Part 21

Janet was not a happy woman, Daniel had seen her angry before when he'd sneaked out of the Infirmary when he wasn't supposed to, . "Have you got any excuse for your behaviour?"

"No ma'am," Daniel said. "Except he was picking on Tommy again."

"And you just had to deal with it! What was wrong with coming in to me?"

"I didn't think of that. I'm sorry." He handed her a letter. "I wrote a letter for you and one for Klorel and the Sheriff."

"Well that's a start. I will not have that behaviour from anyone in this school. You could have seriously hurt him if Sheriff Carter hadn't come along."

"I know." Daniel put his head down.

"I've excluded you from school until next Monday." She handed Jack some books and jotters, "These are for Danny to do at home. It should keep him busy for quite some time."

"Thanks Janet. He's been punished at home for what he did."

"I want him to apologise to Klorel for what he did, in front of the class."

"NO!" Daniel shouted.

Jack delivered a hard swat to his backside. "You'll do as you're told or you'll be punished again. Hear me?" Daniel nodded. "With your voice."

"Yes sir." Daniel hated this. Why should he apologise? It was all Klorel's fault.

"Klorel is having to apologise to Tommy in front of the class as well."

Janet went out to ring the bell. The rest of the children filed in. Sam smiled at him. Klorel glared as he walked past. "Daniel has something to say."

Daniel swallowed and quickly said," I've been told to say sorry to Klorel for fighting." Jack's hand tightened on his shoulder. "I am sorry for hitting him so hard. I didn't me to do that." Jack's hand released its grip. He went over and handed the letter to Klorel.

"Thank you Miss Fraiser. Daniel will see you next Monday." They went out and rode over to the Sheriff's office. No one was there so Daniel left the letter on his desk. Then they rode back to the ranch.

Sean had cleared some space on his big desk in the library and Daniel was sitting trying to write an essay. He could hear Fury snorting in the barn. It was very distracting. Thor was lying at his feet snoring. Catherine came in with some cookies and milk.

"What have you to write about?" Sean asked from the chair. He was fed up hearing all the sighing coming from Daniel. He had tried not to say anything in case he distracted the boy.

"We've to write about a place we've been."

"That should be easy," Sean said. "You said you travelled to different countries with your parents."

"I'm just not in the mood to write." He had tried, he was finding it difficult in case he wrote something he shouldn't. He wasn't sure everything was the same on this planet.

"Then write about something more recent, what about the day you found Thor."

"That's a good idea, Grandpa, thanks." He settled down to write.

"I'm finished. Will you look at it for me." Sean came over.

"It's very good. Now what else have you to do?"

"I've to read this chapter in my history book and then I've got long division sums to do. Miss Fraiser sure means to keep me busy."

"Time should go faster when you're busy." Sean picked up his paper again. Daniel got down to work.

Catherine served them lunch in the library. Jack had gone to a neighbouring ranch to talk about the cattle drive.

"My hand's going to fall off," Daniel complained.

"Are you finished?"

"Nearly. Can I stop and go for a short walk? We get a break at school."

"All right but don't go far."

Daniel tied a piece of rope to Thor's neck and took him out into the yard. He went over to Fury and rubbed his nose. "It's going to be soon Fury. You're going to love my world. You and Thor." He couldn't understand why he felt so sad at that. He wanted to go home, he really did but a larger part of him was beginning to love it here. They had to leave soon before he got too attached to these people. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He headed back to the house. Maybe once he got home and got big again he could come back. Life wasn't fair. He'd wanted a family all his life and he'd found it at the SGC. Jack was like his older brother or father sometimes, Sam was his sister and Teal'c well he was like a much older brother. Here he really had what he wanted. He was getting to be a child and he was growing up with a loving family. Whoever was doing this wasn't being fair.

Sean called him in. "Are you okay?" He lifted up his head. "You've been crying."

"No I got dirt in my eye, that's all. I'd best get that work done before d.. Jack comes."

TBC