Joe Flanigan birthday post. Part 1/2.
Happy birthday, Joe Flanigan! tx_tart is hosting a little party in his honor here, so join the fun and enjoy my 40 little gifts (two posts, because it was too much!)
Note: A version of this without RPS (i.e. Real Person Slash) is available here (part 1) and here (part 2).
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me and all is made up. Icons and wallpaper made from my own caps. Take and modify as you wish. Comments and credits not necessary, but always appreciated.
1)
2) SGA. John/Rodney. PG. Established Relationship.
John awoke and opened his eyes to see the disheveled hair of one genius astrophysicist. He nuzzled it, because it was there.
There was some squirming and noises of protests. "'s too early."
But it's my birthday. John wanted to say, but then he stopped himself. Rodney would know this and he wanted to see what he had planned. Maybe it was a surprise.
So he slipped out of bed and went for a nice morning run with Ronon, who gave him his first present.
17 hours and some gifts and many well wishes later, Rodney still hadn't acknowledged John's birthday. In fact John had hardly seen him all day. He'd only waved at him in the mess and then had given John a smile when they passed in the hall.
When he'd come to bed, John had thought that finally he was getting his present and while the sex had been better than anything else he'd gotten, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary and also, Rodney had still not said a word.
When it turned past midnight John sighed and said, "Good night," but Rodney was already sleeping.
The next morning John awoke, faced with the disheveled hair of one genius astrophysicist, who was too busy to remember his boyfriend's birthday. He nuzzled it anyway.
There was no squirming, but there were noises of protests. "'s really too early."
"It was my birthday yesterday," John said.
Rodney peaked from beneath the cover, then kissed John. "I know." He turned around and got something out of the drawer of his nightstand.
John took the crystal.
"Experimental booster for the jumper," Rodney said and John's face lit up.
"Rodney," he said and kissed him and grinned like a lunatic. "You wanted to surprise me. Well, it worked."
"Yes, surprise. That and it wasn't ready on time." Rodney yawned. "I suppose you want us to get up and try it as soon as possible."
He looked so resigned that John took pity. He shook his head and put the crystal down on his nightstand. "No. We can sleep some more."
Rodney's face melted into an expression of pure love. John laughed and pulled Rodney closer onto his chest.
"Happy birthday," Rodney mumbled, his eyes already closed again.
John just kissed the top of his head and let him sleep, looking forward to testing his gift.
3) Six Thoughtcrimes icons (Joe's first scene)
4) SGA. AU. John/Rodney. PG.
John asked himself, not for the first time that day, why he had agreed to help Elizabeth.
She was one of the best in the business. She was supposed to be able to deal with it.
"Just turn on your charm for me, please. You can talk to anyone. It's your gift. If I have to put up with him during the party I'm afraid I might kill him. And that would be bad for the business and after all it is his birthday."
He couldn't take her pleading, so he'd agreed to come here and act as the liaison between her and her staff and one Rodney McKay, whose birthday was the reason for the phenomenal party they were throwing.
"No citrus at all," McKay said.
John nodded promptly and said, "Of course," as if they didn't know this already and he personally hadn't already heard it at least three times that day from McKay himself.
"Can't you spread things out some more? Everyone will stand at the buffet. I know that people will only be here for the food, but we could at least pretend it's a celebration in my honor."
If only McKay stopped complaining, he'd have his cause for celebration. John didn't say that out loud of course.
Once the guests arrived, he'd hoped McKay would calm down a bit and enjoy being congratulated by all the people in the expensive suits and evening robes. John didn't think that McKay was half as important as he obviously thought he was, but maybe there'd been something to that after all. He recognized some of the faces from the newspapers.
McKay didn't seem to care very much about them it seemed though. He still spent at least half the time talking to John about things he'd already told him several times or changed his mind about something. When he went to the kitchen to relay the latest set of wishes he ran into some dip.
Luckily he had a spare shirt for just such an occasion. He took it and went to find a room he could change in. Bedroom. This shouldn't take long anyway. He slipped off his jacket and took of his shirt, when McKay stormed in.
"What are you doing-" he abruptly stopped at the sight of John's naked chest.
"Sorry. I got something on my shirt. I didn't want to occupy a bathroom. It will only take a minute."
"Yes, of course," McKay stumbled out, turned around and left.
When John came out he saw McKay talking animatedly to Elizabeth. The only thing he heard were her last words. "Yes, of course, but why don't you tell John? Ah, there he is."
John joined them and Elizabeth fled. McKay stared at him, suddenly tongue-tied. A grin spread over John's face. McKay looked scandalized. "You!" he said. John just moved his eyes slowly up and down McKay's body. McKay huffed and walked away.
He talked to some of his guests, nervously looking over to John every now and then, quickly looking back when he was caught. Which was every time, because John kept his eyes firmly on McKay.
"What are his latest wishes?" Elizabeth asked next to him.
"Nothing for the moment," John said, eyes not leaving McKay.
"Really? How did you manage that?"
"I think, I've found out what McKay needs to relax."
Elizabeth gave him a questioning look, then shook her head as if she didn't want to know and walked back into the kitchen. When McKay spotted her, he went after her, but before he could reach her, John intercepted him.
"A word?"
McKay looked nervous, then nodded.
John went to the bedroom and McKay followed.
"So?" McKay said, head held high and calm as if John couldn't hear his heart beating from where he stood.
"It just occurred to me, that I never congratulated you."
"Actually you did when Elizabeth introduced us."
"Well, not properly," John said with a shrug and then leaned forward.
McKay gasped and his eyes became huge, but when John's lips met his, he suddenly put one hand in John's hair and pushed John backwards with his whole body until he felt the bed behind him.
"This was what I had in mind," John said, when McKay let him up for air for a moment, "although I had thought after the party."
McKay shrugged. "They're just here for the food anyway." Then he pushed John backwards onto the bed.
Who was John to argue? It was McKay's birthday after all.
5) The faces and fashion of Lionel Thayer Part I: Five Family Album icons
6) RPS. Joe/David. PG. Established Affair. ( Ever Fallen in Love? Story)
A quarter to twelve the party was still well under way. Joe made his excuses, telling them he was tired, he was an old man now after all. He got smiles and wishes he'd stay and good-byes in return and by the time he slipped into his study it was 5 minutes to twelve.
He sat down at his desk and laid out the cell phone in front of him. It had rung throughout the day, the first call by his parents and many others after that. They had all called or come to the big party that Katherine had organized for his 40th birthday. All except one.
He wasn't sure if David would call at all. He wasn't sure about much of anything these days concerning David. Although that wasn't quite true. There was one thing he was sure of. He just didn't know if it was a comfort to him.
One minute to midnight, when Joe had just about given up hope, his cell phone came to life and he picked up before the theme music of Star Trek (TOS) started blaring out.
"Hey," he said, just a bit breathless.
"Are you alone?"
"For the moment," Joe said, eying the door to his study.
"If I'd been there this morning, I would have woken you with a kiss to that spot underneath your right ear. Then I would have worked my way to that other spot below your left shoulder. And then I would have let you decide where I go next."
"That would have been one of my better birthday presents," Joe said, the image running in his mind.
"Birthday?" David said and it held that tone that threatened to break Joe whenever he heard it. "I would wake you up like that any morning I wake up next to you."
And God, it would be so much easier if David were joking.
Joe didn't know what to say, never knew it, because there was nothing he could say that wouldn't make it worse.
"Happy birthday," David said and hung up.
His birthday was already over by then and Joe was left with the first ordinary day in a new decade of his life. He wished he could say that everything would be different. He wished he could rest with the knowledge that he'd finally make the decision he knew he'd have to make and do it for real this time and not back down again.
But as he lay down in the empty bed, Katherine was still with their guests, he thought of blue eyes, a crooked mouth and a male body beneath him.
7) Six ER 3.21 (deleted scene) icons
8) SGA. John/Rodney. G. Established Relationship. MPreg.
John gave Elizabeth an assuring nod. Teyla and Ronon had left earlier.
Then he was alone with Carson and the nurses and Rodney, who looked pale behind the mask.
"It's going to be all right," he told him and he was confident it was the truth.
He could still see the worry in Rodney's eyes though as they moved from John's face down his now bulky body to where Carson was preparing the incision.
An hour later he held their son in his arms, blue eyes in a red little face. It was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen.
"He has my eyes," Rodney said, one hand on their son, the other around John.
"That can still change," Carson informed them, but Rodney huffed.
John hoped they'd stay like that. But in the end it wouldn't matter to him as long as happiness would shine from those eyes for a long time to come.
9) Six Tru Calling 1.03 icons
10) Tru Calling/Cube. Andrew Webb (JF)/David Worth (DH). G.
Andrew blew at the fire, shutting the gas off. Not exactly a birthday feast, but he didn't really feel like celebrating. Which was strange enough, since his own brush with death did make him appreciate his own life more than he had before.
And in a way he was celebrating, just not in the way he used to, with his old friends and, well, her. He was keeping to himself these days and it was actually a welcome change in his life. He found that he didn't really miss his so-called friends. Maybe nearly dying was the best way to get to know yourself and the life that you really wanted lead.
"Hey!" came a voice from outside.
Andrew went on deck to check it out. It sounded like David, but he doubted it was him.
David Worth, if that was really his name, had the boat next to him for a few months now.
He'd never spoken to him, until Andrew had gone over one day, when he'd ran out of food. He knew that David was storing the stuff as if he was planning to cross the Pacific. David had giving him some Ravioli and when Andrew had asked if he was preparing for a long trip, David had said, "You never know. You wouldn't believe me anyway."
Andrew had nearly left it at that, because the cupboard full of tins was just a bit creepy, but there was something in David's eyes that wouldn't let him go. "Try me," he'd said.
"I think there are people out there who want to kill me," David had said, almost like a challenge.
Andrew had nodded. "I know the feeling."
It hadn't all ended in confessions and a deep friendship. David had told him a strange little story and he had relayed his own tale. He wasn't sure if he believed David, but he was certain that David believed it. They talked every now and then, about their boats, the weather and where they'd been before they'd ended up here. Nothing too personal and it mostly had been when they'd met by accident or the few times that Andrew had felt like some company and had checked if David was there.
But now David stood outside and threw something up to Andrew. He caught it. A little cake in plastic wrapper.
"Happy birthday," David said and turned to walk away.
"Wait," Andrew said.
David turned around.
"How did you know my birthday?"
"I'm paranoid, remember? Don't you think I would have checked you out before I even allow you to come aboard the first time?"
Check you out. Andrew had to admit that, shallow as their relationship was, he enjoyed the time with David. He had a wicked sense of humor and a great ass. He'd never thought that David had given him so much as a second thought other than categorizing him as a non-threat.
"Do you want some of the cake?" Andrew asked, holding it up.
He could see David hesitating. He'd never been on Andrew's boat.
"Okay," he finally said and Andrew smiled and stepped away to let him come aboard.
11) Six Dawson's Creek 2.04 icons
12) SGA. John/Rodney. NC-17. Established Relationship.
John only felt. The strength of the fabric, tying his wrists firmly together behind his back. The sheets below his knees, shins and feet, where he knelt. And most of all the head of Rodney's dick hitting the back of his throat as he thrust forward, fucking John's mouth.
"So what is your birthday present for me?" Rodney had asked after discarding the presents from the others.
"Anything you want," John had said after dropping down to his knees in front of him.
Rodney's eyes had widened and he had protested, but John had told him, assured him, that he trusted Rodney not to do anything John wasn't comfortable with and that he would say something if Rodney was going too far.
Not that there had been any danger of that. John had to encourage Rodney every step of the way, but God, it was worth it. His whole body tingled as Rodney pushed into him with abandon, calling out John's name and how amazing he was. If John could speak, he would do the same.
He couldn't wait for Rodney's next birthday. Or the day he had the courage to tell Rodney that it was as much a gift for himself as for Rodney.
13) The faces and fashion of Lionel Thayer Part II: Five Family Album icons
14) SGA. AU. John/Rodney. PG.
John could only wonder how his life had gone so horribly wrong. He was spending his 40th birthday in a taxi that didn't even belong to him, chauffeuring an obnoxious astrophysicist, who told him how to drive, to go this way or that and who was, on top of it all, paranoid, talking about them being after him.
He might have enjoyed if the man wouldn't insult him every other sentence and he didn't dare to actually speed through the streets. He got into enough trouble for that as it was.
Then suddenly the paranoia of the guy turned out to be not quite that when more and more black cars seemed to follow them as they moved to lonelier roads out of the city.
"They are going to kill us!" the man screeched behind him.
John wanted to ask when they'd become an us, but instead he took a chance and dove into a side-road that appeared after he took a corner.
"Are you insane! If they follow us, we'll be stuck!"
John took a sharp turn off the road over the slightly elevated ground and into the ditch beyond. He hadn't really liked his job anyway.
"We are dead. Why couldn't I have found an insane driver like everyone else, instead I get a moron with death wish."
John turned around and put his hand on the man's mouth. The blue eyes widened and he could feel the mouth opening in protest, but a look of John kept him still.
They heard the cars rushing by the main road, then one turned into their side-road. It went on, without stopping.
John carefully removed his hand.
"He might come back," the man said, quietly for once.
John nodded in agreement and rolled down the window on his door and slipped out.
His passenger stared at him then at his own window, clearly not too thrilled about climbing out there. But the way the car lay there was no other way. Climbing out the top wouldn't really be easier.
The man rolled down the window and pushed the briefcase, that he'd clutched to his chest all the time, at John. John took that as a sign that he was finally trusted.
He put the case between his legs and helped the man out of the car, who struggled and eventually ended up on top of John, panting.
John still had his hand on his arm and moved a bit lower to the man's ass and the face above him flushed, but not a word of protest came out of his crooked mouth.
Maybe it wasn't going to be such a bad birthday after all.
15) Six Cupid 1.06 icons
16) RPS. Joe/David. PG-13. Torri's 40th birthday party.
"And it's not fair. You guys just keep looking better with age."
"Yeah, his gray temples look very distinguished," David said, stroking the hair in question above Joe's right ear.
"You only want me for my body," Joe huffed.
It was a nice game. Ever since that first day back on set after his divorce when things had been a bit awkward because nobody knew what to say and David had come up and simply announced theatrically, "Finally, you left her for me!" and everybody had laughed and the tension had been gone.
"And your hair," David said.
Torri laughed, shook her head and went to check with her other guests, while Joe turned and looked for Jason.
One and a half hours later he was pleasantly mellow, but not drunk. Jason was chatting up a nice young woman and Joe wondered where David was. He hadn't heard him at all since last speaking to him, which was unusual.
After asking around a bit he found out that David had left. "Seriously?" Yes, seriously. That wasn't like David at all. Joe decided to call it an early night, too. He told Torri he had his kids for the weekend, which wasn't technically a lie. They'd come the next afternoon.
On his drive home he decided to give David a call. After letting it ring for what seemed like an eternity he was ready to hang up, when David answered.
"Yes?"
"It's Joe, I was wondering if you got home okay."
There was a long silence. "I left Jane."
That was... mostly unexpected. David hadn't spoken quite as often about her lately, but Joe hadn't thought anything of it. He didn't know what to say. After all he'd said he had left her, but still David didn't sound too happy about it. In fact he sounded as if...
"Do you want to talk about it?" Joe asked.
"No, I'm... Would you come over?"
Joe realized that he'd actually already taken the road to David's apartment. "I'll be there in a bit."
"'kay. Thanks," David said and hung up.
Joe didn't really have enough time to sort out his feelings about this. He just tried to prepare himself to give any support he'd feel David would want.
David let him in and Joe followed him into the kitchen, where David got out a beer for both of them.
"You read the latest script? Great stuff for Rachel. Took them only five years," David said, taking a swig from his bottle and watching the floor.
Joe didn't say anything. He was pretty damn sure David hadn't asked him over to talk about the upcoming Teyla episode.
"David?"
David turned to him then and put down his bottle. "Really very distinguished," he said, moving his hand up to touch Joe's hair again. Joe wasn't quite sure what David was doing. He didn't even seem drunk.
David moved his hand fully into Joe's hair and pulled him into a kiss.
Joe froze, hands awkwardly at his side, one still holding the bottle. Maybe David was drunk and could just hide it better than others. Joe stood there and waited for David to stop and eventually he did, moving his head away and looking at the floor again.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"David," Joe began, but he wasn't sure what to ask. "Why did you leave Jane?"
At that David's head shot up and he stared at Joe and Joe suddenly realized what an amazing actor he was because he'd never before seen it, when David wasn't McKay.
Joe had to turn away. He put the bottle down and leaned against the cabinets. "Wow," he simply said.
"Let's just forget this ever happened." David opened one of the cupboards and pulled out a bottle of Whiskey.
"David," Joe said, because it wasn't that he didn't... well, the thing was he really hadn't expected this.
David looked at him and he seemed to have seen something in Joe's eyes, because he put the bottle away again and came closer, far too close.
"Just give me some time," Joe said and thankfully David took a step back and nodded.
Joe took a deep breath. David was a friend, a colleague. They got along well and he'd lie if he said there wasn't a certain attraction. He'd just never let himself think further than that. He'd been married and after his divorce a new relationship wasn't exactly at the top of his mind. And David had been with Jane, which was as good as married, so he was off limits.
Except that now he wasn't. In fact he was so not off limits that Joe hardly dared to look up at him, because he was afraid that the hope and want and he couldn't bring himself to think what else in David's eyes might be his undoing.
"Okay," David said and then he was in Joe's personal space again and their lips touched and Joe found himself opening up to him as if his body had been taken over. Lips and tongue and hands, God, David's hands on him...
Afterwards they lay together on David's couch.
"That wasn't a lot of time that you gave me."
"I just thought, while you were thinking, we might as well pass the time in a... more pleasant manner," he finished in a stiff British accent.
Joe laughed. "You just wanted to distract me with your hands," he said, intertwining his with David's.
David looked at him seriously. "You can take all the time that you need."
"No, that's okay. This is okay," Joe said, pulling David closer and kissing him on the forehead.
David turned his face up and kissed him on the mouth. Then he settled down, his head on Joe's shoulder.
"Torri's gonna be mad we left her party so early," Joe said.
"We'll have to tell her first then."
"Yeah," Joe said and David released a breath.
17) Six The Other Sister icons (Joe's first scene)
18) SGA. John/Rodney. G. Established Relationship. Future. Kids.
John was glad for all the lessons he'd taken with Teyla as he avoided collision with another throng of 8-year-old feet rushing past him.
"Why did I agree to have kids?" Rodney asked the moment John entered the kitchen.
John smiled. Birthday parties always brought out the worst in Rodney. He felt severely outnumbered by the enemy.
"Because you love me," John said and kissed him. "And you love them and we love you."
To support his argument Andrew came up with tears in his eyes and hugged Rodney's right leg.
"Kate won't let me play with the robots," their youngest managed between sniffles.
Rodney glared at John. It was his patented 'You made me gay. I hate you.' look.
John smiled his 'No, you don't. You love me for it.' smile and kissed Rodney again, more deeply this time until he felt Rodney's mouth opening up a bit to return the kiss.
"Oh, all right," Rodney said and picked up Andrew.
John watched Rodney carry him to their noise-filled living-room and smiled. He would never stop being grateful for the gifts life had granted him so unexpectedly.
19) Six Farewell to Harry icons
20) SGA. AU. John/Rodney. (Light) R. WWII. Battle of Bastogne.
John exhaled into his hands, but it was all worthless. The warmth of his breath did nothing to ease the bone-deep chill. He didn't think he remembered what being warm felt like.
"Why am I here again?" McKay asked next to him.
"That guy, Hitler or so, started something..."
"And I bet he's not freezing his fucking ass off at the moment. Damn him and every German under his command. I shouldn't be here. I should be at university."
"So you keep saying." John didn't have patience for McKay today. Normally he'd indulge him by listening to tales about his no doubt brilliant future. But today was his birthday and he spent it in a foxhole at freezing temperatures and as it was he should be happy the Germans weren't currently firing at them. And that was about the only good thing about this birthday.
"Why are you so sullen anyway? You're the sunshine of the whole fucking company. I know I told you to stop. Forget that. This is not better. Damn, I need to take a leak."
John tried to prepare himself for the cold, when McKay would crawl out through the branches they'd put on top to cover against the worst of the cold. But he didn't go. "What now? Do you need someone to hold your dick for you?" He really wasn't in the mood today.
McKay muttered something and went off. After 15 minutes John was beginning to worry. Nobody stayed out there longer than they had to and McKay complained the worst of any of them. Shit, now he had to go out there and look for him. One of these days he was going to kill McKay.
Suddenly John sat up. What if he'd run into some Germans. It could happen. They'd caught one a few weeks ago, who had strayed too far from the line. His heart was beating rapidly, when there was suddenly a noise.
The main branch above him was lifted and McKay slipped in. "Where did you go to piss? Berlin?"
"Yeah, I figured Adolf wouldn't mind."
They settled together sharing a bit of body heat. Then McKay pulled something out of his pocket and put it in John's hands.
"Happy birthday," he said.
John took a look in the moonlight that was shining through the branches. "Chocolate?"
"Beckett gave it to me."
John didn't know what to say. It was just a tiny piece really, but where they were it was as good as the biggest cake he could imagine and then some.
"Thank you," he said shyly.
"Don't you want to eat it? Because if you don't I will."
John broke the piece in half and handed one half to McKay. McKay pushed his hand away. "It's yours."
"Take it," John insisted.
"It's your birthday."
"Then do what I want, will you?"
John pushed the chocolate in McKay's open mouth. "Iuh ngh"
"You're not spitting it out!" John said, because it looked just like McKay was going to do that, leaning forward.
There was a brief struggle and then John felt chocolate in his mouth and cold, chapped lips on his. This was... he pushed his arms around McKay, Rodney, the chocolate in his hand forgotten and dropped. McKay would surely look for it later, was the last thing John thought before Rodney's tongue pushed in his mouth and their far too cold hands started crawling over skin and they moved away just enough of their clothes to feel each other body to body.
It wasn't the best birthday he ever had. It was still miserably cold and he was hungry and his feet and hands hurt. But that night beneath Rodney's body he wasn't a soldier. He was just a man.
on to part 2 of the Joe Flanigan birthday post
Note: A version of this without RPS (i.e. Real Person Slash) is available here (part 1) and here (part 2).
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me and all is made up. Icons and wallpaper made from my own caps. Take and modify as you wish. Comments and credits not necessary, but always appreciated.
1)
2) SGA. John/Rodney. PG. Established Relationship.
John awoke and opened his eyes to see the disheveled hair of one genius astrophysicist. He nuzzled it, because it was there.
There was some squirming and noises of protests. "'s too early."
But it's my birthday. John wanted to say, but then he stopped himself. Rodney would know this and he wanted to see what he had planned. Maybe it was a surprise.
So he slipped out of bed and went for a nice morning run with Ronon, who gave him his first present.
17 hours and some gifts and many well wishes later, Rodney still hadn't acknowledged John's birthday. In fact John had hardly seen him all day. He'd only waved at him in the mess and then had given John a smile when they passed in the hall.
When he'd come to bed, John had thought that finally he was getting his present and while the sex had been better than anything else he'd gotten, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary and also, Rodney had still not said a word.
When it turned past midnight John sighed and said, "Good night," but Rodney was already sleeping.
The next morning John awoke, faced with the disheveled hair of one genius astrophysicist, who was too busy to remember his boyfriend's birthday. He nuzzled it anyway.
There was no squirming, but there were noises of protests. "'s really too early."
"It was my birthday yesterday," John said.
Rodney peaked from beneath the cover, then kissed John. "I know." He turned around and got something out of the drawer of his nightstand.
John took the crystal.
"Experimental booster for the jumper," Rodney said and John's face lit up.
"Rodney," he said and kissed him and grinned like a lunatic. "You wanted to surprise me. Well, it worked."
"Yes, surprise. That and it wasn't ready on time." Rodney yawned. "I suppose you want us to get up and try it as soon as possible."
He looked so resigned that John took pity. He shook his head and put the crystal down on his nightstand. "No. We can sleep some more."
Rodney's face melted into an expression of pure love. John laughed and pulled Rodney closer onto his chest.
"Happy birthday," Rodney mumbled, his eyes already closed again.
John just kissed the top of his head and let him sleep, looking forward to testing his gift.
3) Six Thoughtcrimes icons (Joe's first scene)
4) SGA. AU. John/Rodney. PG.
John asked himself, not for the first time that day, why he had agreed to help Elizabeth.
She was one of the best in the business. She was supposed to be able to deal with it.
"Just turn on your charm for me, please. You can talk to anyone. It's your gift. If I have to put up with him during the party I'm afraid I might kill him. And that would be bad for the business and after all it is his birthday."
He couldn't take her pleading, so he'd agreed to come here and act as the liaison between her and her staff and one Rodney McKay, whose birthday was the reason for the phenomenal party they were throwing.
"No citrus at all," McKay said.
John nodded promptly and said, "Of course," as if they didn't know this already and he personally hadn't already heard it at least three times that day from McKay himself.
"Can't you spread things out some more? Everyone will stand at the buffet. I know that people will only be here for the food, but we could at least pretend it's a celebration in my honor."
If only McKay stopped complaining, he'd have his cause for celebration. John didn't say that out loud of course.
Once the guests arrived, he'd hoped McKay would calm down a bit and enjoy being congratulated by all the people in the expensive suits and evening robes. John didn't think that McKay was half as important as he obviously thought he was, but maybe there'd been something to that after all. He recognized some of the faces from the newspapers.
McKay didn't seem to care very much about them it seemed though. He still spent at least half the time talking to John about things he'd already told him several times or changed his mind about something. When he went to the kitchen to relay the latest set of wishes he ran into some dip.
Luckily he had a spare shirt for just such an occasion. He took it and went to find a room he could change in. Bedroom. This shouldn't take long anyway. He slipped off his jacket and took of his shirt, when McKay stormed in.
"What are you doing-" he abruptly stopped at the sight of John's naked chest.
"Sorry. I got something on my shirt. I didn't want to occupy a bathroom. It will only take a minute."
"Yes, of course," McKay stumbled out, turned around and left.
When John came out he saw McKay talking animatedly to Elizabeth. The only thing he heard were her last words. "Yes, of course, but why don't you tell John? Ah, there he is."
John joined them and Elizabeth fled. McKay stared at him, suddenly tongue-tied. A grin spread over John's face. McKay looked scandalized. "You!" he said. John just moved his eyes slowly up and down McKay's body. McKay huffed and walked away.
He talked to some of his guests, nervously looking over to John every now and then, quickly looking back when he was caught. Which was every time, because John kept his eyes firmly on McKay.
"What are his latest wishes?" Elizabeth asked next to him.
"Nothing for the moment," John said, eyes not leaving McKay.
"Really? How did you manage that?"
"I think, I've found out what McKay needs to relax."
Elizabeth gave him a questioning look, then shook her head as if she didn't want to know and walked back into the kitchen. When McKay spotted her, he went after her, but before he could reach her, John intercepted him.
"A word?"
McKay looked nervous, then nodded.
John went to the bedroom and McKay followed.
"So?" McKay said, head held high and calm as if John couldn't hear his heart beating from where he stood.
"It just occurred to me, that I never congratulated you."
"Actually you did when Elizabeth introduced us."
"Well, not properly," John said with a shrug and then leaned forward.
McKay gasped and his eyes became huge, but when John's lips met his, he suddenly put one hand in John's hair and pushed John backwards with his whole body until he felt the bed behind him.
"This was what I had in mind," John said, when McKay let him up for air for a moment, "although I had thought after the party."
McKay shrugged. "They're just here for the food anyway." Then he pushed John backwards onto the bed.
Who was John to argue? It was McKay's birthday after all.
5) The faces and fashion of Lionel Thayer Part I: Five Family Album icons
6) RPS. Joe/David. PG. Established Affair. ( Ever Fallen in Love? Story)
A quarter to twelve the party was still well under way. Joe made his excuses, telling them he was tired, he was an old man now after all. He got smiles and wishes he'd stay and good-byes in return and by the time he slipped into his study it was 5 minutes to twelve.
He sat down at his desk and laid out the cell phone in front of him. It had rung throughout the day, the first call by his parents and many others after that. They had all called or come to the big party that Katherine had organized for his 40th birthday. All except one.
He wasn't sure if David would call at all. He wasn't sure about much of anything these days concerning David. Although that wasn't quite true. There was one thing he was sure of. He just didn't know if it was a comfort to him.
One minute to midnight, when Joe had just about given up hope, his cell phone came to life and he picked up before the theme music of Star Trek (TOS) started blaring out.
"Hey," he said, just a bit breathless.
"Are you alone?"
"For the moment," Joe said, eying the door to his study.
"If I'd been there this morning, I would have woken you with a kiss to that spot underneath your right ear. Then I would have worked my way to that other spot below your left shoulder. And then I would have let you decide where I go next."
"That would have been one of my better birthday presents," Joe said, the image running in his mind.
"Birthday?" David said and it held that tone that threatened to break Joe whenever he heard it. "I would wake you up like that any morning I wake up next to you."
And God, it would be so much easier if David were joking.
Joe didn't know what to say, never knew it, because there was nothing he could say that wouldn't make it worse.
"Happy birthday," David said and hung up.
His birthday was already over by then and Joe was left with the first ordinary day in a new decade of his life. He wished he could say that everything would be different. He wished he could rest with the knowledge that he'd finally make the decision he knew he'd have to make and do it for real this time and not back down again.
But as he lay down in the empty bed, Katherine was still with their guests, he thought of blue eyes, a crooked mouth and a male body beneath him.
7) Six ER 3.21 (deleted scene) icons
8) SGA. John/Rodney. G. Established Relationship. MPreg.
John gave Elizabeth an assuring nod. Teyla and Ronon had left earlier.
Then he was alone with Carson and the nurses and Rodney, who looked pale behind the mask.
"It's going to be all right," he told him and he was confident it was the truth.
He could still see the worry in Rodney's eyes though as they moved from John's face down his now bulky body to where Carson was preparing the incision.
An hour later he held their son in his arms, blue eyes in a red little face. It was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen.
"He has my eyes," Rodney said, one hand on their son, the other around John.
"That can still change," Carson informed them, but Rodney huffed.
John hoped they'd stay like that. But in the end it wouldn't matter to him as long as happiness would shine from those eyes for a long time to come.
9) Six Tru Calling 1.03 icons
10) Tru Calling/Cube. Andrew Webb (JF)/David Worth (DH). G.
Andrew blew at the fire, shutting the gas off. Not exactly a birthday feast, but he didn't really feel like celebrating. Which was strange enough, since his own brush with death did make him appreciate his own life more than he had before.
And in a way he was celebrating, just not in the way he used to, with his old friends and, well, her. He was keeping to himself these days and it was actually a welcome change in his life. He found that he didn't really miss his so-called friends. Maybe nearly dying was the best way to get to know yourself and the life that you really wanted lead.
"Hey!" came a voice from outside.
Andrew went on deck to check it out. It sounded like David, but he doubted it was him.
David Worth, if that was really his name, had the boat next to him for a few months now.
He'd never spoken to him, until Andrew had gone over one day, when he'd ran out of food. He knew that David was storing the stuff as if he was planning to cross the Pacific. David had giving him some Ravioli and when Andrew had asked if he was preparing for a long trip, David had said, "You never know. You wouldn't believe me anyway."
Andrew had nearly left it at that, because the cupboard full of tins was just a bit creepy, but there was something in David's eyes that wouldn't let him go. "Try me," he'd said.
"I think there are people out there who want to kill me," David had said, almost like a challenge.
Andrew had nodded. "I know the feeling."
It hadn't all ended in confessions and a deep friendship. David had told him a strange little story and he had relayed his own tale. He wasn't sure if he believed David, but he was certain that David believed it. They talked every now and then, about their boats, the weather and where they'd been before they'd ended up here. Nothing too personal and it mostly had been when they'd met by accident or the few times that Andrew had felt like some company and had checked if David was there.
But now David stood outside and threw something up to Andrew. He caught it. A little cake in plastic wrapper.
"Happy birthday," David said and turned to walk away.
"Wait," Andrew said.
David turned around.
"How did you know my birthday?"
"I'm paranoid, remember? Don't you think I would have checked you out before I even allow you to come aboard the first time?"
Check you out. Andrew had to admit that, shallow as their relationship was, he enjoyed the time with David. He had a wicked sense of humor and a great ass. He'd never thought that David had given him so much as a second thought other than categorizing him as a non-threat.
"Do you want some of the cake?" Andrew asked, holding it up.
He could see David hesitating. He'd never been on Andrew's boat.
"Okay," he finally said and Andrew smiled and stepped away to let him come aboard.
11) Six Dawson's Creek 2.04 icons
12) SGA. John/Rodney. NC-17. Established Relationship.
John only felt. The strength of the fabric, tying his wrists firmly together behind his back. The sheets below his knees, shins and feet, where he knelt. And most of all the head of Rodney's dick hitting the back of his throat as he thrust forward, fucking John's mouth.
"So what is your birthday present for me?" Rodney had asked after discarding the presents from the others.
"Anything you want," John had said after dropping down to his knees in front of him.
Rodney's eyes had widened and he had protested, but John had told him, assured him, that he trusted Rodney not to do anything John wasn't comfortable with and that he would say something if Rodney was going too far.
Not that there had been any danger of that. John had to encourage Rodney every step of the way, but God, it was worth it. His whole body tingled as Rodney pushed into him with abandon, calling out John's name and how amazing he was. If John could speak, he would do the same.
He couldn't wait for Rodney's next birthday. Or the day he had the courage to tell Rodney that it was as much a gift for himself as for Rodney.
13) The faces and fashion of Lionel Thayer Part II: Five Family Album icons
14) SGA. AU. John/Rodney. PG.
John could only wonder how his life had gone so horribly wrong. He was spending his 40th birthday in a taxi that didn't even belong to him, chauffeuring an obnoxious astrophysicist, who told him how to drive, to go this way or that and who was, on top of it all, paranoid, talking about them being after him.
He might have enjoyed if the man wouldn't insult him every other sentence and he didn't dare to actually speed through the streets. He got into enough trouble for that as it was.
Then suddenly the paranoia of the guy turned out to be not quite that when more and more black cars seemed to follow them as they moved to lonelier roads out of the city.
"They are going to kill us!" the man screeched behind him.
John wanted to ask when they'd become an us, but instead he took a chance and dove into a side-road that appeared after he took a corner.
"Are you insane! If they follow us, we'll be stuck!"
John took a sharp turn off the road over the slightly elevated ground and into the ditch beyond. He hadn't really liked his job anyway.
"We are dead. Why couldn't I have found an insane driver like everyone else, instead I get a moron with death wish."
John turned around and put his hand on the man's mouth. The blue eyes widened and he could feel the mouth opening in protest, but a look of John kept him still.
They heard the cars rushing by the main road, then one turned into their side-road. It went on, without stopping.
John carefully removed his hand.
"He might come back," the man said, quietly for once.
John nodded in agreement and rolled down the window on his door and slipped out.
His passenger stared at him then at his own window, clearly not too thrilled about climbing out there. But the way the car lay there was no other way. Climbing out the top wouldn't really be easier.
The man rolled down the window and pushed the briefcase, that he'd clutched to his chest all the time, at John. John took that as a sign that he was finally trusted.
He put the case between his legs and helped the man out of the car, who struggled and eventually ended up on top of John, panting.
John still had his hand on his arm and moved a bit lower to the man's ass and the face above him flushed, but not a word of protest came out of his crooked mouth.
Maybe it wasn't going to be such a bad birthday after all.
15) Six Cupid 1.06 icons
16) RPS. Joe/David. PG-13. Torri's 40th birthday party.
"And it's not fair. You guys just keep looking better with age."
"Yeah, his gray temples look very distinguished," David said, stroking the hair in question above Joe's right ear.
"You only want me for my body," Joe huffed.
It was a nice game. Ever since that first day back on set after his divorce when things had been a bit awkward because nobody knew what to say and David had come up and simply announced theatrically, "Finally, you left her for me!" and everybody had laughed and the tension had been gone.
"And your hair," David said.
Torri laughed, shook her head and went to check with her other guests, while Joe turned and looked for Jason.
One and a half hours later he was pleasantly mellow, but not drunk. Jason was chatting up a nice young woman and Joe wondered where David was. He hadn't heard him at all since last speaking to him, which was unusual.
After asking around a bit he found out that David had left. "Seriously?" Yes, seriously. That wasn't like David at all. Joe decided to call it an early night, too. He told Torri he had his kids for the weekend, which wasn't technically a lie. They'd come the next afternoon.
On his drive home he decided to give David a call. After letting it ring for what seemed like an eternity he was ready to hang up, when David answered.
"Yes?"
"It's Joe, I was wondering if you got home okay."
There was a long silence. "I left Jane."
That was... mostly unexpected. David hadn't spoken quite as often about her lately, but Joe hadn't thought anything of it. He didn't know what to say. After all he'd said he had left her, but still David didn't sound too happy about it. In fact he sounded as if...
"Do you want to talk about it?" Joe asked.
"No, I'm... Would you come over?"
Joe realized that he'd actually already taken the road to David's apartment. "I'll be there in a bit."
"'kay. Thanks," David said and hung up.
Joe didn't really have enough time to sort out his feelings about this. He just tried to prepare himself to give any support he'd feel David would want.
David let him in and Joe followed him into the kitchen, where David got out a beer for both of them.
"You read the latest script? Great stuff for Rachel. Took them only five years," David said, taking a swig from his bottle and watching the floor.
Joe didn't say anything. He was pretty damn sure David hadn't asked him over to talk about the upcoming Teyla episode.
"David?"
David turned to him then and put down his bottle. "Really very distinguished," he said, moving his hand up to touch Joe's hair again. Joe wasn't quite sure what David was doing. He didn't even seem drunk.
David moved his hand fully into Joe's hair and pulled him into a kiss.
Joe froze, hands awkwardly at his side, one still holding the bottle. Maybe David was drunk and could just hide it better than others. Joe stood there and waited for David to stop and eventually he did, moving his head away and looking at the floor again.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"David," Joe began, but he wasn't sure what to ask. "Why did you leave Jane?"
At that David's head shot up and he stared at Joe and Joe suddenly realized what an amazing actor he was because he'd never before seen it, when David wasn't McKay.
Joe had to turn away. He put the bottle down and leaned against the cabinets. "Wow," he simply said.
"Let's just forget this ever happened." David opened one of the cupboards and pulled out a bottle of Whiskey.
"David," Joe said, because it wasn't that he didn't... well, the thing was he really hadn't expected this.
David looked at him and he seemed to have seen something in Joe's eyes, because he put the bottle away again and came closer, far too close.
"Just give me some time," Joe said and thankfully David took a step back and nodded.
Joe took a deep breath. David was a friend, a colleague. They got along well and he'd lie if he said there wasn't a certain attraction. He'd just never let himself think further than that. He'd been married and after his divorce a new relationship wasn't exactly at the top of his mind. And David had been with Jane, which was as good as married, so he was off limits.
Except that now he wasn't. In fact he was so not off limits that Joe hardly dared to look up at him, because he was afraid that the hope and want and he couldn't bring himself to think what else in David's eyes might be his undoing.
"Okay," David said and then he was in Joe's personal space again and their lips touched and Joe found himself opening up to him as if his body had been taken over. Lips and tongue and hands, God, David's hands on him...
Afterwards they lay together on David's couch.
"That wasn't a lot of time that you gave me."
"I just thought, while you were thinking, we might as well pass the time in a... more pleasant manner," he finished in a stiff British accent.
Joe laughed. "You just wanted to distract me with your hands," he said, intertwining his with David's.
David looked at him seriously. "You can take all the time that you need."
"No, that's okay. This is okay," Joe said, pulling David closer and kissing him on the forehead.
David turned his face up and kissed him on the mouth. Then he settled down, his head on Joe's shoulder.
"Torri's gonna be mad we left her party so early," Joe said.
"We'll have to tell her first then."
"Yeah," Joe said and David released a breath.
17) Six The Other Sister icons (Joe's first scene)
18) SGA. John/Rodney. G. Established Relationship. Future. Kids.
John was glad for all the lessons he'd taken with Teyla as he avoided collision with another throng of 8-year-old feet rushing past him.
"Why did I agree to have kids?" Rodney asked the moment John entered the kitchen.
John smiled. Birthday parties always brought out the worst in Rodney. He felt severely outnumbered by the enemy.
"Because you love me," John said and kissed him. "And you love them and we love you."
To support his argument Andrew came up with tears in his eyes and hugged Rodney's right leg.
"Kate won't let me play with the robots," their youngest managed between sniffles.
Rodney glared at John. It was his patented 'You made me gay. I hate you.' look.
John smiled his 'No, you don't. You love me for it.' smile and kissed Rodney again, more deeply this time until he felt Rodney's mouth opening up a bit to return the kiss.
"Oh, all right," Rodney said and picked up Andrew.
John watched Rodney carry him to their noise-filled living-room and smiled. He would never stop being grateful for the gifts life had granted him so unexpectedly.
19) Six Farewell to Harry icons
20) SGA. AU. John/Rodney. (Light) R. WWII. Battle of Bastogne.
John exhaled into his hands, but it was all worthless. The warmth of his breath did nothing to ease the bone-deep chill. He didn't think he remembered what being warm felt like.
"Why am I here again?" McKay asked next to him.
"That guy, Hitler or so, started something..."
"And I bet he's not freezing his fucking ass off at the moment. Damn him and every German under his command. I shouldn't be here. I should be at university."
"So you keep saying." John didn't have patience for McKay today. Normally he'd indulge him by listening to tales about his no doubt brilliant future. But today was his birthday and he spent it in a foxhole at freezing temperatures and as it was he should be happy the Germans weren't currently firing at them. And that was about the only good thing about this birthday.
"Why are you so sullen anyway? You're the sunshine of the whole fucking company. I know I told you to stop. Forget that. This is not better. Damn, I need to take a leak."
John tried to prepare himself for the cold, when McKay would crawl out through the branches they'd put on top to cover against the worst of the cold. But he didn't go. "What now? Do you need someone to hold your dick for you?" He really wasn't in the mood today.
McKay muttered something and went off. After 15 minutes John was beginning to worry. Nobody stayed out there longer than they had to and McKay complained the worst of any of them. Shit, now he had to go out there and look for him. One of these days he was going to kill McKay.
Suddenly John sat up. What if he'd run into some Germans. It could happen. They'd caught one a few weeks ago, who had strayed too far from the line. His heart was beating rapidly, when there was suddenly a noise.
The main branch above him was lifted and McKay slipped in. "Where did you go to piss? Berlin?"
"Yeah, I figured Adolf wouldn't mind."
They settled together sharing a bit of body heat. Then McKay pulled something out of his pocket and put it in John's hands.
"Happy birthday," he said.
John took a look in the moonlight that was shining through the branches. "Chocolate?"
"Beckett gave it to me."
John didn't know what to say. It was just a tiny piece really, but where they were it was as good as the biggest cake he could imagine and then some.
"Thank you," he said shyly.
"Don't you want to eat it? Because if you don't I will."
John broke the piece in half and handed one half to McKay. McKay pushed his hand away. "It's yours."
"Take it," John insisted.
"It's your birthday."
"Then do what I want, will you?"
John pushed the chocolate in McKay's open mouth. "Iuh ngh"
"You're not spitting it out!" John said, because it looked just like McKay was going to do that, leaning forward.
There was a brief struggle and then John felt chocolate in his mouth and cold, chapped lips on his. This was... he pushed his arms around McKay, Rodney, the chocolate in his hand forgotten and dropped. McKay would surely look for it later, was the last thing John thought before Rodney's tongue pushed in his mouth and their far too cold hands started crawling over skin and they moved away just enough of their clothes to feel each other body to body.
It wasn't the best birthday he ever had. It was still miserably cold and he was hungry and his feet and hands hurt. But that night beneath Rodney's body he wasn't a soldier. He was just a man.
on to part 2 of the Joe Flanigan birthday post