December 24th - Teddy Bear by Cleo the Muse
All Ages
Gen, Drabble, Holiday (Christmas), Kidfic (Little Jack)
Warnings: None
Episodes: None
Synopsis: The AO Happy Place Advent Calendar challenge, in which each day of December (until Christmas), a new door is opened on the Advent calendar, and a picture prompt revealed.
Word count: 300
Status: Completed as of December 26, 2007
December 24th - Teddy Bear
Daniel crept quietly into the bedroom, hoping he wouldn't disturb the figure sleeping beneath the bedcovers. In the faint illumination offered by the nightlight next to the door, he could see that his young charge was not resting easily. Apparently in the throes of yet another nightmare, he had bunched the covers in his small hands and twisted himself into an awkward position. It had been two months since Jack pushed Daniel out of the way of an incoming beam of light, and the now child-sized colonel was still having the grown-up version's nightmares.
About a week ago, Jack had sat down at the breakfast table and grumpily declared that he was a full bird colonel in the United States Air Force and therefore did not need to be acting like the kid he so much resembled. Daniel had listened with growing trepidation and skepticism as the miniaturized officer asserted his independence and vowed that he would no longer sneak off to Daniel's room after having a nightmare. He was almost fifty, for cryin' out loud, not five.
Right.
Still, Jack stubbornly stuck to his guns. Even though he woke them both with screams of terror from images no child should ever have to live with, he refused to seek the solace he so desperately needed. Finally, while out Christmas shopping with Sam, Daniel had hit upon the perfect solution to Jack's nightmares and refusal to let Daniel offer comfort.
Carefully straightening Jack's limbs, Daniel slid the teddy bear next to the boy's chest. Instinctively, Jack curled his arm around the plush figure and rubbed his cheek against its soft fur. The lines of tension around his eyes and mouth eased, and the young version of Daniel's best friend fell into a deep slumber.
Mission accomplished, Daniel smiled to himself.
Author's Notes:
I've never before written a Little Jack with Daniel as the guardian... I think I like it!