Snapshots 5

Interlude

by Sistine

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ass/sistine/snapshots05.php
Summary: Jack and Daniel talk in bed after a bad day

Jack spooned up behind Daniel, still joined after their lovemaking. One arm protectively curled around the linguist's chest and shoulders, while the other caressed the smooth stomach. Aftershocks of pleasure ghosted through them both as they came down from their high. When he had recovered enough to speak, Jack kissed one smooth shoulder and asked, "Better?"

Daniel brought his left hand up to rest over the one that was stroking his shoulder, and rested his right arm over Jack's. He was feeling good right now - sex with Jack always had that effect - so he didn't want to talk about what had happened. "Jack," he said in warning.

"Sorry." Jack placed a kiss on the side of Daniel's long neck. He didn't want to talk about it any more than Daniel did but he knew they should. Given the speed with which the linguist had led him into the bedroom when they had arrived home, Jack knew that something was really bothering his partner, and unfortunately he knew exactly what it was.

He rubbed the young man's stomach lightly, feeling the hard muscles under the soft skin. Daniel was more physically tough than he had been a year ago, not to mention the mental toughness that had built up also. Sometimes Jack missed that softness but couldn't disagree that Daniel's physique was very sexy, and just a glimpse of bare skin was enough to turn him on. The desire he felt was still going strong, and the love he had for the civilian was even stronger. He was so lucky to have Daniel in his life, in his heart, and in his arms.

Daniel loved being held like this by Jack. He could feel Jack all around him - along the length of his back; the leg that still pressed into his bended one; the arms around his chest - as well as inside him. Although he would never admit to anyone, he loved the sensation of Jack softening inside him, of being connected so intimately. It was especially good to be held like that after a bad mission because it reaffirmed that they were both still alive. He was thankful every day that they were able to be together like this, even if they couldn't let anyone know about their relationship, and that Jack had been brave enough to make the leap from friends to lovers this time last year. If he hadn't, Daniel doubted that they would ever have become lovers, and he would be dead from frustration right about now.

He slipped the fingers of his right hand through Jack's as the callused fingers continued to caress his stomach. He couldn't believe how good the older man always made him feel, not to mention how protected and safe. And being here like this, they were just two men who loved each other rather than members of a team who went on dangerous missions every week. The world went away for a little while so that they could enjoy just being with each other.

Jack waited for another minute before saying, "It wasn't our fault."

"No," Daniel agreed. "They were dead either way." His mind flashed to Travell as she told them what she had done to save Tollana from destruction. "At least the citizens had that extra time rather than being slaughtered straight away. And Sam got to say goodbye to Narim." They were about the only positives in the situation.

"They should've worked on a way to blow that mothership from the sky," Jack countered. He felt Daniel tense, and softened his tone. "Then they would've been able to protect themselves again."

"We don't know that they weren't," Daniel pointed out. "And if they had said 'no' originally..."

"I know." It still didn't stop him from thinking the Curia had made the wrong choice. "They were still aiding a Goa'uld. They could've just strung him along, evacuated everyone, and then let him destroy an empty planet."

"The Tollan don't... didn't... think that way," Daniel defended them. For all their advanced technology, the Tollans hadn't had a lot of practise in dealing with the Goa'uld.

"Obviously." Jack shifted his right arm so that it was lying across Daniel's ribcage, and he hugged his lover closer to him. He had just known that the Tollans' arrogance was going to be their downfall.

Daniel inhaled softly as the movement caused Jack to shift inside him, pulling at tender muscles. He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation, then continued the conversation. "Given the choice, what would you have done, Jack? Saved your own planet or many other nameless ones? Who would you condemn to die?" It was not an easy choice, and Daniel could only imagine what Narim and Travell had gone through in making that choice.

Jack was silent; he couldn't answer that. "Why do you always ask the hard questions?" he complained gently, resting his head against Daniel's.

A smile graced the linguist's lips as the question signalled Jack's surrender. "You love me anyway," he replied.

"That I do." Jack closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of his lover, a unique essence that never failed to both excite and comfort him. "Never going to stop."

"Glad to hear it." Daniel opened his eyes, turned his head, and kissed Jack's cheek. "Now can we go to sleep?"

Jack chuckled and returned the kiss. "If you insist." He shifted slightly so that his head was on the pillow and closed his eyes. He might not sleep well but at least he would sleep better than he would if Daniel wasn't there. The rest of the talking could till the morning.