#4 in the Life's Little Problems Series
Color Outside the Lines
A Little!Danny fic by: Maj. Cliffhanger
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Part 9
Danny was scared. If he were being completely and totally honest with himself, he'd go so far as to say he was terrified. He couldn't help wishing Jack or Cam was here with him.
Jason, on the other hand, didn't know better. Oh, the six year old red head was mad, confused as hell and wanted to go home – but once it became apparent he and Danny were in no immediate danger, Jason became a regular chatter box! He was far more curious than frightened.
So much for not talking to strangers!
"Where are we? How'd we get here? Did you guys drug us or something? How'd he actually go invisible like that? I thought that only happened in the movies." Jason turned to point at the casually dressed man who'd grabbed Danny.
Of the group that surrounded them, Danny's kidnapper actually appeared to be the most normal - dressed as he was in blue jeans and a turtleneck sweater. Danny eyed the man unhappily, knowing he must be part of the Trust. Did he understand exactly who and what Ba'al was? Did he even care?
Jason turned his attention to the three other guards before Ba'al could even think to answer his rapid-fire questions. "Why are they wearing those costumes?" the boy wanted to know with a frown. Unlike Danny's kidnapper - and Ba'al himself in his three piece business suit - they were dressed in typical Jaffa armor, the tattoos on their foreheads proclaiming their allegiance to Ba'al. "They're cool, but it's not Halloween yet. What are they supposed to be? Is this something to do with--"
"--Jason!" Danny snapped, very much afraid of what might happen if the other boy managed to irritate the goa'uld. Unfortunately it's hard to 'snap' with any real authority when you're only five years old.
Jason blinked, surprised by Danny's urgent interruption. "What?" he asked, confused.
"Sshhhhhhhh!" Danny shook his head firmly, trying to convey the need for Jason to just shut up and do what he was told. As much as he hated to admit it, Danny knew the other boy was extraneous. Ba'al had no reason to keep him alive.
Ba'al glanced between the two boys and chuckled softly. "Oh, do relax Daniel," he admonished the 'younger' boy with a smile. "You're acting as if I were some sort of monster who wanted to kill him or something!"
Jason rolled his eyes, taking it as the joke it appeared to be at face value, but Danny knew better.
And Ba'al knew he knew.
"Come now," the goa'uld coaxed with feigned geniality. "I rather think I like your little friend ... Jason, is it?" He turned back to the other boy with a questioning look.
Jason nodded.
Danny just kept his mouth shut, wishing Ba'al would get to the point and leave the other boy alone. Unfortunately, the goa'uld seemed to have taken a shine to his friend.
The thought made Danny shudder!
"Yes.... It was never my intension that you should be caught up in all of this, Jason - I know it must be quite confusing - but I am beginning to think it might prove tp be a most fortuitous turn of circumstance for me."
Jason frowned in confusion. "Four-to-what?"
Ba'al's smile became ever so slightly strained as he was forced to translate. "Lucky," he explained simply, actually reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair. Jason didn't like that sort of thing any more than Danny did and pulled away, only to suddenly find himself backed up against the cold armor of a silent and unmoving Jaffa. Ba'al ignored the boy's reaction and merely kept smiling. "You seem to be quite the bright and inquisitive lad, Jason. Unfortunately, I don't really have the time necessary to answer your questions properly. I'm afraid your father - and Danny's friends - are going to become quite concerned if I keep you away from them for too long."
"You're going to let us go?" Jason asked, a little surprised at the implication that they hadn't been kidnapped for money or something like that.
"Of course, I am," Ba'al answered, smiling broadly and surprising Danny as well – not that Danny believed him. "But first, I need to get young Daniel here to help me with a couple of things; then I can arrange for you both to go home."
Jason frowned sharply. "I thought you said before you were here to help him; not the other way 'round."
"Ah, you were paying attention. That's very good!" Ba'al replied easily. "But you see, I need to get his help before I can help him."
"I don't think so," Danny told their captor quietly.
Jason glanced at Danny, noting the younger boy's continued obstinate glare for the man. Ba'al's relaxed manner and Danny's obvious distrust of him were contradictory things that left the other boy feeling off-balance and confused. He turned back in time to see Ba'al answer Danny's defiant statement with an irritated flash of his eyes. The six year old stepped back in astonishment only to run into the Jaffa behind him again. This time, the guard reached down to rest a hand on his shoulder – but Jason was too fascinated by what he'd just seen to even notice it.
"Whoa!" the boy exclaimed in amazement. "How'd you do that?"
Ba'al's gaze never left Danny. "Your friend knows," he assured the other boy in the dual voice of a goa'uld. "Perhaps you can get him to explain it to you later."
The strangely resonate voice caused Jason to give another gasp of surprise and try to step away, only to discover the guard's hand on his shoulder wasn't there for reassurance. He glanced up at the man behind him in surprise and was answered with a warning shake of the man's head.
Ba'al watched the momentary exchange in amusement before turning his gaze back to Danny. "I am capable of many things, Jason," he told the other boy almost gently, "but I really don't think your friend here wants me to demonstrate them – do you, Danny...."
It wasn't really a question - but it still demanded an answer. Danny felt like his heart was in his throat as he quickly shook his head. He hadn’t missed the underlying hint of menace in the goa'uld’s tone. "I'll do whatever you want, just leave him alone."
Jason frowned in confusion, not sure why the younger boy seemed so afraid all of a sudden.
Ba'al answered Danny's easy capitulation with a triumphant grin. "I rather thought you might change your mind," he offered brightly.