Daniel was just coming 'round from his nap, feeling only a little exhausted. Lying on his left side, he started to stretch the muscles in his legs when he realized a warm hand lay possessively on his abdomen, just under his navel. As he woke up a little more, he also realized that lips were brushing softly against the skin of his neck, rousing - and arousing - him. He opened his eyes, facing toward a still-sleeping and completely relaxed Jack. His smile broadened at the feel of Jason snuffling him.
Daniel felt those fingers move...lower. Jason's hand pulled and his body snuggled closer. Daniel also came to another realization. Jason was very, very hard. His cock pressed suggestively between his buttocks....and he was already lubed. The slick feel of it against his skin aroused Daniel even more. He tilted his head back, making Jason move his own, and looked back toward him. Jason's lips came down over his neck to kiss along his jaw.
"I want you," he whispered huskily as he ran his mouth along Daniel's slightly grizzled cheek. Daniel brought a hand to the back of Jason's head and turned his own face further, seeking out Jason's full lips.
"You have me," he whispered and brought his lips to Jason's in a teasing kiss, just barely touching his tongue to Jason's lips as he opened his mouth.
Jason breathed out a soft moan as he adjusted his hips, undulating and positioning, then pushing, slowly, as he entered Daniel's hot, waiting body. Daniel opened his legs then tightened his arm around Jason's neck and pulled him into a forceful, heated kiss, plunging his tongue inside his mouth.
They moaned together, their bodies rocking as Jason sheathed his dick completely. Sensuously, they moved together, and Jason felt this ache, this 'need', in his stomach as he moved. Daniel broke away and looked into his eyes as his hand slid down over his arm, then moved to his hip and pulled him, urging Jason to move. Jason kept his eyes locked on him and moved, thrusting, rocking, in slow, short strokes. Daniel's eyes were half-lidded as Jason pushed harder, grinding his cock deeper.
They rocked together for several blissful minutes, neither hurrying the other, simply enjoying the pleasure they gave. It didn't last much longer than that, however, as they felt the heat building in their bellies, their balls. Their breathing quickened and the sweat rapidly formed.
"You are so beautiful, Daniel," Jason whispered as his hands moved up and down Daniel's skin, rubbing his nipples, his belly, caressing, massaging, stirring up his blood.
Daniel smiled, then his breath hitched and he closed his eyes briefly as a shudder passed through him. "Jace, do me a favor."
"This?" Jason asked as he pushed Daniel partially onto his stomach so that he could pump harder, deeper. Daniel brought his leg to the bed and raised his knee, opening himself. Jason plunged deeper and he groaned in response.
"That's it, Jace," he moaned louder. "Like that." Daniel's eyes looked over to find Jack watching him. He moaned again, getting even more turned on by the sight of Jack staring at him and gripped the sheet in a tight fist, his eyes never leaving Jack's as Jason quickened his thrusts. "Yes. Just like that."
Jack's hand slowly came up and covered Daniel's fist. Daniel's eyes were half-lidded as he moaned deeply, lost in the heat from Jack's hand and the heat from Jason's body. Jason suddenly thrust hard, grinding down and Daniel felt that familiar, glorious rubbing inside.
"Jace," he panted as he slid Jack's hand to his mouth to suck on his knuckles, biting a bit too sharply at one point.
Watching Daniel's reaction, and Jack's gaze on their lover, as well as feeling the contraction around his dick, Jason couldn't hold back. "Daniel, I'm c..." Jason choked, crying the rest of it out in an intense gasp as his arms tightened around Daniel. He came hard, blindingly, biting against Daniel's neck, almost releasing a sob at the acuteness of it.
Clutching the sheet, Daniel came quickly, gasping out a harsh moan. He moved his mouth away from Jack's knuckles, afraid that he'd bite down. He closed his eyes then, loving the feel of Jason's body coming inside him, shuddering against him as his own orgasm spurted beneath him into the sheets. Jack suddenly groaned and Daniel recognized that sound. He opened his eyes in surprise, finding that Jack had been jerking off whilst watching them. He reached out and pulled Jack's face to his, kissing him roughly. Jack brought a hand to Daniel's face, holding him in a hard grip as he kissed him back, his tongue thrusting into Daniel's mouth, tasting him eagerly.
He broke away slowly, gentling the kiss. "Jason's right, Daniel. You are so goddamn beautiful. Especially when you come."
Daniel smiled slowly at him. "Sap." Jack smiled back, contradicting nothing. Jason broke the moment a little bit when he thrust sharply, making Daniel bite his lip.
"Jason," he complained mildly. For a little while, the three of them were quiet, moving only to kiss or snuffle.
Jason broke the silence with a deceptively quiet tone that alerted Daniel. "Daniel?" he asked softly, kissing along his neck.
"Hmmm?" Daniel asked, smiling at Jack as he knew something was up.
Jason leaned his lips against Daniel's ear. "Cupcake?"
Daniel sniggered, burying his face into his pillow as Jack gave him a frown.
"You didn't," Jack stated, making Daniel snigger even more, keeping his face buried. Jack could see the crease in his cheek and small lines along the side of his eye, giving away the fact that he was laughing, not just sniggering.
Jason slipped out of Daniel, making him gasp softly and lift his head, looking back at him. Jason gave him a loving look and brushed the back of his fingers against his cheek.
"Thanks...." Jason whispered.
Daniel smiled at him. "You're welcome...."
Daniel's eyes became mischievous again and Jason gave him a warning look. "Don't you say it."
"Cupcake," Daniel added and sniggered again, but it quickly changed to howls of laughter as Jason's fingers dug into his ribs.
. .
In the early morning, the trio woke up for work, with Daniel waking up last until coffee was waved under his nose. Having washed up and dressed, they slowly gathered in the kitchen for breakfast. Jack was already busy, with the sausage cooking while he flipped the pancakes on the griddle.
Jason assigned himself to the eggs, and Daniel started to reach over Jason's head to grab the bread. Jason reached up instead and got it, handing it down to him.
"Thanks, cupcake," Daniel said with a twisted grin, knowing how those endearments rattled Jack's cage. Time for some fun, he thought.
"You're welcome, honey," Jason responded, grinning back, already knowing what Daniel was up to.
Daniel smiled wickedly as he put the slices of bread in the toaster. When the toast was done, he stood buttering them, biting his lips, trying not to snigger as he cast sneaky glances in Jack's direction. Done, he placed the toast on the table with the jar of marmalade.
"Toast's done, baby cakes," he said in his most nonchalant tone, trying not to smile as Jack cast a glance at him. Jack's blank look almost fooled him, but Daniel could tell the words were making him sick.
Jason turned the eggs a final time. "You like your eggs fried hard, don'tcha petal?"
Jack almost groaned, but instead turned a pancake with a quick flick of the wrist.
Daniel eyed him, then Jason, the smile in his eyes growing. "Yes I do, buttercup."
Jason grinned. Good one. "Good," and he brought the pan over and slid two eggs onto Daniel's plate. "Here you go, cream puff."
Daniel kissed him on the cheek before he went to grab the syrup. "You're such an dream, angelcake. What would I do without you?"
"I don't know, precious lamb, but I never wanna find out."
"Don't worry, sugarplum. You won't."
They couldn't take much more of that themselves, so they relented, thinking to pick it up at the end of the day. In the meantime, they were disappointed that they'd not wound Jack up and that he'd not said anything. He only smiled at them and kept silent. That should have been enough to clue them in, but they didn't catch on until the end of the day.
. .
They'd agreed to meet at Jack's place for dinner and began to suspect something when Jack left the mountain early.
"Daniel, something's up," Jason whispered as they made their way to parking garage.
"I know," Daniel remarked. "He's been quiet all day. I do NOT trust him when he gets like that."
"He doesn't know how to cook crow or something, does he?"
Daniel wrinkled his nose in a disgusted grimace. "Fuck, I hope not. Just...ewwww, Jace."
Jason laughed in nervous relief. "Sorry, juuuust checking."
Daniel started to laugh at his own disgusted response. "I'll meet you over at his house, okay?"
"Okay."
With that, they separated and drove home.
. .
Daniel hadn't even taken his jacket off. After staring at his bed for five minutes, and doing the same thing in his living room five minutes before that, Daniel pulled his cell phone out of his jacket and called Jason.
"Hello."
"Jace...."
There was a disgusted snort on the other end of the line. "You find some things in your house that weren't there when you left?"
"Oh, that's a big fucking affirmative."
Daniel stared at the objects on the bed - the freshly made and adorned bed. The sheets were fucking pink. On the bed, a pink rose lay atop one of those elaborately decorated ruby red heart-shaped boxes, ones with the frilly shit around the edges, with the price tag in a clearly marked tear-off "to:" tag attached to the box. $4.99. These types of boxes usually contained not just chocolates, but the really cheesy, cheap shit.
"The sheets, Daniel..."
"Uh huh. Fucking pink," and he shuddered. "Find a rose and chocolates?"
"Uh huh. Pink and blood red."
Daniel groaned. "And the flowers?"
"Fucking everywhere. I hate those kind, too."
"White..."
"Daisies."
"Get yours in the kitchen, too?"
Jason made another disgusted snort. "In fucking spades."
Daniel started sniggering. "Think we overdid it this morning?"
"Mmmmm. Just a tad, I think."
"Yep."
"I knew I shouldn't have made him a copy of my apartment key."
"He'd have found a way in anyway, Jace."
"I think you're right."
"He's crafty as hell, Jace. We have to watch it when we tease him."
"I know, I forgot. This is what happens when you have such a close relationship with a dangerous killer."
"Jaaaaaace," Daniel warned. "And you're not one?"
"No comment."
Daniel made a snorting noise of doubt.
Jason lowered his voice to almost a whisper. "What do you think he's got waiting for us at his house?"
"I'm not sure, but if we back out....we'll be in deep shit."
Jason sighed on the other end. "I'll get changed then meet you over there, but I am not going in alone. If I get there first, I'm waiting for you in my truck."
Daniel sniggered again. "Chicken."
"And you're not?"
"No comment."
Jason snorted back then they hung up and set about 'cleaning up' their homes before getting ready to go to Jack's.
. .
Daniel got there first so he waited, sitting there for almost five minutes. As he waited for Jason, Daniel had thought he wasn't coming, but the thought quickly evaporated when Jason pulled up soon after. Sucking up their courage and putting up a brave, united front, Daniel knocked on the door.
"Come," Jack said from somewhere inside. To their immense relief there was nary a sugar-coated item to be found, save for apple pie and ice cream for dessert. They said their hellos, nervously, then sat down for dinner. Jack mainly talked about work, the things coming up in the week, and not one word was mentioned about the 'prank' and the sugar-sick words that morning.
Until....
After finishing their dessert, Jack sat back and took a drink from his beer and Daniel exchanged quick glances with Jason.
"Jack, we're sorry for winding you up this morning," then he cleared his throat. "I think we've been properly paid back."
"I think I've made my point, guys."
Daniel sniggered. "Yeah, I'm sorry, Jack. I know it rattles you, but seriously, you look so good when you get all riled up."
Jack leered at him. "The old alpha thing, eh, Danny?"
Daniel grinned at him. "You could say that, yeah. You're just so easy to wind up, Jack. I know I went too far. I guess I couldn't control myself." He meant it absently, but Jack made more of it.
"I know," Jack said drily, then winked at Daniel. He felt it was his turn to wind Daniel up.
That annoyed the hell out of Daniel. If it weren't for Daniel still feeling a bit too touchy about their opinion of him, about being just as alpha male as them, then maybe it would not have bothered and he would have let it go. But this time, it grated his nerves. Jack was winding him up, sure, but he was also patronizing him, acting as if he were an undisciplined, inexperienced kid, yet a-fucking-gain. Daniel had reached his limit and he would have to teach him another lesson.
I'll show you undisciplined.
He was thinking of paying Jack back only....until Jason fucked up and said, "At least you're used to that sort of thing, Daniel. I'm not."
Daniel squinted at him. That sort of thing? Just what the hell did that mean? That I can't control myself? I thought I'd proved that point. Apparently not. Well, fuck.
His nose twitched.
It seems yesterday's lesson wasn't enough. I think I know why. They think that sex is easy enough to control. Well...as of right now, it's Phase 2 time. Let's see. I've done the overt alpha thing. Time for subtle. Hmmmm.....I've got it. Hmmmm, that 'fence' idea is looking better and better. And I was going to start on my rock garden and fish pond so....
Daniel's nose 'twitched' again.
Jack and Jason stared at him, recognizing that 'twitch', knowing that he was up to something, but unsure of what. Jason had immediately bitten his lip after saying what he said. He knew it sounded bad and Daniel's moods on that subject had been rather flighty. He opened his mouth but Jack beat him to the question.
"What?" Jack asked warily. "You've got that look."
Daniel assumed an air of innocence, or ignorance more like. "What?" he asked guilelessly. "When you were talking about what we'd be doing this week, I just remembered the stuff I have to do next weekend." He could carry that off innocently enough because it was the truth.
"Like what?" Jason asked, getting his question in before Jack this time.
Purposely looking at the bottle and 'appearing' as if he were thinking hard about it, his thumb started to pick at the edge of the beer label. "Um...well, I have to go to the hardware store, then the landscape nursery, and then a few other places. Come to think of it, I'm gonna have to stop at those places before this weekend so that I have everything ready, plus it's gonna end up being a late shopping thing because I have some extra translations to do so I won't get to the stores until after eight and then--"
"Whoa, Danny boy," Jack said, irritating the crap out of Daniel even more.
Fuck, he is soooo going to get it for that little slip.
Jack continued. "First, what are you planning on doing and second, why are you staying late?" He and Jason looked at him expectantly.
"Well, one," Daniel said in an impatient sigh, as if he were being put upon for having to explain. "I'm putting up a fence, and two, I've got extra translations to do because two of my staff are down with some damn flu." That was true enough but the translations were easy and he really didn't need to be there to do them. The three remaining members of his staff could easily take care of them. He waited for replies and when Jack and Jason looked at him blankly, he rolled his eyes, then gave a look annoyance at Jason. "Remember when I was planting out back and you said I needed a fence in my backyard?"
Jason nodded, grinning briefly at the memory. "Wanted to make love to you right there in the dirt."
Good, Jason's and Jack's body language is relaxing. They're caught. Time to reel them in.
He smiled. "I know. I'm going to be putting that up, along with the beginnings of my backyard garden. I'll have a few weeks left yet before Fall starts and I want to get it done before it turns cold. This weekend is supposed to be sunny too, so last chance to deepen my tan before Winter sets in. And listen, I'll bet you two guys could probably put something like that up in no time," and he snapped his fingers in the air. "So, you two think you could help me out 'cause I don't think I could do it by myself. If you can't, if you're too busy or you don't want to or whatever, I can always get someone else to help me."
At those words, Jack didn't hesitate. "Daniel, of course we'll help. You don't need to get anyone else, for cryin' out loud," he said with a bit of insulted pride, falling for Daniel's hook.
Yes! I have you now.
"Well, hell, Daniel, all you have to do is ask, you know that." Jason was such a sucker. Daniel knew damn well the men had plans, even though they hadn't told him.
"Really, guys?" Daniel asked hopefully, looking from Jack to Jason and back to Jack again. They nodded. "Well...thanks, I really appreciate it," and he gave them one of those smiles. One of his 'charm the skin off a snake' smiles. Daniel thought of the metaphor and couldn't help but deepen the smile.
Jack suddenly forgot about any hockey specials and Jason pushed away the idea he had about visiting his sister. No problem.
Daniel watched them smile back at him and his devil inside cackled maniacally.
~
One thing that Daniel had to work on over the next few days was not to raise his voice, and not to sound pissy, although sarcastic was okay. By Wednesday, he'd succeeded. Not once during the day, even with Jack's typical goading, did he raise his voice and snap back. He was rather proud of himself by evening and after work came the real test: The excursion to the home improvement and hardware store. With both of his lovers. His very overt alpha male lovers.
Daniel knew there might be a bit of alpha male fighting-for-dominance but he had no idea it would be this pronounced. He found himself having to walk away so he could snicker and laugh at Jack's and Jason's behavior. And this had been outside the store. Once they'd gone inside, Jack and Jason had begun bickering over damn near everything.
First, it was over what type of protected wood planking and posts to buy, though they'd both agreed it wouldn't be painted - even if that was something that Daniel had told them and they'd conveniently forgotten.
Next, it was on screws and nails, for cryin' out loud. Sunken heads, phillips or flathead, 16-penny, 14-penny..... Even though he'd understood what they were saying, Daniel started to wonder if he'd wandered into a 15th-century torture chamber just by the terms flying out of their mouths.
Then came the argument over what tools to use - manual post-hole diggers as opposed to newer (and much more expensive, it just so happened) electrically-powered ones; hammers and their different uses and weights; saws, although they both agreed on a circular saw. The problem wasn't so much their arguing as what they were arguing over. They'd actually had a discussion over the shape of the ends of the fence planks.
Daniel had to disappear a few times during that particular round because, 1) they had forgotten to ask him and just who's fucking fence was this anyway, and 2) he had to keep from smacking the crap out of them for being so silly, and 3) because he couldn't help but laugh at their sudden change in behavior.
They'd both suddenly turned into Tim-fucking-Allen.
Let a man loose in a huge hardware store and he becomes a different animal. Daniel had yet to experience this with his lovers, and good God, if they didn't surprise the shit out him. He really should have expected it, he told himself. They were so typically alpha in every other way, why should this behavior be any different? After all, he became a different person when let loose in a museum or library or bookstore or antique store or crafthall or....well, okay, not that different a person, but still. And yes, even he had a thing about tools and having the right ones and the best ones was important in archaeological work. Daniel suddenly had a fleeting thought about what he and Jason would be like in an art store, picking out paint supplies. Although Daniel was familiar with some of it, and Jason would know more about canvases than he would, the thought amused him.
Even so, in the hardware store, Daniel had done what he always did. He went in and collected what he needed. He only browsed a little, but with Jack's and Jason's antics, he decided to let himself browse a little more, knowing they'd be a while.
Before he moved off to escape, while they argued over measuring tools and levels, Daniel thoughtfully pointed out to Jack that he already had those things in his tool chest on the back of his truck and there was no need to buy new ones. He received an intense glare that meant 'what do you know' for daring to point that out. Daniel glared back, telling himself he should have known better, then shook his head in disgust as he wandered off toward the sections for kitchens and bathrooms. He momentarily thought about buying a really big axe just so he could cleave it through Jack's skull.
Shaking off the image, his mind latched onto a completely different image as he stopped at one bathroom mock-up. He found himself ogling over a sunken, circular bathtub. It was colored like some sort of green marble and it looked gorgeous. He had visions of making love in that thing and had to shake them off lest someone noticed the dreamy look he had.
Daniel suddenly rolled his eyes and turned away from the display, seriously contemplating therapy. Why did Jack have to have that infuriating habit of making him want to fuck him and kill him? That thought brought another and he sniggered to himself. Weren't orgasms just tiny little deaths, anyway? Lost in that black humour, he suddenly found himself wandering into the oriental carpeting area and immediately steered himself away. He so did not need images of making love on that, either. He took a deep breath. Yep, definitely needed therapy and a good, long excavation dig would do nicely. Preferably one that was a billion miles away from Jack O'Neill.
Marking off things on his list, he grabbed the gloves they'd need, then decided to get a few extra shovels he didn't already have. That marked off the list, he went to get some of the basic plumbing supplies he'd need for the pool. He already had 'the kit' at home, but it came with a 'shopping list' of extra supplies that hadn't come with it.
Wandering back in their direction, Jack and Jason suddenly corralled him, thrusting hammers in his face and asking him to choose which of theirs he thought would be better. The metaphor was so thick Daniel wanted to burst out laughing. He also had to fight down the urge to bury that fucking hammer in Jack's skull. He so didn't need another killing image. It would have helped if that goddamn hammer he held didn't have a long claw end. Instead, he sighed....took a deep breath....and thought of two things to get back at them with.
"Well, if you're using screws, you won't need the hammers, will you?"
Jack and Jason both hemmed and hawed and grumbled something about 'Daniel' and who was 'right'. Daniel smiled and inclined his head for them them to follow him. He could make them just as distracted as they were making him, especially Jack. As Jack and Jason walked through the kitchen mock-ups, they groaned, wondering what Daniel was dragging them to. When Daniel stopped and gestured with his hand, they halted and groaned in unison, but not in disgust. They stood before the green marble tub and had the same visions Daniel had.
Daniel smiled at them, gave them a wink, then turned and began walking back the way they had come, asking over his shoulder:
"So, you two were saying something about hammering?"
Jack and Jason damn near whimpered as they watched him walk away. Why did he have to be wearing those tight jeans and that short, black leather jacket?
. .
On Thursday, Jack and Jason were getting into it, already discussing the most efficient method of getting the fence done. When Daniel made off for the nursery, they wanted to go too. Daniel didn't have the heart to say 'no' but not for their sake. For his own. Although he didn't want to hear them question what he got, and he had no intention in explaining anything to them anyway, he thought he could use the entertainment. However, there'd be rules, especially after the display he'd witnessed in the home improvement/hardware store.
In his calm, secure, and soft voice, he said to them, "Okay, fine, you can come along, but only because I need your trucks to haul the stuff I'm getting. Otherwise, I'd be getting it delivered." They both gave him a look of shock for even considering having anything delivered when they each had a truck. Daniel then added, "AND if either of you embarrasses me with your bickering, I'm burying you under a ton of beauty bark."
They'd agreed, contritely, and then suggested they get some of said bark. Daniel didn't have bark in his landscaping. He had, instead, pebbles, stones and larger rocks around the bushes and flower beds. At the mention of getting any of the so-called beauty bark, Daniel gave them both a look of long-suffering patience as they'd walked into the nursery.
"Guys, there's no way in hell I'm using that stuff because," and he ticked off on his fingers, "one, it rots; two, you get slivers every-fucking-where; three, it catches fire very easily; and four, I think it's positively hideous."
"Oh, but you like that lava rock instead?" Jack asked, wrinkling his nose as they'd already reached the nursery.
Daniel gave him a look of impatience. "Tell me it doesn't look better." Jack didn't.
Daniel purposely stayed away from the plants and such that he knew would kick up his allergies, even with the medication. He finished loading up more supplies for his pond and a few how-to guidance books on fish pond maintenance, and noticed that the guys had already loaded up the trucks with more pebbles, stones, and rocks....plus a few more wheelbarrows. He looked around, however, because they weren't anywhere around. He had to wander out to the back of the large nursery and found them standing next to a bunch of flowering shrubs. Right next to them was a pallet piled high with bagged beauty bark. When Daniel walked up, and the smell of the bark hit him, he started to sneeze. It didn't smell right. Daniel glared at them for making him sneeze, especially when he'd purposely avoided the stuff and anything else that would spark his allergies. With a few well chosen soft words that he had to severely concentrate on using, he escorted their asses back to the trucks to go home.
. .
Friday morning, Daniel had woken up with a bugger of a headache and that morning's allergies had kicked up a storm that wouldn't die down. Janet ran a few tests and determined by late morning that he'd come into contact with mold spores somewhere. When she asked him what he'd been doing, he told her. She nodded, then gave him a few shots, then told him the spores had likely come from the nursery. Jack was nearby and when he heard he tried to make himself small. Daniel shot him a very dirty look that had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with beauty bark tonnage. That evening, Daniel purposely stayed home....alone.
This plan had better be fucking worth it, he told himself, or I've gone and wasted a whole week. He sighed heavily as he crawled into his empty and cold bed. It didn't help that he had dreams of making love in freshly upturned earth, covered with sweat while the sun warmed his skin.
. .
Saturday morning came rather quickly, but once Daniel had gotten up, it had seemed to drag on. He had no idea why he'd gotten up at 7:30, but when he couldn't get back to sleep, he'd simply given up and downed a bit of breakfast with several cups of coffee.
He really did look forward to getting his pond started and it just so happened to fall in with his plans for Jack and Jason. His plan for demonstrating his own brand of real alpha behavior had already started, but today, he would go all out. He only had to remember about using his soft voice. No yelling, unless it was across the yard so he'd be heard, and no pissy behavior. He could get Jack and Jason to do anything for him simply by smiling at them.
What was that phrase? You can catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.
It was now 10 am and Daniel had been working outside since 9, marking out the places along the perimeter of his yard where he wanted the fence to go. He was marking the plot of ground next to the patio where he planned on putting the pond and rock garden when Jack and Jason showed up.
. .
It was going to be a hot day as it was already 70 degrees at 10:30. Jack and Jason were both in cut-offs, sneakers, and nothing else and Daniel was enjoying the view. As Daniel watched, Jack and Jason set up the cutting table for the fence pieces. He kept an eye on them as they moved all of the posts to the spots that he'd already marked off along the edge of the yard.
He went inside and grabbed the gloves and hand balm then came back out and walked over to the table. He set the leather gloves and tin of balm down, then called the guys over.
"Guys, here's your gloves. Please do me a great big favor and put them on, along with the balm for your hands. You know what'll happen if you don't and Hammond will have your hides if you don't protect yourselves."
His guys grumbled but did as he suggested. Daniel smiled at them. Another 'charming the snake' smile. They beamed back, forgetting about any grumbling. "You guys want some tea? It's too early for beer, isn't it?"
Jack grinned. "Until lunch, Danny. But tea's fine."
Daniel went inside, grinning. He was sooo going to enjoy this. He came back out and set their tea on the unused part of the table, then grabbed the flat-head shovel and began to remove the sod from his marked plot of ground.
As he dug, Jack and Jason started in on each other again. Peas in a pod, he kept thinking. They were more alike than either, especially Jack, would admit. Jason had a softer side, and he generally took care of that through artwork like his painting. He hadn't had time lately, but the room was there for him and Daniel didn't mind in the least. He kept looking up at Jason and Jack as they carried the wood, dug the post holes with the electric equipment, and generally bickered over who's way was the best. Having heard enough after about an hour, he put down his shovel, removed his gloves and slapped them against his own cut-offs as he made his way slowly towards them.
"Guys, don't fight. There's no need for it. I already marked the fence line and you've already staked where I marked. Is there any need for this bickering?"
They both muttered apologies, looking at each other as if the other started it, and carried on with digging the post holes. It was only when Daniel walked back to his own project did they realize that the very soft voice with which he had told them off had been not only very effective but extremely erotic. Holding one post in the freshly dug hole while the dirt was tamped down around it, they both suddenly stopped working and turned to look at Daniel as their lover worked at taking up the sod and placing it in one of the wheelbarrows. He was doing it with enthusiasm. Sweat was pouring down his neck and the center of his back. They both groaned. They also realized that he was wearing one of his bandanas folded as a head band. He looked so....fucking....hot. Jason quirked a grin at Jack and the two walked over and grabbed their tea off the table, then went over to Daniel as he shovelled a rather large bit of sod into the wheelbarrow.
"Fancy a break, Daniel?" Jason asked as innocently as he could as he downed his tea in one thirst-quenching gulp, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Jack was drinking his as well, only slower, and eyeing Daniel up and down - covering it with looks at the work Daniel had been doing.
Daniel stopped, looked at them, saw the hungry expressions on their faces and gave an inward laugh to himself. He had his boys right where he wanted them.
"It's not even lunch yet, Jace. Let's work up a sweat first and get as much of this done as we can. If you guys aren't up to it..." he let his voice trail off and was interrupted by cries of 'No, no, we're fine.'
"But Daniel, could I get one of your bandanas?" Jason asked.
"Me too, Danny," Jack added. Daniel smiled as he went into the house and grabbed two bandanas. As he walked back into the hallway, he found himself surrounded. He tried not to gulp. They were both sweaty, gritty, and they smelled musky....lustful. Daniel ordered himself severely to maintain control.
"You could have waited outside," he suggested with a surprised smile, then handed the green bandana to Jack, the red one to Jason.
"Daniel, there's one thing you forgot to give us this morning," Jason said as he tucked the bandana in his back pocket.
Playing innocent, he widened his eyes. "What's that, Jace?"
"A good morning kiss," Jason said, pulling Daniel into his sweat-slick arms and kissing him long and deep....while Jack stood there fuming...waiting. Daniel lost himself momentarily and returned the kiss, then pulled away slowly.
"Sorry about that, Jace," he whispered in a properly worked up apologetic smile. Jason growled at him but let him go and stepped aside just as Jack stepped in. Not letting Jack take control, Daniel deftly pulled Jack into the sweetest, longest kiss he'd ever given him and Jack felt himself reacting...with interest.
Daniel felt Jack getting hard and he reluctantly forced himself to push Jack away. "How was that for a 'good morning', Jack?" he asked as Jack let out a slow breath, his eyes darkening.
"Good morning, Daniel," was all Jack could think of.
Daniel smiled. "Come on, guys. Let's get back to work. I've got some big, fat sandwiches for lunch, by the way." He moved down the hall and around the corner, leaving his two lovers to take in the view of his ass in their favorite cut-off shorts.
"Damn that man," Jack grumbled.
"I don't know how he manages to kiss better every fucking time, but he does," Jason remarked as they went through the kitchen.
Jack didn't answer. He only grumbled agreement.
. .
They'd reluctantly gone back to work and in another hour and a half, they'd already had all the post holes dug and filled and the crossbeams placed. When Daniel looked out and called to them that it was lunchtime, he found himself surprised as they were already nailing the planking in place. At their rate, the fence would be done that day. Daniel had gotten his own fair share done, but digging was harder work and he knew that he'd need to slow down so he'd not risk pulling anything.
He'd brought out the iced tea pitcher and a few hand towels for them to clean up with. He handed the towels to them and they wiped their faces and necks down as Daniel refilled their iced tea glasses and placed them next to their plates on the patio table. Daniel grabbed his own towel and wiped himself down as Jack and Jason sat down slowly, watching as his nipples turned hard and rosy as he rubbed them absently. He walked behind them to grab his sweat band off the patio floor and they each smelled that unique musky odor he had when he worked up a sweat. They both closed their eyes and let out breathy groans.
Gotcha, Daniel thought to himself. This alpha male could do 'subtle'. You don't have to be the loudest voice to be the most effective.
Daniel was flushed, sweaty, dirty, thirsty, and hungry. By the looks of his lovers, so were they. Daniel sat down, poured himself more iced tea and prepared to dig into his sandwich. He couldn't believe how hungry he was. As he looked over at them, he found them both staring.
"What?" he asked innocently, then his eyes widened and he started to get up as he asked, "Oh, would you guys prefer a beer with lunch?" and they stopped him.
"No, no, we're fine," came from them once again. "Just admiring the view," murmured Jason as he bit into his sandwich. Jack didn't say anything. He only grinned as he chewed.
For several minutes, no one said anything as they ate. All three of them were pretty damn hungry. After filling that hunger a little bit, Jason finally spoke up.
"So, Daniel..."
"So, Jace..." Daniel replied with a grin as he popped a small potato chip in his mouth. He found that it was his turn to stare.
Jason blinked, momentarily forgetting what he was going to say. "Daniel, what the hell are you grinning at?" and he looked down at himself, then looked at Jack. "Do I have dirt on my face or chalk lines or something?"
Jack looked at him too for a few long moments, then grinned. "No...." and Jason just knew there was a 'but' in there. Jack didn't continue and Jason started to get irritated.
"What?"
What Jason didn't realize was that Daniel and Jack were staring in adoration, not amusement. Jason's face, neck, arms, hell almost all of him exposed to the sun, had all darkened a little bit. He was turning a deep bronze.
Jack's mouth grinned sideways. "Your skin's darker. You have Indian blood or something?"
Oh, so that's it, Jason thought, relieved. It wasn't a big deal to him because he was used to it. But he could see that Daniel and Jack wouldn't be, though they both tanned, they also burned. Jason hardly ever did.
Jason smirked at him. "That's not very PC of you Jack. Shame on you," then he grinned to soften the chastisement. "Apache and Navaho. My granddad was Apache Native American and my Grandmom was half Navaho. They're my Dad's parents. Mom was full blooded Norwegian."
Daniel's eyes shot up, then he nodded. "Explains why Lysa's blonde."
Jason grinned and nodded. "Though she tans very dark. I seemed to have inherited the Native genes, though, and you should see me even attempt to grow a moustache or beard. You must've noticed, Daniel. I don't get that much five o'clock shadow."
Jack snorted. "Yeah, rub it in, asshole."
Jason snickered. Daniel, on the other hand, was now staring at Jason's hair. "I wonder why I never asked, what with that thick black hair. I wonder what that would look like--"
Jason held his hand up. "Ah uh. Don't go there."
Daniel snickered this time. "I still wonder why I never asked. You really do have those features, now that I think about it."
Jason looked at him carefully. "Actually, you did once. Ask, that is. But it was a long time ago and you were only paying half-attention to my answer."
Daniel frowned. "When was that?"
Jason bit his lip, covering up a look that almost escaped. One of the only 'bad' times in his friendship with Daniel, but not Daniel's fault. "Last year, right after you came home from Egypt."
Daniel nodded, automatically knowing what Jason meant. "Osiris...Sarah...Steven...Dr. Jordan." He sighed deeply.
Jack listened silently as he ate, content to be an observer for the moment.
Jason nodded back. "You were kind of distracted, so I let you alone for a while."
"You shouldn't have let me alone, Jace," Daniel said suddenly, surprising Jason...and Jack. "You should have hung around more."
"I'm sorry how I acted then, Danny," Jack suddenly said.
Daniel felt old emotions warring with his good mood and had to fight to keep them down. "Don't worry about it, Jack. Done and dusted."
Jack winced at the 'killing' term. It was oddly appropriate for that time but it still hurt. He reached out and grabbed Daniel's hand.
"I am sorry and I was sorry then, too."
Daniel knew he was serious and he forced a smile. "Thanks, Jack." He removed his hand from Jack's and lifted his sandwich to take another large bite.
Jason didn't like the mood that was threatening to destroy everything. Obviously Daniel and Jack still had old hurts that hadn't healed and it would probably be a while before they did. Jason decided to try to lighten things up when he remembered what he wanted to ask to begin with.
"So, Daniel, as I started to say before you noticed my tanning ability..." and he made Daniel grin. "What I want to know is when are you getting that green sunken bathtub?"
He made Daniel and Jack cough as they started to guffaw over the radical change in subject. Daniel stopped coughing and was now chuckling. "Jeez, Jason. Got your mind in the gutter?"
Jason gave him a wolfish smile that always brought an instant heat to Daniel's belly. Even when they were just friends, Daniel loved seeing that smile.
"At the moment, yeah."
Daniel cleared his throat. "Well, I'll see what I can do, but since I've already started this little project back here, it'll probably have to wait until spring unless I hire a private contractor."
Jason and Jack pretended to be offended but they both knew that neither of them would have the time to do a job of that size because it would require a major remodelling of Daniel's bathroom. The both sighed in disappointment anyway.
"Oh well...something to look forward to," Jack commented as he finished his sandwich.
. .
Just after they'd finished, Jack and Jason grabbed a couple of beers and took them with them to the section of fence they were working on. Daniel watched them working as he got ready to go back to his own work. He let himself feel a little pride in having such two beautiful men loving him. Two gorgeous, loving, stubborn, occasionally irrational, jealous.....alpha males. He smiled and shook his head. It almost always came back to that, didn't it?
Daniel looked up as he felt his skin warming, almost hot. He grabbed the suntan oil and covered his arms and chest with it, and as he worked on his thighs, he got a great big grin on his face. He grabbed a towel and walked over to his 'gorgeous' men, thinking about the tone he'd use.
In his most nonchalant soft voice, he asked, "Would one of you big, strapping guys mind rubbing this onto my back? I can't reach."
Jason and Jack stared at him, not moving. The oil that was already on his skin glistened, making him look like one of those men in the stories about Greek athletes at the original Olympic Games. Covered in oil, naked, wrestling together in the arena, the crowd watching with baited breath and gasping at the intensity of the action in front of them.....They gulped at the thought and held their breath. Jack was the one who moved first, taking off his gloves and wiping his hands on the towel. Jason didn't really mind as he'd found out only recently how much he liked to watch.
Jack gave Daniel a filthy look and turned Daniel around. He squeezed out a tablespoon of the stuff over Daniel's back, making him gasp at the mild chill of it. Jack's hands rubbed it in slowly, enjoying the feel of Daniel's skin and muscle under his hands. All too soon, he was finished and he handed the bottle and towel back to Daniel. Daniel smiled at him as he turned around.
"Thanks, Jack."
"No problem, Danny, but now you have to do me."
Daniel grinned with a wolfish grin similar to Jason's. "Sure, Jack. Turn around." Jason smirked at Daniel as he watched Daniel apply the oil to Jack's already browned back. Jack was already turning darker, but his shoulders were slightly pink. "You've got a little burn already, Jack."
Jack grinned. "I'll live."
Daniel smiled to himself then caught Jason watching him. He gave him a tiny wink as he finished Jack's back, then held up the bottle. "You want me to do you, too?"
Jason grinned, but his eyes held that fierce sparkle that he got when he wanted to fuck Daniel through a wall. Daniel saw it and felt the heat rise in his belly as Jason growled softly.
"What do you think?"
Daniel rubbed the oil into his back as Jack took some of it in his palm to oil the rest of his skin. Jack watched the expression in Jason's face as he closed his eyes to Daniel's touch. They were both now aware of the scent of the oil, mixing in with their sweat and there was nothing the others wanted more than to fuck Daniel and each other. Right then, right there.
When Daniel finished, Jason turned slowly. "Thanks," he said softly.
"You're welcome, Jace," Daniel said with a short smile, then turned around reluctantly to go back to his digging. It took all three of them several minutes to get back to the task at hand as each of them had hard-ons that would have cut through granite like an industrial diamond saw.
Daniel found his own purpose for them being here becoming blurred with the heat of need crawling through him. As he dug down deeper into the earth, all he wanted to do at that moment was toss away the subtle alpha in him and show them his overt alpha in a highly charged mating ritual. He forced himself to shake off the images and had a passing idea of dousing himself with water from the hose.
. .
Daniel had willed himself to calm down and focus on digging out his pond and he'd succeeded. Before he knew it, it was late afternoon and he'd dug himself down two and a half feet, creating a shape in the ground that oddly looked like a very fat donut. A large pile of dirt sat in the center as he used the rounded shovel to sculpt the shape of the walls that would be covered in plastic, and then more on top of that, then other material on top of that. His 'doughnut' was now a bit over 18 feet in diameter.
He felt a shadow appear over his right shoulder and he turned and looked up, shading his eyes with his hand and he leaned on the shovel with the other. Jack and Jason were standing there, towels over their shoulders, bandanas shoved in their pockets, staring down at him and his 'pond'.
"Daniel, what's taking you so long?" Jack asked. "It looks dug out to me."
Daniel looked around him. "I'm taking my time. I want it to be shaped a certain way. The walls, I mean."
Jack nodded, then shrugged. "We're done, including hanging the gate," he added with a smug, satisfied grin.
Daniel looked around him suddenly and by God, if they hadn't done it in one day. His mouth dropped open. The fence looked amazing. It was flat on top, although they'd already decided to take care of that part after the fence was up. Daniel figured he could do that tomorrow.
"It looks...absolutely great!" he said in appreciation at his now enclosed backyard. The fence ended up at a height of seven feet and it was perfect. He was in awe of it, actually, staring as he turned around in one spot, taking in the whole thing. "Thanks, guys," he said, giving them a very sincere wide smile. One of those smiles again.
Jason and Jack smiled back, looking like Jack had a minute ago. Smug and self-satisfied.
"Our pleasure," Jack said for the both of them. Jason only nodded agreement as he looked down at the big mound of dark, soft earth in the middle of the 'pond'. He grinned and jumped down, sinking into it. It swallowed his legs up to mid-calf. The earth was cool and satisfying after the heat of the sun. Part of the 'pool' was already in the shade, and so was the mound of dirt. He swivelled, grinding his feet. Daniel had to catch himself to keep from raising his voice to stop what Jason was doing. He found himself grinning though. In amusement. Sometimes Jason could be so contradictorily innocent and erotic at the same time. He sat back on the edge of his 'excavation' and watched his playful lover corkscrew himself deeper into the dirt.
"Jason, you do realize that you're messing with my dirt," he stated in his soft voice.
Jason's eyebrows shot up and froze. "I thought this was excess."
Daniel shook his head, still grinning.
Jason started to extracate himself. "Oops."
Daniel started to laugh as he pulled Jason out of the mound. "It's okay, Jace. Don't worry about it. Come on. I think that's all for today, anyway. I'm a bit tired and it's...." and he craned his neck toward the kitchen doors to take a look at the clock on the wall. "5 o'clock almost." He pulled himself and Jason out of the hole and started to brush them off. Daniel, of course, had dirt everywhere, whereas Jason only had it embedded between his toes and dusting his legs.
"Wow, that late," Jason remarked about the time, "I'm su--" and he froze, cutting off his own words as he caught Jack standing about fifteen feet away, holding the hose and aiming the spray attachment at them. Jason nudged Daniel, who hadn't noticed as he was bent over brushing his legs off. He looked up at Jason's nudge.
"What Jas--" and he narrowed his eyes. "Jaaack," he warned in his most dangerously soft voice. "You turn that thing on and you'll get water in my pond. It's not supposed to have water yet. You'll fuck things up," and he walked toward him, holding out his hand.
"As dirty as you are, Daniel, you'll need hosing off," and as Daniel closed in, Jack backed away and depressed the trigger on the nozzle and soaked Daniel's legs.
For the first time in a week, Daniel raised his voice, even if it was justified. He howled as the cold water hit him, then he stood there, fuming. In a very quiet voice he said, "You are so fucking dead, O'Neill," and he lunged.
Jason had a flashback to when he and Daniel had played with the hose and Daniel had won that round. Daniel was looking to win this round, too, because just as he got his chest sprayed, wetting his face and hair as a result, he grappled with Jack for control of the hose, turning the nozzle on both of them. Their legs tangled and down to the ground they went. Daniel's deft fingers had control of part of the nozzle and he turned it on Jack, the water backsplashing against the waistband of his cut-offs. Jason stood there chuckling, folding his arms, enjoying the show. The nozzle was still depressed as Daniel and Jack fought for control once more. Jason was amazed at how little he'd ever seen Jack actually howl in freely hysterical laughter. He shook his head. Only Daniel was capable of doing that to him.
Jason suddenly jumped as the long spray of water went past him in an arc, hitting him across the chest. The splash of the water soaked his neck and face and part of his hair and he sputtered, still laughing. Suddenly Daniel and Jack stopped their play and looked over at him. With both of their hands on the nozzle, they focused the spray on Jason and he ran to the patio. The long spray followed him, soaking his back and the back of his head. Within seconds he was as drenched as his lovers. The water stopped as he turned around, spitting water that ran down from his hair, to give his lovers a half-serious glare. The nozzle turned on again and Jason yelled.
"Daniel, you're getting water in the house!" as the water sprayed him and went between his legs and through the kitchen doors.
"Well, then get your ass away from the door," Jack called out as he and Daniel still fought for control of the hose, even as they sprayed Jason.
The water turned off as the two of them lay there, panting, with Jack on his back and Daniel half on top of him. Daniel made as if to kiss Jack and then depressed the nozzle again, rewetting their skin and causing Jack to howl in laughter as the water sprayed down his shorts. He was tickled by the spray but only because Daniel had, with the flick of a wrist, turned the nozzle setting to a softer spray. They were about to turn the hose back on Jason, who'd had the good sense to stay in front of the patio, when the doorbell rang. Jason looked at the two playful antagonists on the ground and laughed as they froze at the sound of the bell.
"I'll get it," he said and squished his way through the kitchen and to the front door, mincing his steps, but that wouldn't help so he gave up. He was thoroughly soaked. He opened up the front door to the surprised faces of Janet and Sam. Their mouths dropped open, then they both bit them shut.
"Ladies," Jason said, amused by their expressions, then stood aside and motioned them in. He shut the door and followed them to the kitchen. Janet held a handled sack in her hands and Jason smelled chicken.
"Mmmmmm, something smells gooooood," and he tried peering inside. Janet pulled it away.
"Dinner. Go get the other two."
He grinned hugely at them then moved to the door and peered out. He cocked his thumb outside, motioning them to look. Janet and Sam heard laughter as they peeked out the door.
Sam and Teal'c had never known about Jack joining Daniel and Jason, but at Jack's recent behavior, they'd started to suspect. Although they, and Janet, would be the only ones to notice, they'd kept their opinions to themselves. Sam's suspicions were confirmed as she watched how closely pressed together they were as Daniel and Jack were still rolling around on the ground, the hose spraying everywhere, intermittently hitting the kitchen. She turned around to look at Jason, who suddenly assumed an innocent look.
Another spray came in the door, getting some of Janet and Sam and Janet slammed the doors shut.
"Jason! Why didn't you shut the doors?" she asked him as she walked through a few large puddles of water by the table.
He looked down, still dripping pretty well himself. "Ooops." He looked back up at both of them, at their blushing grins, then back down at himself. The fine, narrow line of dark hair that ran from under his navel to his pubic area was nearly completely visible as the water-logged weight of his shorts had dropped them down an inch.
He stared at them, then grinned brazenly as pulled them up only a little bit. "I'll be right back," and he walked back outside. They heard his muffled voice call out, "Janet and Sam are here with dinner. Get your wet asses inside."
"Woof!" Janet exclaimed as she watched Jason's ass through the door. Sam slapped her arm and she turned around. "What? I can look, even if he is taken."
Sam looked outside, observing appreciatively. "Not like we'll ever get a chance, Janet."
"I know," and they both sighed. "But we can still look."
. .
Outside, Daniel was getting ready to tease Jack again when the doors opened and Jason walked outside and told them the women were there. Then he mentioned dinner. Their noses suddenly smelled a faint odor of chicken and their stomachs growled.
"Well, that's that," Jack said, and they both rolled away from each other and stood up. Daniel shut off the hose, and tossed it over it's hanger on the side of the shed. He caught up with Jack and they both walked into the kitchen, dripping water everywhere. Daniel tried to find dry pants for them to wear and found jeans belonging to both Jason and Jack in his laundry room; wrinkled but clean. Neither Sam or Janet noticed, either, though they wouldn't have said anything anyway.
. .
Dinner was an innocent meal. Or so it seemed to the girls. The boys however....
For Jack and Jason it turned into an erotic eating festival. Having to watch Daniel eat with his fingers, then watch him lick oil and grease from said fingers....
Daniel knew how he was affecting his lovers, but he didn't do it on purpose. Well, not exactly. He didn't change the way he ate nor did he slow his movements down or purposely cast seductive glances. He merely smiled and ate while listening to Sam and Janet give their accounting of their early afternoon jaunt to the mall with Cassie.
When Janet finished her account of Cassie's latest dating regimen, getting snickers from around the table, Daniel had finished his chicken and was currently sucking a forefinger free of salty oil. Jack couldn't take it any longer and his hand shot out and grabbed Daniel's wrist before he moved onto his middle finger. His action startled everyone, including Daniel.
"Jack?"
"Daniel, puh-leeeze use a napkin."
Sam and Janet sniggered, taking what he said to mean he couldn't stand Daniel's table manners. The truth was he and Jason were being slowly driven to the edge of their barely-contained desire. It was damn near a miracle of staggering proportions that they hadn't attacked Daniel right then and there and given Sam and Janet an interesting education.
Daniel found it ironic that a simple meal, unannounced, brought him the final piece of his lesson plan.
. .
It was a quarter to eight and Janet and Sam were done chatting and wanted to be off. Janet thanked the guys for helping her dispose of the chicken and they thanked her right back for supplying dinner.
When Jack was escorting them to the door, Jason turned to Daniel and gave him a lustful stare. "Do you have any idea what you just put us through?" he whispered from six feet away. The husky sound of his voice did two things to Daniel. One, it confirmed to himself that his method of alpha male behavior was far superior, and two, it got him aroused and hard in seconds.
The moment the ladies got back into Janet's van and pulled out of the driveway, Jack turned around from the living room window and gave Daniel the very same stare that Jason had.
Daniel had them on either side of him, and at least six feet away. They stood there staring, at every inch of him. Inside, Daniel was smug as hell. Outside, he decided to finally let it show. The change in his expression from innocent to calculating stopped them from advancing on him. They blinked in bewilderment and Daniel gave them both the biggest 'I-pulled-one-on-you smile they had ever seen. For at least a minute, they stood there staring, wondering, figuring. Until...
"Sonofabitch!" Jack whispered softly. "Was this all just to yank our chains?" Daniel saw the beginnings of a 'Jack attack' and had to head it off. How dare Jack think such a thing! Daniel wouldn't have done that just to piss them off or manipulate them. He had a point to make and they bloody well had one coming.
"For someone who's just figured out something, Jack, you've sure jumped to the wrong conclusions," Daniel snapped at him. That brought Jack up short and his angry scowl smoothed into a frown.
"Well then why?" Jason asked. They stayed where they were, but only because Daniel put his hands out to stop them, to keep them at bay. He didn't raise his voice, he didn't yell, or say a word. He simply put his hands out and they...complied.
"Another lesson in alpha male behavior, guys. Nothing more. Look at what I just did. And what I did all week, and all of today." As he spoke, he used the same calm tone. As he looked at both of them, he could see they didn't get it. He took a deep breath and let it slowly out. He brought a hand to his forehead in an impatient gesture very familiar to both of them. "Okay, I can see you're not going to understand this at the moment so I think you guys should just go home, cool off, and I'll come by later."
That didn't make any sense to either of them, either.
"Just....do as I ask. Please?" and Daniel's brows knitted together in that expression he made when pleading his case, when asking for something. Both Jack and Jason were put off-balance to say the least.
Jack moved first. He grabbed his keys, and since everything was left in his truck, and he didn't bring a coat, he took a long look at Daniel, then at Jason, and headed for the door. Daniel walked up to him and put a hand on his arm just as Jason was grabbing his few things.
"I'll be over in a little while and maybe you'll be able to understand why I did what I did or....maybe you'll just stay mad. I hope you'll be able to understand."
Jack twirled his keys in his hand, staring at them as Daniel spoke. He didn't look up when he said, "I hope so, Danny."
With that, Jack left. The door remained open and Jason went to it next. He didn't copy Jack's actions, except for the leaving part. He only looked at Daniel silently.
"You mind if I come over first? Then go see Jack?" he asked him. Jason shook his head.
He finally said, "I kind of understand, but don't take too long to come over, Daniel."
With that, Jason was out the door. After he left, Daniel leaned against the door.
"Oh, brother."
Daniel tidied up and brought things in from outside. Finally, he just slipped on his sandals, grabbed his jacket, and left dressed only in his jeans. He still wore no shirt. He knew it was a tiny manipulation on his part, but he also knew that maybe he should have let the guys come to the alpha realization on their own. But if he had, it might have taken them a few more days and he didn't want to wait that long to make his point. He'd waited long enough as it was.
~
Daniel was at Jason's an hour after Jason had left his house. He knocked but received no answer so he used his key and slipped inside, locking the door behind him. He listened carefully as he hung up his jacket. He didn't hear much noise. Jason hadn't even turned on the stereo. Daniel then recognized the sound of the shower as he walked toward the hallway. The bathroom door was closed.
Daniel suddenly got an idea. He hoped it wouldn't backfire. Daniel smiled, remembering that Jason had no bathtub and had instead a large shower stall with a built in bench.....and Daniel had yet to experience that shower. He also had yet to pay Jason back for their first time. Something that Jason was frequently reminding him of and now was as good a time as any. He wondered if this was the time to show Jason how his subtle alpha worked here, too. No, not in the shower. Besides, he figured Jason understood and right now, Jason needed to be shown that he wasn't being a prick tease.
He went into Jason's bedroom and removed his jeans. He hadn't worn anything underneath them when he'd changed so it was all he needed to take off. Moving as silently as he could, he opened the bathroom door, stepped inside, then shut it again. Daniel knew Jason's shower routine as well as his own. Jason had only just gotten inside the shower because he was standing there, wetting himself down, facing the wall. He did that every time, partly to enjoy the water and partly to relax.
Jason had only a small window to his bathroom and the light was fading rapidly outside. It would be a perfect time for a reenactment...of sorts. Daniel flicked off the light and was only just able to see Jason turn quickly around in his shower. The stall's walls were made of a type of thick glass and Daniel could see him very well. He noted that the door to the shower was unlatched as he walked toward it. He opened the door and stepped inside, latching it behind him. He saw Jason's face clearly and saw the stress lines.
He frowned with worry and concern and moved to him, putting a hand up to his cheek. "Do you want me to go?" he asked.
Jason shook his head. "No," he replied softly, and placed a hand over Daniel's. They stayed that way for several long seconds, then Daniel saw the hint of a smile. Jason knew and was remembering. "Are you offering?" he asked. Daniel gave him a small smile in return.
"More than offering, Jason," and he moved his hand up and carded his fingers through Jason's hair, trying to remember exactly what Jason had done to him during their first time in the base shower. He brought a hand around to cup his buttock at the same time the fingers in his hair slid down to cradle his neck. He leaned in and brought his lips to Jason's in a deep, passionate kiss and Jason moaned in response, enclosing Daniel in his arms. His hands then slid down to clamp down over Daniel's ass just as Daniel reached between them to grab his dick. Jason moaned again as Daniel began to stroke his shaft, rubbing his thumb over the head to rub the pre-come over the skin. Jason thrust his hips, pushing down on Daniel's ass cheeks at the same time. He pulled away from Daniel's kiss then, gasping.
"Do you want to fuck me, Daniel?"
Daniel gave him small kisses over his lips, his chin. "Yes, I want to fuck you. Do you want me to fuck you?"
"God, yes, Daniel," he replied as his arched his neck, giving Daniel better access as Daniel moved his mouth lower, kissing, nipping.
"Tell me," he whispered as he grazed his teeth over the pulse point and down to the left clavicle.
"Fuck me, Daniel. Please. I want to feel you inside me."
Daniel growled deep into his throat then, finding Jason's nipples and tonguing them, pulling them between his teeth. Jason hissed in acute pleasure, wrapping his hands around Daniel's head. Daniel worked his way down his front, making Jason shudder with every bite and suckle. By the time he reached his cock and took him into his mouth, Jason was moaning constantly. Daniel couldn't ever remember Jason making so much noise, though he was a vocal lover. Repeating their first time, in reverse, and making it a first time here, was proving an immense turn on for Jason and it showed in how Jason was feeling and responding.
Daniel felt Jason trembling slightly and it had nothing to do with nervousness. He was very, very excited. This, in turn, excited Daniel and he took his cock suddenly down his throat. He wanted to swallow him, whole, and needed to give him pleasure, to feel Jason coming down his throat.
"Daniel...Oh God, baby....Oh God..." and Jason felt Daniel urging him to thrust, so he did. Jason had thrust only twice before he pulled Daniel away. "Daniel, I c-c-can't..." and he pulled him to his feet and into his strong embrace in order to kiss him ravenously. After a few long minutes, filled with caresses and rubbing, Daniel pulled out of the kiss.
"I wanted you to come down my throat, Jace," Daniel whispered, kissing his face.
"I wouldn't have had the strength to hold onto the shower head after, Daniel," he revealed, smiling through a short kiss.
"Ohhhh....I see," Daniel said, biting his lips, then he leaned in and kissed Jason back, pushing Jason's hands up the wall as he rubbed his cock slowly against his lover's. "Grab the bar, Jason," Daniel whispered between kisses. Jason did so, clasping his fingers together and clutching the pipe firmly in his hands. He suddenly hissed in pleasure again as Daniel pinched his nipples, running his hands over Jason's chest, his abdomen, then took his shaft in his hand and stroked, hard. Jason almost whimpered at the keen pleasure, the need. Daniel grabbed the conditioner from the shelf and coated his fingers. "You want?" he asked as spread Jason's legs apart and his fingertips teased Jason's anus.
"Yes, Daniel, God yes."
Daniel pushed two fingers inside, slowly, then twisted them, making him pant. Suddenly Daniel removed his fingers and slicked up his cock, giving Jason short, soft kisses as he prepared himself. Done, he slipped his hands underneath Jason's upper thighs and lifted. Jason pulled his legs up, holding them up while Daniel settled into position and pushed against his entrance. He grabbed Jason's thighs tightly and pushed again, slipping inch by slow inch inside Jason's body. Jason bit his lip and moaned with want, contracting his ass muscles to encourage Daniel to move more, to bury himself inside him.
Daniel was finally inside him completely and he started to rock his hips in shorts strokes, teasing Jason, teasing himself. He loved the feel of this, the intense pleasure of it, and Jason felt so unbelievably tight, even after only six days of no sex.
"You are so fucking beautiful to me, Jace," he whispered as he moved. Jason had closed his eyes and he opened them again, looking into Daniel's flushed, passionate face.
"As you are to me, Daniel," he whispered, then lost himself in Daniel's gaze as they moved together. "Fuck me, please."
"Yes, Jason. So hot, so tight, so...deep," and he thrust hard, making Jason cry out and lift his legs. Daniel smiled and pushed against the back of his thighs, making Jason's knees push to his chest. Just as if they were in bed, only they were vertical. "Feel good?" Daniel whispered.
"Yes, dammit, it feels good," Jason moaned, biting his lip.
"How about this?" and Daniel thrust harder, then again, and again, making Jason scream with pleasure as his sweet spot was ruthlessly hit over and over. Jason's head tossed back and forth, unable to hold back any longer.
"Daniel!" he shouted in warning.
"Yes, take it, Jace, take it," and Daniel thrust hard and fast and Jason was screaming and coming hard, his semen pulsing out of him in waves. Daniel loved it and the look on Jason's face as he came and because of it, he cried out, "Mine, Jace! You're mine!" and he pistoned as fast and hard as he possibly could, making Jason's orgasm somehow last longer as the nerves were stimulated. "YES!" Daniel screamed one more time and came long and hard, jerking his body, letting himself go. He pulled Jason down from the shower bar and slid him down the wall as he sank to his knees, keeping himself buried inside his lover.
Jason was spent, boneless, and he relaxed into Daniel's embrace as Daniel held him in his lap. After five or so minutes, Daniel slipped himself out of Jason and pulled Jason into a tighter embrace, kissing his neck while Jason wrapped his legs around Daniel's hips.
"I love you more than anything, Jason. Don't ever doubt that. I never, ever, mean you harm." Daniel pulled Jason from him a little bit to make Jason look into his eyes. Jason did. He nodded, understanding what Daniel meant. What he meant earlier, as well.
"I know, and I love you back. Don't ever doubt me, either, Daniel. Not ever. If I hurt you unintentionally, tell me. Please."
Daniel stared back at him, a few tears in his eyes welling up at the intense feeling from Jason. "I promise."
They slowly rose and cleaned each other, taking their time. When Jason fell onto his bed, Daniel stretched out on top of him. They were both still a little damp, and still naked. Daniel rested his face in Jason's neck as Jason wrapped his arms and legs around him. He never minded the weight of Daniel on top of him. He loved the feel of him.
After a while, Jason rolled them onto their sides. "It's time to go visit Jack, Daniel."
"I know," Daniel replied softly, his face still pressed against Jason's neck. "I'm still wired." He felt Jason's cheek muscles stretch into a smile.
"Yes, I believe you are."
"I just hope he's not too mad....still."
Jason made Daniel look at him. "He won't be. He's just stubborn. Like you." Daniel grinned and nodded.
"I know." He kissed Jason a while, then said, "I want you to come over there in a little while. I don't want to sleep tonight without either of you."
Jason stared back at him for a few long seconds. "Are you sure?"
Daniel frowned at him, then pushed playfully at his chest. "Yes." He kissed him again, and again, feeling his own ardour rising again, as well as Jason's. Jason smiled through the last kiss.
"You should go," he said, playfully pushing against Daniel's rising interest. "I'll be by in a few hours."
"Promise."
"Promise."
~
Jack had been very restless when he'd got home. He brooded about his house for a while, ran a load of laundry through, tried to play solitary chess, watch TV, but in the end, he'd stripped off his clothes, taken a shower, and then got into bed. He'd lain there, staring at the ceiling, wondering why Daniel had pulled all that stuff, and then it had hit him. And he knew. It was like receiving another version of one of Daniel's lectures. Annoying, but he understood what he said. Even if he never let on to Daniel that he did. Although, he'd always suspected that Daniel knew that he understood him and just pretended not to, and that would be the real reason for Daniel's annoyance.
This time, Jack was the one annoyed as he didn't like being on the receiving end of a lecture he hadn't known was coming. He forced himself to turn it over in his mind, again and again, seeing it from all angles. Daniel's soft, calm voice, his gentle prodding, his quiet requests. Jack had done what Daniel had asked...all damn week...and he hadn't even realized it. Then, at Daniel's house....all of that gentle scolding...then the not so subtle come-on with the oil, even if the oil had been necessary. Then their play with the water. Daniel had never given in, had never relinquished control.
And neither had I, Jack thought. That's why I didn't see any of it. I thought I was the one in control. But I never was, was I? Jack felt a surge of anger over that and knew that if he didn't let it go, or acknowledge the facts at least, that he'd never be able to get past it. He let the thoughts run through him again and again, forcing himself to look at everything throughout their entire relationship, including their friendship.
The truth is, he told himself, one of the reasons you like Daniel, no, love Daniel, is because he's feisty underneath all that calm exterior, and why you get so excited when he gets pissy and mad. You like to see him exert his hard alpha side because it's what you want. You want him in control.
The moment he thought that last part, he tried to shove it away. But in the end, he realized that he loved the fact that Daniel had this power over him that no one else had. It gave him the permission he needed to let go. Daniel had understood in a very subtle way. He wasn't overt in taking control. He was quiet, gentle, loving, giving.....and Jack finally understood the meaning of that different kind of alpha male. The one who was in real control.
Okay, if you're so smart, then how come you almost always want to be top?
He growled at himself for thinking it. He didn't have an answer....until he let himself feel. He loved being inside Daniel, of feeling himself wrapped around him, consuming him in a way, like Daniel did when he took him in his mouth. Daniel was in control, even when Jack was buried inside him, he always felt that Daniel was in control. That brought him back to the alpha male thing and the need to give himself over...to Daniel.
He'd grown hard at the thought of being inside Daniel and his mind inevitably went where it always did when he fantasized. The past. Long before their friendship schismed. He fell asleep as the memories of past examples of Daniel's alpha male ran through his mind.
~
Daniel started to knock but knew, somehow, that Jack wouldn't answer, that he'd likely be lying in bed asleep. He got inside, locked the door, removed his coat, slipped off his shoes and his jeans, then padded straight down to Jack's bedroom. Jack had left the light on and he lay in the center of his large bed, on his back with his covers pushed to the side, his head turned away and a hand on his stomach. Jack was also half hard.
Daniel smiled. Dreaming of me, I hope. This was not a narcissistic thought, he was just hoping that Jack wasn't mad at him. He moved to the bed and lay over him, just as he done with Jason. Jack's body tensed and jumped, his eyes flying open just as Daniel's lips touched his in a soft, gentle kiss. Daniel's fingers moved through Jack's soft hair and he opened his mouth, inviting Jack's tongue inside. Jack slowly enclosed Daniel in his arms and kissed him back with increasing passion until his tongue was thrusting in and out of his mouth and his cock was raging.
Jack finally broke the kiss, his hands reaching up to pull Daniel's face away, to stroke his cheeks, to run his fingers through his hair....to gaze into those beautiful blue eyes.
"I love you, Danny. I also figured it all out...."
Daniel stared back into those dark, smouldering amber eyes. He knew the answer but asked anyway. "And?"
Jack smiled and turned them over so that he was half on top. "We're fine," he said smiling through another kiss.
"Good," Daniel whispered, kissing back.
Jack pulled away from him for a moment. "The next time I do or say something to really insult you--"
"I'll have it out, there and then," Daniel finished. "I promise."
Jack smiled, appreciative that Daniel always seemed to know what to say to make things better.
"Is Jason with you?" he asked suddenly, looking around.
Daniel shook his head, grinning at Jack. "No, Jack. Jason's at home. He'll be here later though because I don't want to sleep without either of you tonight."
"Good," Jack replied, staring into Daniel's eyes for the longest time. "So...now what?"
Daniel's mouth twitched as he tried not to laugh at the obvious answer between their legs. "Well, let's see. We could...play chess?"
Jack wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
"Go watch a movie?"
Jack pretended to think about it, then shook his head.
Daniel slid his hands down Jack's back and firmly cupped his ass. "We could...." and he brought a leg up to curl around the back of his knee. "Go up and skywatch?"
Jack stared and rocked his hips a little, then shook his head.
Daniel's mouth opened and he bit his bottom lip as he teasingly thrust back. "Wanna play cards?"
Jack shook his head as he lowered his lips to Daniel's, "No," then forced them apart with little effort and slid his tongue over Daniel's. They moaned at the same time, then broke apart.
"I got it, Jack," Daniel whispered.
Jack smiled knowingly. "What? What have you got?"
"You," Daniel replied huskily, his coy play leaving him as his hand grasped both their shafts together and stroked. Jack groaned deeply as he stared into the darkening blue eyes.
"Yes, Danny, you have me," and he smiled then, pulling Daniel's maddening hand away. "But if you keep doing that, I won't be able..." and he moved Daniel's hand to his chest, "..to..." then moved his own fingers over the sweet curve of Daniel's ass, "...do..." and his fingers softly caressed over Daniel's opening, "...this...." and he thrust his cock suggestively over Daniel's cock as his fingers pressed slightly.
Daniel's reactions this whole time had been quiet gasps and pants while his eyes remained locked on Jack's. When Jack's fingers pressed but did not enter, Daniel breathed in sharply. He brought his hand up to Jack's face, caressing, then passed his fingers over his mouth. Jack nipped playfully and Daniel gasped. His desire for him increased and he pulled Jack down for a fevered kiss. He opened his legs and invited Jack to do what he wanted him to do.
Jack broke their kiss and moved away slightly, grabbing the lube from the nightstand. He kissed Daniel again, and again, moving his mouth away to nip down his throat to his chest; to find nipples, hard and erect, and make them wet and rosy. Daniel moaned with want as Jack caressed his body with his mouth, devouring him. When Jack's mouth enclosed over his cock, he arched his back in response.
"Yes, Jack, God, yes."
Jack smiled and took his cock down his throat, making Daniel writhe and clasp his fingers in his hair. Jack's own fingers were busy, searching, caressing, and finally lubed, entering.
"Yes, yes," Daniel moaned, spreading his legs wide and raising his ass to thrust. Jack sucked his cock slowly, just as his fingers fucked slowly, driving Daniel to the brink of ecstasy and then holding him back. All the while, Daniel loved it, whispering, "Yes," at each tease, each shudder.
Finally, Daniel couldn't take any more. "Jack, please..."
Jack removed his cock from his mouth and smiled. "What?" he asked teasingly.
"Jack..." Daniel hissed and pulled Jack up on top of him. Jack so loved winding Daniel up and this way was just as good...even better. "Where's the lube?" he asked quietly.
Jack handed it to him as he kissed him. "Danny, is there a reason you're being relatively quiet?" Daniel returned his kisses as he prepared Jack's cock for him, then wrapped his legs around his waist.
"Yes," he replied, his breath hitching as Jack pressed his cock at his entrance. Jack smiled and pushed, groaning at Daniel's tightness, at how hot and silky he was. Daniel arched back, groaning as Jack pushed past the tight rings.
"Fuck, you feel good, Danny," he whispered as he pushed slowly inside. Daniel arched his head back further, adjusting his hips, his legs, inviting Jack to go deeper.
Jack waited only a moment then rocked his hips, slowly, drawing out the pleasure, making Daniel writhe.
"Jack, God, yes," and his fingers moved to his own mouth, sucking them and running them down Jack's chest, rubbing his nipples, making Jack thrust deeper. Jack loved it when Daniel did that.
"Danny," he whispered, watching his face as he thrust a little harder, then gyrated his hips, grinding, screwing, and finding Daniel's sweet spot again and again.
Daniel loved how he did that and urged him to do it again and again, all the while his voice was soft, almost purring. Jack felt the tightening in his balls and knew he couldn't hold back for much longer. He suddenly pushed Daniel's knees to his chest and stared hard into his blue-black eyes.
"You want me to fuck you hard?" he asked, panting, sweating.
"Yes, Jack!" Daniel demanded in a whisper.
Jack suddenly thrust hard and fast, enjoying the look on Daniel's face as he pleasured them both. Then he felt the heat crawl up quickly, the pleasure rising. "Oh God, Danny, I'm gonna come!" he gasped.
"Yes, Jack, come for me, come for me," and just as Jack heard Daniel whisper his demand, he cried out, gripping the back of his thighs.
"Danny!" Their mouths met and hung on through a desperate, hungry kiss as Jack's body shuddered through his release. He broke the kiss, panting as the tremors died off a bit. "Danny, you didn't--"
"I will, Jack," and Daniel rolled them over, groaning as Jack's cock slipped out of him.
Jack felt an increasing excitement even as his body quieted from his hard orgasm. He wanted this. He needed this. "Danny, yes."
"I love you," Daniel whispered.
"I love you back," Jack whispered back as he heard Daniel pop the top of the tube and lubricate himself, listening to the slicking sounds of Daniel stroking himself. He moaned out a gasp as Daniel pushed his legs up by the back of his knees.
"I need you," Daniel said huskily and he pushed his cock inside him slowly. Jack moaned with need, focusing into Daniel's eyes as Daniel filled him completely.
"Yes, Danny." Daniel smiled and leaned in, kissing him hungrily as he began to rock his hips. His own need to feel himself sheathed inside Jack, stimulated by him, filled his senses. He fucked him slowly, deeply, closing his eyes at times, then opening them to find Jack's gaze still on his face, his face still flushed and wanting.
Daniel suddenly felt his balls tightening and Jack knew he was about to come. He moved his knees wider apart, opening himself further, moaning with lust as Daniel rubbed his prostate. Daniel sped up his thrusts then, gyrating his hips, trying to prolong his orgasm.
"You feel so good, Jack," he whispered, closing his eyes as his fingers laced through Jack's hair.
"I love your cock, Danny. You feel good." Jack could see his words affect Daniel, bringing him closer. "Yes, Danny, do it." Daniel pistoned a little faster. "Yes, do it, do it." Daniel pistoned harder and Jack raised his voice, urging him. "Yes! Do it!" Daniel moaned out a gasp at the words as Jack's hands cupped the back of his neck. "Fuck me, Danny!" Jack urged louder. Daniel moaned more and more, his eyes widening as he stared back into Jack's eyes. "Come on, Danny!" Jack cried out now, "Come inside me! Come inside me NOW!" and Daniel squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip hard as he felt himself coming hard and long inside Jack's body. He moaned continuously through his release, then dropped his face to Jack's neck.
"You're mine, Jack. Mine. Mine. Mine," he whispered repeatedly as his tremors rocketed through him, jerking his body in waves.
Jack embraced him tightly. "Always, Danny. Always."
Still coming down from his extreme high, Daniel turned them onto their sides and pulled out of Jack, making him gasp and hold him closer. Jack rolled onto his back as he leaned over and kissed Daniel's head. Daniel groaned, wanting his heat, and plastered himself to Jack's side, twining a leg around his knee, an arm around his chest.
"Love you so much, Danny," Jack whispered. Daniel responded, kissing slowly, his reply a mumbled phrase no one could have understood. Except Jack.
In seconds, Daniel had fallen asleep. Jack hugged him adoringly and fell asleep with him, leaving the light on.
. .
Jack roused a little as he realized he'd heard the sound of the lamp being turned off and someone getting into bed. Since Daniel was still plastered to his left side, that could only mean one thing.
He looked over and saw Jason settling down next to him. "'Bout fucking time."
"Traffic was a bitch," Jason growled back, then kissed Jack lovingly. His kiss transformed into passionate, taking Jack's breath away.
Jack reached up to cup Jason's face with his free hand since his other one was still wrapped around Daniel. "Hey, what was that?"
Jason pulled back a little. "I haven't touched you all week, either, Jack," he reminded him.
"Good enough reason," Jack rumbled as Jason kissed him again. Jack felt his erection against his leg and grinned with a little guilt as he spoke through the gentling kiss. "Sorry, Jace. Can't help you out. I'm kinda of tired now, and I'm also a little trapped."
Jason stared at him for a few seconds. "Then just stay where you are, Jack." He kissed him again, rubbing his cock against Jack as his hand and arm slid over Daniel's, embracing them both. Jack's hand left his face and slipped down between them to grab Jason's dick. Jason moaned into his mouth, deepening his kiss as Jack's right hand jerked him off.
Jason's passionate exertions in fucking Jack's hand roused Daniel enough to raise his head and bring his hand up to pull Jason's face toward him.
"Hello there," he whispered sleepily. Jack's hand quickened, tightened and Jason moaned loudly through Daniel's kiss. His hands tightened over Jack's shoulder and Daniel's arm as he came quickly in small spurts. Though his orgasm was short, it was intense. Jack continued to milk it from him, making Jason pull from Daniel's long kiss, panting, gasping. He rested his head on Jack's chest and Daniel laid his own next to him.
Jason pulled away a little, looking into Daniel's face, then up into Jack's. He smiled. "I'll hazard a guess that's things are okay?"
Jack growled, but smiled to soften it. "They're fine."
Jason looked over at Daniel. Daniel blinked assent. "They're fine, Jace," he said sleepily, smiling as he went back to sleep.
Jason smiled back. "With me, too," and he snuggled against Jack and closed his eyes.
Very much content, Jack did the same.
~
A few days later....
Daniel was half-conscious by the time Jack, Jason, Sam, and Janet brought him home. He'd pulled a back muscle over-reaching during their supposedly simple mission and no matter what they'd tried, nothing had worked to keep it from spasming on him. Janet had finally given him a muscle relaxant and combined with his strong antihistamine and his unusual chemistry in reacting to drugs, Daniel had started to go to sleep...fast. They'd gently laid him down on his bed, then Jack and Jason had stripped him down to his tee shirt and shorts. Janet and Sam then went in to check on him as Jack and Jason went into the kitchen to make up something for dinner. Their last mission wasn't stressful, but it was tiring and with Daniel zonking out like that, none of them had taken the time to eat.
While the boys were busy, Janet checked Daniel's pulse, then his irises. He would be fine. She sighed deeply as she and Sam watched him sleep.
From wherever it came, be it fatigue or just her wicked sense of humour, Janet wasn't sure but she got an idea and acted on it. She and Sam were sitting on the bed when she suddenly reached for her purse.
"Janet?" Sam asked warily.
"Shhh. He'll be out for at least one more hour, but probably two. And now that I've got him here, I'm going to find out something that I've been dying to know."
She pulled her mascara out of her purse.
"Janet!" Sam hissed, keeping her voice down.
Janet hushed her with a gesture. "You and I both have been itching to find out how long his lashes would look with this."
"Janet, you can't remove it without him waking up!" Sam said, liking the idea but dreading the consequences.
Janet started to apply it. "I have no intention of removing it. He can do that. It's not waterproof."
"You are in such big trouble," she commented, even as she watched Janet apply the black substance. They both watched in amazement as his lashes grew impossibly long.
"My God, Janet, look at that."
"Told you."
"You are still dead, Janet," Sam warned.
"They can't do much to get me back, Sam," Janet said confidently as she looked back at Sam. "I'm the lady with the needle and the lube, remember?"
They both sniggered quietly.
. .
They both heard Jack and Jason coming down the hall and got up from the bed quickly and headed for the door. They damn near ran down the men. Jack immediately sensed something was up.
"He's alright isn't he?" Jack asked peering over their shoulders. Janet looked back at them blankly.
"Yeah, he's fine," she whispered. "Let's leave him to sleep."
Jack and Jason looked at Daniel from the door and didn't notice anything right off. As the women passed them and went down the hall, Jack turned back. He frowned and grabbed Jason by the arm. "Hey, look at him. Does he look....prettier than usual?" he asked softly. Jason frowned at Jack as if he had a screw loose but he humoured him and turned back to gaze at Daniel. His frown increased and he moved past Jack and went toward the bed. He stopped, staring down at Daniel, and pushed at the inside of his cheek with his tongue. Jack noticed his body language and came over and looked down. He let out a very slow sigh. "Sonofabitch."
They turned around and before they got to the door, Jack said to him, "Follow my lead."
"You got it."
They went out to Janet and Sam in the kitchen and acted as if they hadn't noticed. Chatting about Daniel's exploits to get the women to relax worked. Then during a lull in the conversation, Jack gave Jason a look of conspiracy, making sure that Janet and Sam noticed.
"What?" Sam asked with a bit of dread. They looked at the women and then Jack spoke first.
"Daniel's been telling us that he's been hearing this....noise...coming from the garage. Whenever we've gone in to listen, we haven't heard anything, so....since you're here, and he's out like a light, why don't the two of you be our test subjects. I don't want him thinking he's hearing things. You know how he's been ever since that Machello virus. Then there was Urgo. I don't think he trusts his hearing anymore and he's been bugging us about this. Will you double check for us, please?"
Jason added, "Are either of you afraid of mice or rats? 'Cause if it's one of those reasons, Daniel's gonna have to call someone."
Janet snorted. "Cassie had mice and gerbils for a little while, so no, I'm not afraid of them."
Sam shook her head. "Not me."
Jack smiled. "Well, okay then. Come on, let's check this out. I have to wait for the oven to heat up anyway so..."
They went to the door at the far end of the hallway and opened it, revealing the very neat and tidy garage. Although Daniel didn't park his car in there most of the time, he did during the winter. For now, the garage door itself remained closed and locked. The usual car maintenance stuff sat on shelves, along with tools and a few tool boxes, mostly given to him by Jack a few years in the past and with the purchase of this house, Daniel now had a place to put them.
When all four of them stepped inside, Jason closed the door and stood in front of it casually, turning on the overhead light. When they weren't looking at him, he reached back and turned the doorknob lock. Unlocking would take a few seconds longer.
Janet started to say something after a moment of silence but Jack put a finger to his lips. He acted as if he were straining to hear something. No one heard anything. Then when they'd milled around so that the men had placed themselves between the only exit, the house door, and the women, Jack finally spoke again.
"Wait....I think I heard it."
"What?" Janet said, her eyes wide.
"Sounds like...." Jason started.
"Two women...screaming," Jack whispered.
"What?" Sam asked, frowning, then she and Janet saw the dangerous looks in the men's dark eyes. "Uh oh."
"Jason?" Jack asked softly.
"Hmmmm?"
"Get the motor oil."
Which just so happened to be on a shelf behind him, next to the door. For the next twenty minutes, muffled howls and screams and curses and shrieks filtered through the house. Daniel slept through it all.
~
Daniel roused sleepily. He groaned at the soreness of his back muscle but at least it wasn't spasming anymore. He opened his eyes and the room was dark. He realized then that he must be in his bedroom. Slowly he got to his feet and made his way to the bathroom. As he stood there taking a leak, he yawned and brought the palm of his hand up to rub on his eye. It didn't feel right. It was as if he had a really bad visit from the sandman or his eyes had dried mud on them. He rubbed harder. Odd. When he finished urinating, he flushed and put his dick back in his shorts.
He froze, looking down at the palm of his left hand. There was a black smudge line on it. He remembered something. Something from a long time ago. Sarah, in his apartment's bathroom, rubbing her eyes after waking up, then washing her hands and face. The black lines on her palms had been mascara smears.
Slowly, warily, he reached over and turned on the bathroom light and looked into the mirror. "You have got to be fucking kidding me," he whispered. There was a raccoon line under one eye, but the other was fine. However, both sets of lashes had black mascara. His jaw dropped and he stood there staring for about five minutes.
. .
Meanwhile, Sam and Janet were sitting at the table, sipping on beers. Jack and Jason sat across from them, eating dessert and grinning smugly.
All of them heard the bathroom door shut and they froze. Then Jack and Jason continued eating while Janet and Sam went back to drinking.
. .
Daniel sighed. Couldn't have been Jack or Jason. They wouldn't dare. That left Janet and Sam.
"Those fucking little....pixies," he whispered.
He slowly calmed himself as he washed his face, removing every bit of mascara from his face. Drying off, he was thinking of some way to pay them back. He stared at the mirror reflection, then left the bathroom....with his disposable razors and bottle of shaving cream.
He walked down the hall and heard noise from the kitchen. Someone was eating. He moved purposefully. When he got to the kitchen entrance, he halted. Janet and Sam were wearing his and Jason's bathrobes....and their hair was half-wet. Janet's a little more so because she had more hair. They looked back at him guiltily.
Daniel thought two things in consecutive order. One, they were wet because (and he hoped he was right) Jack and Jason had exacted revenge on them, and two, Jack and Jason had seen him with mascara on. The last thought made him blush, from the roots of his hair to the toes of his feet.
Jack and Jason, on the patio door side of the table, looked up at Daniel and smiled mischievously, smugly, and showed absolutely no sign of amusement at his expense. It was more on his behalf. His eyes sparkled in appreciation but he glared at Janet and Sam, who kept looking away, but also kept looking back at him.
When his blush receded a bit, he set the razors and shaving cream down on the counter, then folded his arms. He didn't care if he stood there in front of his two women friends in his underwear. He was pissed and his glare at his two women friends deepened.
"What the fuck possessed the two of you to do that to me?" he asked in his most calm, and most dangerous, voice.
The women cleared their throats. "Um, we're sorry," Sam said, wincing hugely.
"I repeat, what the fuck possessed you to do that to me?" His jaw now clenched.
Janet now winced. "It was my fault. I did it. Sam only watched." Sam looked at her appreciatively and Janet shrugged. Daniel still glared. "Um, I just wanted to know how long your lashes really were."
Daniel looked skyward and rolled his eyes in disgust. "Oh for God's sake!" and he got himself a beer, tossed the cap into the garbage, took a long sip, then set it down on the counter and resumed the fold of his arms.
"Don't worry, Daniel," Jason said through a mouthful of apple crisp and ice cream.
"We got 'em back," Jack finished, taking another bite from his bowl.
Daniel tightened the fold of his arms. "I'll be the judge of that. What'd you do?"
Janet looked at him, then glared at Jack and Jason.
Jason smirked, swallowing, then chased his food down with a long swallow of beer. "We poured something on their hair."
"Into their hair," Jack corrected with an evil leer.
"What?" Daniel asked.
The men looked at the women and Janet finally said, "Motor oil."
Daniel's mouth dropped open again. "Motor oil?" he asked slowly.
"Took us five washings to get all of it out and off our scalps, too," Janet complained.
Slowly but surely, Daniel started to relax, but he still couldn't get the image of Jack and Jason seeing him with mascara on. The feeling of embarrassment stayed with him, even knowing that he'd been vindicated. He sat down slowly at the end of the table, bringing his beer with him.
"You want some dinner?" Jason asked.
"I'm not hungry right now," he answered, still giving Janet and Sam dirty looks. Sam looked over on the counter, at the razors and shaving cream. She looked anxiously back at Daniel.
"What were you going to do with those?" she asked.
Daniel looked at her for a long time without answering, making her blush with nervousness. Finally he said, "I've always wanted to shave a woman," he said. "Sarah never let me."
Jack and Jason damn near spit up what they were eating as they began to cough and choke with laughter. Janet and Sam stared back at Daniel with jaws agape, their alarmed eyes as round as tea saucers.
Daniel gave them only a Cheshire Cat smile.
~