Part 20

A little while later Jack went up stairs to check on his dad and Danny. he smiled when he saw them, they were both fast asleep. A little while later Sean woke up with a sore neck. He carefully moved from Daniel's side, put the lamp out and went down stairs.

"Dinner's nearly ready, dad," Jack said. "Enjoy your nap?"

"Yes I did. I had a long talk with Danny. He's had a hard life you know, I found out he's got a grandfather somewhere."

"Why did he run away from him?" Jack asked.

"He didn't, the man didn't want him."

"What?" Jack said angrily jumping up from the chair. "What sort of man does that?"

"I don't know, Jack. So please try not to be too hard on him. He's had too many rejections in his young life already. You'd better not let him think you'd ever do that."

"You know I wouldn't. I lo.."

"You love him?"

"Yes."

"Then tell him more often. I want that boy to think of us as family. You need to speak to Jacob about his grandfather."

"I'll do it tomorrow after church. Come on let's eat."

"What about Danny?" Sean asked.

"I'll take him something after we've eaten, he won't starve."

Later Jack carried a plate up to Danny. He had woken up and was reading. "I've brought you some dinner."

"Is that chocolate cake?" Danny asked, his eyes getting bigger.

"Yes, Catherine thought you might like a piece."

"Thanks Jack."

"Sean told me about your grandfather. Do you know where I can find him?"

"No. He goes away a lot, he travels to different countries. He's an archaeologist like my parents were."

"You've no idea how I might contact him?"

"No."

"Sean said I could call him Grandpa if I want."

"Good. He's enjoying being a Grandpa again. Now eat up."

"Will I be able to go to Kasuf's next week?" Daniel asked hopefully.

"Yes, if you can behave."

"I will." He snuggled down in his bed. Jack was sure he meant it as he said it but he doubted Danny could stop himself getting into trouble.

Sean came in and set Thor on the bed. "He was crying for you."

"Thanks Grandpa." It didn't take long for him to fall back to sleep.

Daniel was up early the next morning, he had all his chores done before even Catherine was up. He took a look into the tack room. It certainly was a mess.

"I thought we could do it after church," Jack said.

"We?"

"Yes we. Now I think you need a bath before church."

"A bath? But if I have one now I'll need another one before bed. Can't I wait please?" He put on his most pleading face. He used to use it on Jack when he wanted to stay on a planet a bit longer.

"Alright but if Catherin complains you take the blame."

Daniel smiled. Jack loved seeing it. They went to the corral to look at Fury. He even responded to Jack.

"I think he's beginning to like you," Daniel said.

Church was as boring as ever but at least he managed to it relatively still this time. When it ended he ran to speak to Sam He told her all about Kasuf, Sha're and Skaara.

"It's really strange," Sam said.

"I know, I would have expected them to be older. This is a strange universe."

"It's just it seems so familiar and yet so different."

"What's beginning to worry me is why hasn't Jack come back for us? Do you think we could be dead?"

"No, of course not. Maybe they think it's too dangerous for them to come through."

"Or we're not on the same planet."

"There's a Stargate here, we'll be fine as soon as we get home."

"You're not unhappy are you?" Sam, asked.

"No it's just the opposite. Sean asked me to call him Grandpa and I think I'm beginning to like it too much. I like living with Jack. We need to go soon."

"Danny time to go," Jack shouted.

They spent the rest of the day cleaning out the room. "The men have been so busy lately they haven't had time to clean it."

"When are you taking the cattle to market?"

"In about two weeks. We'll take them to the rail road and then they get transported to the army."

"Where's the railway?"

"It's not too far from here but it will take a couple of days to get them there. We don't want to rush them or they'll lose a lot of their weight and the army won't pay enough for them."

"I see." Danny now had a date to aim for. He'd tell Sam the next day at school.

As he rode into town, he saw her sitting on the log underneath the big tree. He put Storm away and went to sit beside her. "Jack's going to be away in about two weeks. He'll be away for a few days. That would be the perfect time to go."

"Sounds good but what about Sean and my dad?"

"We need to find a way to make them think we're somewhere else."

"I've got it, you tell Sean you're going to stay at my house and I'll tell my dad that I'm going to stay with you."

"That's a great idea," Daniel said.

The bell rang and they went into school. Daniel sat and worked on his Maths problems. He was getting used to doing them now. He'd never be as good as Sam but he was getting better. Janet even congratulated him on finishing them.

Daniel felt great until lunchtime. Klorel was back at school and kept trying to bait him. Sam would not let him get into a confrontation with him but it was getting on Daniel's nerves.

"Go bother someone else," Daniel shouted at him.

Five minutes later Daniel wished he hadn't said that. Klorel was standing over a young boy teasing him. One of his friend's said," Hey Klorel look, he's wet his pants. Big baby." The boy started to cry.

"Leave him alone," Daniel said forcefully."

"And who's going to make me?"

"Me."

"Daniel," Sam said.

"No. he isn't going to get away with picking on people." He turned to face Klorel. "You're just a coward."

Klorel pushed him to the ground. Daniel swung his legs as he fell and knocked Klorel down as well.

"Why you little b******," Klorel shouted. He tried to stand up but Daniel was quicker than him.

Afterwards Daniel couldn't remember being pulled off Klorel by Jacob. All his anger and frustration had come out and Klorel had got the worst of it. Daniel was sitting in Jacob's office. Klorel had been taken to the doctor's office.

Dr. Fraiser came in. "Klorel's alright Jacob, a few cuts and bruises. Can I look at Daniel now?"

"Yes. He hasn't moved since I brought him here. Not a word either."

"Sounds like shock." he bent down in front of Daniel and said," I'm going to look at your hands." He carefully washed them and rubbed an ointment on them. He turned to Jacob again. "It's just as well you were going past the school and saw this happen. It could have been a lot worse."

"He was like a wild animal, I had to drag him off Klorel. He didn't even seem to notice it was me. God knows what Jack is going to say." Daniel's head moved. "At least that got a reaction."

"What is Mr. Apophis going to do?" Dr. Fraiser asked.

"He'll probably want it to go to court," Jacob said. "You know what he's like. The other children said he'd been taunting Daniel and then he picked on a smaller boy and Daniel just reacted."

Daniel kept his head down. He didn't know what had come over him. All of a sudden he just wanted to get his own back for all the years the bullies had made his life a misery. But how was he going to explain that to Jack. "How did I get here?"

"I carried you," Jacob said. "Do you remember fighting Klorel?"

Daniel's face went white," I didn't hurt him too bad did I?"

"No, he'll be fine. You certainly know how to fight."

"Is Jack coming?" he asked in a small voice.

"I sent for him. He should be here soon."

"He's going to be mad."

"I would imagine so."

They both heard the feet running on the boarding outside. The door flew open. "What the hell happened?" He looked over at Daniel," Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Sit down Jack, I'll explain."

Jacob told him about the fight and how he'd had to pull Daniel off Klorel. He also told him the boy was at the doctor's.

Jack looked over at Daniel," Have you got anything to say?"

"No. I was in the wrong."

"Go get Storm. We're going to the ranch."

Daniel ran out. He saddled Storm as quickly as he could. The ride back to the ranch was done in silence. Daniel knew Jack was mad. When they got back Jack said," Get to your room right now." Daniel jumped down and ran.

He ran up the stairs and pulled the door open. There was no way Jack would want him now. He looked around the room. This had become his room and he knew he would miss it. He didn't have much to take with him. He changed out of his clothes and put on the oldest ones that were there and then he sat on the bed and waited.

It was the longest 5 minutes of his life. Then he heard Jack's feet on the stair. He stood up to face him. Jack's face was like thunder. Before he could say anything Daniel said," I'm ready to go. I've taken the oldest clothes and I'll get a job and pay you for these." He could hardly get the words out. He could feel tears falling down his face. "Will you look after Thor for me? I don't think they'll want him at the orphanage and I don't want anything to happen to him. Please say you'll keep him. Please." He couldn't stop the tears now.

Jack went forward picked him up, sat down on the bed and set him on his knee. He wrapped his arms around Daniel and let him cry. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he kept saying.

Jack kissed his head and ran his fingers through his hair trying to calm him down. Jack said, "Danny I'm not sending you away. I'll never send you away. Calm down." Jack took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Daniel's eyes and then his nose. "Sh. It's alright." He hugged him to him and let him calm down. When he looked down Daniel was fast asleep. He had got himself so worked up he was exhausted.

Jack heard footsteps on the stairs and Sean came in, "Is he alright?"

"Yes, I'll just put him down and come talk to you." Jack tried to put Daniel down on the bed but each time he tightened his grip on Jack.

"Don't think you're going anywhere just yet. I'll talk to you later." Sean left.

About ten minutes later Daniel began to stir in Jack's arms. His eyes flew open and when he realised where he was he tried to stand up. "It's okay," Jack said holding on to him. "Settle down."

Daniel stopped trying to squirm out of Jack's arms. "I'm sorry Jack. I didn't mean to cause all this trouble. "

"I've had worse. Now what made you think I'd want you to go. Haven't I made it plain I want you to stay?"

"No one else ever wanted me to stay after I'd caused them trouble. They couldn't get rid of me quick enough. I was always too much trouble."

"You're just a normal boy Daniel. I did much worse things than get into a fight."

"You did?"

"Yes." He could see Daniel needed to be reassured so he started his story," Well once me and my brother Martin decided to get some fire crackers. No one in the shop would let us buy any, we were too young. However one of the older boys let us have some. You should have seen what happened."

"Chaos," a voice said.

"Dad's right. We let them off in the middle of town. Two lots of horse bolted dragging their wagons after them. All the goods in them fell out. The worst thing was.."

"There was worse than that?"

"Much worse," Sean said.

"I dropped the fire cracker into some paper and set a barrel on fire."

"Wow!"

"That wasn't thought Dad thought, unfortunately."

"It certainly wasn't. The barrel was at the side of the shop. They nearly set the whole place on fire."

"That was much worse than a fight," Daniel said.

"It was." Daniel was beginning to look happier. He looked up at Jack.

"You're still going to punish me though aren't you?"

"Yes. I told you the last time what would happen."

"I know."

"I'll see you both downstairs," Sean said leaving them in the room.

Jack hadn't the heart to punish Danny too badly so he gave him a couple of hard swats. This boy had suffered enough today.

Sean was waiting in the library. Daniel was smiling as he came towards him. "You don't seem to be hurting too badly," Sean commented. "Jack could barely sit after the fire cracker fiasco. What's happening about school?"

"I don't know, I left without seeing Janet. I'm sure she'll send a not home with Rya'c." He turned to Daniel," You will be writing a letter of apology to Klorel, Miss Fraiser and Sheriff Carter." Daniel wanted to object about the letter to Klorel but he thought better of it. He had hurt him more than he meant to.

"Yes sir. Can I go play with Thor?"

"Go on, then you can help Catherine with dinner."

Rya'c came home that night with a letter for Jack. jack opened it and started to read. "Can I go see Danny?" Rya'c asked.

"Yes, he's in the kitchen." Rya'c ran off. "Danny," he said as he entered the kitchen.

"Go get some milk and cookies for both of you," Catherine said.

When they'd sat down Rya'c told him about what had happened after the fight. "Klorel's got a black eye and he was walking a bit funny as well." Daniel could remember aiming a kick at him that would have been very painful. "His dad was furious, says he wants you arrested."

"What?"

"Heard him tell Sheriff Carter that but the Sheriff just said that you were provoked. Said if he wanted you arrested for a school fight he'd have to arrest Klorel too. His face went all red and he started shouting at the Sheriff."

"Rya'c, Teal'c's calling for you."

"Okay. Thanks for the milk and cookies."

Jack came in with the letter in his hand. "Miss Fraiser doesn't want you back at school for the rest of this week." Daniel almost smiled but realised in time that that action would only make Jack mad. "She wants to see us tomorrow at 8 and she'll send work home for you to do."

"Yes sir."

"And you can be sure I'll find plenty for you to do." Daniel grimaced.

TBC