Touch
Touch
v. touched, touch *ing, touch*es
v. tr.
1. To cause or permit a part of the body, especially the hand or fingers, to come in contact with so as to feel.
2. To affect the emotions of; move to tender response.
* * *
"Jack?"
"Yea." The response was a grunt as the man leaned over a crate of new ammunition.
"You got a minute?"
Jack stood up straight and turned to look at the form currently occupying the doorway. "We leave for 892 in ten minutes, Daniel. Can't this wait?"
"Look I, uh . . . I was just wondering when we get back if we could . . . talk."
The tone Daniel put on that last word sent every alarm Jack had clanging loudly inside him. "About what?"
"Well that's the part we need to talk about. I was just wondering if you were leaving for vacation right away when we got back."
"No, not for a few days." Jack stuffed the extra clips of ammo into the pockets of his vest.
"I'll buy the first round at Murphy's," Daniel offered, his eyes hopeful.
"'K," Jack said warily.
"Okay. Well. See you in the gate room." Daniel turned and walked down the corridor, leaving a concerned Colonel behind.
"This can't be good," Jack muttered as he left, pulling and locking the door behind him.
++++
"Do we have an IDC?" Hammond asked as he entered the control room. According to his watch, it was exactly 1800 hours - precisely the time SG-1 was scheduled to return from their mission. Something had to be wrong.
"Yes, sir. It's SG-1," came the calm reply.
"Open the iris," Hammond said. He watched as the giant metallic shield slid open. A few moments later, SG-1 walked leisurely through, although three of them were looking disgusted with their fourth. He wondered what Doctor Jackson had done this time. He suddenly noticed the reaction of the SFs in the gate room, and the disheveled appearance of his premiere team. The men and women who stood guard stolidly around the gate each time it was opened were now acting as though they couldn't get far enough away from the returning team. Hammond made his way down to the gate room.
". . . take me a week to wash the stink off," Jack was growling in Daniel's direction as he handed over his weapons.
"If we refused to follow the customs, Jack, we wouldn't have that treaty and you know it. It's just a little mud - quit whining."
"I'm not whining, Daniel," Jack huffed. "I reek. Badly."
Just then the stench of the team hit Hammond and he took a step back. "Colonel, what in blazes happened?"
"Ask Daniel, sir. He makes it sound so much more appealing," Jack groused as he peeled off his heavily soiled vest.
"Doctor Jackson?"
"It was simply a matter of agreeing to meet with the people of the planet according to their customs and . . ."
"Doctor Jackson, please, just this once. Give me the abridged version," Hammond asked, his eyes beginning to tear.
"Cow pasture, sir," Jack said as he tried to remove his jacket without touching himself. "We had to carry on negotiations in a field of great, smelly beasts in order to show our humbleness and humility of spirit."
"It smells like you rolled around in a skunk den, Colonel," Hammond said, backing away further.
"You should have smelled the critters close up," Jack said, as he bent down to untie the laces on his boots. "Odiferous doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Daniel did get the treaty signed, sir. We've got rights to mine the trinium in the mountains," Carter put in as she, too, eased her way out of her outer clothing.
"That's excellent news people. I'll wait to hear the rest after you've showered. Twice." With that, Hammond beat a hasty retreat back to his office. "Sergeant?" he called as he returned to the control room.
"Sir?"
"Have those clothes burned and get someone down here to get that stench out of my gate room."
"Yes, sir."
++++
"Do I still smell like those things?" Jack asked, shoving a mop of wet hair into Daniel's face.
Daniel started, and sniffed. "I dunno - I can't tell any more."
"What do you mean you don't know? Do I or don't I smell?"
"Jack, I can't tell. My nose is used to it, or dead, or . . . . something."
"You think that stuff the doc gave us took the smell out?" Jack sniffed at his forearm before holding it out to Daniel.
"I'm not sniffing you any more," Daniel said firmly just as a member of SG-9 walked in looking for the showers. He gave Daniel an odd glance before turning to his own locker.
"Humphries," Jack said, descending on the hapless man. "Here. Smell me. Do I stink?"
The man looked at Jack liked he'd lost his mind. "Sir?"
"Stink. Do I stink? Here. Sniff." Jack held up his arm.
Humphries leaned down and sniffed carefully at the Colonel's wrist then cringed. "God! What is that?"
"I still smell?" Jack roared. "Dammit!"
Daniel couldn't help but chuckle. "Guess we're not grabbing that beer tonight after all," he said to himself as he began tying his shoes.
"I'm calling a vet," Jack said suddenly.
"A what? A . . . a vet? Jack, I don't think we contracted rabies while we were there."
"Daniel, all vets know how to get the stink out of dogs. They can tell us what to use." Jack went to put on his leather coat then thought better of it. "That stays right here until I'm my sweet smelling self again." He hurried from the locker room.
Daniel looked at Humphries who was staring after the Colonel.
"That bad?" Daniel asked.
"No. Couldn't smell a thing, actually," Humphries grinned.
The closing door stopped Daniel's laughter from being heard down the hall.
++++
Daniel settled down into the cushions of his couch, adjusted the light beside him and opened the book he'd been saving for the next time he had some extended down time. The book's leather spine creaked as he opened it, the smell of paper and ink wafting up to him through the steam from the cup of coffee he'd brought with him. The combination made him smile and he began to read.
Just then, a thumping knock resounded through his apartment and he grunted in disappointment. He was planning on a quiet night with a few hot cups of coffee, a biscotti, and his latest acquisition - the collector's set of J.R.R. Tolkien. Resignedly, he placed both mug and book down on the table and pushed himself up from the couch. After throwing the locks and undoing the chain, he opened the door to a fuming Jack O'Neill.
"I suppose you think that was very cute."
"Humphries is the one who did it, not me," Daniel said placidly. He gave an experimental sniff in Jack's direction. "New cologne?"
"You owe me a beer, smart guy."
Daniel stood aside and let Jack into his home before throwing the locks on the door once again. "Import or domestic?"
"Oh, I want the good stuff," Jack said.
Daniel rummaged through his refrigerator and found the requested beer. He handed it to Jack who had, as always, appropriated the spot he'd been sitting in originally. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed his cup and settled into a chair across from him.
"As I recall," Jack said, slugging back a large drink, "there was something you wanted to talk about?"
"After the day we had, it's probably best if we . . . didn't. You don't seem like you're in the best mood."
Jack waved Daniel off. "I'm only slightly put out that someone got the best of me. You seemed serious earlier today. What's up?"
Daniel sighed into his coffee as he formulated his words. He wondered, briefly, why he thought it would be easier to do this in a crowded bar than the privacy of his own home. He shook his head of the random thoughts and set the coffee down in front of him.
"I was . . . wondering . . . something."
Jack raised his eyebrows and took another drink. "And?"
"Aris Boch," Daniel said.
"You were wondering about Aris Boch? What about him?"
"Well maybe not so much . . . him . . . as the way things got . . . around . . . him." Daniel scrunched up his eyebrows, looking like he'd confused even himself with that last comment.
"I'm not following," Jack said, settling farther down into the cushions.
Daniel gave a small cough. "You were very . . . protective."
"Yes?"
"Around him."
"Yes?" A little frustration was beginning to be heard in Jack's voice.
"Of . . . me." Daniel looked up at Jack over the rim of his glasses. He was stunned to the core to see color had settled on the man's cheekbones.
"Meaning, what exactly?" Jack asked, his voice low.
"That's what I'm asking you," Daniel ventured carefully. "I'm wondering if that meant something I should know about . . . something we should maybe . . . talk about?"
Jack's movements suddenly became very deliberate and controlled. He finished his beer and set it soundlessly down on the table. When he sat back, he put his hands on his knees and left them there. Daniel knew they were in dangerous waters because Jack never, ever held still during a normal conversation. This topic had him on edge.
"I don't think talking about this is a good idea," Jack said.
"I think it is," Daniel said, moving forward in his own seat and leaning forward on his knees. "I want to talk about it." He clasped his hands together to steady them before speaking again. "I was right, wasn't I?"
"Daniel, please."
"Wasn't I?" Daniel pushed gently. Jack's slight head nod sent his heart racing, trying to hammer its way out of his chest.
"I should go," Jack said. In one fluid move he was up and making his way to the door. Daniel caught him before he reached it, stopping him with a touch to his arm.
"You're leaving for Minnesota tomorrow?"
Jack leaned his weight against the hand that was holding the doorknob. "Yeah."
"I want to go with you."
Jack turned to look at him. "What?"
"I want to go with you. To the cabin. Fishing," Daniel said with a small smile.
"No," Jack said, turning back around.
"Why?" Daniel asked. "Don't you want me there?"
Jack looked up at him then and the pain and conflict Daniel saw in Jack's eyes caused him to take a small step back. "That isn't the issue," Jack said tightly.
"Then what is?"
"I want you everywhere," Jack said, his voice thick. "That's the issue."
"Why? I'm trying to tell you, I'm fine with that. More than fine," Daniel said quietly.
"You don't get it, do you?" Jack said with a mirthless smile.
"Oh I get it, alright. Rules and regulations be hanged," Daniel stated, stepping closer to Jack. "What time are we leaving?"
"Daniel . . ."
"Jack. What time are we leaving?"
"I'm not taking you with me," Jack said.
"Yes you are," Daniel said. "I'll be at your house at five. Is that early enough?"
Daniel watched as emotions chased their way across Jack's face before defeat finally won. Jack nodded briefly and unlocked the door. He left without saying another word.
++++
Jack heard the doorbell ring at 0430. He groaned inwardly and left the coffee maker to work by itself. He was hoping against hope that Daniel would sleep through this morning, forget the whole thing upon waking and let him make a quiet escape to his sanctuary in the deep woods of Minnesota. He knew he wouldn't get away with it.
He walked woodenly to the door and pulled it open to see Daniel standing quietly, flanked by three large duffle bags and two suit cases. Jack eyed the amount of luggage then looked out the door and at his shrubs. "Where are they?"
Daniel looked around quickly. "Who?"
"The rest of the people making the trip with us, 'cause that cannot all be yours," he said, pointing at the bags.
"I wasn't sure how cold it gets up there, or how hot, and I brought some books and some work along, my computer, some reference . . . materials." He stopped when he saw the look on Jack's face. "Is the truck unlocked? I'll start packing up."
Jack leaned down and grabbed one of the duffle bags and grunted when he lifted its weight. "Christ!"
"That would be the one with the books."
"Where are your clothes?"
Daniel pointed at the smaller suitcases behind him. Jack picked those up, scowling furiously at his friend, and led the way to the pickup truck sitting in the driveway. After rearranging the gear and finding secure locations for Daniel's things, both men went into the house for coffee. "We can stop for breakfast along the way if you want," Jack said.
"Uh . . . later, probably. I'm not really hungry this early in the morning."
Jack nodded and filled a thermos with the pot of coffee, then pulled down two travel mugs and filled them up. He handed one to Daniel, threw the grounds and filter in the garbage, turned off the machine and grabbed his keys. "We might as well get going," he said. He tied up the garbage sack and carried it with him through to the garage where he placed it in the can. After he and Daniel were in the truck, he lowered the garage door and started the engine.
"I extended my leave to coincide with yours," Daniel said as he belted himself in. "That way you don't have to come back early and I don't have to find my own way home . . . hope that's okay?"
"Yeah," Jack said as he settled in.
"Look, I know this is awkward . . ."
"Can we just . . . not talk about this right now?"
"Sure," Daniel said. "Sorry." He reached behind the seat and grabbed his jacket, balling it up into a pillow which he put between his head and the window. Within minutes, he'd fallen fast asleep.
Jack listened to Daniel's breathing even out until the cab was filled with soft snores. He allowed himself to relax slightly now that Daniel was sleeping and the threat of the inevitable conversation had been put off.
He shook his head as he pondered the series of events that had led him to this point in time. It all melted into one big jumble, no beginning, no definite point of knowing that he'd fallen solidly in love with his teammate and best friend - just the constant rumble of feelings being hidden away. Until Aris Boch.
"Idiot," Jack snarled. The bounty hunter had turned out to be okay in the end, but he'd played Jack from the word go and made him feel like a complete fool. More than anything about that mission, that was the one thing Jack just couldn't stomach. That he was a threat to the safety of his team was obvious - that he was direct competition for Daniel's attention was a little more cloudy. He'd refused to let Daniel be anywhere near the man alone, yet he hadn't acted like that with Carter, the one team member with whom that concern should have resided. He knew Carter could handle herself in battlefield situations - in just about any situation, frankly - but he hadn't been alarmed at what he perceived was very obvious flirting on Boch's part toward her. No, what had gripped his gut were the wide-eyed looks Boch had gotten from Daniel.
Jack shook his head in disgust. He didn't know when he'd let himself become so unprofessional that a civilian could read him like a book. Then again, this was Daniel . . . books were the house specialty. And now here they were . . . together . . . on their way to a secluded cabin in Minnesota, where they would . . . 'talk' about things. For two weeks. Jack rubbed tiredly at his eyes and wondered if it was too much to hope for a little intervention by Thor right about now.
Looking over at his sleeping friend, he couldn't help but smile. Where angels fear to tread, Doctor Jackson just dives right in, Jack told himself. Daniel's glasses dangled precariously from his fingers and Jack reached over to grab them, folding them and putting them in the small tray between their seats. Muttering something in his sleep, Daniel turned further toward the window as his snores increased. Jack fought the urge to reach out and calm him, pulling his fist back in restraint. It was going to be a long drive.
++++
Daniel jerked awake when he felt the truck jolt. "Jack?"
"Pothole. Sorry. You up for that breakfast now?"
"Breakfast? What? Where the hell are we?" Daniel looked around for his glasses before spotting them in the tray where Jack put them.
"We're in Nebraska. Now, are you hungry?" Jack unbuckled his seatbelt and shut off the engine.
"Nebraska? How long was I asleep?" He looked at his watched and grunted. "Are we still even in the same time zone?"
Jack slid easily out of the truck. After a minute or two, Daniel stumbled up beside him and the two men walked across the crowded, wet parking lot.
Daniel's nose immediately caught the smell of country bacon and ham. He stomach rumbled loud enough for Jack to hear. "Guess I am hungry," he said at Jack's teasing look.
"They serve the best breakfast in the world right here." Jack led him into the packed truck stop. Daniel yawned and scratched his head, sleepily looking around. "Bathrooms are over that way," he said, pointing toward the counter.
Daniel nodded and ambled off, still yawning and trying to stretch the kinks out of his back from sleeping for so long in the truck. Jack watched him until a pretty, young waitress came up to seat him. He indicated an empty booth not far from the door and settled himself down in the red vinyl bench seat. The waitress brought two cups and a carafe of coffee and set two worn menus down on the table. Jack thanked her and she smiled brightly at him.
Daniel slid into the seat opposite Jack and immediately poured the coffee, inhaling the rich aroma deeply. "Oh yeah, this is the real stuff." He took a sip of the dark liquid and nodded. "Can't get that at a latte stand, that's for sure." He picked up the menu, scratched his jaw and began to read. "So. What's good here?"
"Pancakes," Jack said, sliding his menu to the edge of the table without looking.
"Yeah? That ham smells good though. Maybe I'll get the eggs."
"No you won't." Jack said, relaxing against the seat back.
"'Scuse me?"
"No eggs. They give you gas."
Daniel was about to object when he remembered the close confines of the truck. "Ah." He gazed down the menu again. "How are the waffles?"
"Don't know. Never had them."
"How many times have you been here?" Daniel asked.
"Every time I drive through."
"And you've never had the waffles?"
"I like the pancakes."
"You order those every time?"
"Well . . . yeah."
"Does the word rut mean anything to you? Hello." Daniel smiled up at the waitress.
"What can I get you fellas?" she drawled.
"I'll have the Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, side order of hash browns and ham. He," Daniel said, pointing at Jack before the man could open his mouth, "will have the biscuits and gravy, side of hash browns, extra gravy over those, Texas toast and an orange juice. Oh, and I'll have a large glass of milk."
"Sure thing, sugar," the waitress said as she waltzed back toward the kitchen.
"I wanted pancakes," Jack said flatly.
"Live a little," Daniel snorted as he took another sip of coffee.
++++
An hour later, Jack and Daniel were settled back in the cab of the truck, Daniel at the wheel. Jack was more than a little grumpy. "I'm not that tired, Daniel. I make this drive all the time."
"Be quiet and go to sleep for awhile. Just mark the roads I'm supposed to take on the map and I'll get us there." Daniel waited until Jack was settled and had traced the route for him before starting off. As he waited for traffic, he glanced at their final destination for the day. "You're kidding."
Jack smiled and looked out the window. "Nope."
"O'Neill, Nebraska?"
"Has a poetic ring to it, don't'cha think?"
"I think you are far too full of yourself to be believed," Daniel chuckled as he followed a line of cars onto the road that would lead to the highway. "And we'll be staying at?"
"Elms Best Value Inn," Jack said. "Allison's Steakhouse is right down the road. They do a ribeye steak that'll make you believe there is a real God."
"They all know you there, don't they?" Daniel smiled.
"Oh yeah." Jack settled into the seat, using Daniel's jacket as a pillow. "Maybe I'll close my eyes for a few minutes." He slitted one eye opened and looked at Daniel. "Don't hurt my truck."
"I'll try to avoid running into any roving cattle herds I may come across, Jack."
Jack grunted, folded his arms over his chest and was fast asleep in minutes.
++++
Daniel watched the countryside roll past him. He'd never been a big fan of road trips like this, but he was enjoying himself on this one. Much to his surprise, he found Nebraska to be fiercely beautiful country, laid out in a quilted pattern of grain fields. The early summer warmth felt good coming through the windows. Jack had arranged himself so the window on the passenger side could be lowered and now the air from the open lands blew through the cab, keeping them warm and cool in turns.
It was closing in on evening, and despite a few breaks for the bathroom and gas, not to mention a little something to eat, he and Jack were nearly at their stopping point for the day and it was only just around sunset. He looked over at Jack, who had continued to let him drive throughout the day. Jack was gazing out the side window, the breeze ruffling his hair and moving his shirt lightly about his shoulders and neck. He could tell the man was deep in thought.
Daniel saw the sign for their final turn off and when he slowed to make the corner, Jack seemed to pull himself from his reverie. Daniel followed the signs to the agreed-upon motel and when he turned into the parking lot, Jack unhitched the door. "One room?"
Daniel put the truck in 'park' and turned off the engine. "I'm comfortable with that."
Jack nodded and got out of the truck, leaving Daniel to wait. He stomach gave a little flip-flop at the prospect of what he'd let himself in for . . . but Jack was acting anything but comfortable with him and he resigned himself to not assume too much. They still had hours of talking yet to do before any leaps of faith could be taken - by either of them. He watched as Jack strode purposefully back toward him and quickly got in the truck.
"One room left." He held up the key. "It's over here to the right."
Daniel moved the truck in the direction indicated and both men grabbed their travel bags from the back and entered the room. Daniel couldn't help but chuckle when Jack flipped on the light in the room. One queen sized bed greeted them. "Damn," Jack sighed.
"It's okay," Daniel said, turning to leave the room, giving Jack an understanding pat on the arm. "We can try the Super 8 down the road."
"No, no . . . this is . . . fine." He tossed his bag into the small closet alcove and walked fully into the room. "You don't want to stay at that one - trust me."
"Bad experience?"
"You could say that." He moved off toward the bathroom and closed the door.
Daniel lay his bag on the small stand at the foot of the bed and found the remote for the television. He flipped it on and was reasonably surprised to find a full listing of premium cable channels. He found CNN and sat down on the bed, stretching his legs out in front of him, flexing muscles that had become stiff from the prolonged hours of sitting.
Jack emerged from the bathroom and glanced at the tv. "I could use some snacks. Wanna go?"
"Nah, I think I'll just kick back here." He dug his wallet out of his pocket. "Get me some Ding Dongs, would'ya?" He tossed a five dollar bill at Jack.
"Sure. Anything else?"
"Nope. Need to save room for this steak I was hearing about."
"I'll be back in a bit," Jack said.
When Daniel heard the door close, he sighed and lay back on the bed. "I must be out of my mind," he said to the ceiling.
++++
Jack walked quietly through the isles of the small pharmacy. He shook his head as he gazed at the assortment of lubrication products before him. He leaned down to make sure he'd read one correctly . . . yep . . . flavored. What ever happened to the days of Trojans and KY, he wondered to himself. He looked around once again, then reached for a bottle of Astroglide. He shrugged as he took his selections to the back counter and the waiting pharmacist. He glanced up. Male pharmacist, thank heavens. He totaled up the items, not even bothering to glance at them as he dumped them in a paper sack. Jack paid, got his change and pocketed the remaining cash, all without a word other than "thank you" from the man.
Jack made his way outside, and climbed into the truck. He sat quietly for a few minutes wondering why, when he was on the verge of getting the one thing he'd been dreaming of for years, he felt as though everything had suddenly gone horribly, terribly wrong. He should be thrilled, beyond ecstatic. Instead, he wanted to call the nearest rental car dealership, tell them to have a car delivered to the motel and send Daniel packing.
His mind went to a time, long ago, when he'd first secreted Sara away for a weekend at the cabin. They'd driven all night, sleeping on the side of the road by a gas station because, back then, gas stations closed just after sundown, and they didn't have the money for a hotel or the gas to go further. They'd snuggled up in a sleeping bag, but Jack had refused to let things go very far because it would be their first time, and he didn't want it to be in the back seat of car - they'd wait until they got to the cabin. He'd been so crazy in love and so high on life that weekend that every word, every moment was etched into his brain and was so clear in his memory that it felt as though it had just happened yesterday. Why wasn't he like that now? Unable to understand it, he simply drove back to the motel.
When he opened the door, he immediately heard the shower running, and was thankful that he could put his "extra" purchases away in his bag quickly without having to hide them. He got the rest of the things he bought out of the bags and allowed himself a chance to relax for a minute.
The water shut off and a few minutes later Daniel emerged wearing a fresh t-shirt and jeans, his hair stuck up in tufts and spikes on his head from where he'd toweled it dry. When he spied Jack, he looked around and found the box of Ding Dongs, which he grabbed before sitting on the bed to pull on fresh socks. "Thanks for getting those."
"No problem," Jack said as he flipped around the channels.
"You know, I can't believe how grimy I feel after doing nothing but sitting in a vehicle all day driving."
"There was a lot of dust in the air," Jack said absently as he finally settled on a baseball game.
Daniel unwrapped one of the chocolate-covered, cream -illed cakes and popped the whole thing in his mouth. "Whoofs pwaying?" he said around the food as he began to chew.
"Looks like Seattle and Texas."
Daniel glanced up at the screen briefly then reached into his bag, pulling out the large, leather-bound book he'd attempted to start the night before. "Think I'll read," he said.
"Don't like baseball?" Jack asked.
"Love baseball. Hate the Mariners."
"Ah."
"Not too fond of Texas, either."
"Who do you like?"
"Cubs. Mets. Diamondbacks. 'Cause . . . you know . . ."
"Home team?"
"Yeah."
"Pull for the underdog, huh?"
"Always." Daniel looked around. "You get any soda?"
"I got beer." Jack held up a can of Budweiser.
"Nah." Daniel settled down to read. "When we gonna go get dinner?"
"Nine?"
"Late?"
"Yeah - less people."
" 'k."
For the next hour, the only sounds in the room were the running commentary on the game, and the whisper of turning pages from a book. Daniel had turned on the room fan so the afternoon heat would dissipate. Jack snuck a couple of Daniel's treats during the game, and when at last it was time to go, he found himself almost reluctant to leave. He was comfortable and relaxed, but when his stomach growled, Daniel looked over at him first then at his watch.
"You have that thing on a timer?"
"Nice," Jack said as he rolled off the bed.
They headed out the door and Daniel was surprised when Jack walked past the truck. "Aren't we . . .?"
"Nope. It's just right over here," Jack pointed.
"Oh."
The two fell into step. Daniel noticed and smiled. "We do this all the time now."
"What?"
Daniel pointed back and forth at their feet. Jack looked down and watched as their synchronous steps echoed on the pavement. "Years of practice," Jack observed.
When they entered the restaurant, Jack was immediately greeted by a middle aged hostess who was all smiles and hugs for the man. Daniel laughed as she barely noticed Jack's introduction of him as his "buddy from the base." Shaking his head, he followed the two to a booth in the back of the steakhouse.
"Jack darlin', it's just been too long," twanged the woman.
"I don't get as much time off as I'd like," Jack said apologetically.
"Well aren't I just lucky you picked my night to show up?" She patted his hand. "What'll you have, sugar?"
"Same as always," Jack smiled.
"And you?" she asked, turning a slightly impatient look in Daniel's direction.
"I'll . . . have what he's having."
"Good choice," she said with a false little laugh. "Jack honey, can I get you a beer?"
"The usual," Jack nodded.
"Sir?" she said in Daniel's general direction.
"I'll . . . have what he's having."
"Well that'll be just fine," she said to Jack with a large grin. "I'll see if I can't get the cook to get you some of the first cheese breads that come out of the oven."
"You know how much I love those, Nel," Jack practically purred.
"I know you do," Nel beamed. "Shall I bring some for your friend, too?"
"I'll. . . . just . . . have what he's having," Daniel said, pointing at Jack and trying to keep the grin from his face.
"I won't be but a minute," Nel said before sauntering away.
After she left the table, Daniel managed to keep most of the teasing laugh below an all out chuckle. "Oh my god . . . that was . . ."
Jack shrugged. "She likes me."
"Oh, ya think?" Daniel snickered. He watched as Jack played with his silverware. "You didn't."
"Didn't what?" Jack asked, refusing to raise his head.
"You . . . you did!" Daniel leaned over the table. "You slept with her?" he asked in a whisper.
"She was much younger . . . and much . . . younger . . . then." Jack rolled his eyes.
Daniel had to bite his lower lip to keep from laughing out loud. "Jack . . . you dog."
"It was right before I met Sara . . . I was out on leave . . . I had a few too many . . ."
"A few?" Daniel did laugh then. "You would have had to have been three sheets to the wind to..."
"Here you go," Nel sing-songed as she set a basket full of hot mini-loaves and two beers between the two men. "Those steaks will be right up."
"Thank you," Daniel said automatically.
"Now Jack," Nel said in her thick accent, "I hope you won't just leave this time without . . . saying goodbye." Nel tilted her head and batted her false eyelashes.
"I'll try," Jack said, wanting nothing more than to kick Daniel under the table to make him stop laughing.
"Clive's on down in Lincoln for a day or so - you could . . . drop by."
"We're pretty much on a schedule, Nel," Jack said softly. "I can't promise anything."
"Well you do what you can, hmm?" She gave him a wink and walked away.
Jack waited until Nel was well out of hearing range before he turned his attention to Daniel. "Will you knock it off?"
"I can't help it," Daniel said through his laughter. He reached up and wiped his eyes. "This is the funniest thing I've ever seen." He took off on another bout of laughter while buttering one of the still-steaming cheese breads.
"She's a nice girl," Jack said, sitting back in his seat, preparing his own small loaf.
"Jack, that 'girl' is well into her fifties and has the largest set of dentures I have ever seen in my life."
"She is a little overwhelming," Jack said with a snicker. "I just hope she doesn't turn up at the motel."
"That'd be . . . frightening. Look, you want off the hook here?"
"What d'ya mean?" Jack asked, confused.
"You just let me handle this," Daniel said confidently. "Trust me."
"Oh god," Jack muttered.
Dinner went without a hitch as Nel became busy with some last minute customers. Jack and Daniel grunted and sighed their way through what, to Daniel's mind, was the finest meal he'd ever eaten - steak tender enough he could cut it with his fork alone; rich, buttery corn; warm bread; and a stack of mashed potatoes and steak gravy that had nearly overflowed his plate. By the time they were done, neither man was sure if they could move.
Another waitress dropped off their check on her way to help Nel with the large orders being served to the six men at a group table. After waiting for Nel to make her appearance at the register, Daniel grabbed the check and waggled his eyebrows at Jack. "I'll take care of this."
As they approached the register, Nel beamed, her eyes fixing like lasers on Jack. She totaled out the ticket and as she handed the change back to Daniel, he took her hand and stepped into her personal space. She had no choice but to look up at him, and when she did - she was transfixed. "Nel, thank you. That was truly, the most delicious, succulent meal that has ever passed my lips." Daniel brought the wrinkled hand to his face and kissed the large knuckles tenderly. He made sure to maintain eye contact at all times - having purposely removed his glasses.
"Ohhhh . . . myyyyyyy," Nel cooed as Daniel stepped away.
"I hope we pass back through this way again . . . soon," Daniel said. With that, he left the restaurant.
"See ya, Nel," Jack said.
"Bye," was all he got for an answer.
Once outside, Daniel settled his glasses back on his face and put his hands in his pocket while he waited for Jack to catch up. "I believe that should take care of that."
"You arrogant little shit," Jack teased.
"I do look in the mirror, Jack. I'm not completely oblivious." Daniel started walking back to the motel.
"I don't guess you are." Jack gave a little smile. "Maybe she'll come looking for you."
"You mind leaving town tonight?" Daniel asked quickly. Both men chuckled in response.
They entered their motel room and Daniel moved to dig around in his overnight bag. "You want the bathroom first?"
"Nah, that's fine. You go ahead." Jack watched him pull what looked like the bottoms to a pair of medical scrubs and an old, worn t-shirt from his bag, along with his shaving kit. Once the bathroom door closed, Jack considered what might happen and felt his stomach tighten. He sat down and began to undress, making sure to fold his clothes neatly so he could get one more day's wear out of them. When he heard Daniel brushing his teeth, he slid under the covers, clad only in his briefs, and waited for the inevitable. Out of habit more than a desire to watch tv, Jack flipped to movie channel and left it there. He watched Daniel shuffle around the room, getting his things ready for the morning.
"Bathroom's yours," he said as he yanked down his side of the bed covers.
Jack rolled back out of bed and hurried into the bathroom. He pissed then washed his hands. Looking up into the mirror, he was slightly surprised at the image that stared back at him. He looked tired, worn. His hair had turned so grey so quickly, he'd been rather surprised at the change, and there were lines around his mouth and eyes that hadn't been there a year ago. But it was his eyes. His eyes stared back at him, dismal and dark - haunted. He turned on the water and splashed his face, turning away from the mirror as he did so. Daniel must be out of his mind to see anything worth wanting in him.
"What time tomorrow?" Daniel asked when Jack returned.
"I'd like to be out of here by oh six hundred," Jack said. He watched Daniel set the bedside alarm for 0530 before settling down comfortably.
"I'll see you in the morning," Daniel said as he rolled to his side, away from Jack.
Jack lay still - perplexed, and not a little insulted. "Daniel?"
"Go to sleep, Jack. We have a lot of talking to do before we . . . you know."
Jack turned off the light by the bed and lay in the flickering light of the television. He scrubbed his hands over his face and wondered when someone had dropped him in the middle of the twilight zone. After a few minutes, the images on the screen began to blur and he yawned. Sitting up all night wasn't going to help him figure anything out. Clicking off the tv, he tossed the remote onto the floor and turned his back to Daniel. Other than being in the same bed with the man, it was like any mission where they'd had to share a tent. With that thought in mind, Jack drifted off to sleep.
++++
Jack opened his eyes slowly, letting the world come into focus in its own time. The huge, red letters of the alarm read 05:27. The thing would go off in three minutes, ruining the absolute stillness of the room. That's when Jack looked down. Daniel was sleeping on his back, and during the night, Jack had turned toward him. The back of Daniel's left hand rested against Jack's bare skin - right in the middle of his chest. A wave of affection so strong hit him that he literally caught his breath. On all the missions they'd been on, in all the times they'd slept in close proximity, Daniel had never snuggled or cuddled close to him, even on the coldest planets. This one simple act, done in complete innocence during sleep, answered the one thing that had Jack so troubled from the very beginning of the trip.
There were no skyrocketing emotions, no grand revelations about the depth of feeling he had - he didn't need there to be. What there was, at least in Jack's mind, was a comfort level born of years of facing the unknown, coming face to face with death on a constant basis, handling life and death situations almost daily - with this man that now slept so peacefully beside him. This one thing - this one simple touch - emphasized this to Jack more than all the talking in the world could do. He didn't need epiphanies and sweeping declarations - all he needed was one touch from Daniel and his world settled into place.
The alarm screeched and Daniel rolled over to slap at it a few times before he finally managed to find the snooze alarm. "Five more minutes," he mumbled, his face mushed into the pillow. A second later he was snoring again.
Jack got out of bed, walked to the alarm and shut it off, then made his way to the bathroom. When he looked in the mirror this time, he recognized the man staring back.
++++
Jack walked passed the edge of the bed and swatted the bottom of the foot poking out from the covers. "Rise and shine, Daniel," Jack said.
Daniel yanked his feet up away from the assault and Jack chuckled. "I'm leaving in fifteen minutes. You stay here, you'll have to deal with Nel on your own."
"I'm up," Daniel said, sitting up quickly. He looked around, a little confused. "Why didn't the alarm go off?"
"It did - you slept through it. Let's go - we've got a long way to drive today."
Daniel got up, brushed his teeth and dressed just as Jack was taking the last of their things to the truck. As soon as he was done, he gave the room one last look over before tossing his shaving kit into the back of the truck and sliding into the passenger seat. "How far today?"
"Be there by about twenty-two hundred," Jack said.
"Did you already pay?" Daniel asked behind a yawn.
"All taken care of," Jack said as he put the truck in gear. They stopped at a gas station just before the highway to top off the tank, then proceeded off into the morning. Jack handed Daniel his travel mug full of hot coffee and a donut he'd taken from the front office. Daniel ate quietly as he watched the landscape zip past.
"So where is this place exactly?" Daniel asked, grabbing the road atlas.
"At Sioux Falls go north, at Fargo go east, find the south end of the Chippewah National Forest, then look for a little town named Longville."
Daniel studied the map for several minutes. "That's . . . remote."
"That's why I like it."
"You know, there's a much shorter route to get there from Colorado Springs."
"I know," Jack said. "Coming up here is about the drive as much as anything."
Daniel nodded and marked all the significant road changes on the map. "How about we take this in shifts?"
Jack nodded and Daniel fell silent again.
It was nearly an hour later when Jack cleared his throat. "Daniel?"
"Hm?"
"You, uh . . . feel like talking now?" He winced at the prospect.
"Now would be good," Daniel said neutrally.
"You know I'm not very good at this stuff, so . . ."
"I know." Daniel refilled his mug and set the thermos back on the floor. "Want me to just ask questions, or . . ."
"Yeah," Jack said, "that'd be good."
"Okay. Well, I guess the first logical question would be . . . when?"
"When?"
"When did you realize . . . how you felt?"
"Ah." Jack concentrated on passing a slower vehicle then scratched his head. "Nem's planet, I guess. When we thought you were dead. I tried to retire again, ya know."
"No, I didn't know," Daniel said in shock.
"I was pretty surprised myself - how hard I took it. Knew something was up then, just didn't understand what."
"Have, uh . . . have you ever been interested in . . . you know . . . men . . . before?"
Jack let his breath escape him in a loud gust. "I don't know . . . maybe. No. I . . . I dunno. You know, a bunch of guys together, remote posting, some stuff happens, you just write it off to stress relief or horsing around. I never went looking, if that's what you mean. I never dated anyone, or thought there might be feelings." Jack shrugged, at a loss for a better explanation. "You?"
"One abysmal failure, two other attempts, one of which was moderately successful."
"What happened?" Jack asked. "With the first one, I mean."
"My horrific attempt to pick someone up in a bar . . . we never made it past the parking lot before he was all over me. I couldn't even . . ." Daniel waved at his crotch in explanation.
"That surprises me," Jack said.
"Why?"
"I guess I just never viewed you as the kind of guy that would go looking for one night stands."
Daniel laughed. "I was just as horny as the next guy in college. I was pretty much amenable to getting something from anything that would even look my direction. Being the king of the geek patrol didn't really help my cause much."
Jack had to chuckle at that one. "But you dated, right?"
"Anyone that would ask," Daniel laughed. "But, like I said . . . offers were few and far between. Most of the time, I was buried so far in research and grant writing, I didn't even know if it was day or night outside."
"And the moderately succesfull attempt?"
Daniel smiled in fond remembrance. "He was quiet, a little shy. It was the night before graduation, last night on campus. Apparently he'd had a crush on me all semester - finally worked up the courage to, uh . . . approach me." He shrugged, slightly embarrassed. "Nerves and a little too much alcohol didn't exactly help things that night, but it was still . . ." He let the sentence drop. "So, uh . . . why me?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "I have no idea."
Daniel turned slowly to look at Jack.
"I'm sorry - that didn't sound right." Jack shook his head. "I mean, not ever being interested in men before, it wasn't like I planned it or reasoned it out. Just one day I realized there were these feelings that had normally only been aimed at women and . . . well there wasn't much I could do about it."
"You could've told me," Daniel countered softly.
"No, I couldn't."
"Regulations." Daniel said the word as if he could taste the bitterness.
"Daniel, you gotta understand - the Air Force was the only thing I ever dreamed of. I just wanted to fly, I wanted to be an Air Force pilot since before I can remember. My whole life was geared toward being in the service until I wasn't allowed to be in any longer. It never mattered to me who someone else slept with - hell I've known gay guys in the service . . . and they were damn fine soldiers. Doesn't matter to me who someone takes to bed - it's none of my business. But there are regulations for how an officer lives his life, and I took an oath, Daniel. I gave my word to uphold those regulations or die trying. I couldn't just toss all that away like it didn't apply to me anymore." Jack's voice trailed off. He didn't expect Daniel to understand so he might as well save his breath.
"But here we are," Daniel countered.
"If you recall, I didn't want you to come along."
"Are you sorry I did?"
Jack shook his head after a moment. "No."
"I don't mean or intend to give you an ultimatum."
"I know that."
"But these feelings . . . they're affecting your command?"
"Yeah," Jack said sadly. "Yeah they are."
"And if this goes any farther between us . . . that part will only get worse."
Jack nodded. "It's why you're trained, told over and over again not to get to close to those under your command. It's the reason for the non-frat regs, Daniel. They may seem unfair, but they are for the best." Jack turned to look at Daniel. "How the hell am I supposed to order you to lay down your life in battle after we've laid down together in bed? Huh? Tell me how I'm supposed to do that?"
"You'd do it if you had to," Daniel said, with no real conviction in his voice.
"You and I both know that's a lie. And one of us transferring off the team isn't the answer. I'm the second in command of that operation - I'd still face the potential of having to give that order, whether we were both on SG-1 or not."
"This is the reason we've gotten to such a rocky place between us, isn't it? Nothing's even happened and it still . . . it weighs on you. On us. On the team."
"Probably," Jack acknowledged. His head had begun to hurt and he was tense right down to his toes.
Daniel was quiet for a time, thinking, watching the landscape roll by. "You know, it's not that I expected you to turn cartwheels in the hallway or anything, but . . . generally, when you find out someone that you care about returns those feelings, there's a little . . . happiness. The last twenty four hours have pretty much felt like you're walking to your execution."
Jack gave a small laugh. "It's not that," he said. "Despite what it may have looked like."
"Care to share?"
Jack looked over briefly at Daniel and saw the look of defeated inevitability on the man's face. He wondered just how many times love had walked away from Daniel due to lack of interest. "I was thinking yesterday. . ."
"Well that explains it," Daniel tried to joke.
"Alright," Jack said, letting a real smile out.
"Sorry. You were saying?"
"I was just remembering the first time I ever brought Sara up here - how completely bug-eyed I was over everything . . . over her and where our relationship was going. I kept expecting this to feel like that."
"And it doesn't," Daniel stated, his voice steady.
"No, it doesn't," Jack said. "It's very different."
"I see." Daniel went back to gazing out the window.
"I don't think you do. I didn't until this morning." Jack turned again to see Daniel, face schooled into a mask, eyes down, not looking at the scenery. "I woke up a few minutes before the alarm went off. You'd rolled onto your back and I was facing you. You had your hand sort of flopped over against my chest. No big deal." When Daniel didn't say anything, Jack plunged ahead, hoping he could give voice to his thoughts properly.
"Back when Sara and I were good - I mean really, really good, I'd wake up in the mornings and she'd be sprawled out all over the place, usually have a hand over my face or a couple fingers stuffed in an ear . . . you know, just . . . sleeping. It took me nearly ten years to be able to sleep in bed with her and not wake up tensed for a fight every time she'd casually touch me during the night. She never knew that - I never told her - it would have made her feel bad. But this morning, I woke up next to you . . . and it seemed like the most natural, normal thing in the world to me. It just seemed solid - like it'd been this way forever. And I realized, there didn't have to be this huge, overwhelming crush of emotion . . . because you and I are already beyond the point where Sara and I tried so hard to be." Jack shook his head in frustration. "I'm sorry, I'm not saying this right." Jack looked down as a sudden warmth touched his leg. He saw Daniel's hand firmly gripping his thigh.
"Sounded just fine to me," Daniel whispered.
++++
Daniel saw the cabin in the headlights as Jack pulled into the small gravel driveway. "It's bigger than I thought it was."
"My family's been working on this thing for decades. This would've been Charlie's when he got to be old enough." Jack eased out of the truck, stretching his back slowly. He walked to the front of the building and smiled when he saw the receipt for groceries tacked on the door. "Well, there's food to eat in here anyway."
"How'd you manage that?" Daniel asked, beginning to grab the bags from the back of the truck.
"Friend of mine comes up a couple days before I get here. I give him a call, he comes and stocks the place up."
"Nice friend," Daniel said, following Jack into the cabin. It was overly warm from the afternoon heat, stuffy and slightly musty. Jack flicked on an overhead light and Daniel took his first look around. Much to his surprise, it was well apportioned, with overstuffed chairs and couches inside the deceptively large living area. Down a small hallway to his right he could see a bedroom and a bathroom. He assumed the second bedroom was across the hall from the main bedroom. There was an open kitchen with a regular sized refrigerator and an old, beat up electric range. A large tv and stereo took up a corner of the living room and a fireplace graced the opposite side. Bookshelves and curios abounded, as did fishing gear, hunting equipment, and homemade afghans and quilts. "Jack, this is great."
"It is, isn't it?" Jack beamed. He pointed down the hall. "Bedroom's on the left."
"I don't mind staying in the guest room," Daniel offered.
"I do," was the quiet answer.
With an understanding nod, Daniel brought his things into the master bedroom. He let out a low whistle when he saw the large four-poster bed positioned diagonally in the room.
"Grandad made that for Nanna for her wedding present. It's been here ever since."
Daniel dropped the bags he was carrying and moved over to run his hands over the elegantly carved frame. "He carved this by hand? It must have taken him forever to do this," Daniel said in a reverent voice.
"It's what he did - he was a woodworker. It took him the better part of a year to make it though. Said he started it the day he proposed to Nanna." Jack leaned against the door frame and watched Daniel examine the quality craftsmanship of the cherry wood headboard.
Daniel suddenly looked at the fireplace and his mouth dropped open. "He carved the hearth, too?"
"My dad did that, actually. He liked to sculpt. Always thought this room needed a little something, so he carved that mantlepiece.
"What is this stone?" Daniel asked, running his hand over the detailed landscape inlaid into the rock.
"Soapstone. Dad found it on one of his trips."
"I had no idea," Daniel said as he looked around the room for more surprises.
"Come on, help me get the rest of the things in. You can snoop around later."
Several trips and not a little swearing later, they were unloaded and in the midst of unpacking when Daniel disappeared into the bathroom. After a few minutes, Jack gave a small knock on the door.
"Daniel? You okay?"
"Yea, fine," Daniel said hurriedly. He opened the door but barred the way inside. "Jack, do you trust me?"
Jack took a step back and looked at the man. "Of course."
Daniel crossed his arms in front of him and studied the face before him carefully. "So, if I told you I want you to be in that bed naked in five minutes, would you do it without asking a lot of useless questions?"
"Why?"
"Like that." Daniel looked at Jack expectantly.
Jack, confused and not a little apprehensive, shrugged. "Yeah, okay. I was sort of hoping for something a little more . . ."
"Yeah, I've got that covered. Oh, and um . . . maybe a fire in the fireplace in there would be nice?"
"Daniel, it's gotta be eighty degrees in here."
"So, open the windows or something." With that, Daniel closed the bathroom door.
Jack shook his head in confusion but did as he was asked. He built a small fire that lent more light than warmth to the room, and threw open the large windows so the breeze and cool night air could flow inside. After placing the condoms and lube underneath the pillow, he quickly shucked his clothes and turned down the bed.
"Shut off the lights," Daniel called from across the hall.
Obediently, Jack made sure all the lights were off before climbing onto the bed and making himself comfortable. With a sudden feeling of self-consciousness, he flicked the corner of the sheet over his hips and settled back to wait for Daniel.
A few minutes later, Daniel eased into the room, carrying a large ceramic bowl from the bathroom and a stack of bath towels. He was naked, with only a towel slung low around his hips. He stopped and looked appraisingly at Jack. "Damn," he whispered.
Jack couldn't help but grin. "Thanks. View's pretty nice from where I'm sitting, too."
Daniel ducked his head and chuckled. He set the bowl full of warm, aromatic water down on the night stand and placed the towels beside Jack's hip. That's when Jack noticed the small bottle of oil Daniel had been holding in his hand. He couldn't help but wonder what his friend had in mind. "Would you like to see?" Daniel offered, looking down at himself.
Jack felt his throat go dry and his heart rate pick up. This was possibly one of the most erotic seductions it was ever his pleasure to participate in. "Yeah," he breathed, "definitely."
Daniel took a step closer. Jack reached out his hand and nudged loose the twist that was barely holding the towel togther. It slipped apart and fell away, revealing the sleek muscle and skin beneath. Jack's eyes grazed down over the flat stomach and trim hips, silently following the trail of hair that began as fine down and thickened into dark, dense hair around the base of Daniel's cock.
"Jesus," Jack whispered, his eyes unable to leave the body before him.
"May I?" asked Daniel, motioning to the sheet covering Jack's groin.
Jack simply nodded and Daniel carefully pulled back the linen to reveal the glorious nakedness beneath. Daniel licked his lips as his eyes devoured the sight before him, reveling in the lean muscle and long lines of the man he'd desired for so long. He simply looked up into Jack's eyes and let his face convey the emotions he was feeling.
Jack looked away, his breathing becoming a bit more shallow. "What's all this?" he asked.
Daniel smiled and, without saying another word, picked up one of the towels and soaked it in the basin of water. "Turn over."
Jack did as asked. He felt Daniel kneel beside him on the bed, heard the towel being rung out, then the soft, warm wetness of the cloth as it stroked slowly, gently down his back. He let out a small groan and relaxed completely down into the pillows. Daniel started at his neck and shoulders and meticulously bathed him without saying a word. After a few gentle swipes with the wet towel, Jack would feel the soft dryness follow, removing the majority of the moisture. In the warmth of the room, his slightly damp skin felt deliciously cool. Daniel made his way down one side of his body, then the other. Jack felt Daniel gently separate his buttocks and run the wet towel between them, then carefully over the back of his balls and back up again. This, too, was followed by a dry towel and heat began to pool in Jack's belly. When Daniel nudged him to turn back over, he did it with a wry grin - there was a little more to look at now than there had been.
Daniel smiled and bit his bottom lip. Jack glanced down and noticed he wasn't the only one being affected. Jack watched in rapt fascination as Daniel turned his attention to his long, scarred legs, washing and drying them in turn, followed by his feet, then his inner thighs. Jack's breathing was growing increasingly rapid and when, at last, Daniel straddled Jack's hips, he had to fight the urge to lunge up against him - to feel the friction his skin so desperately needed.
Daniel continued his slow, methodical bathing, running the towel over his face and neck, then down to his collarbones and shoulders. As Daniel dried him, Jack's hands came up and caressed his arms and hands, feeling the solid strength of the man kneeling above him.
"You are, without a doubt, the most amazing man I've ever seen," Daniel said, his voice barely audible.
Jack had begun to rock his hips slowly, working in rhythm with Daniel as they rubbed and butted their bodies slowly against one another. "Daniel." The word was nearly imperceptible, but carried such intense meaning that Daniel shut his eyes for a few seconds as the emotion broke over him.
Hands trembling with need, Daniel continued his careful, slow ministrations on Jack's arms . . . finally stopping at the hands. Taking the bottle he'd brought with him, he poured a small amount into Jack's right palm, closed the bottle, then began a gentle massage of each of Jack's fingers.
"Aww god," Jack groaned as waves of sensation swirled through him.
Daniel massaged all the way up to Jack's wrist before turning his attention to the other hand. By the time he was done, Jack was incoherent with need. Desire coursed through Jack in an almost painful ecstasy. He opened his eyes when he felt Daniel lean forward - just in time to see him lean down for their first kiss.
Jack pulled him in as close as he could, and still it wasn't enough. The sounds Daniel was making were driving Jack out of his mind; the heat from Daniel's body was scalding him. The air around them seemed to crackle with electricity as touches turned greedy. Jack felt slippery fingers asking entrance to his body and he willingly complied, reaching down - once the shock and the slight pain had passed - and holding Daniel's hand in place while he worked himself against the fingers. His cock ached and his heart felt like it would explode, and still Daniel kept him at the knife's edge of climax.
He felt the slick sensation of more oil being applied to the painful hardness between his legs, and then the sensation of fingers sliding back in where'd they'd been before. Daniel had him grasped tightly in one hand as he worked the fingers of his other deep inside him, rubbing one certain place that sent Jack's mind reeling with each touch. Jack could only imagine what he must look like, bucking back and forth madly between the two hands of his lover, but he didn't care. All he knew were that they were Daniel's hands and they were urging him on to a place where Jack felt like the world had dropped away from him and he was suspended, hanging between heaven and earth.
"Ahhhhh gawwwwwwd, pleeeeease," he begged, driving himself roughly between the touch inside him and the touch outside. Balanced on the cusp, so willing to fall over, he cried out in frenzied lust as he felt something hard and hot and incredibly solid breech him, sliding long and slow inside. He knew Daniel was inside him - knew it and gloried in being joined physically to the one person in the universe who could do this to him.
Jack wrapped Daniel as close and tight to him as he could and begged to be finished as hard and rough as Daniel could manage. As Daniel drew up onto his knees, Jack threw his head back and roared his pleasure. His world tipped and spun as Daniel's orgasm pushed him over the edge into an climax that was emotionally and physically shattering.
When at last his body calmed and his heart rate lowered to something approaching normal, he pushed the sweat-soaked hair away from Daniel's forehead and stared into the liquid blue eyes. "What have you done to me, Daniel?" he asked, frightened and thrilled at once.
"Ruined you for anyone else. You're mine. Don't you forget it."
Daniel's smile was sudden and full of life and prompted Jack to laugh like he hadn't laughed in years. "Just one thing, though," Jack said when he finally caught his breath.
"What's that?"
"Could you put that thing away? My ass hurts."
"Oh, Jack, I'm sorry," Daniel said as he pulled himself from Jack's body as carefully as he could.
Jack hissed between his teeth as he scooted around to get comfortable on the bed. "Don't remember it stinging like that when you popped it on in there."
"Someone could've chewed off your leg at that point and I don't really think you would have felt it," Daniel laughed.
Jack pulled the condoms and lube out from underneath the pillow and put them between him and Daniel. "I think I liked your method better," Jack smiled.
"This does seem a little cold and calculated, doesn't it?" Daniel said, flicking the box with his finger. He tossed the items behind him and onto the floor then scooted close to Jack.
"One touch," Jack said. "That's all it took. One little touch while you were sleeping and look at me. Look what you did."
"Yeah," Daniel said, running his hand back over Jack's spiky silver hair before tracing his fingers over the slightly-parted mouth, "look what I went and did." He pulled Jack close. "So not sorry."
"Me either," Jack replied softly.
++++
Jack awoke the next morning, a grin splitting his face as he remembered the night before. He knew there would be struggles and rough times, moments when he doubted his own sanity for starting this relationship. He had his duties; he had his responsibilities; he had people who were counting on him . . . hell, there were days when the entire galaxy counted on him. He didn't expect any of it to be easy - it never was. But he'd found something that meant more to him than all those things combined.
He looked down and carefully ran a finger over the palm of the hand that was resting comfortably against his chest. He closed his eyes and drifted back off to sleep. The rest of the world was just gonna have to wait.
- finis -
