~Ah! Yay! 44 reviews! Thanks! I'm really excited!~
Disclaimer: I own no one.
Warnings: Slash, language, violence.
Please, no Danny. Don't come near me or you'll break down the wall I've built over the passed month. I'll cave in and kiss you and tell you how much I love you. Jack silently pleaded.
But nonetheless Daniel was soon seated next to Jack on the couch. He was messing with a deck of cards out of nervousness. He took a deep breath before looking at Jack.
"Jack."
Said boy just looked ahead of him. Don't look at him. Don't look at him, Jack. Come one you can do this. Jack thought.
"Jack, look at me."
Jack did and his heart sped up even more than it already was and his breath hitched.
Why do you do this to me? Why do you make me feel this way?
"We need to talk."
Jack shifted nervously.
"Yeah, I know we do."
"I'm sorry Jack. I don't know what exactly happened. Ronnie and me were having a few beers and he wanted to talk to these girls. I tried telling him I needed to get back home, but he insisted that it would only be for a few minutes. I don't remember much after that. Everything is just a big blur."
"You got drunk, got caught up in the moment with an attractive girl. It happens."
Daniel turned his body quickly towards Jack before he spoke again.
"No, it shouldn't have happened. I had you waiting at home for me."
Jack shrugged and stood up, walking over to the counter and leaning back against it, arms folded over his middle.
"I should have known better. I mean," Jack gave a humorless chuckle, "You're J. Daniel Atlas. You used to do shows out on the streets and impressed hundreds of people everyday. You took a girl home with you almost every night."
He sighed before continuing, "You have talent, you're good looking, and you can be very persuasive. You can have anything you want. Why would you want me? I'm just kid with mommy and daddy issues who was freaking raped and then too scared to have sex with you. I'm a walking mess. Why would you want me?" He asked again.
Daniel stood up quickly, but he was silent. His heart constricted tightly in his chest; Jack thought he was a mess. Why couldn't Jack see how beautiful he is? Daniel has never been one to show much emotion, or let himself open up to others. But with Jack it was different. As cheesy as it sounds he brought the best out in Daniel.
"Jack, don't ever say those things again. You've had a hard life. Do you want to know why I wanted, still want, you?"
Jack looked up Daniel wanting to know what the older man was going to say.
"You're the most strongest person I know. You're brother was right, you are all smiles and laughs. You went through so much, Darling, and you are still so happy. When you smile it lightens up the entire room. It's beautiful. You, are so beautiful and you don't even realize it."
Daniel walked over to Jack.
Why is he telling me these lies? Doesn't he know I can't take much of this? Everything he has said has been untrue. I'm not beautiful, far from it.
"I could list so many more things that I love about you, Jack. I could go on and on. But for now I just want you to know that I do love and I'm sorry I cheated you. If there is one thing I could change in my life it would be that night. I would have ignored Ronnie's begging to talk to those girls and I would have went home and fell into bed with you. I would have held you and told you how much I loved you and how beautiful you are."
Daniel rested his hands on the counter, on either side of Jack.
"I love you Jack."
He leaned in close and whispered into the younger man's ear.
"Please come home. Come back to me." He then lifted his head and kissed Jack right on the lips.
The wall Jack had put up was crumbling and he could do nothing to save it.
Jack tensed for just a second before he closed his eyes and fell into the kiss. Daniel brought a hand up to rest it on the back Jack's head, pulling him closer, deeper.
Suddenly Jack realized that Daniel was kissing him and no, it wasn't a dream. J. Daniel freaking Atlas was kissing him! His wall just lay in pile on the ground now.
No, no, no, no, no! Dammit Danny! Why? Why do you have this control over me?
He pushed Daniel away hard. Both men were breathing hard.
Jack's eyes were wide and he really tried to get his breathing under control.
"Jack? Hey, hey, calm down. Take deep breaths, okay? You're going to start hyperventilating."
Jack's knees suddenly felt weak and couldn't stand any longer. He hit the ground with his body shaking slightly.
"Jack!" Daniel rushed forward.
"Don't touch me." Jack said softly.
Daniel withdrew his outstretched hands.
"What?"
"Please don't touch me, Danny. Please just don't. If you touch me again I just couldn't - I would loose it."
"Jack..."
"Danny, just please leave me alone. I'm trying so hard to keep it together and it just keeps getting harder and harder. It won't be long before I break." His voice cracked and he the oh-so familiar stinging of hot tears forming in his eyes.
"I don't know what to do anymore Danny. You say I'm strong, but I'm not. I'm weak. I'm so weak, Danny."
I'm so weak that I can't even stand to be in the same room as you right now, because all I want to do his kiss you and tell you I love you. I'm supposed to hate you for what you did, but I don't. I can't. Jack thought.
"Jack," Daniel's heart broke, "Please, don't talk like that. You are so..."
Just then the door opened and Donnie came in with a large plastic container containing a dark orange liquid. His smile fell when he saw his baby brother on his knees, almost in tears while that, that asshole stood over him.
"Jackie?" He hurried over and sat the container on the counter before dropping to his knees in front of his brother.
"Jackie talk to me. Did he hurt you?" He his brother's face in his hands, making Jack look up at him.
When Donnie didn't get an answer he looked around at Daniel with fire in his eyes.
"You," He snarled, "What did you do to him?" He stood up.
Daniel didn't reply. His focus was on the broken boy on the ground. Jack's head was bent down, his shoulders heaving up and down as he tried not to cry.
"Answer me." Donnie yelled.
"What's going on?" A female voice asked.
Daniel looked back at the door where Merritt and Henley were now standing.
"What happened to Jack?" Henley asked as she rushed over to Jack. Kneeling down beside him as she tried to get him look at her.
"Jack? Jack look at me."
He didn't, so she gently cupped his cheeks, bringing his face upwards.
"Oh Jack," She whispered as she saw his already bloodshot eyes, pink cheeks, and tears threatening to fall.
She brought Jack's head to rest on her chest and as she rubbed his back softly. His body was so tense. He wouldn't relax in her embrace.
"What the hell happened? We were only gone for what, twenty minutes?" Merritt said.
"Ask the great and power J. Daniel Atlas." Donnie said each word with venom.
Everyone turned their attention to control freak.
Daniel didn't seem to care though. All he wanted to do was scoop Jack up in arms and take him very far from here; to a secluded area where he and Jack could live out the rest of their days together.
Suddenly Daniel found himself pushed up against the nearest wall. Donnie's hands were fisted in his t-shirt.
"Can't you see you're only hurting him? Jack has had a hard life and you're not making it any better! Look at him! He's like this because of you! All you are is a selfish asshole that has no regard for anyone's feelings! And the only thing you're good at is destroying lives."
Donnie took a deep breath to control himself.
"I want to beat the shit out of right now, but I'm not. I want you to leave," He looked at Merritt and then Henley, "All of you."
He released Daniel, but grabbed his bicep tightly.
"I knew it was a bad idea. But when Jack saw that man have gun on you out in that alley he was so worried about you three. He wanted to run and beat the guy up. Which he did eventually. He risked his life to save you. He cares for you and I don't understand why. All you three have done is bring him down. I want you to leave and never come back here. And if I see you around here again I'll hide Jack and call the cops."
Henley kissed the top of Jack's head again before she slowly got up and made her way over to the other magicians.
"It's just not been the same without you around Kid." Merritt said glumly.
Jack was still kneeled on the floor, looking down, not making a sound.
"Come on guys, let's go." Henley said sadly.
Daniel then realized this was most likely the last time he was going to see Jack in a long time, if ever. He tried to jerk out of Donnie's grip.
"Jack! Jack, I'm sorry I hurt you! I love you! I love you so much it hurts when you're not near me! Jack! Say something, please!" He was fighting hard against Donnie. Daniel was near tears.
Finally Donnie pushed him out the door hard and slammed to door shut and locked it. He leaned against it for just a short moment. He sighed heavily as he pushed off the door and made his way over to his little brother.
"Jackie? Come on. Get up. You can't stay here all night."
He got his brother to his feet with much difficulty. It was as if Jack was just a body without a soul. He was limp and Donnie had to basically drag him to the bedroom. After laying Jack down on the bed he removed his jacket and pants, leaving the younger man in his white V-neck and blue boxers.
Jack curled into a ball.
Donnie sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Jackie, say something. You're starting to scare me."
Jack remained silent.
Donnie rubbed his back lovingly and covered him up before walking out.
Once Donnie had thrown them out Merritt and Henley glared at the control freak.
"What did you do Danny?" Henley screamed as they made their way to the elevator.
"The kid looked like a zombie." Merritt commented as he pushed the button.
The doors slid open and they stepped inside.
Finally after a few moments of silence Daniel said, "I told him I love him and I wanted him to come back home."
"Well that shouldn't have messed the kid up that badly." The oldest magician said.
"Then I kissed him."
Henley slapped the back of his head.
"You idiot! You can't do that! You cheated on him and then haven't seen him weeks! You can't just kiss him!"
Merritt leaned up against one of the corners of the elevator, arms crossed over his broad chest.
"You screwed up again. Congratulations Danny! Now we can't even come visit the kid."
"I know I screwed up!" he yelled, making the other two flinch.
"And I am going to try my damned hardest to fix it! Even if it kills me I will bring Jack home!"
After a few moments of silence Merritt chuckled, "Good to hear, Dan. Good to hear."
~So, I'm sorry this chapter is a little shorter than the rest. I just thought it was a good idea to end it here or else this chapter would end up being around 5,000 words! Please review, my Darlings!~
