| Part 14 | Disclaimers | 
Spoilers in this part: Nil

Christmas morning...

Daniel lay in bed for a long while after he woke.  He could hear Jack moving around his apartment but didn’t hurry to get up.  Jack knew his way around, and by the sounds and smells of it he was cooking breakfast for them.  Rolling onto his side Daniel stared at his door and thought about the man beyond it.  It was almost his Christmas wish.  He wasn’t alone, at least.  He was in love, even if the stubborn son-of-a-bitch he was in love with didn’t know it. 

All morning all he could think about were Jack’s words that he wasn’t in love with Sam.  The confrontation last night, as painful as it was, had cleared up some things for him.  What it didn’t clear up was why Jack was acting like such a bastard towards him, and with him there now, cooking for him like he used to before any of this happened, Daniel wasn’t sure he cared.  He would later, but right now, he felt warm and content. 

A soft knock on his door roused him from his thoughts.  As the door cracked open Daniel tilted his face and smiled when Jack came in, bearing a ladened tray of food, juice and coffee. 

“Breakfast in bed?” Daniel sat up against a cushion of pillows.

“Hey, I’ve got some mileage to cover,” Jack said as he set the tray down across Daniel’s lap then perched himself on the other side. Without looking at him Jack said, “Tuck in before it gets cold..”

Daniel obliged, tasting the bacon and eggs first.  “Perfect, Jack. Thanks.” Then he reached for the coffee and took a long sip.  “But I don’t think you’re the only one with mileage to cover.” He offered his friend some toast and Jack took it.  “I think we both allowed the distance to brew between us.  I’m as guilty as you are, for different reasons.  You were embarrassed and felt like you had something to prove to the brass after the confession, whilst I, on the other hand..” He stopped when Jack met his eyes with a very interested expression.  “I.. allowed certain feelings to get in the way of us.. the team, I mean.”

“You were jealous,” Jack commented flatly.

Daniel blinked then shrugged. “Yes.” He put his cutlery down and settled back into the pillows.  “I felt excluded..”

Jack nodded.  He’d thought about it all morning as he sat staring at the photos of Daniel and Davis. 

“So you turned to Davis..”

Daniel studied the food intently. 

“And last night you and he met up at the bar, didn't you?"  Daniel looked up and frowned at him.  Jack shook his head as he looked at the tray of food between them.  "You don't need to deny it."

"You're wrong," Daniel said plainly.

Jack closed his eyes and hissed with disappointment. "Please, Daniel.." He looked up into the unshielded blue eyes, his own gaze full of disappointment at Daniel's denial.  He hesitated then pressed on; "How long were you together?"

Daniel stared at him then swiped a nervous tongue over his lips. "I'm not sure I know what you mean.."

“Come on, Danny,” Jack cajoled with the kind of smile that told Daniel he was already at the end of the game and knew who did it, with what, and in what room. “You were in a gay bar and according to Puff the Magic Barman, you’d just broken up with someone.  Two and two makes a couple in my book-”

When Daniel still gave no indication of giving in, Jack plied again, sounding a little exasperated by his friend’s loyalty to Davis.  “Paul dumped you on Christmas Eve, for crying out loud, so why are you protecting him?”

“Paul and I are friends, Jack.”

“Now-” Jack agreed with a shrug.  “But we both know there was more to it than that.” With that, Jack produced a photo of Paul in boxer shorts on Daniel's sofa. He tossed the picture onto the tray between them. Daniel stared at it, his face growing flushed with color. Dammit, he knew he should have destroyed that photo, like Paul had asked. "I wasn't trying to pry, Daniel.."

"No, no of course not, you just looked through a private collection of photographs.." Daniel quipped sharply as he stared at the incriminating evidence.

"Not too private, they were on your kitchen table.." Jack tried to make it sound like a joke.  When Daniel didn't appear amused, Jack added, "I needed proof." He met Daniel's gaze when the younger man raised his face.

"Of?"

Jack smiled, and Daniel wasn’t sure if it was a sweet or sour smile. “For a smart guy, you can be dumb at times.”

“Oh well, there’s the Jack I’ve known for the past year..” Daniel muttered.

Ignoring that, Jack almost purred when he said, “Think about it, Danny… You were in a gay bar…”

Still sensing a trick Daniel folded his arms over his chest and lifted his chin slightly. “And?” 

“And..?” Jack almost bleated then he realized that Daniel still wasn't seeing the big picture.  "Oh, for crying out loud, Daniel..." He took a deep breath and said, "So .. was.. I."

It took more than a heartbeat but Daniel's mouth suddenly dropped open.  Jack tilted his head slightly and arched a brow.  By the look on that gorgeous face, Danny was *finally* getting the picture! 

“He ended it with you in that bar, didn’t he?” Jack pressed gently.

“No,” Daniel stammered.  Before Jack could voice the protest on his lips he added, “In the coffee shop next door.”

As he closed his eyes, Jack hissed the word, “Bastard,” softly under his breath. 

Daniel blushed and then gave a soft, derisive laugh. “It isn’t as bad as it sounds, well, actually, in a way, it’s worse..”

The older man shook his head in question.  “What do you mean?”

“We weren't in a real relationship, Jack.  We were..” Daniel lowered his chin, bit back his embarrassment then said, “Buddy fucks… each other’s stop-gap.”

Jack arched his brow.  Daniel wasn’t cut up about the break up?  Sweet! Even better news though was that Daniel went in for Buddy-Fucks?  Who knew! This man never ceased to amaze him. Jack kept his voice level as he asked, “Between?”

An assurance came into the blue eyes unlike Jack had seen in months. “What we wanted – but what we knew we couldn’t have.”

A wisp of a smile curled one corner of Jack’s mouth, creating a faint dimple under his stubble. “And that’s a fancy term for?”

Blinking earnestly, Daniel confessed in a hushed voice, “I wanted someone else. Paul wanted someone else.” He shrugged. “We compromised.”

“Romantic.”

“It wasn’t about romance, it was about sex..”

Jack looked down at the bedspread covering Daniel’s legs.  “And last night he ended it in a cheap coffee shop?”

With a wry smile Daniel said, “Well, he got his Christmas wish. He had someone waiting for him back at home..”

Jack nodded. “So, *he* got what he wanted?”  Daniel nodded. “What about you?”

A faint smile kissed the younger man’s lips. Cryptically, he said, “Oddly, I’m a step closer to it than I have been lately.”

“Which means?”

Daniel stared at his friend for a moment and received a quizzical look in return.  He went to speak again but smiled instead as the reality of everything hit him at a rush – he and Jack were ‘talking’ together.  Hell, he and Jack were talking on his BED together… and Jack was Bi-sexual as well!

With a slight frown and tilt of his head Daniel changed the subject.  “Why were you in there last night?”

Jack’s mouth dropped open slightly before another smile filtered across his lips and forced dimples into his cheeks.  Daniel adored that rare smile whenever Jack gave it.  “I .. ah… was looking for someone.”

Daniel’s heart plummeted.  “I see.” He set the food aside and slipped out of the bed. He answered Jack’s puzzled gaze with, “I have to go to the bathroom.”

When he came out of the bathroom, Daniel discovered that Jack had set up his breakfast on the dining table instead. Sounding a little flustered the older man explained, “I thought you might be more comfortable out here instead.”

Daniel accepted that the confessions in the bedroom had unsettled Jack, maybe it made him worry that with Daniel on the ‘rebound’ he might be desperate enough to jump his newly-discovered-to-be-gay friend and Jack wanted to avoid that embarrassment.  

Daniel looked at the meal for a long moment then tilted his head and looked at Jack.  With apology in his voice, he said, “You know, I’m not really one for breakfast.”

Jack shrugged. He knew that.  “I just didn’t know how else to get you up… err, get into your room… WAKE you up,” he said, fully flustered by the end of the sentence. 

Daniel laughed and bowed his head. Jack was so cute when he was flustered!

Jack blew out a loud breath. Calmly, he added, “To talk about it-” before he met the blue eyes once more. “I gotto confess to you, Daniel – I didn’t sleep a wink last night.. putting it all together.” 

Reaching for his plate, Daniel teased, “I’m surprised you’re still here then..” Implying that Jack didn’t run when he discovered his best friend was, in fact, a closet Bi-Sexual.

Jack grinned and followed him into the kitchen. As he sauntered he quipped, “Well, there was this whole Pot – Kettle thing.. ya know?”

Daniel ducked his head and swiveled to look back at the man walking behind him, then he gave a soft laugh and shook his head. “Just because I’m Bi as well doesn’t mean we’re automatically going to totally agree on each other’s lifestyle…”

Jack was surprised by that. Wasn’t this the happy-ever-after-ending that came with revelations like this?  Isn't this the point they realize a secret mutual affection and fall into each others arms? Dammit! “Meaning?”

Daniel tipped the food into his garbage disposal unit then turned and placed the plate into the sink. “I mean being Bi together… doesn’t automatically mean… we’re alike..” He frowned. “Does it?”

“I guess…not..”

“And I’m not about to start taking everything you say to me as hidden innuendo..”

“Oh..”

“Because.. Well that would be stupid, wouldn’t it?” Daniel looked to Jack to confirm that.  The older man gave a bewildered shrug.  Turning away so that Jack couldn’t see the look on his face, Daniel continued to test the water with his friend.  “Much like me mistaking the fact that simply because you’re a man and Sam’s a woman.. that you… felt something for each other..”

“But she does.”

Daniel turned quickly. “Huh?”

“Carter told me on P4Xy-what…”

Quickly Daniel mumbled, “-234,” then supplemented that with a look that clearly told Jack he’d never forget P4X - 234.

Jack granted that with a shrug then looked awkward when he confessed, “Well, she admitted that she felt something more than she should...” He gave a nervous cough as he rocked on his feet and clarified, “For me..” 

Daniel’s face went pale. “Oh.”

Jack puffed up and put his hands on his hips as he said, casually, “Of course, I told her it was out of the question..”

“Because you are her commanding officer.”

Jack frowned.  “Because I’m gay!” Wasn’t Daniel following any of this?

Wagging his finger, Daniel said, “Technically, you’re Bi..”

“No, technically, I’m gay.  I’m a straight.. gay..” Jack frowned further at the oxymoronic statement then shrugged to dismiss it. They both knew what he meant.

“You’re gay?  Not Bi?”

Jack’s hands waved in his usual dismissive way as he admitted, “Not an inch of me.. wants another woman….”

The golden brows came together tightly. “Why?”

“You need to ask?”

“I’d like to know.”

“Why?”

“Because..”

Jack smiled slyly. “Then we’d be talking about our lifestyles and that’s taboo, isn’t it?”

Still together, the brows lifted to crease up Daniel’s forehead. “When did that happen?”

“You said it earlier..”

“No, I said that we didn’t necessarily have the same *kind* of lifestyle..  which is right, because you’re..” He indicated to Jack with his hand, “Gay, and I’m.. Bi..”

“Bi-” Jack reconfirmed.

Daniel thought he sensed disappointment.  “Though... I’m going through a very gay patch.. at the ... moment..”

“A.. gay. patch?” Jack bit back his amused smirk for the sake of his friend, who seemed to be having some issues with this.

Daniel coughed and said, “At the moment...”

“Is this a problem?”

“For me?” He saw Jack’s reaction, “Oh- For us? No, I don’t.. I don’t think so…”

With a laconic shrug, Jack said, “We’re grown men, after all…”

“Exactly.” 

Jack leaned his hip against the cupboard beside him and tilted his head to peer into Daniel’s face. In a low voice he said, “It’s not like we’re… attracted to each other…” He searched the face that turned to him suddenly -the lips parted, the blue eyes bright without their usual shields.  “Are we..?”

Daniel’s gaze flittered all over Jack’s face.  “No,” he said too quickly then met the brown eyes again and said uncertainly, “Are we?”

Jack’s eyes moved slowly from Daniel’s gaze to his lips then back to his eyes. “Who is it you’re attracted to?”

“To?” Daniel asked absently then shook himself awake.  Stammering he said, “Oh..it’s…..you.. know you never did say who it was you were looking for last night.”

“Same person I’m always looking for in that place..” Jack said softly.  “Only.. last night he actually showed up..”

“He.. he did?”

“Yes,” Jack purred as he searched Daniel’s face again.

Together they said, “It’s me, isn’t it?”  They both startled at that coincidence then answered, “Yes,” together as well. 

Jack couldn’t help his wry smile.  Shifting his weight so that he was a little closer to the man beside him, he said, “I guess it was about time we got our act together..”

As their bodies lightly brushed together Daniel breathed out and asked, “Just our act, Jack?”

Smirking now, Jack came even closer. “What else did you have in mind?”

Daniel’s usual little-boy-lost-look was gone.  His eyes shone with lust and his voice was husky with want as he rubbed his body against Jack’s.  “Our mouths, our bodies…”

Jack almost didn’t recognize the transformed man. “Without so much as a first date?” he joked nervously before he gingerly touched his hand to Daniel’s shoulder as if it might be hot. When he found out that it wasn’t, and that his touch was not only allowed, but welcomed, his hand settled onto the shoulder carefully then he gave it a firm squeeze.

Daniel showed no such restraint of touch when he inhaled deeply as he ran his hand up Jack’s other arm, over his shoulder then around to the back of his neck.  He tickled his fingers through the short hair back there as he said, in a low purr, “We’ve been to ball games, let’s count those!”

Jack grew serious. “Guess I did always did want to kiss you good-night…”

Daniel’s hand slid around to cup Jack’s throat until his thumb stroked down the Adam’s Apple.  His rosy lips parted slowly. “What’s stopping you now?”

The older man looked deep into the soulful eyes.  This was what he’d been wanting.  This man, unlike all the other’s he’d been with, was the real deal.   Knowing how close he was to having it all Jack’s voice quivered as he answered, honestly, “Years of restraint around you, Danny..”

Daniel held the gaze until he was too close to focus, then his lashes fluttered as his eyes closed. He was so close now that their mouths almost touched.  “Stop restraining yourself…” He breathed against Jack’s lips. “I want you..”

Jack bit back a groan as their lips touched for the first time.   Much like the reaction with Daniel’s shoulder, Jack seemed surprised to discover that Daniel was really there, really against him.  His lips trembled against the fuller mouth throughout their first kiss until Daniel tilted his face even more, pressed their mouths more tightly together and parted his lips, inviting Jack inside. 

A thrill echoed through Jack’s body as his tongue entered the mouth for the first time – but there was no taste, just warmth.  Jack felt bolder as Daniel’s tongue snaked around his in their combined juices so he stepped up to the gently swaying body, grasped it firmly around the waist with one arm and cradled the base of Daniel’s head with his other hand.  He took command of the oral onslaught. 

Pinned between Jack and the kitchen counter, Daniel managed to raise one foot off the floor to rub it against the curve of Jack’s calf muscle throughout the kiss.  He’d worked the cuff up enough that it caught on the well-developed muscle and stayed up, and then he could luxuriate in the feel of the hairs of Jack’s leg against the arch of his foot. His hands slipped Jack's t-shirt up so that he could feel and see the tags against the wiry chest hairs. Daniel's fingers touched the warm metal tags and words replayed in his mind 'one day these will be the right tags and the right chest..'  Daniel smiled to himself as he bent to brush his lips over the tangy metal. He loved the feeling of Jack's chest hairs against his lips and proceeded to push the t-shirt all the way off Jack so that he could indulge himself unimpeded. 

As he worked his tongue throughout the kiss Daniel's hands explored the bare torso that he’d secretly coveted for years. They traveled down the front of Jack, over the taut stomach and onto the tops of the sweat pants he’d lent his friend to sleep in the night before.  The minute his fingers started tugging the tie open Jack broke the kiss and Daniel panted heavily against the stubble-covered jaw while Jack looked down at what Daniel was doing. Daniel soon growled in frustration as the knot grew tighter, not looser. “I should never have given you these pants, they always do this..”

Jack sought the simplest solution and reached for one of Daniel’s sharp knives from the knife-block nearby.  He flicked the tip of the knife against the material pull-string and the tie snapped open, allowing the pants to billow gracefully to the floor where they pooled around Jack’s bare feet. 

“Oh!”

Jack stood before Daniel; completely naked and holding a sharp knife in his hand.  Daniel bit his lips together to quell his laughter – partly brought on by the situation and partly by the elation in his heart.  He took the knife from the naked man and dropped it onto the counter then he looked down again. 

With both heads bowed to look down, Jack muttered against Daniel’s ear, “I guess this is what we were trying to achieve.” Daniel jerked his head up and he looked into the soft brown eyes.  Jack arched his scarred brow as he shrugged. “Wasn’t it?”

“I..” the pajama’ed one stammered then fell silent as he tentatively touched his right hand to the flat of Jack’s stomach.  Jack could see how his fingers trembled so he covered Daniel’s hand with his own, also trembling, and they looked into each other’s eyes again.  Jack concentrated on the full bottom lip before he leaned towards Daniel and claimed the ripeness between his teeth gently. Daniel moaned then captured Jack’s mouth in a searing kiss while their joined hands shifted until the fingers laced together. 

Eventually craving for air they pulled back breathlessly and Daniel rubbed the tip of his nose over Jack’s cheek, nose and lips as he whispered, “I want you so much..” Jack caught his mouth and devoured him in another long kiss.  They broke apart again and Daniel finished his sentence, “But I want to take this slow as well, to savor it-”  He met Jack’s gaze and asked him, in all seriousness, “Do you have a preference?”

Jack panted through slightly parted lips that were already reddened by Daniel’s stubble.  “Do we end up in sex either way?”

Daniel half groaned, half growled as he stared at Jack’s mouth. “Absolutely!”

“Then let’s do it both ways,” he replied seriously.

Daniel clapped Jack’s head between his hands and kissed him so forcefully that Jack stumbled back a step.  Regaining his composure, Jack returned the passion as he pressed Daniel back one step and up against the kitchen cupboard again.  They groped frantically as they kissed then Daniel hooked his thumb into the back of his waist elastic and shimmied his sweat pants down his long legs, kicking them aside without breaking contact with Jack’s lips or tongue.  He walked Jack around so that it was him who was pressed against the kitchen cabinet then he rubbed his nakedness against the furrier body, matching Jack’s moans with his own. 

Jack pulled back so suddenly, gasping for air, that Daniel’s mouth and tongue still worked the kiss then he blinked and his heavy eyes cleared to focus on the smiling face of his lover.  “What?” he asked so huskily it barely came out.

“Had to see your face again,” Jack said, sliding a hand down over the rise of Daniel’s ass and onto one soft globe. 

Hungrily Daniel leaned to him again, and nibbled his lips as he breathed, “You’ve seen it..” then he thrust his tongue deep into Jack’s mouth again.  The older man melted against the body rubbing against him and his hand clawed at the soft ass cheek, scratching the surface and leaving tiny red lines in the white flesh.  With a guttural groan Daniel arched his throat and gasped at the sensation and Jack wasn’t sure if it was Daniel’s utter ‘fuck-me’ expression or lack of oxygen that made his head suddenly whirl like he was a school-kid again.

He swung them around so that Daniel was backed into the cabinet and he shifted his hands so that he could lever Daniel onto the counter.  The younger man went willingly and wrapped his legs around Jack’s waist to drag him closer, his weeping tip brushed the hairs on Jack’s stomach.   Jack’s own tip rubbed across Daniel’s heavy balls and the older man pulled back slightly to look down at their bodies.  Daniel was breathing heavily as he watched Jack watch himself nudge at Daniel’s ass.  With a loud groan and a squirm Daniel told Jack that he wanted him inside him. 

“Wouldn’t happen to be carrying a condom on you, by any chance?” Jack quirked a brow and Daniel chuckled softly.

“Sure in my back pocket.” 

Jack’s hand slid over the ass in question and he gripped it tightly, soliciting a yelp then throaty chuckle from his partner on the bench.  “Couldn’t find it,” he quipped. 

Daniel rubbed his ass against the tip nudging his cleft.  His eyes were almost black from desire as he reached behind Jack’s head and tugged him closer to breath into his mouth, “Bare back me!”

“Bare..?” Jack’s second word, if he had one, was muted by the tongue rammed down this throat.  He squirmed against Daniel’s body, feeling the sweat break on his shoulders and lower back, and his legs began to tremble. He needed release and he needed it fast.  “Oil?” He muttered against Daniel’s probing tongue. 

There was a clatter as Daniel blindly ripped a cupboard open beside them and fumbled with the contents inside, finally extracting the cooking oil.  A can rolled off the shelf, banged onto the counter then rolled again, landing on the floor.  The men beside it were oblivious though as they devoured each other hungrily, unable to pull the other close enough or rub each other hard enough for satisfaction. 

Jack’s unsteady hand fumbled with the oil, but he gave himself points for doing it blind as Daniel refused to give up the oral onslaught.  

Finally breaking the kiss, Jack tilted his head down so that he could see what he was doing.  Daniel’s thighs were spread wide and Jack cupped the inside of each thigh with his hands, and teased his oil-coated thumbs at the tight pucker.  Daniel squirmed against the pressure then groaned as the first thumb pressed through into him.  Jack’s eyes raised to watch the head thrown back in enjoyment.  Daniel’s tongue licked his lips then he bit his bottom lip as Jack’s second thumb pressed into him, stretching the opening for what was to come. 

Rolling his head against the wall behind him Daniel slowly opened his eyes and settled a lust-filled gaze upon Jack. Daniel's cheeks were flared with heat and his throat was rubbed by  stubble, and bruised by strong lips and teeth.  As Jack extracted the thumbs and inserted fingers instead he watched the way Daniel’s face contorted with the pleasure, his mouth tightening then loosening, his tongue restless to be licking at Jack’s once more.  His breath was harsh, raspy with desire as Jack gently pressed in and out of him, alternating with the thumbs to provide stretch and the fingers to provide pleasure.  Heavy hooded eyes focused on him and Daniel whispered hoarsely, “Please Jack..”

Jack’s mouth opened in taunt then he grinned lasciviously.  Leaning over the willing body he whispered into Daniel’s ear, his breath hot on the sensitive skin, “If I fuck you now, will you beg for me later…”

Before he could pull back to see Daniel’s face for the answer Jack was captured once more by Daniel’s hand and their mouths brutally came together in a strong, hungry kiss.  That was the answer he needed.  As they kissed he aligned his cock with the well prepared opening, then he gripped Daniel by the bend in his body around his hip area, and with swift strokes, he forced himself into the younger man’s body. 

Both men cried out as one when flesh entered flesh, searing pain inside Daniel and radiating desire throughout Jack.  Daniel’s rather loud cries of “oh, god,” had Jack almost on the brink the minute he settled to his hilt but he managed to raise a trembling hand, clap it over Daniel’s mouth then whispered, unsteadily, “You should be quiet now, Daniel… I need to concentrate..”

The blue eyes blinked so Jack removed his hand and then started his slow, deliberate rhythm.  The quiet didn’t last long though.  With each forward strike Jack’s knees bashed the cupboard door, sending a loud thud throughout the apartment, and with each withdraw Daniel groaned and readied his body for the next impalement.

Oil on the bench meant that Daniel shifted each time Jack moved so he grappled for a hold on Jack but the sweat on his hands and Jack’s shoulders made the task almost impossible.  Soon all the two men could hear was the sounds of their love making, loud, uncensored cries and groans, coupled with the thuds of Jack’s legs against the cupboard doors.  The sound increased until it filled the room, settled in every corner and engulfed them so that nothing else existed but the act they were performing. Daniel shifted his head so that he could watch Jack fucking him.  He looked down at where their bodies joined then he looked up into the smiling brown eyes.  Jack’s hand tremble against Daniel’s jaw as he touched him, then they came together for a deep lingering kiss before pulling apart, more breathless then ever before. 

Jack was growing fatigued.  His head hung down as he murmured, “Oh, god, you feel great..” and Daniel laughed softly, tightening his legs across Jacks ass, driving him deeper as he groaned with enjoyment. 

“I’ve wanted you ..” Daniel’s face screwed up with pleasure as Jack struck the gland within him.  He gasped then continued, through gritted teeth, “For such a long time.. Oh GOD!” Jack struck him again. “Oh.. God.. Jack, don’t.. I’ll come.. If  you.. If  YOU.. Don’t..” He pleaded pitifully, his whole body flushed and strained with arousal.

Jack grinned at him. “Jesus Daniel, who knew you begged?”

“Who knew you’d make me.. oh Ja.. Jack.. don’t..” He arched up as the older man grasped hid cock in his fist while he rammed into him deeply, electrifying every cell in Daniel's body.  He could barely catch breath between the shockwaves emanating through his body at the double onslaught. He grappled to regain control and fixed a stare on Jack that would stop a Goa’uld at fifty paces. “Fuck you, Jack,” he hissed through a grin as he reached down for Jack’s ass.

“Wait your turn!” Jack teased and then glided his free hand up to cup Daniel’s pec, squeezing the nipple firmly.  With one almighty cry Daniel shuddered and Jack felt the come splash against his stomach and fist. “Kiss me,” he whispered and Daniel struggled to sit up then he held Jack’s head lovingly, fixed an intense gaze upon him before he brought him closer and gave Jack the most sensuous kiss he’d ever experienced.  It pushed Jack over the edge and he cried out into Daniel’s mouth, against his tongue, as he shuddered with release. 

Breathing through his nose, Jack finally brought his heartbeat under control and Daniel eased back, releasing the kiss.  Fully fatigued, Daniel slumped back against the wall behind him with a contented moan.  Jack reached forward and kissed the roughened throat and chest as he waited until he softened enough to pull out without hurting his lover.   

Collapsed together, they caught their breath then Daniel began to ease himself from the counter.  Jack stepped back to wrap Daniel in his arm as the younger man stumbled on his feet again.  They shared kisses as they made their way through the apartment and into Daniel’s bedroom. 

“Maybe I should shower,” Jack said, aware of the mess he was in.  Daniel shook his head sleepily as he crawled onto the bed, dragging Jack by the hand with him. 

The older man cuddled against Daniel’s back and drew the bedding across them as Daniel settled down to sleep.

“Do you fall asleep after sex, Jack?” Daniel murmured.

“Depends on how good the sex is..” Jack said.  Before Daniel could turn and ask him if he was tired, Jack added, “Sometimes I fall asleep during it.”

The younger man laughed and twisted to look over his shoulder.  Jack touched a finger to the stubble-covered cheek. “Somehow though, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem with us.” 

Daniel shifted to lie on his back while Jack leaned up onto his elbow beside him and placed his other hand over the sliver of scar on Daniel’s stomach, touching it like it was some kind of treasure.  For him it was.

Daniel tucked his chin to his chest to look down at where Jack's attention was focused.  "What are you looking at?"

"Your scar.." Jack said before sliding down to place a tender kiss on the smooth skin.

"Why?" Daniel asked as he tucked an arm beneath his head and watched Jack's tongue trace the jagged scar.

"Because this is what made me realize what I'd lose.." Jack said, cutting off the rest of that thought before it grew too sappy.  Daniel frowned and watched his lover crawl back up to lie beside him. "What you saw as me backing away, of a wedge between us, was my fault. Ever since your appendix burst I've known that my feelings for you were stronger than they should have been..."

Daniel blinked and caressed the side of Jack's face with his hand.  "You should have said something." His finger patted Jack's thin lips before moving down to the hairy chest.

Jack dismissed that suggestion with a gentle jibe. "Hey Daniel, how's the side, oh and by the way, I think I might like to go to bed with you.."

Daniel grinned.  "That would have gotten my attention..." Then Daniel pulled a face. "I might have told you to wait until I was better though."

Jack laughed but shook his head.  "I'm career military," he said in a low voice, growing serious again.  "Coming out to you was the last thing I thought I could do.  I figured on working through it instead, getting over it, moving on." Jack's hand was back over the flattened scar again, almost unconsciously.

"But?" Daniel said, shifting his legs across the bed so that he could touch some of Jack with his thigh.  His free hand was still scrunching Jack's chest hairs.

"But all I succeeded in doing is making you and me miserable.." Jack leaned down and kissed Daniel's lips gently before straightening up again. "I'm sorry," he said in a whisper as he squeezed the scar beneath his hand.

"You have to be careful, I understand that," Daniel said, then he met Jack's gaze again and said, "We'll be fine, Jack.  I've waited to long for this, too."

Jack shook his head but smiled at his own dumb luck. How could a guy like Daniel want him so much, but the look in the blue eyes told Jack that he was well wanted.  Touching the unshaven cheek, Jack whispered earnestly, "Don’t ever let me fuck this up, Danny.”

Daniel’s eyes shone with his smile. “Don’t worry,” he assured him.  “I won’t.” He cupped the back of Jack's head with his hand and said, "I've never returned a Christmas gift yet.."  He guided Jack's lips to his own and they kissed tenderly before Jack lowered his body onto Daniel's once more and their passion reignited again. 

Outside on the balcony snow drifted softly to the surfaces and the day was fast proving to be a picture-postcard-perfect Christmas.

<The End>
 

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