Title: In the Candlelight
Category: Kidfic; aware Little Daniel, POV, drama, angst; season 8 (just as a setting, but no real spoilers)
Summary: It's Daniel's birthday, only it's not as he's expected it to be...
Warnings & Notes:
* This ficlet deals with Daniel who has been "shrunk" and has Jack for a guardian. He has all of his "adult" memories intact in a body of an eight year old kid.
* Written for the Int. LD List's July Birthday-challenge. I wanted something funny. Daniel disagreed. Or we can blame it on Jack.
* Unbetaed. Written at 2.30 a.m. Read at your own risk. Oh, I've been told it needs a hanky warning!
Colorado Springs, Jack O’Neill’s house, 8th of July, 2005.
There were eight of them. Thin and tall, stretching their flickering flames up and up.
There should’ve been forty. Or at least those number-candles which could keep a cake from falling apart from too numerous holes.
Forty. Not eight.
The silence would’ve been complete if not for the barely heard crackling sound of burning candles and his own and Jack’s breathing.
He made the last several steps that have brought him to the table.
Jack was sitting on the other side of it, watching silently with such understanding in his eyes that Daniel thought he might cry.
“I’m forty”. And wasn’t that a crazy statement? A little kid - forty years old?
“I know.” For some reason, Jack’s voice sounded hollow, echoing in this silent night.
“I’ve been eight already. Nothing good comes of being eight.” Why was he telling this to Jack? Why burdening his friend with his personal emotional baggage?
“I know.”
Daniel thought his hearing was a little off. Jack’s voice didn’t sound firm or steady. Something in him was starting to break; something old and almost forgotten. Something Daniel thought he’d never encounter again, after he tucked it away securely after that Gamekeeper...incident.
“I can’t do this.” A whisper, battling that thing inside of him.
“Yes, you can. It’s different, not what you’ve expected, I know...but it is and we’ll deal with it the best we can.” Jack’s voice was quiet and hoarse. But his eyes were seeing into Daniel’s very soul.
“It’s been eight years. Nothing good comes after eight years!” Where was this coming from? What *were* they talking about here?
A feeling of warmth was slowly spreading over Daniel’s face, but he didn’t move, didn’t raise his hand to wipe away the tears.
Jack was moving though, getting up and slowly approaching him, crouching down and boring into his eyes with his own laser-sharp brown pools of all-knowing. Jack’s arm drifted upwards and his hand gently, so gently stroked the wet cheek.
“It’s okay...it’s not the same...there is one big difference, after these eight....”.
Jack was almost whispering, but Daniel had heard him clearly. “We both know eight is the line! What’s so different now?”
Through the teary mist he thought he saw Jack smile.
“I’m here.” A few simple words bringing an amazing revelation. And something inside Daniel finally broke free.
He felt himself being gathered into a warm, soothing embrace, and he buried his face into Jack’s shoulder, giving up on fighting that thing that raged once more - and hopefully for the last time.
THE END
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