Payment in Full - Chapter 10

Payment in Full - Chapter 10 TITLE:                      PAYMENT IN FULL- CHAPTER 10
AUTHOR:                 PIPPIN
RATING:                   NC-17 (to be on the safe side)
PAIRING:                  Archer/Trip

SETTING: Minor spoilers: "Stigma"; "First Flight" and "The Expanse". Set after the events of "Savior".

FEEDBACK: Always! [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns the characters. I’m just borrowing them, and promise to return them safe and sound. The only thing I gain from this is some writing practice.

SUMMARY: Everything has a price.

Chapter 10

Trip clenched his jaw and shifted slightly. He wanted to cry out, but had to remain silent. Otherwise, they would see him. And Jon. So far, they had been lucky; no one had noticed. Hoshi, Malcolm and T’Pol were all at their stations, engrossed in their respective tasks. No one had seen him, lying naked by the Captain’s chair.

He felt the strong, sure fingers on his thighs, and obedient to their silent command, spread his legs.

And then …

Oh, and then …

He caught his breath, clenched his fists. The things Jon was doing to him! So personal. So naughty. So wicked. So outrageous. He hoped they would never end.

“Fascinating,” a cool, dry voice observed. He looked up to see Healer T’Myr over him, looking down. “Despite all your claims to the contrary, you seem to be enjoying this.”

“A real slut,” someone else said. It was Jon, sitting in the command chair. He looked at Trip, his disgust evident. “Slut,” he repeated.

Jon? If you’re there, then who …? Trip tried to sit up, but was paralyzed. All he could do was lie there.

T’Myr and Jon shared a meaningful look. “You see?” she said, significantly. Jon nodded in understanding. “He likes it,” she continued. “Otherwise, he would not remain.”

That’s not true! He tried to protest, but couldn’t speak. He didn’t like someone else doing this to him. He didn’t.

“You’re right,” Jon replied as he arose from his chair. He looked down at Trip, his revulsion evident. “Slut,” he said yet again.

I’m not! The unfairness of it all rose up, nearly overwhelmed him. Dammit, it wasn’t true. It wasn’t. He tried desperately to reach out – to Jon, to T’Myr, to Malcolm - but it was no use. They were all gone. He was left, alone in the dark except for whoever it was lying between his legs.

It was now so dark that he could only make out a shadowy figure. It looked up at him, and the face was illuminated by the dim light from T’Pol’s station.

He tried to scream, but all that came out was a high, gasping whistle.

“What’s the matter?” The guard grinned. He stroked Trip’s thigh with brazen familiarity. “Still so sweet,” he added. Trip shuddered. That was what he had heard from this man when he’d been raped by him – each time. The guard looked at him. “Don’t worry, beautiful,” he added with mock solicitude.

“Go away,” Trip managed to whisper.

“But I don’t want to leave you. Ever.”

“No,” Trip moaned.

The guard leered at him. “Just the two of us. Always.” And he grinned again, reached –

– and Trip awoke with a start, trembling.

“Trip? Are you okay?”

Trip drew a shaking hand across his forehead, discovered it was covered in sweat. Big surprise.

The bedside light was switched on, and Jon sat up. “You okay?” he asked again.

Trip shivered. His dream was still with him, and he half-expected to see the guard still lurking at the foot of their bed. He felt Jon’s gentle hand on his shoulder. “Trip?”

“A dream,” he whispered shakily.

“No kidding,” was the dry response. “Tell me about it.”

Trip shook his head. Jon sighed, lay down, and put an arm around him as best he could; the pillows restricting Trip’s movement were still present. “Remember those joint counseling sessions?” Jon asked. “And what Phlox said? You shouldn’t keep something like this inside. For both our sakes,” he added.

Trip remained silent. He was ashamed. How could he tell Jon about this? After all Jon had done for him, how could he tell him that his subconscious obviously saw Jon as a deserter? What would Jon think? That he was ungrateful? Well, he was, wasn’t he? That was what this dream was saying, wasn’t it?

“Come on,” Jon coaxed. “You know it’s okay.”

But was it? What if it was right in more ways than one? Did Jon really think he was a slut? That deep down, somewhere, on some level, Trip had actually liked what had happened to him on Tasumi? After all, he certainly liked it when Jon did the same things, didn’t he?

But that’s different, a small voice protested. Yes, it was, but did Jon know that?

Jon wasn’t letting up. “Come on,” he said. “You know you can tell me anything.” When Trip maintained his silence, he added, “And you also know that I won’t let up until you do.”

“Jon, please.”

“There’s nothing so bad that you can’t tell me.”

“That’s what you think,” Trip muttered.

Jon stroked his hair. “Tell me,” he said again.

“This – “ and Trip shook his head. “It’s not good.”

“I’ve heard your bad dreams before,” Jon said gently. “And I’ll listen for as long as you need me to. You know that.”

“It’s not that.” Trip sighed. “It’s not that,” he repeated.

“Then what?” When Trip was still not forthcoming, he gave him a gentle squeeze. “Come on, my own. Tell me.”

You may not want me as your own after I tell you, Trip thought. But he knew Jon was not going to stop until he got it out of him. And he also knew that Jon would know if he was lying. He surrendered. “All right. But you asked for it.”

When he was finished, Jon was silent. Trip, too. He didn’t look at Jon; he was afraid to. Instead, he stared up at the ceiling and waited. He heard Jon exhale, and felt him stir.

After a few minutes, Trip found he could stand the silence no longer. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice nearly breaking.

“What?”

“I’m sorry,” Trip repeated miserably.

“You’re sorry?” Jon repeated, incredulous.

“I am.” Trip found he had tears in his eyes. “You’ve been so good to me. You’ve put up with all my crap, taken care of me, and never a word of complaint. And look how I repay you! I’m so sorry.”

At this, Jon raised himself up on an elbow, looked down on him. Trip couldn’t meet his gaze. “Trip.” When Trip continued to stare resolutely at the ceiling, Jon reached, took his face and turned it gently towards him. “My poor brat,” he said softly.

Trip was startled. “Huh?”

Jon leaned down, kissed him. “You’re in worse shape than I realized.”

“But … but … my dream -” Trip said, stuttering with surprise.

“ – Was only a dream,” Jon finished. “You don’t really believe that I think you enjoyed what happened to you, do you?”

Trip tried to explain.. “It’s not that. But in my dream, you walked away. You left me. It’s obvious.”

“Not to me it isn’t.”

“It means … deep down … I must think that you … you …”

Jon sighed. “You know what I think?” Trip shook his head. “I think you shouldn’t take it so literally. You know that dreams are more symbolic than anything else.” He lay down again, looked at the ceiling. “Know what I think this dream really means?”

“What?”

“That right now, you feel like hell, and you have to deal with stuff that you shouldn’t have to. Stuff T’Myr managed to stir up. And I think maybe you’re also a little scared.” He turned on his side, facing Trip. “Scared I’m going to leave.” He smiled. “But I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you, by the way. So you’re stuck with me, brat.”

“Thanks,” Trip whispered. “You sure? I mean, you’re okay with what I told you?”

Jon gave him a long, steady look. “It took guts to tell me,” he finally said. “But then, you’ve never been short on courage, have you, Trip?” He leaned forward, kissed the engineer’s forehead, then frowned.

“Jon? Something wrong?”

Jon didn’t answer. Instead, he put his lips to Trip’s forehead again, then sat up. “I think you’re running a bit of a fever.” He reached over to the bedside table, took a scanner, ran it over Trip. He looked at the readings and sighed. “Yep. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?”

Trip nodded mutely, then watched Jon as he got out of bed, threw on a robe. “Where you going?”

“To call Phlox.”

Trip sighed. “Please don’t.”

“Trip – you’re running a fever.”

“But just a little one, right? Only a degree or two?”

“99.5,” Jon admitted.

“Hardly worth worrying about.”

“I doubt Phlox will agree.”

“Please, Jon. If I know Phlox, he’ll probably sic one of those damn eels of his on me. Or something worse. I don’t think I could stand it.”

“You’re running a fever, Trip.” But Jon was wavering. “I can’t ignore that.”

“You don’t have to,” Trip said, continuing to wheedle his lover. “Phlox left some stuff in the bathroom. I’ll take it. See if it works.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll call Phlox myself. That’s a promise.”

Jon capitulated. “All right,” he sighed. He headed off to the bathroom returned a moment later with a paper cup. Two pills resided within. “This what you’re talking about?”

Trip propped himself up on an elbow, peered into the cup. “The red ones. Yeah.” Jon handed him his ginger ale, and he obediently took the medicine, then lay down again.

Jon threw off his robe, crawled into bed. “If these don’t work … “ he warned.

“I know, I know,” Trip said hastily. “Phlox.” He sighed. “And then he’ll give me seven different varieties of hell.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you,” Jon said.

“Oh? Why?”

For an answer, Jon tapped him on the nose. “You over-did it today, didn’t you? And that’s why you’re running a fever now.” Trip was silent. “That’s what I thought,” Jon said grimly. “So don’t worry about Phlox giving you hell – worry about me doing it.”

He pulled the blankets up over both of them, grumbling as he did. “I swear, brat, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. Even lying in bed all day, you still manage to cause trouble. God knows what you’ll get up to once you’re up and around again.”

He went on in this vein for some time. Trip listened, nodding contritely in all the right places, and giving the appearance of one who was being thoroughly chastised, but inwardly, he was jubilant. He really was loved. He settled as best he could into Jon’s protective, possessive embrace, feeling safe and warm. He made a small snuggling motion, and a happy sigh escaped him.

Jon stopped his tirade. “You haven’t heard a word I said, have you?”

“’Course I have,” was Trip’s response. “I’m a pain in the ass and you don’t know why you didn’t fire me out an airlock years ago. Right?” He gave Jon an impudent smile.

“Brat,” Jon growled. “God knows why I put up with you.”

Trip grinned. “Because I’m so lovable?” His tone was innocent, but the twinkle in his eyes was anything but.

Jon sighed, then smiled, kissed him. “Guess that must be it.” He ran a light hand along Trip’s jaw. “Even – “ He stopped abruptly.

“Even what?” Trip asked.

Jon was looking uncomfortable. “I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth,” he finally said.

That piqued Trip’s curiosity. “Well, you did. So don’t leave me in suspense. Besides, you know stress is bad for me.”

“I’m not sure he’d want me saying anything.”

“He who?”

“Malcolm.”

“Malcolm? What would … “ Trip trailed off, then looked at Jon, astonished. “He told you?”

“Well, not in so many words, but I figured it out.”

“You’re smarter than I am, then, ‘cause I didn’t have a damned clue. Talk about not seeing what’s right in front of your face.” He shook his head. “Poor Mal.” He then looked at Jon, slightly worried. “You’re not going to get all jealous on his ass, are you? ‘Cause I like him well enough as a friend, but – “

“Don’t worry,” Jon smiled at him. “I know. After all, it’s me you’re with right now, isn’t it?”

“It sure is. Besides, I don’t swing that way.”

“Oh, really?”

“Okay,” Trip amended. “I generally don’t swing that way. I made an exception in your case, though.”

“I noticed,” Jon said dryly. “Thanks.” He looked at Trip curiously. “So when did you find out?”

“About Mal, or about how he felt?”

“Both.”

“Well, it didn’t take me all that long to figure out he was AC/DC, if you know what I mean. But I didn’t clue into the other until after – after Tasumi. He said something one day, and I realized what he was really saying. But by then, you and I were together.”

“Does he know?”

“That I know? Yeah.” He sighed again. “Poor Mal. He’s such a nice guy. Wish he could find someone.”

“So do I. Just as long as that somebody isn’t you.”

“Not gonna happen. And he knows that. And he – “ Trip broke off, chuckled.

Jon looked at him, puzzled. “What’s so funny?”

“I was going to say that he’s been a perfect gentleman,” Trip said. “But I just realized how weird that sounds.” He looked at Jon. “I won’t say anything to him about this conversation, okay?’

“Neither will I,” Jon promised. “It’ll be our little secret.” He gave Trip a long, slow, kiss. For the first time since the accident, Trip could sense the passion Jon was holding in check. The realization excited him, and he tried to respond as best he could.

Jon broke off the kiss. “Trip … “

“What? Don’t stop.”

“But you’re sick. You’ve got a fever.”

“So I’m already hot.” He slipped a hand underneath the covers. A minute later, it was Jon who was heating up. “Trip,” he managed.

“Jon,” Trip responded calmly.

“I don’t think you should be doing this. Phlox – “

“Screw Phlox.”

“Not even on a bet.”

Trip smiled. “Fine. Then screw me.”

Jon shook his head. “I won’t. You’re not up to it yet.”

“Really? There’s something you should see that says different.”

“Maybe, but – “

Trip leaned over the pillow, kissed Jon as deeply and thoroughly as he was able. Jon groaned, and he smiled. “Still saying ‘no’?”

“You’re such a brat.” Jon said hoarsely. But his hands slipped down Trip’s sides, and then to between his legs, to where Trip wanted, where he needed, them to be. “You asked for it.”

Trip moaned, closed his eyes. Jon took his sex in his hand, began to gently manipulate it. “Oh, God … Jon … don’t stop …” He groped, found what he was looking for, and began to return the favor.

Jon growled, deep in his throat, and closed his eyes. His free hand slid down Trip’s back, cupped his ass, began kneading. Trip cried out very softly, and Jon silenced him with a kiss. Trip squirmed. He could feel the heat building, building, building … “Don’t stop,” he moaned. “Don’t stop.”

He knew that normally, Jon would respond by teasing him, slowing down, making him wait for release. But even in the throes of passion, it was clear that Jon was still worried about pushing the engineer further than he was able to go. Instead, his grip tightened, and he began stroking Trip harder and faster. Trip, caught in the upward spiral of pleasure, groaned, and tried to match Jon’s rhythm.

Both were panting, needing release. “Don’t stop,” Jon said in a low moan.

“I won’t if you don’t,” Trip managed to gasp, just before his orgasm burst through him. “Jon!” he cried, and dropped his sweat-soaked head onto Jon’s shoulder, heart thudding wildly in his chest. He felt Jon shudder as his climax hit. The older man tensed, then collapsed against him.

“Trip,” he whispered, and kissed him.

“What is going on here?!”

Trip started, as did Jon, who broke off the kiss. They both looked up, startled, to find Phlox glaring down at them.

“Uh-oh,” Trip murmured.

“Busted,” Jon agreed.

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