| Part 5 | Disclaimers |
Spoilers in this part: Window of Opportunity S4
One month later…
When Daniel heard that Major Paul Davis was heading to the SGC for a meeting with General Hammond he wondered if he should be looking forward to seeing him like he was. It had been a month since their ‘agreement’, two weeks since their last physical ‘encounter’, six days since Paul’s phone-sex call and three days since their last platonic-sounding email.
Daniel wondered what might happen when Paul arrived. Sitting alone in his office, he tried to concentrate on the Ancient Text of Balahbric Rites; a hard book to focus on at the best of times, let alone when he had thoughts of a muscular back, glistening in candlelight from sweat, and the sound of soft grunts of pleasure in his ears.
He licked his lips quickly and rubbed his temples to ease the throb in his head as he studied the text before him. He tried to quell his growing anticipation of seeing Paul, knowing that if he didn’t rein it in, he’d take the guy the second he showed up in his office!
He hunched over the book, his face furrowed in a show of concentration, his eyes narrowed onto the faint writings. Instead of making coherent sense of the words though all he could imagine was that back, that straight spine, the power in the arms and hands and wrist…..
Daniel sighed and tossed his pen then his glasses onto the book and sat back, glowering at the book as if it was the cause of his frustration. He got up from his chair and rubbed his face with both hands, as if he could scrub the tantalizing images of Jack O’Neill from his eyes.
Daniel forcibly shook his shoulders and head to clear the thoughts away. He wished he didn’t have to rely on Paul to get him over his anxieties about Jack, but with Jack’s treatment of what remained of their once strong friendship still on a downward spiral, Daniel figured it was all the action he’d be seeing for some time.
There had been times that he’d worried that this agreement was no way to treat a friend, or to get over a pitiful, unrequited love situation but when Paul called a week ago, desperate for phone-sex because he’d spent the day in close proximity of Lockston and needed ‘release’, Daniel knew that the arrangement was mutually beneficial still.
Daniel returned to his desk, but instead of sitting he bent a leg and placed his knee on the seat of his chair for support, then he snatched up his glasses and hooked them into place before he leaned his hands both side of the tome and bowed his head to read.
He’d made some leeway through the tough text by the time a shadow fell across his room as a body stood in his doorway. Daniel, conscious of whom it would have been entering his office, didn’t bother to look up from the book he was studying. He was too tired to fight any further.
After some silence the visitor spoke. “Daniel.”
Daniel’s heart hit his ribs hard the moment he heard his name from those lips but the man in his head was not the man at his door, and he knew that – painfully- all too well these days. So, he’d made an art of showing Jack less and less of himself over the past few months, and didn’t even bother to lift his head when he spoke to him.
“Yes, Jack-” his answer was automatic, unemotional– perfected to protect himself. He could follow Jack’s entrance into his office by the scuffling of the booted feet on the hard floor as Jack made his way towards him. The steps seemed unsure, uncertain, like Jack was hesitant about what he’d come in to say. Curiosity got the better of the Archaeologist and so Daniel looked up, his eyes blinking against the orb of light emanated by the desk lamp between Jack and himself. “What can I do for you?”
Jack looked at the heavy, antique book that took up most of Daniel’s desk. “Good read?”
“It’s an Ancient Text on Balahbric Rites..”
“Oh, they're always a hit at parties..” Jack shot off with a grin but it faded fast when he saw the seriousness in Daniel’s eyes.
“They involve rape and death, actually-”
Jack made a sound at the back of his throat but said nothing further. A pencil bounced nervously in his hand until it got on his nerves as much as it already had on Daniel’s. The silence swelled between them again.
“There is a point to this visit, isn’t there?” Daniel asked, testily.
“There is..” Jack said as he dragged his attention from the open book between Daniel’s fists. When their gazes met the older man bleated, “Dinner.”
“Dinner?” Daniel’s brow furrowed then he wet his lips as he tilted his head slightly. When the silence grew again he sniped, “Can I buy a vowel here, Jack?”
Jack screwed up his face in a show of mock amusement. “Dinner. As in.. do you want to go to..?”
Acerbically, Daniel muttered, “I’d have thought you had enough froot-loops to fill you for some time..”
Jack sighed. Daniel seemed fascinated by the recounts of the time-looping that he and Teal’c had experienced the day before. That was, until Teal’c mentioned about Jack’s resignation and the kiss. Daniel seemed to go cold after that and Jack wished it had more to do with jealousy than with disgust. Jack also decided it wasn’t a good time to bring up the fact that he’d resigned and kissed Daniel the exact same way on the very next loop, and the one after that.. and after that…
Ignoring his thoughts, Jack jutted his chin proudly and said, “That was breakfast. Yesterday. This is dinner. Today.”
“Three whole months of breakfasts, maybe more, if we trust our old friends the Tok’Ra.”
“Well, I don’t trust them,” Jack mumbled then added, when Daniel slotted a look his way, “On many issues, maybe just this one..”
Daniel flipped the pages of the book in an attempt to look busy and occupied. He still couldn’t get the smug look on Jack’s face from his mind when he asked him if there was something he’d done during the looping knowing that there could be no repercussions. Jack, and the way he bit down into that mushy porridge, just made Daniel angrier at him. He couldn’t stop imagining Jack was reenacting some disgusting act he’d performed on Sam. No way, no how, did he believe for a ‘second’ that Jack didn’t take that kiss in the Control room outside the Base and back to Sam’s place.
“I’ll eat when I’m ready,” the angry young man said through teeth gritted by the image of Jack and Sam in bed together. That image danced over the pages of text he was glaring at.
Jack checked his watch. “It is dinner time.” He twisted his arm to make his point but Daniel didn’t even look up. “You’ve had your head stuck in that damn book..”
Daniel sighed and rolled his head back. There was such hardness in the blue eyes that Jack almost didn’t recognize his once-good friend.
“This ‘damn book’-” Daniel hissed tiredly, “-is probably the one reference that might help us with the problem of the Overlord on P2x541.”
“Well, Overlord or no, I think it’s time you put that stuff away and came out..”
“What? To play? Like you did for three months?” Daniel finished then straightened up, his back protesting the movement as his vertebrae popped quietly.
He felt reprimanded by the glare Jack was throwing his way – but what the hell did the guy expect? Earth might have lost three months of their lives, but it still felt like weeks ago that Jack had yelled at him on Alar’s world as though he were insignificant. After all these months of treating him like he was below the scum on his boots was Daniel now meant to play ‘friends’ because it seemed to suit Jack to? Why? Was Sam busy? Did Jack feel uncomfortable around her now that he’d had his ‘way’ with her in the time loop?
Despite that momentary feeling of justification of the look that flashed across the older man’s features Daniel feel bad. He laced his hands together in front of him then lifted them, still joined, to indicate towards the irritating man on the other side of his desk. “You were saying..”
“I was asking..” Jack said then shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he gave a loud sigh. “Ya know what? Forget it.”
Daniel’s golden brow arched quizzically. Just at that moment there was more scuffling of feet in the doorway and both men turned towards the sound. Paul Davis was leaning through the doorway, his hands holding the edges for support, his posture and expression showing signs of once being bright and happy but now, as the Major stared with some surprise at the Colonel at Daniel’s desk, his expression looked fallen, if not confused.
“Colonel,” he said smartly as he straightened up and entered the room with more ceremony than Daniel could bear to stomach. Jack threw off a very sloppy salute in response to Paul’s sharp action, then the grey head tilted back and Jack’s eyes narrowed as he sized up the Major before him.
Daniel watched the stand off for about as long as he could bear to, then he leaned one fist against the table and said, “Paul, it’s good to see you again.”
Davis’ green gaze turned slowly to take in the man he’d come in to see. “You too, Daniel.”
Cutting in before either man could start a real conversation between them, Jack said, “What brings you from the Pentagon?”
“I have a meeting with General Hammond early tomorrow so I thought I’d fly out tonight..” He said, unable to hide the sidelong glance he shot towards Daniel. Jack didn’t miss it either and he looked between the two men, then back at Paul, clearly waiting for more information. Paul’s head bobbed as he spoke; “It’s always tedious to fly and meet on the same day.”
“I’m trying to kick that habit, myself,” Jack grumbled and Paul discovered he was smiling, despite himself. The smile soon vanished with Jack’s next question. “So what brings you down here.. here..” Jack said, pointing his two index fingers to the floor.
“I was about to ask Daniel to dinner…” Paul gave Daniel a look that clearly said he’d hoped he wasn’t interrupting anything good. Daniel’s eyes told him a clear and definite ‘no’.
“You’d better offer to buy him a vowel instead of dinner,” Jack snarled and started to wander out of the room, his hands tucked deep into his pockets, his feet purposely scuffing the floor.
Paul frowned as he swung back to look at Daniel but the small shake of the younger man’s head and screw up of his nose indicated to the Major that he shouldn’t even bother to ask.
Once Jack had left the room Daniel shut the book he’d been reading with a loud thump then he straightened up, smiling through the lamp light to the man on the other side of his desk. All the anticipation that he’d felt earlier was gone now – Jack had the ability to suck Daniel’s joy just by being around him lately. “How long will you be here?”
“Two days,” Paul said, his eyes still held the twinkle of excitement in them and that spurred Daniel’s interest once more. Daniel grinned and dipped his face, wiping his finger over his lips as he did. Paul walked, somewhat cockily, up to his friend. “So..?”
Daniel’s heart rate quickened as Paul sauntered towards him. The testosterone level of the room spiked as they locked eyes and didn’t take their eyes off each other.
“So?” Daniel smirked back.
“You feel.. up.. for .. some dinner tonight?” Paul blinked beguilingly.
Again Daniel wet his lips. “Dinner, huh?”
“Thought somewhere quiet.. low lights..” He traced his finger across the dust on Daniel’s desktop then onto the hand that remained there as he stepped into Daniel’s personal space. Their fingers entwined.
“Sounds..” Daniel paused. “Romantic..”
Paul shrugged and tightened his fingers around Daniel’s.
Daniel’s view went from eye to eye. “I didn’t think we wanted romantic?” he caressed Paul’s hand.
A slight smile creased the older man’s face. “Thought it might help the mood..” Paul said in a low, breathy voice.
Daniel’s throat went dry. He wasn’t sure if it excited him, or scared him, that Paul wanted to shift their relationship into a romantic setting. “Didn’t know we needed stimuli..”
The Major laughed and nodded, then returned to gazing at Daniel again. “We could always order in pizza after, if you’re too eager..” He glanced purposefully at the door then back at Daniel. “Though I have the feeling you’re not really in the mood at the moment..”
“No,” Daniel said a little bashfully. He looked down at the floor a moment then nodded and returned his gaze to Paul. “Dinner would be lovely though.”
Paul squeezed his hand. “Who knows what might happen later.”
“Either way, you’re welcomed to spend the night..”
Paul smiled and tightened his hold again. “I can get a taxi back in the morning.”
“No, no, I can drive you in.”
The older man shook his head. “I have to be back here at oh-seven-hundred. Wouldn’t do to have the guard on duty record that I was dropped off at that time by one Doctor Daniel Jackson – especially as I’m leaving with him around dinner time...”
Acquiescing Daniel said, “When are you free to go?”
“Now.” Paul dropped the joined hands and spread his arms wide.
“Oh, I’ll just finish up here. Meet back here in fifteen minutes?”
Paul agreed and winked at him. “I’m buying, by the way,” he said as he moved to the door.
“How is it going to look on your record if you’re constantly buying dinner for two when you’re here?”
“Like I’m buying a friendship. See you in fifteen.” Paul waved and left the lab.
Paul sat opposite Daniel at dinner. He was aware that his companion seemed a little distracted and eventually caught Daniel’s eye to ask, “What’s up?”
“Huh?” Daniel realized his pondering had been noticed. “Oh, nothing, really,” he said as he straightened up in his chair. He didn’t want Paul to know that he’d been thinking about the ‘buying a friendship’ comment.
Perhaps he was. Perhaps Daniel was nothing more than prostituting himself for a friendly fuck now and then. He had no idea what Paul liked to do on a Saturday back at home, what dreams he held for the future (aside from landing himself Lockston), what his childhood was like or if he still had parents.
He knew the kinds of things a friend would; like his birthday, his favorite movie of all times, his taste in music (not too unlike his own there), and what his favorite color was, but nothing intimate. He’d never thought to ask, and Paul had obviously never asked him. Maybe there would be nothing more between them than Paul’s dinners followed by Daniel’s hospitality back at his apartment. Fair payment for an expensive dinner - if you thought about it, which Daniel didn’t like to so he shook himself and reached for his glass of red wine.
When he saw Daniel’s shiver Paul asked, “Sure?” before he drank some wine also.
“Yeah.” The younger man rubbed his eye beneath the lens then returned to his silent pondering.
After a while Paul commented quietly, “Maybe Colonel O’Neill was right..”
Without bothering to look up from where he was toying with the stem of his wine glass, Daniel, somewhat cynically, mumbled, “I doubt it..”
Paul laughed gently then nudged Daniel under the table with his foot. The blue eyes lifted to meet his gaze. “Maybe I *do* need to buy you a vowel, instead of dinner.”
Daniel sighed and sat back in his seat. “Jack was being an ass.”
“Yes-” Paul frowned teasingly. “Inviting you to dinner! How callous of him!”
The anthropologist rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.” He held the gaze a moment then said, “He can’t just think he can repair the damage with an offer of dinner..”
Paul grew serious to match his dinner companion’s mood. He wanted to say it was a start, but he could see Daniel didn’t want to hear that.
Daniel’s voice was soft as he continued, “I’ve been thinking about his whole attitude towards me since the incident on the Beliskner.”
Against the rim of his glass, Paul said, “I recall you had a very tough decision to make,” before he took a large mouthful of wine.
Daniel smiled politely. “That decision was never mine, really. You’re the only one that considered my feelings in the whole thing..”
Paul shrugged as he lowered his glass to the table. After a thought he leaned onto his elbows and said, “I know what it’s like to be side lined. Having to watch your friends go into battle without you.”
Daniel watched him a moment then said, “Hard, huh?”
Paul returned a weak smile. “Very.” He looked at the wet ring left by the bottom of their wine bottle on the linen table cloth. Tracing it with his fingertip, he said, “The fact that the colonel never said anything to either of us about that mission doesn’t imply his lack of consideration for our part in it, Daniel…” He blinked and looked up. “I think it shows more his mechanism for coping with how close it all came for him.”
Daniel sighed loudly. “I guess there are things about him I still don’t get.” He scratched the back of his neck then said, “It just seems that lately we’re more like the ‘Macho and the Geek’ that went through the ring together that first time. The friendship we’ve shared for the past few years is dissolving..” He took in a deep breath, shook his head then rearranged the cutlery on the table before him. Clearly, he was miserable.
Paul let things settle between them and in the meantime their main meal arrived. Solemnly they ate then as Paul refilled their wine he said, “Maybe cut him some slack. If you are getting closer, maybe it’s harder for him to know how to treat you now?”
Bitterly Daniel said, “We’re not getting closer.” He pulled a face then reached for his glass, gripping it in his fist. Waspishly he added, “He and Sam are getting closer. He and Teal’c are… well, the same, but even that’s like a slap..”
Paul nodded. “I understand. The three of them do seem tighter and you’re left out in the cold..”
“It’s like I’m walking in the background these days. Like my views and opinion don’t matter..” He blinked and the fury bubbling within his was evident in the scowl on his face. Paul brushed his leg against Daniel’s beneath the table.
“I’m sure they still matter…”
Daniel frowned then tilted his face and said, “Did you ever read the Mission Reports from P4X 871?” Paul returned a blank stare so Daniel elaborated. “It was a place called Euronda.”
Nodding, Paul said, “I remember those reports...”
Rolling his eyes, Daniel said, “You might remember how Jack flatly refused to listen to my arguments, choosing instead to take sides in a war we really knew nothing about, all so that he could get his hands on some alien weapon technology. Sam was all for it too, which isn’t really surprising now, knowing what we know.”
Looking a little uncomfortable, Paul lowered his voice and said, “Well, Daniel, the program is about finding technology that might help in the war against the Goa’ulds.”
“At what price?” Daniel said then pressed his lips together a moment before arguing passionately, “I don’t believe that we should willingly involve ourselves in wars that we don’t fully understand.”
Paul snorted at that simplistic view. “We do that here on Earth, Daniel. Why not out there?”
Shaking his head the younger man said, “Because out there we might just side with the wrong war, and we could find ourselves with a bigger threat than the Goa’ulds breathing down our necks.”
Shifting closer so that he could lower his voice even more, Paul said, “Then we need to make allies with some formidable races out there, and do it damn fast!”
Daniel stared directly back at him. “I don’t believe this,” he shook his head then sat back in his chair, his face full of disbelief. “You’re siding with him!”
With a slight shrug, Paul said, “Like I said, I read the mission reports. Honestly, you were out of line to challenge your command in front of Alar like that.”
“You’re kidding me!” Daniel grew indignant. “*I* was out of line? Jack tore strips off me! I’d never seen so much hatred in his eyes before, never directed at me!”
“You were challenging his command.”
“I was trying to get him to see both sides, to accept reason..”
“You succeeded, he eventually came around.”
Wagging his finger, Daniel said, “Only because Alar didn’t like Teal’c.” He folded his arms and leaned towards his friend. “If he hadn’t, Jack and I would probably still be fighting about it… but Alar took a dislike to someone Jack actually cared about..”
“Don’t you think you’re taking this a little..” Paul shrugged.
“Oh, am I?” Daniel snorted then he pushed his napkin away as he said, “God! I can’t believe you’re siding with him.”
“Siding? There’s no siding, Daniel.”
The younger man stared right at him and Paul felt an uneasy heat prickle through him. He lowered his face when he dealt the blow. “Look, Daniel, I understand that you feel I ought to be a little more.. well, loyal to you, but the truth of the matter is…what we do… it’s not instant agreement for your quirky ways.”
“Quirky?” Daniel was insulted. Before Paul could get another word out of his twisted mouth, Daniel also added, “What we… do?”
The older man groaned and slapped a hand over his face. “I knew that was going to come out wrong.”
“Oh no, I think you expressed your feelings very well.” Daniel placed his napkin onto the table and rose to his feet. Paul growled as he stretched his neck to look up at him.
“Daniel, please,” he hissed quietly. “Don’t make a scene..”
The anthropologist arched a brow then said, “No scene, provided you don’t get up and chase me from this place.” With that, Daniel left the restaurant.
Paul pressed the round button impatiently and listened for the buzz inside Daniel’s apartment. Eventually the door swung open and Daniel rolled his eyes and invited Paul into his home with a sweep of his arm.
Paul started first. “I wanted to apologize. ‘What we do’ came out wrong, that’s all.” He placed his uniform jacket on the half wall along with a small paper bag he was carrying.
Daniel casually eyed him up and down but said nothing as he went back to his chair and picked up his coffee again. Paul joined him, sitting tentatively on the edge of the black sofa cushion. “This – between us – started because I saw what was happening; I saw how the Colonel was treating you. I wanted to offer you a haven from that.” He met Daniel’s expressionless eyes for a moment then looked away again. “It’s new to me though, and I guess I just..” he grimaced, unable to find the right words to express how he felt.
“Wanted to be sure it was still casual between us..” Daniel offered.
Paul looked at him quickly. “Yes. No.” He cleared his throat and sat further forward.
“Yes, I still want things to be okay between us, not just after the argument…” He sighed. This was hard work. “And no, because ‘casual’ conjures up disinterest, lack of care…” Daniel tilted his head and held Paul’s gaze. “I care about you, Daniel…” He gave a nervous smile. “I really care about you..”
Daniel blinked then leaned forward in his chair too, bringing himself closer to Paul. “I care about you too..”
Paul gave another nervous smile.
Daniel rubbed his brow with his thumb nail. “In fact, I was considering ending.. this..” he waved his hand between them.
“Why?” Paul asked quickly.
“I had a flash of guilt. I’m using you…” Daniel looked uncomfortable on that confession.
Paul turned down his mouth in a weird kind of smile as he shrugged too. “I’m using you, too. We’re buddy-fucks. That’s what we do.”
Through a groan, Daniel said, “God, that word is so ugly.”
“We’ve established that it’s better than ‘casual’ though,” Paul joked lightly, through a weak smile.
Daniel held his gaze a while then laughed softly. “I guess you’re right.”
“I’m right,” Paul assured him. “I don’t want to give this up.” Impulsively he grabbed Daniel’s hand. “I don’t want to give you up.” He held Daniel’s gaze a long while. “And I don’t mind that it’s not me you’re thinking of…”
Daniel lowered his gaze to their hands. “I don’t either,” he said, then frowned and clarified, “Mind that it’s not me you’re thinking of.. not that it’s not you I’m thinking of.. I think.”
Paul laughed heartily now and sunk to his knees before Daniel in his chair. Cupping the younger man’s face, Paul said, “If this were a real relationship, we’d have to have make up sex..”
Daniel smiled. “If this were a real relationship you’d have to placate me with fresh walnut and choc-chip cookies before I’d give you make up sex!”
Paul got a glint in his eye as he got to his feet and went back towards the front door. Sitting on the half wall besides Paul’s blue uniform jacket was a silver bag, rolled at the top, with Christop’s Cookies on the side.
Daniel rose to his feet and went over to him, meeting him by the steps to the dining area. Paul passed over the bag, looking confident that he’d grabbed the right ‘make up gift’. As Daniel rolled the top and opened up the bag to smell the enticing aroma Paul moved around to face Daniel and started toying with the buttons on his lover’s shirt. Daniel rolled the bag closed again and placed it on the half-wall beside him as he watched Paul fondle the buttons of his shirt.
“So I guess this means we have to have make up sex?” Daniel said jokingly.
“Well, you know, rules ‘are’ rules.. and we’re not the kind of men that break rules now, are we Daniel?”
Daniel grinned and threaded his hand through Paul’s short hair. “Without so much as an apology?”
Paul thought about that a moment, and then shrugged. “Okay.” He started to unfasten the top few buttons of Daniel’s shirt. Daniel waited expectantly as Paul occupied himself with unfastening the rest of the buttons. When the younger man finally made a clearing of his throat sound Paul finally looked up from his task. “Go ahead… apologize..” Paul encouraged.
Daniel’s eyes grew large moments before he blurted out a sharp laugh. “Me? You more like…” He turned, dislodging Paul’s hand from his shirt, and stepped towards the middle of his living room. Paul laughed and threw his arms wide.
“What, so I’m *not* getting an apology, and I’m *not* getting make up sex…” He made a sound in his cheek as he grinned yet tried to look disappointed.
Daniel bent to pick up his coffee cup and as he straightened up his opened shirt billowed and slipped from his shoulders and to his waist. Paul rolled his eyes and moved across the room to stand behind the bare-backed man. He raised a hand and slid fingertips over the smooth flesh on Daniel’s shoulder blades. He watched the skin pucker and knew that the sensations filling Daniel were good ones. He traced the sharpness of the blade as Daniel raised the cup to his lips to sip the coffee, then he glided his fingers down the spine. Daniel bent to lower the cup onto the table and Paul stepped up against the rounded ass, holding the bent man by the hips as he rubbed his front against the neatly covered ass.
Paul’s hand gripped Daniel’s shoulder when the younger man straightened up. “You have such a great back,” Paul whispered into the small ear. Both hands moved in unison over Daniel’s back, eliciting moans of pleasure from the touched man. “I love watching your muscles move as I ride you,” Paul hissed, his fingers teased the skin on the curve of Daniel’s back. Daniel groaned and lowered his head back. Paul bit the ear gently then licked the creases and crevasses. One of Paul’s hands went to the front of Daniel and unfastened the belt and pants, while the other hand remained perched at the waist of the back of the pants Daniel wore, ready to slip inside the moment the zipper was unfastened and the pants gave way. “And your ass..” Paul hissed as he bared the tender flesh he was appraising. Daniel murmured words of wants and needs as Paul squatted to remove the pants and socks while he bit, sucked and licked Daniel’s ass. “God, I want to be inside you,” Paul cried out lasciviously over Daniel’s own requests to take him. His teeth tenderly tore at the flesh, leaving red marks on the white skin.
“Paul, please…” Daniel panted as Paul continued to tease him with his tongue and lips, kissing and laving the ass that he wanted access into.
Paul got to his feet. “Lean forward for me, Dan,” as said as he pressed lightly on the naked back. The younger man obeyed, reaching for the back of the sofa chair from the front. Paul unfastened his own pants and slicked his cock with his spit. With just enough preparation Paul pushed into his friend, burying himself deep into the willing body as both men cried out in pleasure. The sex was rough, frantic and hungry; both had to feed to satiate their ravenous hunger that had been left unsatisfied for over a fortnight.
That wasn’t to say they didn’t care for the other in their dizzying desire. At one point Paul even paused from where he suckled on Daniel’s cock so that he could look up to check that Daniel was okay when he heard a hard thud against the wall. Daniel had thrown his head back too hard and it thumped the exposed brick wall behind where he lay, sprawled across the sofa. The anthropologist just moaned and guided the head back to the task it was almost completing – that was Daniel's biggest concern, not the soft bump appearing on the back of his skull.
Later, once they’d moved into the bedroom, Paul had flung himself too vigorously across the bed and slipped off the side, landing on the carpet with a grunt. Daniel’s face appeared over the edge of the mattress - first full of concern then it contorted with laughter as he tried to help his mate back onto the mess of his bed.
Finally two sweaty bodies laid tangled together on the remnants of Daniel’s large bed. The sheet was caught around Paul’s ankles while Daniel used the major’s stomach as a pillow. With his ear pressed into the softness of Paul’s tired stomach, Daniel could hear, mostly, the incredible thudding of the older man’s heart, still coming down from the high. With his face so close to the pubic area the hair rose like a thatch of wiry curls before him. He idly twirled a finger through the coarse hairs, marveling at the spongy mass and flipping the flaccid, weeping cock aside to investigate further into the sweaty recesses of the weary man’s crotch. Paul moved with a soft moan as he tilted his head to view the man using him as a pillow.
“What are you doing?” the voice was deep and rough from too much laughter, too much crying out and far too many gasps.
Daniel’s golden hair shimmered as he moved to look at Paul’s face. “Playing.”
Paul smiled. “I think it’s all played out.”
“I think it needs a wash,” Daniel said as he grappled to sit up, using all the strength he had left in his arms to support himself.
Paul tucked one arm under his head and looked up at the man above him now, and then he trailed the tips of three fingers up the length of Daniel’s arm and onto his shoulder. “I’m sure it does. But I can’t be fucked..” He squirmed on the bed, getting more comfortable.
“It’s because you have been that you need to…” Daniel flicked the cock again and it lolled against the other thigh. Paul chuckled.
“You keep that up and it’s going to wake up and want some more action.”
Daniel leaned down beside Paul’s face and scratched his fingers through his chest hairs. “Unless it washes its face, I’m not kissing it again!”
Paul laughed throatily. “Picky!”
Daniel snorted with amusement as he straddled over the tired man on his all-fours and reached for his robe on the floor beside the bed. “I know where it’s been,” Daniel said, matter-of-factly.
Paul curled up with a loud growl and latched his arms around Daniel’s body before he sank his teeth into the white flesh of Daniel’s ass. He snarled playfully as he scraped his teeth over the soft skin. Daniel collapsed on top of him in a fit of giggles then he rolled onto his back, pinning Paul’s legs beneath him, and he swiped his hair from his eyes with one hand. “I’m going to take a shower,” he said, watching his bed-partner for a moment. Paul had a satisfied smile on his face.
“Mind if I join you?”
“So long as it’s for the pursuit of carnal knowledge and not out of some weird wish to tenderly wash me clean..” Daniel rolled over and leapt of the bed effortlessly.
“For fend!” Paul chuckled as he got up and followed him to the bathroom.
After another romp under the shower, where both managed to get off again, much to the surprise of themselves, they settled in for a feed requiring actual food substance and not each other’s body parts. Paul showed he was a deft hand at making pancakes and the two men ate their fill, complete with butter and maple syrup – Daniel’s favorite topping – before they moved off into the bedroom again. It was past midnight now and Daniel settled them against a mountain of pillows and switched on the television.
Despite the fact they were naked, had just had each other in the most intimate way possible and were loosely tangled together via their legs, the men didn’t allude to any kind of ‘real’ partnership. They didn’t discuss anything of a personal nature nor did they show any concern for the other if and when they might get up out of the bed and go out of the room. They merely ‘were’. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Paul had been intently watching a report on NBC when he felt Daniel’s head land lightly on his shoulder. He turned and saw that the younger man had drifted off to sleep so he gently woke him enough so that Daniel would stir, remove his glasses, roll over and settle onto his side, facing away from Paul.
At that time Paul came closest to showing any real affection for his bed mate. He reached over and touched his hand to the ruffled auburn hair, lightly stroking the head as he watched the rest of the report.
Daniel complained when he was woken, choosing to hide his face with a pillow rather than face the day. Paul merely smiled and whispered, “I have to go. I’ve left a note on your coffee table.” He adjusted the blanket so that they covered Daniel’s shoulders then he patted his friend lightly, kissed his temple and left the room.
When Daniel woke up several hours later he realized he hadn’t dreamt the good-bye. Sure enough, when he finally got up out of bed and went into the living room, there was a note on his coffee table. In Paul’s particular handwriting the note read,
‘Daniel. Last night was beyond belief. Thank you for helping me attend the mundane meetings today with a clear head! I’ll hope to be finished the talks later this evening and, if I may, I’d like to call again? Dinner? My shout. Or we could just order in pizza…. Paul.’
Daniel smiled slightly at the pizza reference. He had to think about whether he wanted to see Paul again, or whether his needs were met with the romp last night. As he tore up the note into tiny, un-repairable pieces, he pondered that thought. He dropped the tiny shards of paper into his sink, turned on the tap and mulched the paper in his garbage disposal. Checking the clock on the wall he saw it was almost lunch time. He decided to go to the store for some supplies. Their post-coital search for something to eat last night proved to him that he had been neglectful in the supply department. If they were going to meet up…. IF they were… he felt he should have something in the house for the after-sex hunger attack that they both seemed prone to.
He dressed in faded blue jeans, a light gray sweatshirt and some sneakers. Using his hand he combed his hair back off his face he snatched up his leather jacket from behind his front door and left the apartment.
On the walk to the nearest store he passed by Maceys. It was his favorite bookstore chain. He went inside and browsed. He wasn’t aware of any particular book he wanted that he didn’t already own but he was always on the look out for new interests. Maceys’ wasn’t the biggest, or flashiest bookstore in Colorado Springs, but it was still the best, as far as the learned man was concerned. It was the kind of bookstore for avid readers, people who took the art of reading seriously. It didn’t have a coffee shop attached, nor an art gallery, but it did have a quiet reading area for those who were serious about studying a book before purchasing it. For Daniel it felt more like a library than a store and it was one place that he could get himself lost in for hours on a Saturday.
Daniel wandered the aisles and soon found a section that he’d never investigated before but found incredibly interesting. He tilted his head and read each spine as his eyes traveled along the shelves. One particular title caught his attention and he straightened up as he slid the book from its place. He remained where he was and opened to read the inside of the dust jacket. He found the information there intriguing enough to flip over to the back inside of the dust jacket and view the photograph of the thin, good-looking man in a military suit. Daniel flipped the book open to a random page and read. His belief was that if he could pick up a book, open it randomly and read with interest the book was bound to hold his attention. The theory didn’t always pan out, but most of the time he discovered jewels when he might over overlooked them from their title or illustration alone. This book kept his interest and he found himself turning pages to consume more.
“Interesting book?” came a familiar voice beside him.
Daniel startled, slammed the book closed then looked up to meet Jack’s gaze. “Ah.. yeah,” he said, with a blush.
Jack casually tilted his head and read the title. ‘Understanding the military man’. Jack’s scarred brow arched skeptically and his gaze shifted back onto Daniel. "You trying to understand us, or yourself?”
With some indignation, the archaeologist reminded Jack, “I’m a Civilian.”
Jack shrugged. “So which military man are you trying to understand?”
Golden lashes blinked over blue eyes quickly. “All of you.”
“At the same time?”
“How hard can it be?”
“I don’t know, you’re the one resorting to a text book on the matter.”
Muttering, Daniel said, “Oh, you’re so right.” He glanced at the shelves then added, sarcastically, “There must be more volumes of this one.”
“Are we that complicated?” Jack mused.
Daniel turned a cold stare onto his once good friend. “Personally, it’s my experience that you fart, bully, leer at women and play with guns. However, I’m hoping for a slightly more in depth and endearing description than the one I equate with you.”
“You as in me or You as in.. us?”
“You ..” Daniel said, and left it at that.
He tucked the book under his arm and started to go when Jack said, “How was dinner?”
The younger man turned back to face him. “How did you know I went to dinner?”
“Davies came into your office, remember?” Jack reached out and tapped a finger against the book. “You won’t find mind-reading to be one of our endearing qualities, I assure you.”
Daniel gave him a look that left Jack with no doubt that he wondered if he’d find ‘any’ endearing qualities in the book. Before he could say anything in his defense Jack found himself alone in the aisle, and Daniel paid up and out the front door.
‘Well, you did it to yourself, O’Neill.’ Jack muttered his mantra in his mind as he walked along the street towards the nearby liquor store. ‘Daniel doesn’t just go off people, so you must have done something the hell wrong to him.’ He stopped at the front of the store and read the specials board. He pressed on the door and went inside. Standing staring at a mountain of scotch bottles on display he reminded himself, ‘Something has happened in the past few months, but what the hell is it?’
“Can I help you?” Asked the salesman.
Without looking at him Jack grumbled, “I think I’m beyond it.”
That comment, not intended to amuse, earned him a polite chuckle. He looked at the person beside him and instantly likened him to Daniel. Same color hair, though his was much longer, passed his shoulders and pulled into a loose band at the nape of his neck. His eyes were the same blue and were also shielded by glass, though the frames were oval, not round. The mouth was the only disappointing thing. His lips weren’t as full and luscious as Daniel’s were. Jack blinked and finally met the young man’s gaze.
“Were you after some Scotch?”
“Ah, no, I’m not really sure what I want actually,” Jack admitted. The salesman nodded and turned back towards the counter.
“If you need any help, just call out, okay?”
“Okay,” Jack said, then tried his best smile. The youth didn’t seem particularly dazzled as he went away. ‘Gotto sharpen that act,’ Jack told himself. He spent the next few minutes pretending to be perusing the display of scotch when he was actually sneaking glimpses at the young man busy writing on cards behind the counter. At one point the auburn head lifted and he looked straight at Jack. The older man felt his face flush and he blindly grabbed a bottle from the display and headed over to the counter. He didn’t think he could stay any longer. He watched the young man carefully as he rung up the sale, placed the bottle into a slim brown paper bag then announced the amount. Jack snapped from his stupor and fumbled for his wallet. He passed over the money and held out for the change. As the salesman passed the bottle and change back he said, “You know, you shouldn’t drink alone.”
Jack felt a flush rise through his body, stinging his skin that had craved touch for months now. “That’s a shame, my best bud is.. occupied tonight..”
The blue eyes twinkled in the bright lights of the store as the salesman pretended to be busy. “Well, you know, I’m off at five… If it helped you not drink alone..” He was very guarded, Jack could sense that.
He arched his brow. “You trying to stitch me up here, kid?”
A look of remorse filled the handsome face as it turned pink. “No, I .. just… you kept looking at me..”
Jack sized him up warily and the kid squirmed under the intense appraisal. He was about to say something when Jack said, “What time to you get off?”
“Five,” the youth repeated.
“How old are you?”
“Old enough to work in a liquor store,” he returned, somewhat cockily now.
Jack smiled lop-sidedly. “Old enough to drive?”
“My car’s outside.”
Jack wrote an address on a piece of paper. “If you’re still interested at 5, meet me here. Come alone, and I should warn you, I’m licensed and I do carry a gun.”
The blue eyes blinked hard. “What do you need a gun for?”
With a shrug, Jack said, “Protection.”
The youth stared at him a moment, then smiled suspiciously. “Really? I carry condoms for exactly the same reason.”
Jack didn’t respond. He silently pushed the piece of paper towards the other man then he gathered up his bottle and left the store.
Daniel was intently reading the new book, his socked feet perched on the edge of the coffee table, his best flannel shirt on now over the top of the outfit he’d worn to the store. He was biting absently on the edge of his thumb as he read. The book could have been written about Jack. It was all about the mind-set of the kinds of people that went into the Military way of life. One particular example fitted Jack to a tee. Daniel felt a comfortable hum shift through him as he found reason for Jack’s lack of conscience on many occasions.
He’d been so engrossed in the book that he hadn’t been aware of the time, not even noticing as the sun went down outside, fading the light with which he read by. After a short period of struggling to read the print Daniel finally lifted his head and looked around. The room was almost dark now. He put the book on the sofa beside him and reached around for the side lamp. It shone a soft yellow glow through the apartment now, rendering corners to dark patches and making the area Daniel was curled up in feel snug and warm.
He reached for his coffee only to discover it has gone stone cold. With reluctance he got up off the sofa and padded into the kitchen to make another coffee. Whilst he was waiting for it to brew there was a knock on his front door. He frowned and looked around, wondering who’d be calling at that hour. It was almost five.
Daniel moved through to the front door and opened it. He was surprised to see the caller.
“Can I come in?” Paul asked, brandishing a box of pizza with him. Daniel stepped back, surprised to see Paul as he hadn’t contacted him on the base to say it was okay to come by. Paul dropped the box onto the cluttered coffee table then flipped the lid open as he knelt beside the food.
“Dig in Daniel. I hope you like Meat Lovers,” Paul said, sounding ravenous. Daniel didn’t actually like Meat Lovers at all, but he closed the front door and joined his friend in the living room. He took a slice to be polite and because he realized it was the first piece of food he’d had all day. “The meeting was so boooring!” Paul sighed exasperatedly. Daniel nodded as he munched a mouthful. He hoped that appeared supportive though he really was regretting the lost evening curled up with the book. “Man, I couldn’t work at that base all the time. I hate going down there only to come up and realize that a whole day has gone. No windows, nothing, to tell you what time of day, or what kind of day is out there. How do you cope?”
Daniel hoped the question was rhetoric as he didn’t feel up to explaining the reasons why having no ‘view’ didn’t bother him.
End of part five
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 |Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |Part 14 |
Rights held by Nessessitee –Dec 2002