Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
A shift in POV for this one.
Enjoy.
"Are you kidding me?"
I glared up at Jack as Pip happily munched on the boot he'd yet to put on.
"Daniel, I've got to go on this mission," he sighed, "And with everything going on in the base you can't be there."
"So where am I going?" I demanded, catching sight of the kid I am at the moment pouting in the TV screen.
Jack shrugged, looking guilty as tried to avoid my question by shooing Pip away from the boot and sitting down to put it on. I grabbed his hand making him look up at me.
"Jack," I said slowly, "Where are you sending me for the day?"
He muttered something under his breath and I stamped my foot, yeah I know childish but I am five at the moment.
"Jack!"
"I asked Sara," he confessed, rushing on quickly before I could interrupt, "I know it's not someone from the SGC who knows the situation but she's more than happy to help..." he trailed off as I stared at him, "It'll only be a few hours, and you can take Pip with you."
"Wonderful," I snapped back at him.
"Daniel," he took a hold of my arm and made me look at him, "You know I wouldn't be doing this unless it was important, right?"
"It doesn't make it any easier," I replied, "Why the hell didn't you ask Catherine?"
"Because she and Ernest are in Egypt, remember?"
I sighed and dropped onto the couch, "This means I have to act like a kid all day."
He gave me a sympathetic shrug and that was that.
x
I sat in the back seat of the car Pip in my lap as usual trying to look on this as a positive experience the way I had the rest of the last few months. I will admit I was enjoying being five, even though I wasn't really five, well I was but...never mind it's too complicated – anyway Jack was right in one respect with everything that was happening at the base me being there was not a good idea.
As we drew up to the house Sara appeared at the door and I took a deep breath, Jack had gone over the list of things not to do while we drove here which included trying to do any normal work. It was going to be a challenge.
"Hi," Sara greeted us, actually she greeted Jack first with that look of 'I miss you' before she turned and smiled at me.
"Hi, Sara," I said as brightly as I could.
"I know this sucks for you, kiddo," Sara told me, "But we'll have fun, I promise."
I shrugged handing her Pip before I unhooked myself and sliding out the car. Jack gave me my bag containing my book Harry Potter, as well as my paper and crayons – for drawing before he handed Sara the other bag with Pip's stuff and a change for me. Hey I'm five – kind of.
Then he drove away.
x
I stood staring at the retreating car suddenly feeling like I was being abandoned, even though I knew that was completely stupid.
"Come on," Sara touched my shoulder, "Let's dump this stuff."
With a deep sigh I followed her inside with Pip following along behind me. I don't know why I felt so abandoned but once inside I dropped to sit on the floor against the couch stroking Pip when he sat beside me.
"It's not for long," Sara said kindly as she crouched down beside me, "And I can be fun."
"I know, Sara," I told her, "I'm just...this is...Jack normally takes me with him."
"Its one day and he'll be back before you know it," Sara stood up and pulled me up before sitting us down on the couch and putting on the TV, "Now, why don't you sit and draw for a while and I'll make us breakfast."
x
I pulled out some paper and sitting at the coffee table started to draw. I've always liked to draw and sketch, ever since I was a kid the first time. It's a trait I picked up from my mother; she was an incredible artist, I have a few of her sketches of my father I found when I managed to get their belongings back. As I looked down at my picture I realised once again I was drawing Sha're.
I think about her a lot, even like this though there's nothing sexual about my thoughts – I'm five that'd just be weird. My thoughts and memories focus on how she made me feel so happy, her warmth, her laughter and the way she always smelled of spice and honey.
I started to crumple it up but stopped as Sara entered the room again.
"That's beautiful," she picked up my drawing, "Is she someone you know?"
I hesitated, "Yes. She's a friend."
Sara put a plate of pancakes beside me with a glass of milk, "You have incredible talent."
I stared at her confused, it was just something I could do and I knew I wasn't really that good.
"No one's ever told you that you're a good artist?" she asked.
I shrugged, "No one sees my drawings but me."
"Well I feel honoured," Sara told me, her hand rested on my shoulder, "Come on and eat then you can draw some more later if you want."
Pip growled as I pulled slightly on the toy bone he had between his teeth. I'd never had any kind of pets – the mastadge don't count, except for goldfish which aren't exactly the best companions. I loved my puppy, I felt such a kinship with the poor little thing the moment I saw him and couldn't turn my back on the poor waif that needed a home.
Sara was on the phone to someone, I've no idea who but it gave me some time to sit alone and wonder what was happening at the base.
Up until now I'd enjoyed being five, it was an experience no one else would ever get and I was making the most of it. I just didn't like being in the dark on what was happening to my friends.
We're now at three weeks and counting until I'm upgraded to ten years old. I wasn't the happiest ten year old the first time around, my parents had died two years before and I'd been moved around so many times I had no idea where I belonged. I guess that feeling didn't really disappear until a few years ago.
Anyway, ten would be fun to try out again. I would have a little more freedom since Hammond had promised I'd be allowed to move around the base without a constant chaperone. I knew there were going to be several provisos on that but at the moment I didn't care.
Sara came into the room and sat beside me on the floor. Pip gave up fighting with me to snuggle up to Sara as she petted him.
"Traitor," I murmured as I tossed the toy into my bag.
Sara smiled and rested her arm around my shoulders giving me a quick squeeze. Against my better judgement I moved closer to her and took the affection. Even like this the only person who really gave me hugs was Jack, I knew the others kept thinking how it would be awkward once I was back to normal but I wanted to be hugged sometimes.
"Want to watch a movie?" Sara asked me, "I have some good ones."
I hesitated, she'd put on a kids movie and I wasn't sure I could stand watching some stupid cartoon but I also knew how hard it had to be for her to have a child here with her own dead.
"Okay," I shrugged, slipping away from her I climbed onto the couch.
Sara picked up Pip and dropped him onto my lap before she pulled out a DVD, "How about Harry Potter?"
I looked at her surprised she had the movie but since I'd been reading the books I nodded. Sara slid the DVD in and joined me on the couch. As we watched the movie I felt my eyes start to droop, without thinking I cuddled close to Sara who pulled a blanket round my shoulders and rubbed circles on my back until I slipped into a relaxed sleep.
x
"Hey, buddy."
I opened my eyes to find Jack grinning at me, still half asleep I gave into my five year old self and reached out my arms to be carried. Jack obliged, pulling me up and onto his shoulder.
"We going home now?" I sighed tiredly.
Jack patted my back, "Sure, kiddo. Sara's just getting Pip for us; he went to play in the kitchen while you slept."
I pushed myself up as Sara arrived holding my puppy, I gave her a small smile, "Thank you."
"You're more than welcome, Daniel," she gently kissed the top of my head; "Maybe we'll get to see the end of the movie next time."
"Uh hu," I sighed as I lost my fight against my tiredness and dropped my head against Jack's shoulder again half hearing Jack and Sara saying goodbye.
x
I opened my eyes surprised to find we were in the car and pulling into the driveway of Jack's house.
"Sleep well?" he grinned when he saw I was awake.
My answer was lost in a wide yawn making him chuckle.
"Is everything sorted at the base?" I asked hopefully, "Can I come back tomorrow."
Jack opened the car door and picked me up again, something I wasn't protesting against as I was still tired.
"I guess you missed me today," Jack said as he dropped me onto the couch before sliding an equally sleepy Pip beside me.
"Yeah," I confessed.
"Don't worry everything's fine now so you can come to the base tomorrow," I felt Jack's hand rest on my forehead as I fell asleep again.
