Okay peeps, this is the last part of this paticular tale. I will write more from their little universe, if folk are interested. Thankyou for your support, those that have, and i'm gonna work round my other fics and update too.
Feedback...pwease, else i don't know id you like it or not! hugs nat xx
The day had passed quietly in the O'Neill house
The rest of the day had passed quietly in the O'Neill house. Jack had decided, when it was all said and done, Daniel needed to be left to his own devices. Jack managed to satisfy his self with pottering around in the garden and doing some chores that had been waiting in the wings for the past busy few months.
Jack let his mind drift back to the weeks prior. They had been happier then when he and Daniel had cooked together, watched DVD's, and generally lived in harmony as they got used to each other's company. Jack had actually started enjoy having the kid around.
Jack would be the first to admit that he hadn't been exactly thrilled with signing up to the guardian of a 32 year old man in the body of a 17 year old boy and a prodigy at that. Jack just hadn't really seen it as his kind of gig at the time, but being the only one in the program that Danny knew had forced his hand. He couldn't abandon the kid anymore than he could have done if he'd been a member of his own family. A bond had certainly been formed on Abydos and he couldn't get away from that. He owed this kid not only for his physical well being, but his mental well being as well.
Jack took a sip of his bottle of beer as he leaned on the garden rake. The liquid felt like nectar as the cold sensation worked its way past his tonsils and his mouth savored the bitter taste. He squinted in the sunshine that was slowly setting in the late afternoon sky. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he pushed his cap up away from his line of sight and glanced up at Daniel's bedroom window.
"Danny, Danny, Danny," he sighed, shaking his head. This little argument was no longer about his behavior 'off world'; this was about his attitude full stop. Jack had noticed there was a distinct downturn in his ward's ability to reason anything out that Jack said to him. Jack was well aware of what teenagers were capable of, but this wasn't just any teenager, this was Danny. He'd been here and done this before, why couldn't they sit and talk reasonably?
Jack was painfully aware that some of this situation was his fault, maybe he should have handled things differently. Not shouted, maybe. Listened?
Jack shuddered at that thought and then smiled. Some things weren't up for discussion and being rude and disrespectful was one of them. That was what had earned his kid the grounding more than anything. Jack couldn't just let that go. He'd even rang up Janet Fraiser for her opinion and she'd pretty much agreed. Jack always knew that woman had great maternal instinct. She certainly had a way of putting most people in their place, regardless of their rank, and she certainly fussed over Daniel…a lot. Jack grinned, 'maybe it was time to go build some bridges', he mused.
Putting the last of the grass cuttings on the ever growing heap at the end garden, Jack slowly gathered the rest of his tools together and put them in the shed. He snagged his half finished bottle of beer from the garden table, and gazing up at the darkening sky, considered it would be a perfect evening for eating on the deck and maybe some stargazing later on. He hoped that he and Danny could sort things out. He really didn't want to spend all weekend arguing.
"Daniel!" Jack shouted as he made his way to the stairs.
"I wanna talk to you," he offered as he dropped his beer bottle on the side and started to make his way up the stairs. As Jack wandered down the corridor he thought it was little odd he hadn't had some sort of reply, but maybe the kid was still sulking.
Jack reached the door and lightly knocked. Listening one final time, he projected his voice through the wood, "Can I come in, Danny?" As the latch clicked he gently pushed the door open and peered around the edge, "Danny, you in here?"
Hearing no reply or any other audible movement, Jack wandered into the room. He absently walked around looking in draws and wardrobes and even under the bed, 'Like he'd be there, O'Neill,' Jack frowned as he called the archaeologist's name once again.
'Okay, so he's not in his room. Maybe he's in the bathroom or something.' Jack returned to the hallway and pushed different doors open, a little more hurriedly now. "Danny…Danny, where are you?" Jack couldn't help the sound of exasperation that snuck into his tone. He had an uneasy feeling about this. Why hadn't he checked on the kid earlier?
Feeling more than a little annoyed now, Jack stood at the top of the stairs and bellowed, "Daniel, so help me if you're here and you're hiding, I won't be responsible for my actions!"
Okay, so that was a really stupid thing to say. Why would a seventeen year old kid hide from him? Jack jogged down the stairs and glanced at the phone. He wasn't sure what to do. The little shit must have done a runner.
Making a decision, Jack groaned with annoyance and grasped the telephone, dialing Sam; he needed someone to help him look for his wayward archaeologist.
"Carter, its O'Neill."
"Oh…evening, sir. I was…er, just about to ring you." The hesitancy in her voice teased at Jack's honed senses. "Carter, what's the problem?"
"Well," Sam whispered back in reply, obviously trying not to be overheard "Danny's here."
Jack was struck dumb. There? Why the hell was he there?
"Are you there, sir?"
"Yes, yes, Carter, of course I'm here. Why in hell are you whispering and how long's the little shit been there?" Jack could feel his hackles rising with every question. He was going to kill their little archaeologist, slowly and painfully.
"Well, I get the impression that he didn't want you to know he was here. What happened, sir?"
"Look, Carter. I'll talk to you later. I'm coming to get him, so you'd better keep him there, even if you have to tie him to the chair! I'll be there in twenty." Jack slammed the receiver down and snatched his keys from the hall table.
"The kid better have a damn good explanation," he muttered as he strode briskly to the car.
Getting in and roughly turning the key, Jack sat up and banged the steering wheel with his hands. "No, scrub that. I'm gonna kill the little shit anyway!" he hissed as he pulled out of the drive way.
o0o
Considering what Carter had said, Jack decided not to park in front of the house. Pulling around the corner, he casually walked to her front door. Deciding that knocking would only alert Danny to his presence, Jack casually walked in. He could see Carter in the kitchen with a mug of coffee held in both hands, near her chest, leaning against the counter.
Jack wandered in and pushed the kitchen door open a little more.
"No Daniel?" Jack questioned his second in command.
Jumping slightly at Jack's unannounced entrance, Carter smiled and indicated her mug, offering a cup off coffee.
He shook his head and raised his eyebrows, his question clear without uttering a word.
"I'll call him, sir," she offered.
Leaning around the kitchen door still holding her mug, she shouted towards the stairs, "Danny, will you come here a minute, honey?"
Jacks eyebrows shot even further towards his hairline, "Honey?" he asked incredulously.
"He's been fine here, sir, I've hardly noticed he's been here. Why didn't he tell you where he was going?" She'd gone back to leaning against the counter and sipped her drink as she looked at the Colonel with an expectant look.
"Grounded, Carter, does that answer your question?" Jack now crossed his arms and legs, assuming a similar position to his second in command.
A soft thump could be heard from the spare room as Sam looked back at Jack, forming a silent 'o' with her mouth, her eyebrows now creeping into her bangs.
"Coming, Sam!" The familiar voice and a distinct sound of someone jogging towards the kitchen could be heard.
Jack stood, waiting and looking impatiently at the door.
"Hi Sam," The smiling face beamed, until he turned and looked at the questioning face of one very annoyed Jack O'Neill.
"Oh, crap!" The curse slipped out before Daniel knew it had happened.
Jack's face hardened into a frown as he watched Daniel fidget about on the spot.
"Daniel, get your things together and get in the truck, now!" Jacks tone was hard and neutral.
Daniel raised a finger, hoping he might get a word in.
Seeing the boy's reaction to the sternly dealt order, Jack stood to his full height and pointed at the front door. "Get. In. The. Truck. NOW!"
Sam watched the exchange take place before her, mouth still slightly open, obviously wondering what Danny had done to get her CO this mad.
Daniel let out an exasperated sighed as he disappeared, hopefully to get his things together.
Sam frowned at Jack. "Sir?"
Jack gave her a knowing look. "I know what you're going to say, Carter, and I don't wanna hear it right now. I'll speak to you later…oh, and thanks for having him here." Jack turned on his heel and went to the front door, leaving a slightly stunned Carter in his wake.
He turned as he reached the door. "Daniel, you have one minute. If you're not out here by then I'm coming to carry you out." With that, Jack opened the door and disappeared outside to his truck.
Daniel appeared in the living room seconds later, his backpack bulging, obviously hurriedly packed. "Thanks', Sam," he offered with a wan smile.
"You okay, Danny?" Sam held out a hand towards the rapidly retreating boy.
"I'm fine, Sam…i-it's my fault, really," he sighed. "I'll call you, and thanks again." With that the front door slammed and Sam watched out of the window as Daniel climbed into the truck with Jack. Neither one appeared to be shouting. 'Maybe that was a good thing,' she pondered as she leant on the window sill, watching the pick-up drive away.
o0o
The ride home was a deathly silent one, Daniel felt sure he'd be able to cut the air with a knife, given the chance.
As the truck pulled up, Jack opened his door and glared at Daniel. "Go up to your room and stay there until I've calmed down, we'll talk later."
"Jack." Daniel's hastily delivered word made Jack look back. "I'm sorry."
"So am I, Danny, so am I." Jack sighed and walked to the house.
Daniel slid from the truck and slowly made his way into the house, he felt miserable. What in god's name was he thinking? Once inside, Daniel couldn't see Jack, so he made his way up to his room, dropped his pack and flung himself onto his bed. He covered his face with his hands and sighed.
"You idiot, Jackson." He hissed into his palms.
He fully intended to stay away, well away. He was struggling terribly with his urge to do things without thinking. He'd always remembered doing his own thing, but he was sure his judgment had been better, before he'd been made younger. Or maybe he'd never really had set restrictions like the ones he had now? Whatever it was, he sure was screwing up.
He knew he'd been wrong off world, although he was only trying to do his job. He'd always chose to ignore some of Jack's 'orders'. He thought he was acting for the good of the mission. Maybe he'd just been lucky with how things had worked out up to now? The odd hiccup, nothing massive, but now this had all spiraled into this. Huge arguments, Jack exercising his authority over Daniel, and Daniel doing what he did best, kicking back against it. Well he was certainly thinking he was wrong now, running out on Jack like that, he knew how angry the man was going to be and he was always going to find out that he'd gone. What a complete idiot…
o0o
An hour or so later, Jack felt more in control, he couldn't go on like this. He needed to talk to Danny, sort this out and get over it. He also felt like knocking the kid on his behind for disappearing like that, but that wouldn't serve any purpose in the long run.
Jack decided he'd make them some dinner, so that they could talk. He had no intention of letting this misdemeanor go, but he wanted things to be back how they were.
They'd been happy and contented in each others company. Danny had started coming to Jack for emotional support when he was down about Sha're and missing his old life. A bond had been formed. Maybe Danny was testing Jack? Jack didn't know. What ever it was, it was coming to a screaming halt right now. He knew he wasn't the kid's father, but he felt responsible, like he owed him something. Maybe Jack had gone too far? He knew that legally the kid could live alone and have his own life, but the Air Force had stepped in. He'd been affected by alien technology after all, life was hard for any teenager, but this teenager was special. He knew a lot of things that were probably worth a lot to many people. The Air force insisted that he live with someone, so here they were, bickering with each other.
Jack pulled up a chair to the kitchen table before calling Danny for his dinner. He rested his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.
'If this was Charlie,' he thought, 'I'd care just as much as I've come to care about Daniel, be he big or not. I wouldn't have allowed Charlie to shout at me, and leave if I'd told him not too, but Charlie wouldn't have been de-aged adult and,' Jack finally thought, 'maybe a big Daniel wouldn't have acted like this?'
Jack rubbed his head and stood. Nope, he was working on the teen in his kid, not the adult. He'd talk to the adult side when he'd rained in the teen temper. He could be civilized about this.
"Daniel, dinner!" Jack hollered up the stairs.
The distinct sound of a thump and footsteps pounding down the stairs followed. Jack grabbed the sauce, knives and forks from the kitchen and laid them on the table while Daniel sat down. As Jack looked up, he couldn't help noticing the pitiful look of the boy before him.
"Eat up, Danny," he offered. "We'll talk when we're done."
With that both silently worked their way through their food. Jack saw that Daniel pushed his food around a little, but on the whole he ate it. At least that wasn't going to be another facet of their discussion; Daniels eating habits or lack there of.
Jack tidied the plates away and then urged Daniel to come and sit with him in the living room.
Jack watched Daniel sit nervously on the edge of the couch, he twiddled with his jumper edge and his eyes were lowered, Jack sighed… 'Aw hell,' he hated this.
Jack sat on the coffee table, "What happened, Danny?" he kept his voice quiet and unintimidating.
Daniel lifted his eyes to peer at Jack over the rim of his glasses, a look of resignation creeping into his eyes.
"I wanted to go." The confession was delivered in almost a whisper as Danny's attention returned back to the edge of his jumper.
"You know I should knock you on you overeducated butt for this, Daniel." Jack's voice took on a slightly warning edge, which caused Daniel to sit upon hearing the threat.
"But you wouldn't listen to me." Daniel's voice came out whinny and accusatory.
"No Daniel, that would be because you called me a bastard." Jack said calmly.
"But-but I…"
"That's why I grounded you, because regardless of your argument with me, being verbally abusive is not acceptable."
Daniel sighed and his shoulders sunk away with his mood.
"I was wrong." He admitted quietly.
"Yes, you were." Jack tilted his head a little and couldn't help a small lopsided smile touching his lips.
Daniel looked his square in the face. "What now?"
"You're still grounded."
"I guessed that much," Daniel sighed.
"But now it's for three weeks."
Daniel looked up again, appearing slightly panicked. "But…"
"Atch!" Jack held up his finger, "Every but and argument will get another day, Danny boy," Jack smiled.
Daniel threw himself back into the sofa.
"Sooo, you ready to talk sensibly about the other stuff now we've got over that?"
Daniel rolled his eyes from his slumped position on the couch.
"On the deck, with a drink and watching the sun set?" Jack ventured.
A small smile appeared on Daniels face.
"Jack?" he murmured trying to sit up.
"Yes, Danny. We're okay…but" Jack emphasized with raised eyebrows. "You run out on me again, you won't like the consequences. Grounding will look like a walk in the park. You get me Danny?"
Daniel nodded forlornly. Jack couldn't help but smile at the sad blue eyes.
"And if you swear at me again, we know how that goes, right?"
"Okay, Jack, I get you."
Before Daniel had a chance to get up, Jack had ruffled his hair.
"Come on, let's get that drink and sort things out."
Daniel nodded and grinned, he had plenty to say…