Lost fic: Luau 2010 for janie_tangerine

[haldoor_honey]

Title: Somewhere Down the Highway
Characters: Boone, Sawyer, Jack
Word Count: 10,778
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Mentions of prostitution, a little violence and some sex (including rimming).
Disclaimer: Much as it pains me, I still don't own any of the rights to Lost or these characters. There would be way more gay in the show if I did. ;-P
Beta: siluria was once again willing to pass her kind and helpful sights over this! Thanks, love!
Author’s Notes: An AU written for former Queen of the lostsquee luau, Janie_tangerine, who loves her Boone. It has a road trip, motels, sex, restaurants and bars, mentions of music, and the possibility of a happy ending for some of the characters. I hope that works for you, my dear! ;-)



"Pull over! There's a hitch hiker, Sawyer! Look… he could be fun."

"Fun?" Sawyer slanted an eyebrow, dimples showing as he slowed the car next to the tall figure at the side of the road. "You mean you want to fuck him?"

"Be nice," Boone told him, opening his window and smiling up at the handsome man. "Hi. Need a ride somewhere?"

"Uh, yeah." The man wrinkled his brow earnestly and leaned down to glance at Sawyer and nod in acknowledgment of the offer. "I'm heading for California, but anywhere along this highway you can take me would be good."

Boone waggled his eyebrows suggestively at Sawyer, and then turned back to the hitcher. "As it happens, we're heading that way too, although we have a few stops to make along the way. If you're not in a hurry…"

The man smiled. "I have some time. You wouldn't mind me tagging along? I can maybe afford a couple of nights in a motel and some food, but I'm… well, let's just say things aren't great right now, so I'm kinda short on bus fare."

Sawyer leaned on Boone's shoulder and smirked into the hitcher's eyes. "No problem, Slim. We'll work it out. Throw your gear in the trunk and climb in."

"I'm Boone and he's Sawyer, by the way." Boone grinned as the man nodded at him and went to obey Sawyer's instruction.

"You are so gonna regret pickin' up a straight guy," Sawyer muttered, giving Boone a lascivious look.

"Bet you I'll get more than a kiss before we part ways." Boone couldn't resist a challenge.

Sawyer laughed. "You're on. Fifty."

"Fifty it is."

By now, their new travelling partner had climbed in the back and shut the door. He didn't seem to have heard their conversation, so Boone turned to smile at him again.

"I’m Jack." He looked almost embarrassed as he settled into the seat.

"Pleased to meet you, Jack. Where in California do you need to get to?"

~//~

Three hours later, they were pulling into a motel in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and Boone was pleased to have learned a few salient facts towards winning the bet. One: Jack was currently single; two: marriage wasn't something he'd recommend; and three: he had music on his iPod from at least one musical. Things were looking good.

At the motel, Jack and Sawyer went to organize the rooms, while Boone wandered into the main street in search of a good bar or restaurant. Ten minutes later he grinned at Sawyer as he came out of an open room and flicked a questioning look his way. Jack was nowhere to be seen.

"Found the perfect place. Bar and grill. Already spotted a prospect."

"Alright." Sawyer nodded. "Still got it, huh? Even when your libido's distracted. Just what I like to hear."

"Where's Jack?"

"Room next door. Told him we'd be headin' for dinner in five if he wants to join us."

"You think that's wise?"

"You worried you can't work when he's in the same room?" Sawyer's smirk had become downright dirty.

"Don't be an asshole. What happens if he wonders what's going on?"

"Hey, I'll keep him talkin' while you do the biz. No sweat."

"Just…" Boone paused, running a hand through his dark hair uncertainly. "Don't tell him anything, and make sure you don't forget about me when it's time."

"Have I ever let you down before?" Sawyer's look became more conciliatory.

"No, you haven't." Boone had to admit that Sawyer had always appeared on schedule, even if things hadn't always been smooth sailing when they did this.

"Well, then. You ain't got anything to worry about."

Just then, the door to Jack's room opened and he smiled as he caught sight of Boone. Unable to help the way the look made his heart trip, Boone smiled back. "Ready to eat?"

~//~

"So what exactly do you two do?" Jack asked, glancing over to the bar where Boone was talking to a middle-aged man. He shifted his gaze back to Sawyer, sprawled casually opposite him in a booth.

"Travelling salesmen." Sawyer's sly-eyed look towards Boone made Jack wonder.

"What do you sell? You don't seem to have much with you."

"It's more ideas than anything. Boone's workin' right now. Be selling that guy something he didn't even know he wanted."

Jack frowned back towards the men at the bar. Boone's pretty face broke into a grin and he nodded, looking down shyly, before saying something and standing up. He gave the man another smile and headed towards the door for the rest-rooms. The guy he'd left at the bar turned back to the drink in front of him and seemed to forget about Boone. Jack couldn't quite figure out what Sawyer meant, but he didn't have to understand these guys. They weren't set to become lifelong friends or anything; they were just a way for Jack to get back to LA.

"So what do you do, Jack?" Sawyer was asking, making Jack turn his attention back to him.

"I'm kind of between jobs right now." Jack didn't see the point in going into the vagaries of his current life. "I'm a doctor, but… well, just taking time out."

"Yeah?" Sawyer straightened up a little, looking interested. "Medical misadventure or somethin'?"

Jack huffed an unamused laugh. "Something like that."

"Cool. So what's takin' you to LA?"

"Several things. Family, a job interview, tying up loose ends."

"Sounds fascinatin'. Where d'ya say you came from?"

"Today? Or in general?"

"Either; both."

"Originally from LA, but on my way back from Chicago right now."

"Why's a man like you hitching? You must have the cash to take a plane." Sawyer narrowed his eyes, studying Jack.

"I don't like to fly. Funds have been getting low, and…" He gestured unevenly, "this way I get to meet interesting people."

Sawyer shook his head, looking amused, then downed the rest of his beer. "Hey, wanna get in another round? I need to visit the men's room."

Jack had no reason to be suspicious, although Boone still hadn't returned, so he nodded, waving for a nearby waitress as Sawyer loped towards the rest-rooms. Jack's eye fell on the spot at the bar where the man Boone had been talking to no longer sat. He frowned to himself, uncomfortable for some reason he couldn't quite pinpoint, but shrugged, sure there was nothing in the weird feeling he was having. He ordered more beer for all three of them, assuming Boone would be returning to their booth now he'd concluded his 'business' with the man at the bar, and settled back to wait.

When neither Boone nor Sawyer had reappeared after another ten minutes, Jack frowned again, wondering if his suspicions had some foundation. After debating internally for a couple more minutes, he headed for the rest-rooms himself. No one familiar was in the men's room and he walked back out to the restaurant feeling very confused and slightly angry. Getting landed with the bill for the food was one thing, but being promised a ride and then being abandoned was more than rude. Thank God the motel was within walking distance and Jack had thought to get his own room rather than share, despite the availability of a three-bed unit. He didn't expect he'd see either Boone or Sawyer again.

To his surprise, the waitress said the bill had been taken care of, and he was just puzzling that over in his mind as he stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of what seemed to be some kind of an argument.

"Go on then," Sawyer's angry voice sounded rough and full of emotion. "You think your wife will take him in?"

"Hey… no, I…" The man from the bar looked horrified as Sawyer shoved Boone towards him.

"Please… I… he'll hurt me," Boone begged, looking so frightened that Jack almost leapt forward to do something.

Sawyer looked tense enough to punch something, hands clenched tightly at his sides as he scowled angrily at Boone and the other man. "You want him so much, he's yours. On the other hand, if havin' him suck you off in the alley is as far as your interest goes, why don't you pay him for what it was worth and he can start up the business properly. That'd suit you pretty well, wouldn't it, sweetheart?"

He took a threatening step forward as Boone cowered back against the man. Jack took a breath, thinking to say something - what, he wasn't sure - when the man pushed Boone upright away from him and backed up a step. "Look, I had no idea he was with you. Let's just…" He gave Boone an apologetic look and tried to smile. "This isn't payment, I promise, but you obviously can't go with him and I can't take you with me… Here's some money for a motel room, okay?" He reached for his wallet. "Just for tonight, so you'll be safe. Tomorrow… I dunno, maybe you can go back to your folks?"

"Fuck that!" Boone spat, "You're as bad as he is! I'm not a fucking whore! You said… you said you'd help me! What's the money for one night in a motel going to do to help me?"

Sawyer snorted and threw his hands up in the air. "Fuckin' pretty boys. I've had enough of this crap. He's all yours, Mr. Nice Guy. Take him home to the missus and see how she feels about you screwing boys in your spare time. Hell, dress him up as a girl; maybe she'll think he's worth all the fuss. I'm done with it." He started walking off, throwing words as he left. "Your stuff will be somewhere between here and Arkansas if you want it, Davy."

"Drew?" Boone looked frantic as he chased after Sawyer, who spun and threw a punch, catching Boone on the cheek. The momentum threw him backwards and he fell in the road. Jack took a step forward but the guilt the other man felt must have made him faster. Sawyer winced and shook his fist, muttering something, then he turned away and disappeared into the darkness.

By now, Boone was sitting up, holding a hand to his face and crying while the other man kneeled beside him, hovering uncertainly.

"What am I gonna do now?" Boone wept. "He was all I had; I'm… fucked now. I don't have anything."

Jack's brow creased as he thought about the exchange. Davy. Drew? The whole thing had a ring of falseness about it, but the fake names more or less confirmed it was some form of con. He backed up into the shadows again, realizing he hadn't been seen, and watched, intrigued as to what would happen next.

The man helped Boone stand up after a few more moments of dithering. "Are you okay?"

"Fuck, no! It's all your goddamned fault, you asshole! You… if you hadn't… gimme your wallet!"

"What?" The man stepped backward, but Boone moved quickly and had the guy's wallet in his hand in seconds. "Hey! Give that back! Is this what it was all about?" He tried to get it back, but Boone danced backward out of his reach.

"2210 Southern. That's not far, is it? Should I go pay your wife a visit like Drew suggested?"

"No, no, you can't… look, if it's money, I'll give you money. Take everything in the wallet, okay?"

"A hundred? That's not gonna help much. Your wife would help me, wouldn't she? She'd give me more to leave town?"

"Little fucker! Gimme that!"

Boone had the cash in his hand but he didn't return the wallet. "There's an ATM across the street. Give me as much as you can get out tonight and I'll forget I ever saw you. If not… I'll head for your home right now and wake up your wife."

The guy looked to be debating with himself whether he could get away with doing something to Boone, but Boone shook his head. "He caught me unawares, but you… I'm faster than you; don't even think about hurting me. I can be down the street and around the corner on my way to 2210 Southern before you could so much as blink."

"Okay, okay!" The man held out a hand for his wallet. "Just wait here." Boone gave it to him and watched as the guy headed for the ATM.

Boone followed at a safe distance and Jack shook his head at his nerve. He should do something; stop him or tell the guy Boone didn't have a clue where Southern was, but something made him keep his distance.

As soon as the man had the cash in his hand, Boone snatched it and took off at a run in the direction of their motel. Jack watched him for a second then looked back towards his victim. He was shaking and muttering, but he seemed otherwise unhurt. He followed Boone with his eyes for a few moments, then yelled out, "Fucking queer!" before stalking off in the opposite direction.

Whether he realized he'd been the victim of a con or not was anyone's guess, but Jack doubted he'd accept the offer of a blowjob from a pretty boy in a bar ever again. Jack took a breath, letting his own heart rate go back down before slowly walking after Boone.

~//~

"Asshole!" Boone said, pressing a cloth with ice in it to his face and scowling at Sawyer. "Didn't have to hit me so damned hard."

"Had to make it look realistic," Sawyer told him, smirking as he came to sit down on the bed next to him. "You want me to kiss it better?"

"Fuck off!"

Sawyer stroked Boone's nearest leg suggestively, but Boone shook him off. "Just as well his limit was five hundred, you bastard. With the hundred in his wallet, we should have enough to keep us going till we get to LA."

"Need to do this a few more times if we're gonna dress right for the LA job. You know it's worth way more than this shit. Gotta set things up right though or it won't work."

"Shit…" Boone scowled harder, lifting the ice away from his face and moving his jaw. "I've had enough of this back alley stuff. Can't we do something easier for a change?"

Sawyer took the ice out of his hand and pressed it gently up against Boone's jaw again, studying his face carefully. "This is the quickest and easiest con we've got, sunshine. You know that. I'm not askin' for you to make it your life's work, but you wanna end up doing it for real again? 'Cause without me, you know you would."

Boone knew he was right, but it didn't make it any easier to deal with. "Okay, but… after this trip, no more."

"After the LA job, neither one of us'll need to use alleyways like that again, I promise you."

The look in his eyes softened and for a moment, Boone almost believed Sawyer really cared.

~//~

The next day, Jack didn't comment on the bruise on Boone's face, nor did he mention what he'd seen or how the evening at the restaurant had ended. When Sawyer apologized for not coming back to the booth, he shrugged it off and told him he'd enjoyed the extra beers then wandered back to his room, which hadn't been a lie.

He spent most of that day in the car gazing out at the scenery when he wasn't answering Sawyer's questions as vaguely as he could manage. Boone had seemed interested when Sawyer told him Jack was a doctor, but he didn't ask any of the questions Sawyer had the night before. Jack decided his subdued manner was due to the injury and his hope not to draw attention to it.

Jack couldn't help wondering about Sawyer and Boone's relationship. They seemed an unlikely couple; Sawyer was at least ten years older than Boone and didn't act gay, although what did Jack know? A couple of times he'd met guys he'd never have pinned it on that turned out to be less straight than a ruled line. And what made Boone seem gay, apart from the way he'd eyed Jack up when he accepted the ride? Jack gave up trying to figure them out and let his mind drift back to his own issues for the rest of that day.

That evening, they ended up in a slightly bigger town than they'd been through the night before and their motel was nicer, although this time it didn't have two spare rooms due to some kind of state rodeo show passing through and they were forced to share. Jack felt a little uncomfortable about that since there were two double beds, but Sawyer smirked at his pained expression and grabbed Boone around the waist as they walked into the room behind him.

"Don't worry, doc, Boy-wonder and I'll share. Won't make you join in, 'less you wanna?" He waggled his eyebrows, tossing a struggling Boone onto the nearest bed.

"Don't listen to him, Jack," Boone told him, struggling into a sitting position and scowling before Sawyer could land on him. His pretty flush almost made Jack forget about the bruise on his face. "We're not that kind of partners, but sometimes we don't have any choice about the beds. Fuck off, Sawyer! You're not pulling the Batman act now." He got off the bed and tried to smile at Jack.

"It's okay." Jack returned the smile as easily as he could, though he couldn't help thinking about what he'd witnessed last night once more.

"We should find somewhere to eat."

"We drove past a place as we came in," Sawyer sniffed, shuffling backwards on the bed and eyeing Boone like he was planning to strip him naked and fuck him. "Should get some business there too; 'specially with the rodeo in town. You know what cowboys are like."

"Sawyer…" Boone frowned meaningfully, though Jack knew he wasn't supposed to understand.

"What are cowboys like?" he asked, giving Sawyer an innocent look.

Sawyer didn't flinch. His grin widened and he gazed sexily into Jack's eyes. Maybe he was gayer than he'd thought. "Cowboys love to go for a ride."

Jack laughed ; Sawyer's tone was too infectious, and although he didn't like the idea of witnessing more of last night's type of incident, he could hardly say anything now without giving his spying away.

"Ignore him, Jack. Some of what we sell isn't that bad." Boone actually made it sound like they sold something other than lies. He was quite the actor, but then Jack supposed he'd have to be to do what he did.

"I'll just get cleaned up before we eat." Jack smiled tightly and headed into the bathroom.

When he returned, feeling much fresher some ten minutes later, Boone and Sawyer were propped up at the headboard of their shared bed watching TV. They both turned eyes to take in his damp chest and the towel wrapped around his waist. Jack gulped at the intimate-seeming picture and the expressions on their faces, but didn't stop until he was next to his own bed, dropping the towel and rapidly getting dressed without looking back at them.

Sawyer slid off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Boone staring at the TV as Jack finished dressing.

"You two been together long?" Jack couldn't resist asking.

Boone looked at him almost in surprise. "Yeah, about three years. We met in Louisiana. I was… well, my life was pretty shitty. He offered me a job with him and we've been travelling together ever since. We seem to... well…" He shrugged, turning back to watch the TV screen blankly. "Things kind of work with us, that's all. We're not… " He looked at Jack carefully, like he was trying to judge Jack's attitude.

"Look, Boone, it doesn't matter to me if you are. I'm not that… prudish. I'd obviously prefer you didn't… you know… while I'm sharing a room with you, but I'm really not bothered if you and Sawyer are sleeping together."

"No, Jack, we're not… well, we're not lovers, anyway. It's kind of hard to explain."

"Forget it, Boone; you don't owe me any explanations."

Jack turned away, picking up a magazine from the desktop and settling back on his own bed. He heard Boone sigh, but he didn't say anything else and neither did Jack.

Sawyer came out of the bathroom before the silence became too awkward, sniffing and shaking his shaggy hair to dry it before pulling the towel off his waist unashamedly and flicking it at Boone. "Go make yourself beautiful, pretty boy, and don't take all night! I'm hungry!"

Boone scowled as he grabbed some things and dodged Sawyer to go into the bathroom. "Hope you didn't use all the hot water, asshole!" He slammed the door behind him.

Sawyer, still naked and looking extremely pleased with himself, started dressing as he smirked knowingly at Jack. "Not your type? Prefer a real woman, Jack? Or perhaps a more manly man?"

"Can't think why he stays with you," Jack said, not rising to the bait. "Or perhaps you aren't always this obnoxious?"

Sawyer laughed. "Oh, I can be way more obnoxious than this."

"I bet you can."

~//~

This time, the bar had more cowboys - as expected - and fewer tables, but Sawyer still managed to find them one and order three steaks before Jack could suggest something else. They didn't talk much tonight; the music was loud and there was a dance floor near where they sat. Sawyer was busy ogling a pretty girl in a short skirt while Boone appeared to let his eyes sweep meaninglessly across the patrons at the bar. Jack knew what he was looking for and found himself wondering which guy Boone had decided on by the time he looked back at his plate and concentrated on finishing his meal.

A few minutes later, Boone stood up, saying he was going to the bar to ask for some more salt, which kind of surprised Jack until he realized it was only his excuse to home in on some poor sucker. Sawyer waved him off nonchalantly and leaned back in his chair, chewing the last of his steak thoughtfully as he continued to appraise the dancing mini-skirt nearby.

Jack watched Boone, and truly, he did seem to have some kind of gift. The man he stopped next to smiled at him generously as he excused himself to get to the bar, and then offered him a seat almost immediately. Jack marveled at the cowboy's open acceptance of what looked like a chat-up line and laughed as he indicated to the barman to pour Boone a drink.

Flicking his eyes back to Sawyer for a second, Jack met wily eyes studying him. He flinched, surprised that Sawyer had noticed him watching Boone.

"He's a good salesman," Sawyer said, twisting to gaze back towards the girl.

"So it seems," Jack remarked dryly. "What exactly is it you do in this partnership?"

"All the after-sales follow-up. Takin' care of all the loose ends. Works for us."

"Yeah, I just bet it does." Jack shook his head. "Think I'll go back to the room, if you don't mind."

"Feel free. We'll see you later, when sales have been concluded."

"Yeah," Jack said, giving a grim look across the room. Boone was leaning close to the cowboy, laughing at something he said. Jack left the bar without another glance in his direction.

~//~

"Fuck, Sawyer, couldn't you have been a little damned faster to get your ass out there?"

"You looked to be doing just fine with the cowboy; how in hell was I to know he was gonna fuckin' turn on you straight away! Got there as soon as I could and stopped the bastard raping you, didn't I?"

Boone gripped Sawyer's sleeve tighter where he clutched at it and stopped suddenly. "Shit! What are we gonna tell Jack? Fuck, this hurts."

"Suck it up, Princess, we're almost there. Forget Jack; he's a doctor, he'll have seen worse! We just tell him you got in a fight."

The door opened before they could knock and Jack frowned as he helped Boone lie down on the bed. "I'm gonna have to get your shirt off. What happened?"

"A fight," Boone managed, glowering over Jack's shoulder at Sawyer.

Sawyer hovered uncertainly behind Jack, his brow creasing in worry. He seemed more concerned than Boone had seen him before, although this wasn't the first time a con had gone like this. Boone didn't know if it was any worse than before; all he knew was it hurt pretty bad.

Jack turned to Sawyer. "Can you find my duffel? It has my medical gear."

Sawyer scrabbled around behind him and brought the bag over. Jack was undoing Boone's pants to take a better look at the bruise low on his abdomen. "Can you lift your arms to get the t-shirt off?"

Boone nodded carefully and let Jack manoeuvre his shirt over his arms and head. Jack prodded and pressed on parts of Boone, making him hiss, but he nodded thoughtfully at the end of it. "I don't think there's anything damaged inside; punches only, right? The bruising's bad but it looks like you'll be okay. I should probably put a stitch in your cheek though."

"Thank God for that," Sawyer muttered behind them, making Boone look at him sharply.

"You can't keep doing this," Jack said, somewhat randomly.

Both Boone and Sawyer said, "What?" at exactly the same moment, turning to Jack in confusion.

"I know what your 'sales' are; I'm not stupid. I saw what happened out the front of the bar yesterday. Boone, you're going to get seriously hurt if you keep this up. Sawyer, you can't keep expecting him to do this! Not if you care for him at all."

"It's none of your goddamned business, Doc!" Sawyer snapped, scowling heavily. "And we're business partners; nothin' else, okay?"

"Sure, whatever." Jack didn't sound like he believed that, but he indicated that Boone should sit up while he wiped at his face with some kind of antiseptic liquid. Boone winced at the pain but held still as Jack stitched his cheek. "This is dangerous. You must know that. You'll end up in a dumpster if you keep it up."

"Fuck!" Sawyer paced behind Jack, running his hand through his hair, then abruptly took off out the door, slamming it behind him.

"Sawyer!" Boone called out, anxiety coursing through him. Sawyer had to care, despite what he said; he'd been denying they had anything for a long time, although Boone had been hopeful of it for some time. He'd only suggested they pick up Jack to get Sawyer jealous.

Jack held Boone's shoulders, stopping him from moving. "Let him go. Maybe he'll think about it some more and realize this is no way to treat you."

"You don't know shit, Jack! Sawyer… Sawyer's been watching out for me for three years. He never lets it get out of hand. You have no idea what it was like before!"

"Before what? Before he forced you to offer sex to men in alleyways?"

Boone closed his eyes as Jack finished up on his face, trying to find the right words. He opened them again, looking into Jack's earnest hazel eyes. "Before I met Sawyer, I wasn't just offering it. At least this way, it rarely goes the whole way; he usually arrives before I touch their cocks. Plays the jealous boyfriend and we make up some scene to get money from the guy; but you must have seen that last night?"

"Yeah, saw enough to figure it out." Jack didn't look shocked, exactly, but he certainly wasn't impressed.

"It's better than what I was doing! Before I'd do three, four, sometimes five guys a night for the same kind of money! This way, I don't have to have sex and we usually score big enough that once is enough. Sawyer… I couldn't do it without him." Boone dropped his eyes away from the look of pity.

"But how many times does it go wrong, Boone? Like this? You didn't get any money tonight, did you?"

"No. But… it doesn't happen often. This guy, tonight, he was playing me the whole way and I just didn't see it; he was out to bash a queer, that's all. Normally… I'm really good at spotting them."

Jack shook his head as Boone looked up. "It's not worth it, and Sawyer should know that. You could… you could be so much more, Boone."

Boone snorted, close to tears, though he wasn't going to let Jack see that. "Yeah? What? What could I be, Jack? I don't even have a high-school diploma! My folks kicked me out when they found out I was gay! I've been on the streets ever since. Sawyer…. Sawyer took me away from all that."

"Yeah, and he won't even tell you he loves you."

"That's… that's… it doesn't even matter!" Boone was crying now, though he was still fighting it. "It's none of your goddamned business anyway!" He got off the bed, wincing as things started to hurt worse. "Shit! You got any painkillers, Jack? I need… I need to go…"

"Lie back down, Boone. You don't need to go out there, looking for him. He'll come back, won't he?"

"Yeah, I guess." Boone was breathing heavily, pain coursing through him. He sat back on the bed as Jack handed him some pills.

"These will ease the pain and help you sleep, okay? Just… take it easy."

"Okay, okay." Swallowing the pills with the water Jack handed him, Boone laid back on the pillow and let Jack pull his shoes off and tuck him under the blankets.

~//~

Boone woke up suddenly, startled by something. He reached out an arm, groaning as his gut reacted to the movement. No Sawyer next to him. A dark shape at the door moved and he nearly had a heart attack till he realized it was his missing partner.

"Sssh, Boone, sh; s'me." Sawyer was drunk, weaving across to the bed and managing somehow not to wake Jack. He started stripping and turned to whisper, "Move over, s'cold."

"Where have you been?" Boone hissed.

"Makin' money," Sawyer slurred in his ear, stroking through his hair and carefully - for a drunken person - turning Boone's head to softly kiss his lips.

"How?"

"Same as always," Sawyer muttered, kissing him again.

"You… you didn't? Thought you said you wouldn't any more?"

"Gotta have the bills for the LA job and we're runnin' outta nights. Can't have you going out like you are; not now. Come here." He wound his arms around Boone, gently pulling him closer.

Boone tensed, unsure. "You were safe though, right?"

"Yeah, don't worry 'bout it. Wouldn't do it any other way. Come on, I know you're hurtin', but… fuck, I need you."

Sawyer was hard to resist at times like this. He always got drunk after he'd sold himself, like it would help him forget, and then, irrationally (Boone thought), he'd want sex with Boone. Either he didn't get off himself, or he had incredible stamina; Boone never knew which. He hated that Sawyer was so damned affectionate and loving on these nights - like he so rarely was normally - and Boone's own needs rose to a point where he usually gave in. He knew it was stupid and wrong and it didn't mean anything to Sawyer, but Boone had been in love with Sawyer for so long that he always managed to make himself believe Sawyer loved him back just as strongly when he was like this. A bad habit, but one he hadn't the strength to break.

Boone let his own kisses grow needy, feeling himself get hard despite his pain, and when Sawyer rolled him over to his side and pulled his pants away, Boone let him. Sawyer kissed down his back like he wanted Boone to feel good, licking his ass gently and then fucking him with his tongue as his hand sought Boone's cock. Boone groaned, biting his lip, worried Jack would hear. Thank God his mouth hadn't been hurt tonight or the lip would be a mess by now.

Sawyer moved, taking his tongue away and Boone nearly cried out loud until he felt Sawyer's cock nudging where it had been. "Oh God…" he whispered.

"I've got you," Sawyer muttered, sliding slowly in, his hand still wrapped warmly around Boone's erection.

Taking a deep breath, Boone sighed it out as Sawyer kissed his cheek gently and began to move slowly, his hand in perfect counterpoint to what his cock was doing. He was tender and caring and the sex was incredible, making Boone forget his injuries and feel wanted and loved and so complete; Sawyer's love filling him up as deeply as his cock filled Boone's body.

"You ready?" Sawyer murmured, kissing below one ear, "You wanna come now, baby?"

Jesus! When Sawyer called him that, Boone melted; he couldn't help it. "Oh, God, yes." His whispered reply trembled, almost at the edge of reason as Sawyer tilted his hips, his cock unerringly finding that spot inside Boone that made him see stars. Boone bit his lip hard, stopping his cries from escaping when he came, though he tasted blood. Sawyer shuddered behind him, turning his head cautiously and planting a final kiss on his bloody mouth as he withdrew.

"So beautiful," Sawyer muttered in his ear as he moved away and then rolled over.

By the time Boone had turned to face him, Sawyer was snoring into the pillow. Boone shut his eyes hard, trying to stop the tears as he shifted back to the other side of the bed.

~//~

When Jack woke, Sawyer and Boone were both still out to it, the sheets twisted around them in such a way that it was obvious they were naked. Jack snorted to himself, knowing Boone had still been in his jeans when he tucked him in last night. Though they weren't touching, he had no doubt that they had been. He thanked Christ he hadn't woken up when Sawyer had crept back in at whatever hour it was.

He rolled out of his own bed and reached for clothes to pull on, stumbling into the bathroom to take care of nature before finding his wallet and heading out in search of coffee. Neither Boone nor Sawyer woke up as he passed.

An hour later, he was on his third coffee and reading a newspaper when Sawyer sat down opposite him. Jack wasn't sure what to say, but Sawyer spoke first.

"Look, I know what we do doesn't fit into your moral code, but it's one way to survive. Not sure you understand what it's like to be so down on your luck that you're sleeping in doorways and fucking strangers for meals, but both of us have been down that route and don't wanna do it again. I won't apologise for what we do, and I don't think Boone will either. Of course I'm sorry he got hurt, but if I hadn't been there, it could have been a lot worse. You might think I'm hurtin' him, but I'll never abandon him, and at least I'm not offerin' him false hope."

"You think I am? How; by suggesting he go back to school and actually find something to do that doesn't involve alleys?"

"It's not always like that, Jack. When we get to LA, it'll all be different. What we have lined up there could set both of us up for life; we may never have to do any of this five and dime shit again."

Jack snorted. "And that's not offering him false hope? Do you care about him at all, Sawyer?"

"Of course I do! He's my partner; we've worked together for three years!"

"He loves you, Sawyer; did you realize that?"

"What? Don't be crazy! He…" Sawyer paused, looking away, like this had never occurred to him before. Jack had seen it very quickly in the way Boone reacted to the things Sawyer did and the way he looked at him when he thought Sawyer wasn't looking. His words had only confirmed it, though Boone hadn't actually said as much. "He doesn't; he can't. He knows I'm straight."

Jack laughed out loud at that.

"What?" Sawyer scowled, and muttered lowly, "So we fuck occasionally. Don't make me queer!"

"Even if it doesn't, it's not whether you're straight or gay that's making him love you. You rescued him - he said that - and he does what he does for you. He's in love with you, Sawyer, and every time you sleep with him, it's like… you're dragging him down deeper into something you might not really want, but he's dying to have."

"So what are you sayin'? That you could be so much better for him; is that what this is about?"

"No, that's not it at all. I'm not… look, I like him, but I'm not… I don't want to take him away from you. All I'm saying is you should decide exactly how much you really care about him and tell him the truth, whatever that is. Leading him on like that, then denying it's anything… while doing what you two do is just asking for him to make a foolish mistake one day, and next thing you'll be identifying his body."

Sawyer snorted hard and rubbed a hand over his face. "Fuck that, Jack." He stood up and looked back down at Jack for a moment. "You shoulda just said you wanted to fuck him; then I coulda told ya why you wouldn't wanna do that.

"Anyway, came to tell you we're hitting the road in fifteen. Be ready or we'll go without you. Should only be one more night before we reach LA." With that, Sawyer stalked out, looking less than pleased.

~//~

Boone knew he was keeping much quieter than the last couple of days, even after yesterday's careful avoidance of mentioning anything that would get Jack asking about the bruise on his face. He hoped Jack would put it down to his injuries today, but they weren't really that bad this morning; he'd been bruised worse before now.

Sawyer was practically ignoring him. He'd shown Boone the two fifty he'd made by whoring the night before, and left to find Jack with few words. By the time he returned to load up the car, he looked angry and was still not speaking. Jack appeared a few minutes later and they all climbed silently into the car. Jack didn't look very happy either and Boone began to wonder what they'd talked about while they were alone.

In the car, he turned on a rock station, humming along to Springsteen like he was happy enough with the way things were, but inside he was hating himself all over again. Sawyer didn't love him and never would; he was fooling himself into thinking it was even possible. Maybe Jack was a better prospect. He allowed himself a glance at Jack over his shoulder, admiring the handsome features that had prompted him to get Sawyer to stop the car in the first place.

Jack smiled at him, and Boone remembered the bet; something he'd forgotten last night with everything that had happened. He let his lip quirk up in a half-smile and asked Jack, "So tonight… I guess I'm off duty." He allowed a glance in Sawyer's direction who huffed but said nothing. "Sawyer will probably need a pool hall, but you and I could go to a movie or just… you know, find a quiet place to eat; somewhere without a bar." He could feel himself flushing slightly, but Jack knew what he meant. He was pretty good at lying and wasn't used to it being unnecessary.

Jack nodded and smiled more widely. "A quiet meal would be good."

"It's a date," Boone confirmed, smirking sideways at Sawyer, who turned away from driving enough to scowl at him before focusing back on the road. His hands were definitely gripping the steering wheel more tightly now.

~//~

The little diner that Jack and Boone ended up in seemed very pleasant, and at one of only three tables with customers, it was quiet enough that they could talk without raising their voices. Jack found himself enjoying Boone's company very much. They had similar taste in movies as it turned out, and finding out that Boone was one of only a handful of other people who even knew who Warren Zevon was pleased Jack inordinately. They spent a good twenty minutes arguing over whether Jack's favourite, 'Excitable Boy' or Boone's favourite, 'Sentimental Hygiene' was the better album.

Two hours or so into their enjoyable conversation, Jack couldn't help but notice the way Boone was looking at him, and he found himself asking, "So how good is Sawyer at pool?"

Boone blinked, looking confused for a moment. "Ah… oh, you mean how good's he at hustling with it?" He dropped his eyes, his cheeks reddening as Jack couldn't help looking at his incredibly long eyelashes. "He does okay; not as good as we do when I…" He looked up again, waving a hand vaguely. "But yeah, he makes do."

"You don't play pool?"

"Uh… not the way Sawyer does." Boone eyes flew around the room like he was searching for something, and Jack wondered what lie his words held.

"So… you don't do the hustle with him when he plays?"

"No, not really. Look could we not talk about Sawyer?"

"Okay, sure."

"I'm feeling kinda tired, actually. You think we could go back to the room?"

"Oh yeah, sorry. With your bruises… you need to rest. Last night was kinda late."

They'd ended up taking one room again tonight, despite Jack's better judgment. He hoped Boone and Sawyer wouldn't manage a repeat performance overnight if they weren't doing their usual con, and it would save them all some money. Jack didn't have a lot left now, and if he wanted to take the job in LA, he needed to what little he had left.

The walk back to their room was quiet until they reached the door. As Jack was unlocking it, Boone started humming something. Jack smiled, recognizing it. "Jeannie needs a Shooter."

Boone's face broke into a grin. "Sawyer thinks I'm completely crazy, but since that one's a Springsteen collaboration he forgives me, usually."

They stepped inside practically at the same time and Jack stopped, his heart thudding. Boone reached up to pull his face down for a kiss, but Jack pulled away. "No, Boone, that's not a good idea." He moved past Boone and sat down on his bed.

Boone shut the door and came to sit beside him. "Why not, Jack?"

"Sawyer, for starters."

"Shit… Sawyer doesn't care! He… I've been with other guys before and he might be… a little put out because it slows us down, but he'll go off with a woman when he wants to, and I have to put up with that. He's no reason not to, Jack. I like you; I like you a lot. I know you like me; tonight's been good. Why not?"

"Because… because switching your emotions from a bisexual guy who won't say he loves you and goes off with women whenever he feels like it to someone like me who can't be what you need isn't right. What do you think is going to happen, Boone? After tonight we'll be going in different directions. I'm going for an interview for a job at a hospital and you're… you're presumably going along with whatever big con Sawyer's got planned? You don't really need to do that, you know. You could split your money now and go your own way, but even so… I can't help you…"

Boone stood up and started pacing. Jack knew what he was saying probably wasn't what Boone wanted to hear but he wasn't a one night stand kind of guy and most of his previous relationships had been with women. He couldn't promise Boone any more than Sawyer had at this point.

"I can't not do it, Jack! Sawyer's counting on me and I owe him! He… he needs me, even if it doesn't look like he does. I know he doesn't think of me as much more than a partner, but I can't split with him now. I just can't."

He turned to look back at Jack, his face full of hope. "I'd like to find something better, but until we do this last job… Anyway, this is just one night; a bit of fun with a like-minded soul. What's wrong with that?"

Jack shook his head, then ran hand over his short hair. "I don't know what to tell you, Boone. I don't do one night stands; I'm not gay either? What makes the most sense?"

"Not gay? So you're bi; you can't tell me you're completely straight. As for one night stands… look, everyone bends their own rules occasionally, right?" He came to sit next to Jack again, leaning forward to kiss him lightly.

Jack allowed the kiss, but then he drew back again, shaking his head. "No, Boone, not even for you. It'd get complicated and you know it." His hoped his eyes showed the regret he felt, and he took one of Boone's hands in his own as he told him, "Just… promise me one thing?"

Boone looked like he might cry, but he swallowed hard and asked, "What?"

"You really will get out of it after this last big job? You'll take the money and… if Sawyer won't be who you need, that you'll stand on your own, go back to school or set up a real business somehow, you know? You could do it; I believe you're smart enough to. Maybe go into selling music or something; you obviously know enough about it."

Boone smiled, nodding. "Okay, sure." Jack wasn't sure it wasn't another lie, but he took it for what it appeared to be.

"Look, I'm gonna get some air before I turn in, okay? I think we both need… time to clear our heads, yeah?"

Boone nodded again as Jack stood up, but didn't move from the edge of the bed. Jack stepped out through the door and took a breath, letting it out slowly.

He nearly flew into the air when a southern voice said, "Good for you, doc. Helps me out no end."

"I didn't do it for you, Sawyer."

"I know that. Cigarette?" Sawyer took a pack from his pocket but Jack shook his head. Sawyer put the pack back and took a drag from the smoke in his other hand as he leaned back against the wall next to the door where Jack stood. "Think he'll really listen to you?"

"I don't know, but I hope so. He's young enough to get past all this before it turns him into someone like you."

"You have no idea, Doc." Sawyer's laugh echoed behind him as Jack walked off into the darkness.

By the time Jack returned to the room, Boone and Sawyer were asleep in the other bed but not touching. Even if they'd had sex, it wasn't obvious, but Jack had left it long enough to ensure he didn't walk back in on anything he really didn't want to see.

He used the bathroom, and then turned off the light before stripping down to his boxers and climbing into his own bed. It took him some time to fall asleep, the words he had exchanged with both of the others ringing back and forth through his mind.

~//~

The drive the rest of the way into LA was uneventful and quiet apart from the rock music on the radio. Boone couldn't help exchanging a grin with Jack when Springsteen's 'I'm on Fire' came on, but otherwise they all said very little. Boone wondered what the others were thinking, but he wouldn't allow himself to think about what Jack had suggested, and whether that would change anything between him and Sawyer, let alone offer him a chance with Jack. He was convinced the only reason Jack wouldn't sleep with him was because of what he did for a living, even though he rarely followed through on the sex any more.

He glanced guiltily towards Sawyer at that. Sawyer had made four hundred dollars last night and it wasn't from pool.

That was the cover story they always used for Sawyer's forays into selling sex. Not that they had to a lot, but on occasion when Boone had been out of action and Sawyer'd had some woman in tow it had become necessary to say something about where he was. Only once, thankfully, had the girl thought she should go watch him play and Boone had been suitably vague about where he was. The kind of money he could make and how far he went entirely depended on how badly they needed the cash. Four hundred dollars in less than four hours away meant Sawyer'd gone pretty far last night.

To his credit, Sawyer wasn't drunk upon returning to the motel. Boone heard him outside with Jack and confronted him when he came inside after his cigarette.

"So you win the bet. It doesn't really matter. He would have gone with me if he thought it would be more than a one night stand."

Sawyer laughed. "Sure. But we all know that he's way out of your league, pretty boy. You stick with me, kid. You know I'm your best bet for going places in this world."

Boone knew it wasn't worth debating further. Sawyer wasn't about to say he needed Boone as much as Boone needed him. "How much did you make tonight?" he asked instead.

Sawyer's expression turned weary. "Four hundred and I ain't doing that again any time soon, either. If we didn't need the cash…"

Boone nodded unhappily. He hated Sawyer having to do it as much as Sawyer disliked doing it.

Sawyer pulled off the freeway at the exit Jack had indicated and followed his directions to where he wanted to be dropped off. "Pretty swanky neighborhood, Doc. You richer than I pegged you?"

"Hardly rich, Sawyer. My mother remarried after my father died and moved here a couple of years ago. Her husband… let's just say he's doing okay. I'll never see a penny of it so don't go getting any ideas."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Sawyer smirked over his shoulder as they pulled up outside the house Jack indicated.

"I'm only staying here a couple of days; just until I try out for this job and see where it leads. Boone, it's been good getting to know you. I hope… well, I hope things turn out the way you deserve. Sawyer, I hope you catch something you deserve." His grin was wide and even Sawyer laughed as he got out of the car.

Boone watched Jack retrieve his bag from the trunk and give them a wave as Sawyer turned the car around. He felt a profound sense of loss as they drove away but he didn't say anything; Sawyer wouldn't understand.

~//~

Jack had barely been home from work five minutes when the doorbell rang. It was three months after his trip to LA with Sawyer and Boone and he'd settled back into routine more easily than he'd imagined after all the time away from it.

Sometimes he still wondered about Boone, but he couldn't help thinking he'd done the right thing by not sleeping with him. He doubted that Boone would leave Sawyer, but he doubted Sawyer would ever admit he loved Boone either.

Opening the door now, the last person he'd expected was standing there.

Boone, looking even more beautiful than the last time Jack saw him, and alone. Jack's breath caught at the sight and for a moment he couldn't think what to say.

"Hello, Jack." Boone cracked a small, nervous smile and stayed where he was, looking up at Jack expectantly.

"Uh… Boone. Where's Sawyer? How did you find me?"

"Sorry to disturb you at home… I uh… I left him. That job we did out here… it paid off well; really well. I uh… I know I shouldn't have but I talked to your mother, found out where you worked and uh… I followed you home tonight."

"Why?"

"I wanted… I needed to tell you that I followed your advice. No one… no one ever showed any interest in what I was doing before… well, apart from Sawyer and that was different, you know? My parents long since gave up on me and… you believed I was worth something. You made me want to try something different; something real. So I… I left Sawyer with some rich Malibu Stacey - he's after her money of course." Boone shrugged like it was inevitable Sawyer wouldn't be satisfied with their last job. "I… I enrolled in a high-school diploma course and found myself an apartment. Once I get the diploma… I can try out for college." He blushed, dropping his eyes then looked back at Jack warmly. "I just wanted you to know, that's all. I'm going now; I'm not stalking you, I promise."

Jack had listened to all this blankly, his mouth slightly open and his heart beating fast. Boone was already backing away, looking so incredibly sad that Jack felt like his own heart would break.

"Don't go… I mean, at least come in for coffee? I… uh… I'm glad you came." He managed a smile when Boone's face lit up and he nodded.

Jack led him inside and through to the kitchen, putting the coffee on as he indicated Boone should take a seat.

"Sawyer won't change, but I'm young enough to try, right?" Boone said.

"He could if he wanted to, but… he doesn't want to enough. You, on the other hand, obviously do. I'm proud of you, Boone. I never actually thought I'd see this. You have no idea how glad I am."

"Thanks, Jack. You really just pointed out something I'd known for a long time but refused to see, you know? And when we were working that last big job, I… I was… well, let's just say I could tell how jealous Sawyer was about who I was seeing, and although I didn't even care about the guy…" He paused, noting the look of disgust on Jack's face, no doubt. "He was a rich asshole, Jack, and he won't even miss the money! But that's not the point. Thing is, Sawyer had the opportunity to tell me what I wanted to hear, and there was no way he was going to! He's incredibly repressed for someone so damned casual about sex! He just… he denies me by walking off with some rich bitch that he's denigrating behind her back; like she's everything I'm not simply because she's a woman!" Boone was looking quite enraged by now and Jack lifted his eyebrows in surprise as he poured the coffee and handed Boone a cup.

"So you walked away. I bet that was hard anyway, even with all that."

"Yeah, it was. Knowing I have to depend on myself from now on… and not do any of that shit… that degrading crap just to get places… that was hard."

"What about how it made you feel, leaving him?" Jack said gently.

"I thought I loved him, Jack. But how could I love someone so damned self-centred and thoughtless? I mean… he did some really amazing things sometimes; made me believe he cared, and you know, I think he did too, but… but three years, Jack! You were right; after that long and after what we did for and with each other, why was admitting love so damned hard? Sometimes, he could be completely cruel too, and it took you to make me really see that. I couldn't wait around for him any more; letting him use me like that."

He sipped from his coffee and looked at Jack. "You're right though, it was still hard. After a week… I wanted to go find him… but I told myself he'd just laugh at me for crawling back so easily. He told me when I left that I would, and I didn't want to prove him right. So after another week, I thought it might help if I was able to tell you how I'd decided to change things. Took a while to find you, but… here I am."

He drank more coffee while Jack thought about what he should say now. "I really am glad you came. I've thought about you a lot. A whole lot."

"I don't want anything from you, Jack… I mean, I know I came on to you that last night and everything, but… I know you're not gay and… I can't expect that you… would ever… well, you know." He stood up. "I should go. Thanks for seeing me. I'd like to… no, never mind. Thanks."

Jack stood up too, thinking. He wasn't usually an impulsive kind of person, but the road trip he'd gone on after quitting his job had proved that he could be, and it didn't have to be a mistake. He swallowed deeply and put down his coffee cup. "Don't go. I'm not gay, but that's only because I'm bi. I… Boone... could I kiss you?"

Boone turned back slowly, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Bi? You mean… I wasn't imagining it back then?" He nodded and, half-laughing, half-crying, was suddenly in Jack's arms.

"If… if you're willing, I'd really like… would you like to date me?" Jack asked nervously.

Boone laughed properly this time and it was wonderful. Jack loved the sound and leaned down to kiss him only when he stopped. The kiss was sweet, tasting of coffee and cream; by far the best kiss Jack had had in years.

"No one says 'date' any more Jack," Boone laughed between kisses. "But if it includes looking for condoms, I'm all for it. Do you have any?"

"You think I don't… what do they call it then? Never mind, I'm too old for text-speak versions of whatever dating is called now! As it happens…" he paused to kiss Boone once again. "I'm a doctor; if I didn't have condoms around in case of bringing someone home, I'd be shirking my duty."

Boone turned serious for a moment, pulling away and frowning. "Have you? Brought someone home since we met? I didn't even ask… You aren't seeing anyone are you?"

"Boone, would I have asked you to date me… oh, I get it… 'see' me if I was? I promise you, I haven't been thinking about any of that for months; not since our first 'date'."

"Is this real?" Boone said as they made their way to Jack's bedroom, stopping every few feet to kiss again and remove an item of clothing.

"Oh yes," Jack said, stripping away Boone's last piece of clothing and touching the skin of his chest reverently. He fell to his knees in front of Boone and looked back up at his face. "May I?"

Boone nodded, swallowing. Jack licked a long, slow stripe up the underside of his erection, watching Boone's eyes as he did so. God, he was so beautiful.

"Don't… don't stop," Boone managed.

Jack smiled wickedly and engulfed the head of his cock, tonguing the slit gently. He gripped Boone's hips lightly, holding him steady. A light trembling ran right through Boone's body, and Jack began to move faster, desperate to give him as much pleasure as he could. Boone tried to grab at his hair, warning him. "Jack… I… you need to stop now… now."

Jack wanted to go on, to take everything Boone had, but his need warred with the sensible part of his brain that told him it wasn't wise; not just yet. He pulled off quickly and gently manouevred Boone back towards the bed, helping him lie back on it. Quickly, he found the drawer with the condoms and dug around for lube. Thankfully he actually kept some here, though it hadn't seen much use apart from his own hand.

Putting the items on the bed next to Boone, he climbed over him, leaning down to offer another searing kiss. "Will you… I never even asked which way you prefer things?"

Boone looked surprised that he'd even ask. "Do you want me to…?"

Jack nodded, a little surprised himself. It wasn't that he hadn't, but somehow it seemed like the right thing tonight. He smiled reassuringly and reached for the condom. Pulling back from Boone, he knelt up enough to slide it into place on Boone's cock. Boone hissed as he coated the sheathed hardness in lube and took a deep breath as Jack straddled him.

"You okay like that? You want me to…?"

Jack smiled nervously, taking Boone's hand and squeezing more lube onto his fingers. "Just a little; just to loosen up, okay? I haven't done this in a while."

Boone sat up, shifting backwards a little, while Jack stayed poised over his legs, breathing deeply. "You know we could do it the other way…"

"Ssh. This way; I want to."

Boone nodded and reached for him, his damp fingers circling Jack's asshole as he trembled over Boone. He was gentle and took it slow; almost too slowly in Jack's opinion, but finally two fingers were completely sheathed inside him and he breathed out, nodding. "It's good."

Boone began to move more quickly, circling and stretching with his fingers until he hit Jack's prostate. Jack bucked, reaching to Boone's shoulders to support himself as Boone took hold of Jack's cock with his other hand.

"Oh… oh God, yeah." Boone's voice sounded deeper, more sexy somehow, and Jack almost lost it then and there.

"Christ, I need, you better…" Jack managed, plucking at the arm of the hand still inside him. Boone got it immediately and pulled out, shifting so Jack could line up with his erection. Jack, groaning, sank down on it faster than he probably should, wincing at the sting of it breeching his tight muscle.

"Oh God, are you okay?" Boone looked worried, but Jack managed a smile and a nod. Smiling back at him, Boone took hold of Jack's cock again and began to work it as he made little upward thrusts into Jack's body.

"Fuck… fuck me…" Jack breathed, rocking in a tight rhythm over Boone. He met Boone's eyes again, seeing a warmth he couldn't remember feeling in far too many years reflected back at him.

"Jack, Jack, Jack," Boone began chanting, his breath speeding up as he neared his climax. Jack couldn't hold back any more, and as Boone's hand and cock reached an equal rhythm, he went over, pleasure spasming right through him. Boone's shuddering echoed his own movements, and Jack leaned forward to seal the deed with a kiss. They rocked together for a few more moments, and then Jack drew away, wincing again as Boone's softening cock left his body. Both of them collapsed down in a sticky heap, Jack still half on top of Boone.

"You're heavy," Boone remarked a few minutes later, laughter behind the words.

"Sorry," Jack apologized, shifting to lie beside him and raising himself up onto one elbow. He brushed a stray lock of hair out of Boone's eyes and kissed him slowly. "That was good."

"I knew I could win that bet," Boone grinned, then kissed Jack back.

"You mean the bet you had with Sawyer about sleeping with me before we parted ways?" Jack said when he could breathe again.

"You knew about that?" Boone studied Jack incredulously.

Jack laughed. "I heard you two; I was only at the back of the car for a minute! At first I thought, 'Oh no, I am so not letting that pretty boy think he can get me into bed', but then, later, I really wanted Sawyer to lose. That night though… when we had our 'date' when I was going to… I just… I couldn't. It wouldn't have made anything better for you and that was worth too much. I was pissed Sawyer got your money, but… look at us now. It was worth the wait, don't you think?"

"Hell yeah," Boone agreed, smiling broadly.

~//~//~



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