Douse This Fire

Oh. Dinner at Jack’s place. The blush was back on Eamon’s cheeks. “Uh, Saturday I get off… at seven. Unless there’s a surgery, then it’s anyone’s guess.” He fidgeted with his phone, glancing at the address. “I’ll let you know if that happens.”

It wasn’t quite the reception he was expecting, but none the less welcome.  He dropped his gear bag, and just stood there for a moment against Eamon’s body, before he wrapped his arms around him and buried his face against his shoulder. 

As soon as Jack’s gear hit the floor, Eamon was tugging him into a tight embrace. And when Jack pressed his face to his shoulder, he cupped the back of his head, stroking his hair. “You okay?” he asked gruffly after a moment.

Jack sighed.  “Be right there,” he tapped back, grabbed his gear and a change of clothes and headed up to the Commander’s cabin. He didn’t enter right away, just buzzed at the door, wondering what kind of reception awaited him. 

Eamon excused himself from the table in the mess as soon as he sent the message. He was leaning against the barren fish tank waiting impatiently when the door buzzed. He opened it immediately and yanked Jack into the room. There was relief plain on his face. “You’re back.”

Tavi nodded, perking up immediately with a little chirping subvocal.  “Okay!  Okay.  Heh, where you wanna go?  Somewhere that ain’t crowded I”m guessin’.”

“Yeah. Anywhere not crowded.” Carefully he shifted from couch to wheelchair, grunting as he settled. “And nowhere I’m gonna wish I’d brought my pistol.”

He paused at that.  “Uh… yes?”  He hoped yes.

Eamon gave him a look, then sat up with a little difficulty. “We’ll go out. Sick of this fucking apartment anyway.”

He just stood there for several minutes, eyes closed.  He had thought they’d have more time before he had to go out again.  But would there ever be enough time when what he wanted was to be safely wrapped around Eamon, far from this galaxy?  He kissed him hard, then pulled back and turned around, sniffling a bit, though he tried to hide it.  “Don’t wait up.” He quipped and walked to the elevator. 

Eamon stood there long after Jack was gone. When he turned, the forgotten tray of food got his attention. He ate half of the food, but only because Jack had brought it to him. Then he retreated to the couch and sat there with a datapad that he tried to work on but just wound up staring at.

Jack put one of his hands on Eamon’s face and ran a thumb over his cheekbone and jawline.  “No extraordinary measures. Copy that,” he smiled a little.  Then he pressed his forehead to Eamon’s. “I’m coming back. I promise.”

Eamon knew that was the best either of them could do. So he nodded and held onto Jack’s face, thumbs brushing back and forth over his cheekbones.

“I’d tell you know if I didn’t think you’d try to stop me.  But, yes. When I’m back, you’ll know what it was for,” he inhaled Eamon’s scent, as if that would guard him from what he was about to go and do. A place to retreat to when things got bad.

“I wouldn’t stop you,” he said quietly. “I’d want to. But I wouldn’t.” Finally, Eamon turned, taking Jack’s face in his hands and looking him dead in the eye. “Don’t do more than you have to though. Please.”

Jack didn’t want to have a drink. He never drank before a mission.  But it was an excuse to get Eamon alone.  He hit a button for privacy mode as he closed the door and his arms went around Eamon’s shoulders from behind.  “I wouldn’t be going if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. I’ll be back as soon as I can.  But I will come back, Eamon.  I always do. I always will,” he lips brushed the back of his neck as he spoke. 

Eamon never thought Jack actually wanted a drink. Nor would he have given him one if he had. His hands lifted to touch Jack’s arms. “Will you tell me after what it was for?” There was an almost imperceptible tremble in his voice.

“Might I request a good bye drink in your cabin, Commander?” He asked, hoping to give them an excuse to say good bye properly, and away from the prying eyes of the crew. 

Fuck that sounded so final. But he nodded. With the tray of food in hand, he rode the elevator up to his cabin with Jack. When they got there, he stiffly walked to his desk and set the tray down. He didn’t turn back around.

Tavi chuckled, sitting up a little more.  “Cheer you up… hmm… I got some new audiobooks, you like romances?  There’s lotsa sex scenes!”

“Better not.” The thought of getting aroused right now was not enticing. He raised an eyebrow. “Can I trust you with the wheelchair?”

“As long is takes,” he said.  “I always come back.  Boss is staying on the Normandy, so here is where I report back,” he looked like he wanted to say more, but he couldn’t.  Not in the open.  And, in truth, if Eamon knew what was going to be happening, he’d never allow it.

Eamon grit his teeth. “Jack...” He let out a measured breath. He didn’t know what to say, he didn’t know how to respond to this. He wasn’t going to stop Jack. He just wanted to make sure Jack knew what he felt. It seemed vitally important right now. But out here on the command deck... Eamon stood helplessly.

Jack tilted his head and gave him a look. A look between ‘do you really want to know’ and ‘do you really think I can tell you’.  

Even deeper now. His posture stiffened. “How long?” He at least wanted to know that. So that Eamon could know when to worry.

Distractedly, Eamon glanced up, ready to dismiss whoever it was. Focused on his work as he was he didn’t realize it was Jack until he actually saw him. “Thanks,” he murmured instead. Then, “Where are you going?” He stood from the terminal, taking the tray and setting it aside. There was a frown in place. He nearly said something about not clearing a mission before remembering that Jack wasn’t fully his crew. He was Liara’s agent first. That pulled his frown deeper.