...don't die on me again...
....."Sir, I wish you'd told us that he was alive and well...instead of springing it on us like that." Jack was just a bit irritated at his C.O. Well, if truth be told, he wanted to smack the man for holding that sort of information out on him and his team.
"Sorry, Colonel, but you had other things to contend with."
Jack shrugged, conceding that. "Still, General, I wish you'd not sprung it on me...us...like that," then rubbed the back of his neck in an almost sheepish gesture. "I actually hugged Daniel right in front of everyone."
Hammond grinned at him. "Well, considering the circumstances, it was understandable. In fact, if I hadn't been wondering where the rest of his team was when he came through the gate from the Alpha site, I might have done the same thing you did, Colonel."
"Yes, sir," Jack mumbled. His attention seemed to drift then, just as his voice did. "Are we done for the day, sir?"
Hammond smiled at him. "You've earned a few days, Jack."
Jack's eyes raised. "Really, sir? I thought we'd be in the dog house for a while."
Hammond grinned again, the usual latitude he allowed his favorite team leader showing just a little sign of fraying round the edges. "You are, Colonel. But you've earned yourselves a reprieve by saving the planet." He laughed then at Jack's now very real sheepish look. "Besides, the mountain will be quieter with you gone."
"Yes, sir. What about Carter and Daniel? They'll likely stay--"
"They've been ordered to go home, Colonel."
"And Teal'c?"
"If he wishes to go anywhere, he can. All he has to do is ask."
"Thank you, sir," Jack said, grinning a bit now as he took his leave. On the way out, he passed Daniel's office, just to make sure the man had left. He had to see Daniel. He had to. He didn't know why he felt the urgency to do so, but he did.
Daniel tried to get the tip of the power screwdriver into the slot for the last screw. It had been a month since he'd decided to put in this overhead revolving fan, and as the General had kicked him off the mountain, now was just as good a time as any. As he worked on the framing, he couldn't help thinking that the past four days had been a bit of a surrealistic nightmare. Including the part where Jack had hugged him in the gateroom, in front of every-fucking-body and had called him....no, he would not repeat it. When he had the chance, he fully intended to pay Jack back for that weird-assed nickname. What on Earth possessed the man to say that anyway?
Just as he twisted the fan blades into position and hoisted the thing up, a knock came on his door. Daniel snorted, having a feeling he knew who it was.
"Come in," he called out. His back was to the door, so he couldn't see who opened it, and he wasn't in a position to check either, perched as he was on the third rung of a four-step double ladder, holding up a large piece of machinery into the ceiling and trying to twist it into its notches so he could secure it with the remaining bolt screws. His hearing was fully functional, however, as he heard a snort at the door as it closed.
"Daniel, how many times have I told you--"
"I know, I know. Keep the door locked." Daniel didn't bother to shake his head with amused tolerance as he didn't want to risk any movement right then.
"What're you doing?" Jack asked as he walked up to the ladder, reflexively putting his hands out on the sides of Daniel's thighs to give the man better support.
Daniel felt the warmth and support of his grip and appreciated it. It didn't keep him from his usual sarcastic comments to Jack, however. He'd actually been very ticked off at the man for not believing him about the alternate universe...and still was, though his feelings were tempered just a little.
"I'm fixing my car. What's it look like, Jack?"
"Very funny. Want more help?"
"No..." Daniel paused as he finally got the last bolt in place. He looked down so Jack let go and backed away, allowing Daniel to jump off the ladder. He went down the hall and to the breaker room, flipped the switch, then returned and switched on the new round dial in the outer kitchen wall. The fan began to make a soft whirring noise as it started up. Daniel smiled and so did Jack.
"That's cool," Jack replied. "Didn't know you could do this stuff."
"Me neither," Daniel replied with a smirk. "But the instructions, for once, were clear, along with some side instructions the gal at the home improvement store gave me."
Jack stared at the softly whirring blades, then shook his head and turned to his friend. "You never cease to amaze me, Dr. Jackson."
Daniel gave him a mock bow as he set his tools on the counter. "Why thank you, Colonel O'Neill. I try."
"So...got anything for this amazed guy to drink?" Jack asked as he started to walk past him.
"Aht!" Daniel said, stopping him as he held up a hand, then one finger. "Before you get anything, I want an answer to a very important question."
Jack winced. He knew this was coming. "I'm sorry, Daniel."
"Space Monkey? I mean, come on, Jack. Where the fuck did you come up with that?"
Jack shook his head a little sheepishly. "I've no idea."
"I heard that and thought I'd entered the twilight zone or something."
Jack laughed softly, still looking sheepish. "I thought so too when I saw you moving between those airmen."
Daniel smirked and said nothing as he walked to the fridge to retrieve two beers, German imports, and handed one to Jack before opening the drawer to get the bottle opener.
Jack opened his first, then took a long drink as Daniel opened his. Letting out a sigh after quenching his thirst, he grinned at Daniel as the young man made a pinched face as he drank. German import or no, Daniel really didn't like beer and Jack knew damn well that the only reason he drank it was so that Jack didn't drink alone. Host etiquette, Daniel Jackson-style.
"Frankly, I wanted to kill Hammond for not telling me, us, that you were alive. We were on Earth for almost seven hours, waiting through exams and lab results, through the longest debriefing on record, having to go through the decompression chamber just to make sure we were fine from the weightlessness. Even after being told about the gathering in the gateroom, Hammond still didn't utter a peep. That man has his acting abilities finely honed, though he'd have to have them in order to make it to the rank of General."
It was Daniel's turn to look just a bit sheepish and Jack raised a brow.
"Actually, Jack, he wanted to tell you in the infirmary the moment you got back to the mountain, but it was my idea to keep it from you."
Jack stared at him as he'd started to drink, and then choked a bit as he suddenly remembered to swallow the beer in his mouth.
"Excuse me?"
Daniel started to fidget a bit, peeling the edges of the label on his beer bottle. "Um, yeah. I wanted to surprise you."
Jack was going to yell at him, but then decided not to. His nickname in the gateroom, and the irritation it sparked in Daniel, seemed to be correct compensation. He stared at his friend, took another drink, then set the bottle down.
"I suppose that Space Monkey is your just reward after the fact."
Daniel frowned a bit, then gave Jack a conciliatory look. "I guess." He took a swallow from his beer, grimaced, and set it down next to Jack's. "I was very worried about you guys. Maybe that was why I asked Hammond not to say anything."
"Getting a little of your own back, as it were?" Jack asked as he suddenly closed the distance between them.
"Well..." Daniel started to say, but his voice trailed off as Jack's hand slid to the back of his waist, pulling him against him, then moved up his back to the back of his neck.
"So...Dr. Jackson..." he said, bending his head slightly and barely brushing his lips over Daniel's.
"So...Colonel O'Neill..." Daniel replied, feeling himself getting very warm and glad for the overhead fan.
"How about a true welcome home?" Jack asked, his breath gusting tiny puffs of air against Daniel's parted lips.
"I'd like that," Daniel murmured back as he stared into Jack's darkening eyes. The memory of Jack touching his cheek after he'd been mortally wounded came to him. The look of pain on Jack's face had told Daniel's honed intuition that Jack loved him. He knew he'd given the same look back to Jack. Neither spoke of it now, but that look was suddenly reflected once again in the other's eyes. Not saying anything seemed to reinforce the idea that they shouldn't be in love with the other, that it was too painful, too hard a thing to endure. The hell with the regs. That paled to insignificance when compared to the fear in their hearts of having to go through more gut-wrenching pain. What they didn't realize, or refused to realize, was that that pain of love was already there.
Daniel reached up and pulled Jack in. They kissed, softly at first, touching tongues, tasting beer. Then suddenly, their desire leapt up and bit them on the ass with ferocious intent. Their kisses became hot, wanton, lustful; their hands mirrored what they felt as their clothes started to come off. Still kissing and removing clothes, the two moved toward the bedroom, and by the time they'd fallen onto the bed, the only attire that remained was Jack's dog tags. Daniel curled his fingers around the chain and tugged, pulling Jack on top of him as he opened his legs.
"It's time, Jack," he said softly against his lips as he broke the kiss.
"Time?" Jack said, not registering, or listening, to what Daniel was saying as his hand was busy stroking him.
"I want you to fuck me," Daniel replied, looking hard into Jack's eyes as his fingers groped under a pillow for his stash of lube.
Jack balked for a moment. "Are you sure about this, Daniel?" he asked, the want very plain in his voice.
Daniel found the lube and handed it to him. "Yes. I need you."
Jack growled softly, at odds with the fierce kiss he now gave Daniel, set the lube aside and preferred to roll around the bed for a while, kissing, caressing, trading places as to who was on top. Jack needed to feel him against him, to feel his strength, and to prolong their foreplay. When Daniel was on the bottom once again, he broke his kisses and slowly caressed his chest.
"I want the same thing, Daniel."
Daniel gave him a tiny smile. "I know."
Jack grinned back, then bent to his task...which was to go down and take Daniel's cock into his mouth. Daniel arched his back and spread his legs, his hands twining through Jack's hair. He chanted Jack's name again and again and when a lubed finger entered his rectum, he groaned loudly, almost coming just then. By the time Jack's third finger had him suitably open, Daniel's control was slipping...but he refused to let himself come.
Jack pulled his mouth from Daniel's cock, licking at the head. "I want you to come, Daniel. You'll be relaxed enough then."
"I know but I want to come with you inside me, so please, Jack, stop your wonderful teasing and fuck me already."
Jack smiled and moved up over him. "You'll need to turn over, Daniel. It's easier."
Daniel started to argue but Jack held up his hand. "Next time, on your back. Deal?"
Daniel's argumentative expression softened considerably. "Deal...but how about a compromise. On my side?"
Jack smiled and kissed him, moving off to the side. "Even better...for a start."
"For a start?" Daniel asked, trying to remember all those long forgotten positions as Jack spooned up behind him. He lifted his leg and Jack pressed his now-lubed cock against his entrance and pushed slowly past the ring of muscle. Daniel breathed out, feeling the burning as Jack took his thigh in the crook of his arm and held him open as he pushed further in.
"Mmmmmmmm," Jack murmured as his balls reached Daniel's ass, and the response was only harsh panting from Daniel. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yes," Daniel breathed softly. "Oh yes." The burning had gone quickly and was replaced with a powerful feeling of being filled by Jack. He moved his hand to his cock and began to stroke. "You feel so goddamn good."
Jack held himself up on his other elbow, tightened his arm grip around Daniel's thigh, and started to move, rocking his hips gently at first, then gradually, urged on by Daniel's increasingly loud pants and gasps, thrusting harder. He suddenly pushed Daniel forward to rest slightly on his stomach, still holding his thigh to keep his legs spread. Jack adjusted his hips, angled his rocking motion, then thrust hard again, this time finding firmer contact with Daniel's prostate.
"That's it!" Daniel cried out, panting uncontrollably as his hand rapidly pumped his cock. "Yes, Jack. Yes." His head arched back, his eyes closed, and after a few more hard thrusts from Jack, Daniel was spilling over his hand, his orgasm blindingly intense.
Jack was hoping Daniel would come because his hot, tight ass was becoming too much for him. That sweet, keen ache began to crawl up his balls and as soon as Daniel came and tightened his muscles around his cock, Jack cried out as well.
"Fucking hell, Daniel!"
Jack's orgasm was like that proverbial freight train and he suddenly couldn't see much of anything as he partially greyed out for a while. When he awoke, he found himself on his side with Daniel cleaning them both up. Daniel smiled at him as his eyes reached him, then leaned down and kissed him before pulling up the covers and spooning in front of him.
Daniel wanted to say 'I love you.'
So did Jack.
But neither dared. Instead, Jack whispered, "You okay?"
Daniel nodded, then turned his head to try and see some of his partner. "You?"
Jack nuzzled his neck. "More than okay."
They were silent for a time, and just before falling to sleep, Jack whispered, "Daniel?"
"Hmmm?" Daniel asked, dozing off.
"Don't die on me again, okay?"
"Okay, Jack. I'll try."
Somehow, Jack wasn't all that reassured but he couldn't quite figure out exactly why.