Top Secret Santa, J/D, rated R

[sid]

This fic was written last year as a gift for delphia2000who is kindly permitting me to share it now with the rest of the world.  :-)

J/D first time, rated R, about 2600 words.

TOP SECRET SANTA

A shadowy figure crept through the cold Colorado night. A slumbering house was cautiously approached. A gloved hand stealthily opened the mailbox, and an envelope slid silently inside. As the figure turned to depart, a small gleam of white indicated amusement and satisfaction. The figure melted into the darkness.

 

~~~~

 

When the mailman arrived at the house the following afternoon, he found the envelope, and began to place it into his bag. Then he noticed that there was no stamp, and that it was addressed to the resident of the home. Curious, he looked at the return address, and laughed briefly. As he strolled away, he was whistling...

 

…right down Santa Claus lane…

 

~~~~

 

Jack O’Neill hung up his coat, and carried his mail into the kitchen. Laying it down on the table, he put a pot of water on the stove to boil, and got himself a beer from the refrigerator. He opened a jar of spaghetti sauce, and emptied it into a pan. Then he began chopping onion and garlic to sauté and add to the sauce. When he had gotten those started over a medium flame, he took a few minutes to sit down and go through his mail.

 

There were several obvious Christmas cards in the pile, but one in particular caught his attention. A red envelope, with no stamp, and no street address. He looked at the return address, and snorted. It read:

 

S. Claus

2005 Santa Claus Lane

North Pole

 

Jack jumped up to give the garlic and onions a quick stir, and turned back to the mysterious card. Smiling, he opened the envelope. The front of the card showed Santa and his sleigh flying through the night sky, nearly obscured by large snowflakes. He opened the card. There was a message, handwritten in block letters:

 

He loves you.

Your Secret Santa

 

Jack’s smile vanished, and his forehead creased. He stared at the card, his mind whirling, until the smell of nearly burned garlic roused him from his daze. Jack turned off the burners, and stood worriedly staring out the window. He had just lost his appetite.

 

~~~~

 

The next afternoon, at Cheyenne Mountain, Daniel Jackson received an email telling him that Jack O’Neill was sending him a holiday greeting. As he followed the instructions to pick up his e-card, Daniel was smiling in anticipation. He expected that it would be some sort of cartoon or animated joke. When the picture finally came up on his screen, his brow wrinkled in puzzlement.

 

It was a photograph of Jack, taken from the side. He was standing with his hands in his pockets, staring down somberly at the flames flickering in his fireplace. At least Daniel thought it was Jack’s own fireplace; the lighting was strange and it was difficult to make out details. There was a glare of reflected light along the edge of the picture. Could this shot have been taken through Jack’s window? He scrolled down, frowning, and read the caption under the picture:

 

All he wants for Christmas is you.

Your Secret Santa

 

Daniel’s mouth dropped open, and stayed that way until he became aware once again of where he was. He hastily closed the browser window. 

 

There was no way that Jack had sent him this card. So who had? And with what intention?

 

~~~~

 

Santa was not pleased. The two idiots in question did not appear to be responding appropriately. They not only had not gotten together, but they seemed to be actively avoiding each other. An unsatisfactory state of affairs.

 

One of Santa’s helpers undertook the next assignment.

 

~~~~

 

Jack walked into his office, and stopped short at the sight of the red envelope laying on his desk. He bit his lip, and approached it cautiously. It was addressed in block letters to Colonel Jonathan O’Neill. There was no return address. He grimaced. It could be from anybody; there was no reason to assume…

 

He opened the envelope. Santa was sitting in front of a roaring fire, checking off names on two lists. Naughty and nice. Santa was peering over the top of a pair of reading glasses, looking right at Jack. Who held his breath and opened up the card.

 

There was a small picture of Daniel taped inside the card. It looked like his ID badge picture. No, not quite. Daniel’s eyes were looking to the side, as if a noise had distracted him. This was a failed attempt, which had somehow escaped destruction.

 

Feeling uneasy, Jack read the block lettering that was beneath the picture:

 

Hey Stupid!

What are you waiting for?

Your Secret Santa

 

Crap! He wished he knew whether these cards were coming from friend or foe. Not that it mattered, really. Whether he was being set up, or encouraged, it made no difference.

 

Daniel was off-limits. Period.

 

But as he remembered the words that had been written on the first card, his head sank into his hands. Was there any possibility that they had been true? Could Daniel actually love him?

 

Jack slowly raised his head. Maybe he should talk to Daniel. He could show him the cards. He wouldn’t have to give anything away, he thought with a growing sense of excitement. Daniel’s reaction to the cards would tell him a lot.

 

He picked up the phone and dialed Daniel’s office.

 

~~~~

 

Daniel put down the phone gently, his heart pounding in his chest. He stared at the card that he had found laying on his desk when he returned to his office a minute earlier. It had come in a green envelope, with block lettering addressing it to Doctor Daniel Jackson.

 

The picture on the front of the card was a photograph of eight reindeer, more or less lined up and looking into the camera. There was more block lettering on the inside:

 

Wishes can come true at Christmas.

Go to him.

Your Secret Santa

 

He had just agreed to go to Jack’s house that evening. He couldn’t even remember why he was being invited. Holding the card in his hand, and hearing Jack’s voice in his ear, his brain had entered meltdown. What was happening?

 

Did wishes really, sometimes, come true?

 

~~~~

 

Sam came to see Jack in his office an hour before he planned to leave for the day. “Sir?”

 

“What is it, Carter?”

 

“I know it’s short notice, but I wondered if we could all get together for a team night? Christmas is almost here, and we’re going to run out of time.”

 

“You mean tonight?” Jack frowned.

 

Sam grimaced. “I know, I haven’t even checked with Daniel, but if you two are free…”

 

“Sorry,” Jack muttered. “Not tonight.”

 

“You have plans?” Sam enquired brightly. “That’s nice. I hope you have a good time.”

 

Jack surveyed her beaming face. “Thank you,” he said slowly. 

 

Sam’s smile broadened as she backed out of her C.O.’s office. “We’ll just have to arrange something else.” And she was gone, leaving Jack staring thoughtfully at his empty doorway.

 

~~~~

 

Increasingly nervous about the approaching evening, Daniel sought out Teal’c. 

 

“DanielJackson. Have you come to join me in kel’no’reem? “ Teal’c inquired, with a inviting smile.

 

“Yes,” Daniel replied. “If that’s okay?”

 

“You are always most welcome.” Teal’c bowed slightly and ushered Daniel into his room. The overhead lights were turned off, and about half of the dozens of candles scattered about were already lit. “Please be seated,” he told Daniel. 

 

Daniel lowered himself to the floor, already starting to feel some of the peace that he sought. The candlelight was soothing, the presence of his Jaffa friend was comforting. “I can’t stay long,” he told Teal’c. 

 

“You have plans,” Teal’c intoned, as he lit the last candles.

 

It wasn’t really a question, but Daniel felt impelled to answer. “Yes, I’m going over to Jack’s house in a little while.”

 

Teal’c slid to the floor, smiling slightly. “I am delighted to hear it.”

 

“You are?” Daniel asked, blinking.

 

“Indeed,” Teal’c responded. “O’Neill has seemed to me to be on edge recently. I am certain that your company will do him much good.” Teal’c assumed his normal position for meditation, and closed his eyes, effectively ending the conversation.

 

Daniel stared at him through narrowed eyes for a few moments, and then shook his head. He closed his own eyes, and began to breathe in unison with his friend.

 

~~~~

 

Jack showered, shaved, and dressed with care in anticipation of Daniel’s arrival. He loaded the CD player with Christmas music, and turned the volume down low. He opened a bottle of syrah, and left it to breathe on the kitchen counter, next to a pair of wine glasses. He placed the two red envelopes on the coffee table in the living room. He lit a fire in the fireplace. Then he paced. And worried.

 

Daniel showered, shaved, and dressed with care in preparation for his trip to Jack’s house. The eyes that he met in the mirror as he checked out his final appearance were both anxious and hopeful. He placed the green envelope into the inside pocket of his winter jacket. He picked up his keys and left, turning out the lights as he went out the door.

 

~~~~

 

“Hey, Daniel. Thanks for coming.”

 

Daniel shrugged out of his coat, and handed it over to Jack. “Um, thanks for inviting me,” he mumbled. He watched the coat disappear into the hall closet, very conscious of its contents. Jack gestured invitingly, and led the way into the kitchen. Once there, he proceeded to pour out the wine before handing the bottle to Daniel for inspection.

 

“I’ve never had this brand,” Daniel commented. He set down the bottle, and sniffed at the glass Jack handed him before taking a sip. “Nice,” he announced with a pleased smile.

 

“Let’s take it in the other room,” Jack suggested.

 

The two men settled on the couch in front of the roaring fire. For the first time Daniel became aware of the music that was emanating from Jack‘s CD player. He took a deep breath, and sipped at his wine. This was, or could be, romantic beyond words. He wished he hadn’t worn this sweater. He could feel sweat prickling under his arms. Nerves, plus the heat from the fire. He stole a glance at Jack, and frowned. Jack looked as tense as he felt. His nervousness increased.

 

Jack was tongue-tied. He really had nothing to say. All he could think of was the two envelopes that laid in front of them. He gulped a mouthful of wine, and wished it were something stronger. The First Noel was softly playing. He would wait until the song ended. Then…

 

The song ended.

 

Jack picked up the top envelope. Clearing his throat, he said, “I need to show you these.” He handed it to Daniel, who opened it and took out the card.

 

He loves you, Daniel read. Dazed, he carefully set the card down, and stood up. He headed for the entry hall.

 

Shocked and dismayed, Jack slowly rose. He heard the door to the coat closet open. His heart filled with pain. Silent Night played in the background. The door closed again, and Daniel came around the corner, and down the stairs, carrying a green envelope in his hand. Jack blinked in confusion.

 

Daniel extended the card towards Jack, who stared at it stupidly. Then he bent and picked up the other red envelope. They exchanged cards gingerly. Daniel broke into a grin as he read Santa’s admonition to Jack. Go to him, Jack read. He looked up into Daniel’s smiling face. “You came,” he said.

 

“Yes,” Daniel nodded. “Because the first card was true.” Jack’s face slowly lit with joy. “And I’m starting to think that the first part of my card was true, too.”

 

“I hope so,” Jack said with heartfelt sincerity. “If I have anything to say about it…”

 

Daniel’s kiss interrupted him. “I’m tired of just dreaming,” Daniel sighed. “This - this is….”

 

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear quietly filled the room. Jack and Daniel were done talking, for the time being.

 

Their first coupling, fully clothed, trousers unzipped, sprawled on the couch, was not a thing of beauty. It was desperate and awkward and rushed…in excelsis Deo…it was glorious.

 

Afterwards, flushed and sticky, Daniel sat up, and maneuvered away from Jack so that he could sit up, too. When Jack reached for his hand, Daniel beamed at him in happy disbelief. It‘s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Jack stood up and began to undress. Daniel just watched, smiling dopily.

 

Jack moved across to the fireplace, and sank down to the floor. Not looking at Daniel, he said, “Bring a couple of pillows with you, okay?” Daniel rose and stripped with shaking hands. Clutching the pillows, he went to his waiting lover. As he joined Jack on the floor, he felt a wave of shyness sweep over him. But then Jack’s arm came around him as they settled back on the pillows, and everything was right again. We Three Kings.

 

Jack caressed Daniel’s warm skin as he stared into the flames. Feeling a contentment in his heart that had been absent from his life for entirely too long, he pulled Daniel a little closer, and asked, “So, who do you think our Secret Santa is?”

 

“Well,” Daniel said, stroking Jack’s lightly furred chest with acute pleasure, “I had an interesting conversation with Teal’c tonight before I left the base.”

 

Jack turned his head towards his lover. “Teal’c?” he asked, making a face. “Secret Santa?”

 

Daniel frowned slightly. “I know, it doesn’t seem to fit. On the other hand, he’s certainly been on Earth long enough to have grasped the concept.”

 

“Grasped and adopted are two different things,” Jack objected.

 

Daniel turned his head to look at Jack. He saw the firelight dancing in the other man’s eyes, and his own eyelids lowered almost imperceptibly. “Okay,” he said softly, rising up onto one elbow. “You have a better suggestion I take it?” His hand raised up to touch Jack’s face gently.

 

Jack looked up at Daniel’s beloved face. “I think I got a vibe off of Carter earlier,” he said distractedly.

 

Daniel’s hand continued to caress Jack’s cheek. “That sounds more likely,” he agreed. “On the other hand…”

 

Jack grasped the hand that was touching his face, and planted a kiss in the palm. “They’re probably working together,” he murmured, eyes intent on Daniel’s mouth.

 

“Yeah,” Daniel breathed, before lowering his lips to meet Jack’s. Their arms and legs entwined as their bodies fit together with astonishing perfection. The glow of the fireplace lit their way towards ecstasy. The first frenzy past, they took their time getting there.

 

Neither man saw the face at the window.

 

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus…

 

The man at the window turned away, carefully zipping his trousers up. He’d been right about those two all along, he thought smugly. He knew they belonged together. Probably Jack’s undercover sting operation had set things back some. He’d always found that not much foundation business hard to believe. Too bad he hadn’t relied on his instincts more at the time. 

 

Oh, well. He was free, and he still had a few friends at the SGC that hadn’t been busted. Santa’s helpers had come through for him in this little top secret operation.

 

A gleam of white indicated Harry Maybourne’s amusement and satisfaction, before he disappeared into the cold, starry Colorado night.

 

 

THE END

MERRY CHRISTMAS from SID

Comments

[whimsicalwhims.livejournal.com]

OMG, it's Pervy!Santa Maybourne. Though it is kind of sweet how he decided to play matchmaker.

Excellent fic. I'm glad that Jack and Daniel got each other for Christmas.

[sid]

I'm glad you enjoyed it - it was so much fun to write. :-)

Yes, they got gifts that they can unwrap over and over and over...