Final two chapters of the Dining 'Out" series, J/D

[sid]

"Invitation to Brunch", J/D, Season 8, rated PG-13
And a drabble for dessert, rated G.

Dining 'Out'
'Box' Lunch
Breakfast Is

 

INVITATION TO BRUNCH  

Jack and Daniel were hard at work in Jack’s kitchen on this particular bright Sunday morning. Sam and Teal’c were expected for brunch at 10:00, and as that hour approached the two men increased their pace, trying to have everything ready on time. Jack was in charge of the hot food - scrambled eggs, biscuits, bacon, cinnamon coffee cake and, of course, coffee. Daniel was preparing a fruit salad, having already arranged proscuitto and melon on a small platter, and snipped fresh chives for Jack to add to the eggs. The refrigerator held a large pitcher of mango juice, and a bottle of champagne. Four champagne flutes awaited the mixture of the two, or straight mango juice in Teal’c’s case.

With military precision, Jack was following a strict timetable. The coffee cake was cooling on the counter. A small jug was keeping the remains of the first pot of coffee hot while the second pot brewed. The eggs were cooking very slowly over low heat, to produce the fluffiest end product imaginable. The oven was coming to the right temperature for the biscuits, and the bacon was ready for the griddle. Jack nodded in satisfaction, and turned to see how Daniel was doing.

Daniel felt his lover’s gaze, and looked up from his efforts with a smile. "9:38," Jack announced. "Time to kiss Daniel." He came over and slid his arms around the other man, claiming his mouth in a deep kiss. When Jack finally drew his head back, he licked his lips and chided, "Try to save some of the strawberries for the rest of us, huh?" Daniel responded by placing a juicy red berry gently between his teeth, and tilting his head in unmistakable invitation. Jack grinned as he moved his mouth closer, and took half of the strawberry in a swift bite. Their lips moved against each other as they chewed, and Daniel’s talented tongue made sure that no stray droplets of juice escaped his attention.

9:41. Jack gave the eggs a gentle stir, and turned on the burner under the griddle. Daniel continued slicing strawberries to add to the bowl of grapes and blackberries. Bananas would follow at the last minute. The oven beeped as it reached the desired temperature, and Jack bent to place the biscuits inside. Then he set the oven timer to let him know when the biscuits were done, and started placing bacon on the griddle.

Jack picked up his coffee mug and sipped as he looked out the window. He hoped Daniel couldn’t tell how nervous he was getting. They would be here soon. A small portion of his consciousness remained focused on the food on the stove, while the rest of his mind reviewed some of the events of the last three months. The events that led them to this moment….

~~

Three months ago he and Daniel had had sex for the first time. Since that day, Jack would be willing to bet that they had discussed or tried every sex act under the sun at least once. Because Daniel, being Daniel, had promptly run out to the nearest book store and bought a book about gay sex. The very title of the book made Jack cringe. And looking at the pictures made him uneasy, as well. Daniel advised him, "Pretend it’s us, that’s what I do." That had helped somewhat, but Jack still made faces whenever Daniel wanted him to look at the book.

On one never-to-be-forgotten occasion, Daniel had read a passage aloud from the book, looked up to see Jack’s grimace, and mildly accused him - and not for the first time - of being a homophobe. Jack had responded that his horizons were being broadened very nicely, thank you. At which Daniel had closed the book, and climbed onto Jack’s lap. "Who are you calling a broad?" he had growled, before devouring Jack’s mouth with stunning thoroughness. About fifteen minutes later, Jack had been stretched out limply on the sofa, with stars shining in his eyes. "Page eighty-two," Daniel had told him smugly. Jack never made faces at the book again.

It astonished Jack sometimes to think about how easily they had slid into their new physical relationship. Of course there had been ups and downs. Sometimes one of them wanted to try something that the other man had no interest in. Or they tried something, and only one of them liked doing it. But there was so much that they did agree on, that those minor disappointments were meaningless.

The largest obstacle that they had faced sexually was Jack’s deep-seated reluctance to be penetrated. Daniel’s infinite patience and understanding had finally won the day, coupled with Jack’s real desire to both please his partner, and to be entirely fair and equal in this important aspect of their relationship. Small steps spread out over the course of several days built up to the ‘main event’ as Jack had jokingly called it. And once he felt Daniel inside of him, there was no looking back. He was hooked.

They had lain on the bed afterwards, limbs intertwined. Jack had been positively glowing. Daniel had actually cried a few tears of relief as he planted grateful kisses all over his lover’s face.

They had been closer than ever after that day. Daniel spent more and more time at Jack’s house, until, to all intents and purposes, he had essentially moved in. And Jack’s previously empty house became a true home. A few times they had spent a night at Daniel’s house, once an entire weekend. They had treated that as a mini-vacation. Which they spent mostly in bed. Daniel’s new, larger bed, that Jack had insisted on buying for him after spending one uncomfortable night in the smaller one.

Things at the SGC seemed to proceed as usual. Jack was very alert for any indications that the change in their relationship was changing things on the job. But Daniel didn’t seem to treat him any differently. Nobody else seemed to be aware of anything being different. And Jack himself was being very careful about leaving his private life out of the decisions that the General had to make.

Gradually Jack became more comfortable at work, less anxious about one of them making some sort of mistake. But as his comfort level increased, so did his guilt level. Specifically, he hated lying to Carter and Teal’c. Okay, maybe lying wasn’t quite the right word, but concealing the truth was just as bad.

And so, after three months of being together with Daniel, they had reached this point. Carter and Teal’c were coming to brunch, and Jack was going to tell them the truth.

~~~~

Sam had picked up Teal’c at the Mountain, and they were driving to Jack’s house. "Do you still think that the General and Daniel are going to tell us that they’re involved?"

"I do," Teal’c replied. "O’Neill seemed most anxious when he issued the invitation to us. I can think of no other reason that would cause him to behave in such a manner."

"And it was pretty clear that he wasn’t inviting the three of us to brunch. It was definitely him and Daniel inviting you and me."

"Indeed, that was obvious, even though unspoken."

"Daniel seemed nervous, too," Sam said thoughtfully. "Maybe we should have said something to them. I don’t know."

Teal’c arched an eyebrow. "We will still have that opportunity. We shall make it clear to them both that we knew of their involvement before they did themselves."

Sam laughed. "Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant, but, yeah! Definitely not going to let that opportunity slip past!"

They drove on for a few minutes, and then Sam asked, "Do you think there is any chance at all that we’ve got this whole thing all wrong? I mean, are you absolutely positive that they’re together now?"

"I am," Teal’c confirmed. "It is obvious to any who have eyes to see. Both men are greatly changed. O’Neill is now happy. It has gladdened my heart to see this."

Sam smiled. "Yeah, mine too. Same with Daniel. It can’t be a coincidence."

"They ‘dated’ for some time," Teal’c reminded her teasingly. "I do not find it strange that they should have found happiness together."

Sam turned her head and met Teal’c’s eyes. "It’s not strange at all," she agreed. She turned her gaze back to the road, a soft smile on her lips. "It’s perfect."

~~~~

9:47 Jack stirred the eggs again, and started to turn the bacon slices over. Daniel had all the fruit ready except for the bananas. He mixed the contents of the large bowl thoroughly, and then divided the fruit salad evenly into two smaller bowls. One bowl for Teal’c, and the other to be drizzled with a little Grand Marnier liqueur after the bananas had been added. Teal’c loved fruit, and Daniel wanted to be very sure that he wasn’t deprived, so he was going to leave a full half of the salad alcohol-free. There would be honey at the table for the biscuits, and that could be drizzled over the fruit if Teal’c or anybody else wanted.

9:49 Jack was startled out of his thoughts as Daniel pressed up behind him and kissed the nape of his neck. "I’m going to run to the bathroom, be right back."

"All right," Jack replied quietly. He began to spread paper towels on an oven-safe plate, and turned off the burner under the bacon. The biscuits would be ready to come out in a couple of minutes. He lined a bread basket with a clean towel. He was starting to feel sick to his stomach.

9:51 The oven buzzer sounded. Jack turned the oven and the timer off, and took out the biscuits, placing the tray on a trivet for the moment. He left the oven door slightly ajar, and started placing the bacon onto the paper towels.

9:52 Daniel came back into the kitchen, and started peeling and slicing the bananas. Jack turned off the burner under the skillet of scrambled eggs, and started placing the biscuits into the basket.

9:53 Jack sprinkled the chives onto the eggs. Daniel was drizzling Grand Marnier onto one bowl of fruit salad.

9:54 Jack opened the patio door for Daniel, as he carried out the bowls of fruit salad to the table on the deck. Then Jack placed the oven-proof skillet of eggs, the plate of bacon and the bread basket into the oven to keep warm.

9:55 Jack got the door once more for Daniel, who carried out the platter of proscuitto and melon, and the honey. Jack began to slice up the coffee cake.

9:56 Daniel got the mango juice and champagne out of the refrigerator. Jack held onto his mug of coffee, and stared blindly out the back window.

Daniel surveyed the kitchen. Everything was ready. He picked up his coffee, and went to join Jack. He gave him a friendly nudge with his shoulder and smiled at him. But Jack didn’t turn his head. Daniel felt a prickle of unease. "Jack?"

"We don’t have to tell them," Jack blurted. "They won’t know. We can just eat, and not tell them anything."

Daniel stared in disbelief. "But it was your idea to tell them!"

"I know," Jack said, setting down his coffee and looking at Daniel for the first time. "I know I pretty much twisted your arm about it, too."

"Jack," Daniel said carefully, "neither one of us was enjoying keeping this secret from our closest friends. I was a little more worried than you were about the idea of telling them, but nobody twisted anybody’s arm." He placed his hand on Jack’s back, and began to rub gently.

"It isn’t fair to Carter," Jack continued. "If there was ever any kind of an investigation, she would be put in an impossible situation."

"We talked about that, too, Jack. We agreed that we would never expect her to lie for us, and that we would make that clear to her."

Jack turned anxiously to Daniel. "I don’t think I can do this, Danny. I can’t tell them, I just can’t!"

Daniel continued rubbing soothing circles on his lover’s back. "Do you want me to tell them?"

Jack stared at him.

"I can tell them, if you want," Daniel offered. "I mean, I haven’t really thought about what to say, of course." He smiled gently. "But I’d think of something."

"You sure of that?" Jack’s voice was very tense. "Because, for someone who’s supposed to be a linguist, sometimes you…" He stopped abruptly, and turned away.

Daniel’s hand fell to his side. Where had that come from? And then a realization struck him.

Right before he and Jack had made love that very first time, Daniel had asked Jack for some assurance that this was something more than two lonely men seeking comfort. And Jack had said to him, "You’re very dear to me." Jack had also told him not to expect him to ever say it again, and he hadn’t. But once was enough for Daniel. Once certain of Jack’s affection, he saw proof of it on a daily basis. And he had seen it deepen as the months passed.

And he had hoped, he certainly had thought that his own feelings were equally obvious for Jack to see.

But he had never once put his feelings into words.

It was time to rectify that omission. Right now.

Daniel put down his coffee, and went to stand directly in front of Jack. Their eyes met. Jack’s held a faintly apologetic look. Daniel smiled gently, and reached out to take his lover’s hand.

"I think I’ll start by telling them that I’m madly in love with you." Jack blinked at him. "Then I’ll just improvise the rest. What do you think?" Daniel watched happily as Jack’s face changed before his eyes.

Daniel was wrapped in Jack’s arms, willingly letting his mouth be plundered, when the doorbell rang.

~~~~

Sam and Teal’c stood on Jack’s porch, waiting more and more impatiently for someone to answer the door. Sam shifted the ice-cold bottle of champagne that she had brought to her other hand to avoid frost-bite. She and Teal’c exchanged glances. What on earth could be taking this long?

Finally, the door was opened by a very flushed Daniel. His hair was mussed, his lips were kiss-swollen. His eyes were astonishingly blue as the rays of the morning sun touched his face. "Hi!" he said, and seemed incapable of coming up with any other words, so he just smiled radiantly.

"Hi!" Sam replied, not daring to look at Teal’c. She was going to lose it any second. "I brought some bubbly." She thrust the bottle under Daniel’s nose. He took it, staring down at it as though it might hold the answers to all the questions of the universe. Then he looked up at Sam, placed a very uncharacteristic kiss on her cheek, and took her by the hand. Smiling at Teal’c invitingly, he began to pull Sam towards the kitchen. Teal’c followed, eyes gleaming as he anticipated the pleasures soon to come.

Daniel ushered his friends into the kitchen, where the happiest man in Colorado Springs was about to pop the cork on the bottle of champagne in his hands.

"Hey, kids!" Jack beamed. "Guess what!"

THE END 

DESSERT DRABBLE   

"Hey kids, guess what?"

Teal’c intoned, "You and DanielJackson are in love."

Daniel rescued the champagne bottle before it slipped out of Jack’s hands. "That’s right," Jack said, shocked. "You guessed right."

"Indeed, I have known for some time, " Teal’c replied, eyes gleaming wickedly. "Long before the two of you." Jack’s and Daniel’s jaws dropped. Sam couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

As she whooped helplessly, Daniel turned stunned eyes her way. "You knew, too?"

Sam covered her mouth, and nodded, face red.

"Okay, that proves it!"

All eyes turned towards Jack.

"I’m still not getting all my memos!"

THE END

 

 

Comments

[sorcha-gaia.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay. Oh, thank you. :)

This'll get me through my work day quite nicely now. I'm just sad there's no more.

Fabulous job, hon. *happy sigh*

[sid]

"And they lived happily ever after." That's all that's left!

You're welcome; I'm glad you liked it. :-)

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

Loved the punchline there; left me smiling! And hungry :-)

[sid]

Yes, I hope they didn't spend too much time talking while all that food was just hanging around. This series was like a trip to the grocery store: they say you should always eat first!

Thanks!!

[stellahobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, I haven't read the ending before!

Great job :D

[sid]

Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it! :-)

[nitw1t.livejournal.com]

I'm grinning like a loon. Thank you. :)

[sid]

You're welcome! Glad you had fun!

[tigerlilly2063.livejournal.com]

Perfect ending!

[sid]

Thank you very much! :-)

[msbeata.livejournal.com]

LMAO!

That was a perfect ending to this series.

Well done.

::burp:: 'scuse me.

[sid]

You're excused! :-)

Thank you very much!

[dianehc.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I wonder what that memo would look like.
***

Memorandum
To: General J. O'Neill, USAF, SGC
From: Colonel S. Carter, USAF, SGC

Date: xx-xx-xxxx

Re: Fraternization of Team Personal
_______________________________________________

General,

It has come to the attention of myself and Teal'c (SG-1 advisor), that two members of our team are unaware of the nature of their relationship outside of the command structure. As this lack of understanding has, as of yet, had no impact on the professional operations of the team, I do not believe that it requires a formal inquiry; however, it is causing unnecessary feelings of personal alienation in both men that the remainder of the team wish to see rectified.

For further information please contact, SGC Civilian Advisor- Daniel Jackson.

Thank you,


Samantha Carter.

Ps. I loved the invitation to brunch and the strawberry scene.

[sid]

*dies* Oh, this is wonderful! :-D

Thanks for making my morning!! *hands you a strawberry*

[dianehc.livejournal.com]

Mmm, strawberry. Thx.