Disclaimer: Paramount owns everything concerning these two lovely guys. They are so lucky...anyway...I´m just borrowing them, to have my fun with them.
And thanks to mareel for her fabulous beta-reading. Without her, this story would have been a mess, believe me...
Summary: Holiday on Risa is fun, isn´t it?
Feedback: Please, please, please...that´s what truly makes my day
and gives me hope, that there is someone out there, who enjoys reading as much
as I do enjoy writing. ([email protected])
Just what is it you like about caves?
Malcolm was awakend by a kiss. A dog´s kiss to be precise. He drew back hastily and looked into Portho´s dark brown eyes. The little beagle was standing with his paws on the bed, his tail waggling. Absentmindly he petted the dog´s head. Then he jumped. Just exactly how late was it? Oh my god...he´d overslept...he couldn´t remember when he´d ever overslept.. He tried to get up, but was pulled back by a strong arm. Then he felt a tender kiss at the base of his neck, and a sleepy voice grumbled: "At ease, Lt. Reed, before you sprain something. We´re on shore leave, remember?“ Now Malcolm recognized his surroundings. It was as different from the Enterprise as it could possibly be. The room was flooded with sunshine and a gentle breeze came through the open doors, that led to the balcony. Two suns were shining brightly and birds were singing. They were on Risa. For three long days they were on shore leave. No duties, no weapons, no decisions. And no ranks. Just Jon and Malcolm. With a sigh of relief Malcolm relaxed and turned in the arms of his lover. He looked into Jon´s face. Jon still had his eyes closed and looked incredibly peaceful. Malcolm gave him a peck on the nose and was rewarded with a soft smile. One sleepy green eye opened slowly and the smile widened. "I love to wake up with you as the first one I see.“ Jon leaned forward and gave Malcolm a loving kiss on the lips. Shore leave. That meant time. Lots of time. Plenty of time, so Malcolm deepened the kiss and let his hand slide down along this magnificent body, heading south...Jon gasped...and the English man smiled...*************************
Two hours later they sat together at an opulent breakfast. "So, what are we going to do today, Malcolm?“ Jon smiled at Malcolmand sipped at his coffee. Malcolm stretched his body luxuriously and folded his hands behind his neck. "Well, I heard someone say, that Risa has a very interesting cave system, that I would like to visit. There are guided tours every two hours.“ He grinned, when he saw Jon´s reaction written on his face. Jon wasn´t too keen on caves...not since the Terra Nova incident. Malcolm gave Jon a puppy dog look, something no one on the ship would have ever guessed he possessed. He knew from experience, that he could get away with almost everything, when he gave his lover "that look“. And he was right. Jonathan Archer, the brave and strong starship captain, melted like butter in the sun. He heaved a deep sigh and gave in. "Okay, as you wish, darling. I guess, there are no Novians wanting to shoot you this time, are there?“ Malcolm shook his head and tried his best to keep a suitably serious expression on his face. "I believe not,“ he said and put his tea cup down. "When, did you say, the guided tours are given, exactly?“ Jon finished his coffee. Malcolm shot a quick glance at the time. "Well, the last one began exactly two minutes ago. Do you have any idea, how we could spend two hours? Until the next tour begins?“ he asked with his best British accent. He got exactly the reaction he wanted and anticipated. Jon´s eyes darkened and little goosebumps appeared on his arms. With a dangerous growl, Jon pulled the laughing Malcolm out of his chair and back into their apartment.*************************
The joined the tour after the next. It seemed to Malcolm that Jon, free from the responsibility of leading a starship with dozens of people, was behaving much more impulsively. He was like a teenager in love. He could cuddle for hours in the night, after their lovemaking. He was playful in bed and found great joy in tickling Malcolm until the armory officer begged for mercy, tears of laughter in his eyes. While they stood waiting for their tour guide, Malcolm suddenly felt Jon grab his hand and hold it tight. He looked at him in surprise, but Jon had his eyes fixed on a point somewhere ahead. It was a gesture that was impossible while onboard the Enterprise, for both men. Up there they were Captain Archer and Lt. Reed. Superior and subordinate. Malcolm wasn´t even sure, whether Jon had ever told anybody about them. He even doubted that Trip knew something was going on. Holding hands in public was pure luxury and they enjoyed it as long as possible. He gave Jon´s hand a light squeeze and was rewarded with a gentle smile from Jon. The tours began, when the guides arrived. There were four tours starting from four different entrances to the cave system. Their guide was a tall, good-looking Risan man with long dark hair and a muscular body, dressed in shorts and a loose fitting shirt. He introduced himself as Jaylan and handed each of them a map of the cave system. With a friendly smile Jon explained the guide, that one map would be enough for the two of them . All the while holding Malcolm´s hand. Never releasing it. The caves were breathtaking. Large stalactites and stalagmites grew in the dim light and brilliant illuminations seemed to set them on fire. The path led the visistors alongside dark mud holes and big crystal clear lakes. Gentle music from well-hidden speakers flowed through the caves, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Some of the stalactites seemed to be shaped like figurines and the guide explained the names, they had been given. Suddenly Malcolm heard a noise. A little scratching. And out of the corner of his eye he caught a movement. He let go of Jon´s hand and answered the questioning look with a reassuring smile. He leaned closer and whispered in his lover´s ear, "I think I saw something. I´ll just take a quick look and be back in a minute. I´ll be so fast, you won´t even have the time to miss me.“ Jon smiled tenderly into the grey eyes and whispered back: "I´m missing you already. Go, and make sure you won´t let me wait too long for you.“ Malcolm took a few steps back and looked down the way, they had come. There was a branching in the path; it was from around that bend where he heared the same noise again. An armory officer with heart and soul, he never left home without an adequate weapon. So he pulled out the phase pistol from his belt. He took one step...one more...and another...and suddenly the ground beneath him seemed to disapear. The last thing he saw, before the world turned upside down, was the curious face of a little, ratlike animal, whose claws made little scratching noises. With a loud shout Malcolm vanished...*************************
Jon heard Malcolm´s shout and in an instant he spun around and ran back to the place, where he had last seen Malcolm. The passage was dark. It took his eyes a few seconds to adjust. "Malcolm?“ Jon shouted. "I´m here!“ The voice sounded damped and seemed to come from the floor-level. Slowly Jon took one step after the other and then he saw it. A gap crossed the floor of the cave. It was about five feet wide and, in the dark, nearly impossible to see. Jon turned to Jaylan, who had followed Jon back down to the path toward Malcolm´s shout. "Do you have a flashlight?“ Jaylan nodded and took one out the bag, he wore. Jon dropped to his hands and knees and crawled toward the edge. Then he switched the flashlight on and searched for Malcolm. The light fell on an small bundle of a man about eight or nine feet below. Malcolm was perched on a protrusion and turned away at the sudden light. He raised a hand to shield his eyes and his voice sounded harsh as he shouted: "God dammit, Jon, do you want to blind me?“*************************
Malcolm saw it coming and let out a deep sigh of relief. He had began to shiver with cold and worry, and his teeth were chattering. Now, with the means of rescue there before his eyes, his mood began to lighten a bit, although he still felt cold through to his bones. He took the rope in his hands carefully and called to Jon:*************************
Jon heard the apparent panic in his lover´s voice. He knew, that Malcolm feared nothing. Nothing, except drowning. It was a heritage from his grandfather, Malcolm had confided while they were disarming that Romulan mine, and was one of the main reasons he had joined Starfleet rather than the Royal Navy. You cannot drown in space. He wound the rope around a stone column and made a tight knot to keep it safe. Then he ordered two strong men to hold the end of the rope...just in case. He crawled back to the edge of the chasm and looked down at Malcolm. "You can climb up now, Malcolm. Easy. The rope is secured, nothing can happen.“*************************
Malcolm had taken the rope in both hands and begun climbing, when a terrible pain jolted through his left leg. The injury. He had almost forgotten about it. He fell back and lay panting for a few seconds, not recognizing, that Jon was calling his name. The pain subsided ever so slowly, and just as he tried to get up again, he felt two strong hands grabbing him and pulling him upright. Strong hands...familiar hands....*************************
Jon saw him fall back and didn´t hesitate. Yes, he could have guessed it. His stubborn English-man had belittled the injury to his leg. Supported by the makeshift rope, he swung his legs over the edge and climbed downward. As soon as he reached Malcolm, he grabbed his shirt and pulled him upright into his arms. He felt the other man´s arms close around him and hold him tight, as if to draw strength from him. Jon kissed the dark head that was resting on his shoulder. "You stubborn, bullish, thick-headed Brit. Why do you always have to play the hero?“ He felt Malcolm´s smile on his shoulder and hugged him closer. He gently withdrew from the embrace, when he heard the sound of water. "Now, let´s get the hell outta here.“ Jon pulled at the rope. It was steady. And he also had a plan for how to get his man out of here... "Jon, just exactly how...WHOA...“ Before Malcolm could finish the sentence, Jon had thrown the smaller man over his shoulder and gave him a loving smack on the ass. "Hold yourself tight and be quiet. Unless you have a better plan.“ "Jon, you can´t do this. I´m too heavy, you can´t climb with me...hey...easy...no, please, Jon, don´t do that.“ Jon had made the first three feet on the rope, when Malcolm decided to remain silent. It wasn´t easy. Though Malcolm was trying to be as still as possible, Jon´s muscles seemed to scream in protest. After ten long minutes the reached the edge of the gap, where the rest of the group, including Jaylan, were reaching for Malcolm and Jon to help them to solid ground. They both lay panting while Jaylan took care of Malcolm´s injury. Jon turned his head to Malcolm, stretched out his hand and ruffled the dark hair lovingly. "Just what is it you like about caves?“*************************
It was dark. Three moons were dancing on a velvet sky and the soft singing of exotic nightbirds filled the air. Malcolm lay resting on the bed, a thick, soft cushion against his back and a glass of excellent Risan red wine on the nightstand. He yawned and stretched. The pain in his leg was almost gone. It really has been nothing more than a scratch, but a bad one. A deep one. After they had untied the clothing in that cave again and everyone had been dressed up again properly, they had taken the shortest way out of the cave system. The doctor in the risan hospital had given him some painkillers, before cleaning and closing the wound. Now he felt a little dizzy, but, thank god, no longer so terrible disoriented. He heard the door open and lifted himself into a sitting position. "Jon? Is that you, love?“ Jon´s head sneaked around the corner, grinning. "Were you expecting someone else, darling?“ Malcolm tried to swing his legs off the bed, but a very worried Jon was at his side in an instant. "Hey, what are you doing?“ Malcolm gave his lover a puzzled look. "I want to get up for dinner. What did you think?“ Jon grabbed Malcolm´s legs and turned the man back onto their bed. "No. Tonight I have something special in mind. Just relax and wait.“ He went out again, but glanced back around the corner at the man on the bed. "Stay where you are, will you?“ Malcolm nodded with a smile. For a couple of minutes all that Malcolm could hear was the soft clinking of glasses and the clatter of plates. Suddenly the room went dark, but only for a few seconds. Then he saw the soft glow of candles coming near. Jon entered the room with a large trolley full of food. There were different varieties of pasta, a delicious-smelling roast, potatoes, vegetables and at least five different desserts. In a holder he saw another bottle of the excellent red wine, they had enjoyed earlier. And placed in the middle of it all was large bunch of red roses. Malcolm stared open mouthed at the trolley. Jon´s face lit up in one of his beautiful smiles, the kind he reserved only for his lover. "That´s for you. Happy Birthday, darling.“ Malcolm felt a tear appear in his eye and furtively wiped it away. But the tear and the gesture were not unnoticed by Jon. "You remembered it? Oh Jon, no one ever did something like this for me, love.“ Malcolm stammered. Jon laughed. "Good, because otherwise I would have to think of a more spectacular way to say `I love you´.“ He leaned down and captured Malcolm´s lips in tender kiss, that lingered for what seemed an eternity. Finally they broke apart. Malcolm smiled at Jon, an intimate, loving smile. "I love you, too.“ The End.
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