TITLE: "THE JAWS OF DEATH"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: JOHN/CRAIS

RATING: NC-17. M/M. *SLASH*

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

The usual discalimers apply. No infringement of copyright is intended.

"THE JAWS OF DEATH"
A "Farscape" slash story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL
* * * * *

It was cold and dark and the echoing silence was malevolent, cursing him in sibilant whispers that drank his blood and sapped him of strength. He was dying and the darkness rejoiced waiting to claim him. Or so it seemed. He could feel himself getting weaker. Struggled to fight back, to
care. All he could feel was his own black dispair sucking him down. The remembrance of how Crais had betrayed him into the hands of his enemy hurt him most of all. It haunted him. Hurt him more than the trials of the flesh this trial of the heart. Funny how even broken the pieces could twist in his soul and hurt him. If he died here, now, he would be glad. Beyond the reach of
even Scorpius. Surely then he would find peace.

The greedy hands of oblivion reached for him, pulled him with obsequious hands that would promise him anything if he would let go of the last vestiges of life to which he so precariously clung. Instinct making him cling on long after his heart had given up. Oblivion pulled, tugged, dragged on his dead weight. Drawing him further and further, deeper and deeper, into a darkness
that lived and breathed and devoured. Distant sounds lay in a muffled tympanal against the vibrating membrane of his inner ear. Phantom hands touched him, raised him up. Echoes of past friends spoke lovingly to him and told him he was cared for. Lies. All lies. Crais had taught him
that. He would rather have a faithful enemy than a faithless friend. What did it matter? It was only his heart. So when the phantom hands solidified he struggled against them. Rage replacing strength, tears the currency of the hopelessness of his situation. Even in death they would not let him find peace.

* * * * *

The plan surprised them all. First, because it was a good plan. Second, because it worked. Maybe it was the clinical precision of the biomechanoids in whom they had placed all their hopes. Or maybe luck was simply with them. They did not know and did not care.

Scorpius viewed the pod with dark suspicion suspecting a trap. Or. A bomb. He had left it out there, hanging in space where it could mock him. Drawing his attention away from the continued torture of the fragile human. The half-Scarran had the pod subjected to every test he could think
of but they found nothing. No lifesigns, no unusual energy traces. If empty vessels made the most sound this one must surely drown out everything else in the Uncharted Territories. Yet he still sensed a trap. He had the vessel blasted stopping just short of its' outright destruction. Enough to
force anyone hiding in it to either fight or take flight. Enough to detonate any bomb they had hidden within in. Nothing happened. It smouldered, the charred remains still hanging there in mute silence taunting his eye and calling him a coward. Scorpius sneered in anger. He could have left it there. *Should* have left it there. Curiousity prompted him. He wanted to know what it was and why it was there. He knew it was a transport pod from Moya but the leviathan had gone. At least that was what his ship's sensors told him. But he believed nothing where Crichton was concerned. The human was far too intelligent and ingenious. What if some of that had rubbed off
on his friends? So he was cautious. Wary to the point of walking backwards yet still he did not destroy it.

At last he had it brought on board, had a small army of techs go over it with a fine tooth comb. All they found were a couple of decommissioned DRDs. Perhaps someone had been attempting to flee the leviathan for purposes of their own? But why leave the pod drifting in space? Or was it a diversion? His head jerked up, his eyes glittered. Of course. This was meant to keep him busy while they did something else, but what? He turned and walked briskly back into command. Telling his crew to waste no more time on the pod. To do a few more cursory scans then eject it into space where it could then be blown to smithereens. A smile distorted the features of his death's head mask thinking he had outwitted them. He ordered the ship's sensors to look for anything however innocuous. Prepared their weapons and readied the dampening net. Then he sat like a master chess player and waited. Oh yes. He was nothing if not patient.

In the cargo bay, most of the Peace Keepers had already gone back to their posts. The last of the tech crews climbed out of the pod and shook their heads at each other. Nothing. They looked over the lump of metal one last time then left it. As soon as the last techie had gone Moya reactivated the DRDs. In a quiet little army they rolled out, splitting up and taking off in different directions without any conversation passing between them. Each knew what they had to do. An arn later and the pod was jettisoned. When it was a couple of hundred metras from the command carrier Scorpius had it blown up, his eye only half watching the brief shower of debris that was
all that was left of the transport pod. He was looking for something else. Something to happen to explain this diversion. When nothing did he felt a keen disappointment. Had he thwarted their plans by destroying the pod? Unwilling to let down his guard so easily he remained on command and had the scan widened. They were out there, he could smell them.

* * * * *

He felt the pain embrace him and for the first time in his life embraced it back. He had taken a new lover. Darker, more seductive than the pale shallow arms of the living. It was bliss to finally let go. Relief to give up the struggle. The darkness brooded before absorbing him. Like a creeping sickness swallowing his soul and numbing him of care. The pain that he welcomed left him in the arms of another and he accepted it. Did not struggle even in token. Nothing mattered any more. Therefore let him become nothing too. It was only fitting...

* * * * *

When the DRDs rolled out of the transport pod Blue was with them. He was concerned about his human friend and this made Zhaan warm to the little droid even more. His concern convincing her that he was the one to entrust with a different mission. While the others carried the melar gas, Blue carried something less deadly but even more precious. The Delvian was worried about Crichton's condition. He looked even worse than last time and she did not know how much longer he could hold on.

Zhaan fitted Blue with a range of preparations to help Crichton and to stablise his condition until they could get him back aboard Moya. She also included a strong painkiller in one syringe and powerful stimulants in another. She did not want to have to use the stimulants but from what she
had seen he did not seem able to move under his own volition. Had he been conscious she would not have been so worried. So much depended upon moving in, getting Crichton and then getting out as quickly as possible before the effects of the gas wore off.

The DRDs were now in position. Blue waited near Crichton's cell, letting another DRD roll passed him and take up position in the shadows opposite the door. If anyone came down the corridor they would not be seen. At least, not until it was too late.

Back on board Moya, Pilot informed the others that the DRDs were in place. D'Argo wanted to starburst in there right then and there but Zhaan impressed on him the need for timing. It would be crucial to the success of their mission and Crichton's survival. He nodded but did not speak.
Zhaan asked Blue where the guards were. On hearing that there were none near the cell she pondered then decided they could wait no longer. She gave Moya her permission and Moya instructed the DRDs. The melar gas was quick but they would not have much time. For while the melar gas would knock out the Peace Keepers for several arn, Scorpius was half-Scarran. They could count on him reviving in just over half an arn. And that was being optimistic. Moya initiated starburst.

Meanwhile in Crichton's cell the two DRDs from Talyn were trying unsuccessfully to rouse him. No gas had been used near his cell but he was still out cold. Outside the cell door Blue chittered in animated frustration. They stopped what they were doing to listen then got to work opening the door. As soon as they had done so, Blue rolled into the cell and hurried as fast as his little servos would take him over to Crichton. By now the transport pod had landed on the carrier. Zhaan watched Blue as he rolled up close to the prone human, little mournful beeps and whirs telling
her that he was worried too. Zhaan gave him instructions and his arm extended with a special hypodermic mounted on it. Carefully he got as close to Crichton as he could and inserted the needle into the side of his neck exactly where Zhaan instructed. He pumped in the entire contents of the syringe then withdrew the needle and waved his lightstalks at the human. For a microt
nothing happened, then the human jerked violently. Blue rolled back, lightstalks moving more eratically now. Worried in case he had given the human too much stimulant.

Groggy and dazed with pain, Crichton opened his eyes. Blue emitted a frenzied burst of clicks and beeps, his little motor in danger of overheating as he rolled back and forth in excitement. Zhaan admonished him and he immediately fell silent. Crichton was having trouble with his focus, not to mention every muscle in his body spasming independently of any other stimulii. He was in a lot of pain but slowly the pain was clearing his head. <Welcome to my frelling nightmare>

"I'm sorry, John. I had to use a stimulant to wake you."

He tried to turn his head, was immediately sorry as new waves of pain hit him followed by an intense desire to be sick. "Zhaan?" He was puzzled. Where was she?

"I'm speaking to you through the DRD, John."

He looked down at the little DRD, his lightstalks trembling, the tape on one of them coming undone and causing the stalk to droop pathetically. Crichton cleared his throat slowly, he was so dry he thought his throat would crack. "Blue?"

The little droid rolled closer, nudging him gently. Crichton laughed softly, his amusement bought with pain as he gently patted the little droid to thank him and assure him that he was alright. His movements clumsy and lacking orientation. Zhaan frowned and watched him anxiously as he tried to get up. He was completely naked but seemed oblivious of the fact. As he stood he swayed dramatically, staggered to the wall and clung on for dear life just to stay upright. "Woah, Zhaan! What the hell did you put in that stimulant?"

"I'm sorry, John, we don't have much time and I had to be sure it would wake you."

He was shaking his head slowly, blinking his eyes. Having trouble with his vision. "Oh yeah, I'm awake Zhaan. Now what do I do about this hezmana sized headache?"

Before she could respond Blue rolled up behind him and stuck a needle in the base of his right ankle. He almost fell over as he jerked instinctively away from the painful jab. "What the hell are you doing to me, Blue?"

Zhaan explained. "It is a painkiller, John. It should start working in a couple of mircrots."

"Damn achilles heel," Muttered Crichton. His voice trailed off then he became serious. "You seem to have thought of everything, Zhaan."

Just then Aeryn and D'Argo rushed into the cell. The relief on Aeryn's face would have made Crichton smile if he had not been feeling so terrible. She hurried over to him and reached out to touch him. Alarmed he raised a hand, the other braced on the wall to keep him upright. "Don't....don't...touch me, Aeryn."

Confused and worried Aeryn automatically put a hand on his arm thinking he was injured. "I don't understand, John. Are you hurt?"

Crichton closed his eyes and groaned, trembling as he ejaculated in an uncontrollable spasm at her touch. Areyn looked shocked. D'Argo did not know what to say. Crichton was upset, embarrassed and getting more and more distraught. He hated this. "Frell, frell, frell!" His eyes opened, red-rimmed and sore, his cheeks sunken and darkened with lack of sleep. "I told you *not* to touch me, Aeryn. I can't *stand* this."

Aeryn looked stunned. Upset to see tears in his eyes, pain staring back at her where she had expected to see relief. Bitter sorrow in his voice instead of warmth or humour. What the hezmana had Scorpius done to him? D'Argo recovered first, picked up the blanket and placing it around
Crichton's shoulders. He frowned in a daze at D'Argo then looked down and saw that he was naked. "Oh God, where are my clothes?"

"It is nothing, John, we must go. There is no time to be embarrassed."

"Who's embarrassed?" Mumbled Crichton on the verge of passing out again.


A look passed between D'Argo and Aeryn. D'Argo looked back at Crichton just in time to catch him as he fell. Aeryn was anxious but they had him now. That was all that mattered. Quickly they left the cell, Blue and the other DRD's joining in the rapid retreat back to the transport pod. Once on board, D'Argo gently settled the unconscious human down while Aeryn prepared to take off again. Blue beeped and chittered loudly causing Aeryn to pause. Zhaan's voice carried clearly from the little speaker fitted into the DRD. "Aeryn, wait, the rest of the DRDs are coming!"

Aeryn wanted to swear, to say *to frell with the DRDs*, but she could not. Without the DRDs Crichton would still be a prisoner. So she held her tongue and nodded. Praying they would hurry. Within microts all the DRDs had boarded and Aeryn lost no time in taking off. She was pleased to see Talyn nearby, his guns turned on the Command Carrier to cover their retreat and protect them should Scorpius recover before they could make it back to Moya. For the first time in a long time everything seemed to be going right...

* * * * *

Crichton slept for three solar days solid. Zhaan watching over him and stopping anyone from disturbing his sleep. Aeryn was angry. Annoyed. But when she saw Zhaan turning everyone away including D'Argo she relaxed. Recalled how exhausted he had looked when they found him, the pain in his eyes, the distress. She bit her lip and realised that the Delvian was right. They used the time to put as much distance as they could between themselves and Scorpius. Talyn stayed with them, Moya renewing her ties with her son. Crais quiet and oddly subdued. He seemed to avoid the infirmary though Aeryn could sense his concern. Most of the time he remained aboard Talyn excusing himself from any attempts by the crew of Moya to get him to relax and spend more time with them. Talyn had been through so much, he would say. And truth to tell, they were relieved not to have to find small talk they could exchange with him. Too much of the past they had spent as enemies. And D'Argo neither forgave nor forgot. Instead he obeyed a wary truce but kept his own counsel.

At last Crichton woke. Aeryn was sitting dozing by the side of the bed. Zhaan was over by her work bench mixing some jinka paste with ola leaves and chandek root. She caught the tiny tell tale movement and looked at him with a smile. The terrible haunted look had left his eyes but the pain was still there. Not physical this time but deeper. Less easy to heal. She joined him. "How do you feel?"

"As if I've been run over by a truck then fired into the sun." His eye strayed to Aeryn and his look softened. A hand unconsciously reached out and touched the dark waterfall of hair that hung loose and resplendent like a dark glossy mantle to cloak her austere beauty.

His light touch woke her. A smile that could have shamed the sun broke out on her face. "John! You're awake?"

Her words amused him. "Well, yeah, Aeryn I'm awake. Which is more than can be said for you, sunshine."

She started to apologise, flustered. He laughed. She froze. The mere sound of his voice brought tears to her eyes. She had thought she might never hear him laugh again.

"Hey, hey, it's alright Aeryn." He said softly, sorry to have upset her.

She shook her head, the tears scattering from her eyes and running for cover as she got hold of herself. "I'm just pleased to see you awake."

His eyes became serious. Regarding her intently as his fingers moved through her hair, loving the feel of it. Like the finest silk. Perfect raiment for his dark angel. "That bad, huh?"

She nodded, her look gentle. "Yes. We thought we'd lost you."

He gave a little self deprecating shrug and looked at her sideways on, his grin matching the tilt of his head like a jouster at a tourney. "You know me, Aeryn. I'm like a bad penny, I always turn up."

Aeryn did not know what the frell he was talking about and did not care. Zhaan touched Crichton's brow to check his temperature. He leaned back on the pillow and watched her check him over. When she finished she smiled at him.

"I never said thanks, Zhaan."

"What for, John?"

"For everything." He looked at Aeryn. "I want to thank you all. I was about ready to give up."

Aeryn did not say anything, the thought of him giving up doing things to her insides that made her want to cry. But he was safe now. He was himself again. Except for that haunted look in his eyes. That little dead centre that exposed itself every time some deep pained touched him. She
hated Scorpius for what he had done to Crichton. Hated him for what he had put the rest of them through.

"You are welcome." Zhaan was saying. Brushing off Crichton's attempts to thank them.

Aeryn smiled. "Talyn and Crais helped as well."

Something in his eyes clouded briefly. "They're here?"

Zhaan nodded. "Moya is happy to be with Talyn again."

Crichton sat up, a determined look solidifying in his eyes. "I want to see Crais. Thank Talyn."

"There's no rush." Said Aeryn as he made to get up. "You've only just wakened."

"Aeryn's right, John. Why don't you let me get Crais and you can speak to him here?"

He shook his head. That would not do. Not for what he had in mind. Instead he looked around the room. "Where are my clothes, Zhaan?"

When neither of the women spoke he frowned a little. "Do I have to get up and get them myself?"

The words were mildly spoken but there was an edge they were not used to hearing. Aeryn swallowed, uncomfortable. "I'll get them for you but are you sure you want to do this now? It is late into the sleep cycle."

"No time like the present, Aeryn."

Aeryn left to get his clothes. While she was gone Chiana and D'Argo looked in, both happy to see him and making him feel better. Zhaan must have had Pilot notify them the moment he woke up. They left as Rygel came in, the Hynerian Dominar giving him a rare benign look. "Do you know how much trouble you caused us, Crichton?"

He grinned. "Suppose you tell me, buckwheat?"

Rygel sighed and eased his thronesled closer. Looked at the human for a moment. "You wouldn't last a cycle on my homeworld."

"And my homeworld wouldn't last a cycle with you on it."

The Dominar made a face. "What the yotz is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you'd eat our species out of house and home."

"Very funny." Murmured Rygel.

He chuckled and was relieved to see Aeryn come into the infirmary with his clothes. "Now guys if you don't mind I'd like to get dressed."

"It's the middle of the sleep cycle!"

He grinned at Rygel. "Exactly."

Rygel shook his head and started to go. "It's like I always said, you are completely fahrbot."

"I know Rygel, and I Iove you too!"

With a disgusted hrrumph Rygel left. Aeryn grinned at Crichton.

"You too!" He added.

She frowned. "I've already seen you naked."

"Once is for free after that you have to pay to see this boy skinny dipping."

That amused Aeryn. "I'll go then. I don't think I have small enough tender for that."

Aeryn came back when he had dressed. Surprised to see he had his pulse gun in his holster and his long black Peace Keeper coat on. "John, we are only going over to Talyn. You look dressed for a journey."

In a way it was a journey but Aeryn did not need to know that. "It's okay Aeryn, just don't want to catch my death of cold."

"And the gun, that will keep the cold away?"

"No, but Winona'll keep me warn."

She shook her head. Rygel was right. He was completely fahrbot. Zhaan advised him not to stay up too long. A short visit then he needed to rest. He nodded and was not surprised when Aeryn fell into step beside him. He paused in the corridor. "It's alright Aeryn, I think I can do this by
myself."

"I know you can, I just want to come with you."

He did not have an answer to that so he just nodded. They walked in silence to where Talyn was berthed. Aeryn had Moya announce their presence to Talyn. His door opened immediately, Crais standing just inside the leviathan. If Aeryn did not know better she would have sworn he looked
nervous. Crichton's hands hung loosely at his sides. "Crais."

"Talyn and I are pleased to see you have recovered, John."

He nodded. "I wanted to thank Talyn for coming after me."

Crais said nothing but watched Crichton step inside the ship, Aeryn beside him. A slightly puzzled look on her face. She turned her head to look at Crichton's profile as the door closed behind them. It was as if he had forgotten she was there, his eyes fixed on Crais, boring holes in
him. "I can't believe you betrayed me, Crais." He said. "I trusted you."

Aeryn frowned. She had trusted Crais too, been so furious at his apparent betrayal that she had been ready to kill him herself. But she had calmed down since then. Heard his story and believed that he really had been left no choice by Scorpius. The fact that he and Talyn had stayed to help
had attested to that being the case. She could understand Crichton's anger. His need to clear the air.

"I'm sorry...."

Crichton frowned and took a step towards Crais. "Sorry?"

Aeryn noticed he had his pulse gun in hand. Frell. What was he doing? The gun was pointed at Crais. "You're sorry?" He asked softly.

"Yes. Scorpius left me little choice."

Crichton's voice rose with pain and anger. "He *tortured* me, Bialar!"

She was surprised to hear him call Crais by his first name. In all the years she had known Crais, served with him, she had never heard anyone call him by his first name. The words made Crais flinch.

"If there had been another way I would have taken it, John. Believe me."

The human stopped and looked at him, his expression hard, uncompromising. "Why in the hell should I *ever* trust you again, Crais?"

Crais fell silent. Watched as Crichton aimed the gun.

"I should kill you for what you've done."

Aeryn did not blame him for being angry but knew he would not pull the trigger. Not on an unarmed man. A man who was now their ally. She was shocked when the gun went off hitting Crais in the left shoulder making him stagger. Immediately, Talyn's guns dropped down and pointed at Crichton. He ignored his own danger, his gun still pointed at Crais.

Crais tried to calm the leviathan. "No, Talyn! Don't shoot!"

The leviathan held his fire. Crais was still standing, the injury not as bad as Aeryn had first thought. Little more than a flesh wound. The look in Crichton's eyes however was more disturbing.

"So what did Scorpy offer you, Bialar? Your old job back? Promotion?"

"He wanted you. I could either give you up willingly and save Talyn or he would take you anyway and have Talyn too."

"No contest."

There was pain in Crais's eyes. It flickered once then was locked away. "It wasn't like that..."

Something in Crichton's eyes darkened, the surface shining bright with unshed tears. "It was *exactly* like that."

That was when Crichton fired the second shot. At point blank range.


* * * * *
END