Child of the Mind

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Ten

Taking a Stand

Daniel turned around, he saw Zhan walking towards them with four guards. Looking down, he felt Yong tightly grasp his hand. Daniel closed his eyes, he had to think like the innocent child, he had to be him.

Opening his eyes, he felt frightened when Zhan stopped in front of Yong.

Zhan crossed his arms, a sly grin parted his lips. "Yong, it has been many years. How is the life of a hunter?"

Yong kept Daniel behind him. "It is a good and honest life."

"I cannot imagine how you enjoy being here."

"That is why I am here, and you are not."

Zhan's grin grew wider. "And here you are, a once mighty soldier. Now you take care of this giant man-child."

Zhan slowly walked up to Daniel. Daniel hunched over, he stared at the ground. He mumbled, "Please do not hurt me."

"Why do you care for this one, Yong? He is not from this world. Not our kind. His mind is that of a child." He saw how Yong was holding Daniel's hand. "So dependent on you." He laughed, it was a laugh that cut into Yong. "Do not tell me you think he will replace, Junjie?"

Yong was so angry to hear Zhan say his son's name, he released Daniel's hand. "You do not say his name!"

Zhan quickly stepped between Daniel and Yong. Daniel looked around, he didn't' notice, but two of the guards with Zhan were now behind him.

"Yong, I'm scared," Daniel said.

Yong moved to get past Zhan, he blocked him from reaching Daniel. "Yong, do not worry. I will not harm him, I just want to ask him something."

The two guards grabbed Daniel and pulled him away from Yong.

Yong took on a fighting stance. "Leave him alone! The Lord said he is under my care now. I will not allow you to hurt him."

The two other guards stood between Daniel and Yong.

Zhan remained standing in front of Daniel. "It is the Lord that told me to talk to him. Stay away, Yong, or the guards will keep you away."

The guards pulled up their staffs, they aimed them at Yong.

"Do not hurt him!" Daniel cried out. That was him talking, not the child. He fought the guards that held him.

Zhan faced Daniel. "So bold, for a man-child." He did not like how he had to look up at him. It made him feel inferior. "Bring him down," Zhan said.

One of the guards kicked Daniel behind the knees, forcing him to kneel. He bowed his head.

"Leave him alone!" Yong shouted. He lunged forward, one of the guards shocked him in the side. Grabbing his side, he stumbled back.

"No!" Daniel cried out. He saw Yong shake his head. Yong would endure the pain to keep Zhan from knowing that Daniel's memory was back.

"Now you have to look up at me, Tau'ri," Zhan said in Goa'uld. "I know you understand what I say, now look at me or I will tell the guards to kill Yong where he stands."

Daniel's head moved up, he looked at Zhan. The child inside wasn't a fighter. If Daniel tried to fight them, they would know his memory was back.

Zhan grabbed his chin. "The Lord wanted me to tell you that your face is familiar to him, but he cannot remember where he saw you. He said it will come to him, Tau'ri. For now, he will allow Yong to take care of you. But beware, he will remember who you are, and I will be back for you. Even if you do not know who you are, we will, and that is all that matters. Do you understand? Answer me in the words of your god!"

Daniel slowly nodded his head. "Yes, I do."

"Good," Zhan purred. He released his chin.

"What has he done?" someone shouted. Zhan noticed that some of the sellers and shoppers were gathering. Gui and Hui was standing in front of the crowd. They were looking at Daniel and Yong with alarm.

Seeing some of the market people coming to them, Daniel knew he could use this to their advantage. "They hurt us," Daniel cried. "I did not do anything." More people began to gather.

"He was not doing anything," Gui said. "Let them go."

"It is none of your concern," Zhan said in Chinese.

Daniel jerked hard to pull himself from one of the guard's holding him. The guard immediately kicked him in the side. Daniel bent over and loudly cried out. The kick was not painful, but the villagers didn't know that. Gui stepped closer with several men.

"Why are your men beating him?" Gui shouted. "Lord Zhong would never allow this."

Zhan knew they were right. The real Lord Zhong would never allow his guards to hurt this man child. He needed to calm them down.

"You are right," Zhan said. "These are new guards, I am training them." He motioned at the guards. "Do not harm him again, release him!"

"I did not kick him hard, Zhan," the guard that kicked Daniel said. "He has fooled them into thinking..."

"Liang, you heard my order," Zhan shouted. "I said release him!"

Liang squeezed Daniel harder, he whispered, "This is not done, man-child."

Once the guards let him go, Daniel sat on the ground. Hugging himself, he rocked back and forth.

Zhan moved away from Daniel. "I am done questioning him, Yong. You can go. But take care of him, see that he is not hurt. Lord Zhong has taken a liking to those blue eyes. He said the giant may bless him with a long life, like his grandfather."

Yong pushed his way past the guards. He took Daniel's hand and tried to pull him up. He was surprised to find Gui and Hui helping him.

"Daniel," Hui said. "Are you all right?"

Daniel slowly nodded his head as he stood up. "Yes, I am, Hui." He rubbed his knees, "But my knees hurt bad. I do not know how to fix that."

"Do not worry," Hui said, with a chuckle. He softly patted Daniel on the back. "They will get better."

Daniel bowed his head. "Thank you for helping us."

Yong was furious. Leaving Daniel with Hui and Gui he stepped right up to Zhan. Zhan waved the guards to stand back. They stood face to face. "I do not care if you now guard Lord Zhong," Yong said. "If you hurt him again, I will finish what I started."

Zhan saw the guards smiling. He took a step closer to Yong, to show them he was not afraid of him. He actually bumped into Yong and had to step back. Yong remained rooted where he stood.

"Beware of what you ask for, Yong. I am not the same man."

"No, Zhan. You are worst."

Giving Daniel one last look, Zhan quickly walked away with the guards in his wake.

Daniel didn't breathe until they were out of sight.

"I thank you for being here for Daniel and me," Yong said to the people that had gathered.

"We have come to like your giant, we have never liked Zhan Shi," Gui said. "Take care of him."

"Thank you, I will take him home."

Daniel bowed his head, "Thank you for helping us."

They quickly walked away. "Yong," Daniel whispered. "That was dangerous standing up to Zhan."

Yong pulled him down the street. "Yes, Daniel. Dangerous for Zhan Shi."

They hurried down the streets. Turning down the street that led to Yong's house, Daniel saw Ying Lee and Mah playing with a kite.

Daniel released his hold on Yong. "I think they want to talk to me. You go ahead, see if the herbs for Teal'c was delivered."

Yong hurried ahead. Ying Lee and Mah waited for Daniel.

"Daniel!" Ying Lee said. "Did you go to the market?"

A happy grin creased his lips. "Yes, I did, Ying lee." He looked behind her. "Hello, Mah."

He saw Mah holding onto a string. Daniel pointed up. "Mah, your kite is very high."

"Yes, Daniel. Would you like to fly it?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, I think it will fall if I try to fly it."

Mah was happy Daniel didn't take the kite string. It was flying the highest he had ever flown a kite.

Daniel saw Ying Lee staring at him. "Daniel," Ying Lee said. "You look different today."

Daniel quickly walked towards Yong's house. Ying Lee followed him. He tried to avoid her eyes. "Different, how?"

She saw how he evaded looking at her. Ying Lee started to blush. "Daniel, I think I see something in you that was not there yesterday."

Yong rushed back to Daniel. Ying Lee was talking to him. "Ying Lee," Yong said. "Go home. I have to many things to do than bother with you flirting with Daniel."

Ying Lee stood in front of Daniel. "I know what is different." She looked up at him. "I see it in your eyes, Daniel. When I first saw you, I could see how sweet and gentle you are." Stepping closer to Daniel, she said. "But now, when I look into your eyes. I see something more. Something different, something that makes my heart soar."

"Ying Lee, go home." Yong insisted.

"I know what is different. I no longer see a boy, my heart grows bigger for now I see a man."

Yong realized she was able to tell Daniel's memory was back. He pulled Daniel to his home. Ying Lee followed them. They stopped by the porch.

"Ying Lee," Yong hissed. "Please do not say anything. Lord Zhong will take him away from us."

Ying Lee walked up to Daniel. He stood still as her hand reached up and tenderly touched his cheek. "Do not worry, Daniel. Your secret is safe with me. But I ask that you do one thing."

"Ying Lee," Yong growled. "What is it that you want?"

She gently smiled. "A kiss. I want to know what it is like to be kissed by a man."

"When are you going to stop playing childish games?"

"Ying Lee," Daniel said. "I cannot."

"There he is," Ying Lee sighed. "The man I fell in love with the first time I saw you."

"Ying Lee," Daniel said. "I need you to promise me that you will not let anyone know that I have my memory back."

"Daniel," she whispered. "No one will know, I swear. I will keep your secret until the day I die. But only with a kiss, just one kiss."

"Why is this so important?" Daniel asked her.

"Because, Daniel, soon I will be fifteen," her eyes curved to sadness. "I want to know what it is like to kiss a man before it is too late."

Yong bowed his head. "I am sorry, Ying Lee, I forgot."

"Sorry for what?" Daniel looked at Yong for an answer.

"Ying Lee, her intended Changming died during a hunt last year. On her birthday she will reach the age she was to be married. It is the law, she will have to leave her home and live with her betrothed's family."

"Yes," Ying Lee cried. Tears was running down her face. "There I will be no more than a slave for his family. I will no longer have a life." Looking into Daniel's eyes she whispered, "I will never know what it is like to be kissed."

Daniel could not hide the anger in his voice. "How could her father allow this to happen?"

"The great Lord Yu created the law, Daniel," Yong said. "I do not like this law, but this is how it has always been. Her family will be dishonored if she does not go to Changming's family when she is of age."

"They are cruel, Daniel," Ying Lee sobbed. "So very cruel. They said I will be put to work in the fields during the day and cleaning and cooking at night. My only existence will be to serve them. I cannot live like that, Daniel. I would rather be eaten by the shiz-ong."

Daniel stepped closer to her. "I promise you, Ying Lee. I will try to find a way to help you."

Ying Lee smiled so widely her eyes closed. "I will take that promise, Daniel." She frowned, "Do you remember your real name?"

"My name is Daniel Jackson."

Standing on tip toes, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Do not worry. Your secret is safe with me, Daniel Jackson."

She quickly walked away. Daniel could see that Yong was not happy.

"I'm sorry, Yong, but I cannot let that happen to her. I have to do what I can to help her."

Yong nodded his head. "That is the Daniel I saved. Now come, Zi is working on the herbs to save Teal'c. Quickly now, we must hurry."

Daniel looked back, he saw Ying lee skipping down the street. His thoughts turned to how he was going to be able to help her. He made a promise, and he was going to keep it.