Author's Notes:

Chapter Ten
Meeting the NID

Janet felt betrayed. When General Hammond had asked her for a status report on Daniel, she hadn't expected this.

The status report was good. Daniel had been with them for two weeks, and the near-constant presence of SG-1 for the first week had done wonders. It wasn't uncommon now to see Daniel roaming the corridors, usually with a colored picture to deliver. He was becoming more and more comfortable away from Jack, Sam, and Teal'c, slowly gaining both independence and security. His memory, although still limited to his years with the Stargate program and missions with SG-1, also seemed to be improving. Janet was pleased with his progress.

The nightmares had her worried, though. According to Jack, Daniel was sleeping for longer stretches, up to four or five hours at a time, but nightmares still woke him, and Jack usually had to calm and hold Daniel until the terror passed. Jack hadn't even attempted to persuade Daniel back to his own bed. As was typical for Daniel, he didn't like to discuss his nightmares except to say they were always about the Others.

After receiving Janet's status report, Hammond had nodded sadly and informed her that despite his best efforts, Dr. Elaine Rosenberg of the NID would be arriving within the hour to speak with her and Daniel. Since there was no medical reason to prevent it, his hands were tied.

While she and Dr. Rosenberg waited in the briefing room for Daniel's arrival, Janet struggled to keep her professionalism intact. The moment they'd met, Janet knew she didn't like the NID doctor. She couldn't pinpoint why. Dr. Rosenberg--who, one doctor to another, insisted upon "Elaine"--seemed pleasant enough. She offered compliments on how Janet had dealt with particular alien diseases and even quoted from an article Janet had written for a medical journal. She wasn't as rude or arrogant as other NID agents who'd given the SGC grief over the years. Janet supposed past experience had made her leery of anyone associated with the NID

They heard Daniel first. Given a subject he loved, whether child or adult, Daniel could talk long and fast. Right now, he was telling Mister General about his lessons with Ally, who was teaching him how to write the whole alphabet and he had gotten to "S" which was a real tricky letter to write even though it looked like a snake so it should be easy, shouldn't it, Mister General, and why'd you make that funny look, Jack, what's wrong with snakes? Janet felt herself smile. Then she glanced over at Elaine, and her inner warning alert tingled.

Elaine had risen to her feet, and she was leaning forward in an anticipatory way that made Janet nervous.

General, colonel, and child entered the room, and the child was the only one who was truly smiling. Hammond had worry lines creasing his forehead, and Jack's lips were pressed tight, a sign that he was not happy about this at all. Daniel caught sight of Elaine and stopped talking in mid-sentence. He scuttled around Jack, hiding behind him and clutching at the pant leg.

        "Who's that?" he asked in a loud whisper.
        "Daniel, this is Doctor Elaine Rosenberg," Hammond said.  "She'd like to ask you 
a few questions."
        Jack's lips thinned into a tighter line.  Daniel peeked out at Elaine for a few 
seconds and returned to hiding behind Jack's leg.
        "No.  Make her go away."
        Janet lifted an eyebrow.  Daniel hadn't been uncooperative like this since his first 

couple days. Hammond cleared his throat and gave Jack a "deal with this" look. Jack sighed and bent to Daniel's level. Deprived of his hiding place, Daniel studiously avoiding looking in Elaine's direction and concentrated on the floor.

        "Hey, buddy," Jack said softly.
        "This is a big people rule, isn't it?"  Daniel crossed his arms over his chest, and 

Janet wasn't sure whether the move was meant to be rebellious or self-comforting. She was betting on the latter.

        "Yep.  It's a rule for General Hammond.  He has to let certain people talk to you."
        Quick as ever, Daniel said, "Because I was 'scended."
        "Probably.  Think you can give it a try?"
        Daniel sighed with the air of one imparting a great favor.  "I suppose."
        As Jack stood, Elaine rounded the table.  Too eager, too fast.  When she focused 

on Daniel, the gleam in her eyes was almost predatory. Janet's warning alert howled. Elaine extended a manicured hand toward Daniel.

        "Hello, Daniel.  I'm thrilled to finally meet you."
        Daniel gave the hand a look of disdain and then glared up at Elaine, announcing 
firmly and loudly,  "I don't like you."
        There went the other eyebrow.  Janet was beginning to feel like Teal'c.  She could 

count on one hand the number of times she'd heard Daniel being deliberately rude, and with most of those, he had been under some kind of alien influence.

"Daniel." Despite the warning note in Jack's voice, Janet knew the colonel well enough to know he was trying not to laugh.

        Elaine smiled brightly.  "I'm sure you'll like me once we get to know each other."
        Daniel narrowed his eyes.  He had already expressed definite opinions to one of 
Janet's nurses on how he did not appreciate that patronizing tone directed at him. 
        General Hammond cleared his throat again.  "Doctor Rosenberg, this is Colonel 
Jack O'Neill.  Colonel, Doctor Elaine Rosenberg."
        Jack inclined his head.  "Doctor."
        "Colonel."  She glanced briefly at Jack and seemed to dismiss him as 
insignificant.
        Janet winced.  Oooh, bad move there, girl.
        Daniel clambered into the chair beside Janet and gave her one of his dazzling 

smiles. Jack settled into the chair next to Daniel. His nod toward Janet was far more respectful than the one he had just offered Elaine. General Hammond headed for his office. After a troubled glance at Jack, Elaine followed.

"General, a moment, please." Although Elaine's voice was pitched low, she could still be clearly heard.

        "Yes, Doctor?"  Hammond made no attempt to lower his voice.
        "I was assured there would be no military presence during my interview with 
Daniel.  We agreed on Doctor Frasier, but clearly Colonel O'Neill--"
        "Colonel O'Neill is not acting in a military capacity, Doctor."
        "I don't understand."
        "Doctor, you've asked to question a six-year-old boy, who has requested his 

guardian's presence for any and all interviews. Colonel O'Neill is acting in his capacity as Daniel Jackson's legal guardian."

        "That wasn't in the paperwork sent to us."
        "The official notification just came through this morning."
        Jack's lips twitched.  He exchanged a vindictive glance with Janet over Daniel's 
head, obviously pleased at having pulled one over the NID.
        When Elaine returned to the table, she didn't seem the least bit perturbed by the 

news. She seated herself gracefully. She and Jack locked gazes, as if they were assessing equal threats. Janet felt the tension in the room spiral upward. Daniel shifted uneasily in his chair, glancing back and forth between the adults.

        "Jack?"  Daniel's fingers snagged Jack's sleeve.
        Jack broke the eye contact, shifted his attention to Daniel, and gently disentangled 
the small fingers from the material.  "It's okay, Danny.  Not going anywhere."
        Elaine also focused on Daniel, smiling.  "May I ask you some questions, Danny?"
        Daniel shot her a surly look in return.  "You can't call me that.  My name is 
Daniel."
        Elaine's smile didn't falter.  "Daniel, then.  I'm Elaine, but my friends call me 
Ella.  You can too, all right?"
        Daniel stared back haughtily.  "I'm not your friend, Doctor Rosenberg, and I got 
'portant things to do.  If you wanna ask me stuff, then hurry up."
        Janet bit the inside of her lip.  Jack strangled a chuckle.  He turned aside, covering 
his amusement with a bout of fake coughing. 
        Elaine glared at Jack.  She lost the smile, leaned back in her chair, and pressed the 

tips of her fingers together. She studied Daniel over her fingernails. Daniel held the scrutiny at first, but after thirty seconds of cold silence, he squirmed and looked away. Elaine's lips twitched upward. Janet shivered.

"Very well, Daniel. Why don't you start with your time as an ascended being? Tell me about that."'

        Daniel avoided her gaze and shrugged one shoulder.  "Don't 'member it all."
        "Tell me what you do remember," Elaine purred.  Janet felt like gagging.
        "Can't," Daniel mumbled.  "I'm not supposeta."
        "Did Colonel O'Neill tell you that?"  Elaine flashed a scowl at Jack, who touched 
his chest in mute declaration of his innocence.
        Daniel lifted his head, quick to defend Jack.  "No.  Shifu did."
        "I see.  And what else did Shifu tell you?"  She paused, but Daniel didn't answer.  
"Did Shifu teach you how to do things, Daniel?"
        Again, Daniel didn't answer, but the panic that crept over his face was answer 
enough.  Elaine smiled her satisfaction.
        "What are some things you learned how to do?"
        Daniel scooted back in his chair, as if to escape her.  His breathing hitched.  "I 
can't--I'm not suppose--"
        "Okay, that's enough," Jack said, putting a hand on Daniel's shoulder.  "He 
doesn't want to talk about it."
        Elaine frowned at him.  "Colonel O'Neill, while I sympathize with your desire to 

protect Daniel, I must insist on Daniel's answers. My superiors have sent me to determine if he poses a threat to national security, and unless he--"

"A threat to national security?" Jack exploded to his feet. "Of all the-- Whose harebrained idea was that? Kinsey's?"

        "Colonel O'Neill, if you can't cooperate--"
        Jack planted his hands on the table and bent forward.  "You are talking about a 
man who risked his life time after time to save this planet and countless others--"
        "No."  Elaine's hard voice sliced through Jack's tirade.  "I'm talking about a boy 

who barely remembers the man he was. A boy who has spent the last year with an alien race whose technology is more advanced than our own and whose powers are beyond our comprehension. Now sit down, Colonel, or I will have you removed."

Daniel's eyes widened at that threat. He clambered to his knees and tugged at Jack's sleeve. "Jack, Jack, I can answer some of her questions. Please? I'll be good now. Jack, please. I don't want you 'moved."

Jack settled back into his chair. "I'm not moving," he said quietly to Daniel although his eyes stayed on Elaine.

Elaine ignored the colonel's glowering. "Let's try this again, Daniel. Tell me what you learned as an ascended being."

Daniel flicked a glance at Jack, bit his lip for a second, and then turned to Elaine. "It's like Star Wars. Like the Jedi. I did things with my mind."

        "What kind of things?"
        "I made things move.  I made things 'pear and dis'pear.  Other things.  I can't 

'member." Daniel paused. He began rubbing at the bridge of his nose, a sure sign of the headache that occurred when Daniel pushed himself for memories. "Everything was big. I 'member that. And Earth--it was so little. Like one marble in the whole playground. Oh, and we played with stars. I liked that."

        He smiled slightly, looking inward.
        "Can you still do those things?" Elaine asked with a hint of impatience that 
yanked him out of the memories.
        Daniel hesitated.
        "Daniel?"  She said his name sharply.  Jack stirred like a restless bear.
        "Yes," Daniel whispered.  "Some of them."
        Her eyes glittered.  She leaned closer and matched his whisper.  "Show me." 
        Daniel shook his head. 
        Her nostrils flared.  "Show me."
        He paled and continued to shake his head.  "I don't 'member--"
        "I don't believe you."
        "I--"  He began to tremble and cast desperate glances around the room.  "I--can't.  
They'll know.  They'll find me.  They'll--Jack, don't let them!"
        Daniel, face wild with terror, reached blindly toward Jack   Jack pulled Daniel 

into his lap and held him tightly. Daniel buried his face against Jack's chest. Jack rubbed his hands over Daniel's back and arms, soothing the tremors. He bent closer to Daniel's ear and pressed a kiss there before murmuring, "I've got you, Danny. Just relax. I got ya. Not letting you go." Daniel slumped into Jack's comfort immediately. Janet observed the familiarity with which they reacted to each other, knowing it was the result of two weeks of nightmares.

Elaine watched with a cool, disinterested gaze and then turned to Janet. "Let's discuss your reports, Doctor Frasier."

Janet pursed her lips while her mind yapped out a sarcastic, Ooh, I get questions too. Goody. I was beginning to feel like the third wheel. Bring it on, baby. By the way, Daniel's right. I don't like you either.

"You've used hypnoregression to help Daniel access more of his memories, particularly those dealing with the SGC, but you've failed to use that same procedure to discover what Daniel may have learned during his year as an ascended being. Why is that?"

Janet folded her hands in front of her, where she couldn't use them to punch the sanctimonious-- Breathe, Janet. Answer the question. "As I'm sure you're aware, Doctor Rosenberg, hypnoregression only works when the patient is a willing participant. Even when the patient is in a hypnotic state, his responses are under his own control. Daniel has repeatedly resisted any attempts to access that year."

        "There are ways past that resistance."
        Janet frowned.  "There are, but none I would consider ethical or conducive to the 
patient's well-being."
        "National security doesn't always allow the high ground, Doctor.  Daniel has lived 

with aliens for an entire year. Don't you think it would be conducive to his well-being, not to mention the well-being of this nation, to discover what knowledge he might have acquired during that time?"

Janet wanted to spit. Instead, she took a deep breath. Before she could answer, Elaine swept on.

"If you're uncomfortable with what needs to be done, Doctor, I'm sure we can arrange for Daniel to visit one of our facilities for a few days."

        Jack growled.  "Over my dead body."
        Janet managed another deep breath and a calm answer.  "I'm afraid that's 

impossible from a medical standpoint. As you can see, Daniel is still suffering posttraumatic symptoms from his experiences. It's not a good idea to remove him from the support system that's in place here."

Elaine flickered a glance toward Jack and Daniel. They were whispering, possibly arguing, and from the mulish expression on Daniel's face, Janet figured Daniel would win. She was right. Moments later, Jack plopped Daniel into his former chair with a muttered, "Happy now?" Daniel resettled himself and glared at Elaine. Then he stuck out his tongue. Janet barely stopped herself from grinning. So much for Daniel being good.

"I'm afraid your `support system' may be the problem. Daniel is obviously coddled here. Removed from the comfort of this environment, he might begin to manifest the abilities he gained while ascended."

Janet stared at her, aghast. The woman was creepy, yes, but this--this was insane. "Are you suggesting torture?"

Elaine waved a languid hand. "Of course not. I'm simply suggesting other...stimuli."

        Jack stood abruptly.  "Okay, I've had enough.  Let's go, Daniel."
        "Colonel, I'm not done here."
        "Yes, you are, Doctor."  Jack spat the last word with contempt.  "You are not 
subjecting a six-year-old child to NID intimidation tactics."
        "I have full authority in this matter, Colonel.  If you don't intend to cooperate, I 

can get a restraining order that will prevent you from accompanying Daniel to these interviews."

        "Interrogations, you mean."
        Elaine lifted her chin.  "If it becomes necessary, I'm sure I can also get your 

custody of Daniel revoked. Frankly, Colonel, your suitability as a guardian is already in question, considering how your son died."

Janet sucked in a breath. Jack staggered back a step as if he'd been punched. Elaine smiled slightly. Daniel shot up, standing on his chair so he towered over the woman across from him.

"Don't you say that! You don't know nothing! How dare you!" Daniel flung a hand toward Elaine and screamed, "How dare you!"

A gust of wind seemed to erupt from Daniel's outstretched hand. It pinned Elaine to her chair, shutting off a cry of surprise. She struggled against the invisible bonds. Daniel flicked his fingers. With Elaine still in it, the chair flew backward and slammed into the wall of the briefing room.