Part Three
See
Part one for disclaimers.
Tom and Julian stood on the bridge. On the
view screen they could see Chakotay’s ship. “He’s going to kill us you
realize.” Julian muttered.
“Only if he manages to do it before we...” He
shrugged meaningfully. “After that he’d understand.”
Janeway hailed the ship, the screen flickered
and the star field changed to show the Captain of the other ship.
“Chakotay.” Tom murmured so softly only Julian
heard him.
“He’s looking good.” His lover murmured back,
as Janeway started demanding a surrender. But Chakotay wasn’t paying attention
to her, he was staring past her to the two figures at the back of the bridge.
The last to men he’d ever figured would sell out to Star Fleet.
“Hello Chakotay.” Julian said with a smile.
“It’s good to see you.”
“We missed you.” Tom added with a slight
leer.
“So you sold me out so I could join you in
prison?” Chakotay growled angrily.
“Hardly, Chakotay.” Tom smiled. “We just
needed a lift home.” Then he turned to look straight at Janeway. “Computer
recognize authorization Gemini Firestorm Gamma.” He said clearly.
“Computer recognize authorization Gemini
Icestorm Delta.” Julian said precisely.
“Authorizations recognized.”
“Computer execute program Gemini alpha.” Tom
ordered.
“Belay that.” Janeway shouted finally finding
her voice.
“Please provide authorization.” The computer
said primly.
“Janeway gamma five beta.”
“Authorization is not recognized.” The
computer said and all the consoles went dark, the only this still functioning
on the bridge was the view screen, that showed a smirking Maquis crew.
“WHAT?”
“Sorry Captain. But I’m afraid that won’t
work for a good hour.” Tom smiled stepping up to the helm nudging Stadi out of
his way. “Computer restore functions to this console authorization Gemini gamma
Paris.” His hands flew over the panel programming presumably a course.
Meanwhile Julian had gathered up the few
phasers on the bridge then headed for Ops, jerking his head to indicate Harry
should move away from his dead station. “Computer bring this station back on
line read-only restriction. Authorization Gemini Delta Bashir.” The panel lit
up.
“Ready to go home?” Tom asked rising from the
once again locked down helm.
Julian nodded moving to stand beside his
lover.
Harry stared. Go home? What the hell did they
mean? Suddenly Julian turned to look at him. “Did you think about what I said?”
Harry nodded mutely. “Do you want to come?”
“I...” Janeway was glaring at him. But
suddenly he knew what he needed to do. “I’m coming.” He said, leaving his
station.
“Ensign, return to your station.” Commander
Cabot snapped.
“I don’t think so.” Harry said, earning a
smile from Julian.
“All right Chakotay.” Tom said. “Voyager’s
weapons are down so if you could drop your shields, we’ll just beam over.”
“Already done Tom.” The Maquis Commander
said.
“Oh and you might want to send that Vulcan of
yours over here, he’s Janeway’s Chief of security.” Julian said.
“Computer execute transporter program Gemini
Beta.” Julian said.
As they dematerialized Janeway stared finally
understanding what she’d been told about them working together.
They rematerialized on the Bridge of the
Maquis ship. Tom and Julian quickly moved to stand behind Chakotay.
“We are sorry Captain.” Julian said.
“But there was no way we were going back to
Auckland.” Tom finished.
Janeway just glared until Chakotay made a
gesture and the connection was cut.
“Welcome back.” Chakotay smiled up at them
and then turned back to his console plotting a course out of the Badlands.
“What’s with the kid?” He asked.
“New recruit.” Julian smiled.
Chakotay glanced up at Tom. “Don’t look at
me. I told him he couldn’t keep this one.”
“He didn’t *listen*” The older man said
simply.
“Does he ever?” Tom grinned. “Anyways, we’re
going to go settle in. I’m assuming no one’s taken over our place? Oh...and
we’ll need somewhere for Harry.”
“No one’s touched your place since you left.
Put him in my quarters, it’s safer for him and I’ll know where he is.” The
Maquis Commander said.
“Safer...really?” Tom said in a soft voice
that only the big man heard.
“So it has other advantages.” Chakotay hissed
back and Tom could swear he almost blushed.
Tom just grinned and turned back to Julian
who was waiting for him with Harry. They headed down to their quarters. After a
few minutes, they stopped. “Here’s where your staying Harry.” Tom said.
“What?” Julian said, double checking exactly
where they were.
“Chakotay wanted to be able to keep an eye on
him.” The pilot shrugged, opening the door.
“We’ll come back in a bit Harry but for now
stay here. At least until we can get you some new clothes.” Julian said
reassuringly.
*****************************************************************************
“What is Chakotay thinking?” Julian hissed
after they’d left Harry.
“Of Harry’s safety and the ship’s safety.”
Tom said. “No one will go after Harry while he’s there and there’s no way he
can turn the ship in from there.”
“Harry’d never...”
“Julian, you’ve known him for three days.”
Tom said, his voice strained.
There was a long moment of silence as they
walked. “Sorry...” Tom said eventually.
“What is it?”
“It was months before you trusted me like
that.” Tom said softly, his eyes downcast.
“Tom...” Julian said, realizing how Tom must
feel. “He could never replace you...it took me longer to trust you since I had
to trust you with so much more. With my heart.”
“Oh.” Tom said softly.
“It’s okay Tom, I understand.” Julian smiled
gently, wrapping an arm around his lover’s waist. “And I should have
understood.”
When they got to their *place*. Tom grinned.
“Exactly how we left it.”
Their place, wasn’t actually quarters, the
quarters on this ship were far to cramped for their liking. So after a
considerable amount of bribery they’d managed to convince Chakotay to let them
convert one of the smallest cargo spaces in to their quarters.
“Chakotay must’ve been in here though.”
Julian commented. “I doubt we made the bed that morning.”
“We never made the bed. It saved time.” Tom
said with a leer.
“On both ends of the day.” Julian added.
“Which left us much more time for more
interesting activities.” Tom said flopping back on the bed.
“Hey you’re wrinkling our nice neat bed.”
“I know wanna help?” Julian just shook his
head in mock exasperation and joined his lover on the formerly neat bed, and
together they proceeded to mess it up further.