Summary: AU Story. Aeryn and Moya crews look for Crichton after they find out he is a Peacekeeper. Crichton thinks about the change in him.
Disclaimer: I do not on Farscape or it's characters.
Category: Drama/Romance
�Venatar what up,� Crichton said.
�Nothing�just seeing what the best Peacekeeper Captain is up to,� Venatar said.
�I�m not the best,� Crichton said softy.
�Crichton you are a pilot, you can do tech work and command a crew no other Captain can do that�face it you�re one of the best even if you won�t accepted it,� Venatar said.
�Why do I have a feeling this transmission is going somewhere I won�t like,� Crichton said with a smile.
He knew he was a good peacekeeper and that his crew would listen to him no matter what and that gave him a since of pride. He was respected by the older peacekeepers and feared by the young ones. He had made a name for him self and saved Moya and her crew. He'd made it clear he would not fight unless he knew the whole story about the conflict, but his main battle was with the Scarrens.
"OK everyone, because I know you are all tired and we haven't had a shore leave in about two months. I've decided that next commerce planet we come to you all get 3 solar days off," Crichton said.
�I think they love you,� Vena said.
�Vena I mean it no work we all need some time away from this,� Crichton said.
�I can see you had a talk with Captain Venatar,� Vena said with a smile.
�You know him,� Crichton said.
�I should�he�s my father,� Vena said leaving.
Crichton almost did a double take when what she said sunk in. It made sense Vena and Venatar were similar names now that he thought about it. Crichton saw how happy his crew was when he saw them talk about how much they were going to enjoy this. He knew that peacekeepers had shore leave it was common sense everyone needs a little break, but it surprised him that actually liked it and look forward to it. He was more tired then they were, since he was expected to write daily reports on everything they did, so the secret organization knew what he was doing. To make it easier from him he started to call this organization Freedom. He was a member of Freedom and had to do as they wanted even if he didn�t like it. The biggest truth was that he was ordered by Venatar to take seven solar days off he decided to tell the crew that later. They arrived at the planet and this was the happiest moment he had in the last two months seven days of doing nothing but resting. He saw his crew leave the ship with smiles on their faces, and he had to admit they seemed to act less military when they were on shore leave. He went to his room and fell on his bed and closed his eyes to get a few arns of sleep. He hoped he started to dreams again since he'd stop having dreams when he blew up 4 scarren ships two months ago. He'd gotten so used to it that it didn't bother him anymore, but he hoped he would dream of Aeryn. After three arns of sleep he choose to go on the planet and just walk around.
Crichton saw his crew and they seemed to be having a good time. The bar tender saw him and knew right away who he was without even saying a word. Crichton ordered a drink and sat down when another man come up to him. Crichton saw the anger and fear in his eyes and just went back to his drink hoping this wouldn�t go bad. He didn't want to deal with anyone right now. A few of his crew saw the man, and they knew Crichton saw his weapon also. All had quite some but still stay noisy so he wouldn�t know that they knew why he was there.
"Are you Crichton," the man said.
"Yes...who are you," Crichton asked.
"Jelim...you killed my father," Jelim said.
"And when was this," Crichton asked.
"Three weekens ago," Jelim said.
�Did he had blue hair and orange eye,� Crichton said.
"Yea,� Jelim said.
�Then you should know he tried to kill me first�and I didn�t kill him my first officer did to protect me," Crichton said.
"Then he will die," Jelim said with even more anger.
�Listen leave her alone and go home,� Crichton said but Jelim held the gun up and shot at Vena and she mange to move before she got hit.
�One more time�you shot at her again and I�ll shot you,� Crichton said.
�You will pay for all you have done peacekeeper,� Jelim said.
Jelim went to shot at another one of his other crewmembers but then turned it to Crichton and before he could pull the trigger Crichton had already pulled his. Crichton looked at him got up and closed his eyes and dropped his head. It almost sounded like a pray that he said sometimes and they all knew what he was doing. His head went back up and his eyes showed little emotion toward this man that lied on the ground. He looked at the man on the ground for a few more moments and looked back at his crew. His crew heads fell for a moment, and then went up as they saw Crichton still showed no emotion.
�I already am Jelim...take his body to the hospital on the corner Vena," he said.
"Right away sir...are you Ok Captain," Vena asked.
"I will be in seven day�the shore leave had been upped on order of Captain Venatar," Crichton said leaving with his drink.
Aeryn had no idea why she waited so long to get supplies, but something inside told her to. She walked along the road with Chiana as they observed the market place. She noticed that there were a few peacekeepers that were not acting like peacekeepers. He had his arm around her waist and hers were around his neck and they were locked in an embrace that went beyond passionate.
"Aeryn are you sure we should stop," Chiana said.
"Yes we need supplies and I can see if anybody has heard where Crichton is," Crichton said.
�He has become very popular over the last few weekens,� Chiana said.
�Yes he has� wait here why I go talk to some peacekeepers,� Aeryn said.
Aeryn walked along the planet and saw more Peacekeepers roaming around but they were doing un-peacekeeper things. A lot of them were laughing, drinking, engaging in intimate behavior in public and just having a good time. Then it hit her what was going on here she couldn�t believe she didn�t think of it before. They were on shore leave, she thought as she saw two going into the inn. She knew that was the only explanation that explained their action.
"Hi," Aeryn said to a bar tender.
"Hell-O M�Lady," he said back.
"Can you help me...I'm looking for a peacekeeper Captain," Aeryn asked.
"What his name," he asked.
"Crichton," Aeryn said.
"Well you are in major luck M�lady...his crew is on shore leave and I believe he is by the lake," he said.
"Wait he's here...right now," Aeryn asked with a slight smile.
"Yes...you know I feel sorry for him...even if he is a peacekeeper," he said sadly.
"Why do you feel sorry for Crichton," Aeryn asked.
"The pain he gone through since he became a peacekeeper�I guess I see him different because he a different species," he said.
"How do you know he's gone through pain," Aeryn asked.
"You can see it in his eyes...the pain. He tough though I�ll have to admit that... a man came here tried to shot his first office he protected her and then as the guy was about to shot him Crichton shot him tried to show no emotion...but you still could see the pain," he said.
"Crichton what has happen to you," she whispered.
"Do you know Crichton," he asked.
"We're old friends...back before he was a peacekeeper captain," she said.
"Hope you find him...I think he could use a friend�the non-peacekeeper kind, he said as Aeryn left.
"So what you find out," Chiana asked.
"Chiana you trust me right," Aeryn said.
"Of course...why," Chiana asked.
"I need you to take everyone to go to the inn and wait there...I'll be back soon. There something I have to get. Oh...and
�Crichton is close and it won't be long before we find him," she said.
"OK, so we're leave tomorrow to find," she said.
"Yes, bright and early�the peacekeepers here are on shore leave also so you�ll want to make sure they know you are
�D�argo�s," Aeryn said leaving Chiana side.
�OK I promise no one will leave until tomorrow,� Chiana said.
Chiana found the others and led them to the inn and kept going over the strange way Aeryn was acting. Rygel still had some trading to do, and Zhaan wished to return to Moya on the pod she brought, and D'argo wished to go with her, but she won't allow it. She told them she would explain once they got to the inn and she did just that.
"Chiana my dear why keep all of us here," Zhaan said.
"Because I promised Aeryn I'd take all of you back to the inn and keep you here until she returns and that what I'm going to do," Chiana said.
"I am not staying and you can't make me," Rygel said starting to hover away.
"But I can and no one is leaving," D'argo said.
"Chiana and D'argo are right... we must honor that Chiana gave Aeryn her word and if Chiana is right what ever Aeryn is getting must be important," Zhaan said.
They began to walk up the stairs to there rooms, and D'argo couldn't help but smile at her. She and Aeryn over the last month or so had become closer friends then before. They would stay up and talk about girl things thing the D�argo would never understand. They taught each other to trust and what it means to have a sister, and he found that made him fall even more in love with her. They stood in front of Rygel's room and Chiana looked at him and gave him a glare.
"Ok Rygel if I find out you left your room I'll kill you and then Aeryn will kill you again," Chiana said in a commanding voice.
"Why not warn Zhaan and D'argo also, Rygel said.
"Because I would not leave...it would dishonor my word as a priest and the friend," Zhaan said.
"Thanks Zhaan...and D'argo will be with me so I'll know if he leaves," Chiana said smiling.
Chiana looked outside and wondered what was so important to Aeryn that she didn't want her or anyone else to see it. She just stood at the window and prayed for Crichton safety and return. She longed for his advise, his jokes, and his just plane humanness.
"Chiana what are you think of," D�argo asked.
"Aeryn said we are close to Crichton carrier," Chiana said.
"That is good, then our crew will be one again," D�argo said.
"What if he doesn't come," Chiana asked.
"I know Crichton will of changed...but he is still Crichton," D�argo said.
"I miss him...it's like losing my brother all over again," Chiana said.
"I miss him too...but we must have faith," D�argo said pitting his arms around his waist.
" I wonder how far his carrier is," Chiana said falling back in his embrace.
"I'll just be glad when we can say where is Crichton and not Crichton's Carrier," D�argo said.
"We all hate that he's a peacekeeper�but I have to agree with you," Chiana said.
Crichton just looked out at the lake thinking of what he had become over the last three months. How would the crew treat him if they knew of what he had done today, but in a small way he had no choice. He had to survive this and sometime that meant killing in self-defense but not in cold blood like Jelim was willing to do. He just needed to be alone to try and forget all that had happen especially when he thought of what Daisy, DK and his dad would do. He couldn't believe he killed that man and felt little grief about it he knew he didn�t know Jelim that well but he thought he could feel a little pain about it. He just sat there seeing the man fall to the ground blood on his clothing from his wound, while Crichton had nothing to show for the fight. Just another face to add to those rare nightmares he had in the middle of the night. He just drank the drink that would hopefully make him forget for a while. He needed to forget about what he'd become over the short months he'd been a peacekeeper captain. He needed to try and remember what it felt like to be human and not a peacekeeper what it felt like those short few days he was with Aeryn.
Aeryn walked for what seemed like 10 minutes until she saw him sitting on a rock by the shore of the lake. He was dressed in full peacekeeper captain uniform and was drinking something that looked purple or blue. He seemed so alone and lost by the way he was sitting and staring out into the stars. It seemed as if he just wanted to forget what he had done and who he had become, but she really didn�t know all he had done. She could see the difference in Crichton from where she was standing. She began to walk towards him as quietly as she could and she knew that he would probably hear her. She was right he heard soft footsteps coming towards him from behind and grabbed his gun and pointed it at her expecting it to be Vena. Their eyes locked for what seemed like eternity and neither one spoke for what seemed like endless minutes.
"I Surrender," Aeryn said putting her hands up and wanting him remember.
"Aeryn...what are you doing here," Crichton asked emotionless.
"Looking for you...are you going to put that down," Aeryn said fearing his answer.
"Yes...I'm sorry habit," Crichton said as she put her hands down.
"You look well�physically,� Aeryn said.
"I am," Crichton said as she came up to him slowly.
"How'd you become a peacekeeper Crichton," Aeryn asked softly.
"They made me an offer I couldn't refuse," Crichton said as softly.
She looked in his eyes and saw what the bar tender was talking about. The eyes that usually showed his bright and innocent soul, now screamed out in dark pain. She touched his face with her hands and leaned forward and kissed him softly and then hugged him. He hugged her tightly just wanting to fell her warm body around him. He took in her sent the sent that was mixture of rose, vanilla, and something he couldn�t name while she just held him not wanting to let go of him.
"It's OK John," Aeryn said.
"No it's not...until the scarrens leave the Xenia system I can't leave�I won't break my word," Crichton said.
"But you are in so much emotional pain," Aeryn said.
�Would you break your word,� Crichton said.
�It not that same�you are in so much pain,� Aeryn said upset.
"I gave up emotions and feeling awhile ago," Crichton said breaking free.
"That's not you," she said still upset and taking his arm.
"Listen Aeryn I've done a some thing in my months away from Moya that I'm not proud of. And if I let myself feel...then I wouldn't be alive right now. The truth is I'm not the guy you first fell in love with and I know you would be ashamed of me," he said getting as upset.
"John I know a few of the things you've done...like the guy at the bar," Aeryn said letting her anger go.
�Aeryn I want to go�but I can�t and even if I could what would everyone else think,� Crichton said.
�The same as me,� Aeryn said looking down at the ground.
"Are they here on this planet, Crichton said hopeful?
"Yes," Aeryn said seeing some light in his eyes again.
"I have just issued one weeken of shore leave...it was only a few days but Venatar and the rest of the council thinks I need a few more days," Crichton said.
"It funny hearing you talk like that...like a peacekeeper," Aeryn said.
"It's who I am...it's who I have to be," Crichton said as she thought for a moment.
"Can you at least spend your shore leave with us...with me," Aeryn said.
"Nothing would keep me away, Crichton said.
He started to walk towards town, but she stopped him turned him around and kissed him passionately. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her closer to deepen the kiss, not wanting to let him go she kissed him even harder. Finally they broke free and he looked her in the eyes and saw that she had also changed but her change was a good one.
The city had peacekeeper everywhere and they seemed to know Crichton in a different way then she did in a peacekeeper way. They waved at him and mumbled words almost in fear, but with deep respect and he smiled back. A few females even smiled at him but he didn�t smile back at them like he did to her. They began their way hand in hand to the inn where Moya's crew would be staying.
�Captain,� Vena said.
�Vena,� Crichton said.
�Can I talk to you for a moment,� Vena said looking at Aeryn.
�Vena don�t worry�this is Aeryn Sun�Aeryn this is my first officer Vena,� Crichton said.
�It nice to finally meet you Miss Sun�Captain it�s Jelim he lived you shot below his heart I thought you should know that,�
Vena said.
�Thanks�and Vena no work for the next weeken,� Crichton said.
�Yes sir,� Vena said then left.
�You two are close,� Aeryn said.
�She a good friend�nothing more or less,� Crichton said and he knew she would tell everyone who Aeryn was.
They walked a little more until hey came to the in and walked up the stair and he pause then she knocked at Zhaan's door. Zhaan almost fainted at his sight and closed there distance and gave him a hug.
�I have missed you John,� Zhaan said.
�Then you understand why I can�t,� Crichton said.
�John I understand this and I understand all you have done,� Zhaan said.
After going and getting Rygel they went to Chiana and D�argo�s room and when she opened the door she noticed that Zhaan had a very wide smile on her face and Rygel seemed somewhat happy. Crichton walked in and Chiana first gasped and then leaped in his arms and he hugged her back. D'argo also hugged him after Chiana let go f him and he gave him a slight smile.
�Crichton these are peacekeepers...they've tried to kill us more time then I can count and you still want to help them," Chiana said.
"I understand...it has to do with honor," D'argo said.
"Honor...these are peacekeepers they don�t understand what honor is," Rygel said.
"Yes they do�I gave my word and I won�t go back on it," Crichton said.
"As much as I hate to say this we have to let Crichton do what he thinks is right...Crichton when this battle is done what happens to you," Zhaan asked.
"I chose to stay a peacekeeper or leave,� Crichton said.
�You can do that,� Chiana said.
�Yes, they think I'm the only one who can defeat the scarrens," Crichton said.
"Why only you," D'argo said.
"Because I can go in really hot places and they can�t," Crichton said.
"Well we can't wait for you to finish and come home�but I am not happy about this," Chiana said.
�Neither am I,� Aeryn said.
Almost three arns later Crichton had told them about his crew and what they had been assigned to. He also told them how Talyn was doing and that he had a message for Moya and Aeryn. Rygel and Zhaan then went to their rooms and Crichton and Aeryn left hand in hand. Chiana and D�argo watch them go and just smiled at each other as they walked down the street. Rygel and Zhaan came to stand next to them as they watch Crichton and Aeryn walk into the far distance.
"Will he be ok," Chiana asked.
"When this war ends and he is back he will be. I've seen this with many soldiers they stop feeling until the war is done," D'argo said.
�What�ll happen when he comes back and starts to feel again,� Chiana said.
�That when he�ll really need us�and Aeryn,� D�argo said.
"And we will be there," Zhaan said as D�argo and Chiana went inside.
"Zhaan when you pray...pray for Crichton," Rygel said.
�I will,� Zhaan said also going inside.
Aeryn didn't care if there was no talking she just wanted to be with him, the last three months had been one the worse times of her life. She stopped when she came to one of the biggest carriers she had ever seen in her time as a peacekeeper. He had walked on the ship and let out his hand for her to take still amazed.
"Want a tour of my carrier," Crichton said smiling.
"Sure, but I've seen hundreds of these," Aeryn said lying.
"Not like this one...this one is the first of its kind. It�s faster and larger than any other carrier you've ever been on," Crichton said.
"Not as big a Moya," Aeryn said shot back.
"No but for a peacekeeper carrier it huge," Crichton said still seeing she was upset about his choice.
"Where's your office," Aeryn asked.
"In here," Crichton said.
"Nice...this is me," she said holding up a frame.
"Yea...Pilot gave it to me the day we left for the planet. I was going to find a frame for it, but the peacekeepers took me, but I manage to this before we left the room. The day before I came on aboard I found a frame and here it is," Crichton said.
He took her out of his office and started to show her the rest of the ship. She seemed to be enjoying the tour of a new kind of peacekeeper ship but tried to keep it hidden. She smiled as he told her stories of some of the things his crew has done of the past months and she really like the story of Emperor B�veal and his people customs.
�What are there species called again,� Aeryn asked trying not laugh.
�The Macvends,� Crichton said.
�I�m sure you and your crew had fun,� Aeryn said.
"And here are my quarters�it�s larger then my cell on Moya," Crichton said changing the subject.
"Of course you're the captain here," Aeryn said smiling.
"I guess being captain can have its advantages," Crichton said.
"Yea I guess it does," Aeryn said.
"Aeryn I've missed you so much there wasn't a day I didn't think about you�or Moya. I know you don't want me to go, but I have to do this...or one day all sebaceans will die," Crichton said.
"I know I shouldn�t be upset...and if there not stopped here then everyone will pay�someday," Aeryn said kissing him once again with all her passion.
They started to make up for the three months that they had lost. Neither of them wanted for that night to end or the week to end but they knew it would. He wanted to make sure he lived the short time they had together to the fullest.
"Aeryn...are you OK," Crichton asked.
"Crichton when this war is done you will come back to Moya right," Aeryn asked.
"Nothing will keep me away," Crichton said.
They spent every moment together never separating, but a week pasted and it was time for him to go. Everyone knew they would say goodbye their traditional way not saying it at all. He kissed her one more time, but unlike all the kisses they had shared in the past week this one was soft, gentle and unforgettable. To everyone around them it was a long kiss, but to them it was a short kiss, but one they would never forget.
"I won't say goodbye Aeryn," Crichton said
"I love you remember that and come back to me," Aeryn said kissing him once last time.
"I love you too," Crichton said kissing her forehead and leaving.
She watched him go and Zhaan came to her side and put her hand on her shoulder. Aeryn looked at her and she didn�t have to say a word they all knew what pain she was feeling.
�Crichton said to come back to this area every moen or so,� Aeryn said.
�We will Moya will do what ever she has to have Crichton back,� Zhaan said as his carrier left.
�I don�t understand why you two don�t ever say goodbye,� Rygel said.
�Because we�ll see each other again so why say goodbye,� Aeryn said.
Next Chapter: The Battle
NOTE: I have been asked and asked about this. John Crichton did not kill in cold blood it was in self-defense. I have re-written that part because of the wording I first used. If you still feel it was not in self-defense e-mail me and I will rewrite again.