Reed's Armory -- A Malcolm Reed Fanfiction Archive ..

Title: Yearning

Author: Beverly

Author's e-mail: [email protected]

Pairing: Archer/Reed

Rating: R

Category: Slash

Series/Sequel: Sequel to "Something Stupid" You don?t have to read it to understand this story, but you might enjoy the story anyway.

Summary: Jon can't sleep

Author's Notes: This was written in one night. It had no beta, it has not plot. It is pure and simple smut. It is soft, and loving, and so fluffy that it might melt you HD *bg* I just had to get it out of my system for it was running through my veins far too long. Anyway, I hope the mistakes aren't too much to bear, and somewhere somebody enjoys it.

Archived to Reed's Armory on 04/13/2008.

Malcolm Reed was tired.

No, exhausted would be a better word for it. He had just come from the gym and sweat was pouring down his body, his muscles were sore, his bones ached.

But his mind was unattached by that. It was still in perfect working order, thank you very much, and so it would still be at least two more hours until he would be able to sleep.

With a deep sigh Malcolm stood in the middle of his quarters, dropped his sweat-soaked towels carelessly on the floor, and walked over to his bathroom. He heard the unmistakable call of his shower. Maybe a long, hot shower would help him to sleep this night. Or to get at least three hours in a row.

He stepped in the stall and turned the water hot, short before hurting. But as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw and heard it all again before his inner eye. Jon, his soft voice, his tender touches, the one time they had made love under the shower. Had it really been just six days ago? Malcolm shook his head, tried to get the images out of his mind, but in vain. Again he could feel Jon's soft skin under his hands, could hear his moans as he entered him, and again he felt himself grow hard. Without thinking, he reached down, took himself in his right hand, and began to stroke himself.

It took him only one image of Jon, lying naked beneath him, panting, groaning his name as he reached his climax, and Malcolm came. Almost sobbing, he spilled his release over the tiles of his showerstall. Hot tears stung behind his lids, but he did his best to keep them back.

Six days.

Six days and six nights. And all the time Jon did not once come to him. After their last shore leave together on Risa, where they had finally been able to admit their feelings for each other (thanks to Rado, a really nice Risan, that had pushed Malcolm and Jon a little) they had spent all their nights on board seperated from each other.

And to be honest, fate had been against them ever since.

On their first day back on duty, they had decided to spent the evening together, sharing first a romantic candlelight dinner and then one bed. But an alien species had crossed their plans.

Thoroughly.

They had first shot, and then asked the questions. Trip had almost been hyperventilating when he had gone down to engineering and had seen the damage this first shot had caused. Hoshi had been working like a madman (so to speak) to decipher their language.

And then, when she had finally managed to break the code and the UT had been able to kick in, the negotiations had begun.

As far as he, Malcom, was concerned, these negotiations had only one goal-- to keep his lover away from him.

Then a call from the armory had come in. One of the torpedos had been damaged by the first attack of the aliens, and a cursing Malcolm had made his way down to the armory.

That had been two days ago.

And the only times he could see his captain were when he was on the bridge. So Malcolm spent most of his time on the bridge. At least until his captain sent him away to get some rest. He wasn't too happy about it, but he obeyed before his lover had to make it an order.

Now they were at day three of the negotiations, and still he wasn't able to figure out what it was the strangers really wanted.

He only knew that he was unable to get a decent night's sleep.

Alone.

In his bed.

Without his lover, holding him tight.

He turned off the water, grabbed a fresh towel, and began to dry himself, when he suddenly heard a knock on his door.

He froze for a moment, then he cleared his throat, and called, "Come in."

Nothing happened.

"Come in."

His voice sounded a little impatient now. He didn't like jokes like that at this time of the day.

knock, knock

Quickly Malcolm put on some boxers, and walked over to the door to open it. He had the best intention to yell at that stupid bastard that had to be disturbing him like that, when the words suddenly stuck in his throat.

Right before him sat Porthos.

He had a small blanket in his snout, and looked at him with big, begging eyes.

Then he heard a voice, seemingly coming out of nowhere, saying, "He can't sleep."

He took a step forward, looked around the corner, and saw his captain. Jon looked tired, big dark circles were under his beautiful green eyes, and the lines in his face were more prominent. And he carried his pillow under his arm. He smiled slowly, as he continued, "And neither can I. I miss you, Malcolm. Can I come in?"

Speechless Malcolm nodded, and Jon and Porthos entered his quarters. While Porthos trotted over to Malcolm's bed, dropping the blanket and going straight to sleep, Jon stepped closerto Malcolm and encircled him in his arms.

"Ever since those nights on Risa, I can't sleep properly. Whenever I close my eyes, I see you. I can feel you, I can hear you, I can smell you, and then I open my eyes again, and I'm alone."

Jon kissed him gently.

"I can't go on like that. May I stay here? Just for tonight?"

Malcolm's heart sang with joy as he kissed Jon back.

"Tonight. Tomorrow. As long as you want. I'm not good in sleeping without you, either. How about we go to bed and let Porthos get some sleep, love?"

Jon's smile was almost blinding, and it took them only about five minutes to get ready for bed, and snuggle together on Malcolm's small bunk.

It didn't matter that it was almost too small for two grown men. It didn't matter that Porthos was already snoring like a grizzly bear.

They were finally able to fell each other's skin again, hear each other's heartbeat, and that was all that mattered.

And for the first time since their shore leave, Jon and Malcolm were able to sleep properly. Deep and dreamless.

Well, not quite dreamless, but this time the dreams were good dreams, and both men smiled in their sleep.

~the end~