Fevers and Fortunes, Jack/Nathan (PG)
Aug. 4th, 2008 08:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serene_quillTitle: Fevers and Fortunes
Pairing: Jack/Nathan
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~3200
Disclaimer: Don’t own them, am building up minions in order to steal and kidnap them for my personal use!
Warnings: Discussion of bondage
Summary: For the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
marshal_science Summer 2008 Fic Exchange. Written for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sylum_river_tam who wanted Jack/Nathan, something that matches her icon, seen below. I may have taken the icon a little too literally... ;)
“I still don’t see why Fargo got his own quarantine area,” Jack grumbled, tugging at the too loose scrubs Allison had given him. “This is all his fault anyway.”
“Allison wants us to try and get along,” Nathan grumbled, not sitting up from where he had collapsed flat on his back on his gurney after being locked in over an hour ago. “Figures locking us in together will accomplish that goal. Also, because she can’t trust either of us not to kill Fargo.”
“Oh good,” Jack said snidely. “Not only am I stuck in here with you, possibly dying, now I’m supposed to bond with you too?”
“You’re not dying,” Nathan replied, exasperated. “At most you’ll develop a higher fever and keep coughing. It’s being treated.”
“You think,” Jack pointed out, scowling as he sat on his own gurney. “Besides, if it’s not so serious, then why are we stuck in here?”
“We’re contagious,” Nathan said, his voice slow and deliberate, through clenched teeth. “Now would you shut up and let me rest?”
“No,” Jack decided, grinning widely at the other man’s irritation. “I’m bored.”
“Seriously, half an hour for a nap before dinner, that’s all I want,” Nathan groaned, sitting up a little and looking over at Jack. “I haven’t slept in days, and I know you haven’t either.”
“Fine,” Jack agreed, sounding like a petulant child even to his own ears. He scowled, pulling his legs up on his cot and laying back. Nathan was right. They had been running around after the latest experiment gone haywire for three days straight, only to end up infected and quarantined instead of getting to go home to beer and his own bed. He closed his eyes focused on listening to the somewhat labored breathing from the cot next to him. The virus, which Fargo hadn’t had quite as contained as he’d first led them to believe, had settled into Nathan’s lungs harder than Jack’s. The medicine Allison and Henry cooked up fortunately had helped stop most of Nathan’s terrible coughing, which Jack would never admit had scared him.
Thinking about coughing naturally led him to a round of coughing, which had Nathan looking over at him, a frown wrinkling his forehead. “Don’t,” Jack gasped out as he regained his breath. “Don’t even think about poking and prodding at me or I swear I’ll strap you down to your cot.”
“Didn’t know you were wired that way, Sheriff,” Nathan returned with an overly amused smirk. “I’ll be sure to mention that to Dr. Curie next time I see her.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Jack replied sarcastically, though his tone came out a little too angry.
“Trouble in paradise?” Nathan inquired, though Jack was relatively certain the scientist couldn’t have cared less.
“We’re not dating anymore,” Jack scowled at Nathan. “She didn’t like coming in second place to this place and you.”
“Ahh,” Nathan actually sounded sympathetic, which Jack supposed he could understand, with Nathan being just as consumed by this place as he was. Then the sympathy faded into a smirk. “Should I make a note that you like being cuffed to the bed then?”
“Oh god, shut up,” Jack rolled onto his side, putting his back to Nathan.
“I’m just saying, since I’m apparently more important than your girlfriend,” Nathan continued mercilessly, apparently not so tired now. Jack gritted his teeth, praying for a bit of patience.
“You’re just much higher maintenance than she was,” Jack sniped back, still not looking over at Nathan. “Always blowing things up to get my attention.”
“Well, you’re easily distracted,” Nathan replied archly. “Have to clear the room of shiny things or cause a small explosion if I need your full attention.” His insult was undermined by a sudden bout of coughing, which was concerning enough for Jack to roll over and make sure the scientist was all right. His hand was inching toward the call button when Nathan turned a full glare on him, his coughing abating. “Don’t you dare,” Nathan gasped, his wheezing roughening the already dark baritone. “That not wanting to be poked and prodded thing goes two ways.”
“You okay?” Jack asked skeptically, and Nathan nodded, sinking back into his pillows, his eyes closing in exhaustion. Jack settled in as well, no longer quite so interested in pestering the other man. He was just drifting off to sleep when he heard Nathan groan.
“What?” Jack asked, not opening his eyes.
“I just remembered you finally talked Vince into doing a Chinese food night, and we’re stuck in quarantine,” Nathan said, actually sounding disappointed.
“You had to remind me,” Jack groaned. “I was looking forward to it.”
“Maybe we can talk Jo into bringing us some,” Nathan suggested. “Not that I was looking forward to it,” he added mildly. “But the best part of DC was living around the corner from a really good Chinese restaurant.”
“Huh,” Jack said, cracking an eye to look over at Nathan. “Please tell me you’re not trying to bond.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Nathan said dryly. The silence stretched for a long time, and Jack started to suspect Nathan had fallen asleep. He wasn’t far behind when rapping at the quarantine glass had him sitting up suddenly, reaching for a gun that wasn’t at his hip anymore.
Jo waved to him through the glass, holding up a large Café Diem bag. “How much do you love me right now?” she asked with a wide grin.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Jack got up, padding down to the sealed compartment that allowed objects in from the other side. Jo carefully set the food inside, sealing up her side. “Hopefully you got enough for Stark, too. He tried to drive me crazy by pointing out I was missing this.”
“Yeah, Vince told me he was looking forward to Chinese food too,” Jo said, waving to Nathan who was struggling to sit up in bed. “Extra Crab Rangoon for you, Dr. Stark.”
“Thanks,” the scientist replied. Jack took the bag of food and crossed the room rapidly, helping the other man sit up and tilting his bed helpfully. “What did I say about poking?” Nathan scowled.
“That it would result in me strapping you to the bed?” Jack replied, grinning cheerfully as he deliberately mixed up the earlier suggestion. “Thanks, Jo,” he told his deputy, who had a wicked smirk on her face.
“No prob, chief,” she replied. “I’m gonna get back before Zoë eats all the food I picked up for us. Have a good night.”
“Night,” Jack sighed, watching his last link to sanity leave, then turned back to Nathan, sliding up to sit on the other man’s gurney, facing him and opening the bag of food to spread the cartons between them.
“This just made the day bearable,” Nathan remarked as he accepted a fork from Jack and dug into a bite of sweet and sour shrimp.
“Agreed,” Jack replied, biting into an egg roll. “God, I don’t think I’ve ever had Chinese food this good,” he observed.
“It’s Vince,” Nathan remarked. He reached into Jack’s space, stealing the carton of fried rice.
Allison arrived half an hour later to find the pair squabbling over the last egg roll. “How did you-?” she started to ask, glaring at the pair. “Which one of them snuck you food you’re not supposed to have?”
“Fargo,” Nathan said, smirking at Jack.
“He’s in quarantine,” Allison folded her arms, exasperated. She turned her gaze on Jack, who swallowed a bite of lo mein, then gave Allison his best innocent look.
“It was Fargo,” he repeated. Allison sighed, her shoulders slumping a little.
“I changed my mind, I don’t want the two of you getting along anymore,” she replied. “If I see Deputy Lupo, I will give her an earful.”
“Wasn’t her,” Jack said lightly. He managed to keep his grin repressed until Allison looked doubtful, then turned back, almost loosing it when he saw Nathan’s green eyes brimming with laughter. The color was back in the scientist’s face, and he looked better than he had in a while.
“It was Taggart, actually,” Nathan admitted, managing to sound appropriately chastised.
“Really?” Allison looked surprised, but nodded. “Well, you’re both looking a little better. I’ll send someone up to get labs in an hour or so.”
Jack started to say something, but noticed that the last egg roll had just migrated over to Nathan’s plate. “Hey!” he protested, reaching over and stabbing at it with his fork. Allison rolled her eyes and slipped out, unnoticed.
“Stop it,” Nathan clanked his fork at Jack’s, trying to chase him off. “You had two already!”
“So did you,” Jack replied, before bringing his fork down and splitting the egg roll in half. “There,” he grumped, reaching over to pick up half. Nathan mischievously poked at his hand with the fork.
“Watch it,” Jack grumbled around a mouthful of egg roll.
“What are you going to do about it?” Nathan challenged him, and Jack fought a grin.
“Here,” Jack tossed one of the fortune cookies at Nathan. “Find something other than me to use to amuse yourself.”
“That sounded… dirty,” Nathan’s smile was wicked enough to make Jack swallow hard, cracking open his own fortune cookie quickly. He read the fortune, shrugging. Nathan made a beckoning motion, so he handed the fortune over, chewing on the cookie.
“You will take a chance on something in the near future,” Nathan read. “Boring.”
“Yeah, can’t even get much exciting out of that by adding ‘in bed’,” Jack griped. Nathan gave him a blank look. “You know, the game where you add the words in bed to the end of a fortune and you’re supposed to get something dirty?”
“That sounds like playing Clue. Miss Scarlet in bed with the rope?” Nathan suggested impishly.
“You really are stuck on this bondage theme, aren’t you?” Jack replied, surprising himself with the bold comment as he tucked the containers of leftover Chinese back into the Café Diem bag and cleared off the bed. “Careful, or I’ll start thinking you really are interested in my handcuffs.”
“Not a day goes by where I don’t imagine leaving you cuffed somewhere I’m not,” Nathan snarked back, cracking open the fortune cookie Jack had tossed at him. Jack watched as Nathan read, his forehead wrinkling and then his cheeks suddenly reddening in an interesting way.
“What does your fortune say?” Jack asked, suddenly intrigued. Nathan pulled his hands back, fortune moving away from Jack. Jack waited, then made a grab for it, catching hold and managing to snag the slip of paper from between the scientist’s fingers, largely because Nathan’s exhaustion seemed to be catching up to him.
“Give a kiss to the person who sits next to you,” Jack read, a little puzzled. It didn’t sound like any fortune that he’d ever read. His mind suddenly caught up to the fact that he was sitting next to Nathan, the only person in the same room as the man actually. “Ah. Vince and some of the others having a good laugh at us.”
“Right,” Nathan agreed, sighing. “Remind me to kill Fargo and frame Allison, so she has something to keep her busy other than my welfare for a while.”
“Seems a little extreme, when you’re not even sure it was her doing,” Jack remarked, standing and pressing the fortune back into Nathan’s palm. “Then again, I’ve never been one to push my luck and ignore perfectly good fortunes.” He leaned down, intending to kiss Nathan quickly, teasing him. When Nathan’s hand rose and cupped his face, his lips parting almost instantly under Jack’s, the temptation was too much for Jack. He sank into the kiss, letting Nathan’s beard scratch over his chin, as he sat down again, leaning into Nathan’s embrace. He pulled back, his breathing rapid and painful from the virus still attacking his lungs. Nathan took an equally ragged, deep breath, looking stunned.
“What did you do that for?” Nathan complained once he’d caught his breath. “I was perfectly happy just arguing and flirting, Carter.”
“Sorry,” Jack replied automatically, completely baffled. “I didn’t mean…” he trailed off, suddenly loosing his confidence. “You know what, chalk it up to exhaustion, Stark. It didn’t mean anything other than me trying to freak you out.”
“Carter,” Nathan started to protest, but Jack had already scrambled off the other man’s bed and back over to his own.
“Just forget it,” Jack demanded again, curling up on his side, facing away from Nathan.
“Jack.” The sheriff ignored Nathan’s soft voice, squeezing his eyes shut and starting to mentally berate himself. Any attraction he’d felt for the handsome scientist had always been carefully suppressed under a nice layer of denial, but that seemed to be one cat out of the bag he couldn’t put back now.
“Jack,” Nathan tried once more, and Jack sighed, rolling over to look at Nathan. The scientist examined him for a long moment, his eyes drooping sleepily. “Never mind,” Nathan decided finally, mimicking Jack’s earlier action and turning his back to Jack. Jack waited, listening as Nathan’s breathing evened out and slowed, indicating the other man had finally succumbed to sleep. He stared at the ceiling, trying to convince himself that he’d meant it when he said that the kiss had meant nothing.
*-*
He still felt achy the next day when Allison released him to go home. While she reassured him it was just his body recovering from the damage the virus had done, Jack decided against taking chances and had Zoë stay at Jo’s, leaving only S.A.R.A.H. to mother him.
“Perhaps you should go up to your bedroom,” the A.I. observed helpfully. “My scans indicate you have nearly fallen asleep four times during the third quarter, Sheriff.”
“If I go to bed, I’ll fall asleep,” Jack replied, aware in some corner of his mind that the smart house wasn’t going to keep up with that little crinkle of logic.
“Given the course your illness has run, perhaps a nap is not an ill advised decision?” S.A.R.A.H. pressed, and Jack decided to ignore her, turning back to see the start of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame up by three touchdowns and a field goal, making his determination to stay awake seem even more ridiculous.
“Dr. Stark is at the door,” S.A.R.A.H. announced, swinging open the door without waiting for his permission, which Jack wasn’t sure he would have given, to reveal the scientist, looking about as haggard as Jack felt.
“Should you be up?” Jack asked, tossing back the quilt over his legs and sitting up.
“No,” Nathan admitted, sinking into the recliner as soon as he reached it. “But I figured if I give you any longer to panic, I’m never going to get you to hold still long enough to have this conversation without taking you up on some of those bondage offers.”
Jack stared at him for a moment. “Fine, I don’t have enough energy to try and kick you out anyway,” he agreed.
“It meant nothing?” Nathan cut straight to the point, steepleing his fingers and looking down his fingertips at Jack.
“It…” Jack struggled for a moment to find the words. “I really just meant to joke around, freak you out a little.”
“But you took it further,” Nathan observed patiently.
“You let me,” Jack shot back, giving him a pointed look.
“Because it didn’t mean nothing to me,” Nathan’s voice remained calm and even. “I know, I said I was happy just flirting and arguing. Defense mechanism.” He shrugged. “I was thinking maybe you didn’t mean it either.”
“I…” Jack stopped, blinking. “Wait, you want more?” Nathan remained looking impassively at him, obviously not yet willing to put himself quite that far out on the line yet. “What are we talking about here, Nathan? Because honestly, I’m not following you.”
“Do you want me?” Nathan asked bluntly, giving Jack a wary look. “I’m asking if you want to be with me.”
Jack swallowed hard, not liking suddenly having the question pressed on him. “Yes,” he admitted finally, closing his eyes to avoid seeing Nathan’s reaction, irrationally certain he was about to be politely but firmly shut down with all the reasons they wouldn’t work together.
“Me too,” Nathan said, and Jack’s eyes flew open, shocked.
“Perhaps a nap sounds like a good idea now?” S.A.R.A.H. interjected hopefully. Jack gave Nathan a pained look.
“Uh, S.A.R.A.H., we’re going to need to sort this one out without your input,” Jack replied.
“I was referring to the fact that Dr. Blake left strict instructions about making you rest and the fact that Dr. Stark’s vitals reflect an even stronger need for rest than you own, Sheriff,” the AI sounded like she was pouting.
“All right, S.A.R.A.H.,” Nathan agreed, slowly rising and offering Jack his hand. “Neither of us is up for anything more, Carter, so I really am just offering to sleep with you.”
“I could use the company,” Jack agreed, accepting the hand in his slowly. “I wake up cuffed to anything, you live to regret it,” he added, earning himself a quick grin from Nathan.
“Trust me, I’ll want the pleasure of wrestling you down once I can breathe without coughing,” Nathan said, following Jack closely up the stairs. He tugged Jack to a stop next to the bed, giving him a long look. “I want to try the fortune part again.”
“Okay,” Jack agreed easily. He leaned up slightly, surprised when the kiss hit his system white hot, Nathan fiercely possessing him as his tongue tangled with Jack’s. Nathan’s hands had found their way under his t-shirt, rough calluses creating goose bumps over his skin. They broke apart, both short on breath, and Jack was relieved to see Nathan’s eyes wide with surprise, mirroring his own.
“Not quite what I expected,” Nathan admitted, his lips twitching. Jack shrugged, wanting the upper hand, so he stripped off his t-shirt, hiding a grin at the way Nathan’s eyes hungrily slid down his body.
“Your turn,” Jack reminded the other man teasingly, reaching over to tug at Nathan’s sweatshirt. Nathan hurriedly pulled it off, revealing long lines that made Jack’s mouth go dry, calling his bluff.
“Not so demanding now,” Nathan observed, hooking his fingers through the belt loops on Jack’s jeans. “These have to come off too, so we can go to bed,” he added, sounding more casual than his gaze suggested.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Jack asked, his voice husky as he slid into Nathan’s embrace, letting his fingers trail over Nathan’s ribs as they slid down to unbutton Nathan’s jeans.
“No,” Nathan replied, sounding amused. “We’ll probably want to kill each other inside a week.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “I meant sharing a bed when we’re supposed to be taking it easy,” he said, purposefully sliding closer to Nathan. “I know we’re going to fight and be explosive. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Ahh,” Nathan agreed, reaching between them and unbuttoning Jack’s jeans and sliding them down his hips. “I’m too exhausted to deal with your virtue right now, Carter,” he teased the other man. He stripped his own jeans off, and Jack stepped back, pulling the blankets back and slipping into bed. Nathan tugged the covers over them as he climbed in next to the sheriff, both men sliding and shifting arms and legs to find a comfortable tangle the ended with Nathan’s head tucked into Jack’s shoulder, cocooned tightly.
“This just made the day bearable,” Jack repeated the words Nathan had used the day before, shuddering a little when Nathan kissed the side of his neck gently.
“No, this just made the week perfect,” Nathan replied, shifting enough to bring his lips up to Jack’s for an all too brief kiss. “But I’ll remind you that you said it when we have to tell Zoë.”
“She’ll be fine,” Jack said dismissively, smothering a yawn. He drifted off, knowing he should question this, but too content in Nathan’s embrace to try.
Pairing: Jack/Nathan
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~3200
Disclaimer: Don’t own them, am building up minions in order to steal and kidnap them for my personal use!
Warnings: Discussion of bondage
Summary: For the
marshal_science Summer 2008 Fic Exchange. Written for sylum_river_tam who wanted Jack/Nathan, something that matches her icon, seen below. I may have taken the icon a little too literally... ;)“I still don’t see why Fargo got his own quarantine area,” Jack grumbled, tugging at the too loose scrubs Allison had given him. “This is all his fault anyway.”
“Allison wants us to try and get along,” Nathan grumbled, not sitting up from where he had collapsed flat on his back on his gurney after being locked in over an hour ago. “Figures locking us in together will accomplish that goal. Also, because she can’t trust either of us not to kill Fargo.”
“Oh good,” Jack said snidely. “Not only am I stuck in here with you, possibly dying, now I’m supposed to bond with you too?”
“You’re not dying,” Nathan replied, exasperated. “At most you’ll develop a higher fever and keep coughing. It’s being treated.”
“You think,” Jack pointed out, scowling as he sat on his own gurney. “Besides, if it’s not so serious, then why are we stuck in here?”
“We’re contagious,” Nathan said, his voice slow and deliberate, through clenched teeth. “Now would you shut up and let me rest?”
“No,” Jack decided, grinning widely at the other man’s irritation. “I’m bored.”
“Seriously, half an hour for a nap before dinner, that’s all I want,” Nathan groaned, sitting up a little and looking over at Jack. “I haven’t slept in days, and I know you haven’t either.”
“Fine,” Jack agreed, sounding like a petulant child even to his own ears. He scowled, pulling his legs up on his cot and laying back. Nathan was right. They had been running around after the latest experiment gone haywire for three days straight, only to end up infected and quarantined instead of getting to go home to beer and his own bed. He closed his eyes focused on listening to the somewhat labored breathing from the cot next to him. The virus, which Fargo hadn’t had quite as contained as he’d first led them to believe, had settled into Nathan’s lungs harder than Jack’s. The medicine Allison and Henry cooked up fortunately had helped stop most of Nathan’s terrible coughing, which Jack would never admit had scared him.
Thinking about coughing naturally led him to a round of coughing, which had Nathan looking over at him, a frown wrinkling his forehead. “Don’t,” Jack gasped out as he regained his breath. “Don’t even think about poking and prodding at me or I swear I’ll strap you down to your cot.”
“Didn’t know you were wired that way, Sheriff,” Nathan returned with an overly amused smirk. “I’ll be sure to mention that to Dr. Curie next time I see her.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Jack replied sarcastically, though his tone came out a little too angry.
“Trouble in paradise?” Nathan inquired, though Jack was relatively certain the scientist couldn’t have cared less.
“We’re not dating anymore,” Jack scowled at Nathan. “She didn’t like coming in second place to this place and you.”
“Ahh,” Nathan actually sounded sympathetic, which Jack supposed he could understand, with Nathan being just as consumed by this place as he was. Then the sympathy faded into a smirk. “Should I make a note that you like being cuffed to the bed then?”
“Oh god, shut up,” Jack rolled onto his side, putting his back to Nathan.
“I’m just saying, since I’m apparently more important than your girlfriend,” Nathan continued mercilessly, apparently not so tired now. Jack gritted his teeth, praying for a bit of patience.
“You’re just much higher maintenance than she was,” Jack sniped back, still not looking over at Nathan. “Always blowing things up to get my attention.”
“Well, you’re easily distracted,” Nathan replied archly. “Have to clear the room of shiny things or cause a small explosion if I need your full attention.” His insult was undermined by a sudden bout of coughing, which was concerning enough for Jack to roll over and make sure the scientist was all right. His hand was inching toward the call button when Nathan turned a full glare on him, his coughing abating. “Don’t you dare,” Nathan gasped, his wheezing roughening the already dark baritone. “That not wanting to be poked and prodded thing goes two ways.”
“You okay?” Jack asked skeptically, and Nathan nodded, sinking back into his pillows, his eyes closing in exhaustion. Jack settled in as well, no longer quite so interested in pestering the other man. He was just drifting off to sleep when he heard Nathan groan.
“What?” Jack asked, not opening his eyes.
“I just remembered you finally talked Vince into doing a Chinese food night, and we’re stuck in quarantine,” Nathan said, actually sounding disappointed.
“You had to remind me,” Jack groaned. “I was looking forward to it.”
“Maybe we can talk Jo into bringing us some,” Nathan suggested. “Not that I was looking forward to it,” he added mildly. “But the best part of DC was living around the corner from a really good Chinese restaurant.”
“Huh,” Jack said, cracking an eye to look over at Nathan. “Please tell me you’re not trying to bond.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Nathan said dryly. The silence stretched for a long time, and Jack started to suspect Nathan had fallen asleep. He wasn’t far behind when rapping at the quarantine glass had him sitting up suddenly, reaching for a gun that wasn’t at his hip anymore.
Jo waved to him through the glass, holding up a large Café Diem bag. “How much do you love me right now?” she asked with a wide grin.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Jack got up, padding down to the sealed compartment that allowed objects in from the other side. Jo carefully set the food inside, sealing up her side. “Hopefully you got enough for Stark, too. He tried to drive me crazy by pointing out I was missing this.”
“Yeah, Vince told me he was looking forward to Chinese food too,” Jo said, waving to Nathan who was struggling to sit up in bed. “Extra Crab Rangoon for you, Dr. Stark.”
“Thanks,” the scientist replied. Jack took the bag of food and crossed the room rapidly, helping the other man sit up and tilting his bed helpfully. “What did I say about poking?” Nathan scowled.
“That it would result in me strapping you to the bed?” Jack replied, grinning cheerfully as he deliberately mixed up the earlier suggestion. “Thanks, Jo,” he told his deputy, who had a wicked smirk on her face.
“No prob, chief,” she replied. “I’m gonna get back before Zoë eats all the food I picked up for us. Have a good night.”
“Night,” Jack sighed, watching his last link to sanity leave, then turned back to Nathan, sliding up to sit on the other man’s gurney, facing him and opening the bag of food to spread the cartons between them.
“This just made the day bearable,” Nathan remarked as he accepted a fork from Jack and dug into a bite of sweet and sour shrimp.
“Agreed,” Jack replied, biting into an egg roll. “God, I don’t think I’ve ever had Chinese food this good,” he observed.
“It’s Vince,” Nathan remarked. He reached into Jack’s space, stealing the carton of fried rice.
Allison arrived half an hour later to find the pair squabbling over the last egg roll. “How did you-?” she started to ask, glaring at the pair. “Which one of them snuck you food you’re not supposed to have?”
“Fargo,” Nathan said, smirking at Jack.
“He’s in quarantine,” Allison folded her arms, exasperated. She turned her gaze on Jack, who swallowed a bite of lo mein, then gave Allison his best innocent look.
“It was Fargo,” he repeated. Allison sighed, her shoulders slumping a little.
“I changed my mind, I don’t want the two of you getting along anymore,” she replied. “If I see Deputy Lupo, I will give her an earful.”
“Wasn’t her,” Jack said lightly. He managed to keep his grin repressed until Allison looked doubtful, then turned back, almost loosing it when he saw Nathan’s green eyes brimming with laughter. The color was back in the scientist’s face, and he looked better than he had in a while.
“It was Taggart, actually,” Nathan admitted, managing to sound appropriately chastised.
“Really?” Allison looked surprised, but nodded. “Well, you’re both looking a little better. I’ll send someone up to get labs in an hour or so.”
Jack started to say something, but noticed that the last egg roll had just migrated over to Nathan’s plate. “Hey!” he protested, reaching over and stabbing at it with his fork. Allison rolled her eyes and slipped out, unnoticed.
“Stop it,” Nathan clanked his fork at Jack’s, trying to chase him off. “You had two already!”
“So did you,” Jack replied, before bringing his fork down and splitting the egg roll in half. “There,” he grumped, reaching over to pick up half. Nathan mischievously poked at his hand with the fork.
“Watch it,” Jack grumbled around a mouthful of egg roll.
“What are you going to do about it?” Nathan challenged him, and Jack fought a grin.
“Here,” Jack tossed one of the fortune cookies at Nathan. “Find something other than me to use to amuse yourself.”
“That sounded… dirty,” Nathan’s smile was wicked enough to make Jack swallow hard, cracking open his own fortune cookie quickly. He read the fortune, shrugging. Nathan made a beckoning motion, so he handed the fortune over, chewing on the cookie.
“You will take a chance on something in the near future,” Nathan read. “Boring.”
“Yeah, can’t even get much exciting out of that by adding ‘in bed’,” Jack griped. Nathan gave him a blank look. “You know, the game where you add the words in bed to the end of a fortune and you’re supposed to get something dirty?”
“That sounds like playing Clue. Miss Scarlet in bed with the rope?” Nathan suggested impishly.
“You really are stuck on this bondage theme, aren’t you?” Jack replied, surprising himself with the bold comment as he tucked the containers of leftover Chinese back into the Café Diem bag and cleared off the bed. “Careful, or I’ll start thinking you really are interested in my handcuffs.”
“Not a day goes by where I don’t imagine leaving you cuffed somewhere I’m not,” Nathan snarked back, cracking open the fortune cookie Jack had tossed at him. Jack watched as Nathan read, his forehead wrinkling and then his cheeks suddenly reddening in an interesting way.
“What does your fortune say?” Jack asked, suddenly intrigued. Nathan pulled his hands back, fortune moving away from Jack. Jack waited, then made a grab for it, catching hold and managing to snag the slip of paper from between the scientist’s fingers, largely because Nathan’s exhaustion seemed to be catching up to him.
“Give a kiss to the person who sits next to you,” Jack read, a little puzzled. It didn’t sound like any fortune that he’d ever read. His mind suddenly caught up to the fact that he was sitting next to Nathan, the only person in the same room as the man actually. “Ah. Vince and some of the others having a good laugh at us.”
“Right,” Nathan agreed, sighing. “Remind me to kill Fargo and frame Allison, so she has something to keep her busy other than my welfare for a while.”
“Seems a little extreme, when you’re not even sure it was her doing,” Jack remarked, standing and pressing the fortune back into Nathan’s palm. “Then again, I’ve never been one to push my luck and ignore perfectly good fortunes.” He leaned down, intending to kiss Nathan quickly, teasing him. When Nathan’s hand rose and cupped his face, his lips parting almost instantly under Jack’s, the temptation was too much for Jack. He sank into the kiss, letting Nathan’s beard scratch over his chin, as he sat down again, leaning into Nathan’s embrace. He pulled back, his breathing rapid and painful from the virus still attacking his lungs. Nathan took an equally ragged, deep breath, looking stunned.
“What did you do that for?” Nathan complained once he’d caught his breath. “I was perfectly happy just arguing and flirting, Carter.”
“Sorry,” Jack replied automatically, completely baffled. “I didn’t mean…” he trailed off, suddenly loosing his confidence. “You know what, chalk it up to exhaustion, Stark. It didn’t mean anything other than me trying to freak you out.”
“Carter,” Nathan started to protest, but Jack had already scrambled off the other man’s bed and back over to his own.
“Just forget it,” Jack demanded again, curling up on his side, facing away from Nathan.
“Jack.” The sheriff ignored Nathan’s soft voice, squeezing his eyes shut and starting to mentally berate himself. Any attraction he’d felt for the handsome scientist had always been carefully suppressed under a nice layer of denial, but that seemed to be one cat out of the bag he couldn’t put back now.
“Jack,” Nathan tried once more, and Jack sighed, rolling over to look at Nathan. The scientist examined him for a long moment, his eyes drooping sleepily. “Never mind,” Nathan decided finally, mimicking Jack’s earlier action and turning his back to Jack. Jack waited, listening as Nathan’s breathing evened out and slowed, indicating the other man had finally succumbed to sleep. He stared at the ceiling, trying to convince himself that he’d meant it when he said that the kiss had meant nothing.
*-*
He still felt achy the next day when Allison released him to go home. While she reassured him it was just his body recovering from the damage the virus had done, Jack decided against taking chances and had Zoë stay at Jo’s, leaving only S.A.R.A.H. to mother him.
“Perhaps you should go up to your bedroom,” the A.I. observed helpfully. “My scans indicate you have nearly fallen asleep four times during the third quarter, Sheriff.”
“If I go to bed, I’ll fall asleep,” Jack replied, aware in some corner of his mind that the smart house wasn’t going to keep up with that little crinkle of logic.
“Given the course your illness has run, perhaps a nap is not an ill advised decision?” S.A.R.A.H. pressed, and Jack decided to ignore her, turning back to see the start of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame up by three touchdowns and a field goal, making his determination to stay awake seem even more ridiculous.
“Dr. Stark is at the door,” S.A.R.A.H. announced, swinging open the door without waiting for his permission, which Jack wasn’t sure he would have given, to reveal the scientist, looking about as haggard as Jack felt.
“Should you be up?” Jack asked, tossing back the quilt over his legs and sitting up.
“No,” Nathan admitted, sinking into the recliner as soon as he reached it. “But I figured if I give you any longer to panic, I’m never going to get you to hold still long enough to have this conversation without taking you up on some of those bondage offers.”
Jack stared at him for a moment. “Fine, I don’t have enough energy to try and kick you out anyway,” he agreed.
“It meant nothing?” Nathan cut straight to the point, steepleing his fingers and looking down his fingertips at Jack.
“It…” Jack struggled for a moment to find the words. “I really just meant to joke around, freak you out a little.”
“But you took it further,” Nathan observed patiently.
“You let me,” Jack shot back, giving him a pointed look.
“Because it didn’t mean nothing to me,” Nathan’s voice remained calm and even. “I know, I said I was happy just flirting and arguing. Defense mechanism.” He shrugged. “I was thinking maybe you didn’t mean it either.”
“I…” Jack stopped, blinking. “Wait, you want more?” Nathan remained looking impassively at him, obviously not yet willing to put himself quite that far out on the line yet. “What are we talking about here, Nathan? Because honestly, I’m not following you.”
“Do you want me?” Nathan asked bluntly, giving Jack a wary look. “I’m asking if you want to be with me.”
Jack swallowed hard, not liking suddenly having the question pressed on him. “Yes,” he admitted finally, closing his eyes to avoid seeing Nathan’s reaction, irrationally certain he was about to be politely but firmly shut down with all the reasons they wouldn’t work together.
“Me too,” Nathan said, and Jack’s eyes flew open, shocked.
“Perhaps a nap sounds like a good idea now?” S.A.R.A.H. interjected hopefully. Jack gave Nathan a pained look.
“Uh, S.A.R.A.H., we’re going to need to sort this one out without your input,” Jack replied.
“I was referring to the fact that Dr. Blake left strict instructions about making you rest and the fact that Dr. Stark’s vitals reflect an even stronger need for rest than you own, Sheriff,” the AI sounded like she was pouting.
“All right, S.A.R.A.H.,” Nathan agreed, slowly rising and offering Jack his hand. “Neither of us is up for anything more, Carter, so I really am just offering to sleep with you.”
“I could use the company,” Jack agreed, accepting the hand in his slowly. “I wake up cuffed to anything, you live to regret it,” he added, earning himself a quick grin from Nathan.
“Trust me, I’ll want the pleasure of wrestling you down once I can breathe without coughing,” Nathan said, following Jack closely up the stairs. He tugged Jack to a stop next to the bed, giving him a long look. “I want to try the fortune part again.”
“Okay,” Jack agreed easily. He leaned up slightly, surprised when the kiss hit his system white hot, Nathan fiercely possessing him as his tongue tangled with Jack’s. Nathan’s hands had found their way under his t-shirt, rough calluses creating goose bumps over his skin. They broke apart, both short on breath, and Jack was relieved to see Nathan’s eyes wide with surprise, mirroring his own.
“Not quite what I expected,” Nathan admitted, his lips twitching. Jack shrugged, wanting the upper hand, so he stripped off his t-shirt, hiding a grin at the way Nathan’s eyes hungrily slid down his body.
“Your turn,” Jack reminded the other man teasingly, reaching over to tug at Nathan’s sweatshirt. Nathan hurriedly pulled it off, revealing long lines that made Jack’s mouth go dry, calling his bluff.
“Not so demanding now,” Nathan observed, hooking his fingers through the belt loops on Jack’s jeans. “These have to come off too, so we can go to bed,” he added, sounding more casual than his gaze suggested.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Jack asked, his voice husky as he slid into Nathan’s embrace, letting his fingers trail over Nathan’s ribs as they slid down to unbutton Nathan’s jeans.
“No,” Nathan replied, sounding amused. “We’ll probably want to kill each other inside a week.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “I meant sharing a bed when we’re supposed to be taking it easy,” he said, purposefully sliding closer to Nathan. “I know we’re going to fight and be explosive. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Ahh,” Nathan agreed, reaching between them and unbuttoning Jack’s jeans and sliding them down his hips. “I’m too exhausted to deal with your virtue right now, Carter,” he teased the other man. He stripped his own jeans off, and Jack stepped back, pulling the blankets back and slipping into bed. Nathan tugged the covers over them as he climbed in next to the sheriff, both men sliding and shifting arms and legs to find a comfortable tangle the ended with Nathan’s head tucked into Jack’s shoulder, cocooned tightly.
“This just made the day bearable,” Jack repeated the words Nathan had used the day before, shuddering a little when Nathan kissed the side of his neck gently.
“No, this just made the week perfect,” Nathan replied, shifting enough to bring his lips up to Jack’s for an all too brief kiss. “But I’ll remind you that you said it when we have to tell Zoë.”
“She’ll be fine,” Jack said dismissively, smothering a yawn. He drifted off, knowing he should question this, but too content in Nathan’s embrace to try.
