Attention

Chapter By: Tsugi

Okay., Muse here. I decided to post Tsugi's chapter for her. It's sitting around on my computer, screaming to be put out there for you guys to read -- although, I'm starting to wonder whether anyone cares anymore considering I got like no reviews for my last two chapters I posted. sadness. Well, except for Llama. (I hope you're having a good holiday right now! Wherever you are) Hello to the rest of you. I'm sure you're busy so I'll forgive you. haha. This was my first week back in college classes. So I haven't had much time to work on this story. But I should have Chapter ten out this weekend or a little bit into next week. I'll just see where everything goes. Toodles. Muse & Tsugi love ya!

Chapter 09: Lynn's Bad Day

"But it's raining!" Lynn screamed into the intercom. She couldn't believe it. She didn't think her life could suck any worse than it had already gotten, but apparently, she was wrong.

"I'm sorry, Miss Krueger," the man in charge of the Dominic Family Gates said, "but I have been instructed, and I quote, 'do not let anyone in when Miss Elizabeth is not here.'"

"By whom, may I ask?" Lynn inquired, but knew better after the words were out of her mouth. Who else would be so pretentious?

"By Mrs. Dominic," was the answer.

"Fucking figures!" Lynn shouted, not noticing the car that had driven up to her side.

"Lynn! When did you start cursing?"

Lynn turned around to see Dr. Jackson sitting there with his driver's side window rolled down. She was surprised to see him. She knew that Elizabeth had been given an official job at Stargate Command, but did not expect Daniel to be visiting her so soon.

"Today, actually." Lynn sighed in exasperation, lifting her backpack above her head as a makeshift umbrella. "What brings you to Liz's house so soon? I didn't think I would be seeing you for a while after that last incident."

"Yeah, uh, I have to drop off some of Elizabeth's things she left in Sam's lab. We thought she might need them for the upgrades." Daniel spoke in his halting tone. For some reason Lynn thought the way he talked was adorable. It was almost as if his mind was working too fast for his lips to catch up. "Hey, hop in. I'm sure it's not comfortable out there."

"Oh, really? Thank you so much." Lynn was relieved as she ran around and slid into the passenger seat.

Daniel pulled up to the intercom and hit the button. "This is Doctor Daniel Jackson, I work with Miss Dominic. May we please come inside the gate and wait for her to return?"

There was a moment before a reply came. "Just stay outside. If Mrs. Dominic finds out I let you in she'll have a fit." The gate squeaked open in the rain and Dr. Jackson drove inside.

"Elizabeth's mother is- -"

"A witch?" Lynn offered, "I know. Jesus, like I was gonna fucking steal something."

"What's the matter with you?" Daniel asked, his brows furrowing in concern. It was very unlike Lynn to be this way.

"Bad fucking day, that's what." Lynn cried, crossing her arms. "Sorry," she apologized softly. A tear rolled down her cheek. She hated to be rude like that, and Daniel hadn't deserved to be yelled at. He was only worried.

Daniel stopped the car and put it in park, then turned to her and wiped the tear from her face. "Will it help to tell me about it?" He asked.

She sighed, then nodded. "I guess it wouldn't hurt, if that is, you don't mind listening to the ramblings of a typical teenage girl."

"No, I don't mind. Go on."

"All right, you asked for it…" And so she began the tale of her most awful day. It took her a few minutes to get herself and her thoughts together to tell him about it. "Today started like any other day. I woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and headed for the door. But my mom stopped me on my way out. I had forgotten my backpack, so I had to go back in and get it. Meanwhile I missed the stupid bus - - just as it was leaving my stop, too!"

She paused to turn and roll down the passenger side's window. It had stopped raining and the air was getting dense inside. "I had to ride my bike to school since my Mom's car wasn't working - - again - - and my Dad was already gone to work. School isn't too far away from my house, so it wasn't really a big deal…"

Daniel watched as she spoke. He really wanted to help her by listening. It looked like she needed it, especially today. He hated to see people hurting, for he knew what it was like. He was always willing to help out a friend in any way possible, and he guessed Lynn had become a good one since everything had begun. He hadn't expected to ever see her again after their initial meeting, so it was pleasant development when her friend Elizabeth had been hired and Lynn had been given clearance.

"I got to school when it started to rain," she sniffed a little. She had to be getting a cold from being out in this nasty weather. Daniel handed her a tissue. He always kept them handy. She took it gratefully and continued. "I had to go to the office to ask for a lock and thankfully I had no trouble there. I locked up my bike and headed toward my locker. I had a big test in first period, and my nerves were completely shot. I hate tests… for anything."

"Yeah, me, too." Daniel added, trying to make her smile a little.

"Really?" Lynn asked. He didn't seem like that type.

"Oh, yeah. Greatest fear. Go on.."

She smiled. Yes, he thought, that's much better.

"Well, as I was putting my books up it suddenly hits me that I have left my notes and homework at home - - and I forgot to study! I always study! And I always have my homework. I didn't know what to do. It was a nightmare. I went to class unprepared and scared outta my mind. I only remembered part of the lecture yesterday, so I failed." She sat back. Her frustration indicated that she took great pride in being a good student.

"Oh," she continued, tears tingeing her voice, "and remember this was only first period."

Daniel handed her another tissue.

"After first period we have a fifteen minute break, ya know for breakfast and whatnot. I went to the cafeteria and got a bowl of cereal. My friend, Audrey, sat down beside me and we started talking about our first class and she went off on some spiel and got me mad at her. She called me a goody-too-shoes for throwing a fit. I was confused so she got even more mad and walked off. I'm still wondering what the hell all of that was about."

Daniel looked at her and sighed. "You know what that was?" She shook her head. "An act of jealousy. Or perhaps she just didn't want to be your friend in the first place and finally found a reason to yell at you. I think by the sounds of it you are better off without her."

"I agree." Lynn said, "she has been acting a lot like she hates me lately. Dumbass. Thanks, Daniel."

"Always here. Continue."

"Right." She sighed.

"My second period is upstairs so I got my books and headed that way. I tripped three times on the stairs - - three! But only once was my fault. Dumb bullies." She muttered.

Daniel could completely empathize with the idea of bullies. He had never been the most popular kid in school, even when he got older. No matter where he went many always looked upon him with the same kind of look. He was the know-it-all jerk, the nerd, the dweeb. The list continued of everything he had been called. Being a teenager was hard, hell, being his age was hard.

"Heh, and one of those jerks was in my next class - - oh, boy, was I looking forward to that."

Daniel grinned. Lynn had to be hanging out with Liz too much. She had the exact same sarcasm.

"This idiot guy, whose hideously devil-name happened to be 'Treston,' picks the 'perfect' day to say the 'perfect' things."

"Isn't Treston a girl's name?"

"I thought so." She said. "I often wonder if he's gay." And she said it so seriously Daniel didn't know whether to laugh or not. Abruptly she sneezes. "Crap. Allergies."

"Probably so, either that or you're getting sick. I have allergies, too. They're annoying." He frowned and thought, we have a lot in common.

"Anyway. I don't exactly remember what he said, but it was particularly nasty. So, naturally anger took over and I threw my text book at him. I got three days detention. He didn't get into any trouble, of course. He's the teacher's pet."

"Figures." Daniel interjected.

"Really," she said and rolled her eyes. "Liz is always whining about the way the 'societal system' works and I usually ignore her because she sounds paranoid half the time - -"

Daniel nodded.

"- - but today I felt like joining her little personal anti-world club."

The archaeologist raised an eyebrow. "It had to be a very bad day for you to agree with Elizabeth."

Lynn laughed. "I suppose. What do you think of our Lizzie?"

"Well, your right about the paranoid thing. You should have seen her the other day working on our security systems. I thought she was going to throw a conniption when she found one little hole. Other than that she is pretty smart."

"Too smart for her own good sometimes." Lynn answered. "I'm just glad for once she didn't screw things up too bad. I guess what happened was good. I mean she's got a job now and everything - - a legal job."

"So, how was the rest of your day?"

"Just as bad. After I got out of second period we were released for lunch. I thought, finally, food and relaxation, but oh no. I was going to my usual table when SPLAT someone tripped me, and guess who it was."

"Treston."

"You gots it," She said, "I really hate him, especially today. I didn't get to eat lunch."

"That really sucks." Daniel said, then shook his head. Perhaps he had been spending too much time with Elizabeth himself.

"Yeah, the one good thing is that I had third period off. My thing is to hang out in the library, cos me and books are like this," she grinned and crossed her fingers. "But before I knew it I was falling down again, right down the steps into the library. I cursed, and oops, someone heard me. I got one more day of detention."

Daniel didn't know what to say. It seemed like the fates were just out to get her. "You've never served detention before, have you?"

"How'd you guess?"

"Just making sure."

She laughed and blew her nose again. If she was coming down with a cold she was going to scream. "Ok, this gets even better.." She added sarcastically.

"Wow, this probably deserves to go into the Guinness Book of World Records. Remind me tomorrow and I will send it in." He joked seriously.

"Oh, shut up." She said good naturedly. "Anyway, I got what I needed and left. I went to my locker to get my stuff for last period, but I forgot and grabbed my backpack, too, out of habit. We're not allowed to have backpacks in our classrooms, so I got into trouble. More detention. I have nine days now, after school starting on Monday."

"Ouch."

"No kidding. Mom won't mind though because she was exactly the same way when she was a kid." She shrugged. "After the bell rang I was so happy to get out of there."

"I bet."

"Well, until I was on my way over here to see Liz. It was still raining, but I was thinking about how I was going to serve detention, so I was paying any attention to what I was doing. I ran my bike into a tree!"

Daniel flinched. "Eeesh. So that's why you were walking."

"Yup. I walked, err… limped, the whole way here. That's when you found me, here arguing with Gregory about seeing Liz."

"Boy, what a day. Maybe perhaps I should tell you about one of my bad days sometime. You'll feel a lot better."

"Really? What could possibly tell me about?"

"Well, there was that one time I 'died,' or perhaps that time I was brainwashed by an evil seductress, or perhaps…"

"Err… never mind. I believe you." Lynn said. "Thank you for listening to me."

"No problem. I'm sure things will get better."

"I hope." She sighed, glancing behind them. The gate had reopened, and she saw Elizabeth's jeep pull in. "Girl, you always have perfect timing." She said with a smile. "Liz is here."

They climbed out of the car to greet her, and she did the same. "Hey guys!" Elizabeth cried, first hugging Lynn then placing a small kiss on Daniel's cheek. "Nice to see you."

"Hello, Elizabeth." Daniel said, and Liz smiled. He was the only one - - other than her mother and Skaara - - that called her Liz anymore. Sam had started referring to her as Liz, and Jack had come to know her as Dominic.

"Hey, Liz." Lynn said. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. I just got back from Cheyenne Mountain. I left some stuff up there. But Sam told me you have gotten it to bring to me." Liz pointed at Daniel and he nodded. "How was your day?"

"You, uh, don't want to know." Daniel answered, and he and Lynn shared a conspiratorial grin.

"O---okay." Liz said with shrug. She wasn't going to touch this one. Her friends were getting weirder and weirder all the time….

Chapter Ten: Day in the Life of a Hacker Liz's renowned hacker skills have finally gotten her into real trouble. After refusing to help a group of delinquents they decide to kidnap her for ransom. What they don't have in mind is that you don't mess with a friend of Colonel Jack O'Neill.

-------Toodles------