M&M

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=120 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="01078642egerdp.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=428 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00f64643.jpg"> <div> <B>M&M</B></div> <div>  <A NAME="m_ms"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>                                              <A HREF="id140.htm#m_m" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MM"><U><IMG SRC="2012ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Title: M&M</div> <div> Author: <A HREF="mailto:featherautant@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:featherautant@hotmail.com"><U>Feather Autant</U></A></div> <div> Date: Sept 30, 2004</div> <div> Email: <A HREF="mailto:featherautant@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:featherautant@hotmail.com"><U>featherautant@hotmail.com</U></A></div> <div> Rating: NC-17</div> <div> Pairings: Jack/Daniel </div> <div> Category: FT, Romance</div> <div> Spoilers: Season 8</div> <div> Warnings: None </div> <div> Summary: What is it about the green ones?</div> <div> Notes: Thanks to Carron and Catspaw for the beta.  You ladies are the best!  Any mistakes are my own.  A special thanks to Carron.  Your invaluable help made this fic what it is!  </div> <div> Disclaimer: No infringement intended.  I don't own them - I don't stand a chance in hell of ever owning them - and isn't that more the pity?  I only play with copies and leave the originals to the powers that be.  I am most certainly making no money from this.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> Jack trudged from the locker room to his office, hands in his pockets, head down.  Another day of paperwork and drudgery stretched before him.  He missed the excitement and danger of exploring.  He had known that his field time was coming to an end, and had tried to prepare himself for a desk job, but he wasn't really suited for it.  He hated the monotony of paperwork, the tedium of reports, the dreariness of budgets.  He hauled himself up the steps to his office, and pushed the door open, struggling to put himself in a better frame of mind. He was thinking idly about retirement again, his thoughts disjointed--not anything set or definite.  He wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.  He could still be useful, still help save the world, still watch and protect his people, just in a different way.  He sighed deeply and made his way to his desk, sat down, turned his computer on, and readied himself to check his e-mail.  He was reaching for the keyboard when he noticed an M&M resting on the keys.  He frowned.  When was the last time he'd eaten M&Ms?  It had been at least a few weeks.  He picked up the bright, glossy green candy, briefly thought of popping it in his mouth, thought better of it, and tossed it in the garbage.</div> <bR> <div> "Wal . . . " he began to bellow.  Before he could get the second syllable out, Walter, A.K.A. chevron guy, and his sometimes assistant, came bustling into his office.  ". . .ter!  I need those. . ."</div> <bR> <div> "Got those budgets for you, sir."</div> <bR> <div> ". . . budgets.  And I need . . .  "</div> <bR> <div> "And here are the projections for next year."</div> <bR> <div> ". . . those projections."  Jack frowned slightly.  "And I could use . . .  "  </div> <bR> <div> "Got a fresh pot of coffee brewing, sir.  Should be ready in a few minutes."</div> <bR> <div> ". . . coffee," Jack finished, feeling a little breathless and disoriented.  How the hell did Walter do that?  "Um, thanks."</div> <bR> <div> "My pleasure, sir," the Sergeant answered with a smug smile on his face.  "I'll bring the coffee in when it's ready."</div> <bR> <div> Jack peered at him suspiciously.  "Have you ever watched MASH?"</div> <bR> <div> "One of my favorite shows, sir."</div> <bR> <div> "Why am I not surprised?  Dismissed," Jack said vaguely, feeling like he'd lost the upper hand, although he was never sure he had it where this particular man was concerned.   A few minutes later, while he was deeply entrenched in reading his mail, Walter slipped into the office, placed a mug of steaming coffee in the exact place that Jack liked it, and slipped out again, barely noticed.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> Jack groaned and rolled his head, trying to work the kinks out of his neck.  He dropped his pen, massaging his stiff fingers, and decided he needed a break.  A quick glance at his watch let him know it was lunchtime.  Maybe his team would be eating, and dammit!  SG-1 <I>was</I> still his team.  It always would be.  He meandered down to the cafeteria, taking his time, stopping to chat here and there.  He liked keeping his finger on the pulse of his command and the best way he knew to do that was to mingle, listen, keep close to his people.  That's why he insisted on wearing fatigues instead of blues.  He didn't want to set himself above his people, in some sort of ivory tower.  His command style was more touchy-feely, intimate.  He finally entered the dining room and let a broad grin light his face.  There they were, sitting and talking animatedly.  He grabbed a tray, loaded it down with a plate full of spaghetti, and joined them.</div> <bR> <div> "Jack!" Daniel said, the pleasure evident in his voice.  He scooted over, making room for him at the table.  </div> <bR> <div> "Hello, sir," Sam said with a warm smile.  </div> <bR> <div> "Hey kids," Jack cocked his eyebrow at Teal'c, and got an answering eyebrow in return.  "Teal'c" he drawled. </div> <bR> <div> "O'Neill," Teal'c answered, with a dip of his head.</div> <bR> <div> Jack sat down, unloaded his tray, and started to eat, listening to the three discuss Atlantis, speculate on what it was like, possible dangers, what kind of technology they might encounter.  He watched as Sam ate her blue Jello, and flashed back to a conversation they'd had a few weeks ago.   </div> <bR> <div> <I>"Carter," he'd said in a snarky tone of voice.  "Why don't you try a different flavor?  Mix things up a bit?  Maybe the lime?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"I'm afraid of the lime," she had answered seriously.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>All three men looked at each other, then at her with surprise.  Daniel had finally broken the silence.  "Okay," he said, leaning forward on his elbows.  "I'll bite.  Why are you afraid of the lime?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"You know the rumor about green M&Ms?"  She pointed to the pile of M&Ms in front of Jack as he and Daniel nodded.  "Well, I don't want to take any chances, so I avoid anything that's green and sweet."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jack and Daniel stared at her, open mouthed.  Teal'c looked confused.  </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"What is this rumor?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Daniel cleared his throat.  "The legend goes that the green ones make you . . .  " he floundered slightly, looking at Jack with a desperate expression.  Jack smirked and sat back, refusing to rescue him.  "Uh . . .  they make you libidinous," Daniel finished in a rush.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Indeed?" Teal'c asked, eyebrow almost touching his new hair line.  He had reached over with studied casualness, selected a green candy, and cautiously put it in his mouth.  He assumed an artful, inward expression as he chewed.  After a long minute he looked up.  "I feel no different."   The other three howled with laughter.</I></div> <bR> <div> They finished eating, Jack asking questions, making sure that everything was going smoothly.  After lunch, the group broke up, each heading to their own offices.  Jack sighed as he entered, spying the pile of files that had multiplied in his absence.  He was convinced the damned things bred when no one was looking.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> The next morning, he changed and made his way to his office once again.  The halls were quiet, as they usually were this time of morning.  He had beaten his staff in again.  He sighed deeply and sat down at his desk.  At least he'd get a chance to catch up on his mail.  He opened the top drawer, reached for a pen, and froze.  The pen tray held a small cellophane packet, and inside the packet were M&Ms.  </div> <bR> <div> Green M&Ms.</div> <bR> <div> Every single one.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack stared for a minute, his mind working furiously.  The M&M story had spread around the base, lots of people knew about the conversation in the cafeteria.  Someone was obviously pulling a prank.  He smiled mischievously.  He couldn't get mad.  He wasn't above a few pranks himself.  He took the packet and examined it.  No note, no clue who it was from.  He tossed it on his desk with a chuckle, and started going through his messages.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> Jack walked to his office, his steps a little lighter today.  Maybe he was getting the hang of this General thing.  The budget was done, his in-box only had about six inches of papers to go through, and everything seemed to be running pretty smoothly, at least as smoothly as it ever did at the SGC.  He groaned when he saw that the paper pile had doubled in his absence.  Oh well, time to get started.  "Wal . . .  " he bellowed.</div> <bR> <div> Sergeant Davis came bustling in with an armful of folders.</div> <bR> <div> ". . . ter!  I need those . . .  "</div> <bR> <div> "Got those mission reports for you sir."  Walter handed him a file.</div> <bR> <div> ". . . mission reports.  And I need . . .  "</div> <bR> <div> "And here are the injury logs."  Another file was thrust in Jack's hands.</div> <bR> <div> ". . .injury logs.  And where's that . . .  "</div> <bR> <div> "Here's the briefing schedule."</div> <bR> <div> ". . . briefing schedule?"  A typed piece of paper was handed over with a flourish.  Jack accepted it with a dazed look.  "Now all I . . . "</div> <bR> <div> "I'll bring your coffee in a minute, sir."</div> <bR> <div> ". . . need is coffee," Jack finished weakly.  "Dismissed."  He flapped his hand  toward the door, aware that once again the Sergeant had gotten the better of him.  He opened the top drawer of his desk.  A Ziploc bag, absolutely crammed with green M&Ms, rested behind the pen tray.  Jack sat back in his chair, his eyes narrowed, studying the shiny green candy that he definitely hadn't left in his desk last night.</div> <bR> <div> Someone was playing with him.</div> <bR> <div> It was obviously someone's idea of a joke, wasn't it?  It wasn't like anyone would make a pass at him, would they?  And who was this mysterious 'they'?  Jack felt himself perk up with interest.  This was different, a little mystery to solve, something to make the day more fun.  Of course, the mature and sane thing would be to go to Security and see who had been in his office while he was gone, but he somehow felt that it would be cheating to do that.  Besides, it would be fun to find the perpetrator the old-fashioned way, by sneaking and prowling around.  A wide grin split his face. "WALTER!" he roared, immensely pleased that he got the man's whole name out without being interrupted. </div> <bR> <div> Davis jumped, spilling a bit of the coffee he was pouring.  "Oh lordy," he whispered reverently.  He quickly filled the mug, wiped up the spill, and hurried into General O'Neill's office.  "Sir?" he asked, handing the steaming mug over, his hand shaking ever so slightly. </div> <bR> <div> "Has anyone been in my office?"  Jack asked, accepting the beverage graciously.</div> <bR> <div> "Not that I know of, sir.  Do you want me to ask around?"</div> <bR> <div> "Um, no.  That's all right."  Jack dismissed him with another wave of his hand.  The Sergeant shot him a confused look, then left. </div> <bR> <div> Jack sat back, looking at the evidence, and sipped his coffee.  He formed a plan.  The first order of business was to find out if anyone else was receiving similar packages.  He picked the bag up.  No note, no markings, nothing to tell him who left it.  So much the better.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~  </div> <bR> <div> Jack's first stop was Sam's lab.  He walked in to find her with protective goggles covering her eyes, and a bright blue beam shooting across the room.  The metal plate on the far wall smoked and glowed a bright, hot red.  He waited until she'd turned the beam off.  "Hey, Carter.  What'cha doin'?"</div> <bR> <div> Sam jumped, and gave a guilty start.  Jack looked at her with surprise, and narrowed his eyes.  "Uhhh, hhi, sir," she stammered, obviously startled to find him there.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack looked around carefully.  "What'cha up to?"  He walked over to the metal plate, which had begun to cool.  He looked carefully at the etched metal, then slowly back at her.</div> <bR> <div> She flushed bright red.  "I was testing this new laser.  We wanted to try and make the beam more focused and increase the accuracy of its guidance system."</div> <bR> <div> "I see," Jack answered carefully.  "How's that working out?"  He was fighting valiantly not to crack up and tease her.  </div> <bR> <div> "Uhhhh, it's coming along."  Sam was still blushing furiously. </div> <bR> <div> "Good!"  Jack nodded encouragingly and left the wall, much to Carter's obvious relief.  "I just stopped by to ask if you'd received any unusual packages."</div> <bR> <div> Sam looked at him with concern.  "Sir?"</div> <bR> <div> "I got an unusual package, and wondered if you had, too."</div> <bR> <div>  "I haven't gotten anything unusual.  Someone sent you something?  Maybe we should call security."  She reached for the phone.  </div> <bR> <div> "No!"  He reached out and stopped her.  "It's nothing threatening, just a little mystery.  I want to solve it myself."</div> <bR> <div> "Okay," she said slowly.  "Is there anything I can do to help?"</div> <bR> <div> "Nah.  You need to get back to your important project."  He threw her a mischievous grin, and was pleased to see her blush again.  He laughed lightly and left her lab, chuckling to himself, and feeling vastly relieved.  If Carter had left the package, it wasn't a pass.  The metal plate was clearly engraved with the words 'Sam loves Pete'.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack's next stop was Teal'c's room.  He knocked, and opened the door upon hearing Teal'c's "Enter."  The Jaffa was dressed in desert robes, and Jack remembered that he had a meeting off world with some rebel Jaffa leaders this week.  "Hey, T.  Ready to go?"</div> <bR> <div> "I will be ready momentarily, O'Neill," Teal'c said warmly.  </div> <bR> <div> "Okay, good!"  Jack assumed a teasing expression.  "So . . .  eat any green M&Ms lately?"</div> <bR> <div> Teal'c looked at him with a thoughtful expression, a spark of . . . something.  Could that be interest?. . .  showing in his eyes.  "No, I have not.  Why do you ask?"</div> <bR> <div> "Uh, no reason, just making conversation."  Jack got a slightly panicky feeling in the pit of his stomach.  He considered himself a brave man, but he had seen Teal'c naked, and the man wasn't packing a penis, he was sporting a weapon of immense proportions.  Jack was, quiet frankly, too old to face up to it, not to mention the fact that while he loved Teal'c like a brother, that's as far as it went.</div> <bR> <div> "I have not eaten M&Ms of any color since that day in the cafeteria."</div> <bR> <div> "Um, okay, good!  I was just . . .  um . . . on my way . . . to . . .  do some . . . General . . . stuff."  Jack groaned in his head.  He was blathering like a junior high kid.  Time to beat a hasty retreat.  "Alrighty then!  Have a good trip!"  He turned on his heels and walked away, forcing himself to keep a casual pace.  Dashing down the hall would <I>not</I> be dignified.</div> <bR> <div> The next stop was Daniel's lab.  Jack felt a little trepidation after the thing with Teal'c, but he was a man with a mission, and besides, he missed Daniel and wanted to see him.  He found him in deep linguist mode, crumpled sheets of legal paper overflowing his trash can, more littering the floor around his chair.  "Daniel," he began.  "Are you literally trying to bury yourself in your work?"</div> <bR> <div> "Hmm?" came the distracted reply.</div> <bR> <div> "Look at this mountain you're building."  Jack started picking up wads of crumpled paper.  "I don't know how you can find anything when you let the place get like this."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel looked around him and grimaced.  "I got a little carried away," he admitted by way of apology. </div> <bR> <div> "Ya think?  Interesting translation?"  Jack pulled the trash bag out of the can, got a fresh one from the bottom, and started filling that one as well.</div> <bR> <div> "It's very intriguing," Daniel answered with a happy sigh, getting up and helping Jack pick up the mounds of trash.  "It seems to be a cross between several ancient languages."</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked at him and noticed that he had dark smudges under his eyes, and his fatigues where rumpled and creased.  "Did you pull an all-nighter?"</div> <bR> <div> "Is it morning?" Daniel seemed surprised.</div> <bR> <div> Jack sighed.  "Yes, Daniel.  It's morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Then I guess I pulled an all-nighter." </div> <bR> <div> "Did you eat?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel's stomach growled, and he laughed.  "Not for a while."</div> <bR> <div> "Tell you what.  Why don't we call and have this mess brought to the shredder, then I'll buy you breakfast."</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds good.  Oh, wait!"  Daniel took the trash bag out of Jack's hands, and started rummaging through it.  He pulled out a few plastic shopping bags, then handed the trash back to Jack.  "They got really mad last time I asked them to shred plastic," he smirked.</div> <bR> <div> "And the last thing you want to do is piss off the shredder people," Jack answered, in a completely serious voice, his eyes sparkling.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel chuckled and finished collecting the trash.  He made the phone call and they left his office making their way to the cafeteria.  They got food, waffles for Daniel, Captain Crunch for Jack, mugs of coffee, and sat down, Daniel valiantly trying not to yawn.  "Bored with my company after, what, only eight years?" Jack teased.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel chuckled.  "Maybe I'll catch a quick nap."</div> <bR> <div> Jack nodded.  "That would probably be a good idea.  Let your brain work on the problem while you sleep."  He had watched it happen that way numerous times.  Daniel would work himself to the point of exhaustion, take a nap, then awaken with a snap, the answers all there in his brain.  "Anyway, it's Friday.  Why don't we do something tomorrow night?  Maybe pizza and a movie?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel smiled at him warmly.  Their friendship had reached an amazingly comfortable place.  Daniel felt that he was finally trusted, respected, a valued member of the team.  It hadn't always been that way, but the years after his descension had brought them closer.  "Sounds good," he agreed.  "Your place, around seven?"</div> <bR> <div> "Seven it is."  Jack lifted a spoon full of cereal to his mouth.  "Oh!" he said a moment later, startling Daniel.  "I wanted to ask you something."  Daniel quirked an eyebrow, encouraging Jack to continue while he chewed his waffle and swallowed a sip of coffee.  "Have you received any unusual packages lately?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel took another sip of coffee, then carefully placed his mug back on the table.  "Unusual?  What do you mean?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Jack confided.  "Seems that someone is pulling a prank on me.  I've gotten some packets of M&Ms."   Daniel gave him a quizzical look.  "All <I>green</I> M&Ms," Jack clarified in a conspiratorial stage whisper.  He watched as Daniel bit his lip, obviously trying not to laugh.  "What?  You don't think someone would find me sexy?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel snickered and took another sip.  "I didn't say that."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, anyway, I don't think it's a pass.  I'm leaning more toward prank." </div> <bR> <div> "Who left them?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know.  No note, no clue.  It's a mystery."</div> <bR> <div> "Why don't you go to the security office?  View the tapes?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked at him with shock.  "Because that would be cheating!"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel laughed.  "You are so predictable.  I'll bet they're counting on that."</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked at him, deeply affronted by the suggestion.  "I am not predictable!" he said, with wounded dignity.</div> <bR> <div> "Are."</div> <bR> <div> "Aren't!"</div> <bR> <div> "Are."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm a spontaneous kind of guy!"</div> <bR> <div> "Within your set rules of behavior."</div> <bR> <div> "Hey!  I break rules all the time!"</div> <bR> <div> "So, what are you going to do?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack got a broad grin on his face, his eyes sparking and alive.  "I'm gonna sneak around, figure out who it is."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel laughed again.  "Well, good luck with that!  I'm gonna go take a nap."  He stood up and stretched.  "Tomorrow?"</div> <bR> <div> "Tomorrow," Jack confirmed with a smile.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> Jack decided to make a side trip to the Citadel Mall on his way home.  There was a new computer game out, and if he was lucky, maybe he'd have time to play this weekend.  He was standing in the check out line, watching people walking past the store, when he noticed Daniel coming out of a collectibles shop across the way.  He fidgeted, hoping the line would hurry.  Maybe Daniel would join him for a beer?  When he finally paid for his purchase and left the store, Daniel was nowhere to be seen.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> Saturday dawned bright and clear.  It was going to be another beautiful Colorado day.  He made coffee, showered, dressed, and left the house by eight.  He absolutely had to get the oil changed in his truck.  It was long overdue.  He drove through his neighborhood and passed a yard sale in full swing.  He was a bit startled to notice a car that looked like Daniel's parked on the street.  A quick glance confirmed that Daniel was browsing through the items.  Why was he looking at junk?  Jack gave a quick snort.  That's what archeologists did.  Played with trash.  He thought briefly about stopping, but he really needed to run some errands, and he'd better get them done while he had a chance.  The mountain might call with an emergency at any minute, so he had to make the most efficient use of his free time.  He'd see Daniel tonight.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <div>   </div> <div> Jack whistled as he walked down the hall.  It had been a good weekend.  There had been no emergencies, no earth threatening, or team threatening situations, and he'd actually been able to run some errands, take care of some personal business, and play his new game for a few hours.  Daniel had come over for dinner and a movie.  It had been nice to spend time with him, Jack reflected.  He enjoyed Daniel's company.  He made his way to the locker room, took his jacket off, and opened the locker door.  He reached for a fresh set of fatigues, then his hand froze in mid air and the whistle died on his lips.  One of his jock straps was hanging from a hook, not folded on the shelf where it belonged, and it looked . . .  full.  Jack cautiously reached in and snagged it with one finger, prepared to hurl it across the room.  He peered suspiciously into the cup, and drew in a sharp breath. </div> <bR> <div>  A fist sized packet of green M&Ms filled the pouch. </div> <bR> <div> Okay, now this was getting damned personal, and it was definitely taking on the tone of a come on.  Jack's curiosity piqued when he noticed a note nestled under the packet.  Finally!  A clue.  The note was written in crisp block letters.  'I'll bet what normally fills this space would also melt in my mouth.'  Oh yeah, definitely a come on.  Jack grinned and felt his cock twitch at the thought of sex.  <I>Real </I>sex, the kind that involved another person in the same room, with touching and kissing.  God he missed kissing!  And oral sex.  The feel of tongue and lips, the lightest scrape of teeth, suction, and wet, soft heat.  His cock transitioned from twitching to filling at the thought.  Jack shook himself.  Who the hell was leaving the M&Ms?  The curiosity was killing him.  </div> <bR> <div> He sat on the bench and thought.  Teal'c?  No, he realized with a flood of relief.  Teal'c was off world. Carter?  No, she loved Pete.  Walter?  Nah, couldn't be.  Could it?  One of the nursing staff?  A possibility, but Jack didn't see it.  There just wasn't enough non-medical contact.  Certainly not enough for one of them to risk their career by making a pass at their CO.  The maintenance staff?  Nah, same reason as the medical staff.  The science staff?  Not the way he harassed them, although Chloe was cute.  But she had a thing for Felger, he was sure of it.  Felger?  He definitely got hero worship vibes from the man, but M&Ms were too subtle and clever to really fit.  Someone on the SG teams?  He had gotten some vibes from Colonel Reynolds, but SG-3 had been off world for the past two weeks.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack stood up and changed, then made his way to his office, still deep in thought.  He quietly walked through his door and saw Siler fiddling with his file cabinets.  His eyes narrowed and he instantly moved into stealth mode, stalking up behind his prey.  He was a foot behind the man when he barked, "SILER!"</div> <bR> <div> Siler jumped like he's been goosed with a cattle prod.  He whirled around, clutching his chest.  He saw Jack and sagged against the cabinet for support. "Sir," he gasped.  "You scared me!" </div> <bR> <div> Jack smirked, feeling smugly pleased.  "What'cha doin'?"</div> <bR> <div> "You complained that this drawer was sticking.  I'm fixing it."</div> <bR> <div> Jack raised an eyebrow.  "That's all?"</div> <bR> <div> "What else would I be doing?"</div> <bR> <div> "Isn't it a bit early to be fixing things?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's what I do, sir."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess it is."  Jack leaned over and looked at the drawer.  No green M&Ms.  He stepped back, giving the man some space.  "Carry on."  Okay, now he was getting paranoid.  Siler?  Jack mentally shook his head.  What was he thinking? This puzzle was driving him nuts.  He was suspicious of everyone, and having the time of his life.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> His stomach was telling him that it was lunchtime.  Besides, his ass was getting numb from sitting for so long.  He wasn't used to being so inactive throughout the day.  A stroll through the halls to stretch his legs before eating was the ticket.  His feet automatically carried him to Daniel's office.  They often had lunch together.  Daniel was currently deeply involved in . . . some project or other and had probably forgotten to eat.  He stopped in the doorway and smiled.  "Hey Daniel, wanna get lunch?"</div> <bR> <div> "Hmmm?"  Daniel didn't look up from his computer screen, completely absorbed in what he was looking at, a small frown of concentration wrinkling his brow.  </div> <div>                                                        </div> <div> "Daniel," Jack sing-songed.  "Lunchtime!"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel gave a start and looked up with a guilty expression.  Jack walked over and caught the ebay logo just as Daniel shut down the computer.  "Ebay?"</div> <bR> <div> "Uh . . . yeah," Daniel stuttered, then quickly regained his composure.  "I trawl the site every so often, looking for black-market artifacts."</div> <bR> <div> "Hm," Jack gave a noncommittal grunt.  "Ever find any?"</div> <bR> <div> "Actually, I have.  You can find anything on ebay."</div> <bR> <div> "What is it with you and junk?" Jack teased.  "I saw you on Saturday."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel gave him a guarded look.  "Saturday?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, I saw you at that yard sale."</div> <bR> <div> "Why didn't you stop?"</div> <bR> <div> "I had to get my oil changed,"  Jack shrugged.  "C'mon, I'm hungry.  Let's eat."</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~              </div> <bR> <div> Jack spent the next few days sneaking.  He left early, then came back after an hour, trying to catch his admirer in the act.  He got in early, left late, took long lunches, wolfed his food down and rushed back to the office, mixed up his routine, trying to catch the perpetrator.  He tried to appear like he wasn't paying attention, but kept an eagle eye on everything, and everyone.  Little packages kept appearing, sometimes with notes, sometimes without.  Sometimes the placement was highly suggestive, like his jock, other times it was mundane, like in his empty coffee cup.  Once the perp even had the balls, and luck, to leave the M&Ms in his bathrobe pocket while he was in the shower, all without getting caught.  The accompanying note with that particular packet left no doubt in Jack's mind that whoever it was had gotten an eyeful of him showering, making the observation that Jack had spent a lot of time washing his balls and dick.  Jack had actually blushed at that.  He <I>had</I> spent a few moments stroking.  Not with the intent of masturbating, but more of a contemplative thing, imagining how it would feel to have someone do that for him.  Whoever it was was damned sneaky, and obviously knew him very well.  He had thought he was alone in the shower room.  The mysterious someone had given him enough time to relax under the water, which by his own estimation, usually took about ten minutes.  After that he usually got out, or, if needing a little quality time with his hand, indulged at that point.  Who would know that about him?    </div> <bR> <div> Thursday afternoon Jack decided that a little cheating was in order.  "WAL . . . "</div> <bR> <div> Walter bustled in, carrying a stack of reports.  "Here's next week's mission list."</div> <bR> <div> ". . .Ter!"  Jack's voice trailed off, and he let the Sergeant finish, graciously accepting all the documents being shoved at him.  Finally, Walter turned to leave, looking smug as usual, when Jack sprung his request.  "Can you get me the security checkpoint logs?"</div> <bR> <div> Walter stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at Jack, surprise showing on his face.  "Sir?"</div> <bR> <div> "You know, the security logs.  Who checks in and out?"</div> <bR> <div> "Of course.  What time frame?"</div> <bR> <div> "The last two weeks."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll get them right away."  He left Jack alone with his new pile of paperwork.  Thirty minutes later he came back in with the logs.  "Anything I can help you with, sir?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, just checking something.  Thanks, Walter."  </div> <bR> <div> Jack spent the next several hours figuring out who was on base during the times a package was left.  He felt mildly guilty about wasting an afternoon doing this instead of paperwork, but only a little.  Most of his work was caught up.  Besides, he was coming to the end of his tether.  If he didn't figure it out soon, he'd end up viewing the security tapes.  The curiosity and anticipation were killing him.  Part of him wanted desperately to find out who it was, the other part was nervous.  What if it was someone he didn't want in return?  What if all this buildup was leading to nothing?  He put that thought to the side for the moment.  He had to figure out who it was before he made a decision about that.  At least making a list would help him he know who to keep an eye on.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <div>  </div> <div> Friday morning he leapt out of bed and whistled while he made coffee.  He'd actually started looking forward to going to the mountain and his new desk job.  There was usually some kind of M&M packet, and sometimes a note, waiting for him.  He was hoping for another clue.  Maybe this one would give his admirer and would-be lover away.  His shower took a little longer than the requisite ten minutes.  All his showers were taking longer, and he was jerking off at night as well.  The ongoing mystery, seduction actually, had left him . . . stimulated was the best word.  Or maybe all the green M&Ms he'd been eating really were making him horny.</div> <bR> <div> Jack was still whistling as he made his way down the SGC corridor.  He bounded up the steps to his office, taking two at a time.  His stomach tightened with anticipation as he entered his office.  Where would he find them today?  The whistle died on his lips and a wide grin split his face when he saw his desk.  This was something new.  Whoever it was hadn't left a packet of M&Ms this time, they had left a dispenser.  Jack walked over and looked at the ten-inch high green figure.  It wasn't the newer, more modern girl M&M.  This one was the older male M&M.  He pulled the outstretched arm and chuckled when a handful of green candy poured out.  He scooped up the chocolate and went to pop one in his mouth when his eye caught the surface of the candy.  It didn't have the standard M&M logo.  Instead, it was stamped with a single word.</div> <bR> <div>  Want. </div> <bR> <div> He curiously moved the candies around his palm with his finger.  Some were emblazoned with <I>want,</I> others with <I>need, </I>and finally some with <I>you.</I></div> <bR> <div> Want you, need you.</div> <bR> <div> Jack sat heavily in his chair.  Who the fuck was it?  His eyes were drawn to the dispenser again, and he pulled it close.  There was something about it, something that tickled his mind.  He could almost taste it.  The answer was here.  He ran his fingers over the smooth surface, taking in the detail.  Okay, what did he know about this thing?  It was an older model.  The girl M&M hadn't been fabricated by some advertising executive until a few years ago.  It was in pristine shape, no chips or scratches on the surface.  It looked like it had come right out of the box.  Jack snorted.  It almost looked like a collectible.  He opened his desk drawer and pulled out his suspect list, letting his eyes travel down it.  They stopped about half way down.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel.</div> <bR> <div> Jack froze, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place with lightning speed.  Collectibles.  Daniel coming out of the collectibles shop in the mall.  Daniel at a yard sale, where you often found collectibles.  Daniel browsing on ebay.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel knew him better than anyone.  Even though Jack had never jerked off in his friend's presence, Daniel was a guy and knew Jack usually took ten minute showers, and what he probably did if the shower took longer.  He'd even teased him once when he had stayed over after a night of drinking, noting that Jack had taken a long time, and asking if he had needed to condition his hair, all said with a twinkle and a smirk.</div> <bR> <div> Jack sat back, staring into space.  Daniel.  He remembered the early years of their relationship.  He had become infatuated with Daniel on their first trip through the gate.  Nothing had happened, of course, but the next Abydos mission had brought those smitten feelings back.  Daniel had been on a mission to find his wife, and Jack had helped him, keeping his feelings deep inside.  The following years together had seen Jack's feelings change.  He wanted Daniel, but knew that nothing would ever come of it, so infatuation had tempered, become a deep and abiding friendship.  There were a few times when passion had resurfaced, and Jack, being the neanderthal jerk he was capable of, had treated Daniel like shit, hoping to push him away.  Jack sighed deeply.  Daniel had refused to give up on him, staying his friend despite it all. </div> <bR> <div> Daniel wanted him, <I>needed</I> him.  The old feelings came rushing back to the surface, and Jack realized that they hadn't been buried that deep after all.  There was a difference, though.  Everything was mixed, blended.  Infatuation, respect, admiration, appreciation, friendship, companionship, lust.</div> <bR> <div> Love.</div> <bR> <div> Do we want this, he asked his cock?  The deep tingling in his belly, the prickling in his thighs, the joyous twitch, the rush of blood beneath his skin was his answer.  Fuck yeah he did.  And had for a very, very long time.</div> <bR> <div> He waited until Daniel was in a meeting and entered his office to leave his reply.   There was a candy dish on the desk, filled with M&Ms of all colors, except green.  He smirked, left his message, and made his way back to his office and a long day filled with expectation.</div> <bR> <div> ~~~~~~~~~~</div> <bR> <div> Daniel practically skipped back to his office, feeling immensely pleased, the high of a job well done, a puzzle solved.  He had cracked that translation and had called a meeting of his staff, given them the key, worked with them to complete the interpretation, and planned a night of quiet celebration, just him and a bottle of wine.  He sat at his desk with a happy sigh and reached for his keyboard, planning on checking his mail before he left the mountain.  His hands froze in midair.  There, on his keyboard, on the home key to be exact, was a single, green M&M, the word <I>want</I> facing him.  His adrenal glands convulsed, dumping a huge amount of adrenalin into his system.  He flushed hot and cold, his heart raced, his breath caught.  </div> <bR> <div> <I>Want.</I></div> <bR> <div> Home.</div> <bR> <div> Jack had figured it out.  Message received, understood, and accepted.</div> <bR> <div>  ~~~~~~~~~~ </div> <bR> <div> Jack pulled into his driveway and grinned when he saw Daniel's car.  Good.  Jack let himself in, locked the door securely behind him, and looked around.  The house was silent.  Where was he?  Jack took a step and something crunched beneath his shoe.  A green M&M.  His eyes followed the trail leading to his bedroom.  His cock filled, throbbing with every beat of his heart.  His skin flushed, and he felt that butterfly tingling deep in his belly.  He strode to his bedroom, not noticing the candy being crushed by his feet.  He toed off his shoes as he went and had his shirt half pulled up by the time he entered the door.  He froze in mid strip at the sight of Daniel.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel swallowed the nervous lump in his throat.  He didn't know how this would play out.  Would they talk?  Would they fuck?  Would they freak?  He took in the sight of Jack, already half naked.  His nervousness darted away, replaced by a deep lust.</div> <bR> <div> Jack watched as apprehension was replaced by hunger.  He watched as Daniel's eyes darkened, his skin flushed, his breath quickened.  Jack ripped off his shirt and flung it across the room, continuing his steps toward his goal.  Daniel stepped into him and they crashed together, meeting each other in a hard and needy embrace.  Their first kiss wasn't gentle and tentative.  It was a crush of bodies, a battle of tongues, an urgent pressing of hands and groins and mouths. </div> <bR> <div> Jack reached for the hem of Daniel's shirt and pulled it off over his head, releasing the hungry hold on his mouth for a brief second.  He flung it across the room, then seized Daniel's lips again.  He moaned at the skin-on-skin contact, his arms curled around Daniel's back, pulling him closer.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel was completely focused on his senses.  The musky, rich smell of Jack, the sound of his pants and moans, as well as the scrape of whiskers.  The sweet taste of his tongue.  Heated skin sliding under his hands.  Chest hair abrading his nipples.  He lightly ran his fingers down Jack's spine, from nape to the small of his back, delighting in the shiver and arch beneath his touch.  He moved his hips away and fumbled with Jack's pants.</div> <bR> <div> Jack walked him backward until they were at the edge of the bed, then he reached for Daniel's fly.  They were eager and impatient, only pushing the clothing past hips, freeing both erections, before clashing again.  Both moaned deeply at the increased contact, the sparks of pleasure, the glide of skin, the scent of arousal surrounding them.  Jack used his bulk to press Daniel back, forcing him to fall to the bed.  Daniel went willingly, holding Jack close, pulling him down on top of him.  Jack lifted his head and looked at Daniel, taking in his lust filled eyes, his red, swollen lips, then looked lower.  He shifted to the side, ignoring the groan of complaint.  His eyes traveled down, over the defined chest, the hard nipples, the firm stomach.  Then further still, to the proud cock jutting out of the nest of wiry hair.  He wrapped his fingers around the turgid organ and growled when it throbbed at his touch.  He looked back at Daniel's mouth and caught his lips again, slowing down a bit this time, wanting it to last, not wanting their first time to be a rush of humping against each other's leg.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel responded in unspoken agreement.  His lips softened, his tongue grew slow and languid.  Jack curved his free hand around Daniel's skull, holding his head still, deepening the kiss further, letting their tongues slide and caress.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel thrust his cock into Jack's hand, moaning as pleasure washed over him.  He moved his hands to his pants, struggling to push them off, wanting to be completely naked.  Jack let go of his cock and helped push the pants down, pausing when his face was even with Daniel's groin.  He nuzzled the hair, breathed deeply, then pushed the offending article of clothing completely off, letting it fall to the floor at the foot of the bed.  He stretched out on his back, lifted his legs, and started getting rid of his own pants, letting Daniel help.</div> <bR> <div> They lay on their sides, finally naked and facing each other.  They kissed again, wet and deep, their legs entwining, hands caressing, cocks sliding against each other with delicious friction.  Jack rolled them until Daniel was on his back.  Daniel gasped and spread his legs in invitation, wrapping his calves around Jack's thighs, pushing up with his hips.  Jack ground down into him, pinning him to the mattress.  Daniel was warm and pliant and responsive, giving as good as he got, meeting Jack thrust for thrust, rub for rub, kiss for kiss.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel broke away with a groan, got to his knees, and crawled to the end of the bed.  He had stopped for lube on the way to Jack's house and it was still in his pants pocket.  He reached toward the floor, then froze.  Jack had moved up behind him.  He felt warm breath on his ass, a gentle kiss to each cheek, then Jack's hands spreading him.  Jack didn't do anything for a moment.  Daniel assumed he was looking, then he felt something warm and soft and wet gliding from his perineum up over his anus, followed by stubble scratching pleasantly along his cleft, increasing the sensations.  Oh god.  Jack was rimming him.  He crossed his arms on the edge of the mattress and rested his forehead on them.  Some distant part of his mind thought that he must look ridiculous, kneeling with his ass in the air, but that little voice was drowned out by the waves of pleasure rushing through him.  His mind focused on the gentle rasp of tongue teasing the sensitive sphincter, rubbing his perineum, laving the whole area.  It lasted several minutes until Daniel couldn't keep still any longer.  He involuntarily started circling his hips and moved one hand to his cock, desperate to come.  "Jack!"  The soft gasp was the first word spoken.</div> <bR> <div> Jack stopped licking and sat back on his heels.  He didn't want Daniel to get off this way.  He wanted to be inside him where he could feel and count . . .   every . . .  single . . .  contraction.  "Lube?" he asked, in a deep, husky voice.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel drew a deep, shaky breath and snagged his pants, quickly fishing the tube from his pocket.  He crawled back to the middle of the bed, handed the lube to Jack, and kneeled on all fours, presenting himself.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack stared for a moment, then closed his eyes, fighting for control.  He opened them and moved behind Daniel, kneeling between his legs.  He opened the tube and poured some gel onto his fingers, gave it a moment to warm, then moved to Daniel's opening, rubbing lightly over and around the spasming muscle.  Daniel rocked back toward him, encouraging him to continue.  Jack pressed his index finger gently inside, watching as it was swallowed by Daniel's anus.  He twisted as he pushed, working his way deeper.  Daniel started making soft, mewing sounds of encouragement.  Jack pulled and pushed slowly, lubricating the entrance liberally, squirted some more lube on his hand, waited a scant moment, then pushed in with two fingers.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel tensed and arched his back, pushing against Jack's fingers at the same time.  His hips started rotating, getting the maximum stimulation possible from the fingers impaling him.  "Jack, please!" he breathed, and was rewarded with a firm rub to his prostate.  His body shuddered with tingles of pleasure.  "Again!"</div> <bR> <div> Jack grinned at the request and complied, relishing the feel of Daniel shuddering around his fingers.  He pulled almost all the way out and added a third, twisting and stroking deeply.  When he judged that Daniel was as prepared as he was going to be, he gently withdrew his fingers, hearing the hiss of disappointment from his lover.  He kissed the small of his back in apology, then palmed his cock, spreading a generous amount of lube over his heated flesh.  He held himself firmly in one hand and placed the other on Daniel's hip, steadying him, lined himself up, and pushed forward gently.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel pushed back eagerly, wanting to get on with some serious pounding, wanting to come.  Jack allowed him to control the penetration.  After all, it was his ass.  He held firm and watched as Daniel's anus dilated, expanded, opened for him.  Jack sucked in a harsh breath when his glans popped inside the ring, and the sphincter clamped down just behind his crown, around the sensitive corona.  His fingers tightened convulsively on Daniel's hip, silently asking him to stop for a moment.  Daniel did, letting his head hang down, breathed deeply, and consciously relaxed his muscles.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack felt Daniel relax and slid in further.  He stopped again, and waited for the inevitable loosening of tension.  He didn't have to wait long.  Daniel took a deep breath, pushed it out, and Jack slid in to the root, his groin nestled against Daniel's ass.  Daniel grunted, his skin glistening with sweat, and started rolling his hips.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack cautiously pulled out a few inches, then gently thrust back into the soft, wet heat, feeling his way.  He found a rhythm, slow and deep, but something was missing.  He missed Daniel.  The only physical connection between them was his cock.  He wanted more.  He stopped thrusting, ignoring Daniel's sounds of protest, leaned forward, wrapped his arms around Daniel's chest, brushed his lips against his ear, and whispered, "Straighten up."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel groaned deeply and pushed up with his arms, letting Jack help him.  He shimmied his hips, working Jack even deeper, and leaned back against the strong chest, letting his head fall back to Jack's shoulder, and turned his head for a kiss.  Jack caught his mouth and kissed him as deeply as the angle allowed, then spread his knees, forcing Daniel's legs further apart.  He rolled his hips.  Daniel's head lolled forward.  "God that feels good," he breathed.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack wrapped Daniel firmly in his arms, held him as close as possible, and started to thrust, feeling his balls tighten just a bit more with each deep penetration.  Daniel was shuddering, each glide of Jack's cock rubbing his prostate.  He reached for his cock, wrapped his fingers around the shaft, palmed his balls with his other hand, and started pulling in time to the rubs on his prostate.  </div> <bR> <div> Jack felt Daniel's orgasm start, a strong contraction rippled around his dick, he smelled come, felt Daniel convulse in his arms and started counting.  One.  Two.  Three.  He didn't make it any further.  The sound of Daniel coming, the smell, the feel.  It was too much and he lost it totally.  His balls snugged tight, he jerked his hips forward sharply, and spilled his own release deep inside, clutching Daniel closer, biting his neck, giving himself over completely to the rush of intense pleasure.</div> <bR> <div> Jack's first coherent thought was that his limbs were like wet noodles.  He mustered every ounce of strength he could to keep Daniel close and toppled them gently onto their sides, spooned up, still connected, his cock still jerking deep inside Daniel's body.  He kissed Daniel's nape, ran his hands over his body, caressed and loved him down from the euphoria.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel snuggled against him, enjoying the afterglow, and allowed his body to calm.  Finally he took a deep breath and let it out.  "Wow."</div> <bR> <div> Jack snuffled into his nape and chuckled.  "I only got to three," he said, a little disturbed to hear his voice slur.  </div> <bR> <div> Daniel turned his head slightly.  "Three?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah.  I wanted to count every contraction, but I lost it at three."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel laughed softly, his body flushing slightly.  He pressed back, hugging into Jack.  "Maybe you'll get farther next time."</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe," Jack agreed easily, then groaned as his softened cock slipped out of Daniel's body.  </div> <bR> <div> "We need to clean up a bit," Daniel said with a smirk.  </div> <bR> <div> "I guess we do," Jack acknowledged.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you always so agreeable after sex?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack snorted into Daniel's hair.  "Pretty much," he admitted. </div> <bR> <div> Daniel laughed and turned to face him.  "Well," he said, his eyes sparkling.  "If I had known that, I would have jumped you years ago."  He gave Jack a lingering kiss.  "Maybe I could have talked you into letting me go to Atlantis."</div> <bR> <div> "Never," Jack growled possessively and caught Daniel's mouth in a dominating kiss.  "I would never have let you go."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel snorted.  "Ohhhh!  Alpha Jack!"  he teased.  He pulled back and saw that Jack was completely serious, and a little panicked at the thought.  "Hey," he said softly.  "I didn't really fight that hard for it, did I?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack considered that.  "No," he said slowly.  "No, I guess you didn't."</div> <bR> <div> "Academically, I really wanted to go.  But I didn't want to leave you."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm more important than Atlantis?"  Jack was stunned.</div> <bR> <div> "You're more important than everything," Daniel said softly.</div> <bR> <div> Jack kissed him again, a long lingering kiss full of promise.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ~ <I>finis ~</I></div> <bR> <div> FB for this story can be sent to <A HREF="mailto:featherautant@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:featherautant@hotmail.com"><U>Feather Autant</U></A>.</div> <div> <A HREF="id3_sg1_slash.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stargate SG1 Slash Fiction"><U>Back to Fic List</U></A>     <A HREF="id2_directory.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Directory Listing"><U>Back to Directory</U></A>     <A HREF="id59_guest_authors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guest Authors"><U>Back to Guest Authors</U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <script> mypage="M&M"; </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.jellycounter.com/thenew/c/c.html?id=88453"></script><noscript><a href="http://www.jellycounter.com"><img src="http://www.jellycounter.com/thenew/c/c.html?id=88453&noscript=true" border="0"></a></noscript>   </div> </td> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=120 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="01178643.jpg"> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=52 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00f64643.jpg"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="161" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 45 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="29"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Plotexpo.com"><U><IMG SRC="0181d270.jpg" border=0 width="29" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="15"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="45" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="15" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kissing Camels"><U><IMG SRC="017271d0.jpg" border=0 width="39" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Firelight"><U><IMG SRC="016271d0.jpg" border=0 width="39" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>