Title: Homecoming
Author: Brenda
Author Page: Brenda
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jack returns home after a visit to Washington to a little serendipity.
Category: ER; smarm; h/c.
Spoilers: None. Set during S3.
Disclaimer: Stargate Sg-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the authors. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author. 
Timed out from the zine Pretense 1.

He felt himself stiffening up as he carefully negotiated the road that wound down the mountain and swore every bruise he'd collected over the last twenty-four hours was popping up to say hello. Jack was going to be pissed. But then, maybe Jack didn't have to know. After all, the good Colonel was still in Washington tied up with those budgetary committee meetings -- and why the hell General Hammond had sent Jack O'Neill to make nice with a bunch of senators was something only General Hammond knew -- and wouldn't be home for another forty-eight hours. Plenty of time for the scrapes and bruises to mend themselves, right?

A long, hot shower, a good night's sleep, he'd be as good as new. Maybe. The way he felt right now it was going to take more than that to put the bounce back into his step. Feretti even wanted to drive him home, for crying out loud, so he must look a little rough. Although he suspected some of that was Feretti feeling guilty as hell Daniel had gotten hurt on his watch. Guilt, and a good healthy dose of fear of what Jack was going to say about 'letting him fall off a mountain' as Feretti bluntly put it. Technically, it was more like sliding down a mountain, but Jack might not be inclined to see the difference. Besides, no one let him do anything; he did it on his own with no help from anyone, thank you very much. Which was sure to impress Jack no end.

Daniel slowed his car to turn into the street to his apartment building, then made a sudden decision and kept driving. Damn, he missed Jack. Didn't think it was possible to miss someone this much. He missed him on the mission, too -- the one he volunteered for when Martinson, the archaeologist scheduled for the mission, came down with the flu. Feretti was a good man and Daniel liked him a lot, and God knows he took his job of looking after Colonel O'Neill's civilian seriously, but Daniel missed the special rapport he and Jack shared. He always knew where Jack was, and Jack, he was certain, always knew where he was as well. They could communicate with a glance or a raised eyebrow, and Jack had a sixth sense of danger that Daniel had learned to rely on. Not that the mission was supposed to be dangerous, but it had turned out to be treacherous when sudden downpours turned the steep incline they'd been climbing into a river of mud and sliding rocks. Before Feretti could get them all safely to cover, one of those rocks swiped Daniel and sent him sliding several painful yards, collecting a number of bruises and painful scrapes on the way, but luckily no broken bones. He doubted he could convince Jack how much skill it had taken to avoid serious injury.

But he missed Jack in more ways than that. It was almost pathetic how lonely he was at night, how depressed he felt waking up in the morning without Jack's warm body snuggled up to his and Jack's strong arms wrapped around him even in sleep. Insomnia had plagued him for the last several days, too, and he was annoyed with himself in admitting Jack's absence was probably the cause of that, too. Whatever happened to his days as a loner, as someone who was perfectly happy to go his own way without emotional attachments? The truth was, he hadn't been 'perfectly happy' then, he had just been used to it. But now that he'd had a taste of what it meant to be so totally cherished and so completely in-tune with another human being it felt like something very important had been wrenched away from him. Without it he felt... incomplete.

Two more days until Jack was back. He couldn't face his empty apartment tonight. If he couldn't have Jack -- and he couldn't, he reminded himself firmly, so stop thinking about it -- he could at least seek some comfort in the only other way left to him.

Pulling into Jack's driveway, he switched off the car's engine and got out, picking out Jack's key on his key ring with ease. Letting himself into the dark house, he flicked on some lights and started the coffee, then headed off for the shower.

A half hour later, freshly showered, he was sitting on Jack's sofa with a cup of hot coffee, wrapped in Jack's bathrobe, half-watching Jack's TV. He spent so much time here this place was as familiar and comfortable to him as his own. Jack's presence was almost a tangible thing, and he needed that, wanted that comfort. His body was really aching now and his head was beginning to pound. He remembered he had hardly eaten all day, but it seemed like too much effort to get up and fix anything, so he took the extra-strength Tylenol Janet had given him, flicked off the lights and went upstairs.

Tossing the bathrobe over the foot of the bed, he slipped under the cool sheets on his accustomed side and put his head down with a sigh. But after lying there for a few minutes, he slid over to Jack's side of the bed and pressed his face into the pillow there, drinking in Jack's faint scent. That was better. With a sigh that shook his whole body, he succumbed to sleep.

***

Jack navigated the dark, winding mountain road with precise, angry care. It wouldn't do to get himself killed before he got his hands on Daniel and shook some sense into him. He'd come back from Washington two days early to find people scurrying out of his way everywhere he showed his face at base. It didn't take him long to put two and two together and seek out the one person who would give him a straight answer.

Teal'c had been meditating, and from the look of him, had a long way to go before he reached the level of calmness he was striving for. It seemed he'd been giving Jaffa Combat Lessons to a group of Marines when Daniel had volunteered for an off-world mission, so he had been back at base when Daniel fell off the mountain. Teal'c was not a happy Jaffa right now because he was sure, of course, if he'd accompanied DanielJackson on the mission, the mishap would never have occurred.

And okay, maybe Feretti got to live a little longer because Teal'c had assured him that while Daniel was a little dented, Fraiser had apparently sent him away with Tylenol so how bad could it be? And if he was brutally honest with himself, he had to admit Daniel had hardly come away from missions unscathed while under his own care, and at times had come away positively dead, so his record was nothing to brag about. But that was then and this was now, and damn it, what was Daniel doing going on missions without him?

Right, it's not like he's a grown man or anything, O'Neill, he told himself caustically, and able to make his own decisions. Okay, admit the real reason behind this: it scares you to death to think that anything might happen to him out there, but if anything does happen, then damn it, you want to be there with him. Not that anything is going to happen to him when you're with him, he told himself firmly. No way in hell. And that's good enough reason for him not to be running off on missions when I'm not with him.

That settled, he turned his jeep onto Daniel's street and headed for his apartment building. Time for a little surprise -- and for a little TLC from the sounds of it. He slowed to a stop in front of the apartment building and scanned the street for Daniel's car. With a little smile, he pressed his foot down and continued on his way. Even better.

***

Letting himself into the silent house, Jack didn't bother to turn on the lights downstairs as he made his way quietly up the stairs by glow of hall light and headed for his bedroom. The door was open and he stood in the doorway for a moment, a smile tugging his lips. The light from the hallway spilled inside, letting him drink in the sight.

There was Daniel, on his side of the bed, hugging his pillow, with his bathrobe tossed across the foot of the bed. Only fitting: after all, this was his Daniel.

Continuing on to the bathroom, he took a quick shower, then returned to the bedroom, carefully slipping carefully under the sheets and easing up behind the sleeping man until he was pressed against the warm back. Suddenly all the stress and aggravation of the last week melted away as if it had never been and his world settled back on its axis. He was home. Pushing himself up on his elbow, he studied the deeply sleeping man, his eyes seeking out every bruise, every scrape, every mark that hadn't been there when they'd parted a week ago. No doubt if he lifted the covers he'd see more, but for now he gave his attention to the nasty, long bruise on Daniel's left arm from elbow to wrist, the angry red mark on his shoulder, the scratch on his neck where his uniform hadn't been able to protect him, and... leaning over, he carefully brushed aside the tousled hair over the younger man's forehead and studied the butterfly bandaid holding together the cut there. And how was Daniel planning to explain all this, he wondered.

He could no more prevent his fingers from brushing through that soft hair than he could have flapped his arms and flown home from Washington without benefit of a plane. Ahh, this never got old. As he felt the silky strands under his fingers, he still marveled that this was now allowed. He could touch and kiss and ... and why just think about it? There was a soft kiss for that livid bruise, another one for the red mark and yet another for the scratch on his neck. Daniel's shoulder twitched from the gentle contact, but he didn't open his eyes. And, of course, it was impossible for Jack to stop himself from nuzzling behind that delectable perfectly-formed ear.

The nuzzling prompted a reaction, a little happy sigh from the sleeping man, and Jack grinned, wondering how much he could get away with. He knew what he really wanted to do, but Daniel should really be awake for that, and a happy participant as well. He probably needed his sleep. Still... they could sleep in tomorrow, right? And he should probably wake him up to make sure that head injury wasn't a concussion, just in case Fraiser made a mistake... "This is for your own good, Dannyboy," he whispered, and leaned over, slipping a warm, wet tongue into the younger man's ear.

Daniel's body shivered, and he immediately rolled over, a silly smile on his face as he automatically burrowed into the newly offered warmth that was Jack. Jack chuckled softly. Years of military training meant he was an early riser and a man who woke up instantly. Daniel, on the other hand, could sleep through an earthquake, and it took him a good twenty minutes to unglue his eyes and make sense even after he was awake. Jack cherished their mornings on Earth when they could wake up side by side. When those blue eyes opened in the morning they were completely unshielded, and the love Jack saw there was for him and him alone. As was the dopey, sleepy smile that always followed, the one that told him Daniel thought that waking up with Jack by his side was a joy akin to something like discovering the Rosetta Stone for Linear A script.

He hoped Daniel saw the same thing in his eyes and in the goofy smile he undoubtedly had plastered all over his face every morning he woke up and found Daniel by his side.

Daniel's arms and legs had automatically moved to entangle with his own, his head buried in Jack's neck, and the younger man had begun a rocking motion that caused his thickening shaft to slide along Jack's own, creating a fission of pleasure streaking through him. Catching his breath sharply, he tightened his arms around the undulating man. "Having a good dream, are we, Doctor Jackson?" he murmured, beginning his own thrusting rhythm to match Daniel's.

"Hmmm, Jack..."

Daniel was nowhere near awake and Jack couldn't suppress a pleased grin. It was nice to know that it was his name Daniel called out, even in his sleep. But he really wanted Daniel to be awake for this part, so...Swooping down, he covered the sleeping man's mouth with his own and thrust his tongue into that relaxed warm mouth. That elicited a surprised 'mmphh' as Daniel pulled back and Jack found himself staring into a pair of wide blue eyes. And there was that 'look', the look he lived for.

"Jack?"

He raised an eyebrow and gravely considered the man in his arms. "Okay. You sound surprised. Now, is that surprised, in a 'Jack, you're home early' kind of way? Or surprised, as in 'oh, it's you I'm humping?"

The other man gave him a mildly reproachful look and thumped him soundly on the back. Then he seemed to reconsider and leaned in, fitting his lips to Jack's and giving him a kiss of such intensity and duration that the older man was gasping for breath when Daniel finally released him. "I'm glad you're back," he sighed. "And I’m glad you're early. I was afraid I'd slept for two days."

"Glad I’m home, hmm?" Jack tried not to sound too breathless, but he was close to seeing stars. "How about a little welcome home party, then?"

Daniel eyed him critically. "You sure you're up to it?" he asked solicitously. "You seem a little -- Ooph!" The next thing he knew he was flat on his back and Jack was studying him with a definite predatory glint in his eyes.

"Oh, I'm definitely up for it, Doctor Jackson," Jack purred.

"Call me Daniel," the younger man said ingenuously, "seeing as we're about to make mad, passionate love and all."

Jack began to drop kisses on his neck and chest. "Is that what we're going to do?" he mumbled, preoccupied with licking a nipple that immediately peaked and hardened under his tongue.

"Oh, I certainly hope so," Daniel gasped, shivering under the onslaught of Jack's tongue and busy hands. "Jesus, Jack!" He arched as Jack bit down on the nipple he'd been playing with. "And the sooner we get to it," he ground out, "the better!"

Jack abandoned the tempting nipple and pulled himself up so he was looking directly down into Daniel's wide eyes, noting with approval the smoky desire in their depths. "You're eager," he teased.

"I missed you," Daniel told him.

"Ahh. Lots of pent-up frustration," Jack said wisely, with a crooked grin.

Daniel reached up and gently stroked the side of his face with his knuckles. "I missed you," he repeated, his eyes softening.

Jack had to swallow hard before he trusted himself to speak, then he dipped his head so his lips were brushing Daniel's with the barest touch. "Oh, Christ," he whispered. "I missed you, too. So fucking much." Pressing his lips against Daniel's, they shared a tender kiss. When he pulled away, he nudged the younger man's nose with his own. "And now I'm going to show you how much."

Daniel pulled one hand out from under the pillow and dangled a tube in front of Jack's nose. "Will this help?" he asked innocently.

"Boy scout," Jack accused, accepting it with alacrity and squeezing a generous amount onto his fingers.

"Let's not forget whose pillow it was under."

Reveling in the look of sheer happiness on the other man's face and the laughter in his eyes, Jack growled, "By the time I'm through with you, Dannyboy, you won't remember your name let alone what pillow this was under."

"Promises, promi --" Daniel broke off into incoherence as a slick finger slid inside him, "Oh, that's good," he murmured, moving his body in time to Jack's thrusts. Then, a little impatiently, "Come on, Jack, just do it. I'm ready."

Jack quickly slid two fingers in, stretching him easily, "Don’t want to hurt you."

"You won't," Daniel panted. "Come on!"

But Jack inserted a third finger, refusing to be rushed, and teasing him unmercifully. Nothing turned him on like this, nothing. To see the man he loved spread out under him,squirming and panting and begging for it. Begging for him.

Daniel was bucking now, desperately needing more stimulation. Jack had just about reached his own limit. Quickly withdrawing his fingers, he positioned himself at the younger man's opening and forced himself to pause, just a moment, to look down to see the raw need Daniel's face. God, he loved this man. With one smooth stroke he was inside, Daniel crying out his name as they became one. He had wanted to go slow, make this last, but his own need was too great and besides, Daniel was having none of it. One need fed the other and Jack's thrusts became faster, deeper, stronger while Daniel hoarsely urged him on.

Daniel came first, throwing his head back, Jack's name torn from his throat. That's all it took to send Jack over the edge, too, and it was Daniel's name on his lips as the world exploded around him.

When he finally opened his eyes he found himself lying on Daniel's chest. He allowed himself the indulgence of taking a few moments to listen to the reassuring beat of Daniel's heart slowing to normal, then carefully eased out of the other man and slid down beside him. Turning on his side, he pulled Daniel around to face him and gently placed a kiss on each closed eyelid.

"Welcome home," Daniel whispered, pressing himself chest-to-chest with Jack and sliding a leg between his two, anchoring them together. Tucking his head under Jack's chin, he placed a kiss on the older man's neck. "And in case I didn't mention it... I missed you."

Smiling, Jack placed a kiss on top of the tousled head. "And you."

"Please tell me you're on stand-down tomorrow," Daniel mumbled, his voice muffled against Jack's neck.

"Forty-eight hours," he confirmed.

There was a huge sigh of satisfaction from the man in his arms as he snuggled even closer. "Good."

Jack ran his fingers down the silky skin of the younger man's back in a soothing motion. "So, Daniel, what'd you get into while I was gone?"

It was minute, but Jack felt the slight stiffening of his muscles. "Oh... little of this, little of that," Daniel replied evasively, and began his own diversionary tactic, a slow stroking of Jack's thigh.

Recognizing the maneuver for what it was, Jack grinned and said casually, "Stopped by the Mountain before I came here."

"Yeah?" There was a note of wariness in the younger man's tone.

"Gave my report to Hammond." A slight relaxation of muscles. "Talked to Teal'c." Tense again. "And Feretti."

A hot sigh gusted against Jack's throat. "Where did you bury the body?" When Jack didn't answer, Daniel raised his head and searched his face. "Jack?"

Gently brushing the hair away from the butterfly bandaid on the younger man's forehead, Jack touched it lightly. "Don't worry. I didn't kill him." When Daniel continued to stare at him, eyes wide, he sighed. "I don’t want to stop you from doing your job, Daniel."

"But you'd rather I didn't do it when you're not around to keep an eye on me," Daniel said quietly.

Running a finger gently down the side of the angled face, Jack smiled sadly. "Daniel, I've learned the hard way that my being there is no guarantee to you not getting hurt."

The younger man's eyes slid closed. "Jack, please don't --"

"But to answer your question, yes, I'd rather you didn't go on missions without me."

"I wouldn't have gone this time, but Martinson got sick and..." Daniel shrugged helplessly.

"I know. Like I said, I don't want to stop you from doing your job." He sighed, molding his hand to the side of Daniel's face. "But the fact is, I love you, and I worry about you. Sorry, but there it is."

To his surprise, a crooked grin touched the other man's lips before Daniel turned his head and placed a kiss on Jack's palm. "I love you, too, you know, and you think I don't worry about you? Of all of us, you're the one most likely to get himself hurt or killed --"

"What?!"

"Oh, come on, Jack." Daniel was frowning now, all levity gone. "You're always throwing yourself between us and any danger. And any time there's a bunch of guys with zats or big clubs, you make sure everyone knows you're the leader and you make yourself as obnoxious as possible --"

"And what the hell are you talking about?"

Daniel fixed him with a level look. "I know I'm a little slow about these things, but I get there eventually. At first I thought you were just being a smartass, trying to get under the skin of whoever happened to have us on our knees at the time, but I finally figured out it was a way of protecting us. You always make sure you keep their attention however you can so they don't turn their attention -- or their zat guns or their clubs or whatever -- on us."

"Daniel, that's my job," he protested.

The other man nodded. "I know," he said quietly. "And I accept that. But that doesn't stop me from worrying. Sorry, but there it is."

The two gazed at one another for a long moment, then Jack leaned forward and nuzzled the side of Daniel's mouth. "I thought this was supposed to be my welcome home party," he murmured.

Willingly letting the other subject drop, Daniel stretched against him, allowing his fingers to play with the tousled greying hair. "What, you didn't like my surprise party?"

Jack stopped nuzzling him long enough to give him a narrow-eyed look. "You didn't know I was coming home tonight."

"Serendipity," the younger man answered blithely. "I can live with that."

Looking down into thecontented face of the man he loved, Jack felt as if his heart might burst with happiness. Serendipity. A happy accident? It had taken a lifetime of happy accidents to bring them both to where they were now and to make Daniel a part of his life. He wouldn't have it any other way. "Yeah," he agreed, tightening his arms and settling them both down to sleep. "So can I."

The End