CHAPTER NINETEEN

General Hammond was delighted by Daniel's announcement.  When, a few minutes later, Jack called to ask if the rest of SG-1 could have the remainder of Daniel's leave off as well so that they could all do something fun together, Hammond immediately said yes.  He could hear the joy in the colonel's voice and knew that joy was being mirrored in Sam and Teal'c.

An hour and a half later, SG-1 and Danny were all piled into Jack's jeep.  The colonel's teammates were surprised when he drove them to the Colorado Springs airport.

"Where are we going?" Daniel asked, wondering what Jack had up is sleeve.

"Oh, not far," was the gray-haired man's reply.  He drove them to where the hangers for the private planes were, coming to a stop beside two planes that were sitting outside one of the hangers.

"Oh, sir, they're beautiful," Sam exclaimed in delight.

Everyone got out to gaze at the Stearman biplanes.  One was canary yellow, the other fire engine red.

A smiling man came forward.  Jack stepped up to him, and the men exchanged a hearty handshake.

"Jimmy!  How's it going?" Jack asked, smiling.

"Oh, can't complain.  Wouldn't do any good if I did anyway."

"Jimmy, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine.  Daniel, Sam, Murray and Danny."  The teammates had already told Danny that, in public, Teal'c went by the name of Murray, so the boy did not question it.

"Nice to meet you.  I know that any friends of Jack's must be good people."

Jack stepped toward the biplanes.  "So, are these beauties all ready to go?"

"Yep, all gassed up and checked out."  Jimmy looked up into the cloudless sky.  "It's a glorious day for flying."

Danny's eyes got huge.  "We're going flying?"

Jack grinned down at him.  "We sure are."

"Oh, wow!"

The phone rang inside the hanger, and Jimmy excused himself to answer it.

"So, what do you think, Carter?  Would you like to get your hands on the controls of one of these babies?"

Sam smiled brightly.  "Would I ever, sir.  I have always wanted to fly a biplane."

"Well, as a man who's flown all kinds of aircraft – and spacecraft – there is nothing more fun than a biplane.  You're gonna love it.  Maybe Teal'c would like to try his hand at it, too."

The Jaffa took a look inside one of the cockpits.  "The controls appear quite primitive."

"That's the beauty of it," Jack responded.  "This is pure stick-and-rudder flying.  No computers to get in the way of the experience.  You are totally in control.  It's like you and the plane are one."

"It would be interesting to fly such a craft."

"Great.  Okay, how about if Carter and I do the flying on the first round, then Teal'c and Daniel can go the second round?"

"W-w-wait a minute," Daniel stammered.  "You want me to fly one?"

"Sure, why not?  You've flown spaceships.  Why not one of these?"

"That's quite a bit different, Jack.  As you just pointed out, Tel'tak and Al'Kesh have advanced computer systems that do the flying.  All I tell them is which way to go.  This," he waved his hand at the planes, "is not even remotely like that."

"Oh, come on, Daniel.  Where's your spirit of adventure?"

"Uhhhh . . . here on the ground."

"Hey, you don't have to worry, Daniel.  There are controls in both the front and the back.  If you get into trouble, I can bail you out."

Frowning, Daniel looked into one of the cockpits, starring at the stick and pedals.  Dare he do this?  He had to admit that a tiny part of him was curious about what it would be like to fly an airplane.  And, if he screwed up, Jack would be there to take over.

"Okay, I guess I can try."

"Can I try, too?" Danny asked.

"You bet, kiddo," Jack replied.

Jimmy came back out.  "All ready to go up?"

"We sure are."

"Okay, as you already know, any aerobatics need to be done away from the airport."

"Yep.  We'll take them out where they won't conflict with any other air traffic."

"All right, then.  Have fun, you guys.  Oh, and be back by one o'clock, okay?  I've got a customer coming out for a lesson."

"Will do."  Jack turned to Danny.  "So, which plane do you want to ride in?"

"The red one!" the boy immediately answered.

While Sam and Teal'c got into the yellow plane, Jack helped Daniel and Danny fit into the "passenger" seat of the red one, the boy sitting between Daniel's legs.  The plane had been outfitted with a special seatbelt that would safely strap both of them in.  Jimmy had taken up a parent and child many times in the past.

"Okay, the only thing you have to do, Daniel, is keep your knees out of the way of the stick," Jack instructed.  "Oh, and don't get sick.  It's not fun throwing up when you're upside down."

Danny's eyes lit up.  "We're going to fly upside down?"

"You bet we are.  We'll be doing all kinds of fun things."

"That's what I was afraid of," Daniel muttered, hoping that he'd manage to keep his breakfast.

Once Daniel and Danny had their helmets on, Jack got into his cockpit and donned his helmet.  All of the helmets had headsets in them, which would not only allow Jack to talk with the tower and with Sam in the other plane, but to Daniel and Danny as well.

Jack called over to Sam and told her to switch to a certain frequency.

"Radio check.  Can you hear me, Carter?"

"Yes, sir, loud and clear."

"Okay, I'll take the lead.  We're going to head southeast, down into the lower elevations.  Once we're there, the skies the limit.  I'm going to take Daniel and Danny on the ride of their lives, and I expect you to do the same for Teal'c.  I have complete confidence that you can learn the controls in no time.  Just remember that there is no computer.  That stick is linked directly to the ailerons and elevator, and the pedals give you direct control of the rudder."

"Yes, sir," Sam replied, grinning.  "This is going to be fun."

"Okay, let's get these babies started."

The roar of engines filled the air a moment later.  With Jack in the lead, the two biplanes left the hanger area and headed for one of the runways.  Several minutes later, they were airborne.  Danny was grinning like crazy as he watched the ground fall away beneath them.  It wasn't the first time he'd been on a plane, not by a long shot, but it was the first time he'd been in an open cockpit.  Having the wind in his face and no windows between him and the experience of flying was incredible.  As they soared higher into the sky, the houses, roads and people below growing tiny with distance, the boy felt a sensation inside him that he couldn't describe, something he'd never felt before.  Whatever it was, it felt wonderful.

Jack's voice sounded in his ear.  "Do you feel it, Danny?"

"Yeah.  What is it, Uncle Jack?"

"That's the feeling of freedom, Danny, the pure, sweet feeling that only flying can give you."

"I like it, Uncle Jack.  It feels really good."

"Yes, it does.  How are you doing, Daniel?"

The archeologist gazed all about.  Throughout his life, he had been on dozens of flights, and they had always been just a way to get from point A to point B, but this was different, though he didn't know why.  Maybe it was the open cockpit.  Maybe it was the child he held in his arms.  Perhaps it was just because he was already feeling happy before the flight began.  Whatever it was, he was enjoying this way more than any other flying experience.

"I'm doing good, Jack," he replied.

It was not long before they reached the location Jack had picked.  He got on the radio to Sam.

"How's it going over there, Carter?"

"Fantastic, sir."

"You all set to do some fancy stuff?"

"You bet."

"Okay, you two," Jack then said to his passengers.  "Hang on!"

With those words, Jack abruptly aimed the plane's nose upward in a steep climb.  Danny burst into joyful laughter, which got even louder as Jack spun the plane a few times like a corkscrew.  Then they were heading straight up.  Moments later, the engine stalled, and the plane came to a stop.  It hung motionless for a brief moment, then fell sideways, the nose soon pointing straight down at the ground.  Within moments, the engine caught, and they were zooming down like an arrow.  About a thousand feet above the ground, Jack pulled up on the stick and leveled the plane.  Then, suddenly, they were flying upside down.  Danny screamed in absolute delight.

"More!  More!  More!" he cried.

"You got it, buddy," Jack answered, smiling.  He put the plane in a barrel roll, then did an inside loop, listening to the sound of Danny's laughter and squeals of joy all the way.

Jack leveled the plane out.  "You still with us back there, Daniel?"

"Uh . . . yeah, I'm still here."

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine, Jack.  This can't compare to what that first trip through the gate did to my stomach."

"Good.  Are you up for some more?"

"I guess so.  Just warn me ahead of time if you plan on stalling the plane again."

Oops.  Yes, maybe an advance warning for the Hammerhead Stall would have been a good idea.  Jack grinned.  "Will do."

Jack put the plane through a few more maneuvers, then decided it was time to go back and switch pilots.  He got on the radio to Sam.

"Hey, Carter.  You having fun?"

"Woohoo!" was the reply.  "This is so great!  I had no idea it was this much fun.  And Teal'c's having fun, too.  You should have heard him laughing."

Jack chuckled.  It was great to know that the big guy was enjoying himself.

"We're going to head back to the airport now and give Daniel a turn at flying this thing."

"I'll be right on your six, sir."

"Carter?"

"Jack.  On your six, Jack," Sam corrected herself.

"That's better."

The two pilots took the planes back to the airport.  They pulled them over to where some other private planes sat and shut down their engines.  Everyone got out.  Jack smiled at the look he saw on Daniel's face, sort of a dazed yet happy look.  Yep, Daniel had enjoyed the flight.  Then Jack got a look at Teal'c and had to stop himself from grinning.  The Jaffa's eyes were alight with wonder.

"So, did you like it, Teal'c?"

"It was most enjoyable, O'Neill."

"You ready to take the controls?"

The Jaffa smiled.  "Indeed."

"Just remember that it's not a death glider."

"I will strive to do so, O'Neill, though it would be interesting to see what speeds this craft can attain in a steep dive."

"Ooh, Carter, something tells me you'd better buckle up extra tight."  Jack turned back to his passengers.  "How about you, Daniel?  Ready for your first flying lesson?"

"I'm, uh, not so sure about this.  You don't expect me to do any of that stuff you did, do you?"

"Nah.  Straight and level's just fine."

Daniel looked at the plane.  "Well . . . all right."

"Good.  Come on."

Once Daniel was in the pilot's cockpit and strapped in, Jack explained the controls and the basics of flying, making sure Daniel understood.

"Do you want to try the take-off or shall I get us in the air?" Jack asked.

"You'd better do it."

"All right.  Come on, Danny.  You're sitting with me this time."

A while later they were airborne again.  Jack waited until they were a safe distance from the airport before handing the controls over to Daniel.  The archeologist was terrified at first, afraid that he'd crash the plane and kill them all, but, after a few minutes, he began to relax.  Jack's voice was in his ear, instructing him through gentle turns.  This was definitely not like flying a Tel'tak through the depths of space, when the sensation of flying was unnoticeable.  Here, he could feel the plane respond to the movements of his hand on the stick and feet on the pedals.

Before Daniel realized it, he was enjoying himself, smiling as he banked to the left and then to the right.  At Jack's command, he took the plane higher.  He looked over to the right and saw a yellow object in the distance that he knew was Teal'c and Sam.

Finally, they reached the place where they'd gone to on the previous flight.

"You up for something a bit fancier?" Jack asked Daniel.

"Um, I don't know.  How fancy?"

"Wanna try for upside down?  I'll keep my hand on the stick in case you need help."

Daniel thought about it for a moment.  "Okay, I can try."

Jack very carefully explained how to flip the plane upside down, which was actually quite simple in a biplane.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Daniel followed Jack's instructions.  To his amazement, they were suddenly flying upside down.  His first instinct was to get the plane upright, but he curbed it.

"Perfect, Daniel.  You did great," Jack praised.

They flew inverted for a few moments, then Jack told Daniel how to turn the plane upright.

"Okay, how about a roll next?  You do pretty much the same thing as we just did except that you don't stop the plane from turning until it's gone all the way around."

"Okay."

Daniel succeeded in rolling the plane, although he ended up waiting too long to stop the roll and made part of a second one.  He didn't overreact, though, and straightened the plane.

"Daniel, I think you're a natural," Jack said.  "Who'd have guessed?  Okay, the next one is easy.  We're going to do an inside loop."

Daniel listened to Jack's instructions, then performed the maneuver.  Up they soared into a big loop, then back down, Jack telling Daniel when to start leveling them out.

"How does it feel, Daniel?" Jack asked.

"It feels . . . it feels good, Jack.  I think I understand why you love flying."

The colonel smiled.  He looked down at the boy sitting in front of him.  "Would you like to try, Danny?"

"Yeah!  But I can't reach the pedals."

"That's okay.  I'll do the pedals.  You can just do the stick."

Daniel surrendered control of the plane to Jack, who told Danny where to put his hands.  As soon as the boy had a good grip on the stick, Jack released it, keeping his hand hovering close in case he had to grab it.

His eyes wide and shining, Danny flew the plane.  When Jack told him to pull the stick to the left, he did, then, on Jack's command, he pulled it to the right.  Then he pulled it toward him to go up and pushed it away from him to go down.  Every once in a while, Jack's hand came out and adjusted the stick a little bit, but the boy was doing great, and the look on his face spoke volumes, most likely the same look that had been on Jack's face the first time he was given control of a plane.

Finally, it was time to go back.  Taking control of the plane, Jack contacted Sam and Teal'c, just in time to hear a deep base laugh.

"Having fun there, big guy?" Jack asked with a grin.

"Indeed, O'Neill.  This craft is quite enjoyable to fly."

"Glad to hear it.  I'm afraid it's time to head back, though."

They aimed their planes back toward the airport.

"You want to take her again, Daniel?" Jack asked.

"Yeah.  Thanks."

Daniel flew the plane until they were a few miles from the airport, then Jack took over.  Once they were on the ground, the colonel taxied the plane back to Jimmy's hanger, Teal'c and Sam right behind them.

Jimmy came walking up to them.  "So, did you have fun?"

"Yeah!" Danny replied, grinning from ear to ear.  "Uncle Jack let me fly."

Jimmy chuckled.  "He did.  Liked it, did you?"

The boy's head bobbed up and down energetically.

"How much do I owe you for the gas, Jimmy?" Jack asked.

The man waved his hand.  "Nothin', Jack.  I owed you one.  We'll call it even."

The colonel shook the man's hand, as did Daniel and Teal'c.  SG-1 and Danny then got in the jeep and headed into town.  Danny went on and on about the experience, relating what Jack had done when he was flying the plane, then what he and Daniel had done.

"How did you like it, Daniel?" Sam asked.

"I'm surprised to say that I had fun."

"Including when you were flying the plane yourself?"

"Yes, then, too."

Sam smiled.  She really hadn't known if Daniel would like flying a plane, and it was great to hear that he did.

They were all starving and went to lunch.  Afterwards, they went to a video arcade.  Daniel had no interest in the video games, but played a game of air hockey with each of his teammates.  Jack made a comment about Daniel being willing to play air hockey but not liking the real game.  Daniel retorted that, in air hockey, only the puck was being slammed into the walls of the 'rink'.

Later, Daniel sat and watched as Jack, Sam and Teal'c drove go-carts around a track, Danny sitting with Jack.  A smile came to the archeologist's lips.  Just yesterday, he was full of sorrow, thinking about what he would be losing when he left SG-1.  Now, he couldn't be happier.

After the go-cart ride was over, they all got some ice cream.

"This has really been fun," Sam remarked.  "I haven't had this much fun in more years than I can remember."

"Yes, it has been a great day, hasn't it," Jack agreed.

"What are we going to do next?" Danny asked.

"Oh, I think us old fogeys need a break.  How about if we go to the park, and you can play on the swings for a while?"

"Okay."

After finishing their ice cream, they did just that.  SG-1 sat at a picnic table as Danny played.

"Well, I shouldn't have any trouble sleeping tonight," Daniel commented.  He looked at his teammates.  "Thanks, guys.  This was great."

"Yes, it was," Jack said, "but you deciding to stay on the team is even better, Daniel."

"Yes, it is," Sam said fervently.

"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.

Daniel was about to respond when he suddenly gasped.  An instant later, they heard a cry of pain.  Daniel was off the bench and running across the grass before the others had time to move.  The archeologist rushed to Danny.  The boy was sitting on the ground, holding his knee.  Daniel went down beside him.

"Danny?"

"I fell and hurt my knee," the boy said.  He wasn't crying, but there was pain in his eyes.

"Let me see," Daniel instructed gently.  He pulled Danny's hands away from the injury.  There was a bit of blood on the boy's pants and a hole in the material.  Daniel rolled up the pant leg to reveal a minor cut.

"I've got some band-aids in the car," Jack said and went to get them.  Sam knelt beside Danny and dabbed at the wound with a tissue.

"You okay, Danny?" Daniel asked.

The boy nodded.  "I broke my arm once when I fell off a wall.  That hurt a lot worse."

"Yes, it did," Daniel agreed, remembering the incident.

Jack returned with the band-aid, and Daniel put it on.

"We should take him home and clean it to make sure there's no dirt in the wound," the archeologist said.

"But I don't want to go home," Danny objected.  "I want us to keep having fun."

"We can do that, squirt," Jack told him.  "We just need to get you cleaned up first and change your pants."

At home, Daniel cleaned the wound and put a fresh band-aid on it.  Danny then went into the bedroom to change his pants.

"Daniel?  You sensed it, didn't you," Sam said.

"Yeah.  It was the weirdest thing.  There was this flash in my mind, a burst of thoughts and mental images.  I think I saw grass.  Even though I didn't actually feel the pain, I . . . sort of heard it in his thoughts."  Daniel shook his head.  "It's hard to explain.  I just knew that he'd been hurt."

"Well, this definitely confirms that this thing works both ways," Jack remarked.  "I say that we keep this to ourselves.  We've already had to deal with the Pentagon.  I don't want those guys at Area 51 showing too much interest and deciding that they want to do a bunch of tests.  I'm surprised that hasn't already happened."

Daniel looked toward the bedroom.  "What's taking Danny so long?"

He and the others went to see what was keeping the boy.  They stopped and smiled at the sight before them.  Danny was asleep on the bed, apparently having conked out in the midst of putting the clean pants on.

"Well, it looks like we won't be going anyplace else for a while," Jack commented, "which, truth be told, is fine with me.  I'm ready for a beer and a couch."

Daniel got Danny laying the right way on the bed, then the teammates gathered with beers – or juice, in the case of Teal'c – in the living room.

"When did you say escrow closes on your new place?" Jack asked.

"The ninth."

"Right after your birthday?  Sweet."

"Yes, speaking of my birthday, I don't know what you had planned, Jack, but singing waiters or telegram deliverers had better not be part of it."

"Damn.  How about skimpily clad girls jumping out of cakes?"

"No," Daniel instantly replied, just the thought of that embarrassing him.  "Besides, that's something you do at a stag party, not a birthday party.  I really don't want anything special, just a quiet day with friends."

"This birthday means a lot to us, Daniel," Jack said quietly.

Daniel met his eyes.  "I know, Jack, and it means a lot to me that you guys feel that way."  His gaze went to the bedroom.  "This birthday is going to be kind of special for me, too."

By the time Danny woke up, most places were closed, so they played Monopoly instead.  They had pizza delivered for dinner.  The evening was finished off with a showing of the original Star Wars movie, Teal'c's favorite film.  Danny loved it, cheering when the Death Star blew up.

"Have you ever done anything like that?" he asked.

The teammates all looked at each other.

"As a matter of fact, we have," Jack replied, "though it wasn't a Death Star that we blew up."

"Was it a spaceship?"

"Well, part of one, an important part."

"Cool."

"Oh, yes.  Very cool."

A while later, his teammates all having gone home, Daniel tucked Danny into bed.

"Today was lots of fun," the boy said.

"Yes, it was."

"I'm glad you're not leaving SG-1."

Daniel smiled down at him.  "I am, too, Danny."

The flight in the biplanes is based, in part, on my own experience. Though I'm not a pilot, I've had the opportunity to fly in all kinds of different aircraft, including ultralights, a glider, a helicopter and an experimental plane. But, out of all of them, my flight in a biplane was the best of all. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, one that I will never forget. That feeling of freedom Danny experienced is one that I have felt myself, and it is amazing.

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