Daniel was happy to be back at school. As Ruby led him up the steps for the first day, he asked her to stop for a few minutes so he could just absorb the smells and sounds around him. Freshly cut grass – okay, not so great with his allergies – new shoes still smelling of recently tanned leather, and books. He could smell the fresh paper and ink. Children and parents greeting friends after three months apart, car doors slamming after spewing out students, and teachers vainly attempting to herd the children inside the building.

Daniel grinned when he heard Amy's voice sailing above others.

"Daniel? Where are you? Daddy says he sees you."

Daniel called out to the friend he hadn't seen since his birthday party in July. "Up here, at the top of the steps."

He heard her excited footsteps and saw a red blur bolt toward him before he felt her arms wrap around him as she jumped up and down in excitement.

"Are you okay? I heard you had to go to the hospital for an operation. Was it your eyes?" She finally released him, allowing him to breathe again.

"No, not my eyes. Tonsils. I got to eat lots of ice cream and popsicles though."

Amy slid her hand up to his cheek. "I'm sorry. I had my tonsils out when I was four. I hated that stupid hospital bed. I thought they were being mean to me by putting me back in a crib! I was a 'big girl!'" Amy giggled.

Daniel grinned. "Well, they didn't put me in a crib, but the bed had metal bars that raised on the sides and I might as well have been in a crib. But the worst thing was the smell. I hate hospital smells."

Amy sympathized. Most of the kids at the school had spent far more than their far share of time in doctor's offices and hospitals. She patted Daniel's cheek again and said, "Well, I guess it's time to go inside and get ready for class."

Ruby knelt down and gathered Daniel into her arms. She whispered in his ear, "We love you, Daniel. Have a great week and I'll see you Friday afternoon."

Daniel ducked his head and nodded. He always felt uncomfortable when people were mushy with him.

Amy finished saying good-bye to her father and took Daniel's hand as they walked through the doors to put their suitcases away in their rooms. "I'll meet you in class." Daniel nodded and headed off toward his room.

By lunch time, Daniel had met with Dr. Tanzi and gotten his modified schedule. He would spend the morning in his fifth grade classroom and the afternoon in the high school algebra and earth science classrooms. Barbara had given him some books and assignments for his coursework with her, so he'd go to the library at the high school to work on that and then he'd meet with her every Saturday afternoon. He was looking forward to the new challenges and was also really glad he could stay part of the day with Amy and Mr. Addison.

Walking into the lunch room after his meeting with his counselor, he listened for sounds of Amy. He grinned when he heard her giggle coming from his left. He picked up his lunch tray and followed the sound. He remembered that she had been wearing red that day, so as he walked toward the sound of her voice he also tried to look for a red blob. Found her!

"Amy? Is there room at your table?"

"Daniel! Yes, the seat across from me is empty. Steven and Sandra are here too."

Daniel balanced his tray on one arm and used the other to find the chair and make sure nothing was on the table where he wanted to put his tray. Finally seated, he said hi to his other two classmates and dug hungrily into his lunch.

"Did Dr. Tanzi give you your new schedule?"

"Yeah," he mumbled through the chunk of tuna sandwich in his mouth. "I go over to the high school building right after lunch for math, science and independent study. I'll be there the rest of the day. One of the English teachers went to college with my Aunt Barbara, and she's going to help with those assignments. I think I'm going to really enjoy learning this new stuff, but I'm not too sure about being with those older kids."

Steven snorted. "Yeah, well, a nerd like you should fit in just fine."

Daniel shrank down in his chair. Amy, furious at the attack on her friend, blurted, "You're so stupid I'm surprised you know the word nerd."

Sandra giggled.

Steven stood and grabbed his tray. "I'm not sitting at the nerd table."

Amy shot back, "Good. 'Cause you're not invited!"

Daniel hung his head down and fiddled with his fork.

"Daniel, I can hear your dejected look." Amy reached forward and found his hand. "Look, you can't let idiots like that get to you. You're smart and you're blind. Both will get you teased. You just can't let it mean anything to you."

Nodding, Daniel agreed, "That's what George and Ruby tell me. But, it still hurts. I don't want to be different! I just want to be like everyone else and not stand out."

"Well, that's not going to ever happen for you. You are different and that's a good thing. Even with your blindness, you can do anything you want. I know I'm smarter than most kids our age, but nothing like you." She found herself patting his hand. "Suck it up, Jackson."

Daniel smiled. "Thanks. I'm glad you're around to keep me from making too much of an idiot of myself." Daniel flipped up the crystal on his watch and felt the time. "I've got to go if I'm going to reach the high school building in time. See you tomorrow."

XXXXXXXXXX

Daniel's stomach tried to reject his half eaten tuna sandwich as he pushed open the door to the high school building. He stopped and reran the tour in his head that Dr. Tanzi had taken him last year. His first class would be the fourth door on the left. Using his cane, he moved to the left and hugged the walls until he came to the fourth door. Dragging in a deep breath, he pushed the door inward and entered.

"Ah, you must be Daniel Jackson. I'm the teacher, Mrs. Humphries. Count three rows over and take the fourth seat."

Daniel moved carefully, swinging the cane in front of him until he hit something. "That's the first desk."

Daniel kept going until he found his assigned seat and sat down, glad that none of the students could see how young he was. He took enough teasing from the neighborhood kids without getting more at school.

Daniel listened to the deep voices of the teenaged boys and the laughing responses of the girls as they mildly flirted with the boys. He made himself as small as he could in his seat, waiting for the teacher to begin the class. He almost sighed out loud with relief when he heard her begin the role call.

Oh no. When I answer they're going to know I don't belong here.

"Daniel Jackson?"

Daniel tried to make his voice as deep as he could, but it came out in a high-pitched squeak instead. He heard several of the kids whispered questions, "Who's that?" "Do you know anyone named Daniel?" What? We got a new kid?"

"Settle down! Daniel's joining us from the elementary school. His test scores show that he's ready for Algebra so he'll be joining us this year. I understand he'll also be joining many of you for earth science next period." Mrs. Humphries voice left no room for squirrelly behavior and the class quieted again as she finished the role call.

By the time class was over, Daniel had decided to wait and try to be the last one out. His next class was only one door down on the other side of the hall, so he knew he'd have plenty of time to get there.

XXXXXXXXXX

In bed that night, Daniel ran over the events of the afternoon in his head. He'd been teased once the older kids knew he was so much younger. He squeezed his eyes tightly when he remembered how Buddy from science class had wanted to know why he wasn't back watching Sesame Street with the babies. Several of the boys had laughed with Buddy, but a few of the girls had come to his defense. He wasn't sure which was more humiliating; boys teasing him or girls defending him.

He wished George were here. He'd have some good suggestions.