Part 4

They settled down in the hut, Jack watched the two boys carefully. He hadn't realised how much they disliked each other, he supposed adults were better at hiding it than teenagers were. He'd spoken to Daniel only a couple of days before but he'd never mentioned any problems. He would be speaking to him about that, he thought they had a more honest relationship than that.

He watched them set their sleeping bags at different ends of the hut. This was going to have to stop. If they were going to work together they needed to stop all this nonsense.

"Danny, why are you putting your sleeping bag there, put it beside Mitchell's."

He looked at Jack as if he had two heads, "What? Why?"

"Because I said so." Daniel gave Jack a look of disbelief but after looking at Jack's face decided not to argue. He picked up his bag and moved it nearer to Mitchell's.

"Don't I get a choice?" Mitchell asked.

"No Colonel, you don't."

Daniel smirked. Jack couldn't pull rank on him. "Do you find that funny, Danny?"

"Yes, actually," he replied.

Did this kid not have any self preservation tactics Jack thought. Open mouth and put foot right in it. "Outside Daniel."

Daniel face went white, oh shit he'd done it again, engaged mouth and forgot about consequences. "No," he almost pleaded. He looked to the others for support but only got disapproving looks.

"Now!" Jack was not kidding. Daniel went out with Jack following. He so needed to keep his mouth shut. Jack walked a short distance from the hut and then put his hand on Daniel's shoulder to turn him to face him. "Well?"

"Sorry," Daniel mumbled.

"What's wrong between you and Mitchell?"

Daniel decided to be honest," He's not you."

Jack went over and pulled Daniel into his arms. "Oh Spacemonkey." Mitchell , watching from the window, felt even more isolated from this group. He'd done his best to replace Jack O'Neill but obviously he wasn't good enough. He wished he'd never taken the damned job and it was all Jack O'Neill's fault he had.

"I thought you were alright about me moving to Washington," Jack said to Daniel.

"So did I but......." Jack drew Daniel closer to him.

"It's okay, you know I'll always be there for you, any time you need me."

"I know. But what if this is permanent?"

"You'll grow up again."

"I'm a kid Jack. Who's going to look after me? They'll not let me stay on my own."

"You're my kid Danny. I'm going to be there for you. Sometimes even when you don't want me to be. Now what is really wrong with Mitchell?"

"He's a jerk."

"Aht!" Jack said holding up his hand. "I picked him you know." Daniel smiled. "Brat. He's a good man, give him a chance, for me. You do know I can't afford to get any more grey hairs. When I met you I had brown hair, see the effect you have on me."

He got Daniel to smile again. "I have given him a chance, I just can't work with him."

"No you haven't. You've fought him every step of the way. He can't help the fact he's not me. And now he's like you stuck in a teenager's body. AT least try to get to know him, you never know you might get to like him." Daniel screwed up his face. "Try!" He turned Daniel around and swatted his butt.

"Ow, Jack!"

"Now go play nicely."

"Yes sir," he saluted and then ran. Jack laughed.

He popped his head round the door of the hut," Want to go check out the village?" he asked Mitchell.

"Yes, it's better than staying here."

"Did O'Neill say it was alright?" Teal'c asked.

"Of course," Daniel said confidently, looking round to make sure Jack wasn't in hearing distance of the conversation.

They went towards the river. They could hear the voices of other people there. "Why'd you ask me?"

"Wanted some company and you're the only one my age."

"Did O'Neill say it was okay?"

"Well he didn't say it wasn't."

"Do you always lie that easily?"

"Wasn't a lie, just wasn't the truth. Come on."

"O'Neill lets you get away with murder."

"Is that what you're frightened of, that I'm taking you here to throw you in the water." He pretended to push his arm.

"Very funny."

"Jack likes the fact that I question things. He knows I'm not afraid to tell him what I think."

"You push it too far."

Daniel laughed. "You've got to have some fun in life."

They heard a scream and rushed over to the water. A young girl had fallen into the fast flowing river. They didn't hesitate, both of them dived in. A young boy standing nearby ran to the village.

They soon reached the girl and started to pull her towards the bank. Daniel felt his shoulder hit a rock and he nearly lost his grip on her arm. They dragged her up onto the grass and flopped down.

The people from the village were already there. Jack knelt down beside Daniel. A man came over saying thank you over and over again. Jack pulled him to his feet and pulled him into a hug. "Thank God you're alright. You just can't stay out of trouble can you?" He turned him around and swatted his wet backside then pulled him into an even tighter hug.

Jack turned to speak to Mitchell. He was already heading for the village. He turned to Daniel," Get out of these wet clothes. Go on. Help him Teal'c." Then he called," Mitchell." He saw the boy flinch as he called his name but he came back. He was surprised when he was also pulled into a hug. "I'm glad you're okay, Mit...." the boy flinched again. "Can I call you Cameron?"

"If you want."

"It seems silly for you to call me General so until you're restored to size call me Jack, just like Danny does."

"Thanks."

"That was a good thing you two did."

"We didn't even think, we just dived in."

"Come on let's get you back to the village and out of those wet clothes." He swatted Mitchell's backside.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Didn't think it was fair only Danny got swatted. Didn't think you'd want to feel left out."

"I can assure you I wasn't." Jack felt better, he'd got a smile out of the boy. He'd just have to make sure they all called him Cameron instead of Mitchell. It was too formal for a boy. He put his arm round his shoulder as they walked to the hut. For the first time since he'd joined the SGC Cameron was feeling good.

TBC