Sorry to keep you all waiting for an update. Thanks for all your great comments as always.

Here's the next chapter for you to enjoy.

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE?

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:

Daniel looked up at Teal'c, seeing the truth and honesty in his dark eyes and knew the giant of a man would keep his word. Entrusting Jack's care to the rest of his team-mates, he left the infirmary, turning once more to look back at Jack before hurrying off towards his lab. A good strong cup of coffee and one of the chocolate bars from his secret hoard, maybe he would take a look at the video while he digested it before lying down for a little while.

Chapter 7 – To Be or Not To Be?

General Hammond had popped into the infirmary to find out how Jack was doing, but found the Colonel was still asleep. Janet had already explained on the phone to him about what had happened and that Jack was sleeping peacefully now; his temperature having returned to normal once more.

Hammond had then left them to keep their vigil and had ordered them to let him know the moment Colonel O'Neill awoke.

After another 30 minutes of sitting by her CO's side, Sam still couldn't get her head round the fact that this child was the Colonel. It wasn't nearly so bad thinking of him as a little child, but now it appeared that the Colonel was in full control of his memory and wasn't too happy to find himself still a child. She was still deliberating over this fact when she was called away, reluctantly leaving Teal'c to stand watch over the sleeping form.

It wasn't so long after that, that Jack stirred; his eyelids fluttered, blinking several times before opening those dark eyes to look round and then widening in fear. All he could see was the huge Jaffa standing at the foot of his bed in this strange room. Daniel was missing.

"Daniel!" Jack called, sitting up in bed suddenly alarmed by the absence of his friend. "DANIEL!" he screamed, backing up against the headboard.

Janet came running in answer to the sudden yell, only to see Teal'c trying his best to calm down a rather distraught Jack who was trying to pull the IV needle from his arm and the tabs from the monitors off his chest.

"What's going on here Teal'c?" she gasped moving in towards the Colonel when Teal'c's next words stopped her in her tracks.

"It appears that young O'Neill is back, and is in need of DanielJackson. He will not allow me to approach him."

"I want Daniel!" Jack cried, confirming Teal'c's supposition. "Where is he?" He jumped from the bed and insinuated himself in between the bed and the cabinet where he curled over and glared at anyone who might want to touch him.

Janet was stunned. The Colonel's memories had gone once more? There was so more to this than she understood at this point in time. His scans hadn't explained anything; they'd looked perfectly normal, as did his blood-work.

"Okay Teal'c," Janet sighed, mentally rolling her sleeves up for the hard task facing her. It wasn't going to be easy. "I'll handle this; will you please go and find Daniel while I try to placate him?"

Teal'c executed a slight bow, only happy to do something useful, and gladly hurried away as fast as his dignity allowed, leaving Janet to face a screaming child that was still cowering against the wall. It appeared to him as he left the room that the petite doctor was having as much success as he had in calming the boy.

Janet was fighting a losing battle. Obviously Jack wasn't going to settle at all until Daniel arrived.

"Mom? What's going on?"

Janet turned to see Cassie walking towards her.

"It's okay Cassie. He just woke up and was frightened because he's in a strange place that's all. He wants Daniel so I've sent Teal'c off to fetch him."

Cassie approached and gaped down at the boy. He was about four or maybe five years old with wayward blonde hair; his enormous brown eyes were red rimmed and brimming with tears. There was something vaguely familiar about him, though Cassie couldn't place it yet. Without invitation, she moved to kneel down in front of the boy, slowly reaching out a hand towards him.

"Hi there. I'm Cassie. I promise I'm not going to hurt you. So, you like Daniel huh?"

Jack nodded, causing the overflow of tears to cascade down his flushed cheeks. He sniffed and wiped them away with the sleeve of the cut down scrubs he was wearing.

"I like Daniel too. He's a sort of uncle to me, along with Jack and Teal'c, and Sam's like my auntie. Janet's my mom...though not my real mom, 'cause my real mom and dad died. Daniel and the others found me and brought me here. Now I have a new home and a big family," she said with a big grin. "It's like they're all my moms and dads."

Notably, Jack had stopped crying and was actually listening intently to what Cassie was saying, though every now and then he hiccupped with a sob. He wondered maybe, if this was what was going to happen to him now? Nobody here had mentioned his mommy and daddy, so maybe he was all alone now too? He wanted Daniel so much, but maybe Daniel had left him here and gone away. The thought brought forth a fresh round of tears which he tried to swallow. They might tell him off for being a baby, just like his daddy would.

The best thing so far as Janet was concerned was that he had stopped yelling which was a great relief. She quietly stepped away leaving Cassie to continue distracting Jack, and went over to stand by the door. She was desperately waiting for Daniel to arrive, but she also wanted to stop him from charging in there. Janet wanted to see if Cassie could persuade Jack to abandon his hideout and get back into bed. She really needed to examine him again; maybe she'd missed something?

Cassie edged closer until she was knee to knee with the child, talking cheerfully and softly so as not to startle him; even getting him to ask her a couple of questions about her life with Janet and Daniel and the others.

"How old are you?" she asked, reaching out to push a stray lock of hair back from his brow. It showed how much Jack was relaxing with her presence because he never made to pull away from her touch. "You know, you haven't even told me your name yet!" she laughed.

"I'm Jack and I'm nearly five!" he sniffed, but offered Cassie a small smile in return.

Janet watched in amazement as Cassie sweet talked the young Jack into relinquishing his hiding place, even coaxing him to move onto the girl's lap.

Several minutes later, Daniel, looking crumpled and wide eyed with worry, ran down the corridor towards her, and Janet put out one hand to stop him whilst putting a finger to her lips with the other to warn him to be quiet. He looked somewhat puzzled but Janet pointed to where the two youngsters were chatting away happily. Jack now having moved onto Cassie's lap was actually chuckling at something Cassie was telling him.

Sam and Teal'c had arrived right behind Daniel and wanted to know what was going on too. Janet hushed them too and pointed at the giggling pair on the floor.

A smile spread over Janet's face at the sight before her. She turned and saw that it had gotten them all smiling like idiots.

It was then that Jack looked up and caught sight of his friend; his face lighting up in glee.

"Daniel!" he cried, leaping up from Cassie's arms to run across the room to throw himself into Daniel's arms. Daniel squatted ready to receive the boy, his arms spread wide until Jack was hugging him tightly. A hug he returned willingly.

"I was scared Daniel. You weren't here. I thought you'd left me?"

"God, I am so sorry Jack." He glared up at Janet, after all she was the one who told him to leave Jack to go and rest. Jack had obviously reverted back to his younger self when he was asleep and had now been traumatised by the whole thing. And it was only thanks to Cassie that Jack had been able to get through it as only the very young can. "I won't leave you again. I promise." He ran his hand over Jack's head and let it come to rest on Jack's cheek before pulling him closer, unafraid to show his fondness for the small child.

Jack beamed, tightening his arms round Daniel and then burying his head into his shoulder, happy to know Daniel had promised never to leave him.

"I missed you Daniel." Jack's voice still sounded tremulous and frightened.

"I know Jack. I missed you too," Daniel felt so protective of his young friend. Jack had put so much faith into him and he didn't ever want to lose that unquestioning trust.

"You won't leave me Daniel, will you? I'll be good. I promise."

"I know you will Jack and I promise I won't leave you again, okay?"

"Will you look after me just like Dr. Janet looks after Cassie?" he asked pulling back to look into Daniel's moist blue eyes.

Daniel closed his eyes and nodded.

"Yes Jack. I will, for as long as you need me."

"Love you Daniel!" Jack sighed, nestling into the warmth so naturally that it made Daniel's eyes tear up even more. It brought back all those times that he had wished for someone to love him when he was growing up.

Daniel had to blink furiously to stop the moisture from spilling from his eyes and making a fool out of him. He swallowed hard. He wasn't sure if anyone had heard Jack's whispered words, but he could feel a couple of reassuring hands on his back and he dared to look up, giving his friends a shaky smile. There wasn't a dry eye left among the group around them, Janet, had pulled Cassie to her and they were hugging; Sam was trying hard not to cry, and he was sure he had seen Teal'c blink rapidly before he made an excuse to go and inform General Hammond that O'Neill was now awake, but that his memories had deserted him once again.

"You too Jack!" Daniel whispered brokenly into Jack's ear, knowing it was the truth. He had taken to the boy so easily. It could almost be as if Jack were his own son and it was hard for him to deny that feeling, let alone deprive the child who seemed to need him to return those feelings too. "Love you too." He kissed the small head cradled against him and knew without a doubt what he now had to do.

Jack pulled back to look into Daniel's eyes again, and was sporting the biggest grin they had seen in a long time.

"I love Sam and Teal'c and Janet too, ya know. And Cassie!" he cried gleefully, lunging over to reach the teenager who held out her arms to take him from Daniel.

Jack clung to her as she swung him round joyfully; ignoring her mother's plea that Jack wasn't well. Jack was perfectly happy, squealing with delight as they circled round and round, finally stopping only when Cassie almost fell over, too giddy to stay upright.

Daniel lunged for Jack, just as Janet and Sam reached out to steady the girl. Jack wanted more, but Janet was firm in her denial.

"That's enough Jack. I need to check you over again." She ignored the huge disgusted sigh from Jack and turned to Daniel, "Would you put him back on the bed please Daniel?"

"Awww!" he pouted. "I wanna play with Cassie," he grumbled with a frown; that familiar vertical furrow splitting his brow down the middle.

"Later Jack," Daniel reasoned. "Right now we have to make sure you're okay. Janet's got some clothes here too that might fit you. You can't go around wearing those all the time."

While Daniel and Janet were busy with young Jack, Sam reached round Cassie's shoulder to pull her away from the scene.

"Ah...Cassie? Can I have a word with you?" Sam looked over and caught Janet's eye. The Doctor nodded and turned her attention to the boy while Sam took Cassie into Janet's office for a talk.

Daniel watched them go and knew at once what Sam was going to say without being told. He couldn't have followed them even if he'd wanted to as Jack was making sure that Daniel wasn't going anywhere this time. He was holding onto Daniel's sleeve as tenaciously as a dog would guard a favourite bone.

TBC