Little Boy Lost

Title: Little Boy Lost
Rating: PG
Disclaimers: All characters of Stargate SG-1 are property of
people who aren't me.
Dedication: This fanfic is dedicated to my lovely beta
reader.
***************


~"Hey, Sammie, look at this!" the young boy shouted.
His blue eyes were shining with excitement. "I never
knew you could find this stuff in your own backyard."

13 year old Samantha Carter knelt next to him. She
had no clue what he had found, but she didn't care.
She had immediately liked the boy when her mother and
father brought him home from the orphanage.

He had only been staying with them for a week, but she
knew her parents were planning to adopt him. He
needed a stable family. Not only to love and protect
him, but to give him the chance to go to a real school
and be somebody one day.

Two years ago, a few days after his 8th birthday, the
boy lost his real parents in a terrible accident. He
only mentioned what happened once to her. The experience
forever burned into his memory the parents he loved, and
who loved him so much, as well as their passion for their
work--a passion Daniel one day planned to share.

"I'm gonna be an archaeologist one day," he said
proudly. "Just like my Mom and Dad!"

Sam smiled. "I wouldn't doubt it, Danny."~

Sam woke up with a start. "Danny...?"

She vaguely remembered a little boy whom her parents
were going to adopt. That was the year her mother was
in a car accident. Everything went from bad to worse in
under two seconds flat. The little boy was taken from
their home when it was believed he couldn't be
properly cared for.

"God, that little boy was Daniel!" Sam gasped. She
quickly got up and ran into the bathroom. She had to
get to the SGC. She really needed to talk to her
father!

************

"Captain Carter, just what exactly do you need to
contact your father for?" General Hammond asked.
"With him being a Tok'ra now, it's going to be a
little more difficult to contact him since the Tok’ra
have disappeared."

Sam nodded. "I realize that, Sir, but I really
need to speak to him."

"Why exactly do you need to get in touch with Jacob,
Captain?”

Sam told the General what she remembered from her
childhood, about the little boy and her almost certainty
the little boy was Daniel. Hammond agreed to let her
contact him.

She thanked him and headed down to the control room.
Just as she was finished speaking with Martouf, Jack
arrived. "Morning, Carter."

"Sir," she said with a nod.

"I take it you've been here all night long?"

Sam sat down. "Actually I just got in, Sir. I needed
to contact the Tok'ra."

"The Tok'ra?"

"Specifically my father."

"Anything wrong?"

"No, Sir. Last night I remembered something that I
need to talk to him about."

"One of Jolinar's memories?"

"No," she answered. "One of mine. One buried so
deep that it came back to me in a dream."

He nodded. "Ah. So...?"

Making certain no one else was around; she began to
tell Jack about the little boy. "I can't be sure it
was Daniel, but I wanted to talk to my dad about it
before I spoke to him. I know he's had a rough
childhood."

"Yeah. Maybe you started thinking about this because
of that Gamekeeper incident," Jack suggested. "I know
it triggered a lot of memories for me. Memories I
wanted to keep buried. Not that I'm saying you wanted
to forget that little boy," he added quickly.

"I know what you mean, Sir."

"Unscheduled off-world activation!" Sergeant Davis
exclaimed. "It's the Tok'ra," he stated.

"Open the iris," Jack said.

Sam went down to greet her father. She hadn't seen
him since he agreed to a blending with the Tok'ra
Sel'mac to cure his Cancer. She knew she would have
to sacrifice seeing him as much as she liked, but it
still hurt.

She still had mixed feelings over the blending. She
was, of course, thrilled and very thankful that the
blending had cured her father, assuring that he would
live.

She was also worried that the blending, her
father being Tok'ra and now so far away would impede
her desire for their relationship to be properly healed.

After her mother was killed, she had spent many years
blaming her father. Her brother still did. She hoped that
the situation with Daniel would somehow bring her
family back together again.

"Hey, kiddo!" Jacob said, giving his only daughter a
hug. "I've missed you. How are you? Is everything okay?"

"Hi Dad, I've missed you too. I'm good--but we need to
talk. Let's go to my lab."

"Sam, what's going on?"

She led him through the SGC and into her lab, shutting
the door before answering. "I had this dream... it
was more like a memory."

""A memory? Of what? Was it one of Jolinar's memories?"

"No, Dad. It was from just before Mom was killed."

"Okay--I'm listening."

"Do you remember when you and Mom fostered a little boy just before she was in the accident?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember the little boy's name?"

"Of course--Danny."

"His last name?"

"Uh--I believe it was--oh my God."

"Dad?"

"Daniel--it was Daniel.

**************

Daniel was on his way to the commissary when he passed
Sam's lab. He saw light coming through under the door
and decided to see if Sam wanted to join him for some
breakfast. He had just finished translating an artifact
SG-3 brought back and was feeling pretty good about it.

Besides, he loved talking to Sam about his discoveries
because he knew she would pay attention. Unlike Jack
who seemed to want to fall asleep whenever he talked
about some culture.

That didn't mean Jack wasn't a great friend. He was
the best anyone could ask for. Jack had been there
for Daniel since their first trip to Abydos. True, he
had to earn the trust, but the minute he did, Daniel
was stuck with him.

Daniel knocked on the door and opened it when he heard
a faint, 'Come in'. He was pretty surprised to find
Jacob/Sel’mac seated on a stool.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Daniel said. "I didn't mean to interrupt
you."

Jacob grinned and glanced over at Sam. He could
definitely see the resemblance now that he really
looked at the young man. "Not at all, Danny."

Daniel glanced between them in confusion, the smirks on
their faces making him wonder what he was missing. "Do I
have something on my face?" he asked.

"No," Sam replied.

"What's going on?"

"Daniel, we want to talk to you about something really
important," Jacob told him.

Sam pointed to a stool. "Why don't you sit down, Daniel?”

"Sam, is something wrong? Why are you really here, Jacob--
is it the Tok'ra?"

"No, nothing like that Danny."

Daniel stared at the father and daughter in confusion.
"Well?"

"Daniel, do you remember being sent to a foster home
when you were ten?"

"I spent a lot of time in foster homes, Jacob. You'll
need to be a little more specific."

"It was a family with a son and daughter--you weren't
with them very long. The wife was killed in a car accident."

Daniel's eyes registered the memory, nodding his head he
replied "Yes, I remember now. It was so long ago that I'd
completely forgotten about it until now."

Jacob smiled sadly, remembering the boy the man before
him once was. "It was a happy time. You were much loved."
Daniel nodded slowly, understanding not yet reaching him.
"Things could have been so different, Danny."

Raising his eyes to meet Jacob's, Daniel remember the man
as he once was some twenty years ago. Seeing the recognition
in Daniel's face, Jacob placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'm
so sorry, Daniel. I never wanted to give you up."

He could now vividly picture Sam at the age of 13. He could
also remember Sam's mother. She had been so kind to him. She
took him in and explained that all little boys needed proper
schooling and she was going to make certain he got it. However,
a few weeks after that, she was gone... and he was sent back
to the orphanage.

Sam had told him a little bit of life after her mother
died. Jacob had been a little off kilter. That would
have explained why he didn't get to stay with them.
Daniel looked up from the spot he was staring at when
Jacob's hand gently squeezed his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I was so messed up back then.
Our family had fallen apart and they didn't think I could
take care of you."

Daniel slowly nodded, trying not to show his hurt
expression. It had been so hard after those days with
Sam's family to fit in again.

"Excuse me," he muttered, rushing out of the room. He
needed to leave the base. It was just too confining
in there.

He would have made it in record time too if he hadn't
bumped into Teal'c and went crashing to the floor.
"DanielJackson," he said, helping him up, "Are you
injured?"

"Just my pride," Daniel mumbled more to himself than to Teal'c.

Teal'c regarded his friend closely. "You seem upset.
Is there something I can do to assist you?"

"Not right now, Teal'c, thanks. I just need to get some
air," he replied. "I'll be back in a few hours."

He nodded. "Very well, DanielJackson. However, if you
need anything..."

"Thanks," he said again and was gone.

Teal'c watched the retreating form of DanielJackson as he
escaped to the surface, a frown creasing his stoic features.
He hoped DanielJackson would be alright.

***********

Jack had looked everywhere for Daniel after Sam told
him what happened. He understood her need to know if
Daniel really had been that little boy, but for cryin'
out loud, couldn't she have told Daniel with him there?

He finally realized that their wayward archaeologist
must have left the base. His suspicions were confirmed
when Teal'c walked up to him and told him about
Daniel's odd behavior. "Why would be acting in such a
way?"

"Carter's been remembering things from her past..." He
began explaining the situation. "Anyway, I guess Daniel
took it pretty hard. He had a rough childhood."

"Indeed. Finding out someone was going to take you
into a family, but did not most likely hurt DanielJackson
very deeply. He is in need of a friend, O'Neill."

Jack nodded. "I know, Teal'c. I just gotta figure out
where he rushed off to."

"Do you require assistance?" Teal'c asked.

"Thanks T," he replied. "But I think the less people around
the better. Daniel doesn't really like opening up and sharing
his feelings. I think an audience would just makes things
worse. No offense."

"None taken. I understand. However, should you need
me for anything..."

Jack smiled. "I know where to find you." Teal'c
bowed his head and left Jack to his thoughts. "Now
where are ya Danny Boy?"

************

Daniel was at home. He was lying on the couch as
memories started flowing back to him like a sad movie.
It wasn't all sad, just the ending. Ever since that
Gamekeeper incident, he had begun to remember various
things from his past.

Talking to Sam and Jacob triggered a face. A face he
couldn't picture for a long time. This face showed
love he hadn't known since his parents were crushed
under that God-awful cover stone...

~Melissa and Jacob Carter smiled as the boy was
introduced to them. He was so adorable, Melissa
thought immediately.

He was smiling shyly at them, but she could also see
the haunted look in his eyes. Two years ago he had
witnessed something terrible. She vowed to help him
come to terms with the death of his parents and raise
him as they would have wanted.

"Hi, Daniel," Jacob said, extending his hand.

He took the man's hand. "Hi."

"You're more handsome then we imagined," Melissa said.

Daniel blushed. "Thanks," he whispered. These two
people seemed really nice.

"Let's get your things into the car, Daniel," Jacob
suggested. "We have a long drive and you have more
people to meet."

He had been happy those first few weeks with them.
Melissa, Jacob and their two children were so nice to
him. But one day something happened and all the
happiness he had gained shattered into a million
pieces.

Daniel was finishing up his homework when Sam rushed
by him in tears. He had no idea why she was so upset,
but he was determined to find out. "Sammie!" he
called, rushing up the stairs.

He was about to knock on the door when he felt a hand
on his shoulder. It was Jacob and he looked just as
sad as Sam did.

"What happened? Daniel asked. "Why is Sammie crying?"

"Daniel, I need to tell you something. Why don't you
come with me to the living room? It's my fault, Danny.
I'm sorry."

"Sorry about what?"

"There was an accident."

"What kind of accident?"

"Melissa was driving home--there was a car accident, Danny."

"Is she okay? Can I see her? Is she at the hospital?"

"Melissa died, Danny."

"Died? NO!"

Jacob pulled the boy closer, wrapping his arms around
him as they both shared their grief. Jacob over losing
his wife, Daniel over losing the woman who had loved him
like a son.

He somehow knew, despite how much Jacob Carter liked
him, he wouldn't be staying with that family anymore.
He didn't know how he knew or why it would happen, but
it was the truth. Two days later he was back in the
orphanage.

He talked with Sam before the social worker came to
pick him up. "I'm so sorry about this, Danny, but
with the way dad's been acting, it would be better for
you. I can't take care of you by myself. Please
forgive me!"

He nodded slowly. "I forgive you, Sammie. I love
you! You're always gonna be my big sister!"

"I love you too, Danny."~

Daniel's eyes snapped open at the knock on the door.
He quickly wiped away the tears that had formed on his
cheeks as he got up to answer it. He already knew who
it was. "Come in, Jack," he said, opening the door.

Jack watched as Daniel headed over to the couch,
sinking into it. He idly wondered how he had managed since
the lights were out and it was really dark in the
apartment. Jack cursed as he struck his knee on
something.

"Daniel! Lights!"

The room was immediately illuminated. "Much better,"
Jack replied as he gingerly rubbed his knee. "You
know, some people don't have the ability to see in the
dark."

"Sorry Jack."

"Daniel?"

"Jack?"

So it was going to be one of THOSE conversations, Jack
thought wryly. He glanced over at Daniel, who was now
staring up at the ceiling. He really didn't know what
to say to his friend.

Jack took a deep breath and decided to give it a try.
"Daniel, I know this is hard for you, but I'm here if
you want to talk about it.”

"I know that, Jack. Back then it was really hard, though.
I had just lost my parents two years earlier and all of
a sudden Melissa was gone. She was a wonderful person. They
were the only foster parents who gave me everything I ever wanted.

They let me dig in their backyard, they encouraged me to
learn, and they loved me. I didn't understand what happened.
I thought I had done something wrong. That's the only reason
I didn't keep in contact with Sam. I was scared."

"By all rights you should have felt that way. I'm not one
to live by 'what ifs', Daniel, it hurts me to think of things
that might have been. However, in this case, think what could
have happened had you not left the Carter's."

Daniel nodded. "I have been, Jack. I might never have met
Catherine, in which case, we might never have met." He sighed,
running a hand through his hair. "I am such a basket case."

"Ah," Jack replied with a smile, "but you're my basket case."
He gave Daniel a pat on the shoulder. "We leave for the Land
of Light in five hours, Daniel."

"I'll be there soon. Let me change into something a little less
rumpled. Besides, I need to talk to Sam. And Jacob if he's still
there."

"See you then," Jack said, his hand on the door knob.

"Jack."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime, just don't tell anyone or I'll have to kill you."

Daniel laughed. "Got it!"

***********

Daniel entered the Gate room just as the fourth chevron was engaging.
Sam and Jacob turned to see him. "I'm sorry about running out like
that," he told them. "I didn't want to believe you at first." Daniel
smiled. "But, I realize now that my time with your family was a
gift. I shouldn't have destroyed that by never writing and slowly
pushing it in the back of
my mind."

Jacob smiled back at Daniel in understanding. "I felt horrible for
doing that to you. I tried so hard each day to straighten myself out.
In the end, I lost everything. I hope you can forgive me, Danny," he
said, holding out his hand.

Daniel accepted it. "I do," he replied.

Sam hooked her arms with each of the men as they headed up the ramp
towards the event horizon. "Thanks for coming, Dad," she said,
placing a kiss on his cheek.

"It was your memory, Sammie. You two take care and remember that I
love you both."

"Bye, Dad."

"Bye, Jacob."

As he disappeared into the wormhole, Sam and Daniel walked back down
the ramp. "So, Sam. How's Mark?"

"He's good. In fact, my nephew's birthday is coming up. You should
go with me."

"I don't want to impose. I mean, I'd understand if this was just a
family thing."

Sam sighed and pulled Daniel into one of the unused offices. "Danny,
don't ever think you aren't a part of my family. We've always thought
about you. Loved you. I may not have recognized you until recently, but
I remember everything we did together. So will Mark."

Daniel smiled again. Sam was so happy to see him smiling. "Thanks, Sam."

"You're welcome," she replied. "Now let’s go get ready for our trip to
the Land of Light. You know how cranky the Colonel gets when you're
late."

"Me?" he asked innocently.

After years of not having a family, Daniel was so very thankful
that he had one. They were in the form of SG-1. People who cared
for him deeply, people who would do anything in the world for him,
and people he would do anything for.