Holiday Surprises

by Sistine

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ass/sistine/holsurprises.php
Summary: Daniel receives a couple of surprises at Christmas

Daniel viewed the bicycle that was sitting in the middle of Jack's living room with some trepidation. He then looked at Jack, who was standing nearby waiting for some kind of response. "Why?"

"Well, for starters, it's Christmas, and everyone deserves to get a present," Jack explained. He was now beginning to think that although his intention was good, the idea might not have been so. "And secondly, you said that you never learnt how to ride a bike." It had been Jack's intention to give Daniel a bicycle and then help him learn how to ride it.

"When did I say that?" Casting his mind back, Daniel couldn't think of any occasion when he would have said that.

"When Fraiser mentioned that she was giving Cassie a bike for Christmas." All those who had been present, which was all of SG-1, Fraiser and Hammond, had been disturbed by Daniel's absently-spoken comment. "So I decided to get you one."

"Why?" Daniel repeated. His eyes went to the bicycle again - it was black and sleek, and the sight of it filled him with fear. He was too old to ride one now; he was only going to fall off and embarrass himself.

"Daniel, the traditional response to getting a present is 'thank you', not 'why'." Jack was beginning to get just a little frustrated.

"Thank you," Daniel said dutifully. But he still didn't understand why Jack would want to give him such a gift. "I've never really celebrated Christmas," he stated.

"So I gathered. Come on, let's take it for a test drive." Jack gripped the bike by the handlebars and guided it towards the back door. "Daniel," he said when the linguist didn't move.

"Jack, this is a bad idea," Daniel complained as he followed the older man out into the cold.

"No, it's not. Now hop on." Jack held the bicycle steady for him. "Come on."

"I'm going to fall off," Daniel pointed out, reluctantly getting on the bike but keeping his feet on the ground.

"That's all part of riding a bike. But I'll hold on, okay?" Jack placed his left hand over Daniel's, which was currently gripping the handlebar very tightly. He felt a frission of desire run through him but he didn't let it show outwardly; Daniel wasn't ready for that.

Daniel sighed and lifted one foot onto a pedal. This is a bad idea, he repeated to himself. Bracing himself, he lifted the other foot onto the pedal and felt the bicycle wobble. Immediately he put the foot down on the ground again. "I can't do this, Jack."

"Now that doesn't sound like my archaeologist," Jack said, moving his hand from the bicycle seat to hold onto Daniel's waist. "Trust me, I am not going to let you fall. It'll be fine."

Letting Jack take his weight, Daniel took his foot off the ground and placed it on the pedal. The bicycle wobbled again but Jack held him steady. Okay, he could do this. "Now what?"

"Pedal." Jack forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand rather than on the fact that Daniel was pressed up rather closely to him. He stepped forward as the younger man started to pedal, trying to keep Daniel upright. "That's it," he praised.

"I feel silly, Jack." Here he was, thirty-two years old, and he was learning how to ride a bike on Christmas morning, relying on his best friend to keep him from falling. "Why do I need to learn to ride?"

"Because." Jack wasn't going to say that he wanted to give Daniel a piece of his childhood that had been taken away when his parents died. "Stop talking and concentrate."

Concentrate, right. Daniel focused his eyes on the ground in front of him. "You're not going to let go, are you?"

"Not unless you tell me to," Jack replied.

Daniel nodded in satisfaction; he trusted Jack to keep his word. Suddenly, the front wheel twisted sideways, throwing Daniel off-balance. He fell into Jack, forcing him to the ground. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he looked up through his eyelashes at Jack, who was grinning. "I told you I was going to fall off."

"Yeah, well..." Jack had to concede that point; he couldn't formulate a response anyway after seeing that 'looking through lashes' look. He wrapped his arms around Daniel's body and held him firmly. "It was your first try."

"Jack?" Daniel tried to move from on top of Jack and found that he was being kept in place. "Let me up."

"Nope." He was quite comfortable where he was.

Daniel squirmed a little bit then froze in shock when he felt something hard pressing into his hip. He stared down at Jack, who looked innocently back at him. He wriggled a little more and decided that he hadn't been imagining things. "Uh, Jack?"

"What, Danny?"

"Are you... have you...?" He couldn't finish the question.

Rolling them both over so that he was on top, Jack gazed down at the man he had fallen in love with. "Yes." Then he lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to Daniel's.

It took a couple of seconds for Daniel's brain to register the fact that Jack was kissing him. It took a few seconds more to decide that he liked it, and then a couple more for him to start kissing back. When Jack pulled back, Daniel stared up at him. "What was that for?"

Jack smiled at him. "I love you. Just thought you should know." He waited, scared, for the linguist's response.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Enough with that question already!" He slid his fingers through Daniel's long hair.

"I'm sorry, I - I just never expected..." Daniel broke off, distracted by the fingers in his hair.

"What, that I would love you?"

"Yes." It had never crossed his mind. He could tell that Jack also desired him, the evidence very firm against his own awakening erection.

When there was nothing else forthcoming, Jack prompted, "And you...?"

"I don't know," Daniel admitted. He reached up to tentatively explore Jack's face with his fingers. "But it's possible that I might love you too." His body was responding to Jack's nearness, so there was definitely desire, but he wasn't sure about the rest of it. He loved Jack as a friend but... "Kiss me again," he ordered quietly.

Without thinking, Jack obeyed, gently rocking his body against Daniel's at the same time. He felt rather than heard the little moan of pleasure that the linguist gave at the sensation. "Should I stop?" he whispered into Daniel's ear, giving a little nip at the end of his question.

"No," Daniel decided. "But I think we ought to go inside." He wanted to do some experimenting and it was too cold outside for that.

"Good idea." Jack rolled off Daniel and then helped the young man to his feet. Then, holding Daniel's hand, he lead the archaeologist inside. Learning to ride a bicycle could wait for a while longer.