Bombshells. The Next Set of.. Part M

~ Many days later ~

Jack sat in the corner booth of the diner that he and Philip had gone to on their first meeting. Now he sat huddled over his coffee, his head thumping and his body weary. It had been one hell of a mission! The natives of Px45567 had taken a liking to Daniel and the remaining three of them had to go in, guns blazing, to get the poor man back again. Teal'c was furious! Jack couldn't recall ever seeing him so upset, except that time with Rya'k and anytime he looked at Apophis... but other than that.. never!

He scrubbed his hands over his tired face, feeling the three days growth that had built up during the mission. It was meant to be a simple Recon mission, but as they pottered around the gate, or rather Daniel pottered around the gate, checking out the inscriptions on the dais, the gate burst to life, and with nowhere to hide on that barren world, the four were caught unaware. Jack had ordered them behind the gate, so that they had the element of surprise when the travelers came through, but they *seemed* so normal. *Seemed!!* They were a family, for want of a better description: a father, kinda; a mother, well almost!; a sister and a brother, but that *was* being generous! The fact that they walked on all four legs, despite being upright like a human, was kind of off putting at the start, but Daniel, in his typical Daniel-fashion, went up to them, hand raised in greeting. Jack recalled the look he and Sam exchanged, then he turned to see a new kind of concern in Teal'c's eyes and it occurred to him that this was their first real mission as a couple. They'd spent most of last week on base, something Jack had been grateful for because his mind was usually elsewhere... on a certain dark-skinned, handsome faced man with a disarming charm - and he wanted every opportunity to go home to him at night. Now - well, *now* was a different matter....

Sucking back a deep breath, the weary man lifted his cup then, when he looked straight ahead at the corner, he almost expected to see Philip in the booth with him - smiling that brilliant smile of his and engaging him in conversation, just like he had that first night. It had been five days now since the separation, but Jack still felt as numb as he did the first few moments after Philip walked out of his life.

Swallowing both the bitter coffee, that had cooled to a distasteful temperature, and his own sorrow, Jack put the cup down and looked at the other side of the booth once more, almost willing Philip to be there now. He hadn't gone home straight after work because for the two days he had spent at home before the mission he kept expecting to run into Philip around every corner in his house. He woke expecting to hear the younger man's music blaring from the speakers, kept anticipating that Philip was in the next room, the shower, just anywhere but where he 'really' was - which was *not* there.... Perhaps if he willed it enough, Philip would appear in the booth, sitting across from him, smiling and talking to him like Jack hadn't screwed up the best thing in his life!

//For crying out loud!// He muttered to himself as he got up and sat on the other side of the booth to stop these stupid fantasies. Now he could see the rest of the diner and noticed that the waitress was the same one that had served them the night they came in together. Sighing his annoyance at himself for insisting on thinking about Philip, Jack shifted in his seat, reaching over and yanking a napkin from the small square container before wiping away the remnants of his greasy steak. Apart from 'avoidance', he was too tired to go home and cook anyway so he decided to call by, grab a quick meal then head home - where he fully intended to sleep for the next three days of R&R.

Lowering his face, he leaned his head against his fist, almost too exhausted to hold his own head up, then he chased his food around his plate, suddenly no longer hungry as he recalled his young ex-lover. Closing his eyes, he pressed the heal of his hand into his socket and vividly recalled Philip's smile, his laughter, the sound of his voice...

"Hello.."

In his self-made blackness a faint smile twitched on Jack's lips as he heard the timber of the soft, velvet voice as if it was in the room with him.

"How's it going tonight?"

Jack's eyes sprung open. It was no dream!! Philip *was* standing at the counter, his back to him so that Jack could easily see one butt cheek resting on a stool while he supported most of his weight on his crossed arms on the counter while he leaned forward to talk with the waitress. She was grinning madly at the handsome man - and all the little hairs on the back of Jack's neck started to bristle.

"Hello yourself." She giggled, making Jack's skin crawl.

Philip had obviously not seen him in the corner, and from the angle he was at and the way he was leaning over the bar, affording Jack a stunning view of his neat rump, he would never see him unless he turned around completely. The older man slumped in his seat a little, cursing at the awkwardness of the situation and hoping that Philip would leave without seeing him. As the librarian reached down between his legs and dragged the stool over so that he could now sit on it, Jack thought that the possibility of him leaving soon were very remote. The waitress had stopped her cleaning and was now leaning on the bar too - her arms folded before her, her cleavage obviously on display in her low cut top.

"I had a great time last night." Philip's voice was soft but Jack still heard it. Her smile grew bigger as the woman giggled.

"Me, too! We should do it again sometime!"

A million ideas ran through Jack's minds as to what it was they might have done the night before, and as absurd as it seemed, he couldn't help 'but' include sex on that list. By the twinkle in the green eyes that were staring at the handsome face, Jack told himself that she would definitely go for that!

"Well, my shift is over in twenty minutes..."

Jack lowered his eyes. He didn't need this and yet, what could he do? To get up and leave would mean walking straight past Philip, and what a scene that would cause! He slumped a little lower, hoping that Philip didn't agree to *wait* for her.

"Well, pour me a coffee and I'll grab a seat," he said, sending Jack's heart plummeting. The stupid, annoying giggle happened again and she turned to pour Philip his drink. Jack noted, she didn't ask how he took it either. Obviously, she knew!

Feeling like he was trapped in a bad movie, Jack watched as Philip slipped himself off the stool, reaching forward for the cup now. The slender body suddenly shook with the hacking cough and he gripped the counter top to steady himself as he continued to cough. Jack instantly sat up in his seat. Philip was sick? He resisted the urge to go to him, to put his arm around him and take him home - all of which he *really* wanted to do! He stayed and realized he was holding his own breath until he saw Philip draw in his first clear breath since the coughing began. The green eyes had lost their twinkle now as she handed him the cup.

She cupped her hand over the dark one on the counter. "Go sit down. I'll see if I can get off early. We'll go back to my place.."

Rolling his eyes, Jack sighed and lowered his face, hoping that Philip didn't see him. The diner went quiet and Jack hoped that meant that Philip had gone to a booth on the opposite side of the room.

"Jack?"

//Arg! No such luck!//

The colonel lifted his face, squinting one eye slightly as he looked at the handsome face that he knew he'd kissed at least a hundred times. "Hello."

With a slight nod to the other seat, Philip asked, "May I?"

Jack swept his hand out, indicating to him to take a seat, then he watched as the neat pouch disappeared behind the edge of the table as Philip sunk into the seat opposite him. Jack got to take a closer look at Philip now. The eyes seemed a little watery, the face a little flushed and a sheen of perspiration sat over the thick, dark brows. It worried Jack.

"You okay?" They both asked at the same time then fell into an awkward silence, both sitting with bowed heads.

"How's your head?" Jack finally asked, tilting his face to look at the younger man.

Touching his fingers to the small, white bandage, Philip shrugged. "Fine. Though I do have a scar."

With a sharp nod, Jack said, "Could have been worse.."

Philip nodded too, averting his eyes to his hands on the table. "How about you?"

With a tired sigh, Jack said, "Me? I'm peachy!"

Philip swallowed as he tilted his head back then said, warily, "You look like you haven't slept in three days."

Raising his brow at the exact estimation of how long he had been awake, Jack said, "Just got back from a mission."

Phil's mouth made the shape of the word, "oh" but no sound came out. Jack took that reaction to be a lack of interest so he stopped talking about himself. He had one nagging thought that he needed to express though. "Did I over hear that you're not.. well?"

"It's just a cold, Jack," Philip said, a wry smile filled his face as he leaned back, stretching out his legs beneath the table.

"Probably standing in the rain too much," the older man muttered as he sat forward, hunching himself over his hands laced together on the table. Philip smiled as he looked at the bowed head, then his body was suddenly wracked with another cough. Jack looked up, his eyes clearly giving away his concern for the other man.

"Just _ a _ cold..." Philip said between coughs. Jack didn't look convinced. Soon the waitress was by his side, a glass of water in her hand. Jack looked up at her but she was focussed on the coughing man. Sidling herself into the booth beside him, she draped an arm across his shoulder as she held the glass up for him. He took the drink, sculled a large mouthful then sat back as he waited for the coughs to subside. Jack remained where he was, concern etching his tired features. Not to mention the little green man sitting on his shoulder, pointing out exactly where her arm was, how close she was sitting to Philip, how much she seemed to 'know' him when about two weeks ago he met her for the first time.

That's when the hairs on the back of his neck bristled again. How well did Jack feel he knew him the following morning? He lowered his eyes, realizing that he was witnessing a very private moment.

"You okay now?" She asked, her voice full of concern as she touched the back of her hand to his cheek. He nodded then took another drink. With a gentle smile, she said, "Somehow I don't think we'll be going bike riding tonight!" He looked at her through teary eyes and shook his head. She nodded then eased herself out of the seat. "I'll make you some soup..."

Jack wanted to just disappear!

"Liz, if you don't mind.." Philip said, looking up at her then reaching for her hand. She looked over at Jack, and despite his bowed head, she recognized him for the first time. With a nod of her head she said, "Another time perhaps?"

Philip smiled and kissed the back of her hand. "Thanks, hun."

"Sorry," she said, turning to Jack. He didn't look up.

"Jack," Philip said with a slight laugh and the gray head lifted.

"Huh?"

"I thought I should introduce myself," Liz said, tilting her head towards Philip. "I'm Liz.."

"Jack.." The colonel said with a little nod. He watched her smile then turn to leave them alone. Lowering his eyes, but not his face, Jack looked at Philip, who was smiling at him.

"What?" He wondered at the lop-sided grin on Philip's flushed face.

The younger man shrugged. "What- what?"

Jack smiled. How often had they played that game ...?

He lowered his face before tilting his head right back. "If you're sick, you should be home in bed."

The smile crept across Phil's face but he fidgeted, trying to lose it. "Sure I should be," he said.

Jack was frowning a little at the strange behavior. "Do you have a ride home?"

Wetting his lips slowly, Philip shook his head. Jack cocked his head a little more.

"Need one?"

The dark eyes were intense then he started to chew on the bottom lip. For a long moment Jack felt sure he was going to turn him down. "Yes."

"Wait a minute," Jack said holding his hand up. "Is Graham home?"

Philip ran through his brother's schedule in his mind then nodded. "We can go back to your place..." He said in a thick, low voice. Jack felt his body react instantly.

 To Be Continued...