Fated To Be (Part 2/2)

by Sistine

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ass/sistine/fated002.php
Summary: Some things are just meant to be, no matter where or in what time people are

2. Chapter 5 - Epilogue

Chapter 5:

The next morning, Jack looked upon his sleeping friend, amused. Daniel was sleeping with the statue clutched in his left hand, obviously wanting it to scare away the nightmares. Surprisingly, that had actually worked, Daniel having an uninterrupted sleep for the first time in over a week. Maybe there was something to be said for the power of belief, Jack mused.

"Danny," he said softly, "time to wake up." Jack needed the kid to be awake, fed and dressed before Miss Carter arrived back... if she did. After all, she'd had some time to think about her offer and Jack wouldn't be surprised if she had changed her mind. When Daniel didn't respond, Jack gently shook one shoulder. "Come on, sleepyhead, wake up."

"Sleep'n," Daniel protested as he tried to ignore the pull back to consciousness.

Jack chuckled; the kid really didn't like mornings. "I know. But I have to go out this morning and..." He didn't need to finish the sentence as Daniel's eyes flew open.

"No!"

"Danny..."

"No!" Daniel scrambled into a sitting position, still holding onto the statue. "The bad man might come back."

"He won't." Jack had 'talked' with Jonas earlier that morning and warned him off going anywhere near Daniel. "Besides, this-" he tapped the statue, "-won't let anything bad happen to you. You didn't have any bad dreams last night, did you?"

Daniel shook his head.

"See? You'll be fine. Loren will visit, and Teal'c will be nearby, so no-one will be able to hurt you." Jack watched as Daniel thought it all through and then nodded. He knew he was taking advantage of the young man's childlike trust in him but he couldn't help it; there was no way he could take Daniel off the ship yet so he had to convince the kid that it would be safe to stay.

Daniel quickly and quietly got changed, then had breakfast, all the time still holding onto the statue. Then the two men went through the leg-strengthening exercises - the statue was put aside for these - and had just finished when there was a knock on the door.

Helping Daniel back onto the bed," Jack called out, "Who is it?"

"Loren, Captain. I have Miss Carter with me."

Jack sighed. The woman had come back; that was not good. But he could hardly turn her away now, could he? Handing the statue to Daniel, who was now looking scared, he said, "Come in."

Loren stood aside for the woman to enter first. He had been waiting up on deck for her to arrive, curious to see if she would come. He thought she was very pretty but he wasn't sure if he liked her yet; he would reserve judgement until he saw how she treated Daniel today.

Having learnt from the previous day's experience, Sam didn't rush into the room. Instead, she took a few steps forward, stopping well short of the bed. "Good morning, Daniel."

At Jack's nudge, Daniel replied, "Good morning." He kept his eyes on the floor, unwilling to look at her.

"Mr. O'Neill."

"Miss Carter."

There was silence for a few seconds. "Well, this is awkward," Jack observed.

"Don't you have something to do, Mr. O'Neill?" Sam asked, hoping that he wasn't going to stick around. Something about the man just rubbed her the wrong way.

"Actually, I do." He was going to go buy some clothes for Daniel after organising the lumber for repairs to the ship. Jack's clothes didn't fit the young man properly so it was time to get Daniel some of his own. Turning to the kid, he said, "Danny, I have to go now. Miss Carter is going to talk to you for a while, and Loren will be here as well. I want you to behave, all right?"

Daniel nodded, holding the statue tightly. Be nice, talk a little, and try not to get upset - Jack had told him how to behave while they were exercising. He didn't think Jack liked the woman but the pirate wanted her to see how well Daniel was going with him so that she wouldn't take him away. Since he wanted to stay with Jack, he would have to do his best to get along; however, he was under orders to be impossible if she tried to take him away. He smiled up at the older man when he felt Jack's hand ruffle his hair. Jack was going to be so pleased with him.

Jack gave Daniel an answering smile, then stood up, facing the woman. "I expect you to behave as well, Miss Carter. Loren will be keeping an eye on you and if you do anything that upsets or hurts Daniel, I will have you thrown off the ship. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly." Daniel was her friend long before he was O'Neill's; she wasn't going to hurt him now. She fixed the man with an icy stare.

"Good. I'll be back in a few hours." He patted Daniel on the shoulder, then left the room.

Sam looked at Daniel, whose eyes were fixed on the door. She'd had all night to think up a strategy on how to win Daniel's trust - slowly and subtly were the key words. She moved the chair over to the bed and sat down, careful not to get too close into her friend's personal space. "Hi, Daniel. What have you got there?" She gestured to the statue.

"Gift."

"Did Mr. O'Neill give it to you?"

Daniel nodded.

"Can I see it?"

He held it up, holding it away from her so that she couldn't take it.

"It's... interesting," Sam said diplomatically, surprised at how O'Neill had known to give such a gift to Daniel without knowing of the latter's interest in other cultures and mythology.

"Makes bad things go away."

Sam had to wonder whether she was one of those bad things, at the same time noting that the ugliness of the statue would indeed do that. "I'm sorry about yesterday, Daniel." She reached out and placed a hand on his knee. He looked at her with wide eyes as she continued. "I just wanted to know that you were all right."

"Sure you did," Loren muttered as he went and sat on the bed next to Daniel, cutting off the woman's access. No-one was allowed to hurt his friend.

Removing her hand, Sam tried not to glare at... what was the boy's name? Loren? Here was someone else who thought he had more rights to Daniel than she did. "Anyway, I thought this might help you forgive me." She dug into her pocket and pulled out a couple of pages with writing on them. "It's the last letter you sent to me."

Daniel's interest was caught. A letter he had written? "I wrote... them?" he questioned, looking at the pages.

"Yes, you did." Sam held them out for him, pleased when he took them.

Unfolding the sheets, Daniel's eyes ran over the tightly-written words that crowded the paper. He had written these words.

"Do you want me to read them to you?" Sam asked, seeing a hint of her Daniel surface in the wondrous expression.

"I can read," he told her. Daniel rested the statue on his lap so that he could hold the sheets with both hands, then started reading.

Dear Sam, you would not believe the heat here! It reminds me of Egypt but a little more humid. I have spent the last two months in Calcutta alone - the city is so full of history and culture, it is amazing! Did you know that the city was named for the goddess Kali? She has a temple two miles out of town - a number of people still go there to worship.

"You've been to India?" Loren interrupted, reading over Daniel's shoulder. "Wow."

Daniel ignored him; his mind was caught up in the memories the words were uncovering. Colours, sounds, even smells, he could now remember. Kali's temple had been as fascinating as it was chilling.

I hate to think of the number of human sacrifices that were performed there; fortunately they have given up that ritual since the British came.

Human sacrifices? Definitely not something he wanted to remember.

I got your letter a while back - apparently they had some trouble tracking me down. So Grandfather wants to see what I have been 'wasting my time on', does he? Why now? You don't mention whether he is in ill-health, and that is the only reason I can think of for him wanting me to come home.

"Grandfather ill?" Daniel looked to Sam for an answer.

"Not as far as I know," she replied. Sir Nicholas had been in fine health when she had left.

Still, he is family (just). If you think it is that important, then I will come home. There is a ship arriving soon - I shall see if they will take me as far as Cape Town and we can then travel back to England together.

I am looking forward to seeing you again. There is so much I have seen and learnt since we last met. I have added several more languages to my repertoire - the locals like it when visitors talk to them in their native languages.

"Hindu," Daniel muttered. It was just one of the languages he had learnt. Since Hindu was related to Greek and Latin, he had found it easy to learn.

"That's right. You also speak Ancient and Modern Egyptian, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic, among others," Sam told him. Daniel was truly gifted in that area.

Loren looked sideways at Daniel, very impressed. He hadn't known how smart his new friend was until now.

"I'm smart?"

"Very smart." She could see no harm in telling him that. Maybe if he knew how intelligent he was... used to be... then perhaps he would stop acting like a child.

Disbelieving, Daniel went back to the letter.

I hope to be with you by the 27th, three months hence (by the time you receive this letter, I will be on my way). Take care, Sam, and I will see you soon. Daniel.

"When you didn't turn up by then, I knew something was wrong," Sam said as Daniel lowered the letter. "So I waited, and talked to people on every ship that came in, but I didn't find you until yesterday."

Daniel was only half-listening. He was too busy trying to sort everything out. His real home was in England? Sam was a close friend? He was some kind of explorer? Why couldn't he remember any of this?

"Can you speak any other languages," Loren asked Miss Carter.

"Only Latin and French, and not nearly as well as Daniel," Sam replied. She studied her friend's face, trying to work out what he was thinking. He looked puzzled, with a hint of frustration starting to creep in. "Daniel?"

"I can't remember." He turned stricken eyes on Sam. "I can't remember!" Everything before his rescue was a blur, fragments only surfacing clearly in his dreams.

Loren put his arm around Daniel's shoulders. "It's all right, you don't have to remember right away."

Yes, he does, Sam thought. The sooner, the better. But outwardly she gave no indication of what she was thinking. "Loren's right, there's no rush. You'll remember in time. The letter was just a start."

"You want me to remember." It was a statement, not a question.

"Eventually, yes. But when you're ready." Or before, if necessary. "Can I tell you a bit about the Daniel I remember?"

Nodding his permission, Daniel hugged his knees to his chest. Maybe listening would help him to remember.

The stories washed over him, allowing him to remember small details but on the whole, it was like listening to stories about someone else. The person Sam described was full of life, intelligent, carefree... and that wasn't him.

After about thirty minutes of stories, Daniel had had enough. "Stop now."

Sam stopped in mid-sentence, surprised. Daniel hadn't said anything up to that point. "But..."

"No more." He didn't want to hear any more about the other Daniel today. It just showed him what he wasn't anymore. Sam wanted him to be like that and he couldn't, not yet. Jack accepted that, and wasn't pushing for anything more. Daniel turned his head to look at Loren. "Walk." He tucked the statue into the waistband of his trousers.

"On deck or below?" After yesterday's nervousness, Loren didn't want to take Daniel anywhere he didn't want to go.

"Below." He would save above for later in the week when he was less likely to fall flat on his face. Daniel accepted Loren's helping hand to stand up then started walking by himself.

Sam looked quizzically at Loren. What was wrong with Daniel's legs? She hadn't previously thought about why he had been sitting on the bed both times that she had seen him. "What happened to his legs?" she asked Loren since Daniel was already at the door.

"You'd better ask the captain," Loren replied, avoiding the fact that he didn't know all the details. He caught up with Daniel, standing nearby just in case his support was needed. "Can you bring the lamp please?" he asked the woman.

Daniel focused determinedly on the task of walking, pushing Sam's soft question out of his mind; he didn't want to think about the cause of his temporary disability. Instead of going up the stairs this time, he turned to the right, which he assumed would lead him further into the ship. There were a couple of steps not too far along the hallway, leading down into a dark room. He stopped, waiting for Loren to take the lead.

Loren took the lighted lamp from Miss Carter, then went down then steps first to light the way. He watched carefully as Daniel slowly made his way down, remembering the stair incident from the previous night. "That's good," he praised as Daniel stepped onto the floor.

The comment and the solicitous attitude made Sam wonder just how bad Daniel had been before arriving in O'Neill's care.

It took the trio a while to walk around the ship under the main deck, Daniel taking a couple of rest breaks when his legs got wobbly. Loren retrieved a new book for Daniel to read when they went through the crew quarters. And Sam began to get the feeling that the men who resided on the ship weren't as legitimate as she had assumed, judging from what she had seen amongst the cargo and in the forecastle.They were back in the cabin when Jack returned a couple of hours later. He'd had a successful shopping trip, finding clothes for Daniel as well as securing fresh supplies for the next voyage. He had also made some inquiries about new crew, and expected a reasonable response over the next few days. He had looked over the repairs, noting that they were going smoothly, before seeking Daniel out.

Jack didn't know whether to be pleased or disappointed that Daniel was participating quietly in a game of checkers with Miss Carter. He returned the smile Daniel sent his way upon his arrival, then put the packages on the table and stood next to the bed. "So who's winning?"

"Me," Daniel said proudly. Sam wasn't making concessions to his current condition; she was just making bad tactical decisions. His brain slowly registered that he had seen Jack with some packages, and he looked at the table. "What did you buy?"

"You'll find out later," Jack replied with a grin. He gestured towards the board. "Don't let me interrupt."

As if you would care, Sam thought, annoyed that she would soon have to leave because O'Neill was unlikely to want her to stay. She pointedly refused to look at O'Neill and concentrated on the game. When Daniel inevitably won, she smiled at her friend, receiving a small smile in return; at least that was an improvement, she thought. "You haven't lost your touch, Daniel," she said, remembering all the times he had trounced her at the game. Finally acknowledging O'Neill's existence, she asked him, "Can I have a word?"

Jack caught the undertone that requested privacy and reluctantly nodded. "I'll be back in a minute," he told Daniel, then indicated for Miss Carter to precede him out the door.

"What happened to him?" Sam asked quietly as soon as the door was closed.

"You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't." Jack was equally as adamant in this. "Believe me."

"Why should I? I mean, you could have been the one to turn Daniel into... that."

"Fine! You wanna know?" Jack gave in, hoping to shock her with the details. "For somewhere around a month, Daniel was kept as a prisoner on the 'Alexandria' out there. Her former captain had him chained up, with little food and water, and abused him every way you can imagine! He could barely stand when we found him, and as scared as hell of anyone going near him! Happy now or do you want more details?" Jack glared at the woman.

Sam's mind provided images of a chained and beaten Daniel, and she felt sick at the thought of what he must have gone through. "He survived though."

"Barely. The other two prisoners - they died," the pirate informed her. "Daniel was lucky."

"If you call being like that lucky," Sam countered, gesturing to the cabin. "That isn't living."

"Maybe not but at least he has a chance to recover. The other two didn't." He would never tell Daniel about them; there was no use in making him feel guilty for living.

"Are you telling me that I should be grateful that he's now like a child?" She was incredulous. How could she be grateful that everything that was Daniel had gone?

"Yes." The stupid woman, Jack thought. She couldn't understand how lucky Daniel was to even be alive. "If you can't accept that, you're free to leave."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? That way there would be no threat to Daniel's hero-worship of you." How could Daniel like this man? In actual fact, she was jealous of the trust that Daniel placed in O'Neill, the kind of trust he used to have in her, except this seemed more innocent somehow. Daniel had been through a terrible experience and he had turned to the first person that had been nice to him. She still wasn't convinced that there wasn't an ulterior motive on O'Neill's side.

"Don't flatter yourself. Daniel's not going to leave with you because he feels safe here. A few days in your company isn't going to convince him otherwise." And Loren knew what to do if she tried to poison Daniel's mind.

Sam didn't bother to reply to that. "I won't give you the satisfaction of leaving. Someone has to help him remember who he was, someone who knows."

"He'll remember eventually but right now, do you know how hard it is for him to even trust anyone? How damaging it was to be beaten every time he opened his mouth? To have no hope of being rescued? Daniel believes that everyone will hurt him because it's safer than believing they won't!" Jack realised his voice was getting louder and stopped in order to calm down.

Sam opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, tears coming to her eyes. "I didn't know," she said eventually. She had a new understanding of Daniel's ordeal, and of how patient and kind O'Neill must be towards him.

"Well, now you do. So don't push him."

"Jack?" came the call from the cabin.

The pirate realised they had been talking for too long, giving Daniel plenty of time to think about what they were talking about. He went back inside the room, aware that the woman didn't follow immediately. "What is it?"

Daniel glanced at the doorway then back at Jack. "Don't fight." He had been able to hear Jack's raised voice although not the words, but he knew it was over him.

It was on the tip of Jack's tongue to say that they hadn't been but Daniel wouldn't say anything unless he had heard something. "Sorry." He sat on the edge of the bed next to Daniel. "So do you want to open your presents now?"

"Mine?" Daniel's eyes opened wide in surprise. Jack had bought something else for him?

"Yes, yours." Jack retrieved the parcels and handed one over to Daniel. He was aware of the woman drawing nearer but concentrated on the pleasure he was giving the young man. "Go on, open it."

Carefully, Daniel opened the first parcel and was surprised to see two shirts - both beige - there. He picked one of them up, feeling the soft cotton brushing over his fingers, and then he felt the other one. New, soft shirts just for him; he was overwhelmed that Jack had got them for him.

"These should fit you better than my stuff," Jack explained. He handed the other package over, enjoying the amazement that was in Daniel's eyes.

Daniel put the shirts aside to unwrap the second parcel. He grinned when he saw the two pairs of trousers, one cream and one dark brown. Jack's were too big for him. Also included was a tan coloured belt that he could use if the trousers were too big. He grinned at Jack, very pleased with the presents. His new clothes. Eager to try them on, he took off the shirt he wore and put a new one on. It fit beautifully, with just a little bit of room for when he put on a bit more weight. "Thank-you." He turned and hugged Jack happily.

Sam hadn't looked away quick enough when Daniel had stripped, and she had seen the scars and fading bruises on his body. 'Abused every way you can imagine', O'Neill had said; she had just seen the proof of that. She blinked away the tears that stung her eyes. Daniel must have been hurt so much.

A tug on her shirtsleeve caught her attention. "Sam?" Daniel was looking at her with concern.

"I'm sorry, I was just... it looks great, Daniel," she praised, trying to smile. She was aware of O'Neill looking at her, and when she looked at him, she saw understanding in his eyes. Then it was gone and they were adversaries again.

"When you're up to it, I'll take you shopping for some shoes," Jack turned his attention back to Daniel. He had felt a moment of sympathy for Miss Carter when the reality of Daniel's ordeal finally sank in; he saw those scars every day. "That sound good?"

"When I'm ready," Daniel agreed.

****

After Miss Carter left, the men left Daniel to try on his new clothes. Jack immediately quizzed Loren on what had happened while he was gone. He was pleased to learn that Daniel had walked around the ship, requiring minimal assistance and rest, and that the woman hadn't tried to lure Daniel away. He wasn't so pleased about the letter because it meant she was trying to force Daniel to remember.

When he went back into the cabin, Daniel was happily admiring his new clothes. The kid had left the brown trousers on, which Jack was pleased to note did fit better than the borrowed stuff. "Not bad."

Daniel looked up, still smiling. All his new clothes fit nicely - Jack had chosen the sizes well. "Fits," he pronounced happily, turning in a circle so Jack could inspect him.

"So it does." Jack sat down on the bed and patted beside him. Daniel obediently came and sat down next to him. "How did Miss Carter's visit go?"

"She told me I'm smart," Daniel stated, then reached under his pillow for the letter. "Gave me this." He handed the sheets to Jack. "Told me about her Daniel. Jack, why can't I remember?"

How could he answer that question? "Because your brain has had a huge shock and it wants to protect you from getting hurt again." Jack took the proffered letter and looked at the handwriting.

"Like you," Daniel observed. Jack protected him.

"Yes, like me," Jack agreed. "Except I'll keep on protecting you whereas your brain will eventually relax and let you remember lots of things."

Daniel thought about that. "You'll protect me even when I'm better?"

"If you want me to, yes." He knew, though, that their friendship would change when that happened, and Daniel probably wouldn't want him around.

"Always, Jack." He leaned over and pointed out a passage to him, changing the subject. "Sam says I know lots of languages."

Jack looked at the passage - 'I have added several more languages to my repertoire'. His Danny was a linguist?

"They're hiding in my head now." If Jack said he would remember, then he wasn't going to worry about not knowing them now. "When I remember them, I'll be smart again."

The pirate didn't know what to say to that. Why would anyone that smart want to hang around with him? Ignoring the lump in his throat, Jack stated, "You're already smart, Daniel. You beat me at chess every time we play."

"You told me to." Daniel was immediately anxious.

"I know, and I want you to keep doing it," Jack assured him, putting his arm around the young man's shoulders. "I'm just saying that you're not stupid just because you can't remember some things, all right?"

Daniel nodded.

"Now, I hear you went for a long walk today."

Another nod. "To Loren's room and back. I didn't fall once," Daniel said proudly.

"That's very good. Can you show me later?"

"Now?"

Jack shook his head. "I have to get back to work now. After lunch, you can show me."

Disappointed that he couldn't show Jack his achievement straight away, Daniel's face fell. He dropped his gaze to the floor and shuffled his feet.

"All right, I give in. You can show me now." How could he resist that? Work could wait for a while.

Eagerly, Daniel stood up and then pulled Jack to his feet. Jack was going to be so pleased with him.

****

The rest of the week took on a similar pattern. Sam visited in the mornings, telling stories to Daniel about his past life, and gently trying to help him recover those memories. They would go for a walk around the ship, then she would eat lunch with him and have a game of checkers or chess. When she left, Jack would come and ask him how the day had gone, listen to anything Daniel had remembered or enjoyed, and then took him on another walk around the ship. Occasionally they would go up onto the main deck so Daniel could see the city.

Daniel was beginning to remember more snatches of his life, and related them enthusiastically to Jack. Although this pleased the older man, it served as a reminder that the days he had left with Daniel were numbered. The young man had worked his way into Jack's heart, and the pirate didn't want to see him go; it would be like losing another son, or so he told himself. But he had to do what was best for Daniel, no matter what the cost to himself.

****

As more of his memory returned to him, and his fears decreased, Daniel found himself getting restless. He had been on board the ship for over two weeks, one of which the ship had been at dock. He had read the letter many times, played chess heaps of times, and been for the occasional walk outside the cabin. But as his mind became increasingly more active, he needed more things to stimulate it. So despite his apprehension, today was the day he was going to venture into Cape Town.

After he and Jack had discussed Sam's latest visit, he decided to raise the subject. "Jack, I'm ready."

"For what?" Jack was temporarily thrown by the change of subject. Just what exactly was Daniel saying he was ready for?

"To go into town. If... if you'll take me." He hoped the older man hadn't forgotten his promise.

"Oh, that. Sure. When did you want to go?"

"Today. Now."

The kid was keen. Jack knew there would be no use in arguing - all Daniel had to do was turn sad eyes on him and Jack always caved in. "All right. You'll need some shoes." He got up and started searching his cabin for a spare pair of boots.

"Really? We can go?" He had expected Jack to put up more of an argument. Getting off the bed, he helped the pirate look for the boots.

"Really." Jack found one boot in the cupboard, its mate still missing.

Daniel found the other boot under the bed. Retrieving the first one from Jack, he sat on the bed and put them on. They were a little big but he could cope with that. Standing up, he said eagerly, "Let's go."

Jack strapped on his cutlass then followed Daniel up the stairs onto the main deck, proud that he had helped the young man regain some of his confidence. Motioning to Teal'c to accompany them, he made sure he stayed close enough to Daniel just in case he was needed.

Daniel noticed Teal'c fall into line behind them. He still wasn't sure what to make of the forbidding man, and he turned questioning eyes on Jack. Was it necessary for Teal'c to come along?

"Insurance," Jack replied to the unspoken question. He needed someone to watch their backs while he was watching out for Daniel.

"What?"

"Never mind. Are we going or not?" Jack gestured to the gangway.

Daniel looked at the wooden gangway then out at the bustling crowds. He must have been mad to think he would do this. All those people... it was too much. "I can't," he said, clutching the railing.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," Jack stated, getting in front of Daniel and holding his hand out. "You can do this."

The young man looked at the outstretched hand. All he had to do was trust Jack to protect him, and he did have Ra - the totem statue - with him. So nothing bad would happen to him in the town... right?

Gingerly, he reached out to hold onto Jack's hand and allowed the older man to lead him down onto the dock. His legs threatened to collapse as he stood on solid land for the first time in over two months but he held onto Jack's arms, accepting the support.

"You all right?" Jack asked, concerned at how pale Daniel was.

"I will be." Daniel slowly let go of the pirate and found that he could stand on his own. "Just... stay close."

Jack kept a careful eye on Daniel until the young man got his land-legs back, then led him into the market place that lined the dock. He pointed out various wares that he thought might be of interest and happily paid for anything that Daniel wanted.

They were halfway through the market place, Daniel coping well with the crowd after his initial nervous reaction, when someone ran into Jack, knocking him off-balance. By the time he had recovered and then turned to Daniel, the young man had disappeared. Fear immediately gripped Jack; Daniel wouldn't leave him voluntarily. "Daniel!"

"He is not here, O'Neill," Teal'c announced, having already surveyed the surroundings. "However, I believe if we go that way, we will find him." He pointed to an alleyway on the opposite side of the street.

"What are we waiting for?" Jack started to push his way through the crowds.

****

Daniel hadn't been prepared for the hand that clamped over his mouth or the arm that pinned his arms to his sides. He tried to struggle and call out to Jack, but his captor was too strong and his cries went unheard due to the noise of the crowd. He was quickly ushered into a nearby building then through it out into an alleyway at the back. He stumbled as he was propelled along, his feet unsure on the uneven ground. What was happening to him? Where were they taking him? And where was Jack?

Although he couldn't see his captor's face, he could definitely smell him - hygiene obviously wasn't important to the man. Daniel tried struggling again but it only served to make him lose his footing. The strong arms held him upright, let him regain his footing, then dragged him forward again.

Finally Daniel was led into another house where a trio of unsavoury men were sitting. All of them looked up at his entrance, and the one in the middle got up.

"What have we here?" the man said in an unaccented voice. Daniel thought it might have been British originally but he couldn't tell for sure.

"He just got off the boat," a similar but deeper voice from behind him said. "Thought you might want to take a look."

Robert Makepeace, a local slave trader and occasional pirate, went over to examine the new arrival. He appraised the good looks, noting that the boy would fetch a high price. He ran his hands down the boy's arms and over his chest, feeling the bones underneath. "A little skinny but he'll do. Release him."

With the restraining hands gone, Daniel wavered slightly but kept on his feet. He didn't try to run, instead remained standing submissively, not wanting them to hurt him. "What do you want with me?"

Robert ignored him, circling around the young man and appraising him. "Good strong shoulders; should be able to work hard." He tilted the head back and examined the features. "A pretty face; that should go down well with the female buyers."

Daniel started to get very scared. Buyers? He was going to be taken as a slave again? They couldn't do that to him! "I'm not a slave."

"Not yet," Robert agreed, circling behind the boy again to inspect the hind features. "But after the auction tomorrow, you will be," he continued, trailing a hand over the broad back and then down lower.

The young man flinched away from the touch. Jack, where are you? Help me please! he prayed.

"What's the matter?" Robert said into the young man's ear, causing him to jump. "Afraid?" He slid his arms around the slim waist and felt something hard under the shirt. "What's this?"

Daniel tried to stop the man from taking Ra but another pair of hands held him still. "Give it back!"

Robert examined the small statue and wondered where the kid had got it from. Dismissing that for the moment, he ordered, "Take him downstairs with the others."

"No!" Daniel started struggling against the hold but couldn't prevent himself from being dragged out of the room. "Please don't do this!" There was nothing to protect him now Ra was gone.

He was taken down a flight of stairs into a dimly lit cellar. A dozen or so men and women were already tied to rings embedded in the walls. As soon as Daniel saw them, he started panicking. He really didn't want to be tied up again! "No, no, please no, don't do this!"

A hand was clamped across his mouth and nose, muffling his words and making him panic even more. He couldn't breathe! His lungs started screaming for air - there hadn't been time to take a deep breath - but he kept struggling, hoping to break free.

The man holding Daniel nodded at his partner when the young man started to go limp in his arms. Quickly, a rope was tied around Daniel's wrists while he wasn't able to fight back. The hand cutting off his oxygen was removed then and Daniel, on the verge of blacking out, gratefully inhaled deep lungfuls of air.

Outside, Jack and Teal'c had managed to track the kidnappers to the right house. After drawing his dagger from his right boot, Jack opted for the element of surprise. He burst through the door, saw a man holding Daniel's statue, and promptly rammed him up against the wall, his dagger placed near a sensitive part of the man's anatomy. "You have five seconds to tell me where he is!"

"Who?" Robert looked at his attacker and knew instantly that the man would carry out the unspoken threat.

Jack pressed his arm across the man's windpipe. "The kid you stole the statue from." He was aware of the other men in the room advancing towards him, then a double swish told him that Teal'c was displaying his two wicked-looking swords. Free to be menacing, Jack pressed harder with the dagger. "Well?"

"He's downstairs," Robert managed to get out.

"Guards?"

"Two." Abruptly released, Robert rubbed his throat as the slave's friend headed off to the cellar. He briefly considered going after him but one look at the huge black man and Robert decided against it.

Jack ran down the stairs, trying to be quiet so that he could surprise the guards. Peering carefully around the corner, Jack noted the position of the two guards as they tied Daniel's rope to a metal ring. Easing around the corner, he flung the dagger at one, hitting him in the shoulder, then drew his sword to fight the other guard.

Daniel looked groggily at the action, his brain still a little sluggish. Jack was here! Jack would save him! He watched as Jack circled the guard, toying with him before lunging quickly and scoring a hit across the other man's torso. The clash of steel upon steel brought back memories of the last time he had seen Jack fight, and Daniel was desperately hoping the outcome would be the same. He remained quiet, not wanting to distract Jack.

As Jack was fighting, he tried not to look at Daniel, not wanting to see the rope around the thin wrists. Of all the things to happen, this was one of the worst; to be kidnapped by people Jack now assumed were slave traders.

The guard wasn't very well trained, his movements hesitant and sloppy, and soon he was on the ground clutching his stomach. Blood dripped from the open wound, oozing through his fingers.

Jack surveyed the fallen men with disgust. "What are they teaching them these days?" he muttered as he went over to Daniel and started untying him. "How are you doing, Danny?"

"He took Ra." Daniel allowed Jack to help him to stand.

"I know, Teal'c's on it." Jack put his arm around the young man's waist, ready to help him walk out of there. "Let's go."

"Wait! What about them?" Daniel stubbornly stayed where he was and gestured to the other prisoners. "They should be free too."

"Daniel..."

"Jack, please?" It was the right thing to do.

Giving in - it was becoming a habit - Jack went and started cutting through the ropes. Helping out, Daniel untied a couple, his fingers shaking, making the task difficult. He helped them to stand up, only a couple of women refusing his offer.

Kneeling down in front of the two women, Daniel asked, "Why? You're free now."

One of the women shook her head. "I was born a slave. I have nowhere to go." The other woman nodded her agreement.

"But surely it would be..."

"Daniel," Jack interrupted. Those who were born slaves didn't understand life outside of their little world. "We have got to go." The longer they delayed, the bolder the slavers upstairs would get.

"But Jack..." the young man protested as the pirate took his arm and started pulling him towards the stairs. They couldn't just leave those women there!

"Not this time, Danny." He herded the others up the stairs before following them, Daniel firmly in tow.

The situation upstairs was exactly as he had left it, except the slavers were staring after the ex-slaves with a mixture of surprise and anger. Jack retrieved the statue and said to the one he had threatened, "Thanks for your hospitality but we'll be off now. But if you try this again, you'll be dead."

Robert watched them leave, angry at the turn of events. That man had just ruined tomorrow's auction; they would never have enough slaves now to make a profit. Revenge started to burn in his heart. Turning to the nearest employee, he ordered, "Find out who that was, then get me as many slaves as possible."

The men rushed to obey their boss, Robert absently rubbing his neck as he watched them scurrying about. Oh yes, he would make his attacker pay, not only for his actions but also for the loss of income. And given that the stranger had come after the boy, he had the ideal place to start...

Chapter 6:

Daniel trudged quietly along behind Jack, head down and arms hugging his body. He was relieved that he wasn't going to be a slave again but disappointed that Jack hadn't freed everyone, ignoring the fact that the women hadn't wanted to leave. Jack shouldn't have left them there.

Aware that Daniel wasn't happy, Jack slowed his pace and fell into step with the young man. As a peace offering, he held the statue out to Daniel.

Reluctantly, Daniel took Ra, clutching the statue tightly. "Thank-you," he said quietly. Neither Jack nor Ra had prevented him from being taken, damaging his complete faith in them. He knew now that bad things might still happen to him even with them around to protect him.

Jack didn't need to read Daniel's mind to know what he was thinking; the pirate was already blaming himself for letting Daniel get taken, and he knew that he had failed to protect the young man as he had promised. To Daniel, that would mean that Jack had lied, which would increase his insecurities. Therefore, Jack had to try to explain. "They were good, Danny. They knew what they were doing. They distracted me long enough to get you. Fortunately, Teal'c here is the best tracker in this part of the world, that's how we found you so fast. But I'm sorry I couldn't stop them from taking you and hurting you."

"You lied to me," Daniel accused softly, looking sideways at Jack. "You said I was safe."

"I know. And I thought you would be. I was wrong." But at least it hadn't been worse - Jack was thankful for that.

"You didn't save them."

"They didn't want to be saved," Jack replied. "They were scared of being free."

Daniel turned a puzzled look on Jack. How could anyone be afraid to be free? "I don't understand."

"I'll explain later. But right now, we need to get you some shoes." Being well aware that others might try to steal Daniel, Jack held out his hand, inviting the younger man to hold onto it. "I won't let you go," he promised.

After a moment's consideration, Daniel took the offered hand. Surprisingly, it didn't feel strange to be holding Jack's hand in public, just... reassuring. He was safe once again.

****

An hour later, Daniel was the proud owner of a new pair of boots. He had also convinced Jack to buy him a jacket for when the weather started to get cold, and Daniel was proudly wearing it back to the ship although it was quite warm.

When they boarded the ship, Daniel immediately went to find Loren to show off his new clothes, while Teal'c restrained O'Neill from following. Waiting until the young man was out of earshot, Teal'c stated, "You have made yourself vulnerable, O'Neill."

Unfortunately, Jack couldn't deny that. "I know. What else was I supposed to do though?"

"Perhaps it is his destiny to remain a slave."

"No." Jack was adamant.

"Or perhaps to die."

"Teal'c!" Jack had to consciously lower his voice so as not to attract attention. "I don't believe that. If he was supposed to die, then we wouldn't have found him in time, would we? And he is not supposed to be a slave!"

"We were being followed in the market place," Teal'c stated. "I believe that by rescuing Daniel Jackson, you have made an enemy."

"Probably," the pirate admitted. Their shadow would have been gathering information on them. "But I promised Daniel I would protect him, and I can't break my word." Also, deep down, he needed to protect Daniel, although he couldn't pinpoint why.

"They will try again."

"Then we need to leave as soon as possible," Jack decided. The repairs were nearly finished, and fresh supplies could be easily purchased. "We sail tomorrow."

****

Later that day, Makepeace's spies returned the information he needed, and he began planning his revenge...

****

"You're what?!" Sam Carter exclaimed the next morning when she attempted to board the 'Star-Dweller'.

"Leaving," Jack stated again.

"Why?" No-one had said a word to her yesterday.

"Because it's time." No way would he reveal what had happened the previous day.

"Then I'm coming with you." She pushed her way past the pirate and onto the ship.

"No way." Jack caught her arm and swung her around to face him. "This is no place for a woman."

"A pirate ship isn't any place for Daniel either," she countered. At O'Neill's surprised look, she added, "It wasn't that hard to figure it out. And I'm prepared to take the risk." She shrugged the hand away.

"Well, I'm not." His men wouldn't actually harm her but they could make life very difficult for her. "You're not coming."

"Then I'm taking Daniel with me." She headed off towards the cabin.

"Like hell you are." Jack caught up with her and stood in front of her. "He's not ready."

"Just why don't you want me to take him?" Sam queried, annoyed at the refusal. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "He seems ready to me. Is it that you don't want him to leave?"

Jack ignored the question, fighting back. "You won't be able to protect him. What if someone tried to take him? Could you stop them?"

Sam reached down into the top of her right boot and pulled out a knife. "I think so."

Now that he hadn't expected. Before he could formulate a response, though, he heard soft footsteps behind him.

"Jack?" Daniel had been restless and after leaving the cabin, had heard the pirate's voice so he had gone up the stairs. His eyes opened wide when he saw the knife. "Sam?" Why was she threatening Jack?

Sam put the knife back. "Hi, Daniel."

The pirate noted the alarm in the young man's eyes and realised what the scene would have looked like. "Miss Carter was just demonstrating how she defends herself."

"Why?"

"Uh..."

"Because I want you to come with me back to England," Sam cut in. "And the captain seems to think that I wouldn't be able to protect you."

Go to England with Sam? Without Jack? Although his faith in Jack's ability to protect him was no longer absolute, it was still very high. Sam was only a woman, and although Daniel was no chauvinist, he didn't trust her ability as he did Jack's. And he didn't think that Sam would have been able to pull off yesterday's rescue.

"Face it, one knife is no match for several men with swords," Jack argued.

"What if they were unarmed?" Sam shot back.

"Like that's gonna happen! Look..."

"Hey!" Daniel cut in, gaining their attention. "What about what I want? Or doesn't that count since I'm the one who needs protecting?" His tone was slightly self-mocking.

"Sorry, Daniel," Jack was quick to apologise.

"I'm sorry, Daniel," Sam also apologised. She hoped she hadn't blown her chance of getting him to come with her. "Of course it matters."

"Then I'm sorry, Sam, but I want to stay here."

"With pirates?" The hurt sliced deep; he trusted them more than he trusted her.

"With Jack." There was more to the older man than his profession. "I might not belong here but I don't belong back there either, not yet." Daniel hugged himself, knowing he had hurt Sam. "Please don't be mad."

"I'm scared for you, Daniel," Sam admitted, trying a different tack. "Of what might happen to you if you stay here." He could be killed and she would never know.

"And I'm scared of leaving." There were too many bad things out there in the world that he didn't want to face just yet.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"Oh no, you're not." Couldn't the woman take a hint, Jack thought.

"Daniel, do you want me to come?" Sam appealed to her friend, knowing O'Neill would be less likely to go against Daniel.

Did he? "I-I don't know." It would be good to have someone else to talk to but given Jack's reaction, Sam's presence would likely cause trouble.

Jack glared at the woman, angry that she was using such tactics to try and stay. It wasn't fair on Daniel to be put in the middle of such an argument. "I do. You're not coming with us."

"It's Daniel's choice," Sam argued.

"Don't you dare put this all on Daniel!"

"I'll meet you in England," Daniel said quietly, looking at Sam. "That's where we're going."

"Excuse me?" They were going to England? Sam was confused.

"Jack said he would take me there so that I could make a choice about where I wanted to be." Jack had talked to him the previous night about it but Daniel already knew that he wouldn't want to stay there; there had to be a reason he was exploring the world in the first place.

Sam looked at the pirate, who was keeping a blank face. Why would he do that? Didn't he want to keep Daniel with him? Grudgingly, Sam had to admit to respecting O'Neill's tactics - by appearing to want what was best for Daniel and not forcing him to do anything he didn't want to, O'Neill would come across as the good guy. "How do I know you'll keep your word?" she asked the pirate.

"Because I don't have any reason to do otherwise," Jack replied. "And Daniel wants to see his grandfather so we might as well do that sooner rather than later." He hadn't mentioned to Daniel that he wouldn't be staying with the younger man; he didn't want to risk upsetting him too soon.

"I'll be fine, Sam." Daniel reached out and tentatively hugged her. He would miss her but they would see each other again soon.

"I wish I could believe that," Sam said, involuntary tears coming to her eyes as she held her friend tight. "Are you sure about this, Daniel?"

"Yes." As sure as he could be, anyway.

Sam drew back and kissed him on the cheek. She would have to abide by his decision. She then turned to O'Neill. "Promise me you'll look after him."

"I promise," Jack replied solemnly. He would protect Daniel with his life.

Accepting the promise with a nod, Sam then left the ship. She looked back once when she had reached the bottom of the ramp and saw Daniel standing at the side, watching her with a serious expression. It took everything she had to smile at him and then walk away.

"It was the right thing to do," Jack said, coming up behind Daniel.

"Maybe," Daniel replied, watching Sam disappear into the crowd before leaving Jack to go back to the cabin.

Jack sighed. It was the right thing, he told himself. He would teach Daniel to protect himself - which Miss Carter wouldn't be able to do - not to mention help the young man recover his memories. And he would savour the next two months because after that, he would never see Daniel again.

****

From his place in the crowd, Robert Makepeace had observed the little drama. His spies had discovered that the pirate was Jack O'Neill, and that the boy's name was Daniel. He had been unable to discover the relationship between the two but assumed that the boy was O'Neill's catamite. Therefore, before Robert had his revenge on O'Neill, he would have Daniel, preferably while the pirate watched helplessly. Then he would kill O'Neill and sell the boy as a slave.

Those happy thoughts in his head, Robert left the dock to ready his ship for departure. He would trail O'Neill's ship until the opportunity arose to exact his revenge.

And then he would strike.

****

That night, when Jack entered his cabin, he found Daniel staring blankly out the window. Quietly, he closed the door and advanced towards the bed.

"Why do some people enjoy hurting others?" Daniel asked out of the blue. He didn't look at Jack.

How should he know? "Search me," he replied, sitting down on the bed. He tried to interpret Daniel's expression and decided on sadness. "Why do you ask?"

"I hurt Sam and I didn't enjoy it. But when people hurt me, they do." He looked directly at Jack. "Why?"

"At a guess, it's because they see something beautiful and they want to control or possess it... you." That was his theory anyway. "Also, those kind of people like hurting others because they think it makes them more powerful."

"I don't understand. How can hurting people make you more powerful?"

"It doesn't but they think it does because they're the ones doing the hurting," Jack tried to explain.

"So Apophis thought he was really powerful," Daniel observed, using the man's name for the first time.

"Oh yeah." Jack moved closer, sensing Daniel was in need of comfort.

"I don't remember everything," Daniel stated quietly, "but I remember that Apophis enjoyed hurting me. Every time he hit me or flogged me, he got excited. And when he..." He trailed off, unable to voice the horrible act. Hugging his knees, he braced himself to go on, tears in his eyes. "He got so much pleasure from hurting me."

What could he say to that? Jack let his actions speak for him, enfolding Daniel in his arms and gently rubbing the young man's back. He felt Daniel's arms sneak out to return the embrace.

"That man yesterday wanted to sell me to someone who would hurt me, didn't he?"

"Most likely, yes." Those who did buy slaves tended to treat them badly, thinking that those men, women and children were less human than they were.

Daniel felt sorry for those who didn't escape that fate. Then he remembered something Jack had called him earlier - 'beautiful'. But he wasn't and never thought he had been. Although... "Apophis used to tell me I was beautiful as he... but I never believed him. How could I have been beautiful?"

Because not only are you good-looking, but you have an innocence that radiates from within, Jack thought, and Apophis was a sick man who thought that blood and bruises would enhance that. But instead of voicing that, he said, "I can't explain that, Danny."

"When I saw those people tied up, I was so scared," the young man admitted, his voice wavering. "I know you would come but what if they hurt me first? I didn't want that to happen."

"I know. It's all right now," Jack soothed, one hand coming up to hold the back of Daniel's head.

"No, it's not. What if we're attacked out here?" Daniel had been thinking about the possibility all afternoon. "What if they hurt or kill you and you can't protect me?"

"Then Teal'c will. But it's not gonna happen." He couldn't promise that though, some instinct kept him from doing so. "So stop worrying about it."

"Stay with me." Daniel tightened his hold on Jack, not wanting to let go. When they were like this, it was easy to believe that nothing bad would happen to him.

"What?"

"Sleep here tonight."

"I always sleep here, Danny." What was the kid on about?

"Don't let go."

"Ah." Now he got it. "Danny, I can't."

"Please?" Daniel could hear the pleading in his voice but didn't care. He wanted to feel safe.

What harm would it do, Jack asked himself. If it would make Daniel feel better, then he could do that. "Sure."

After a bit or rearranging, both men were eventually able to lie down on the bed. Daniel snuggled against Jack's side. The young man rested his head on the pirate's shoulder, one arm across his chest, and one leg over Jack's to gain as much physical reassurance as he could. He never gave a thought as to how intimate the position was, noticing only how comforting it was. "Thank-you, Jack," he said, closing his eyes and letting the soothing rise and fall of the older man's chest lull him to sleep.

"You're welcome," Jack whispered as he felt Daniel's breathing even out. Unlike the younger man, Jack was fully aware of the intimacy of their embrace. He had never before held a man like so and it surprised him that it didn't feel wrong. Perhaps it was because the situation was anything but sexual, it was just one friend comforting another. But if that was the case, why was he noticing that their bodies fit perfectly together?

****

"I can't do this," Daniel stated, looking distastefully at the wooden sword he had been given.

"Indeed you can, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c replied. He had been asked by O'Neill to teach the young man how to defend himself.

"I don't want to learn how to kill people," Daniel argued, well aware of the others on deck taking an interest in their conversation.

"You are not. You are learning to defend yourself. It is a necessary skill." Teal'c held his sword in the 'ready' position. "This is how you must hold it."

Daniel realised he wasn't going to get out of doing this so he reluctantly copied the other man.

"When you defend yourself, do not make large movements or you will be vulnerable," Teal'c instructed. He flicked his wooden sword towards Daniel, who managed to clumsily knock it away. He followed it up with a strike that forced Daniel's sword aside, then placed the tip of his sword against the now vulnerable throat. "Do you understand?"

"I think so." Daniel braced himself for the next strike.

From the stern of the ship, Jack looked down on the lesson. He was pleased to see that although Daniel was clumsy with the sword, he was a fast learner and rarely made the same mistake twice. He was also more aware of Daniel's body after having it pressed against him all night. The slim waist, the long legs - he hadn't really noticed them before, except in terms of how vulnerable they made him look. Now, thought, he was viewing them in more knowledgeable - and physical - light...

"Captain?"

The voice of his first mate cut off that train of thought. "What?"

Eric Parker glanced down at the mock-fight then back at the captain, deciding not to comment on Daniel. "Last night Stevenson said he thought he saw another ship on the horizon. It's just been spotted again." He held out the telescope.

Jack took it and went to the railing. "Where?" He followed the pointing finger and held the telescope up to his eye. Within seconds, he had found the tiny black ship on the horizon. "You think we're being followed?"

"Yes, sir."

Lowering the telescope, Jack considered the idea. That meant that the other ship would have to have been launched less than two hours after their departure. But who would be following them and why? "Keep an eye on them. If they get any closer, tell me."

"Aye, captain."

Jack went back to the railing to watch Daniel again. If they were being followed, and were consequently attacked, they would soon find out how well Daniel had learnt to fight.

****

The next two weeks passed without incident. The ship on the horizon didn't gain any ground, which allayed Jack's immediate fears. Daniel continued to recover his memories, and as he gained skill in sword-fighting, became more confident in himself. He spent a lot of time up on deck, learning how to be part of the crew and forming friendships with everyone. The crew no longer laughed at his efforts, instead helping him, and anyone who did laugh was quickly dissuaded from doing it again.

Jack was glad that Daniel was fitting in because it meant that there were plenty of people around to protect him. Daniel had a way about him that soon had the entire crew wrapped around his little finger- it wasn't deliberate but, as Jack observed with some amusement, it was true nonetheless. Even Teal'c was a softie when it came to the young man. There had been only a few lustful looks directed at Daniel but no-one had tried anything yet. Jack only hoped things would remain that way so that he could enjoy the rest of the voyage.

****

On the Wednesday of the following week, the 'Star-Dweller' pulled into a small alcove on the coast of Africa and weighed anchor. Some of the men - including Jack, Daniel, Teal'c and Loren - went ashore in the long boat to do some exploring and collect some food.

"Wow!" Daniel commented as they drew nearer to the shore. "It's beautiful."

Jack had to agree. The white sand stood out against the greens of the surrounding forest, and there were small splashes of colour from the flora.

"I wonder if we're the first people to see this," Daniel continued to speculate. "It almost seems as if it is untouched by man."

"Not for much longer," Jack stated as he jumped out of the boat into the shallow water and helped his men haul it onto the shore.

Daniel stepped out onto the sand and immediately crouched down to collect a handful of it. He let the sand trickle through his fingers, watching it with pleasure. "In Egypt, the sand is much coarser," he informed Loren, who had knelt down beside him, "and if it gets under your clothes, it itches like anything."

Loren laughed along with Daniel. The younger man had been learning a lot about other cultures as Daniel had remembered, and was most fascinated with Egypt in particular. "That's why you always wore lots of robes, right?"

"Exactly," Daniel shared the joke.

"Come on, kids, you can play later," Jack said as he walked past them towards the trees.

The next ninety minutes were spent collecting fruit as well as water from a nearby stream. Daniel had to touch everything, having been deprived of being surrounded by nature for so long. Every so often, Jack or Loren, depending on who was closest, would have to pull him along so that he didn't fall behind.

Getting back to the beach ahead of the others, Daniel sat down on the sand and looked across the clear blue sea. The place was just so perfect. He took off his shoes and dug his bare feet into the sand, feeling it trickle between his toes. If only they could stay on the beach for a while longer, maybe a couple of days, then he would be really happy. The real world didn't seem to exist in this little corner of paradise. Flopping backwards, he looked up at the sky, a smile on his face. Maybe he could stay here forever.

A shadow fell across him as Jack sat down next to him. "Whatcha thinking about?" the pirate asked.

"What it would be like to stay here," Daniel stated. He turned his head to look at Jack. "I know it's not possible but... just imagine if it was."

An image of him and Daniel stranded alone on the beach popped into Jack's mind, and he found himself liking the idea. Just the two of them, alone. He shook the thought from his head, disturbed by the fact he wanted it to be true. "It's a nice fantasy but you'd be bored within a week." He had seen how Daniel craved knowledge, and to remain here would deny him that.

"How could anyone get bored with this?" Daniel disagreed. He sat up, shoulder to shoulder with Jack, and looked around for Loren. His friend was further down the beach, looking for shells. Picking up a handful of sand and staring at it, Daniel continued, "It feels safe here."

"I thought you were over that," Jack said, thinking back on the past couple of weeks.

"It comes and goes." Going whenever Jack was around and coming back when he left, but Daniel wouldn't admit to that. To avoid any questions on the subject, he quickly put the handful of sand down the back of Jack's shirt and then took off like a rabbit.

"Why, you little-" Jack didn't bother to get rid of the sand before taking off after Daniel. When he caught up to the younger man, he tackled Daniel to the ground and then straddled his stomach. Grabbing a handful of sand, he threatened, "You're going to pay for that."

Daniel was too busy laughing to protest much, although he did manage to get out a "Jack, don't!" before the sand was deposited down the front of his shirt.

Jack sat back and untucked his own shirt, getting rid of the itchy sand. In doing so, he was caught unawares by Daniel, who suddenly threw some sand at him. He grinned down at the young man, fighting the urge to start laughing. "All right, you asked for it." With that, he started tickling him.

Daniel had never laughed so much in his life as Jack found all his ticklish spots. Begging for mercy and wriggling around in the sand, Daniel laughed until his ribs hurt. When the attack suddenly ceased, Daniel found himself grinning stupidly up at Jack and gasping for breath. He had never felt so happy in his life.

The jolt of desire he felt at that moment shocked Jack. Daniel looked so - radiant, he supposed was the word for it - and it took his breath away. He quickly moved off Daniel, trying to work out what had just happened.

"Jack?" Daniel was immediately concerned by the shocked look on the pirate's face.

"It's nothing." He stood up, brushing the sand off his clothes. Upon hearing voices, he said, "The others are coming. We'd better head back."

Daniel stared bewilderedly after Jack, puzzled as to the change in attitude. He ran through the events in his mind but couldn't see anything that he had done wrong. Yet there was obviously something, otherwise Jack wouldn't have reacted that way. If only he knew what it was.

Getting up and shaking the sand out of his clothes, Daniel then headed back to the others, his good mood fading.

****

Back on the ship, Jack immediately noticed that the other ship was rapidly closing in on their position. "Report!" he barked at Parker.

"They're definitely following us," Eric reported the obvious. "There's no flag to indicate what she is, but in the next ten minutes, she'll block off our escape route."

"Let's get moving then. Pull up the anchor and set us on a course out of here." He should have known things were too good to last.

"Aye, captain." Eric turned and started giving out orders.

"Loren, Daniel, get below now!" If there was going to be fighting, he wanted them out of the way.

"No!" Daniel protested.

"Dammit, Daniel, don't argue with me! Just get below!"

Loren pulled on Daniel's arm and led him down the stairs into the cargo hold. Once there, he let go and retrieved the two swords that were hidden under a blanket in the corner. "In case we need them," he explained as he handed one to Daniel.

"What's going on?" Daniel started to get worried.

"There's a ship heading towards us. The Captain is just being prepared in case they want to board us." Loren didn't mind being sent below, knowing that the captain was trusting him to keep Daniel safe.

"Why would they do that?"

"That's their job. Our job."

"Oh." Daniel hefted the sword in his hand. It was lighter yet heavier than the wooden one. "We'll be safe here?" He resented being sent down here while at the same time being relieved that he didn't have to fight.

Loren nodded. "Most likely."

"Great," Daniel muttered, wishing Jack was there with him.

Above on the main deck, Jack realised that they weren't going to outrun the other ship. He readied the men to fight, knowing that they couldn't attack first until the motive for being followed became clear.

There was a tense silence as everyone waited. Finally, the second ship came alongside the 'Star-Dweller' and without warning, her crew opened fire. Jack's men returned fire immediately, and so the battle began.

On the 'Emperor', Robert waited impatiently for the moment when he could board the other ship. He had waited for over two weeks for this opportunity, and finally O'Neill had been stupid enough to stop for a while. Now he would be able to get his revenge.

Grappling hooks were thrown over the railings of the 'Star-Dweller', holding the two ships together, and then Robert's men started climbing over the side. They were all big, muscled men hired for their strength, and they were good swordsmen too. They had been told that their objective was to capture as many men as possible and failing that, to kill them.

Jack soon found himself in the thick of things. His attackers were good but he was motivated so he was able to dispatch the first few easily. Then he caught sight of a familiar face - the slaver. And the man was headed below decks. Worried now for the two young men he had sent below, Jack started to work his way over to the door.

****

It only took less than a minute for Robert to find Daniel. He noted with surprise that there was another boy in the room, and that they were both armed. "Now, what would you two be doing down here?"

Defiantly, Loren held his sword out ready to fight.

"Loren, no!" Daniel reached for the younger man but was too late as Loren stepped forward to protect his friend.

"The boy thinks he can fight, does he?" Robert mocked the young man, and easily parried the wild swing. "Wanna try again?"

"Loren, stop it!" Daniel pleaded, recognising the intruder. He couldn't let Loren get killed to protect him. His plea fell on deaf ears as Loren continued to swing at his opponent.

Robert toyed with the boy for a little while, then got sick of the game. His sword whipped out and slashed the boy across the chest.

Loren fell to his knees, gasping in pain. The metal had sliced through his skin and he could feel the blood seeping from the wound.

"No!" Daniel went over to Loren and knelt next to him, dropping his sword at the same time. "Loren?"

"It hurts, Daniel," the younger man said in surprise. He hadn't realised it would hurt so much.

"You're going to be all right," Daniel told him, looking around for something to stop the bleeding.

Robert placed the tip of his sword under Daniel's chin. "You, however, won't be. Stand up."

With steady fingers, Daniel grasped Loren's sword then stood up. Anger at his friend's pain helped keep the fear away.

"So you want to fight too," Robert commented as he noticed the sword. He moved back and spread his arms wide. "You'll have to kill me or I'll kill you."

'Surprise is the essence of attack,' Teal'c's voice sounded in Daniel's mind. So he waited instead of rushing in, trying to decide how the man could be defeated.

Robert smiled. This boy had a better idea of how to fight - either that, or he was just too scared to move. Either way, it made things interesting. Bringing his arms down slowly, he then struck, surprised when his blow was parried neatly. "Not bad... for a slave."

Daniel refused to be goaded. Acting rashly would get him killed. He warily circled the slaver, biding his time. He couldn't count on Jack or Teal'c coming to save him but the longer he could stretch this out, the more likely it was that someone would come. He parried the thrust then moved to the side to avoid the next one.

As Robert attacked, he slowly moved Daniel back towards the wall, limiting the strength behind the latter's swings. A few deft moves later and the boy's sword was knocked from his hands. Robert placed the length of his sword against Daniel's throat but kept back out of range of his hands and knees. "Did you really think you would win?"

Daniel didn't answer, and stared defiantly at his attacker instead. He could feel the cold steel, wet with Loren's blood, press against his windpipe. Fear started to rise in him again; this was not supposed to happen!

"Now, you and me are gonna go somewhere more comfortable," Robert said, getting a good handful of the boy's hair, and pulled him towards the stairs.

Loren watched helplessly from the floor as Daniel was taken away from him. He couldn't let Daniel get hurt! So ignoring the pain, he started to crawl towards the stairs.

****

Jack was getting frustrated. He couldn't get through to the door - it was like there was a conspiracy to stop him from doing so. At that thought, he doubled his efforts; Daniel would definitely need his help.

****

Opening the door to the cabin he had found earlier, Robert flung Daniel into the room. The young man went sprawling onto the floor, only to be dragged up again and thrown onto the bed.

Daniel tried to scramble off the bed but wasn't fast enough. He found himself pinned to the mattress, the slaver straddling his stomach. "Get off me!"

Putting the sword out of the boy's reach, Robert caught the flailing arms and held them tightly. "Not before we've got better acquainted."

Blue eyes opened wide as the meaning sank in. "No, please no!" He had barely recovered from the last time. Daniel tried struggling again but he wasn't strong enough to shift the slaver. "Please, no!"

Robert ignored him and tried to figure out whether he needed to tie the boy to the bed. Deciding to do so, he released one arm and moved back a little to gain access to the belt. Letting go of the other arm, Robert drew his knife and placed it against the top of the vulnerable throat.

****

Loren pulled himself up the last step and found himself looking at a pair of shoes. Craning his neck upwards, he saw that it was the captain.

Jack knelt down, worried about the blood he could see. "What happened?"

"He... took Daniel," Loren managed to get out. "Tried to... stop him." Blackness wavered around the edges of his vision, and then he passed out.

After making sure that Loren was still alive, Jack tried to work out where the slaver would take Daniel. And when he heard the cries of protest, he realised that he didn't have to go very far at all.

****

Daniel put both his hands on the man's arm, trying to push him away. "Please don't do this!" he pleaded, tears coming to his eyes. He felt his belt being pulled away and his panic increased. "Please!"

"You heard him."

"Jack!" Daniel's heart leapt with joy to see the pirate standing there. He started to calm down because he knew Jack would protect him.

Keeping the knife steady, Robert turned to look at the would-be rescuer. "One step closer, O'Neill, and he dies."

Jack didn't doubt that for a second. "What do you want?" He forced himself to stay still - he was not going to get Daniel killed.

"Revenge. You cost me a lot of money."

"It would have been easier to get us back at port," Jack commented. A movement caught his eye and he saw Daniel's hand slowly reach up under the pillow. Knowing he needed to keep the slaver's attention on him, he continued, "I mean, you wouldn't had to have wasted all those men just to kill me and get Daniel into bed. Come on, you have to admit that was a bad plan."

"How exactly? I seem to have you both where I want you." Robert put a little more weight on the knife.

Daniel felt the knife dig further into his skin, drawing blood. Remaining calm, he searched under the pillow for Ra - he had placed the statue there earlier in the day. His fingers closed around it just as he heard Jack's reply.

"Well, as soon as you move that knife, you're a dead man. Because if I don't kill you, my men out there will." Keep him distracted, Jack told himself.

"Then the boy will die with me."

"I don't think so." A loud 'thunk' preceded the sound of the slaver's body hitting the floor.

"Daniel?" What had the kid used?

Grinning slightly, Daniel held up the statue. "I guess it really can protect me from bad things."

Jack chuckled in spite of himself. "I guess it can." He went over to the unconscious man, checking that he was out for the count. That done, he went over to check on Daniel - the thin lines of blood on the young man's throat worried him. "Good thinking."

Daniel smiled at the praise, and then his expression changed to one of horror. "Loren!" He got up and rushed out the door, and found the younger man lying at the top of the stairs. Kneeling down next to him, Daniel tried to get a response. "Loren? Are you all right? Loren?"

After tying the intruder up with his own belt, Jack went out to find Daniel. Putting a hand on the kid's shoulder, he said, "Let's get him to Doc." And Daniel could get his injury checked out at the same time.

****

A while later, Daniel hovered anxiously at Loren's bedside. A clean bandage had been put over the wound, and Doc had assured him that Loren was going to be fine. Still, just to be sure, Daniel was waiting around until his friend woke up.

Loren's eyelids fluttered as he regained consciousness, then they flew open as he remembered the situation. "Daniel!" He tried to sit up but the pain in his chest stopped him.

"It's all right, I'm here," Daniel said, crouching down next to the bunk.

"Daniel?" Loren was confused. "How...?"

"Jack," he replied, then turned the conversation back to the man in front of him. "Thank-you for trying to protect me." Daniel had worked out that Loren had been trying to get to him before he had passed out.

"It didn't work," Loren said dejectedly. He had let the man take Daniel.

"Yes, it did. You bought me some time, and because of that, Jack was able to intervene before things went too far." Daniel reached out and squeezed Loren's hand. "That was the best thing you could have done for me."

"Really?" He thought he had failed. Loren then saw the cut on Daniel's throat. "You're hurt."

"I'm fine, and you're going to be just fine too."

"You did a brave thing, Loren," Jack said, coming up behind Daniel. He had come so close to losing both of them. "I'm proud of you."

The praise from the captain was so unexpected that Loren blushed. "Thank-you, sir."

"You're welcome. Now, we'll leave you to get some rest."

"I-I want to stay for a while, Jack. Please?" Daniel wanted to give back some of the comfort that Loren had provided him with in the early days on board the ship.

"All right. But let him rest," Jack ordered. He ruffled Daniel's hair, then left the room. He headed up onto the deck to watch the 'Emperor' sail away.

"The surviving crew are returning home," Teal'c reported, coming up silently behind the captain. "Their leader has been taken care of."

Jack really didn't want to know how, just so long as the man wouldn't bother them any more. He already had a lie ready to tell both Daniel and Loren. "Good. Let's set sail again, shall we?"

****

After their nightly chess game, during which Jack told Daniel that the slaver had been taken to the beach and abandoned, the young man started fidgeting. Recognising it as a sign of something being on his mind, Jack asked, "What is it, Daniel?"

"He wanted to kill you, didn't he?" Daniel had been reliving parts of the attack all afternoon, and that had stood out.

"I'd say so," Jack replied, packing the game up.

"And he wanted to... you know... me, didn't he?"

Jack nodded briefly as the image of the big man pinning Daniel to the bed and holding a knife to his throat caused his gut to twist in pain.

"Was it to hurt me or to hurt you?"

The insightful question surprised Jack. "Both, probably," he answered. "He knew from when I rescued you before that I cared about you, and that hurting you would hurt me."

Daniel's breath caught in his throat. "You care about me?" He was startled by the admission.

"Yeah, I do. You're my friend, remember?" Jack tried to keep things light, even though he knew that he cared for Daniel more than he had for any other friend... and that scared him.

"I care for you too, Jack," Daniel had no trouble in admitting. He smiled at the older man, unreasonably happy at the knowledge of Jack's feelings. "You're the best friend I've ever had."

"You're only saying that 'cause I've save you three times," Jack teased, quietly pleased at Daniel's words.

"Well, there is that," Daniel shared the joke, then grew serious. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

"Are you sure?" Two things stopped him from saying 'yes' straight away: the fact that Daniel had nearly been raped again; and the knowledge that his feelings for the young man might be more than just friendship.

"I want to feel safe," the young man replied candidly. From the time he was rescued, Jack had always represented a safe haven.

"All right then." Jack lay down on the bed and automatically put his arm around Daniel when the young man lay down next to him. He swallowed hard when Daniel snuggled in, his breath ghosting across Jack's chest. The desire that he had felt earlier in the day came back, causing his heart to beat faster.

"Jack?" Daniel could feel the quick heart-beat under his fingertips and was curious as to the cause.

"Just remembering." The pirate forced himself to breathe slowly in and out so that his heart-rate would slow as well. He didn't want to scare Daniel with these strange feelings.

Daniel accepted that and settled down again, feeling contentment flow through him. He hoped that he wouldn't have any bad dreams - he was sick of them. But he knew that Jack would be there to comfort him afterwards if he did.

Jack lay awake for a long time, his mind running over the day's events. Foremost in his mind were his new, unnatural feelings for Daniel, and how he could never let the young man know of them...

Chapter 7:

The next five weeks flew by. Daniel and Jack had one nightmare apiece on that shared night, and several more in the ensuing nights, although they spent no more together.

Daniel spent his waking hours working on his sword skills, pulling his weight with sailing duties, and reading all the books on board. He was remembering more and more about his past, which made him increasingly reluctant to go back to England.

Jack didn't pick up on the reluctance straight away, so focused was he on not feeling anything inappropriate for his best friend. There were the occasional flickers of desire, which he quickly suppressed, and he made sure that he didn't touch Daniel as often as usual. If the young man noticed this, he didn't say anything.

They had plenty of lively discussions, the depth of Daniel's knowledge continuing to surprise Jack on a daily basis. Daniel was also beginning to remember the dozen or so languages that he could speak, and would tease Jack by slipping into them during their discussions. So except for the small bouts of self-loathing over his feelings, Jack was having the time of his life.

For his part, so was Daniel. He couldn't believe how much fun he was having, and how well-read Jack actually was. He noticed that occasionally the pirate became uncomfortable or distant around him but since he couldn't work out the reason, he didn't worry about it. His bond with the older man grew every day, and at the end of the five weeks, Daniel knew he didn't want to leave.

****

"Come on, Daniel, get a move on," Jack said after the ship had docked at Penzance. He had noticed that the young man hadn't come up on deck for the docking so he had gone below to fetch him.

"I'm not going." Daniel crossed his arms and stared defiantly at Jack, daring him to move him.

Jack sighed, running a hand impatiently through his hair. He had thought that Daniel had been getting nervous about going back but now he was beginning to change his mind. "Why?"

"I want to stay here with you."

"As flattering as that is, Daniel..."

"There had to be a reason I left in the first place, Jack." Daniel had been thinking a lot about it recently. "Everything I remember about that place is... stifling - the house, the society. I don't want to go back to that."

"It's only for a little while, and you did promise Miss Carter that you would be there."

"But you won't be there, will you?" Daniel hadn't missed the singular terms.

"No." Jack would no more fit into Daniel's world than the young man did in his.

"Then I'm not going." He wanted to stay with Jack and explore the world.

"What if I come with you to your grandfather's house? Will you go then?" Jack knew he would never be allowed to stay but it might convince Daniel to go.

"And take me home when I want to leave?"

'Home.' Daniel thought of the 'Star-Dweller' as home. The idea pleased Jack but saddened him at the same time because he knew that Daniel couldn't live there permanently. So he couldn't promise that. "Let's go then."

Several hours later, they arrived at the Ballard mansion in Camborne. Jack was extremely impressed by the estate, and marvelled that Daniel could have been raised in such a place and still turn out so well; the young linguist definitely wasn't your average rich kid.

As they drew up to the front of the mansion, memories of Daniel's childhood came to the fore. Memories of strict rules, of discipline, of not being comforted when he cried; the bad memories dominated the good ones. "Jack, let's just go home again," he said as the carriage stopped.

"We've come this far," Jack replied. "Might as well go in."

"Promise you'll stay with me." Daniel didn't want to go in there alone.

"I'll stay with you." Until he was thrown out.

They got out of the carriage, Jack announcing to the doorman that Sir Nicholas's grandson had arrived.

With a decidedly snobbish air, the doorman went to see if 'the master' was available, then came back to show the two men in.

Jack felt so out of place in his attire, reinforcing his belief that he shouldn't be there. Although he came from a moderately wealthy background, it had been nothing on this scale. He felt Daniel inch closer towards him as they walked along, until the young man was practically inside Jack's skin, and the pirate began to question the wisdom of bringing him back. Maybe he hadn't looked hard enough for a way for them to stick together... or maybe he had just wanted Daniel out of the way so he could go back to feeling normal things again.

They were ushered into a study that seemed as large as the 'Star-Dweller's main deck. Daniel's eyes opened wide as he surveyed all the books - how could he not have remembered this room? Although his fingers itched to touch the books, he remained where he was, pressed up close to Jack. The older man's presence helped ease his fears.

"Daniel."

The stern, accented voice drew Daniel's attention to the middle of the room. An old man sat in a large chair, cold eyes assessing the figure that stood before him. "Grandfather."

Sir Nicholas's eyes narrowed as he took in his grandson's appearance and his companion. Just what had Daniel been up to these past ten years? Addressing the stranger, he asked, "And you are?"

"Captain Jack O'Neill, sir." One look at the old man and he could see why Daniel had been reluctant to come back.

"And why are you here?"

"Grandfather!" Daniel protested at what he thought was a ill-mannered question.

"It's all right, Danny," Jack said quietly to the young man. Speaking louder, he replied, "I saved his life, sir, and Daniel asked me to protect him for the rest of his journey." Well, that was one interpretation of what had happened, Jack justified his words to himself.

"I see." Distaste dripped from both words. His heir had befriended a commoner - that was not acceptable. "Daniel, come here."

Daniel looked at Jack, who shrugged, and then left the pirate's safety to go over to his grandfather.

Sir Nicholas assessed his grandson's appearance more critically. The long hair, which wasn't even tied back, was a golden brown colour - bleached by too many hours in the sun, no doubt. His skin was lightly tanned, and he seemed lighter in build, almost as if he had been starved. And there were scratches on his hands, which indicated that Daniel had been doing manual labour. "What have you been up to?"

"What I told you I would do - exploring the world," Daniel replied. "You should see what's out there, grandfather. It's amazing..."

"Really?"

Daniel fell silent at the disinterested tone. Now he remembered why he hadn't liked his grandfather.

"Captain O'Neill, thank-you for bringing my grandson home." It was a clear dismissal.

Jack understood this and gave a short bow to the old man. Making a scene would only get him thrown out faster so it was better to co-operate. A butler came up beside him to escort him out. "Bye, Danny." He turned to leave.

"No!" Panic began to rise in Daniel; Jack had promised he wouldn't leave him! "Jack!" He headed towards the door, only to have it shut in his face. The last thing he saw was Jack looking sadly at him. "No!" Daniel pulled on the door but it wouldn't open.

"Daniel, stop this behaviour at once!" Sir Nicholas commanded.

The young man tugged on the door a few more times, tears coming to his eyes. Jack wasn't allowed to leave him! "Jack!"

Outside the door, Jack could hear the distressed shouts and wanted desperately to go back in there, but the two men now guarding the door deterred him from trying. He had known that he wouldn't be allowed to stay but he hadn't anticipated being thrown out so quickly. His heart breaking, he turned and slowly walked away.

Back inside the room, Daniel turned and slid down the door until he was sitting on the floor. Tears streamed down his face. Jack was gone, shut out of his life; the sudden loss scared him. "No," he whispered to himself.

Sir Nicholas was appalled. "Daniel Jackson, stop this disgraceful behaviour right now!"

The young man ignored him, staring blankly at the floor.

"He has obviously been a bad influence on you," Sir Nicholas observed. Given the behaviour, he now believed that Daniel had been seduced by the commoner - a disgusting thought.

"A bad influence?" Daniel said in disbelief, lifting his eyes to look incredulously at the old man. "He saved my life! I was kidnapped, and was raped and beaten every day for a month! When Jack found me, I was close to death! He helped me get better and then protected me from others who wished to harm me! How can that be a bad influence?" His words were designed to shock and he was pleased to see that they worked. How dare his grandfather say that Jack was bad!

The old man digested this information with mixed feelings - shock, anger, and disgust. "I knew letting you go off 'exploring' was a bad decision. You should have stayed here."

"And what, get married to a girl you picked out for me and live out my life being bored to death by staying here?" He had to be out in the world learning; that was the way he was. "There are so many different cultures out there, so many things to learn! I've visited so many countries and learnt about how other people live! And all that was worth the price!" Daniel was riled now, gesturing angrily with his hands. If Apophis hadn't taken him, he never would have met Jack, and Daniel now believed that was fate.

"You're obviously not in your right mind," Sir Nicholas pronounced. His grandson had obviously been influenced by his experiences. "You need some rest and something to eat."

Daniel was incredulous. "No, I need to go home."

"You are home."

"No, I'm not. This is a place where I lived - it was never my home." A sad but true fact.

"And I suppose you believe your home is with O'Neill now?" Brainwashed, that's what Daniel was.

"At least he cares about me!" Daniel shot back. "You never did! I was always the 'heir', never a person!" He tucked his knees up to his chest, trying to keep the hurt away.

So that was how O'Neill had seduced him, the old man mused, thinking of how he could use that information. "If he cares so much for you, why did he leave?"

Daniel was silent for a few seconds. "I don't know," he finally said quietly. Why had Jack left? Had Jack brought him here just to get rid of him? What had he done wrong that Jack didn't want him anymore?

"I do," Sir Nicholas stated. "He was using you. He's had his fun and now wants rid of you."

"No!" Daniel denied, shaking his head. That wasn't true. "He wouldn't do that." He then realised what his grandfather was implying, and his eyes widened. "You think Jack seduced me, don't you?"

The old man made no reply to that.

"You're kidding me! Jack is my friend, nothing else! He would never do what you're implying!" Of that, Daniel was certain. "We're just friends," he repeated.

"I'm afraid I can't let you have any more contact with him." He had people who could make O'Neill disappear.

"And just how are you going to stop me?" Daniel was sorry he asked when he saw his grandfather was avoiding looking at him. "Please tell me you're not going to kill him!" That was a bit drastic, wasn't it?

"Will you attempt to contact him?"

Daniel heard the unspoken threat: if he tried to leave, Jack would die. He couldn't let that happen. Swallowing the bile in his throat, he bitterly replied, "No."

"Then there is no need to worry, is there?" The old man smiled benevolently now that he had won that round. "Now, I'm sure you are tired after your long journey. Why don't you go up to your room and rest? I'll have Cook bring something up for you in a while."

Like he would be able to rest now! Reluctantly, Daniel got to his feet and allowed himself to be escorted from the room, his heart as heavy as his feet. How could he leave without condemning Jack to death?

Sir Nicholas watched his only heir leave the room. He noted the sad eyes and defeated posture but put any regrets over his actions aside. It had been necessary to break the influence O'Neill clearly held over Daniel. A few days in his room to think things over was now clearly what the young man needed. Satisfied, Sir Nicholas rang the bell for the butler.

Once in his room, Daniel stood staring out the window at the darkening sky. He should never have let Jack talk him into coming... Jack. He had lost Jack. His heart ached with the pain of his loss, and a couple of involuntary tears trickled down his cheeks. He didn't want to live without Jack. He...

He loved Jack.

Surprised at this thought, Daniel slumped against the window frame. He loved Jack? He knew he felt more for Jack than he did for either Sam or Loren but he had never equated that with love before. Jack made him feel happy, and safe, and Daniel had trusted him virtually straight away. And now he realised that Jack also made him feel good, like he had when he'd had that crush on Sarah ten years ago, only this was more intense.

He didn't just love Jack - he was in love with Jack.

The idea didn't fill him with disgust; rather, he was relieved. It certainly explained his behaviour around Jack. But the idea also fascinated him. He was in love with a man. He had never expected such a thing to happen but it had. That was why Apophis had taken him, so that Jack could rescue him and they could be with each other. It was obviously fated. Except...

Except he didn't know if Jack felt the same way. Probably not, given that the pirate had been married, not to mention that he had abandoned Daniel here. But they could still be friends. Daniel thought he would be able to suppress his feelings so that he didn't make Jack uncomfortable.

He sighed and stared into the distance. If only Jack would come back...

****

In the nearby bushes, under the cover of darkness, Jack stared up at the pensive figure at the window. After leaving the house earlier, and being driven away in the carriage, Jack had stealthily made his way back, waiting until it was dark before going closer in order to find Daniel's room. He'd had second thoughts about abandoning the young man to Sir Nicholas, and wanted to make sure that Daniel was all right. Given the current expression, he guessed that Daniel wasn't.

He had the feeling that any attempt to overtly comfort Daniel would be dangerous to the young man's freedom, so he would have to do it covertly. Waiting until the light had been turned off for a long time, he quietly moved up to the house and flattened himself against the wall. He waited to see if he had been seen or heard but there was only silence. He looked up at the second storey window - it looked a long way up, not to mention a long way to fall if he missed his footing. Slowly, carefully, he started to climb.

There were several times on the way up when he cursed the builders, his hands and feet slipping on the smooth stone, but he persevered. After five interminably long minutes, his hand found Daniel's window sill. Checking with his fingers that the sill was wide enough, he then carefully reached around to retrieve the statue from where it was tucked into the back of his trousers. Then he placed the statue on the sill, making sure it wasn't going to fall down, and then cautiously made his descent.

A few feet from the ground, he jumped the rest of the way. Without waiting to see if anyone had heard him, he scrambled for the bushes. He waited anxiously there for a few minutes, sighing with relief when no-one from the house appeared.

Retreating into the nearby trees that would still give him a good view of Daniel's window, he settled in to sleep for the rest of the night.

****

Daniel awoke late the next morning, groggy from a restless night and little sleep. His eyes opened abruptly when he remembered where he was - in his own bed in his grandfather's house. Without Jack.

Rolling over, he stared at the white ceilings which reflected what he was feeling - nothing. He felt numb inside. Life without Jack, especially in this house, held no interest for him. He wanted to stay in bed forever and not get up to face the dreary life ahead of him.

Turning over again, he looked at the sunshine streaming in through the window. How could the sun be shining? Didn't it know that it was a terrible day? Why wasn't it bleak to match his mood? Why didn't....

His thoughts trailed off as his brain registered that there was something on the window sill. Squinting, Daniel could make out that it looked thin and tall but because it was in silhouette, he couldn't distinguish any other features. So he got out of bed to have a closer look.

When he was a couple of feet away, he recognised it and quickly opened one side of the window to retrieve it. It was Ra! And there was only one way that the statue could have ended up there and that was if Jack had put it there. Daniel hadn't seen the older man bring the statue along but given that it was here now, he must have. Jack would have waited until it was dark, found his room, and then climbed all the way up. Daniel's heart swelled with happiness. Jack had done all that for him! Jack was still his friend. And more importantly, Jack hadn't left him.

Grinning with pleasure, Daniel looked out the window to see if he could see Jack anywhere. But if he was there, the pirate was well hidden. That didn't detract from his happiness though. Jack was nearby. Everything was going to be all right.

After one last look out the window, Daniel pulled it closed then went back to bed.

****

Even from his place in the trees, Jack had seen the grin. He was pleased that he had brought the statue along now. And now Daniel would know that he hadn't deserted him, which would hopefully sustain him for the few days he would be there. Feeling happier than before, Jack went in search of some food.

****

When there was a knock on the door some time later, Daniel quickly hid Ra under the sheets. He knew that any indication that Jack was still around would be very bad for both of them.

Sir Nicholas walked into the bedroom, followed by a butler carrying a tray of food. "I see you're finally awake."

There was nothing Daniel could say to that so he didn't.

"Here is your breakfast. You will find something to wear in the wardrobe."

"Thank-you, grandfather." Surely the old man hadn't come all that way just to tell him that?

"You will remain in this room until you can behave like a civilised person again."

"What? You can't do that!" Daniel sat bolt upright in the bed. He was going to be a prisoner now?

"It is my duty to help you, Daniel," Sir Nicholas stated. "You can remain here and be cured or I will send you to an asylum. This is infinitely better, I assure you."

Once again he had no choice. Daniel mutinously crossed his arms and lay back against the pillows.

"Your childish behaviour does you no credit, Daniel. Every action simply proves that your 'adventures' have had a bad influence on you." With that parting shot, Sir Nicholas and the butler left.

Daniel retrieved Ra and held the statue tightly in his hand. He needed to come up with a plan to leave the house without putting Jack's life in danger.

****

That evening, Daniel was still no closer to finding a plan than he had been ten hours earlier. But during his enforced solitude, he had written a short letter to Jack - whom he was hoping would come back - outlining the situation. He carefully wrapped the bottle of ink and a feather inside the piece of parchment and placed the parcel on the window sill, hoping that Jack would come to retrieve it. Then he went off to bed to wait.

****

The next morning, Daniel was awake early, anxious to see if Jack had been. Rushing to the window, he found that the parcel was gone and in its place was a small book that Daniel recognised as being from the library downstairs - it had Sir Nicholas's name in it. The young man smiled as he realised that Jack had somehow broken into the library, and without being seen had taken one of the books so that Daniel wouldn't get bored. Jack really did care about him.

****

The day passed in a similar fashion to the previous one, except this time, Daniel was able to keep his mind occupied. Before he went to bed, he put some food on the window sill for Jack, just in case he was hungry. Then he went straight off to sleep, dreaming of when Jack would come to rescue him.

****

Jack's reply was short and to the point: 'Sorry, Danny, nothing comes to mind yet. But we'll figure it out. Just hang in there.'

Daniel re-read the note a couple of times and then hid it in his bedside drawer. He had every confidence that Jack would figure out something. In the meantime, he should show some signs of 'getting better' so that he could move freely around the house.

****

When he came downstairs later, Sir Nicholas looked at Daniel in approval. The long hair had been cut to a more fashionable length and was tied back, and he was wearing appropriate clothes instead of the common garb. The old man felt pleased that his tactics had worked.

Sam also looked on approvingly, this Daniel being more like the one she remembered. "Daniel!" She went over and embraced him happily.

Daniel returned the hug. "Sam! When did you arrive?"

"This morning." She hadn't even changed out of her travelling clothes. She drew back, looking deep into his eyes and saw the sadness lingering there. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." Daniel moved away and sat down in a nearby chair. "You?"

"The same." Sam's instincts were telling her that Daniel was anything but fine. She needed to talk to him alone and find out what was wrong. "Do you feel like a walk? I need to stretch my legs after all that travelling."

"Go," Sir Nicholas said when Daniel looked questioningly at him.

Sam led Daniel outside, and when they were far enough away from the mansion, asked, "What's wrong?"

Daniel deliberated about how much to tell her. "Grandfather won't let me leave. If I try, he said he'd have Jack killed."

"What?" She couldn't believe that. "Would he really do that?"

"I don't know but I don't want to find out." Daniel wrapped his arms around his chest. Even thinking about it caused him pain.

Sam didn't question why Daniel would want to leave - she knew why he had left in the first place. Now she understood the sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Daniel."

"If only I knew what my grandfather wanted from me!" Daniel exclaimed in frustration.

That was easily answered. "He wants you to get married and produce an heir," she stated. "He told me this morning."

"And he thinks that locking me up and threatening Jack is going to help?" What would the old man say if he knew that Daniel didn't want to get married because he was in love with another man?

"It's his way."

"Well, it's not going to work." Daniel stopped walking and turned towards Sam. "Can you help me leave here?"

"Where would you go?"

"I don't know. Anywhere but here."

"With O'Neill?"

Daniel hesitated before replying, "If he'll have me, yes."

Sam was torn. She wanted to help Daniel but didn't want him to go back to the pirate. "Let me think about it." She couldn't promise anything yet.

****

That night, Daniel wrote to Jack, saying that Sam might be able to help them, and again he left the writing implements on the sill. The next morning, they had been replaced by a single red rose. Daniel picked it up and inhaled the sweet scent. He wondered whether Jack had meant it as a declaration of love or just a token of friendship.

****

"Daniel Jackson!"

The young man looked up, startled by his grandfather's booming voice. He had been reading quietly in the sitting room, waiting for Sam to come downstairs. "What is it, grandfather?"

"Where did these come from?" Sir Nicholas held the statue, note and rose in one hand. He was absolutely livid.

"You went through my room?" Daniel was incredulous. How dare his privacy be invaded like that!

"It seems I had reason to. O'Neill gave these to you, didn't he?" the old man accused.

Daniel kept his mouth shut, just staring defiantly at his grandfather.

"You have still been seeing him," Sir Nicholas said in disgust. "Haven't you?" When there was still no reply, the old man called his butler over and ordered a search of the grounds.

Daniel struggled to keep his expression defiant while his stomach clenched in fear. What would happen to Jack if they found him? The pirate had taken a big risk in staying, especially after Daniel had told him about the death threat. Would his grandfather be so concerned over their friendship that he would actually kill Jack?

"He has corrupted you, Daniel." Sir Nicholas looked at the rose with disgust - men were not supposed to be together, it was unnatural. And he was certain that it wouldn't have been Daniel's idea. "You should not protect him."

"He has done nothing wrong," Daniel felt compelled to defend Jack. He stood up angrily and snatched his things from the old man's hand. "You had no right to do this!"

"I had every right," Sir Nicholas started to defend himself before the door opened and Sam entered.

She took in the situation at a glance. "Did I interrupt something?" She looked at the items in Daniel's hand and recognised the statue. There was also a... rose? What was going on?

"O'Neill has been hiding on the estate," Sir Nicholas informed her.

Sam looked again at the rose, then at Daniel's angry face. Why hadn't Daniel told her? Stupid question, she berated herself; he didn't trust you not to turn them in. And the rose? She knew of their friendship but the flower indicated something more.

"When he is found, he will be dealt with," the old man announced. "As you will be, Daniel." He left the room.

All the fight went out of Daniel as the door closed, and he slumped into the nearby chair. "This can't be happening," he muttered to himself, absently rolling the rose's stem between his fingers.

"Daniel." Sam went and knelt down in front of him. He looked so sad. "What's going on?"

"Jack promised he wouldn't leave me, that's why he left these for me." He held up the items. "Grandfather found them this morning. Sam, I think he's going to kill Jack." Fear rose in him again as he spoke those words.

"He'll be fine, Daniel," Sam tried to reassure him. "O'Neill knows how to take care of himself." Frankly she was surprised that the pirate had stuck around - maybe he cared more for Daniel than she thought.

Daniel nodded; of course Jack could take care of himself. He would just go deeper into hiding. He would be fine. But Daniel wasn't so sure about himself. "Grandfather thinks I'm insane for not wanting to stay here."

"I don't." Sam knew from what Daniel had told her previously that he needed to be out doing things. She reached out and smoothed a stray lock of hair back from his face. "But I think you are a little crazy for becoming friends with O'Neill," she teased.

"I love him, Sam," Daniel admitted softly, not looking at her. "I know it's immoral, and against nature and reason, but I love him. Please tell me I'm not crazy." He lifted scared and pleading eyes to hers.

Sam didn't know what to say. She was shocked by the confession. Sitting back on her heels, she tried to wrap her mind around it. Daniel loved O'Neill; it just wasn't right. But if she told Daniel that, it would turn him against her. So putting aside her own feelings, she concentrated on his. Holding his hands in hers, she replied, "You're not crazy. When did you know?"

"When I thought he had gone." Daniel was relieved by Sam's words.

"And does he... love... you too?"

"I don't know." He stared at the rose. He wasn't sure what it meant. "I hope so but I don't know. He was married." Tears came back into his eyes. "It was his idea to come here. He told me that I had to keep my promise to you, and that he would take me back to the ship when I had seen you. But he didn't know this would happen."

Sam drew him into an embrace, being careful not to crush the rose. "It'll be all right, Daniel." She would make sure of it. "I'll talk to Sir Nicholas."

"Thank-you, Sam." He held on tight. "Thank-you."

****

When the search failed to turn up O'Neill, Sir Nicholas was furious. He stormed into the sitting room where both Daniel and Samantha were waiting, and went straight up to his grandson. "Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Where is he?" the old man demanded again.

"I don't know!" Daniel yelled back. "I really don't know!" But he wished he did.

"Sir Nicholas, could I have a word?" Sam intervened. When the old man nodded, she led him to the other side of the room. "I've met O'Neill," she stated, "and he only ever had Daniel's best interests at heart. As much as I hate to admit it, he was the one who helped Daniel to recover. There was never any impropriety in his actions, and believe me, I was looking."

"What about the rose?"

"I don't know." Only O'Neill knew that. "Daniel relies on him, probably too much. But the way to get rid of him is to make Daniel see that he doesn't need him anymore." It was the only plan she could come up with on short notice.

Sir Nicholas considered the idea. It might just work. "How?"

"Let me handle it."

"Very well. You have three days." With that, he stormed out.

"Whatever you said, thank-you," Daniel said from across the room. He had got himself under control again.

"Don't thank me yet," Sam said, thinking about whether her idea would actually work.

****

Just before sunset, Sam went for a walk. Just outside Daniel's bedroom window, near the bushes, she dropped a note where she hoped O'Neill would find it before attempting to climb the wall. Then she casually continued on her way.

Jack saw the drop and when it was dark enough, went across and picked the note up. Squinting in the darkness, he managed to get the general idea - Sir Nicholas knew, and there were men waiting for him if he tried to see Daniel tonight. However, they wouldn't be watching the back of the house where Carter would be waiting for him. Jack considered the possibility of a trap and decided it wouldn't be worth the risk. He would lay low for a day or two; Daniel would understand.

Sam waited for a long time, feeling rather stupid being out in the cold weather. Finally, she decided that O'Neill hadn't trusted her enough to come. She couldn't blame him but Daniel would be disappointed. Shivering, she went back inside, leaving the second note she had been given on the ground, just in case O'Neill was out there watching.

Ten minutes after she had gone, Jack retrieved the note. He would have to wait till morning to read it but he hoped that it didn't contain more bad news.

****

"Why didn't he come?" Daniel asked Sam as they walked through the estate's small forest.

"He probably didn't trust me," Sam replied. "Under the circumstances, I don't blame him. But he did take the note." She had checked earlier that morning.

"Do you think he'll agree to the idea?" They had decided that Daniel should make a mock-escape, then Sam would volunteer to accompany him to the nearest asylum for 'sorting out', and somewhere along the line, Jack would 'kidnap' him.

"Why don't you ask me?"

Jack's familiar but quiet voice startled them both. Daniel spun around to see the pirate leaning against a nearby tree. "Jack!" Daniel didn't even think about his reaction; he just went and embraced the other man. He hadn't realised how much he had relied on Jack's touches until he had been deprived of them. Burying his face into the pirate's neck, he breathed in the unique scent that was Jack, and all the pain of the past few days faded away.

Jack turned slightly bewildered eyes on Sam. He hadn't expected Daniel to greet him so enthusiastically - indeed, there seemed to be no indication that Daniel was intending to let go. "Hey, Danny," he said softly, gently holding the young man to him. The inappropriate feelings for the linguist decided to surface and Jack had to fight not to push Daniel away.

"You didn't leave me," Daniel said, drawing back so that he could see the older man's face. "Thank-you for the presents."

"My pleasure." Jack was blown away by the love he saw in Daniel's eyes. Could the young man see that in his?

Sam cleared her throat, gaining the guilty attention of both men. She watched Daniel slowly draw away, embarrassment flooding his face. He would be cursing himself, she knew, for showing so much emotion. The best thing for her to do for him would be to get the focus away from him and not give the other man time to think. "O'Neill."

"Miss Carter." Jack felt the loss of Daniel immediately.

"I take it you read the note."

"Yes." He looked at Daniel then back at Carter. "I'm not sure it's a good idea. It puts Daniel at risk of getting hurt. And what if Sir Nicholas just decides to lock him up in the house somewhere?"

"It's worth the risk, Jack." Daniel got his embarrassment under control. "Really."

"And you don't mind being labelled as a head-case for the rest of your life?" Things like that stuck with a person for ages.

"I can live with it." He hopefully wouldn't be around to hear it. "I don't care what my grandfather's acquaintances think about me. If I did, I wouldn't have left ten years ago." All he cared about now was being with Jack.

Jack shook his head. "It's not worth the risk."

The young man's face became stricken. He moved away from Jack and stood next to Sam, uncertain.

"Daniel?" Sam didn't know what was going on inside his head.

"What if he doesn't want me?" Daniel muttered to her, shooting an anxious glance towards Jack.

"Ask him."

Daniel shook his head. He couldn't ask Jack that question.

"Wait here." Sam walked over to O'Neill, not quite believing she was about to ask this. "Daniel is a little worried that you might not want to take him with you."

"What? Why?"

"I'm not sure." She glanced over her shoulder and saw Daniel watching her carefully. "Do you?"

"Yes, I..." he broke off. Except it was a bad idea to have Daniel anywhere near him. But considering he was still here instead of back on the ship, his head needed to be examined anyway. "I do."

"Daniel loves you," Sam told him abruptly. "If you don't love him back, then don't lead him on." It felt weird to be voicing those words to a man.

"He only thinks he does," Jack said reflexively. "I mean, I rescued him, that's probably it. He's probably confusing love with gratitude..."

"Give him some credit for knowing what he's feeling." Even if Sam didn't like the idea, she still believed him.

Jack looked at Daniel. One look at those worried blue eyes and he knew it was true. He also knew now that he loved Daniel as more than just a friend. And this time, instead of feeling wrong, it felt right. "Danny, come here."

Warily, Daniel walked back over to Jack, hugging himself. He wasn't sure what the pirate was going to say to him. To his surprise, Daniel felt his chin being lifted up, and he looked into warm brown eyes. "Jack?"

"I love you too, Daniel Jackson," Jack said before leaning in and pressing his lips against the young man's.

Daniel's eyes opened wide in surprise before he gave in to the new sensations that were flooding through him. He had been kissed by women before but none of them had made him feel this good. As Jack's lips withdrew from his, he kept his eyes closed for a few seconds longer to savour the experience. Upon opening them, he stared into Jack's eyes and saw the truth there. A shy smile graced his lips. "You love me."

"Yes, I do," Jack confirmed. All his moral objections had flown out the window during the kiss. So what if Daniel was a man? Daniel was the bravest, most intelligent and inwardly beautiful person that Jack had ever known. And if Daniel loved him back, it must be all right.

Sam, who had quickly turned away when she realised what was going to happen, interrupted without looking at them. "What do we do about the plan?"

"I still don't like it," Jack stated, contentedly wrapping his arms around Daniel's waist.

"All right then, how about this one?"

****

Sam got off her horse and handed the reins over to O'Neill. She and Daniel had ridden to the far end of the estate under the pretence of needing some exercise. O'Neill had been waiting for them. "Take care of Daniel. Because if anything happens to him, I will kill you myself."

Jack took the threat seriously - he would have said the same thing. "I promise."

Daniel slid off his horse and hugged Sam tightly. He was lucky to have her as a friend. "Thanks, Sam."

"You're welcome." Tears stung her eyes and she wiped them away. "Just be careful. And don't forget to write."

"I will, and I won't," he replied. Daniel kissed her cheek, then remounted his horse. "Bye, Sam."

"Bye." She watched them gallop away until she could no longer see them. Absently, she wished that she could find someone to love too, then she would be as happy as Daniel was. Turning around, she started the long walk back to the house.

****

"You what?" Sir Nicholas roared. He had entrusted Daniel to Samantha's care and she had betrayed him.

"I thought that the best way to cure Daniel was to let him go back with O'Neill and see that it wasn't really the kind of life he wanted." A tiny, guilty part of her still wanted that.

"And what if he doesn't come back?" the old man demanded.

"Then he wasn't crazy," Sam countered.

A knock on the door interrupted them. The butler entered and announced, "My lord, Captain Joseph Faxon has arrived."

Sir Nicholas immediately put the matter of his ungrateful grandson aside. "Show him in."

Joseph Faxon entered the room, and straight away locked eyes with Sam. She took in the handsome features, the dark hair, and the kind eyes, and felt something stir deep inside her. And when he smiled at her, she knew she had found her someone.

Epilogue:

'Dear Sam, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Of course I'll be there - we're already on our way back. I'm so glad that you have found someone like Joseph; he sounds like the perfect man for you.

'Yes, Jack and I are still together. As you know, we didn't sail with the 'Star-Dweller' when we left you. Jack is still indulging me in visiting other countries, which has been a wonderful experience. He pretends not to enjoy the cultural side of things but I know better. Occasionally he goes off fishing, making sure that Teal'c keeps an eye on me if he does. That can be annoying at times but I know he only does it because he loves me.

'Tell Grandfather I am sorry that I disappointed him but this was the way things were meant to be. If he can't accept that I love Jack, then I feel sorry for him.

'We expect to arrive back in England in three weeks so I will see you then. Love, Daniel.'

Jack slid his arms around Daniel's shoulders as he read the letter. The young man leaned back into the embrace, enjoying the feel of Jack's arms around him. Although the physical side of their relationship was still developing - Daniel still had the mental scars from his experiences - he loved being touched by the older man, and especially loved just being held by him. "Do you want to add anything?"

"No, what you've written is fine. Now, come to bed." Jack nuzzled the side of his partner's neck. He had taken to the physical side of their relationship like a duck to water.

Daniel allowed himself to be led over to the bed and lay down next to Jack. "Do you regret giving up everything for me?" he asked as the older man held him close.

"Not for a second," Jack replied truthfully, cupping Daniel's face and drawing him in for a kiss. As long as Daniel was happy, then he was happy too.

Daniel sent a silent prayer of thanks to the goddesses of Fate for allowing him to be with Jack, then lost himself in the kiss.