TITLE: REVELATIONS 6: THE GIFT

SUMMARY: "As the bond between Stark and Crichton deepens, Aeryn contemplates the unthinkable."

Rated: PG-13.

SEQUEL to "MERGIING".

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

Comments to: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

"THE GIFT"
A "Farscape" slash story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

They were in Stark's quarters. The converted cell turned into a semblance of living quarters. Crichton was standing just inside the door, trying to understand what was happening. Where this path was leading. Stark had been sitting quietly, meditating. He stood and walked over to Crichton. "You think in terms of bodily sensations not in terms of mental stimulus."

"Are you saying you'd rather fuck with my mind?"

Stark touched his face gently, a hand cradling his cheek as he looked deep into his eyes. Surprised by the tinge of hurt he found there. His thumb gently brushed his cheek as if it would wipe the hurt away. "No. I'm saying why not have both."

"Both?"

He nodded. Crichton's thoughts becoming a blur, hearing his words but distracted by his touch.

"Yes." Stark kissed him slowly, lips trailing across his face but not touching his lips. "I want to love you John, not just in the physical sense. I want to love you without limits. *If* you can stand it."

Crichton looked at him for a microt, trying to bring his thoughts back into focus. "If I can stand it? What does that mean? Why wouldn't I be able to stand it?"

That was when it happened. Stark entered his mind in a beaufitul rush, touching off thoughts and emotions and playing every instrument in Crichton's orchestra producing a harmony of sensations, images and feelings that rocked him and almost brought him to orgasm then and there. He caught his breath and shuddered, hardening so quickly he felt as though he could bore through solid rock. <Fuck>

"If you insist."

He took a step back. Things were moving way too fast. "Hold on, Stark. What the *hell* was that?"

Stark smiled slowly. "A choice. An invitation." He paused, his voice so soft that it mimicked the flickering breath in his heart. "The future, *if* that is what you desire."

Oh yeah, he wanted it alright but he also wanted to understand. Not just simply lose himself in mindless erotica. Whether it was his buddy Stark in the driving seat or not. Any blind probakto could do that. Stark's smile was inward, spreading as his mind burst with unfolding joy. He loved Crichton's mind so much. The way he liked to reason things out. It had a grace that he found subtle and intoxicating. "Tell me what you want."

Crichton looked at him, thoughts twinning with desires. Words made flesh. Thoughts becoming actions as he leaned in to steal a kiss, lips lingering on Stark's, tongue gently flicking in and out of his mouth, toying with him, tasting his sweetness. He knew what he wanted. Knew Stark could deny him nothing. He did not know how he knew, he just did. He slowly deepened his kiss. Somehow he had always known.

* * * * *

Zhaan followed Stark down the corridor. She wanted to see him alone. Several solar days had passed and she was getting more and more unsettled. "What are you doing with John?"

He stopped walking and turned to look at her. No one else was around. "I'm not *doing* anything with him, Zhaan."

"John is my friend. I do not want to see him hurt."

"I would never hurt him." Said Stark gently.

"Not intentionally, no."

"Not even unintentionally."

Zhaan tilted her head. "Can you do that? Guarantee you will not hurt him by accident?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Whatever game you are playing with him I want you to stop."

"It's no game."

Her eyes widened slightly. Lips tight. "Explain."

"I have feelings for him."

She nodded. "Yes. Feelings he cannot possibly comprehend."

"Yet."

She raised her eyebrows.

"He loves Aeryn." Said Stark softly.

"I know."

"Aeryn loves him."

Zhaan frowned slightly. "Your point?"

"Would you describe such intimate details with any other?"

She started to shake her head then froze. "You didn't?"

"He needed me, Zhaan."

"So you took advantage."

He shook his head. "No. I never initiated anything."

"Are you saying John did?"

"You should have seen him when he came out of the chair, Zhaan. He was falling apart. I tried to ignore him, force myself not to care. Not to help him. But I couldn't. He needed me."

She looked at him and her voice became quiet. "And does he need you now?"

Stark nodded but said nothing. The Delvian priestess thought about what he had told her and what it meant. "It will have to stop. He should be with Aeryn."

"You don't understand."

Zhaan looked at him for a moment, insight suddenly blinding her. "It isn't John, is it? It's you. You love him."

He nodded. "I never meant to let it happen."

"You cannot allow this, Stark. Humans are fragile."

"He is stronger than you think."

"And more fragile than you think." She paused a microt. "Have you mind linked?"

He nodded.

"What about the rest?"

"He hasn't seen it all, Zhaan." He hesitated just a fraction. "Aeryn knows that we have joined. We merged."

Zhaan was surprised. Then she sighed, her voice becoming gentle. "He is very loyal."

"I know."

"If you allow this to continue he will not be able to give you up, you know that. Any other future could be ruined."

His heart ached at the thought. He shook his head gently. "I wouldn't let that happen."

"It will happen whether you want it to or not. Listen to me. I am a tenth level Pa'au. You are taking him to levels of experience which will change him forever."

"Do you think I have not thought about this, Zhaan? The risks..."

"Are all on his side," She said quietly.

<Not just his side> thought Stark.

"You could ruin any future he might have with Aeryn." She paused and considered him for a moment. His quandry. "What about when the time comes for you to leave?"

"I will ask him to come with me."

She was shocked. He could not be serious but one look at his face told her he was. "You will be outcast!"

He shrugged. "I've been outcast before."

"But this will be your own people."

"I will be with John. That's all that matters."

Zhaan's voice dropped even softer. "And when he dies?"

"I will follow him."

She felt tears prick her eyes. Baniks lived many cycles beyond that of humans. "You love him that much?" She whispered partly in awe.

Stark nodded. He could not help himself. It had been a long time since he had bonded with anyone. To a Banik sex was not bonding. Sex was a physical function like exercising a muscle or eating. It kept the body in shape. It did not necessarily touch the soul or evolve the spirit and mind. To connect on all levels was true bonding, the merging of soul to soul, spirit to spirit, heart to heart. A gift that would last all the seasons of the heart. Since his mate had been lost he had not sought another. Did not think his heart could fashion another place to be filled with that depth of love, joining, caring. It was rare for a Banik to merge so completely with another outside his own species. Especially when the lifebond had been forged with another. Not even death could break it yet this gentle human had accomplished what a thousand other species could not. A way through the
closed walls of Stark's heart. Zhaan knew, she had come closer than most. She counted those moments precious still. She sighed. "Does John know?"

"He knows I love him but not how much."

"And Aeryn?"

He nodded. Zhaan was stunned. Realised there was little she could do or say. She could only trust Stark to know where to draw the line. That was if it was an option any longer. Crichton was far from the simple soul he had been taken for when he was first brought aboard Moya. He could yet teach them things which would surprise them. "I hope you know what you are doing, Stark."

"I do."

"Just be careful." She reached out and touched his cheek gently, not wanting to see him hurt either. "I don't want to lose any of you."

* * * * *

D'Argo was distracted. He had been putting this off. Did not want any confrontation with Chiana or Jothee but he could not see how it could be avoided. He felt angry, betrayed, and so disappointed and hurt that his hearts ached. He thought long and hard about how to approach the situation and decided to speak to Chiana first. Part of him quailed inside at the thought of asking Jothee what he thought he was doing. He had been reunited with his son for such a short time. This was not likely to make the ties between father and son stronger. Chiana was not in her room or his. "Pilot, can you give me the location of Chiana?"

"She is on Tier 7."

He was about to start making his way when he had a sudden thought. "Is she alone, Pilot?"

"Yes.....and no."

D'Argo frowned, annoyed at his imprecision. "What do you mean yes and no?"

"I mean, I *think* she is with someone but Moya says it is one lifesign then two. It keeps changing. I do not understand."

He shut his eyes, realising what it meant. "It's alright Pilot, I think I do."

D'Argo slumped in a chair and leaned his head on his hands. It could only mean one thing, Jothee was with her.

* * * * *

Aeryn was doing some heavy duty thinking. Wondering where the hezmana this latest turn of events left her. She loved Crichton. Knew he loved her. She could even confess to starting to have feelings of affection for Stark, but his connection to Crichton was something else. It was completely outside the scope of her experience. There was no framework for what she sensed and witnessed between them. Even though she had never been excluded their growing intimacy seemed to be forming a natural barrier. Something strong but subtle and totally alien. The love she felt from Crichton was still there but it was beginning to feel more remote, its' importance slipping down the hierachy of emotional need as he turned more and more to Stark for everything. It was so odd. As if she could have him but he would never be fully there, never hers. A part of him would always belong to Stark. Perhaps the better part of him.

She did not like it but did not know what to do. She could not even blame Stark. They had entered this with their eyes wide open. She had been there, seen how Crichton acted around him, the way he initiated contact with Stark and coaxed him into increasingly exotic forms of sexual union. It was not lust exactly although there was definitely an element of that. She was
not sure what it was but gradually she had the suspicion that it was not entirely wholesome. Then Stark would look at her and she would find herself being included, seduced into their love making, the boundaries expanding so that she would not be left alone on the outside. When that happened all reason would desert her. She had once told Crichton that she would not be a
slave to his hormones but that was exactly what had happened. It felt strange at first but she had accepted it eagerly, celebrated as they had done as her consciousness had expanded to include both Crichton and Stark. Now that she was removed from them her memories shocked her, the way she had entered so freely into this relationship that was forming before her very eyes. On one level it was so beautiful it made her want to cry. On another it was almost grotesque. Like watching healthy cells mutate and multiply. She was reluctant to act until she knew exactly what it was she was seeing.

She stood for arns lost in thought. Wondering what to do. Some instinct telling her that if she was going to act she should do so now but she could not bring herself to interfere. She loved him, she really did, and if this was what he wanted to do, what he needed, who was she to stand in his way? That was what love was all about, wasn't it? Knowing when to hang on for
grim death and when to love enough to let go...

* * * * * THE END* * * * *