Chapter 5

  Luckily, the nearly two hour nap Jack took on the plane boosted his energy. Well, either it was that, or its the knowledge that he's here! All he has to do is contain himself enough to hail a taxi and make it to Mark's place. He's squirming, jittering, and bouncing his knee throughout the whole trip.

What will happen? How will Mark react? What will they do first? Jack practically squeaks with excitement over all the possibilities. He wonders if he should feel more nervous about all of this. So far, all the nerves have been clouded by joy. That is, until the taxi pulls to a stop. There it is, the familiar ball of fear in the back of Jack's throat, making it hard for him to swallow.

He looks out his window and takes a breath. Eight, no, six steps tops, and he'll be knocking on Mark's door. Gulping, Jack checks his watch,

7:22.

Mark might still be sleeping. He's mentioned his lack of restful sleep a few times recently, so it wouldnt surprise Jack to discover that he hasnt gotten up yet. He bites his lip, checking the scrap of paper with the address hasily scrawled across it. He'd watched every streets sign pass by, kowing hes been here a few times, years ago now, but the memories all sit the same.

This is the same route Mark took the very first time they ever hung out together outside of cameras and conventions. Before he knew Brittany, back when Jack was still dating a girl named Izzy. They stayed up late, late enough for the sun to come up and highlight their sleep deprived faces. Mark twisted in his seat to send that crooked, innocent smile over his shoulder at Jack.

Jack knew he looked a state, his hair was a mess atop his head, his blue eyes rimmed with red and undereyes darkened, his lips chapped from the lack of proper hydration through the night of silly antics with the raven haired man. But he couldnt stop staring at Mark, who, despite looking just as tired, somehow seemed to glow. He seemed to be the true source if light in the room, sunlight be damned. Looking back it may have been the very first moment Jack got butterflies from Mark. And with every time they were together from then on, all the craziness in Jack grew. But it only ever made itself known once, and thats what makes this all so daunting.

Here he is, staring at Mark's door, this time, with the history they share heavy on his mind.

This time, after Vegas.

"This the place?" The taxi driver suddenly inquires, breaking Jack's train of thought.

"Y-yeah, sorry." He says, handing the driver some cash and stepping out of the car. He hesitates to open the trunk to gather the rest of his luggage, but quickly dismisses it, gathering his things and waving the Taxi driver goodbye.

His feet glue to the pavement for a long moment, afraid to move forward toward the door in front of him. What if Mark doesnt wake up to his knocking? Should he just go in? Man, he really didnt think this through. Checking his watch he huffs to himself.

7:26

He cant keep stalling like this forever. Sticking out his chest, he feels a tad braver, and he steps up to the doorway.

"Moment of truth." He mumbles to himself before steeling himself to knock.

Mark groans again, now reawoken by the sounds of thumping and barking. Where the hell is that coming from? The door? He tugs the pillow off his face and listens once more. The thumps come again shortly after with more alarmed barks, and Mark's eyes catch the time displayed on his alarm clock.

7:27.

"Dammit Brit I said just come in." He growls lowly, throwing himself out of the bed and into some PJ pants, walking to answer the door. He gives some calming strokes to a curious Chica, soothing the barking easily as she takes a cautious and patient seat beside the door. He sighs as he tugs the door open mid knock, preparing himself for the typical greeting from his now ex girlfriend. But, when no blathering enters the room, Mark lifts his eyes from the floor, to meet a set of blue eyes with his own.

Mark blinks, stunned at the face staring back at him. Surely he's still dreaming.

Jack gulps, causing his smile to waver slightly. Mark's eyes are impossible to read, making it hard for Jack to come up with an appropriate reaction. Words bounce around Jack's nervous brain unable to escape past his clenched teeth.

Mark stares, unable to truely find the fact from fiction here. Words dont exist in his brain as he reaches out with both hands, taking Jack by the waist and tugging him past the threshold of his home and to his lips. Jack startles at the action and at the bark of protest from Chica that Mark ignores, but quickly melts into the kiss, immediately accepting it as the greeting he wanted.

Mark moves his lips against Jack's still searching the man for any signs of a fantasy, but everything seems far too real. Unthinkingly, Mark takes a few steps, backing Jack against the wall, still unwary of the dog curiously trying to inspect the stranger. Jack places his hands on the sides of Marks face, deepening the kiss further, allowing Mark to pin him to the wall without resistance.

Mark's hands slide upward, away from their original spot on Jack's hips to further navigate the reality of Jack's presence. This cant be real, surely, it's far too good to be true. Yet, Mark can find no evidence of the illusion. How could he be here? Where did he come from? The questions turn to mush as Jack pulls him closer.

A smile grows across Jack's lips as he continues to fall deeper and deeper into the moment. Here it is, all hes been wanting ever since he left it in Vegas. Jack's fingers sneak to the back of Mark's skull, hiding and tangling themselves in the already sleep messy hair, urging Mark closer. He obliges easily, pressing even further against this certain illusion, hoping it will never fade. For a moment, he's absolutely certain it never will, but only for a moment.

A noise startles Jack, yet another bark after they had already silenced from the moment before, and he quickly and cautiously pushes Mark away, abruptly ending the kiss as fast as it had started. Mark looks questioningly at Jack until he too hears the noise, Chica alerting them to the front door swinging open again. Twisting his neck, and taking only a half step away from the Irish man, he watches as Brittany crosses the threshold, closing the door behind her.

"Oh! Hey Mar- Oh? Hey..." Brittany seems somewhat cheerful in her attempt to greet Mark, but the cheer in her tone falls away once she spots Jack.

Jack swallows nervously, stepping further away from the wall he was previously backed into, and the man he kept tugging closer a moment ago, suddenly becoming aware of Mark's grip on his shirt at his side. He glances at the black haired man, but he seems entirely lost and confused.

Truthfully, his sleep fresh mind hasnt even really connected any dots yet. One second he was sleeping, the next he lip locked with Jack, now, he's standing in the center of a room full of three silently inquiring faces. Once his brain has finally pieced together the truth, his eyes find Jack again, a hopeful breath catching in his throat once he confirms the truth.

Jack is here. He's here now.

A grin stretches across his face, but quickly falls away once another factor steps into play in his brain. Looking back, he finds Brittany, standing by the door looking seemingly uncomfortable with her crossed arms and averting gaze, who is also here, now.

Jack gently and covertly removes Mark's grip from his shirt, earning Mark's eyes once more, but they dont leave him this time, stuck internally celebrating his authenticity. Jack's eyes bounce between the two, hating the stagnating air as it grows ever thicker. Neither want to speak up, so maybe...

"Hey, there," Jack greets after clearing his throat quietly, stepping slightly forward with an extended hand, attempting to break the awkward silence.

"I dont know if you remember me but I'm-"

"I know who you are." Brittany awkwardly cuts off Jack's words, briefly but politley shaking his extended hand.

"Oh?" Jack says, still attempting to be cheerful and polite, hoping to ease the suffocating tension building.

"After all, how could I forget the guy who drunkingly ended my relationship?" She comments, seemingly an attempt at humor that falls flat fast. She swallows her embarressment back, quickly turning her attention to the floor while crossing her arms over her chest again, looking meak.

"Oh..." Jack utters quietly, tucking his hand back to his side, remembering the instance in the hotel when he took Mark's phone to tell her to take the hint. Perhaps he should stay out of this. He turns back to Mark, not surprised to find his brown eyes still locked on him. Jack covertly nudges him and guestures toward Brittanty, to which Mark obeys, still without removing his gaze.

"You know where the locket is." Mark tersly remarks to her, giving her very little of the attention his sleep fuzzy brain currently has.

She opens her mouth as if to say something, but instead sighs and strides into the bathroom, leaving the two men alone in the livingroom. Mark's brain is full to bursting with questions and exclaimations, but none leave his lips. More than anything he just wants to kiss Jack again. But its far too risky with Brittany in the next room. Jack examines Mark, still unable to fully gauge his next moves. He really didnt expect Brittany to show up out of no where. If she hadnt, though.... Jack lets a smirk crawl across his face before finally giving into the temptation to give the excited pup the attention she sought from him.

Brittany steps back into the room, placing something into her jacket pocket. Surely the necklace Mark spoke of? Jack thinks to himself while scratching Chica's ribs.

"I've got some stuff of yours in my car if you want to come give me a hand?" She says, her brown eyes grazing over Jack hintingly, clearly intending to have a moment alone with Mark. Mark sends an unamused look her way.

"Keep it." He says, hoping to urge her out the door quicker. He couldnt care less what items of his she has at the moment. Brittany sighs frustratedly.

"Please just come grab it." she says a hint of defeated impatience in her tone as she steps out the door, sure that Mark would follow. Mark growls impatiently, and follows, standing beside her at her car. She reaches into the back seat and pulls out a small box with some shirts and cords in it.

"I found most of it while rearranging my closet. I figured-"

"None of it is yours that you'll need to come back for in a week, is it?" Mark cuts her off, not nearly in any mood to listen to her 'story time' after she interrupted him and Jack. Brittany blinks.

"No." She simply says sounding hurt, and catching Mark by surprise. Its not often she gives one word responses.

"Good." He replies a tad guiltily, gently taking the box from her. Suddenly he's reminded that he was going to try and be a bit more kind to her. He kicks himself for his impatience, knowing damn well he's a better person than this.

"I'm sorry," he suddenly says, surprising even himself "I shouldnt snap at you." He earnestly apologises.

"Its whatever. After all, you've been snapping at me a lot lately." She responds, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression unreadable.

"I'm sorry for that too." Mark says, averting his eyes, guiltily. Brittany sighs yet again.

"Well, I know how much of a handful I can be." She wavers, but with hints of a joke.

"Um... I better-" Mark tries, guesturing over his shoulder with his thumb, eagerly reminding himself who awaits him inside.

"Wait, Mark." Brit calls out stepping closer to him, but then away again when he actually stops.

"What?" Mark asks, sounding surprisingly and ironically patient, because that is not at all what he feels at the moment.

"I still really want to talk about things. We're not getting back together, I get that 100% I just feel-"

"You know what, you're right, we should talk," Mark cuts her off, agreeing in order to cut this off quicker."But some other time, alright? I'm kinda busy." He hurridly adds, hoping this will pacify her long enough for him to make his get away. Brittany lets out a relieved breath.

"Ok, awesome. When are you free? I've got Saturday, and Monday off, they switched up my schedual again-"

"Saturday. Starbucks down the block. Meet you around noon." Mark quickly scheduals, backing himself toward the house.

"Sounds great. I'll text you."

"Great!" Mark says, finally fully spinning away from her to retreat back into the saftey of his home.

Once inside, he drops the box in his hands and locks the door behind him. Freezing momentarily, he braces himself for the possibility that his hallucination of Jack may have disappeared. He slowly twists himself, his eyes once again finding the Irishman before him, now knealt with an eager golden face nuzzling into his chest. Glancing up, light eyes meet dark ones, and suddenly its like seeing him in the doorway all over again; A rush of confusion, joy, and excitement.

A smile crawls across Jack's expression as he lifts himself from the floor. His eyes never leaving a statuefied Mark, who was going to say something (he's not even sure what could be said), but this time, Jack steps forward, takes his face in his hands and kisses him, silencing any words that may have come out. It's much briefer this time, but still enough to rob Mark of any thinking ability. Jack is thr first to pull away, chuckling with Mark's face in his hands.

"What'd you go quiet for? Tell me you missed me!" Jack parrots Mark's words, earning hesitant but soon full chuckles from him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mark questions, his hands finding their place on Jack's waist without thought. Jack chuckles again.

"I'm on vacation, idiot." He says, taking off his hat to slap it onto Mark's head.

"Here?" Mark questions in joyful disbelief as he lifts the bill of the cap out oh his face.

"No, Madagascar. Of course here!" Jack retorts sarcastically, to which Mark beams mutely at. Jack shrugs at the lack of response.

"Unless, if youd perfer, I could get a hotel-"

"Hell no!" Mark says quickly pawing Jack back toward him as he trys to shimmy away.

"You're stuck now!" Mark states it playfully, but he's more than willing to battle for it. Jack grins, no longer attempting to squirm away.

"If you insist." He tries to nonchalantly state, but melts against Mark's body in the form of a hug. Mark latches his arms around the thinner man with ease, closing his eyes and allowing the moment to sink in. He's really here. Jack takes the moment to release any pent up anxiety over this reunion, seeing as it went pretty good, even despite Brittany briefly crashing the moment.

The two squeeze one another for a long moment, both satisfying long ignored desires with the innocent act. Jack closes his eyes, backing himself away in order to compose himself a bit, but Mark seems hesitant to let go.

"I really missed you." Mark quietly admits past the saddest looking smirk Jack had ever seen. Jack pats his cheek gently, earning Mark's previously downcast eyes.

"Well now there's no need to miss me!" He chirps, easily brightening the smile on Mark's face. With that, Mark releases Jack bravely, insuring himself that no bad could come of it.

A moment of silence passes as Jack idly strolls about the livingroom, his eyes roaming about the walls he's only been seening through the face chat camera for a little over 2 years, and handing out good natured pats to Chica as she goes about her own business. Mark watches him as he does this, mutely appreciating the action as if it were a work of art. Having been caught in his curious examination, Jack sends a smile at Mark, which is easily returned without hesitation.

"So, since you're here, you have the choice of the couch or the bed." Mark teases slightly, leaning forward on the back of the sofa between him and Jack.

"Don't be dumb," Jack starts, stepping in front of Mark, leaning foward himself, still careful of the couch between them.

"I think we both know what I'm going to pick." He teases, his eyes closing effortlessly as he places his forehead softly against Mark's.

Mark's lips fight a smile as his eyes bounce down to Jack's lips only a breath away. Just as he's about to closes the distance, Jack pulls away and flops into the couch with a playful grin.

"The couch, obviously." He giggles, to which Mark raises an eyebrow, having briefly been distracted from the conversation. Mark flicks his head to the side in a lazy shrug.

"As you wish." He says, standing himself upright, catching sight of Jack's displeased look in the corner of his eye, before climbing over the back of the couch and planting himself eagerly ontop of him.

"I'm sure we'll be comfortable no matter where we sleep." He responds to Jack's prank with his own lighthearted jokes. Chuckling, the Irishman wraps his arms around his broad shoulders and allows himself to enjoy the contact he's been craving oh so desperately.

"So, Mr. Vacation," Mark interrupts the quiet as he mumbles against Jack's chest, "What do you have planned?" He asks, lifting his head to meet a set of content blue eyes with his own.

"Do I need a plan?" He dreamily responds, pushing curly hair away from Mark's face. A chuckle falls from Mark, bouncing between the two men as it erupts from his chest. He shifts slightly so that he may better see Jack's face as he rests his chin in his hand.

"I suppose not." He states thoughtfully, not removing his steadfast gaze into the eyes he's grown to love. Undeniable and undimming smiles are plastered on both faces as they share a moment of content silence.

Nothing but this matters right now, so the two are able to momentarily forget the lingering clouds that hung above them only a few hours ago. The only thing that interrupts this bliss, is a sleepy yawn from Jack.

"Jet lagged?" Mark questions, gently, to which Jack shakes his head at in initial denial, though, upon seeing the disbelief in Mark's expression, he sighs slightly.

"Just a little." He admits softly, starting to admit how comfortable he is. Smirking, Mark reclaims his resting place on Jack's chest.

"Then let's get 'just a little' rest." He offers, closing his eyes to better hear the sound of Jack's heart beating. Jack nods softly in agreement, his own eyes drifting easily closed.