Title: Trace Evidence
By: Fran Holland
Pairing: Gil/Jack (Without a Trace)

Gil watched as Jack knocked on the door. He did not envy his new friend. Telling a family that their child was dead was a horrible ordeal; it made you feel helpless and left a bad taste in your mouth for weeks afterwards. Gil should know, he'd stood in Jack's shoes before.

As Jack disappeared inside of the quiet, little house, Gil's mind wondered. It was funny to him how Jack had rubbed him the wrong way when this case began. He had always hated the FBI. It just seemed to Gil that they always rode in on their white horses to save the day, when in actuality, it was people like Catherine, Nick, Sara and the rest of his team that did all the work. He had just know that Jack Malone was going to try to take control of the investigation and he was pleasantly surprised when Jack let Gil's team do their job without butting in. During the few days that it took to solve the case, Gil and Jack had formed a tentative friendship.

Jack emerging from the house cut Gil's musings short. Gil felt sorry for him. Jack looked wiped out.

When Jack let himself in the car, Gil didn't ask questions. Both men sat in silence for a short time. Jack's hands were gripped around the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white.

Finally, Gil broke the silence; "I don't have to be back in Vegas until tomorrow night. What do you say about going somewhere for a drink, or two?"

Jack looked over at Gil and gave him a tight smile. "Sounds like a plan. It might be more than two though."

"I'll make sure you get home alright." Gil promised. Jack started the car and they drove slowly down the street through the charming little neighborhood. Gil watched the passing houses. You just aren't safe anywhere, he thought.

Jack drove to his office and parked the car. "We'll take a cab." When Gil looked at him strangely, he added, "I'm not risking the Bureau's car, besides, parking's a bitch."

Jack hailed a cab and they both climbed into the back seat. Jack gave the cabdriver an address and it wasn't long before the cab stopped in front of a nice pub with green awnings. Gil insisted on paying for the cab and they entered the quiet bar. Gil was impressed with the place, he thought it looked like what he imagined an Irish pub would look like. He was really happy to see that they had Guiness on tap.

Gil followed Jack to a booth near the back of the room. Jack did what most law enforcement people do and took the side facing the front door. Gil slid into the seat opposite him. Instead of coming out from behind the bar, the bartender called over to them.

"Hey, Malone, what's your mate gonna have?" Jack inclined his head at Gil and Gil said, "Guiness."

"Good man, I like him already." The bartender said with a grin. He poured up two pints and brought them over to the table.

After the bartender went back to the bar, Jack took a long drink and leaned his head back against the booth.

"So, tell me about Sara." He said quietly.

"She's a great CSI, smart, we think alike." Gil said simply.

"Hum. Do you love her?"

"Of course." Gil stated bluntly.

"I just asked because most men in love go on and on about their girlfriends, but you talked about her like she was a friend."

"Well, I do love her." Gil said.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Let's change the subject." Gil was uncomfortable talking about his relationship with Sara.

"Sure. How long have you been in Vegas?"

The conversation flowed after that. Both men talked about their careers and they shared war stories with each other. Gil noticed after a while that Jack kept looking over Gil's shoulder at something. Gil stood up and excused himself to go to the restroom and looked around to see what had caught Jack's attention. The only other people in the bar were two other men sitting at the bar. Gil entered the restroom, took care of business and then walked back towards their booth. Before he sat down, he glanced up at the two men again and noticed that their hands were clasped.

He sat down and picked up his beer. "So, are you homophobic?"

Jack almost choked on the sip of beer he had just taken. "What?"

"I asked if you were homophobic." Gil looked at him blandly.

"Hell no." Jack looked uncomfortable and Gil was intrigued.

"Then why are you staring at the couple at the bar?"

"I'm not staring at anyone."

"You've been staring at them for the last twenty minutes."

"Have not." Jack sound petulant, even to himself.

Gil cocked his head and gave Jack a look that told him he did not believe a word.

"I'm not homophobic." Jack stated again.

Gil raised his eyebrows and waited expectantly. He wasn't disappointed.

"The guy on the right reminds me of someone. Someone I used to..." Jack stopped speaking and stared down into his beer.

"Someone you were interested in?" Gil asked softly.

"I don't know why I told you. It's not like I'm gay or anything. I like women."

"It's okay, Jack. I like women and I like men." Gil was so matter of fact that Jack just stared at him with his mouth gaped open.

"Close your mouth, Jack. It makes you look simple." Gil smirked.

"Let me get this straight. You're bisexual."

"Yes, I believe that is the term used."

"Does anyone on your team know? Aren't you afraid of what people will think? Are you seeing anyone? What about Sara? Does she know?"

"Brass knows. Not really. Just Sara. What about her? No." Gil smiled as he answered each question.

"I've only been with a man once." Jack said without meeting Gil's eyes.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Yeah, I guess. It was different. Intense. It was a long time ago."

"Being with a man is very different. Usually very intense." Gil's voice was low, almost a whisper. Jack finally looked up and met Gil's blue eyes.

Part of Jack's job was reading people and what he read in Gil's eyes made him very nervous. It also made him feel things. Things that made him even more nervous.

Gil sensed Jack's turmoil and remained quiet.

"Do you find me attractive?" Jack blurted out. "I mean, not that I care or anything... I just wondered...."

"I find you very attractive, Jack."

"Oh, well...thanks."

Gil gave Jack his one-sided smile. "Do you want to try an experiment, Jack?"

"Experiment? What do you mean?"

"Let's take a cab back to my hotel, and have a nightcap." Gil said blandly. He took out his wallet and tossed a few bills on the table.

Jack stood also and took out his wallet. "What do you mean by experiment?" He asked again.

"Just wait and see." Gil said innocently.

They sat in the back seat of the cab in silence. Gil wondered if the evening was going to progress like he hoped and Jack wondered what he had gotten himself into.

Jack found Gil attractive. He was drawn to the other man because of his knowledge and tenacity. Traits that reminded Jack of himself. The first and only time he had been with another man had been almost twenty years previously. He had been stationed at Quantico. His partner turned out to be a few years older and had been with the Bureau several years longer than Jack. They had gotten along great and soon were hanging out during their off time. One night they had both had a bit too much to drink and his partner had confessed that he was gay. Jack was shocked and a bit intrigued and he had allowed the older man to give him a blowjob. Jack had reciprocated with a handjob. That was the extent of his sexual experience with a man. His partner had requested a transfer right after their encounter. Jack missed his friend and for months afterwards had masturbated to the mental image of his friend sucking his cock.

The cab pulled up at the hotel and a doorman opened the door for them. Gil stopped at the front desk and ordered a bottle of scotch brought to his room. He then fished his key card out of his pocket and headed to the banks of elevators, confident that Jack would follow.

Jack did follow. Jack still had not said anything, but Gil was hopeful that the other man would relax a bit once they were alone.

Gil woke first. He was lying on his side facing the window and could see sunshine leaking in from the edges of the drapes. He lay there replaying the previous night's events over in his mind and wondered how Jack was going to react this morning.

Gil sensed Jack awaken before Jack moved. Gil's breathing remained slow and steady and he did not turn around. If Jack was embarrassed and wanted to dress and leave without having to face Gil, Gil was going to let him.

Jack's eyes slowly focused on the back of Gil's head and he remembered last night. His breath caught as he remembered the nervousness he had felt, but he relaxed as he remembered the passion that he and Gil had shared. His hand moved to rest on Gil's hip.

Gil smiled to himself and concentrated on keeping his breathing deep and even. He felt Jack's hand start to move up his ribcage. He could control his breathing somewhat, but he could not control his body's reaction to Jack's hand. His cock started to harden and he moaned softly.

He heard Jack chuckle softly and when Jack's hand snaked down to wrap around his cock, he turned towards the other man.

"Morning." Jack said.

"Morning." Gil replied lazily.