Off to work we go Part 4

Danny loved being back at work. General Hammond wouldn't let him work as many hours as he used to and Jack and Janet insisted he ate properly but he could cope with that. Although he was wee he seemed to need a lot of food. Dr. Lee had been made temporary Head of Department although he still came to Danny for advice.

There was a knock at the door and Jack came in," General Hammond wants to see us," he said.

"Why?" Danny's throat went dry.

"Didn't say, just said he wanted to see us in his office ASAP." Jack noticed Danny had gone pale. "Something you want to tell me?"

"No!"

They entered General Hammond's office, before he could say anything Danny said," I'm really sorry Major Martin got covered in coffee yesterday. I didn't know Lt. Evans was that frightened of spiders. I didn't think she'd throw the cup up in the air." Both General Hammond and Jack looked confused. "This is about that, isn't it?" Danny asked.

"No, it wasn't but it certainly explains some of the things that have been happening around the base recently. I'll see you back in my office at 1400 hours to discuss it."

"But…," he looked at General Hammond, he was not amused," Yes sir."

"What I really called you in for was to let you know I've chosen a new member for SG1." Seeing the look on Danny's face he said," It's just until you're bigger, I can't have my top team on Earth all the time, they're needed Off world."

"Who did you choose?" Jack asked.

"You knew? You could have told me," Danny shouted.

"Calm down."

"Shut up Jack," Danny said angrily.

"Corner, 5 minutes," Jack pointed to the corner behind Hammond's desk.

"No, not here," he pleaded. He hated when Jack did this.

"10 minutes, now." Bl**** control freak Danny thought but didn't dare say out loud.

Danny reluctantly got up and went to the corner. General Hammond looked at Jack for an explanation, "It calms him down if he has time to think." Oh yes talk about me as if I'm not in the room. Danny wanted to make a comment but thought better of it. Jack was obviously in one of his moods.

General Hammond and Jack talked about various things happening off world and then Jack said, "Danny join us." He sat back in his seat.

General Hammond continued," The new member of SG1 is a Doctor Thomas Malone. He's a linguist and an archaeologist. Do you know him?"

"I haven't met him but I've read some of his papers."

"Well he's coming today so you'll get to meet him. You can introduce him to everyone." What fun Danny thought.

"Yes sir."

Jack took Danny to the commissary to have their lunch. They sat at their usual table. "I really didn't mean to frighten Lt Evans that much, it was just a joke spider in her coffee."

"Hope General Hammond agrees." Danny looked worried. "Been playing a lot of practical jokes?"

"A few. What do you think he'll do?"

"Don't know, think if I were you I'd tell all and hope he is feeling lenient." There were times Danny behaved like a little kid and Jack liked seeing it but Danny needed to learn there were consequences if you got caught.

"Tears worked with him the last time. What about that blackmail info you had. I might need it."

Jack shook his head.

After lunch they went back to their offices. He kept watching the clock, why when you wanted time to go slowly it went so fast. In no time at all it was 5 minutes to 2 and Jack was entering his office. "Don't want to be late do you squirt?" he asked. Danny thought Jack was enjoying this too much. He left Danny in the office to face the General on his own. Do the crime, do the time Jack thought.

General Hammond looked at the small boy in front of him. He looked so small, how could he cause such havoc wherever he went. At the moment he looked very nervous.

"Well?"

"I'm sorry to have caused trouble but I made sure no one got hurt, they were just a few pranks."

"Son this is an air force base, not a playground."

"I know, it's just sometimes.."

"It isn't easy being 6."

"No it isn't," Danny said," I hate it when people treat me as if I'm stupid and the jokes were just a way of getting back at them."

"They've to stop, Daniel." The phone rang. "Send him down." He put the phone down. "Doctor Malone is on his way."

"I'll get Jack, Teal'c and Sam," Danny said jumping down and running out. He raced along the corridor, not noticing the man stepping out of the elevator. He ran right into him knocking his files out of his hand. Danny landed on his backside. "Ouch!" he said.

"What on earth are you doing on this base?" the man said. Danny thought that was quite a clever remark when you considered the work they do.

"I work here," Danny said.

"Don't be silly, little boy, now how did you get down here. Your father will get into trouble bringing you onto the base. Now where is he?" The man grabbed Danny's arm.

"Let me go!" Danny shouted.

The man tightened his grip and asked ,"Where is your father?"

Danny drew back his leg and kicked the man on his shin. He wished he was bigger and he could have used some of the moves Teal'c had taught him. The man let go. "You little brat." He tried to grab him again but Danny set off down the corridor straight into Jack.

"Hey buddy where's the fire?"

"Dr. Malone's here and General Hammond wants us in his office." The man who he'd knocked down was coming along the corridor with an airman.

"That's the child," he said.

"Oh, oh!" Danny said.

"Danny?" Jack said knowing he'd done something wrong yet again.

The airman said," That's Dr. Jackson, sir."

"It's alright airman, I'll deal with this. I'm Colonel O'Neill." He put his hand out.

"Dr. Malone," the man said glaring at Danny.

"S***," Danny said under his breath."

Jack pointed to Danny," This is Dr. Daniel Jackson. Let me escort you to General Hammond's office. Danny go get Teal'c and Carter."

"Okay, Jack." He ran off glad to get away.

"He gets very excited," Jack explained." General Hammond will explain everything."

A child should not be allowed on a base no matter who he is. He ran into me and then kicked me when I tried to restrain him."

"I'll speak to him. I'm his guardian."

He walked with Malone to the office and introduced him to General Hammond who explained as quickly as he could about Danny.

"Are you sure it's safe for him to be on base? He managed to knock me over and then kicked me. Not really the actions of an adult." Jack was beginning to dislike the man, he had no right to judge Danny. Mind you he had been knocked over and kicked by Danny and he supposed that probably coloured his judgment. Once he got to know Danny he'd be fine.

"We need him Dr. Malone, he's one of the best negotiators and translators we have, even if he is down sized at the moment."

Sam and Teal'c appeared at the door and they all went to the briefing room. General Hammond went over his duties. Danny kept watching the man, he didn't like him one bit. He'd left bruises on his arms where he'd grabbed. Wait till Jack saw them, he'd kick his butt for him Danny thought.

"Is it alright if I go back to my office," Danny asked.

"Take Dr. Malone and introduce him to your department." Danny didn't really want to but he couldn't refuse the General.

He showed the man his office and then took him to Dr. Lee. Danny made his escape as quickly as he could.

He went back to his office and got on with his translations. Jack popped his head in," You okay? You were a bit quiet in the meeting. What happened?"

"He hurt my arm Jack, look." He showed the bruise.

"Well you did knock him over and kick his shin. You must have left a bruise."

"Suppose."

"Want me to kiss it better?"

"Jack," he grimaced, then laughed, "Double yuk!"

"General Hammond has scheduled us off world on Monday until Wednesday to get us used to the new man. So I've found someone to look after you."

"I can stay here."

"Not a good idea," Jack said. "You need fresh air and a place to run and play." Danny scowled, trust Jack to mention that. Danny wasn't happy being left behind, he was really going to miss Jack. There was no one else he could go to for a hug if he needed one, not that he did of course. He just did it because he knew Jack liked it. He'd missed having a kid to hug he'd told Danny. "I've asked mom and dad to come."

"Great," Danny shouted.

"Thought you'd like that. But I can't keep asking them so I'm going to have to figure out something."

"Jack," he used his pleading voice and puppy dog eyes, Sam said she couldn't deny him anything when he did that, "on Monday can you make sure that you give Dr. Malone something horrible to do to make him pay for hurting me." Danny even managed to look like he was going to cry. He was becoming an expert at this he thought. "I don't know how you're going to manage without me. That man has no sense of humour you know. And you won't be able to trust him to watch your back."

"It's only a recon mission, Danny. We're not expecting any trouble," Jack said. After all you're not with us he thought.

"And remember don't let him touch anything or wander off. You know how dangerous that can be. After all if you'd told SG4 to keep a closer eye on me none of this would have happened. Maybe you could take him to that planet and let him touch the column. See if it happens again." Jack loved Danny's logic. Nothing that happened was ever his fault.

"Danny."

"Yes, Jack."

"Give the man a chance."

TBC Part 5