Jack shouted to Danny, "Want to go for an ice cream?"

"Yes, can I have chocolate?"

"Of course, shut down the computer and let's go. Mum do you want to come?"

"Yes."

"Can I take my bike?"

"Yes, hurry up."

Danny put his cycling helmet on and grabbed his bike. "Wait a minute, Danny, what are the rules?"

"Oh come on Jack." Seeing that Jack wasn't going to budge he started to recite them. "No fast pedaling, no crossing roads without you."

"And?"

"Don't go out of your sight." God Jack was fixated on rules Danny thought.

"Good now let's go."

"Fuss pot," Danny muttered. He loved cycling along the pavement but as they got nearer to the shops it became more crowded and Jack made him stay at his side.

Jack stopped at the coffee shop, he went in and bought 2 coffees and a huge chocolate ice cream. Danny's eyes lit up.

"Thanks Jack." They sat at the table outside the coffee shop.

"Jack O'Neill?" a voice said. Jack looked over at a woman sitting behind them.

"Marcie Connors. Haven't seen you for ages."

"4 years in fact. You said you'd call."

"You remember my mum Rose."

"Of course. And who's this cute little fellow?"

"This is Danny. I'm his guardian.

"Hello Danny. What a handsome little boy you are."

"Give me a bucket," he said making a noise like he was going to be sick.

"Daniel Jackson, apologise, right now."

"Sorry."

"Quite a little character isn't he?"

"Oh he is that."

"I'm having a dinner for friends tonight, please come Jack."

"Yes I'd like that."

"Let's go to the book shop, " Rose said. She wiped Danny's mouth and they headed off. Jack caught up with them at the shop. Danny had already picked some more books. Jack paid for them and they walked home.

When they got back he showed John all his books then he went to wait for Jack who was having a shower. He sat on the bed.

"I didn't like that woman," Danny said.

"That's only because she said you were cute."

"No, she smells."

"What?"

"Of too much perfume. Makes me wonder what she's covering up."

"And this is from your vast experience of women." Jack felt strange having this conversation with a 6 year old.

Danny's eyes were sad."I loved Sha're, Jack. She didn't need perfume."

"I know buddy, now go down and help Rose. Jack came down 5 minutes later.

"I won't be late. Be good for my parents."

"I'm not a kid."

"Oh I don't know last time I left you, you managed to total a mower and get.."

"Alright! And remember Jack, if you can't be good, be careful." Jack's face went red. Danny had an evil grin on his face. He might have to pay for the remark tomorrow but he'd enjoy the moment just now.

Rose and John looked horrified,"Where did you hear that?"

"TV," Danny replied, "Why? What does it mean?" Danny asked innocently. Jack departed quickly.

"Never you mind. I'll be having words with your f… with Jack about the type of TV programme you're watching."

The three of them played Scrabble which Danny won. Trying to get him to bed was difficult, he kept making excuses to come down until John threatened that he would not let him go to the museum the next day.

"Okay, "Danny huffed, "but I'm not going to sleep."

Half an hour later he was sound asleep. "Looks like and angel when he's sleeping," Rose said. John snorted.

TBC