Chapter 11
Jack heard Matt's sharp intake of breath and immediately sat up, one hand grabbing two pain pills, the other snatching a bottle of water. "It's ok," Jack whispered reassuringly, supporting Matt's back against his chest, lifting the pills and water to his lips. Matt took the pills, and leaned back against Jack, taking a shaky breath.
"You're still here," Matt said, tightly interweaving his fingers with Jack's.
"What, you thought you dreamed me up?" Jack laughed, running a soothing hand over Matt's flushed forehead. "I'm hardly the stuff of dreams here."
"Clearly you don't see yourself like I do," Matt said with a soft smile, reaching up to lay a hand on Jack's cheek. "You still want to kiss me, or were you just trying to use your extreme sexiness to keep me in the land of living?" Jack bent his head down, twisting slightly to meet Matt's lips, pressing against them gently, before deepening the kiss, lowering Matt carefully to the ground and hovering above him, biceps straining to keep his body from pressing completely against Matt's. Matt's tongue slipped past Jack's teeth and Jack moaned, control slipping as his body dropped against Matt's.
A cry of pain shot past Matt's lips and Jack immediately jumped off, retreating a few feet away. "God, Matt, I'm so sorry," Jack choked out, pressing his trembling hands against his sides.
"Crap, I really really want to make out with you," Matt sighed, laying his head back against the airplane pillow. "You're a ridiculously good kisser. Especially for, you know, the whole never having kissed a man before thing."
"You can joke when I just hurt you?" Jack said, shaking his head in disbelief, moving an inch closer.
"First off, you didn't hurt me, a bullet did, and second, I'm hardly joking." Extending his hand, Matt grabbed Jack's belt loop and tugged. "Are you going to make me strain my poor shot-up body, or are you going to get your gorgeous ass over here?"
"You don't play fair," Jack grinned, closing the space between them. He lowered his forehead to touch Matt's. "But no more jokes about getting shot, ok? I woke up every five minutes last night, just to make sure you were still alive."
"I'm sorry," Matt whispered, tilting his chin up to lightly brush his lips against Jack's. "I'm right here."
"Keep it that way," Jack said softly, trailing a finger down Matt's face, lowering his lips against Matt's.
"Oh my god!" An excited squeal, joined by clapping, came from the tent flap. Jack turned, and blushed, as Claire , one hand on her lower back, carefully lowered herself down into the tent. "Are you two together?" Matt didn't answer, instead glancing up at Jack, Matt's eyes clouded with anxiety. Jack met Matt's gaze, took a deep breath, and grabbed his hand.
"We are," Jack answered, and suddenly found himself and Matt engulfed in Claire's arms.
"I'm so happy!" Claire wiped the tears from her eyes, and bent down to kiss Matt's cheek. "And you, getting hurt like that! I just found out this morning or I would have been in here right away! Don't you dare do that a pregnant woman! My hormones can't take the loss of my Matt, ok?"
"I'll remember that," Matt said with a smile, squeezing her hand. "Wouldn't want you to unleash your Australian Kung Fu on me."
"That's right," Claire said with a nod, stretching her legs out. "You're my family, ok? My mom's sick, and my dad's god only knows where…Mr. Hoity-Toity Christian."
"Christian?" Jack's eyes were wide as he leaned forward. "Religion or name?"
"Name…" Claire said slowly. "Why?"
"Be right back," Jack said quickly, squeezing Matt's hand before dashing out of the tent. Matt barely had time to exchange a startled glance with Claire before Jack had re-entered, carrying a wallet-sized photo in his hand. He thrust it at Claire, and she let out a gasp, staring down at the picture of a tall silver-haired man and a young Jack. "Is that…"
"It is," Claire said softly, her gaze rising from the picture to meet Jack's. "So you're…"
"Your brother," Jack said, just as softly. "Half, I mean, technically, but-". He stopped himself, taking a deep breath and reaching across to take Claire's hand. "I'm your brother." Claire's face broke into a wide smile as she threw her arms around Jack, and he felt tears slide down his face as he returned her embrace.
"We were meant to meet," Claire said into Jack's shoulder. "And maybe…" One hand strayed to her stomach, and she smiled. A loud snore sounded from their right, and Jack and Claire looked over, both laughing as they saw Matt, fast asleep.
"He even snores sexy," Jack said with a laugh, and then blushed deeply, putting a hand over his face.
"Someone's got it bad," Claire giggled, her voice lilting sweetly. "I'm going to sneak out, I know he needs his rest, and I'm sure you do too. But I'll be back?" Her voice rose into a hesitant question, and Jack took her hand again, squeezing it softly.
"You better be," Jack said, grinning as he kissed her cheek. "We have a lot to catch up on."
"See you soon," Claire said, smiling, hugging Jack another time before softly kissing Matt's forehead and exiting the tent.
"So we're together , huh?" Jack turned around to find a grinning Matt staring back at him.
"Were you even really sleeping?" Jack asked in mock exasperation, his eyes twinkling.
"I was, until I heard you say the word sexy, and then how could you expect me to keep sleeping?" Matt grinned, and ran a finger around Jack's waistband. Feeling Jack's muscles tense, Matt instantly pulled his hand back, crossing it over his chest. "Hey, it's ok, I'm not going to force anything, I promise." Jack heard the sadness in Matt's voice, but before he could react, Matt had closed his eyes, the smile gone from his face.
"That's not what I meant," Jack whispered, rubbing his hand over his face before laying down next to Matt, keeping his hands close to his sides and his eyes on Matt.