Behind the Mirror

Jack Bauer

I still wasn't particularly sure what had happened the afternoon that our impromptu holding room got its window bricked over. A day later and brought no answers, and the only two people with some idea had sequestered themselves in their room for almost 24 hours barring a few brief appearances from Ben for random food and orange juice.

I didn't push, though I was beginning to wish more and more that we could just lock the guy somewhere and forget about the waste of time all together. As it was, we'd managed to wrestle up a full set of shackles, and I'd set up rotating shifts with Buckner, McHenry and Athos to keep the man under 24 hour surveillance.

I'd just handed duty off to McHenry and settled down in front of my laptop and purloined equipment in my room when David appeared at my door with a smirk, though these days he looked almost as tired as I. "How much do you love me, Jack?"

I swivelled the chair to look at him blankly. "I adore you," I stated dryly. "What's up?"

His grin widened, and he tossed me a wallet which, when I opened it, seemed to contain a number of different drivers licences and foreign ID cards. I pulled out a couple. "John Svennson, John Fredricks, John Raine... well, at least we know his name."

He nodded, swinging a duffel off his shoulder and onto the bed before handing me the briefcase he'd been carrying. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg. I found the mother load. Files, police reports, DVD's... and that little baby there."

The lock on the case had already been broken - I assumed by him - and it opened easily. "... external hard drive. This guy has more shit than me."

"I know." He perched crosslegged on the edge of the bed behind me, watching over my shoulder as I hooked the drive up to my system and started looking through.

"Looks like it's all audio files... not encrypted. Guess he didn't expect them to be falling into the wrong hands."

They seemed to be labelled by date, and I played a few at random, to find recorded phone calls, some with the man's voice - our voice - some that appeared to just be surveillance.

David shifted to lean over my shoulder, tapping at the screen. "Try that one. That's the same month as the obituary ran."

There were only five files. I selected the most recent record on it and hit play.

"I know this is just voice mail," the sound clip started - a clear tenor voice, accented like a New Yorker, and clearly upset. "It's stupid of me, don't even know if it's your voice mail. But maybe you're still listening. I just. I just wanted to say... I'm sorry." A helpless sob, and the voice continued. "I fucked up. But I loved you. I'm so sorry." And then, almost before I realized what I was listening to, I heard the sound of a gun cock, heard a last whispered apology, and then the gun fired.

The clip ended.

I glanced up at David, who had taken it in quietly, and gave a slow nod. "That's his boy. That's it. "

I found myself echoing his nod, and his words, but somehow I couldn't take any pride in the discovery. "That.. is it."

~~~~~


Ben Carson


We had a rough night, but Daniel fell asleep pre-dawn and for the most part slept through the rest of the day. It relieved me, and I slept with him, more exhausted than I would have expected.

When I awoke he was curled in one of the hotel robes in the armchair by the window, sun kissed by strips of the late afternoon that shone through the window, reading. He looked up as I stirred, giving me a soft smile. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," I replied with a sleepy yawn, sitting up and running a hand through my dischevelled hair, wondering if it was worth putting on clothes over my boxers. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," he said softly, setting the book aside and turning in the chair to face me, arms folded on the side. "But more than a little -- foolish, and ashamed. I have behaved very badly, Ben. I should not have -- done that. And I should not have dumped -- my troubles on you."

"Hey." I frowned, shifting to crouch by the side of the chair, looking up at him and resting a hand on his. "You can't be strong all the time. You've been running yourself ragged trying to see to everyone here, including the asshole at the end of the hall. No one can blame you for having a bit of a breakdown yourself."

"Breakdown, perhaps, but drinking..."

"Daniel." I gave him a wry smile. "I'm a recovered alcoholic. I understand."

His eyebrows raised slightly. "Really?"

"Mmm." I gave a soft chuckle and glanced away, though there wasn't anything particularly amusing about it. "Yeah, it's what got me into this whole mess. I accidentally killed an undercover cop on the force. Got suspended, couldn't cope. The wife didn't understand, so...." I gave a little shrug, and smiled at him. "I'm sure I've made far more of an ass of myself than anything you did last night."

"I am sorry," he said softly, hand moving to touch the side of my face gently, and I closed my eyes and leaned into it, taking comfort in the warmth of his touch. "You've been very kind to take care of me, Ben," he continued softly, and I glanced up and smiled.

"It's no trouble. You know that." I turned my face to kiss his palm lightly. "You're not the only one who likes to take care of the ones they care about."

"This is true." He smiled at my kiss, then stood, and I did as well, only to find myself pushed gently but firmly back toward the bed, his hands on my shoulders as he leaned in to press his lips to mine, warm and tender. He urged me down gently to perch on the side of the bed, leaning down with me to keep our lips locked, kisses deeper, more yearning, hands stroking over my bare chest and shoulders. I let my hands slip into his robe, pulling it open and stroking over his hips and sides. "I like taking care of you -- best," he murmured against my mouth, and the unsaid implications brought with them a warm shudder of arousal.

"Come here," I murmured, trying to tug him down to me, but he gave a little shake of his head, nudging my thighs aside with one of his knees before slipping down to kneel between them. His lips pressed to my chest, warm and soft and teasing, and he gave a soft, appreciative noise as he flicked his tongue against my nipple, fingers finding the other to pinch and tease. I arched a little closer to him, stroking my fingers over his hair.

He pulled back just long enough to set his glasses aside on the table, giving me a soft smile before leaning in to press his lips to my skin again. He continued to lavish attention on my chest, breath warm against my skin in soft, appreciative sighs, hands rubbing slowly up and down the tops of my thighs. He slipped a hand to stroke and cup my quickly hardening erection, teasing me, trailing kisses slowly down my midline.

"Daniel..."

"Shh," he murmured softly, tugging my boxers down enough to free my cock, leaning down more and drawing his tongue up the length of my erection, slow and warm. He was almost meticulous about it, covering every inch of me with warm, wet laps, drawing soft gasps from my lips, shivers of pleasure running up my spine with each brush of his tongue against me. "I will teach you," he murmured softly, between laps, curling his fingers around the base of my cock, stroking slowly. "What you did yesterday... with the wall... so many things you can learn...."

I drew a sharp breath as his lips parted over the head of my cock, taking it in his mouth with a low groan, working his tongue against me as his cheeks hollowed. It struck me as one of the few times I'd watched someone seem to truly enjoy the act, flushed and breathless as he pleasured me, moans low and throaty around me. Watching him was almost as arousing as what he was doing, his features so familiar to me, his lips so well known, sucking, caressing my aching flesh, his groans of pleasure vibrating low through my body.

"Mmm... god, Daniel...." My hands stroked over his face, fingers running through his hair, rubbing the back of his neck, his shoulders. He gave an appreciative moan under the encouragement, eyes closed in pleasure as he took me deeper into his mouth, free hand clenched at my thigh, and I couldn't help but tense, arching up against his mouth just a little. It was so damn beautiful, watching him suck me, mouth hot and wet and slick, groaning around me as he took me deep into his throat, expertly sending hot, hard shocks of sensation though me, pulling me quickly close.

I couldn't help but moan, harsh and throaty and breathless, squeezing his shoulder hard in warning as I felt my pleasure surge, hanging on the agonizingly delicious edge of climax. He disregarded my squeeze entirely, though, taking me again and again, continuing to tease and suck me as I pulsed and came hot and thick in his mouth. His hands held tight to my thighs, not relinquishing his claim on me until the fireworks had ebbed, until my body began to relax, my breath in hard gasps as I tried to come back to myself. I felt him press a soft kiss to the head of my cock and shivered under the whisper of sensation, stroking my fingers over his cheek. "Oh god...."

He smiled, pleased but still a little shy, letting me draw him up to kiss him, flicking my tongue against his lips almost curiously to taste myself. "God, I should have switched teams long ago," I murmured against his mouth, and he laughed, soft and breathless. He let me pull him down with me onto the bed, pushing aside his robe and slipping my hand into his shorts to tease him, circling my thumb around a head already slick with precum, loving the way he whimpered and rocked up into my touch. I tugged his shorts down and curled my fingers around his heat, stroking firm and slow, then faster with the way he clutched at me, the helpless whimpers that were pulled from his throat.

"You really do enjoy doing that, don't you?" I murmured softly, trailing kisses along his jaw to nip at his earlobe, loving that it made him shudder under me, hips bucking up into my fingers. "You're so hard...."

"Yes - oh, Ben - !"

"Shhh..." I murmured softly, reassuring, stroking him a little faster, returning his kisses as he claimed my mouth with his own, breath in trembling gasps against my lips. I could tell he was close, and nipped lightly at his bottom lip, craving his pleasure, his completion. "Sweet Daniel," I breathed softly, and he gave an almost strangled cry and came, fingers clutching my shoulders almost painfully tight. I held him tightly to me, needing the closeness and familiarity of this intimacy almost more than the sexual pleasure, dropping soft kisses to his forehead, nuzzling his hair.

"Thank you," he whispered softly, finally, relaxing against me as his pulse slowed, nestling his face against my chest. "I... I do not know what I -- would do without you."

The sentiment was achingly real to me as well, and I tightened my arms around him. "Me too."


Eventually we showered and dressed, catching up with the others sometime near dinner. There was a lot to catch up on - apparently David had finally found the missing materials for our guest, who's name, apparently, was also John.

McHenry caught Daniel's arm as he wandered through. "Oh - hey, doc - Steph wanted to see you."

He winced. "Of course. I missed the session today -- I am afraid. Is she -- all right?"

He shrugged. "Same as always, he's a dude with a sixteen year old girl in him. I told her you were sick and I'd see if you could stop by later."

He nodded, and I went with him to where we were keeping Wolverton, unlocking the door and letting him inside.

I warily watched Bob approach Daniel, but the man was as subdued as he had been when we brought here, all former rebellion gone. "Danny..." he whispered softly, "Danny, I need to talk to you... in private."

He glanced at me, and I nodded, moving to stand in the hallway but still keeping them in view. Daniel sat down with him on the edge of the bed, and they conversed in low murmurs for several moments before Daniel stood again, patting his shoulder gently. "Stephanie, you have nothing to -- worry about. Trust me."

"But - "

"I'll bring you a test," he said gently, "But you're not -- pregnant."

A soft sigh, but Bob nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Danny."

Daniel gave him a gentle smile, promising to see him during their session the next day, and we left the suite, locking the door securely behind us. I turned to him once we were outside. "She - He thinks he's pregnant?"

Daniel nodded slowly, expression troubled. "A normal concern of a -- teenaged girl who has not -- menstruated in some time," he replied, and sighed. "Ben... we need to find -- my bag. Get it back. I am very concerned about -- the state of his psyche, like this. We can't keep him locked up -- forever."
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack Bauer

I heard the gunshot late that evening, just as I'd stepped off the elevator onto the third floor. I had my gun in hand and ran for it without hesitation, spotting the room door held open by a pair of feet, and sighting through the gap. "Freeze! Drop your weapon!"

At sight of the scene inside, however, I tucked my gun away, pushing the door open with a curse. Buckner was out cold, still laying half in the hallway, but only from what looked like a good smack to the head. I checked his pulse quickly, then went to the second figure... who wasn't so lucky. "Nelson! Dammit, I need help! Man down!"

Buckner's pistol was still in Bob's hand, his skin still warm despite the pool of blood spreading on the carpet under his head. I touched his throat to find a thready pulse, but my fingers came away bloody, and as I tilted his head I could see the exit wound on the side of his jaw, half blown off. "NELSON!"

"Jack." I looked up to find David at the door, serious and firm. "Give him to me."

"What are you - " He'd pushed past me without waiting for me to answer, hefting Wolverton with a minimum of effort and slinging him over his shoulder, quickly heading for the door, hopping over Buckner. "Where are you going?"

He didn't answer, and I followed him out into the hallway, running into Nelson. "What the hell happened?"

"Buckner's down in the room. I'll deal with this," I told him quickly, and took off after David, who'd reached the stairwell door at the end of the hall and was disappearing inside. "David! What the hell are you doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time ago," he shot back as I entered the stairwell, vaulting the railing easily even with Bob over his shoulder, disappearing down to the basement in a swirl of coat and blonde hair. I rushed to lean over and look at him, but he'd already disappeared from sight on the bottom floor. "Don't follow me, Jack!"

"Dammit." I cursed softly under my breath, but gave in, heading back into the hallway.

Nelson was helping Buckner to sit up, who was holding his head in obvious pain. The doctor looked up at me. "What happened to Bob?"

"Wolverton's dead," I said simply. Or if he wasn't, he would be very soon. "Let Ben tell the shrink. How are you doing, John?"

"She clocked me with the lid of the toilet tank," he muttered, and grimaced. "Fuck, it hurt. I'm sorry, Jack."

"It's fine," I replied, with a little shake of the head, helping Nelson pull him to his feet, an arm over each of our shoulders. "Lets get you somewhere to lay down, get you some ice." I glanced to Nelson. "We can't let him fall asleep."

He rolled his eyes. "I am a doctor, Jack."

"I mean - we should get people on shifts watching him - "

"I can handle taking care of him for the night," he replied with a slight smirk. From the soft chuckle that came from the injured man between us, I decided not to ask.


I didn't see any sign of David until sometime much later that night, as I was walking the halls restlessly, ready to take over surveillance from Athos. I saw the door of his room close at the end of the hall and made tracks to it, rapping lightly. "David?"

The door opened a split second later, and I found David looking at me with a smirk, face and arms bloodsplattered - along with, I assumed, his black clothes. "Hello, lover."

I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell happened?"

He chuckled softly and turned without answering. "Come in."

I followed him into the room as I heard the shower being turned on, and stopped just inside the door. "Who - "

"Brooks." David disappeared into the bathroom, reappearing a moment later with the boy, who was quite possibly more bloodstained than David, and looked up at me with wide blue eyes that were somehow perverse in a face splattered with gore. "Brooks, this is Jack. He's mine." He added a few sharp words in French, and the boy nodded.

"Oui." Brooks offered a hand, stopping with it halfway extended and looking down at the blood almost perplexedly. "Ah - I'm sorry, sir - "

I took the hand anyway, sizing him up. "Pleased to meet you, Brooks. How are you?"

His handshake was a little weak, but he didn't pull away. "I am well, thank you. But I'm afraid you've joined us at a very inopportune time...." I found myself wondering as he spoke if he was a day over sixteen, or even old enough to shave. He did, however, seem very well mannered and polite though somehow dazed. He glanced to David. "He smells good."

"Yes," David agreed, "And he's mine. Go shower, and then we'll find you something to wear."

The boy nodded, giving me a polite smile before disappearing. "Pleased to meet you, Jack."

David closed the bathroom door behind him, then gave me a grin, and before I knew it he'd slipped his arms up around my shoulders and kissed me hungrily, tasting of blood and iron. "He'll be fine, Jack. He's not a danger now, don't worry. I have one more lesson with him later, and then he'll be fine on his own. And you and I can have some... quality time." He smirked, and I tried to ignore the rush of desire it sent down my spine.

"One more lesson?"

"Yes. When is Athos done watch?"

I regarded him carefully. "Half an hour. David, don't - "

"Perfect," he replied with a smirk. "Don't worry, Jack. He will be fine. Trust me." He stroked a bloodstained thumb along my lower lip, and I tried to ignore how surprisingly arousing I found it. "You worry far too much, my warrior," he murmured, leaning in to replace his thumb with a teasing swipe of his tongue.

"And you'll come see me later?" I asked softly, the words coming out a little more husky than intended.

He chuckled, warm and appreciative. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

~~~~~~~~

Seigner d'Athos et d'Auteville


The two figures that waited outside the door to my room, standing close together and speaking quietly, were the last I had expected to see in that place. I went to reach for my missing sword out of habit, and let my hand rest on my hip instead, near enough the holster for the strange, futuristic weapon that they had furnished me with that it comforted me slightly.

Not that it particularly mattered. The first of the two who waited for me was one that I could never hurt on my life, and the second... Henri, or David as he was now, I likely could not do anything against in any case. Though if Brooks was here, around humans, chances are he would be the same....

I inclined my head in a polite bow, happy to be able to converse in my native French. "Good evening gentlemen. Such a pleasant surprise to see you both."

Brooks had new clothes, a fine black silk blouse and black jeans that put me more in mind of David than anything else. He looked up with a small smile, and for as much as his expressions were reserved, I could see emotion all too apparent in his big blue eyes. "Athos. I chose."

I smiled, wondering if it was the black silk or the demonic nature that made him so pale and fair. "So I gathered. I'm glad to see you safe." I glanced over at David, who had been watching the exchange quietly. "Is there anything I can help you gentlemen with?"

"You made me an offer, when you brought back Brooks," David said simply. "That you would give your blood if I gave him the gift."

I lowered my head slightly, glancing away from him. "I am a man of honor, David. I stand by my offer."

David smiled, stepping toward me, fingertips brushing my cheek just above the line of my beard. "We need only blood, Athos. Not your life. Don't worry." He inclined his head toward my door. "Lets go inside."

I gave a little shrug, and opened the door. "After you." I glanced to Brooks to find him watching me, curiously neutral apart from those big blue eyes, that searched mine. David breezed past me into the room, but Brooks stopped, reaching a hand up to touch my shoulder. "Did you really?"

"Did I?"

"Offer to give your life to me?"

"Yes."

His head tilted slightly, eyes narrowing. "Why?"

"It's... complicated." The questioning expression didn't change, and I sighed. "I care for you."

"But... you don't know me."

"I know you now." And that was true. We'd talked for hours, through the strange system of wires and lenses and glass that had been set up, that let me see his face, hear his voice even if he wasn't in the room. We'd spoke on so much - his childhood, his family, the girl who had broken his heart. France, my duty to god and king, my poor tragic Sabine. Everything, that is, but why I was truly here - and that, I could never tell to one as innocent as he.

He smiled then, brief and blindingly beautiful, slipping a hand into mine and pulling me after David, who sat me down on the edge of the king sized bed. I glanced up at him with a little frown. "Tell me what to do."

David chuckled, and despite his youthful appearance, I could see the age behind his eyes, and the darkness. He ignored my question, looking to Brooks. "It's best if you don't give the hunter rein. Not until you're older, because he will be too hard to control. This isn't at all like what I showed to you this afternoon. This is about control. He stays alive, so you can feed again another day." He produced a switchblade from his pocket, flicking it open, and I closed my eyes. Had it really been wise, to leave myself at his mercy? I knew the legends about these revenants. I'd seen their victims. And here he was talking about control?

"Won't it hurt?" Brooks voice, I'd come to learn, was a little lighter, a little sweeter than David's, and his french was perfectly accented. "Won't he run?"

I felt David move to kneel behind me on the bed, one arm slipping around my shoulders, hand cupping my chin, tilting my head back. "It will hurt a little. But once you taste him, he won't want to run. You'll see."

I felt another set of hands on my face, nimble fingers stroking through my hair, tracing over my beard almost curiously. I fought to keep from responding - no matter how it felt, I knew Brooks did not mean to arouse me, even when I felt the pad of his thumb press lightly against my bottom lip. "Er ist schön," I heard him whisper, a tongue I hadn't heard him speak before and couldn't recognize. David seemed to well enough, chuckling softly behind me.

"Yes. Don't stop thinking that. It is the difference between what you see, and what the Hunter sees. Would you like me to show you how to do this, Brooks?"

There was hesitation, and the boy's voice grew a little smaller. "Please."

"All right." The hand on my chin that had been holding my head back released me, slipping down instead to tug open the buttons of my shirt, enough that he could pull it from one shoulder. "Don't ever forget how fragile they are," he said, voice low, and I could feel the whisper of the blade of the knife against my skin, and shuddered. "You can sense, you know where the blood is. If you do too much damage, they will bleed out before you can heal them. Don't let that happen. Keep the blade away from the places where the pulse beats strongest. Take your time when you do this."

I felt a sharp lick of pain as he spoke as the blade cut deep into my shoulder, and I jerked tense despite myself, but his arm around me held me still. Then I felt his lips on my skin, surprisingly hot, and the sensation that rushed through me drove any thought of pain or movement from my mind. It was... erotic. It was more arousing than anything I could have imagined, and I had to fight to keep my hands still on the bed, clenching the silken fabric of the comforter hard between my fingers. It was hard - so difficult, when all I wanted to do was reach back and pull him to me. I could feel his power, his warmth against my back, but somehow it was more than just touch, more than just the physical sensation of being pressed to someone. There was a connection, funnelled through the point where David's lips met my shoulder, and I realized suddenly that the hard, primal heartbeat that was pulsing through my body was not my own, but his.

I gave a low groan despite myself, lost to the thrall of it, and I couldn't have opened my eyes if I wanted to. Then suddenly I felt Brooks' hands on my face again, soft and warm on my skin - felt his breath tease my mouth, and then the softest, most hesitant press of his lips to mine. It was more than I could stand, and before I knew it I'd reached for him, forcing my eyes open to meet his and slipping my fingers into his hair. There was a flash of what almost looked like relief in his eyes, and then he gave in, letting me pull his mouth to mine. He was trembling slightly, but I could sense eagerness, not fear, claiming my mouth with a clumsy need that somehow made me want him even more than if it had been perfect. I took control from him with a low moan, pressing my tongue past lips that parted eagerly to taste him, warm and sweet.

At some point, I became aware that David's mouth was no longer at my shoulder, but I was so distracted by the sweet boy that was kissing me that I hardly cared that he was trailing slow kisses up my neck, one hand rubbing over my chest, tugging the rest of the buttons on my shirt undone. Then his fingers found my nipple, pinching teasingly as he nipped at my earlobe, and I gasped against Brooks' neck, suddenly very aware of how close they both were to me. "What - "

"Hush." David's voice was throaty in my ear, and he reached to tug Brooks down to straddle my lap. The boy didn't resist, though he kept enough distance that I was thankfully able to hide how aroused they'd already made me. Then I felt David's hand cup my chin again, pulling my head back and a little to one side to bare my throat, and felt the flat of the blade run down my neck. "Here is good," I heard him murmur. "Here is safe for now. Come see what he tastes like."

I drew a sharp gasp as I felt the blade bite deep into my neck, right at the crook, and the boy on my lap gave a little helpless moan, his mouth on my skin before I knew it. The rush was even stronger, even more intoxicating than it had been the first time, and suddenly his hands were clenched at my shoulders, his body pressed tight to mine, hot and trembling as he drank from me. His hips bucked against mine almost helplessly, only adding to the overwhelming feeling of desire, and he was as hard as I was, grinding against me, his heat almost searing through me from every point our bodies made contact.

I'd regret this later, I knew, somewhere in the back of my mind. He was far too young for this, far too innocent to play a part in my perversion, and should never have been put into such a place. But it was, I realized, inevitable - hopeless from the moment I found him bruised and bleeding and near death, and yet still the most beautiful thing I'd seen in this strange world. I'd been willing at that moment to give anything to keep him from death, even if it meant my own life. Even if it meant this - that he'd never truly be innocent again. So I didn't resist this, the need, desire, the way he arched against me in need, whimpering against my skin. I couldn't, not with him so very close to me, with his pulse thrumming in my ears, with the rush of our connection in my veins.

David's body was still hot against me, and I could feel his arousal press hard against the small of my back. His fingers released my chin to stroke down my bare chest, warm and strong, then pressed between Brooks' hips and my own, cupping and stroking my erection as he rocked against my back. I was struck with a sudden thought, an aching desire to feel him, to stay like this, trapped between them for the kind of carnal pleasures that the touch of his fingers and the rock of his hips made me think of. I tried to push the thought from my head as quickly as it had come, but it was hard not to want it with the way he was touching me, how close they both were to me, with the shuddering pulses of arousal and desire that rushed through my veins with the press of Brooks' lips to my throat.

"Ease up," I heard David murmur, and I gave a soft, shivering moan of loss as Brooks' lips left my throat, regardless of the soft tease of David's tongue swiping against my skin. Breaking the connection didn't lessen the desire, and I found myself still rocking helplessly between them, up against Brooks, into David's fingers.

"Can you feel what he wants?" David murmured, fingers slipping to unbutton the strange, soft trousers this world wore, to slip down under my undergarments to stroke me. His mouth found the boy's over my shoulder, warm and yearning, voice husky. "Let's give it to him."

I could hardly think, with David's hand on my erection, Brooks moving to kiss me, hot and yearning as his hands rubbed over my chest. I let myself mirror the motion, stroke my hands over his slender hips, over his sides and back through the fine silk, feeling him shiver with pleasure. "Undress me," he whispered, and I complied, fingers pulling undone the delicate buttons quickly, pulling the silk off his shoulders, stroking hungrily over his bare skin.

Before I knew it he'd drawn back from me, undoing his jeans as he stood before me, pushing them off with his undergarments to leave him standing nude in all his pale perfection. I let my eyes rove over him hungrily before meeting his gaze, uncertain but needy, his lips parted, bruised pink from our kisses. "Come," he said softly, and moved to sprawl against the pillows on the bed behind us, holding a hand out to me. David wriggled my trousers off as I stood and I let him, stepping out of them and moving to kneel over the boy, falling on him with kisses in a sudden surge of need, tasting the pale, tender skin of his neck, kissing a chest almost completely hairless, my hands rubbing hungrily over his thighs, stroking his erection. For a moment it was just us, his little breathless cries of pleasure, his body arching under mine, stroking my sides with tender thighs that wrapped around me. Then David was pressing a small bottle into my fingers - similar to the oil I was used to using, and I looked up at the boy under me sharply.

"Brooks..."

"Show me how good it can feel," he said simply, holding my gaze seriously, and I gave a little nod, leaning in to kiss him, warm and tender and hopefully reassuring, wetting my fingers with the liquid in the bottle and stroking down between his thighs, over the soft flesh, teasing the puckered skin of his opening gently, waiting until he was whimpering and arching against me to work a finger into him.

I'd almost forgotten about David when I felt him press against my back, warm and now as naked as we were, nipping teasingly at my neck, voice warm in my ear. "I know what you were thinking about earlier, Athos. I didn't think you had it in you. I can give that to you." His hand slipped down to stroke over my ass, kneading, teasing. "You crave it, don't you? Having someone else take control?"

I drew a soft hiss, almost mindlessly aroused at the thought, at the feel of them both against me, at the softness of the boy who squirmed under me as I eased another finger into him, working and stretching and letting him adjust to the penetration. "David...."

"Don't resist it," he murmured, nipping at my earlobe, and his fingers shifted to stroke me teasingly, right where I wanted his cock. So shameful, to know he spoke truth, to ache for the deed, the pleasure I hadn't felt in so long. "Just say yes."

"Yes," I gasped helplessly, and he took the small bottle from me, working slick fingers in me carefully, expertly, pumping them until I was gasping and groaning, rocking back against him. "Oh, hell....."

"Athos..." Brooks voice was soft, his lips finding me, trembling a little, the helplessness and need of it pulling painfully at my heart. "Please show me...." As he spoke, Davids fingers pulled away, then slipped around me a moment later to stroke my cock, coating me with the satiny slick liquid from the bottle - much, much nicer than oil - as if in complete cohorts with the boy under me. I pushed his thighs back more, finding him beautifully flexible, and let my forehead rest to his as I started to ease into his body, rocking slowly deeper as his tight heat surrounded me, his breath in soft whimpers of pleasure, fingers kneading at my shoulders. "Oh god - !"

"So beautiful," I whispered, holding stock still as my hips sat flush with his ass, dropping trembling kisses to his lips, overcome with a sudden sense of wonder. "So perfect, chérubin, so beautiful, thank you, thank you...."

He arched under me a little, shifting his hips against me in the most intoxicatingly wonderful way, one hand working trembling fingers in my hair to pull me down to his mouth. So soft, his lips, yearning, gasping against mine, then crying out as I rocked slowly into him, angling to please him just so, his body jerking tense with the jolt of pleasure as I found my goal. "God!"

I felt David's lips on my neck, a little approving sound, his fingers teasing me as I started to rock slowly in the boy, but not making any move to join. It was our moment, and I treasured it, the pleasure of coupling with him, the sounds of his need, his pleasure, the joy and wonder of being one with his sweetness. Then I felt David kneel behind me and I slowed, closing my eyes with a shudder, gasping as he teased me with the head of his cock.

"David... do it."

"That's what I like to hear." His voice was husky by my ear, but somehow reassuring, and I cried out against Brooks' lips as the other man eased into me with a few hard thrusts, hard and deep until he was sheathed in me, his weight pushing me hard into the boy, making him cry out as I was. I could never have imagined the intensity of this, the way David took control instantly, hands tight on my hips, forcing me to move with him, to take his firm, deep thrusts, each burying me deep in the sweet boy under me. The heat of Brooks' body tight around me was almost too much just on its own, let alone with this, with David pinioning me hard and fast and demanding, gasping throaty groans of pleasure against my skin, angling so that each firm thrust of his hips left me seeing stars. I couldn't do much but hang on, moving with him and tearing trembling kisses from Brooks' sweet mouth.

I'd worried so much about the boy before this, had hated myself for wanting him so badly when he'd been so badly brutalized when I'd met him. I'd stroked myself to thoughts of him that were fraught with guilt far too many times, but there was no sign of hesitance in him now. He gasped and moaned and rocked with us, shuddering under me, his kisses hard, claiming me, crying out against my mouth in unrestrained pleasure with each thrust. I could hardly stand it, the overwhelming amount of sensation between them, and pulled away from his mouth as it built, biting down hard on my lower lip to keep control, my hands fisted at the pillows, helplessly riding the edge of a powerful orgasm.

"Come on," David urged, but it was Brooks who pulled me over the edge, gasping my name helplessly against my hair as he bucked tense under me, tightening around my cock and pulling me along as he came to climax. I bit down on my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood, voice in a harsh yell as I let go, overcome by ecstacy, by shudders of heat that overwhelmed every inch of my body as I came unbelievably hard, deep into him.

David drew me through it with a few hard thrusts, then pulled back, and somewhere in the daze of pleasure I was aware of him finishing over me with a few desperate strokes of his fingers, his seed warm and slick where it landed on my skin. And I didn't care in the least.

I gulped huge breaths as the pleasure ebbed, trying to catch my breath, and didn't fight as Brooks squirmed a little under me, drawing my mouth to his to kiss me, sucking hungrily at the blood on my lip, something that sent a warm, lazy shudder of pleasure through me. "Holy god...."

"Are you all right?" It was almost silly, for him to be asking that of me when I'd just fucked him, and the sweetness of it made me ache. I smiled, kissing him warmly, stroking my fingers through his hair.

"Oui, chérubin. I'm wonderful. So good."

David leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek, then Brooks'. "Good. I'm out of here, kids - got people to do. You - " He pointed to Brooks, "Be nice to him. Call for me if you need me, like I showed you, but don't hurt him." The words had a strange shudder of power to them that even I could feel, and the boy nodded slowly.

"Yes, David."

"Good. You..." He grinned at me when I looked over at him, and patted my ass. "You're a hell of a thing, Athos. Have fun, and stop feeling so damn guilty, you're such a fucking human. And for gods sake, don't suck him off."

I found myself nodding a little dazedly, and within minutes, David had pulled on his clothes and left, though that wonderful little bottle stayed behind.

The boy under me was still stroking fingers slowly through my hair, watching me with a little wondering smile. I returned it, easing away from him carefully and curling around him protectively, not caring that both of us were a mess. His blue eyes were warm and content, watching me. "I thought you didn't like boys."

"I like boys far too much," I responded guiltily, but smiled as he laughed softly and kissed me.

"Athos, mon ange," he murmured, voice unexpectedly husky. "Promise me you won't feel guilty for this. I've wanted you so badly. It's why I chose life."

I swallowed hard against a sudden rush of emotion and nodded, tightening my arms around him with the unspoken desire to protect him, and kissed him. "It's why I swore to save yours, regardless of the cost." He smiled, sweet and beautiful and blissful, and despite everything I knew, I couldn't bring myself to feel one bit of guilt for loving him.

~~~~~~~~

David

I think I near swaggered out of Athos' room, still a little surprised, though pleasantly so, that I'd managed to get myself in on the action. Never underestimate the French, it seemed.
I backtracked to my room to grab another bottle of lube, pocketing it, then headed for my last stop before Jack, the floor's only suite.

When I poked my head inside, I found the shrink alone in the kitchenette, brewing a cup of tea. He looked tired and more that a little troubled, and I found myself glad that I'd stopped in. Perhaps it was Jack's influence, but I'd grown surprisingly attached to our motley crew. "Hey."

He glanced up at me and managed a strained smile. "Good evening, David."

I decided not to mince words, but I laid a hand on his arm to acknowledge the pain I could see in his eyes. "I need to talk to you about Wolverton. Stephanie."

"There's nothing to - talk about." He gave a little shiver and glanced away, taking milk from the small bar fridge and adding it to his tea with a package of sugar, focusing intently on it as he stirred.

"I don't suppose I can convince you that it wasn't your fault."

He glanced over at me, a slight quiver in his voice when he replied. "David, please."

"Stephanie came to me," I said simply. "The girl, not the man she was before. She asked me for death. I gave it to her, and used it to give Brooks what he needed."

Daniel stepped back, face a wash of agony, and let himself lean back heavily against the wall with a soft moan. "I don't believe it. I would have seen - "

"You did see signs," I said softly, simply, and stepped closer to him, resting a hand on his shoulder, holding his gaze. "Others, she hid from you, because she wanted to please you. Trust me, Daniel. I see this often. What I am - we attract those who wish to die, whether they realize it or not." I watched him take in my words, and let him make of them what he would, without clarifying further. "Usually I oblige them."

"But how did she -- get to you? I don't understand - "

"Do you think I have to speak with someone face to face to know the desires of their heart?" I stepped close to him, leaning in to nuzzle his ear, press my body to his. I knew I was overdoing it, but couldn't resist the urge, not with Athos's blood still hot in my veins. I nipped sharply at his earlobe and felt him shudder against me in reply, which was more than a little arousing.

"David - "

"I know you, too," I murmured, low and throaty. "I know what you've lost, I know the emptiness inside you. I know that if they didn't need you - if Ben didn't need you - that you would have opened your arms to me long ago." The urge to feed from him was strong, and I staved it off by drawing my tongue slowly up his throat, tasting sweat and fear and desire. Then I pulled back, just enough to look at him. "Don't blame yourself for Stephanie."

His gaze was surprisingly calm, all considered, searching my face. Then finally, he gave the slightest nod. "All right. I will do -- my best."

"Good." I leaned in to press my lips to his, lightning quick, then pulled away with a chuckle, turning for the door. "I'm glad we reached an understanding. Now go find Ben." I stole a glance at him over my shoulder to see him flush darkly at my words, but he gave a slight nod, and I left.

Jack was in the room he'd set up for surveillance, a utility room near the end of the hall and the suite where we kept the prisoner. He opened the door as soon as I knocked, the room behind him in darkness apart from the light from the computer monitors. I pushed into the room, slipping my arms around his neck to pull him to me, and kissed him hungrily, pressing my body against him to let him feel how hard I was. His hands slipped around my hips to clench at my ass, returning the kiss with hunger, groaning appreciatively into my mouth. Then he glanced over at the surveillance monitors, but I drew his face back to mine. "Jack. I can be there in an instant if he tries anything, and I can hear him breathe. Relax for a bit. Lets have some fun."

He hesitated, then gave a little nod, leaning in to kiss me. "Mm, what have you been doing?"

I chuckled against his mouth, low and throaty, fingers stroking through the short hair the back of his neck. Then I tossed the lube onto the desk, knowing I'd forget later. "I've been making sure everyone gets laid tonight. Now it's my turn."

"Have you now." He gave a soft laugh, fingers finding the bottom of my tshirt and pulling it up over my head, stroking hands hungrily over my bare skin. "Should I be concerned?"

I nipped teasingly at his bottom lip, then stripped off his tshirt in return. "No. I'm here, aren't I?" I leaned in to lick slowly up his neck like I'd done to Daniel, still resisting the urge to sink my fangs into his flesh, enjoying the sweet tension of self restraint. "I just needed to set the shrink straight about Wolverton. Appeased his conscience, left him hot and bothered, then came here."

"Only you could do that part and parcel," he replied with a low chuckle, nuzzling my ear as his hands stroked down to cup my ass. "And Athos?"

I grinned despite myself at the memory, then gave into my hunger, sinking my fangs into his neck lightning quick, having learned that the hot surge of pain made him just as hard as the ensuring erotic swoon that came when I fed while human. He groaned and bucked up against me, hands clenching hard at my ass, completely giving himself over to the pleasure of it, which I adored. I loved my unexpected children now, though partly out of necessity, like I'd loved all my children in the past - sweet Brooks, and even cocky Nelson. But they couldn't hold a candle to my adoration for Jack. I wouldn't share this one. And Jack didn't seem to have any inclination to be shared, which was fortunate; after the incident with Michael and that useless bitch Star, I couldn't have stood for it.

I licked soothingly at Jack's neck as I drew back, healing the bitemarks. "I fucked him."

His fingers had already found the closure on my jeans, undoing them and pushing them off; I'd long given up on wearing underwear around Jack. "You what?"

I chuckled, low and throaty, moving to kiss him. "I fucked him. Turns out Frenchie likes it both ways, didn't think he had it in him. Really liked it both ways at the same time." I slipped a hand down to cup him through his jeans, grinning against his mouth as he rocked up against me with an almost impatient groan. "You would have loved being there, wouldn't you, Jack? Watching me pound him into the kid? Would have made you so hard, wouldn't it?"

He pushed me back against the wall, nipping sharply at my bottom lip, his fingers curling around my erection to stroke me. "You're a goddamn cocky bastard, anyone ever tell you that?"

I laughed, joyous and amused, yanking his pants open and down to stroke him in reward. "God, I love it when you talk like that. Wish you'd have been there, fucking me. Would have been a hell of a thing, buried deep in his tight little ass with your thick cock pounding into me. Fuck, Jack, I want you."

He shuddered against me, glancing over his shoulder at the room, which was small and unfortunately devoid of furniture other than the desk with the equipment on it, and I knew we'd cause a shitload of damage if we tried anything there. I reached over to grab the lube, coating him in it liberally, leaning in to kiss him. "Up against the wall." And with that, I pulled him against me, bracing back against the wall with my arms around his shoulders, levitating just enough to support my weight as I pulled my thighs up against his sides.

"Fuck, David - " He caught my hips immediately, strong and sure as much as he didn't need to support me. He pushed me back hard against the wall, one arm under my hips, and took me, buried deep with a few hard thrusts, hot and thick and vibrant inside me. I let gravity have enough claim on me to aid the depth of penetration, clinging tightly to his shoulders, tearing hungrily at his mouth with kisses.

The most dangerous thing, I'd found, about being four hundred years old and ageless, was boredom - but that was never an issue with Jack. The man was so damn voracious that it was almost overwhelming to me, even with everything I'd had seen and done in my time. I gladly let Jack set the pace, hard and deep and frantic, pushing me hard into the wall with each thrust. I couldn't control it, not like this, but that was the joy of being fucked up against the wall, being entirely controlled, helpless to the demands of Jack's passion. "Oh fuck Jack - god, give it to me! So fucking good!"

"How do you do this to me?" His voice was husky, lips falling to my neck, sucking and nipping at my skin as roughly as he was using me. "Could've just stripped you and pushed you over the desk back in your room, all blood spattered and damn sexy...."

I gave an exultant cry at his words, fingers digging into his back. "Show me. Claim me, Jack. Own me, fuck me hard, make me ache from it. I'm such a whore for you, oh god - !"

Whether it was the reference to ownership or the dirty talk, it broke some dam of control in him, passion and voracity pouring into me with the force of his thrusts, his mouth tearing at my neck and shoulder hard and unrestrained, words lost to throaty, passionate cries against my skin. It was exactly what I'd craved, his hunger and near-violent intensity that I so rarely found the like of in humans, so absolutely delicious. So strong and powerful. It drove me quickly close, fingers clenched at his shoulders and shuddering against him, making no attempt to hold back the cries of pleasure he drove from my throat with each thrust. He bit down hard on the crook of my neck, hands clenching my hips hard enough to bruise as he bucked deep and spent himself hot and slick inside me, voice a harsh cry against my skin. It was more than enough to pull me to ecstasy, bliss in hot shudders cascading through me, as beautiful and ethereal as feeding, and just as primal.

I held tight to him as we slowly came down, loving the way his sweat-streaked skin felt under my fingers, his breath in hard gasps against my skin. "Mmm, god Jack... you never disappoint."

He gave a low, almost incredulous laugh, pressing his lips against my jaw. "Make me lose all control when I'm with you. Don't know how you do it."

"Because you know I like it?" I smirked, kissing him lazily, flicking my tongue against his lips. "Not many can match your passion, Jack. Human or otherwise. Not something a woman would understand. You need to let it lose, enjoy it when the opportunity presents itself."

He gave a slow nod, something dark and thoughtful deep behind his eyes, and I stroked my fingers through his hair reassuringly. "It's a beautiful thing, Jack. Now, let me down and I'll keep you company here for a bit." He did so, and I stretched, fully subscribing again to gravity as my feet hit the floor, feeling deliciously well used. Jack still looked a little pensive, so I stroked my arms up around his neck, finding his mouth with mine, warm and teasing. "What troubles you, my warrior?"

He gave a little shake of his head and smiled, fingers slowly stroking up and down my back, over my ass. "You're right, it's not something a woman understands at all. I was married for a while... I loved her madly, but we split because of it. And then when we tried to work through it... she was killed because of my work."

I watched him quietly while he spoke, fingertips stroking small circles on the back of his neck. "And your heart broke."

"I've had it broken so many times, David."

I nodded slowly, bringing a hand down to stroke his chest, fingertips playing over the marks of torture. "Not all scars are visible." I turned my gaze back to his. "Did you ever find someone who could keep up with your passion?"

He glanced away, beautiful lips pressing together tightly, shifting with emotion. "The man who betrayed me."

He hadn't mentioned gender before, but the revelation didn't surprise me in the least. "Mine too. And I never even fucked him."

Jack chuckled softly, sympathetic and at the same time seeming somehow relieved at my words. "Mine just fucked me. And no, you can't top me."

I wrinkled my nose. "Fuck that, you think I'd let you stop fucking me long enough to play the mare?" I nipped playfully at his bottom lip. "Sit and relax, my warrior. We can watch our buddy's throughly uncomfortable sleep for a while and talk more if you like."

He gave a little nod, regretfully untangling himself from me and sinking down into the office chair; I perched delicately on his lap, not minding at all the arms that slipped possessively around my waist. "David..."

"Yeah?"

"It's been a while... if the kid is okay on his own, will you come back to my room with me for the night?"

I smiled, and pressed my lips to his hair. "Sure."

~~~~~~