This story...was on CRACK. I want everyone to know that Read300300 is the one responsible for this. She was talking to me about a story she was writing, and then I woke up with this half-formed in my head. She promptly told me post it when I e-mailed it to her, so, that's what I'm doing. shrugs

"Danny!"

Daniel blinked as his hips were promptly hugged. "Charlie?"

The child beamed up at him. "That's me!" He hugged Daniel tighter. "I'm really glad you're here! Dad's starting to freak me out, and he really needs you."

A cold fission of fear ran through the archeologist. "How so?"

"He just stares at the wall all the time. I think he's trying to figure something out, but he hasn't moved for a couple hours."

Daniel let out a breath and ruffled the boy's hair. "I'll see what I can do."

"Yay!"

Charlie bounced eagerly all the way up the steps to Jack's door. But when they got there, he stopped, and a dismayed noise came out of his throat.

Daniel came up behind him. "What's wrong?"

Charlie pointed unhappily at the door. "I can't go in. It's the rules."

It was a testament to how worried Daniel was about Jack that he didn't inquire very closely. He merely frowned. "I was hoping that you could snap him out of it."

The boy shook his head. "No, that's you. I can't see Dad again for a while."

"Oh." Daniel knew that it was a poor thing to say, but he couldn't think of anything else. "I'm sorry."

Charlie shook his head again. "It's ok. Time goes re-eally fast in Heaven!" Daniel blanched at this, and Charlie giggled. Then his face sobered and he hugged Daniel again. "I'm glad you're here," he whispered. "Dad loves you a lot. He wants to be with you."

Daniel paused before answering. "I...Charlie, it's complicated. I love Jack too, but --"

"It shouldn't matter! None of that should matter!" The boy was angry. He glared at Daniel before sniffing and wiping at his eyes. "D-dad loves you, and you love him, so it would just be a lot easier if you guys got together! You adults always make things so complicated!"

Daniel knelt down to his level, and couldn't help inwardly marveling at how small Charlie was. Was I ever this tiny?

"I'll...do my best."

Charlie nodded and wiped some more tears away. "That's all Dad wants, Daniel. It's all he's asking for, so it can't be that hard to give."

Daniel remembered Sam, and what she had said about the giving and taking of orders.

"You and the Colonel, Daniel...You guys have partnership. You can react to surprises as a team, and it's always been that way. Teal'c and me, the best we can do is look in and work on our teamwork, and hope we can get as good at it as you guys. You guys are always breaking the trail, and you travel rough, and you have to count on each other to decide the right thing, fast...You and the Colonel are always giving each other orders. 'Duck. Hold this. Watch out. Grab that end, quick. Run when I say.' You give each other orders and you're responsible for each other. If something happens to you, the Colonel won't ever say, 'Well it's a darn shame, but Daniel wasn't my responsibility.' And I know that you wouldn't do that either."

True, Sam had been reprimanding him for not trying to help Jack out at the time, but Daniel understood what she was saying. I give Jack orders. He's my responsibility that way, so I have to help him. I won't abandon him.

"...Thanks, Charlie."

The child smiled at him. "It's ok, Daniel. And...I really wouldn't mind you being my mom."

Daniel's mind froze for a moment. A left-handed compliment, but a compliment all the same. "Uh. Thanks. I think."

Charlie grinned at him, bounced off the steps -- and the wind blew, wiping his body away like a cloth on a stain.

"Dad loves you a lot. He wants to be with you."

Daniel stood. He opened the door, and walked into Jack's house.