Nite & Day: Chapter 3 (A Eureka Fanfic)
Title: Nite and Day
Chapter: 3
Author: snarkyandsparky
Catagory: suspense, humour, slash, romance
Pairing: Jack/Nathan
Rating: PG: 13 (this chapter)
Word Count: 4,376
Disclaimer: I don't own them, but I like to play with them once in a while...
Author's Note: Thanks to brighids_fire , blueskypenguin and cokemonkey for all their amazing help in writing this Chapter. It should be noted that this story takes place within the first 6 months of Jack and Nathan's time in Eureka.
Summary: Nathan Stark needs protection when death threats come his way.
Chapter 2: In Day
Chapter 3: Around 2AM
“This is ridiculous! It’s unnecessary.” Nathan said as he strode into his office.
“Which?”
“There is no reason why I have to be followed around night and day!” Still scowling, Nathan reached out to swirl around his chair when he started and stepped back. A young man appeared from under the desk and in an instant Jack was moving forward, pulling Stark behind him and reaching for his holster.
“Hold on there, cowboy,” the lazy drawl in Stark’s voice stopped Jack from fully pulling his weapon.
Looking sheepish, Douglas Fargo stood up slowly from behind the desk with a screwdriver in his hand.
“Fargo, what are you doing in here?” The scathing tone had Jack rolling his eyes in amazement. With a slight smirk Nathan added, “You scared the life out of Sheriff Carter.” He was already moving away from both men and settling himself behind his desk.
“I was just replacing your processing unit Sir, Deputy Lupo asked me to check your entire system for bugs.”
Jack did recall Lupo telling him that was going to happen and relaxed a fraction.
“Sorry.” The young assistant had large glasses, toothpick arms and an apologetic expression. He held up the screwdriver.
Jack nodded, “It’s okay, I’m a little jumpy.” He took his usual place on the visitors chair and settled in for the hour he knew it would take before Stark was ready to go down to his lab.
Nathan dialogued with his assistant for a few minutes before prepping for his night. He ran over his data log for the next day, when he would be dealing with Level Five projects particular to the Department of Defense, adding, deleting and editing comments as it suited him. Allison had stopped screaming about this habit of his, favouring some projects over others, months before. Another reason he preferred working at night was the leeway it gave him. If no one was around when he made these decisions he was able to work much faster.
“New scientist,” he muttered, mostly to himself.
“What?” Jack had just helped himself to a sugared doughnut.
“This new scientist, Dhonou - Michael Dhonou, physicist.” He tapped his stylus against the table, “One shot deal, hardly worth the airfare we’re paying to bring him in for the one project.”
“Then why bring him?”
Intent on his work Nathan kept his eyes on his screen. “We are using his new model for a silicon and gallium arsenide semiconductor transistor. Got to give him a fair shake but we will upgrade his work once he gets here.” He glanced up in time to see Jack take a bite of the doughnut held up to his lips.
“In six months no one will remember his name.” His eyes lingered as the other man licked a scatter of sugar from his top lip.
“Mmm-hmm,” Jack had no idea what any of that meant but he got the drift. “That’s harsh.”
“No Sheriff. That’s the competitive sciences.” Nathan’s reply was sharper than he had intended, trying in vain to shake off the sensual image.
Jack leaned back, considering him. “Ever tried not to be such a calculating bastard?”
Nathan grinned, turning away from him again, “It’s my job to be a calculating bastard. You stick to your job Carter, and I’ll stick to mine.”
“Have you always been so one-tracked?”
“Yes,” he answered simply and stood, “I’m going down to the lab.”
***
As if he didn’t have enough on his mind, he thought. How was he supposed to concentrate on his work when Carter was all but sitting on top of him? Close enough, he realised, that he could smell him. No cologne, just soap - something that brought the outdoors to mind one moment and quiet, intimate nights the next.
He wasn’t interested either, Nathan reminded himself. All he wanted was to get through this waste-of-his-valuable-time situation and get his life back on an even keel. Attractions came and went, he knew. But success stayed - as long as you were willing to sweat for it.
He stretched; it had been 5 hours already. He stretched further and reached for another data pad. The movement brushed his thigh against Jack’s outstretched one.
Determined not to jolt, Jack turned his head to look into ocean green eyes. Inches apart, challenge meeting challenge. Nathan watched as Jack’s gaze dipped down to linger on his mouth. And it lifted again, he could see the desire flickering. Blood pounded in his ears and he couldn’t form words to speak.
Very carefully, Jack moved away. When he spoke, his voice was huskier than normal.
“I’m going to stretch my legs... I’ll be right outside.” Jack rose. He decided it was his only defense. He’d meant to tease Stark, to distract him from the inevitable phone call that would come before the night was over. He’d wanted Stark’s mind off it, and on him. He wouldn’t deny that he’d wanted him to think of him. But he hadn’t known that when he’d succeeded, Nathan Stark would tie him up in knots.
He still smelled like the night. Secret and sinful, potent yet lingering. He sounded like sex. Hot and inviting. Then you looked into his eyes, really looked, and saw that driving determination. The person that the combination wouldn’t drive mad had never been born or was already dead.
A little distance, Jack told himself as he moved quietly out of the laboratory. And a lot of objectivity. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to allow his emotions to get so tangled up with a man he was supposed to be protecting.
When he was finally alone, Nathan closed his eyes and made a conscious effort to relax, muscle by muscle. It was just because he was already on edge. It was a comfort to believe that. His reaction to Carter was merely an echo of the extra tension he’d been living with for more than a week. And the man was trying to goad him. Nathan did not have time for this.
He was here, just where he wanted to be, doing just what he wanted to do. Life had taught him one valuable lesson. Nothing lasted forever. Good times or the bad, they passed. He only had to get through it, one day at a time. He couldn’t lose focus now.
He punched in the new code, then scanned the printout of the results he would read later at home. By the time Carter came back, he was into the next phase of his work and lost to the rest of the world.
“I brought you some tea.” Only when Jack put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder did the scientist realise that he was there.
“What?” He was more than a little annoyed at being interrupted. This is why he chose to work at night.
“Tea.” Jack repeated, offering him a cup. “I brought you some tea, you drink too much coffee. This is herbal. Jasmine or something.”
Nathan paid attention long enough to look at the cup in distaste. “I don’t drink flowers.”
“Try it. You might be able to get some actual sleep at some point.”
He sipped some water out of a bottle.
“I’d rather that.”
Jack took another sip, a long one, then passed the bottle to him and glanced at his watch. “Almost time to pack up. I guess your biggest fan is a no show tonight.”
Like Carter, Nathan looked at the clock. It was nearing 2AM. “Maybe he won’t call tonight after getting me at home.”
Jack settled beside him again. “Maybe.”
“But you don’t think so.”
“I think we take it a step at a time.” Jack put a soothing hand at the back of the scientist’s neck. “If he does call, this time I want you to make sure and stay calm, keep him on the line longer. Ask questions. No matter what he says, Nathan. Just keep asking them, over and over. He may just answer one and give us something.”
Nathan nodded and worked in silence for the next ten minutes. “How long are we going to do this, Carter?” he said at length.
Jack didn’t look at him, but drained the last swallow of his water to ease his dry throat. “You mean how long do I have to baby-sit you?” He tried to keep it light.
“I didn’t think a few nasty calls warranted this much attention from the Sheriff’s Department.”
Jack took a deep breath. He knew that there were a lot of unasked questions there. “You’re the Director, your life’s been threatened,” he said, “like a local celebrity. I’ll be around for a while.”
Nathan didn’t answer but gazed at him for a minute before turning back to his work.
The call came, as he had known it would. Carter had already put him in such a tense mood that Nathan almost wanted to take out some of his frustration on this guy.
“You’re persistent, aren’t you?” Nathan kept his tone low and unaffected.
Jack rolled his eyes, he couldn’t hear the caller’s reply but he knew that tone from Stark and it meant trouble.
“Do I even know you?” He continued conversationally, “I like to think I know everyone who wants to kill me.”
Jack winced a little and moved closer, placing his hand over Stark’s free fingers. Their eyes met and Jack shook his head. His hand squeezed tighter as he felt a change in the scientist’s body language.
“Who? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, who -”
The sudden change in the scientists tone had Jack moving closer to stand behind him, his hand dropping to rest at the base of Stark’s neck, squeezing softly and trying to communicate comfort. The sudden despair in Nathan’s voice was alarming.
“They have nothing to do with this! Why -“
The line went dead and Nathan sat there, dazed and silent. Jack moved to his front and snatched up his phone to call Jo, his left hand reaching to cup the other man’s cheek gently and holding eye contact.
“Jo, any luck? Dammit!” He pocketed the phone and his gaze lowered to meet Nathan’s again. “Another ten seconds. We’d have had him in another ten seconds. He has to know we’ve got it tapped.” His head snapped around when Douglas Fargo entered, his hands full of sloshing coffee. “What?”
“I-I-I-" Fargo’s Adam’s apple bobbled as he swallowed. His eyes glued to the spot where Jack’s hand was still tender against the Director’s cheek. “I was working at my desk.” He swallowed again at the flashing anger lingering in the Sheriff’s eyes. “I thought Dr. Stark might want some coffee.”
“Thanks Fargo but I’m fine.” It was Nathan that answered, his voice low but steady. He rose from his chair, letting Jack’s hand fall away. He could still feel the tension in the other man. “I’m just wrapping up for the night.”
Fargo nodded and exited, leaving the coffee behind.
***
He had gotten through the night. That was all that mattered. Nathan was not going to let this break him. He was actually grateful that Carter had been there. For the second time in 24 hours he felt the real danger in the situation.
He hadn’t objected when Jack took the wheel of his car. Relinquishing the right to drive was the least of his worries. The threats this time were worse than before, mentioning hurting his loved ones. That had to mean Allison and Kevin. The situation had never been more real for him than right now.
“I’m coming in,” Jack said as he parked the car. Nathan just nodded and started for the door.
Very deliberately, he hung up his coat and sat down on the couch. He had made sure and asked Carter to double security on Allison’s house tonight. The cruiser had already called to say that they were in place and that Dr. Blake and her son were fast asleep.
“It has to be a mistake. I don’t know this person the way they obviously think I do.”
By now Jack knew that this time the caller had taken a more personal slant with his threats. It still didn’t change the fact that this person, whoever he was, was getting to be more and more of a threat.
“It has to be a mistake.” Nathan was just speaking out loud at this point, trying to make sense of everything said to him tonight.
Jack’s carefully built calm was wearing thin. “So you’ll tell him that and he’ll be perfectly reasonable and apologise for bothering you?” His icy calm was far more disturbing than hysterics or anger could ever be.
At Stark’s borderline hurt and frustrated look, Jack found patience he didn’t have left. “You’re trying to make yourself believe he’s rational, Nathan. He’s not.”
“Well what the hell am I supposed to do?” he demanded. Anger brought him out of his seat. “Whether he’s rational or not, I can’t let this go any further. He could -”
Jack stood as well, waiting for Nathan to look at him again. He wasn’t angry anymore, he felt deeply for every fear coursing through the other man right now.
By the time Nathan turned back to face him, his eyes were drenched in worry: not for himself but for the people around him.
“Allison will be fine, I won’t let anything happen to her or Kevin.” Jack said, reading the other man’s thoughts.
Nathan nodded, about to walk past him, so tired that he could barely think anymore but was brought up short when Jack grabbed his arms.
Jack could feel the immediate responding anger vibrate through him as he held Nathan still. Good. For reasons he couldn’t have begun to name he was just as wound up. The blanked anger in Nathan’s eyes was easier for him to handle than the fear it had replaced. They were close and as Stark shook him off angrily, Jack lifted one hand in an unconscious defensive gesture and now his fingers were splayed across Stark’s chest, brushing with his tie and jacket.
Jack could feel Nathan's heartbeat, slow and steady, beneath his palm. He focused resentfully on that even rhythm for a moment, even as his own pulse jerked and scrambled. He wasn’t about to back off. He had a point to prove, to both of them
“What’s the matter, Carter? Do I scare you?”
Clearly Stark could feel his erratic pulse in return. All anger was gone from that smooth velvety voice but Jack could hear the mocking underlying cynic. He wasn’t going to back down. Stark had pushed the right button. They both knew it. Jack didn’t give a damn if it was Stark’s temper that pushed him forward; as long as he moved.
Nathan slowly and purposely raised his hand to mimic the one on his own chest, almost lazily sliding it from Jack’s chest to his shoulder. He wanted a reaction. He only lifted a brow and, with that faint smile playing around his mouth, watched him, waited on him.
Jack was tired of the games. He tossed common sense aside and moved forward, his hand sliding up to cup Nathan’s neck and draw him down, pressing their lips together.
Stark’s lips were firm, cool. And unresponsive. With his eyes open, Jack watched his remain patient, steady, and hatefully amused. As his hand balled into a fist on his shoulder, Jack snapped his head back.
There was that lazy smile again. “Satisfied, Sheriff?”
“Not hardly.” Angry humiliation rippled through Jack and he released both his holds on the man in front of him; silently cursing him.
Nathan’s eyes may have been calm, but if Jack had bothered to monitor his heartbeat he would have found it erratic.
“You’re not trying, Carter.” Rich, throaty, mocking and seductive, Nathan chuckled lightly, sending unwilling goose bumps down Jack’s arms. He slid a hand down to his waist, shifting his balance just enough to pull the other man against him. “You want me to believe that’s the best you can do?”
Humiliation was still raging through Jack when Nathan dragged his mouth to his own and poured himself into the kiss.
Nathan’s lips were still firm, but there were no longer cool. Nor were they unresponsive. For an instant the urge to retreat hammered at him. And then needs, almost forgotten needs, surged. A flood of longing, a storm of desires overwhelmed him and he strained against them, letting them remind him what it was like to sample passion again.
Chain lightening. That’s what Nathan was reminded of. Carter was every bit as explosive, as turbulent, as potentially lethal. The current sparked and sizzled from him, leaving Nathan breathless and desperate. He tried to move away, only to be dragged down again against the body intertwined with his and plundered.
Nathan needed to think, but his thoughts couldn’t fight their way through the sensations. Layers of them seemed to envelop them, fogging the reason, drugging the will. Before panic could slice through him, his desire was rocketing up and demanding more.
Every other thought, every other wish winked out. Jack could feel the long, hard length of Stark press closer, the slow, deliberate stroke of hands as they moved up his back. His mouth, no longer patient, took and took until the blood pounded like thunder in Jack’s head. In that moment Jack knew he could hold yet never control this man. Not when his body was vibrating from the explosion they had created together.
Jack had known Nathan would pack a punch. He’d thought that he was prepared for it; his mind had idled over it various times in the past. But the reality was much more potent than any passing daydream had been. Even as he groaned against the onslaught, he felt Nathan begin to pull away from him.
Unable to resist, Jack slid his arms under his jacket, tugging at the shirt to reach the warmed skin beneath. His hands roamed possessively, exploited, until the ache spreading through his body turned to pain. He was breathless, dazed and churning.
Too fast, he warned himself; too soon, for the both of them. Letting his arms fall, he pulled back his head and waited for Stark to resurface as well.
Jack took his time in moving away, letting his gaze skim over Stark’s face. He wanted to see it in his eyes what he had felt. The reflection was there, that most elemental yearning.
Nathan dragged his eyes open and reeling pressed a hand to his temple, and then let it fall to his side. He worked on steadying his breath, focusing on the dark couch behind them. Maybe with enough time, enough distance, he would be able to convince himself that what had just happened had not been life-altering.
“Well that was stupid.”
“It was a lot of things,” Jack pointed out, still breathless. “Stupid doesn’t come to mind.”
“Listen, Jack…”
“So you can say it.” Before he could stop him, Jack stroked a hand down the scientist’s cheek in a casually intimate gesture that made Nathan’s pulse rate soar again. “Does that mean you don’t use a person’s first name until you’ve kissed them?”
Nathan took a deep steadying breath. “We’re not doing this.”
“It isn’t hard.”
“Listen, Carter -”
“Back to Carter again, are we?”
Nathan pointedly ignored him. “We’re getting off track here.”
Jack settled himself on the couch and nodded amiably, he was willing to let it go for now. He could afford to wait, since he had every intention of kissing him again like that at some point.
“Let’s refocus. Did you do what I asked? A list of anyone you were involved with personally that might be out to pay you back?”
“I already told you there’s no one.”
“No one now.”
“No one now, no one before, no one for years before or since Allison.”
Having experienced that first wave of his passion, Jack found that hard to believe. Still, he nodded, “So it didn’t mean that much to you. Maybe that’s the problem.”
“For God’s sake Jack, I don’t even date. I don’t have the time or the inclination.”
“We’ll talk about your inclinations later.”
Weary, Nathan turned away to stare blindly through the glass window of his living room. Talking to Carter about this had been much easier ten minutes ago. Right now he just wanted to be left alone. “Damn it Carter, get out of my life for a bit.”
“It’s your life we’re talking about, Nathan.” There was an edge to Jack’s voice that made Nathan hold back the snide comment he wanted to make. “If there’s no one in Eureka that you can think about, personally or professionally, that you think might be linked to this, then we’ll start working our way back. But I want you to think, and think hard. Who’s shown an interest in you? Who asks to meet you, asks personal questions. Someone’s who’s approached you, asked you out, made a play.”
Nathan gave a short, humourless laugh. “You have.”
“Remind me to make a run on myself.” His voice was deceptively mild, but Nathan caught the underlying annoyance and frustration in it. “Who else?”
“You know what my job is like, Carter. I piss people off daily.” Wishing for a moment’s - just a moment’s - peace of mind, Nathan squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I get angry reviews, emails. That’s the idea. I get asked out once in a while, I get threatened- but usually it’s some bent out of shape scientist that got his funding cut and wants a piece of me. It happens every other day around here. It’s the job and there’s nothing sinister about it.”
“There’s a lot sinister about death threats.”
Nathan wanted to speak calmly, practically, but he couldn’t keep the nastiness of out his voice. “And I can’t remember everyone who’s flirted with me. People I turn down usually stay turned down.”
Jack could only shake his head. It was a wonder that a guy that was literally ranked a genius could be so naive to certain situations.”All right we’ll shoot for a different angle. The people you work with - at GD - anyone there I should look into?”
“We’re professionals,” Nathan snapped. “Everyone in GD has undergone rigorous security clearance checks and for the most part they deal with their own department heads, not me directly.”
“What about your assistant?”
“Fargo? What about him? He’s harmless to everyone but himself and a good assistant.”
“He’s crazy about you.”
“What?” Nathan was surprised enough to turn around. “Fargo? That’s ridiculous.”
After a long study, Jack let out a sigh. “You really haven’t noticed, have you?”
“There’s nothing to notice.” More disturbed than he wanted to admit, Nathan turned away again. “Look, this is getting is nowhere, and I...” His words trailed off, and he took a sudden step towards the window.
“And you’re what?”
“There’s someone across the street. Watching the house.”
“Get away from the window!”
“What?” Nathan was already moving towards his door.
Jack was up, jerking him aside. “Stay here, stay away from the windows and keep the door locked.” Seeing the scientist about to argue with him, Jack shoved him back to the couch, “Don’t even think about it! I’m the one with the gun, stay here and don’t open that door until I get back!”
Unwillingly, but knowing he was right, Nathan followed him to the door. He watched him take out his weapon; that simple gesture snapped him back to reality. It had been a smooth movement, not so much as practised as instinctive.
“I’m going to take a look. Lock the door behind me.” Gone was the laid-back man that had taunted him into an embrace. One look at his face and Stark could tell that he was all cop. Nathan couldn’t help but take stock of the difference, Jack’s eyes had changed - the emotion had drained out of them. There was no room for emotion when you held a gun.
“If I’m not back in five minutes, call Jo. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Jack hadn’t zipped up his jacket, and the deep wind of the early hours whipped through his shirt. His weapon, warmed from sitting against his side, fitted snug in his hand. Sweeping his gaze right, then left, he found the street deserted, dark but for the pools of light from the streetlamps spaced at regular intervals.
He didn’t doubt Stark’s words. Whoever had been there was gone now; probably alerted the moment Stark had spotted him.
As if to punctuate Jack’s thoughts, there was the sound of an engine turning over a block or two away. He swore but didn’t bother to give chase. With that much of a lead, it would be a waste of time. Instead, he walked half a block in each direction, then carefully circled the house.
Nathan was about to call Deputy Lupo when he knocked.
“It’s Jack.”
In two lengthy strides he was at the door, “Did you see anyone?” he demanded as Jack stepped through the door.
“No.”
“He was there.”
“I know.” He relocked the door himself. “He’s gone now.”
Nathan didn’t speak for a moment. Instead he tried to ignore Jack’s steady gaze as he tried to painfully bring himself under control. He dragged a hand down his face, “Can you check in at Allison’s - just in case.”
Jack nodded; as always Stark’s first concern was for Allison and Kevin, not himself. “I called from outside, everything is fine there.” After another moment he added, “Look, why don’t you take some time off, stay home for a few days? I’ll arrange for another cruiser in the neighbourhood.”
Nathan sank onto the couch. “I can’t fall behind right now. And what difference does it make if I’m here or at the station: this guy has already proved that he can break though Eureka’s security.”
Jack hadn’t expected him to agree. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now you’re tired. Why don’t you go and get some sleep. I’ll be on the couch.”
Nathan didn’t even bother to argue, he knew it wouldn’t do any good. “I’ll get you a blanket."
Chapter 4: Sometimes in the Morning