Rating: R/NC-17 for implied sexual situations. Jack/Daniel, Daniel/OMC. AU, drama, angst, romance, first time

Chapter Five: Masks

It was surprising how quickly the strange and unexpected could become routine, Daniel mused, gazing at his reflection in the bedroom mirror. For the third evening in a row Jack had arrived bearing new and expensive clothing for Daniel, detailed instructions from his superiors and an odd ambivalence that was apparently all his own. Tonight Jack had brought him a neatly tailored suit of charcoal gray with a shirt and tie in softer shades of gray. Daniel carefully knotted the tie, a slip of Italian silk shot through with threads of blue and silver, reflecting that, if nothing else, he was probably the best-dressed, unemployed archeologist in the country.

Just as he had for the two previous nights, Daniel emerged from his bedroom to find Jack O'Neill gazing out his windows waiting for his arrival, like a nervous suitor come courting. Once again, Jack walked over and straightened his collar with gentle fingers, resting his hands lightly upon Daniel's shoulders, squeezing them briefly before stepping back. It was almost like a ritual, some obscure ceremony performed to ensure good luck or a bountiful harvest. In this case, Daniel decided, it was probably a little of both. This time Jack broke slightly from the ritual, pulling a sliver tie clip from his trouser pocket, affixing it to Daniel's tie with a tenderness that left Daniel's nerves tingling.

Jack gestured towards the sofa and waited until Daniel seated himself before sitting on the adjacent couch.

"I wish we could send you in with some kind of mike, Daniel, but we can't take the chance. We have no reason to believe that Stephanopoulus suspects you, but we can't run the risk of tipping him off. We also have no idea what kind of security he or his guests might have set in place for the evening." Jack studied him intently. "I don't like sending you without back-up like this, but frankly I don't see any other way."

"I'll be all right, Jack. Like you said, there's no reason to believe that he suspects me of anything." Daniel gave him a quick, pained grin. "Well, anything beyond bad judgment. Besides, sooner or later a situation will arise where I'll be all on my own. That's pretty much inevitable, given the scenario, right?"

Jack frowned at that but didn't comment on Daniel's words. "We have the house under surveillance and we'll be keeping tabs on everyone who comes and goes, checking license plates, cab numbers, anything we can get. What we need you to do is keep track of not only who is attending, but how they introduce themselves, what they say and--most importantly--how they interact with Stephanopoulus. Hopefully, whoever it is who is giving up the Intel will be there in person or will have sent along a messenger in his stead."

"Aren't we grasping at straws here, Jack?" Daniel asked, putting into words a thought that had been haunting him. He suspected, based on the way the other man stiffened slightly, that it bothered Jack as well.

Jack sighed. "I'm afraid we don't have much choice. If Stephanopoulus is planning an extended sabbatical out of the country, our time may very well be running out."

"I understand."

"What I need is for you to keep your eyes and ears open. We need any bit of information we can get our hands on, no matter how inconsequential it might seem." Jack shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky."

Daniel merely nodded as he rose from the sofa. "I should get going. Ari is waiting."

He took a step towards the door, but stopped as he felt Jack's hand curling around his bicep, the other man's grip firm but not uncomfortably so. He glanced at the hand resting on his arm and then up at Jack's face, surprised by the warring emotions he saw chasing themselves across Jack's visage before they vanished completely from view.

"Be careful," was all Jack said. Daniel nodded once more and made his way to the door, leaving a brooding Jack O'Neill in his wake.

Daniel hailed a cab on the street. Once inside, he reeled off the address and leaned against the seat back. The interior smelled faintly of mildew, despite the pine tree shaped air freshener, and the driver was listening to some talk radio station. Daniel looked out the window and tried not to think about what awaited him.

By the time he arrived at his destination, Daniel was in full control of his emotions once more. He paid the driver and made his way up the sidewalk towards the door of an impressive house framed by manicured lawns and neatly pruned shrubbery. He was greeted at the door by a tall, middle-aged woman dressed in a gray dress and a crisply starched apron who ushered him inside and closed the door behind him. She gestured to one of the adjoining rooms.

"Daniel!"

At the sound of the familiar voice, Daniel's gaze shifted to take in the sight of Ari as he came towards him, a broad smile lighting his tanned face.

"Ari," he greeted. Ari bestowed his now familiar handshake and hug combination. After a long moment Ari pulled back, his hands gripping Daniel's shoulders in a strange echo of Jack's gesture before Daniel left the apartment.

"You are late," Ari said, but the words held no censure. "I was getting worried. I thought perhaps you had forgotten...or changed your mind about coming."

"No, no," Daniel assured him, shaking his head. "I just...I had difficulty getting a cab," he said, surprised at how easily the lie sprang to his lips.

If Ari saw through the subterfuge, he gave no sign. "Bah! The taxis in this city are terrible. They never come, even when you reserve one in advance. Most annoying. I apologize. I did not realize that you didn't have a car. Had I known, I would have driven you here myself."

"Don't worry, it wasn't a problem. I haven't really had a chance to get around to getting a new car yet," Daniel said.

"Yes, yes, I quite understand. You traveled here by plane. Of course you wouldn't have a car," Ari acknowledged. Suddenly his entire face lit up. "But this is not a problem. I have two cars, Daniel. I would be more than happy to lend you one."

Daniel shook his head, "No, really that's not necessary," he answered swiftly, trying to avoid the offer which, while exceedingly generous, would put him in a position of obligation to the other man. It was something he had always tried to avoid. "And besides, after living in LA where I had to drive everywhere, I'm rather enjoying living in a city where I can actually walk or use the public transportation system."

Stephanopoulus gazed at him somewhat uncertainly. "If you are certain..."

"I am," he answered firmly.

"If you change your mind..."

"I know. And I appreciate it, Ari, really I do. I'm fine."

"Very well. But look at me! I am forgetting my manners. Here I am monopolizing your company when I should be introducing you to the other guests. Come," he said as he steered Daniel into the room.

The interior was much as he would have expected, elegant and luxurious without being too ostentatious. The walls were covered in rich silk brocade and Louis XV furniture--either original or exceptionally fine reproduction pieces, he wasn't sure which-was artfully arranged about the room. Lovely hand-painted ceramic vases in the chinoiserie style were placed here and there.

Scattered about the room in an equally tasteful manner were the guests themselves, some seated, some standing, engaged in conversation as he and Ari entered the room. One man immediately made his way towards them, their host apparently. A handful of others followed suit.

"Daniel," Ari began as he gestured with his right hand towards the man now standing perhaps a foot in front of him. "This is Lionel Berthold. He is a cultural attaché at the Swiss Embassy. Lionel, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson, the young man I told you about."

Bertold nodded his head graciously at Daniel and shook his hand firmly. "Ari has told us much about you, Dr. Jackson. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Daniel felt a jolt of sudden surprise. It had been a long time since someone had addressed him by his title out of respect rather than mockery. Daniel had to admit that it felt nice to be accepted and appreciated. It was certainly better than being scorned.

"Thank you," Daniel murmured in response. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

Berthold gave him a final nod before releasing his hand and stepping aside. Another man stepped up and took his place. Ari said, "Daniel, this is Hans Zimmer. He is the assistant director of the Goethe Foundation. Hans, this is Dr. Jackson."

Zimmer shook Daniel's hand and offered words of greeting, which Daniel returned in kind. Zimmer moved away to be replaced a Congresswoman from Massachussetts, then by the Ambassador of Malta, then by the press secretary from the White House.

And so it went as Daniel made his way along the impromptu receiving line and met the other guests. Trying to keep the names and faces and affiliations straight was no easy task, especially with Ari standing so close, his hand resting on Daniel's back the entire time.

The evening passed in a blur of names and faces, discussion and laughter. Daniel made note of them all, just as Jack had asked him to. He watched the way they interacted with one another as the wine and conversation flowed. He was seated between the wife of the ambassador from Malta and a dapper, older gentleman who worked for the International Monetary Fund. Daniel played the part of a charming guest; he bantered with the others and flirted outrageously with the ambassador's wife. All the time, however, he was aware of Ari watching him from across the table.

Ari was engaged in an animated discussion with a woman from the National Endowment of the Arts. Daniel couldn't hear the words but the frequent bursts of laughter suggested it was a pleasant topic. Ari looked over at him then and flashed him a brilliant smile before he returned to his partner and their conversation. Daniel turned away, suddenly flustered in spite of himself.

Once the coffee and the after-dinner drinks had been consumed and the quality of the meal and graciousness of the host praised, the guests began to leave one by one. Daniel felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder.

"Daniel, I insist you let me drive you home," Ari said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Daniel shook his head. "That's not necessary, Ari, really. It's easy enough for me to call a cab."

"Bah! You could wait all night for a taxi to actually show up. What is the point in that?"

"It's out of your way, Ari. I don't want to be an inconvenience."

Ari draped his arm around Daniel's shoulders and steered the younger man towards the door. "Nonsense. It is not an inconvenience, Daniel, truly. Besides, what are a few miles between friends?"

There was nothing Daniel could say in response, so he acquiesced and let Ari guide him towards the door. They said their goodbyes to their host and thanked him for his hospitality, then made their way in silence to Ari's car, a shiny silver BMW. Ari opened the door for him in an almost courtly manner. It was a strange sensation, but Daniel held his tongue and slid into the passenger seat.

Ari pulled away from the curb, easing the car along the side streets before merging into the traffic on Wisconsin Avenue. Though it was now close to midnight, there were a fair number of cars still on the road.

"I hope you were not too bored tonight, Daniel," Ari said, breaking the silence at last.

"No, not at all. I had a very nice time."

"I was worried that you would not enjoy yourself," Ari admitted, then shot Daniel a rueful smile. "Everyone there was so much older than you are, I was afraid you might find so many old people a little dull."

"Not one bit," Daniel replied. "I've spent most of my life in the company of people older than myself. In a lot of ways I actually feel more at home with them than I do with people my own age."

"I was hoping you might feel that way, Daniel." Ari flashed him another smile. "I'm having a dinner party on Thursday night. Some of the people who were here tonight will be there, as well as some others. I would very much like it if you would be my guest."

"It would be my pleasure, Ari."

"My guests will be thrilled. You were quite the sensation tonight, Daniel."

 "I think you're exaggerating," Daniel said. "Turn left at this intersection."

Ari complied then shook his head. "Madame Demanuele is quite taken with you, you know," he said, referring to the wife of the Ambassador of Malta. "She confided in me that she wished she were twenty years younger so she might pursue you." Ari chuckled. "Of course, there is also the matter of her husband, but that has never stopped her before."

"Ari!"

Stephanopoulus chuckled again. "Ah, do not sound so scandalized, Daniel. Everyone in Washington knows about Madame Demanuele's...indiscretions, including her husband. There is very little that is truly secret in this city."

As he had no response for that, Daniel simply nodded.

"You will like it here in Washington, Daniel. Although people in general are fairly conservative, there is quite a rich cultural life. Museums, lectures, concerts. And there are many interesting people as well. Tell me, Daniel. Do you like horses?"

Thrown by the non-sequitur, Daniel responded, "What?"

"Horses, Daniel. This whole region, Maryland and Virginia, is quite well known for its horses," Ari explained as he blithely continued his largely one-sided conversation. "There are a number of fine stables around here and riding and racing are quite common. I have a friend whose brother owns a very successful horse farm. He races them regularly and one of his horses even won the Kentucky Derby a few years back. I shall introduce you."

Daniel murmured his thanks, unsure what else he could say in response.

"Perhaps we could even attend a race. The Gold Cup is coming up soon and I'm sure I could arrange an invitation if that is of interest to you...."

Daniel let the other man's voice continue to fill the darkened interior of the car as Ari made plans for him. No, he corrected himself-- for them. Jack would be pleased, he thought. He'd been told to get close to Ari and it certainly appeared he'd achieved that objective. Still, Daniel was uneasy. He felt more than a little unnerved by the increasingly familiar nature of the attention Ari was heaping upon him so quickly.

"Daniel?"

"Hmmm?" Daniel flushed when he realized he'd zoned out from the conversation completely.

"I have bored you," Ari stated matter-of-factly.

"No, not at all. I...I'm sorry, Ari. My mind wandered is all."

Ari nodded. "I understand. It is late, and I have been prattling on like an old fool."

Daniel shook his head, equally embarrassed by his lack of attention and Ari's rational justifications. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I didn't mean to be rude."

"Daniel," Stephanopoulus said, and he could hear the tone of fond exasperation underscoring his name. "There is nothing to apologize for. You were not rude. You could not be rude, even if you tried."

Somehow Daniel doubted that Jack would agree with that assessment.

Ari turned the steering wheel sharply and Daniel realized with a start that they had arrived at his apartment building. The other man pulled the car up to the curb and they sat there, the engine idling, sending a soft thrumming through the car as Daniel turned to offer his goodnights to the other man. For a desperate moment, Daniel wondered what he would do if Ari asked to be invited in for a nightcap.

"It is very late and I have early classes tomorrow. I regret that I will be very busy for the next few days, Daniel. But I will see you on Thursday, yes?"

"Yes," Daniel answered.

"Here," Ari said as he offered Daniel another business card, this one with Ari's home address printed on the reverse. Daniel took it and slid it into his breast pocket to join the other one already there.

Ari looked at Daniel, his eyes glinting in the dim illumination from the nearby street light, and then he reached across the space between them, to place his hand on the back of Daniel's neck.

Daniel's heart began to pound at the unexpected touch. He half expected Ari to pull him close and kiss him, but he did not. Instead, Ari rested his hand, warm and large, against Daniel's nape, while his thumb moved in lazy circles over the skin just beneath Daniel's ear. Daniel barely breathed; a faint shiver traversed his body at the caress. He steeled himself to stillness and allowed Ari's penetrating gaze to linger on his face until, apparently satisfied, he dropped his hand.

"Goodnight, Daniel," Ari said, his voice soft.

"Goodnight, Ari," came his equally soft reply and then he was moving, out of the car, into the building, over to the bank of elevators. He didn't look back, he didn't breathe until he heard the sound of a car pulling away behind him.

For the second night in a row, Daniel stumbled into his apartment, exhausted and enervated in equal measure. This time, however, he was not surprised to find a shadow lurking near his sofa in the darkened interior. He remained unfazed as a nebulous hand reached out to flick the switch on a lamp resting on a nearby table, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow. Daniel closed his eyes to let them adjust to the sudden change in light levels, and opened them to see the unflappable presence of Jack O'Neill seated on his sofa.

He sighed. "We've got to stop meeting like this, or people will talk." It was a throwaway joke, but Daniel sobered instantly at the implications.

"I know," Jack acknowledged. "We're going to have to find another place to meet. My presence in your apartment in the wee hours of the morning would be hard to explain."

 "I could always tell Ari you were a jilted lover come 'round to try and reconcile."

"Ari?" Jack asked, his tone suspiciously casual.

Daniel stiffened at the unspoken censure. He crossed his arms against his chest in an unconsciously defensive posture "That is his name, after all," he said. He made no attempt to hide his annoyance. "He asked me to call him Ari, and really, how could I say no?"

"You couldn't," Jack admitted, his tone slightly strained and his eyes hooded. For one brief moment, Daniel wondered how much that admission had cost him. "So, what did you find out?"

"Not much, really." Daniel closed his eyes again and let his head fall back, twisting it about to work out an ache that was beginning to creep into his muscles. "I need coffee," he announced. "How 'bout you?"

Without waiting for an answer, Daniel made for the kitchen. He knew Jack would follow behind him. Once at his destination, he set about the task and let the familiar actions carry him through and buy him a few minutes to get his thoughts into order.

As expected, Jack had followed him and settled himself at the small kitchen table. His eyes remained on Daniel the entire time and Daniel could almost feel that gaze boring into his back. Daniel kept his own gaze resolutely fixed in front of him, leaning against the countertop on too stiff arms until the coffee was made and he couldn't delay anymore. He handed Jack a mug of the steaming brew before he sat down on the chair opposite and faced the other man squarely.

"So? Who was there?" Jack asked.

"The party was hosted by Lionel Berthold. He's the cultural attaché at the Swiss Embassy," Daniel began. He noticed for the first time the pen and small notepad Jack had in front of him as he scribbled down Daniel's observations. "The guests of honor were the Ambassador of Malta and his wife. The rest of the guests were a real mixed bag."

"Names, Daniel, give me names."

So he did. He told Jack the name, title and affiliation of every one there. He couldn't help but note the way Jack's frown deepened, which confirmed what Daniel had already suspected. None of them looked to be the mysterious source.

"What about Helen Cartwright?" Daniel asked, naming the Representative from Massachusetts. "Ari has known her for years, ever since he was at Harvard."

"Possibly," Jack assented, though his doubt was evident in his voice. "She's a pretty junior member of Congress and I don't know that she sits on any of the committees that would have access to the kind of information we're talking about."

"Which would be?"

Jack shrugged. "Appropriations, Intelligence, the Armed Services, maybe." He scribbled something down. "For the time being we'll keep her as suspect number one, at least until we scrounge up another lead."

Daniel frowned as he gazed into the tepid remains of his cup of coffee. "I've been thinking."

"About what?"

"About Ari," he continued with a vague gesture of his hand. "About his motivations. Why is he doing this? Why is he involving himself in espionage? Obviously he doesn't need the money. He has a substantial family fortune. He has a prestigious job, all the grants he could want, the respect of his peers..."

"To be honest, we don't know," Jack said. "That's still part of the mystery. And you're right. It isn't about money. His finances are as solid as they appear to be. And we certainly haven't noticed any sudden unaccounted for deposits, though we can't rule out an offshore account."

"Ideology?"

Jack shrugged. "Possible. He was in Egypt in the 1960s and 1970s. There was a lot of political ferment there at the time, same as here, really. It's possible he developed ties with some political dissidents who have since become affiliated to some of the terrorist cells, though we can't substantiate that as yet. I dunno, though," Jack said as he began to fidget with the pen in his hands. "Most of the terrorist groups have a strong anti-American slant and frankly, Stephanopoulus doesn't strike me as someone who wants to teach the Capitalist pig-dogs a lesson. America has been very good to Stephanopoulus and his family." He shook his head. "It just doesn't fit."

Daniel frowned in concentration and considered what they knew about Ari. Something tickled at the back of his mind and demanded attention. He began to chew nervously on his lower lip as an idea began to take shape.

"Daniel?"

He looked up. Jack was staring at him, his gaze questioning.

"What if it's not about money, but about profit?" Daniel said.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked before he leaned closer.

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment against the headache that was starting to form. He released a ragged sigh and turned his attention to his companion once more. "One of the guests tonight was a lobbyist. Richard Webster. He mentioned that he was a lobbyist working on behalf of fishing rights. There's been a lot of flak regarding the methods used, and the harvesting of certain endangered species that's been pushing them to the brink of extinction. That got me to thinking..." He paused before he picked up his narrative once more. "Look, we know that Ari's wealth comes from the family shipping concern, right?"

"Right," Jack echoed.

"Well, what if there was some legislation currently in the works that might affect the family business, say tariffs on shipped goods? Or given the time frame, legislation that has been pending for a long time? Maybe Ari wanted to gain the support of some powerful politician, one who had enough clout to maintain the status quo, thereby ensuring the continued profitability of the family business."

"Influence peddling," Jack chimed in. "Stephanopoulus agrees to play courier for sensitive Intel in exchange for the support of Politician X."

"In a nutshell, yes." Daniel agreed. "Classic 'you rub my back, I'll rub yours' strategy."

"Ah yes, Washington politics at their finest." Jack agreed.

"Pretty much."

Jack leaned back in his chair. "Well it's certainly possible. And it would supply a motive for Stephanopoulus' involvement, which we've been lacking up until now." Jack nodded his head. "Yes, that would make sense. So, what we need to do now is to track the business."

"It couldn't hurt," Daniel agreed.

"No, no it couldn't. We're still left with a pretty big playing field, though, and no idea of who is involved, or how many players are in the game. We need more info," Jack concluded needlessly.

"Ari is having a dinner party Thursday night. The same crowd but with some new faces."

"You're invited," Jack asked though it wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"Okay. We stick with plan A for the time being. You keep schmoozing the good doctor and get all the names and faces you can. I'll get some people to work on tracing Stephanopoulus' business concerns. Maybe we'll hit a home run."

"Maybe."

Jack stood up. "I should go. I've got a lot that needs to be done before you meet up with Stephanopoulus again."

He stood there for a long moment gazing down at Daniel. Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out so he simply continued to sit there and gaze bemusedly up at Jack. Jack remained standing there, his hands gripping the back of the kitchen chair, unexpectedly awkward, before he nodded his head once and spoke softly.

"Goodnight, Daniel."

And once again he was gone.

* * *

The next several days crawled by. Jack, who had been Daniel's constant companion for the past three weeks, was now suddenly unavailable, occupied with other more pressing matters. Daniel, of course, never asked what those matters might be. He knew only too well that Jack would simply respond with a curt "need to know" or some other equally oblique comment, leaving Daniel in the dark as always.

Jack had graced Daniel with his presence precisely three times in the space of four days. Each time he had stayed for ten, perhaps fifteen minutes; each time he'd been taciturn and cool, distant in a way that he hadn't been before, even when they first met.

For his part, Daniel had grown restive once more. He felt as frustrated and fidgety as he'd been in those early days in DC. He hadn't stepped foot outside the apartment for four days and he'd had no human contact beyond the increasingly reticent Jack O'Neill and the walls were starting to close in on him. Boredom began to wreck havoc upon nerves already stretched too thin for far too long.

By the time Thursday arrived, the sight of Jack O'Neill standing outside his front door holding a garment bag was like spark to kindling.

He didn't want to go through with this insane plan, he realized, but he didn't know how to get out of it now, especially now when so much was dependent upon him. He wanted to try to talk to Jack about it, but Jack's increasingly icy manner had trapped the words in his throat, unspoken. Instead he lashed out at the only target available: Jack.

"So, what did the wardrobe fairy bring me this time? Leather? Fishnet? Thongs?"

Jack stared at him. Some unnamed emotion flashed through his eyes and vanished before Daniel could identify it. Daniel felt a brief flare of guilt, but squashed it immediately. It felt good to vent a little of his frustration.

"You don't have to do this, Daniel. Nobody twisted your arm here. You've been free to do as you wished from day one and you agreed to go along with this plan. Don't blame me for your choices."

Daniel turned away at Jack's words, the truth of them like bitter ash in his mouth. Jack was right. He'd made his bed and now he was going off to lie in it--with another man. He turned back towards Jack, his expression one of disdain.

"You're right Jack. I've made my own choices and so have you."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "What the hell does that mean?"

Daniel shrugged. "You're the one going around recruiting archeologists and then turning them out like hookers all for the greater glory of the cause."

"I've done what's necessary."

"Sure you have. You just keep telling yourself that."

"That goes both ways, Daniel."

Daniel flushed. He turned away before Jack could see his expression. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get dressed."

Once in the relative sanctuary of his bedroom, Daniel sank to the bed, weary and frazzled, the garment bag clutched tightly to his chest. Fucked up...it was all so fucked up and he didn't know how to put any of it right again.

He closed his eyes and drew a long shuddering breath, followed by another until he felt a degree of calm returning. He dressed mechanically, barely noticing the neatly tailored suit and its accoutrements.

He found Jack prowling the living room. Daniel took some consolation from the fact that he wasn't alone in his restlessness. Jack turned as he entered the room, but unlike the previous occasions, Jack didn't make a move towards Daniel. He chose instead to stand his ground, arms crossed against his chest. Clearly there would be no farewell ritual this time, no gentle fixing of his collar, no warm hands gripping his shoulders in wordless encouragement. Daniel felt a sudden pang at the loss. He resisted the urge to wrap his arms around his torso in a defensive gesture. Instead he spread his arms to his side, inviting Jack's perusal.

"So? Do I look sufficiently bait-like?"

Jack remained silent. His expression was neutral as he looked at Daniel but there was a flicker of the familiar hunger there. Hunger, and maybe a flash of hurt as well.

Daniel let his arms drop to his sides. "So, any last words of advice?"

"Oh, I think you're quite capable of figuring it all out for yourself."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll do my best not to disappoint."

"I've never doubted you for a moment, Daniel," Jack said. The words could have been cold and mocking but there was an unexpected gentleness to them that cut through Daniel's defenses like a knife.

Daniel stared at Jack, anger and regret warring for dominance, with anger winning out. He needed his anger, needed the strength that it gave him. In the end that was all he had to rely on. He simply nodded.

"Goodnight, Jack. And don't forget to let yourself out. I don't want to have to explain your presence to Ari later."

And with that Daniel turned on his heel and strode towards the front door without looking back.

Daniel practically hurled himself into a waiting cab. He rested his balled fists on his thighs and pressed them down hard. Pain was good. Pain grounded him and helped to keep the regrets at bay. Right now he needed that more than anything.

Some time later, the cab turned onto a quiet side street lined with large houses set back from the road by plush green lawns, punctuated by elm and oak trees. The cab pulled to a halt and Daniel quickly paid and exited the cab. He stood on the sidewalk and looked at the house, dimly aware of the crunch of gravel and the squeal of tires as the cab drove off. He'd always vaguely known that Ari came from money, some shipping concern, or so he'd heard, but he'd never thought that the family fortune was quite of this scale. He wondered if perhaps there was an Onassis in the Stephanopoulus family tree.

He made his way up the sidewalk. He noticed the neatly manicured lawn and the artfully arranged trees, sycamores, he thought. For all its scale, the house itself was elegant and understated. Dusk had just started to settle in and Daniel could see warm lights glowing in windows on both the ground and upper floor. He reached the door at last and pressed the doorbell sharply. Moments later it was opened by a dour, middle aged man, who Daniel assumed was the butler. Daniel gave his name and was ushered inside the foyer. His eyes scanned the room and took in the obvious trappings of wealth: the table at the center of the foyer graced by a large bouquet of brightly colored flowers that spilled out from a crystal vase like a waterfall; the staircase spiraling upwards towards the second floor; the marble beneath his feet. He stood there and suddenly felt awkward and out of place. The urge to just walk out was almost overwhelming.

"Daniel!"

Ari pulled Daniel into an exuberant and encompassing embrace then pulled back to frame Daniel's face in his large hands.

"Daniel. It is good to see you again. Come, come with me. I wish to introduce you to my other guests."

Daniel allowed Ari to steer him into a well-appointed study filled with leather sofas and tables with graciously curving legs. The room was bathed in a warm glow from the brass lamps that stood in the corners or on some of the tables and cast raking shadows across the paintings that hung upon the walls in frames of gilt and walnut.

His eyes were instinctively drawn to the paintings. Two of them were portraits, overblown renditions of pallid aristocrats swaddled in satin and lace, but the third painting was a Biblical scene depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. A voluptuous Eve stood at one side, glorious in her nudity, her hair falling about her like a shimmering golden veil while she imperiously offered the apple to a bemused and reluctant Adam. The serpent was draped languorously in the branches above and watched them with malicious glee as Adam grappled with temptation and flirted with his own fall from grace. Daniel couldn't help but think how very appropriate the painting was given his current circumstances.

Daniel resolutely averted his eyes and turned his gaze instead to the living occupants of the room. There were perhaps two dozen people gathered there, mostly men, a few women. Several of the men stood and came forward as Ari ushered Daniel further into the confines of the room. Their bodies moved closer and encircled him as they tried to appraise the newcomer. He could feel Ari standing there at his side, one hand pressed firmly against the small of his back. The gesture brought no comfort, however; it merely served to heighten the sense that he was hemmed in.

"Daniel," Ari began as he gestured towards an elegant older man, "I would like you to meet Reginald Hoving. He is the director of cultural affairs at the British Embassy. Reginald, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson. He is the son of a dear, dear friend now long departed and the most gifted linguist I have ever met."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Jackson," the man remarked as he shook Daniel's hand. "It is nice to see Ari in the company of someone who understands his work. For a change."

Daniel smiled and murmured a gracious reply. It was with a sense of deja-vu that Daniel moved about the room to meet and greet the others. He shook a hand here and offered a smile there as he went through the well rehearsed motions of a considerate guest on auto-pilot while he memorized names and faces, all the while keenly aware of Ari's presence nearby.

A waiter passed nearby with a tray of drinks and Daniel grabbed a glass of champagne, glad to have something to distract him from the confines of the room that seemed to be closing in on him. He took a sip of champagne and watched over the rim of his glass as Ari moved towards the doorway as another man, presumably a late arrival to the party, hovered on the threshold. Daniel followed, curious as to the identity of the newcomer.

"Albert!" Ari called out, his typical ebullience very much in evidence as he greeted the other man.

The other man smiled and shook the proffered hand. "Ari. Thank you for inviting me."

"You are late," Ari chastised.

"I know," Albert acknowledged, "but I couldn't get away sooner. And I'm afraid that I cannot stay for dinner."

"Albert," Ari's face was a study in disappointment.

"I'm sorry, but there's a late session at the Senate and I need to get back. I really only came to return your book."

Daniel glanced at the other man's left hand. Sure enough, there was a book, a small volume bound in dark blue leather that he handed over to Ari who shook his head sadly. "I am very disappointed, Albert, but I do understand."

"I am sorry, Ari. Truly I am. But you know how it is. The call of duty and all."

Daniel sidled closer to the two men, his curiosity piqued by the man's mention of the Senate. "Ari?"

Ari turned at the soft-spoken query to grace Daniel with a brilliant smile. "Daniel, come. Let me introduce you. Daniel. This is my friend, Albert Samuels. Albert, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson, a fellow Egyptologist."

Once again, Daniel could feel he was being assessed, but this time the eyes upon him were calculating, almost wary. "Dr. Jackson," Samuels finally greeted. He took Daniel's hand.

"Mr. Samuels," he replied and kept his voice as neutral as the other man's had been.

"Ari!"

All three men turned at the sound of a female voice. It belonged to the wife of Reginald Hoving. She was an attractive, older woman and if her slightly slurred speech was any indication, a somewhat drunk woman.

"Anna," Ari replied, his tone and expression both indulgent as the woman leaned in towards him.

"Oh!" she said, her mouth forming a little 'o' of surprise. "What are you reading now? He always has the most fascinating books, you know," she confided to Daniel with a bright smile.

"I'm sure he does," Daniel replied with equanimity. He glanced over at Ari and was surprised to see the frown that had taken the place of the smile of moments before. But as quickly as it disappeared, the smile resurfaced.

"Oh, I don't think you'd like this one, Anna. It's all about economics and I know how such things bore you." Ari placed the book on a mahogany table near the door and pushed it from view with a quick flick of his hand.

Anna frowned in distaste. "Oh."

"Don't worry, my dear. I have a new biography on Benjamin Disraeli that I'll lend to you. I think you'll like it," Ari assured her with a warm smile.

"Oh, thank you, darling. You always make sure I'm entertained."

"It is my pleasure, my dear Anna," he said. He raised her hand in his lips in a courtly gesture, making the woman giggle like a schoolgirl. "I believe that Reginald is looking for you."

"Reginald is so boring, Ari. He's not interesting like you," she protested, "or handsome like your young friend here," she added, with a sly, almost coquettish gaze in Daniel's direction. "You've always had such wonderful taste."

"Anna," Ari reproached her.

She sighed theatrically. "I know, I know. Reginald awaits," she replied with a pout. She kissed Ari on the cheek and made her way over to her husband with the tragic air of a martyr going to her doom.

"I am sorry," Ari hastily apologized after the woman's retreat. "Anna can be quite enchanting, but, well, sometimes she indulges a bit."

"It's all right," Samuels reassured. "I understand completely. But I'm afraid that I must take my leave. Thank you again for the invitation, Ari. Dr. Jackson," he said as he extended his hand towards Daniel. "It's been a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"The pleasure's all mine," Daniel replied as he took the other man's hand. He watched as Samuels walked out of the room then felt a warm hand come to rest against the small of his back.

"Daniel..."

He turned to see the other man studying him. "We should return to our guests," Ari said. Daniel couldn't help but notice that Stephanopoulus had referred to them as 'our' guests, rather than as his. He let the remark pass without comment and simply smiled.

"Of course, Ari."

Dinner was interminable, and stretched out over hours as one elaborately prepared course followed another. Daniel was seated between a man by the name of Joseph Faxon, a member of the diplomatic corps who had just returned to Washington after a stint at the American embassy in Slovenia, and Helen Cartwright, the Congresswoman from Massachusetts. Daniel pumped her for as much information as he could in the hope that she might reveal something. Although she was pleasant in the extreme, Jack's assessment that she was a junior member of Congress and hence a minor player in DC politics was spot on. She could talk at length about health care reform and term limits but seemed only vaguely aware of issues related to military operations or national security. Daniel finally came to the conclusion that either Helen Cartwright was a truly gifted actress or she really was oblivious to Ari's secret life. Daniel supposed that this would count as progress of a sort.

After dinner they retired to the living room for coffee and cordials and Ari broke out the cigars. It was all terribly refined, like a scene out of a Henry James novel though Daniel felt more like a character in one of Wilde's drawing room farces. In fact he felt singularly out of place in this cognac-and-tobacco-scented charade, but he muddled through as best he could.

Finally, the guests began to make their farewells. Daniel watched as the now thoroughly soused Anna Hoving threw her arms about Stephanopoulus' neck, clinging to him while her husband stood by and watched in silent, thin-lipped disapproval. Daniel had no doubt that a similar scene had been played out publicly many times before.

After Ari had ushered them out of the front door, he came back to Daniel's side and rested a hand on Daniel's arm. "Daniel," he said, his voice soft and deep, "I would like you to stay for a bit after the other guests leave. There is something I wish to show you."

Daniel was tempted to ask why, to put the other man on the spot, but instead he said, "Of course, Ari."

After what seemed like hours, Ari exchanged his final farewells and closed the door on the last of his guests. The house was still, and the quiet was disconcerting in its suddenness. Daniel stood near the fireplace with a snifter of cognac in his hand. He swirled the liquid around the confines of the glass and watched the amber liquid gleam in the lamplight. He could hear Ari's footfalls as he moved towards him and Daniel downed the remainder of his drink in one swallow, a bit of liquid courage. Daniel held the glass in a his hand for a moment longer, his grip so tight he was surprised it didn't shatter, then placed it on the mantle and turned to face the other man.

"Daniel?"

Ari stood there, his large frame silhouetted within the doorway to the foyer. He smiled at Daniel and extended his hand.

"Come," Ari said, "I promised to show you something."

As Daniel moved toward him, Ari's hand came to rest against the small of Daniel's back, He steered Daniel into the foyer and up the winding staircase. Ari gestured towards an open doorway and Daniel's breath caught slightly at the sight that greeted him.

It was Ari's study, the kind that Daniel had always fantasized of having but knew he never would. Mahogany bookcases crammed with books stretched from floor to ceiling, covering the better part of three walls. At the center of the room was a large wooden table, its polished surface strewn with books and notepads; an antique brass-handled magnifying glass rested upon an open tome. In one corner, a computer sat on a small desk, the only obvious concession to the twentieth century.

Treasures were scattered about the room: an exquisite black figure amphora reminiscent of those he'd seen in the Louvre; a velvet lined display case showing a pair of silver tetradrachm, one portraying a young man's head in profile, the other a pair of eagles; a small collection of Egyptian ushabtis, the blue-green glaze of the faience and the dark blue of the inscribed hieroglyphs clearly dating them to the New Kingdom.

Daniel moved along the shelves, giddy like a child in a candy store, surrounded by so many beautiful and ancient things. He moved closer to study a small bronze statuette of a young woman. The neatly delineated folds of her chiton transformed her lower body into a solid, immutable column. She held a bowl in one hand and in the other she grasped a serpent that fed from the contents of the cup.

"Hygeia," Daniel murmured to himself as he examined the statuette, "Daughter of Asklepios, granddaughter of Apollo. Worshipped as the giver of health in ancient Greece and Rome."

"Yes." Ari stood directly behind him, so close Daniel could feel the warmth of his body. A shiver raced down his spine and his heartbeat quickened at the other man's proximity. He closed his eyes and drew a shuddering breath in a bid to still his body's unconscious response.

He turned to find Ari looking at him. Ari's eyes were dark and intense, his expression calculating. Daniel felt another shiver go through him, disconcerted by the other man's open inspection. Daniel chided himself for his lack of control. He hoped that Ari hadn't noticed his agitation, but the heat of Ari's gaze left little doubt that he was aware of the effect he was having on Daniel.

Daniel smiled briefly and moved away, to put some distance between himself and Ari and he noted how Ari's smile faltered fractionally. Daniel made his way towards an antique desk on the other side of the room. Even without looking back, he had no doubt that Ari was following him.

Daniel stood in front of the desk and drew one hand along the slant front, then along the drawers. With his fingers, he slowly traced the undulating curves of the wood and the cool metal of the brass drawer fittings. "This is lovely," Daniel said. "Chippendale?"
 
"You have a good eye, Daniel. It's a mahogany serpentine desk and bookcase dating from circa 1760-1780," Ari explained, his pride of ownership evident in his voice. "I purchased it at an estate auction in Boston, seven, perhaps eight years ago, when I was still teaching at Harvard."

Ari moved closer and his own hand reached out to caress the lustrous wood with a covetousness he made no attempt to hide. "I've always had a fondness for beautiful things, Daniel. Things that are both practical and elegant. Like this," he said as he touched the desk, even as he looked directly into Daniel's eyes.

Daniel broke the gaze deliberately, after a long moment. "Does the desk open? My grandfather had one of these slant front desks and I remember that the interior had a number of compartments, quite cleverly arranged..."

Daniel placed his fingertips at the edge of the slanted leaf, but before he could open the desktop, Ari covered Daniel's hand with his own and shook his head.

"I'm afraid I don't know, Daniel. The lock is broken. It has been ever since I purchased this desk. That was why I got it for such an excellent price. Still, it is a very beautiful piece and quite useful in spite of this flaw."

Daniel was keenly aware of Ari's fingers curled around his own. Before he could think of some excuse to extricate his hand, Ari released it of his own accord and gestured towards the table dominating the center of the room.

"Come, Daniel. This is what I wanted to show you."

A map was spread across much of the table's surface. "Come closer," Ari said as he waved Daniel nearer. "This is Deir el Bahari, located at the foot of the Theban cliffs. The site of the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut."

Daniel nodded. This was common knowledge to any first year grad student in Egyptology.

"Now, it's always been presumed that this temple, like Hatshepsut herself, was an anomaly. Her status as the first-and only--female Pharaoh made her an exception to virtually every rule, but it is still difficult to assess her true position in history. Her stepson, Thutmose III, did everything in his power to eradicate her memory following her death."

Ari turned to Daniel, his eyes blazing with excitement. "But I have come to believe that scholars have made a mistake in assuming this funerary temple is unique. I believe that Deir el Bahari may in fact house a number of other funerary temples, including that of her daughter Nefrure, as well as the historically recognized temple of her vizier Senmut."

"Senmut..." Daniel echoed. "He was the one believed to be responsible for the construction of Hatshepsut's funerary temple."

"Yes. He was her master architect as well as her lover and the purported father of Nefrure. But I believe he may also have built additional structures, to create a full-blown necropolis meant to parallel, if not rival, that of the Valley of the Kings."

Ari turned his gaze to Daniel once more. "That is what my next project shall be and I want you to help me, Daniel. This could be the find of a lifetime, and I am offering you the chance to be a part of it."

Daniel looked at the other man, then back down at the map. It was an incredible offer. The possibilities were staggering. For one moment he let himself breathe deep of the heady elixir of discovery and infinite possibility, sweetened by the prospect of vindication. Just for a moment, he allowed himself to imagine what this dig could mean to his career.

But then he reined in his imagination and reminded himself of what Ari would expect in return for his generous offer.

Ari was staring at him intently and his dark eyes glittered with anticipation. Daniel swallowed and tried to maintain his fraying composure.

Daniel unconsciously took a step back, until his legs were against the edge of the table. Ari now stood directly before him, closer than was strictly proper between colleagues. Any lingering doubts that Daniel might have held regarding Ari's intentions were laid to rest.

"You have not yet told me of your decision, Daniel," Ari observed, his voice low and husky and anything but casual. "I want you with me, by my side. There is so much I have to offer you, Daniel, so much that I can do for you. You do not need to be a pariah any longer. I can help you to rebuild your career, restore your reputation. If you will let me."

Ari placed his hand behind Daniel's neck; his thumb gently stroked Daniel's skin. Daniel trembled at the touch. Ari's fingers burned his skin. They set his nerves alight and sparked an answering heat within Daniel that was unexpected but not entirely unwelcome. The movement of Ari's thumb was slow and rhythmic, soothing and unsettling in equal measure. Daniel found himself relaxing beneath that knowing touch in spite of himself. He looked at Ari. Ari's gaze was piercing, compelling and there was no mistaking the hunger reflected in those eyes. His heart began to flutter wildly in his chest as Ari's eyes bored into him, held him, cradled him.

 "What is your decision going to be, Daniel? Are you going to remain an outcast, mocked and scorned by those jealous of your gifts, or will you take the opportunity that I am offering to you?

Daniel could feel the strength of the other man's body, could hear the blood as it pounded in his own ears. This was wrong, so very wrong, Daniel kept reminding himself as the words rattled through his head like a mantra. And yet... for one reckless moment he couldn't remember why he shouldn't want to do this. Ari's breath ghosted against his skin, warm and moist. Daniel closed his eyes and uttered a single word.

"Yes."

Ari's mouth descended upon his, taking, demanding and Daniel surrendered to it as thought was obliterated by a powerful wave of sensation. Ari pressed against him and bent him inexorably backwards to the table behind him. Daniel could feel the solidity of the table as it pressed against his spine, hard and unyielding as gravity and the weight of Ari's body carried him downwards and held him flat. Large, capable hands moved along his body and fingertips danced upon his skin with a proficiency that left him dizzy and breathless and hungering for more.

The sound of paper crinkling and folding reached his ears and the small part of his brain that remained aloof and rational recognized that it came from the map of Egypt that Ari had spread out on the tabletop to show him and which was now beneath him. From farther away, Daniel heard a heavy thud, perhaps caused by a book tumbling to the floor. No other sounds were audible beyond the rasp of breath and the echo of Daniel's own heart as it pulsed in his head. There was a faint sound of rending. Daniel's muddled brain hoped it was not the precious map.

The sensation of cool air and warm breath on newly bared skin broke through the heady haze of desire. His rational mind warned him that he should stop this or at least try to regain control of the situation, but his treacherous body was beyond such concerns. Why should he fight it? After all, this was what everyone wanted, wasn't it? He was doing his duty to God and country and besides, maybe they were all right and he really was a better lay than he was an archeologist anyway. And then a hand grasped him and stroked him with consummate skill and there was no more room for rational thought.

As he gave himself over to feeling, a remembered image rose up in his mind and taunted Daniel; a serpent twined in the branches of a tree as it watched in smug satisfaction as innocence yielded to temptation.

Daniel let himself fall.