Author's Notes: This story takes place one month after "Full Circle." Repost.

Chapter Two
Sneaking into the SGC

Jack had lost many things as a result of Charlie's death, but somehow he had managed to retain his love for children. He was good with kids, and it showed in the way they responded to him. He had fans everywhere: Hammond's granddaughters, the Reetucreated -now-Tok'ra-Charlie, Merrin, Cassie. He loved to visit schools or playgrounds and just hang out with the kids. His team teased that he did it because he was a kid at heart himself, but Jack liked to think he was carrying on a legacy, making a difference in other kids' lives now that he could no longer make one for Charlie. He liked to think Charlie was watching and cheering him on.

As Jack buckled Daniel in and drove them to the Mountain, he decided taking care of a child was like riding a bike. His balance might be a little shaky, but even if he hadn't practiced in years, he'd never totally forget the skill. With a kid in tow, he watched the world differently, took a little more care in his driving, and kept one ear attuned to Daniel's every move and sound.

Now that Jack had gotten over the initial shock, it wasn't so strange to think of Daniel as a six year old. This was Daniel, after all, who attracted trouble like a magnet, and in their line of work, they dealt with "strange" on a weekly basis. Besides, Jack admitted to himself, he had always seen Daniel as a kid, especially in the early days of their friendship. Daniel had been impulsively curious about everything and hopelessly oblivious of military tactics. It had taken months just to teach him to duck. Eventually Daniel adapted, the way he always did, learning the military culture with the same devotion he applied to studying any other culture. He became proficient enough that Jack no longer had to watch out for him. Jack did anyway, but he'd learned some things through the years too. He still watched, a personal radar invariably pointed in Daniel's direction, but he had been less obvious about it so Daniel didn't always notice.

Now his radar was blaring. Daniel was sitting quietly, not even fidgeting like a normal kid. In Jack's experience, a silent Daniel was a pensive one, and no one could brood the way Daniel could.

He reached a hand to the side and tousled Daniel's hair. It hadn't taken many missions together before Jack realized that Daniel was touch-starved. Daniel would never admit it, but he needed human contact, needed that connection to the living world. Jack found little ways to satisfy that need: tousling Daniel's hair, cupping his neck, patting his shoulder. Daniel tolerated the contact he wouldn't accept from anyone else, and in time, touch had become another form of communication between them. Jack's fingers slipped easily through the soft strands. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Daniel sighed, sounding so adult-like that Jack risked a sidelong glance to be certain the kid hadn't aged. "I forget lots and lots of things, Jack."

        "I know.  Shifu told me.  It's okay, Daniel."
        Daniel's body quivered with another sigh.  When Jack glanced toward Daniel 

again, he saw tears pooling in Daniel's eyes. One tear escaped and trailed down Daniel's cheek. Jack pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the truck.

"Hey, what's this for?" Jack smoothed his thumb over each eye, wiping away the moisture.

"I can't 'member what things are called! I don't 'member what that is--" Daniel flung his arm out to indicate a nearby street sign and then pointed to Jack's cap, "or that--" He gestured to three more items so quickly that Jack wasn't able to follow, "or that, or that, or that. I don't 'member the words, Jack!"

Daniel's chest heaved. More tears spilled. Jack unbuckled the seat belts and pulled Daniel into his lap. Daniel burrowed his face into Jack's chest, dampening the shirt with a silent rainfall.

Jack stroked his hand up and down Daniel's trembling back. His own throat felt clogged with tears, and for a minute, speaking was impossible. Daniel breathed words. He couldn't live without them. No wonder the kid sounded so scared.

"Ssh. It's okay," Jack managed finally. "I'll tell you what the words are. You'll learn them."

"What if I don't?" Daniel whimpered into Jack's chest. On either side of his head, Daniel's hands fisted, clutching Jack's shirt. "What if I forget again?"

        "Then I'll tell you again.  We'll work it out."
        Daniel pulled back enough to look up at Jack's face.  "If I don't 'member, will 
you still want me?"
        Jack rested a palm against Daniel's cheek, making sure he had Daniel's full 
attention.  "I will always, always, always want you, Daniel."
        Jack knew it was the truest statement he had ever uttered.  Daniel was an integral 

piece of Jack's world, a piece Jack hadn't realized he needed until it was missing. He had tried to make the last year work, but it was like slogging through mud. He knew better than to give up, even though the hole in his heart after Daniel left bled as heavily as the one caused by Charlie's death. But at times, living without Daniel had seemed an insurmountable task. Everything became difficult. It was harder to smile, harder to wake up every morning, harder to face his team. He hadn't warmed to Jonas, though he had tried to be fair. It wasn't Jonas's fault that he wasn't Daniel.

        Jack wanted Daniel back.  In any form.
        "I will always want you," Jack repeated in a whisper.  "I promise."
        Daniel sniffed.  "Okay."
        Jack brushed aside a wave of hair falling into Daniel's eyes and realized that 

Daniel's hair was almost as long as it had been when they first met. He studied Daniel's face. Without glasses, the blue eyes were prominent, regarding him in return with a solemn expression that was uniquely Daniel. Even a smattering of freckles over Daniel's nose and upper cheeks, the longer and lighter-colored hair, and the age difference weren't going to disguise the similarity between the boy and the man. It would be better if no one saw Daniel until Hammond had made a decision on how he wanted to deal with Daniel's return.

        "I'm going to sneak you into the SGC," Jack announced.
        Daniel's eyes rounded.  "Really?  Why?  How?"
        "I'm a big, bad colonel.  I can't be seen with a kid."
        "Jack!"  Daniel spoiled the protest by giggling.
        Jack grinned, buckled Daniel into his seat, and pulled the truck back onto the 
road.  "I don't suppose you'll fit in one of my pockets?"
        "No!"
        "Under my cap?"
        "No!"  Daniel giggled again.
        "Hmm."
        While Jack pretended to contemplate, Daniel spotted Jack's jacket lying between 
them on the seat.  He snatched it up.
        "How 'bout this?"  Daniel draped the jacket over his head.
        "Perfect."
        Daniel uncovered his head and frowned.  "No, it's not.  It doesn't go over my--"  
Daniel stopped suddenly and stared at his legs.  "Um, Jack, what are these called?"
        "What?  Your legs?"
        "Oh, yeah, that's right.  This, this, this--"  He waved the jacket and gave a 
frustrated huff.
        "Jacket," Jack supplied.
        "Jacket?  Jack's jacket.  Sounds funny."  Daniel giggled.  "Jack's jacket doesn't 
go over my legs."  He looked pleased that he'd finally managed the entire statement.
        "Doesn't matter."
        Daniel turned a puzzled gaze toward Jack.  "It doesn't?"
        "Nope.  It's a kids' rule.  If a kid covers his head, the rest of his body is invisible.  
Everybody knows that."
        "Really?"
        Under Daniel's skeptical scrutiny, Jack fought to keep his expression serious and 
the laugh out of his voice.  "Sure.  Try it on the gate guard.  You'll see.
        Fifteen minutes later, Jack was reaching for the sign-in clipboard.  On the seat 

beside him, Daniel vibrated with suppressed excitement, his head hidden under the jacket. The gate guard leaned forward to check inside the truck and lifted an eyebrow when he saw Daniel. Jack placed a finger to his lips, shook his head, and handed back the clipboard.

        "Thank you, sir.  The general sent this up for you."
        Jack accepted the guest pass he'd arranged with Hammond, returned the guard's 

salute, and drove past the guard station. "You can come out now."

        Daniel pulled the jacket down, mussing his hair.  "Did he see me?"
        "Nope.  All he saw was the jacket.  I told you you'd be invisible."
        Thoroughly impressed with this new game, Daniel was willing to wear the jacket 

over his head as long as Jack carried him. When Lou Ferretti joined them in the elevator, Jack was glad of the cover. There was no way he could have kept Daniel's identity secret from Ferretti, who had known Daniel as long as Jack had. After they'd greeted each other, Ferretti eyed the bundle in Jack's arms.

        "Smuggling contraband, Colonel?"
        Jack shot Ferretti a warning look.  "It's just my jacket."
        "Seems bulkier than usual."
        Jack growled.  "Classified."
        Daniel giggled.  Jack rolled his eyes.  Ferretti grinned but kept quiet.
        Still carrying the "invisible" Daniel, Jack left the elevators a few minutes later and 

ignored the bemused looks as he strode through the corridors to medical isolation room three. He had called Janet on the way to the SGC and asked her to meet them there.

        "Is it working?" Daniel whispered, trying to peek.  "When can I see?"
        Jack held the jacket in place.  "Soon."
        Daniel settled with an aggrieved sigh.  Jack's grin threatened to split his face in 

half. A passing SF jumped at the sight of the grin and sidled past warily as if Jack had a weapon aimed at her. Jack kept grinning. He couldn't help it. He was just so damned glad to have Daniel back.

Janet was waiting in the iso-room when they arrived. She turned to them with a smile as Jack closed the door. Eagerly waiting Jack's permission, Daniel didn't waste any time losing the jacket. He gazed wide-eyed around the iso-room, his head swiveling from side to side. Janet's smile froze and then cracked.

        "Is that--"  She swallowed, unable to finish the question.
        Jack smirked.  Janet was particularly adept at keeping her professional behavior 

intact despite the weird circumstances with which she coped on a regular basis. It amused him to see that poise slip.

"Oh, yeah. Our long-lost archaeologist slash linguist slash ascended traveler slash etcetera, etcetera. In the flesh."

With visible effort, Janet pulled her composure and her smile back into place. She approached them, reaching a hand toward Daniel. Daniel frowned, grabbed a fistful of Jack's shirt, and pressed himself against Jack as if he were trying to climb into Jack's skin. Janet halted and took a step backward. Jack cradled Daniel closer.

        "Daniel?  What's wrong?" 
        Daniel shot a worried glance at Janet and then whispered toward Jack, "I don't 
'member her."
        "This is Janet Frasier.  She's our doctor."
        Daniel was kneading Jack's shirt with tense fingers.  "I used to know her, didn't I?  
Sorry, sorry.  Can't 'member.  I didn't mean to forget so much."
        "It's all right, Daniel."  Jack placed his hand over Daniel's, stilling the fingers.  
"You can pretend it's your first time.  She won't mind.  Come on, say hello."
        Daniel offered a shy smile.  "Hi."
        Sensitive to the moods of her patients, Janet remained where she was and smiled 
back.  "Hello, Daniel."
        "She's got some really neat stuff in here, doesn't she?  See that doohickey around 
her neck?  You can hear your heartbeat with that.  It's called a stephanie."
        Janet's mouth quirked.  "Stethoscope, sir."
        Jack flapped a hand.  "That's what I said."
        Daniel giggled.  His grip on Jack relaxed.
        "And then she's got these cool thingamajigs that take pictures of your brain.  You 
wanna see what your brain looks like?"
        Daniel nodded enthusiastically.
        "All right then.  First she's going to make sure you're healthy, and then she'll 

show you how her fancy toys work, okay? I'll be back in--" Jack had moved to put Daniel down on a bed, but Daniel suddenly locked his arms around Jack's neck.

        "No!  Don't leave!"
        "It's okay, buddy.  I know you don't remember her, but she's a good friend of 
yours.  And she's really nice.  You'll like her.  I won't be gone long.  I promise."
        Daniel's arms squeezed, nearly strangling Jack.  "No!  Don't leave!  They'll find 
me!  They'll find me!"
        Daniel's voice was shrill with terror.  He wrapped his legs around Jack's waist 

and clung as if he would never let go. His whole body shook. His breath hitched, and Jack was afraid the kid would hyperventilate. Jack tightened his hold on Daniel and rubbed circles on Daniel's trembling back.

"Ssh. I got ya. It's okay. I won't leave. No one's going to find you." He sat on the bed and rocked. "Just relax. I've got you, Danny."

        "Should I get a sedative?" Janet murmured.
        Jack shook his head.  Janet hadn't had a chance to examine Daniel's descended 

child body, and until that happened, neither of them knew what effect drugs would have. He'd wait out the storm. Daniel was already calming, his arms and legs releasing their death-grip as he slumped into Jack's support.

Jack stroked his hand through Daniel's hair, keeping his hand soothing and steady despite the fury that seethed in his mind. The "Others" had traumatized Daniel good. Not only had they stolen his memories, but they'd also left him with the fear that they would return to hurt him again. Shifu might have rescued Daniel by giving him a child's body, but the monsters that lurked in that child's mind were still there.

        "Don't leave me," Daniel whispered.
        "I won't," Jack promised.  "Right here, Daniel.  Not going anywhere.  Okay?"
        Daniel sighed, releasing the last of his anxiety, and sagged, as boneless as a 
puddle of water.  Jack shifted to keep Daniel from sliding out of his lap.
        "Can we let the doc check you now?"
        Daniel peeked toward Janet and shrugged.  "I guess."
        "Here, sit beside me."  Jack transferred Daniel from lap to bed, offering his hand 

when Daniel grabbed convulsively at him. "Hold my hand, okay? I'm not going anywhere, but we gotta give the doc room to work."

Daniel perched on the bed nervously, his fingers clenched around Jack's. Janet worked with slow caution, explaining everything before she touched Daniel. She let Daniel try some of her instruments on himself or on Jack.

        "Anything I need to know?" she asked as she recorded notes on her clipboard.
        Jack shrugged, watching Daniel's fascination with the stethoscope.  "He's six, 

apparently human, and has at least partial amnesia. His mind might've been damaged in other ways. He seems to recognize words when I say them but can't always come up with them himself."

        Janet nodded and moved on the next part of the exam without commenting.
        A half hour later, Daniel was chatting comfortably with "Doctor Janet."  Jack 

stepped to one side to call Hammond and explain the delay. He noticed how Daniel's gaze kept drifting toward him and carefully maintained a line of sight. Hammond set a briefing for two hours later, which Jack approved with Janet.

After the call, he watched Daniel interacting with Janet. The boy's hunger for knowledge was insatiable. He asked question after question, his eyes bright with wonder, his face alive with delight. Jack thought this must have been what Daniel was like before his parents were killed. A happy, curious boy who cherished everything life had to offer. In an unguarded moment, after drinking too much, Daniel had once confided how miserable he had been as a foster child, shuffled from home to home where no one understood his gifted intelligence. Learning was his only real joy; every other emotion had been repressed, sheltered behind a barricade of "I'm fine." By the time he and Jack met, Daniel rarely smiled about anything other his work. He laughed even less.

He was smiling now, an uninhibited little boy smile, and Jack treasured the sight. He knew one thing for sure. If Daniel had to live his entire childhood over, Jack would do everything in his power to make sure that happiness remained intact.