At his nod, the Airman placed his bags on the porch.   As the man slid back behind the wheel and started the engine of the staff car, Daniel just stood, staring up at the door.   Dim, rather unsteady light shone gently from the facing windows, barely stronger than the twilit sky.   Most of the house was dark.

Maybe this was a mistake.   He should grab the bags and go to his own place.

“Sir?   Doctor Jackson?”

Convulsively, the fingers of his left hand tightened, crumpling the envelope he clutched, and the note carefully protected within.  

He squared his shoulders, turned and smiled at the driver.   “Thank you, Airman.   I’m fine.   You can go.”

The other man tapped his forehead in a vague gesture of a salute, closed the windows and pulled away from the curb.

All right.   Bridges burned.   He drew a deep breath and hitched the strap of his laptop higher on his right shoulder.   His hands gently smoothed the creases he’d pressed into the envelope and the treasured message it guarded.

Slowly, he traversed the few feet to the steps.   It seemed to take a long time.

God, they’d parted so badly.   And he’d waited so many interminable days before the vagaries of international mail service had delivered the precious note.   Oh, Jack.   Please don’t have changed your mind…

As his dragging feet sounded hollow impacts on the surface of the porch, the door slowly opened.   He felt the tension seep out of his face and body as he absorbed the welcome in soft, loving eyes.

“Hey.”   Jack’s voice was gentle and intimate, his smile brighter than the light of the flickering candles behind him.  

Daniel felt a grin of sheer relief stretch across his face.   “Hey, yourself.”

“Welcome home.”

For long moments, they just smiled and stared, then Jack leaned out to grab the bags the airman had left on the porch, hauling them in and dropping them to the side of the door.

He straightened and slid an arm around Daniel’s waist, tugging the other man through the door into the warm glow of the interior of the house.

Daniel’s gaze swept around the visible areas of the living and dining rooms, brows arching at the elaborate table setting, the incidental candles burning on tables and mantel, the blankets and cushions scattered on the floor before the already burning fire.

“You… um… obviously knew I was coming.”

“Oh, yeah.   Had an order in for a tipoff for the last three days.”

Daniel turned to face Jack, reaching his hand out to stroke a smooth cheek.   “Nice.   Nice welcome home.”

Jack’s brows creased slightly.   Abruptly, he slid both arms around Daniel’s waist and pulled him close, kissing him tenderly.   “Wanted to be really sure you knew how much I wanted you home, Danny.”   His arms tightened convulsively.   “Oh, God, Danny.   I’m so sorry.   What the hell did we think we were doing?”

Daniel let the laptop slide to the floor, then wrapped his own arms around his partner, nestling his face into the curve of Jack’s shoulder.   “I’m sorry, too.   It was so stupid.   We… I think there are some things we need to talk about.”

Reluctantly, Jack pulled away, brushing one hand through Daniel’s short hair.   “Yeah—you said it in your letter.   We’ve got to be a lot more careful now; we’ve got a hell of a lot more to lose than we used to, just over stupid differences of opinion.”

Scowling playfully, Daniel scolded, “Not so stupid, Jack.   The things we disagree about usually aren’t stupid.   But work is work, and this… this is home.”   He felt a swell of heat sweep over his body.   “We can’t let stuff like that ruin this.”

Jack nodded.   “So… we talk.   Tomorrow.   Tonight is for making up.”

Daniel allowed the scowl to mutate into his most mischievous smile.   “Making up?”

“Oh, yeah.   Only redeeming feature of having a fight.   We just got our timing screwed up.  Should have taken care of this part a week ago.”   He pulled Daniel close again, giving him a final tight squeeze before stepping back.   “Hope you’re hungry; dinner in fifteen minutes.   So go wash your hands.”   Bowing, he swept a flamboyant hand toward the beautifully set table.   “Then join me in the dining hall.”

Daniel stole a moment to cradle Jack’s cheeks between his palms and brush a tender kiss on smiling lips.   Then he stooped to grab the laptop and stepped quickly toward the bedroom.

<<<<<>>>>>

Dinner had been intimate, playful and interactive.   They’d sat on either side of the corner of the table, knees rubbing together, bare feet teasing and tickling.   Jack had prepared a simple and delicious meal that provided plenty of finger accessible bits and pieces.   They’d had a wonderful time feeding each other morsels, followed by slow, lingering kisses.   For dessert, they’d moved to the floor in front of the fireplace and spent a messy hour spooning softening ice cream into each others’ mouths and cleaning fingers, chins and faces with gentle tongues and lips. 

Warm and replete, they’d adjourned to the soft cushions of the couch, tangling together, languidly kissing and lingering over the sliding of buttons through buttonholes, the edging upward of a T-shirt.   Now Daniel lay on top of Jack’s hard body, head resting on a bony shoulder, palm sliding appreciatively over wiry chest hair and occasionally pampering a hardening nipple.   His own body felt bright with anticipation, shivery with arousal.   And for the first time in more than a week, his spirit felt clean and vivid with uncomplicated happiness.

Jack snuffled and rubbed his cheek in Daniel’s hair.

“You thinking we might want to make a move toward some place with a bit more potential for… activity?” he asked.

Daniel laughed softly and licked the closest bit of skin.   “I could get behind that idea.”

Jack’s arms slid around his waist as the older man rolled them over and upright.  

“C’mon, Danny.”   He stood, pulled Daniel to his feet and tugged him out into the middle of the room.   “One more thing…”

He wrapped one arm around Daniel’s body, coaxing the other man into a gentle, rhythmic sway.   His lips teased the rim of Daniel’s ear as his voice breathed softly, “You gave me a song; I’ve got one for you.”

His free hand reached blindly for the stereo, fumbling for the track selection button.   Warm, gentle voices filled the room as he buried his face in the curve of Daniel’s neck, arms tightening around his lover’s waist.

You've given me honesty; You've given me all that you can be
You've given me everything a man could want and more

You've given me sweet, sweet smiles;
You've given me miles and miles
of a love that can't be found anymore

The music was slow and tender, matching the hands that caressed Daniel’s back, the lips that brushed his cheek.   His throat tightened as Jack whispered his name, breath warm against the side of his neck.

It's something that most won't understand
It's something that you had always planned
In your world of worlds that you can call your own>

The swaying of their bodies became more purposeful, matching the increased tempo of the music.   Jack’s cheek tucked close to Daniel’s as he began to whisper the lyrics.

Where would we be if it wasn't for you by my side…

“Jack…” Daniel breathed. “Love you.”

I've given you empty dreams,
yet you were the one who fixed the seams
Of a broken heart that you that you could call your own

Eyes burning, throat tight with emotion, Daniel shifted just far enough away to give him space to bring his mouth to Jack’s.   He nuzzled smooth, yielding lips, caressing tenderly, lingering from kiss to kiss.

I realize now that I had so much more to give.
If there was time for me to go back and relive…

As the sweet voices continued, Daniel tickled tiny licks along Jack’s cheek.   “Love me, Jack,” he whispered into his lover’s ear.   “Now.   Please.”

“Now, Danny,” Jack murmured.   “Forever.”

Slowly, reluctant to separate for even a moment, they moved toward the stairs up to the bedroom hallway.   Behind them, the soft voices finished the song…

Oh tell me where would we be if it wasn't for you and all of your loving?
Tell me my love, won't you tell me my love,
Tell me my love…
Where would we be?