Warnings; None
by
Mrs. Gumby
He walked to the intercom and pushed a button. �Hello?� he said, his voice rough from sleep.
�Daniel? Did I wake you?�
Daniel groaned inwardly. Jack at the door at this hour could only mean trouble, and he was not up for it. �Jack?�
�Can I come up?�
�Sure.� He pressed the button to open the security door, then wandered over to where he had been napping. He tried futilely to clean, but his addled brain couldn�t seem to decipher the mechanics of such a huge task. Finally he just sat down and hoped distantly he would die before he had to go out into the cold rain.
There was a tap at the door. He forced himself off of the couch and wandered the thousand miles to the door. �Flu�, he thought, �or that new allergy medicine. If he pawns an alien off on me I am going to strangle him.� Daniel opened the door and peered myopically at his friend.
Jack O�Niell was soaked to the bone, His silver hair was dripping, and his jacket was leaking drops of freezing water. It wasn�t raining that hard, he certainly hadn�t gotten that wet leaving his car and crossing the street. He looked like he had been out in the weather for hours.
�My god, you�re soaked! Get in here before you freeze to death.�
Jack stepped into the apartment. Daniel took his jacket and hung it to dry, then fetched him a towel before turning the heat up. Jack crossed the hardwood floor, dropping down into a chair, drying his hair. Daniel sat down on the couch, facing him. He didn�t like the looks of this. This was very out of character for Jack.
�Are you all right?�
Jack peered at him from beneath the towel, a slightly puzzled expression on his face. �Fine. Why?�
�Why? You show up soaking wet on my doorstep at midnight on a Friday for no reason?�
�I went for a walk.�
Daniel just stared at him, then sighed. Maybe it wasn�t so out of character for the colonel. It certainly sounded like typical Jack reasoning. �So nothing�s wrong.�
�No.�
Daniel ground his teeth and counted to five. �I�ll get you a drink,� he said, and walked to the kitchen. �Coffee? Tea? Something stronger�
�Ah, stronger I think.�
�Caesar?�
�Yeah, sure. Y�betcha.�
Daniel made them each one. He stuck a pink frilly umbrella in Jack�s and returned to the living room. Jack noticed the umbrella, but failed to comment about it. He picked up his drink and sipped it, then proceeded to fiddle absently with the garish little decoration. Daniel sat down and waited. Whatever was on Jack�s mind would come out soon enough. Finally the older man looked at Daniel.
�Actually, yeah, I have a problem. I went out to take a walk and think about it, but all I did was get wet. Frankly, it�s eating me alive.�
The admittance concerned Daniel. Jack wasn�t the kind to admit feelings easily, and for him to be that worried. it had to be something large. He tried to think of something comforting to say, but before anything came to mind, Jack stood up and walked to the large window. He stood looking out of it, down onto the city. He sipped his drink and said nothing.
�Is it something I can help with?� Daniel asked.
Jack was silent a little while longer. �I don�t know.�
Daniel studied the older man, trying to read him in the dimly-lit room. �What is it?� he asked softly.
Jack said nothing, sipping his drink. Then he shook his head. �Ah, dammit, I�m too old for this shit,� he said softly. He sighed. �I�ve.....been.......having feelings for someone.�
�Carter,� thought Daniel. �Well what�s wrong with that? You�re an adult, you have more life experience than anyone I know.�
�Not THAT much,� mumbled Jack.
Daniel grinned. �So big bad Jack is scared of girls? They don�t actually have cooties you know, that�s a myth. Trust me, I�m an archaeologist, I know.�
A grin briefly crossed Jack�s face. �Next thing I know you�ll tell me there�s no Santa.�
�No he�s real,� said Daniel. He rose and walked over to his friend, resting a hand on his shoulder. �Is it someone married? Someone of a rank you can�t be involved with?�
�No.�
Daniel sighed quietly. This wasn�t going to be an easy conversation. He leaned close to Jack�s ear and said softly; �Is it General Hammond?�
�Oh absolutely,� said Jack, his tone sarcastic.
�Then who? You�re going to have to tell me if you want me to help.�
Jack played absently with the frilly umbrella. He was silent for a long time, then finally admitted; �It�s a man.�
Daniel blinked in surprise. �Oh.� This was getting more complicated by the moment. �I didn�t know you....were....�
�I�m not!� Jack snapped at him, walking away. He walked over to a large plant, studying it, unable to face his friend. �I�ve never looked at a guy in my life.�
�But this one�s different.�
�Yeah,�said Jack quietly. �He�s different. He�s...pretty amazing, actually.�
�I take it you have told him none of this.�
�No.�
Daniel moved closer to the window, looking down at the city. �Well Jack you aren�t without your own....peculiar....charm. Have you considered telling him how you feel?�
He heard Jack move to another part of the room. �Yeah I�ve considered it, I�ve been considering it for about two damn months now and I haven�t the first idea of what to say. He�s driving me crazy!� Jack began to pace. �I see him all the time, I�ve run every stupid line I can think of over and over and over in my head and they all sound worse than the other. I�ve even tried just forgetting about him all together and transferring to someplace else. But....�
�You don�t want to never see him again.�
�No. I don�t.� The pacing stopped. �He�s beautiful, Daniel. I....just don�t know what to say.�
Daniel shook his head, and smiled slightly. �Then you have to tell him something. Even if he rejects you, it sounds like you won�t be able to get on with your life until you do.�
�So what do I say? What do you say to another guy?�
�I don�t know. Who am I, Dear Abby? Jeez, Jack, just be you. That�s all you can do. Take him fishing or someplace where you feel comfortable and just...talk to him. It can�t be that different than with a woman, he�ll say yes or he�ll say no. But he�s got to accept you for you.�
Daniel turned to look at Jack, and was startled to find him directly behind him. He made a small startled sound, then fell silent. They gazed at each other for a long moment.
�You hate fishing,� Jack whispered.
Daniel felt his body go tense and strange on him. He cleared his throat slightly. �Well... not...that...much, uh, it�s just....my allergies..�
�Maybe we could try deep sea, nothing out there but clear air.�
�Uh, maybe....uh, Jack? Are you telling me.....you, uh....�
�Yeah.�
�Oh.�
�At least you didn�t laugh at me.�
�Why me?�
�No idea. But...I...really want you.�
�Oh.�
A heavy silence fell. Daniel leaned back, bracing himself on the window ledge, suddenly extremely aware of how near and warm Jack was.
�Daniel? Are you all right?�
�Fine, just a little startled.�
Jack gently, carefully moved closer and put his arms around Daniel, handling him with utmost care. He pulled him closer, resting the side of his face against Daniel�s head. �If you want me to go, and never say another word about this, I will. But just let me have this moment.�
��Kay,� Daniel whispered, and relaxed against Jack�s chest. He carefully, almost cautiously, put his arms around him, and they held each other in the darkness.
He felt Jack�s hands slide down his back, never straying any place untoward, just carefully stroking him. Daniel could feel how damp he was, and smell his skin. It was unnerving, but not the worst experience he�d ever had. Daniel closed his eyes.
�Daniel?�
�Hmm?�
�Would a kiss be out of the question, or am I pushing my luck?�
�Are you going to laugh at me if I get so nervous I have an asthma attack?�
�No, in fact I�ll join you.�
Daniel laughed briefly, then raised his head and looked into Jack�s eyes. He was scared to death, Daniel suddenly realized, and somehow that made things a little easier. He leaned forward, and softly touched his lips to Jack�s.
Jack was shaking, but his touch was so careful as he moved his hand into Daniel�s hair, kissing him as though he was made of fine china. Daniel surprised him by parting his lips, and their tongues carefully met. They moved further into the embrace, and Daniel reached up to softly touch Jack�s face.
The kiss ended, and they looked into each other�s eyes.
�I�m not going to ask you to leave,� said Daniel.
�I want you,� Jack said quietly, his voice rough.
�Let�s...uh....go to my room.�
�Are you sure?�
�Only if you promise to stop if I can�t deal with this.�
Jack kissed his forehead. �Absolutely. Anytime it gets too intense for you...�
�Okay.�
�Or me. I�ve never done this before either.�
They walked into the bedroom. Daniel couldn�t believe what he was doing, but he didn�t want to stop. He heard the rustle of damp cloth, then turned to see Jack before him with his shirt off. He froze, uncertain what to do. Then Jack was holding him again, warm and gentle with his motions. Daniel relaxed, and allowed him to remove his shirt. He heard it hit the floor, then raised his head to kiss him once more.
Jack suddenly picked him up, and Daniel made a small, startled noise. �You�re so damn macho, O�Neill.�
�I know.� He carried Daniel over to the bed and carefully set him down. Then he settled beside him, lowering his head to kiss him once more. Daniel embraced him and kissed back, putting a little more force into it this time. Jack rolled on top of him and growled quietly. He nipped Daniel�s chin.
�I have no idea what I�m doing,� he said, then moved down to lightly bite his nipple.
�Oh don�t stop.�
�Never.� He gently bit the other, then sucked it.
�Oh god I�m scared.�
�I swear, I�ll marry you if you get pregnant.�
�If I do then I am never going through that damn Gate again, who knows what other effects it�ll have.�
�I love you.� Jack moved further down, kissing Daniel�s flat stomach as he undid his pants.
�I bet you say that to all the archaeologists.�
Jack kept kissing Daniel�s warm body, then sat up, quickly slipping off the younger man�s pants and shorts in one move. He tossed them over his shoulder, and they hit the floor somewhere in the darkness. Then he was on top of him again, kissing, nibbling, caressing. Daniel draped a leg over him, gasping as he felt Jack�s strong hands moving over him.
�Daniel...�
�Yes?�
�I want inside of you....�
�Yeah... sure...�
He drew his long legs up, wrapping them around Jack�s body. He waved an arm, trying to think. �Uh...in the side table...�
Jack kissed him deeply, intensely, all the while opening the drawer and finding a tube. He pulled it out and looked at it. �K-Y?� he said.
�What, you think all I ever do is read?�
Jack shrugged, then went back to kissing and nibbling all over Daniel. �There will be no more using this when I�m not around.�
�Pass it.�
Jack did, continuing his assault. Daniel opened it, squeezing out more than he intended. He reached down between their bodies, opening Jack�s pants with his free hand, then liberally smearing the erection with the lubricant. �There...�
Jack kissed the inside of Daniel�s thigh, bracing it against his shoulder. He raised himself onto his arms, then lowered his head and slid into him. He gasped audibly.
�Daniel.... god Daniel....� His whole body shuddered, and he cried out. Daniel felt the hot semen shoot into himself. Jack�s body spasmed once, and he thrust into him, then collapsed. They lay together in a knot, holding each other. Finally Jack raised his head and looked down at Daniel. He kissed him.
�That went a little faster than I had anticipated.�
�Hmm,� said Daniel, �kind of a compliment, really.�
�Yasure, y�betcha.�
Daniel kissed him, then levered Jack over, pinning him onto his back. �My turn,� he whispered. �Hadn�t counted on that, had you.�
�Uh...no....�
Daniel kissed him. �Don�t worry, if I get you pregnant I swear I�ll marry you.�
He removed Jack�s pants and tossed them over beside his own. He kissed him gently, then reached for the tube of lubricant. Jack looked up at the ceiling and wondered what he had just gotten himself into.
It didn�t hurt as much to have Daniel in him as he thought it would, and he relaxed somewhat. He kissed him, feeling their bodies meld together. Daniel was a gentle lover, moving slowly, kissing him. Jack stroked his hands over the younger man�s shoulders, feeling himself beginning to respond to the caresses, the soft, slow love making.
�I love you Daniel I swear I do.�
Daniel kissed him firmly, his tongue exploring his mouth. �I love you too, Jack.�
The thrusting became harder, Jack encouraging him, kissing him. He listened to Daniel�s breathing, writhing beneath him, feeling his own arousal intensify. Then Daniel cried out, clutching him. They climaxed together, Daniel feeling Jack�s semen soak his lower stomach. He clutched him hard, biting his shoulder, hearing Jack yelp in surprise. He held him hard, gasping as his own orgasm finally ended, and they collapsed into a heap of damp, exhausted flesh.
Reluctantly, they separated. Daniel moved off of Jack, laying beside him and resting his head on his shoulder. A pleasant silence enveloped them. Jack stroked Daniel�s sweat-dampened hair, then kissed his forehead. �Are you all right?�
�Hmm, just fine. You?�
�Well, I have to admit, having you on top of me was not part of the fantasy.�
�But it was all right?�
Jack kissed him. �It was fantastic.�
They slid under the covers, too tired to shower. They moved into an embrace, softly kissing and nibbling each other. Finally they fell asleep in each other�s arms, listening to the rain tap against the windows.
***---***
Daniel slowly awoke, becoming conscious of the sound of rain, and of the warm body pressed against his back. An arm was around him, and he could feel Jack�s breath against the back of his neck. He reached down to grasp the large strong hand that lay against his chest, and felt Jack stir, kissing the back of his neck.
�Morning,� he said softly.
�Not for much longer,� said Jack. Daniel looked at the clock beside his bed. It was 11:30. He rolled over to face Jack, and they embraced. They kissed lazily, then lapsed into sleepy silence.
The phone rang. Jack raised his head and stared at it annoyedly. Daniel reached out a hand and groped for it, picking up the receiver, then lowering it again. He rolled back into Jack�s arms and closed his eyes.
�What if that was the base?� asked Jack.
�Fuck �em,� muttered Daniel.
Jack began kissing Daniel�s neck, his jaw, finally working up to his lips. He stroked the younger man�s soft hair. �You�re beautiful all rumpled up and sleepy.�
�Going to take advantage of me?�
�Oh yes.�
The phone rang again. Daniel sighed and picked it up. �Hello?� he said. Jack continued to kiss his lover�s body.
�Dr. Daniel Jackson?�
Daniel sighed. It was the base. Jack kept working on his body.
�Yes?�
�We need you to come in today. Something has come up.�
Jack positioned himself between Daniel�s thighs and pushed into him. Daniel gasped audibly.
�Sir? Are you all right?�
Daniel glared at Jack, who just grinned at him mischievously.
�Uh...� Daniel�s voice wavered, �can it wait?�
�I suppose. Are you all right Doctor?�
�I...I think I have the flu. I�ll....be in...Monday.�
�Yes sir. I�ll inform the General.�
Daniel hung up, then kissed Jack. �Brute.�
Jack silenced him with a kiss, and Daniel relaxed into the soft pillows.
***---***
They spent the early afternoon in bed, dozing in each other�s arms, making love, talking. Daniel couldn�t believe how fast he had accepted Jack as his lover, but now that he had, he was reluctant to ever let him go. He dreaded the thought of going back to the Base, of getting out of this bed. He pushed the older man onto his back and kissed him deeply.
�I have a question.�
�Hmm? What?�
�Are we......are we going to tell anyone, or is this going to be....well....just between us?�
�I�m not going to deny being with you. I love you.�
�They may assign us to different teams.�
Jack ran his fingers through Daniel�s hair. �They may. But that�s not going to change how I feel about you. I�ll be damned if I�m going to let anyone separate us, not after we�ve finally found each other. If worst comes to worst, I�ll quit.�
�Jack!�
�I mean it. I�ve done my time, I�ve earned my pension. I�ve nothing left to prove. All I have is you, and I love you. If for some reason we don�t work out, I�ll be sorry, but at least we have now. If the SG Base wants to break us up, that�s different. My only concern is you.�
Daniel kissed him. �Fuck me.�
Jack rolled on top of him and entered him. He kissed him hard, penetrating as deep as he could go. Daniel gasped and bit his shoulder, holding him tightly.
Jack�s cell phone went off.
The older man raised his head and uttered a string of profanity Daniel had literally never heard before. He grabbed the device out of his jeans and snapped; �WHAT?!�
Daniel kissed Jack�s jaw, stroking his fingers lightly over his neck. Jack nipped him lightly, then said; �Yeah I�ll be there.� He turned off the phone, then returned his attention to Daniel.
***---***
They showered, pressing close together as they rinsed each other clean. Daniel stroked the soap over Jack�s broad back, smiling as he noticed the bite marks he had left on his shoulders and throat.
�I don�t think your collar will cover that,� he said softly.
Jack turned and gently pulled Daniel close. �Why would I want to? I�m not hiding you.�
He smiled, then gently kissed him. �Okay, you�re not hiding me. I still don�t want people to think I�m abusing you.�
�I�ll tell them you�re just keeping me in line.�
�Okay.� Daniel rested his head against Jack�s shoulder. �I wish you didn�t have to go.�
�Would you like me to come back?�
�Considering that you have to borrow my car to get to the base, yes.� Daniel pressed close and kissed him. �But that�s not the only reason.�
Jack held him tightly, nuzzling his neck. �Daniel I love you...� He sighed. �If I don�t get out of this shower now I never will.�
They finally emerged. They dried each other, then Daniel made coffee while Jack found his clothes and dressed. He would have to stop off at his home and change, he thought as he pulled on his damp jeans. His jacket and boots hadn�t fully dried yet either. And, as Daniel had predicted, the shirt didn�t hide the bite.
He drank his coffee, then softly kissed Daniel once more. �I�ll call when I�m on my way.�
�I�ll be here.�
They gazed at each other for a brief time, each a little astonished at how fast they had fallen into the idea of being a couple. Then Jack kissed his forehead and left.
***---***
Daniel went back into his apartment and into the bedroom. He looked at the rumpled bed and the stained sheet. It was still damp in places, and he could see traces of blood on it. He changed the bedding, then cleaned up the apartment before attempting to get some work done. He quickly gave up on it, however. His mind was on something completely different. Jack�s scent lingered in the air, and his body kept reminding him of what they had shared the previous night. Finally he grabbed his coat and left the apartment. He had shopping to do.
Jack parked Daniel�s car, then took a quick glance at the bite on his throat. He hadn�t really looked at it, and was surprised at how nasty it looked. It was bright purple, and Daniel had actually broken the skin. Jack smiled. Funny how the quiet ones with the glasses were always the most passionate. Still, he wished he�d noticed it was that bad before he got to the Base.
Carter was the first person he met, and he could see her eyes go straight to the ugly welt that had not been there when she saw him yesterday. �Nice,� she said.
�What�s up?� he asked.
The day went on, and almost everyone had something to say about his bite. Jack had vowed he wouldn�t hide his relationship with Daniel, but he wasn�t quite sure he wanted to just tell them what he had done to get the bite. Janet must have finally got wind of the injury, because she showed up with a small first aid kit while he was eating lunch with Carter and Teal�c.
�Colonel, you should have had this tended to, human bites are filthy you know, this could have become badly infected.�
Jack sighed, but let her work on his neck. She opened his collar, then stared. �There�s more! What on earth were you doing?�
�The mystery deepens,� said Carter. �Just where were you this morning?�
�The same place I was all night.�
�Ah. Being evasive, are we?�
�No, I just don�t want to discuss a person I may be spending the rest of my life with like some cheap fling.�
Carter looked surprised. �Oh. Well. Do we know her?�
Jack sighed quietly. He knew this part was not going to be easy, but it seemed it was going to be a little harder than he had thought. �It�s not...a �her.� It�s a �him.��
Dead silence. Carter just stared, while Teal�c raised one eyebrow. Jack suddenly became interested in his coffee. He stared at it for a long time. �Daniel,� he finally said. �It�s Daniel.�
Janet finished tending Jack�s injuries and sat down, moving quietly. Carter was the first to break the silence.
�I�m definately surprised,� she said, �but ... I think you two would be good together. I think you two would add a little balance to each other.� She reached over and squeezed Jack�s hand.
He smiled slightly. �Thanks, Carter.�
Teal�c thought about the situation, but then ignored it. He had no feeling one way or another about relations between men, they just seemed pointless to him. But this clearly was important to O�Niell, and he decided to respect that. Besides, he wasn�t certain the world was prepared for any offspring these two may have had. The Gods always knew best.
The rest of the day progressed normally, and when it ended Jack paused in the parking lot to call Daniel. He was actually nervous, and when Daniel answered it was a moment before he could speak.
�Hello?�
Jack cleared his throat. �Hi.�
�Hi. Coming over now?�
�Yeah. I�m just going to stop at my place for a moment and get a few things. See you in about two hours?�
�I think I can wait that long. I�ll start supper.�
Jack smiled. �See you soon,� he said softly, then hung up.
***---***
He stepped into the apartment, dropping his leather bag to the floor. There were candles lit on every table, filling the air with a scent like lavender. There were other smells, too, delicious ones, wafting from the kitchen. Then Daniel was before him, moving into his embrace. Jack pulled him close, kissing him gently.
�I missed you,� said Daniel, slipping his arms around Jack�s waist.
�Missed you too. What smells good?�
�Steak, scalloped potatos, and broccoli in garlic butter sauce, garlic bread, and cherry-chocolate cheesecake for desert.�
�You cooked all that?�
�Sure. Didn�t you know I could cook?�
�If I had, I wouldn�t have spent all those nights at home eating cold beans out of a can.�
�That is truly disgusting.� Daniel kissed him, his eyes warm and affectionate. �I also bought beer, and I bought you a present.�
�A large-screen colour TV?�
�You already have one. TV will rot your brain, you know that.�
He kissed Daniel�s lips, then reluctantly let him go. If he had gone through all the trouble of making dinner, the least he could do was keep his hormones to himself until it was eaten.
***---***
Dinner was eaten, and they retired to the couch. The lights were dim, a few candles provided the illumination. Daniel drank wine, Jack had beer, and they sat close together, enjoying the warmth of one another. They touched, then kissed softly. Daniel leaned against Jack�s chest, enjoying the feel of his strong body through the leather of the WWII bomber jacket he�d given him earlier. Somehow, he�d always felt Jack would look good in leather.
Jack trailed his fingers through Daniel�s hair, thouroughly content for one of the few times in his life. He put his arms around him, holding him close, and sighed quietly, his breath briefly rustling through Daniel�s hair.
Daniel smiled, then asked quietly; �Did you know it would be this good?�
�No. I didn�t know anything could be this good.� Jack opened his eyes to find his beer. �I told Carter, Teal�c and Janet about us. Well, they kept asking who did the vampire job on my neck.�
Daniel softly kissed Jack�s neck. �What did they say?�
�Janet said you shouldn�t bite so hard, Carter thinks we�ll be good for each other, and Teal�c is just glad we won�t breed.�
�Obviously they were deeply traumatized by the announcement.�
�For several seconds, at least,� said Jack. He yawned, then finished his beer.
Daniel raised his head and smiled at his lover fondly. �Come on,� he said softly, �let�s get
to bed.�
�Best offer I have had all day.�
***---***
They slid between the cool, clean sheets, moving into each other�s arms. They kissed, their hands beginning to stray over one another despite being tired. Daniel made a soft surprised sound as Jack moved over top of him, then relaxed, allowing the older man to take him. For over an hour they made love, quietly, slowly, gazing into each other�s eyes. Then when it was over, they settled together into an embrace, drifting into sleep.
