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The next morning, Jack poked his head in. Daniel was building, one-handed, another pyramid out of Legos. " How'd you like to lose your needle friend? "
Daniel brightened. " You mean it? "
"Of course I do. I don't say things unless I mean them. We're gonna switch you to some pills, just like the pain pills you started taking yesterday. And then, if everything pans out in the next twenty-four hours, you and I are going home. "
Daniel couldn't contain his excitement. Home! Home wasn't a word he used. Not since Egypt. But Jack made it work. Made it fit. Made it seem right.
"Yep. " Jack settled on the bed. "But, there's a few things you need to know. Going home doesn't mean you're one hundred percent yet. They will be no school for another week and you'll probably feel a little tired and achy for a while. But that's what I'm here for. However, some nights, I'm going to have to work." Jack reached across his waist and unclipped something.
"This is a beeper. The same one that landed me in the ER the night you came in. It gets in the way. Sometimes a lot more than I'd like. But hey, I love my job, so it's not all bad. So here's the deal. My sister, Janet, lives nearby. She's great. Barely taller than five feet, but great. You'll probably spent a night or two with her every once in a while. "
Daniel mulled that over. This Janet didn't sound so bad, especially if she was related to Jack. Neither of his parents had any brothers or sisters and Daniel was an only child, so he often wondered how sisters and brother got along.
" You'll come back, right?" he asked. That was all that mattered, really.
"Of course, " Jack reassured him. "Besides, if Janet stays too long at my place she starts rearranging things. The next thing I know, I can't find the can opener or the extra rolls of toilet paper. One important rule in life, Daniel. Siblings are better appreciated in small doses. " Jack paused a moment. " Do you like dogs? "
Daniel frowned. He didn't think he'd ever been around a dog. But on TV they seemed friendly. "I don't know," he finally admitted.
"You don't know? That's not an answer," Jack teased. 'Janet has a golden retriever her daughter, my niece Cassie, named Jack. "
Daniel smiled. "She must like you. "
Jack laughed. "Or hate me. Jack eats any and everything. Even if it's not food. He's particularly fond of sneakers, so we'll have to make sure we hide yours. He ate through my new Nikes last week. Janet so owes me."
Now it was Daniel's turn to giggle. "Now that's what I like to hear. You don't laugh nearly enough, Daniel Jackson. You ready for me to yank out that IV? "
Daniel's answer was to hold out his right hand.
" I think you'll like my place, Daniel, " Jack said as pulled the needle out and held pressure over the puncture.
" It sounds nice," Daniel told him. It sounded better then nice. Daniel wasn't too sure about the dog or Janet, but if Jack said they were okay, he believed him. Jack had said he'd sleep through his appendix operation and he was right about that one. And the needles. Well, almost right about the needles.
"I'm going to stop by the home and get your things from Mrs. Parker so that they'll be home when we get there. Is there anything you want to make sure I don't miss? "
Daniel thought about that. He didn't own much. He had some clothes, a few notebooks. The only thing personal things he owned was the giraffe his parents had given for his fifth birthday. It had been shipped all the way from England and if he closed his eyes he could just make out his mother's perfume in the animal's fur.
"My giraffe, " Daniel told him. "He's ..."
"Special?" Jack finished. "I think you're going to need more than a giraffe, though. "
" I don't have anything else." It was true. Everything else belonged to the home.
Jack shook his head. "Well, that's going to change, kiddo. Just you wait. "
--
They didn't make it to Jack's house the next day. Daniel spiked a fever and Jack made him stay in the hospital another two days – one to ride out the fever and another to assure it didn't come back. Daniel was antsy. He was tired, yes, and his stomach was still a bit tender and sore, but he was feeling well enough to want to get out of the hospital.
Daniel was never so happy to see a wheelchair. Jack pushed it into the room and Daniel noticed it was the first time he'd seen the man sans lab coat. Instead Jack wore a long sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Ready to blow this Popsicle stand?" he asked.
" I can walk," Daniel insisted.
"I'm sure you can, but this baby is hospital policy." Jack patted the back of the chair. "Plus, it's a free ride. Humor me. "
So Daniel did and endured the chair. And even though he spent the entire trip to Jack's sitting down, he was exhausted by the time the two of them made it to Jack's doorstep.
A red-haired woman greeted them at the door. At her heels was a sandy colored dog, its tail wagging happily. It rushed over to Daniel almost immediately.
"Hey, Jack. Down boy." Human Jack was pulling the dog away by the collar. " Janet, stop your dog. The last thing I need to for him to rip Daniel's stitches. "
" Jack," the woman – Janet, Daniel assumed – called and the dog stopped and returned to her. She pointed inside and the dog whimpered, but went through the door.
Human Jack, his Jack, straightened himself, giving her a smile. " You had to bring the dog, didn't you? "
" You like dogs, Jack. Love them in fact," Janet said. "You're the one that told me to get Cassie a dog. "
"Well, I hoped she'd pick one that wasn't a sneaker connoisseur, " Jack replied. "I was hoping more along the lines of a dog that greets you at the door and chases Frisbees. "
" We can't always get what we want." Janet craned her neck and spotted Daniel. She shot him a smile. "This must be Daniel. "
Daniel suddenly felt very shy. He ducked behind Jack's legs. He wasn't sure why. Janet seemed very nice. Jack liked her. Of course, Daniel figured, Jack had to like her, since she was his sister.
He felt a hand on his head. Jack.
"Yes, this Daniel. Daniel, this is Janet. "
" Whatever he's told you about me isn't true," Janet told him. " Jack embellishes a lot. Part of the O'Neill nature. "
"You're an O'Neill, too, " Jack shot back.
" Not since I got married, " Janet insisted. "Last I checked Fraiser is my last name now. "
" Nice try. You're still an O'Neill. "
Daniel simply watched the exchange from behind Jack's legs. He figured this was what it was like to have a sister. Suddenly, however, he found himself yawning. He'd almost forgotten how tired he was.
Jack didn't miss a beat. "Bet you're tired, huh, kiddo? " He looked back towards Daniel. "Did you make up the bed in the guest room? "
"Of course. Hospital corners." She grinned.
" Very funny, " Jack commented. "Come on, Daniel. I'll show you your room and you can take a nap. "
" No nap," Daniel muttered, but let Jack guide him through the door.
" We'll both take a nap. I could use a nap, myself." Daniel yawned again and gave the living room a glance through somewhat blurry eyes. It consisted of darker colors, mostly earth tones. Daniel caught the gleam of something shiny and turned to see some type of honorary metal on the mantel above the fireplace. But he didn't get a chance to look closer for Jack pointed him immediately towards the stairs.
The room Jack stopped at was the first door on the left at the top of the stairs. It was simple. A big bed, a dresser, two bedside tables with lamps. Daniel noticed his own battered suitcase lay in the corner, his beloved giraffe placed on top of it.
He let Jack steer him to the bed. To be honest, a nap sounded like a very good idea. But he didn't like admitting it. Eight-year-olds were too old for naps, sick or not.
The doctor disappeared from his line of sight a moment, then returned to sit on the bed next to him. Jack then placed Daniel's well-worn giraffe between Daniel's waiting arms.
" Does he have a name? "
Daniel blinked. "Onuris. "
"Onuris? "
" It means ' sky-bearer.' In Greek and Egyptian mythology he's considered a great warrior and sky-god of Abydos. He was one of my mother's favorites. He was seen as the protector of people against enemies, evil spirits, and pest. All the important things, my mom used to say." Daniel's voice grew soft towards the end of his explanation. His mother had given him the giraffe; he wanted to make her happy by choosing a name he knew she'd like. He didn't often talk about his parents – at least not to just anyone.
Jack wasn't just anyone. Jack liked him.
And he liked Jack.
" Protects, huh? Sounds like he'd be a real popular guy. "
"He was," Daniel agreed and tried to hide another yawn with his hand.
"Okay, nap time. And before you say no, it's naptime for me too. It's a big bed and we've got a couple of hours before dinner. You like hamburgers? "
Daniel nodded. They were on of the few American foods he did enjoy. Everything still tasted strange, despite the fact that he'd been in U.S. for two years.
" Good." Jack patted the one of the pillows. "Now I'm tired. How about you? "
--
Daniel woke up to find an arm draped over his shoulder. For a second he was confused and turned to see where it was coming from. He found brown eyes staring at him.
"Jack," he said, the memories rushing back to him.
"That's my name," Jack and ruffled Daniel's hair. In the distance, Daniel heard a door slam. " That's probably Cassie. Which means it's almost six o'clock. I'm thinking it's burger time." Jack sat up.
" Cassie?" Daniel asked.
"My niece. The one who named the dog, remember?" Jack reached over and laid the back of his hand across Daniel's forehead. "No fever. Good. "
" I'm fine," Daniel told him. "You don't have to keep checking." He wasn't used to the attention. When he'd been sick at the home, Mrs. Parker would check on him, but it wasn't all that often. It was hard to when she had a couple dozen children to deal with.
" Yes, I do. I'm a doctor. It's part of the job description. Now, would you like to help with the grill? "
Daniel nodded and he followed Jack down the stairs and into the kitchen where Janet was already getting things out of the refrigerator. A brown-haired teenager sat at the kitchen table with a textbook open next to her. She was chewing on a pen and looked up when Daniel and Jack entered.
"Uncle Jack, thank God. I am so going to fail my anatomy test tomorrow. "
Janet placed a package of meat on the table. "And whose fault is it for not starting to study sooner? "
"Mom," the girl groaned.
"I'll help you after dinner, " Jack promised. " Daniel and I have some grilling to do. "
"Daniel?" Cassie stood up and stopped Daniel. Again Daniel started to back up behind Jack's legs.
"No you don't, kiddo. Cassie's friend, not foe. Although she is a teenager that recently acquired a license to operate a motor vehicle ..."
" Uncle Jack," Cassie cried. "I'm a good driver."
" I know. I taught you. It's Janet that's scared to get in the passenger seat next to you. "
Janet hit him playfully as she carried more food items to the table. "I am not! Don't put ideas like that in her head. Oh, and by the way, you desperately need to go grocery shopping. You only have food because I brought some. Figured Daniel would actually want to eat and all. "
" Long hours." Jack shrugged and patted Daniel's head. "But I have the next two days off and Daniel and I can hit the grocery store and the mall. "
" The mall? " Daniel asked, forgetting his shyness for a moment.
" Yes, the mall. You've never been to the mall?" Daniel shook his head. He'd heard of such a place, but never been there. He'd been to Walmart with a couple of foster parents, but for the most part, people guessed on sizes or he got hand-me downs.
"He's never been to a mall?" Cassie asked. "That's so wrong on many different levels. "
"Spoken like a true teenage girl," Janet remarked.
"Of course." Jack picked up the package of hamburgers. "Where's Mark?" he asked Janet.
"Working. " She sighed. " I was hoping leave meant I'd see him every once in a while, but they called him last night and I just know there's talk of shipping him out again. "
"That's what you get for marrying an Air Force man," Jack commented and studied the package. "You bought the crappy ones. "
"They were on sale. And it was my credit card," she shot back. "And I knew what I was getting into with a military man. Of course, I could say it's all your fault since you introduced us. "
" We were on leave. He has no family. How was I supposed to know that when I brought him home he'd hook up with my little sister? "
" I so do not need to be hearing this, " Cassie said, putting her hands over her ears.
" Your father and I love each other. We even kiss every so often. Deal with it," Janet told her. "How do you think I got you? "
"I'd like to think the stork dropped me on your doorstep. "
"Uh huh. Close though," Janet commented. "The stork dumped you into my stomach instead. And let me go through twelve hours of labor. Something I hope you keep in mind next time Dominic wants to 'park.'' '
Daniel was watching the volley between the two of them and was confused. " Jack, what does she mean by park? "
Jack shot Janet a look. "He's been in this house three hours and already you're tainting him, Janet." He looked down at Daniel. "Long story, Daniel. One you won't understand until you're seventeen and libido-stricken. "
" 'Libido-stricken?' Now, who's tainting the children? "
" Okay, that's it." Jack grabbed a plate off the counter. "Daniel and I are making burgers. Come on, kiddo. "
Daniel tagged along out the back door and onto a small deck. Jack walked over to the grill and flipped open the lid. Daniel paused a few feet from it, suddenly wondering about something Janet had mentioned inside.
" Jack? "
"Yep?" Jack didn't look up from the grill.
"Were you in the military? Cause you said you were on leave with Janet's husband and I saw a medal in the living room. At least I think it's a medal. It looks likes Mr. Dickers'. He was one my foster parents and he was in the military for a long time. Where you a doctor in the military? "
Jack looked up at him. " Whoa, slow down there, Daniel. So many questions. Yes, I was in the military. Air Force. And no, I wasn't a doctor then. Flew jets. "
"What happened? "
Jack walked closer to him. " I served overseas— "
" Overseas? Like where Egypt is? "
" Well, I guess Egypt is overseas, but I wasn't there. I was flying a jet and got shot down. Ever hear of that sort of thing before, Daniel? "
Daniel nodded. "I think so. Mr. Dickers' boat got shot at. By some bad people. Did bad people shot at you, too? "
Jack sighed. " I guess you could say that they were bad. Anyways, I crashed and was hurt pretty badly. I recovered, but my knee was never really the same. "
"Oh." Daniel mulled that over. He'd seen Jack groan whenever he bent down to Daniel's level. " It still hurts, right? It creaks when you bend down. "
Jack smiled. " Noticed that, huh? I was twenty-two. The person who found me and saved my life was a medic. I'd joined the Air Force right out of high school. So when I got discharged I went to college and studied biology. And I liked kids, so I figured I could be a pediatrician, so off to medical school I went. The rest, well, it's not quite as interesting." He ruffled Daniel's hair and headed back to the grill. "So what do you want to be when you grow up, Daniel? "
Daniel didn't hesitate. " I'm going to be an archeologist," he said proudly.
"Like your parents, huh? "
Daniel nodded. "I'm going to dig in Egypt, too. And learn lots of languages. I know six already, so I'm— "
"What?" Jack interrupted as he threw a burger onto the fire. "You know six languages? "
"Yep. But a good archeologist knows more. At least that's what my dad said. He knew twelve. That way he could dig all over the world. "
" Huh. Your dad sounds like he was a pretty smart guy. "
" He was." Daniel looked down at the ground. He'd been so excited that for a minute he'd almost forgotten his father was dead. Gone, like his mother. And while he liked Jack a lot, Jack wasn't the same as his dad.
" It's okay to miss them, Daniel." Jack had turned around and his knees creaked as he crouched down a bit.
"I know," Daniel said. "But some people say I shouldn't be sad anymore. That it was two years ago and that's long enough to be sad. "
" That is a long time to be sad, yes, and you shouldn't be sad all the time. But it's okay to be sad every once in a while. "
Daniel blinked. He felt tears prick his eyes and tried to hold them back. He wasn't a baby. He hadn't cried when his parents died nor at their funeral. He didn't even cry when he was in the hospital. He certainly wasn't going to start now.
" Oh, Daniel." Jack reached out and the next thing Daniel knew the man had enveloped him in a hug. 'You know, it's okay to cry every once in a while, too. "
The tears were now streaming down his face. " No, it isn't," he said. "I'm not a baby. I'm eight. "
Jack rubbed his back. "Eight year olds cry. Hell, eighty year olds cry. Don't ever let anyone tell you can't feel, Daniel. "
Daniel sniffed. " Did you cry when your kid died? "
Daniel felt Jack grow stiff. "Charlie, " Jack said softly. "His name was Charlie. " There was silence a moment. "Yes, I did. I did. " Jack released Daniel.
"I'm sorry," Daniel apologized. He'd upset Jack. Jack didn't want to talk about Charlie. "I'm sorry I asked about Charlie. "
Jack shook his head. " Don't be sorry, Daniel. Don't ever be sorry." He put his hand on his knees and pushed himself back up.
"Now burgers," Jack continued. "I think Janet and Cassie are probably hungry. "
The subject was dropped but Daniel could still see the tinge of sadness in Jack's eyes.