Lifetime Part 5

Warnings: None just now.

Jack woke the next morning to a very damp feeling on his pyjama bottoms. At first he wondered if he'd been holding a cup of coffee and it had spilled down his leg but then he realised he had a heavy weight lying half on him. He slowly opened his eyes, plastered to his side was a small body. Oh shit he thought. The whole side of the bed was wet. He shook Daniel. "Come on Danny, need to get up."

"Tired Jack," a voice said sleepily.

"Danny the bed's wet. You need to waken up so I can change it and us."

"Yuk," Daniel said. "Jack!"

"Not me buddy." Daniel put his hand down. Jack watched his face slowly crumple.

"It doesn't matter, Danny. For God's sake you're only three."

"Not. 32, Jack."

"Well at least you're speaking more clearly."

"Hate this."

"We need a bath and we need to get the bed changed." He lifted Daniel off the bed and his foot stood in something wet by the bed. "Danny."

"Didn't like it." Stubborn kid, Jack thought.

Jack went through and ran a bath, he added some bubble bath Sam had bought. He took Daniel through to the bathroom so he could undress. "Don't go in the bath until I come through." He quickly phoned Siler and explained the situation. He went into the bathroom. He was still standing in his wet pyjamas. "Hurry up Danny."

"No more pyjamas."

"You can wear a t shirt, let's get you in the bath and when we go back, you're wearing a diaper." Daniel made to speak, "No arguments."

Jack set Daniel in the bath and then joined him. "Might as well both have a bath together." Daniel went red. "Did you never have a bath with your dad?"

"No."

"Charlie used to always come in with me when he was your age. We used to play with his toy boats and submarine." Daniel had a picture of them in his head of them laughing and playing. Charlie certainly was a lucky child. Jack picked up the plastic duck Sam had bought the day before, he pushed its tummy and then lifted it up and squirted Danny. Danny picked up the other one and did the same. Soon they were both laughing. Jack helped Daniel wash his hair.

When they got back in the bedroom the bed had been re-made. "They all know," Daniel said.

"No one will know, Siler will never tell." Jack lifted him up and put him in the bed. He got in beside him. "You know that's the first time you've called me Jack. I was getting used to 'ack." He pulled Daniel into a hug and turned off the light. It wasn't long before he heard small snores coming from Daniel. "Sleep tight, buddy. I love you." Daniel cuddled closer in to him.

Jack had Daniel ready for breakfast by 7. Daniel deliberately chose the same colour of clothes as Jack. The flashing trainers still fitted him and he walked around the room making them light up. When Daniel had woken through the night he seemed more like his 32 year old self, now he was back to being a child. "See Jack."

"I can see. You really like them?"

"Have to see if they've got them for adults and when you grow up you can wear them."

"Not funny Jack."

They made their way to the commissary. One of the women who worked there directed Jack to a table with a booster seat," Thought it would be more comfortable for him."

"Thanks. What do you want to eat?"

"Fruit oops," Daniel said.

"You sure, you never liked them before."

"Fruit oops," he repeated.

"Okay. What do you want to drink?"

"Coffee?" he asked hopefully.

"Sorry buddy no can do. I'd like to live a little longer. What else?"

"I brought chocolate milk especially for you," the woman said. Daniel eyes lit up.

"What do you say?" Jack said. Daniel glared at him.

"Tank oo," Daniel said.

Jack carried their tray over to the table. He wrapped a big napkin round Daniel's neck and then did the same to himself. Daniel giggled. "Don't want to make a mess of my uniform," Jack said.

"Jack look silly," Daniel said.

"Me! I think I look very handsome, don't you think so Carter?" he said as Sam walked in.

"Oh yes sir. It's the height of fashion." Daniel giggled again.

Jack glared round at all the marines who were in eating and they immediately tied their napkins round their necks. "See," he said.

Daniel loved his fruit loops and chocolate milk. "What shall we do today?" Jack asked wiping Daniel's chin.

"We could go to the park," Sam said.

"Would you like that Danny?" Jack asked.

Daniel nodded. "Swings."

"Yes, I can have a shot on the swings," Jack said. Carter laughed. "And what is wrong with that?" Jack asked.

"Nothing sir, nothing at all."

A half hour later they were heading for the truck. Teal'c had to stay behind and help translate some Go'auld because Daniel wasn't available but General Hammond gave Sam permission to go.

The parked in front of a big shop. "We need to buy some food, can't go to the park without a picnic." Jack brought lots of things he thought Daniel would like. Might as well treat the small guy while they could. What had surprised him was that Daniel had brought along the monkey Jack had bought.

They carried all the things to a picnic table beside the swing park. "Right Danny you can watch while I swing," Jack said.

"No, Danny swing." Jack picked him up and put him in one of the toddler swings. He began to push him. "Igher Jack, igher."

"Okay." Danny was squealing with delight as he went higher and higher.

"More."

"Give an old man a break," Jack said.

Some of the women sitting with their children smiled. Jack carried him over to the sandpit. "Scating Jack?"

"No you can't skate, it's sand." Daniel shook his head.

"Danny scating." He saw the puzzled look on Jack's face. "Digging."

"Excavating?"

"Said that."

"Not quite."

"Your son is a very good speaker, "the lady sitting beside him said. "How old is he?"

"He's three." He looked over at Daniel digging in the sand. He looked so happy. Things never change he thought. Give him somewhere to dig and he's happy. Sam came over with his sun hat, it looked like the one he had worn as an adult when they went on missions.

"You and your wife must be very proud, he looks very like you," she said to Sam.

Before Sam could speak Jack said," Yes he's very like his mother, has her temper too."

Daniel looked up puzzled, "Sam," he said. "Help me."

After digging they set up their picnic under a large tree. Daniel ate his cake and half of Jack's. "Sir he'll be ill."

"Let him have what he wants, Fraiser isn't here to see." He loved seeing Daniel so happy. He couldn't deny him anything he wanted. Daniel fell asleep curled into Jack's side.

"He was a really cute child," Sam said. "He must have got away with murder. How could anyone deny him anything?"

"I don't think they could. He had a really happy childhood until he was eight. I can't understand his grandfather not wanting him."

"Nor me. If he was going to stay like this I'd adopt him."

"You'd have to fight me first," Jack said. Daniel had his monkey tucked under his arm. Daniel slept for half an hour. "What do you want to do now?"

"Ice cweam?" he asked hopefully.

"Ice cream it is. Chocolate?" Daniel's eyes grew round. By the time he'd finished his mouth was covered in ice cream.

"Good," he said. This day had been great, he had got everything he wanted.

They went for a walk round the pond. Daniel ran ahead chasing the butterflies. "Stay away from the pond," Jack shouted.

Jack and Sam only took their eyes off him for a second but he was gone. "Danny," Jack shouted. There was no reply.

"He can't have gone far," Sam said. "Maybe he went back to the swings." They scanned the area, no sign of him. Sam was beginning to panic. What if the NID had him? They heard a squeal and both ran towards it. Daniel was sitting on the ground with a puppy licking his face.

"Jack puppy." Jack picked him up.

"I can see that. Did I not tell you to stay in sight."

Daniel gave that some consideration and then said, "No Jack said no near pond."

"He's right sir."

"Jack, want puppy."

"Sorry buddy no can do. This puppy must belong to someone."

"No. Want him Jack. He likes Danny." He squirmed to be put down. The puppy started licking his face again. Just then a young woman came running over.

"Thank goodness you've found him. He slipped his lead. I've been looking everywhere for him." She went to pick the puppy up.

"No Danny's."

"No," Jack said. "He's not yours."

"But Danny want."

"Not this time. I don't have time for a puppy."

"The lady who sold me this one had one puppy left," the woman said. Daniel looked at Jack.

"Peas Jack."

"No." Danny started to cry.

"Sorry," the woman said walking away.

"Peas Jack. Danny be very good."

"No." Danny's cries could have been heard on the nearest Go'auld world.

When they arrived back at the SGC Jack carried Danny inside. He screamed," Tee," when he saw Teal'c come out of General Hammond's office. Jack set him down and he went running to Teal'c. He grabbed a small object that was tucked in his jacket. "See, Tee. Jack got me puppy. He mine. He called Major."

Teal'c looked at Jack. "Don't ask."

"Is that a dog I can see, Colonel. What is it doing on my base?" General Hammond asked coming out of his office.

"Eneral, he mine. Jack got him. He good dog. All mine."

"Colonel care to come into my office and explain this."

"Not really," Jack said under his voice. "Keep an eye on Danny for me."

TBC