Coming Together

By Draggon Flye

 

 

When Jack awoke, he was surprised to find it was morning all ready. With all the changes Danny had been through in the last two days, he had been sure Danny would sleep fitfully and had been prepared to spend a good deal of the night up with him. However, it appeared Danny had slept all night.

 

Jack got up and made his way quietly down the hall to Danny’s room. He found Danny sleeping soundly, sprawled facedown on the bed, arms flung out across the mattress. Apparently, exhaustion had won out over emotional upheaval.

 

Standing in the doorway, Jack winced at the state of Danny’s room. He’d known it wasn’t in great shape. He hadn’t tried to decorate because he’d wanted Danny to be able to do that himself. He’d just thrown together the bare essentials and hoped for the best. He’d known it was Spartan, but looking at it now, in the pale gray light of early morning, it was even worse. The room was empty except for a battered twin bed and dresser left over from his first apartment and a rickety bedside table he’d bought at Goodwill right after the divorce, all of which seemed dwarfed by the stark white walls. At best, it looked like a poorly furnished guest room; at worst, it looked institutional. Obviously, decorating Danny’s room needed to be one of the first things they took care of. As long as it looked like a guest room, Danny would feel like a guest, and there was no way Jack was going to have Danny feeling like a guest in his own house.

 

Deciding to let Danny sleep a little longer, Jack went into the kitchen to see what he could do about breakfast. Rummaging through the cabinets, Jack mentally added grocery shopping to his list of things to do today. He’d been living off of fast food and the mess in the mountain, but that was just one of the many things that would have to change with a kid in the house. A kid in the house. God, that was the weirdest feeling. He’d never expected to have a kid in the house again. Now, he did, and surprisingly, he liked the feeling.

 

Looking down, Jack realized he’d been unconsciously assembling the ingredients for pancakes. Pancakes were his specialty. He’d made them every Sunday morning for most of his married life, at least every Sunday morning he’d not been away on a mission. Charlie had loved them, often awakening him at ungodly hours, clamoring for pancakes. Giving himself a mental shake to clear the memories, Jack set about assembling the batter. Pancakes were a safe enough bet. Most kids would eat them. He didn’t know enough about Danny’s likes and dislikes yet to be too adventurous, but he’d take his chances with pancakes.

 

The pancakes were nearly done when Danny stumbled, barefoot and bleary-eyed, into the kitchen, wearing only his boxers and Jack’s rumpled tee shirt. He rubbed at his eyes with his fists and then scrubbed his hands roughly through his hair, making the already disheveled locks stand on end.

 

Jack stifled a laugh and reached out to pull him briefly into a one-armed hug. “Good morning, kiddo,” Jack said, “Sleep well?” Danny nodded sleepily. “Good. Breakfast is almost ready. Do you like pancakes?” Again, Danny nodded. “Well, if you like pancakes, you’re gonna love mine. Go wash your face. Then, you can help me set the table, and we’ll eat.” He turned Danny in the direction of the bathroom, and gave him a gentle push to send him on his way.

 

When Danny returned, Jack set him to work setting the table. “The plates and glasses are in that cabinet,” Jack told Danny, gesturing with the spatula. “Forks and knives are in the drawer by the sink, butter’s in the fridge and syrup is in the cabinet above the fridge. Oh, peanut butter’s there too, if you want it.”

 

“Peanut butter?” Danny asked, incredulously.

 

Jack shrugged. “My sister likes peanut butter on pancakes. I got so used to her eating them that way it seems like a normal thing to me. You don’t eat yours that way, I take it.”

 

Danny shook his head. “No, just syrup.”

 

“Me, too,” Jack agreed, carrying the plate of pancakes to the table. Rather than sitting, Jack turned back to the refrigerator. “Do you want milk or orange juice to drink?” he asked Danny.

 

“Milk,” Danny replied.

 

Snagging the milk carton, Jack went back to the table and filled both his and Danny’s glasses. Then, he began filling his plate with pancakes. Noticing Danny had yet to put anything on his plate, Jack said, “It’s ok, kiddo, go ahead and eat. There’s plenty.” Danny hesitantly put a couple pancakes on his plate then drowned them in a river of syrup. Jack laughed. “Would you like a little pancake to go with all that syrup?” he asked, teasingly.

 

Danny dropped his head. “Sorry,” he said quietly.

 

Jack immediately regretted his words. Dammit, he was teasing. He hadn’t meant to chase him inward. Jack reached out and lifted Danny’s chin. “Danny, it’s fine,” he said gently. “You can eat your pancakes any way you want. I was only teasing.”  

 

“I didn’t mean to be wasteful,” Danny said, in a small voice.

 

“Are you planning on wasting them?” Jack asked. “I thought you were going to eat them.”

 

Danny looked up, confused. “I am going to eat them.”

 

“Then you’re not wasting them, are you?” Jack reasoned.

 

“But the syrup,” Danny insisted.

 

“Some people like lots of syrup. That’s fine. As long as you’re eating it and not wasting it, I don’t have a problem with it.” Jack ruffled Danny’s hair affectionately. “So eat, ok?”

 

Danny nodded, and they both returned to eating quietly.

 

“I need to go check in at the mountain today,” Jack said after a moment. “I thought you might want to go along and see the base. What do you think?” Danny nodded vigorously around a mouthful of pancake; eyes alight with excitement. “That’s a plan then,” Jack went on. “After that, I thought we might get started fixing up your room. Do you have any idea how you want to decorate it?”

 

Danny’s eyes went round. “You mean I get to choose?” He’d thought the room would stay just as it was. It’d never occurred to him he might get to fix it up, to make it his own. Real kids got their own rooms, not foster kids.

 

“Of course you can,” Jack told him. “It’s your room. You can do it however you want, within reason of course.” However, Jack didn’t really think keeping Danny within reason would be the problem. If anything he expected to have to talk him into asking for things, rather than out of it. Danny continued to stare blankly at him, obviously overwhelmed, so Jack went on, “I was thinking you might like bunk beds, so you’d have a place for friends to sleep when they stay over.”

 

Danny was stunned. He’d never had a friend stay over in his life. He didn’t have those kinds of friends, or any friends really. He was on his own, always had been, and he didn’t expect that to change now. However, he didn’t want to tell Col. O’Neill that, and bunk beds did sound like a cool idea, so he said, “Ok.”

 

“We’ll find you a dresser, a desk, and a bookshelf, too. You’ll need plenty of room to store stuff once you get started in school. You can choose your bedspreads, and we can paint, if you want.”

 

Danny had a million questions running through his mind, but he latched onto the one that seemed the most important. “Where will I go to school?”

 

“I’m not sure about that,” Jack answered. “I wanted to talk to my friend, Dr. Frasier, about it today. She has a daughter about your age, so she might know a good place. We’ll talk about it after I talk to her.”

 

“But we can talk about it, right?” Danny asked uncertainly.

 

“Sure we can,” Jack said. “The final decision needs to be mine, but I certainly want to hear your opinion.”

 

“Ok,” Danny said. He could deal with that. Most people didn’t bother to ask at all.

 

“For now though,” Jack continued, “we need to get going. If you’re done, put your dishes in the sink and go get dressed.”

 

Danny put his dishes in the sink and headed toward his room, but he stopped in the doorway and turned to Jack. “Col. O’Neill?”

 

“Yes, Danny?” Jack asked, setting his own dishes in the sink.

 

“If we’re going to your job, do I need to dress up?”

 

Jack looked up, surprised at the question. “No, Danny, you don’t have to dress up. As long as it’s neat and clean, whatever you want to wear is fine.” Danny nodded, turning to go, but Jack stopped him, “And Danny…” Danny turned back, waiting expectantly. “My name is Jack.” Danny frowned, confused. “I know we’re not family yet,” Jack went on, “but we’re getting to be friends, aren’t we?” Danny nodded slowly, still not sure where this was leading. “My friends call me Jack, and so can you. Ok?”

 

Danny nodded. “Ok, Col…” Jack held up a finger. “Jack,” Danny finished and hurried down the hall to get dressed.

 

 

 

The ride to the mountain was quiet, but Jack could tell it was excitement rather than nervousness that held Danny inside. Danny’s eyes went wide as saucers when the airman flagged them though the gate, but he didn’t say a word. Knowing he would likely need to see Gen. Hammond, Jack went first to the locker room to change into his BDUs. “I have to change,” Jack explained to Danny. “We always wear uniforms on base.” Danny nodded, taking in the maze of corridors with wide-eyed amazement. I also need to meet with Gen. Hammond, my boss, and I think he’ll probably want to meet you too. As soon as I’m done, we’ll go to my office to call and see when he can meet with us.”

 

Jack changed quickly and before long they were on their way. They ran into Sam in the hallway outside Jack’s office. “Colonel,” she said brightly, “I didn’t know you were back yet.”

 

“Just got back last night,” Jack told her. “I’m still technically on leave, but I needed to meet with the General, and Danny wanted to see the base.” Turning to Danny, he continued, “Danny, this is Captain Samantha Carter. Carter’s a friend, and a member of my team.” Jack looked up at Sam. “Carter, this is Danny.”

 

“It’s nice to meet you, Danny,” Sam said, reaching out to shake his hand.

 

“Nice to meet you too, Captain Carter,” Danny said automatically, hesitantly accepting the handshake.

 

Sam smiled and winked at him. “You can call me Sam.”

 

Danny gave her a small smile. “Ok, Sam.”

 

Sam turned back to Jack. “I’m glad you’re back, sir. Let me know if there’s any way I can help.”

 

“I appreciate that, Carter,” Jack said. “We may need your help later this week. If Danny decides he wants to paint, we’ll have a painting party and paint his room.”

 

“Count me in, sir,” Sam replied. “I’m a painting pro, just ask Janet and Cassie. Right now, though, with your permission, I’d like to get back to the lab. Katherine and I are working on a new computer model.”

 

“Of course, Carter, by all means, go,” Jack broke in, cutting her off before she could go into all the minute scientific details. “I’ll let you know if we decide to paint.”

 

“You do that, sir,” Sam said, heading down the hall. At the end of the corridor, she turned and called back, “Bye, Danny. Welcome to the SGC.”

 

Jack unlocked the door to his office and ushered Danny inside. Stepping over to his desk, he dialed Gen. Hammond’s number and asked if they could see him. After being told the general was in a meeting for the next hour, Jack scheduled them into the next available appointment, hung up, and turned back to Danny.  “We have an appointment with Gen. Hammond in an hour and a half,” Jack told Danny. “In the meantime, we need to head down to the infirmary and see Dr. Frasier.”

 

“Why do we need to go there?” Danny asked, eyeing Jack suspiciously.

 

“I want to talk to her about your school,” Jack explained, “and while we’re here, I want her to give you a quick checkup and make sure everything’s ok.”

 

Danny’s eyes flared wide. “No way! I’m not going! I don’t need to see any doctor.” He looked frantically around the room as though he might bolt at any second.

 

Jack was stunned. He’d never expected this, not when it usually took something close to an Act of Congress to get Danny to speak at all. He moved quickly around the desk to kneel in front of Danny, grabbing Danny’s arms gently to hold him still. “Hey, hey, settle down,” Jack said, firmly but gently. “Why don’t you want to see Dr. Frasier?”

 

“I’m not sick,” Danny insisted.

 

“I didn’t say you were,” Jack pointed out patiently, “I just want her to make sure you’re healthy and everything’s ok before you start school.” Watching Danny carefully, he repeated, “Why don’t you want to see Dr. Frasier?”

 

Danny dropped his head to his chest, studying the floor silently.

 

“It's okay for you to tell me, Danny,” Jack coaxed. “I won't get mad at you.”

 

Danny shook his head. He’d heard that before. Grownups always got mad.

 

“If you don't tell me, I can't help you,” Jack persisted.

 

Danny bit his lip, uncertain. Part of him wanted to tell Col. O’Neill, but the other part was desperately afraid he’d get mad, just like everybody else.

Jack took a deep breath. Then fell back into the questioning strategy that seemed to be becoming a big part of the battle plan for dealing with Danny. “Did a doctor do something to you that you didn't like?” Jack asked. Danny nodded slowly. Jack moved over to sit in his guest chair and pulled Danny onto his lap. “What did he do?” Jack questioned gently. Danny stiffened instantly. Jack could almost feel the fear coursing through him like an electric current. “It’s ok,” Jack soothed. “Remember, I’m not mad at you.”

 

“I don’t like it when people touch me,” Danny whispered.

 

Jack drew back, realizing he might have made a huge tactical error. “Is it ok if I hold you?”

 

Again, Danny nodded slowly. “It’s not scary with you,” he said, surprised to find it was true. It wasn’t scary at all when Col. O’Neill held him. In fact, he liked it.

 

“Good,” Jack said, pulling Danny close again. “Where were you touched that it was scary?” 

 

“I don’t like it when people I don’t know touch me,” Danny said, “but doctors always do.”

 

“Yes, they do,” Jack agreed. “It's part of how they make sure you're healthy. Can you tell me exactly what made you so scared?”

 

Danny considered this for a long moment. “It feels weird when they look everywhere,” he said finally, “and I never know what's coming next.”

 

“What if we ask Dr. Frasier to explain everything to you before she does anything?” Jack suggested.

 

Danny looked up, surprised. “Can we do that?”

 

“Of course we can” Jack assured him. “Dr. Frasier won’t mind. She’s very nice.”

 

Danny looked relieved at that, but then his head dropped again. “What if I ask too many questions?” he asked quietly.

 

Jack raised his eyes heavenward and prayed to whoever was listening, for the strength not to throttle whoever had convinced this bright, inquisitive little boy that he asked too many questions. “She’ll answer whatever questions you have, kiddo. There are never too many questions.”

 

Sure there were, Daniel thought. He ought to know. He got yelled at about it often enough. “Ms. Holman said I was just being nosy,” he told Jack softly.

 

Inwardly, Jack groaned. He should have known. If he never saw that old bat again it would be too soon, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Instead, he said, “I don’t think Ms. Holman was right, do you?”

 

Danny shrugged. “She’s a grownup. Grownups are right.”

 

Jack smiled and thought with dread to the day not too far in the future when this little one would become a teenager and lose that belief. Even as quiet as Danny was, there wasn’t a doubt in Jack’s mind that he would have his hands full. Returning to the problem at hand, he said, “Not all grownups are right. Grownups have their own problems that some times make them say or do things that aren't nice.”

 

Danny looked up, confused. “So asking questions isn’t nosy?”

 

Jack shook his head. “Not to me and not to Dr. Frasier.”

 

Danny thought about this for a while, obviously struggling to assimilate the new information. “Ok,” he said finally. “What if I don’t like the doctor touching me?”

 

“Then you tell her,” Jack replied, ”if it's something she needs to do to make sure you're healthy, she'll explain it to you. If she doesn't have to touch you, she won't, okay?”

 

“She won’t get mad?” Daniel questioned.

 

“She won’t get mad,” Jack assured him. Then, answering Daniel’s unspoken question, he added, “And neither will I.”

 

“Promise?” Daniel asked, looking up at Jack through his eyelashes.

 

“Promise.” Jack hugged Danny tight, sliding a hand around to tickle his belly.

 

Danny erupted into giggles. “Stop it!” Danny squealed. “That tickles.”

 

Though it was obviously only a token protest, Jack stopped, knowing Danny needed to set his own boundaries right now. “Ready to go?”

 

Danny took a deep breath to steel himself then slid off of Jack’s lap and stood up. “Ok.”

 

“Good,” Jack said. Getting to his feet, he slid an arm around Danny’s shoulders and led him out the door.

 

 

Janet was busy bandaging up a young airman when they arrived, so Jack and Danny waited over to the side until she was done. When she finished, Jack called, “Hey, Doc, got a minute?”

 

“Of course, Colonel,” Janet said, turning to face them. “What can I do for you today?” Seeing Danny, she went on, “Oh, hello, you must be Daniel.” Danny nodded shyly, sticking close to Jack’s side. “I’m very glad to meet you, Daniel,” Janet told him. “I’m Dr. Frasier, but you can call me Dr. Janet if you want.” Danny nodded, but didn’t say anything. Turning back to Jack, she asked again, “What brings you down here today, Colonel?”

 

“Well, Doc,” Jack said, “Danny and I have been talking about where he might go to school, and since he and Cassie are about the same age, we wanted to talk to you about Cassie’s school. Also, Danny needs to get a checkup. There’s nothing wrong, as far as we can tell. I’d just like to make sure he’s got the all clear before he starts school.”

 

“That’s probably a good idea,” Janet agreed. “Danny, why don’t you get up on the table,” she said, picking up on the name Jack called him, “and we’ll talk about school while I look you over.”

 

Danny hesitated, looking worriedly up at Jack. “It’s ok,” Jack said, in a low voice meant only for Danny’s ears. “You can tell Dr. Frasier. She won’t be mad.” To Janet, he said, “Danny’s a little nervous. He’s got a couple of things he wants to talk to you about.”

 

“Don’t worry about being nervous,” Janet told him. “Lots of people don’t like seeing a doctor. Col. O’Neill’s a terrible patient. Can’t stand being still.”

 

“Really?” Danny asked, looking to Jack.

 

“Really,” Jack confirmed, looking sheepish because he knew Janet was only half joking.

 

“Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Janet asked.

 

Danny took a deep breath, gathering his courage. “I don’t like to be touched much,” he said quietly, “and could you explain what you’re doing before you do it, please?”

 

“I’ll be glad to explain things,” Janet replied, “and if there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask. I like questions. I will have to touch you to examine you, but I’ll warn you before I do, and I’ll try not to do it anymore than I have to, ok?” Danny nodded. “Tell you what,” Janet continued, “since you’re a little nervous, why don’t we start with checking your height and weight. That can be done without touching you at all, just step up on the scale.”

 

“Ok,” Danny conceded quietly, walking over to the scale Janet gestured him to.

 

While a nurse took Danny’s measurements, Janet asked Jack, “Do you have any medical history?”

 

“Not much,” Jack answered, “only what was in the file Gen. Hammond had, and I assume you’ve seen that.”

 

Janet nodded. That information, what little there was, had already been logged into the base’s medical database. “Is he on any medications?”

 

Jack nodded, digging Danny’s inhaler and allergy pills out of his pocket. “He takes the pills every morning, but only uses the inhaler for emergencies.”

 

Janet took the medication from Jack and studied it carefully. Danny had finished with nurse and come back to join them, so Janet asked him, “Are your medications working ok?” Danny nodded. “Are you having any problems with your allergies?” Danny shook his head. “Good,” Janet said, “I still need to listen to how your lungs sound though. Can you hop up on the table so I can do that, please?” Danny climbed obediently onto the table, but studied Janet anxiously. “Don’t worry,” Janet assured him, “This won’t hurt at all. I just need to listen to your heart and lungs with the stethoscope.” She held her stethoscope up to show him. “Would you like to try it first?” Daniel nodded, biting his lip. Janet took the stethoscope from around her neck and placed it carefully in Daniel’s ears, positioning it so he could hear his heart. Daniel’s eyes went round. “That’s your heart beating,” Janet explained.

 

“It is?” Danny breathed. “Wow.”

 

Janet laughed. “Sounds pretty neat, doesn’t it?” Danny nodded. “Can I try now?” Janet asked. Danny handed over the stethoscope. Janet fitted the ends in her own ears and listened to Danny’s heart. “Sounds good,” she told him, “nice and strong. Now for your lungs. Breathe deep for me.” She placed the stethoscope first on Danny’s chest and then his back. “Good,” she said when she had finished. “Your lungs are clear, no fluid or wheezing. Now I need to listen to your tummy.” She moved the stethoscope down to Daniel’s abdomen. “Gurgle, gurgle,” Janet joked. “Sounds like you liked your breakfast.”

 

“You can hear my breakfast?” Daniel asked, amazed.

 

“Not exactly,” Janet admitted, “but I hear your body turning your breakfast into fuel.” She removed the stethoscope from her ears and hung it around her neck. “Now I need to check your reflexes.” Janet held up her reflex hammer to show Danny. “I need to tap your knees and elbows with this hammer. It won’t hurt, but if everything is working right, your arms and legs will jerk, and you won’t be able to stop it. Do you want to try it first?” Danny shook his head. He was beginning to think Dr. Janet was ok.

 

“About Cassie’s school,” Janet said as she quickly checked Danny’s reflexes, found them all normal, and noted her findings on the chart. “She goes to James Madison Elementary. It’s a public school, but they’re part of a pilot program that has smaller class sizes and both traditional and honors classes. Cass has honors classes for math and language arts and traditional classes for everything else. They have lots of activities for families, and they have quite a few military families so they are very understanding of our sometimes crazy schedules.” She gave Jack a knowing look as she said this, letting him know what she really meant was the security was excellent.

 

Jack returned her look with one of his own, acknowledging unspoken communication. This school was sounding like an excellent possibility.

 

“Now,” Janet said, getting back to Danny’s exam. “There’s just one more thing. I’ve checked everything on the outside, but I really need to check your blood to make sure everything’s ok on the inside. To do that, I need to draw a little of your blood. Have you ever had blood drawn before?”

 

“N-n-no,” Daniel stammered, eyes widening as Janet pulled out a hypodermic needle and supplies. Before Janet knew what was happening, Danny had pulled his feet beneath him and scrambled backward across the table. Jack, who was getting used to reading Danny’s signals by now, anticipated the flight, and rounded the table quickly to catch Danny from behind. “Whoa, there, kiddo, where’re you headed?” Jack asked as Danny bumped into his chest. Danny twisted, scrambling, frantic.

 

Jack gripped Danny’s shoulders firmly, not hard, just enough to still the panicked movements. “Easy,” Jack said gently. “Calm down. I’ve got you, and you’re safe. Take a deep breath and calm down.” Jack waited until Danny had taken a couple deep breaths and most of the frenzy was gone, before he asked, “What’s wrong, sport?”

 

“I don’t like needles, Col. Jack,” Danny whispered.

 

“I thought you’d never had blood drawn?” Jack asked, confused.

 

“I haven’t,” Danny explained, “but I’ve had shots, and they hurt. I don’t like needles.”

 

“Shots do hurt sometimes,” Jack agreed. “Drawing blood probably won’t hurt as much, but it may sting a little when the needle goes in.”

 

“See?” Danny insisted. “Needles hurt. I don’t wanna get stuck with a needle.”

 

“I know you don’t” Jack told him. “Unfortunately, this is one of those things we have to do to make sure you’re healthy. We have to do it, so what can we do to make it easier on you?” Danny gave Jack a pleading look. “It’s got to be done, sport,” Jack repeated.

 

Danny heaved a heavy sigh, knowing he’d lost the battle. “Will you sit with me then?” he asked quietly.

 

“Absolutely,” Jack said. He walked around and sat on the table near where Danny had originally been sitting. Danny crept hesitantly up beside him. Jack put out an arm and wrapped it around Danny’s shoulders, drawing Danny close to his side.

 

“I have another idea I think may help,” Janet put in when they were settled. She pulled out a butterfly needle and showed him. “See the needle part is thinner so it hurts less, and the part that I stick into the blood vial is way over here. That way I don’t bump where the needle goes into your arm. Do you think that will be any better?”

 

Danny looked at the contraption. It was definitely different from anything any nurses had used on him before. “Okay,” Danny agreed. “I might still make a fuss though,” he added quietly, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

 

Jack put a finger under Danny’s chin and lifted it. “No one’s going to be angry if you make a fuss.” Danny didn’t say anything, but the skepticism and fear in his eyes showed clearly enough. Sensing more going on here than fear of the needles and suspecting he knew the cause, Jack asked gently, “Did Ms. Holman get angry if you made a fuss?”

 

Danny nodded, tucking his head down onto his chest. “If we made a fuss about our shots, she’d smack our legs and tell us to behave,” he whispered, close to tears.

 

“That is not going to happen here,” Jack said with conviction. He pulled Danny into a tight hug. “No one here will ever do that to you.”

 

“No,” Janet agreed. “They most certainly won’t.” There was an odd note in her voice that made Jack look up, and the fire he saw in her eyes was enough to make Jack hope for Bernice Holman’s sake that she never had the misfortune to cross paths with Janet Frasier. He knew right then and there Danny had gained a strong ally in Janet, and for that, he was grateful. “Besides,” Janet went on, teasing now. “No one here would even notice if you did make a fuss. The marines do it all the time.”

 

“Really?” Danny asked, moving out of Jack’s hold and turning to face her.

 

“Really.” Janet nodded solemnly, eyes twinkling. “So don’t worry about it. Ready now?” Danny nodded. “Do you want Colonel O’Neill to hold your arm still? It doesn’t matter if you make a fuss, but it’ll go quicker and easier if your arm stays still.”

 

Danny looked at Jack and nodded. Then he put his left arm around Jack’s back, buried his face in Jack’s chest, and held out his right arm. “Just do it,” Danny told Janet. “I’ll get too nervous if you warn me.”

 

“Okay,” Janet agreed. Jack held onto Danny and his arm, while Janet cleaned the site. She gave Jack a visual warning when she was ready to insert the needle. Danny’s body flinched, and he yelped, but Jack held his arm still so he wouldn’t jar the needle. Then Janet filled two vials with blood, pulled out the needle and covered it with a cotton ball.

 

“That’s it,” Janet said, wrapping Daniel’s arm tightly, “all done. You did a great job. Leave the bandage on for half an hour or so just to make sure there’s no more bleeding, then you can take it off.” To Jack she said, “Everything looks pretty good. He’s a little underweight, and I suspect he’s slightly anemic, though I’ll have to wait on the blood workup to be sure, but that’s nothing good food, rest, and a few vitamins won’t cure. If the labs come back like I think they will, I’ll write you a prescription for some vitamins to get him started. I’m also going to write you a new prescription for an inhaler. Since Danny says it’s working fine, I’m not changing anything, just updating it so the school will know it’s current. You can get them filled with your pharmacist or at the base hospital. Also, I have a card for Cass’s school in my office. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind talking to you or showing you around. Let me get it for you so you can give them a call.”

 

“Thanks, Doc, I appreciate that,” Jack said, glancing at his watch. “We have an appointment with the general right now, so can we pick up the prescriptions and the phone number after we’re done?”

 

“Sure,” Janet replied, “That’ll be fine. It’ll take a little while to get the labs back anyway. Just come back by before you leave.”

 

“Will do,” Jack told her. Looking to Danny, he said, “Come on, sport, let’s go. Can’t keep General Hammond waiting.” Danny hopped down off the table and headed for the door.

 

“Bye, Danny,” Janet called as they were leaving. “Thanks for being such a good patient. You should give Col. O’Neill a lesson or two.”

 

Danny giggled, grinning at Jack. “Bye, Dr. Janet. See you later.”

 

 

 

 

Jack rapped on General Hammond’s door and waited for the familiar call of “Enter” before poking his head around the door.

 

“Col. O’Neill,” Hammond said, surprised. “I didn’t expect to see you here today. I thought I told you to take the week off and get Daniel settled.”

 

“You did, Sir,” Jack replied, stepping fully into the office and bringing Danny with him, “and believe it or not, that’s exactly what we’re working on. Danny wanted to see the mountain so I decided to give him a quick tour.” He emphasized the word tour, silently telegraphing the message that the standard tour was all he wanted Danny to get just yet.

 

General Hammond understood and concurred. Danny had enough to deal with at the moment. His place in the program could wait.

 

“While we were here,” Jack went on. “I thought we’d stop in and say hi, let you know we were back.”

 

“I’m glad you did,” Hammond said, getting up and coming around his desk to greet Danny.

 

Jack took that as his cue to make formal introductions. “General Hammond, this is Danny Jackson. Danny, this is General George Hammond, the commanding officer of the SGC and my boss.”

 

“Welcome to the SGC, son,” Hammond told Danny, “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” For a very long time, he added silently. It was an awesome feeling to stand here face to face with the child that was the culmination of a dream he’d spent most of his life pursuing. Even now, he could clearly see the young man he’d met lurking beneath the shy little boy. It could have been surreal, but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind this little boy, with the broken glasses and the bandage on his arm, was very, very real.

 

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Danny murmured automatically, never venturing far from Jack’s side.

 

“You’ll have to talk Col. O’Neill into bringing you by my house sometime,” Hammond went on. “My granddaughters are just a little younger than you, and I’m sure they’d love to meet you, too.”

 

Danny doubted it. He didn’t get along too well with other kids his age. Most kids didn’t like him. However, he didn’t want to tell the general that so he just stayed quiet.

 

Jack noticed Danny’s silence, but decided to let it go for now. “Actually, sir, that’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about,” he put in. “I’m thinking of having a get-together later this week, let the team hangout while we have some down time and give Danny a chance to meet everybody, and I wanted to invite you and Mrs. Hammond and Theresa and the girls to come. I’m not sure exactly when. We need to schedule some other things first, but if you think you could make it, I’ll let you know.”

 

“Absolutely,” General Hammond agreed. “I’ll have to check with Betty first, of course. You know she handles the scheduling around the house, but barring any prior commitment, we’d love to come. You just let me know.”

 

“We’ll do that, sir,” Jack replied. “Right now, though, we’ve got some other errands we need to take care of so, with your permission, we’ll get back to them.”

 

“By all means, go ahead. I appreciate you coming by to see me. You let me know about that get-together.” To Danny, he added, “You take care, young man, and don’t forget to make him bring you over sometime.” Danny nodded.

                                                                                                                       

“Yes, sir,” Jack said, adding his own agreement. He came briefly to attention as Hammond dismissed them then turned on his heel and lead Danny out the door.

 

 

They dropped back by the infirmary to pick up Danny’s prescriptions and to invite Janet and Cassie to the cookout. Then they swung by the base hospital to get them filled. Finally they entered the locker room so Jack could change back into civilian clothes, but before long they were loaded up and on their way again. “Have you decided whether you want to paint your room?” Jack asked once they were on the road.

 

Danny nodded. “I think I’d like that,” he said quietly. He didn’t really care what color the room was, but he couldn’t resist the opportunity to choose it himself.

 

“Ok,” Jack replied. “We’ll hit the paint store first then.”

 

Inside the paint store, Jack found the section for the type of paint they needed then asked Danny, “Have you decided what color you want?”

 

Danny shrugged, seeming overwhelmed by all the choices.

 

“Oh-kay,” Jack said slowly, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck as he tried to decide the best way to help Danny make this decision. Finally, he said, “What’s your favorite color?”

 

“Blue,” Danny replied.

 

Let’s start there then,” Jack suggested. Moving over to the color chart, he handed Danny the small flip chart showing the shades of blue. “You don’t have to choose blue,” Jack reminded him. “This is just somewhere to start.” Danny nodded and began to silently examine the different shades. He flipped through the colors several times. He never said a word, but his eyes kept coming back to the sample of a brilliant sky blue. “Do you like this one?” Jack asked finally.

 

“Yeah,” Danny answered quietly. He liked that one a lot. It reminded him of the skies over the desert.

 

“Is this the one you want?” Jack prodded. Danny nodded. “You’re sure you don’t want to look at other colors?”

 

Danny shook his head. “This one.”

 

Jack nodded and made note of the name so they could find it. Then he asked, “Do you want to paint the trim a separate color or leave it the same?”

 

“Paint it white,” Danny said with a decisiveness that startled Jack. Not wanting to discourage the decision, Jack didn’t ask questions. He simply noted the name of a white paint and headed out to find the colors they needed.

 

“Col. Jack,” Danny said as they turned to go. “Could we,” he began then hesitated. “Never mind,” he said quietly, trailing off.

 

“What is it Danny?” Jack asked. Danny shook his head. “I told you, Danny,” Jack continued, “it’s your room. You can do it however you want, within reason, and I can’t know if it’s reasonable if you won’t ask.”

 

Danny drew a deep breath, seeming to gather his courage around him. “Can we do clouds?”

 

“Clouds?” Jack echoed, confused.

 

“Clouds,” Danny repeated. “Can we paint clouds in my room? On the walls and the ceiling?”

 

“Oh, clouds,” Jack said slowly as understanding dawned. “Sure.” He mentally adjusted his calculations of the amount of paint they’d need, remembering vividly an afternoon spent perched precariously on Charlie’s bed attaching glow-in-the-dark stars to the ceiling. If he’d survived that without breaking his neck, he could do clouds. “Is there anything else special you’d like to do?” Danny shook his head. “Ok then, let’s get this stuff and head out.” They found the paint quickly and headed to pay for it, adding rollers, pans, brushes, and other supplies along the way. By the time they’d made their purchases and loaded up everything, it was lunchtime so they grabbed a quick bite at a fast food place and headed to the furniture store.

 

The furniture store was a bit of a maze so it took some time to find the bedroom furniture, but finally, after navigating a dizzying maze of displays, Jack found them. “Do you still think you want bunk beds?” he asked Danny. Danny nodded. “Alright, let’s see what we can find.” It took a bit more maneuvering, but they finally found the section for children’s rooms, which did indeed feature several different types of bunk beds, both traditional and captain’s bed styles in everything from classic woods to metal bunks in bold primary colors. “Look around and see what you think,” Jack told Danny, and was surprised when Danny didn’t immediately run off to start exploring things, climbing everywhere as most ten-year-old boys would have. Instead, Danny walked slowly around the different sets, studying the choices carefully. Because Danny had liked the bright colors in the children’s museum so much, Jack was sure he would choose one of the brightly colored sets, but Danny barely spared them a glance. Instead, it was the traditional wooden sets Danny seemed most interested in. After a few minutes, Jack could tell Danny had narrowed his choices down to two sets, a captain’s bed style set with a full bed on bottom and a twin bed on top in a light pine finish and a shaker style set with two twin beds in a darker burnished brown with decorative metal slats on the head and foot boards, but he seemed to be having trouble choosing between the two.

 

Finally, Jack decided to give him a hand. “Those are both good choices,” Jack said, walking over to where Danny stood in the aisle between the two beds. They were, in fact, excellent choices, solid, sturdy styles Danny would likely be happy with for a long time, and Jack was impressed Danny had chosen them. “Before you decide though, there are a couple things you should think about. This one,” Jack pointed to the one with the larger bottom bunk, “has a bigger bottom bed so you’d have more room, but it can’t be taken apart. The other one is smaller, but they can be taken apart so if you got tired of bunk beds, they could be set up as two single beds, or one could be moved out if you wanted. Would you rather have more room or be able to take them apart?”

 

Danny considered this for a moment. He’d spent most of his life sleeping on cots in tents or in creaky metal bunks in foster homes. He was used to a small bed so that didn’t really matter much. However, he liked the idea of being able to move the beds around if he chose. “This one,” he decided, touching the footboard of the shaker style bed.

 

“This one,” Jack repeated, laying his hand beside Danny’s. Danny nodded. “This one it is then. We’ll get the chest, too, if it’s all the same to you.” Jack gestured to the matching chest of drawers. Again, Danny nodded. “What about the desk?”

 

Danny hesitated. The desk was ok, but it was obviously a kid’s desk, and he really wanted a real grownup desk. Still, Col. Jack had bought him so much already. He didn’t want to seem picky or ungrateful. “It’s ok, I guess,” Danny said finally.

 

Jack could tell by the tone of Danny’s voice the desk wasn’t really what he wanted so he said, “Tell you what, why don’t we look around a little more before you decide. If we don’t find anything you like better, we can always come back and get this one. We need to look at bookshelves anyway.”

 

“Ok,” Danny said, relieved to be given an alternative, and followed Jack off in search of bookshelves. They found two basic upright bookshelves in a similar style and finish to the beds Danny had chosen and added them to the tally then wandered around looking for desks. A desk turned out to be the most difficult thing to find of all. Although Danny was too shy to come out and say he didn’t like anything they saw, Jack could tell he wasn’t satisfied. Finally, when Jack had just about given up hope of ever finding anything and was beginning to get a raging headache, they found it. Tucked in the corner of one of the living room displays was an old style roll-top desk with tons of cubbies and small drawers.  Jack knew the moment Danny laid eyes on it that this was the one. The boy was absolutely fascinated. “You like this one, don’t you, sport?” Jack asked, after checking the price to make sure it was in his range. Danny nodded shyly. “You’re sure?” Jack asked. The desk was much larger and more elaborate than what he had envisioned, but it was obviously what Danny wanted, and he had to admit it went well with the things Danny had already chosen.

 

“I like it a lot,” Danny admitted quietly, “but it’s too much.”

 

The resigned tone in Danny’s voice stopped Jack cold. He stepped in front of Danny and knelt down to look him in the eye. “If I had thought it was too much, I wouldn’t have asked if you wanted it. If this is the one you want, this is the one we’ll get. Let me worry about how much is too much.”

 

“I just don’t want to be too much trouble,” Danny said softly, head down.

 

“Danny, look at me,” Jack said, quiet but firm. Danny lifted his eyes to Jack’s. “You are never too much trouble, no matter what, and certainly not just because you wanted a desk. Got it?” Danny nodded; though it was obvious he wasn’t at all sure he believed Jack. Jack stood up and pulled him into a one-armed hug. “So, this desk is the one?” Jack asked, wanting to be sure. Again, Danny nodded. “Ok then, I think that’s everything.” Danny followed silently as Jack paid for the purchases and made arrangements to have them delivered. The store couldn’t deliver them for two days, but that was fine with Jack because it gave them time to paint the next day. By the time they made it to the truck, it was clear the stress of the day was beginning to wear on Danny. They still needed to get Danny’s bed linens and buy groceries, but Jack resolved to make those two errands as quick and painless as possible.

 

Getting the rest of the things for Danny’s room turned out to be surprisingly easy. Danny chose cloud sheets to match the clouds he wanted on the walls and dark blue comforters and decided he didn’t want either a rug or curtains, preferring instead to keep the blinds that were already in the room and leave the wooden floors uncovered. Jack was relieved Danny was finally feeling confident enough to make some of these decisions on his own, but somehow, after the experience with the syrup this morning, he doubted buying groceries would be so simple.

 

In the truck, Jack decided to confront Danny’s hesitancy head on. “You made some good choices today, sport,” he told Danny. “I like the way you decided to do your room, and I’m proud of you for being honest with me about what you liked and wanted.” Even tired as he was, Danny lit up at the praise. “I know you’re tired,” Jack went on, “but we need to make a trip to the grocery store before we go home, if we want to have food to eat for the rest of the week. I don’t know what you like and don’t like to eat so I’m going to need you to tell me, ok? I don’t want you to have to eat things you don’t like.”

 

“Ok,” Danny replied, “but there’s not much I don’t like.”

 

True to his word, Danny agreed with nearly everything Jack chose. However, he vetoed broccoli and grape juice and specifically asked for chocolate milk, which reassured Jack it was more the fact Danny simply wasn’t a picky eater than nervousness that made him agreeable. When they’d finally gotten everything they needed for themselves, as well as supplies for the barbecue Jack wanted to have for the team, they headed home.

 

At home, they unloaded the truck together. Danny took his things to his room and then came back, at Jack’s request, to help put away the groceries while Jack started spaghetti for dinner. By the time the groceries were put away, the food was nearly done so Jack set Danny to work setting the table, and they sat down to eat.

 

When they were done, Jack sent Danny off to take his bath while he cleaned the kitchen and then called Carter to see if she and Teal’c would help paint Danny’s room the following day. She readily agreed, telling Jack she would check with Teal’c first thing in the morning. They decided to meet around lunchtime the next day so Jack would have time to take Danny to have his glasses repaired the following morning. Jack also invited them to come for the barbecue on Thursday evening after Danny’s furniture was delivered. Carter not only agreed to come, but also volunteered to bring dessert, an offer, which Jack readily took her up on. After hanging up with her, Jack called General Hammond’s family to invite them to the barbecue, and then called Janet, who not only agreed she and Cassie would come, but also gave Jack the name of a vision clinic in a mall that took walk-in appointments. Jack jotted down the information and some basic directions so that he could find it the following morning and then hung up.

 

By this time, Danny had finished his bath and come into the den where Jack was making his calls. Seeing Danny was still wearing his Air Force tee shirt, Jack smacked himself in the forehead. “Pajamas,” Jack blurted. “I completely forgot your pajamas. I’m so sorry, sport. We’ll get them tomorrow.”

 

Danny shrugged. “That’s ok. I don’t mind wearing this.” He paused then as a new thought occurred to him. “Unless you want your shirt back.”

 

“No, I don’t mind at all,” Jack assured him quickly. “That shirt’s yours, sport, for as long as you need it, but we’ll still get you some pajamas tomorrow.”

 

“Ok,” Danny replied indifferently.

 

“You ready for bed?” Jack asked. It was early yet, but Danny was exhausted so he simply nodded.  “Ok then, let’s get you tucked in,” Jack said, following Danny down the hall to his room. As Danny climbed into bed, Jack continued, “Carter and our other teammate Teal’c are coming to help paint your room tomorrow afternoon, and we need to get your glasses repaired in the morning.”

 

“Did they finally get my insurance fixed?” Danny asked.

 

Jack shrugged. “I haven’t asked. Whether they have or not, you need new glasses.”

 

“But I can’t get new glasses until they get my insurance fixed,” Danny protested. “Without insurance, it costs too much cause my lenses have to be so strong.”

 

Jack ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. Sometimes it felt like everything with Danny was a battle. Either he wouldn’t talk at all or he wanted to argue every word. He’d thought Danny would be excited about getting new glasses. “Danny,” he said finally, “We’ve already been through this today. Let me worry about these things. You need new glasses. You’re getting new glasses. How I pay for them is my business, not yours. Understood?”

 

“Ok,” Danny said uncertainly, burrowing down into his bedding.

 

Jack tucked the covers around him and ruffled his hair affectionately, hoping to take the sting out of the words. “Sleep tight, kiddo. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said, and then he was gone.

 

 

The nightmares Jack had been expecting the first night, came at 2:30 the next morning. He bolted awake to the sound of Danny’s terrified screams. Racing down the hall, he found Danny thrashing around in his blankets, screaming, still sound asleep. Jack approached Danny carefully, not sure how Danny would react if he were suddenly startled awake. He sat down beside Danny on the bed and shook his shoulder gently. “Danny, wake up, it’s Jack.” Having no success, he tried again, a little more firmly. “Danny, wake up, it’s Jack.”

 

Coming awake, Danny jerked upright and tried immediately to pull away, but Jack’s hand on his shoulder kept him still. “Easy,” Jack said softly. “You were dreaming, but you’re ok. Calm down. I’m here, and you’re safe.”

 

Danny was beginning to calm now and was embarrassed to have woken Col. Jack up. “S-sorry for w-waking you up,” he stammered, still trembling. “I-I’m fine now. Y-you can go b-back to sleep.”

 

“Not on you’re life, kiddo,” Jack told him. He pulled Danny onto his lap, and held him tight, hoping to stop the trembling. “I’m here as long as you need me.” He began rubbing Danny’s back gently. “Want to tell me about your nightmare?” Danny shook his head, burying his face in Jack’s chest. “You sure?” Jack prodded. “It might help to talk about it.”

 

“There were people everywhere, p-pulling on me, and I was s-so s-scared,” Danny answered quietly, and then began to sob.

 

“Shh! It’s ok,” Jack soothed. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’ve got you.” Eventually, Danny’s crying lessened and tapered off. He didn’t say anymore, and Jack didn’t push, just continued to hold him and soothe him until he fell asleep again. Then, Jack carefully tucked Danny back into bed and headed back to his own room to try to sleep.

 

 

After their early morning upheaval, both Jack and Danny slept late and woke up groggy. Unfortunately, sleeping late also meant they had to rush if they wanted to get Danny to the eye doctor. Jack woke Danny and told him to get dressed while Jack took a quick shower. Then, they both had a bowl of cereal for breakfast.

 

“You ok, sport?” Jack asked as they were eating, noticing Danny seemed even more subdued than usual.

 

Danny nodded then said quietly, “I’m sorry about last night.”

 

“Don’t apologize for that,” Jack told him. “You don’t ever have to apologize for being afraid.”

 

Danny just kept his eyes on his bowl and returned to eating silently.

 

“Kiddo, I was wondering something,” Jack said carefully, after a moment. “I was wondering if maybe part of the reason you’re a little unsure about things sometimes is because you don’t know what the rules are?” Danny looked up, surprised, and Jack froze, hoping he hadn’t spooked Danny further. He hadn’t planned on having this conversation yet, but sometime in the wee hours this morning, when he was fitfully trying to sleep, it had dawned on him Danny might need the structure to feel safe. His gut was telling him this was where he needed to go, and he had to hope his gut was right. Finally, after a long pause, Danny nodded slowly.

 

“Ok,” Jack went on, relieved he seemed to have chosen the right path. “Why don’t you tell me what the rules were where you used to live, and we’ll go from there?”

 

Danny shrugged. “Just normal stuff I guess. Be where you’re supposed to be. Be on time for breakfast and dinner. Keep your room clean. No fighting, and no getting up after lights out.”

 

“Those sound like good rules,” Jack said thoughtfully, “and we’ll keep some of them as our rules, like no fighting and keeping your room clean. Being where you’re supposed to be is a good rule too, but for us I think it makes more sense to say not to leave the house without permission. In the house, I don’t care where you go with the exception of my room. I don’t want you going in there unless I’m with you. My room is my personal space just like your room is yours. I won’t go through your things without permission, and I expect you to do the same for mine.”

 

Danny nodded, nearly indignant. “I wouldn’t bother things, Col. Jack. I know how to respect people’s stuff.”

 

“I’m sure you do,” Jack assured him, “but this way there are no misunderstandings. Now, in addition to keeping your room clean, I’ll expect you to help around the house, and you’ll have chores that are your job to do. Right now, you’re only chore is setting the table, which you’re already doing, but I’ll probably add others as we go along. Any questions so far?”

 

Danny shook his head. These were all pretty basic rules, and a lot less confusing than some of the rules in other places.

 

“Good,” Jack continued. “As far as getting up after bedtime goes, I don’t want you just getting up and wandering around, but it’s ok to come get me if you need me, especially if you’re sick or upset. In fact, I want you to come get me if you’re sick or upset, ok?” Danny looked surprised, but he nodded so Jack went on, “Other than that, I only have three big rules. The first is that you do what you’re told. That means if I tell you to do or not to do something, you obey. Period. It’s ok to ask questions if you’re not sure what I mean, but not to argue or talk back. If it’s not something you think you can or should do, tell me, calmly, and we’ll discuss it. Sometimes there are going to be other adults who take care of you too, at school, at daycare, and when I have to be away for my job. This rule goes for them too. If you have a problem with something they tell you, let me know when you get home and we’ll discuss it. If something needs to be done about it, I’ll take care of it. The one exception is if you ever get scared of something someone asks you to do, it’s ok not to do it, but be sure you have a very good reason not to before you make that decision. Got it?” Danny nodded, and Jack continued, “Doing as you’re told also means if I ask you a question, you answer, with your voice.” Jack grinned at him then, softening the words. “I can do a lot of things, kid, but I can’t hear your marbles rattle.” Jack reached out and tapped him gently on the head, and Danny giggled.

 

Jack waited until the giggles had subsided before moving on. “You already know the second big rule. I always want you to be honest with me. Don’t ever lie to me, no matter how small a lie. Even if I don’t like what you tell me, I’d always rather you be honest with me. Got it?”

 

Danny started to nod, but caught himself. “Got it.”

 

Jack ruffled his hair affectionately, silently praising the effort. “Good. I only have one more big rule. I expect you to be polite and respectful. That means using basic courtesy like please and thank you and saying “yes, sir,” and “no, sir,” and “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am” to adults. It also means using basic table manners like using a napkin, keeping your elbows off the table, and asking to be excused when you’re done. If you’re not sure about what to do, ask. I know there are things you don’t know. It’s my job to teach you. Understand?

 

Danny nodded shyly. Jack raised an eyebrow, and Danny blushed. “Yes, sir.”

 

“I think that covers the basic rules,” Jack concluded. “Other things will probably come up later, but we’ll deal with that as it comes. Is there anything you have questions about?”

 

“What happens if I break a rule?” Danny asked hesitantly.

 

“What happened at the home if you broke the rules?” Jack questioned.

 

“Different things,” Danny replied. “Room restriction or early bed time or doing time out on the bench outside the office, usually.”

 

“I’ll probably use very similar consequences,” Jack said. “You might be grounded or have an early bed time or have to stand in the corner, but I really believe in making the punishment fit the crime so most of the time, the consequences of breaking a rule will depend on exactly what happened. Don’t misunderstand me though; even though the consequences might be different, there will be consequences. Every time. Understood?”

 

“Yes, sir,” Danny said, eyes wide. Though the words were spoken calmly, there was a seriousness there that left Danny absolutely certain Jack meant what he said. That was a little scary, but good too. Somehow, it felt safe.

 

“Anything else?” Jack asked.

 

Danny shook his head. “No, sir.”

 

“Sweet,” Jack said, getting up from his seat to put his bowl in the sink. “Finish your cereal and we’ll get you those glasses.”

 

 

The vision clinic Janet told Jack about was easy to find since it was located in a popular shopping center not far from his house. Since it was early morning on a weekday, they weren’t very busy and were able to see Danny quickly. After his experience with Danny’s checkup, Jack wasn’t sure how Danny would react to the eye exam. However, he needn’t have worried. Danny breezed through with an ease born of long experience. Before long, all that was left was for Danny to choose his new frames. The sales lady showed them the frames Danny could choose from, but then had to step away to assist another customer so they were left to browse on their own. As he had when choosing furniture, Danny browsed slowly, studying each choice carefully. Jack, in turn, tried to stay back and let Danny make his own choices, though he would occasionally offer suggestions. Within a short period of time, it became obvious to Jack Danny was struggling with the decision so he decided to step in and lend a hand.

 

“Danny, do you like any of these frames?” Jack asked, moving over to where Danny stood. Danny shrugged. Jack picked up a pair of heavy, black plastic frames of the sort he remembered his geeky science teacher wearing when he was in high school, and put them on Danny. “How about these?” he asked, winking. “Do you like them?”

 

Danny made a face. “No, not really.”

 

“Really?” Jack said with a teasing grin. “I think they look fantastic.”

 

Danny giggled. “No, they’re not. They’re awful.”

 

Jack pretended to study the frames again. “Yeah, I guess your right.” He put them back and chose another, much more flattering pair. “How about this pair?”

 

“They’re better,” Danny said quickly. The suddenness of the answer surprised Jack, especially since Danny had barely looked in the mirror. Jack studied Danny for along moment, trying to place the nagging puzzlement he felt. Suddenly, he realized Danny was standing a long way back from the mirror, and with his nearsightedness, there was no way he could see himself clearly from that distance, especially without his glasses. “Danny, why don't you get closer to the mirror so you can actually see yourself?” he suggested, carefully keeping his tone neutral.

 

Danny blushed, but took a few hesitant steps closer to the mirror.

 

“Can you see yourself yet?” Jack questioned.

 

“A little,” Danny replied, but made no further move toward the mirror. He didn’t want people to think he was blind as a bat, even if he really was.

 

“You need to get close enough to see yourself so you can tell which frames you like best,” Jack prodded. Danny sighed and reluctantly stepped up until he was five or six inches from the mirror and could finally see himself. Jack picked up another pair of frames and put them on Danny. “Do you like these more or less than the last pair?” he asked.

 

“More,” Danny answered.

 

“Ok,” Jack laid that pair to the side and repeated the process several more times until a pattern in Danny’s preferences began to emerge. When he discovered the pattern, he stopped and told Danny, “You seem to like ones like these,” He held up a pair with wire rims and oval-shaped lenses, “and these best.” He held up a second similar pair with round lenses. “So, I want you to pick five more pair you think you might like, and we’ll try them.” Danny nodded and immediately turned toward the panel displaying the least expensive frames. Jack caught his shoulders and turned him back to the panel with slightly more expensive, but better quality frames. “From this panel.” He handed Danny back his old glasses so he could see his choices.

 

“But…” Danny began, looking up at Jack uncertainly.

 

“You heard me, young man,” Jack said with gentle seriousness, “this panel.” Jack glanced at his watch. “If you haven’t made some progress in ten minutes, I’m picking the first pair for you,” he gave Danny a slow grin, eyes alight with laughter, “and you know what the first pair I picked looked like.”

 

Danny grimaced comically and smiled. “Yes, sir.” Then, he turned to studying his choices. Jack wandered idly around the room, giving him time to think. After a few minutes, Danny approached him carrying several sets of frames. “I think I’ve got five, Col. Jack.”

 

Jack looked over the frames Danny had chosen. “Good choices, sport. Let’s try them on you so you can see which pair you like best.” They walked back over to the mirror. “Let’s try these two at a time,” Jack told Danny. “Each time, you tell me which pair you like best, and we’ll keep those and try the next ones until we find the best ones, ok?”

 

“Ok,” Danny replied. He took off his old glasses and handed them to Jack.

 

“This one,” Jack asked, putting the first pair on Danny’s face, “or this one.” He took off the first frames and replaced them with a new pair.

 

“The first one,” Danny said, after a moment.

 

Jack kept the first pair and tried again. “This one or this one?”

 

“The second one,” Danny said.

 

“Ok,” Jack replied, and kept going. They repeated the process until Danny had narrowed the choices down to one pair. “I think you’ve got it, sport,” Jack said. “What do you think?”

 

“I think I like them,” Danny said, with a small smile.

 

“I agree,” Jack said. “You made a good choice.” The difference in Danny’s appearance amazed Jack. The old frames had seemed to swallow him, making him appear neglected, frail, and somehow old. In the new frames, a reddish brown wire rim pair with round lenses that fit him well, he was just a little boy, a cute, shy little boy, but a boy, not a waif. “Now we need to talk to the sales lady and make sure your lenses will work, okay?”

 

Danny nodded. “Okay.”

 

It didn’t take them long to find the sales lady, who not only confirmed Danny’s lenses would work, but also said the store could rush the order so they would be able to pick up the glasses that afternoon. Danny was shocked. He’d expected it to take at least a week to get them back, and had resigned himself to starting his new school in his broken glasses. He was thrilled he wouldn’t have to, but didn’t want to make a fuss so he simply stood quietly while Col. Jack talked to the lady.

 

Jack listened disinterestedly as the saleslady rattled off the details of Danny’s order, only giving her his full attention when she came to the total. The total was within the range Jack expected so he handed over his credit card without comment. Danny nudged him, looking nervous. “What’s the matter, sport?”

 

“It’s just,” Danny hedged, looking at the floor. “That’s a lot.”

 

Jack shrugged. “It’s not that much. It’s about what I expected.”

 

“But…” Danny insisted.

 

Jack sighed. He should have expected this. “Whose job is it to worry about the money, Danny?” he asked, quietly but firmly.

 

“Yours,” Danny said softly, tucking his head into his chest.

 

Jack tapped him gently on the head, making him look up. “Then let me pay, and we’ll go find you some pajamas and eat lunch, ok?”

 

“Ok,” Danny agreed, relieved Col. Jack wasn’t really mad. He watched as Jack signed the receipt, put it and his credit card away, and found out what time to pick up the glasses. Then, he followed him out the door.

 

 

“Do you want to get lunch or pajamas first?” Jack asked Danny as they stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the vision center.

 

“Lunch,” Danny said. He wasn’t all that hungry, but he didn’t really want to buy pajamas. He was perfectly happy sleeping in Col. Jack’s shirt, but it seemed important to Col. Jack to get him pajamas, and he didn’t want to argue or seem ungrateful. Still, he wanted to put off buying them for as long as he could.

 

“Ok,” Jack said, looking around to survey their choices. “Looks like we’ve got pizza, Mexican, or sandwiches, which do you want?”

 

“Pizza,” Danny answered quickly.

 

Jack grinned. He should have known. Danny was ten. Of course he wanted pizza. “Pizza it is then,” Jack said, setting off in the direction of that restaurant, calling Sam on his cell along the way to let her know they were waiting to pick up the glasses and rearrange their plans.

 

That settled, he and Danny ordered their slices of pizza and took a seat at a table along the front of the store. “So,” Jack said while they were eating, “what kind of pajamas do you like?”

 

Danny shrugged. Since he didn’t want them at all, he hadn’t given it much thought.

 

“Didn’t quite catch that,” Jack said, raising an eyebrow.

 

“I’m not sure,” Danny answered, remembering he was supposed to use his voice.

 

“Better,” Jack said, smiling. “What did you have in New York?”

 

Again, Danny shrugged, but this time, he added, “Different stuff, whatever people donated.”

 

Jack was struck all over again by the absolute hand to mouth existence Danny had been living, completely dependent on the kindness of strangers. It made him all the more determined to give the boy a place to call his own. “Well,” Jack went on, pulling himself out of his thoughts, “of all the different stuff, which did you like best.”

 

“I really didn’t care,” Danny said, meaning it. As long as he wasn’t freezing to death, he could’ve cared less.

 

“You’re going to have to choose something, sport,” Jack insisted, a little exasperated. “Unless you just want to keep sleeping in my shirt.”

 

“I wouldn’t mind that,” Danny replied quietly. Though he couldn’t have explained it if he tried, he liked sleeping in Col. Jack’s shirt. It was a connection, of a sort, as though he really belonged someplace for once.

 

Jack heard the sincerity in Danny’s voice, realizing for the first time Danny not only wouldn’t mind continuing as he was, but he wanted to. “You’re welcome to keep wearing the shirt if you want, sport,” Jack told him, “but you need at least one other thing. The tee shirt will have to be washed sometime.”

 

Danny looked shyly up at him. "Don't you have anymore tee shirts?"

 

Jack chuckled. “Yes, I do, and we’ll find you another one if you want, but will you at least consider getting some pajama bottoms to go with them? It gets cold here in winter.”

 

Danny thought about this for a minute. It seemed like a reasonable compromise. “Ok.”

 

“That’s a plan then,” Jack said, finishing off his drink and gathering his trash. “Finish up and we’ll go get them.”

 

“I’m done,” Danny replied. He cleared off his own place and deposited his trash, and they headed off together in search of pajamas.

 

The department store on the other end of the shopping center turned out to have just what they needed. Having learned by now that Danny could easily become overwhelmed by lots of choices, Jack asked immediately if he wanted help.

 

“Yes, sir,” Danny agreed, grateful Col. Jack understood it was sometimes hard for him to choose.

 

“Ok,” Jack said, “Close your eyes.” Danny gave him a puzzled look but obeyed. Jack grasped Danny gently by the shoulders and spun him around three times. “Ok, now, quick, pick three pairs you like and hand them to me.” Danny giggled but grabbed the first three pairs he liked, two with cartoon characters and one plaid, and handed them to Jack. “Good job,” Jack said, checking the sizes and exchanging the one pair that was too large. “You did that like a pro.”

 

“It was easy,” Danny told him, beaming. They still had about half an hour before they had to pick up Danny’s glasses so Jack suggested they go ahead and get Danny’s school clothes. They choose jeans, slacks, shirts, and even underwear in the same method, and for once, Danny was too caught up in the process to worry about money. Finally, when they’d found everything they thought Danny might need, they paid for the purchases, picked up Danny’s glasses, and headed out to meet Sam and Teal’c.

 

Sam and Teal’c were waiting for them in the driveway when they arrived home. “Hey, Colonel,” Sam called as they got out of the truck. “Hey, Danny, cool glasses.”

 

“Thanks,” Danny said softly. He stuck close to Jack’s side and eyed Teal’c curiously.

 

It dawned on Jack belatedly that Danny hadn’t met Teal’c yesterday at the SGC, and he needed to introduce them. He turned to Teal’c. “Teal'c, this is Danny Jackson. Danny, this is Teal’c, a member of my team.” Both Carter and Teal’c shot him surprised looks when he used Teal’c’s real name rather than Murray, but neither said anything. For Jack’s part, he’d decided to stick as close to the truth as possible to make it easier when Danny was told the truth. If Danny had questions, he’d deal with them later.

 

“It is an honor to meet you, Danny Jackson,” Teal’c said, inclining his head in his customary formal manner.

 

“You too, sir,” Danny said quietly, picking up on Teal’c’s formality.

 

The silence that stretched between them might have been awkward had Jack not broken it by putting everybody to work. ”Carter, if you and Danny will unload the truck, Teal’c and I will bring the painting stuff in from the garage,” he said, turning to Sam.

 

“Sure,” Sam replied, taking bags from the back of the truck and handing them to Danny before grabbing the remainder herself.

 

“Just put everything in the den for now,” Jack called after them as they headed into the house. “We’ll put things away when we’re done painting.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Sam and Danny answered together and laughed.

 

It didn’t take long to deposit the bags in the den, though they were careful to put them out of the way so that other things could be moved in as Danny’s room was cleared out. “Let’s go take a look at your room, and see what needs to be done to get it ready to paint,” Sam told Danny when the bags were settled.

 

“Ok,” Danny said, following quietly behind her.

 

“What color is your room going to be?” Sam asked as they made their way down the hall.

 

“Blue,” Danny answered.

 

“Light blue or dark blue?” Sam wondered.

 

“Light blue,” Danny replied, “like the sky, and Col. Jack says we can paint clouds too.”

 

“Clouds,” Sam echoed, stopping in the doorway to survey Danny’s room. “That is a very cool idea.”

 

Danny flushed, ducking his head shyly. “So what do we need to do first?” he asked hesitantly.

 

“Have you ever painted before?” Sam wanted to know.

 

Danny shook his head.

 

“Well, the first thing we have to do is get everything out of the room,” Sam told him. “Why don’t we empty the closet and drawers first, and then we’ll go from there.”

 

“They’re mostly empty anyway,” Danny told her, “I don’t have much stuff.”

 

That’ll soon change, Sam thought.  Knowing the colonel like she did, not to mention the other members of the team, there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Danny’s room would soon be overflowing with typical kid paraphernalia. After all, Cassie had certainly caught up quickly enough.

 

“It shouldn’t take us long to empty everything out then,” Sam said, keeping her thoughts to herself. “Do you want to empty out your things yourself, and let me just take the empty drawers, or do you want me to help with everything?”

 

Danny shrugged. “I don’t care.”

 

“Ok then, why don’t you take the stuff out of the dresser, and I’ll take the stuff out of the closet.” Danny nodded and began pulling open dresser drawers. Sam stepped over to the closet and set to work. Spying Danny’s battered camel peeping out of his duffel bag lying on the closet floor, Sam picked it up and asked, “Who’s this?”

 

“Lumpy,” Danny answered shyly.

 

“He seems pretty special,” Sam commented, taking in the camel’s worn plush exterior and frazzled tail.

 

“He is,” Danny said quietly. “I’ve had him since I was just a baby.” Though Danny didn’t say it, Lumpy was his one tangible link to his early childhood in Egypt.

 

Sam didn’t know enough about Danny’s past to make that connection, but even she could see this little camel was very important to Danny. “We’ll have to take very good care of him then,” Sam said, handing the camel to Danny. “Why don’t you take Lumpy into the den so we know he’ll be safe from the paint?”

 

“Ok,” Danny agreed. He set Lumpy atop a pile of clothes and carried them all into the den. Sam followed, carrying Danny’s hanging clothes. They went on in this manner, working methodically around the room until all of Danny’s things had been removed from the room. Danny surprised Sam by being a willing worker who needed little supervision once you got him started. By the time Jack and Teal’c returned, nothing was left but the furniture.

 

“Whoa, you two have been busy,” Jack said, bringing in the paint.

 

“Yes, sir,” Sam agreed, “Danny’s a good worker.”

”I've noticed,” Jack said, reaching out to mess Danny’s hair. “It looks like you've left the heavy stuff for Teal'c and I though.”

 

Sam shrugged. “The heavy stuff was a little more than Danny and I could handle.”

 

“No problem,” Jack told her. “Teal'c and I can handle it.” He turned to Teal’c. “Teal'c, most of this stuff's going to the basement because Danny here's getting new furniture. Can you handle the mattress?”

 

“Certainly, O'Neill,” Teal’c replied, grabbing the mattress easily. “I will be happy to oblige.”

”Carter, you want to see if the bed frame comes apart,” Jack said, hefting the box spring. “It'll be easier to carry it that way.”

 

“Sure.” She looked over the frame quickly. “I can probably get it apart if you have the tools, sir.”

 

Jack nodded and looked to Danny. “Danny, go check and see if my tool box is in the garage.  I'll be back after I drop this off.”

 

Danny immediately jumped up and ran to the garage. He returned a few minutes later, lugging a toolbox and looking uncertain. “I think this is it,” he said hesitantly, “but I’m not sure.”

 

Sam took the toolbox from Danny and quickly surveyed its contents to make sure it had what she needed. “Looks like it,” she told Danny, pulling out a pair of pliers and setting to work.

 

Jack and Teal’c trooped back in from downstairs. “Looks like you’ve got everything under control, Carter.”

 

Sam nodded, never looking up from what she was working on. “Yes, sir. I just need to get it apart, then you two can take it downstairs.”

 

“Ok,” Jack said, “we’ll get rid of the dresser then.” He turned to Teal’c, and they were soon deep in discussion of the logistics of getting the dresser down the stairs.

 

Danny stayed close to Sam, watching silently, hands stuck deep in the back pockets of his jeans. “Can I help?” he asked quietly, after a moment.

 

“Sure.” Sam glanced over at the toolbox to find the tool she needed. “Can you hand me the screwdriver there with the blue handle?”

 

“Ok,” Danny said, reaching for it.

 

“Danny,” Jack said firmly from across the room where he and Teal’c were preparing to lift the dresser. Danny stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Jack, confused. Jack gave him a pointed look and mouthed ’yes, ma’am’ silently, nodding at Sam.

 

Danny’s eyes went round as understanding dawned. “Oh, I mean, yes, ma’am. Sorry, Sam.” He picked up the screwdriver and handed it to her.

 

She accepted it with a smile. “No problem, Danny. Thanks.” Though Sam never would have voiced the thought, she was a little surprised at the switch.  She had been ma’am to countless cadets, but was a little uneasy with it coming from Danny, who she already counted as part of the SG-1 family. Still, she understood that the colonel was simply trying to teach him to be respectful, and she wasn’t about to argue with that.

 

Jack smiled at Danny as he and Teal’c carried the dresser out the door. “We’ll be back for the rest in a minute, Carter. Don’t try to carry it, just get it apart.”

 

Sam grinned at him, amused at Jack’s protectiveness. “No problem, sir,” she called to his retreating back, “Danny and I’ve got it covered.”

 

When Jack left again, Danny asked hesitantly, “Sam, I don’t mean to be nosy or anything, but why do you call Col. Jack sir? I know he says kids are supposed to say sir and ma’am to grownups, but you are a grownup.” Sam stared at him for a minute, taken aback. She’d lived with Air Force hierarchy all her life. It was second nature by now. “I’m sorry,” Danny said after a minute, mistaking her hesitation for anger. “It’s none of my business.”

 

“No, no,” Sam assured him quickly, “it’s fine. I don’t mind you asking, I was just trying to decide how to explain it. I call him sir because he’s my superior officer. He ranks higher than I do, and our rules say we have to call all superior officers sir or ma’am. It’s a way of showing respect for their rank, just like you use it to show respect for adults.”

 

“So, Col. Jack has to call General Hammond sir because he ranks higher, but he doesn’t have to call you ma’am because you don’t, but somebody who ranked lower than you would call you ma’am.”

 

“You’ve got it,” Sam told him. They worked quietly together until Sam finished taking the bed frame apart.

 

While they were waiting on Jack and Teal’c to return for it, Danny said, “I’ve never known anybody in the Air Force before. All this military stuff’s kinda confusing.”

 

“Don’t worry about it,” Sam replied. “You’ll get used to it. Before long you won’t even think about it anymore. Trust me, I grew up in the Air Force, too.”

 

“You did?” Danny eyed her curiously.

 

“Yep. My dad’s a general. Sometimes it seems like I’ve been in the Air Force forever. That’s why it took me a minute to think how to explain rank to you. I’ve been doing it so long I don’t think about it. You’ll be that way too eventually.”

 

Maybe, Danny thought skeptically, if Col. Jack decided to keep him that long.

 

Once Jack and Teal’c removed the bed frame, it didn’t take long to finish emptying the room to get ready to paint. Then the four of them worked together to cover the floors and tape off the trim and baseboards before pulling out the painting supplies and setting to work. Sam and Danny worked on painting the main part of the walls while Jack and Teal’c went to work painting the high parts and cutting in the corners. 

 

Knowing that Danny had never painted before, Sam set down her own supplies and went to set him up first. “Ok, Danny,” she told him, “the trick to painting with a roller is to draw yourself a w and then fill it in.”

 

“Pay her no attention, sport,” Jack said, coming up behind them, “just roll it on. It’ll be fine.”

 

Sam stared at Jack as though he’d grown two heads. “With all due respect sir, while your method is fine if you don’t mind taking your chances, if you want to be sure you get it right the first time, drawing a w is the best way.”

 

“For crying out loud, Carter, it’s paint not rocket science.”

 

“That may be, sir,” Sam said carefully, barely suppressing her grin, “but a little science never hurt.”

 

“It doesn’t matter,” Jack insisted.

 

“It does if you want to get it right the first time,” Sam retorted.

 

“Does not.”

 

“Does too.” Realizing she sounded like a five-year-old, Sam ignored Jack and turned to Danny. “Let me show you.”

 

Jack watched silently for a minute as Sam demonstrated her method and set Danny to work. Then, he butted in and grabbed the roller. “No, no, no, let me show you.” Unfortunately, Danny didn’t let go of the roller like Jack thought he would and there was a minor scuffle over the roller during which Teal’c got hit with in the back with the roller and splattered with sky blue paint.

 

Teal’c didn’t say a word, merely turned and arched an eyebrow at them, but Danny froze instantly, wide-eyed with terror.

 

Jack instantaneously assessed the situation and, as he had in countless combat situations, made a command decision to diffuse it. He turned on his heel and very deliberately painted a wide swipe down Sam’s back.

 

“Hey!” Sam yelped, whirling around, and with the instinct honed though years of torture at the hands of an older brother, flung the paint on her brush directly at Jack’s head.

 

Jack, however, had years of experience anticipating the moves of his own younger sister and ducked out of the way, leaving Danny directly in the line of fire. The paint caught Danny square in the center of the forehead. For a second, he simply stared, unmoving. Then, he erupted into laughter and made a wild stab for Sam, but caught Jack in the midsection instead. Jack scooped him up, holding the brush threateningly over his head while Danny panted and giggled, pleading for mercy.

It might have developed into a full-fledged free-for-all if Teal’c had not spoken up at that point. “O’Neill, if we continue to paint each other rather than the walls for which it is intended, will we not have to purchase more paint?”

 

Jack paused midstream, breathing hard. “You have a point there, T. Ok, kids, stand down. Cease fire.” He set Danny on his feet. “Back to work, Sport.” He gave him a gentle swat to send him on his way then picked up his own brush.

 

The work went quickly after that with everyone working together and talking easily. By early evening, the base color was done and all that was left were the clouds. They took a break to order pizza for dinner and let the paint dry then went to work on the clouds. Sam, naturally, had taken the time over dinner to design a stencil for the clouds, a method that Jack flatly refused to use, preferring instead to do them free form. After a short, loud debate, they agreed to disagree and each went off to work in their own way, with Sam and Teal’c working with stencils and Jack and Danny working free hand. The result was a hodgepodge assortment of clouds, no two quite the same. It disturbed Sam’s sense of order, but Danny loved it.

 

By the time they were done, everyone was sore, covered in paint, and flat out exhausted, but proud of the job they’d done. Sam and Teal’c help with the clean up and then headed home, agreeing to come back the next day to help move in Danny’s new furniture. Jack sent Danny to take a bath and get ready for bed then flopped down at the kitchen table, exhausted.

 

Danny came back a few minutes later, fresh scrubbed and clad in Jack’s tee shirt and his new pajama bottoms. “Col. Jack? Where am I supposed to sleep? We took down my bed.”

 

Jack thought about it for a minute. “Well, kiddo, you have to choices about that. You can sleep with me—I have a big bed so there's plenty of room--or you can sleep on the couch. The bed's probably more comfortable, but it's up to you.”

 

 

Danny looked up at him nervously, considering. He would probably be more comfortable in the bed, but Col. Jack might get mad if he wiggled or had a nightmare. “I'll sleep on the couch, if it's okay with you,” he said finally.

 

“That's fine,” Jack replied. “It's your choice. I'll go get a blanket. Go make sure everything's moved off the couch so you'll have room to sleep.” He got up and went down the hall to find linens while Danny headed to the den. When he returned a few minutes later, Danny had cleared off the couch and was waiting for him. “You sure you’ll be ok in here?” Jack asked as they quickly made up the couch.

 

“Yes, sir,” Danny replied, laying down.

 

“Ok then,” Jack said, tucking him in and ruffling his hair affectionately. “Sleep tight, Sport. You know where I am if you need me.” He turned and left, switching off the lights as he went, and headed to take is own shower.

 

When he finished his shower, Jack went in to check on Danny one last time before heading to bed himself. He found Danny asleep but tossing restlessly, moaning quietly in his sleep. Knowing that a nightmare was imminent, Jack picked Danny up and carried him to bed with him, wanting to be sure he was close by when the nightmare came. Danny never stirred, simply snuggled close to Jack’s side and settled into sleep. Jack pulled the blankets over both of them and followed him into sleep. They both slept through the night.

 

tbc