Picking up the Pieces (WiP)
This story is my version of Daniel's life following the deaths of his parents. I tend to write as I go so I can't say how long this will be until it's done. What can I say?::shrugs:: Characters talk to me and when they've finished with what they need me to say for them, then it's usually time for the story to end. I'd be interested in hearing what you think if you feel so moved.
As far as I know this should remain under a PG-13 rating, if a chapter seems to break that rule I'll post it as such.
Insert standard ownership disclaimer here...cross-posted to stargate_fanfic
Picking up the Pieces
By J.D.
Chapter One
"Daniel!" He'd heard his name screamed by someone only an instant before he felt their hands grab him about the waist and pick him up. By then it was too late of course, his own screams had joined theirs as he saw the columns teeter and then fall.
"Mom!....Dad!..." he fought against the hold, his legs trying to make contact with anything solid in hopes of getting them to release him. "Let me go!....Mom!...Dad!..." Words started to choke in his throat as he could only begin to realize the extent of what had happened.
"Daniel...enough...I'm taking you out of here." The man's hold tightened and instead of going towards his parents he found he was being himself being carried the opposite way.
"No...!" His screams for release seemed to only fall on deaf ears and by the time they reached the exhibit curator's office they had subsided into shuddered sobs.
"Daniel, you're all right. I'll take him" Dr. Maximillian Landry had been curator for the Egyptian exhibits for almost twenty years and he'd known Claire and Melburn Jackson for better then half of that time. He'd first met the couple while both were still in college and as they'd graduated and begun to work on their own digs the three had developed a stronger connection. He should have known better then to let them try and erect a full sized chamber entrance in the newest exhibit. Taking their young son from the security guard who had pulled him from the scene Dr Landry found himself ill equipped for the task he knew was to come. "Daniel...I've got you....quiet now." He hefted the still crying boy to his shoulder and moved fully into the office with him. "Shhh..."
"I need to go back..." Daniel found it harder and harder to get the words he wanted out. But Dr. Max was here now, and he knew his parents so he'd understand why he had to go back. "Mom....Dad...." Why was it so hard to say their names? "Please..."
"You can't Daniel..not yet...shh...quiet now." The man soothed the boy in his arms, rubbing his back to calm him, only to offer a sigh of relief when his crying gradually slowed then finally subsided as he exhausted himself and fell asleep. How was he going to tell him that his father had been killed and his mother had been rushed to the hospital with no one expecting she would live through the night? Easing the boy off his shoulder he laid him on the couch before moving to his desk. What would happen to Daniel now? Melborn had no family that he'd ever spoke of...Claire had her Grandfather, but how could he raise an 8 year old boy and continue the work that he was involved in? He had to call the man, the boy was after all his grandson and a decision would need to be made about his welfare tonight.
Maximillian Landry had no sooner started making calls on Daniel's behalf when the matter was taken out of his hands by the appearance two New York police detectives. "Dr. Landry? I'm Detective Campbell, this is Detective Jacobs, we're here about the accident."
"Yes, I'm him..please...can we go into the hall...I don't want to wake the boy." He motioned to the couch where Daniel Jackson was sleeping.
One of the two detectives flipped open a tablet he had in his hands. "That would be Daniel?"
"Yes...why all these questions, it was an accident, and I am trying to reach the boy's Grandfather."
"I'm afraid it's no longer your concern Doctor, unless you're a family member or have a claim to the boy we have to turn him over to Child Protective Services."
"Surely an exception can be made..he's just seen his parents killed...you can't take him away from people he knows at a time like this."
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice. The law is pretty clear on this, until we can locate a relative to take the boy he goes to Child Protective Services." The detectives showed no signs of wavering on the decision, a fact which seemed only to irritate the archeologist even further.
"This is insane...he's a little boy who's just seen his entire life destroyed in front of him
and now you want me to let you put him with strangers." He shook his head and moved to block the doorway so neither man could enter the office a second time. "I won't do it."
"You have no choice in the matter, you either move and let us take him or we arrest you and we take him anyway." Detective Campbell pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket as if to prove he was serious.
"I can't believe this...don't you even care about what's best for Daniel?" It was all the man could do not to slam the door in the men's faces.
"The law says this is best for him. Now you going to move and let us take him or do we just arrest you for interfering with police business?"
It took a long minute before Maximillian Landry could answer and as he finally did his voice was grim. "This is ridiculous...at least let me wake him and tell him what's happening, or is that against the rules too?" The man's words reflected clearly his feelings on the matter.
"All right...but make it fast." The two detectives followed the man into the office as if they thought he might try to flee with the boy then watched as he gently woke him.
"Daniel...time to wake up." Landry touched the boy's hair as he roused him, giving him time to fully wake before saying any more.
"Are my Mom and Dad ready to go home?" He rubbed at his eyes as he sat up, then looked around as if he expected his parents to be there as well.
Landry shook his head as he took a seat on the couch beside him. "You know they can't Daniel...you saw what happened."
"No..." He pulled away from the man's touch and stood up suddenly."I want to see my Mom and Dad...they don't like it when they don't know where I am..." He eyed the two detectives and realization began to dawn again. It hadn't been a bad dream...the tears began to fall as soon as he made the connection. "I want my Mom and Dad...why won't you let me see them?"
It was Landry's turn to rise and as he approached Daniel the boy began to back away. "You can't see them...I'm sorry Daniel, but you can't." He looked to the detectives as if somehow they held the magic that would make the truth easier to break to the boy. "You saw the accident, remember? Your Mom and Dad were hurt very badly and they had to take them to the hospital..."
"Then I want to go to the hospital too...I want to be with my Mom and Dad!" His fear at what was coming began to take hold and with it came a return of his earlier hysteria. "I have to go see them...I have to be with them!" As he made the declaration he darted for the door, his actions so unexpected that the two detectives barely had time to react. It was Jacobs who caught him and for his efforts he received a solid kick in the shin that caused him to lose his hold. The moment of freedom was all the boy needed and as he was released he skirted between them and down the hall.
"Let me...I think I know where he's going." Landry moved past them quickly, his sights set on the main exhibit room as soon as he entered the hall. As they reached the scene of the accident all three men stopped, none of them sure how to proceed as they saw the small figure standing over the ruins of the collapsed pillars. The boy's sobs could be heard throughout the room, and raising a hand to signal that the detectives remain where they stood the archeologist slowly made his way to him.
For Daniel it was confirmation of a horror he'd hoped had been a nightmare and he found himself kneeling next to the ruined pillars, unwilling to see the blood that dampened the floor beneath them. His parents were supposed to be here, they wouldn't have left without him. "No!" His cries intensified as realization solidified and as Landry reached down to pick him up he found no more resistance.
"Come on Daniel...it's time to go." He cradled the boy to him trying to calm him again as he walked over to where the detectives waited. "Daniel...you have to go with these men now, I'm sorry...I'll try and get hold of your Grandfather but for now you have to go with them."
"No...I want my Mom and Dad..." His pleadings went unanswered as the boy was passed to the detectives. What were they supposed to say to him?
"You can call the station tomorrow and they'll tell you what's going to happen with him." Campbell passed the man one of their cards. "I'm sorry, but there's no other way to handle this."
"Sure there is." Landry made no attempt to hide his feelings as he took the card. "He's a bright kid, you're not going to be able to keep the truth from him."
"That's not our job..we were just told to pick him up."
"I want my Mom and Dad..." Daniel's cry had once again quieted and his words came now amidst shaky choked breaths as he tried to calm himself.
"Not tonight kid...not tonight..."
To be continued...
As far as I know this should remain under a PG-13 rating, if a chapter seems to break that rule I'll post it as such.
Insert standard ownership disclaimer here...cross-posted to stargate_fanfic
Picking up the Pieces
By J.D.
Chapter One
"Daniel!" He'd heard his name screamed by someone only an instant before he felt their hands grab him about the waist and pick him up. By then it was too late of course, his own screams had joined theirs as he saw the columns teeter and then fall.
"Mom!....Dad!..." he fought against the hold, his legs trying to make contact with anything solid in hopes of getting them to release him. "Let me go!....Mom!...Dad!..." Words started to choke in his throat as he could only begin to realize the extent of what had happened.
"Daniel...enough...I'm taking you out of here." The man's hold tightened and instead of going towards his parents he found he was being himself being carried the opposite way.
"No...!" His screams for release seemed to only fall on deaf ears and by the time they reached the exhibit curator's office they had subsided into shuddered sobs.
"Daniel, you're all right. I'll take him" Dr. Maximillian Landry had been curator for the Egyptian exhibits for almost twenty years and he'd known Claire and Melburn Jackson for better then half of that time. He'd first met the couple while both were still in college and as they'd graduated and begun to work on their own digs the three had developed a stronger connection. He should have known better then to let them try and erect a full sized chamber entrance in the newest exhibit. Taking their young son from the security guard who had pulled him from the scene Dr Landry found himself ill equipped for the task he knew was to come. "Daniel...I've got you....quiet now." He hefted the still crying boy to his shoulder and moved fully into the office with him. "Shhh..."
"I need to go back..." Daniel found it harder and harder to get the words he wanted out. But Dr. Max was here now, and he knew his parents so he'd understand why he had to go back. "Mom....Dad...." Why was it so hard to say their names? "Please..."
"You can't Daniel..not yet...shh...quiet now." The man soothed the boy in his arms, rubbing his back to calm him, only to offer a sigh of relief when his crying gradually slowed then finally subsided as he exhausted himself and fell asleep. How was he going to tell him that his father had been killed and his mother had been rushed to the hospital with no one expecting she would live through the night? Easing the boy off his shoulder he laid him on the couch before moving to his desk. What would happen to Daniel now? Melborn had no family that he'd ever spoke of...Claire had her Grandfather, but how could he raise an 8 year old boy and continue the work that he was involved in? He had to call the man, the boy was after all his grandson and a decision would need to be made about his welfare tonight.
Maximillian Landry had no sooner started making calls on Daniel's behalf when the matter was taken out of his hands by the appearance two New York police detectives. "Dr. Landry? I'm Detective Campbell, this is Detective Jacobs, we're here about the accident."
"Yes, I'm him..please...can we go into the hall...I don't want to wake the boy." He motioned to the couch where Daniel Jackson was sleeping.
One of the two detectives flipped open a tablet he had in his hands. "That would be Daniel?"
"Yes...why all these questions, it was an accident, and I am trying to reach the boy's Grandfather."
"I'm afraid it's no longer your concern Doctor, unless you're a family member or have a claim to the boy we have to turn him over to Child Protective Services."
"Surely an exception can be made..he's just seen his parents killed...you can't take him away from people he knows at a time like this."
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice. The law is pretty clear on this, until we can locate a relative to take the boy he goes to Child Protective Services." The detectives showed no signs of wavering on the decision, a fact which seemed only to irritate the archeologist even further.
"This is insane...he's a little boy who's just seen his entire life destroyed in front of him
and now you want me to let you put him with strangers." He shook his head and moved to block the doorway so neither man could enter the office a second time. "I won't do it."
"You have no choice in the matter, you either move and let us take him or we arrest you and we take him anyway." Detective Campbell pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket as if to prove he was serious.
"I can't believe this...don't you even care about what's best for Daniel?" It was all the man could do not to slam the door in the men's faces.
"The law says this is best for him. Now you going to move and let us take him or do we just arrest you for interfering with police business?"
It took a long minute before Maximillian Landry could answer and as he finally did his voice was grim. "This is ridiculous...at least let me wake him and tell him what's happening, or is that against the rules too?" The man's words reflected clearly his feelings on the matter.
"All right...but make it fast." The two detectives followed the man into the office as if they thought he might try to flee with the boy then watched as he gently woke him.
"Daniel...time to wake up." Landry touched the boy's hair as he roused him, giving him time to fully wake before saying any more.
"Are my Mom and Dad ready to go home?" He rubbed at his eyes as he sat up, then looked around as if he expected his parents to be there as well.
Landry shook his head as he took a seat on the couch beside him. "You know they can't Daniel...you saw what happened."
"No..." He pulled away from the man's touch and stood up suddenly."I want to see my Mom and Dad...they don't like it when they don't know where I am..." He eyed the two detectives and realization began to dawn again. It hadn't been a bad dream...the tears began to fall as soon as he made the connection. "I want my Mom and Dad...why won't you let me see them?"
It was Landry's turn to rise and as he approached Daniel the boy began to back away. "You can't see them...I'm sorry Daniel, but you can't." He looked to the detectives as if somehow they held the magic that would make the truth easier to break to the boy. "You saw the accident, remember? Your Mom and Dad were hurt very badly and they had to take them to the hospital..."
"Then I want to go to the hospital too...I want to be with my Mom and Dad!" His fear at what was coming began to take hold and with it came a return of his earlier hysteria. "I have to go see them...I have to be with them!" As he made the declaration he darted for the door, his actions so unexpected that the two detectives barely had time to react. It was Jacobs who caught him and for his efforts he received a solid kick in the shin that caused him to lose his hold. The moment of freedom was all the boy needed and as he was released he skirted between them and down the hall.
"Let me...I think I know where he's going." Landry moved past them quickly, his sights set on the main exhibit room as soon as he entered the hall. As they reached the scene of the accident all three men stopped, none of them sure how to proceed as they saw the small figure standing over the ruins of the collapsed pillars. The boy's sobs could be heard throughout the room, and raising a hand to signal that the detectives remain where they stood the archeologist slowly made his way to him.
For Daniel it was confirmation of a horror he'd hoped had been a nightmare and he found himself kneeling next to the ruined pillars, unwilling to see the blood that dampened the floor beneath them. His parents were supposed to be here, they wouldn't have left without him. "No!" His cries intensified as realization solidified and as Landry reached down to pick him up he found no more resistance.
"Come on Daniel...it's time to go." He cradled the boy to him trying to calm him again as he walked over to where the detectives waited. "Daniel...you have to go with these men now, I'm sorry...I'll try and get hold of your Grandfather but for now you have to go with them."
"No...I want my Mom and Dad..." His pleadings went unanswered as the boy was passed to the detectives. What were they supposed to say to him?
"You can call the station tomorrow and they'll tell you what's going to happen with him." Campbell passed the man one of their cards. "I'm sorry, but there's no other way to handle this."
"Sure there is." Landry made no attempt to hide his feelings as he took the card. "He's a bright kid, you're not going to be able to keep the truth from him."
"That's not our job..we were just told to pick him up."
"I want my Mom and Dad..." Daniel's cry had once again quieted and his words came now amidst shaky choked breaths as he tried to calm himself.
"Not tonight kid...not tonight..."
To be continued...