Friends and Foes Part 2
A/N: See header from part one. And thank you all for the wonderful reviews!
Friends and Foes Part 2
He could feel the gentle breeze caressing his face and the warm sun above him; he stretched lazily and adjusted the pole next to him. With his arms resting behind his head and his legs slightly bent upwards he managed to find a more comfortable position and gazed up at the bright blue cloudless sky without a care for the world, with a sense of abandon that seemed to permeate his every thought and seeping through his very being. Jack was simply at peace and utter contentment. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift, the rhythmic lull of the boat and the gentle roll of waves crashing against the smooth wooden planks soothed him deeply, he heaved a monumental sigh and let his eyes drift close along with his thoughts.
Suddenly a pressure on his arm disturbed his peaceful doze, a tugging hand that was slowly pushing him downwards, he could feel himself slipping off the boat and just when he thought he would splash into the water cold bellow he was startled to feel hard, solid ground hit his face, and he groaned slightly as he carefully massaged his aching nose.
"I'm sorry Jack." was the worried child-like voice that greeted his awaking senses as tiny chubby hands tried to get him into an upright position. "I didn't mean to scare you it's just that I just woke up and saw you asleep on the chair and the piles of reports on the nightstand and thought that maybe you'd be late for a meeting or something and it'd be all my fault 'cause you stayed here to watch over me and..."ﾝ
"Aht Aht! Slow down Daniel and take a breath, for crying out loud! I can't understand a thing you're saying; I'm still half asleep, here." Said Jack in a slightly nasal voice while he continued to rub his bruised nose.
"Sorry. Are you alright?" Asked a remorseful Danny.
"Oh... Just peachy." Jack answered sarcastically but quickly regretted it when he saw Daniel hung his head guiltily. Man, wasn't there a thing the kid didn't feel guilty about?
"Hey Danny, it's Okay. I only bumped my nose but I'm fine. You just, startled me is all."ﾝ He reassured him stroking the back of his neck affectionately. Daniel stole a fleeting glance at him from beneath lowered lashes and mumbled almost inaudibly "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Jack asked just as quietly. But Danny made no attempt to answer him nor to look at him, he just kept his eyes fixed on the cement floor, his chin planted firmly on his chest. Worried now, Jack reached out and lifted the tiny chin gently so he could look into the troubled baby face, but Danny would still not meet his eyes.
"Hey, Danny. What's wrong, buddy?"
"It's nothing." He whispered almost inaudibly so that Jack almost didn't catch what he was saying.
"Danny, Look at me. C'mon, look at me, sport." Big, round blue orbs looked hesitantly up at him in a way it nearly broke Jack's heart, he smiled down at the distraught boy, trying to easy whatever worries were plaguing that over-active mind of his. "Come 'ere." Jack encouraged as he took the small boy into his arms and sat him down on his lap. "So, you gonna tell me what's wrong or am I gonna have to squeeze it out of you bit by bit as usual, hmm?"ﾝ
Danny sighed and refocused his vision down onto Jack's lap starting to fiddle with Jacks shirt nervously. "It's just that. When I woke up, I saw you sleeping on the chair next to me holding my hand and I suddenly felt like such an idiot," he felt rather than saw Jack's boring glare digging holes on the top of his head and knew immediately that those hadn't been the best choice of words, he swallowed hard and amended swiftly "I mean... I felt... um... foolish. You missing a meeting and all because of me, all because you had to watch over me like some kid." He spat in disgust. "I'm sorry." He finished that last sentence in a soft murmur Jack had to bend over to hear.
"It's Ok, buddy. I didn't have any meetings and if I'd had one, I'd be glad I missed it. You're by far more important to me than any stupid meeting could ever be, you understand?"ﾝ Daniel just looked up at him with glazed over eyes and quickly ducked his head but not before Jack saw the glistening tears he knew he was trying hard not to let fall. So he hugged him close and gave him a little time to recoup. "Also, you and I both know meetings bore me to tears so I'd miss one in a heartbeat if given the chance and you would've been the perfect excuse too: 'Sorry General, I won't be able to make it I have Daniel here having the tantrum of his life and I have to take care of it before his head explodes and I have to call Janet to clean up the mess." Jack smiled proudly at himself when he heard the fit of giggles erupting from the previously solemn child on his lap. "What? What's so funny?" He asked in all seriousness.
"Jaaack." Danny laughed.
"Joking aside. It's true, Danny. Not about your head exploding, aside from the fact that sometimes it really looks like it's going to when you get in one of your moods, or when you're unlocking one of your meaning of life stuff riddles." He really loved the sound of Danny's laughter so he couldn't really be to blame if the kid burst his sides at his silliness, right? "But, all that aside. You will always be at the top of my priority list, Danny. You're more important to me than any meeting, than the Goa'uld, more than life itself, got it?"ﾝ
Now Danny was all sober again, looking solemnly up at Jack like one would a hero, for Jack O'Neill was Danny's hero. A flesh and blood true to God hero, the one and only true friend, along with Sam and Teal'c, of course. The one true friend he knew would never abandon him like so many others had. He now knew, Jack wouldn't leave him alone, he would be there for him, for now and for always.
Jack looked into those big blue eyes, eyes shining with blind trust -as ironic as it may sound- full of faith, faith in him. As if Jack held the key to unlock the universe, the answers to every problem, the eyes of a trusting child. It broke his heart to see what he thought he'd never see again, not after Charlie. And here it was a look of complete and utter trust. It frightened him, it frightened him senseless that the thought of letting down another innocent soul, that he would again make a terrible mistake an unforgivable mistake and screw up big time like before. He didn't want to hurt anymore innocent children, and this child here wasn't any child, this was Daniel, his best buddy soon to be son. He shivered at the horrible images his mind conjured up and quickly shook those fears aside. Danny needed him right now, that's all that mattered. He would see to it that he didn't make the same mistakes again. He would see to it that Danny had a father, for as long as he needed him. He hugged him close and planted a kiss on the unruly mop of blond locks. "I love you Danny. Never doubt that. Got it?" And he felt tiny arms come up around his neck and hold on for dear life. Jack just held on tighter and pressed a second kiss on Danny's head, then burying the boy's head back in the crook of his neck he repeated his question in a quite murmur while rocking him gently back and forth in his arms. "Got it, Danny?"
Danny nodded silently, not trusting his voice past the thick lump in his throat; at last managing a strangled almost inaudible "I love you back." Close to fifteen minutes later, Jack could feel his legs starting to cramp and decided it was time to get up, as much as it pained him to disturb the kid when he was so obviously very cozy cuddled in his arms, but if he didn't move soon his legs would need serious rehabilitation sessions from one of Fraiser's specialists if he planned to walk on those legs ever again, and knowing Danny, he would need both legs intact to keep up with the little imp. He'd been keeping him on his toes for the last few months already. So he gave the little guy a gentle nudge and spoke as softly as he could so as not to startle him. "Hey, Danny boy. I can't feel my legs already, so
what'd you say we get up so I can stretch my legs while I still have
them?"
"Oops... sorry." Said Danny as he disentangled himself from his lap and up awkwardly.
"Ah... don't sweat it, buddy." He replied struggling to his feet on creaking knees. "So, how about we get you dressed and get back down to business. I do actually work here, you know." He picked a snickering Daniel under his armpits and dropped him unceremoniously on the bed with enough force for Daniel to bounce several times on the soft mattress, unable to stop himself, Danny let out a squeal of delight as he repeatedly bounced on the bed until he laid sprawled on his side laughing hard.
Jack tried in vain to keep a straight face as he picked up the discarded clothes sitting at the foot of the bed where he'd left them close to an hour ago, and started helping him into his Jeans.
"Jaaaack! I can do that. I'm not a baby, you know." He complained as he batted Jack's hands away. The Colonel threw his hands up in the air in a placating gesture. "All right. All right. I just meant to lend a helping hand, here. No need to bite my head off for the effort. Sheesh... talk about ungrateful. You love them, you feed them, clothe them, kiss bruised knees and tell well-worn fairy tales again and again and what do you get in return?" Jack muttered under his breath in mock annoyance.
Daniel, for his part, was too busy fumbling with his shoe laces and trying to reign in his growing frustration to notice. Finally he conceded defeat and punched the bed hard with both little fists "Jaaack! I—" He chocked out.
Jack was instantly hunched in front of him, heedless of his protesting knees and deftly tied them up for him. Danny just sat there, breathing heavily through his mouth; face flushed and lower lip trembling slightly. His anger and frustration were palpable, frustration at his small uncooperative fingers, anger at this newfound inability to a accomplish this simple task. Jack worried he was starting to hyperventilate. "Hey, hey... it's Ok buddy. It's no big deal."
"YES IT IS!! I CAN'T TIE MY GODDAMN SHOES JACK!!" His crying started in full force now. He brought his arms up around himself in his patented self hug, so reminiscent of his old self Jack shivered involuntarily. His whole body was now shaking with the force of his pain. Jack did the only thing he could, he held him in his strong arms, rubbing soothing circles on his back and whispering nonsensical words of comfort in his ears until, eventually, the heart-wrenching sobs subsided and Daniel pulled aside ashamed at his loss of control.
"I'm sorry, Jack."
"For what?"
"For this, for... losing it, over some stupid tennis shoes." He scoffed in disgust. Jack wouldn't have it, he took him firmly by the shoulders and made him look at him straight in the eye before rebuking "Hey, listen to me! What happened was totally understandable, if our situations were reversed, I'm pretty sure I'd be bouncing off the walls by now just about ready to hit someone. You don't have to be in control all the time, kiddo. You're allowed to lose it from time to time, like it or not, you're human."
"Look who's talking." Daniel snorted. "You should take your own advice, you know."
Jack couldn't help smile slightly at that, "Well, I am not saying you should do everything I do."ﾝ
"But I should do everything you say, right?"
"Pretty much, yeah." Jack nodded seriously. That got a small smile and a short laugh out of the mini archaeologist. Jack playfully cuffed him on the back of the head and got up from the bed. "Well, that's it Danny, enough slacking off. Time to get this show back on the road before Hammond comes kick our lazy asses back to work."
"Hey! How come you can cuss and I can't?" Daniel whined as he hopped out of the bed putting his jacket back on with the slightest bit of difficulty.
"Because I'm old and wise:" Jack replied haughtily.
"Yeah, right."
"Got it in one, sport." Danny rolled his eyes. Jack grinned at the all too familiar gesture reaching out to ruffle his hair, something he knew he hated, and turned around to pick up the stack of reports still sitting undisturbed on the nightstand by the bed. He opened the door and reached out his free hand to Danny who, amazingly, took it. Together, hand in hand, they made their way down the hall to the elevator.
"Just out of curiosity." Jack asked, cocking his head to one side and frowning down at Danny. "How did you get them on the first time?"
"What?" Daniel looked quizzically up at Jack.
"You know... your shoes. I'm positive I took them off when I first left you in the room and when I took them off the second time, I had to untie them, again. So, how did ya do it?"
Realization downed, and Daniel got that pensive deep frown on his face.
"Oh... never mind, it was just a question." Jack dismissed.
"I can't remember." Danny whispered confused.
"It's Ok. Forget about it. It doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does!" Responded Daniel indignantly.
"No, it doesn't."
"Yes. It. Does."
"Doesn't."
"Does."
"Doesn't."
"Does!"
"Not!"
"Jaaaack!"
"What?" The elevator doors closed and the two airmen witnessing the exchange shook their heads in amusement at the pair.
"The rules Daniel..." Jack was demanding as they rounded the corner on
their way to Daniel's office.
"Oh... please Jack, give me a break. Don't you think I know them by heart by now? You made me repeat them like a dozen times already!" Daniel complained loudly. This was just soooo embarrassing! Jack making up all those stupid kid rules that, as far as he was concerned, were completely unnecessary. He wasn't a kid after all! And to top it all off, Jack now felt it necessary to make him recite each and every last one of them while walking down the halls of the SGC for all to hear. Surely everyone was having a great time at his expense. That was just going tooo far, even for Jack.
"Just humor me, Daniel. I just want to make sure you don't forget them before I leave you to your own devices." He shot back in his most calm and condescending voice and yeah... he knew, it was a tone that irritated the crap out of Daniel, but the little shit had been asking for it all day long and his patience was running thin. Dangerously thin.
"FORGET THEM!! Wish I could!!" Danny screamed in a high-pitched voice that almost sent Jack's already throbbing headache to astronomical proportions, heedless of his discomfort, Daniel just kept on screeching, gesticulating madly to get his point across "But with you drilling them into my head every five seconds I fail to see how..."
"DANIEL!" Jack boomed and there was instant silence, blissful silence. Jack gave him the 'look' and Daniel immediately started fidgeting, not so sure about himself anymore, he tried to look anywhere but at Jack, but finally his defiant demeanor sagged, he dropped his gaze to the floor and started to recite resignedly.
"I am not to try to reach the higher shelves on my own, if I really have to I must ask for help. I am not to handle far too heavy books on my own, if I have to then I ask somebody's help. If I have to leave my office for whatever reason, I must first call you and let you know, otherwise I must wait for you, Sam or Teal'c to come pick me up. Happy?!"
"Extremely. Thank you." Jack enunciated each word with care and grinned for good measure. Daniel narrowed his eyes and stared up at Jack in rage. "You may go, now." Jack dismissed him, at last.
Daniel glared daggers up at Jack before stomping angrily into his office and muttering what was obviously very colorful and very inappropriate vocabulary under his breath. Jack shook his head and decided not to comment on that, yet.
"Oh... and Daniel."
"What?!" Daniel shouted and turned around abruptly.
Trying to keep his own temper in check, Jack inwardly counted to ten thousand and reminded him as calmly as he could "Remember what we just discussed, Daniel. You want me to forget to mention your earlier sleep-deprived confessions to the General, you better start doing as you're told or else you can say goodbye to your little happy place. This is your last warning, Daniel. You disobey me one more time and you're grounded until further notice. Do I make myself clear, Daniel?"
All the bravado having abandoned him, Danny stared wide eyed up at Jack slowly nodding his head up and down in understanding. "You have a voice, Daniel!" The Colonel thundered
Danny jumped startled and swallowed hard, trying to speak through the lump in his throat, he answered meekly, suddenly feeling very small and very much four years old. "Y-yes, Jack."