One Step at a Time

A/N: I know it’s been a while, and I apologize for that. Between real life troubles and being abducted by the Supernatural fandom, I haven’t had much time to work on this story. But, I’m going to try rotating my fandoms better in the future so I can hopefully finish some unfinished stories. Thank you all for your patience and support! Also, my muses are still a little drunk from the holidays, so this chapter is a bit sloppier than usual, but I just don’t have the energy to edit at the moment. Enjoy! Love, D


Chapter 21


When Jack woke the next morning, he was alone in the bed. He lay there for a moment, confused, having vaguely remembered waking up during the night to feel Greg and Warrick beside him. Had it all been a dream? He thought they’d agreed to at least share a bed again, but maybe that had been part of the dream, too. Had they abandoned him after all?

But then he remembered the things he’d said and he cringed, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of his life hiding under the covers. If they had abandoned him, he deserved it. His words had been nothing less than terrible and he couldn’t blame them for wanting to stay away. He didn’t know why he couldn’t play his music anymore, but he knew it had nothing to do with his lovers. It was something inside of him that kept the music from coming, something he was sure didn’t have anything to do with Warrick and Greg, and they didn’t deserve his anger and fear.

Jack sighed, slowly kicking off the blankets. He needed to find them, if they were still around, and apologize. Every time he thought he’d managed to get his head screwed on straight, he did something else to fuck it up. He really didn’t deserve Rick and Greg. If they’d finally decided they’d had enough, he certainly wouldn’t blame them. Even with everything that had happened, he knew he was running out of forgiveness and second chances. They were all running pretty low on both, if there was such a gauge to judge just how much of each was left in all of them. He could only hope that gauge would never run empty, because he had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time he lashed out at them.

All right, time to face the music. The Rick and Greg music. His music. . . he didn’t know if he’d ever be ready to face that.

Jack rolled over to the edge of the bed and stood up, running his fingers through his messy curls, grimacing when he caught a whiff of himself. Perhaps showering first would help sweeten the apology--no, no stalling. He just had to go out there and do it.

He shuffled down the hall to the kitchen where the scent of fresh coffee and a murmur of voices told him that his lovers were, in fact, still around. He entered the room with his arms wrapped around his chest, his head hanging down, his face hidden behind his hair. He couldn’t have looked more guilty and repentant if he’d tried, but he wasn’t trying. He was simply afraid to meet their eyes.

All noise in the kitchen stilled as he walked inside and he stopped, afraid to go any further.

“Jack?” Greg began, but he shook his head.

“Please, wait. I have something I need to say.” He took a deep breath, staring down at his feet. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lashed out like that at you last night. What’s wrong with me has nothing to do with you and I shouldn’t have blamed you for it. I understand if you’ve had enough of me,” he said, blinking back tears at the thought that they might agree with him, “but I hope you’ll stay.”

Greg quickly crossed the kitchen and took Jack in his arms.

“Of course we haven’t had enough of you,” he said, kissing the brown curls. “We’ll never get enough of you, you should know that by now, and whatever’s the matter with you has everything to do with us. You’re not getting out of this relationship that easy. If there’s something wrong with you, then the three of us are going to do everything we can to help you fix it. You’re never alone. Right, Rick?”

“Damn straight,” Warrick said, joining the two in their embrace. He met Greg’s eyes over Jack’s still down-turned head and nodded in response to the unspoken question there. They were going to make it through this. In spite of everything, he wasn’t going to bail. He was going to stick around and they were going to find a way to make this life work.

“Just not in that all-encompassing, smothering way from before,” Greg amended with a grin. “We’re going to do this the right way.”

“Which means the three of us working together. And if that includes an outburst or two every now and then--from any of us--we’ll get over it. But first. . .” he grinned down at the musician, “Jack, man, don’t get me wrong, you know I love you, but seriously, you stink.”

Jack chuckled and looked up into the green eyes for the first time that morning, his face shining with tears. “I was thinking I should shower before coming out here, but I thought that might give you time to escape.”

“There’s no escape,” Warrick answered with a wink.

“You know, I’m a little ripe myself,” Greg said, and from the suggestive note in his voice, both his lovers knew where this would be heading.

“If you’re thinking you should join me. . .”

“In my mind, we’re already covered in suds.”

“Well, I’ve already had my shower this morning, so I’ll just let you two go ahead,” Warrick said, knowing they’d never let him get away with it, but teasing them all the same.

And he was right. He gasped as a hand was pressed against the front of his jeans, and he looked down to find seductive brown eyes looking up at him through dark brown ringlets and he grew hard against the hand.

“If you’re certain that the two of us naked and wet, our soapy hands bathing each other’s skin really doesn’t appeal to you--” Jack’s hand squeezed a little and Warrick’s breath caught in his throat. “--then you can make us breakfast while we go shower.”

“Oh, hell no. I’m not cooking.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to join us,” Greg grinned, grabbing one of each of their hands and pulling them towards the bathroom.

“Just nothing strenuous,” he warned, tugging on Jack’s shirt.

“Yes, mom,” the musician said with a roll of his eyes and Greg grimaced.

“You know, this really isn’t the time to bring in thoughts of our mothers.”

All three men shuddered.

“Comment withdrawn,” Jack said and turned to slide a hand up under Warrick’s shirt. “Yes, tiger.”

“Mmm. . . that’s better,” he smiled, sliding his arms around the slender waist. Fingers began toying with his nipple and he growled, pressing Jack against the wall. “Promise me you won’t stop that,” he said as he nuzzled Jack’s neck.

“You have my promise,” he said, arching his head back and giving Warrick free access to his neck even as he reached out a hand for Greg. Offering up the other side of his neck to Warrick, he pulled Greg in for a kiss.

“Forget everything else,” Greg chuckled as Jack removed Warrick’s shirt, “I’ve missed this most of all.”

“I don’t know about most of all,” Jack said, grabbing hold of Greg’s shirt and removing it as well, “but it’s definitely at the top of the list.”

“I can guarantee I’ve missed getting naked with the two of you,” Warrick said as he and Greg started undressing Jack.

“Shower,” Jack said, stepping out of his clothes and walking into the bathroom, his lovers taking a moment to admire the view.

“Oh, yeah, definitely missed that,” Warrick said, quickly removing the rest of his clothes.

“He’s still too skinny,” Greg said and Warrick cast a critical eye over the younger CSI.

“You’ve lost quite a few pounds yourself. I think we all have. It’s been a stressful couple of months.”

“I’ll say,” Greg said, looking over at him with a twinkle in his eyes. “We’ll just have to start fattening each other up, starting with a nice protein-filled breakfast.”

“I don’t even have to guess where this is going,” Warrick chuckled and gave him a push towards the shower where the water was running and Jack was already standing beneath the spray, rinsing himself off. They paused, Warrick holding Greg close to him as they stood watching their lover. “This will always be the favorite part of my day,” Warrick said breathlessly, and Greg nodded.

“Mine, too,” he said, but even as they admired Jack’s glistening skin, their eyes lowered to the scar on his abdomen.

“Either you lower your gazes just a little bit more,” Jack growled as he covered the scar, “or I’m showering alone.”

“Is someone feeling self-conscious?” Greg said, stepping inside and covering Jack’s hands with his own.

“I just don’t want you focusing on that right now. I’m fine,” he said and lowered their hands, wrapping Greg’s fingers around his semi-erect penis.

“Very fine,” Greg whispered, slowly moving their hands, and Jack smirked.

“Nice of you to notice.”

Warrick rolled his eyes. “Good thing that’s the only part of you that can get bigger, because I think your ego’s reached its limit.”

“Shut up and get in here,” Greg said, holding out his free hand.

Warrick grinned as he took it and stepped inside, drawing the shower curtain closed behind him. He stood there for a moment, watching the two of them, then dropped to his knees. He pushed their hands aside and gently pressed his lips to Jack’s scar, tracing it with his mouth, trying not to think about how this scar almost cost him the best thing in his life. He felt hands in his hair and looked up to find Jack looking down at him, a soft smile on his face.

“I’m okay.”

“I know,” he said, and lowering his head once more, took the tip of Jack’s now fully erect penis in his mouth. He suckled on the tip, caressing it with lips and tongue, until Jack’s body was trembling beneath his hands and soft whimpers could be heard from above.

“Finish him, Warrick,” Greg said, holding Jack’s hands to support him but also to keep him from reaching out and trying to control their lover’s movements. “Finish him, so he can watch with a smile on his face as you try to fuck me through the wall.”

Damnit Greg, Warrick thought, closing his eyes and ceasing all motion as he tried to regain control over his raging body. He was half tempted to abandon Jack and have his way with Greg right then and there, but the teasing brown eyes met his and Greg shook his head.

“Jack first. That way by the time you’re through with me, he’ll be ready for a second round.”

“He won’t be up for a second round.”

“The hell he won’t,” Jack growled, fisting his hand in Warrick’s hair. “Though at the rate you’re going, I’m going to have to finish this first round without you.”

“All right all right,” Warrick chuckled. “Hint taken. Impatient, aren’t we?”

The hand gentled, caressing his head as Jack’s doe-like eyes looked down at him with a combination of lust and adoration. “It’s been too long,” he said softly, and Warrick nodded.

“Far too long,” he said, and returned the adoration with action by taking Jack’s cock in his mouth.

The musician moaned as his tiger’s keen investigative skills were translated into action with his tongue, the nimble muscle seeking out his most sensitive spots. “Oh, Rick,” he gasped, his eyes rolling back in his head as his body’s energies gathered below his stomach, “that tongue of yours is a miracle.”

The man hummed his response to the compliment, making Jack shudder and rest more of his weight against their other lover.

“I’ve got you,” Greg whispered in his ear, nibbling at his earlobe even as his fingers toyed with Jack’s nipples. “You just let Warrick have you. We won’t let you fall.”

“I’m falling anyway,” Jack said, his eyes squeezing shut as the energy burst inside of him and his entire body shuddered in response. He threw his head back against Greg’s shoulder as he emptied himself between Warrick’s lips, the man’s mouth sucking every ounce of pleasure from him that it could get. His whimpers increased when Warrick refused to let up and the shower was soon filled with his half screams as fingers and the relentless mouth roamed over his sensitive skin.

“Rick, Rick, no more, oh gods, no more.”

Warrick chuckled and released Jack’s now half-hard cock with a pop. “Best thing I’ve tasted all day,” he said, rising to his feet and commandeering Jack’s mouth with a kiss as he maneuvered the quivering musician over to the wall and freeing Greg. “Watch and enjoy,” Warrick said, nipping at his lips and then turned to his colleague.

He wrapped Greg’s hands around his neck and slid his own arms around the pale skin as he drew the younger man to him. He didn’t give Greg any time to speak before possessing his mouth in a passionate kiss. Greg’s knees almost immediately buckled and he clung to Warrick’s neck, their erections rubbing against each other.

“More,” he gasped into their kiss and Warrick immediately turned him around. Greg’s hands reached up to rest on either side of Jack’s head so that they were looking into each other’s eyes when the first finger entered his body. They both groaned and Warrick smiled as he slid another conditioner-covered finger into Greg, stretching him, readying him for his invasion.

“Tell me when he’s ready, Jack.”

The musician reached up to trace his fingers over Greg’s lips, which pursed in a kiss. Two pairs of brown eyes met, both dilated with pleasure, Greg’s pupils slightly blacker than Jack’s.

“He’s ready,” Jack said. “He’s more than ready.” He lowered his hand down over Greg’s chest to his cock and took hold of the fevered flesh. “He wants you, tiger. Take him.”

Warrick took Greg’s ass in his hands and parted the cheeks to reveal the hole twitching in anticipation of being filled. He licked his lips, wanting to taste the dusky heat of Greg’s body, but the cooling water of the shower warned him that he didn’t have the time for that, not now. Instead, he readied himself at Greg’s entrance and pushed inside. Greg moaned, pushing back against Warrick as he held himself up against the shower wall.

“How’s he doing?” Warrick asked and Jack tightened his hand around Greg’s cock.

“He’s not happy.”

Both Greg and Warrick looked at him in surprise.

“He’s not?”

“No, he’s not,” Jack said with an innocence tempered by the wicked gleam in his eyes. “You’re taking too long. He wants it harder, and he wants it faster, and he wants it now.”

“Well, if that’s what he wants,” Warrick said, echoing Jack’s wickedness with his own wicked grin as he picked up the pace, thrusting harder and faster into the tightness of Greg’s body. Jack also quickened his strokes on the cock in his hand so that Greg didn’t know which way to push--against Warrick or into Jack.

“You two are killing me,” he said through gritted teeth and Jack leaned forward to kiss him while giving his hand a little twist. Greg moaned into the musician’s mouth, his fingers clenching into fists along the tiles. Warrick, sensing his lover’s impending orgasm, knowing he himself wouldn’t have lasted this long if he’d been between the two of them, grabbed hold of the narrow hips and began pounding into Greg.

Jack’s rough strokes and Warrick’s deliberate aim pushed Greg over the edge and he cried out as he came between them. Warrick continued thrusting until he felt the undulations around him begin to subside and then he gave himself over to his orgasm. Pulses of ecstasy filled his body and he collapsed against Greg, who in turn collapsed against Jack, who gave a muffled cry and pushed against them both.

“Get off! You’re crushing me!” he said, laughter in his voice, and Greg gave him a teasing look.

“We just got off. You want us to get off again?”

Jack rolled his eyes and slithered out from beneath them when they showed no sign of moving.

“I need to start working out more,” he grumbled, rinsing Greg’s release from his skin before stepping out of the shower. “You’re both bigger than I am.”

“Why, thank you!” Greg chirped, earning him a slap on the butt from Warrick. He laughed, turning so they could both quickly rinse before putting a stop to the now cold water.

Warrick ruffled Greg’s flattened hair as he stepped out of the shower and grabbed a couple towels, tossing one to his lover so they could dry off. Jack had already finished and left the bathroom, the two following as soon as they’d gotten enough water off to keep from dripping all over the floors. They found him curled up in bed, panting lightly as he burrowed beneath the sheets. Exchanging worried looks, they knelt down in front of him so they could meet his eyes.

“You okay?” Warrick asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Just a little more exertion than I’m used to.”

“But no pain, right?” Greg asked, and Jack smiled at them.

“None at all. I think I’m just going to rest a bit.”

Warrick took one of Jack’s hands in his and kissed the musician’s knuckles. “You want company?”

He shook his head. “I’m sure you two have better things to do than baby-sit me.”

“Now, you see, that’s where you’re wrong,” Greg said, crawling onto the bed and over Jack, pulling the covers out from around him and sliding in next to him. “We don’t have to be back at work until tonight--assuming we decide to show.”

Warrick rolled his eyes at that, but joined his lovers in the bed.

“So technically,” Greg continued, “we don’t have anything better to do.”

“Besides,” Warrick said, lightly kissing the musician, “when’s the last time the three of us have spent a lazy day in bed together?”

Jack frowned. “I don’t think we’ve ever spent a lazy day in bed together.”

“Then it’s about time we did.”

“Agreed,” Greg grinned, snuggling up against Jack and pulling Warrick’s arm over so his hand rested on his ass. Warrick chuckled, giving Greg’s ass a squeeze.

“You know, we’re going to have to start letting him have the middle again,” Warrick said to Jack. “I think he misses the attention.”

“You know he only wants the middle because he always gets cold,” Jack said sleepily. “It can be a hundred degrees outside, and he’ll still be freezing.”

“And when I’m on the outside, I always end up getting the shaft with the blankets,” Greg said. “But I’m willing to cede my place to Jack until he gets better. After that, the blankets are mine.”

“I’m better now,” Jack mumbled in protest, dark lashes resting on his cheeks, and his two lovers exchanged indulgent smiles.

“We know you are,” Warrick said, and Greg nodded as his head hit the pillow.

“But you’re staying right where you are, just in case.”

Jack half-sighed, half-yawned as he answered them. “Worrywarts.”

“You know it,” Warrick said softly as he looked down at their lover. He wished he knew whether or not their moment in the shower was a step in the right direction, or just a temporary balm to soothe over last night’s eruption. He hoped it was the former, believing that once the three of them were healed, Jack’s music would be healed as well.

Feeling Greg’s eyes on him, he lifted his head, and Greg smiled.

“We’re going to be okay,” Greg whispered over Jack’s sleeping head. “I promise.”

Which was fine, but the promise he really wanted was from the one fast asleep between them. He’d just have to hope they’d get it when Jack woke up.


[January 6, 2006]