Daniel moaned softly as Mac pulled back from him. It was a small attempt at protest but the young man realised he needed to breathe as well. His fingers touched Mac's malleable bottom lip, red and swollen from their intense kisses, then he looked up into the soft brown eyes. Licking his lips, he gave Mac a breathtaking smile.

"So, anyway.....then he was going to spend a few days at my place," the trouble shooter continued his previous conversation without missing a beat and as if nothing had happened to interrupt the flow of conversation. He pushed up into a sitting position, leaving Daniel lying on his back on the sofa beside him. The anthropologist laughed loudly and scratched his eyebrow as he watched Mac give him a quirky smile. Shaking his head now, Daniel reached out and touched his fingertips to Mac's cheek lightly then broke up laughing again.

"So, yeah," he looked up with a little squint in his eyes, "what *were* we discussing again?"

Mac shook his head. "I was telling you about the time Pete and I took a skiing holiday and I was trapped in the avalanche.." he stopped and gave a slight frown, "you're not gonna get all.. like.. protective of me again and pull me down there again, are ya?"

Daniel smirked as he struggled to sit back up again while untangling his legs from around his lover's waist. "The thought of you buried under all that freezing ice, well, it just gave me an incredible urge to kiss you," he gave a soft, throaty laugh, "to warm you up."

"Kiss? You call that a kiss?" Mac laughed as he drained his glass of its orange juice.

"Yeah," Daniel sighed contentedly as he brushed his fingers over Mac's mouth lightly, "I call that a kiss."

"You nearly ripped my top off," Mac laughed, readjusting his shirt again. Daniel shrugged.

"Had to get your attention some how," he said, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Mac shook his head.

"You've always got my attention," he said in a breathy whisper while he brushed some of Daniel's hair behind his ear. Daniel gave a sweet smile as he nudged against Mac's hand, then he gripped the front of Mac's top again and pulled himself to kneel over his lover's lap. He studied the face before him, taking in every mark, every pore, every line that adorned his lover's skin.

Breathing softly, Daniel ran his lips across Mac's cheek and heard the deep groan from his handsome mate. Pulling back, he kissed Mac tenderly, his lips barely brushing Mac's lips, his tongue only teasing the tip of his tongue. Mac ran his hand up Daniel's back and into his hair, gripping the head and trying to force the kiss to deepen, but Daniel was in control. If Mac's tongue entered his mouth, he retreated and soon Mac learnt the rules of the kiss, letting Daniel be the one to kiss him, while he resisted all urges to kiss him back.

Breaking the kiss gently, Daniel kissed up Mac's cheek, around his eye then across his forehead, making him kneel up a little to reach which then gave Mac the opportunity to tighten his grip around the slender man's waist, allowing him to rub his nose against Daniel's stomach. Pulling back, the younger man smiled down at Mac.

"Oh, please, Dan, what am I going to do tomorrow night?" he sighed, bringing one hand up to rest across his own forehead as he stared into the pools of blue before him. Daniel shook his head and sat back onto his lap.

"I don't know, probably the same as me," he gripped the side of Mac's face as he stared into his eyes and brushed his thumbs over the pink cheeks, "go to bed early, hope that you can sleep and pray to whatever God you believe in that you can dream..."

Mac blinked quickly. "I don't just want you in my dreams..." he confessed candidly.

Daniel caught his breath and stared at Mac, then a sad smile filled his face. "It's all we're going to have.."

Mac nodded, then he touched Daniel's face again, his fingers pawing gently at his lips and then he touched the tips of the white teeth as he stared at the soft moist mouth. Daniel's tongue flirted with the fingers now, and Mac smiled.

"I'm thinking of taking a shower, want to join me?" the younger man whispered. Mac shook his head.

"Love to watch though," he smiled. Daniel stepped back off his lap, pulling the trouble shooter to his feet, then he continued stepping backwards until he reached the bathroom.

After a few more hot kisses while he assisted his lover in getting undressed, Mac went and sat on the closed toilet lid, slouching back so that his shoulder rested on the cistern and his head leant back on the wall. He smiled as Daniel rubbed the soap over his body.

"So, Pete came and stayed with you..." Daniel tried to pick up the thread of their earlier conversation. Mac gave a slight roll of his eyes as he remembered about the kidnap at the Chinese Take Out, how he escaped by squirting sauce into his kidnappers eyes then the rescue of Pete from the Cleaning company.

"Oh, you know," he said in an almost bored voice, "the usual," he shrugged. Daniel looked past the curtain at him.

"Usual? Meaning?" he frowned. Mac smiled as he watched the shampoo edge its way slowly towards Daniel's blue eye.

"Meaning he drove me nuts," he sat forward now, his elbows resting on his knees as he clasped his hands between his well parted legs, then he looked up, with a little shrug. "He was asking for things, like ginger ale, shaved ice not cubed, blankets .." then adding, like it was the strangest thing in the world, " and he *hated* my tofu casserole..."

Daniel gave a deep throaty laugh as he turned back under the spray, rinsing his hair clean.

"You like tofu, Daniel?" Mac asked.

"I don't mind it, but it's not something I go out of my way to eat," he called back. Mac smiled. Yet another thing they could enjoy together, if only they had the chance.

The telephone rang and Daniel poked his head out of the shower. He looked over at Mac.
 
 

"Will you get that?"

"Me?" Mac pointed to himself as he got up. Daniel shrugged.

"It's probably Jack," he returned to his shower as Mac headed out the room.

"Hello.."

Daniel was twisting the knobs of the shower off when Mac returned to the room.

"Who was it? Jack?"

"No, someone by the name of Sandburg?" Mac frowned, then watched Daniel's reaction.

"Oh," the anthropologist just gave a quick nod and droplets of water sprinkled from his long hair. Mac's eyes squinted a little as he watched his lover wrap a blue towel around his waist then grab a white, smaller towel from the other rail and started rubbing it through his hair. Mac followed him into the bedroom and sat on the bed while Daniel went to the chest of drawers and pulled out a clean t-shirt and boxer shorts.

"Anyway, so then we.." Mac wasn't sure where he was headed with his sentence, he just knew that for the first time he felt awkward around Daniel. He just wasn't sure why.

"He's an old lover.." Daniel said quietly, cutting him off. Mac looked at the back of the anthropologist and then watched as he turned to him slowly. Frowning, Daniel lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "Why did I tell you that?"

Mac shrugged.

Daniel placed his hand on his bare chest and shrugged. "I.. just.. needed to.." he said quietly. Mac nodded.

"It's okay. All I have is a name," he tried to smile, recalling Daniel saying the same thing to him earlier. Only when Daniel said it he didn't seem to mind, but Mac was full of mixed feelings at the revelation.

Sighing softly, his stomach sucking in slightly, Daniel shook his head as he gathered up the clothing. As Mac watched him sit next to him, he said quietly, "he seemed a little upset that I was here actually..."
 
 

Daniel screwed his eyes shut then bowed his head.

"You wanna talk about it?" Mac frowned. Daniel looked up, staring into the dark eyes and shook his head.

"No."

Mac nodded. Another awkward silence followed when the men just sat and gazed at each other.

"You want a coffee then?" Mac felt like he needed to be doing something.

"No."

Nodding a little uncertainly, Mac ran his tongue over his bottom lip as he looked at Daniel. "What do you want?"

Daniel's lips parted but nothing but a soft sound came out. Finally he said, "I don't know..." as he lifted his eyes from Mac's mouth to his eyes. The trouble shooter nodded. Somehow, he understood that feeling perfectly.

Hesitantly, Daniel leant over and placed a gentle kiss on Mac's mouth. Mac placed his hand on Daniel's head then pulled it back quickly. Both men laughed gently into the other's mouth.

"Yuck, that's wet," Mac laughed as he wiped his palm on Daniel's thigh. The younger man smiled then he laughed like the tension had suddenly been lifted from him.

"You know what?" he turned his head quickly, spraying Mac in a few droplets of water. Groaning his protest, Mac cringed as Daniel shook his head wildly, hoping to wet him more.

"Yeah, thanks..." Mac wiped his hand over his face, removing the moisture. Daniel laughed then looked at him. They went quiet again, only this time it wasn't awkward and both men enjoyed seeing the smile on the other's face.

"What?" Mac asked, finally answering Daniel's earlier question.

"I think I will have that coffee," he tilted his head and gave Mac a sweet smile. The trouble shooter rolled his eyes as he got up.

"You know, coffee at this time of night is not a good thing. How 'bout I make us a hot chocolate?" he had stopped by the door and turned, his arms slightly splayed from the side of his body in question. Daniel smiled as he looked at him. He looked so damn good in his black jeans, white high top sneakers, a dark grey 'grandpa' collar shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a white long sleeved undershirt that reached his wrists. Resisting the urge to run over and tackle him to the floor, the anthropologist just nodded.

"I'd love a hot chocolate," he answered him finally. Mac nodded and turned towards the kitchen, smiling to himself because he knew Daniel had been sizing him up and it made him feel good.

Daniel was still pulling the t-shirt on over his head as Mac entered the room again. He could smell the faint fragrance of the deodorant, mingled with the soft scent of the oil burner which was alight beside the bed. The room was, again, inviting. The over head light off, the candles and the oil burner provided a soft light, creating an intimate and romantic mood. Placing the two cups beside the bed, Mac looked over at his lover.

"You like marshmallow?"

Daniel nodded. "In hot chocolate? It's a must!"

Mac laughed and nodded his agreement before dropping one in each cup. Daniel rounded the bed and stood before him, taking the offered cup in both hands.

"Thanks," he said in barely a whisper. Mac blinked then tilted his head a little, flashing Daniel one of his cuter smiles.

"Anything for you."

The anthropologist smiled. "Then you should know that the way to my heart is through chocolate.."

Lifting his brow in surprise, Mac sipped his hot drink.

"You a chocoholic?"

Daniel gave a little shrug then laughed as he nodded. "Chronic.."

"It's not good for you, you know," Mac said, then smiled as Daniel just shrugged.

"Lot's of things aren't good for me, but I still enjoy them," he said with a suggestive smile. Mac tilted his head a little, grinning wildly.

"Oh?"

"Never you mind," Daniel laughed and went around the other side of the bed, putting his cup down.

The trouble shooter put his cup on his side table, watching as Daniel rubbed his eyes under his glasses.

"You tired?"

Daniel nodded then looked over at him, glad to see the smile on Mac's face and not a look of disappointment. Instead the older man started removing his watch and putting it beside the bed, then he sat down and tugged at his laces, kicking his sneakers off. Standing again, he unhitched his belt, then unzipped his jeans and pushed them down his long legs, stepping out of them and placing them over the end of the bed, folded neatly. He started unbuttoning his shirt as he swung back around to get his cup, noticing that Daniel was watching his every move. His hand hesitated on a button as he looked across the bed. Daniel gave him a smile then pulled back the thick, fluffy quilt and climbed into bed. Mac continued to remove his shirt then moved to the end of the bed.

"Grab a hanger," Daniel indicated to the wardrobe and Mac nodded. He then hung the shirt on the end of the bed and came up to the side, pulling the quilt back and climbing in beside Daniel.

The anthropologist smiled and Mac gave a soft laugh.

"What?"

"You intending to sleep in these?" he asked as he lifted the glasses off Daniel's face. Pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, Daniel laughed gently.

"I get so used to wearing them, I forget I am," he shrugged. Mac turned and placed them next to his drink and felt Daniel tucking himself against him as he did.

"Look at us, we're like an old couple," Daniel laughed then looked up to meet Mac's brown eyes. Reaching to pick up his cup, the older man shrugged.

"It's nice though," his free hand brushed some damp strands off Daniel's cheek, causing him to look up at him and smile.

"I'm glad you feel that way too," he mumbled, as his fingers caressed his lover through the top he was wearing. He relieved Mac of the cup he was holding, reached out and put it beside the bed, then he shuffled down under the thick, fluffy quilt, leaving room for Mac to shuffle down beside him. They entwined themselves around each other, Daniel's head on Mac's chest, the older man's lip against the tall forehead. They seem to fit together so naturally, both seeming to know, without hesitation, their place in the body jigsaw.

Daniel enjoyed lying there, listening to the strong heart beat, and feeling the gentle rise and fall of his lover's chest. He'd missed having someone to cuddle up to in bed at night, like this, without sex, and without being drained and too tired to enjoy the simplicity of it. He tried not to think of the following week, when he could be god-knows-where, facing god-knows-what. It could be exciting, he could find something so incredibly rare and unique that it would turn him on his ear, or he could be sloshing through more forests, facing more enemies. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip around Mac and snuggled a little closer to him.

Mac wasn't even aware of his long fingers gently caressing his lover's face as he kissed his forehead lightly every so often. He was too content to just lie there, warm in the bed and with that body against his, their legs entwined, his foot gently brushing against Daniel's. He tried not to think of the following week, which he knew was going to be spent alone, in an abandoned shack, no heating, no running water.. no Daniel. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his face against Daniel's a little more.

He heard the soft moan from his partner and looked down. Daniel's upturned face was open to him. His eyes were soft, dilated almost beyond blue, and his mouth was opened slightly, the pink tongue moved restlessly inside. He looked back into the dark blue eyes. Without a word they came together, kissing tenderly, almost too scared that any sudden movements would shatter their cocoon.

With a soft sigh, Daniel rolled onto his back, while Mac held his hands over his head by the wrists, gently kissing his face and neck. The younger man arched towards the kisses, sighing as he felt the warm hand slip under his top, and glide up his warm skin. Feeding it through the neck hole on Daniel's top, Mac's hand cupped the strong jaw line, his eyes searching the boyish face, trying to make sure that it was etched in his mind totally.

Releasing his loose grip on the wrists, he shifted, propping himself up onto his elbow so that he could look down at the man below him, sunken into the thick pillows and cushions. Daniel slowly lifted one hand up to cup Mac's cheek, the other pressed against the soft cloth covered chest. Their eyes locked together and Mac sighed airily, his fingers tangling in the damp hair.

They smiled at each other, realising that talk or sex weren't what was required. Instead Daniel then held his arms open and Mac cuddled against him, almost a mirror image of how they were laying previously. This time it was Daniel's fingers that caressed the face and long hair, his lips that brushed the forehead, leaving light kisses on the skin, while Mac laid and listened to the strong heart beat, hoping that it continued to beat for this gorgeous man, for many years. Many years that he wouldn't be with him.... Instinctively, he tightened his grip on Daniel.

Daniel awoke a short time later, realising that he'd drifted off to sleep in the warm cocoon. He looked down at Mac and could see that he was sleeping, his face so peaceful, so beautiful. He smiled as he gently placed Mac onto the cushion beneath him, then he edged over to the side cabinet, reached out and extinguished the oil lamp, before snuggling down against Mac again.

o0o

Daniel groaned softly as he rolled over, his arm flinging out to slap at the empty side of the bed. Instantly he sat up and looked around.

"Oohh, not a good sign.." Mac smiled. Daniel's sleepy eyes looked around and eventually found him sitting in the window, one butt cheek on the window ledge, his long leg bent to fit inside the frame while the other long denim clad leg reached down to touch the floor with a bare foot.

"What's not?" Daniel frowned as he rubbed his face. Mac slipped off the window ledge and stepped across to the bed. Daniel looked at him as the bed dipped under his weight.

"Waking up because the other half of the bed's empty," Mac said. Daniel frowned.

"I did?"

Mac nodded. "your arm came out, slapped the bed then you instantly sat up!"

Daniel blushed a little. "Oh," he nodded. Mac caught him under the chin and made him look up again.

"I'm just thinking of you here, handsome.." he shrugged. Daniel arched one brow.

"Really?" he said, a little doubtfully. Mac smiled then rubbed his thumb across his own bottom lip as he shrugged.

"Okay, so I woke up earlier and *you* were gone.." he shrugged. Daniel frowned then vaguely remembered a trip to the bathroom. He smiled.

"Well, then this is a problem we both seem to be suffering with.." he said. Mac nodded and moved to lie on the bed, allowing Daniel to curl up against him. Mac brushed his face against Daniel's hair, capturing the silken strands in his mouth and on the stubble on his chin.

"You make me not want to go.." he whispered. Daniel tightened his grip around the solid waist.

"You have to go," he said, hoping to hide his own pain. Mac nodded and kissed the tall forehead softly.

"Having to go and wanting to go, are two different things."

Daniel swallowed then looked up. Was Mac feeling as badly about this as he was? The trouble shooter lowered his eyes to stared down into the pools of blue.

He laughed softly. "It's okay Dan, I *am* going.."

Daniel's lips moved slightly but Mac laid his finger over them. "Don't say it. don't," he shook his head.

"What do you think I was about to say?" Daniel asked.

Mac shook his head and turned to look out the window. "I don't know, but it would have been a lie.."

"Oh?"

Mac nodded. "You would have pretended that you didn't want me to go, all the time reassured that I had no choice but to leave," he looked down at his hand that was rubbing the blue sheet now. "It's easy to be heroic when you know there's not a chance in hell of me staying.."

Daniel wet his lips. The statement was interesting. So was all this Mac being *heroic*, knowing he couldn't stay and wanting to put the onus onto Daniel?

"Actually," he sighed, "I was going to say, don't forget to look me up when you come through next week...." He sat up and as he did, he pushed himself out of Mac's arms. The older man ran his hands through his hair as he sighed heavily.

"I've done it again!" he mumbled. Daniel scratched at his cheek lightly then shrugged.

"You want some coffee?"

Mac pulled his hands away from his face to look at him. "No," he smiled. Daniel smiled too then reached out and touched his cheek. He didn't want Mac thinking he was some love struck puppy here, even though that was pretty close to how he did feel. He'd come away from too many of these kinds of relationships the weaker party and he didn't want to be weak in Mac's eyes. Something made him care more than that.

"Listen, this is really good.. I think you're incredible, but yes, you are going today and as much as I'd really enjoy you staying longer.. it's not going to happen. There's no point in either of us wanting more than this, because this is all there is to have.." he shrugged. Mac nodded.

"You know, normally it's me doing the loving and leaving," he sighed. Daniel laughed.

"Well your reputation's intact, you're doing it again, only this time it might be different. I knew we had a time limit.."

Mac bit his bottom lip as he looked at the scientist. "you're right."

Daniel smiled.

"This time.. it *is* different.." he sighed. Daniel smiled as he shook his head. How many of these empty promises had he heard before?

"Mac, don't do this.. to you or to me.." he started to get up but the other man gripped his wrist tightly and Daniel turned back around to him.

"Please, let's.. let's just stay here, a little longer.."

Daniel nodded and snuggled closer to him again. Mac sighed as he inhaled the smell of Daniel, the warmth of his body pressing against him. Daniel wrapped his arm around the waist and placed his head on his chest. Their legs entwined together.
 
 

"So I guess you can't tell me where it is you're actually going to today?" Daniel mumbled, his lips brushing the chest as he spoke. He heard and felt Mac's soft laugh through the chest beneath his ear."No.. Any chance in you telling me what you're up to tomorrow?"
 
 

Daniel grinned and looked up at him. Both men knew that their lives had to remain a secret from the other. Mac knew about Teal'c, but that was as far as he was allowed to know.

Shifting to reach, Daniel then stretched up and his lips brushed Mac's softly. The older man gave a quiet groan as he shifted down the bed a little, making himself come into alignment with Daniel, their legs entwining more, their arms engulfing each other tightly. Mac placed his hand on the side of Daniel's face, his fingers splayed and his hand cupped the entire side of his head as they deepened the kisses. Daniel felt the twitch against his own groin and sunk his tongue deeply into the sweet mouth further. Instinctually, Mac rolled Daniel onto his back, his knees separated the golden haired thighs as he pushed further down the body below him, kissing and nibbling the chest, seeing the evidence of their other sessions of love making in the tiny red marks that now littered the pale white skin.

Mac's head was screaming inside. // God, Daniel! Why do I want you so much?// but he kept his mouth busy, thereby preventing himself for embarrassing both of them by actually asking that question.

Daniel's back arched as Mac's tongue teased his nipple while his teeth grazed its surface gently. He thrusted his groin against Mac's thigh and was rewarded with a deep, throaty chuckle from his lover.

"Yes?" he asked as he looked up. Daniel's hooded eyes looked down at him then he smiled broadly.

"Sorry, you just do that to me."

Mac nodded slowly then looked down at the groin. "You do it to me too, handsome.." he said as he swiftly slid the boxer shorts down and engulfed the ripe erection into his mouth. Daniel gasped as he thumped the bed with his fist, then his hand spread open, then closed around a fistful of bedsheet as Mac sucked and tongued at the hot, weeping tip.

A deep groan escaped the younger man as he felt Mac pressing his thighs even further apart with his hands, then he felt the thumbs brushing the very sensitive strip of skin that joined the thighs to the groin, right inside the inner thigh. Suddenly Mac lifted his face off and buried his nose in the fold of the thigh, his tongue licking the tender skin, eliciting a deeper groan from Daniel. Looking up, he saw the expression of pure pleasure on the young man's face. He caught his breath. Daniel Jackson was perhaps, the most beautiful man he'd even been with, since Murdoc, and he was so damn responsive to touch. As if reassuring himself of that thought, Mac brushed his thumb over the skin again and smiled as Daniel bit his bottom lip lightly, and instinctively. Mac again covered the hot groin with his mouth, and Daniel bucked deeply inside at the warm moist sensation.

Mac positioned himself so that Daniel was able to thrust up, and the scientist seemed to know what was wanted of him immediately. Bending his legs to get a footing on the mattress, Daniel began to thrust his hips up, effectively fucking Mac's face while the trouble shooter took great pleasure in watching that flattened stomach, the hips, the tops of the thighs, all working to make Daniel push deeply into his mouth. Daniel's mouth was opened, his throat arched so that Mac couldn't see his eyes but he could just *tell* that Daniel was enjoying this. Taking him close to the edge, but not close enough that he tottered over, Mac pulled himself up to a kneeling position. The younger man's chest heaved as he tried to fathom what was happening. He looked down to see Mac, kneeling up on his knee, his blue jeans tight across his thighs and waist.

Daniel rolled his eyes, then saw Mac starting to undo his button and zip, so he sat up immediately, capturing Mac's hands in his own while he stared up at his face.

"I'll do this," he smiled. Mac tugged his hands away and nodded. Daniel dropped his face to look at the unbuttoned jeans, half unzipped and revealing a tantalizing trail of dark hair to the groin. His tongue came out and licked up the flat, tight stomach, all the way to the belly button. Mac groaned deeply, his body moving closer to Daniel instinctively and his hands coming to rest on the head at his groin. Daniel nuzzled his face against the metal zip, pressing his tongue onto the cotton boxer shorts inside, feeling the fuzzy hair's that surrounded that prize. He reached up and gripped the sides of the jeans then slowly tugged them down. Mac loved seeing how Daniel's upper arms bulged at this simple movement and was glad that his jeans were tight enough that it actually took a little force on Daniel's behalf to get them off. He ran his hands over the biceps of his lover, enjoying the manliness there. Daniel didn't look up but remained concentrated on his target. Mac popped out of the confines, ready for action and Daniel seized the opportunity to rub his face against the long thick shaft as he pushed the pants down to the knees. Mac crawled backwards off the bed, the two men were now locked in a stare as he shuffled the jeans off his legs and stepped out of them. Daniel smiled sweetly as Mac crawled back onto the bed towards him, eventually forcing the younger man to lie on his back as he crawled all the way up to his mouth.

"Do you have any idea how much I want you right now?" Mac purred as he gently nibbled along Daniel's jaw line, enjoying the roughness of the stubble on his own soft lips.

"Why don't you just show me.." Daniel sighed and focused on Mac as the older man pulled back. He searched the deep pools of blue once more then shook his head as a wave of almost uncontrollable lust filled him.

"If I took you the way I wanted to, I'd probably hurt you."

Daniel felt himself twitch at the suggestion. "Do it.." he whispered. Mac frowned and Daniel pushed up and pressed his groin onto the hovering man. "Do it!!"

Mac pushed him back and knelt over the top of him, staring down at the submissive face. He then reached out and picked his belt up off the end of the bed, and Daniel eyed it cautiously then looked up at him again.

"Are you going hit me with that thing?" he frowned. Mac shook his head as he held his hand out. Daniel, still frowning, held his hands out and Mac smiled. He waited and finally got the nod from Daniel before wrapping the soft, worn leather belt around the anthropologist wrists. Pulling it tightly he asked in a guttural voice, "not hurting?"

Daniel shook his head and allowed Mac the freedom to gently lift the hands over his head and tug him up to the bed head. Then Mac reached down for something under the bed, and as he straightened up again he was pulling grey duct tape from the roll. Daniel looked up over his head to see Mac wrap the leather belt around the bed end and secure it there with the tape.

"That's .. err.. not going to mark my bed head, is it?" he asked nervously. Mac laughed.

"I have you tied to a bed head, I can do anything I like to you, and all you're worried about is your bed head?"

Daniel smiled. "It's an expensive bed head," he said. Mac licked his lips and shook his head. "Besides," Daniel said, making him look at him, "I trust you."

Mac looked at the man below him and reached down and kissed his lips so gently Daniel shivered.

"You can trust me. I'm not going to hurt you Dan.." he sighed sftly and watched as the younger man nodded.

"You can hurt me a bit, because I trust you," he said. Mac frowned slightly, in his wildest dreams he'd have never pegged the shy anthropologist as the sort that like a little slap and tickle. He thought he'd been joking about the whip marks.

Dropping the roll onto the floor again, Mac shifted down towards Daniel's groin, his hands ever so lightly touched the surface of the pubic hair, and Daniel shivered again.

Mac now moved between the golden haired thighs, lying flat onto his stomach. Daniel craned his neck to see what he was doing but all he could see was the top of the blond head. He sighed and laid back, staring up at the ceiling. He didn't have long to wait before he felt Mac's tongue lick at his sac while his hand gently cradled the heavy balls inside. Daniel squirmed then he felt Mac holding his thighs down, not allowing him any movement. He laid still and then felt Mac lick him once more. He twitched, but he didn't move.

Mac held the shaft lightly between his thumb and middle finger, then ever so slowly, he gently pulled the foreskin back, revealing the pink head inside. Daniel groaned deeply as he was revealed, then felt the soft rush of air as Mac blew over the sensitive tip and finally, he was engulfed in the man's hot mouth.

Daniel bucked as he groaned, his face pushing into his own biceps as he enjoyed the incredible sensation, but it was only going to get better. Mac pressed his finger, unprepared, into Daniel's hot body and the younger man yelp a little at the unexpected intrusion then he settled and enjoyed the feeling of Mac finger fucking him slowly. He could hear the soft groans of Mac's own pleasure and the deep breaths he inhaled as he continued to suck and fondle the shaft within his mouth.

Then Daniel felt a hand sliding slowly up his body, the rough skin rubbing against his soft skin, fingers curling to grip a handful of flesh tightly, leaving red finger marks when he released it. Daniel flinched at the pain that accompanied each time Mac screwed his hand into a tight fist, but it was dulled by the sensations below, or did it add to it? Daniel wasn't sure. He felt Mac hitting his prostrate now that the exploration now over with and he wanted to arch his back but when ever he tried to get a foot hold on the mattress, Mac knocked his foot away with his knee or elbow.

Daniel groaned and was rewarded with another strike on the prostrate, which made him groan more, which earned him more. Daniel was almost biting his biceps muscle now as he started to spiral, his ears filled with the loud sound of blood rushing, his body starting to tremble. With a loud groan, Mac pulled his face up, gasping for air as he stared down at Daniel, seeing the sweat that marred the beautiful brow. He smiled as his hand rubbed the inside of the younger man's thighs.

"Didn't hurt?" he asked, seeing the reddened stomach and the slightly raised scratch marks.

"A little.. sometimes.." Daniel nodded and Mac smiled more, his finger still slipping in and out of his lover's body. Without another warning Mac had gripped Daniel's hips, managed to lift him while at the same time, he forced himself into the unprepared butt.

"Je.. sus!' Daniel screamed loudly, his hands tugging at their leather constraint. Mac stopped then waited for Daniel to unclench his eyes.

"You said I could.. a little."

Daniel swallowed and looked up at him. They remained in a locked stare until Mac started to move, slowly and gently at first and then Daniel's head rolled to the side again, his lips brushing his own arm once more.

"Oh, man, that's the sexiest thing I've ever seen," Mac sighed, his eyes wide. Daniel opened his eyes and looked at him. Then he turned his face and ran his tongue up along his muscle. Mac groaned and pushed in deeply, right up to his base. Daniel flinched then wrapped his legs around Mac tightly. The older man held a hand out and Daniel sucked eagerly on his fingers.

"Damn you, Dan. Why do you have to be so goddamn perfect?" he thrust as hard as he could.

"Because of you," was the panted reply. Mac frowned and rolled his eyes when he saw Daniel smiling sweetly at him. He shook his head and within a few shaper thrusts, he was spilling his load inside the sheath that he'd placed on earlier. Daniel watched as Mac's head threw back, his tongue came out to touch his bottom lip and the veins in his throat stood out at the sheer energy the volcanic orgasm consumed.

"Oh.. Holy.. " Mac sighed softly as he felt the rush ebb away slowly. He dropped his moist forehead onto Daniel's soft chest as he strained to keep himself off the very hard erection below him. He looked up and Daniel could see he was wiped.

"Untie me.." he said, a little concerned that Mac would fall asleep and he'd be left there until he woke again. Mac nodded then started unwrapping the tape, glad to see it didn't cause any damage to his lover's bed head, then he was about to undo the belt when Daniel told him not to.

Mac frowned and looked down as Daniel clasped his tied hands around his own erection.

With a deep groan that resembled the words, "Awww.. man." Mac shook his head and watched in amazement as he was starting to be turned on again already by the man beside him.

"Dan.. Dan," he shook his head, but Daniel was too busy concentrating to hear him.

Mac shook his head once more as he watched the body beside him strain then lift into the air slightly as a stream of white cum spurted from the tight red tip. Daniel fell heavily to the bed again, and Mac knocked his hands away, using his tongue and mouth to clean him up, and to milk him dry. Daniel groaned as he ran his hands through Mac's long hair, the belt end falling across Mac's face, adding perfectly to the moment for him. When he felt happy that Daniel was completely satisfied, he reluctantly gave up the flaccid penis and looked up into the heavily hooded eyes.

"Oh, yeah, like I'm even more eager to leave you now," he half laughed half moaned as he sat next to Daniel, one leg bent up and his elbow resting on his knee. With a gentle laugh, Daniel held his hands up and Mac undid the strap, rubbing the red and slightly scratched skin then kissing the inside of the wrists softly.

"Thank you," he whispered soulfully as he looked back down at his lover.

Daniel smiled and ran one hand up Mac's leg, following it down to the valley between the body and thigh then up the chest, like a roller-coaster ride. "Thank you! I think that was the most intense one I've ever had."

The troubleshooter smiled. "We are pretty intense, huh?"

Daniel ran his finger onto Mac's cheek, touching it along the bottom lip then he nodded, unable to look Mac in the eye now, scared that his feelings would be betrayed and the trouble shooter would see that he'd started to take this weekend too seriously.

"Dan.."

"Yeah, Mac?"

"You don't fancy coming to LA for Ö"

Daniel groaned softly, not out of annoyance, but because the temptation was real for him, but he thought Mac was only joking. "My jobs here," he said quietly.

"We do have archaeologists living in LA you know."

The younger man laughed, still not able to meet the gorgeous brown eyes that he felt boring into him right now. "Yeah, but here I'm more than that."

Mac shrugged then nodded. Clearly Daniel was not interested in pursuing something more. "Sorry, I had no right to push."

Looking up finally, Daniel frowned as he saw what he thought might have been real feelings in Mac's eyes. His mouth moved slightly but then Mac turned away before actually saying anything else, or making a bigger fool of himself than he felt he already had.

Daniel cupped his hand under his lover's chin and turned his face towards him. "You don't need to apologize for wanting to be with me." he said softly and was surprised by Mac's forlorn sigh.

"But I do. I would give *anything* at this moment.."

Daniel silenced him by placing his finger over his mouth and Mac nodded.

"As you said, it's easy to be heroic and say all the right things, when you know that I know there's not a chance in hell of you staying here," he mumbled as he looked down at his fingers, nervously entwining with themselves.

"Dan, I wasn't meaning.." Mac reached out to touch his face, but the anthropologist looked away and Mac's hand fell to his chest instead.

"You live in LA, I live here," he said quietly.

Mac nodded again, then added with a nonchalant shrug, "and we hardly know a thing about each other."

Daniel nodded his agreement, "because we can't."

Mac was also nodding now, then he looked up. Daniel watched as he tilted his head to the side. "But not because we don't want to, is that right?" he frowned.

Daniel's blue eyes blinked slowly and he caught his breath softly as Mac lifted his hand to his face once more.

"You feel it too, huh?" Mac asked in almost a whisper after a short silence. Daniel screwed his eyes shut then finally allowed himself to admit to it with a slight nod.

Then he lifted his eyes to the ceiling, sighing heavily. "But I'm scared to, because you have to go," he also whispered.

"I can always come back." Mac's hand now gripped the side of Daniel's face, his long fingers tangling within the dark hair, his thumb stroking down the dark auburn sideburn. Daniel nudged against the hand and closed his eyes tightly.

His voice was strained when he whispered, eyes still closed, "it seems to be that the people I get attached to are always leaving me, and they never come back, Mac.."

"I'm coming back, Dan," Mac said, so assuredly that Daniel's eyes opened widely. The trouble shooter nodded as he closed in slowly. "I'm coming back," he kissed him gently. Daniel's hand came up and gripped Mac's wrist, his own thumb brushing the thick blond hairs on Mac's forearm as they kissed tenderly.

Their lungs craved oxygen before either of them were ready to give up the kiss. But slowly they broke away, thumbs returning to the gently caresses forgotten in the heat of the kiss.

"One week.." Mac said, holding one finger up at Daniel now, who smiled and nodded.

"One week.." he said.

"And I'll be back and we can see where this thing takes us then, and we'll have some idea if it's just a lot of 'heat of the moment' stuff, or if something's really there.." he held his hand over his heart now. Daniel nodded. "Because I think that there might be, for me, but I don't want to put anything on you. okay?" Again the younger man nodded. "And if I get back here next week and you say, sorry Mac, then I'll just keep on going back to LAÖ."

Daniel sighed deeply, feeling his whole body shivering lightly. "What if I ask you to stay?" he asked softly.

Mac smiled. "I'll be honest with you, I've never been one for commitment nor for staying in once place for very long.."

Daniel smiled gently. "Yeah, I remember you saying that, that's kinda why I asked."

Mac nodded. He didn't want to belittle what they were feeling with empty promises. "All I can promise is to come back here, and we'll have to see - see what we feel, if anything, next week."

Daniel nodded and this time, when Mac kissed him, he felt a sudden charge through his body, knowing that the man kissing him felt something *real* for him.

o0o

Daniel headed through the apartment to silence the ringing doorbell. He'd dreaded this moment all morning. He nodded silently as Jack and Teal'c entered the apartment.

"Hey, Danny.." Jack patted his arm as he headed through to the living room. Daniel slowly shut the door and followed them in.

Mac was bent over his rucksack, dressed again in black denims, white hightop sneakers and a grey flecked jumper under his brown bomber jacket. He straightened up as Jack and Teal'c came into the room.

"Hi guys," he smiled then turned and headed back to the bedroom for something. Daniel was biting his bottom lip as he stood next to Jack. The colonel turned and eyed his friend up and down.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

Daniel blinked quickly as he adjusted his glasses then shrugged. "Once he's gone, I will be.. it's this.. leading up to it.. you know?" he said, his eyes squinting as he fought his inner emotions. Jack nodded and patted him on the back before pulling him a little closer and squeezing his shoulder. Teal'c looked over at the pair of them.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Daniel looked up and nodded, a weak smile on his lips. Mac returned and Daniel felt Jack's arm slip from around him as he stepped over to his brother.

"So, you got everything then?" he asked. Mac looked into the bag then up at Jack."Yeah, I think I have," he shrugged. Jack nodded then he and Mac gave each other a hug. Daniel took the moment to slip quietly from the room. Jack pulled back and looked his brother in the eyes.

"You alright?" he asked. Mac shrugged.

"I've had easier departures," he gave a weak smile. Jack nodded then stepped back, assisting Mac on with the rucksack. Daniel came back out of his room, pulling his leather coat on. He patted his chest for his keys then bent down and picked them up from the table. The four men felt the tension in the air as it hung thickly around them. Daniel wasn't making eye contact with Mac at all and that concerned the colonel.

"Look," he said, lifting the rucksack off Mac's back again, "why don't Teal'c and I wait for you two downstairs?" he said, handing the heavy pack to his lover. Teal'c lifted it effortlessly with one hand. Mac and Daniel both looked at Jack with a look of gratitude. The colonel smiled and ushered Teal'c from the apartment.

"Take your time.." he said as he pulled the door shut.

Both men stood numbly for a moment, not looking up then Daniel gave a soft sigh, which made Mac look at him.

"I'm coming back.." he said once more. Daniel looked over at him, his eyes squinted a little, his fight with emotions making him weary. He just nodded and Mac stepped over to him and pulled him into a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around him, sighing loudly as he buried his face against the trouble shooter's warm neck.

"Oh.. god.. Mac.." he sighed forlornly. Mac screwed his eyes shut as he gripped Daniel tightly, too afraid to let him go.

"I'm coming back.." he whispered then pulled Daniel's face back off his shoulder. "You do want me to, don't you?" he frowned.

Daniel's cheeks were flamed red with emotion. He nodded firmly, his brown fringe bobbing into his eyes. "I don't want you to go.." he whispered, not caring if he sounded weak or not anymore. He gripped Mac's face, not wanting the moment to end.

"I have to go.." Mac said, "But as soon as I'm done, I'm coming back here and you'd better be here..." he laughed softly. Daniel gave a soft laugh then realised that he just might not be.

"What if.." he frowned then pulled away and went to his desk and pulled out a key. He went back to Mac. "In case I'm.. away.." he said, pressing it into the palm. Mac wrapped his long fingers around it and nodded.

"I hope you're not," he sighed. Daniel gave him a look that clearly stated he hoped that too, but that it might be a possibility.

"I'll be thinking of you and that incredible bed.. all week.." Mac smiled. Daniel raised his brow as he gave a grin now, wrapping his arms around the small waist, his groin pressing against Mac's lightly.

"I'll be thinking of you *in* my incredible bed, all week," he laughed softly. Mac smoothed his hand down the side of Daniel's face then pulled closer for a last kiss.

They seemed to grip each other tightly at the start, both too scared to let go but as the kiss progressed, as it became less intense and more gentle, they released their grips and allowed their hands to roam one last time. Daniel ended the kiss with his hands tucked into Mac's back pockets.

"Come on, we'd better send you on your way, or else.." he smiled. Mac touched his fingers to Daniel's lips once more.

"Oh, don't give me an 'or else' option," he laughed softly. Daniel pulled Mac against him and the trouble shooter felt the awakened groin. Rolling his eyes he laughed.

"Dan..."

"Come on," Daniel laughed loudly now then pulled back. He started to the front door as he wrapped the long leather coat around him, concealing all evidence. Mac took one last look around the comfortable apartment then followed him out.

o0o

They reached the garages for the resident's cars at the back of the block of apartments, but there was no sign of Jack or Teal'c. Daniel frowned, his breath vaporizing as he blew out, then he smiled and reached down and opened the roller door. Mac followed him in and they discovered the windows on the car all steamed up. Daniel opened the door and the two men inside pulled apart.

"Oh, finished already?" Jack asked, opening the door beside him and getting out. Teal'c got out the door Daniel had opened and the two friends exchanged smiles.

Mac stepped up to Jack as Daniel occupied himself with getting the rucksack out of the front seat of the car.

"Listen, Jack, I'm really glad you introduced me to Dan.." he led his brother down the drive a little as he pushed his bike towards the road.

Jack smiled. *Dan????* He could never think of Danny as a Dan...

"Well, I knew he was perfect for you..." Jack teased and Mac raised his brow.

"Me or you?" he said. Jack's eyes narrowed then he licked his bottom lip lightly.

"You," he repeated but Mac still wasn't convinced.

"Anyway," he waved his hand at his brother, "I got the experience and for that, I am *eternally* grateful to you..." he said, watching the look on Jack's face. He wasn't sure if it was envy or something else, but it was definitely *there*.

Jack nodded. "Now you're off home to Pete..." he said wryly Mac frowned a little and Jack clarified his statement, "I mean, after this next job you're off home to Pete..."

Mac shook his head then he tilted it back to eye his brother carefully. "I'm off to do a job - elsewhere - and then I'll be coming back through town..."

Jack lifted his brow with interest. "Really?" he grinned. Mac nodded.

"Really..."

"Are you seeing Danny Boy again..?"

Mac half smiled- half laughed and then nodded. "Quite a bit of him, hopefully..." he smacked Jack's shoulder as the officer started grinning madly.

"What?" Jack feigned innocence but neither believed it.

"and *then* you're off home to Pete..." Jack insisted.

Mac shook his head as he looked at Jack. "Will you give up on the Pete angle? It's not going to happen, okay?"

Jack shrugged.

"Look, I may *love* Pete like a father..."

"Oh, there's names for relationships like that.." Jack quipped and it earned him a nudge from Mac's shoulder.

"There's just no way.." Mac shook his head.

"Come on.. why not? Let me tell you something. There's something *really* nice about being in a steady relationship.." Jack lifted his brow knowingly. "you know, setting down roots, having someone to come home to every night, someone who knows who you are and still loves you for it..."

Mac nodded his head for once. "Maybe, but definitely not with Pete.." Jack shook his head and Mac shrugged. "I'll be honest with you, okay?"

Jack nodded.

"Dan's...." he sighed very deeply, "He's just *incredible*..." he smiled then it broadened as he saw Jack's expression. "He's intelligent, funny, good looking, exciting to be around, incredibly well built..." he stopped when he saw Jack screw his face up, "I mean in the body..." he clarified. Jack nodded then smiled, "but then again, I was right the first time too.. "

Jack groaned as he shook his head. "Stop it! I have to work with this guy, I don't need your perverted images of him in my head, for crying out loud.."

Mac laughed, "why will they interfere with your own images of him then?"

Jack stared at him again, more seriously this time. "What do you mean?"

Mac shook his head as he shrugged. "Seriously, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you..."

Jack frowned. Mac steered the conversation to different grounds, picking up the thread of their earlier conversation. "Besides I couldn't possibly look at Pete in the way you're suggesting, I like.. well I like younger men, athletic, spontaneous, hot.. toned bodies and ...." He shrugged then sighed forlornly, "everything that Dan is..."

Jack grew serious. "Listen, all this weekend I've been worried about you falling too fast, and dragging Danny with you..."

Mac shook his head. "I really care about him, Jack, don't you see that?"

Jack's eyes narrowed then he nodded. "Yeah, I do.. *now.*..."

Mac sighed. "I haven't felt this way in a long time... not since Murdoc..."

Jack's head titled at the mention of the name. "Murdoc?"

Mac shrugged. "He's a guy I was seeing for a few years..."

The colonel's brow arched. "Oh? Oh, so you are capable of settling into a normal relationship then?"

"Normal?" Mac screwed his face up a little as he shrugged. "Let's just say, I'm seriously thinking about settling into one now.." he sighed.

Jack bit his bottom lip as he studied his brother. "Seriously?"

Mac nodded. "Seriously. We'll have to see what happens this week.."

With a nervous jerk of the head, Jack frowned. "And Danny feels this intense?"

Mac smiled at his brother's interest. "I think so.."

Jack stared at his brother a moment then pulled him into a hug. "Listen, seriously, if you need me for anything, just call..." he mumbled into Mac's ear and felt the other man nod.

"Sure," Mac smiled as he pulled back.

Jack cupped the face between his two hands. "I mean that.."

Mac nodded then smiled. "I know. I'm out of touch until I get back here next week."

"and somehow I don't think I'll be seeing much of you then either," Jack teased. Mac laughed then nodded.

"Well, that's up to your friend, but if I had my way, we'll be pretty invisible..."

Jack nodded. "Only hope we don't get sent.. away.. for a few days.." he said seriously and Mac frowned.

"So there's a real possibility of that?" he remembered the key Daniel gave him.

Jack nodded, his expression one of regret "Yes, there is."

Mac rolled his eyes then nodded. "I understand.."

Teal'c assisted Daniel with the closing of the roller door then they went and joined Jack and Mac by the kerb.

"So, you're coming back this way next week?" Jack made it sound like an announcement. Mac nodded and glanced over at Daniel who was standing looking down at his feet. Jack nodded.

"Well, maybe I'll see you then.." he smiled, patting Mac's arm and nodding.

Mac shrugged. "Maybe.."

Teal'c smiled politely at Mac and gave a sharp nod of his head. "It was indeed a pleasure meeting you, MacGyver. I hope you will call on us again."

Mac smiled. "Yeah, well it was .. good meeting you too, Teal'c, and I will be sure to call in next time I'm in town..."

Jack smiled. He knew that his lover intimidated Mac and found that whole idea amusing considering what a big teddy bear Teal'c was under that stoic surface.

Mac turned to Daniel, who looked up when he sensed it was his turn to say good-bye. Jack put the bag down.

"Perhaps we should.." he said. Mac and Daniel both looked at him and shook their heads.

"No, it's .. okay," Daniel nodded. Mac nodded too and looked back at him. The two men stepped aside and spoke quietly however, leaving Jack to watch as they talked with their faces close then Mac pulled Daniel in for a tight hug. The anthropologist buried his face against Mac's warm neck. Jack straightened up a little as he watched the tight grip Daniel had on Mac. Then he and Teal'c exchanged quick glances before Teal'c looked away while Jack looked down at his feet.

Daniel kissed Mac's neck softly as he pulled back. Mac was smiling. "Thanks," he whispered.

"Get going," Daniel slapped his shoulder now. Mac nodded and lifted the bag onto the back of the bike while Daniel stepped over to where Jack and Teal'c stood, and then Mac pulled on his helmet and straddled his bike.

He shot his brother another quick smile then looked at Daniel. "See you!"

Daniel nodded then felt the reassuring arm of Jack across his shoulder. Mac gave his brother a quick look then smiled at Daniel and raised his brow. Daniel laughed and shook his head as he looked down at the ground. Jack, who was in fact looking back over his shoulder talking to Teal'c, didn't see the men's reactions.

Daniel looked up as the bike roared to life again. Mac took one last look at the man he'd spent the weekend with. The dark floppy hair, the little glasses, the furrowed expression (which he hoped was one of regret that he was leaving), the arms tightly hugging across his own body. Mac smiled, more to himself. He finally met someone who was as hard to get to know as he was, and yet, he felt he knew him almost. Their eyes locked once more, and them Mac raised his hand and gave a little wave. Daniel gave a little wave in return, then Mac's attention was diverted by Jack waving him on. It was, after all, cold out there! Mac laughed then pulled the visor down on his helmet. He gunned his bike and with one final look back at Daniel, he headed off, the exhaust vaporizing in the air behind the bike as it disappeared into the traffic. Daniel bit his bottom lip then he felt Jack squeeze his shoulder as he pulled him towards the door to the apartments again.

"Come on, I'll make you a coffee..." he promised his friend. Daniel smiled and nodded.

"Thanks Jack.." he said.

"Not a problem.." Jack shrugged, "I'm sure it's already brewed.." he joked.

Daniel shook his head. "No, I mean.. thanks.. for you know.. introducing me to Mac.."

Jack stopped and smiled at Daniel. He waited for Teal'c to go into the apartment block then shrugged. "I want to see you happy, Danny...." he said, then added, "Mac's a good guy and I'd hate to see either of you hurt..."

Daniel nodded. "Don't worry Jack. I'd hate to see him hurt, too.."

Jack smiled slightly at this, then nodded. "You going to be alright this week?"

Daniel squinted. "I'm going to be okay, Jack. Mind on the job and everything.."

Jack laughed, as he put his arm around Daniel's shoulders again. "Oh, that will be a nice change.."

"Hey!" Daniel nudged out of Jack's arm as he laughed slightly.

Jack held the door open for him and as Daniel passed by he said quietly. "You really do deserve someone special, Danny.."

"What..?"

Jack smiled nervously then shrugged and went upstairs, leaving Daniel to ponder on that final statement. He wondered what Jack meant. Was Mac right all along?

As he entered his apartment he saw Jack and Teal'c kissing passionately in the kitchen though, and smiled to himself. Nope, there was just no way this guy was interested in him.. not with a lover like Teal'c! Daniel went to the living room, he was sure that Jack would remember his coffee.... eventually! Mentally, he started a count down to next week.....

THE END
Series Two can be found at the Slash Index. 

slidaproductions Dec2001
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