The Twelth Hour

[cirisse.livejournal.com]

Title: The Twelfth Hour
Author: cirisse
Summary: Daniel stumbles upon a mugging.

Word Count: 5000ish
Rating: mild NC-17 (M/M sex, violence – but not at the same time)
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate Productions, SCI FI Channel, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. Please don’t sue!

Written For: kuonji14
Prompt: Two (2) Requirements: 1. teenager(s) 2. Clichés or quote "What do you think?"
Optional Request: I've always wanted to read a fic where Jack and/or
Daniel adopt teenage kids, or adopted kids who have grown up to be
teenagers, so if that can be managed I would be very happy. I don't
care about the set-up, but I would prefer not too much sap and no sad
endings.
Restriction #1: no character-bashing
Restriction #2: any homophobic or gay pride themes

Notes: I believe I got at least 4 requirements/requests in; teenager, clichés, adoption and the quote. And I tried my best to not overdo the sap – but a little might have slipped through. And thanks to Nemisis for encouraging me to keep on going even when I got really discouraged.

 

The Twelfth Hour

 

 

Daniel glanced down at his watch, just as the numbers changed to read 9 pm. He was running late, again. He climbed into his car, and set off in the direction of Jack’s house. Jack would be at his home by now with a movie, pizza and - damn it! He should have picked up some beer earlier, and now he would have to take the longer way over to Jack’s house. Now he would be even later. Daniel decided to use this extra time to mentally check and store away the day’s events. Teal’c had recommended doing this as a relaxation technique, helping to create a transition between work and free time, and now he couldn’t imagine doing without it.

 

He needed this post-mortem even more than usual. It had been such a stressful mission, another gate address, another archaeological no-show, a first contact gone awry, and another death. It had happened so many times now it should be familiar, but instead it played on replay over and over in his mind.

 

Daniel scrubbed the side of his face with his fingers, hoping that the dull throbbing in his head wouldn’t become a full-blown headache. In the past he would have tried desperately to shut down the unwanted thoughts, put them in a little box and throw away the key. That was a silly way of dealing with things, not thinking about them because in the end he would have to deal with it all anyway. Besides it never worked.

 

It hadn’t worked a few years ago when he was trying to ignore the emerging tension between himself and Jack. Suppressing those feelings just meant they revealed themselves in other ways… in that particular case while asleep in their tent. At the time it was incredible embarrassing, waking up with his erection pressed against Jack’s thigh. Daniel allowed himself a chuckle - things hadn’t turned out too bad in the end.

 

Daniel turned off the well-lit main road that was still buzzing with traffic, towards the quieter section of town. There were few cars around these parts; most people had already gone home, hoping to avoid this whole area at night. Daniel thought he remembered there being a little store somewhere around this neighbourhood, which he hoped would have his favourite beer. Jack seemed to be inviting him over for these ‘beer and movie’ nights more often, and tonight he was particularly grateful that Jack had asked him over. He needed the distraction, something to take his mind off all the horrible things that had gone on during the last mission. Maybe Jack had seen that. And maybe Jack needed it too.

 

Daniel’s car skidded to a stop just past the store, the tires squealing angrily, almost hitting the chain link fence and piles of uncollected garbage. He stepped out of his car and immediately hunched against the wind. It felt like it was cutting into every inch of exposed skin. A quick glance along the street showed it to be almost empty and silent except for the rumble of distant traffic. This part of town certainly was not the nicest but the store looked warm and inviting, its windows a glowing bright yellow, and most importantly it was still open for business.

 

Daniel jogged along towards the store, sparing a passing thought for the homeless person huddled in the passageway that ran along the right side of the store. With the wind and the storm clouds threatening overhead, he just knew it was going to be another miserable night.

 

He paid for his beer as quickly as possible, aware that Jack was still waiting at his house, and the pizza would be getting cold. Or Jack might eat his slice. Either way, the plan was not to hang around chatting to the storeowner, while the weather outside got progressively worse. Daniel made his awkward excuses, and flung open the door. He was fumbling in his pocket for the car keys when he heard the strange commotion behind him.

 

He strained his neck to see over his shoulder. In the gloom of the unlit alleyway, he could just about make out a tall figure standing over the homeless man who was backed up against the wall, and seemed horribly, horribly defenceless. Daniel eyed up his car for a moment. He could walk away from this. He didn’t have to get involved. After all, he was an archaeologist - not Superman.

 

A strangled cry rose up from the alleyway. Daniel sighed and placed the box of beer on his car roof. There was no chance that he could turn away and pretend nothing had happened. He walked up towards the two men, his footsteps barely audible against the pavement. At the very least, Daniel decided, he would tell the storeowner to call the police. As he came nearer, he caught the last fragment of speech …

 

“-- Shut your mouth, --” growled the deep voice.

 

Daniel coughed loudly, interrupting the attacker. Both men turned around to look at him in surprise.

 

“Do we have a situation here?” Daniel said keeping his voice even. He was trying his best to look calm and confident. There was no point showing just how terrified he really was.

 

“Fuck off dweeb,” sneered the tall attacker, curing his hands into fists.

 

Daniel’s forehead creased in a frown. I am so going to regret this.

“Um… how about no.”

 

A flash of astonishment crossed the man’s face, but he quickly recovered. With a terrible smirk on his face, he brandished an intimidating 12-inch blade from his coat pocket and began waiving it around in Daniel direction.

 

“Perhaps you should think again.”

 

Daniel took a step back. He slowly backed away, enough to lure the attacker away from the homeless man. Daniel reminded himself to breathe, and assess his environment, looking for anything that would give him an advantage. His mind strained to remember the basic self-defence training they gave him during his first year with the SGC. Now he was really starting to regret falling asleep during Jack’s presentation on “How to Disarm an Assailant in 3 Easy Steps”.

 

With a shout of effort, the attacker plunged towards him. Daniel dodged the attack; the knife barely missed him by inches. I really should have thought this whole superhero-rescue-thing through a little better.

 

The attacker jabbed towards him again. Daniel’s mind switched to autopilot. He picked up a metal garbage lid beside him and smacked the mugger across the head with it. The crack of metal echoed off the walls, and Daniel could feel the strike reverberate through his arms. Had he really just done that?

 

The mugger slammed into the ground holding his head. A little trickle of blood began to seep through his fingers, and the man scrambled to his feet and fled down the road. Carefully, Daniel picked up the knife the man had dropped and watching, until he was satisfied the thug had gone. He felt tired again, the adrenaline starting to dissipate. His dark blue shirt was now drenched in a cold sweat. It was strange. He had been in situations many times more dangerous than this one, but this chilled him to the bone. Maybe it was because it was happening here in Colorado that made it feel different. On the other hand, maybe it was because this time he didn’t have ‘the team’ protecting him, watching his back.

 

Daniel twisted round to check up on the hooded homeless man who had backed himself up against the wall, his whole body visibly shaking. Daniel held his hands up in the air.

 

“Are you all right?  I’m a friend. Can I come closer?”

 

Daniel waited respectfully for a reply, watching the doubt and fear in the eyes staring back. Finally, he got a curt nod. Daniel crept forward, keeping his movements slow and deliberate – so as not to cause any unnecessary anxiety. Closer up the man looked smaller… and a lot younger. He couldn’t be older than 15 or 16. Way…way to young to be living on the streets.

 

“Thanks” the teenager said quietly.

 

“I was glad to help.”

 

Daniel scanned the kid for signs of injury, and other than being very shocked, the teen seemed to be physically okay.

 

“How old are you?”

 

The teen squinted suspiciously at him. “I’m not that grateful”

 

Oh hell, he thinks I’m another pervert. “Uh um… no--” Daniel stuttered “I meant you look a bit young to be – um, on the street at night.” His eyes creased with concern. “Isn’t someone looking for you?”

 

The kid crossed his arms defensively “I’m not going back.”

 

“Back where?”

 

“The foster home.”

 

Realisation hit Daniel like a ton of bricks, and he rocked back onto his heels. “You’re in state care...”

 

Lots of kids ran away from home. Hell, he had done it himself, so he could understand the teen’s reluctance to return to his foster home. It wasn’t always an easy place to grow up in. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had a nagging thought that he really should call up social services right away. But at this moment, the kid seemed cold, tired and frightened. Daniel’s first priority would be to get him somewhere safe, away from weirdoes and he could worry about the consequences later.

 

“I know it’s probably difficult for you to trust people right now, but I’m not here to hurt you. I’m a friend. I think we should move you out of the rain and off the street and then we can call social services.”

 

The teen held his gaze but made no move to get up.

 

“Okay, you don’t trust me,” Daniel sighed but he wasn’t that surprised. He probably would act the same if their roles were reversed. With a thought, Daniel turned the knife around, so the handle faced the teenager and held it out. “Would it make you feel safer if you took this?”

 

The teenager looked puzzled but reached out to take the knife. With the blade firmly in his grasp, the teen noticeably relaxed.

 

“Just be careful with that thing, okay? My name’s Daniel Jackson. I ran away myself a few times. It’s a long story.”

 

“I’m Luka.”

 

“Hi.  I don’t want to rush you Luka, but I really think we should leave this area in case that guy comes back.”

 

The boy winced and a wave of protectiveness swept over Daniel. He would take a gamble.

 

“Um… I’m about to visit my friend. His name is Jack and he only lives a couple of blocks away. You can come along.”

 

Luka paused, his eyes flicking between Daniel’s red car and the street, his hand fidgeting with the knife.

 

“If you change your mind on the way there just ask me to stop the car. No questions asked. I’ll even leave the doors unlocked.” The teenager nodded slowly, and got up to follow Daniel towards the car.

 

The drive started out conspicuously quiet. Daniel’s mind was humming with unvoiced questions and Luka was covertly watching his every little move. Daniel’s mind brushed over how Jack might react when he brings a dripping wet teenage runaway to his doorstep. Daniel made a face; as Jack used to say, he would cross that bridge when he got to it.

 

Daniel heard Luka whisper, a question so quiet it was almost inaudible. “Sorry I was miles away. What did you ask?”

 

“Why did you run away?” Luka repeated.

 

Daniel grimaced slightly, but he was glad the teen was comfortable enough to ask questions, even if he was asking the uncomfortable ones.

 

“Like I said, it’s a long story.” Daniel could feel Luka staring at him, and he took a gulp of breathe.

 

“My parents died when I was eight, and it took a long time for social services to find me a stable foster home. I ended up staying in a temporary shelter for ‘delinquent’ boys. I’m not even sure if that place exists anymore but let me tell you it was rough. I really hated it there. That was when I decided that I had to get away, but unfortunately, for me running away didn’t help at all. It actually made my prospects worse and it took a bit longer before I got permanent foster parents.”

 

“Did you like them? Your foster parents I mean?”

 

“Oh sure, they were fine. They -- they tried their best. But sometimes they didn’t really felt like… you know *family*.”

 

The teen mumbled in acknowledgement.

 

“What about you. What’s your life story Luka?”

 

Luka snickered. “There’s not much to say.”

 

“Well,” said Daniel “Are you from around here? Your name sounds sort of Italian.”

 

Luka shrugged his shoulders. “It’s a common name in Europe. My mother was Croatian. She moved here as a refugee during the war in Yugoslavia, but I’ve lived in Colorado most of my life. People at school just called me Luke. I go to school around here too – it’s a real hole. No really, it is like a black hole – it sucks everything around it inside, into a spiral of darkness you can never escape from.”

 

Daniel laughed at the mental picture. “Do you have foster parents yet?”

 

“No I’m still waiting for a placement.” Luka said his voice quieting down again. “I’m not stupid though. I know that no one wants to adopt a teenage boy. Everyone assumes we’re trouble.”

 

Daniel smiled sympathetically. “Ah I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I’m sure there are plenty of people who are not just looking for the stereotypical ‘white-twin-baby-girls’. Ah – this is our turning.”

 

The car pulled turned to the right and went down the little street. Luka gazed out of the rain-streaked window, staring at the neat brown houses with their tidy lawns, white picket fences, the stars and stripes fluttering as they drove by. It was almost like stepping into a 1950’s dream of American suburbia - quiet and oh-so very middle class. Daniel parked outside Jack’s house, turned off the humming engine and sat, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel, staring at Jack’s door.

 

“You scared to go in?” asked Luka

 

“Scared? No, I’m just not sure how Jack will react when I turn up at his door a few hours late with a… extra visitor. He’s a nice person though, so don’t have to worry about that. He’s sort of like my… my co-worker and best friend all rolled up in one.”

 

Luka started to respond when Jack’s door swung open, and Jack appeared holding a beer, leaning nonchalantly in the doorway.

 

“Okay. That’s Jack. Why don’t you – uh -- get the stuff out the back, while I talk to Jack.”

 

Daniel fumbled to get his seatbelt off, and he found himself walking slowly up the brick pathway, fighting the urge to run away. The rain had not stopped pouring down, and there was a torrent of water rushing down the steps and swilling around his feet. Despite the heavy rain, the only thing Daniel could hear was his heartbeat thundering in his ears. He wasn’t sure why he was so tense – he only had good memories connected with this place. With that thought, his eyes met Jack who smiled lazily back at him.

 

“I thought you’d stood me up,” drawled Jack “So I started without…”

 

Jack eyes widened. His finger jabbed the air in the hooded teenager’s direction.

 

“Okay. Who is that?”

 

Daniel followed Jack’s gaze towards Luka who was struggling with the weight of the beer and his little duffel bag.

 

“His name is Luka.”

 

Jack frowned; his hands gesticulated impatiently for Daniel to continue.

 

“He ran away from foster care and was sleeping on the streets.”

 

“Daniel! What did I tell you before about bringing home strays?”

 

“He wasn’t safe there on the street.” Daniel argued indignantly. “I told him he could stay here for a little bit. Are you really gonna turn away a homeless teen?”

 

Unhappy with the attempt of emotional blackmail, Jack crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You could have at least called first, Jackson.”

 

“Can we argue about this later?” said Daniel pointing at the rain bucketing down on him. Jack looked apologetic and allowed Daniel in. He pushed the door wider, as Luka made his way up the driveway and he took the box of beer from the overloaded teen.

 

“Hey kid. You c’mon in. You can put your coat over here”

 

The teen shuffled inside, dripping all over the floor, looking a bit like a bedraggled cat. He took off his hooded coat, revealing a tuff of unwashed brown hair. Luka was tall – almost as tall as Jack when he wasn’t hunching over, but much gaunter, skin and bones hidden under layers of baggy clothes. He looked around nervously to Daniel who gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

 

Jack started a distinctly one-sided conversation with Luka. “Living room is this way. Make yourself comfortable, turn on the TV if you want. Oh and mind the steps. I can’t tell you how many times Daniel has fallen down those, usually when he’s drunk, not that he’s a drinker mind you…”

 

Luka followed him into the living room leaving a trail of muddy puddles along the floor, finally settling himself in front of the fire. Daniel was thankful that Jack was making conversation, being friendly and generally trying to make Luka feel comfortable. Daniel ran up the stairs, and around Jack’s house looking for towels and blankets. He returned to the room triumphant, and handed a few to the teen. Daniel began explaining quietly to Jack what had happened at the store while Luka switched on the television. The teen didn’t really watch it but instead studied the house, the flags, the pictures and certificates on the walls.

 

After a while, Daniel excused himself from the room and paced into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. He could still just about make out the hushed conversation between Jack and Luka.

 

“Is there anything else you need, Luka? Something to drink?”

 

“One of those beers would be okay”

 

“Hmm” Jack murmured suspiciously. “What age are you again?”

 

“Twenty-one” retorted the young voice earnestly.

.

He heard Jack snort loudly, and Daniel grinned to himself, finally starting to let go of the apprehension he had been bottling up. Jack was always good with kids, and Luka was no different. They genuinely sounded like they were getting along, and were relaxing into each other’s company.

 

Daniel leaned against the fridge, listening to the friendly banter and the gentle hum of the television. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sipped it too fast, slightly burning his tongue. It felt weird, drinking coffee at night – but it wasn’t as if he was going to sleep tonight anyway, he had too much on his mind. Somehow, he was sure; stepping into that fight was one of those crucial moments in his life, one of those chance meetings, those little choices that change everything. Now that he had met Luka, he knew he couldn’t just walk away from him and just leave him in state care.

 

“Hey Daniel” Jack whispered startling Daniel right out of his thoughts.

 

Jack sat himself down at the table and began absently picking off bits of pepperoni from the cold pizza.

“He’s a nice kid. He must have been very tired because he just fell asleep on the couch and I had to fireman carry him all the way into the spare bedroom! I don’t think my back will ever recover --”

 

“Jack. I’ve been thinking.”

 

“Oh?”

 

Daniel took another sip of coffee. “I think -- I would like to adopt Luka.”

 

Jack looked up at him, and went very still. His eyes searched Daniel’s as if testing whether or not Daniel was joking.

 

“Hmm…Don’t you think that’s a pretty momentous decision to make while sleep-deprived?”

 

“I’m serious.”

 

“Daniel! You only met the kid a few hours ago. I didn’t even know you wanted children.”

 

Daniel cradled his coffee cup to his chest. “It’s something I’ve always wanted. I had planned to… with Sha’re. I don’t want to wait forever you know? And I don’t need any more time to see that he needs a parent. I know because I’ve been there, in that situation. Luka needs a family, some security...”

 

“And you want to give him that?”

 

“As much as I can. When I see Luca, I see someone who is alone in the world, and I can do something about that. Is it really such a crime, Jack, to want to have someone to care about?”

 

Their eyes met across the room, the silence charged and Jack shuffled in his chair.

 

“No… of course it’s not. Christ Daniel! I do have feelings. Do you really think that when I look at him, I don’t start to wonder if Charlie would have been that tall?” Jack closed his eyes. “I’m just trying to be realistic here. But it’s your decision.”

 

Daniel set the empty coffee mug on the table and took a deep breath.

 

“Actually I would like it to be your decision too.” Daniel held up his hand to stop Jack from replying. “Don’t freak out…I’m not asking for anything official, or for us to start living together or anything like that. I do understand the military, and I understand and respect the rules, even if I don’t always agree with them. But I really want you to be a part of this.”

 

“What do you think?” Please don’t say no. Please don’t say no.

 

After an unreasonably drawn out pause, Jack opened his mouth and then promptly closed it again.

 

“Yeah, ok. You don’t have to say it again. Rules and regulations,” mumbled Daniel turning away to stop Jack from seeing the bitter disappointment on his face. He obviously wasn’t very good at it because in a second, Jack was with him.

 

“Daniel.” Jack soothed and he put his arms around him, and he kissed Daniel, coffee and beer mingling on their tongues, bitter like the aftertaste of forbidden fruit. Jack was trying to show him everything, the waiting, the years of growth and friendship, their passion in one kiss. Everything clicked. Daniel leaned back against the fridge, his heart beating at 100 miles an hour. The only reply he could muster was a pathetic “Oh.”

 

Jack beamed, the creases showing up around his eyes. “I’m tired with waiting too.” He pulled Daniel towards him, kissing him again - slower this time, his fingers working and pulling on Daniel’s clothes. Daniel clutched at the fridge to steady himself, his brain not sending the message to his legs to stay standing.

 

His fingers danced over Jack’s skin, the feeling of stubble brushing against his fingers sent his nerves into static. Crazy crazy crazy. He closed his eyes, the sensation of Jack kissing his neck, so hot and soft and gentle it left him on fire. A nagging thought made Daniel shove at Jack’s chest to stop him.

 

“What if… Luka…” Daniel gasped.

 

“Right now I doubt a tornado could wake him.”

Daniel relaxed into Jack’s embrace, the pressing of their bodies warm and insistent. He was determined to take control of the situation. Unzipping Jack’s jeans one-handed, he freed his cock from its confined space. He cupped his hand on their erections, holding them simultaneously, pushing and moving in rhythm, in union, pulsating. It wasn’t particularly beautiful or romantic, just pure desperation and desire guiding them together. Jack’s was kissing Daniel all over his neck, biting and sucking, and Daniel’s mind could focus nowhere else, but on the physical feeling of Jack caressing him.

 

He knew they were going too fast and couldn’t hold on my longer, but somehow he could no longer care. He needed more, more of Jack. He felt himself spilling warm and hot, onto his hand and Jack’s name resounding in his head.

 

Relief and pleasure flooded throughout his body. Jack pinned him back against the cool surface of the fridge, Jack thrusting frantically against Daniel hand, seeking the friction, the closeness, the slide of skin on skin. Daniel pushed them closer together, and Jack sucked in a breath and came with a hoarse groan, his grip on Daniel arms so tight it was almost painful.

 

They both slumped to the floor.

 

“Wow,” said Daniel. He felt an unexpected rush of emotion. He was sitting on Jack’s kitchen floor, his jeans bunched around his ankles, spent and exhausted - physically and emotionally. And Jack was holding him with complete acceptance.

 

Jack reached across Daniel into one of the kitchen drawers, producing a roll of paper towels. He wiped Daniel clean and then himself and got up to throw the towels away. He opened the window slightly. Whether he was trying to let in some fresh air or to diffuse the telltale odour of sex, Daniel wasn’t quite sure.

 

Jack moved over to sit down next him on the kitchen floor, groaning loudly for effect, and he nudged his shoulder against Daniel. They sat there for a long time, too comfortable and lazy to move. Daniel’s breathing slow and rhythmic, and Jack sat in silence, his eyes glazed over, staring at the slivers of light peeking through the curtains and traversing the floor. A gust of wind flew into the kitchen, fresh and pleasant in the aftermath of last night’s downpour and it made Daniel shiver. He thought about buttoning up his shirt, but that would involve moving.

 

“I wouldn’t be able to adopt Luka officially,” said Jack, his voice jerking a drowsy Daniel out of his half-sleep. “I do want this. But, it has to be very… very discreet. I don’t want to mess up what we already have.”

 

“I can do discreet,” whimpered Daniel.

 

Jack rolled his eyes and pulled Daniel into a quick, scorching kiss. They heard a yelp at the doorway and pulled apart. Their sleepy-eyed visitor was standing just outside the kitchen door with his hand raised to knock, his brown eyes as big as saucers.

 

“Best friends?” the teen laughed.

 

Jack and Daniel both flushed an unbecoming shade of pink. Daniel muttered tornado under his breath, glaring at Jack, who promptly elbowed him in the ribs.

 

Luka sniggered at their embarrassment. “Look, I don’t care if you guys are into…!”

 

“Breakfast” blurted out Jack a little too loudly. “Would you like some delicious breakfast?”

 

Luka paused for a moment, then grinned and seated himself at the table in the dining room. He seemed in good spirits considering the attack on him last night, and to think that was on top of living rough for at least a few days before then. Daniel tried not to worry about the other things Luka may have encountered. For all his teenage bravado, he was still going to need a good deal of help. That could wait for now, so far he seemed relaxed enough, chitchatting and eating his way into a stack of Jack’s pancakes.

 

“We’re gonna drive you back to social services after breakfast okay?” said Jack dumping another batch onto Luka’s plate.

 

“Yah I know,” Luka mumbled his mouth stuffed with food.

 

“We really liked having you over. If you agree, we would quite like you to come over and see us again,” said Jack. “

 

“You want to foster me?”

 

“Uh-huh. Actually I would like to adopt you, but I’m trying not to get ahead of myself,” said Daniel. “We both know how long and complicated that can be. One step at a time.”

 

Luka looked at Jack curiously. “Would it be like the two of you … together?”

 

Jack cleared his throat. “Uh no. You see, I’m in the Air Force, and Daniel works with me. And well the military has this rule about people who…”

 

“Like breakfast?” Luka finished off helpfully.

 

“Sure. But just because I can’t sign a piece of paper that makes everything official, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”

 

“Right” said Daniel resisting the urge to smile.

 

“You guys finish up here while I make a phone call to let the home know your okay.”

 

The woman on the phone wouldn’t stop gushing when he explained that he had found Luka and was bringing him over, and by the time he hung up the phone, the sun was out and Jack and the teenager were already loading the car up. Daniel shut the front door behind him, squinting slightly from the bright daylight. Who would have thought it had been thrashing down with rain only a few hours ago?

 

“I think you’re the designated driver,” said Jack throwing the car keys at Daniel.

Jack slid into the seat beside Daniel and started playing around with the radio stations, chatting away to Luka behind him. Daniel reversed out of the driveway, and set off following the directions the woman had gave him. He threw a fleeting glance at the clock on the dashboard and laughed to himself. It was just past 9 am. 

Comments

[starglyph.livejournal.com]

We just know Daniel would have to get involved if he saw that happen. What a difference 12 hours can make; I like how you used that for the open and close.

Nice work on a tough prompt! :)

[cirisse.livejournal.com]

thank you <3

[tresa-cho.livejournal.com]

Yay! Adoption! Awesome.

[sid]

All that life-changing stuff in 12 hours! \o/

coffee and beer mingling on their tongues, bitter like the aftertaste of forbidden fruit

Guh.

Daniel's a hero, for sure. Just ask Luka.

[lilyleia78]

who…”

“Like breakfast?” Luka finished off helpfully.

::hee, hee:: I love this kid.

[kuonji14.livejournal.com]

Hi, sorry I didn't get to read this sooner. This is great! And you really did get a lot packed in there. :D

I loved how Daniel walked into that fight. He's not the big bad hero, and neither is he the moaning and complaining guy who's forced to do the right thing. He just calmly gets the job done and wonders almost abstractly if he'll get hurt. And Now he was really starting to regret falling asleep during Jack’s presentation on “How to Disarm an Assailant in 3 Easy Steps”. *BG Usually it's the other way around, eh? ;)

The teen squinted suspiciously at him. “I’m not that grateful” Ha, the kid's got spunk. And also the beer and the sarcasm. I can see him raising a lot of hell in the future. Daniel had better adopt him quick -- before he changes his mind. I was also pleasantly surprised that the kid in the story was neither an alien nor a white-bread all-American Charlie-grown-up sort of guy. Very interesting, and fitting for a person/parent like Daniel.

Jack and Luka was, of course, priceless. May I suggest a sequel? Those Who Like Breakfast... *G

Thanks so much! :)

[kuonji14.livejournal.com]

Btw, I don't know if you meant to do this, but the text of the fic shows up all centered. It makes it a little hard to read. :)

[cirisse.livejournal.com]

whoops :)

[cirisse.livejournal.com]

I was so nervous about this fic, for a few reasons - it was my first ficathon, my first Daniel POV, my first fic with a non-mary sue, likeable, teenage OC!

So I'm really happy you liked it!
*dances around*