Behind the Mirror

Ben Carson

Daniel followed me silently after we'd left the room where we'd been held captive, following my directions, holding the radio that now had Jack on the other end, instead of the man who abducted us. On the other end of the radio, Jack continued to speak. "I'm not seeing any activity in the halls or the elevator, so we might have gotten lucky. Come down to the main floor, I'm in the Security office. I'll keep an eye on the cameras for you."

"I know where that is," I replied, taking Daniel out into the hallway after determining it was relatively safe, hurrying him along to the elevator and hitting the button for the ground floor.

He leaned back against the wall of the elevator with a soft sigh, watching me. "Jack? Do you know if the others -- are all right?"

"I think so. Nelson was still in the suite when I left, and McHenry was with him. I haven't seen any activity on the third floor."

"And David?"

"The kid is somewhere off by himself, but he can take care of himself." We heard another gasp of pain, and I grew more concerned.

"Jack? Tell me what's wrong."

"It's not serious. Bullet grazed my shoulder. Just hurts like hell."

I swore under my breath and hit the button for the third floor just in time for the elevator to stop. I turned to Daniel. "Take the radio and go get Nelson. McHenry too, if he's around, and make sure he brings his gun. Meet us in the lobby."

"I'm fine, dammit," I heard Jack curse through the radio, but Daniel just nodded and disappeared.

I found Jack right where he said he'd be, glaring at me. The walls and one of the TV monitors were riddled with bullet holes, and he had taken off his shirt, the fabric folded up and pressed to his shoulder, which was covered in blood. I realized it was the first time I'd seen Jack shirtless, and did a double-take at the map of various scars that roamed his body, rumpled skin over a nicely muscled, wiry physique. "... are you okay?"

He flipped off the broadcast function on the radio, and in the background I could hear Daniel talking to who I assumed was Nelson in low tones. "You shouldn't have let him go off alone, dammit," he hissed at me. "We still don't know if that asshole is still in the building. It's not safe."

I frowned. "Yeah, well I don't think one extra unarmed man is going to make a difference."

"We need to change that."

I nodded slowly. "I'll pick something up today. Wrap it in my shirt when I sleep to keep it from wandering off. How the hell did he do it?" I looked up over the banks of the TV's, which all showed different areas of the hotel. "I don't understand... I could never get these working without part of the system turning itself off." I looked at him. "How did you find him here?"

He gave a soft, mirthless laugh. "I noticed the lights on one of the cameras was on, so I came down to check it out. Heard him talking to you. I didn't have time to get someone down here to cover the other exit, so he ran when I confronted him. I thought I'd wounded him, but it seems he got away clean." He watched me carefully for a long moment. "Ben... you should know that there's a video. With your permission, I would like to review it later to build a profile on this guy, as well as debrief you and Daniel. In a city this size with the limited resources we have, we're going to need every piece of information we can get."

I gave a soft sigh and looked away, knowing the importance of what he was asking, but not liking it any better. "You can have the video if you don't tell Daniel about it. You can debrief me after your shoulder's been looked at. It's up to Daniel if he wants to talk to you, but I'd really appreciate it if you don't harass him too much. It was... difficult for him."

"I... gathered," Jack said carefully. "Normally we'd recommend that you both talk to someone, but...."

I let out a deep breath. "It's all right, I think. Thank you. Lets get you out to meet Nelson, we have to do something about your shoulder."

Jack nodded, getting to his feet carefully, shirt still pressed to shoulder. "Take the radio. Could be useful."

We met the others in the lobby, just exiting the elevators. Nelson glanced over at us and gave a soft chuckle. "You should be glad of the Hippocratic oath, Jack."

"I'm fine," he tried to say again, and I frowned.

"Shut it, both of you. Jack, you're getting stitched up. Nelson, you're going to do it without any problems. We've got serious issues and we can't afford infighting. There's someone here with malicious intentions toward the rest of us. He's very smart, and probably very dangerous. We don't think he's in the building anymore, but you can bet he'll come back."

McHenry glanced toward the door. "I'm going to track him down."

"You're going to stay with us," Jack corrected sharply. "We have civilians to protect, and only two guns between all of us at the moment. Ben, take mine for now."

I nodded, taking it from the back of his jeans and tucking it into mine.

At that moment, we heard the clang of the outside door close. The gun was in my hands again instantly, almost mirroring McHenry, and I searched the semi darkness silently, stepping carefully in front of Daniel. "Who's there?"

"It's David. I have a new guy with me, and he's hurt." He rounded the corner and into the light, a prone form slung over his shoulder, and I holstered my gun. His attention jerked to Jack suddenly, faintly quivering, but he seemed to catch himself, closing his eyes for a moment and relaxing again. "What's going on?"

"Unknown assailant, he's fled the scene." Jack answered before I could.

"Make that two, then," the boy replied, not seeming to be under any strain from the weight on his shoulder. "I just chased off one who was trying to kidnap this guy, but not before he'd smacked him over the head.

I saw Jack's head snap over to him. "What did he look like?"

David shot him the kind of look that clearly questioned his mental capacity. "Like everyone else does around this bloody place, what do you think?"

Jack's expression didn't change, but I could tell he was biting back a sharp retort. "Clothes, hair? Distinguishing characteristics?"

"He had an ugly ass polyester suit, glasses and slicked back hair. You'll have to excuse me if I didn't ask him what colour underwear he wore. I was too busy trying to get this guy out in one piece."

Jack frowned, mind working behind blue eyes. "We can't rule out that they may be working together, and likely they will try again. We need to find them."

I frowned. "But first, we're patching Jack up."

Nelson shook his head. "I need a proper lab. I don't even have the tools to suture something here. We need a hospital. And I should probably take a look at Mr.Unconscious there as well."

McHenry tucked his pistol away, and started for the doors. "Guess I get to go hot wire a van, then."

Jack looked over at me. "Fine. But someone needs to stay here and watch the place. He's compromised it enough already as it is."

"I'll stay," I said, "I'm familiar with this setup of security system. Daniel...."

"I need access to -- a lab," he said simply, cutting me off, and Jack glanced over at me, but said nothing.

"Be careful," I said softly, more to him than anyone else, and watched the group leave before heading back to the security room.

~~~~~~~~


Nelson Wright

I wasn't quite sure how I felt about watching McHenry hotwire the SUV, or how I felt about being asked to patch people up after they'd been in a damn gunfight. But I suppose it couldn't be helped. I slipped into the back seat with Daniel, and leaned into him, keeping my voice low. "Look... I have to talk to you about something, because I know you know it's the truth. We're both professionals, you and I, right? You know we're dead, don't you?"

He regarded me calmly, a little curiously. "I am not certain I know -- what you are talking about?"

"You said a doomsday device went off in your city, right? That generally means it kills everyone. I KNOW I'm dead, Daniel. I killed myself." At his concerned look, I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't meant to be permanent. We were experimenting with life after death. Flatline, get revived a few moments later. I'd already done it once. Guess it didn't work this time."

Daniel looked a little worried at this. "But you are alive now. So obviously...."

"I mean, if we're already dead, we can't die again, can we?"

He pondered this for a few minutes silently. "I do not think it would be -- wise, to test this. Whether or not we are in -- some strange metaphysical plane -- it feels real, which means that any -- injury, any death, would likely still damage the subconscious. Your ability to feel alive."

I frowned, sitting back and pondering this, not speaking again until we reached the hospital, getting out and looking back at the others. "Hey David. You need help with him?"

The punk had already opened the other side door, getting out and pulling the man after him, hefting him over his shoulder with only a little difficulty. "It's fine. I'm stronger than I look. Just tell me where to take him."

Daniel pulled some kind of radio from his pocket, handing it to me. "Hold onto this. Ben has the other, back at the -- hotel. I have work to do, I will meet you -- back at the SUV in an hour." And with that, he started off toward the hospital.

"Hey!" Jack slammed the car door with his good arm, starting after him. "You can't go off alone. Too much of a risk."

Daniel gave him a small, cold smile. "Get yourself fixed up, Jack. I will be fine."

The older man did not look pleased, but followed me inside, through the emergency ward until we found a examination room that was unoccupied, that I thought would suit our needs. I gathered the supplies I needed, sitting Jack down in the chair and carefully pulling away the shirt he was using to put pressure on the wound.

David pushed past me and let the man over his shoulder roll onto his side on the exam bed. He glanced down at where I had started to carefully clean the blood off Jack's shoulder, freezing tensely for a moment before stepping back to stand by the door with McHenry. He seemed twitchy and pale, I wondered briefly if I he was going through some kind of withdrawal. After the comment he'd made about the acid trip, I wouldn't be surprised.

Jack's injury was mostly superficial, and it didn't take me too long to get it cleaned, stitched and bandaged. It would likely scar a little, but from the impressive collection he already had, I didn't think it would make a big difference to him. I found myself wondering what he'd been through to get them all - some old, some very recent - but he didn't seem to be in a personable mood, and I didn't ask. Then I turned to the one that David had brought in, checking his vitals, checking for other injuries. When my fingers touched the back of his head, however, he drew a sharp hiss, coming around with a little cry. "Sir, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?"

Now familiar blue eyes blinked up at me. "Oh god...."

"How are you feeling? Do you know who you are?"

He swallowed hard. "I was shot..."

I shook my head. "No, you're fine. Just a big old goose egg on the back of your head."

He blinked at me blearily. "You look like me, too. You all do."

"Don't worry, you're not hallucinating. If you don't mind, I'd like to take you to get some xrays, but you'll make a full recovery. I'm Doctor Nelson Wright. Can you tell me your name?"

He pushed himself up slowly, wincing a little as he did. "John Buckner. FBI."

Behind me, David stopped his pacing, and stepping forward to look him up and down slowly. "Agent John Bucker, hm? Well, I'm David, I'm the one that drug you back here after you got your ass kicked. That pissy looking old guy over there that we just stitched up is Agent Jack Bauer. So you can see, we don't have the most original of names all around." He patted the FBI agent's suit clad shoulders. "But don't feel bad, JB number two, at least your name's not Buster McHenry."

The man in question glanced over his shoulder to shoot him a glare. "Hey, shove it, Mullet boy."

Jack was standing already, and had pulled on one of the lab coats that hung on the back of the door, which said his name was Dr. Palmer. The shirt he'd been wearing was put in a bio-hazard bag and stuffed in the pocket of the coat. "You finish up with him, I'm going to find the shrink."

~~~~~~~


Daniel Schreber

It wasn't difficult to find a lab with the equipment that I needed, when we reached the hospital. I needed to keep myself busy, to keep from thinking about what had happened. It shamed me, that I'd been so easily forced into it, into taking advantage of the one man I felt comfortable enough with here to call friend. And now I'd let him be abused, violated, and I was afraid to even look at him, afraid to see disgust in his eyes. As shameful as it was that I'd done it, it was even worse was that I'd liked it. I'd ached for it when he kissed me, when he touched me. Lost myself willingly to the pleasure of having him inside me.

Things weren't supposed to be like this, they were never supposed to be like this. What Nelson had said rang true for me, though I hadn't let on. Whatever had happened to us, wherever here was, I was supposed to be dead. I was supposed to be with John.

I shut the lab door behind me and leaned back against it with a soft sigh, pressing my lips to the ring that I still wore on my left hand and letting the sorrow finally come out. "I'm sorry," I whispered, choking back a sob, and curled into myself in agony. "Love, forgive me. Forgive my -- infidelity. Oh god...."

I let myself sob for a few moments, let it take some of the worry and stress from my body, then pulled myself together and wiped my tears with the back of one wrist. I had to work quickly now, to keep from breaking yet another promise.

The man who had taken me hostage had taken my bag from me, something that concerned me more than a little. There was no telling what the effect would be if he found out their use and how to inject others with them. But I still had three that I'd taken out to help keep stolen objects grounded, that had been hidden in the room, and it was one of these that I emptied carefully into the glass flask and started to work on.

I was almost finished with a sharp knock came on the door. I glanced up as Jack entered, wearing a lab coat. He watched me carefully. "Care to explain what you've been doing?"

I felt the tips of my ears heat. "I needed a lab."

"Yes, you told us that. What are you doing here?"

I regarded him for a moment, then took the empty syringe from my pocket and placed it on the table. "Where I come from, I was forcibly engaged -- in experiments on the human psyche. Creatures not of this world that -- wanted to find out how we -- ticked. The technology in my syringes -- can change the entire personality, entire -- identity of an individual."

"That's impossible," Jack said slowly, shaking his head.

I smiled despite myself. "Where I come from, cellular telephones -- are impossible." I put a measured amount of my final product - just the tiniest amount - back into the syringe, and pocketed it. Then I filled a plastic drug vial with the rest and capped it. I rather hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but I couldn't bare to waste it and regret it later.

"So what are you doing now?"

"The chemicals in my syringes can be -- separated, with the application of care and -- proper technique. The memories can be removed -- from the substance that erases the -- subject's past imprint."

"And why would you want to do that?"

I closed my eyes for a moment. "To give Ben the option to -- forget what has happened. Like I promised him -- that I would. Just to forget -- 24 hours. That is all."

It occurred to me at that moment, from the look in his eyes, from his stance, that Jack Bauer didn't completely trust me. It didn't surprise me, not too much. He was the kind of person who was wary of such things, I could tell. "If you're lying, or if you hurt him, I promise you, you will pay for it."

I gave a soft sigh, washing the waste from my work safely down the drain. "I would not hurt Ben -- for anything in the world."

"Fine," he replied gruffly, and turned for the door. "Lets get the others and get back."
~~~~~~~~


Ben Carson

When they returned, Daniel was subdued, and wouldn't meet my gaze. I managed to catch him when the others started to show Buckner the second floor. "Daniel..." I touched his shoulder lightly, hesitantly, and Daniel's eyes flicked up to mine briefly before looking away. I wet my lips. "Are you all right?"

He sighed softly. "I am -- okay. Ben, I... we need to talk -- privately..."

"Sure." I watched him carefully, looking for some clue as to the source of his emotional retreat, but it was unidentifiable. "Where?"

He gave a little shrug. "Your room, I suppose. If you don't -- mind."

I nodded, following him back to the suite, noting that he'd called it mine, and not ours. I pulled the door shut behind me and locked it. "I'm listening."

He was still for a long moment, silent, then drew a soft breath. "Sit down, please."

I perched on the edge of the bed, and he turned to face me, taking something from the pocket of his coat, one of the strange syringes he'd shown me once before. This one, however, was almost entirely empty. He regarded it for a moment, then held it out to me, resting on the palm of his hand. "I told you earlier that I -- could erase today, erase... what happened this afternoon. This will take a little under -- 24 hours from your memory entirely."

I stared at him blankly for a moment. "It what?"

"It will erase all recollection of -- this afternoon," he said again softly, looking down. I remembered him saying something about that now, arms around my neck and lips to my ear. But I hadn't actually expected....

"I don't want it."

"Ben, please...." Blue eyes looked to mine, pleading.

"Daniel..." I took the syringe from him gently, and set it down on the bed. "I don't want it."

He turned his face away, visibly shaken. "Ben. There is not a large window of -- time for this. You must accept it now. Tomorrow will be too late, I cannot -- go back and just erase one -- afternoon. I don't have access to the -- technology to be able to - "

I stood to face him, placing a hand lightly on his bicep. "I don't need to forget about it. I'm just sorry I hurt you. Do you want me to give it to you?"

He flushed deeply, then shook his head. "No, I - I have had too many things erased -- all ready." He gave a soft, mirthless laugh, and stepped back, pulling from my touch. "I will find somewhere else -- to sleep, then. I am truly sorry, Ben."

"Daniel." I caught his arm gently. "You don't need to go unless you want to."

I felt a shiver run through him, and he turned back to me slowly, voice hardly above a whisper as if he didn't quite trust it. "You don't want me to?"

"No." I wet my lips. "Please stay. I don't - I don't want anything to change. Not because of some asshole."

Slowly, he nodded his form relaxing, and gave a soft sigh. "Myself as well. Thank you, Ben."

~~~~~~


Jack Bauer


After everything that had happened the day Ben and Daniel were kidnapped, I didn't think my nerves would be settled enough to sleep. Part of me was still used to the sense of urgency that my job normally had, to having the resources to pinpoint threats and resolve them before they could get out of hand. But I didn't have that here. I tried to take comfort in the knowledge that -he- couldn't have that much in the way of resources either, but it didn't help me relax. After getting back from the hospital, my nerves were wired, and I spent a few hours reviewing the notes I'd taken from debriefing Ben and Daniel. David was on my list to speak with as well, but he'd disappeared soon after we'd returned to the hotel, and I hadn't been able to pin him down since.

Finally around 1am I threw in the tape I'd taken from the security camera that our perpetrator had moved into the room on the top floor. I plugged in a pair of headphones, knowing that what the man had been saying to them was more important than anything else, and not wanting to miss anything. I couldn't help but watch, however, listen to the way Ben spoke to Daniel, and the way he answered back. The tenderness in the way they came together despite the coercion. It reminded me too vividly of things I'd had and lost.

"Jack."

I jumped and turned to find David at the door, having appeared without a sound or warning. "... you look like hell."

The boy - who was really not so much a boy, I had to keep reminding myself - quirked an eyebrow. "The bastard shot me, earlier."

I was on my feet in an instant. "What?"

David gave a soft laugh. "Just in the leg, not all that hard to recover from. But I had to get a new pair of jeans, and I lost a lot of blood."

His eyes darted to the monitor I'd been using, and I quickly turned it off. "You didn't see that."

He shrugged. "I already knew. I could smell it on them."

Of course he could. I leaned back against the table. "I don't think you came here out of concern for them. What do you want, David?"

"Look, Jack..." he hesitated, then wet his lips. "Getting shot, and then... hauling Buckner all around the city... it took a lot out of me. A hell of a lot."

"Are you saying you need to feed?" I asked bluntly, and he nodded, looking up at me through white blond eyelashes, restless and almost anxious, something I hadn't expected from him.

"I will make it worth your while, if you want it. Better than last time, I guarantee."

Despite myself, I felt a soft rush of desire at his words. I hadn't been prepared for what it would be like, the first time I'd let David feed from me. How could anyone anticipate that? I'd expected pain, something that I was no stranger to. After all that I'd been through, I'd been sure I could handle anything he could throw at me. It had been painful, at first. It'd hurt like hell, enough that it'd taken all my self control not to shoot him and yank my arm back. It wasn't just the pain of the puncture, but a sharp, hot flood of agony that had rushed through my veins, worse than an interrogation drug.

Then, suddenly, it had faded, and David had been a boy again, human hands clutching my arms, and the pain was replaced almost instantly by need - hot, feverish desire filling every pore in my body, making me achingly hard.

Part of me - the dark, shameful part that I tried so hard to bury - reminded me how good the rush of shooting up had been, even though I'd been clean for years. And it knew that -this- was better, and despite my attempts at denial, wanted more. I wanted him.

"All right," I said simply, standing and ejecting the tape. "Let's go.

I slipped the tape into my bag and fastened it as I followed him into the elevator, watching the way he moved, fluid and graceful like a cat. He hit the button for the third floor, then turned to face me, leaning in without touching me to press his lips against mine, warm and languid, tongue swiping briefly along my bottom lip before he pulled back, eyes half lidded in pleasure, and it sent a shiver of desire down my spine.

I watched him carefully, a little caught off guard by it. "What the hell was that?"

He smirked. "Appetizer." The doors opened, and he started down the hall toward the less populated half of the wing, down toward his room. "I think your room is a bit too exposed for this, I hope you don't mind."

I shook my head slightly, walking a little behind him. "One thing I haven't been able to understand... you were running around with Buckner all day. Outside, in the daylight. Like you always are. I thought...."

"Sunlight still burns me," He replied easily. "But it's always night for me here, just like how it is for the shrink. Don't ask me why, but I'm sure as hell not complaining." He opened the door to his room, leaving it dark apart from the lamp on the desk, and tossed what looked like a small tube of lubricant onto the bed as I bolted the door.

"Look, David...." I hesitated, mouth a little dry, and swallowed. "I don't need anything from you in return for this." He quirked an eyebrow, and I sighed, trying to explain myself. "You don't have to sell yourself just to get what you need to survive. I don't need sex. Just go ahead and feed."

He gave me a slow, predatory smile, moving toward me until he'd backed me up against the wall, placing his hands on either side of my shoulders. "What, leave you all hard and aching to go take care of yourself? It'd be hot to watch you jerk off, but I think the original agreement would be more fun." He leaned in to nuzzle my jaw, and I tensed slightly, steeling myself for pain. All there was, however, was soft kisses, and his voice, low and throaty. "I want this, Jack. All of it. It's the warrior in you, I can't resist that. It tastes so good, feels so good...."

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to keep my breath calm, but I was already getting hard without him hardly even having to touch me, just from his lips on my cheek, his breath on my skin. Just from remembering what it had felt like to have him feeding from my wrist. From anticipating it again. "David...."

He pulled back to look at me, his eyes narrowed slightly, something dark and dangerous in them. "I almost lost it this afternoon when I saw your shoulder. Twice. Wanted to push you up against the wall and lick it clean, taste the wound, then make you whole again."

I shivered a little at the thought of it despite myself, then pulled my self-control back together. "You mean you can... heal people?"

"To a degree. I did it to Buckner, his bicep got hit. That's why I couldn't go after the asshole that did it." His fingers slipped down my chest slowly, finding the bottom of the fabric and pulling it up. "Can I take a look...?"

I hesitated, then nodded, letting him pull it up and over my head, his fingers dancing lightly over the scars before carefully pulling off the bandaging. At the sight of the stitches, his voice grew a little huskier. "Give me your knife."

I pulled the small switchblade from my back pocket and handed it to him without questioning. He flicked it open, hands trembling just a little, slipping the tip under and carefully slicing Nelson's neat stitches open one by one, pulling them from my skin with nimble fingers. I clenched my teeth, trying not to react to the twinges of pain it brought, but drew a sharp breath despite myself as the knife turned quickly to slice into the wound, opening it back up, making it bleed fresh. "God - !"

He was against me in an instant, body pressed tight to me and his mouth to my shoulder, forcing me back against the wall, keeping me immobile, the knife set aside somewhere on the TV stand. I couldn't have moved even if I'd wanted to, under the strength of his hold, but I couldn't imagine wanting to pull away. As soon as his lips pressed to my wound that sensation returned, irresistible desire rushing hot through my veins, and I arched up against him without thinking, gasping for breath. It was far more intimate, more intoxicating than last time, with his body pressed hard against mine, and I could almost feel his heartbeat, growing stronger with each wave of desire that washed through me.

I'd tangled one of my hands in his hair almost without realizing it, holding him to me, the other snaking around slender hips, pressing us harder together. So much more intense than it had been before, when it was only his mouth on my arm. This time I could feel him, every inch of him, shuddering against me as he fed. Slender and strong and so goddamn warm, and I found myself thinking that the legends had it all wrong. There was nothing, absolutely nothing dead about David.

When he pulled from my shoulder, a small part of me took note that there was no longer any pain from where the bullet had grazed me. The rest of me, however, was more caught up in the fact that he had moved from my shoulder to my mouth, tearing at my lips hungry and demanding, tasting faintly of coffee and a lot more of iron. I tightened my fingers in his hair and returned the kisses without thinking, though I'd never meant to kiss him. I couldn't stop myself now, from sucking and nipping at his lips, tasting him deeply, groaning into his mouth as his hips ground up against mine, erection hard against my thigh through his jeans.

He was panting slightly as he pulled back, just enough to look at me with a promising smirk. "Changed your mind on not needing sex?"

"Damn you," I growled, tightening my fingers in his hair and leaning in to catch his mouth again.

He was tugging me back toward the bed before I knew it, hands yanking at my belt as I stripped his shirt off, gasping for breath between needy kisses. The rest of our clothes were pulled off all too easily, and before I knew it I'd been pushed none too gently onto my back on the bed. He straddled my hips, his skin pale and flawless against the the battle worn scars on my own, and I watched his hands stroke slowly down my chest, fingertips dancing over scar tissue in strange patterns, watching them a little appreciatively. "Yes... most definitely a warrior," he murmured, smiling, and slipped a hand to wrap around both our cocks, stroking slowly, smile widening as I rocked up into his touch before I could stop myself.

"Dammit, David..."

He'd found the little bottle of lube and was coating me liberally in it, fingers warm and firm around my erection, stroking slowly up and down. "Patience," he replied, ice blue eyes still watching me. "You'll have your chance to defeat me."

Then he was on me, one hand braced on my chest as the other held my cock in place, rocking onto it with a few hard bucks. He let my hands clench tightly on his hips, pulling him down onto me, voice a low, laughing groan as I bucked up into him. "Ohhh yeah, that's it... you've done this before, haven't you?"

"Shut up," I growled, fingers digging into his pale skin, hips bucking into him, gasping for breath. His hands clenched on my chest, panting as he bounced hard on me, words in breathless groans.

"Like that, Jack? My tight little ass? You're going to come back for more, aren't you? Just so you can fuck me, pound that thick cock into me - "

I pulled myself up to kiss him, brief but forceful. "You want that? Get on your back. Now."

He grinned, pulling off me and laying back as I'd asked, knees bent and legs spread, showing off. "Come on, then. Show me what you can do, my warrior."

I narrowed my eyes slightly, pulling pale calves up to rest on my shoulders, an arm under his hips to support him. Then I took him again, burying myself in his heat and tightness in a few deep thrusts. "Fuck...."

He arched up against me, exhaling in a throaty groan of pleasure as I rocked slowly in him. "Fuck yes, so deep... don't stop, Jack!" I bucked harder, picking up the pace a little, and soon his taunting words fell victim to pleasure, turning to breathless, shuddering cries as I fucked him. I felt almost drunk on the helpless throbs of desire that I'd felt since he fed from me, bucking into him hard and fast and deep, hardly able to control myself in the face of so much pleasure.

He stroked a hand over his chest, moving slowly to make sure I was watching, his fingers moving over his stomach to curl around his erection. Then he started to stroke up and down his cock, slowly at first, then matching the timing of my thrusts, bucking back against me. It was too much, watching him pleasure himself unabashedly, and I lost what little control I had left, pounding into him hard and fast, crying out despite myself.

David's answering cries were almost triumphant, head thrown back and eyes closed in pleasure, free hand clenched into a fist on the sheets. I couldn't keep my eyes off him, how he arched and shuddered as I fucked him, how his pale form jerked tense, almost freezing for a long moment apart from his hand, which still stroked hard and fast over his erection. Then he let go, orgasm shuddering through him as he gave a desperate cry, fingers milking thick spurts of ejaculate from his cock that stained his stomach and chest. That, that was definitely too much, and I closed my eyes, bucking hard into him one last time before the overwhelming pleasure became too much and climax took me, coming hot and deep inside him, gasping out my pleasure.

Slowly, gradually the world righted itself, and I looked back to him, gasping for breath. "...fuck."

He chuckled, throaty and breathless. "Yes, you said that last time as well."

"It warrants a second time," I muttered, easing away from him carefully, letting his legs drop to either side of me.

"What about a third time?" He asked with a smirk, and I chuckled despite myself.

"Whenever you need it, David."

"How about tomorrow?"

I gave a soft laugh, shaking my head. "Just give me enough time to recuperate."

"Deal." He watched me silently for a few moments, sated and at ease. "You look exhausted. Lay down and get some sleep."

I didn't like the idea of staying, but I was tired and relaxed enough not to argue. I pulled away long enough to crawl under the blankets, and fell asleep moments after my head hit the pillow.


David was still with me when I awoke the next morning, but fully dressed, smoking a cigarette by the window. No, Marijuana, the scent told me. I blinked at him sleepily. "Dope, David?"

He glanced over at me and grinned. "No use playing by the rules when you live forever, JB. Things get far too boring too quickly that way. Want a hoot?"

"I stay away from drugs if I can help it," I replied. "Had too many chemicals in my veins in the course of my work." I propped myself up on my elbow and watched him quietly for a moment. "Why do you do it?"

He gave a soft laugh. "What do you mean?"

"You don't seem to be the type just to do them for the hell of it. With others, maybe. Not on your own."

"It helps keep the hunter at bay," he replied calmly, turning back to the window. "Among other things."

"Demons from the past?"

Another soft laugh. "You could say that."

I sat up, glancing around and wondering where my pants had ended up. "Yeah, that's why I can't take your offer. Fallen prey too many times in the past. Gave too much to the job, lost too many people I cared about." I wondered a little why I was telling him all of this, but there was something about the kid - about David... a buried pain underneath the tough facade. "Something tells me you can relate."

"There was someone I loved," he said slowly, not looking away from the window. "But he was too afraid to embrace the gift I gave to him. His betrayal killed everyone that mattered to me. I think you know a bit about betrayal, don't you, JB?"

It hurt more than I would have liked, to be reminded of it, however vaguely. "The one who betrayed me was the last thing I loved in the world. I'll ask you not to mention it again."

"But you care for these men enough to risk your life to protect them?"

"Humans need a reason to live, David."

"My kind as well." There was determination in his eyes when he looked back to me. "These men who look like us. I won't bullshit you, I have no love for them, and they are not my kind. But I love you, so I will do whatever is necessary to protect your clan." I must have reacted somehow, for he chuckled softly. "Don't look so stricken, Jack. I'm not a human woman with all their frivolity. I love you for our brotherhood and for your strength, your determination to protect the ones you love. Vampires don't love as humans do. You have nothing to fear from my love."

I ran my fingers through my hair, not really knowing how to respond. "....mind if I use your shower?"

"Go ahead. But it's occupied." I quirked an eyebrow, and he grinned. "By me, of course."

His smile was too infectious to deny, and I chuckled softly despite myself, shaking my head. "All right, David."

Daniel was dressed when I returned with breakfast the next day, seated on the couch with the new guy, talking. He looked up at me as I entered and smiled, shy and sweet, and something about it made me remember what it had felt like to kiss him, a very strange but not all together unpleasant feeling. I returned the smile, then went into the kitchenette, unpacking the bag I'd brought back and starting to re-heat a few things in the microwave, watching the other two through the bar window as they continued conversing.

"John, hmm?" I saw the doctor give a little smile, tilting his head a little. "Have you always been -- John?"

The boy's head snapped up. "What would make you think that I wasn't?"

The doctor held out his hands, palms up. "My apologies, Agent -- Buckner. I have been known to be -- mistaken on occasion. Just that I have known men named -- John before, and you don't -- fit the profile."

Buckner looked up at him, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "Not everyone with the same name is the same. You some kind of expert?"

"I have a little -- experience. I suppose you could say I am -- an enthusiast of the human -- mind." He shifted his position a little beside him. "I hope you will stay -- for a short time, John."

He shook his head slowly. "I need to get a new bike and get up to DC...."

"But no one there will be able -- to see you. You must know that -- now. At the very least, if you stay here, you will have -- someone to talk to."

Buckner paused, then nodded slowly. "Maybe for a few days."

"Hey." The soft whisper behind me almost made me start, but I managed to keep my composure, turning just enough to see who was there.

"Jack."

The man gave a slight nod, keeping his voice low as he stood in the doorway to the kitchenette, just audible. "You been watching those two?"

"For a bit, yeah. Why?"

Jack was silent for a long moment, looking down to where they continued to talk, then reached over and turned the water on, letting the white noise help drown out his half-whispers. "I think the kid's harmless enough. Not sure about the shrink, though."

I felt myself bristle, though I wasn't sure why, and tried not to show it. "What makes you say that?"

A slight shake of the head. "Not sure. But it feels like there's something he knows that he's not telling the rest of us, and after yesterday, we can't take any chances. I don't trust him."

"Jack, don't be ridiculous. He was as much a victim of that as I was."

He looked over at me. "Just see if you can find out anything. Discretely, I mean. And watch your back with him."

I raised an eyebrow. "You trust me then, Jack?"

"We're cut from the same mold, Ben."

"Everyone here seems to be."

A soft chuckle. "Yes, but you know that's not what I meant. Look, just... let me know if you see anything weird, all right? I'm not saying he's dangerous or has ill intentions towards anyone, but it's very convenient that he was so easily used as bait for you."

"Daniel wouldn't do that."

Jack regarded me evenly. "You need to be more impartial. Anyone has the potential of doing anything. I've trusted people far more and been betrayed more times than you'd know."

I forced myself to set aside my feelings for now and nodded slowly. "Yeah... fine. I'll be careful."

~~~~~

Ben Carson


Sometime in the night, only days after our ordeal, I awoke and became aware of him moving around the room, past my bed to stand at the window, looking outside silently. Wide awake now, I watched him quietly, moonlight throwing features into stark contrast, turning blonde hair silver, glinting off his glasses. For a time, I just watched him silently, then left the protective cocoon of the blankets, moving slowly to stand behind him. "Daniel?"

He started, turning to me, eyes wide. "Ben. I am sorry, I -- did not mean to wake you."

"It's ok." I let a hand rest lightly on his arm, surprised at how cold his skin was. "Jesus, you're freezing.... what are you doing?"

He stared at my hand as if uncomprehending its presence, or my words, but didn't pull away. "Just -- thinking. Ben... with what happened. Why are you still -- here?"

I stared at him for a moment. "What do you mean, why am I still here?" I saw a flash of shame cross his face, and turned to face him, catching his other bicep, catching his gaze. "Daniel. Look at me." I held his gaze. "It was not your fault. If anything, it was mine."

He shuddered under my touch. "Yours, Ben? You know that is not -- correct."

"I was supposed to help you, not...."

"Ben." His gaze was steady, but pained. "Please. I do not blame you for any -- part in it. And I do not regret it. Only that you -- were hurt."

"Then why are you upset?"

He gave a soft sigh, looking back toward the street, but did not pull from my grasp, silent for a long moment. "Sometimes it's hard to keep going," he whispered softly. "I never wanted to -- be without him." He looked up at me, the blue in his eyes made dark by the nighttime. "Ben... that is why I'm here."

I let my hand stroke slowly up and down his arm, watching him, concerned. "What do you mean?"

He wet his lips. "Where I came from... was not earth. It was a city in space, an -- experiment, created by a race -- of aliens. They forced me to help them, that is how I -- obtained these scars...." He gave a soft sigh, and shook his head.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, and he gave me a little sad smile, and continued.

"It didn't end badly. There was a man -- who developed their abilities. To control the fabric of -- matter itself. He defeated them. He made the sun rise in my world -- for the first time." He looked up at me silently, agony in his eyes. "My John. The other half -- of my heart."

"What happened?" I asked softly, hands still holding his upper arms gently, but he looked down.

"We had almost sixty years together," he said softly, "And it was beautiful. But even though he could -- control the entire world, even -- keep me from ageing, he... could not do the same -- for himself. When he...." Daniel stopped with a shudder, and drew as deep a breath as he could muster. "When he died. It was my task to stay -- behind. The city could not survive without -- his assistance. To keep the machines running, to -- create food, water. To fuel the sun. So when the sun started -- to die, I... destroyed the city. Then somehow, I ended up -- here."

The tale was fantastical, but the human elements were still the same, the same as everywhere. Same despair as my own. "You're still grieving him."

He gave a soft laugh, which sounded more like a sob. "I - I am. He was everything -- to me. My whole -- world. Ben, I.... I've been so alone."

There were tears on his cheeks, and I reached up without thinking, fingers gently wiping them away, and then leaned in slowly to brush his cheek with my lips, lingering just a moment, taking in the warmth of his skin. He froze, entirely still for a few beats, then let his head fall back, just a little, leaning into me a little more. Granting permission. "Ben... you don't -- have to do this."

"Shhh," I murmured softly, slipping my hand from his arm to around his waist, drawing him closer and starting to kiss slowly up the tracks of his tears. "I want to."

"Why?" He tried to pull back, but I held him firm, feeling him tremble against me and liking it rather more than I should.

"I like you." I cupped his face with my free hand, stroking my thumb gently over his lips. "I've been here for six months, Daniel. I'd given up hope of ever finding anything different, anything but endless days alone. Until I saw you."

His eyes lowered, but he leaned into my hand a little, lips parting slightly under my touch. "You don't -- like men."

"I never said that," I murmured, leaning in to nuzzle the side of his cheek opposite to my hand.

"But you never said you did, either."

"I like you." I pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his eye, trying to soothe him. "Let me do this, Daniel... we both need it. And... I don't want to be alone."

"You - you're married, Ben. And so am I."

"Amy gave up on me a long time ago," I said quietly. "Even if she hadn't, there's no way I'll be able to be with her again. Not in this place. As for your John... from how you speak of him, I don't think he'd want you to be alone either, would he?"

My answer came in a face that turned toward mine, catching my mouth with a tentative kiss, body trembling madly against me. "Ben - !"

"Shhh," I said again softly, and kissed him until the shivers stopped, until he melted into my arms, until neither of us had anything to think about anymore beyond each other. Somehow it was almost a relief, to kiss him freely now, to enjoy it without coercion, to map his well shaped lips with my own. I still couldn't get over the similarities between us, and explored them slowly now, covering his face with slow kisses, setting his glasses carefully aside on the bedside table. "Come to bed with me? Let me warm you up?"

He nodded silently, slipping under the covers and pressing close to me as I climbed after, tangling his legs with mine and yielding to my kisses, yearning and breathless, shivering just a little. I tried to soothe him, warm him, stroking hands over his chest and back through his undershirt and dropping soft kisses along his jaw and down his neck. "Never expected it to feel this good," I murmured softly, and he gave a soft noise of approval, fingers stroking through my hair.

"Making love is what you -- bring into it," he murmured softly, sighing as I sucked gently at the crook of his neck. "You have a good -- heart, Ben. You're very... sweet with me."

"Couldn't be any other way," I said softly, kissing the hollow of his throat. I let my fingers stroke slowly over the buttons on his undershirt, feeling him shiver at the touch. I kissed his throat again gently, still stroking, not moving to undo them. "Don't want to make you uncomfortable...."

"It's all right," he murmured, fingers trembling a little as he tugged them undone, and I moved to kiss him again, slow and warm, slipping a hand inside the thin fabric to stroke his bare skin, trying to reassure him. I was surprised by his response, pressing a little into my touch, kissing me more deeply, fingers tangling in my hair. Hips arching against mine just a little, then harder as I pressed him onto his back, laying half over him, kissing him hard and deep, letting our bodies fall naturally into sync, arching, rocking, hands stroking over bare skin. I'd almost forgotten how addicting even it was to just kiss him, lips moving somehow perfectly together, skin caressing, dragging slowly against skin, tongues touching, trailing, sending little shivers of pleasure down my spine. Even better to feel him writhe and shiver under my hands, feel him hard against my thigh as I rocked and circled my hips slowly against his.

"Ben - !" My name gasped from his lips, hands clenching restlessly at my hips, at my ass, making me groan, making my hips buck against his. His fingers tugged at my boxers. "Please... let me -- touch you..."

I pulled away enough to wriggle out of my shorts, tugging his down as well. Curling my fingers around his erection, watching his eyes flutter closed as he arched and sighed. "Feels like touching yourself, doesn't it?" I whispered, a little hoarsely, and he managed a little nod, stroking me slowly, reaching up to kiss me, breath in soft shudders against my mouth.

"Yes... but nicer. God, Ben..."

God, so much nicer. I let my forehead rest against his, sharing his breath, matching him stroke for stroke, rocking ever so gently into his fingers. Gasping, moans catching in my throat as he stroked me, his fingers drawing perfect sweet shudders of pleasure from me. So beautiful, without the frantic, frightened haste of before. Just he and I pressed close together in the dark security of our room, his soft cries of pleasure sweet in my ears. Doing this just for pleasure, and for him, to make him whimper and cry as I worked his body. I let myself indulge, drop my face to kiss his neck hungrily, sucking and nipping at the skin, losing myself in the pleasure of him. "I'll do whatever you want me to, Daniel...."

"Just don't stop," he gasped almost desperately, free hand tangling in my hair, and I bit down a little harder at the crook of his neck, groaning against his skin. Then I tugged his fingers away, just long enough to angle my hips to press against his, taking both our lengths in one hand and rocking against him slowly as I stroked. His fingers joined me without hesitation, mouth catching mine, trembling, whimpering, tearing breathless kisses from me. Stroking faster with me, rocking up into our joined hands, crying out breathlessly as the pleasure built. It was so perfect and somehow familiar, the way his fingers curled around me, the ache of his cock against mine, bodies rocking, arching, searching for pleasure and finding it in each other, in warm pulses of sensation and bliss. Building almost achingly slow, but all the more intense for it, until I was faintly writhing against him, eyes closed and forehead against his as my fingers tightened just a little, just enough to pull us both to shuddering climax, beautiful in its intensity, helpless cries of pleasure mingling like our seed.

I tried to catch my breath, not wanting to move an inch from him, dotting his lips with gentle, incredulous kisses. Smiling as he smiled, breathing his name softly. Finally pulling away, shifting just enough to curl against him, lips to his hair as my arms wrapped around him. Drifting slowly back to a deep and restful sleep, and this time not regretting a thing.

~~~

Sometime in the night Daniel changed positions, and I ended up curled around him, spooning against his back. It was warm and comfortable, laying close to him, sleepily stroking my fingers over his bare chest.

I heard him sigh, soft and content, lacing his fingers with mine to pull my arm more tightly around him, his voice little more than a sleepy mumble. "My John..."

My heart stopped for just a minute, feeling anguish for him, but I didn't resist the embrace. I pressed my lips gently to his hair, and answered him in a soft whisper. "I'm right here, love. Go back to sleep."

He made a little happy noise, and soon his breathing slowed again, but I stayed awake for some time after that, wondering at the ache he awoke in my heart.

~~~~~~~~

Daniel Schreber

I woke very well rested but a little disoriented, looking around before remembering what had happened in the night. The morning sun was already streaming through the curtains I'd left open, leaving the room too bright to.....

Wait.

I sat up so fast that it woke Ben, and he looked up at me sleepily. "Mmm... Daniel?"

I stared at the window, then looked down at him slowly, too shocked for a moment to form words. "It's... morning."

He gave a slow, cautious nod. "Are you all right...?"

I tried to clarify myself. "I mean, it is -- daylight, Ben. I can see -- the sun."

"Daniel..." he stopped, sudden realization showing in his eyes. "You said you couldn't, before."

"I couldn't. It was always night."

"What does it mean?"

Slowly, I settled back down into his embrace, and his arms wrapped around me gently as I tried to understand. John had brought the sun in my world, and his death had meant its absence. And while I wasn't naive enough to hope that he'd literally brought it to me now.... "I believe... that I simply did not want -- to see it, before."

He returned my gaze, searching my eyes, seemingly trying to take hints on how to act and finally asking, carefully. "Tell me about it?"

"I believe that is -- my line." I smiled, relaxing into him, letting my fingers trace small circles on his chest as I gathered my thoughts. "I dreamed about him, last night."

"Your John?"

I nodded, then felt my cheeks heat up. "Ah - I'm sorry, this is -- most inappropriate...."

"Shhh." His lips pressed gently to my forehead, which somehow calmed me, fingers stroking through my hair. "It's all right, keep going."

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to bring back the wispy threads of dreams. "Before when I have dreamed of him, it has... entirely crushed me. I never wanted to -- wake up. But that helplessness -- was gone, this time. He... told me that I was slowly learning. That I still had more to learn, and that was why... I am here." I was silent for a moment, then caught the question in his eyes and smiled. "I do not believe in -- communication from the dead through dreams, Ben. Simply the subconscious. In this case, it seems that some kind of -- mental barrier has been lifted...." I shook my head slowly, still taking it all in. Then I raised my gaze to his again and wet my lips, suddenly feeling at a loss for words, nervous and anxious all at once. The kind of shyness I hadn't felt in a very, very long time.

"Ben..." I let my fingertips move slowly over the side of his face, his eyes closing in pleasure, and I leaned in to rest my forehead against his, feeling the soft puffs of his breath against my skin, a little quicker than I'd expected. "Last night.... What you have given me...." I swallowed, then tilted my face to press my lips to his gently, trembling despite myself.

He gave a very soft, appreciative sigh against my mouth, returning my kisses without hesitation, fingers slipping up into my hair. "Thank you," I breathed, arching closer to him without thinking, just craving his warmth and kindness, craving the care that I'd felt last night. His fingers curled in my hair, drawing me deeper into the kisses, and my lips parted for him with no hesitation, letting him taste me, returning the kisses and the soft, yearning need I could sense in him.

It was different, kissing Ben, when I'd only ever kissed one person in my entire life. Somehow he seemed to know just how to move with me, how to seal his lips to mine with the perfect amount of force, how to taste me, dance around my tongue with his own. Just like he somehow knew exactly how to touch me. Like touching yourself through someone else, he'd said. Different than I remembered John's touch, when we'd still made love, how he'd completely owned my body and my pleasure like he did my heart, leaving me breathless and thoroughly ravished. No, being with Ben was more like slowly sinking into a hot bath, a kind of warm bliss that spread through my body, unstoppable, arousal building in gentle waves.

So wonderful, that he was here with me, that he gained as much pleasure from this as I did, sharing kisses and caresses like a balm to two wounded souls. I arched closer to him, slipping one thigh over his hip as he pressed his between mine, arching slowly against him, a soft moan escaping my throat, lips forming his name.

"So amazing," he breathed, breaking from my lips to kiss hotly down my neck, and I let my head fall back for him, happy that he took so much pleasure in it. I tightened my thigh around him, grinding a little harder against him with a breathless moan, loving the feel of his cock pressed hard against my thigh, and let my fingers stroke his back and sides, trying to return to him the warm waves of pleasure that washed through me from his touch.

His lips dropped to my chest, almost worshipful, which was a little too much for me to handle. I tried not to react and tugged him back up to kiss me before I thought about it too much, shivering despite myself, letting his hands stroke over my back and shoulders.

"Sorry," he murmured, and I gave a little shake of my head, cupping his face with a hand, kissing away his apology. Letting my passion, my desire for him push away the anxiety, whimpering helplessly as his fingers slipped between us to curl around my erection, stroking slowly, tantalizing. "Tell me how to please you."

I took a moment to catch my breath, then kissed him lightly and pulled back, ignoring his questioning gaze for a moment as I slipped out of his bed. I let my undershirt slip off my shoulders with only a residual twinge of self consciousness, then found my coat, searching through the pockets until I found what I was looking for. Perching on the edge of the bed, I pressed the tube into his hand, feeling my cheeks burn, partly at asking, but more for revealing that I'd been carrying it with me since the afternoon we were kidnapped. I forced myself to speak, to whisper. "... will you? Please?"

He looked a little surprised, but nodded, tugging me back down into his arms, into the warmth of his kisses. "Not like before, though... I want to see you."

I gave a soft noise in agreement, kisses hungrier, craving him, drawing him on top of me and reveling in the pleasure of his weight pinning me to the bed. I tucked my legs up around his waist, and he seemed to understand, drawing back long enough to apply lube before lifting my hips, helping support me as he slowly rocked into me.

"God, Ben - !" I arched up against him despite myself at the rush of sensation, gasping, shuddering under him. Watching his eyelids flutter in pleasure as he thrust slowly deeper, leaning down to claim my lips. I clenched my fingers in his hair, returning his kisses almost desperately, whimpering as he rocked against me, driving shivers of pleasure up my spine. Just what I'd craved, secretly, shamefully, since the first time we'd made love.

He shifted a little, pulling my hips higher for deeper penetration, our bodies connecting perfectly, and I cried out breathlessly against his mouth, arching up against him. This position was always a little difficult for me, pulling at scar tissue, muscles aching from former abuses. But I loved it so much that I always pushed past it, needing the pleasure bad enough that it was worth weathering the discomfort. I gasped for that now, tearing breathless kisses from him, clutching at his back. "Harder, please! Oh god!"

"Daniel - !" He was shuddering over me, answering my pleas, bucking harder into me. Holding me tightly to him, soft cries of pleasure with each thrust, gasping my name against my lips. It was more heady than I could have imagined, pleasure and sensation entirely overwhelming. Our bodies fell into a hard, desperate rhythm, the head of his cock rubbing against my sweet spot, driving shuddering, aching shocks of bliss up my spine. Crying out from the pleasure of it all, from feeling so intensely and so deeply when I'd been so alone.

I gasped hard for breath with damaged lungs, feeling the world blur and swim around me as I struggled to get enough air, but I was used to this, even craved it, just a little. It made the sensations more vivid, more intense, and I closed my eyes tight, pressing my face to his hair. My emotions surged as the sensation built, irresistibly strong, bucking up hard against him with a shuddering cry as his hand slipped to stroke me, pulling me quickly and expertly to the sweetest climax, sensation rushing through me in white-hot sparks of joy.

There were a few seconds of oblivion, every part of me lost to it, and when my awareness came back, it was to Ben's soft kisses, gasping my name in the aftershocks of orgasm. I turned my face to his kisses, trembling, blinking back tears. Clinging to him, rocking ever so slightly, silent apart from soft gasps of breath, neither quite sure what had passed between us, how to react to it, how to express it other than to press close, let it reassure that we were still alive, and no longer alone.

"Thank you," I managed to whisper, finally, curling in his arms as he eased down next to me, the moment passing. Reveling in the beauty of the sunlight on his skin, how warm and bright everything was.

He pressed his lips to my hair, smiling, then chuckled softly. "Just thinking... back when you first came, when Nelson started talking about sex. Never expected it would turn out like this."

I smiled, looking up to meet his gaze. "I am glad that it did."

"Me too," he murmured softly, and I knew from his smile that it was true.

~~~~~