Part 4
His plan was going much better than he'd hoped. He'd managed to get his GDO from Ernest and he'd hidden it in the bedroom he was using. All he had to wait for was bedtime and he could put the rest of his plan into action. He wondered how his Jack, as he was beginning to think of him was doing, he must be worried about where he was. He knew he'd be doing everything in his power to find him.
"Daniel come and help me with the dinner table," Catherine asked. He got up and walked through to the dining room. There was a big table set in the middle of the room. "Here's the cutlery, set it for 4 people."
Daniel took the cutlery and set them on the table, "This is a big table for just 4 people."
"Yes, Mr. O'Neill likes to entertain. He also makes it a rule that everyone eats at the table at dinner time, no exceptions."
"I thought you called him Jack, not Mr. O'Neill."
"Not Jack, his father."
"Jack's father." Then he saw her raised eyebrows. "Sorry, Mr. O'Neill's father, he's still alive?"
"Very much so, he's away on business, he's due back any day now."
Well this was a change, Daniel thought. He didn't think Jack's father was alive in his universe but there were always changes in the alternate universes.
"Finished?" she asked.
"Yes."
Jack came through and sat at the head of the table. Daniel just looked around. "Sit here beside me, " he said.
Catherine and Ernest brought through the food and then sat down as well. Daniel was just about to put his hand out when Catherine said," Will you say Grace, Ernest." Daniel lowered his hand until they were finished. "Tuck in Daniel." Jack handed him a slice of beef and he helped himself to some potatoes. He was just about to start eating when Catherine said, "And some vegetables." She pointed to the peas and carrots.
"I don't really.." She scooped a spoonful of each onto his plate. Looks like he wasn't getting any choice.
"She never gave me any choice either, Daniel. She always insisted I eat vegetables as well."
"And you ate them," she said, "As will Daniel." Nope no choice there Daniel thought.
He managed to eat everything, he knew it might be a long journey to the Gate as he wasn't too sure of the direction so he would need to eat what he could as he wouldn't be able to carry much food with him. He helped Catherine clear the table. Jack carried the cake through. It was his favourite. Chocolate cake! He had no problem eating 2 pieces of that.
They cleared the dishes from the table. "Time for your bath," Ernest said.
"Bath? I don't need a bath."
"Not an option kiddo," Jack said. He sounded so like his Jack that it brought a tear to his eye. He missed Jack. God what was wrong with him, he wasn't really a child, he'd nearly been crying just like a baby. "Come on." Time to put his foot down.
"No! I don't want a bath." He looked at Jack defiantly. He was going to win this battle. Instead jack just picked him up and carried him through to a room off the kitchen. There was a large bath in the middle of the floor. Catherine and Ernest emptied some pails of water that had been heating on the stove into it.
"You've got a choice, you bath yourself or I do it. Which is it going to be?" Jack stated.
"I'll do it," Daniel answered. No way was he going to let anyone bath him. When Ernest, Catherine and Jack left he undressed and got into the water. It actually felt really good. he found the soap and started to wash himself.
"You'll need this," Jack said walking in carrying a towel and the night shirt he'd worn the night before.
"Hey!" Daniel said.
"It's okay, I'll just put them down here and go. I'll be in the sitting room when you come out."
About half an hour later Daniel went to the sitting room. "Wash behind your ears? Jack asked. Daniel ignored the question. "Let's get you up to bed, " Jack said standing up.
Jack took him up to the bedroom and got him settled in bed. "See you in the morning," he said.
Daniel made sure he stayed awake although after having that nice warm bath it wasn't easy. He heard footsteps coming up the stairs and could see a light going along the corridor. He knew it was Jack because Ernest and Catherine had a room above the kitchen. He was just about to get up when he heard footsteps coming back along the corridor and he pulled the covers up round his head. He heard his door open and someone walk in. He felt a kiss on his forehead and then a sleep tight and then the person was gone. No one had kissed him like that since his mum and dad had died. He heard the door shut along the corridor and he lay for awhile just in case.
It felt like hours before he could risk getting out of bed but finally he got up quickly and dressed. He crept quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen. He took an empty sack out of the cupboard and put some food in it. He'd have to fill his water bottle from the trough outside, it would make too much noise in here.
He opened the door and stopped when it gave a loud creak. He stood for a moment and then made his way to the barn. Fury was in a stall at the back of the barn. He went over and rubbed the horse's nose. He hoped he was doing the right thing, he couldn't take one of the other horses, Jack used them on the ranch. He managed to get a rope halter round Fury's neck. He spoke to him the whole time. Daniel was a very good rider but he'd never ridden a wild horse before.
"Better get going," he said to the horse and his hand reached for the piece of rope keeping the door tied.
"Leave it there," a voice said from behind him. "Like to tell me why you are stealing my horse." Daniel turned round. A large man stood at the entrance of the barn. He could see Jack standing behind him. "Well boy?" Daniel didn't know what to say. The man turned to Jack, "You know this boy, Jack?"
"Yes sir, I was just coming out to stop him when I saw you. I found him in the mountains. Won't tell us his name or where he really comes from." Daniel glared at him.
"You do know we could hang you as a horse thief," the man said. Daniel went white and tried to speak.
"I wasn't going to steal him, not really. Mr. O'Neill doesn't really want him, Rya'c told me and ...." his voice trailed off. He could see this argument wasn't working.
The man glared at him. "If you were mine, you'd get a thrashing for trying to steal a horse." He turned to Jack. "He's your responsibility, you deal with him." The man turned around and headed for the house. "I'll be in the library when you're finished."
"You're not going to hang me are you?" Daniel said tremulously.
"No, son but I am going to punish you for trying to take that horse and running away." He sat down on the bales of straw. "Come here." Daniel looked around the barn for an escape but he couldn't see any. He doubted he'd be able to outrun Jack. "Don't make this any harder on yourself. If I have to run after you, you'll be very sorry." Daniel walked up to Jack. "Good boy."
He grabbed Daniel's arm and pulled him over his knee. "Now I think you're about 10 years old so that'll be 10 swats." By the time Jack stopped Daniel was crying and begging Jack to stop. His backside was throbbing and he was sure he wouldn't be able to sit down ever again.
Jack tipped him back up onto his feet. He wiped his eyes and drew him into a hug. "Now I want you to put that food back and go back to your bed. Go on I'll come in later and check on you." Daniel started to walk away. "And Daniel you'd better be in bed when I get there."
Jack got up and headed into the house. He poured himself a drink and explained to his father about where he had found Daniel and what he was going to do the next day. Then they both went off to bed. Jack looked in on Daniel who was fast asleep lying on his stomach. He went over and tucked him in. "Good night son." He pushed the hair back off his face and placed a kiss on his brow.
TBC