Part 38
As Jack had promised, he did go to see Janet the following day - and Philip did go with him, not to cheeck up on Jack's condition but because they had intended to do some shopping together, the first thing on Jack's mind was a radiator. Philip - although fully dressed - had had another coughing fit in the middle of the night and while they were seeing Janet about Jack's ear complaint, Jack told her that Philip's coughing was getting worse.
She listened to his chest and was concerned that he might be starting with another cold, so put him on a course of antibiotics immediately. She also put Jack on a course of a different, lower strength, one for his middle ear-infection.
After they'd finished at the Hospital they drove over to the mall for some lunch, and the radiator.
Philip sat on the low wall, his hands tucked under his thighs and his feet swinging back and forth slowly, as he waited for Jack to collect their antibiotics from the pharmacy. As the gray-haired man emerged from the shop Philip got to his feet and fell into step beside him. Keeping up with his longer-legged lover was not hard for him to do as he’d taken a dose of his MDI before leaving the car, knowing that they had a lot of walking to do in order to get everything they needed for home. Also, he was happy to be out, feeling good and doing something so ‘natural’ with Jack like shopping – even if it was for just groceries and a new heater. There was something about the normality of this simple act that had Philip feeling really ‘alive’ today.
Added to that was the fact that Jack had also, automatically, slowed his steps so that they ambled along together from store-front to store-front, talking amiably and pointing out items that they secretly coveted in their lives, but could never afford - things like a State-of-the-Art surround sound home theatre system for Jack and a whole new bedroom suite, complete with Four-Post bed and mosquito net, for Philip.
Jack was telling him about a book that Daniel had recommended to him and he wanted to stop off and buy when Philip suddenly disappeared from his side. Turning around quickly, Jack saw him lifting up a pale blue-gray sweater and holding it up for appraisal. With a smile on his face he went back to join him at the display table.
"You or me?" Jack asked, checking out the price on the tag.
"You," Philip said, resisting the urge to hold it against Jack's chest, knowing that he couldn't give such a public display of their relationship in the crowded Mall. Jack took the sweater then looked it over before shrugging.
"You sure it will suit me?"
Philip laughed. "Of course it would suit you, Jack." He quickly lowered his head and sorted through the selection of colors and sizes as he mumbled, "I could suggest an old sack and you'd still look great."
Jack's smile broadened at his lover's compliment then he frowned when he saw Phil select another sweater.
"That is definitely not my color!" He protested as he pointed to the russet top. Phil laughed.
"Not yours, but it is Grae's."
"Figures," Jack mumbled then held the top he was holding aloft to look over the pattern in the knitting. "You sure about this?" He asked out of the corner of his mouth as he saw the Sales Assistant approach them.
"You'll look fabulous, Darling!" Philip said in a camp tone as he lifted his eyes and smiled straight at the shop attendant standing before them. He was a good-looking man in his late thirties and his eyes flittered from Phil to Jack then back to Phil again.
"You've got good taste," he said to Philip and left the two lovers wondering if he meant in clothing or in partners. Jack arched his brow as Philip snickered softly beside him.
"That sweater will look great on you," the attendant told Jack quickly, and again he and Philip weren't sure if he was clarifying his point or trying to dismiss an embarrassing mistake.
"I think so too," Philip added, with a cheeky smile. Jack rolled his eyes and held the item a moment longer before his exasperated companion sighed and yanked it from him, passing it to the waiting salesman. "Bag it for him, huh!"
Looking at Jack the other man asked, "You're not even going to try it on?"
With a roll of his eyes that suggested he wouldn't even try to contradict his companion's opinion on the sweater, Jack said, "At my age, if I don't know my size, there's something wrong with me!" Reluctantly he reached into his back pocket for his wallet.
Philip laughed and leaned a little closer as he watched the salesman walk over to the counter. "Think he thinks we're gay?
Jack squinted as he looked at his mischievous mate and said, "Actually, I'm convinced he's convinced we're not now!"
Philip laughed a little louder then winked. "Absolutely!" In a low voice he said, "He is though!"
"How can you tell!" Jack said in a disbelieving voice as he kept shooting discreet, under-the-lashes glances at the good-looking man folding his sweater and placing it into a bag.
Philip shrugged. "He looks it."
With a scoff of a laugh Jack's mouth dropped open then he said, "Philip, you can't tell by looking - well, not all the time! Do *I* look gay to you?"
Stepping back like he was sizing Jack up Philip tapped his finger on his chin before grinning and saying, "Well, if *I* were a gay man, I'd go for you!"
Rolling his eyes again, Jack shook his head as he flipped his wallet open at the same time that he muttered, "You need serious help!"
With a quick outburst of laughter, Philip put his hand over the wallet and said, "For that beautiful comment - I'll get this one. And I'll throw him even more when I tell him you're my Sugar-Daddy."
"Oh god, Philip!" Jack groaned but secretly he was laughing as well as his playful mate headed into the store to buy his top. He observed the way Philip carefully but still quite fluidly weaved through the tables of clothes to reach the counter. It was nice to see Philip looking so well. If he wasn't so painfully thin he might not even look sick, Jack thought.
As the bright-eyed man exited the store he passed over the plastic bag and smiled wickedly.
Jack gave a low growl as he told him, "So help me, this better suit me!"
Philip laughed and clasped his hands behind his back as he ambled along beside his grouchy lover. "Even the store man thought I'd chosen the best gift - for my dear old Dad!"
Jack stopped abruptly. "You... didn't?"
Philip bit his lips together as he shrugged and continued to walk on ahead. With glee Jack shook his head again, chuckling quietly to himself as he hastened his steps to catch up to his lively lover.
*
As Philip stood in the store that sold aromatherapy candles and body lotions he was surprised to hear "Hello" whispered in his ear. He jumped and looked around to see Graham smiling at him.
"Hello!" He said with a surprised laugh.
"What are you doing here?" They asked together then laughed more.
"I'm buying candles," Phil said as he presented one to his brother, who sniffed it then screwed up his nose. Phil sighed and put it down then picked up another, and gave it to Graham for a test. The officer nodded and Philip smiled. "So, what are you doing here?"
"Grocery shopping. I take it you're not coming home much in the next week?"
Philip gave a somewhat apologetic smile as he shook his head. Graham nodded.
"How are things going?"
Biting his lip gently the young man looked across the mall to the coffee shop where Jack was busy reading the novel he'd just purchased while he drank his coffee. The brothers stood chest to chest, and when Philip looked at Graham, they were eye- to - eye as well. In a low voice, he said, "You were right."
"Right?" Graham frowned as he shrugged. "What do you mean?"
Philip jerked his head towards Jack and Graham followed his movement.
The older brother's frown deepened then he tilted his head and looked back into the dark eyes. "You mean he's..?"
With a nervous swallow, Philip nodded very slightly.
"He's got it?" Graham whispered, quickly checking around them in case they were being over heard, but as they were the only customers in the store, it was unlikely.
Looking deep into his brother's eyes, Philip grew a little misty as he said, "Yeah."
Closing his eyes the lieutenant sighed sadly. "Oh, Phil, I'm sorry. I really am!"
Nodding, Philip said in a controlled voice, "I know. Please, don't tell anyone!"
"I won't. Oh, Jesus..." He reached out and gripped the thin shoulder.
The young man gave a brave smile as he said, "The incredible thing is, he doesn't blame me."
Graham frowned. "Why would he?"
"I gave it to him," he hissed in a low voice.
"But it's not like it's your fault. The colonel would have known the risks..."
Rolling his eyes, Philip nodded. "He basically said that exact same thing. Is it just me that thinks I should feel guilty about this?"
"If you'd done it the way John did, yes, you should," Graham said, looking around them to ensure they still weren't being overheard. He looked back at him then said, "But I'm guessing he contracted it during normal relations with you. That's hardly your fault!"
"God, you're going to hate this, but you sound so much like him."
Graham curled up his top lip then snorted. "Gee, way to go to make a man feel bad!"
Philip laughed loudly then covered his mouth as the shop assistant looked over at them. "Join us for a coffee?"
Graham looked out across the mall then shook his head. "No, I can't." Recalling something suddenly he said, "Oh, there's a letter for you at home. It was sent care of me so it got the military run around unfortunately.”
"Who is it from?" Philip frowned.
"Not sure. There's a name on the front but I can't really make out who they are."
"Hmmm, okay. I'll call by later to get it. Is there anything else?"
"Just your art magazines and stuff like that. It's all on your bed."
Philip nodded. "Shall I come by when you're not there, if I have Jack with me?"
With a resigned sigh, Graham said, "Well, so long as you don't leave the two of us alone at any time so that we actually have to talk..."
"Grae.." Phil cautioned him.
The older man grinned. "Really, it will be okay." He quickly glanced across the mall at the man he always knew as 'Colonel' but now wasn't sure ‘how’ he related to him. "If you're with him, and Daniel is still his friend..." He pursed his lips then shrugged. "Well he can't be all that bad then."
Philip smiled then nodded. "We'll call by later."
"I'll still be a few hours, but if you can wait for me, it will be nice to catch up. You're looking really good!"
Happily, the young man nodded. "I'm feeling really well at the moment. I guess it's the painkillers for the aches and the Atrovent for the chest and the love of a good man.."
"Purlease!" Graham sighed dramatically, but Phil knew he was really only teasing him.
"Really though, he's made such a difference to my frame of mind."
"Looks like it. So things are good between you?"
"The best. Despite everything we're going through, I haven't felt happier with him.. I don't think." Suddenly Phil checked his watch then said, "Oh Crap!"
"What?"
"Shit!" He clenched his teeth then sighed heavily.
"What have you forgotten?" Graham asked.
Blinking and not looking very impressed, Philip sighed and said, "Our anniversary!"
"When was it?"
"It's today." With another disappointed sigh, Philip said, "A year - and we didn't even remember it."
"You've both got a lot on your minds."
Rolling his eyes, Philip snorted and said, "You're telling me. Oh... shoot. I wanted to do something really special on our first anniversary."
"You made it. That should be enough!" Graham said.
"Grae, this is the man I'm literally going to spend the rest of my life with... I should give him something more than ... Hang on!" He suddenly thought of an idea.
"What?" The older man asked curiously.
"I've the perfect gift." He slapped himself on the forehead as he sighed and said, "Why didn't I think of this earlier?"
"What?" Graham now sounded read to bust.
"Just something I can give him for our anniversary. I hope he likes it."
"I'm sure he will!" Graham said with a confused shrug.
Philip smiled at him. Thinking out loud to himself, Philip said, "And we have to go back to your place anyway so that works well..."
"Our place," Graham said, correcting him.
Philip seemed to hear that and snapped out of his thoughts. "Huh?"
"Our place."
"That's what I said?"
"No, you said ‘your’ place."
"No way!" Philip said with an unsure laugh then tilted his head and said, "Did I?"
Graham nodded then checked his watch. "I have to go now if I'm going to get this shopping done. Do you both want to stay for dinner?"
Philip smiled at his brother, appreciating that he was trying to make an effort but he could also see the faintly veiled hesitation in his eyes so he shook his head. "No. I think we'll go to dinner. Somewhere nice?"
Graham knew that wasn’t a comment against the apartment or the company, but rather a question of the right restaurant. "Rigonis," the older man suggested.
Philip nodded then said, absently, "Yeah! Todd said it was lovely *and* romantic.."
"Todd? Romantic?” Graham laughed at that thought.
“He.. ugh.. he went there a few nights ago…”
“Oh?” Graham inquired with a little more interest. He quickly picked up a candle and began to toy with it as he said, “I didn’t realize he was seeing someone.” Putting the candle down again, he tilted his head back then crossed his arms over his chest as he ask, just out of interest, “Who's he seeing?"
Philip went pale as he looked into the unsuspecting eyes of his brother. With a soft gulp, he said, "Daniel..."
Graham's full lips parted slightly as he stared back, dumbfounded, at him. "Daniel?" He asked once he could find his voice again.
Full of regret, Philip reached out and touched his brother’s upper arm as he said, “I'm sorry, Grae."
Trying not to look like that news had rocked him as badly as it had, Graham diverted his eyes back to the stack of candles on the table beside them as he muttered, "I just… didn't.. know. I guess..” He paused to shrug, and then in an even lower voice he continued to mumble, “living in the same building…” Abruptly he stopped talking. Instead he seemed to focus his attention onto the candle he was touching. Philip pursed his lips as he rolled his eyes. God, how he hated when things like this happened!
With a throat-clearing cough, Graham finally summoned up all the casualness in his voice he could to ask: “So, ugh.. how long.. have .. they..?"
"Ummm," Philip could feel the tips of his ears burning now as he glanced across the mall to the bowed gray head. At that moment Jack looked up and their eyes met. Philip felt even more cornered as Jack saw whom he was talking to. Without any expression the colonel looked back at Philip then down at his book. The young artist sighed as he rolled his eyes again.
"Um Daniel and Todd? They .. ah.. Nothing. I don't think they ever really got far.."
"Oh!" Graham now sounded a little less devastated.
"Besides, Todd told me he gave you an offer that you shouldn't have refused."
"Please, let's not go through this again."
"Graham. Jack and I have been together a year - today. That means you and Daniel have been apart for that long also. When are you both just going to let this go?"
Graham frowned then lowered his face. He wasn't going to question his brother on the 'both' comment but it had caught his attention.
After quickly checking his watch, Graham said, "Look, I really have to go. I hope you think of something special for the Col.. I mean, for Jack."
Philip gave a distracted smile then nodded as his brother pointed to the candle in his hand and said, "That's a really nice one!"
The young man nodded again then watched him go before heading to the counter to pay for the candle.
*
As Jack and Philip entered the cluttered apartment Philip checked the kitchen then Graham's bedroom to ensure that they were alone. Jack, who hadn't been in that place in months, cast his eyes around the over-filled room, noting all the little details that screamed, “Philip Simmons lives here”, to him. The thin, wiry sculptures scattered over all flat surfaces, the paintings on the walls and others leaned haphazardly against the bookshelves, end of the sofa and on the window above the door to the patio – all of it was created by the man standing beside him. Turning, Jack looked at his lover and saw him again for the first time. With a curious frown, Philip smiled at him.
“What?”
“I love you,” Jack said, turning to completely face him and catch his face between his hands. Phil’s hands came to rest on Jack's elbows as he looked deeply into the light brown eyes.
“Well, I love you too. What brought that on?”
Jack brushed the dry lips with his thumb as he shrugged. “I guess it’s just being here with you. I’d forgotten what this place was like..” He said, casting his eyes around it once more then lowered them to meet Philip’s happy gaze again. “It’s so you.”
“Unorganized, cluttered and messy. Thanks, love.”
Jack laughed and wrapped his arms around Phil’s neck to pull him against his chest and squeeze him tightly. “Well that *is* a pretty good assessment of you..”
That comment earned him a sharp jab in the ribs, which tickled him and made him chuckle as he pressed his lips to the top of Phil’s head. Then Phil sighed as he wrapped his arms around Jack's solid body and laid his cheek against his mate’s shoulder.
"I really should start packing some of this stuff away," he commented as he looked around the living room. Jack squeezed him a little tighter but said nothing.
Something on the bookshelf caught Philip’s eye so he eased himself from Jack's grip and went over to it. Picking up the small item he dusted it off with the tips of his fingers as he blew over it. Jack wrapped himself against the back of the artist and peered over his shoulder at the article in his hand.
“What’s that?” He asked, lightly brushing his lips over the tip of Phil’s ear.
“When I was trying to learn metal work, I made this.” He passed the small, flattish object over his shoulder and Jack stepped back to look at it.
“Wow!” he said, looking at the intricate design, obviously overlaid on the metal medallion. Placing it on the palm of his hand he tilted it so that the late afternoons sun could shine on the fine metal work and show up the design better.
Philip stood looking down at it, then he lightly passed his fingers over the design and said, “It’s meant to symbolize Love. See how all the strands of metal come from the stars at each end? They’re woven together to imply how intricate life and love can be for two people.”
Jack looked up to meet his gaze and Philip smiled. “It’s yours.”
The older man frowned. “Why?”
“Because...” The artist shrugged.
Clenching his hand around the medallion, Jack touched the fingertips of his other hand to Phil’s bearded cheek as he said; “I’ll find somewhere special for it.”
Philip gave a slightly sad smile then went onto his toes and pressed his lips against Jack's tenderly. “I’m sure you will,” he said as he lowered himself once more.
After tucking the pendant into his pocket, Jack slipped his arm across Phil’s shoulders as he said, “You know, I’d forgotten how much I liked this place.”
The younger man nodded. “I guess, with you and Graham feeling the way you do about each other, it just suited me better to always go to your place.”
“But this is your home.”
“Yes,” Philip said, looking around once more then at his lover. “It is. But I’ve said it before, so are you.”
Jack gathered him in his arms once more and cradled his face between his hands. With small, light pecks he covered every inch of the younger man’s cheekbones and brow line then he sighed contentedly as he tilted his face so that his chin molded to the curve of Phil’s forehead. Twirling the smaller body within his arms, Jack pressed against Phil’s back as he wrapped his arms around his stomach. Together they looked out of the window beside the door leading to the patio. “This is where it all started for us,” he whispered as he lightly kissed the small ear.
Philip smiled now as he lifted a hand up, snaking it behind Jack's head and stretching his body up as Jack's hands slid down them to rest against his stomach. With a contented purr Phil tested his lover’s memory as he said, "That fateful night. How long ago was it, hun, do you remember?"
Jack shook his head as he continued to kiss around the small ear. "Must be almost a year by now," he whispered then traced the folds of the ear with the tip of his tongue. Philip shivered then shied from the touch as he laughed softly.
"Must be." He gave him a wink then went to the sofa, gathered up his bag and went to the bedroom. Jack was a little perplexed but it wasn't until he heard his name called that he followed Philip out of the room.
End of part 38
Stories on this page are the property of Nessessitee and Slida. Please do not copy these without the written permission of the Author. All Rights are acknowledged for MGM, Gekko and Stargate Productions as to the Copyrights of the characters within this story and no infringement on the copyrights are intended. For the Bombshells Series the character of Philip Simmons is entirely the creation and intellectual property of Nessessitee and Slida.
While the performances given by RDA and MS help to fuel the author's desire to write for their characters in a niche that she feels is present on the actual show, the portrayal of their characters in loving relationships in no way reflects the Author's opinion of the men's private life, nor should it be construed in that manner.