Jack sat on the sofa and stared around at the interesting apartment. Just as he and Philip had finished up their coffees at the coffee shop a noisy group of teenagers came bursting into their previously quiet sanctuary. Unable to carry on the conversation without fear of being overheard, Philip had suggested taking it back to his place. At first Jack was reluctant, knowing that he and Graham shared an apartment, but Philip reassured him that Graham was on night duty at the base - having chosen the best shift that allowed him to be at work when Daniel and Jack weren't. Reluctantly, Jack followed the young librarian home.

He was surprised to find that the apartment they shared was at the top of one of the oldest buildings in Colorado Springs. Not very modern, it was more like something out of a 50's Beatnik movie, with a little door that led up to the rooftop which gave the men a kind of 'yard' to call their own. Inside it was filled with books, art objects and sculptures, and large paintings adorned the dark wooden walls. Probably not out of place for a Librarian but it was not the kind of artistic place he imagined Graham going home to every night.

A small apartment, with only two bedrooms, it reflected the young men's heritage - Mediterranean, with Egyptian ancestor apparently. Jack began to see where the starting point of the 'Daniel and Graham' relationship might have come from. Afterall, the Egyptologist was bound to find the Egyptian interesting... and handsome and.. exotic.. and.....

Jack sighed heavily as he reached out and picked up a small statue. He frowned, sure that he'd seen the same one in Daniel's apartment earlier. Philip's jeans whooshed softly as he came back into the room. Tossing the packet of cigarettes on the table he gave Jack a quick wink before rifling through the clutter on the coffee table, looking for his lighter. Jack reached out with his zippo once more and Philip looked up at the large flame then focused past it to Jack. His face broke into a smile, the cigarette clamped between the whitest teeth Jack had ever seen.

"Thanks," he said around the cigarette between his teeth. Jack shrugged and allowed the younger man to guide his hand closer, lighting the end of the smoke. The large, dark eyes flicked up to look at Jack as he sucked back his first lungful of smoke. Again Jack felt the squeak of sensuality as Philip tilted his head and sent his long hair flying off his face. Flicking the metal lighter shut once more, the colonel reached down and put it on the coffee table then finally broke their stare as he pointed to the abstract artwork dominating the walls.

"Who's the artist?" Jack asked, pointing to one picture that clearly depicted a naked male being hugged from behind by another male. The image was vibrant with color, not too detailed but enough so that Jack clearly understood the meaning. The one beside it was of a naked man reclining on his side.

"I am," Philip said, blowing smoke through his puckered dark lips as he looked at his work for the first time in a long while. It was interesting to revisit it through a stranger's eye. Jack's brow arched high.

"You?"

"Ah huh." Philip nodded nonchalantly as he went over to the tallest picture. It stood on the floor but the top of the painting was well above his head. Philip reached out and switched on two small lights that highlighted the work on the wall. Jack could now see that the two men in the picture were of actual size.

"You painted these.. when?"

Philip frowned as he tried to recall. "It would have to have been five or six years ago. It's Graham," he said matter-of-factly, pointing the hand holding the cigarette towards the naked man. Jack cringed slightly then shrugged. He knew that! Well, actually the likeness was 'not' that clear, but now that it had been pointed out to him, 'he knew that'! Still he couldn't resist a peak to see how Graham 'measured' up to him. He was disappointed. When he looked at Philip the younger man had a knowing smile in his eyes.

Jack gave a cough then tilted his head. "Your brother posed nude for you?"

"No. Why do you think that hand's there?" Philip pointed to the hand of the other man over what would have been Graham's crotch. The older man nodded.

"Grae and I have lived together for years now. I think I painted those the first year we were away from home. I guess he was something like 22 at the time." The dark brow furrowed as Philip tried to recall the details.

"And that made you?" Jack asked, tilting his head slightly.

"At the time? I was going on 18."

"Ah," Jack nodded.

"Grae and I were brought up to be real close," Philip said, then he jabbed the hand holding his cigarette at the painting as he joked, "but not 'that' close!"

"I see." Jack nodded slightly.

"Even though I'm younger than him, I've always looked out for him, you know?"

Jack stared at the thoughtful young man, nodding slowly.

Philip returned that with a small smile as he dipped his head slightly. With a shrug, he looked up once more. "Wherever he goes, I tend to go too. Wouldn't do to have my only brother alone in this world, would it?" He gave a soft, deep laugh as he went and picked up his scotch from the table. Jack watched as he arched his throat and swallowed the fine malt drink in one gulp. Turning towards the pictures again for distraction, Jack noted the blueness of the other man's eyes in the picture.

"The eyes are incredible," he said. Philip came to stand alongside him now, stretching his neck to look at the tall picture. With a soft laugh, he nodded.

"Yeah, that's Blair for you. Best set of blue eyes I've ever had the pleasure to paint."

"Oh?" Jack asked, looking down at the slightly shorter man.

Philip returned the look and said, with a shrug, "Until I met Danny."

He headed out of the room, leaving Jack to ponder that thought. As Philip returned, carrying a painting in his hand from the bedroom, he was telling Jack, "that's how Danny and Grae clicked. They'd both dated Blair for a while, and when they discovered that, well," he gave a shrug as he laughed loudly while passing the painting over to Jack, "let's say they'd both been on a diet by the looks of them. And they gorged. I didn't see either of them for the whole weekend."

Before looking at the painting, Jack's eyes shot around the apartment. "Here?" His skin tingled with the thought that Daniel Jackson had had sex in this apartment. In this place, where this sensitive, artistic man lived with his clueless brother. Daniel had hidden behind 'that' door with Graham for a whole two days?

Philip caught Jack's attention as he rolled his eyes at that thought. "They were quiet," he said nonchalantly, before jutting his chin towards the painting in Jack's hands in an attempt to get Jack to finally look at it. The colonel stared at him a long moment then looked down, still a little stunned by the casual revelation.

"Oh my..." His eyes feasted on a full color sketch of Daniel's face up close. The subject's head was tilted ever so slightly and he was staring straight at Philip with a gentle smile on his lips. His chin was resting on his hand and his long fingers were curled against his jaw. Jack fell in love with the sketch immediately.

He loved the detail in it. The way Philip had been careful to catch that dark shadow across Daniel's top lip, the mole on his left cheek, the way his hair flopped around his face and against the wire frames.

"This is great!" He said with an approving smile. Philip gave a proud smile in return as he twisted his head to look down at the image he'd created.

"Yeah, one of my better works, I feel."

"You've really captured him, even his dimple," Jack said in a quiet voice, not really meaning to say it aloud.

Philip's eyes shifted from the picture to Jack then back to the picture again.

"See what I mean about his eyes?" He asked, eager to share his talent with an appreciative audience.

Jack nodded. Oh yeah!

"And you got his mouth absolutely perfect too!" He said.

Philip gave a little laugh then scratched behind his ear as he said, "That's probably because it 'is'," he said. Jack looked back over his shoulder at the artist.

"Ah," was all he said before looking back at the picture. Reluctant to hand it back, he did so anyway. Philip took the canvas and leaned it against the edge of the fireplace then gathered up their glasses and went to get them another drink. Jack returned to the sofa and stared at the picture for what seemed an eternity. It was so life like, so detailed that he almost expected it to come to life and talk, or at least do that little crinkle of the eyes thing Danny used to do when he'd looked at Jack - back when they were still friends. With a heavy sigh, he dragged himself from the painting and wandered over to the kitchen door, noting - quite absently as he approached - how Philip's pants hugged his rounded butt and thighs as the younger man set about cleaning their glasses for a refill.

"Actually," Jack said lying a hand against the doorframe and crossing his feet at his ankles, watching as Philip swiveled from the waist to look at him, his smile growing on his face. "It's getting late and I should.."

With a dip of his head Philip looked down, not wanting his disappointment to show as his smile suddenly vanished.

"Oh."

Jack's face contorted; he felt bad about letting him down.

"I'm really not good company," Jack said, trying to soften the feeble excuse with a smile and a shrug. Philip looked at him and shook his head.

"On the contrary, I happen to find you great company," he stated simply.

"I'm not really at my peak," he quipped. Philip had to take that as a plea to be allowed to leave. As much as he was enjoying Jack's company, he didn't want to embarrass him either so graciously nodded and headed out of the kitchen

"Well, I think that's a shame. I was enjoying your company, but," he said with a deliberate shrug of his shoulders. Jack made a soft click noise in his cheek as he turned and headed over to the door, knowing that Philip was following him.

Jack reached for his jacket that was lying across a small table by the front door. A wistful smile filled his face as he shrugged the damp coat on then adjusted the collar.

"Thank you," he said, most sincerely as he stopped and looked at the good-looking man.

Clearly not happy about Jack leaving, but not able to ask him to stay, Philip gave a sharp nod as he said, "It really was my pleasure, Jack."

The colonel faltered a moment, seeing something in those dark eyes. "Hmpft," he said, then shrugged.

Philip reached past him and opened the front door and Jack stepped out into the dark hallway. With a little wave, Jack said his good byes and headed down to his car.

*

Philip bit the inside of his bottom lip as he sighed and leant back on the door. After a few moments of disappointment, he pushed himself up and went into the living room, scooping up the sketch he'd done of Daniel then carried it back to Graham's room. He faltered by the door of his brother's room, seeing the bed in disarray and wondering if he'd even bothered to change the sheets from Daniel's stay to his new partner's stay. Philip didn't care much for Graham's new man, Chris, yet he'd never say anything to him about that. He was sure Grae knew anyway, because there just wasn't the same feel to Saturday mornings in the apartment anymore. Having to squeeze past Daniel and Graham as the three of them tried to make breakfast in that tiny kitchen, laughing and teasing them for their intermittent kisses and cuddles, while loud music blared through the apartment - well, that was the way to start a weekend, Philip told himself. But that was all gone now. 'Graham and Chris' were not as much fun as 'Daniel and Graham' were. He pulled his brother's door closed, deciding to keep the picture of the archaeologist for himself now. It could go in his portfolio.

Heading out of his bedroom he heard a soft knock on the front door. Deciding that, at that hour it had to be Jack, he ran over and opened the door. To his dismay, it was Chris.

"Hi, I was wondering if Graham was still awake?"

"No, he's not home," Philip said with a shrug.

"Oh?" Chris frowned.

"He's at work. I thought you'd know that."

Shaking his head Chris said, "No. We don't really keep tabs on each other like that."

//Tabs?//

"Well, maybe you should, then you wouldn't waste a trip over on nights he's at work," Philip said plainly.

"Oh, it's not a wasted trip. I was down the road at a friend's house, saw the light on as I was walking by."

Phillip shrugged, keeping his expression neutral. It wasn't like he cared either way what brought this man to his place after midnight, and he really wasn't in the mood to stand there and discuss it.

"I'll let him know you called," he said, starting to close the door.

"Thanks!" Chris managed to say before the door was closed quietly in his face. Before Philip had a chance to move away from the door there was another knock.

"Yes, Chris," Philip said, swinging the door open. Jack raised his brow and looked around him then back at Philip.

"Chris?"

Rolling his eyes, Philip broke into a smile as he reached out and gripped the sleeve on Jack's jacket. Tugging him into the apartment, he told him, "Graham's new partner. Complete ass!"

"Probably exactly what Graham sees in him," Jack mumbled. Philip laughed as he nodded.

"Could well be, Jack. Now," He tilted his head. "What brings you back here?"

"Car won't start," Jack said. The younger man noticed how wet the shoulders and collar of Jack's coat were.

"Here," he said, dragging the sodden top off the colonel to hang it on a hook by the door.

"Come in."

"I was just going to call road service,"' Jack said, jutting his thumb over his shoulder.

Philip was disappointed. "Okay, well phone's right there. Shall I get you a coffee while you wait?"

"Sure."

As the young librarian was returning to the living room with the mugs of hot coffee he heard Jack's exasperated sigh; "An hour?"

Passing the mug to him, he smiled when Jack gave him a quick nod in thanks. "In a town this size - at this hour of night? Oh, yeah, fine!" Jack shook his head as he listened to the operator explain that due to the heavy rains the usual man who dealt with road side emergencies was extremely busy. It would take about an hour for him to get there. Jack checked his watch once more. That would make it nearly 3 am before he got home. Squeezing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and fingers Jack nodded as he mumbled some kind of acceptance into the phone then hung up.

"Busy night, huh?" Philip asked, standing with his back to the radiator and cradling the coffee mug in the palm of his hand. Jack sighed and nodded.

"You look really beat, Jack. You can stay here the night, and call them out in the morning."

Jack *was* exhausted. The mission today, the emotional roller coaster ride that Daniel had him on, the late hour now... with a reluctant shrug he looked around the cluttered apartment.

"Sofa bed?"

"Well," Philip said with a shrug. "Graham's not coming home tonight. You can use his-" He stopped when he saw Jack cringe.

//Ah, right sure! Of course he wouldn't want to sleep in the same bed that Daniel had been in. Way to go, Phil!//

"Or you can have my bed-"

//Do you come with the bed?// Jack wondered then just as quickly wondered where that thought came from.

"I'll sleep in Graham's room."

With a tired sigh the colonel shrugged. "Okay. Thanks."

Philip smiled. "Good. I'll even go and change the sheets for you."

"Don't go to any trouble on my behalf," Jack said, screwing his nose up slightly and reaching for Phil's arm as he brushed by.

"No trouble. It's that time of year again anyway!" The younger man joked. Jack smiled and then nodded.

"Sweet. I've got that rule at my house, too." He stared at Philip for a long moment then ducked his head. "I'll just cancel that call," he said quietly, reaching for the phone. Philip took a heartbeat before he moved away towards the bedroom, unaware that he was being watched....

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