Picking up the Pieces Chapter 4 (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
Chapter Four
By J.D.
"Any word yet?" Sean Campbell raked his hand through his hair, a night spent sleeping in his desk chair reflecting in his wrinkled shirt and the growth of reddish bearding on his face.
"From Child Protective Services?" Lou Jacobs on the other hand looked too refreshed, a condition that was not lost on his partner.
"Who else? I can't believe you went home last night." He shook his head as his face settled into a mask of disapproval.
"You're the one who wouldn't let someone else take over for the night so you could go home, don't go blaming me." The man started for the door to the breakroom to get his morning coffee.
"Lou..the room's off limits right now." Campbell pointed to a sign taped to the closed door.
"For Christ's sake...you're telling me I can't get coffee because that kid is asleep in there?"
"Captain said it was alright...I had to put him somewhere to sleep..."
"You could have taken him over and dropped him on their doorstep, then they wouldn't have the excuse of being too busy to book him in." The man returned to his own desk and dropped into his chair. "This is gonna cost you."
"I wasn't about to take an 8 year old kid and just abandon him...besides, you'll live without your coffee until he wakes up." Sean rose and stretched the kinks from his back.
As the two men discussed his fate in the squadroom Daniel Jackson remained asleep, away from peering eyes in the breakroom. For most of the night his sleep had been restless, images of his parents accident twisting themselves around those of happier times....
"Danny...come on...if you're coming to the museum we have to go now." The face of his mother and the sound of her voice seemed to wrap a comforting warmth around him.
"I can't find my dinosaur book..." The boy crawled farther under his bed as he called his excuse back to his mother.
"Now Daniel..we're leaving, with or without you." It was his father's voice now and it's tone left no doubt to the truth in his words.
"I found it!" His shout of success arrived a moment before he crawled back out and climbed to his feet. "Wait for me...don't leave without me..."
"Don't leave without me." The words came aloud as the dream solidified itself and as it shifted to the scene inside the museum he began to grow more restless.
"Danny...take your book and find somewhere to read, your dad and I have to get this set up before the advance showing tonight." He could almost feel the touch of her hand on his hair before she spoke again. "You know what your dad will do if you don't stay out of the way."
"I know...but I'm old enough to help." He stalled for those few moments more after glancing around to see where his father stood.
"Not on this, where we start to set out the artifacts, then you can help, now go before you dad catches you where you're not supposed to be."
"Claire..are you coming? We haven't got all day..." Melburn Jackson's voice put an end to the small boy's delaying tactics.
"Go find somewhere to read...I've got to go..." Claire Jackson leaned down to plant a kiss on her son's cheek. "I'll come get you when it's okay for you to help."
The images played out in his head like a movie and as they neared the climactic conclusion his restlessness only worsened. As the inevitable ending came the boy woke with a scream that sent chills through most of those in the squadroom.
"Shit." Sean Campbell ran for the breakroom as he heard the scream and as soon as he reached him he scooped the child into his arms. "Shh...you're alright..it was just a dream..."
For Daniel it was far worse then a dream and he wrapped his arms around the Detective's neck as sobs of grief and horror racked his small frame.
"Easy...shh...it was just a dream." Sean held the boy as tightly as his arms held him, somehow sensing the need, then he glanced to the door, aware that they had an audience. "Shh...Daniel...you're alright..." He knew the words were a lie even as they left his mouth, the child wasn't alright, he'd never be alright again, or at least not in the way he had been.
"I..I w..want m..my m..mom and dad...." The words were barely understandable and almost as soon as they were out his sobs seemed to worsen.
"You know the truth don't you Daniel?" Sean Campbell had never meant to ask the question aloud...but once said it was impossible for him to pretend it hadn't happened. When the boy seemed to tense in response and then tighten his hold on the Detective's neck he had his answer. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."
In that instant all of his hope had fled and with it Daniel realized that his world as he knew it no longer existed. He couldn't tell anyone this though, couldn't ask what would happen to him with his parents gone...all he could do was express the grief that he was sure was never going to end.
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
Chapter Four
By J.D.
"Any word yet?" Sean Campbell raked his hand through his hair, a night spent sleeping in his desk chair reflecting in his wrinkled shirt and the growth of reddish bearding on his face.
"From Child Protective Services?" Lou Jacobs on the other hand looked too refreshed, a condition that was not lost on his partner.
"Who else? I can't believe you went home last night." He shook his head as his face settled into a mask of disapproval.
"You're the one who wouldn't let someone else take over for the night so you could go home, don't go blaming me." The man started for the door to the breakroom to get his morning coffee.
"Lou..the room's off limits right now." Campbell pointed to a sign taped to the closed door.
"For Christ's sake...you're telling me I can't get coffee because that kid is asleep in there?"
"Captain said it was alright...I had to put him somewhere to sleep..."
"You could have taken him over and dropped him on their doorstep, then they wouldn't have the excuse of being too busy to book him in." The man returned to his own desk and dropped into his chair. "This is gonna cost you."
"I wasn't about to take an 8 year old kid and just abandon him...besides, you'll live without your coffee until he wakes up." Sean rose and stretched the kinks from his back.
As the two men discussed his fate in the squadroom Daniel Jackson remained asleep, away from peering eyes in the breakroom. For most of the night his sleep had been restless, images of his parents accident twisting themselves around those of happier times....
"Danny...come on...if you're coming to the museum we have to go now." The face of his mother and the sound of her voice seemed to wrap a comforting warmth around him.
"I can't find my dinosaur book..." The boy crawled farther under his bed as he called his excuse back to his mother.
"Now Daniel..we're leaving, with or without you." It was his father's voice now and it's tone left no doubt to the truth in his words.
"I found it!" His shout of success arrived a moment before he crawled back out and climbed to his feet. "Wait for me...don't leave without me..."
"Don't leave without me." The words came aloud as the dream solidified itself and as it shifted to the scene inside the museum he began to grow more restless.
"Danny...take your book and find somewhere to read, your dad and I have to get this set up before the advance showing tonight." He could almost feel the touch of her hand on his hair before she spoke again. "You know what your dad will do if you don't stay out of the way."
"I know...but I'm old enough to help." He stalled for those few moments more after glancing around to see where his father stood.
"Not on this, where we start to set out the artifacts, then you can help, now go before you dad catches you where you're not supposed to be."
"Claire..are you coming? We haven't got all day..." Melburn Jackson's voice put an end to the small boy's delaying tactics.
"Go find somewhere to read...I've got to go..." Claire Jackson leaned down to plant a kiss on her son's cheek. "I'll come get you when it's okay for you to help."
The images played out in his head like a movie and as they neared the climactic conclusion his restlessness only worsened. As the inevitable ending came the boy woke with a scream that sent chills through most of those in the squadroom.
"Shit." Sean Campbell ran for the breakroom as he heard the scream and as soon as he reached him he scooped the child into his arms. "Shh...you're alright..it was just a dream..."
For Daniel it was far worse then a dream and he wrapped his arms around the Detective's neck as sobs of grief and horror racked his small frame.
"Easy...shh...it was just a dream." Sean held the boy as tightly as his arms held him, somehow sensing the need, then he glanced to the door, aware that they had an audience. "Shh...Daniel...you're alright..." He knew the words were a lie even as they left his mouth, the child wasn't alright, he'd never be alright again, or at least not in the way he had been.
"I..I w..want m..my m..mom and dad...." The words were barely understandable and almost as soon as they were out his sobs seemed to worsen.
"You know the truth don't you Daniel?" Sean Campbell had never meant to ask the question aloud...but once said it was impossible for him to pretend it hadn't happened. When the boy seemed to tense in response and then tighten his hold on the Detective's neck he had his answer. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."
In that instant all of his hope had fled and with it Daniel realized that his world as he knew it no longer existed. He couldn't tell anyone this though, couldn't ask what would happen to him with his parents gone...all he could do was express the grief that he was sure was never going to end.
To be continued...