| Warning: This story contains corporal punishment. |
| "Mom, Dad. What are we celebrating today?" Charlie asked when he saw his parents making preparations for a party. |
| "Well Charlie, today it is four years ago we almost lost you, and thanks to your brother Daniel, you're still with us. That's what we're celebrating." His father replied. |
| "Oh, that's when Daniel gave me a spanking, that was embarrassing." Charlie recalled "My own brother giving me a spanking. That was so unfair." |
| "You deserved it Charlie for playing with a loaded gun." Jack said "Don't you remember that I gave you one too? The next day if you remember - and I wasn't as nice as Daniel because he let you keep your pants up." |
| "Oh, believe me Dad I remember that too. I wasn't able to sit for a few days," Charlie winced as he remembered "…but you're my father - not my brother - so it's not the same." |
| "True, but you learned your lesson, didn't you Charlie?" asked Jack. |
| "Yes, Dad." Charlie stated "Never play with a loaded gun." |
| "Good, because we almost lost both you and your brother because of that." |
| ~Flashback~ |
| Jack was sitting outside with Sara in his arms, when their eldest son Daniel came for a visit. |
| "Hi Mom and Dad. Where's Charlie?" Asked Daniel, sitting down opposite the pair of them "I've got a surprise for him." |
| "He's in the house somewhere. Daniel, you're spoiling that kid." Jack said jokingly |
| "Well, Dad." Daniel replied "He's the only brother I've got, so I think I'm entitled to do it." |
| "You're right sweetie. I'm glad that you and your brother get along so well," Sara said, joining in the conversation. |
| "Daniel, don't you think it's time to get a haircut?" asked Jack. |
| "How many times do I have to tell you Dad." Daniel pouted. "I like my hair the way it is and I don't want a haircut," |
| "If only you were under 18, I would make sure you got a haircut." Jack remarked. |
| "Well, lucky for me Dad, that I'm way over 18." Daniel responded. |
| "What about joining the air force?" Jack suggested "Then I could order you to get one." |
| "Jack, stop teasing the kid." Admonished Sara "Don't mind your Dad sweetie, you just go find your brother." |
| "Okay, Mom." Daniel said as he straightened himself and stood up. |
| They both watched their oldest son go into the house. |
| Jack looked at Sara and said "I'm little worried about Daniel…" |
| "Why are you worried about him, Jack?" Sara asked him. |
| "About his future, because of his theory about aliens. I'm afraid of him making career suicide. Every time I tell strangers my last name, they ask 'Are you related to a Doctor Daniel O'Neill?' When I tell them that he's my son, they look at me like they're feeling sorry for me that I have a crazy son." Jack paused and gently captured Sara's delicate hands with his own rugged ones. "Some of them have even tell me that they think that I should force him to see a shrink. Don't get me wrong I love my first born and I'm proud of him - for standing up for what he believes in - but still I'm afraid that he'll pay for it big time." |
| "I know what you mean." replied Sara. "The same things happen to me too, when I tell strangers my last name. But I'm sure he'll be okay. He is strong…" |
| "I hope you're right, but aliens?" Jack questioned. |
| "I have a hard time to believe in that too, but maybe there is more than just us in this universe." Sara affectionately rubbed the back of Jack's hand with her thumb before continuing. "Who knows Jack. Daniel is very intelligent, maybe he is onto something." |
| "I wonder where he got the intelligence…" Jack started to ask. |
| Sara chuckled slightly and said "Well, Jack. I think he got it from you…" |
| "Who, me?" Jack said modestly. "No, I don't even understand one third of what our scientist son tells me." |
| "Jack, you can't fool me." Sara said, gently punching him on the arm. "I know that you just act like you don't get a word that they're saying." |
| Jack smiled. "Busted huh?" |
| "Yes..." Sara was interrupted when a gun shot suddenly rang out. |
| They both immediately looked in the direction that the sound had come from. Realising with horror that it had come from one of the upstairs rooms of their own house. "Charlie! Daniel!" They both said as they jumped up in unison and ran into the house. |
| Jack & Sara could barely believe their eyes as they entered their bedroom. Daniel was sitting on the bed, with Charlie over his knees and giving his brother a spanking. Charlie was crying and yelling that he was sorry over and over again. |
| "Daniel? Charlie? What's going on?" Jack asked. "We heard a gun shot, are either of you injured?" |
| Daniel released Charlie and the younger boy ran over to his father. Daniel himself didn't get up, he just sat there, on the bed, in shock. |
| "I'm sorry Dad I didn't mean, too. I just looked at the gun and I didn't know it was loaded," Charlie said between sobs. |
| Jack lifted Charlie up and cuddled him close. Sara stood in front of Jack and encompassed both him and Charlie in a hug of her own. |
| "Charlie, are you hurt?" Jack asked gently, rubbing his cheek in Charlie's soft hair. |
| "No, Dad." Came Charlie's muffled reply, his face being buried in the side of Jack's neck "I'm okay." |
| "Are you sure sweetie?" Sara asked him. |
| "Yes, Mom." Came another muffled answer. |
| Jack put Charlie down and both he and Sara checked the young boy over for injuries. Both adults were relieved when they found no sign of any." |
| "I'm really, really sorry for playing with your gun, Dad." Charlie cried "I promise not to do it again." |
| "I know." Jack said gently "Go to your room and we'll talk later. I have to talk to your brother first." |
| "I hope you'll punish him for spanking me. That was mean." Charlie looked pleadingly at Jack, hoping for agreement. |
| "No, Charlie I won't. You deserved the spanking. Now go to your room," Jack said firmly. |
| "But…but…" Charlie stammered. |
| Sara spoke up at this point "Charlie, do as your Dad told you. Okay sweetheart." |
| Charlie nodded reluctantly and went to his room. |
| As Charlie left the bedroom, Daniel stood up and slowly walked towards his parents. |
| "I'm sorry. Mom. Dad. I saw Charlie playing with the gun and then when it went off I just snapped. Can you forgive me for giving Charlie a spanking," Daniel said with tears in his eyes. |
| Both his parents wrapped their arms around Daniel. |
| "You don't have anything to ask forgiveness for, Danny." Jack said. "If it weren't for you, Charlie could have died," |
| "Your Dad is right, Daniel. Thank you…thank you for saving Charlie. I'm afraid to imagine what could have happened to him if you hadn't come here for a visit today." |
| They just stood there in silence a few minutes. |
| Suddenly Daniel swayed, reached out his hand and grabbed a fistful of Jack's shirt. "Mom. Dad. I don't feel so good." |
| "You're in shock Daniel…" Jack didn't finish his sentence as Daniel sank into unconsciousness. Jack caught his son as he slumped towards him and gently lowered him down to the floor. When he looked Daniel over, he was dismayed to find blood on his shirt. |
| "Sara! Call an ambulance!" |
| A/N: Don't worry this is not a deathfic despite what you may be thinking |
