AR HAR, i here you say...and it's about time too!! So sorry this has been so long, RL's been a bit...ARGHHH!! But never mind, hope its all worth the wait!!
Ive started the next part of this and a much later chapter, so there should be some much more regular updates...sowwy is all i can say. Hope you like and please feedback...FEEDBACK IS KING and it keeps us folks going, enjoy and hugs, nat xx
Jack and Daniel lingered on the sidewalk around the corner from George's house. Daniel straddled his BMX bike that Sam bought him for his birthday.
He'd remembered the day he received the gift. He'd frowned at it when he'd wandered into the living room at their temporary guardian's home. In fairness he'd completely forgotten it was his birthday with everything that had happened. He had just woken up and everything had been a blur. He'd been rudely awoken by Jack and was still in his boxers and a t-shirt, fisting his eye with one hand and scratching his head wildly with the other.
Sam, Uncle George (yes, he'd insisted) and Teal'c had sat drinking coffee on his arrival.
He'd had a lingering thought of disgust when he'd first seen the bike. His adult mind wading in for a while, but that had soon been put aside as he thanked all of the smiling faces and Jack had charged around the corner, making a beeline for the shiny BMX.
"Whoa," Jack had cooed while running his hands over the smooth polished metal frame and ignoring the shaking heads and huge grins of the adults.
"This is sooo cool, Danny. We gonna take it out?" Jack flashed a huge grin as he winked at his friend.
George had dutifully taken Jack by the shoulders and led him away as small protests had emitted, telling him that he could help with Daniel's birthday breakfast. He'd patted Daniel firmly on the shoulder as he passed by and offered his best wishes with a warm smile.
"Go and open your presents, son, we'll call you when we're ready, won't we Jack?" Jack had rolled his eyes over his shoulder, earning him a light cuff to the back of the head, producing an indignant 'OWW' from Jack, as they walked to the kitchen. Uncle George certainly didn't have Sam's patience, Daniel had mused, smiling.
With that Daniel had made his way to sit between Sam and Teal'c and crossing his legs had excitedly unwrapped his other gifts. More baggy jeans and hoodies greeted his exuberant ripping of colorful paper. He had come to love these clothes, with a little encouragement from Jack. He also collected tokens to buy music on the internet, new earphones for his overused iPod and some old mythical books that had been pondered over for quite some time. He still loved his books, he just never seemed to get the chance to sit quietly with them anymore. Instead, he and Jack had spent hours together getting into all sorts of mischief.
"I'll put them on the shelf in you new room for you if you want, Danny?" Sam had offered smiling.
"Thanks, Sam, yeah, that would be cool." Daniel had noticed a small sadness in her eye, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on, but it had passed as quickly as the suggestion that had been made. Maybe, with his own room, he'd get more time to read.
For Daniel it had been the perfect morning and a complete surprise. It had also appeared that Teal'c had a soft spot too, as after breakfast and the boys dressing; he'd presented Jack with a bike very similar to Daniels'. Jack had hooted with joy as they'd both rolled they're bikes onto the sidewalk.
"I'm glad you like it, O'Neill," Teal'c had offered with a half smile and a nod.
"Don't be late back," George had shouted after the disappearing backs and they'd cycled as far and as fast as their legs could carry them.
o0o
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Daniel pushed the hockey cap that Jack had bought him back away from his face. He had it on back to front and the curls of his slightly too long mucky blonde hair stuck out around his ears and down his neck. Daniel scratched a graze on his chin. He'd attempted to shave a little on Jacks instructions. All he managed to do was to cut his chin; he hadn't really noticed anything worth shaving in the first place.
"Jack?"
"Yeah?" Jack was putting his chain back on his bike and had oil smeared up his arms and over the bridge of his nose. The oil mingled with a cut on his cheek. The bruise now showing below his baggy shorts was pretty impressive too. They'd been to a bike park and had happily been learning stunts. Jack had fallen and damaged his bike. The chain had been falling off intermittently ever since.
"Do you think Uncle George meant what he said earlier?" Daniel absently pushed his ipod back into the front pocket of his red hoodie as he chewed the inside of his cheek thoughtfully.
Jack looked up from twirling the pedals around, finally getting the chain back in place.
"Nah, he was just annoyed Danny, he'll have forgotten when we get back." Jack brushed a dirty hand through his short spiky brown hair and grinned at Daniel as he turned his bike back over.
Daniel's foot played with the pedal as he looked down and chewed his lip again.
"We've been gone a long time, Jack."
Jack pushed his bike over and slapped Daniel on the back, "We've been staying out the way, Danny. We had a good time, didn't we?"
Daniel looked up and grinned, "I don't think Uncle George chasing us out of the house is going to be something he'll have forgotten, Jack. Not after he'd threatened to ground us for life."
Jack paled a little.
"Well, kid, we have to go face the music. We can't stay here all night and I'm hungry." Jack rubbed his stomach as an audible growl emitted from it. This also served to rub oil down his new 'O'Neill' t-shirt.
"Crap!" Jack cursed as he trailed around the corner, bike in hand.
Daniel trailed behind and frowned again. "Well, I think we're gonna get it. You should have never have told Uncle George to… well, you know…" Daniels voiced trailed off as a small smile touched his lips.
Jack stopped and turned, frowning a little. "Yeah well," he rubbed his butt without thinking.
Daniel smiled, "That hurt, right?"
Jack flushed, probably for the first time Daniel could remember. "Yeah, Ole' Uncle George is quicker than I thought, he sure knows how to zero in on a target."
Daniel chuckled and walked by, "You took the heat off of me though, Jack. I didn't swear at him, but I was pretty colorful."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Yeah," he murmured sighing, following behind. "Isn't that the way though, Danny? You make the trouble, I take the flak?"
Daniel looked back at the boy who was the closest person he'd known to having a brother. "Yeah, Jack, I spose you do."
Jack returned the smile as they made their way to the garage and opened the door. He pushed his bike in and Daniel followed. As Jack went to close the door Daniel grabbed his arm, "We could go to Sam's house?"
Jack looked up and spotted his nemesis entering the garage.
"No Daniel, you couldn't. Both of you, in, now," George stood with his arms crossed across his chest, his sternest parental glare fixed on his concerned features.
Jack rolled his shoulders and gave Daniel an expectant look. 'Yep, he was sure one pissed General.'
George stood back, still eyeing his charges. They both scooted past in double quick time, Jack being particular about covering his butt.
The knowing General shook his head and firmly closed to the door behind him.
o0o
In George's study the scoundrels stood before him looking suitably sorry for them. He wondered about Jack, he was plastered in oil and blood, but seeing as the boy wasn't dying he'd continue the discussion he'd wanted to finish early before they'd given him the slip.
George sighed internally; these boys were such a handful. No wonder Sam had started to look so haggard, but considering their old adult personas he couldn't imagine why he was so surprised. Neither child was unpleasant, but both were willful, intelligent and over exuberant. It certainly depended on the subject, but Jack could be terminally difficult and always managed to defend Daniel to the hilt whether he was right or wrong. This tended to encourage Daniel to argue still further without any regard to its justification. Together they were incorrigible.
Trying not to smile, George remembered the old Jack being the same.
Deciding he'd let the tension build for long enough, he focused on the lowered heads and presented his question. "What do you two have to say for yourselves?"
'Silence, now there was something new. Someone usually had some smart ass remark by now,' mused the General.
"Jack?"
Jack lifted his head, having studied his bruised leg and duffs sneakers for long enough. "Nothing, sir." His answer was flat and determined.
George quirked his eyebrows a little and lent forward on the back of his desk chair.
"Nothing, Airman?"
Jack pinned a stare on the wall beyond George, looking past his target, his face fixed and cold.
"We don't want to go, SIR!" he raised his voice slightly, which made Daniel wince.
"Jack, I want you to go and clean up and then wait in your room for me, do you understand?" What patience George had was long ago depleted. He therefore hoped without Jack's mouth he may be able to have something like a civilized conversation with Daniel. He'd deal with Jack later in a way he'd understand, concerning today's misdemeanors.
Jack didn't move, even with Daniel probing him and whispering in an urgent voice. 'He's really testing his limits' thought George.
"You want a real time out, son?" George asked in a cool calm voice.
Well, that appeared to get a reaction, Jack slumped and sighed loudly, causing George's eyebrows to rise even further. For effect, George made to move to the edge of his desk.
Jack raised his hands in surrender, "I'm going, I'm going," he huffed as he backed out of the door. With a flurry the door slammed making Daniel wince again. He knew they may have supposedly won the battle earlier, but they were definitely going to lose the war.
George sat down at his desk and encouraged Daniel to sit in one of the leather chairs opposite.
"What's going on, son?" George offered sincerely.
Daniel was obviously struggling to meet George's eyes. "I… we… we just don't wanna go high school, sir."
George sighed, he was well aware of that fact, though that was not going to make any difference to it happening, at least for now. They had been teens for well over 3 months now. The powers that be needed them to look like normal kids before questions were asked by other government departments.
"I know, son, but this is out of my hands. It is going to happen. There was no need for the arguments and attitude this morning or running away. You two can't expect us to treat you like adults when that is the type of response we get to things like this."
George leaned back into his deep chair and gently clenched his hands in front of him on the desk.
Daniel had rolled his eyes and slumped before knowing what he was doing. He knew logically that this would be the outcome at some point; it didn't stop the whole idea sucking big time.
"Daniel," George warned. He'd sure had enough of both boy's antics today, hence letting them stay away once they'd left against orders, but it wouldn't go unpunished and he'd bet they both knew that.
"Sorry, sir," Daniel grumped, "Can I go now, sir?"
"You may," Daniel made to stand, "when I give you permission."
He flopped back down dramatically, feeling excessively annoyed that this was still being forced upon them.
"Daniel, don't push it. You've gone way beyond my tolerance level today and I still have my time out corner that I use for the grandchildren if you're interested, so quit the theatrical behavior and listen." That appeared to get undivided attention.
"I am going to deal with Jack in a moment, but I strongly suggest you two sort this out and get used to the idea, however much you don't like it. I am not willing to have these sorts of arguments on a regular basis without taking some no nonsense action, do you understand me?"
Daniel buried his chin into his chest; his reasonable self knew this was in no way George's fault.
"Sorry, sir," he mumbled.
"Right," George stood up, "Go and shower while I talk to Jack, we'll discuss punishments tomorrow. You may go."
Daniel got to his feet mumbling a 'thank you, sir' as he made his way to the door. He went straight to shower without checking on Jack, he was fairly convinced George meant what he said, so he stayed out of the way.
0o0
George knocked at Jack's door and entered, he had no intention of waiting. Knowing the mood Jack was in, he'd never answer him in a million years.
Jack lay flat on his front, now wearing some Simpson's pajamas Sam had bought him. Homer and Bart adorned the front with a big 'Doh' across the back. T-shirts and shorts pj's suited Jack far more than the sweats Daniel chose to sleep in.
"Come on, Jack sit up, please," George requested as he sat on the opposite bed.
"I'm hungry," he groaned into the pillow.
"Jack." The warning was clear. George had about reached the end of his proverbial rope.
Jack sighed and rolled over, sensing the building tension. He dropped bare feet onto the pink round fluffy carpet; this was usually Kayla's room. Scrunching his toes around the woolen strands and balling his fists into the bed, he still didn't meet the General's eyes.
"Jack, look at me, this is serious."
Jack looked though his eyelashes, still not lifting his head completely and scowled.
It was George's turn to sigh now. "Jack, this wasn't my idea and you know it, so cut the crap airman and suck it up. I've had enough of the attitude from the pair of you!"
Jack didn't move only quirking one eyebrow slightly.
George was not amused and felt his anger rising. He couldn't help but shout and get to his feet. "God help me Jack O'Neill, if I thought it would do any good I'd put you over my knee now…" Jack couldn't help the shocked look that crossed his face and the audible sucking in of air that seemed to happen without him realizing, but he still didn't speak. "… but I can't," the General continued. "I have no wish to discuss or argue about this subject any further. You will get supper and stay in your room tonight and for your pranks today. You're grounded for 1 week, both of you. No TV, no music. I'm going to get Major Carter to sort out something for you to work on while you're here. No arguments, or so help me, I won't be responsible for my actions." George cast a withering look at his charge, "Do you understand me airman?"
Jack chewed the inside of hiss lip and looked at George square in the face, "Yes, this SUCKS, sir!"
Self preservation kicking in as Jack saw the General make to grab him and leapt back over the back of the bed, crouching on the floor.
George missed him by inches and made another grab for the boy's collar before forcing himself to hold back. He knew if he caught the little swine now he'd probably kill him on the spot. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, George straightened up and eyed Jack wearily.
"By god son, you won't make it to your next birthday at this rate," he warned before turning on his heel and walking away. He was, after all, the adult in all of this.
Pulling the door closed with some force, he heard the raspberry Jack blew at his back and clenched the knob a little harder, his knuckles going white. There was no doubt about it, he needed to get Jack's real parents awarded a medal for bravery. He was sure there'd be blood on his hands before the end of the week, or he'd be safely tucked in his coffin!