TITLE: "SHARING"

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

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "THE JAWS OF DEATH"

WEBSITE: http://www.carlajane50megs.com/Ali00

SUMMARY: "Crichton and Crais come to an understanding. Jothee makes a decision."

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

"SHARING"
A "Farscape" slash story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

The second shot hit him in the other shoulder. Crais dropped to his knees, Aeryn too stunned to move. Her mouth open in horror and disbelief. Crais again commanded Talyn not to fire. She was alarmed. She had never seen Crichton like this. It frightened her. With a jolt she realised Crais was speaking.

"Scorpius said if I gave you up he would not take Talyn. He would call off the pursuit of Moya." He paused and got carefully to his feet. No one helped him. "I am truly sorry, John. I couldn't save you but I could save Talyn, save Moya."

Tears ran down Crichton's face. Ignoring the gun still in his hand, Crais stepped up to him and looked deep into his eyes. Willing him to understand. Crais looked at Aeryn Sun. "Aeryn. Let me have a microt alone with John."

Her shock turned to suspicion. She frowned. "Why? How do I know this is not another lie? A trap?"

Crichton was watching Crais intently. His voice was soft, the anger gone. "It's okay, Aeryn."

She looked at him in surprise. "I don't believe this! He *betrayed* you, handed you over to Scorpius and now you're going to trust him again?"

He looked at her. "I'm just going to listen to him, Aeryn. I won't be long."

There were so many questions she wanted to ask him. So much she wanted to know like how long Crichton had been using Crais's first name? When had he gone from enemy to...friend? There was more going on here but she could not tell what and knew instinctively that neither of the men would tell her. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Thanks, Aeryn."

Her look hardened. "You have two hundred microts."

Crichton shook his head gently. "No Aeryn, I'll call when I'm ready."

She did not like the sound of that. "Perhaps I should stay..."

"No. Trust me Aeryn. I'll call."

Aeryn looked at him then at Crais. Both men seemed upset but for different reasons. She left reluctantly. When she had gone Crais raised his right hand, bit back the pain in his shoulder, and gently touched the tears that glistened on his lover's face. Crichton dropped his gun. Talyn retracted his weapons. He could not stop crying. He had come so close to killing Crais. "I trusted you."

"I know."

The deep voice rumbled sorrowfully as Crais caressed Crichton's cheek. Then he was kissing him. Lips gently brushing away his tears. Crichton put a hand up to Crais's shoulder, gently checking his wounds. Impossibly, he heard humour in Crais's voice. "Lucky you had the pulse gun on such a low power setting."

"I didn't think you noticed."

Crais kissed his lips lightly. "I didn't."

At the surprise surfacing in Crichton's eyes, he chuckled and kissed him again. So deeply and gently that Crichton closed his eyes and lost himself in remembered bliss. As they parted Crichton searched his face, looking for answers, clues to what he was thinking. "Is that why you told Talyn not to shoot?"

He shook his head. "No."

"I could have killed you."

"Then Talyn would have killed you."

"That didn't matter."

Crais nodded. "I know."

A pause. "You bastard, Bialar."

"Scorpius left me only one option, John. I reasoned that if you could not save yourself you would at least want to save your friends."

"When did you get to know me so well?"

Crais chuckled and plied his lips with little featherlight kisses. "The first time I kissed you."

Crichton checked his other shoulder, a frown forming on his face. "We need to get you to Zhaan, let her take a look at you."

He shook his head. "Flesh wounds, nothing to be concerned about."

"Who says I'm concerned? I just don't want blood on the bed sheets."

His lover smiled at him and moved right up against Crichton, his leg sliding between Crichton's, his lips running trails of fire down his neck, along his jaw and teasing his lips. His mouth hung open from a jaw slack with desire. Crichton groaned. "God, Bialar..."

"We don't have much time, John." He murmured.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You're injured." He paused as Crais's tongue slid in his mouth and for a moment neither could speak. His voice was husky when he was able to speak again. "The others will be timing me as it is. They'll think I've killed you, especially Aeryn."

Crais rubbed his crotch up against Crichton making sure he could feel his erection. His voice was dark and velvety like chocolate sending little shudders of pleasure through his body. The electricity between them did all but crackle. It made Crichton shiver inside, his body on fire with want and need and all the wondrous stirrings of lust. Love gave the lust depth. His heart gave it emotion. Crais rocked his hips slowly into him making him groan with deepening desire. "Do you want to tell them or should I?"

* * * * *

He managed quite successfully to avoid the crew. Jothee was nothing if not quiet on his feet when he chose to be. With all the excitement of the rescue no one had given a second thought about him. That was always supposing they had given a first thought. He doubted his absence was even missed and right now that was exactly what he wanted. It had been risky taking the escape pod but with a little creative tinkering he had managed to magnetise it and as Moya had starbursted in to the Command Carrier's position to rescue Crichton he had simply waited, biding his time for his chance. It was risky, it was foolhardy, but it also made him feel more alive than he had since he had been reunited with his father. He thought of Chiana and held back tears. He wanted her but not as a means of punishing his father. Not simply to help her avoid commitment. Masking his ejection from Moya without setting off any alarms had been trickier but he managed it. He waited, for once calm and in control of his own destiny. It was a weird feeling. One that he cherished. When he saw the debris that was all that was left of the transport pod he almost aborted his plan. Then he steeled his hearts and chose the precise time when everyone was most distracted to launch himself and his plan.

The escape pod was tiny, not even a blip on the screen. He drifted, unable to steer or guide the direction, trusting instead to magnetism to do the job for him. As he slowly drifted up to the huge Command Carrier the pod speeded up until with a clang he stuck to the side of the Peace Keeper vessel. His hearts thudding painfully in his chest, expecting at any moment to be discovered and killed. Nothing happened. No one came. No one fired warning shots or investigated the small pod now attached to the skin of the Command Carrier. Jothee sighed with relief. Leaned his head back for a short rest until the leviathan's transport pod took off for the return trip to Moya. Leaving him behind them...

* * * * *

Aeryn was restless. For once the Terrace could not calm her, she was oblivious to the beauty of the stars. Her favourite place on all of Moya had simply become somewhere else she could pace freely. Concern warring with the desire to let Crichton put his own ghosts to rest. She did not know what to do but had given her word. All she could do now was wait and hope they did not kill each other. Frell. What the hezmana had she been thinking, letting Crichton carry a weapon with him? Just because he had been acting sane did not mean he was sane. After all he had been through it would have been a miracle if he had been. She wondered whether she should tell D'Argo then immediately dismissed the idea. It she told him he would be as likely to side with Crichton and say good riddance to Crais. She would get no help, no wise counsel, from the Luxan. In fact the rest of the crew would probably agree with him except perhaps Zhaan. Should she go to the Delvian? The thought of going to Zhaan to ask for help with Crichton set her teeth on edge. Over her frelling dead body. In the end Mohammed did not have to go to the mountain. The mountain came to Mohammed.

She was happy to see him. Upright, alive and in one piece. The smile on her face was a supernova lighting up every square dench of his universe. His heart ached with joy just to look at her. She was surprised and relieved to see that Crais was with him, alive and seemingly not about to die on the spot. However bad his injuries, she would never know he had any just by looking at him. Crais watched Crichton's face and bit back the surge of jealousy. How could he be bitter, deny him this, when he had seduced him away from Aeryn in the first place? He had known how deep his love for Aeryn ran. She had captured his heart a long time ago while Crais had taught him other, darker pleasures. No less real. No less worthy in the emotional stakes, just not the human's first choice. Besides. He had Talyn.

Aeryn raised a hand to Crichton's cheek, relieved when he did not back off or cry out for her not to touch him. Instead he smiled so gently at her that her eyes filled with tears. Tears that threatened to break free from the glass walls that bound her deepest emotions. "I missed you."

Those three words meant everything to Crichton. He nodded, brushed her lips with his. "I missed you too, sunshine."

Then she was in his arms, kissing him, not caring who saw and who did not. Oblivious to the iron reserve that had kept her strong for so long. Kept her alone and separate and a prisoner of irrational fears. Crichton had changed all that. This one gentle human. This annoyingly wonderful alien. This man of infinite patience and compassion. They broke away slowly and it was Crichton who stepped back, his blue eyes smiling into hers with such tenderness that she thought her heart would break. He cradled her cheek. Wanting to tell her. Wanting her to understand. To keep nothing from her. He rubbed his thumb gently back and forth across her cheek, allowing his lips the luxury of sinking into hers one more time. Crais closed his eyes and tasted Aeryn on his lips, felt the emotion in Crichton as he held her so gently that it made him want to cry. The depths of the man constantly surprised him. As Crichton completed the kiss her eyes opened, surprised. "I felt something."

He was smiling at her. His beautiful blue eyes teasing. "I'd be surprised if you didn't, Aeryn."

"No, not that. Something *else*." She frowned slightly, puzzled.

Crais opened his eyes. He was looking directly at her. Her eyes widened. Crichton noticed and dropped his hand from her face. The absence of his touch a physical pain to her. She was confused. Something between Crichton and Crais. Something she was missing. Crais smiled gently at her, waiting for her to make the connection but she was not quite there yet. He raised a hand and gently brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes a microt, almost feeling Crichton's hand, the touch was so similar. So loving and gentle. A shiver rocked her. Her eyes opened, bright with tears. <Frell. Crichton and Crais? How did that happen?>

"I think we should talk, Aeryn." Said Crichton gently.

"Aboard Talyn would be best." Crais added softly. "More privacy."

"Yes," Agreed Crichton.

"I don't know...I'm not sure...John?" She frowned again. "Crais? I mean....I'm not that naive...I was raised aboard a Peace Keeper vessel after all...."

"Sssh," Said Crais gently, a finger raised to linger on her lips. "Not here, Aeryn. Not now."

She realised what she was saying and nodded numbly. Wondering what they could possibly have to talk about now. Noticing the gentle warmth in Crais's eyes when he looked at her. She had always known he was attracted to her. Had been flattered. Would even have returned his attentions had it not been for Crichton. Crichton. After all this time of keeping the human at bay had her heart melted towards him only to lose him? How hard could it be to let him go? After all, it was not as if he was Sebaccean. Yet the thought of losing him hurt. The thought that they might never come to discover what they meant to each other, to express the fledgling feelings they had been tip-toing around for too long, made her ache deep inside with a longing that shook her cool reserve. Not knowing what to say she said nothing. In a daze she allowed them to guide her from the Terrace to Talyn. The leviathan calming her fears the moment she set foot aboard him.

* * * * *

The silence was deafening. Scorpius was furious. His rage sweeping throughout the silent Command Carrier. He felt sluggish, in danger of overheating. He stirred and wondered what he was doing on the floor of his command. Immediately alert he sprang to his feet then regretted moving so swiftly. He clung to his chair and waited for the microt to pass, his eyes slowly taking in the sight that met his eyes. His crew lay slumped or collapsed over consoles, on the floor, up against the walls, oblivious. Still out cold from the effects of the melar gas. He could not wake them but would have to wait until the gas wore off. He hissed, a deep gutteral non-human sound of grave displeasure and anger. Trying to understand how it had happened. Memories slotted back into place. The transport pod. He had *known* it was a trap. The pod a diversion. He had heard of instances such as these where a smarter group member taught his fellows by example thus raising the intelligence quotient of the group. Yet Moya's crew were not human. The species aboard so varied that no two were the same. Somehow John Crichton had bridged the gap. The chasm between species. He still did not know how he did that. The fugitives had bonded into a kind of sub-species of their own. Family.

Scorpius had never really wanted to hurt the human. Only his curiosity about the new species had led him to experiment, to be more creative with his torture. Now he was not so fussy. Good victims were so hard to find. Now he wanted to hurt him in ways that would have him screaming for death at his hand. First he would have the wormwhole technology. Then he would strip the human's brain, slice by delicious slice, and eat it before his very eyes. He knew without even checking that Crichton would be gone but he had to look. Everything in the cell looked intact, exactly as he had left it except that it was now empty. The lock on the door had not been forced which seemed to indicate Crichton had friends within Scorpius's own crew but that was impossible. Or was it? This was worse than he thought. If there were traitors among his crew he would discover who they were and they would be punished. Though not to within an inch of their lives. First they would be subject to the chair, every piece of damning evidence extracted from them, then he would kill them. Slowly. He was nothing if not merciful.

* * * * *

Zarok was fed up with traipsing all around the Uncharted Territories looking for the leviathan. At last he had Orla enter the co-ordinates for the Peace Keeper Command Carrier hoping the half-Scarran had been blessed with better luck. Then reluctantly he sent the signal that would tell Scorpius he had failed...

* * * * *

In her cell Zhaan was meditating. Her blue robe lying like a soft wave at her feet. Her face was filled with bliss, eyes closed, thoughts embracing the pinpoint of creation where the Goddess, Kah'leen, came into being. Her inward song forming a prayer without beginning or end. Into her open ended thoughts a presence touched her, embracing her with love. Her eyes flew open with wonder and surprise. "Stark?"

She felt him smile, his love a tangible thing that brought tears to her eyes. <Yes, Zhaan, I am here. I am often with you>

She smiled. <Dear Stark, where are you?>

<Not far>

A tiny frown formed. <Is something wrong? Why are you here?>

<To see you. Warn you>

Alarmed she stood up, wrapped her robe around her. <Warn us against what?>

There was an ominous silence. She felt a sadness from Stark so profound that she did not know how he could endure such intensity.

<We have John, Stark> She assured him.

<I know>

<I don't understand. Are we being followed, pursued?>

<No>

<Then what do you want to warn us against?>

He paused. His thoughts soft, trying not to cause her pain. <Each other>

* * * * *

It was strange how something familiar could alter in subtle ways so profound. That was how Aeryn felt with Talyn. She could still connect with him, sense what he was feeling and communicate with him but it was different now. She took her hand away from the inner wall of the hull and looked at the two men. Crichton was smiling gently at her, his hand lightly grazing her cheek, brushing the hair back from her face.

"What is going on, John?"

"I love you, Aeryn."

The words surprised her not because he had actually said them but because he had said them in front of Crias. He gently kissed her then looked for a microt into her eyes. "I also love Crais."

That shook her. Her eyes searched his for the humour but it was absent. He was absolutely serious, she could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch. She was not sure how she felt. "I don't understand this."

Crais gave a single nod. "We want to show you."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Not yet alarmed. "Show me?"

Crichton stroked her cheek then Crais was beside him. "Yes," He said so softly, so lovingly that she could not have uttered a word if she had tried. His lips kissed her other cheek while Crichton watched for her reaction to Crais. Then the human took a single step back, willing Aeryn to watch, to finally understand exactly what it was they were trying to tell her, to show her. Hoping that she would not turn away from him. From them. Words were insufficient to convey all the subtle nuances of the feelings they shared. Crais drew a slow finger down the side of Aeryn's face, smiled gently at her, his low rich words lost to her as she watched the gentle ballet of love that unfolded between Crichton and Crais. An intimacy that left her in complete and utter shock. Yet she could not walk away, could not tear her eyes away from what she was seeing. A part of her brain refusing to function, to absorb, to take in the impact of what was happening.

Letting his hand fall from Aeryn's cheek, Cricton turned his head slightly. Feeling Crais close now, his body heat almost touching then Crais lightly kissed him. No attempt made to hide the emotion in his eyes, the need gently building in him, the love he longed to shower on Crichton and which he wanted nothing more than to have returned in equal measure. The kiss was in slow motion, so gentle, so tender that Aeryn could almost feel it when their lips touched, tongues gently intertwinging. She watched the kiss deepen, the way they touched each other and moved in concert. Nothing hurried, nothing forced. She should have left. They had given her ample time and opportunity but she could not do it. It fascinated her though she did not know why. A shiver went through her as they started to undress each other, lips and hands worshipping each other. In the name of Cholok they were going to make love in front of her! The realisation did not shock her as much as she expected. In fact she was finding herself drawn to them, seeing things in the two men she had not suspected or noticed before. Moved by the complete trust they had placed in her by allowing her to witness their intimacy as if she was invited to be a part of it too. She would never have believed she could be witness to such a beautiful thing.

Crichton could feel his heart fluttering as the last of their clothes were discarded. His heart racing with excitement just knowing that Aeryn was watching. It made him feel so damn horny heightening the sexual experience he was sharing with Crais as they touched each other. They did not go to the bed or use the pod bay but slowly sank to the floor, Crichton flicking a loving glance at Aeryn willing her to sit next to them. It was weird and very erotic. Her breath was becoming thin. She sat. Crais was stroking Crichton now, his erection hardening quickly and beginning to leak. He did not want to do this too quickly, did not want this to just become the rutting season with no thought, no emotion attached to the physical act. Crais understood, read his thoughts so clearly and slowed down, his touch making his partner's breath hitch. Seeing his excitement was rousing Aeryn. Crichton reached out a hand to her, trying not to get too carried away with Crais touching him. He cradled her cheek and leant over to kiss her, trailing his lips over hers, his other hand brushing the front of her leather vest. She captured his mouth and kissed him, her tongue devouring his as her excitement rose. Crichton slid her closer so that the three of them now formed a circle so close that it was getting hard to see where one body ended and the next began.

With his free hand, Crais helped Crichton undress Aeryn. She felt as if her brain had gone on holiday leaving her body to follow whatever urges she chose. Without consequences. Her body was crying out for Crichton, wanted him inside her, loving her, touching her. Now she was aware of Crais, his lips on her ear, his hand cupping a breast. She closed her eyes and moved her legs to not only get more comfortable but also to increase the intimacy with the men. Crichton kissed her brow, his eyes closing, trying to hang on to his control. Aeryn watched his face, loved the look that lit it so gently from the inside out, loved him so much. Crais pulled away from her ear and took his hand away from Crichton's erection, his hand taking Aeryn's. He raised her hand to his lips so that she would look at him, see the love in his eyes for this man whose heart they shared. His unspoken love for her. Then he lowered her hand and put it on Crichton's penis. Her eyes widened slightly. Crichton groaned at her touch. She felt an answering fire and encouraged by Crais she caressed him, Crais's hand still covering hers as if to share the experience. Crais drew his lips down her pale shoulder and teased a nipple before taking it in his mouth and massaging it with his tongue and teeth. Aeryn moaned, feeling moisture pool between her legs. Crais slid his hand into that moist forest and found her ready.

It was mad. It was crazy. It was a tangle so beautiful and erotic. The only sounds were the soft moans and heated pants of their breaths. Murmurings of love from Crichton spurred both Aeryn and Crais on, deepening the experience as they brought each other to orgasm. Taking it in turns to share their pleasures until all three were mutually satisfied. Then impossibly, they lay on the floor, in a warm sated tangle of limbs and looked into each others' eyes, an occasional hand reaching out to touch, to reassure that this was no dream. Aeryn had no idea how long they lay there when Crichton stirred against her. She looked at him, stroked the damp hair that was plastered against his head. "What is it?" She whispered.

He groaned in apology. "I have to pee."

She frowned. "Pee?"

Crais chuckled. "Relieve himself."

He extracted himself reluctantly and they watched him stumble off. Crais brushed a gentle hand over Aeryn's shoulder and teased a finger back and forth over a breast, the nipple hardening at his touch. She noticed his wounds had been treated but they had to be painful. The transparent synth-flesh stopped the bleeding, formed a protective layer to aid the healing process, but the pain... How did he manage to bite back the pain? As if knowing what she was thinking he smiled. "John never meant to kill me, Aeryn. He was angry, wanted me to know *how* angry but he is not a killer."

She nodded numbly and arched slightly. He was still caressing her breast, now he teased the other one and lowered his head to suck on her. She leaned back and closed her eyes, his hips brushing up against her mount. She could feel him hardening against her. Her hand sliding down to reach for him, loving the way his body reacted to her touch. She felt warm, safe. Loved. Why was she letting Crais do this? Why was she stroking him into a fervour? Why did she not want to stop? She did not see Crichton return. He paused to watch the two people he loved most temporarily lost in each other and smiled. Seeing the look on their faces his smile widened and he remained where he was for a microt then quietly came up behind Aeryn. He sat down and put his legs either side of her, brushing back the mane of hair from the right side of her face and wriggling forward so that her back rested against his chest while he kissed her neck. She leaned into him glad of his strength, his warmth, his presence. Her hand still on Crais, his mouth releasing her breast to grin up at him. Crichton licked and nipped her ear, enjoying how she squirmed, Crais now moving on to suckle the other breast. Crichton sliding a hand down to delve into that forest of delights, feeling Aeryn shake beneath his gentle probing fingers as he found the bundle of nerves that shot all her control to pieces as she shuddered so beautifully against his hand.

* * * * *
END