Part 99
Link to Slida's Graham Simmons Website
The restrooms replicated the opulence of the rest of Shrivers restaurant. Just inside the door were long, flowing burgundy and gold-braided drapes pulled back with a tie but still acting as a curtain to keep the sterile white room inside from view when the door was opened. The facing wall was completely mirrored, with a faint gold embossing over the glass to diffuse the reflection and to add to the lavishness of the restroom. Against that wall were ten immaculately white hand basins; each decked out with lavish gold fittings, a white and gold china pump dispenser of liquid soap and a small stack of gold-colored embroidered hand towels designed to be single-use and dropped into a chute beside the basin after use (then laundered for the next night). Opposite this, and at a right angle to it, was a wall of individual urinals, separated by modest dividers of frosted glass, which gave the user as much privacy from the person beside them as possible. Along side that was an archway that led down two steps to the alley of stalls; each self-enclosed 'rooms', larger than the usual size and completely private thanks to the full-length doors.
Philip stepped his way down the alley of open stalls towards the one at the end with its door closed. He paused in front of the white door and was about to knock on it when he heard the lock inside click open. Checking over his shoulder he pushed on the door and stepped inside.
Jack was sitting astride the closed toilet seat, his elbows resting on each thigh and his face tilted up to watch the other man enter the cubicle. As Philip locked them in once again Jack got to his feet, slipped his arms around the body turning to face him then smiled.
"Got my hint then?" He whispered in a low, husky voice.
"You do subtle well."
"Can I have that in writing?" The older man asked as he threaded his long fingers into the curls at the back of Phil's head. With a gentle tug he angled the handsome face upwards slightly.
The dark eyes scanned Jack's face intently then, slowly as his lips parted, Philip pulled closer and pressed his mouth to his lover's. The passion that followed would have most certainly resulted in sex at home, however neither man lost sight of where they were and after long, sensuous kisses, they reluctantly surrendered the other's mouth and pressed their foreheads together with a hearty sigh.
As Jack stroked the stubbled cheek with his thumb he whispered, "Answer me this, how could it have *not* affected our relationship if I'd said no?"
Philip swallowed and with champagne-sweetened breath he brushed his lips over Jack's mouth as he said, "I'd have been hurt, but things could have continued on as they are, with us living apart."
"Is that what you call it when all your stuff's only in *one* room of my house? Living apart?"
The young man smiled and rubbed his bristled chin over Jack's chin. "Of course. Wait until you see how much I take over the rest of the house *now*."
Jack closed his eyes as he tilted his face and fitted their mouths together perfectly. The languorous kiss made both men breathless once more then they pulled apart when they heard the door open and someone else enter the restroom. Jack pressed his finger over Phil's lips, which was a bad move as the younger man snaked his tongue around them and sucked them into his mouth with a wanton look in his cimmerian eyes. Flutters filled Jack's stomach and groin as he stared into the dark gaze then he closed his eyes, caught his breath and enjoyed the sensation whilst they waited for the other man to leave.
Once the intruder left Jack reluctantly pulled his fingers from the moist heat and rubbed the tip of his nose against his lover's as he told him, in a breathy whisper, "We should get back out there or they'll think we've left and give our table away."
Philip nudged against the warm palm as he said; "Yet suddenly, I'm not hungry anymore."
Jack smiled at him. "You will be.." He kissed him again, turned and let himself out of the toilet.
As he stood before the hand basin, washing his hands, the door opened and another restaurant patron entered, nodded at him then turned his back as he stepped up to the discrete urinals.
When the toilet flushed behind him Jack lifted his gaze to watch Philip come up the corridor and go up to the basin beside his. The young man tossed his head, sending the curls from his eyes as he checked out his reflection while he scoured his hands with soap and water. He looked up, met Jack's gaze in the mirror as he flicked water from his hands then he picked up a clean towel, wiped his hands and tossed it into the slot provided. "Ready?"
"Yeah, sure, yabetcha," Jack said as he followed him from the room.
As the two men passed the foyer of the restaurant Philip stopped Jack and said, "Isn't that Daniel?"
Jack frowned. "Sure is, wait here," he said as he went into the foyer.
"Hey Danny!"
"Jack!" Daniel smiled when he saw his friend. Graham got up from the sofa he'd been waiting on.
"Graham," Jack said with a nod then he put his hands on his hips as he looked at his friend again. "What's up?"
"Our table's not ready," Daniel explained. "Even though I had reservations for eight."
Jack checked his watch. It was a quarter past. By now Philip had joined the small party, and greeted the others.
"What's the problem?" he asked his brother.
"Table's not ready, probably won't be for a while, according to him," Graham told him with a jut of his chin towards the Maitre d'. Philip and Jack exchanged glances, both shrugged at the same time then grinned at each other about being on the same wavelength.
"Why don't you join our table?" Jack suggested. Daniel and Graham exchanged looks, the older man a little more concerned for his partner than himself.
"I don't mind, if you don't mind, Dan?"
With a shake of his head Daniel had confirmed that he didn't object so the twosome became a foursome at the table. Jack had to smile when their young waiter now had two lots of eye-candy to look at - Philip and his brother!
Philip had shifted around to Jack's right side and Graham sat opposite him, leaving Daniel to sit opposite Jack and to the left of his lover- a good choice considering his partner was left handed and was able to stroke his inner thigh at regular intervals throughout the dinner.
Jack looked sideways at his friend and asked, "So, how are you feeling today?"
"A lot better than I was yesterday morning, let's put it that way," Daniel told him with a quiet smile.
"You and me both," Jack replied with a nod then watched as Daniel glanced at his partner. "I'd imagine you're feeling a lot better too now, Graham."
With a deep inhale of air, the young lieutenant simply nodded then glanced at Daniel as he squeezed his thigh under the table.
Philip looked around at all three of them and said, as he laid his napkin in his lap, "Why do I get the feeling I've been left out of something here?"
Daniel's mouth dropped open slightly and he stammered, "It's.. it's.. just..'
Jack cut him off. "Work, Philip. That's all it is."
With an understanding nod, Philip held a hand up and said, "It's cool, guys. I understand."
Jack leaned towards him as he said, in a low voice, "We'll drop the subject."
"Not on my account," Philip told him.
"Of course it's on your account," Graham told his brother, "Because it would be rude if we didn't, considering you know nothing about the work we do."
"Deep Space Telemetry," the youngest man said, with a look in his eye that told all three others that he didn't buy that for a minute, and never had. "I'm sure it's fascinating!"
He poured out some more champagne then tilted back in his seat as his waiter passed by. The young Latino almost burned a hole in the expensive carpet in his attempt to turn around on the spot to answer Philip's beckon. "We'll have some more champagne and a whiskey and-" He looked at Daniel- "What do you want to drink? Whiskey or will you join Jack and I in the champagne?"
"Uh, whiskey, thanks," the anthropologist said, then glanced at the waiter before frowning and looking at Jack. He could see by the look on Jack's face that the older man was as aware of the hunger in the waiter's eye as he was.
"I'll be right back, Sir," the Latino told Philip in a soft voice as he bowed slightly and went away.
"So, anyway," Graham said, scanning the faces of the others as he made an abrupt topic change. "What's on your agenda tomorrow? Any plans?"
"A few," Philip said with a mysterious smile. "How about you?"
"Shopping. For Christmas presents - so you'd better be nice to me," his brother told him as he put his napkin onto the table, pushed his chair back and got to his feet.
"Starting already?" Philip asked.
"Need the bathroom," the standing man said.
As he went off Philip turned towards Jack and said, "Maybe I ought to go and tell him our news?"
Jack shrugged. "Though the other patrons might start to think you have a bladder problem."
Philip gave a comical laugh at that, pushed his chair back and stood up. "Excuse me, Daniel," he said before going to find his brother.
With rapid blinks Daniel twisted his face towards Jack and said, "What news?"
"Philip is moving in.. with me."
"I.." Daniel frowned then said, "I thought he already lived with you?"
"Not.. officially," Jack said.
"Oh!" Daniel's golden brows arched high. "Officially?" Confusion danced all over his face then his brow furrowed as he stared at the candle a moment before he looked at Jack by a tilt of his head. "But.. you're a married man, Jack."
"Not that kind of official but the 'gutting out the apartment and taking stuff that's his and dumping it all over my place for forever' kind of official."
"Oh!" The young friend nodded then paused for a moment before nodding again. "That's great news, Jack. I'm very .. pleased for you. Though I know Graham will really miss him."
"Oh, I think he'll have other distractions," Jack teased. Daniel gave a slight smile and bowed his head.
They were silent for a few moments, both averting their attention from the other. After a long pause and some more champagne Jack asked, "So how is it going? You said on that Piranha planet..."
"Pihanas," Daniel corrected him about the name of the aliens that had abducted him.
"Yeah, that damn place," Jack mumbled then tilted his chin and went on to say, "Anyway you said something about a battle?"
Daniel gave a quick smile as he bowed his head.
"Did I say something funny?" Jack asked.
"No, it's just... Remember all that stuff I said about him fighting his.. feelings?"
Jack nodded.
"I was right. He was."
"And yet here you are?"
As he wet his lips quick Daniel leaned towards Jack and said, "It would seem I can decipher ancient hieroglyphs and understand a language that hasn't been spoken out loud for thousands of years, but I don't possess the ability to read my partner with any accuracy."
After a stunned silence Jack shrugged and said, "And all that means?"
"That what I thought were indicators of him pulling away from me .. were in fact.. evidence that he was coming closer.."
Jack frowned then shook his head like he was trying to clear it. "Daniel what the Hell does all that mean? I swear I don't understand you sometimes.."
"He's in love with me.." the young man blurted out in a hushed voice. Jack stopped talking immediately and stared at him, fully grasping the importance of those few words to Daniel's life.
"See!" He said as he held his hands out wide and a grin smeared across his face. "What did I tell you?"
"Yes, yes," Daniel muttered under his breath, "Must be nice to be right-"
"Well," Jack was starting to say but Daniel spoke over the top of him, "every once and a while." Then Daniel glanced up as the waiter placed his whiskey in front of him, leaving Jack no opportunity to retort.
"Do you care to order, Sir?" The waiter asked efficiently but not enthusiastically. Jack noticed a distinct difference in his approach now that Philip wasn't at the table.
"Uh, no, not right now," Daniel told him. "Come back in a few minutes please. When the others return."
The waiter nodded then Jack tapped his arm for his attention once more. "You're still holding up our order so that the four of us can eat at the same time, aren't you?"
"Yes Sir. We are."
Jack gave the polite, but thoroughly disinterested, man a smile then watched him walk off. Pointing after him he said, "There goes a man who loves his work."
"I guess we can't all save the world.."
"Hey, in my book, serving a good steak is up there with saving the world!"
Daniel rolled his eyes and bit back his smile. "No doubt." He looked up when Graham and Philip flanked him and stood at their chairs.
"Oh?" Jack said with a smile as he looked between the two brothers. "Back already?" It was obvious he was anticipating Graham's reaction now, and as the lieutenant hadn't bothered to sit down yet, it was unclear how he felt towards the news Philip would have just given him.
Before he sat down Graham held his hand out to Jack and said, "Congratulations, Jack." The officer took the offered hand and shook it firmly then Graham proceeded to sit as he said, in a low voice, "I guess this is the part that I tell you that if you break my little brother's heart you'll have me to deal with." Jack released the handshake as he returned Graham's direct stare. He could see, mingled within the humor, some very real truth in the young Lieutenant's words. He responded with only a nod then sat back in his seat.
Philip rolled his eyes at the two men in his life, folded his arms onto the table before him and deliberately turned his attention to Daniel beside him. "So, Daniel, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"I'm going shopping with Grae," he said with a point towards his partner.
"Oh, well," Graham muttered and shot his brother a look from under his lashes. "I promised Phil I'll help him pack a few things tomorrow."
With an arch of his brow Daniel said, "Oh."
"You don't mind, do you?" Graham asked.
"No, of course not, I just.."
He stopped talking when the waiter approached the table.
"Care to order now, Sir?" he asked with renewed vigor.
Daniel rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, I'll have the Steak Dianne, please," as he thrust the menu at the waiter.
"I'll have the Veal." Graham tilted his face and met the eyes of the young waiter.
With a smile the waiter nodded and said, "Very good, Sir," as he collected up Graham's menu then left.
Graham's eyes shifted to the face of his lover but Daniel, even though he was aware of the gaze, didn't look at him.
"Well, I really don't need to pack my stuff tomorrow, do I?" Philip suggested helpfully after an awkward pause. "It's not like it's going anywhere. I can take what I need as I go and, maybe the next time you and Jack are on a long mission, I can go and get the rest of my stuff then."
"You want to move into Jack's, you should take all your stuff, Philip," Daniel muttered then he recalled all the troubles the two men had overcome to reach this point. He suddenly lightened up, waved his hand and said, "Look, I'm sorry, of course you'd ask Grae to help.."
He felt the squeeze of his thigh beneath the table. He finally looked up into his lover's eyes. "But we had plans too, so we'll go shopping like we said, and I'll help Phil another time."
Daniel blinked, nodded then shrugged.
Philip smiled as he sat back in his seat and slotted his eyes towards the man beside him, quietly sipping his champagne. "Besides, I'd rather spend the day having sex with Jack."
The sound of Jack's choking on his drink made all the other's laugh and the tension was finally broken. Jack wiped his napkin over his mouth and nose then said, "A little warning next time," in a husky voice.
"What? And miss out on a priceless reaction like that?" Philip teased him. "No fear!"
Jack coughed to clear his aching throat then he gave his lover a pained smile as he jutted his chin. "Sweet!"
*
After the main meal Graham excused himself and went to the rest room. Daniel sat forward in his chair and looked at Philip beside him.
"Look I know this is probably an awkward subject, considering my earlier reaction but.." Daniel rolled his head to the side slightly and made a clicking sound in his cheek.
The artist smiled. "Out with it Dan, what's up?"
In a lowered voice Daniel asked, "Now that you're moving out of the apartment, does that mean you'll be taking your art work with you?"
Philip gave a slight shrug then looked over at his lover. Jack returned a casual shrug despite rampant images of being unable to move around his house because of all of Philip's paintings, sculptures and 'mess'.
"I suppose.. why?" the artist said.
Daniel made a soft cough as he shifted in his seat and muttered, "Especially one particular painting-" he looked straight at Philip now- "from your living room wall."
The young man took a second then realized Daniel was referring to the painting of Graham and Blair. "Yeah, of course!" he said as he slapped his hand over his forehead. "The picture of Blair!"
Daniel gave another awkward grimace then smiled.
"Oh, shit!" Philip peered out from under his fingers. "Shit, why didn't I think of that earlier?"
Daniel shrugged then lifted his brow and met Jack's gaze.
"I'm sorry, Dan," Philip said and the derivative name made Jack look at his lover. He'd never get used to hearing his friend get called 'Dan'. "Of course I'll take that painting! Jesus, it hung on the wall all the time that the two of you were together last time.."
"I know," Daniel said quietly with a roll of his eyes.
"I'm really sorry. I guess I just didn't see it anymore. It wasn't until Jack came to my place that first night that I can really say I even saw that picture since hanging it on the wall. It's just became background."
"Well I'm sure you'll find somewhere wonderful to hang it," Daniel muttered as he met Jack's eyes once more.
"I'm sure we can find a space on the.. uh.. basement wall," Jack told him with a smile, indicating that he understood Daniel would like the picture to be stored well away from view.
"I'll pack it away, Daniel, don't worry about it," the artist assured him.
"It's a great piece of work," Daniel tried to make him understand but Philip held his hand up and silenced him.
"It was completely thoughtless of me to leave it there so long. Forget it. Consider it gone, as of tomorrow."
"What's gone, as of tomorrow?" Graham asked as he returned to the table.
All three exchanged glances then Philip said, "My art work from the apartment. I'll pop by and take some back to Jack's-"
"Our place," the older man reminded him gently.
Philip grinned at him and tried out that notion for himself; "Our place."
"Oh," Graham said, sounding disappointed. "Not all of it I hope?"
Philip shot a brief look at Daniel then focused on his brother. "Not all, just certain pieces."
Graham smiled then flicked out his napkin before he laid it in his lap. "Good. I'm quite attached to a few of those pieces."
Philip nodded wordlessly then looked up when Daniel got to his feet. "I'll be right back," the anthropologist said, before heading off towards the restroom. Jack and Philip exchanged looks. Graham waited for Daniel to go then said, "Look, Phil, I didn't want to bring this up in front of Dan, but will you do me a huge favor tomorrow?"
"Oh?"
"Will you take the Blair picture? I'm not sure he's even noticed it but it's on the wall and it's really inappropriate now that I'm with him. Do you mind?"
Philip wet his lips as he bit back a smile. "No, no of course not." He shrugged and met Jack's relaxed gaze. "I'll find somewhere for it in my new place."
Jack arched a brow but remained silent.
With a relieved sigh Graham said, "Thanks. I've been meaning to talk to you about it for a while now, but this is the perfect opportunity. I didn't want to make a big thing of it, you know, but I did want it out of the place."
"No, that's fine. I'll... I'll put it in the basement, how does that sound, Jack?"
The older man held his hands apart and shrugged. "Perfect."
Philip smiled and rubbed Jack's leg under the table. "See?" he told his brother. "All settled."
"Thanks." Graham smiled then picked up his drink.
<end of part 99>
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.