Shoelaces Revisited
(#18 in Shoelaces LD universe)
by Jennamajig

SUMMARY: Daniel and Jack try to deal with Daniel being little Daniel. Inspired by the DJsSG-1Lverse yahoo list.

SEASON/SPOILERS: None.

DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-I, the Goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp, Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. Partnership. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

He was going to do it even if it killed him, which, at this point, seemed a likely possibility. He was determined and wasn't going to ask anyone for help.

No way. Not happening.

All him. His task. His goal. His mountain to tackle.

His shoe to tie.

It was that simple.

Daniel stared at his foot, at the long laces flopping over the edges of the sneaker, dragging on the floor of the SGC, already slightly gray from the dirt and dust. He sighed.

--

Last week, he'd discovered that he'd outgrown his Velcro strap sneakers and he and Jack had been forced to head back to the shoe store in the mall to get a new pair. Daniel was still unable to tie laces, despite his fumbled attempts to master the skill. When he thought Jack wasn't looking, he'd sneak into the living room and kidnap one of Jack's sneakers from it's place next to the front door and take into his bedroom. There he'd try to tie it. One loop, two loops, anything. But his little fingers didn't want to work together it seemed. His brain was frustrated, telling him it knew how to accomplish such a task, and not understanding why his hands wouldn't listen.

When they entered the shoe store, Daniel once again glared at the rows of shoes with their bright white laces. They mocked him and his current Velcro fasteners.

His thumb went into his mouth; a move he'd been trying so hard to stop. Jack clutched his hand.

"No big deal, kiddo. In and out," Jack told him quietly as the saleswoman approached them. It was a different woman this time; she was tall and average looking, and appeared to be her thirties.

"Can I help you?" she asked and Daniel was just thankful she didn't decide to comment on how cute she thought he was.

"Yeah. He needs sneakers," Jack imformed her.

"Just sneakers?" She started walking towards the display of children's shoes.

"For now."

She nodded. "Do you want to stick with the Velcro?" She gestured down to Daniel's feet and suddenly he wanted to run out of the store and hide.

Jack simply patted Daniel's head. "That would be best, I think," he said, but Daniel started shaking her head.

"No Velcro," he insisted. "I want laces."

"Daniel," Jack started, but Daniel wasn't giving in. He'd never be able to teach his fingers to tie his shoes if he never had a pair to begin with.

"No Velcro, Jack. Please." His eyes pleaded with Jack and he watched the man's brown eyes soften.

"Okay," he said softly. "We'll need laces, then."

Twenty minutes later, they walked out the store with Daniel carrying a bag that held one pair of brand new laced Nike sneakers.

He was happy to have them. Ready to master the task he'd taken for granted not so very long ago. He was ready to resist throwing the shoe across the room. Ready to stifle that part of him that got fed up so easily when he couldn't do things his brain told him he fundamentally knew how to do.

--

Jack had tied his shoes this morning and was kind enough not to say a word about it as he did it, instead chatting about their trip to the zoo for the upcoming weekend.

But first, he needed to be able to tie his shoes. It was a personal goal of his. He wanted to be able to bend down himself and reach for the laces if they came undone outside the lion exhibit. He didn't want the horde of zoo patrons to watch while Jack got down to tie them because the embarrassment would be too much to bear. He was six. If the world wasn't playing a cruel joke and this was a normal childhood, he'd be in first grade and first graders should definitely be able to tie their stupid shoelaces.

He walked down the corridor of the SGC and stopped in front of Jack's closed door. He kicked his toe of his shoe out and stared back down at the laces.

He sighed again and leaned against the wall. Here he was, in the middle of the hallway outside of Jack's office, and he'd have to wait for Jack to get out of his meeting just so the man could tie his freaking shoes. Because he sure as hell wasn't about to ask the SF down the hall to do it. It wasn't that the SF wouldn't, because he galdly would with a smile and a pat to Daniel's head. Just the mere thought of that action made him feel like he was going to physically combust, so he couldn't imagine his reaction if the action scenario occurred.

No, he'd wait.

He'd just stare at his shoes and listen for Jack's footsteps to approach and then he'd run into Jack's office where the "tying" would be done in private.

He closed his eyes and waited. And waited some more.

He heard footsteps. They were somewhat heavy and he opened his eyes, crossing his feet so the untied shoe was partially hidden. He didn't want anyone but Jack to see this lack of ability.

"Daniel O'Neill, why are you standing outside Colonel O'Neill's office? I had believed you were working with Major Carter."

Teal'c. Daniel let out a small sigh of relief. "Um, I was. But
now I'm not. I'm waiting for Jack."

"Why?" Teal'c asked, his face free of expression as usual.

"Because," Daniel answered lamely, suddenly desperate.

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "I see. Could you not simply wait for Colonel O'Neill in Major Carter's office?"

"Um, no. I want to wait here."

Teal'c said nothing, but Daniel watched his eyes scan his and stop directly on his crossed feet.

"You shoe appears to be untied," he stated.

"Yeah," Daniel agreed and slowly uncrossed his foot, revealing the dirty, undone shoelace.

"Do you require assistance?"

Daniel blushed a bit at the question. Teal'c was his friend, but he felt very overshadowed by the large figure now that he was a lot smaller. Teal'c would do anything for him, anything to protect him, he had no doubts about that, but he still didn't like admitting weakness in front of the warrior. Teal'c, despite his unfeeling appearance, was a very good listener and did not hesitate to offer help if he felt he could, but Daniel was reluctant to take help from anyone, even when he obviously needed it. He was hopelessly stubborn.

"Um," he stammered. He wanted to be able to tie it himself, but that wasn't happening. But he also didn't want Teal'c bending down in the middle of a well traveled hallway of the SGC to tie it, either.

"Perhaps you would like to accompany me to my room," Teal'c suggested.

Daniel brightened. How did he know?

"That would be great," he said and the two headed towards the elevator, Daniel careful not to trip on his shoelaces.

When they reached Teal'c quarters, Daniel sat on his bed and Teal'c pulled a chair from his table towards him. Daniel stared at the usual array of candles. He always found it ironic that for someone with so much invested in war, his room was one of the most peaceful areas on base. Kelnoreem needed to be completed in a quiet, calming environment he supposed.

Teal'c reached for Daniel's foot, but stopped short.

"Perhaps, you would like to try again."

Daniel shook his head. "I can't. I've been trying. My hands are too little, I'm too little."

"You are correct that you are physically smaller, but that does not mean you cannot accomplish such a task. On Chulak, some of the more adept warriors are smaller in size."

"I'm not a warrior, Teal'c. I'm, well...I'm six," he sighed, as he studied his dangling lace.

"That is an excuse," Teal's told him. "For the past several years, I have known you to be a great warrior who does not let anything stop him. Especially shoelaces."

Daniel blinked. "Teal'c..."

Teal'c merely raised an eyebrow again. "Are you not still that great warrior, Daniel? You have taught me that warriors can come in many different sizes and shapes."

The use of his first name did not go unnoticed. "Yes, I guess I did," Daniel said softly. He stared at Teal'c another moment before picking up the laces and clumsily pulling them together in two loops. He slid one under the other and waited for his finger to slip and the loops to collapse back into long, flopping, untied strings.

But they didn't. The loops stayed and Daniel's fingers managed to get one loop around and...

It was tied!

Well, to be honest, it was very poorly tied. The two loops were uneven and the bow wasn't nearly as tight as it needed to be. Daniel would probably take one step before the whole thing came undone again, but that didn't really matter.

He'd done it.

"It stayed," he whispered.

"Indeed," Teal'c agreed with a bow of his head.

He smiled. He did it. All by himself.

He couldn't wait to show Jack.

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