TITLE: "HOMECOMING"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: JOHN/STARK

RATING: NC-17

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "PARADOX"

WEBSITE: http://www.carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Crichton is rescued but has a whole lot of adjusting to do. Lt Braca faces Scorpius. Stark has one last trick up his sleeve."

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


"HOMECOMING"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

Aeryn was totally confused. "What in the name of Cholok are you talking about, Zhaan?"

The Delvian P'au inclined her head. "I am talking about John."

"What about him?" Demanded D'Argo.

"Yeah, are you telling us he's come up with a plan? What does he want us to do?"

Zhaan looked at their expectent faces and held back a deep sigh. Why did children always have to be so impatient? Not like her or Stark. "You will just have to trust me."

D'Argo snorted and turned away not wanting her to see the depth of his anger. For a microt his hopes had risen to impossible levels. Now they were dashed again. The disappointment hurt like a physical pain. Chiana saw his face. Sympathised. Yet she was also curious. It was not like Zhaan to announce something this momentus then clam up on them. "Hey, Zhaan?"

"Yes, Chiana?"

"I know you're worried about John as much as we are. If you know something it would help to hear that right now if you know what I mean? We're all getting pretty despressed."

She nodded. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise your expectations but I do think we will know something soon."

"How?"

She hesitated. "I don't know."

Aeryn had been following the conversation sullenly. Irritated with Zhaan and annoyed with herself for emotions she had no control over. Frell Zhaan! Frell Crichton! Her life had been so much simpler when she had been a Peace Keeper. The thought struck a painful blow in the region of her heart. Who was she fooling? If they lost Crichton it would be more than just losing a crew member. It would be losing family. A friend. The mainstay of their existence. He was the gel that held the rest of them together. She would lose the most precious thing in her life. Irreversibly contaminated, that was what she was. Looking back it had been worth every frelling microt and all the madness imbetween. She was not about to give up now. "Zhaan," She said quietly. "Suppose you tell us why you asked Moya to have the landing bay ready and prepare for Star Burst?"

"It's hard to explain, Aeryn."

"Try!"

No one missed the sudden steel in Aeryn's voice. Rygel had the strangest feeling. He slipped out of Command and left them to it. No one seemed to notice except Chiana. Aeryn was fast losing patience with Zhaan. "Well?"

"Aeryn, I have difficulty explaining it to myself. I have carried this piece of John inside me from the time when we shared Unity. I also carry part of Stark's essence. Something is telling me we should be ready to move at a microt's notice. It may be all the time we will have."

D'Argo said nothing but moved over to one of the consoles. Aeryn bit back a sigh and moved to the other one. With no alternatives in sight they might as well go along with Zhaan and see what happened. Chiana watched their faces and left to see where Rygel had gone. When she got to the landing bay she was not surprised to find the Dominar there. She walked over to his thronesled, her voice quiet. "You believe Zhaan then?"

"I don't know what to believe, Chiana."

Back in Command Pilot's image appeared on the clamshell. "Moya is receiving a message from one of the DRDs."

"Pilot," Said D'Argo impatiently. "Don't you think that can wait?"

Pilot's voice hardened slightly. "No, it can not Ka D'Argo. The DRD in question is not transmitting from Moya."

They looked up in shock. Aeryn was the first to recover. "What? Where is it transmitting from?"

Pilot brought up the viewscreen. "There!"

The image of the Command Carrier came up. D'Argo frowned. "Are you saying the DRD is on the Command Carrier?"

Pilot was looking down at his console, he looked up after a microt and stared at them from the clamshell monitor. "Was, Ka D'Argo. The DRD is on some kind of transport. It is heading towards Moya."

"What the frell is going on?" Said Aeryn.

"I do believe," Said Pilot carefully, trying to keep his voice calm. "That the signal is coming from Commander Crichton's module."

D'Argo and Aeryn both started talking at once. Zhaan simply stared at the screen, for once she was lost for words. Pilot increased the magnification and they fell silent. A small craft came into view. D'Argo squinted. "Increase magnification, Pilot."

Pilot put it on maximum and the craft could clearly be seen. It was Crichton's module. Aeryn felt her knees go weak. How the frell had he managed that? "Pilot?"

"Yes, Aeryn."

"Can you scan the module and tell us who is aboard?"

For a microt there was absolute silence then Pilot looked up. His tone was hesitant. "Moya confirms that there are two lifeforms aboard. She is confused."

"Confused?" Said Zhaan.

"Yes. One lifeform is Commander Crichton..."

"And the other?" Asked D'Argo impatiently.

"The other is Stark."

Aeryn and D'Argo exchanged shocked looks. How the frell was that possible? Stark was lying in a statis chamber on board Moya. Zhaan's face fairly shone with joy. Quickly she snapped into action. "Pilot, prepare for the module to land. As soon as it is aboard ask Moya to seal the bay doors and go to immediate Star Burst!"

"Moya is ready, Zotoh Zhaan."

Zhaan, Aeryn and D'Argo hurried to the landing bay to find Rygel and Chiana already waiting behind the blast doors. Rygel spun his thronesled round at the sound of their hurrying footsteps. Chiana could not stay silent. "What is it?"

D'Argo shook his head slightly as if in disbelief. "Pilot says John is returning in his module."

Chiana clapped her hands together. "That's great!"

When no one smiled or cheered back her face fell a little. "That *is* great, right? Why the long faces?"

"The information came from a DRD." Said Aeryn.

Rygel gave Aeryn a knowing look and she remembered him finding the DRD under Crichton's bed. Before she had a chance to question him about it Crichton's module came aboard. Even before it had finished landing the exterior bay doors were closing and the landing bay was repressurising. Aeryn grabbed hold of a stanchion knowing what was coming next. "Find something to hang on to!"

They had only just complied when Moya went to Star Burst.

* * * * *

Crichton felt as if he were floating. He could feel Stark in ways that went beyond anything he had ever experienced before. The Banik's gentle presence swamped him, his touch sparked off emotions that made him want to weep with joy and drown in passion. He did not care whether it was merging or Unity. He just wanted to be as close to Stark as he could get, to hold on to him with everything he had. Love totally consumed him. Stark shifted slightly but Crichton was a lamprey, every slight movement he made just seemed to draw him closer in the human's embrace. He smiled gently, not wanting to hurt him. "John."

Crichton languished kisses on him, holding him in such an intimate embrace that it was doubtful if a hair's breadth could pass between them. "Yeah, Stark?"

"The module will be landing on Moya shortly."

"Mmm, okay."

It seemed he was intent on devouring Stark's left ear. He shuddered as the human slid his tongue inside and tried to prise himself away from him.

"C'mon Stark, stay where it's warm."

"You have to wake, John."

"Don't want to." He mumbled.

He felt warm. Safe. Cossetted. And was getting as randy as hell.

"John," Said Stark a little more forcefully. "The others will be waiting for you."

His words gradually sank in. "Hold on, what are you saying?"

Stark now was able to wriggle back enough to look him in the eye. "The module is about to land on Moya. They will recover your body."

He laughed. "That's a good one Stark, you almost had me then!"

He went to kiss Stark but he put his hand in the way and gently pushed him back. "No, John. You have to reintegrate."

"I have to what?"

"Pull yourself together. Your body has gone into shock."

"I don't understand, I feel fine."

"John. What's the last thing you remember?"

"Holding you. Loving you...."

A faint trace of irritation slipped into Stark's voice. "No, no, no, no! *Before* that?"

He stopped trying to kiss him but his hands were still skimming over his body, absent mindedly touching and stroking him. "Um, I remember Scorpius." He said slowly.

His hands paused. His heart fluttered with remembered pain and fear. Stark did not want him going into total shock. His voice was gentle, his hand brushed Crichton's face. Hoping to chase away the darkest of the shadows that haunted his friend. "John. You escaped from Scorpius."

He looked dazed. "I did? That's a neat trick, Stark. How'd I do that?"

"I'll tell you later," Soothed Stark. He sounded worried. His gentle hands stroked Crichton's hair, petting him, helping him not to lose it completely.

"He tortured me." Said Crichton softly. His voice detached and child-like. "I was dying."

Stark was distressed now. He gently kissed Crichton's cheek. "Sssh, you're safe. Safe."

"Yeah," Said Crichton in a dull voice. "Safe."

Now it was Stark's turn to wrap his arms around his friend. Rocking him gently as he held him. Hoping he had not been pushed too far. The balance was so fine and there was so much at stake.

* * * * *

Lt Braca was shaking. Terror raced through his veins. He could not bear to look at Scorpius. His commander walked slowly round him, an unsettling tactic at best. With his nerves all shot to pieces he almost collapsed in fear. Whatever was holding him upright was a mystery to him.

"What happened to the mask?"

"It...it...it came off."

"I can see that! How?"

He mumbled something and quick as lightening Scorpius struck him in the face. Lt Braca was so surprised he just stared at him. Scorpius leaned in close so that he could feel the heat of the half-breed's breath. He almost gagged on the acrid fumes from his mouth. "Or would you rather we used the Aurora Chair?"

Fear made him faint with panic. He was perspiring heavily. Felt light headed and traumatised. "No, no, sir. That won't be necessary."

A smugness crept into the cultured evil of Scorpius's voice. "I thought not. Now tell me what happened."

"It was Crichton."

A look of alarm spasmed across Scorpius's face to be replaced by anger, dark and dangerous. "Do not *toy* with me, lieutenant. You will not survive the exercise."

"I...I'm not lying, sir. I don't know how but Crichton has the mask now."

Exasperated, Scorpius turned to one of the guards. "Fetch Crichton."

The guard left and picked up a colleague. Scorpius eyed Lt Braca coldly. "I expected more originality from you, lieutenant." He paused for a microt, deep in thought. "Let's just say you are right and Crichton has the mask. What did he do with it and where is he now?"

"He put the mask on."

Scorpius looked mildly surprised. It was hard to tell from his expression whether he thought the lieutenant was lying or hallucinating. "Then what did he do?"

"He...he...left to find his ship, sir."

Just then alarms sounded throughout the Command Carrier. Scorpius hit the com. His Captain's disembodied voice floated back to him. "Sir, the human's module has just taken off! Do you wish us to open fire?"

Scorpius looked at Lt Braca. The man had gone completely white and looked on the verge of collapse. "No Captain. Stand down the alarm."

"Sir?"

"Let the module go."

There was a painful pause before the Captain responded. "Yes, sir."

The klaxons stopped. Scorpius's com went, this time the guards informing him that Crichton's cell was empty. He looked at his lieutenant. "You were telling the truth."

He recalled the guards and when they appeared nodded to his lieutenant. "Assist the good lieutenant to the Aurora Chair. I believe Lt Braca has information for us about how Crichton managed his escape."

Lt Braca felt his courage failing him. Strong arms caught hold of him and half-carried and half-dragged him to the chair. As he was strapped in he closed his eyes, utter misery and panic robbing him of every other thought but his impending death. A residue of light stirred deep within him. Like a drowning man clutching at straws he reached for it. The light seemed to strengthen as he did so, slowly permeating the panic in him and providing a centre of calm. It was odd but peace flowed into him and he started to relax. *Have faith. We promised we would reward you, protect you from harm*. Lt Braca said nothing but opened himself up to the light. He fancied this action pleased them. As the song filtered through him he felt an unquestioning love wash through him and divorce him from the chair. If this was death he would embrace it.

* * * * *

As soon as the blast door opened they rushed in. There was no movement from the module. Heart in her mouth, Zhaan asked D'Argo to open the module. Aeryn hovered a microdench from his shoulder but he did not snap at her to move back. He understood. He would have been just as anxious if it had been Chiana. He popped the canopy and waited impatiently while it hissed back. John Crichton was sitting slumped and buckled into the pilot's seat. He appeared to be unconscious. Gently he undid the helmet and eased it off and for a moment just looked at his friend in stunned silence. Crichton was wearing Stark's mask. How in hezmana it had got there he did not know. Had Scorpius made him wear it? There was no way of knowing. Should he take it off or leave it on? Was it killing his friend or keeping him alive? He did not know and was afraid of making the wrong decision. Crichton's palor was deathly. Aeryn felt her heart miss a beat. This could not be happening. He would not die like this. She would not let him.

Chiana was close to tears and trying hard to hold it all together. Rygel rose in his little hoversled above the heads of the others so he could get a clear look inside. What he saw completely startled him. The others were so intent on manhandling Crichton out of the module that none of them thought to look inside the cockpit. To see how the yotz he had managed to pilot the module back to Moya. But Rygel saw. Rygel knew and he still could not believe it. Gently he eased the thronesled down into the cockpit. His face alight with understanding and more than a little grudging respect. The little lights winked back at him on swaying stalks. His wide slit of a mouth curved upward into a smile. "I don't know how you did it but you brought him home." He said softly. His voice gruff and sounding suspiciously emotional. He looked at what was left of Crichton's control panel. All the covers had been unbolted and removed, wires and circuits exposed to the busy extending arms of the DRDs. The place seemed to be full of them. No. It just seemed that way but he counted at least six of them. A beep behind him made him turn around. Another DRD sat behind the pilot's seat. Was it his imagination or did it look slightly larger than the rest? All the covers that had been taken off the control panel were scattered around him. He looked for all the world like the foreman of a work gang. Rygel chuckled. "In case none of the others think of doing so, I - Dominar Rygel XVI, sovereign of over 6 hundred billion subjects - would like to thank you for bringing Crichton home."

D'Argo carried the unconscious human to Zhaan's apothecary. Everyone but Rygel following him. Quickly Zhaan had him placed on a bed and began to examine him. Aeryn started to undo the strap to Stark's mask. Gently, Zhaan eased Aeryn's hands away, leaving the mask where it was. "The mask will not harm him, Aeryn."

"How can you tell?"

"Stark would never hurt John."

"Stark is lost."

Her words hurt Zhaan but the P'au knew that it had not been Aeryn's intention to do so. "No, Aeryn, Stark is not lost."

Aeryn frowned, was about to question Zhaan further when the Delvian noticed Crichton was not breathing. A flash of alarm went right through her. Aeryn saw her face. "What is it?"

Zhaan could not lie to her. "He isn't breathing."

D'Argo seemed to pale, Chiana was in a panic. "Not breathing? Why the yotz isn't he breathing?"

Zhaan shot Chiana a stern look. "You are not helping Chiana."

"I remember something John told me about humans when we were caught in the flax." Said Aeryn. "If they stop breathing you have to breathe for them or they will die."

"How do we do that?" Asked Zhaan.

"I know." Said Aeryn softly. Zhaan nodded and urged the others to leave. They were reluctant but she was firm. Aeryn took a couple of deep breaths both to steady herself and to inflate her own lungs. Enough for her and Crichton.

Aeryn bent down low to whisper to him. "I'm sorry, but this is as low tech as I can get." Then she straightened and thumped him as hard as she could in the chest.

Alarmed, Zhaan went to pull her away but Aeryn shot her a look that stopped the Delvian P'au in her tracks. Tears stood like shiny prisms in her eyes. Zhaan let her hand drop and watched silently as Aeryn struck him again. She winced but did not interfere. Then Aeryn tilted Crichton's head back and emptied as much of her breath into him as she could from her lungs. She took another deep breath and repeated it. Stunned, Zhaan waited to see what would happen. For a couple of microts they just looked at the grey clammy face of their friend, each praying to whatever God could hear them. Aeryn was about to start all over again when Crichton stirred, coughing and half retching. Quickly they rolled him on to his side as he was sick. Aeryn didn't care. He was alive and that was all that mattered. Through her tears she looked at Zhaan and saw her smiling gently back. Zhaan got a cloth and bowl of cooling water to wipe Crichton's face. He looked terrible. Exhausted and in obvious pain. Zhaan smiled gently at him. "Where do you hurt?"

He could hardly talk. His mouth was so sore and dry and now it tasted like the inside of a festering Budong. "All over." He croaked.

Then he saw Aeryn and the universe simply stopped. Zhaan turned and left them for a few microts ostensibly to mix something paregoric to ease his pain. She surreptitiously watched as Aeryn cradled the unmasked half of his face in her hand, their heads close together. Zhaan felt her heart lift with joy. He might be battered and much the worse for wear but he was alive. He was back. And he would heal.

* * * * *
end