New Fic - Maybe You Can Hire - Your Family
Title: Maybe You Can Hire - Your Family
Category: AU, Family, Friendship
Warning: Very slight het but not much
Summary: After a little accident with the Stargate Daniel's only hope of returning home is the A-Team. He just has to convince them he is really the Daniel they know - just from the future.
Author’s Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
This is in the same universe as The Family Team but not exactly a sequel.
Enjoy
*********************************************
Murdock loved visits from his nephew, not that they happened very often now Daniel was travelling. At twenty-one Daniel was nothing like the exuberant child that Murdock remembered, instead he was sober and serious, the death of his parents in that accident had completely changed him. However whenever he was with Murdock Daniel would laugh - a lot, which made Murdock try to make him laugh more and more.
“I have to go,” Daniel sighed checking his watch, “I’ve got to get to the airport or I’ll miss my flight.”
“I could always fly you,” Murdock offered with a grin, spreading his arms out, “We could soar with the birds.”
Daniel chuckled, “As much as I would love to fly with you again, my friends are waiting for me.”
Murdock hugged his nephew, “Dr Daniel Jackson, you’re only twenty-one but you’re already Dr Daniel Jackson. Your folks would be so proud.”
Daniel’s expression clouded for a moment before he smiled, “Thanks. Look after yourself, Uncle Murdock. And tell the guys to be careful.”
Murdock gave a grin, “I will. Maybe we’ll get a job in Egypt soon and we can come visit you.”
“I hope so,” Daniel hugged his uncle once more before reluctantly leaving.
Murdock stuffed his hands into his pockets watching his nephew leave, not noticing the other man standing off to one side watching wistfully.
x
“Maybe we’ll get a job in Egypt soon and we can come visit you.”
The last words his uncle had ever spoken to him floated round Daniel Jackson’s mind as he watched the younger version of himself walk away from the VA not knowing that he would never see his Uncle again.
Until now that was, when the Stargate had tossed his ass back over ten years into the past leaving him stranded unless he could use said device to return home again. Finding the Stargate hadn’t been that hard. It would be getting to it so he could use the small gizmo he’d been playing with that had caused his current predicament to get himself back to his proper time that might cause a few problems.
Explaining the situation so that his uncle not only believed him but could get the others to do so as well wasn’t going to be easy. He knew Murdock didn’t completely live in the same world as the rest of them at the best of times, he also knew how hard Murdock focussed whenever Daniel was around but the story he had to tell him wouldn’t even be accepted by his Uncle. Daniel pushed a hand through his short hair, still not used to it after all these months, knowing he had no choice. His only hope of returning to the future, of returning to his quest to find Sha’re was to get help from the four men he’d once called family.
x
Murdock was singing to himself as he wandered back to his room, he hoped that the guys would have a mission soon - he was getting bored and seeing Daniel leave had made him want to get out for a while.
As he opened the door to his room he found a man standing with his back to the door looking at Murdock’s picture of the team. About to back out Murdock stopped as the man spoke.
“You once told me that when you felt alone in here you just looked at this picture and you remembered you weren’t.”
Murdock grimaced, the man’s voice was so familiar that alarms were going off but he wasn’t sure for what.
“Who are you?” he decided not to bother being crazy just now.
The man turned and Murdock stared at him.
“Hi, Uncle Murdock.”
“Daniel?”
Daniel shrugged.
Murdock shook his head, “No. I just...you were...” he glared at the man who looked like his nephew, “Who are you?”
“I am Daniel,” the other man replied, “And I really need the A-Team.”
*********************************************
Hannibal was worried.
Murdock had called and told them to meet him here. Nothing too unusual except for the fact that he knew Daniel had been in town and was heading back to Egypt tonight. Murdock adored his nephew and loved spending time with him but the strain of trying not to be completely nuts in front of the kid did take its toll on the man.
“Looks like the crazy fool is here,” BA reported as a car drew into the parking lot.
Hannibal nodded, “Face, BA, remember Danny just visited so try and be nice to Murdock.”
BA rolled his eyes but said nothing as they climbed out the van. Murdock got out of the car he’d ‘borrowed’ and said something through the window before turning to the team.
“Hannibal, if he’s brought that invisible dog again,” BA rumbled leaving the threat hanging.
“Captain,” Hannibal stated, he could see the outline of a man sitting in the car, “Who’s your friend?”
Murdock licked his lips, “I’m not crazy.”
Hannibal raised an eyebrow as Face and BA swapped confused glances.
“Not this time,” Murdock clarified annoyed, “Daniel needs our help.”
“Why would we think you’re crazy for that?” Face asked, “You know we’d help the kid out in a minute.”
Murdock hesitated as he glanced back to the car, “Daniel’s not the same as he was when you last saw him. And I know this is going to be hard to believe.”
“Captain, every moment we’re here is time for Decker to find us,” Hannibal reminded him, “Hurry this up.”
“Daniel,” Murdock called to his nephew, “You better come out here.”
Hannibal stared as did the other two at the man got out of the car. He looked like Daniel but there was no way this was the twenty-one year old kid they knew. After a second Hannibal pulled his gun, mirrored by the others.
“Who are you?” the Colonel demanded, frowning as Murdock moved in front of the man, “Captain?”
“It’s Daniel, Colonel,” Murdock told him, “I know how strange this sounds but he knows everything our Daniel does, he’s just from the future.”
x
“Stop looking at me like I’ve got two heads,” Daniel told Face as they sat in the van, driving somewhere more secure.
“It’s just a fantastic tale,” Face told him, “And I know fantastic tales.”
Daniel chuckled, “Face, you would not believe my life the past few years. To be honest, this is kinda boring.”
“You’re expecting us to believe that you’re Daniel Jackson,” Face said, ignoring the annoyed look from Murdock, “Our Danny?”
Daniel let out a slight laugh, “On my ninth birthday the four of you came to see me. Despite the fact Lynch was practically on top of you, you came to see me because it was the first birthday after the death of my parents. You guys have no idea how much you four shaped me, especially after you...” Daniel trailed off knowing he wasn’t allowed to tell them what was going to happen in the future.
“After we what?” Face asked.
Daniel dropped his head, “Can’t talk about what’s going to happen. That’s the first rule of ending up back in time.”
“You’ve done this before?” slight sarcasm filled Face’s voice.
“Once,” Daniel admitted, “My team and I ended up in 1969 a few months ago.”
This effectively ended conversation and silence filled the van as BA continued to drive to the cabin.
*********************************************
Murdock bounced nervously as Daniel sat keeping his eyes focussed calmly on the three men staring suspiciously at him.
“Do you want to hear the full story or are you going to continue asking stupid questions and glaring at me?” Daniel asked wryly after several minutes.
“Okay,” Hannibal replied, “Tell us what happened.”
Daniel nodded, “Sit down; this is a pretty fantastical story.”
“We worked that one out hours ago,” BA told him, taking one of the seats on the couch as Face and Hannibal sat down as well. Murdock was still hovering until BA snapped, “Sit fool.”
Murdock dropped into the seat closest to his nephew and they waited for Daniel to tell them his story.
As Daniel talked the A-Team stared, their mouths opening more and more with each second. When he finished Daniel sat waiting for someone to say something.
“That’s...” Face started not sure where to actually go with the sentence.
“I know this is hard to believe,” Daniel said, “But look at me. I’m Daniel; you’ve known me since I was a kid and I need your help.”
x
“Well?” Hannibal asked his men as they stood at the other side of the room from where Daniel sat.
“It’s Daniel,” Murdock insisted.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Face sighed, “But I think he’s telling us the truth.”
“BA?” Hannibal questioned the final member of the team.
“This could be a trick,” BA noted, as he looked over at the man sitting waiting, “But he is Mel’s double.”
“I noticed that too,” Hannibal mused, “Danny always resembled Claire, but when I look at him if it wasn’t for the eyes I’d say we were looking at your brother, Captain.”
“Does this mean we’re going to help him get to this Stargate?” Murdock asked.
“This means breaking into a government installation,” Face reminded them, “That’s not going to be easy, not to mention how do we get out once he’s gone? Unless this is where we get caught and he hasn’t told us that.”
“Danny wouldn’t do that,” Hannibal reminded his second in command, “The kid faced down Lynch when he was ten, remember?”
“Then we help him,” Face agreed as BA nodded, “And I’m guessing you have a plan?”
Hannibal placed his cigar between his teeth and grinned, “Always.”
x
Daniel sat waiting for the guys to decide what they were going to do, as he watched them he slid his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and found the small laminated picture of Sha’re he had. No one knew he took this with him on missions, but there were times he needed reminding of why he was doing such stupid things and her smiling face reminded him. Slowly he traced the outline of her face with his thumb trying to capture the calmness her presence instilled in him.
“Who is she?”
Daniel’s eyes snapped up to where his uncle stood looking down at the picture. Daniel slipped the picture back into the pocket but didn’t reply.
“Daniel?”
The concern in Murdock’s voice, the worry at Daniel’s lack of reply made Daniel want to run. Telling these people about the woman he’d lost through his own stupidity was something he wasn’t looking forward to.
“She’s my wife,” Daniel finally answered, “She’s missing just now and I’m trying to find her. She’s the reason I need to get home.”
“Can I...” Murdock reached out his hand smiling as Daniel passed the picture to him. Murdock studied his nephew’s wife, “She’s beautiful.”
“She is,” Daniel smiled sadly, “And smart and I need to find her. I need you guys to help me go home so I can save her.”
Murdock handed him the picture back, “We will.”
x
Hannibal would never forget the day of Mel and Claire’s death. They were in New York helping a small shop owner fight back against a loan shark and as soon as they were done they had planned to go see Murdock’s half brother and his family.
They’d arrived at the museum moments after the accident and Hannibal would never forget Murdock’s mad dash through the corridors after they’d been told that something had happened, the rest of the team finally caught up with him and found the pilot sitting in a corner with his nephew huddled against him as Murdock stared at the huge slab of rock that had fallen on the couple.
Over the years he’d made sure that Murdock didn’t lose touch with the kid and the team came to think of Daniel as family, on one memorable occasion they had to look after him for an entire week when he ran away from his foster home.
Looking at the man their kid had become, older than he should be Hannibal knew they had to get the kid back where he belonged.
x
“What’s the plan, Hannibal?” BA asked as they loaded up the van.
“Daniel knows where the Stargate is,” Hannibal said as he chewed on his ever present cigar, “We just have to get him to it. We’re going to walk through the front door.”
Face grimaced, “For some reason I knew you were going to say something like that.”
As Daniel and Murdock appeared from the cottage sirens sounded in the distance.
“Decker,” Hannibal grimaced, “Time to go.”
The team, plus Daniel scrambled into the van as several cars came screaming round the corner. BA expertly manoeuvred the van away from the cottage they were using; inside the vehicle Daniel and Murdock were gripping the seats as the van spun round another corner.
“Sergeant,” Hannibal called, “They’re still coming.”
“I know,” BA snapped before calling out, “Hang on.”
The van swung 180 degrees and sped through the space between the cars who as they tried to turn to catch them smashed into one another. Hannibal chuckled as he saw Decker glaring at the rapidly disappearing van.
“Nice, BA,” Hannibal laughed as he lit a cigar, “Now, let’s go find this Stargate.”
*********************************************
Daniel sat in the van waiting as the guys weaved their magic so they could get him home. It was odd but there was something so comforting about this situation. Daniel had been ten and was placed with a foster family where their own son didn’t like having to share with other kids so made life hell. The guys had shown up to check in, in front of his foster mother Daniel had told them he was fine but knowing they’d stop to get some milk for BA before leaving - knowing this because he’d made sure there was none left, Daniel snuck into the van and hid in the back. It was several hours later he was found but as the guys were in the middle of a job it was a full week before they could return him to his foster home.
It had been a fantastic week, one in which Daniel had found out exactly what his ‘uncles’ did. “Here.”
Daniel looked up a little shocked to find he wasn’t alone any more; BA was standing at his side offering him a sandwich.
“Chicken and lettuce,” BA told him, “You still like it?”
Daniel nodded, “Thanks.”
BA clapped his shoulder making Daniel smile. He vaguely remembered being afraid of BA at first but that lasted about ten seconds. The moment BA grinned the scariness disappeared and Daniel remembered spending hours helping him fix the van. In some ways he felt he’d managed to work with Teal’c because he reminded him of BA.
“Murdock says you’ve got a girl,” BA said probingly.
Daniel pulled out Sha’re’s picture and wordlessly handed it to BA who studied the woman for a few moments before handing it back.
“We’ll get you back to help her,” BA promised.
x
“Don’t get me wrong,” Daniel said after Hannibal explained his plan, “I do trust you but…really?”
Face chuckled, “We’ve done it before, kid.”
“Didn’t you get caught the last time?” Daniel demanded, “From what I remember.”
“Daniel,” Hannibal said, “Do we look caught? Come on, don’t worry so much.”
Daniel rolled his eyes before letting out a long sigh, “Fine. Whatever you say, Colonel.”
At the look he was given from the four men Daniel chuckled, “I work with the Air Force, remember?”
“Then follow orders and let’s get you home,” Hannibal clapped his shoulder, “Okay, let’s get to the plane.”
“A plane?” BA’s voice cut through the air.
Daniel listened with a smile as BA started ranting about how he was not under any circumstances getting on a plane, especially one piloted by Murdock. As BA shouted at Hannibal, Face slipped Daniel the sedative.
“Murdock is a good pilot,” Daniel reminded BA as Face quickly swabbed the top of the large man’s arm.
BA snorted, “He’s a fool. And I ain’t gettin’ on a plane with…”
They all watched as BA stopped talking and fell forward against the steering wheel moments after Daniel injected the contents of the syringe into the large man.
Hannibal shook his head, “We should probably be worried about how often we do that,” he shrugged, “Oh well. Let’s get him on the plane and get to New York.”
x
Murdock finished his pre-flight checks and glanced at his side where Daniel was sitting staring out at the sky. Starting the engines he grinned before letting out a whoop as the plane lifted off the ground. As they levelled off he turned to his nephew who was watching the clouds outside.
“Wanna fly for a bit?” Murdock asked smiling at the grin he received back.
As Daniel took control of the plane Murdock slid out of the cockpit to find his teammates.
“Murdock,” Face said as he strolled over to where they were sitting, with BA tied across from them, “Since you’re our pilot, whose flying?”
“Daniel,” Murdock replied.
The other two nodded as Murdock sat down, he peered at BA and gently poked his arm watching fascinated as the large man swayed slightly and moaned. Hannibal caught his hand.
“Let’s not wake up BA while we’re on the plane.”
Murdock shrugged and leaned back thinking about the man his nephew would become and wishing he could help him get his smile back.
Part Two