Title: See you again Author: callisto24 Fandom: 24/Numb3rs Characters: Jack Bauer/Ian Edgerton Rating: NC-17 Theme: After Season 6 and Redemption. Jack is back in LA meeting an old friend. Warnings: Anal Sex
“I told you, you’ll return”, Ian said and a sad smirk rushed over his face. “You know what you have to expect in the nearest future.” “I know”, Jack answered and leant back against the balustrade. They had met at an observation platform which granted a beautiful view over Los Angeles. Especially when the night fell down and allowed millions of ongoing lights to paint a glistening picture beneath them. “I’ll have to face a trial in Washington soon. To be honest there aren’t exact dates until now but I’m pretty sure, I’ll be notified.” Ian Edgerton ran his long fingers through his full, dark hair, before he looked at the blond man again. “You know, you’re always able to go. If you don’t want to, nobody will be able to find you. You proved that more than once.” Jack laughed bitterly. “Right. But I’m tired of running away. There is no place for me, not in this country, nor in another one. The only thing for me to do is to go on and accept my situation. And then to wait.” Ian rubbed his temple. “Waiting for what.” „For the end“, Jack stated firmly. Ian shook his head. “Don’t give me that bullshit, Jack. You don’t want to die. You have proved that too.” “Nobody can escape death. And I’ve lived long enough, seen enough, done enough to be ready to go.” “You aren’t sick or what?” It was Jack’s turn to shake his head. “No, I’m not. But believe me, if I was, there would be no sadness in me about the fact.” Ian sighed. “Sounds like the perfect example of a depression to me. Get a grip on yourself, handle it and start life again. There are people caring for you.” Jack shook his head. “No, there aren’t. I’ve destroyed the few bonds which still existed by running away. Everybody moved on, found a new life, learnt to be happy with never seeing me, never hearing from me ever again. And I’ll be damned if I would bring back unpleasant memories to them by showing up just to escape my own loneliness.” “Maybe they would be glad to see you, to hear that you are well”, Ian added, his voice suddenly soft. “No they won’t.” Jack started to sound angry. „Everybody who knew me once had to suffer as a consequence. People died, people were hurt, people lost their mind because of the things I did. The things I had to do.” “That’s simply not true”, Ian stated. “Think of me. I can take care of myself and always could. Everybody has to mind his own business. You had to do what was necessary and the results weren’t your intention or your fault.” “You must be kidding”, Jack barked. “What happened to my family, to my loved-ones… no one else is responsible than me alone.” “Fine.” Ian crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You want to give yourself this shit, then do it. But where does this leave me?” Jack suddenly calmed down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ian sighed. „I really thought you might have returned to see me again. Maybe to be with me again.” Jack glanced up to him, an uncomfortable expression spreading over his features. “I did.” Ian stood uptight. “Then you are saying that you’re intentionally bringing the curse over me, you’re pretending to be hunted with.” Jack bit his lower lip. “That is not what I said.” “Or you are telling me that I’m not one of the people you feel close to. You are telling me that you dare to see me, to talk to me, because I’m not important to you. Not in any way.” “No.” Jack wildly shook his head. “No, that’s not true. You… you got me wrong.” Ian unfolded his arms and laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Maybe you are wrong, Jack. You might know that everything in the world is connected. But you see also that one man can’t be responsible for all the things you are accusing yourself. It’s the way the world turns. Bad things happen. Your only fault is that you are doing everything you are capable of to make this world a better place.” “I’m not that sure of it anymore.” “Listen my friend.” Ian put his second hand on Jacks other shoulder and looked down on him in earnest. “Your belief and your intentions are real and worthy. That’s what it’s all about. If you were deceived, if you were lied to, if you trusted the wrong person, the wrong aims, the wrong government, the wrong rules, it will be your task of the future to correct these mistakes you hadn’t created. You’re human. You fail and you’ll stumble. But you’ll stand up again and be the person who is trying to do things right. And that’s the only thing important.” Jack stood still. “I’m sorry, Ian. I shouldn’t have thrown his on you.“ Ian smiled a half-looped smile. “That’s what I’m here for. That’s why you called me.” “And you came.” Jack’s eyes locked with the dark ones of the taller man. Ian nodded. “I came. And I will always come for you, Jack. You are meaning a lot to me.” “I know”, Jack whispered. “I’m sorry, I can’t repay for all the help and support you’ve offered me since we met.” Ian smiled. “Your occasional attention is payment enough.” His voice regained its former softness when he spoke. “You know what I am and what I’m doing. There aren’t many people who are able to understand me like you do. My job is one of a loner and that’s what I want to be. But sometimes, from time to time, it is good to meet someone who had shared comparable experiences. Trust me, Jack. I’ve had my load of guilt and shame. It’s a constant weight on my shoulders. But there is no other way than to move on. To recognize the guilt as what it is, to accept it, to learn from it and to make the best of it.” “Sounds easier than it is.” “I know”, Ian agreed. “But it’s possible. And maybe it’s easier if there are two people to carry the load.“ Jack blinked. “What are you suggesting, handsome?” Ian pretended to think hard. “What about a little twosome in my motel room. I suggest that there will be no one disturbing us. My case is closed and my bureau still believes me in Las Vegas.” “They won’t let themselves be fooled for very long”, Jack mentioned coming closer. “No.” Ian agreed with a smile. “But long enough for us to recover.” Unexpected in the hurry of the sudden movement, Ian pulled Jack closer to him. When Jack responded by circling his arms around Ian’s upper body, Ian’s lips escaped a relieved sigh and he pulled Jack into a tight embrace. “I missed you”, he whispered into Jack’s ear. “Can’t tell you how much. Each day you were gone I feared to hear the bad news. Even more I feared that you would vanish, that no one would ever find you again.” “Tell me. Would you have looked for me?”, Jack asked, pressing his lips against Ian’s neck. “Always”, Ian breathed. “I would have looked for you until the end of my life.” Jack pulled back slightly. “That’s good to hear. But I don’t want you to give up on everything only to hunt fort he shadow of a man.“ “You are no shadow,Jack.” Ian gripped Jack’s waist, looked down on him convinced. “Come with me. Let me prove it to you.” * The room was small, the surroundings simple and used. Jack remembered when he stepped in, that Ian never took care of the places he stayed. He chose the first motel which came into his sight and reserved his attention for more important things. This time he reserved it for his companion. As soon as the door closed behind them, Jack felt pulled back into the strong arms he had missed for long months without noticing. He had met Ian the day he had officially turned his back to his past life. To come back for signing the last documents had been annoying after all that had happened. Jack was glad to escape the building though his future hadn’t looked bright. In fact he was even more depressed than he had been during his imprisonment. To come back and be faced with a life turning into a nightmare once again, had left Jack more disillusioned than he had ever been before. Memories of his family hunted him during the nights, so it didn’t come as a huge surprise when he found himself drowning in some dirty suburb pubs. Places, he could be sure no one would ever find or recognize him. Looking for alcohol, unconsciously musing about the possibility of taking a harder drug just to numb his senses, he entered a gay bar one evening without even noticing at first. When the realization hit him he nearly broke down. The only time he had visited one before had been with Tony and the sudden feeling of this terrible loss overwhelmed him suddenly. And when a man approached him looking strangely like his dead friend and lover, when this man offered him comfort and peace for the moments he had needed to cry out his sorrow and frustration, this was the time Jack had known that he had to open up a new chapter in his life. Later he had learned about the related ways of their lives, about the fact, that Ian’s job was so close to his own, given-up one, though they had never met before. It looked like they were made for each other, understanding the needs of the other man without speaking them out loudly. It was like they had met just in the right moments. Though Ian never had talked about it, it was obvious that something in his work was haunting him. He told him once about the barriers he was forced to cross in order to fulfill his duty. And Jack had known exactly what he had been referring to. They were giving each other understanding and love and physical fulfillment, like Jack never had experienced before. But their time was limited and Jack knew it. Ian was supposed to keep their relationship secret and Jack knew that he had to go. That he couldn’t bear to stay in California. Not anymore. With Ian’s help he had realized the necessity to go, he had found the strength to leave. Without a goodbye, without a last, explaining word between them he left on morning. Jack had known that Ian would understand and he did. When Jack came back and sensed the same desperation arise from the depth of his insides, it hadn’t lasted long until he gave up his resistance and searched for Ian’s number. Miraculously the man answered his call after the first ring, just as if he had sensed him miles away. And just as quick Ian had left his whereabouts to see Jack. Now, with the doors closed behind them, nothing held Ian back from showing Jack the truth about how much he really had missed him. It had been a constant pain in his chest to know Jack so far away in another country, another continent, in a place where his life was constantly threatened. And though Ian never showed any of his concerns to anybody, the dark clouds had visibly vanished with Jack’s call. Ian let his calloused hands roam over Jack’s back while he pressed firm kisses against the smaller mans temple and down the side of his face until he found his lips. Jack opened up to him, allowed Ian to take advantage of his tempting mouth. His own hands closed behind Ian’s head and pulled him down, closer to him, encouraged the taller man to deepen the kiss. And Ian knew what Jack wanted. He answered the call and ravished the tender mouth beneath his. His tongue found entrance and Ian started to explore the wet cavern. Jack tasted different from what Ian remembered. Maybe less desperate, maybe more. Ian couldn’t figure it out and he had no intention to do so. Instead he melted in the kiss, gave in to the familiar feeling of hard, experienced fingers running down his head and shoulders, drawing patterns on his back, moving down to the firm waistband of Ian’s black trousers. Ian squirmed involuntarily when Jack’s fingers wandered down and took a grip on the ass cheeks before they moved aside and to the front. They brushed slightly over the already half-hard erection and caused a suffocated moan by its owner. Shivers ran down Ian’s spine when he felt the touch and he couldn’t help but press Jack’s body closer to his own. Close enough to feel every inch of his length through the fabric of their clothes. They came up for air at the same moment. But only to strengthen the embrace, when Ian started to place small kisses down Jack’s throat, his neck and shoulder. In sudden understanding they let each other go in order to remove their jackets and let them drop on the floor. Arms and fingers entangled while they tried to work the buttons on their opposites shirts open. Laughter rose between them, just for an instant but it drove away the awkwardness that held them still captured. Still laughing silently they helped each other to remove their shirts and expose their firm chests. Ian’s eyes took in the sight with delight. Jack had gained a tan during his absence. The color of his skin nearly matched Ian’s own. Fine hair covered Jack’s chest. The contrast made it appear nearly white. They hadn’t bothered to switch on the light, so the street lanterns provided them with a spare view. The whole scenery seemed unreal and for a moment Ian asked himself if he woke up and realized that he had been dreaming. But the hands running down his skin, massaging the tight muscles, exploring his pecs, moving down the flat stomach, proved different. Ian gasped in delight when Jack enclosed him in order to take his already hard nipples between his lips. He sucked at first on the left one, made his tongue flicker playfully around the tip, before he changed to the right leaving a wet trail between these two. Ian’s chest was strong and hairless, modeled like a sculpture built in ancient times. He was just perfect, Jack thought, while he tasted the salty skin, marveling at the unique smell and sight of this man. Ian’s scent held all the mysterious and exotic components Jack couldn’t figure out where they came from. The man was a mystery to him, his past as well as his descent. He combined eastern and western features with a dark enough skin to leave enough room for various countries his ancestors might have come from. Jack felt the strong arms close around him and he sighed in satisfaction at the feeling of security only Ian could provide him with. He let go of Ian’s chest and instead started to lick Ian’s throat. A groan escaped the taller man’s lips and he moved his hips against Jack’s lower body causing a tremble shaking the smaller man’s body. “The bed”, he commanded in a husky voice and Jack obeyed at once, stumbling forward, while he resisted to let go of Ian completely. Still touching wherever they could reach each other they fell on the huge motel bed and started instantly to remove their trousers. Only dressed in briefs they kissed again, a deep, breathless kiss. Until they stilled and parted at least, in common understanding in order to remove the last of their cloths. Blue eyes met dark ones. Sparkles exchanged until there was nothing anymore in this world to stop them from clutching against each other, from taking hold of each part of the other man’s body they could get a grip on. They rolled over the sheets fighting for dominance. Neither of them gave in until they parted again, smiling at each other. “I missed this”, Ian repeated while he allowed his hungry eyes to devour the slim but compact body in front of him. “Don’t tell me you haven’t…” Ian shook his head. “Never. It never felt right to me. How about you?” Jack climbed on his hands and feet and crawled nearer. “Do you really want to know?” Ian took Jack’s face into his hands and met his gaze. “No, Jack. I already know.” Then he covered Jack’s lips with his own and pulled him up until they both were kneeing on the mattress, still kissing tenderly. Though the tenderness vanished with the length of this kiss. Eagerness captured them both again. Jack moaned into Ian’s mouth when the dark-haired started to rub his body against his own. The movement intensified when they rocked together in perfect rhythm until their senses started to explode. Their lips parted. “Let me”, Ian hushed, barely leaving Jack enough room to nod his agreement. His hands and lips left Jack’s body for a second but returned quickly with lube and condom. Jack took the lube from Ian’s hands and squirted an amount of the substance on his hands. “Wait.” Ian’s voice sounded hoarsely when he fumbled with the condom until he had unwrapped it from its package. With a groan he covered his straining organ fearing he could explode during the process. His blood pulsed in his ears and he bit back a scream when Jack started to lube his prepared member. “Can’t… hold it”, he whispered. “Just a moment”, answered Jack and laid back with a twinkle in his eyes. He pulled up his knees and exposed his hole, struggling slightly to distribute some of the lube around it. Ian stopped him, gripping his hands and moving them over his head while he climbed on top of him. “I want you to feel me”, he said in a trembling voice, sensing the readiness in Jack’s body. “Then do it”, Jack whispered and raised his hips to meet the strength of the other man. With a whimpering sound Ian let go of Jack’s hands, gripped his own penis and directed it towards its aim while he rested his whole weight on the other man. Slowly but steadily he pushed in showing an expression of purest concentration on his face which Jack kept on watching. It hurt a little bit, but Jack knew what to expect and he relaxed and exhaled noisily. A sound which drove Ian nearly over the edge and he couldn’t hold back any longer but pushed inside the whole way. “Oh God”, Jack whined with a mixture of pain and pleasure while Ian rested inside, giving him time to adjust. Ian put his weight on his arms and very slowly started to pull back before he rammed his length into the tight warmth again. This time the pain was gone and the contact with his prostate made Jack moan and squirm around Ian. “Jack”, Ian sighed and moved again, rocking his hips slightly, stroking the prostate again and again without giving Jack time to recover. Jack’s moans grew louder and he squirmed restlessly under the strong body. “Yes”, he cried when Ian buried himself deeper with every thrust and moved his pelvis to meet the strokes, to pull Ian deeper inside. “You’re so tight”, Ian whispered huskily. “So tight and hot. I… I can’t believe you’re mine.” Instead of an answer Jack threw his arms around Ian’s neck and pulled him down to meet his kiss. “Show me”, he said when their lips parted and Ian obeyed. He bent Jack’s legs, took Jack’s hips in a firm grip and pulled them up with him while he climbed on his knees to sit back, bearing Jack’s weight on his legs. This way he was able to thrust down into him in a new angle, allowing him to reach new depths. Jack’s hands gripped the sheets. His legs felt like jelly when Ian lifted them over his broad shoulders. He felt strangely vulnerable and submissive in this position, but the awkwardness was quickly replaced with pure delight when Ian started again his powerful thrusting. Faster and faster the rhythm grew. The constant stimulation of his prostate, the fraction of skin to skin, the feeling of being filled in a way he had never been filled before, the throbbing penis driving restlessly in and out of his sensitive hole, drove Jack closer to craziness. Unaware of the sounds he made, Jack groaned and whimpered, until it became too much for him. “Ian”, he cried out and sensed his load exploding all over his chest and stomach. The sight and sound plus the clenching of muscles around his shaft, drove Ian finally over the edge and he emptied himself inside the other man. Breathing hard he collapsed on Jack who captured him into his arms and pulled him down on him, whispering senseless nonsense into Ian’s ear. Ian stayed on top of the warm body, too spent to move. Sparkles danced in front of his eyes and a big smile grew on his lips. Whatever might happen. They’ll always have moments like this.