Part 65
Jack had fallen asleep in the chair sometime after Graham had left and Jaheed had settled back down again. He now woke with a start and the first thing he noticed was that Philip was staring straight at him and didn't seem to be blinking. With a frown he inched himself from his chair, his stiff body protesting the movement, then he reached down over the still-turned head.
"Baby?" He touched his hand to the side of Phil's face and felt the warmth. He started breathing again when the dark eyes blinked and the head moved slightly to track the voice. Jack watched the murky eyes settle onto him.
"H'n.."
"What are you doing awake? It's the middle of the night.. or.." He checked his watch. "Actually it's a little after six."
"Wh' Grae?"
"I sent him home. He hasn't slept properly since you were admitted. What's wrong? Do you want me to page him?"
The head shifted slightly on the pillow.
"P'ppa?"
Jack rolled his eyes but knew Phil wouldn't have seen that. "He's asleep over there."
Philip made no effort to look in the direction of his father though; instead he remained looking towards Jack. The older man smiled gently as he cupped the tight face in his hand.
"We're taking you home baby.. You remember that, don't you?" He said, his heart heavy at the thought of doing this too late - Phil's eyesight had failed within the past two days and he couldn't see the view he wanted to see from the living room windows anymore.
"Tir'd.."
"I know you are, baby.."
"You.." he whispered breathlessly.
Jack caught his breath. Even in this state Phil was perceptive, and still worried about him. Ever since Janet had agreed to allow the release Jack had felt a sort of numbness settle on him. His body felt heavier somehow and ached, despite the numbness. His head felt as though he had cotton wool shoved in there and his eyes felt tight, like he was permanently squinting through dried-out eyes. It was very similar to the onset of a cold, but he knew he wasn't getting one.
"Oh, me? Am I tired? Yeah," he said as he rubbed his fingers into his eyes, "I won't lie to you, I'm tired.."
"Soon.."
"No." Jack said with a firm shake of his head. "Because I'm not ready to let you go just yet, do you hear me?"
The dark eyes closed slowly then opened. "Soon.."
Jack felt the familiar prickle rise in the back of his nose but he refused to let his emotions go again - especially in front of Philip. He reached down and pressed his lips to Phil's forehead.
"We'll talk about this later," he told him firmly. A faint smile flittered over Phil's mouth - he'd heard Jack say that before - and he knew it was a stalling technique. Almost like if they didn't talk about it now, it wouldn't happen. The ailing man shifted slightly and Jack let his hands hover over him, ready to assist him if he needed it, but he soon settled again.
In another whisper, Philip asked, "D'ya.. tell?"
"Your parents? About us? No.."
Phil's eyes closed slowly again. Jack reached down and pressed his lips to the cool forehead again.
"Listen, babe.. I have to go to the bathroom and I want to use the one down the hall. I'll be right back.." He pointed to him as he added, "Don't go anywhere, okay?"
Phil smiled faintly again then listened for the door to close.
"Poppa?" He called softly but got no response. Blindly, and slowly, his hand searched the bedding until it found the nurse's bell.
Soon the middle-aged nurse entered the room and as she reached to cancel the bell she asked, "What can I do for you tonight?"
"Poppa.." Philip whispered. She frowned then realized what he wanted, turned and shook the father awake.
"Sir? You son is asking for you."
Jaheed leapt to his feet and stood over the bed. "Philippo?"
"Thanks.." Philip whispered again and the nurse left the two men alone. "Poppa.." He turned his face towards the concerned man, then wet his lips with a dry tongue, ready to tell him the truth.
*
As Jack walked back towards the hospital room he flung his arms around to work out the kinks in his back and shoulders. He gave a nod to the nurse as he passed by her.
"Oh, Mr O'Neill.." She said, stopping him before he went into the room. "What are you doing awake already?"
"Already?" He laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Still- might be a better description."
The nurse playfully scolded him and was about to wag her finger at him when the door burst open and Jaheed rushed past them. He stopped briefly and looked at Jack with a look in his eyes that the colonel hadn't seen before.
Fearing the worst, Jack raced into the room, believing that Philip had died in his absence while Jaheed hurried to the carer's room to wake his wife.
*
"You have got to be joking?" Jack exclaimed, totally surprised when Philip confessed to what he'd done. "How?" He ran both hands through his hair and gripped them together at the back of his head then squeezed his tight skull firmly.
"Simple.."
"I can't believe this!" Jack said as he looked at the man in the bed.
"Just.. said.. Love.. Jack.."
"Oh, Christ!" Jack hissed as he ran his hand over his mouth. "He understood...?"
"Yeah.."
Jack recalled the look in the corridor and knew that Jaheed had totally understood. He growled as he lowered his head and then rubbed the back of his neck again. "Jesus, baby... Why?"
"Grae.."
Jack sighed despondently then twirled on the spot as the door burst open and Rosa ran into the room. Jack expected Jaheed next, but the older man didn't come in. Rosa leaned over the bed and looked down at Philip.
"Is this true? You poppa tells me.. You.. You are like Graheed..?"
Jack arched a brow. Graheed? Obviously Graham's real name.
"M'ma..." Phil whispered soulfully and Jack looked at the woman then at his crying lover. He stepped up to the bed and carefully picked up Phil's hand. Rosa's eyes shifted to the touch then she looked up into Jack's gaze.
"You and my Philippo..?"
Jack swallowed hard as he nodded. Right now he'd rather be facing off with Jaheed than with her. With Jaheed he could balance the pain he'd inflicted on him with the amount of hatred he'd had to suffer with the past twenty-four hours. But with Rosa, a woman who was quiet, but loyal, caring and loving to 'Philippo', he had no way of equalizing the pain the truth was putting her through right now. He realized that he'd obviously mis-read her expressions earlier. She didn't know. This had all come as some horrible surprise to her.
"Listen," he said in a low, slightly cracking voice. "I won't apologize for being with Philip. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.. but.. I will apologize for the pain that we're putting you through right now.."
Rosa looked at him. "You ...love ... him?" She asked, her voice full of tears.
Jack nodded without hesitation. She clamped her eyes tightly then looked down at her son once more. Jack pondered whether that reaction was from relief or despair.
Aware he couldn't see her Rosa made it clear to Philip that she was talking to him. "Philippo, he makes you happy?" She asked, lightly touching her fingers to his bearded face to turn him towards her gently. The young man nodded slightly then closed his eyes as she stroked his face lightly. "I did not think such a thing was allowed, between men in your country?"
Jack grimaced and shook his head. "It's not."
"Yet you and Graheed are like that? Why is that - if it's so disallowed in your country? I know of such affairs with Greek boys... it is not uncommon really. Jaheed feared it so - you may now know.."
Dryly, Jack said, "Kinda gathered that."
"He has his reasons.."
"There's no reason for turning your back on your own child. I'm sorry - nothing will convince me of that.."
Rosa held his intense stare a moment then she said, "So if this is so wrong - why do you and Graheed live like this?"
Jack didn't have an answer for her. He shrugged as he said, "Human nature.." He glimpsed Phil's face and a flit of a smile tugged his lips. "It's a case of letting yourself fall in love with the person - not their gender.."
He looked up and held her gaze once more.
"Very dangerous," she said wisely then stroked the back of Phil's hand as she added, "Especially in the military.." The look in her eyes told Jack that she was well aware of the trouble such a lifestyle could create in a military.
Jack was surprised by her candor and found himself nodding to her comment. He started to see that Rosa was the 'smart' one out of the parents. Tears forgotten now, there seemed an air of knowledge about her that Jack hadn't noticed before. In short, and he knew that this had been an unfair assessment, but he realized that Rosa wasn't the simple wife he'd first imaged her to be, nor was she the dominated one. It seemed clear to Jack that she was the head of this family - not Jaheed, for all his bluster and posturing.
With a quirk of her ebony brow she said, "You are breaking many rules with Philippo?"
Jack nodded warily now. "Many.."
Her eyes narrowed then she shook her head. "Why?"
Jack stared at her a long moment. How was he meant to answer that? After a long, awkward pause he confessed, "Because he came into my life at a time that I really needed him, a time when I was lost and needed someone to guide me. I don't need that very often, Ma'am, you must understand..."
She nodded slowly. "I sense that."
Jack brow quirked as he confessed, "You have no idea how important this man is ... to me.. to others."
Rosa's eyes filled with tears as she smiled down at her bed-ridden son. Expecting more wailing, Jack was immediately surprised by her quiet words. "You make him very happy. He tell me he is in love many times in his letters to me.."
Jack's brow arched high. "He did?" He looked at his lover and wondered briefly what Philip had told her.
"He did not mention you by name, but he tell me, just the same," she said through her tears as she smiled down at him. Then she lifted her eyes to take in the man on the other side of the bed. Pointing to her temple, she told him, "When I see no woman around him, only you.. I started then to wonder.."
Jack grimaced slightly. Rosa gave a pitiful sigh as she muttered, "What will I do without my Philippo?"
"What will any of us do without him?" He retorted gently, his throat growing tighter with each word. The dark-eyed woman watched him a while then looked back down at her son.
"I have lost both sons..." She admitted without dramatics, just honesty.
"You still have Graham," Jack told her quietly. She blinked and a tear dripped from her round cheek and splashed onto the back of her hand on the bed.
Moved by her sad display, Jack wanted to reach across to her and reassure her, but his hand remained holding Philip's. "Maybe Jaheed will come to realize how unfair he has been?"
Rosa shook her head solemnly. "I do not think so."
With passionate pleading Jack asked, "How can he continue to hate Graham?"
"His hatred is very deep. He has much pride."
"I should think love came before pride, if you don't mind me saying," Jack scoffed.
"You do not understand Jaheed," she told him gently as she brushed her fingers over Phil's tight cheek.
"No," Jack said flatly. "I guess I never will, either."
Rosa looked up at him then down at her son when she heard him asked, breathlessly, "P'ppa?"
She sniffed as she continued to stroke Phil's cheek. "He is very upset.. He needs time to get used to this .. you understand.."
Jack nodded solemnly. "We're moving Philip home later though. He does understand that."
She shook her head. "I am sorry, but he will never step foot inside your home now," she told him honestly.
"It's Phil's home too," Jack said, gently but firmly. Rosa shook her head as she glanced down at her son when she felt his tears.
"Philippo," she said, bowing her face close to his. She started to whisper to him in Greek, and Jack stepped away, knowing that he needed to give the two of them some room for privacy.
*
Daniel stirred in his sleep. He was still in the sitting position with Graham tucked against his chest. As he rubbed his tired eyes he recalled drifting off to sleep kissing his lover. A smile burgeoned on his lips then he checked his watch. It was almost nine and Jack would be calling soon. He eased himself from the embrace and stood, uncurling his long body as he reached his arms up high over his head and yawned. He briefly looked down at Graham, who'd curled into a tight foetal position when he slipped from the embrace. With some reluctance at leaving his partner asleep looking so cute, Daniel headed towards the bathroom.
As he came out he saw Graham in the hall, waiting.
"Morning," he said with a smile.
Graham blinked slowly then tilted his head and asked, "Did I dream all that?"
Daniel's smile grew bolder. "I have swollen lips that will attest that it all really happened.." He said as he slipped his arms around the stout body. Graham smiled and touched his fingers to the slightly swollen lips.
"So you do.."
"Because of your stubble," Daniel said, eyeing off the coarse, dark hair.
"Just cos it takes you two days to get a decent growth," the darker man chuckled as he slipped the back of his curled index finger along the slightly stubbled jaw then pinched Daniel's chin lightly.
"You'll have to shave. You know that, don't you?" Daniel told him nonchalantly.
"Oh?" Graham's black brow rose slightly as his pink lips parted with a wanton smile. "Why?"
Daniel pressed a kiss to the sharp-tipped nose then whispered, "You know why!"
Graham chuckled then shrugged as he stepped back from the embrace. "Maybe I'll keep it.. a day.. or two... yeah.. two.."
The anthropologist rolled his eyes as he growled. "Thanks!"
His lover laughed. "Show some restraint, boy!" He ordered playfully as he stepped over to the bathroom door and held it while he leaned against the edge of it.
"I'd rather show you some razors!" Daniel muttered.
Graham laughed, stepped back into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Daniel lifted his eyes to the ceiling then rolled them before he tilted his head marched off towards the kitchen.
He was almost through with cooking when he felt arms snake around his waist from behind. Graham pressed his chin into his shoulder as he said, "This better?" He rubbed his cheek against the back of his lover's neck, showing off its smoothness.
"Much," Daniel said, serving out the two lots of breakfast. "You didn't use one of theirs though, did you?"
Graham reached around for his plate and said, "Relax, Dan. I know the precautions. There was a pack of razors in the vanity unit so I grabbed a new one."
As they settled at the table Daniel asked him, "You showered?" The wet hair was a dead give-away, even if Graham was in the same clothes from yesterday.
"Yeah-" The lieutenant broke his bread roll then buttered it. "I'm not sure when I'll get a chance again," he said, keeping himself busy with his food and keeping his eyes averted from Daniel's watchful gaze.
It was obvious that Graham had been thinking about the day ahead while he showered. His face was furrowed with a worried frown and his lips, normally small but full, were pulled into tight, white lines. He kept his eyes down as he devoured the food Daniel had made for him.
"That was great, Dan. Thanks," he said as he put his knife and fork together on the empty plate once he was done.
"No problems," Daniel said, realizing that he'd probably be relegated to cooking for the houseful over the next few days. Graham tapped nervous fingers against the table now as he prepared himself to stand up.
"I might go and check that fire. See that it's fully stoked for when he gets here.."
Daniel murmured an okay but he knew Graham hadn't heard it, and he didn't mind either. He quietly finished his food, collected up the plates then dropped them into the sink before he turned to empty the dishwasher. He was putting the breakfast dishes in there when Graham came in.
"Did Jack call while I was in the shower?"
"No," Daniel said, looking up at the distracted man. "He'll call soon."
Graham inhaled a deep breath then finally looked at his ex-lover. Suddenly he screwed his face up as he said, "I'm sorry. I'm just.. nervous.."
Daniel smiled gently at him. "I know and believe me, I understand. I don't want you worried about 'us' at all, okay. That's set. It's secure..."
Graham smiled gratefully. Daniel closed the door of the dishwasher and straightened up. "If you need me for anything, come to me. I'll hang back a bit, but you should know that I'm here for.."
He didn't get to finish his words before Graham stepped up and planted a very passionate kiss on him. When they pulled back the slightly stunned man wet his lips then said, "Kisses.. I'm here for kisses.. if you ever feel the need." He smiled when he saw Graham's bright eyes. Growing serious once more he added, "Or if you need to just talk."
The younger man nodded then said, "Thanks," before jumping when the telephone rang. The two men exchanged glances before Graham picked up the receiver from the wall. He mumbled quietly then hung up the phone.
"They're on their way.." he said as he fixed his wide, fearful eyes onto his lover. Daniel reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace, bowing his face to kiss the black hair. He heard the soft, "Oh, God.." as Graham wrapped his arms around him tightly.
<End of part 65>
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.