Part 74
Just as the door closed - unbeknownst to them - Jack pulled back from the hot, hungry kiss. He sighed, and the action was full of regret and disappointment at having to surrender the mouth so soon. Philip, his eyes taking a while to open because his mind was swimming with testosterone high, sighed out too. The breaths intermingled upon the men's lips then they pulled back even further and stared into the other's eyes.
"We shouldn't have done that.." Jack said with a small cough.
"No." Philip blinked slowly then looked past him towards the door. "Wasn't very wise.."
"Especially not 'here'." Jack twisted to check the door as well then added, "Least we got away with it."
"This time!" Philip said, his eyes still hooded and his voice was languidly slow. As Jack turned back to him, he lifted his gaze to meet the lighter brown eyes. "What did you mean? Not here?" Phil eyed the room that he'd noticed earlier wasn't familiar to him. He'd spent enough time in Penrose Community hospital before he got very sick to know the design of the rooms and the color schemes. This room didn't seem to fit in with any memory he had of that hospital.
Jack settled onto the edge of the bed as he said, "You're not in Penrose Community."
"Kinda gathered that," Philip said.
"Yeah, well-" Jack gave a sharp shrug as he said, "We couldn't really return you to Penrose because.. well.. because we couldn't exactly explain how you were suddenly better."
The younger man's eyes darkened. "Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be a recurring problem? How do I explain any of this - to others?"
"We'll work on that," Jack promised him.
"And in the meantime? I'm where?"
"You're in the Air Force's hospital."
That news surprised Philip. "How do you explain a civilian in a Military hospital?"
"Special Clearance. By Order of the General himself," Jack said.
"Oh!" Philip looked around the room then back at Jack. "So that kiss...?"
"*Really* should not have happened- No." Jack eased himself off the bed and stood, with his hands on his hips, as he continued to say, "We're going to have to cool things right off. Just until you come home."
A twinkle lit Phil’s eyes. "Well, I didn't start it - you did!"
Jack tried to remain nonchalant in the face of the younger man’s some hither look. "Hey, I didn't say you did, besides it's your fault anyway."
"Mine? How?"
"Because-" Jack shrugged as he tapped his fingertips against the blue bed sheet.
The man on the bed laughed. "Like *that's* an answer!"
Jack looked at him then laughed and tilted his head. "You got a better one?"
"Yes!" Phil pointed to him. "How about… you're insatiable?"
"Where you're concerned.." Jack said seriously and they both felt the charge between them and quickly grew serious again. Jack's lips twitched with a somewhat nervous smile as he looked around the room, as if at a sudden loss for words.
Philip watched him closely and as the other man turned back to face him, he lowered his face. "So, what do you want to do now?" Jack asked.
"Now that necking's out of the question you mean?" Philip began to tease him again and lifted his gaze to peer under his long, black lashes to see the smile on his lover's face.
"Well, you know, it *is* a way to kill time.." Jack said drolly.
"So's talking," Philip chided him playfully.
"Of course it is," Jack said with a shrug, "but you gotto admit.. necking is way up there for fun-time activities.."
Philip smiled amiably then he turned his face to look out of the window. "We could talk about the weather...... or-” He slotted his eyes to take in Jack once more, “we could discuss exactly what it was you were going to do when I died.."
"Ugh," the other man said slowly. "No. I don't think so."
Philip gave a quick smile as he nodded. He thought as much.
"We could shave you!" Jack suggested hopefully.
"No!" Philip said with a laugh. "We could not."
"You are thinking of ditching the beard though, aren't you?" The older man looked at him with hope in his eyes.
"I'm attached to it!" Philip teased as he scratched his fingers through the stringy black beard.
"You look like a reject from Jesus Christ Superstar," Jack groused.
"So?" Philip laughed cheekily then he shook his head as he said, "Why do I get the feeling that as soon as I fall asleep tonight you're going to hack it all off?"
"Actually-" Jack scratched at his eyebrow then said, a little hesitantly, "I'm not going to stay the night.. tonight."
Philip frowned. "Why?"
"Military hospital," was the only answer Jack gave and the younger man nodded that he understood. "One night I could get away with it, but not two."
So,” Phil said as he looked around the room then back at Jack, “Do you happen to know when I'm coming home?"
"Janet said something about tomorrow maybe, if she's happy with the results of some of the blood tests."
"Obviously she's not talking the Western Blot Test yet!"
"No, just some of the other ones."
Philip nodded and laced his hands together in his lap. "So that won't be too bad then, huh? I'll be home tomorrow night," He said as he looked at the other man again.
"I can't wait," Jack responded with a warm glow.
"You have to wait - longer than that I'm afraid," Philip reminded him glumly.
"Just having you home again is enough.. for the time being."
Philip gave a languid sigh as thoughts conjured in his mind brought a dazzling smile to his lips; "The two of us cuddled together in front of the fire.."
"Sounds good to me," Jack said with a burgeoning smile as well.
"Hmm, me too."
"Which is just as well I'm not staying tonight then. I've got a lot to tidy up at home."
A grimace marred Phil's handsome face. "I threw up on your floor, didn't I?"
"Ugh. Yeah," Jack said with a nod. "I'd forgotten about that actually. That's going to be pleasant to go home to!"
"Sorry."
"Hey, like I care!"
"I just can't wait to get out of here," Philip told him in a voice that grew serious. "To do all the things I knew I'd never get to do again."
"You knew?" Jack asked and he suddenly grew serious too as he wondered if Philip did know - at the time - how close he was to dying.
The younger man stared at him a long moment then he nodded as he lowered his face and admitted, in a strained voice now, "I knew."
"That you were dying?"
"Of course. And I also knew what I was putting you and Graham and Daniel through but there was nothing I could do.."
Jack heard the shake in his lover's voice. "Oh. Baby.. I know.."
"So that's something else we can talk about.. in front of that fire," Philip said with a quivering smile. "Maybe in a week's time, so I can 'show' you how thankful I am for what you went through for me.."
"You don't have to thank me!"
"Yes," Phil's voice hissed hotly as he stared at Jack. "From the night we met you fought to show me that it was okay to love again. And you stuck with me, no matter what shit I threw at you - especially in the last few months.."
"You couldn't help it. I knew that."
"I believe a lesser man would have walked away from me."
"Then a lesser man couldn't have loved you like I do.." Jack said solemnly as he reached to touch the cheek once more.
"Exactly." Philip smiled as he held the intense gaze. "And now I'm going to prove to you that being with me.. staying with me and sparing me the way you have.. it's all going to be worth it. I love you, Jonathan.." he whispered as Jack's thumb brushed his lips lightly. "I love you and I'm going to show you just how much.. as soon as I can."
Jack's breath hitched at the declaration of love. He smiled then shook his head as he reluctantly removed his hand from the furry cheek. "Jesus, babe.. Is it next week yet?"
Philip erupted with a chuckle as he said, "Patience was never your strong suit, was it?"
"Hey, you're the one with the promises, I'm just the starving man at the banquet.."
"I've been on a diet too you know!"
"Well, stop tempting fate.."
"Fate?"
"Me then," Jack said with a playful smile. "Stop tempting me! Here where I can't ravish you."
"Why Jack, you make it sound like you're going to eat me the minute I get out of here!"
"I'm going to toast you by the fire and serve you up with that wine you like so much!" Jack hissed at him making Philip laugh heartedly.
"Hoy boy!"
"Exactly. Now can we PLEASE talk about something else?"
The younger man chuckled devilishly then shrugged and said, "Like what?"
"That weather topic is looking pretty safe at the moment." Philip laughed again as he watched jack move over to the window. "See? How about this?" The colonel said as he pointed to the night outside.
"What about it?" Philip asked.
"It's raining," Jack told him, his smile inviting Philip over to him.
Without giving it any thought the younger man eased back the bedding and slipped out of the bed. As his feet hit the cold floor he heard a quiet, "For crying out loud.." and had taken three steps towards the window when he looked towards the man who'd spoken.
"What?"
Jack shrugged and waved his hand in the direction of his lover. "You! I'm not used to seeing you walking.."
Philip stopped and looked down at himself then he lifted his face and looked back at Jack. "I forgot.." he said quietly then laughed with surprise as he swept the gown aside to reveal his legs. "I forgot I couldn't walk.. could I?"
"I had to carry you.." Jack said, as he stepped closer to Philip.
"God, look at my legs!" The young man exclaimed excitedly as he stared down at them. "There's not a mark on them," he was breathless with disbelief as he reached down to stroke his dark haired thigh. As he lifted his face tears brimmed on his lower lash. "Jesus.. Jack."
The colonel gave a soft laugh as he cupped the handsome face. "Stand up again for me," he said.
Philip obeyed him immediately, straightening up as he watched Jack closely. The older man twirled his finger in the air, indicating for Philip to turn away from him so he did. He flinched when he felt Jack's hands on his back, then he jumped a little when he realised Jack was undoing the ties of the gown he was wearing.
"Hey, what are you doing?" He craned his neck to look back at Jack.
"Hold still. Jesus, you fidget.."
"You're trying to undress me in a damn Military Hospital. Go figure that I'm fidgeting!" Philip said and Jack laughed at his terminology. Carefully he smoothed away the shoulders of the top to reveal Philip's back.
"Jack!" Philip grabbed the front of the gown - like some woman in a B-Grade movie - before it could slide all the way off him.
"Oh, for crying.." Jack said as he ushered him into the small bathroom off to the side of the hospital room to quell the lover’s protests.
"What the hell are you looking at?" Philip asked, still trying to look behind him.
"Turn around.." Jack said.
"Why?" Philip asked but he turned, just the same. Jack carefully peeled the gathered gown from Phil's hands and revealed the front of the body. "Jack?"
"You're plumper.." Jack said as he stared at Phil's now exposed chest.
"I'm what? I'm …. FAT?" Philip quickly looked down at his body, worried that some weird side-effect had ballooned his body.
Jack's hand slide over the soft, furry chest as he said, in a mystified voice, "No, not fat, babe.. Just.. Your muscles.. they've.."
Suddenly they both heard Dr Frasier in the room say to herself, "Now where are they?"
"Shit!" Philip hissed as he tried to gather up the gown again.
“Colonel?” Janet’s voice called at the sound of Phil’s hiss.
"Janet!" Jack fought to stop his lover from redressing as he waited for the Doctor to come over.
“Jack?” She called again, her voice sounding a little closer.
"In here!"
"Jack!" Philip squeaked as he desperately fought with him to pull the gown back up.
"Colonel I was wondering where you.. Oh!" She scurried to a halt when she saw that Philip was practically naked in the bathroom. The poor young man was blushing, from head to foot, as Janet stared back at him.
"Look at this!" Jack said, as he pointed to Phil's body. The Doctor took a step closer.
"Oh my god.." She mumbled to herself as her fingers danced lightly over Philip's skin. The young man screwed his eyes shut tightly, partly out of sheer embarrassment and partly because he was terrified that his body was becoming unexplainably bloated.
"Do you think the device did this?" Jack asked her quietly.
"I'm not sure," She replied in an equally quiet voice then she looked at Phil's contorted face. "Philip?"
"Phil?" Jack said tapping him on the shoulder.
The dark eyes popped open and Phil said, in a tight voice, "It's a side-effect, isn't it?"
"Not really a side effect, I don't think. The device that we used on you has.. affected your body, or more to the point, your muscles," the doctor explained. Philip frowned then looked down at his body again.
He pressed his hand to his flat stomach then looked up, first at Janet then at Jack. "I'm not 'fat'?"
"Fat?" The Doctor laughed. "Far from it, Philip. Though I think your muscles are regenerating."
"This makes sense," Jack said as he placed his hands on Phil's shoulders and turned him around so that they could check out his back again.
"This makes perfect sense," Janet agreed. "We've seen it repair bone and realign muscles before. Sam said that Kendra used it to heal a broken wrist."
Jack nodded then looked at Philip, who was again craning his neck to look back at them. He pressed his hand to his lover's shoulder and said, "Looks like we got more than we bargained for with this device, Phil."
"It's not a problem though?" Philip asked nervously, not sure he fully understood what the other two were discussing.
"Unless you think growing back wilted muscles in record time is a problem.." Janet said with a reassuring laugh. She lowered her eyes and smoothed her fingertips over the small of Philip's back, just above the waist elastic on his underwear then she ran them up his spine, reaching up to the nape of his neck. "I'll have to report this to the General," she told Jack quietly. He nodded then his face split with a huge smile.
"Hey, isn't that great news?" He said as he patted Philip's shoulder. The young man turned to face them as he slipped his gown back up onto his shoulders.
Hesitantly he said, "I.. I suppose.." then gave his elated lover a withering smile. "Yeah.. it's great news.."
Jack rubbed his hands together gleefully as he followed Janet back out into the room. They talked in quiet voices while Philip went over to his bed, settling himself onto the sheets and stretching out his legs to look at the muscles there. To him he still looked willowy, his legs much thinner than they had been when he was well. Jack soon came over to the bed and Janet went to the other side.
"I'm going to have to run another series of tests on you, Philip," she said. He gave a soft sigh and nodded. Janet looked over at Jack as she announced, "Which will mean I'd like to keep you in here a little longer. I was thinking of letting you go home tomorrow, but now, well, if you can bear to, I'd like to keep you in for at least another forty-eight hours."
"Forty -eight.." Philip said disheartenedly as he shot a glance towards Jack. The older man gave a shrug in disappointment before looking back at the Doctor.
"I won't keep you longer than I have to. I'm sure you'd rather be at home," she said congenially as she patted his leg. Her gaze shifted onto Jack. "I'll have the tests started first thing in the morning. Right now I'm about to go home so if you need to ask anything, now's the time to do it."
Philip shook his head. "I can't think of anything - at the moment."
"Nothing?" She asked as if she found that a little hard to believe. "Oh well. I'm sure you'll have a tonne of questions for me tomorrow then."
"Probably," Philip mumbled then gave her a smile. "Thanks. For everything you've done."
She returned his smile as she patted his arm. "Wish I could have done more a lot sooner," she said.
"You were there when it counted, Doc," Jack said quietly.
She looked at him and gave a sharp nod. "It was Sam's doing. Not mine."
"Speaking of? Is she okay?" The colonel asked.
"Yep. Taking her home tonight as it happens," the doctor said with a big smile.
"I don't know how to thank her," Philip told her. Janet looked at him and shook her head as she tucked her hands into the pocket of her white coat.
"You won't need to worry about that. I'm sure she knows."
"I'd still like to find the words though," Philip said. Janet smiled as she rubbed his arm.
"I'm sure you'll know what to say at the time."
He gave a slight nod, not looking too confident about that, and then he looked at Jack. "Will you make sure she comes to see me some time?"
Just then the door opened and Daniel poked his head into the room. "Hello."
"Hey! There you are!" Jack's voice grew louder as he beckoned his friend into the room with a sweep of his arm. "I thought you'd forgotten about us!"
Daniel stepped into the room, tucking his hands into the pockets of his beige pants as he crossed to them. Graham followed him in and then Sam followed in behind him and was pleased to see Janet in the room.
Philip made sure he was decently covered with the thigh length hospital gown then he smiled at his guests.
"Yeah, time kinda got away from us," Daniel said, with a grin that Jack didn't understand.
"Well, you're here now and I'm sure you haven't come to see me.."
Graham gave him a quick glance before he stepped past him and over to his brother at the same time that Daniel said to Jack, "Gee, Jack. Whatever gave you that idea?"
"PHILIP!" Graham threw his arms around the man on the bed and hugged him tightly.
Philip whispered against the small ear, "Grae, I'm sorry about earlier."
Graham made a scoffing noise as he said, "It was nice to see you fiery again, to be honest."
They pulled out of the embrace and Philip said, "Still.. I was a little.. rude.."
The older brother laughed. "Like I care about that at the moment! I'm just glad you're *here* to be rude to me!"
The artist laughed now. "Well, that's not going to last forever!"
"Ah no. That was the first *and* last time," Graham playfully warned him.
"Thought as much! Didn't get away with it for long!"
The brother's laughed again then Graham hugged him once more. "It's so good to see you looking so well again!"
"I feel fantastic!" Philip said as he tightened his hold.
"You're.. squeezing.. the ..life... outta ..me!" Graham gagged and they laughed once more before Philip released his hold.
"Sorry!"
"Geez, you got your strength back quickly! No more fighting over the comic section of the Saturday paper with you!"
"I'll gladly share it with you, how's that?"
"Yeah, like that's gonna happen!" Graham snorted in humor.
"Mind if I interrupt?" Daniel asked as he came over and ended their reunion.
"Daniel!" Philip threw his arms wide and the anthropologist hesitated before he leaned into the hug.
Jack stood back, watching as Daniel and Philip talked while hugging. As he folded his arms over his chest the irony of the fact that he was probably the last person who could hug Philip and get away with it at the moment occurred to him. Still, he didn't begrudge the other's their moment of embrace as he watched them gather around the bed. He tilted his head as he heard Philip address Sam now, who was hovering just behind Daniel's shoulder.
"I hear I have you to thank," Philip said to her. Jack and Janet exchanged quick glances then the colonel lowered his chin to his chest as he felt a sudden overwhelming rush of emotion fill him.
Janet seemed to sense it and patted his shoulder as she said, "He'll be fine."
Jack looked at her and nodded. Then he gave an abrupt laugh as he raised his face to the ceiling and shook his head. His attention was caught when he heard Sam say, "It was one order I was happy to carry out."
"Hey," he said, pulling himself from his thoughts and emotions to join the party around the bed. "I thought you enjoyed carrying out all of *my* orders?"
Sam and Daniel exchanged looks then the major said, "Pft! Yeah sure.." Then with a little wink she added, "Sir!"
"Thought as much," Jack said, full of dignity. Philip rolled his eyes then he smiled as he watched Janet surreptitiously slip her hand into Sam's.
"As much as I'd hate to break up this party," she said, looking up at her beautiful lover. "I have to be at the base by oh-nine-hundred tomorrow."
Sam nodded. “And we have an oh-eight-hundred start,” she said, addressing Daniel. He groaned but nodded. Sam turned back to Philip. "We'll catch up again soon."
"When I'm out of here," he said.
The Major smiled and winked again. "Sure."
"I'll invite you all around - for dinner.." Philip declared.
"Err, Phil," Jack said, as he gave his lover a sweet smile. "You can't cook."
"No, that's very true," Philip agreed with a devilish grin. "But you can."
The others laughed as Jack shrugged then said, "Well, that's true!"
"In that case we'll bring the dessert," Sam said, indicating to Janet. The Doctor smiled as she gave a sharp nod.
"And I'll bring wine.." Graham said.
Philip gave a sigh. "Good. Because you introduced me to wine.. so I know it will be a good one."
"I'll bring.." Daniel frowned then shrugged. "What?"
"You can buy the second bottle of wine," The lieutenant suggested.
Daniel looked at him then shrugged. "Okay. You tell me which one to buy."
"Of course!" Graham laughed and Philip watched the way the two of them exchanged looks from opposite sides of the bed. He quickly looked at Jack but there was no hint in his lover's face as to whether the two men were being polite for Phil's sake, or there was actually something going on between them.
"Now that that's all settled," Janet said as she stepped over to the door and pulled it open for Sam.
"Night Philip."
"Night, and thanks again, Sam."
Sam gave him a wide smile before patting Daniel on the back and turning to go. She stopped next to Jack while she said something that Philip didn't hear then she left the room, following Janet down the hall.
<end of part 74>
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.