Forever And A Day Series

Shattered Images

By

Cat

Copyright 2000 © Cat

This work is not to be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the author.

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Part 1

Dr. Jackson stumbled through the Star Gate onto the ramp of the embarkation room. His eyes fought to adjust from the stark brightness of the world they had just left, to the more muted lighting of the SGC. Samantha Carter and Teal'c were just ahead of him. Normally coming through the gate was about as easy as stepping from one side of a doorway to another. But not when one was running full tilt with the enemy right on his heels.

"Close the iris as soon as the Col. comes through!" Carter was yelling to the men in the Control Room. She turned to face the gate, her weapon ready should any of the Gau`ould happen to follow Colonel O'Neill through. Teal'c was likewise prepared.

Jackson had barely regained his footing and was starting to join them when Jack slammed into him from behind. He felt himself falling as all the air whooshed out of his already belabored lungs.

"Damn it, Daniel!" O'Neill swore. With lightening reflexes he snaked out an arm to grab the scientist around the waist and keep him from taking a swan dive into the ramp. "You're supposed to get out of the way!"

Daniel swayed as he tried to catch the breath that had been knocked out of him. As his head cleared he realized that Jack was still holding him around the waist, and he was plastered full body against the other man. "Jack," he said softly, plucking at the Colonel's arm. He could feel the eyes of the others in the room on them both. A slow blush of embarrassment spread across his face and neck.

"Huh, oh sorry Danny," O'Neill muttered and abruptly let him go. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just had the wind knocked out of me. Thanks."

Daniel walked down the rest of the ramp and joined the other two members of SG1 as they waited for their leader. He couldn't understand why the Colonel's actions had affected him the way they did. It was really only another instance of Jack coming to the rescue of the bumbling young scientist. But something just felt different, he felt different. The feel of that strong-arm around him, the other man's body pressed up behind him...

"SG1 to the debriefing room," General Hammond instructed then headed out the doors followed by his number one team.

*****

Jack sat at the table watching Daniel, who wouldn't even meet his eyes. Who quickly looked away every time he did look up to catch Jack staring at him, he felt like a fool. After two years of working with the younger man, had he destroyed their friendship with this one careless act? Had Daniel put two and two together and finally come up with four. Every indication in the man's demeanor said, "yes."

When the General finally dismissed them, Jack waylaid Jackson on the way out of the room. "Daniel I think we need to talk," he said urgently.

"I'm really tired Jack, can't it wait 'til tomorrow?" the younger man replied, still not meeting his friend's eyes.

"Sure Danny, sure. If that's what you want." O'Neill acquiesced.

The young scientist nodded dumbly then turned on his heel and head down the hallway to the bank of elevators at the other end.

Jack watched Daniel as he walked away and drew in a sharp hissing breath. Seeing the bowed head and slumped shoulders on his friend made him wish he had just let him fall and then been there to pick him up. At least then he wouldn't have this cold knot in the middle of his stomach as watched a friendship die. He wouldn't have to look into those huge blue eyes and see the bewildered, questioning behind their protection of glass.

God those eyes, Jack thought wistfully, they could lift you to highs you never knew existed when they smiled, melt all but the coldest hearts when they pleaded, and when they were sad like now, it could break your heart to look at them.

And tomorrow, what was he going to say to Danny tomorrow? What would the younger man say to him? Would he outright accuse him? Would he make light of it? Pretend it didn't happen? Could Jack just laugh it off as a bad joke? Could he claim that he just wanted make sure Daniel was steady before he released him?

With a heavy heart Col. O'Neill turned and walked down the corridor to the locker rooms to change. He wondered if he still had that half bottle of Jack Daniels left in the cupboard at home. Maybe he should stop at the liquor store on his way and pick up a new one.

*****

Daniel sat bolt upright in the bed breathing raggedly. His body was bathed in sweat. But what alarmed him the most was the painful erection between his legs. He'd been dreaming, but not of Shau`ri. In his dream it had been Jack that he was holding. Jack that he'd been kissing. He shuddered, but not with distaste he realized, but with passion.

Dropping his head into his hands he groaned softly. What was the matter with him? What was happening? Never in his entire life had he had these kinds of feelings for another man. And now suddenly he was having them for a man he considered not just a friend, but his best friend. Savagely he kicked the blankets back with his feet and got out of the bed.

Walking into the bathroom he flipped on the overhead ignoring the protests of his light sensitive eyes. Then he reached into the shower and turned on the water. Shucking quickly out of the long t - shirt he slept in, he stepped under the still frigid water coming from the shower - head. He gasped as the icy water hit his passion inflamed skin, but with relief he saw that it was having the desired affect on his body. He stayed in the shower, standing under the cold stream, until his teeth began to chatter and he could stand it no longer. Flipping off the water he reached out and grabbed a towel. He dried himself off quickly then pulled the shirt back on. Grabbing his bathrobe from the back of the bathroom door he headed down the hallway. He needed coffee and he needed to think.

In the kitchen he opened a cabinet door and took a large mug from the overhead shelf. He filled it with water from the sink and stuck it in the microwave to heat up. While the microwave whirred softly in the background, Daniel walked around the kitchen gathering up the jar of instant coffee he kept for emergency purposes, a spoon and the sugar bowl. As the last second counted down he opened the door and pulled the cup out before the infernal beeping could begin. He spooned coffee and sugar into the cup and then headed into the living room.

Carefully, so as not to spill the hot drink, he sank down on the sofa. Pulling his cold bare feet up he tucked the ends of the robe around them. He was still shaking, but wasn't sure if it was from the shower or continued reaction to the dream. How was he going to face Jack tomorrow? The man was already suspicious of Daniel's behavior from earlier. Leaning into the older man's strength, practically melting into the safety and security of that strong arm before realizing that they were being watched.

He was dreading the "talk" that he had promised Jack they would have tomorrow. What could he say? He certainly couldn't tell the military man about the feelings that were warring inside of him. At the very least Jack would deck him. He didn't even want to contemplate the worst that could happen. Taking a deep shuddering breath he set the mug down on the coffee table and picked up his journal. Flipping the book open to where he had last stopped he began to write, it was the best way he knew to confront his demons and order his thoughts.

*****

Behind him the locker room door opened. It took every ounce of nerve he had not to jump or look around. Instead he fiddled with his boot - lace as if he were still trying to finish tying it. He had been delaying this meeting as long as he could, but no longer. Jack had finally found him.

"Daniel?" Jack's voice was low and questioning.

He forced himself to straighten up and look at his friend. He was afraid of what he would see in the other man's face. "Hi Jack," he replied coolly trying to sound aloof and unconcerned.

"Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you."

Daniel shrugged, "I went to the gym first to have a quick workout. Then came here to change."

"I see." Jack replied keeping his voice even. Abruptly he decided he couldn't take this game of cat and mouse with the young Scientist any longer. "Look about yesterday I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I just wanted to make sure you were firm on your feet before I let you go." Jack realized he wasn't really lying, he had wanted to make sure Daniel was steady before letting him go. He could have done it a little less intimately of course; there in lay the rub.

Daniel felt the tension and uneasiness drain out of him like water down a large drain. He almost sagged with the sudden surge of relief that filled him. Jack didn't know, he thought Daniel was upset at him.

"You thought I was mad at you?" he exclaimed. "God, I thought you were mad at me!" Realizing that he was about to let his mouth get him into trouble yet again he added quickly, "you know for not getting out of the way."

"Well I was a little," Jack admitted with a laugh. He hadn't missed that look of shear relief that passed across Daniel's features; he would have had to be blind to miss it. "But I was right behind you, you really didn't have time before I came through. Friends again?" The Col. asked extending a hand.

"Friends!" Daniel replied, clasping the outstretched hand with his own. A brilliant smile shone on his face.

Jack gripped the other man's hand tightly and was surprised when he felt what he thought was a small tremor run through it. But whatever it was Daniel didn't seem to be aware of it. Smoothly he put a hand on the scientist's shoulder and steered him to the door.

"So, what's on your plate for the day, Danny?" he asked. "More rocks?"

"Artifacts Jack, artifacts. And yes actually. SG7 brought back some great samples from their mission to Px769. I was going to compare them to ones that we found on Px1228 a couple of weeks ago. I think the people who inhabited the two different planets originally came from the same sub-culture, it will be fascinating to see how the two groups diverged..."

Jack grinned they were okay again. Oh there was definitely something happening here, but at the moment he wasn't going to push. He was just glad that he and Daniel were still friends. Stopping as they reached the door to his office the Colonel watched as the archeologist walked away from him towards his own office several doors further away. He allowed himself a casual once over of that gorgeous body as the man walked away.

*****

For the second night in a row Daniel woke bathed in sweat, with an erection so hard he was in agony. The cause dreams of Jack. Again he forced himself out of bed and into a frigid shower.

*****

Jack looked up as the door to the locker room opened. Daniel walked in. "Hi ya Daniel!"

"Morning Jack," Daniel gave his friend a tired smile before opening the door to his locker and trying to hide behind it.

"Danny, you all right? You look exhausted." Jack queried in concern. Giving Jackson a thorough once over he noted the pallor in his face that made the dark circles under his eyes stand out more prominently.

"Nightmares," Daniel replied flippantly, as he began to unbutton his shirt. They had all been through so much in the last two years that nightmares were not unusual. And he had always seemed to have more than his fair share of them.

"Are you going to be okay for the mission today?"

Daniel's head jerked up to look at Jack. "Yeah, yeah I'll be fine," He said abruptly eager to dispel any doubts the Colonel might have. "Honest I'm just tired. And I've done missions on less sleep than this."

"Okay but if at anytime you don't feel up to it I'll ask Hammond to postpone for a couple of days. It's not like this is anything more than a reconnaissance mission."

"No, really Jack I'll be fine." Turning back to his locker he shucked out of his shirt and hung it on a hanger. Then sitting down on the bench began to unlace his shoes.

Jack started rummaging in his own locker getting out the last few items that he needed in a slow unhurried fashion. From where he was he could watch Daniel from the corner of his eye unnoticed. God, the guy was so beautiful. Long well toned legs sprinkled lightly with fair hair. Trim waist, wide shoulders. He could watch him dress and undress all day long. But looking at his watch he realized that they were both due for briefing in ten minutes. Pushing his locker closed he turned to Daniel.

"Ten minutes Danny, you better hurry it up. Hammond's getting tired of you being the last one to waltz in." "I'll be right there." Daniel promised as he tucked his t - shirt into his fatigues and sat down to pull on his boots.

Jack nodded and walked out the door heading quickly for the briefing room.

*****

The briefing had been relatively short. The Malps they had received from the probe before the gate closed had proven to be relatively unexciting. But then until a real reconnaissance was done they wouldn't be certain.

SG1 was now gathered in the Embarkation room watching as each chevron on the Stargate locked in place and lit up. As the seventh symbol fell into place there was a great whoosh and a wall of water blew out from the center of the stone ring then snapped back into place to form a smooth wall inside the circle. Capt. Carter using the remote control directed the rover that held all their equipment through the gate first following close behind it. Teal'c stepped through next.

Colonel O'Neill looked down the ramp at where Daniel was standing. He seemed totally lost in space staring at the Stargate but not at the same time, but then that was not unusual for Jackson. He spent a lot of time lost in the ozone. "Earth to Daniel, you coming?" Jack finally asked loudly in a sardonic voice.

The young anthropologist started and looked up guiltily at O' Neal. "Huh, oh yeah, sorry I'm coming." A slow blush colored his face and neck as he realized that the Colonel had caught him daydreaming. Quickly he walked up the ramp past Jack and stepped through the gate.

Jack waved at the men in the control room above them and shook his head as he walked through the event horizon.

*****

Jack watched as Daniel came limping down the corridor towards him. "Daniel, you okay?" He asked.

Daniel flushed lightly, "Just a little stiff."

"You over did it this morning in the gym." The Colonel admonished. "I was kind of afraid of that. How bad is it really?"

Daniel looked down at the floor and scuffed his boot against the rough concrete. "I'm very stiff." He confessed, mortified that not only had he been stupid enough to let his frustrations get the better of him, but that Jack had noticed.

Jack chuckled, "Don't worry about it Danny. It happens to all of us every now and then." He was pleased to see that the young scientist was able to give him a wan smile. "Come on, get your stuff we're getting out of here."

"But I still have..."

"Nope, it's Friday afternoon. We're on stand down until Monday." Jack said forcefully. "I'm going to follow you to your place and give you the best damn massage you've ever had."

Daniel's eyes widened in surprise "Jack that's not..."

"No arguing. I'll make it an order if I have to. You may not be military but you're still a member of my team. I refuse to have you come in Monday barely able to move. Got it!"

"Got it," Daniel said softly. "Just let me get some things out of my office and I'll be ready to go."

"I'll be waiting right here for you."

Jack hated pulling rank on the young man like that, but he looked miserable. He could barely walk without limping and the dark circles under his eyes were getting deeper meaning that he still was not sleeping for one reason or another. All of this had started the day they came back from Px3398 and he wanted to know why. If it really were nightmares then it would be understandable. It had been Serpent Guards that they were escaping from that day and it would stand to reason that it would stir up bad memories. But the fact that Daniel refused to talk about them, which he usually would, was what bothered the Colonel.

"Okay, I guess I'm ready to go." The young archeologist said as he limped back down the hallway. "I need to go to the grocery store on the way home though." He explained, "I don't have a thing left in the fridge."

"No problem, I need to get a couple of things myself. I'll meet you there." O'Neill answered. He put a hand on Daniel's shoulder and began steering him slowly towards the elevators, careful not to move him faster than his sore muscles could take.

*****

Jack stood outside the door to Daniel's apartment, tapping his foot. Not having a lot to pick up he, he had beaten the scientist home. After nearly twenty minutes Daniel finally arrived, his arms loaded with bags.

Jack quickly took a couple of them giving Daniel a free hand to unlock and open the door with. Once they were both inside he took the bags back.

"Give me a few minutes to put this stuff away and then I guess I'm all yours." He told Jack indifferently.

"Okay, I'll just wait out here." Jack watched Daniel walk into the kitchen area, which was separated from the living room by a wall and a long breakfast bar. Walking over to the couch he dropped down on to it trying to relax. Then he noticed one of Daniel's ever-present journals was lying open on the coffee table in front of him, without meaning to he read the first line of the neat handwriting.

'I dreamed about Jack again.' Jack drew in a sharp breath, could it really be possible. Forgetting about politeness he quickly began to read the rest of the entry. 'This is the third night in a row. I'm all most afraid to go to sleep anymore. I don't understand what is happening to me. I've never had these feelings for a man before. And what I am feeling for him are in some ways even stronger than what I felt for Shua'ri. I'm so confused, I feel so alone. I need to talk to someone, but the one person I would normally confide in is the one person I can never talk to about this. I'm afraid I'll slip one day. Tthe way I walk around with my foot in my mouth all the time, it's bound to happen. The least he would do is beat me to a pulp, the worst he could do... God he might kick me off the team. What would I do then? They are my family, Jack, Sam and Teal'c. If I lost them,' The next words were smudged but there was no stain except for the ink and Jack realized that the ink was smeared because a tear had dropped onto the page. His heart contracted with the thought of the pain the younger man was going through. 'The SGC is practically my home and my whole life now. Sure if I got kicked out of the program I could probably get another job, but some dig in Egypt or cultural study in South America could never compare to what I am doing now. Oh God, help me, what am I going to do?'

Very quietly Jack closed the journal. He wanted to make sure that Daniel didn't suspect that he had read the entry. He knew what he was going to do. In a way it had been a plan all along. Five minutes earlier he would have called it an iffy plan at best, but now.

Clearing his throat the Colonel called out, "Hey Daniel you almost done in there?"

"What? Oh um yeah I am." Came the unsteady reply. "Hey Jack, you want a beer?"

"Sure that'd be great." O'Neill replied keeping his voice as normal as possible. In reality what he wanted to do was go into the kitchen and take Daniel into his arms and just hold him. Tell him that everything was going to be okay. But he couldn't, yet.

Daniel came out of the kitchen an icy beer mug in each hand. Leaning across the coffee table he handed one to Jack then turned to sit down in a chair opposite him.

"Don't get comfortable," Jack told him as he stood up and looked around the room. "Damn we should have gone to my place. I have a massage table in the basement we could have used. This table here is too low, and that table in your kitchen is way too short."

"What about the couch?" Daniel asked nervously, trying to sound helpful. Every nerve ending in his body was screaming for him to tell Jack no. To stop this before it went too far and Jack found out. But another part of him was telling him to just do it and let Jack find out. To get it over and done with before he went mad with the worry.

"Not enough room, way too cramped. I guess it will have to be the bed." Jack stated nonchalantly. He ignored the fact that Daniel had gone paper white. And those huge expressive eyes were terrified.

In reality it really was the best. He could put Daniel in the middle of the bed and then sit on either side or move from the head of the bed to foot when necessary and make sure that the younger man was comfortable as well. Also if things did not go as expected meaning if Daniel actually relaxed enough to fall asleep Jack could just cover him up and let him sleep.

"S...s...sure Jack. I guess where ever you think would be best."

Okay, lead the way Danny boy."

Daniel got up from the chair he was in leaving the untouched beer sitting on the coffee table, not more than a few inches from the journal that Jack had been reading. Bending down the Colonel retrieved the beer and his bag from the store.

"What's in there?" Daniel asked noticing the bag.

"Massage oil, it will make this a little easier on my hands and your skin." Jack explained.

"Oh I see." Daniel was beginning to feel nauseous and his heart was beating a mile a minute. He knew that before the night was over Jack would know the secret he had been trying to hide for the last three days. He could only hope that his friend would settle for breaking his face, not his heart. If Jack kicked him off the team he would never recover. It would be the last straw for his already badly bruised and battered soul.

As they passed the bathroom, Jack quickly leaned in and grabbed a couple of towels.

"What are those for?"

"To keep the oil from ruining your sheets, and to allow you a little modesty." Jack told him with a slight smile.

"Oh, I hadn't thought about the sheets."

"Good thing I did!" the Colonel quipped. They were now standing in Daniel's bedroom. "Okay you go ahead and get undressed and I'll get everything set up." With that he flipped on the bedside lamp and began pulling down the bed covers and laying out one of the towels towards the middle of the bed.

Feeling like his whole world was beginning to crash down around him, Daniel fought back the tears of despair that were threatening at the backs of his eyes. Outside the sun had gone down and with only the bedside lamp on, the room was cast in shadows. He prayed that it was dark enough that Jack would not notice how miserable he truly was. Looking over at the man he realized that O'Neill was waiting for him patiently.

Daniel stripped off his shirt and undershirt laying them on the top of his dresser. Next he kicked off his shoes and reached down to pull off his socks. Finally he unfastened his pants and slipped them off adding them to the pile of clothes on the dresser. He felt very vulnerable and embarrassed standing in front of Jack in only a pair white briefs.

"Where do you want me?"

"Lay face down on the bed so that as much of you as possible is on the towel. Make yourself as comfortable as you can. The more you relax the easier it will be for me to work all your kinks out."

Daniel got himself situated lying with his arms up so that his hands were resting under his cheek. He was turned at the moment so that he was facing away from Jack. Then he heard the top on the bottle of oil snap open and finally the sound of Jack working it in his hands warming it. A pleasant odor of almonds filled the room. Then the moment he'd been dreading, Jack reached down and began to massage his shoulders.

"Damn Daniel, you are as tight as the skin on a drum." He said softly to the younger man, keeping his tone even and soothing. "Relax, everything is going to be okay, just relax."

Taking several deep breaths Daniel willed himself to let go of the tension building inside of him. But he was too wound up by this point. He shook his head and whispered a muffled "Sorry," to Jack.

Slowly Jack worked on Daniel's shoulders first one and then the other. Kneading them with his fingers and the heels of his hands. He worked on the tight neck. Moving away from the shoulders he took the young man's left arm in his hands. Working from the top of the arm down he massaged gently almost as if he were pushing the tension and pain of the strained muscles down the arm and out through the fingers. Getting up off the bed he walked around and sat down on the opposite side and proceeded to do the same thing with the right one. When he was satisfied that the arms were beginning to relax he went back to Daniel's neck and shoulders. He worked slowly and methodically not rushing. As the knots and tension began to release he moved down over the shoulder blades.

Jack began to talk to the younger man, keeping his voice quiet and soothing. He told him about the new recruits he was training when he wasn't busy on an away mission with SG1. He talked about the briefing he'd had that day with General Hammond on their next trip though the Stargate. All the while his strong hands were working their way down Daniel's back. He only stopped long enough to add more oil to his hands and warm it between them before going back to his work. He even drew Daniel out enough to talk about the artifacts he had been studying. The young man's eyes were closed but the pinched look to his face had relaxed and he seemed calmer.

Daniel was lost in the relaxing sound of Jack's voice talking to him. The soothing feel of the strong, warm hands as they relieved the pain and tension in his body. He was relaxing more and more, and as it became apparent that his body wasn't going to betray him, the fear he had been feeling began to dissipate.

Jack had worked his way all the way down to Daniel's waist. He decided to stop there for now. Instead he moved down to the foot of the bed. "Daniel, I'm going to work on your legs now. I'm going to start with your feet and work up. Just stay relaxed."

Again he added oil to his hands and warmed it before taking hold of the young scientists left foot. Working with his thumbs, he massaged the bottom of the foot. As that one relaxed in his hands he moved to the right foot doing the same thing. All the while he continued to talk to Daniel in the same soothing almost hypnotic tone. Finishing with the feet he moved up to the calves, feeling the knots of tension dissolving as he worked. He knew he was getting close to the moment when things could start to get out of hand.

As he reached Daniel's thighs, he slowed his movements making them more sensual. He ran his hands up and back along the sensitive skin of the young man's thighs until they finally reached the delicate fold where it met his ass. He felt Daniel stiffen slightly, and switched to the other leg and proceeded to work his way up again until again his fingers brushed against the soft curve. Again Daniel stiffened and again Jack stopped.

"Roll over Daniel." He told the young man. "If your back is any indication you've probably got some knots in the front too."

Daniel started to protest but the feel of Jacks strong soothing hands massaging away the pain he had been in all day was too tempting. Slowly he rolled over letting his arms rest along his sides. Jack began to massage the fronts of the scientist's shoulders and along the collarbone. Gradually working his way down along chest and over the smooth belly. He 'accidentally' allowed one finger to dip into Daniel's belly button and was awarded with a soft gasp. Looking up at the man's face he was presented with a look of almost pure contentment. Daniel's eyes met his with a look of complete trust and a hint of the building passion he could no longer control. Looking casually as he moved to begin massaging the front of Daniel's legs he noted that the young man had the beginnings of an erection. Ignoring it he began working on the top of the left foot and ankle. Again working his way up from the bottom, making his movements slower and more sensual as he reached the tops of the thighs where his fingers brushed along the young man's crotch. Daniel was now fully erect. Looking up at his face Jack saw that the scientist's eyes were slightly glazed with passion. But the fear was there as well.

"Jack I..."

"Sh...It's alright Daniel. It's alright." Jack soothed as he came to sit on the edge of the bed closer to the young man. "Everything is okay." Then slowly he leaned down gently brushed Daniel's lips with his own. He watched as Daniel's eyes widened in surprise and a small "Oh" escaped his parted lips.

"If you want me to stop, say so and I will." Jack assured him. "I won't do anything that you don't feel comfortable with. As it is I practically seduced you up to this point."

Tentatively Daniel put out a hand and touched Jack's cheek. The older man turned his head and gently kissed the inside of the sensitive palm. Hearing Danny's soft gasp he looked down in time to see two huge tears roll down the man's cheeks.

"Oh God Danny don't cry. I'm sorry, I thought... Oh God what have I done. Please don't cry. I swear I won't ever come near you again." Jack couldn't believe he'd been wrong, he couldn't have, not after what he'd read.

"No Jack..."

Jack groaned still caught up in the thought that he might have been wrong about what he had read. He started to get off the bed. To leave the apartment before he did anymore damage. But suddenly Daniel's hand was around his wrist pulling him back.

"Don't leave Jack." Daniel whispered. "Please, kiss me again."

As the rush of relief flooded through him, Jack sank back onto the bed. Leaning down he placed both hands along Daniel's face and brought his lips down until they gently brushed the younger man's. He felt Daniel sigh beneath him, the soft warm breath fanning over his lips. Slowly Jack kissed him again, deepening the kiss gradually, giving Daniel time to accept or stop it as he saw fit. He felt the soft full lips part beneath his own and tentatively let his tongue slip through to taste the younger man.

Jack finally broke the kiss and both men gulped air into their starving lungs. Daniel was trembling beneath his hands, but the look in his eyes when Jack looked down at him was anything but fear. Slowly the Colonel stretched out on the bed beside the archeologist, then reaching out he gently pulled Daniel onto his chest so that his head was resting on the older man's shoulder.

"Jack your clothes, the oil..."

"To hell with my clothes," the Colonel muttered. "They wash."

"I thought...I've never...How did you know?"

Jack chuckled and brushed a light kiss across Daniel's forehead. "You've been acting strange for days. One minute you were staring at me every chance you could. Then the next I would have had to prop your chin on a two by four just to get you to look at me when I was trying to talk to you. I figured the massage would do one of two things, either relax you until you fell asleep and then I would have just stayed to make sure that you actually slept all night or it would force you to come out of the closet. Also it's not like you to keep your nightmares bottled up so that excuse was starting to wear thin."

"Jack does this mean you're coming out of the closet too?"

"Yes Danny, it does." O'Neill assured the younger man. Gently he laid Daniel back down on the bed, then moved so that he kneeling over him. "If you want me to stop, you had better tell me now."

"I...no I...I don't want you to stop...I..."

Jack could see the war going on behind Daniel's eyes. The fear of the unknown, need for something he couldn't even explain to himself, and the shyness of the untrained. Daniel was like having a virgin in his arms again. "I promise I'll go slow, I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Just trust me. I won't ever hurt you intentionally or carelessly. Do you trust me Danny?"

The scientist nodded unable to speak and reached up to touch Jacks cheek again with his hand. Jack caught it in his own hand bringing it around to his mouth to kiss it gently. Then parting his lips he let the tip of his tongue run from the heel of the hand to the tip of Daniel's long middle finger. He saw the passion flare in the soft blue eyes and the gasp of pure pleasure that escaped through the soft pink lips and he knew that Daniel was ready for the next step.

Leaning forward he took Daniel's mouth in demanding kiss, bruising the soft lips beneath his own, making them open for him. Then he slipped his tongue inside letting it wander over the inside of the cheeks, across the teeth. The younger man moaned with pleasure beneath him.

Feeling brave Daniel let his own tongue slip past Jack's and into the man's warm mouth. He tasted faintly of the beer he had drunk on the way to the bedroom. He let his tongue explore the inside of the older man's mouth hearing himself moan again. The erection between his legs was so hard it was beginning to hurt. He started to reach down to try and relieve some of the pressure, but Jack caught his wrist and forced the arm back over his head. With a quick movement Jack had both wrists held over Daniel's head.

"Jack..."

"Trust me Danny," Jack whispered moving his mouth to brush a long Daniel's cheek and down to the sensitive skin of the jaw line. He nibbled his way down the throat and across the firm shoulder. Beneath him Daniel writhed with ecstasy and need.

"Oh God Jack..." the young scientist whimpered. "Oh God..."

Jack kissed and nuzzled his way from the smooth broad shoulder to one of Daniel's small tight nipples. Pulling it into his mouth he sucked it gently swirling his tongue around it. The man beneath him shuddered with ecstasy and Jack moved to the other nipple making sure it got it's fair share. He could feel the young man's hard erection straining for release from the confining briefs, but not yet he wanted Daniel as high as he could get him first.

The Colonel trailed kisses down the soft skin of the belly below him. When he reached the navel he dipped his tongue into it deeply and heard Daniel cry out in surprise and passion. The slender body arched beneath him. Leaning upwards again Jack captured the soft pliant mouth with his own in deep slow kiss. He thrust his tongue deeply into Daniel's mouth then pulling it back caught the full lower lip between his teeth and began to suck on it.

He felt the scientist's long slender hands grip his shoulders the fingers digging into his flesh. The body beneath him arching up. Lifting his head he looked into the wide blue eyes, the pupils were huge with passion and begging for something the young man couldn't name.

He sat back and heard Daniel whimper at the loss of contact. "Hush baby, it's ok. I just need to finish undressing you." As he spoke Jack hooked a couple of fingers in the waistband of man's briefs and began to slowly draw them down releasing the hot tight erection. He watched Daniel's face for any indication that the other man was afraid or unwilling, but neither emotion presented itself. He continued to remove the underwear allowing his free fingers to caress sensually across the flesh of hips and thighs.

As the briefs slid over Daniel's feet Jack dropped them to the floor. Then lowering his head he allowed the tip of his tongue to swirl around the tip of the hot erection, tasting the salty precum there. Daniel cried out hoarsely as his hips bucked. Opening his mouth Jack took half of the young man into his mouth and began to suck gently. Looking up with only his eyes he could see Daniel's head lashing back and forth as he drew close to climax. Jack began to move his mouth up and down making love to the young man with his mouth. Daniel's hips were beginning to thrust upwards sharply and Jack caught them with his hands holding them down so that Daniel would choke him. As he felt the body beneath him start to shake he sucked deeply taking all of the erection into his mouth and throat.

"Jack!" Daniel screamed his name as he tried to thrust one last time and came within Jack's mouth.

The older man drank him down savoring the taste of the young man's come. He continued to suck, milking Daniel's cock until every last drop of come was expelled. Then releasing the spent member he moved back up the bed until he was lying beside Daniel again. Lovingly he took the shaking man into his arms and kissed him softly.

"Oh God Jack," Daniel whimpered exhausted. "I never thought...not even in my wildest dreams..." Tears began to flow down the flushed cheeks as the young scientist buried his head in Jack's shoulder.

"Hush baby, hush." Jack murmured reassuringly. "I know you didn't. Go to sleep your exhausted. I'm not going anywhere. Just rest you need to sleep." He gently brushed a finger across Daniel's exposed cheek trying to wipe away the tears that continued to fall. Gradually he felt the young scientist's shuddering stop and his breathing became more even and finally he was asleep. The Colonel lay awake for a long time just holding his Space Monkey close. He smiled slightly as he felt Daniel snuggle deeper into his arms. Then with a soft sigh he drifted off to sleep, and happy dreams for the days to come.

End