Part 16
"I promise you'll enjoy it," Jack said reassuringly. He was determined to get Daniel to at least try this.
"But I've never skated before, Jack," he replied nervously.
"You'll pick it up quickly, you're a fast learner. I promise if you don't like it we'll leave and do something else."
"You promise?" Danny asked.
"Ever known me to break a promise?"
"Well there was that time...."
"Daniel!" he said laughing.
"Are Sam and Teal'c coming?"
"No they're busy. My company not good enough for you?" he said pretending to be hurt.
"That's not what I mean," he said trying to explain and then noticed Jack was smiling. "Very funny Jack! It's just Sam and Teal'c let me drink coffee and eat lots of chocolate."
"Nice try kiddo."
"It's true. They like me you know?"
"Yes but there also frightened of a certain doctor we all know and they wouldn't dare."
"Maybe it's just you that's the coward Jack." He walked quickly out to the truck.
"Smart ass."
They drove quickly to the nearest ice rink. Jack had skated since he was a kid but Daniel had never tried. The last time Jack had been was when Charlie was alive so coming here was bringing back memories but not unpleasant ones. Charlie had been his father's son, he loved anything sporty. He picked up their skates and went to sit beside Daniel. He had grown again and was about 12 or 13.
Daniel really wasn't looking forward to this, he'd never been good at sports, the boy no one wanted in their team. Jack helped him put on his skates and then stand up. I can barely stand on solid ground how am I going to skate, Daniel thought. He almost asked to stop but then saw the look on Jack's face. He knew the older man was looking forward to teaching him how to skate, the least he could do was try.
At first he held tightly on to Jack's arm but then gradually he gained in confidence and was able to let go. Jack talked him through how to move his feet. He was actually beginning to enjoy himself. "Let me try on my own," he asked Jack.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Daniel took off going round and round on his own. He built up speed as he went round. He fell a couple of times but Jack could see he was a natural.
A group of boys at the other end of the rink were watching him go round, Jack kept an eye on them. He knew Daniel had been badly bullied when he had been younger and he was not going to let that happen again. The boys went over to Danny and he joined them skating round the rink. He waved to Jack as he went past him.
"You're good," one of the boy's said.
"Ya think so?" Daniel asked "I've never been on skates before."
"Never? Where'd you live, Timbuktu?"
"Near Cairo actually," Daniel said.
"Don't have much ice there. I bet," the other boy said.
"No. Just lots and lots of sand."
"I'm George Wilson," he held out his hand and Daniel shook it.
"Danny Jackson."
"You with your dad?"
"I'm with him," he pointed to Jack.
"That's Jack O'Neill, my dad works with him."
"I'm staying with him just now."
"I live just down the street from you. Haven't seen you out."
"I've just moved here. My dad was a friend of the Colonel's."
"You need to get yourself some new clothes. Those ones are for geeks," a smaller boy said.
Daniel blushed.
"Leave him alone," one of the other boys said. "My younger brother just opens his mouth and puts his foot right in."
"But he doesn't want to go to school like that."
"Where would I get them?" Daniel really wanted to fit in and he could afford to spend money on clothes.
"Try Zumiez, it has lots of clothes for skateboarders and bladers."
"Want to come to my house later, we're having pizza and then going blading in the park?"
"I don't have any blades."
"You can use my brother's. My name's Todd Chalmers and that's Mickey, my big mouthed little brother." The rest of the boys introduced themselves. Most of them had parents who worked at the Mountain.
"Okay, I'll come. What time?"
"7."
They skated around again, "Want to go for a burger?" Kyle asked.
"Sure, I'll just ask Jack for some money." He skated over to Jack.
"Can I have some money to go for a burger? They've asked me to go with them. Please?"
Jack couldn't resist those pleading eyes. "Okay but first I need to know who they are."
"Ah Jack!" Danny protested. "I'm not a kid." However he could see that Jack was not going to change his mind, "Their fathers work at the mountain. George's dad is Major Wilson and Todd's dad is Major Chalmer's."
"Okay you can go, I'll wait here. You've got 40 minutes then I come looking."
"Thanks Jack." He threw his arms round jack and then skated off. "You're great."
Flattery will get you everything, Jack thought. He knew some of his colleagues thought he was too soft on Daniel but he couldn't bring himself to be angry with the kid. He wanted him to enjoy himself. He watched them head off to the cafe.
Daniel loved being with the group of boys and was determined he was going to Todd's that night. He was also going to get new clothes. After eating they headed back to the rink. He waved to Jack when he got back. They all skated round the rink again. They were playing tig. Then they all started to leave.
Daniel skated over to Jack," Can we get some more clothes? They told me about a great shop. These are old fashioned."
"Did they tell you where you could get the right clothes?"
"Yes, a place called Zumiez."
"You're only going to be this size for a short time, I don't think you need any more."
"Please. These clothes are for geeks." Jack almost laughed at Daniel saying that but he really couldn't see any harm in him getting some more clothes."
They drove to the shop. Danny was like a starving man in a food shop. He grabbed lots of different t shirts and jeans. Jack eventually got him to pick 3 shirts and a couple of pairs of jeans. One t shirt had "I don't follow. I stand and lead". Jack thought the first part was very appropriate. One had a huge alien's head not unlike Thor on it. The other had a huge skull and cross bones on it. My God the Daniel he knew wouldn't be seen dead in these, Jack thought.
Daniel went off to try them on. Jack almost asked him to pull his jeans up when he saw them. He had no idea what was keeping them up. Daniel looked like a typical teenager. Then he picked up a pair of trainers.
"Finished?"
"Yes. I'm going to wear these home. What do you think?" What could he say, he never in his wildest dreams thought he would ever see Dr. Daniel Jackson dressed like this. He had to get a picture of this. He had no idea what General Hammond would say. This was a different Daniel Jackson, there was less of the adult one and more of the rebellious teenager.
"They're different."
"Good."
That wasn't what Jack expected him to say.
"If you'd liked them, they weren't the right clothes. Todd says we shouldn't wear what adults like."
I should have a word with that young man Jack thought.
TBC
