Blair was back looking through the sketches once more while Philip laid sprawled on his bed, one leg bent and his arm across his eyes as he slowly drifted in and out of twilight sleep while he listened to the sad strains of Simply Red's 'Blue' album, the very one he played to Jack on their first night. Lying quietly, he was reliving the intimate touches, little looks between them then he recalled that first kiss and the second one, the one that had him sprawled across his desks top.

"Who is this man?" Blair asked, holding up a couple of sketches of Jack.

Philip looked at the pictures then covered his eyes again. "Just someone I used to know..."

"He's nice looking. Is it Johnathon?"

"No," Philip mumbled sleepily. "His name is Jonathan, but it's not him..."

Blair looked at him a long moment then slipped off the stool and onto the bed. Feeling the bed dip, Philip sat up and looked at his friend.

"What?" He asked, his eyes hooded from tiredness.

"I think it's sad that you're so alone.."

With a shrug, Philip said, "I'm not alone all the time."

"Good," Blair said, a gentle smile on his face. "You look pretty beat, man."

"I am," Philip said through a yawn and they both laughed at the impeccable timing.

"Well, I'll go and leave you in peace in a minute ... I just, well, I wanted to give you something first..."

Frowning, Philip asked, "What's that?"

Blair reached back and undid the leather strands around his neck again. Leaning forward he reached around Philip's neck and tied them behind him as the young artist protested. "Blair? What are you doing?"

"Shh! It's your birthday - think if it as a birthday gift," he said softly into the ear he was right beside.

"I can't take this.." Philip said, his voice quivering even more he was so moved by the gesture.

"Course you can," Blair said as he pulled back and smiled, brushing his thumb across Phil's cheek. "It's a gift that is meant to go from one friend to another... I'm just passing it on..."

Philip touched it with his fingertips. "Blair, really, I can't.. I can't..."

"Why not?" Blair asked, his lips bowing with a gentle smile.

In a soft whisper Philip said, "Because it's yours and because.. well... because..."

"One friend to another.. remember?"

Philip smiled. "Well, thanks.. for being a friend.."

"Happy Birthday!"

Philip smiled and slipped his arms around his friend's neck, pulling him into a hug and whispering 'thank you' into his ear. As they pulled back Blair looked into the shimmering black eyes but Phil diverted them quickly. Smiling to himself, Blair slowly leaned forward, his movement making Philip look up - a little surprised by the closeness. Their lips met gently -Blair's lips fluttering on Philip's soft mouth as lightly as a butterfly would on a delicate flower petal.

So taken-aback was he by the unexpected kiss, Philip didn't know how to react! Blair, still in charge of the kiss, tilted his face and opened his mouth, gently pressing Phil's mouth open at the same time. His tongue slipped passed the unguarded lips and entered the warm, moist cavern tentatively, still receiving no resistance. Philip hadn't reacted to the tongue, his body was still reeling from the intimate touch, and his senses began to betray him as his skin started to tingle while the slick muscle probed his mouth. Warm hands slipped up over his shoulders and down his back, even through the cloth Philip could feel the heat and started to feel alive under the touch. Blair's hand slipped up the straight back and under the ponytail, cupping the base of Phil's skull - he gripped him as the kiss intensified, their mouths rubbing together firmly now. With a soft moan, Blair inched closer, his other hand finding it's way to Phil's thigh, slipping up to the hip, as he gently pressed him back onto the bed.

This was when Phil's brain snapped awake again. He pressed his hand to Blair's chest and gently eased him back off him, sitting himself back up again. His mind woke from his sleepy haze and his arousal-induced numbness. He realized that his tongue had automatically responded to the insistent playfulness and that he might have actually returned the kiss. Licking his lips, he lowered his face as he whispered a soft apology and swiped his thumb across his lips.

"Blair.. I'm..." He couldn't believe he allowed Blair to kiss him.

"It's okay, man," Blair said, holding his hands up between them. "I can see it was.. well, wasn't expected..."

Shaking his head quickly, Phil muttered, "God! I'm so sorry I led you on!"

"Hey!" Blair sat up straighter. "Man, you did not lead me on, okay? I just think you're incredible and I got a little carried away putting that necklace around your throat.." Phil lowered his chin but Blair lifted it again. "What's the matter? You and me.. we can just have one night, you know? I'm off again tomorrow but we could just have this.." He patted the bed then looked at Philip.

Shaking his head the younger man sighed. "I'm sorry. You're attractive and all but..."

"But..." Blair asked, raising his brows and watching the younger man closely.

"Look, it's not you, it's me. I'm just ...trying ...to remain faithful to someone.."

"Whoa, back up a bit! You said..."

Holding his hands up, Phil tried to explain. "Technically, I'm *not* with anyone at the moment, though I am in love with him..."

"Man! I had no idea! I'd have never .. you know.. come onto you.."

With a sad smile, Philip shrugged. "Well, in a way, it was nice."

"So what's the matter with him? Why hasn't he snapped you up?"

"Because he's not sure if he's in love with someone else or not."

"Oh, what?"

"Actually, *I'm* not sure if he's in love with someone else or not..." He gave a large shrug and Blair frowned.

"Are we talking about that guy, Johnathon, again?"

Shaking his head, Philip got off his bed, picked up a sketch of Jack and tossed it onto the bed beside Blair before climbing back on next to him. "Jack.."

"Jack?" He read the name on the picture. It said 'Jonathon'.

With a nod, Phil said, "It's his nickname. Everyone calls him Jack. He works at the mountain with Graham."

Blair held the picture closer to the lamp and had a good look. "So, is he a friend of Grae's?"

"Ah, no," Philip said, lowering his face slightly. "Actually he's a friend of Daniel's..."

Blair heard the inflection in Phil's voice and looked up. "Oh."

Rolling his eyes, Philip stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. Blair dropped the picture onto the bed now.

"He's a fool!" Blair declared, staring straight into Philip's eyes. With a small smile, the artist thanked him. "I mean it, man. Seriously! You're an amazing person and it's not right that you're constantly kicked in the guts by these men..."

"Blair," he said, laughing softly at the passionate outburst. "Really, it's fine. I'm a pain in the ass to be with anyway..."

"Why?" Blair challenged him. Philip shrugged cagily, smiling as he kept his eyes down.

"You know, I expect those *stupid* little things like loyalty, monogamy, fidelity..."

Blair smiled and shook his head as he pointed to the picture and said, "Well, if he's not going to give you that, you're better off without him..."

Rolling his eyes again, Philip muttered, "Somehow, I wonder sometimes. I don't feel better off at the moment ..." He crossed his arms over his stomach as he felt a cold shiver go through his body. Blair crawled up to sit beside him, wrapping an arm across his forlorn friend's shoulders and tugging him close.

"Yeah, man. I'm so in touch with that at the moment. I sometimes wonder if I should put myself out of my misery and just tell Jim I want him, or put up with unrequited lust forever..."

Philip chuckled softly as he looked at his friend. His dark eyes dipped to the lips then back into the shimmering blue eyes. "Unrequited lust?"

With a playful squeeze, Blair commented off-handedly, "well, you know man, you've got to take these things slowly..."

Philip grinned. "No, you don't. It can take a minute, an hour, a day..."

"Yeah, I know that quote, man!" He chuckled as he squeezed his friend again. "But never underestimate the power of really good lust affair either!"

Philip rolled his head back until it arched over the arm across his shoulders. "There's more to life than lust..."

"I know that man, but you know... there's sometimes not much else.."

They kept their eyes locked together then Philip lowered his face, shifting slightly within the embrace. Blair swallowed then removed his arm, slipping himself off the bed.

"I'll leave you to it then, and see you in the morning, cool? You want me to cook the breakfast?"

"I don't eat breakfast." Philip smiled.

Pointing his finger at him, Blair said, "Most important meal of the day? Tomorrow you will!"

Phil shrugged and laughed. "Sure, whatever."

With a little wink, Blair reached the bedroom door. "Thanks, man, for you know, putting me up for the night..."

With a wicked grin Phil said, "yeah, you're back in Graham's bed again!"

With a chuckle Blair left the room, going to the next room and shutting the door behind him. Philip scrunched down onto the bed, curling himself into a ball as he looked at the assorted pictures on his drawing desk. He laid there for a long while, listening to the rain come down outside. Getting up, he went over to his window sill and sat in it, hitting play on his stereo once more and listening to the sad songs from Simply Red again as he dug the thumbnail of one hand into the palm of his other, slowly drifting off to sleep against the cold window.

*

The gate roared to life and Jack, Sam, Teal'c and Daniel emerged, stepping onto the ramp and instantly sensing the sad atmosphere of the SGC. Looking at each other they shrugged then looked up at the main window, where everyone was staring out at them, mouths agape. Suddenly soldiers come running into the room, aiming their guns at the team.

"Hello?" Jack yelled, wondering what the odd atmosphere was for, and worried they'd come through it an alternate reality or something.

"SG-1?" Hammond's voice sounded raw.

"That's us," Jack said, throwing his arms wide. Daniel heard a soft, "oh, my god! He's not dead!" from the female technician who was working on the side of the gate. He realized immediately. Stepping forward he heard the guns click and felt a chill run down his spine.

"Um, the reports of my death *are* grossly exaggerated..." He said, then turned to look back at the other three - Jack shooting him a 'look' for that corny announcement.

"Well," Daniel explained quietly, "They think I'm dead."

Hammond entered the room, followed by Janet who was running to keep up. "What the hell happened, SG-1? We've just received condolences from the Tok'ra on the death of Doctor Jackson!"

Jack looked at Daniel and the two men shrugged, the older of the two sweeping his hand before him, silently inviting Daniel to answer the general's question. "Sarcophagus.." Daniel told him.

"As you do," Jack muttered, rocking on the balls of his feet as he untangled the lead of his sunglasses from the zipper of his jacket. The young anthropologist raised both brows as he looked at the bewildered General earnestly.

"But the Tok'ra don't have a sarcophagus?" Hammond said.

Sam stepped into line now. "Selmak and Lantesh stole Daniel away to another world..."

"One that did have a sarcophagus," Daniel finished the sentence for her as he swiveled to look at Hammond. The confused General looked at the obviously alive man then at the colonel.

"It's true, sir. I was there," Jack said nonchalantly. Hammond looked at Daniel again then he stepped forward, throwing his arms around him, hugging him close.

"Thank the Heavens!" Daniel, a little uncomfortable, quickly glanced at Jack who rolled his eyes and shrugged. Hammond soon stood back. "It's great to have you home, son!"

A smile twitched at Daniel's lips. "Thanks."

"When the High Council came through we couldn't believe it. We didn't *want* to believe it."

"Didn't you wonder where we were?" Jack asked, walking out of the Gateroom with Hammond.

"No. I think we were all a little surprised by the announcement to think anything. High Council said they offered a Tok'ra burial, but I told them to return the body and we would give him a full Military burial instead," Hammond said in a low voice, so that Daniel couldn't really hear. Jack glanced over his shoulder then back at the round face beside him.

"Actually, I think Daniel would have preferred to be returned to Abydos..." He added a shrug.

"Of course. That was where he wanted to go when he resigned..." Hammond said matter-of-factly as he continued to walk on. 

Jack slowed his step as he arched a brow then sighed - he suddenly felt the whole effects of the day start to drag on his shoulders. Hammond paused on the steps and saw how tired Jack looked. He checked his watch. It was 2245. Considering the time, he decided that the group could debrief in the morning at 1100 hours. Jack nodded gratefully as he sighed heavily. Daniel stopped beside him, and Teal'c waited on the other side.

"Are you alright, Jack?" Daniel asked.

Jack looked at him and gave him a smile. "Yeah," he gave a quick nod. "Debrief's tomorrow at 1100 hours kids." He looked at the three members of his team in turn then smiled at Daniel. "Let's all just head into the Infirmary, get Janet's okay and get the hell out of here!" He threw his arm across Daniel's shoulder as they headed towards the infirmary. Teal'c smiled at Sam as she fell into step beside him. He noted the way she rubbed her neck.

"Are you alright, CaptainCarter?"

She looked at him through tired eyes. "Yeah," she sighed as she nodded. "How about you?"

He looked ahead at the two friends walking in front of them. A smile filled his face. "I am much better - now."

She nodded sagely. "I'm sure you are!" The four of them entered the infirmary, Jack eager to get this over and done with and on his way home. He kept looking at his watch throughout the whole check-up.