Slow Ride

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=160 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="012a0643.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=435 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00f64643.jpg"> <div> <B>Slow Ride</B></div> <div>  <A NAME="slow_ride"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0b0faa40.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="164" ALT="Jack's bike" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Jack heard the phone stop ringing and knew it had been answered.  Sounds similar to the receiver being dragged over material came to his ear, then the sleepy voice.  "H'lo?"</div> <bR> <div> "Mornin' Daniel," Jack said cheerily.</div> <bR> <div> "J'ck."  It was a grunt, not a word.</div> <bR> <div> "Sleeping under the pillows again are we?"</div> <bR> <div> From the sounds on the other end of the phone, Jack knew he was being cursed in Abydonian.  He heard Daniel slowing coming out of his burrow.  "Christ, it's barely light outside," croaked the archeologist.</div> <bR> <div> "It's 0900, Daniel.  That hardly constitutes the crack of dawn."</div> <bR> <div> "What'dya want?"  This was more a whine.</div> <bR> <div> "I need a ride into town."</div> <bR> <div> "And so you called <I>me</I>?" Daniel asked, incredulous.  "Isn't Janet closer?"</div> <bR> <div> "She's on duty and you're not."</div> <bR> <div> "<I>I'm</I> sleeping," Daniel pointed out darkly.</div> <bR> <div> "Not anymore.  Come get me."</div> <bR> <div> "What the hell's wrong with your truck?"</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing.  Now get up and get over here."  With that, Jack hung up the phone.  He smirked to himself.  Daniel would be there in about an hour.</div> <bR> <div> 52 minutes later the door rattled with the force of someone's enthusiastic pounding.  Jack pulled open the door and smiled at the highly irate man standing on his stoop.  "You could've at least combed your hair," Jack said as he left his house.  Daniel glared at him menacingly.</div> <bR> <div> "What was so damned important that you can't let me sleep in on my first day off in 27 days?"</div> <bR> <div> "I told you, I need a ride into town."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, well of course.  How silly of me not to notice the galactic importance of <I>that</I>!"  Daniel spun and stormed off to his car.</div> <bR> <div> "You can always go back home and go to sleep," Jack threw at his back.</div> <bR> <div> "And you can always go to hell," Daniel muttered under his breath.  "Get in the car!" he snapped.  Daniel started the ignition and waited while Jack dumped a small duffle bag behind the seat.</div> <bR> <div> "You haven't had any coffee yet, have you?" asked Jack as he buckled his seat belt.</div> <bR> <div> "No, I haven't.  And I doubt you're going to buy me any."  Daniel pulled out of the driveway and sped away toward downtown Colorado Springs.  The ride was silent yet Jack was highly amused.  Any day he could fluster Daniel was a good day.  "Where are we going?"</div> <bR> <div> "Just drop me at Rocky Mountain Cycle."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel grunted in response and made for the shop.  He'd dropped Carter off at that particular place a time or two.  Blearily he rubbed his eye and eased his way through morning traffic.  It may have been his day off, but it was a Wednesday and people were still scurrying to get to work.</div> <bR> <div> The motorcycle shop hove into view and Daniel pulled into the parking lot.  Jack got out and grabbed his bag.  "Thank you, Daniel."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you need a ride home?" he asked behind a yawn.</div> <bR> <div> "Nope, I got it from here."</div> <bR> <div> "Alright."  With a half wave he turned into traffic and began his trek back toward his warm and waiting bed.</div> <bR> <div> As Daniel woke for the second time that day, he noticed that the sun was nearly straight overhead and it had warmed up considerable.  Summer in Colorado Springs was his favorite time of year.  He stretched languidly on the couch, enjoying himself immensely as he let his muscles stretch, tighten, then relax.  He let out a long breath and considered getting up to make something to eat when there was a loud knock on the door.  "Fer god's sake," he griped as he rolled slowly off the couch.</div> <bR> <div> He pulled the door of his apartment open, but his snarling comment was lost in a moment of incoherency when he saw Jack - or more accurately, Jack's current attire.</div> <bR> <div> "Daa-aaniel," Jack drawled lazily.</div> <bR> <div> "Jack," Daniel stated quickly.  "What, eh, what gives with the, uh..."  He waved his hand toward the older man.  Jack's smile nearly went from ear to ear.</div> <bR> <div> "Riding leathers," he said helpfully.</div> <bR> <div> "Beg pardon?" Daniel said, his voice failing him miserably.  His eyes were hopelessly locked onto the leather encased thighs.</div> <bR> <div> "Riding leathers," Jack enunciated slowly.  "You wear them for protection when you ride a motorcycle.  Jack lightly slapped the sides of his legs.  "So . . . what'cha'doin?"</div> <bR> <div> "Huh?"  Daniel eyes had traveled up and were surveying Jack's chest which was covered in a thin white t-shirt, over which was a leather jacket.  Nothing silly, no fringes, no excess zippers.  Just a nice looking motorcycle jacket.  Daniel felt the heat beginning to rise all over his body.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you busy right now?" Jack asked, pushing his way past Daniel and into the apartment.  Daniel looked at the door stupidly, trying to remember what he was supposed to do with it, then turned to watch as Jack climbed the stairs into his living room, his Levi's 501 covered butt being highlighted by the fit of the chaps.</div> <bR> <div> "Busy?" Daniel asked.  "Um. . . no . . . not busy, no. . . .no not, uh . . ."</div> <bR> <div> "Great!" Jack exclaimed happily.  "Go get dressed."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel's eyes flew open and he looked down at himself quickly.  Breathing a sigh of relief at having clothes on, he closed the door solidly and took two deep, slow breaths.  "And why would I need to wear anything other than sweats and an old t-shirt on my day off?"</div> <bR> <div> "Cause you're coming for a ride with me," Jack announced.</div> <bR> <div> "Excuse me?  I'm . . . I'm what?"</div> <bR> <div> "Just got a new bike, Daniel.  I'd like to take my best friend for a little ride."</div> <bR> <div> "Then why are you here?" Daniel asked before thinking.  He could have kicked himself when he saw the look on Jack's face at the question.  "I just meant . . . I mean you and Teal'c seem more . . ."  He shut his mouth as he realized he was only making things worse.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, okay then," Jack said as he stepped back down the stairs to the door.  "Sorry I bothered you.  I'll just take off and, uh, guess I'll see you on base in a few days then."  Jack's voice was quiet, his eyes guarded.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel held onto the doorknob, not letting Jack exit..  "I didn't mean that the way it sounded, Jack.  I'm sorry."</div> <bR> <div> Jack merely nodded.  " 'k, no sweat.  If you'll just move I'll . . ."</div> <bR> <div> "No, Jack," Daniel said, shaking his head.  "Don't leave."  He looked into the older man's eyes and tried to smile.  "Really.  Don't go, okay?  Let me go get changed and we'll take that ride."</div> <bR> <div> "No," Jack said with a shake of his head, "don't worry about it.  Motorcycles aren't everyone's thing."</div> <bR> <div> "Jack, please," Daniel asked.  "I'd like to go.  I would."</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked up into Daniel's earnest face and finally nodded.  The younger man trotted up into his bedroom and threw on some jeans, changed into a jersey style t-shirt and quickly pulled on his socks and a sturdy pair of hiking boots.  He hurried out to see Jack waiting by the door.  He hadn't come all the way back into the apartment - Jack's way of saying he didn't feel welcome.  "Ready," he said, trying to sound as excited as Jack had wanted him to be.</div> <bR> <div> "We won't be long," Jack said and opened the door.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel followed Jack out the door, knowing he'd hurt the man with his careless comment.  For months he'd been trying to find a way to bridge the gap back to Jack but no matter what he tried it fell flat.  Now, just when Jack had come over wanting to share something important, he'd slapped him hard.  Daniel grit his teeth in frustration.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't know you were thinking about getting a bike," Daniel ventured tentatively as they stepped into the elevator.</div> <bR> <div> "Carter - she's been working on hers," Jack said, fidgeting with the keys.  "Made me start thinking that maybe I should go and get one again."</div> <bR> <div> "When did you have one before?" Daniel asked.  "I've never seen you ride."</div> <bR> <div> "Got rid of it after Charlie died," Jack said somberly.  "He used to go riding with me all the time."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel clenched his fist in anger.  He'd not only hurt Jack's feelings, but he'd carelessly shunned one of the activities he and his son had enjoyed.  <I>Nice, Jackson . . . really nice,</I> he thought sourly.  <I>No wonder he doesn't want anything to do with you anymore.</I></div> <bR> <div> They entered the lobby then headed out to the street.  Daniel gawked as he saw the bike parked in front of the main building entrance.  "Is that?" he breathed.</div> <bR> <div> Jack nodded, some of his high spirits coming back.  "Yeah, that's her."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my god!" Daniel laughed.  He pushed through the door and stepped up to the sleek, black machine.  "Jack!  Oh my god!"</div> <bR> <div> "Sweet, isn't she?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think I've ever seen . . . what make is it?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's a Valkyrie," Jack said proudly.  "Touring bike.  GL1500CT to be precise."</div> <bR> <div> "It looks like it's going a hundred miles an hour just sitting there," Daniel purred appreciatively as he walked around the motorcycle.  He stopped dead in his tracks when he got to the back where there was a suspicious amount of gear packed.  "Jack, are you going somewhere?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack folded his arms over his chest and stared up the street.  "I was going to see if maybe you wanted to take a little road trip with me for a couple days, but . . ."  He shrugged off the rest of his sentence.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel looked at Jack then at the gear.  He recognized Jack's 'technotent,' as he called it.  It folded to almost nothing and literally sprang into shape when you threw it into the air.  Daniel had bought it for his birthday last year.  There were two sleeping bags and he had no doubt but that the saddle bags were packed with spare clothes and camping items.  He looked back at Jack and his heart clenched inside him.  He and Jack had drifted apart - far apart.  This was Jack's way of trying to fix things - by taking him camping.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll go lock up and ask Mrs. Donnelly to feed my fish.  Do I need to bring anything?"</div> <bR> <div> "You want to go?" Jack asked, surprised.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, I do."</div> <bR> <div> Jack nodded.  "You might want a short jacket or something.  I packed clothes for the both of us.  It's only for a couple days."</div> <bR> <div> "Okay," Daniel smiled, "so . . . I'll uh, I'll be right back.  Give me about fifteen minutes."  He jogged back into the building.</div> <bR> <div> Jack perched on his bike, his long legs out in front of him.  Daniel's offhanded, yet honest, comment had torn through him like a knife.  How had they come to this point?  How had he let things slide so far off track.  One week ago it had all come crashing in around him.  The dreams he'd been having, the places to which his mind would wander . . . the nearly suffocating feelings of desire he felt when he'd watch Daniel covertly.  He was beyond confused.  For over forty years he'd basked in the glow of his rampant heterosexuality.  And now . . . </div> <bR> <div> <I>His confusion had driven him to seek out a man he'd known in his past; a man he'd been close to once.  Things had changed one night over a tearful, drunken confession and Jack had walked away from a friend when that friend had needed him most.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jack had tracked the man down a week ago.  He'd moved to the outskirts of Denver and was running a martial arts school.  Jack had driven up the previous Sunday not knowing what to expect - certainly not any kind of warm welcome.  As he'd stepped out of his truck he'd been surprised to see his former friend smile.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Well I'll be damned," he chuckled.  "Jack O'Neill."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Decker," Jack greeted the man.  Jack stepped slowly toward the man, prepared at the most to shake hands.  Instead he was grasped in a firm hug with a few slaps on the back.</I></div> <div> <I>"Damn, what happened to your hair?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Nice," Jack and sneered.  Decker had merely laughed louder.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Come on in."  He motioned to his home and a door leading onto a back porch.  "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Oh, I think it'll take at least three beers before I can get to that," Jack said.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Let's get started," Decker replied.  Jack followed him through a mud room then back out onto a fully screened porch.  On the way, beers were grabbed from a refrigerator stationed neatly in a corner out of the way of traffic.  It hummed gently in the late morning warmth.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Been awhile," Decker said, though not unkindly.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Yeah," Jack said, sipping slowly from his beer.  "Are you still . . .?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"With Damon?  Yes, I am," said Decker, his body beginning to tense.  Jack merely nodded and he let himself relax again.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"That makes it what, twelve years?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Next month," Decker said proudly.  The two men fell silent and Decker kicked Jack's chair leg.  "You didn't come out here to see if me and Damon were still together, did you?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jack shook his head.  "Nope, I sure didn't."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"You and I used to be good friends once, Jack.  I'd like to think that I can still tell when something's wrong.  Why not just spit it out and be done with it?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jack gathered his thoughts for a few minutes before he spoke.  "How did you know?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Know?  Know what?"  Decker took a leisurely pull on his beer.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"With Damon," Jack said slowly.  "How did you know you were in love with him?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Decker sat quietly for a minute before his eyes widened to the size of saucers.  "Are you shittin' me?  You . . . you've fallen for another guy?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Decker, I didn't come here for crap, I came here for help," Jack said tiredly.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Christ, if I were a gloating man O'Neill, I'd be all over this like stink on gorilla."  He shook his head.  Jack looked up at him and Decker could tell he was considering walking away.  "I'm sorry, man."  He slapped Jack on the knee.  "Damn.  No kiddin' though, huh?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"I wish to fuck I was kidding," Jack mumbled.  "Just tell me how you knew it was real."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"I don't know really," Decker said quietly.  "I can't really point to any one thing and say 'this is where it happened.'  One day it was just there and nothing I could do would change it."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Had you always been . . . you know . . . persuaded in that direction?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Decker did laugh then and Jack winced.  "You are such a sorry sack, O'Neill."  He finished his beer and tossed the bottle into a recycling bin.  "No, Jack, I'd never had a gay day in my life.  And except for where Damon's concerned, I still haven't."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Okay, see, I don't get that," Jack said, sitting forward suddenly.  "How can you be carrying on as a perfectly straight, perfectly heterosexual man and then one day - BANG!  What the hell is that?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"It happens sometimes," Decker shrugged.  "I sure as hell can't explain it."  He motioned to Jack's beer.  "You want another?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"No," Jack grunted, "it's not helping."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Decker sat back in his chair and surveyed the miserable man in front of him.  "Have you told him?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Hell no!  I'm still active duty."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Ah," Decker said, understanding.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Are you guys . . . I guess the word I want is monogamous . . . I mean, this isn't about orgies and shit like that is it?  Cause ya hear things about guys who are gay . . ."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Decker stared, wide eyed, at Jack.  "What sort of dumb ass question is that?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jack stood up and started pacing.  "Well I don't know!" he yelled.  "I looked on the internet for stuff . . ."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Oh good god!" Decker moaned.  "I'm not living in some gay porno flick you shit-head!  And will you sit your ass back down - you know I hate it when you do that stalking thing."  Jack threw himself back into the chair and glared angrily at Decker.  "Now listen to me.  I have no desire, what so ever, to be with anyone else.  I'm not attracted to other men and I still like going to the beach to look at all the swimwear," he said with a little grin and a wink.  "But I love Damon.  I've never been unfaithful to him.  You know me Jack; could I say the same thing about Peg when she and I were married?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jack remembered some of the more infamous nights out with Decker - and his litany of falls off the fidelity wagon.  Jack shook his head.</I></div> <div> <I>"I can't explain this any more now than I could twelve years ago.  If what happened to my heart is the same thing that's happened to yours, I'm telling you to jump in with both feet."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"So . . . it's good, then.  Your life?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"It's the best.  But it's hard as hell.  I try and run a business here that teaches kids how to defend themselves.  Every now and then I get a parent who finds out about my domestic situation and they come unglued.  My dojo got raided three times last year by the cops.  Looking for child pornography."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"What?" Jack exclaimed.  "You've got to be kidding me."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Shit like that happens all the time.  People think because I'm in a committed relationship with another adult male that I'm a pedophile.  My house has been torched, my car has been trashed, my dojo gets raided on a regular basis.  You name it, buddy - it has come to visit my door on more than one occasion."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Why do you put up with that crap?  Why don't you move to where no one knows you, start again?"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Decker looked him dead in the eye and without pausing or flinching he answered.  "Because I love him."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"It's worth it?" Jack asked, still not able to understand.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"Every goddamn bit of it," Decker said.</I></div> <bR> <div> "Jack?"  Daniel reached out with his foot and lightly kicked Jack's boot.  "Jack?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked up at him, almost surprised to see him there.  "Sorry, I was . . . thinking."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, the neighbors saw the smoke and were about to call the fire department," Daniel said behind the faintest smile.  He motioned toward the bike.  "So, are we ready here?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked at him once, very seriously.  "You sure you wanna go?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel nodded.  "I'm sure."</div> <bR> <div> "Get on," Jack said and he stood out of the way.  Daniel threw one lean leg over the seat and settled against the back rest.  Jack slid over the seat and tipped the bike up straight.  Daniel had to fight back a groan as Jack started the bike then nestled himself in.  The sheer power of the motorcycle seemed to ease up his legs and circle around his balls.  He swallowed hard as Jack eased out into the road.</div> <bR> <div> "Helmets?" he called forward.</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe I'll buy those next weekend," Jack said with a laugh.  Daniel rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses.</div> <bR> <div> Traffic was reasonably light and it didn't take them long before they were making for the freeway on-ramp.  The first few minutes on the bike had been almost panic filled for Daniel.  Each stop had rolled him forward slightly, his inner thighs rubbing against the outside of Jack's hips.  By the time Jack had begun to accelerate toward freeway speed, Daniel had a hard-on that wouldn't quit.  He prayed he'd been able to keep enough space between their two bodies so Jack wouldn't notice.</div> <bR> <div> As the speed increased, Daniel's worry drifted away.  The absolute power between his legs, the heat of the summer day, the wind in his face and the nearness of Jack lifted him to a place he'd only been a few times before in his life, usually when making an archeological find.  He slapped Jack heartily on both shoulders and laughed loudly as they sped along the freeway.  For the first time in years, he felt truly free.</div> <bR> <div> Jack looked quickly in his mirror to see Daniel's face turned heavenward, a peaceful smile on his face.  He increased the gas and soon they were flying down the road at a speed well over the posted limit, but Jack didn't care at that point.  It seemed as though the faster they went, the clearer things became in his mind.  After several miles he decided he should probably act like the adult he was and he eased back on the speed.  Daniel was looking around, enjoying the view.  He'd managed to get a bandana around his head and Jack had to chuckle.  The guy actually looked pretty cool like that.  They drove until sunset.  Jack pulled into a parking lot filled with cars and semi-trucks.  Almost regretfully he shut off the ignition.</div> <bR> <div> "We're not far from where I wanted to be by tonight so what say we get some dinner?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds good," Daniel said and eased off the bike after Jack had dismounted.  He stumbled a little but caught his balance quickly.  He laughed at himself.  "Been awhile since I've been on one of these things."  He pulled the bandana off his head and scratched at his hair.</div> <bR> <div> "Y'okay?" Jack asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine, fine. . . just a little . . . thrummy."</div> <bR> <div> "Thrummy?  Is that even a word?" Jack scowled.</div> <bR> <div> "No, but it gets the point across.  I can't believe how smooth that thing rides," Daniel said as he followed Jack into the restaurant.  His eyes fell to the incredibly tight ass in front of him and he shook his head. <I>Thank god he doesn't look like that in BDUs</I> he thought to himself.</div> <bR> <div> They managed to find a table and slid into the seats, both men stretching their legs out on the benches while leaning back against the wall.  A waitress came straight over.  "Hello boys," she said cheerily.  "You need something to drink?"</div> <bR> <div> "Uh, just give me water," Jack said, passing on the temptation of beer.</div> <bR> <div> "Give me a J/D and a beer.  Do you have Guinness on tap?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sure do," came the perky response.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll take that."  He smirked at Jack.  "I'm not driving."</div> <bR> <div> Jack glowered slightly.  "J/D and Guinness?  Ewww."  Daniel merely shrugged.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ready to order?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel went to inform her that no, they hadn't even looked at the menus when Jack held up a hand to forestall him.  "Give us two stuffed porkchop dinners, baked potato and spinach salad.  We'll take the house dressing."  He looked over at Daniel.  "Trust me on this."</div> <bR> <div> The waitress smiled and went off with their orders.  "Been here a time or two?" Daniel asked, leaning back and getting comfortable in their booth.</div> <bR> <div> "When I need to think stuff through, I drive.  I usually end up in this direction."  He fiddled with the napkin on the table.</div> <bR> <div> "Jack, thanks for asking me to come along.  This is great," Daniel said, his eyes alight with happiness.</div> <bR> <div> "We needed to do something," Jack said softly.  "The wheels were sort of coming off, ya know?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel grew suddenly quiet.  "Glad I'm not the only one that noticed."</div> <bR> <div> "I noticed.  I was just too . . ."</div> <bR> <div> "Stubborn?"  No reply.  "Pig headed?."  Still silence.  "Self-absorbed?"</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Jack said sharply, cutting Daniel off from his suggestions.  "Anyway, I wanted to get away from everything so we could talk this out, get things into the open."</div> <bR> <div> The waitress picked that time to swoop in and put their drinks in front of them before swirling off to attend to her other customers.</div> <bR> <div> "You could have gone about it a little more cost-effectively than buying a bike like that," Daniel offered.</div> <bR> <div> "That was going to happen anyway."  Jack waved it off.  "The point is, we needed to talk.  Actually, I needed to talk and you need to promise not to knock me into next week."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel tossed back his shot of J/D and motioned to the waitress for another.  "Let me get a few of those in me before you kick me off the team," Daniel said sourly.</div> <bR> <div> "Kick you . . . what?" Jack asked, sitting up straight.  "What gave you the idea you were off the team."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel downed a large drought of beer and licked the foam from his upper lip.  Jack had to fight back the groan that threatened to leave him.  "It's getting to be pretty obvious you don't want me on the team," Daniel stated, his voice flat and emotionless.  "Besides which, you don't trust me."</div> <bR> <div> "I do so!" Jack hissed.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Daniel laughed mirthlessly, "you don't.  You used to, but not any more."</div> <bR> <div> "I've always trusted you.  Implicitly as a matter of fact," Jack said, his voice sharp and angry.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel shook his head and threw back the second shot the waitress brought him.  He fought back a cough as the alcohol burned his throat.  "No.  You trust Sam.  You trust Teal'c.  You think I'm a flake."  Daniel finished off one large gulp of beer.  "Maybe I should say you don't trust my judgment."  He rubbed his finger over a knot in the wood of the table.  "You used to.  I don't understand why you don't now."</div> <bR> <div> Jack sighed and looked out the window.  The sun was just beginning to dip toward the horizon and everything around them was painted the lazy orange/gold of early evening.  Jack looked at his watch.  It was nearly 19:30.  "It's not you I don't trust," he confessed.  "It's me."</div> <bR> <div> "You are really going to have to work hard to explain that," Daniel said as he pushed his shot glass aside and stared into the beer mug.</div> <bR> <div> Jack tensed then relaxed all his muscles, preparing himself.  "I never thought I would say these words to another man in my lifetime," he breathed.  Daniel looked at him strangely and Jack lifted his eyes to meet the confused, hurt, blue ones across the table.  "I find myself hopelessly, ridiculously, and quite illegally, in love with you.  And gaging from my lame-ass attitude toward you over the past months, I have been for awhile."  Daniel ceased all movement.  He didn't blink.  He didn't breath.  Jack began to wonder if his heart was still beating.  "Daniel?"  He reached over and tapped Daniel's arm quickly.  "Yo, Daniel!"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel turned calmly as the waitress sashayed past.  "Excuse me, could you just bring the bottle, please?"  Daniel held up his glass.  The girl shot Jack a worried look.</div> <bR> <div> "Uh, he's had enough for tonight," Jack said calmly.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh no I haven't.  Not by a long shot."</div> <bR> <div> "Sir, I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to need to cut you off," she said quietly.  "Your dinner will be right out.  You'll feel better then."  She strode off to speak with her manager.</div> <bR> <div> "Daniel," Jack said threateningly, "don't you get out of hand."</div> <bR> <div> "Was this the plan, Jack?" Daniel spit.  "Bring me to a public place very far away from home, from prying eyes, drop this bombshell, then, what?  What was the rest of the plan, Colonel O'Neill?"</div> <bR> <div> "Daniel, don't.  Please," Jack asked, but there was no real fight behind the words.  He hadn't known what to expect exactly, but this certainly wasn't it.  Jack could see Daniel trembling as he picked up his beer and finished it off quickly.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you have any idea how I've felt about you for these last three years?  Do you?"  Daniel's voice was barely above a whisper.</div> <bR> <div> Jack shook his head.  "Can't say as I did."</div> <bR> <div> A man suddenly loomed up at the table and gave each of them a polite, professional smile.  "My waitress is concerned about your welfare, sir," he said pointedly to Daniel.  Jack exhaled and sat back in his seat.  "Are you alright?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel looked at the manager then quickly to Jack.  "Yes.  I'm fine.  I won't be drinking any more tonight.  Thank the young lady for her concern, but everything's under control."</div> <bR> <div> "Very well," said the man.  "I'll leave you gentleman to your meal.  My name is Mark and should you need anything, just send Dallas to find me."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Daniel said sincerely.  He watched the man leave.  "If I ask you to take me home right now, no questions asked, would you?"  Jack nodded, unable to hide his intense disappointment.  "If I ask you to take me up into the woods where we could work this out between us the way we need to, would you do that?"</div> <bR> <div> "You know I will," Jack answered.  "But I thought you just said . . ."</div> <bR> <div> "I need to know I'm safe, Jack.  Not that I think you'd do anything against my will, but I can't fight you, not tonight."  Daniel set his hands on the table top, fingers spread wide over the rough grain.  "I need to know if I say <I>stop</I>, you'll have enough regard for me to postpone this until a later date."</div> <bR> <div> "Not a problem," Jack said softly.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel turned his wide blue eyes on Jack.  "Why the hell didn't you say anything?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack rolled his eyes.  "Because I didn't understand what it was until not so long ago," he offered.  "When I realized," he shrugged helplessly, "I didn't know what to do about it.  I had no idea the feelings might be returned."  He pulled himself up straighter and looked at Daniel.  "Are they - returned?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel nodded, chewing his lower lip.  "Frighteningly so."</div> <bR> <div> "I haven't . . . I mean, with another guy . . . I haven't done . . ."  Jack took a large drink of water to wet his dry mouth.</div> <bR> <div> "You're straight, why would you?" Daniel asked as if it were obvious.</div> <bR> <div> Jack ran his hands through his hair.  Daniel noticed how grey he was starting to turn.  He would have felt guilty, knowing he'd caused the majority of it, had it not been so damn attractive.  "Last week I finally bought a clue to this whole thing.  I haven't been able to sleep or eat worth a damn for days."</div> <bR> <div> Almost as if on cue Dallas set two plates of steaming food in front of them and hurried away.  It was obvious she didn't want to be around what she perceived as 'problem' customers.  The smell wafting up from the plates broke through Daniel's fogged mind and he realized suddenly that he hadn't eaten all day.  "This looks great," he said, giving a reassuring smile to Jack.  "Come on, eat up."</div> <bR> <div> The two men plunged into their dinner, eating in silence.  Jack couldn't help but notice the way the manager hovered around by the front of the restaurant.  He wished he'd thought this through more, taken Daniel somewhere else before he told him.  Just as Jack was finishing the last bites of his meal, he felt Daniel's knee bump his.  He looked up quickly.  "I'm looking forward to the rest of the trip," Daniel stated softly.  Leave it to Daniel to recover first and cut to the heart of the matter.</div> <bR> <div> ++++</div> <bR> <div> Daniel watched in awe as the grand splendor of the Rocky Mountains slid past him.  They'd finished dinner and left quietly, much to the relief of the manager and their waitress.  Jack had left an extra large tip in hopes of making up for any inconvenience.  They were on the road once again, winding through the switchbacks and curves of the mountain road.  Daniel let the gentle rocking to and fro of the bike lull him.  Before he realized what he was doing, he slid his hands onto Jack's hips.  Thinking he'd gone too far, he was surprised when Jack grabbed first one wrist and then the other, tugging Daniel's arms fully around his waist.</div> <bR> <div> Jack turned down a secondary road and they continued climbing.  The sky was a glowing orange as the sun finally slipped under the horizon and the scent from the trees and the grass was like perfume to Daniel.  Jack had brought him up here to tell him his feelings - to find out if there was a chance they were returned.  Daniel smiled.  Jack had brought him up here to seduce him.  Two could play at that game.</div> <bR> <div> Leaning into the strong, straight back in front of him, he let his hands slide down over Jack's hips then further onto the strong thighs.  He felt Jack inhale sharply.  Daniel dug his fingertips into the leather and hummed appreciatively against Jack's neck.  He felt the bike bobble ever so slightly before Jack regained control.  "You make me dump my new bike, Daniel, and I'll kick your ass," Jack said.  Daniel could see his smile in the mirror, however.</div> <bR> <div> "What's that?" Daniel asked.  "Kiss my ass, did you say?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack let out a lusty laugh and gunned the motor.  They sped along the deserted road.  Taking his life and Jack's into his very hands, he eased one hand up and over Jack's crotch.  He felt things begin to stir to life under his kneading palm.  He couldn't understand the words Jack exclaimed, but he knew he had Jack's full attention.  He continued to rub and tease, his other hand joining the first.  Daring to up the stakes even higher, he began nuzzling at Jack's neck.  He lost himself in the deliberate tease and hardly noticed when Jack bounced to a stop in a secluded camping area, devoid of any other human inhabitants.  Jack practically threw the bike onto it's stand and yanked Daniel off.</div> <bR> <div> "You shit," he chuckled as he held Daniel in his arms.  Daniel worked off the jacket and began tugging at the t-shirt.  "In a hurry here?"</div> <bR> <div> Daniel grabbed Jack's hand and pushed it against his own straining erection.  "What the hell do you think?"</div> <bR> <div> "We can't just drop down on the rocks," Jack groaned as Daniel began his assault against the various buckles and belts of jeans and chaps.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel snarled and broke away from Jack.  He yanked the two sleeping bags off the back of the bike.  "Come on!"  Jack followed Daniel as they made their way into a small clearing behind the main campsite.  Before Jack could get close enough to help, Daniel had the bags unrolled and on the ground.  He grabbed Jack by the shirt and yanked him down to him.</div> <bR> <div> Jack thought he'd been kissed before, but he'd never received a kiss like he got from the erotically charged archeologist currently in his arms.  Daniel's tongue was everywhere, flicking at Jack's lips, plunging into his mouth, licking a line over his throat.  His body shuddered as Daniel once again tugged at the binding clothing.  "Get this off," Daniel panted, pushing at the t-shirt.  Daniel had finally opened all the buckles and buttons he could find and was tugging furiously at Jack's pants.  Jack raised his hips and felt his clothes being eased down.  He kicked off his boots and Daniel finished peeling the clothes off the rest of the way.</div> <bR> <div> Allowing himself one slow caress down Jack's torso, Daniel dispatched his own clothes as quickly as he could.  Jack watched while, in the soft glow of twilight, Daniel undressed before him.  As he dropped down onto the sleeping bag with Jack, the older man allowed hands that had ached to touch intimately for so long slide over the freshly exposed skin.  Despite the warmth of the summer night, Daniel's skin raised in goose bumps.  Jack couldn't find a word to adequately express what that first, precious touch felt like.  Instead he gathered Daniel into his arms and curled his body around him.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel made a hungry growling sound deep in his throat and began the oral assault on Jack anew.  Soon they were grinding and pushing against each other frantically, needing contact and not finding enough.  Daniel tore his mouth away from the consuming lips of Jack's and pushed away slightly.  "Wait," he gasped in ragged breaths.  He reached for his jacket, fighting Jack's fevered and demanding hands until his fingers found what they were looking for.  He threw the jacket aside.</div> <bR> <div> Jack was biting and licking his chest, making it nearly impossible for Daniel to think.  Marshaling what few working brain cells he had left, Daniel shoved Jack down by placing a hand firmly in the middle of the furred chest.  "Wait," he repeated, more calmly.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't want to wait," Jack snarled and reached for him again.</div> <bR> <div> "In me," Daniel said, his voice more forceful.  That got Jack's attention.  "I want you in me, but we have to slow down.  You'll hurt me, Jack, if we keep going like this.  Please . . . just ease back a little bit, 'k?"  Jack drew in a few shaky breaths and nodded.  "First things first," Daniel said playfully, reaching to where he'd tossed Jack's clothing.  He yanked the leather leggings free of the jeans. "Put these back on."</div> <bR> <div> Even in the low light and without his glasses he could see Jack's eyes turn nearly black with lust.  Jack grabbed the chaps and yanked them on, standing to finish fastening them.  Daniel knelt up and clamped his hands onto Jack's hips.  Without warning he eased Jack's cock head into his mouth, his tongue playing over the sensitized tip.  Jack yelled and bucked forward, choking Daniel in the process.  "Ohgod," he huffed, "sorry . . .sorry, Danny."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel pulled back and gave a little cough.  "I'm not."  He repeated the action, this time more prepared when Jack's hips began to thrust.  Daniel ran his hands up and down over Jack's exposed ass, fingers dipping in and out of the cleft before reaching down to caress the warm leather over the long legs.  Jack let him play for some minutes before he had to pry him away.</div> <bR> <div> "Keep going and I'm done," he warned.</div> <bR> <div> "Get on your back," Daniel said, his voice commanding yet oddly gentle.  Jack all but collapsed down to the bedding.  Daniel moved between his legs and lifted them up and apart.  He had to concentrate hard to keep from coming then and there at the sight of Colonel Jack O'Neill, open and exposed, vulnerable beyond description.  Daniel lay himself down on his stomach, his hands dragging down the back of Jack's thighs.  When his hands reached the fuzzy cheeks, Daniel grasped them and pushed them open and began licking the entrance to Jack's body.  Jack bucked up, pushing himself against Daniel's probing tongue, demanding more.  Daniel didn't disappoint.  Over and over he teased Jack to the very edge of orgasm, then eased him back with gentle kisses and tender licks all over the exposed skin.  When neither man could stand it any longer, Daniel dropped Jack's legs down and straddled his thighs.  From beside him he brought forth his treasure - a small tube of sun block.</div> <bR> <div> He squirted some onto his fingers and liberally coated Jack's cock.  With the remainder he reached back and roughly prepared himself, stretching his opening in a mad rush to take his lover into him.  "Gimme that," Jack demanded, squirting the lotion onto his own hand.  He pushed up on the underside of Daniel's thigh.  Daniel propped the foot of that leg on the ground while still kneeling down on the other.  Jack reached underneath him, Daniel guiding his fingers to the opening.</div> <bR> <div> Jack found the slightly loosened ring and pushed first one, then two fingers inside.  He remembered the times with his ex-wife when she'd requested her loving in this fashion.  This was familiar and his confidence began to creep upward as he realized that he wouldn't be the bumbling idiot he had feared.</div> <bR> <div> Jack's long fingers stroked inside Daniel's hot and responsive body.  He curled his fingers searching for the fabled 'sweet spot' inside.  When Daniel nearly impaled himself down to Jack's wrist, he knew he'd found it.  He inserted three fingers and began a rhythmic massage, Daniel's hips working in slow circles as he experienced wave after wave of intense pleasure.  When Jack felt that the passage was suitably prepared, he withdrew his fingers and grasped the base of his cock, rubbing the head over the opening.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel lowered himself carefully, sucking in a quick breath when Jack pierced his body, then pressing himself down steadily until he sheathed his lover completely.  Jack fought to maintain his control.  Daniel looked down at him and smiled.  He began to rotate his hips in slow, deliberate circles and Jack arched in to every thrust and grind.  Sweat poured from his body as well as Daniel's, both men lost in ecstatic bliss.</div> <bR> <div> Jack reached out and grasped Daniel's cock in his slippery fingers, rubbing and stroking Daniel firmly, pushing him ever closer to the point of no return.  "Ah goddammit Jack," Daniel groaned.  Jack smiled as he felt Daniel's cock jerk and spasm in his palm.</div> <bR> <div> "Good?" Jack asked.</div> <bR> <div> "So good, Jack.  So fucking good."  Daniel reached behind him and lifted Jack's legs slightly so he could lean against them.  His fingers grabbed the leather in an iron grip.  The angle forced Jack's cock to rub almost directly over Daniel's prostate over and over again as each deep stab sought to penetrate to his core.  Daniel began sobbing out his need for release, clutching frantically at Jack's legs.</div> <bR> <div> Jack sat up slowly and wrapped his arms around Daniel's shoulders before gently rolling them both to the side, then further still until Daniel was laying on his back.  "You wanna come?" Jack teased, pulling his dick nearly all the way out before sliding it back in slowly until his balls nestled against the smooth ass below him.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes!" shouted Daniel.  "Yesyesyesyes."</div> <bR> <div> "Want me to <I>make</I> you come?" Jack whispered dangerously into Daniel's ear as he repeated the achingly slow withdrawal and penetration.</div> <bR> <div> "Jack <I>please</I>," begged Daniel, thrusting his hips up in a demanding plea.</div> <bR> <div> "Then take it," Jack growled.  He began to piston his hips hard and fast into Daniel's unbelievably willing body.  He covered Daniel's mouth with his own, taking in the moaning, keening cries for release as though they were the sweetest wine.  Daniel reached down and gripped the waist of Jack's leathers, attempting to somehow pull Jack just that much closer.</div> <bR> <div> It was finally too much and with a howling shout Daniel climaxed thick and heavy between them sending Jack into a frenzy of his own until his body had emptied into his lover's, leaving him weak and shaking.  Both men lay entwined for long minutes, rubbing gently against each other as the tidal wave of orgasm subsided and they eased apart.  Jack began undoing the buckles around his waist.  Daniel looked over at him, the fog of sexual completion still swirling around him.  "Jack?"</div> <bR> <div> "I know you like these on me, Daniel, but I'm sweaty and if I don't get out of these now," he said, beginning to tug them down, "I never will."</div> <bR> <div> Daniel snickered and raised up to help him, enjoying the opportunity to undress Jack twice in one night.  Jack lay back, letting the night air cool him.  He reached out and ran a hand down Daniel's damp back, thrilled just to be able to reach out and touch at will.  "Okay?"</div> <bR> <div> "You're kidding, right?" Daniel smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't mean to get that carried away," Jack explained, his voice tinged with apology.</div> <bR> <div> "I would have stopped you if you went too far," Daniel said, his hand ghosting up and down Jack's leg.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm assuming you've done that a time or two before," Jack said softly, continuing to run his hand over the velvet skin of the man beside him.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel smiled shyly.  "Once or twice.  It's been a very long time, though."  Daniel looked down at his stomach.  "We're messy."</div> <bR> <div> "We're also camped near a stream," Jack said.  He stood up slowly, rubbing his low back.  "Remind me to bring sleeping mats next time."  He helped Daniel up and they made their way carefully to a small stream with water that had been thoroughly warmed by the sun all day long.  Both men stood knee deep and splashed about, the quiet of the night and the moonlight keeping them mostly silent except for teasing laughs.  Jack reached out toward Daniel, embracing him tenderly, holding him close for long minutes.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry I never said anything, Daniel."</div> <bR> <div> "If this is what it got us in the end, Jack, I'm okay with it.  More than okay."  They made their way out of the stream and back toward camp, picking their things up along the way.  Jack unfurled his 'technotent' and the two men shook out the sleeping bags before zipping them together and settling in for the night.</div> <bR> <div> "How long did you say we had off?" Daniel asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Two more days," Jack said, the need for sleep pressing heavily in upon him.</div> <bR> <div> Daniel lay close, laying an arm across Jack's stomach.  "How many miles did you want to put on that bike?"</div> <bR> <div> "I knew this ride would be the death of me," he said teasingly as he gathered Daniel into his arms.</div> <bR> <div> "You talking about the bike . . . or me?"  The last sound heard that night by the denizens of the dark was the satisfied laugh of one Doctor Daniel Jackson.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> - finis -</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto:claforce@plotexpo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:claforce@plotexpo.com"><U>Give the author's ego a marshmallow . . . please feed the bear.</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <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></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=45 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00f64643.jpg"> <div> <B> <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><B><IMG SRC="0181d270.jpg" border=0 width="29" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></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="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Journal Entries Part 5"><U><B><IMG SRC="017271d0.jpg" border=0 width="39" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wings"><U><B><IMG SRC="016271d0.jpg" border=0 width="39" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>