Eureka fic: "Morning Person" (Jack/Nathan, PG)
Fandom: EUReKA
Title: Morning Person
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack contemplates the nature of being a morning person and the surprises of a relationship.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Property of SciFi, Andrew Cosby and Jamie Paglia.
Pairing/Characters: Jack Carter/Nathan Stark
Categories/Warnings: Assumes that S3 didn't happen, S2 AU of sorts, established relationship.
A/N: Thanks to serene_quill for the beta help, and whom I also blame for this piece based on the following Twitter: (Twitter takes some experience to interpret) "J was surprised 2 learn N was not a morning person. But after being pulled back 2 bed w a growled, 'Stay,' J decided he liked that."
Jack never thought of himself as a morning person, especially in his younger years. Having a child, becoming a Marshal changed that -- he became one out of necessity. Zoë's tiny voice screeching for 'Daddy lawffels' as she pattered down the hallway, permeating a half awake fog; adrenaline fueled-wakeups to roll out of bed in the next no-name town to collect the latest lowlife and drag them to the nearest federal lockup. Kids and criminals forced him not to be sloppy, to put on an air of complete control even when his brain was screaming to go back to bed. It just became part of his job of living to become a morning person, so he did.
Then when Zoë came to live with him, he found the roles reversed -- he had to be the morning person, or everything would grind to a halt. S.A.R.A.H. could only do so much, and Zoë was pretty good at ignoring or actively thwarting S.A.R.A.H.'s efforts. It was funny, how thing changed-it seemed not that long ago that she would wake him up by climbing up onto the bed and bouncing on his chest enthusiastically-but he was so glad to have her in his life again that he didn't mind having to be the enforcer. He'd take whatever he could get. Zoë seemed more apt to behave (albeit reluctantly) when he was already up, composed and in control, waiting in the kitchen with his morning coffee for her to surface. The habit continued, even after she fell into her own patterns and every morning wasn't an epic battle to get her out of bed and to school anymore.
So when he finds that Nathan is far from a morning person, he's surprised to find himself torn between old habits and his normal routine. He is normally the one to fall asleep first, more often than not to the soothing feeling of Nathan's hands moving slowly over his body. Nathan's extremely tactile nature was a surprise to him at first, but he's come to enjoy it in many ways-from a slow ruffling of his hair to big hands mapping any and every bit of skin they can reach. It's become comforting, and now he's not sure he could go to sleep without it anymore. But he's also the first to wake up most days.
He finds that he likes the quiet, the opportunity to watch Nathan without his shields and masks he's constantly juggling. It's a rare opportunity to just look, to see what hides beneath in larger does than the tiny bits handed out sparingly to the world at large. Nathan's face is softer, more relaxed, and sometimes Jack has to wonder what exactly is going on inside Nathan's mind, especially when he's dreaming. If he's really lucky, he gets a clue-a muttered word, sometimes his name. Nathan moves and shifts as he watches, sometimes clutching Jack tightly, distressed by whatever he's dreaming. Jack will reach out and stroke him gently, murmur in his ear, and Nathan will shift and sigh and settle. Jack likes taking care of Nathan, especially in these stolen moments-to be needed despite Nathan's constant alpha behavior and almost obsessive need to be the protector and provider.
Jack's brought back into the present as Nathan moves against him, stretching. He's awake this time, eyes barely open slits looking over at him. Jack can't help the smile that breaks out on his face as he watches Nathan become aware of his surroundings.
"Hi," he says, laying a soft kiss on Nathan's forehead.
Nathan grunts in response, pulling him close and burying his face into Jack's neck.
"Mmph.. don't get up. Don't.... nowhere," Nathan mumbles slowly against his neck.
Jack finds it funny that a man with a Nobel Prize and multiple doctorates can be reduced to basic vocabulary when he's half awake. Or that the same A-type genius would be such a cuddler. Nathan is infinitely calmer whenever they touch in any manner and seems to almost constantly want to have some contact with Jack. Fingers entwined, a hand in the small of his back, a hand resting softly on his thigh as he watches TV. Jack's learned to take Nathan's tactile nature in stride and be very open when they're in private, touching Nathan as much as possible and trying to never reject the touches Nathan is constantly laying upon him.
Jack brings his arms up, pulling Nathan in close. Nathan sighs and relaxes against him.
"You hungry? We owe Zoë pancakes."
"Zoë... Pilar's. Home later. Go back t'sleep."
Jack kisses the mess of curls in front of his nose as Nathan whuffs quietly into his neck. "Right. Yeah, ok. But you better not sleep too long, or we'll miss out this morning."
Nathan's hands kneading his back slow down - Nathan's fading fast. "Jus' little more. Then proper hello. Don't go."
Jack smiles at how different this Nathan is, how much he reminds him of a child instead of the strong town leader who sometimes dreams of world domination. He gives him another soft kiss. "I'll be here waiting for you, scientist. Don't worry."
Nathan finally settles against him with a grunt of agreement, and he can feel the tension leave Nathan's body as he relaxes fully in his arms and falls back asleep. Jack closes his eyes and allows himself the luxury of falling back asleep too. He knows that Nathan will wake him up when he's ready.
Fin
1/09
Feedback always welcome.
Link to all of my stories
Title: Morning Person
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack contemplates the nature of being a morning person and the surprises of a relationship.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Property of SciFi, Andrew Cosby and Jamie Paglia.
Pairing/Characters: Jack Carter/Nathan Stark
Categories/Warnings: Assumes that S3 didn't happen, S2 AU of sorts, established relationship.
A/N: Thanks to serene_quill for the beta help, and whom I also blame for this piece based on the following Twitter: (Twitter takes some experience to interpret) "J was surprised 2 learn N was not a morning person. But after being pulled back 2 bed w a growled, 'Stay,' J decided he liked that."
Jack never thought of himself as a morning person, especially in his younger years. Having a child, becoming a Marshal changed that -- he became one out of necessity. Zoë's tiny voice screeching for 'Daddy lawffels' as she pattered down the hallway, permeating a half awake fog; adrenaline fueled-wakeups to roll out of bed in the next no-name town to collect the latest lowlife and drag them to the nearest federal lockup. Kids and criminals forced him not to be sloppy, to put on an air of complete control even when his brain was screaming to go back to bed. It just became part of his job of living to become a morning person, so he did.
Then when Zoë came to live with him, he found the roles reversed -- he had to be the morning person, or everything would grind to a halt. S.A.R.A.H. could only do so much, and Zoë was pretty good at ignoring or actively thwarting S.A.R.A.H.'s efforts. It was funny, how thing changed-it seemed not that long ago that she would wake him up by climbing up onto the bed and bouncing on his chest enthusiastically-but he was so glad to have her in his life again that he didn't mind having to be the enforcer. He'd take whatever he could get. Zoë seemed more apt to behave (albeit reluctantly) when he was already up, composed and in control, waiting in the kitchen with his morning coffee for her to surface. The habit continued, even after she fell into her own patterns and every morning wasn't an epic battle to get her out of bed and to school anymore.
So when he finds that Nathan is far from a morning person, he's surprised to find himself torn between old habits and his normal routine. He is normally the one to fall asleep first, more often than not to the soothing feeling of Nathan's hands moving slowly over his body. Nathan's extremely tactile nature was a surprise to him at first, but he's come to enjoy it in many ways-from a slow ruffling of his hair to big hands mapping any and every bit of skin they can reach. It's become comforting, and now he's not sure he could go to sleep without it anymore. But he's also the first to wake up most days.
He finds that he likes the quiet, the opportunity to watch Nathan without his shields and masks he's constantly juggling. It's a rare opportunity to just look, to see what hides beneath in larger does than the tiny bits handed out sparingly to the world at large. Nathan's face is softer, more relaxed, and sometimes Jack has to wonder what exactly is going on inside Nathan's mind, especially when he's dreaming. If he's really lucky, he gets a clue-a muttered word, sometimes his name. Nathan moves and shifts as he watches, sometimes clutching Jack tightly, distressed by whatever he's dreaming. Jack will reach out and stroke him gently, murmur in his ear, and Nathan will shift and sigh and settle. Jack likes taking care of Nathan, especially in these stolen moments-to be needed despite Nathan's constant alpha behavior and almost obsessive need to be the protector and provider.
Jack's brought back into the present as Nathan moves against him, stretching. He's awake this time, eyes barely open slits looking over at him. Jack can't help the smile that breaks out on his face as he watches Nathan become aware of his surroundings.
"Hi," he says, laying a soft kiss on Nathan's forehead.
Nathan grunts in response, pulling him close and burying his face into Jack's neck.
"Mmph.. don't get up. Don't.... nowhere," Nathan mumbles slowly against his neck.
Jack finds it funny that a man with a Nobel Prize and multiple doctorates can be reduced to basic vocabulary when he's half awake. Or that the same A-type genius would be such a cuddler. Nathan is infinitely calmer whenever they touch in any manner and seems to almost constantly want to have some contact with Jack. Fingers entwined, a hand in the small of his back, a hand resting softly on his thigh as he watches TV. Jack's learned to take Nathan's tactile nature in stride and be very open when they're in private, touching Nathan as much as possible and trying to never reject the touches Nathan is constantly laying upon him.
Jack brings his arms up, pulling Nathan in close. Nathan sighs and relaxes against him.
"You hungry? We owe Zoë pancakes."
"Zoë... Pilar's. Home later. Go back t'sleep."
Jack kisses the mess of curls in front of his nose as Nathan whuffs quietly into his neck. "Right. Yeah, ok. But you better not sleep too long, or we'll miss out this morning."
Nathan's hands kneading his back slow down - Nathan's fading fast. "Jus' little more. Then proper hello. Don't go."
Jack smiles at how different this Nathan is, how much he reminds him of a child instead of the strong town leader who sometimes dreams of world domination. He gives him another soft kiss. "I'll be here waiting for you, scientist. Don't worry."
Nathan finally settles against him with a grunt of agreement, and he can feel the tension leave Nathan's body as he relaxes fully in his arms and falls back asleep. Jack closes his eyes and allows himself the luxury of falling back asleep too. He knows that Nathan will wake him up when he's ready.
Fin
1/09
Feedback always welcome.
Link to all of my stories