Winecup

Debra Fran Baker

debra.baker3@verizon.net

"I am not part of your military!" Daniel closed the door of his office behind him before turning. Jack stared at him, his eyes flashing.

"You wear the uniform. You follow - you're supposed to follow my orders. You might as well be. And I will not have you disgracing the uniform or the Air Force by...by doing what you did." He remained standing, straighter than Daniel had ever seen before.

"I did nothing of the kind. Not in the eyes of that world, and I don't think Sam or Teal'c care. All I did was make a friend. A potentially valuable friend."

"A friend you fucked. A guy you fucked." Since when did Jack ever have a voice that hard, that cold?

"Yeah. Or he fucked me." Daniel sat in his chair, and stared back at Jack.

**

PX4-652 was yet another clone of Earth, complete with pine forests and a culture that descended from the Etruscans, with a few other admixtures.

Daniel noted that the architecture, for example, was classic Etruscan/Roman, with a large courtyard surrounded by the rest of the building. He had a great deal of time to note the architecture.

"You should have been there, Colonel O'Neill! It was a mighty battle. Here, let me show you." General Teitu Laneis began rearranging the table implements. "This is where my infantry was. Here, on this side - the grapes - were the mated bands, and here the cavalry - the oranges." Daniel gathered that cavalry was heavily armored tanks here, as well.

"Did you have air support?" Sam leaned in, her eyes bright. Teal'c collected the small condiment bottles and began placing them just so, according to Teitu Laneis's description of enemy position.

And that when Daniel really started looking at the frescos in the courtyard surrounding the long table, and contemplating his wine glass. It was nearly empty of the rich red.

"More, scholar?" He looked up into a pair of laughing green eyes. Daniel frowned. The man was not wearing servant's livery. Servants did not wear tunics and kilts that draped softly over their bodies or glowed with rich colors. Nor did the soldiers lining the table.

Nevertheless, the man poured more wine into Daniel's cup, from the skin under his arm.

"You're not a...or a...who are you?"

He smiled. "My name is Cae Apunis. And I think you are as bored as I am."

Daniel took a sip of wine. "I'm...I'm not...bored."

"It is well you are not a politician, scholar. You lie badly." Cae Apunis's smile broadened. "Come, let us take a walk before they draft our winecups." The soldiers were now fighting imaginary battles.

"Call me Daniel." He echoed Cae's smile, and stood, winecup in hand. Cae set the wineskin down after filling his own.

Then he took Daniel's free hand in his own.

Daniel let him.

He did look back a couple of times, hoping someone would notice his departure, but they were intent in refighting some ancient battle.

Instead, he looked at Cae, and Cae was good to look at. Unlike the other men, he wore his long hair unbraided. It tumbled in chestnut curls down his back, melding with the warm colors of his tunic. That tunic, in turn, covered a firm and slender body, while the kilt revealed strong and well-shaped legs. And his face - Daniel supposed it would be ordinary, much like his own, except for his smile and his dancing eyes.

He couldn't let go of those eyes. "Why were you there with all those soldiers?"

"I could ask the same of you…Danyel." Once upon a time, hearing his name said that way felt like home; later, it also felt like betrayal. He had nightmares of the dying Apophis calling him that, as if they were related in some way.

Cae's accent made it something else again, stripped it of his memories of Shau're and Abydos and made it his.

"It's my job. I'm a linguist and a…specialist in other cultures. I help my team understand the history behind the people we meet."

"You are a scholar, indeed. I am but a politician - no, not even that. I am the liaison between the politicians and the soldiers, until I can become a politician myself."

He was leading Daniel through the building, pausing to smile at other people at various desks. No one stared at their hands, but they did look at him oddly. Daniel decided to ignore that. Cae was the one staying here, after all.

"Where are we going?"

"Away from talk of war and weaponry."

The street outside was as pretty as Daniel had remembered, with broad avenues lined with tall trees, cool in the late spring sunshine. Back home, it was snowing. Maybe. He'd lost track.

They stayed away from sensitive topics, allowing themselves to talk only of their pasts and their educations, although Daniel knew that they'd still give away more than they'd intended. He didn't care. It was a relief not to speak of the Goa'uld or war or anything but favorite pieces of art.

An hour later, they strolled back into the building, past the same people at the same desks, smiling the same fond smiles. Or maybe they were fonder? Daniel didn't know.

Jack looked up from the battle field of the table. His eyes widened. "Welcome back, Daniel. Who's your…friend?"

Daniel blinked. He was no longer holding Cae's hand. They had their arms wrapped around each other, and it felt good. So, instead of jumping a foot away, as he would have done on Earth, he tightened his hold. Even Teal'c looked surprised.

"That is Assistant Magistrate Cae Apunis, Colonel O'Neill. Surely I introduced you before." Teitu Laneis smiled. "He is an able young man."

"Yeah, very able. Daniel, get your…self over here. We have to report back now." Jack glared at the two of them. Daniel felt his skin crawl.

"Perhaps you and your team could remain for dinner? There will be entertainment and we can discuss more. I will have accommodations for those of you who would require them. At the very least, rooms so you may take a siesta and refresh yourselves." Teitu Laneis glanced at Daniel. "You would be most welcome."

"Sir? I would not mind spending more time here." Sam looked hopeful. "Their principles of engineering are fascinating."

"What about you, T?" Daniel could not read Jack's expression. He'd never seen him so closed off before.

Teal'c frowned. "I would not complain if we did remain, O'Neill." He looked at the table. "General Teitu Laneis's grasp of tactics is far superior to anyone I have known before. We have much to learn from him."

"You know, kids, there isn't a lot even you two can learn in a few hours." He glared at Daniel again. Daniel glared back.

Sam, apparently missed all of that. "Even so, sir. I can at least look at their machines, and collect some journals. If Daniel will help me translate them afterwards. Please, sir."

"Sam...okay. Fine. We'll stay for dinner. *Just* dinner. And then we'll let the real experts come in." He sat down, and crossed his arms.

"Excellent, Colonel O'Neill!" Teitu Laneis clapped his hands, and a servant in livery appeared. "Prepare rooms for our guests, Laries."

"Yes, General." The servant nodded his head and departed. Within the time it took to drink another cup of wine, he reappeared and led them to four bedchambers. Cae came with them, meeting Jack's pointed stares with looks of confusion, but never letting go of Daniel.

Daniel's was the last one, not that it truly mattered. Like all the others, it held only a narrow bed, a wardrobe, a chair and a desk. It would have felt like a motel room, except for the lack of television set and even anonymous art. It would be better than the barracks back in the mountain, but that was about it. He smiled at Cae before letting go, and walked into the room, dropping his pack on the floor and looking around.

Cae shuffled his feet in the doorway and bit his lip. "Daniel..."

Oh. He didn't know the courtesies here. "Please, Cae. Come in."

"It isn't that." He stayed where he was. "I don't know what your customs are, but here we try to make our guests comfortable." Daniel had to smile. Cae was blushing. "I have rooms here, close by. I do not use them often, but I have made them homelike."

"This is the man who dragged a stranger away from a diplomatic lunch?" He strode to Cae and took his hand. "Is the bed big enough for the two of us?"

And there was Cae's smile again.

***
"Oh, yes. This room is...much nicer." It was still sparse by Daniel's standards, but the bed was wide and covered with a bright spread, and there were small watercolors scattered over the walls, cool white curtains over the windows and books piled on the desk, next to this planet's version of a laptop computer. He knew the day was getting warm, but there was a whisper of air conditioning from a vent near the ceiling.

Cae closed the door behind him. Daniel turned around opened his arms.

Cae's lips were soft and warm, and responsive; his tongue skilled enough to make Daniel shiver at the possibilities, and show Cae that he had skills of his own. They broke the kiss to remove their clothing - Daniel was charmed at how fast a man could remove a kilt, and how well-built that man was beneath it. He licked his lips and carefully slid to his knees to take Cae in his mouth. Cae gasped in surprise, and tangled his hands in Daniel's hair.

He didn't want to think about how long it had been since he'd done this - had it been years? Since before Abydos, surely. But he'd been good at it in grad school, and now he remembered how much he'd loved having a cock in his mouth, and the pleasure he could bring.

He didn't think about whose cock he'd prefer having there. There was no point. Cae was here now, and now was all he needed.

He tasted clean and salty, and the hair wreathing his cock smelled like musk and spice. And it was smooth and hot against his tongue, and Cae's moans were as delicious as his penis. And when Daniel opened his eyes...

Damn. He'd forgotten to take off his glasses. Too late now.

Cae didn't seem to care, so Daniel went on, letting the pressure on his hair and the sounds Cae made guide him, feeling his own arousal grow as Cae bucked into him. Oh, yeah, he remembered this, and this was as good as it could be. He wrapped his arms around Cae, and reached up to stroke his ass - firm and round from walking, and smooth as silk. Cae's moans increased as Daniel slipped a finger between, not to penetrate but to tease. And to promise.

And with that motion, Cae exploded, filling Daniel's mouth with bitterness, and it had been a long time since he'd tasted that. He let Cae stay there, in his mouth, until the last spasm ended and Cae drew him to his feet to complete the kiss they'd interrupted, and then to lead him to the bed, pulling down the bright cover, and gathering him in his arms.

Cae's hands were soft and smooth, and there were no calluses from weapons or tools, the way his own never were after years of digs and then his time on Abydos and now his time in with the military. They wrapped around his cock like warm leather gloves, and with joy and laughter in his eyes, Cae brought Daniel to a climax more satisfying for the laughter in those eyes.

It had been a long time since Daniel had had a partner who laughed like that, and with that thought, he came all over both of them. And Cae giggled at his dismay at that, and left for what was a tiny bathroom off the bedroom, and brought back a wet cloth to clean them off, before gathering Daniel in his arms again. Daniel went to sleep with his head cradled on Cae's shoulder, content.

"I know this is not a proper bath, Daniel, but we have slept over long and they will miss us if we do not hurry." Daniel had to agree - the shower was barely big enough for the two of them, and it was rather late. He would have liked to have showered with Cae, but he knew that would probably take longer than two individual ones, so he settled for watching Cae leave the shower and begin to dry his long hair before taking his own.

Five minutes later, Cae was wrapping on a clean kilt and watching Daniel rub his own head with a towel. "Does everyone on your world have such short hair, Daniel?"

"Most men do, and many women. It's easier to care for, I suppose. Although..." He reached out to pull a long auburn curl. "There is much to be said for this. It's very beautiful."

"You are beautiful, Daniel. I have enjoyed this time we've spent." He smiled. "And now we must be all official again, and hope that our food is not claimed for some battle."

"If it does, we can always escape." Daniel finished dressing and slung his pack on his shoulder. He took Cae's hand, and they walked back to the courtyard together, in time to see Jack glare and General Teitu Laneis look benevolent as they took their places on the long cushions.

Supper was light - cheeses and fruits with more wine, but the evening was beautiful. This world had two moons, and both were in a crescent stage, and it was fairly close to the center of the galaxy, so there were many stars in the heavens. Daniel leaned against Cae and looked at the stars, feeling drowsy despite his long nap. Others conversed around him. Somewhere, a night blooming flower opened and filled the courtyard with its scent. For a change, time didn't have to move.

But it did. "Come on, Daniel. We have to leave now."

"Okay, okay, Jack. I'm awake." Daniel struggled to his feet, leaning on Cae's shoulder, and helping him up in turn.

"Sure you are. Time to say good bye to your friend."

Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah." He turned and gave Cae a brief kiss on his mouth. "I'm glad I met you. Thank you."

Cae's smile broadened. "Thank *you*, Daniel. I will not forget this afternoon. You take care, my friend." He squeezed Daniel's shoulder.

"Come on! We're late back as it is!" Jack nearly growled the order. Daniel shouldered his pack, kissed Cae one last time, and ran to join the others and go home.

***

"Which is it, Daniel?" Jack kept pacing.

"It's none of your business."

"It is if you're going to be *pining* over this guy. Who you will probably never see again. No. Make that *definitely* never see again." He folded his arms.

"Which is why I'm *not* pining, and neither is Cae. It was just for today." He rolled his eyes. "Or do you think Cae is so beautiful that I can't help thinking about him all the time?"

Jack stopped pacing. "I didn't even know you *liked* guys that way. You never said."

"Yeah, that would work." Daniel shook his head. "'The language of this planet is related to ancient Croatian, the Goa'uld can return any day now, and, oh yes. I'm bisexual.' There's never a good time to say that."

"I thought we were friends. I thought we were best friends."

"We are." Why did Daniel's heart contract at those words? They'd said them often enough.

"This is not a secret to keep."

"Why? It didn't come up because I haven't slept with a guy since before we ever met. I like girls, Jack. I loved Shau're. I loved Sarah. I happen to like men, too. And Cae was...nice." He shrugged.

"Nice. You want nice, Daniel? You want, what? Roses and candy and cuddles? What do you want, Daniel?"

Oh, God. Oh, God. What was Jack saying? What did he mean by that? Daniel couldn't breathe, but he certainly couldn't open his office door. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Jack moved closer. "Yeah, you do." Daniel wasn't frightened, because Jack could never frighten him. He knew, though, what Jack wanted.

He willed his heart to start beating. "Jack. Jack. Jack." He got up and moved away. "It can't work. You told me yourself - I'm not military, but I'm still under your command. This can't work. Please, don't do this. I mean. I wish...oh, God, I wish. But we can't. It would destroy your career."

"I don't give a damn about my career." Jack followed him until Daniel was backed against the wall.

"It would destroy this team. We need you in command, Jack. It's more important than anything else. Please, Jack. I'm not going to be able to say no much longer."

Jack's eyes widened. "Even if I'm not some pretty bureaucrat? Even if I'm just an old guy with more aches than joints?"

"You're...not that. You're as beautiful as he is. More, because I know you, and I'll never really know him. Please." Daniel heard those words coming out of his own mouth, and knew them for truth, knew he'd hidden it from himself for all the years since he'd met Jack. "And we can't."

"Do you have to be right all the time? Can't I be right sometimes?" Jack slumped as he backed down, aging before Daniel's eyes.

"I wish..." Daniel smiled, but he knew it was fake. Jack nodded, his brown eyes sad and old.

"Report on Hammond's desk tomorrow morning. You don't have to talk about anything personal."

"It'll be there, Jack."

Jack closed the door behind him. Daniel picked up a clay wine cup and dashed it against the floor.

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