Title: Lifetime Part 6

Warnings: None just now

How the hell could they have lost the kid, Jack had left him in their care. He'd told them not to let him or the puppy out of their sight. How much more warning do a team of marines need?

When he'd put Danny to bed the night before Danny had insisted that the puppy sleep with him but Jack had been firm and the puppy slept in a dog bed beside the door. How the hell Siler found a dog bed he didn't know.

He'd already been chewed out earlier that day by General Hammond for letting the dog onto the base in the first place. He'd liked to have seen him deny Danny the puppy. Those big blue eyes pleading with Jack, he hadn't had a chance. Any way he'd always said a child should have a dog even if that child would soon be an adult.

Jack woke up at his usual time of 6am, managed to peel Danny off his side and stood on the floor. "Oh crap!" he said stepping into something. He really didn't want to look down. He heard a giggle from the bed.

"You're right Jack," Danny said. "It is crap."

"You shouldn't be using language like that. Damn dog."

"That's rude. Don't blame Freya, not her fault."

"Mrs. Price said she was paper trained. The paper is over there not beside the bed." Jack looked over at the sleeping puppy. He hopped to the bathroom.

Danny heard the water running as Jack took a shower. He looked over at the puppy. He could remember as a child always wanting a puppy but his parents said no. All he had to do to Jack was put on his big eyes and he got whatever he wanted. It worked on Sam too. This was going to be great. He got up and picked up Freya and set her on the bed. She felt so soft.

Jack came through with a towel wrapped round him. "What did I say about the puppy Danny. Off the bed."

"Please Jack just for a little while." He gave him his biggest smile.

"All right but just until we're ready to go for breakfast." He picked up the phone and spoke to Siler. By the time Danny was dressed and ready to go Siler was waiting outside with a mop and bucket.

"Tank you Siler," Daniel said giving him a big smile.

"You're welcome Dr. Jackson."

In the commissary it was just the same. The woman called Flora, who had brought in the booster seat, had brought in a dog bowl for Freya and had puppy food ready. This was going to be one spoilt dog, Jack thought. She served Daniel his favourite Fruit Loops and chocolate milk. Jack noticed that all the marines had their napkins round their necks just like Daniel.

"Where we go day?" Daniel asked round a mouthful of Fruit Loops.

"Don't speak with your mouth full," Jack said automatically.

"Where?"

"I'm not sure, we'll have to take Freya."

"Your house, Jack?"

"Good idea, Danny. Freya can run round the garden."

He lifted Danny down from his booster seat. Suddenly the klaxon went off. Jack turned to the marines. "Stay with him and the puppy. Don't let him out of your sight." Then he ran off to the Gateroom. Daniel was not happy about being left behind. He picked up Freya.

"Want to go wif Jack," he told one of the marines.

"No can do, Dr. Jackson. You need to stay here until J.. Colonel O'Neill comes back."

"Need toilet," he told them.

They escorted him to the toilets halfway down the corridor. One of them was going to follow Daniel in. "No. I go myself. I'm a big boy."

"Okay," the young lieutenant said. "What harm can he get into in there?"

Five minutes passed," How much longer can he be?" Corporal Tamer said. "Shouldn't we check?"

They opened the door. There was no one in sight. "Shit," they all said. They could all see their career in the armed forces going down the toilet. Colonel O'Neill was going to hang them out to dry. They all shouted for Daniel but there was no answer. The lieutenant split them up and they all went in different directions looking for him.

After they left a small figure pushed the air conditioning vent off the wall and stepped out. "See Freya, Jack always says marines aren't clever. Let's go." He picked up the puppy and left. He was very careful as he walked down the corridor. Luckily no one came down that corridor before he made it to the stairs. Hardly anyone used them, they all took the lift. He made it to the next level which had the Gateroom.

He carefully opened the door and headed out. Freya whimpered inside his shirt. He peeked round the corner and saw Jack talking to one of the marines. "I told you not to let him out of your sight," he shouted. The man cringed.

"He can't have got far," the young man replied. "He's only a child."

"You do know this child has all his adult memories. How much trouble did Dr. Jackson manage to get into?"

"Oh ..."

"Exactly. Now get the base on alert and find my kid. Now!" The young man ran off. Daniel felt a bit guilty about getting him into trouble but it was quite funny hearing Jack bellow at him. He liked the fact Jack had called him his kid.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Oops," he said.

"And just what are you doing here on your own?" General Hammond loomed over him.

"Looking for Jack, sir. I got lost."

"Lost huh? Think I've got something belonging to you, Colonel."

Jack turned round. He rushed over. "You okay? What happened?"

"Got lost." Daniel didn't think he was going to get away with it but Jack lifted him up and gave him a hug.

"Thank God you're all right." Freya whimpered. "Walter," General Hammond said into the phone. "Cancel the alert. Dr. Jackson's been found." He turned to Jack. "What are you doing today?"

"I'm taking Danny to my house, Freya can run around there and so can Danny."

"Good idea, Jack."He looked at Daniel. Daniel gave him a look of innocence. General Hammond almost laughed. Life was not going to be dull round here. Jack had no idea what he'd taken on. Well let him work it out for himself, George thought. "Good luck." You're going to need it he said to himself.

TBC