My Brother's Keeper – Part 10

By Gemsong

Dr. Adam Lucas decided he had spent far too much time around Jack O'Neill. Currently he was standing in front of Daniel's school. It was an older structure surrounded by trees and flowers. Walkways wound around the campus. It had a lovely old world look. And there was way too little security in Adam's eyes. With the possibility of someone after Daniel, Adam could too easily see places to hide and snatch up a child. Particularly someone as trusting as Daniel.

So Adam was here to pick up Daniel. Normally he would take the bus to an after school program Jack had enrolled him in, but for now there would be a change. For now only Jack or someone Daniel already knew and trusted would come and pick him up in the afternoon. Jack would drop him off in the mornings.

Adam heard the sound of the bell ringing and shortly afterward, a horde of children erupted from the main doors like a remake of 101 Dalmatians. A flood of puppies. The image made him grin. Particularly when a blond head turned in his direction and ran toward him.

"Adam!" Daniel yelled, grinning. "What are you doing here?"

"Come to pick you up from school," the archeologist replied. "Jack couldn't be here, so he asked me to come get you."

"But I go to day care," Daniel said as Adam took his book bag and with a hand on his shoulder, steered him in the direction of the parking lot.

"Not today," Adam said. "Today Jack asked me to bring you to meet him in the mountain."

Daniel's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really," Adam replied. He led the way to a dark sedan. Beside it stood an airman in blues. What Daniel didn't know that under the jacket, the airman was carrying a pistol. Much like the one hidden under Adam's sweater.

Adam was not a fan of guns, but after a few years in the Stargate program he came to understand the necessity. Jack himself had taught him how to use it, so he wasn't a bad shot. And with the possibility of danger to Daniel, he was glad he had his with him.

He settled into the back seat with Daniel. After making sure he was securely buckled in, the airman got into the driver's seat and made his way out of the parking lot.

Daniel hadn't had a chance to share his new school experience with Adam so he took advantage of the drive to make up for lost time. For a confirmed bachelor, Adam was very good with children. He asked the right questions that kept Daniel talking. The eight year old loved his history and languages classes, but math and science were difficult for him.

Meanwhile at the SGC briefing room Jack sat with General Hammond, Samantha Carter and Teal'c. Hammond had a folder in front of him with a few pages. For a long moment he stared at the pages and then looked up at the three watching him silently.

"Were you able to find out anything about the Centre?" Jack asked his impatience finally getting the best of him.

"Not a great deal," Hammond replied. "They are a private organization that sells to the highest bidder."

"Sells what?" Sam asked.

"In some cases… information," Hammond said. "They have a lot of military contracts. Some missions have been based on scenarios they've supplied to the pentagon and other branches of government."

'They are some kind of think tank?" asked Sam.

"Of some kind," Hammond said.

"So why do they want Daniel?" Jack asked.

"I don't know," Hammond said. "And I have no way to find out. I can't even find prove they are even after him."

The pencil in Jack's hand snapped in two. "They are after him," he said.

"All we have is your gut instinct to tell us that," Hammond said. Then he quickly raised his hand to halt the protest. "If it was anyone other than you I would require more evidence."

"What can we do to ensure the child's safety," Teal'c asked.

"Adam's picking him up from school," Jack said. "I took him in this morning."

"I'll have an officer watching the school during the day and one outside your house,' Hammond said. He saw the tense faces around the table. "That's all we can do to start with. We don't know how these people operate. We shall have to be extra cautious."

"I will stay with O'Neill and the boy," Teal'c said. Jack looked at him surprised. "With what little we know we do not want Daniel Jackson in the hands of such people."

Jack nodded. "Thanks Teal'c," he said. His gratitude was in his dark eyes and the former Jaffa acknowledged it with no more than a slight nod.

There was a knock on the door and the next moment Adam walked in holding Daniel by the hand. Daniel's eyes were very big, impressed by all the security in the base. A lot of men and women in camouflage and carrying weapons. He had never seen anything like it in his life. And the deeper they went the more it felt like falling into the bowels of a burial chamber. Until his eyes lit upon Jack. He let go of Adam's hand and ran across the room into Jack's arms.

Jack could feel him trembling a little. "You okay Buddy," he murmured softly in the child's ear.

Daniel nodded against Jack's shoulder. "It's so big and they have guns and we're deep inside the earth and…." Daniel started.

Jack chuckled slightly. "Now you know where I work," he said.

"A tomb." Daniel replied.

There was a choking sound from the other end of the table that sounded like Sam trying to cover a laugh.

"Indeed, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said. "There is merit in your observation."

"Speaking of tomb raiding," Adam said which got him a puzzled looked from Jack and the others. "Jack… have you decided about that thing I asked you about."

"Wha-huh?" Jack replied.

"You know… the books."

"Books?"

"THE books," Adam said with a pained expression.

Jack stared at him a moment in confusion, then his expression cleared. "Oh," he said. "THOSE books."

"Well," Adam asked looking as impatient as a kid.

Jack kept the grin off his face. "Okay," he said and saw his archeologist sigh with deep relief. Then he looked down at Daniel and ruffled his hair. "I want you to go with Adam," he said.

Daniel's hands tightened on his sleeve. "Why?" he asked.

"There is something very special he wants you to see," he said. "And I think it is very important that you do."

Daniel bit his lip, looking hesitantly at Adam. "Daniel, I swear it's really important and I know you'll like it." Adam said.

"Trust him," Jack said softly. "You'll feel me. Don't worry. And if you need me, I'll feel it, remember?"

Daniel nodded reluctantly then slowly released his grip on Jack. He walked slowly back to Adam and took his hand. He glanced back at Jack and his uncle gave him an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath he left the room with Adam.

They walked down the corridors to another elevator for another ride. This time they went up a few levels. Adam seemed very excited as he hurried him along the corridors of level 18.

"This is my office," Adam said as they passed through a door. At first glance the place looked like it had been hit by a tornado. There were books, papers and artifacts covering nearly every surface. But as Daniel looked around, the chaos started to make sense as he recognized some of the artifacts. There was an order to the chaos. He was sure that Adam could lay his hands on whatever he needed in an instant.

The archeologist found what he was looking for then led Daniel to a seat on the small couch in the corner of the room. The only thing not covered with papers. Though it did have a pillow and a blanket stuffed in one corner.

"This is what I wanted you to see," Adam said as he sat down beside the small boy. His hands caressed the worn leather cover before he carefully handed it to Daniel.

Daniel took the journal in his hands. Suddenly he felt a tingle go through him sending a shiver down his spine. He was compelled to open it and his eyes went wide as he looked at the first page. The small neat handwriting was his fathers.

"How…. Why….?" He began struggling to formulate the right question.

"It's up to your Uncle Jack on how much to tell you," Adam said. "But a lot of what we do is based on your father's work. All of the journals I have are from before you were born. Jack gave them to me when I came here and they've helped me a lot. But I think they really belong to you, so I want to ask if I can continue to borrow them."

Daniel stared up at Adam. There were tears in his blue eyes, but he was smiling. He had only skimmed the first page which referenced a find on the Giza plateau, but he didn't register the details.

"Are there more?" he asked.

Adam smiled and put an arm around Daniel shoulders. "Yes, there are more," he said. "But I think one at a time, okay?"

Daniel nodded and closed the journal. He held it to his chest and tears ran down his face. He could feel his father in this book. He could feel the comforting touch of his uncle in his mind. He found himself leaning against Adam's side and Daniel found he could feel him as well. Adam considered the journals precious, and it was a joy to him to finally share them with Daniel.

TBC