A Kiss Before Waking

by Pie

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asp/pie/kissbefo.php
Summary: Jack has moved heaven and earth to get home to Daniel.

The still silence enveloped Jack as he crept into the darkened room and softly closed the door. His brown eyes sought out the prone form of his lover on the bed and they lovingly mapped every contour and curve of the beloved body in the subdued light. Usually, Daniel would wait up for him, no matter how late he was arriving back from Washington, but tonight had brought Jack back to Colorado unexpectedly. He had moved heaven and earth to come back home as fast as possible. To be with Daniel.

Hesitating just a little, Jack approached the bed and gazed down on the cherished face of its occupant. Sometimes he would wake early and lie in bed just staring at Daniel, gloating to himself that Daniel was his and he was Daniel's. Their bed was the one place they did not have to pretend, even to themselves that they were anything but lovers. Then, when Jack had looked his fill, he would lean over and press his mouth to the slightly parted lush, firm lips and awaken Prince Charming.

Daniel purely loved to kiss; he seemed to pour his whole body and soul into the act. He might be uncoordinated and gawky on terra firma, but when his lips fused with Jack's, he became the most graceful creature on any earth and Jack was blown away. All his life, Jack had thought of kissing as something to be tolerated, the poor starter to a delicious main meal of sex. With Daniel it became an erotic art form, an electrifying amalgamation of pure sensuality and raw physicality that made Jack hungry for more.

Looking down at the familiar features of the man he had missed so much, intense memories flooded Jack's consciousness, making him smile slightly in remembrance.

"Yet could I kiss thee, O my soul, then straightaway I should be made whole." Jack had felt humbled that Daniel felt so secure in their relationship that he could openly quote words of love as he peppered tiny kisses over Jack's weathered face as they lay entwined on the couch.

Not that being kissed by Daniel saved Jack from informative lectures on the subject either!

"We are very lucky, Jack," Daniel had announced one day out of the blue, as Jack walked into the house.

"We are?" Jack had frowned in confusion. "I mean I know we are, but why exactly?"

Daniel had pushed Jack against the door and gently pressed a chaste kiss against Jack's firm, dry lips and stood back.

"The Romans...."

"Romans? It's usually the Greeks!"

"Well this time it's the Romans. They noted three kisses. That was oscula - the kiss of friendship."

"Oscula hmmm? What's next?"

Daniel leaned in and joined his open mouth to Jack's closed one, trailing his tongue wetly back and forth over sensitive lips until Jack shivered and allowed him in to share breath.

"Basia," panted Daniel. "The kiss of love."

Daniel threaded his hands into Jack's short silver hair and pulled their faces together in a clash of mouths, lips and bodies. Breathing harshly through their noses, they reamed each other's mouths out in a union that was pure sex. Taste and smell mingled in a way that was neither Jack nor Daniel, but both of them united.

Long minutes of a heaving embrace passed before they finally broke apart, their eyes still keeping the connection.

Daniel struggled to get his breathing under control. "S...s...suavia," he gasped, "the kiss of passion."

"Tell me!" wheezed Jack. "I know I'm a lucky bastard, but what has luck gotta do with kissing?"

Daniel eyes were luminous. "Because we get to use all three and some people will never experience that."

Jack started, brought back from the comfort of beautiful memories by something on his face. He reached up a shaking hand and touched his cheek. His fingers came back wet - He was crying. Make that couldn't stop. Tears dripped down from his chin and splashed down onto the motionless head on the pillow.

"Sorry, Danny," Jack sobbed brokenly as he gently wiped away the wetness from Daniel's face. Jack brought himself under control, breathed deeply and bent to kiss his lover's mouth in a whisper of benediction.
There was no reaction.

Jack pressed his lips more firmly to Daniel's and breathed into his mouth.

Dimly, Jack registered a noise behind him but made no effort to turn and discover what it was.

"Time to wake up, Daniel. You always wake up when I kiss you. Wake up!"

Jack grabbed at Daniel's shoulders and began to shake him angrily.

"C'mon, Danny-boy. You always open those baby blues. Please you must WAKE UP!"

Jack was forcefully pulled away from Daniel and held back.

"O'Neill, Danieljackson is dead. You know this."

Jack fought his way out of Teal'c's restraining arms, twisted round and punched the Jaffa with everything in him. Teal'c fell to the mortuary floor, but made no effort at retaliation.

"Fuck you! He can't be dead," Jack shouted hoarsely. "Daniel never dies. He always comes back to me."

"My brother, hear the truth of my words." Teal'c's voice was filled with sorrow. "Danieljackson died as he always lived - saving the lives of others. I myself carried his body back to the stargate. It was all I could do for him."

Jack slumped down and put his hands over his ears. "NO! I don't want to know."

Teal'c crawled over to Jack and pulled away his hands.

"O'NEILL...Jack. Do you not wish to hear that Danieljackson's last words were for you? That he spoke of love?"

"Stop. Please stop." Jack was openly crying.

"I will not! I will not permit you to blame Danieljackson for dying, nor allow you to demean his sacrifice. You must make your peace with him. You must share your grief with others who loved him also."

"It's too hard." Jack pulled himself up and forced himself to look at Daniel's lifeless form. He took an anguished, shuddering breath. "Do you know I made a rule? We couldn't do anything on base that might give us away. No meaningful conversations. No inappropriate touching. No k...k...kissing. Nothing. How fucking stupid was I?"

Teal'c did not reply. There was nothing to say. Silent tears rolled down his face.

"Now it's too late."

"Danieljackson knew he was greatly loved, O'Neill. On the day we die, that is what counts, not power or wealth, but what contribution we made to the people who love us."

Jack reached out and smoothed Daniel's hair back. "He made me a better man."

"Indeed. As he did I and countless others."

Jack pressed his lips to the cold, stiff ones beneath him, warming them only temporarily. "Teal'c, will you tell the others that I will stay and watch over him tonight?"

Teal'c nodded briefly. "I myself will stand guard outside the door, O'Neill." He clasped Jack's shoulders in wordless empathy and left.

Jack looked again at his love. "One last kiss, but not of goodbye," he murmured as he brushed his mouth against Daniel's.

Finis

Author's Note: Thanks for reading:-)