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

Title: Rook

Author: Taryn Eve

Author's e-mail: [email protected]

Fandom: Enterprise

Pairing: Archer/Reed

Rating: R

Category: Slash

Summary: Archer and Reed try to figure out their checkmated relationship as a visiting prince tries to manipulate both of them.

Spoilers: Broken Bow

Comments: Thanks to MJ for asking me to write another story.

Archived to Reed's Armory on 04/20/2003.

Reed had been staring at his station for the last half-hour. His arms were crossed, and he'd been frowning slightly the whole time. Maybe he'd been facing the most puzzling phenomenon of their yearlong mission. Somehow, Archer doubted it.

"Problem, Mr. Reed?"

Tilting his head, the exasperation vanished from the armory officer's face. Archer blinked. No, the man was smiling, looking so young all of a sudden.

"No problem, sir," the lieutenant said, with a quick look downward.

"Have you been trying to think up a new chess strategy again, Lieutenant Reed?" Hoshi Sato asked, rising from her station.

Reed's gaze flickered to Archer, then he caught himself and grimaced slightly. "You could call it that."

Archer coughed, then rose from his chair. "That's the spirit, Mr. Reed. Keep pushing the boundaries."

The other man's eyes turned dark, but he didn't speak.

"See you in the morning, ladies and gentlemen," Archer said, heading towards his ready room. "Sub-commander, you have the bridge."

A chorus of good nights followed him as he closed the door.

It's been a quiet week, he thought. Thank God. Sinking into his chair, he pushed aside the stack of engineering reports Trip had casually abandoned to him earlier. Most of the repairs were finished, thanks to their new friends, the Tenlakans. He rubbed his leg, and the scar that kept him company now. Damn the Suliban.

The door chimed. His stomach tightened in anticipation. "Come in."

Reed stood in the doorway, silent and watchful.

"Tonight," Archer said the word as a prayer...and a lamentation.

Clenching his fist over his heart, Reed smiled sardonically, then saluted and turned on his heel, leaving the room.

Archer unzipped the breast pocket to his uniform and removed the chess piece he kept hidden there. His fingers closed around the black marble rook, and he wondered what Reed's next move would be.

They hadn't meant to come this far together.

After the nasty run in with the Suliban, Trip had dropped off a chessboard for the two men sentenced to Sickbay for a week. Reed always took the black pieces. After a few games, Archer finally figured out that the armory officer was deliberately losing in order to study his captain's strategies.

Reed, when called to task for it, had given him a dazzling smile. "I don't mind losing a few games if I win the overall battle, sir."

Eventually, they escaped their confinement, and began helping Trip and their visitors, the Royal Tenlakan Engineering Corps, with the painstaking repairs over the ship. Archer called Reed to his quarters after the first long day, and they wound down together with yet another game of chess.

It continued for night after night, with quiet dinners and speculative glances passing between them as the visitors and the crew kept their distance, engrossed in their tasks.

Finally, Archer had taken Reed's rook from him and held it in the palm of his hand, silently offering more than the game piece to the other man.

Archer closed his eyes at the memory of his hand splayed on Reed's side, and the way he gasped as he traced the rook down his back.

So they were lovers now, and Reed had been avoiding him for a week.

Sometimes the second night is harder to reach than the first, Archer thought, rising from the chair. Replacing the rook in his pocket, he left the room, unsure if he were playing to win or lose with Reed.

*

Reed closed his eyes to the man in the mirror. The blue silk shirt was clinging to him the way love should.

Pushing away from the dresser, he adjusted his belt and wondered if he should stop the affair now, before it went too far. He'd left others without hesitation before this point in the game.

None of them had Archer's sea changing eyes, though.

Exasperated with himself, he yanked open the closet door, looking for his shoes. It was a fool's game, being involved with a superior officer. Nothing good could come of it.

The door chimed. "Come in," he said in a sharp voice, annoyed at the intrusion. He wanted to make his way to Archer's without interruption. A week after their first encounter, he still found himself thinking about the intense way Archer had stared into his eyes as they made love.

No one could live up to that kind of expectation forever. Better to forfeit the game before losing everything, he thought bitterly.

The light from the hallway hit Archer's slightly spiked hair, making him look angelic.

"Hi," he said in a quiet voice. "May I come in?"

The scent of his cologne drifted across the room, simmering of masculinity and strength. Reed licked his lower lip, reminded of the taste of the other man's neck.

Stepping barefoot across the floor, he waved Archer into the room before sinking into the only chair, silently establishing that they were in his territory. Archer looked around uneasily, then moved to stand against the dresser.

They studied each other. Reed noted the fingers tapping on the black jeans, and the unbuttoned collar of his shirt. His captain was on unfamiliar ground, and he could see that it bothered Archer immensely.

"What do you want from me?" Reed asked, his body as stiff as his heart.

Archer winced. "I came here to ask you the same question."

Bolting out of the chair, Reed grabbed Archer's shoulders and shoved him against the wall. "Do you want me to push your boundaries?" he asked, biting off the words Archer had spoken on the bridge. "Play games with you?"

A moment later, he realized that Archer was shaking. "No," he said, staring into Reed's eyes. "I want to be safe. I want to know where I am, where you are. I don't want to play games with you. I want--" Pausing, he breathed deeply. "I want everything."

Wearily, Reed shook his head. "You want too much. I'm not the one for you. I've never been the safe one and never shall be."

They pushed each other away then. Reed looked down and realized that he was still barefoot. It was worse than being half-naked in front of the women in decon. It was a reminder that he was utterly unprepared for Archer, for a lover. Laughing uneasily, Archer headed for the door. "I'm glad you said it first." He paused at the door, but didn't turn around. "In light of what's happened, I don't think you should come with us to the Tenlakan homeworld tomorrow."

"Good night," Reed said crisply.

Archer vanished, and as the door shut, Reed paradoxically wished that the angelic apparition he had glimpsed earlier had lingered. Sinking to the floor, he spotted the tip of his shoe under the bed.

Leaning over, he snatched up the shoe and hurled it at the door, but it didn't keep Archer's scent from curling around his shaking head.

*

Reed's solid body haunted Archer's dreams as much as the lines of his newly restored ship did. The other man's strength had surprised him that one night they had shared, as had his tenderness.

Pushing aside the blanket, he resolved to get an early start to the day. Porthos sighed and buried his nose in the blankets. Maybe he's grateful there's no one to take away his spot on the bed, Archer thought.

Routine would keep him going. It always had in the past. Automatically, he stuck the rook in his pocket, then sighed and replaced it on the nightstand.

Making his way to the shuttlebay, he gathered up Trip and Hoshi, and they headed out for the Tenlakan homeworld. He trusted T'Pol to keep things steady in his absence, and he depended on Reed to back her up.

His hand crept to his pocket, but the chess piece wasn't there.

Trip looked back at him from the pilot's chair. "You're awfully quiet, sir. Lose another chess match?"

Archer closed his eyes. "Yes. I did." Reaching for the strength his rank gave him, he motioned to the aquamarine planet below them. "Tell me more about that prince we're meeting."

Trip and Hoshi took turns telling him about the tall, friendly alien whose engineers had done so much work on Enterprise over the last few weeks, but his thoughts strayed back to the last and only time Reed had slept in his bed.

For a moment, Archer wondered if he ever could have prepared himself to lose so much, then dragged his attention back to the hazy world in front of him.

*

The last bits of pound cake were gone, along with most of the crew. Reed sat, lost in the somber alien music that kept his melancholy mood good company. "We are not being very diplomatic, Mr. Reed."

Shaking his head, Reed came out of his spell, and looked at T'Pol with a wry smile. "I suppose not, Sub-commander." Glancing around the room, he noted that Trip and Hoshi were looking as serene as the striking Vulcan usually did. The time with the Tenlakans had done a lot to relax them.

The prince and his small court were their guests for the reception. The Tenlakans were a tall humanoid species very much interested in their new friends. Archer, Trip, and Hoshi had been gone for three days, returning with a trade agreement, a large battleship as their escort, and the Tenlakan prince, Lenarian.

Rising from the table, T'Pol and Reed approached the captain and his guest. Reed absently noted the admiration in the towering stranger's eyes as he spoke to Archer. The two men stood centimeters away from each other, and Archer was smiling at something the elegant blond Tenlakan had said to him.

"Ah, Mr. Reed," Lenarian said, turning glittering green eyes upon him. "Jonathan said you would appreciate my new battleship."

Archer raised his glass and tilted his head. "It's a beauty, Malcolm."

"I've seen it on my screens," Reed said, biting his lip. He thought but didn't say, 'it's not the ship that matters, but the people within it'.

Placing long fingers upon Archer's arm, the prince smiled. "You must bring the young one tomorrow, Jonathan. We will speak of your phase cannons, also."

Reed reddened as Archer gave him a sheepish grin.

No one had called Reed young in years, but Archer had asked him once if he had an old Irish soul hidden in his family tree. What had he told Lenarian about him? Reed wondered.

"I require Mr. Reed's assistance on the bridge tomorrow, Your Highness," T'Pol said in a sedate voice.

Reed nodded in confirmation as Archer looked from one officer to the other, puzzled. T'Pol didn't flinch. For one who professed the superiority of her lack of emotions, Reed found her oddly compassionate to the moments of weakness in which her fellow crewmates needed rescuing from each other.

Lenarian turned a smoky glance upon Archer. "We shall speak of other things, then, friend Jonathan."

Archer took a step closer and grinned. "I suppose we shall."

Bowing his head, Reed moved away from them. Outside the mess hall, he unfastened the collar to his hated dress uniform, and made his way to his quarters.

We never made love in this bed, he thought. He thought of the way Archer and Lenarian had stood together, so closely. More than battleships could be explored, Lenarian had seemed to imply. Hanging the uniform in the closet, he wondered if Archer would sleep alone tonight.

Reaching into the desk drawer, he pulled out a bottle and poured a shot of Scotch. The chess games and the music were gone, but he had a drink, some memories, and desire that still stole his sleep, after so many nights alone. He was damn well aware that he had only himself to blame for this checkmate of his heart.

*

A tangle of sheets and sweat accompanied Reed to the chiming door. His heart pounded. Yes. God, yes, Jon, he thought. I was wrong.

Opening the door, he stared up into the Tenlakan's eyes. Lenarian was wrapped in a black silk robe, almost reminding Reed of a shroud for burial. Involuntarily, he pictured Archer wrapped in that shroud and shivered.

Without a word, Reed retreated, not understanding the man's appearance. Turning on the lights, he pointed to the chair.

Lenarian sat down and folded his arms. His large fist was curled around something.

"He is a good man," he said, puzzled.

Reed's shoulders slumped as he caught the scent of Archer's cologne from the man in the chair. "Of course," he said, in a defeated voice, realizing that Archer really had moved beyond him.

The alien lifted his tangled bronze hair out of his sea green eyes, burning brightly as Archer's eyes had that night. "I offered him my battleship. He refused."

Shifting the sheets around his waist, Reed shrugged. The battleship was big, but it hadn't won Jonathan Archer's heart the way Enterprise had.

Lenarian opened his fist. In his palm lay the black rook. Reed blinked.

The prince's green eyes sparked fire. "I will take you off the game board. I have seen you in his eyes. He'll come for you."

Too late, Reed realized his danger. Backing into his desk, he scrambled for the phase pistol he kept hidden there, but Lenarian threw the rook against his shoulder and hurled himself at Reed.

"Now," he hissed in Reed's ear.

A thunderstorm of golden light swallowed them, and Reed blacked out.

*

The tiny chip on the top of the castle stared at Archer like an accusation. The comm broke his concentration. "Captain, we're being hailed."

Snatching the rook off the desk, he tucked it into its usual spot in his pocket. Entering the bridge, he stared at T'Pol.

"The Tenlakan ship still has its weapons online," she said impassively. "It is maintaining its course and speed."

Archer narrowed his eyes at Sato. "Put him on."

Lenarian's pensive face filled the viewscreen. "You realize my engineers gave me everything I need to know about your systems when they helped repair your ship."

Hearing Trip's disgusted snort behind him, Archer nodded. "That's the problem with taking help from strangers. You never know when you're going to get decked by that helping hand. What do you want, Your Highness?"

The Tenlakan leaned back in his chair. "I need allies like you in my bid for the throne."

"So you kidnap one of my officers to gain my allegiance?" Archer asked incredulously.

Lenarian smiled. "You are the one who taught me your game of chess, Jonathan. You refused my first offer. I can take more of your officers from you, until you concede the game. I know that once you give your word to me, your bond is mine."

Archer paced in front of his chair. "How do I know I can trust you? My God, Lenarian, how do I even know my officer is still alive?"

That had been the most sickening part of the chase. Their scans couldn't penetrate the larger ship's defenses.

At a nod from the prince, two guards dragged Reed into view and dumped him at Lenarian's feet. He leaned down and pulled Reed's chin up. The armory officer's eyes were black with rage, and his face was bruised.

"Are you alright, Lieutenant?" Archer asked, careful to keep his anger, at himself and Lenarian, out of his voice. Reed was a victim of Archer's stupidity. He should never have confided in the alien prince, but he'd spoken Reed's name when he should have said Lenarian's, during a long moment in the royal garden. Rubbing his wrist, Reed stared up at Lenarian with a bitter smile. "Do you remember the first few times we played chess, sir?"

Archer's throat tightened. "Yes." Reed had lost game after game, patiently watching him react.

"Play like I did," Reed said softly, staring straight at him.

For a moment, Archer caught a glimpse of the man he'd loved that one night. Then a cold mask slipped over Reed's face, and the armory officer rose to his feet. Lenarian's fist flew out, and the comm transmission faded.

Several heartbeats passed.

"What did Lieutenant Reed mean when he advised you to play like he did?" T'Pol asked.

Archer walked over to his chair and dropped into it, feeling a thousand years old.

"Ensign, get us out of here," he said, folding his arms.

"Captain!" Trip said, walking over to him. "We can't leave him here."

Taking the rook out of his pocket, Archer held it up to the other man. "I know you gave me the set, but have you ever played chess?"

Trip shrugged. "Sure."

Archer stared at the battered castle. "The rook is the piece that has the freedom to move forwards, backwards, or sideways over any number of empty squares. We're just giving Lieutenant Reed room to maneuver."

Trip retreated, clearly not satisfied with the answer. However, it didn't take a master tactician to see that there was no use in arguing with Archer's decision. Archer clutched the rook, hearing Reed say the words again. "Play like I did." He hoped it wasn't a death sentence.

*

Archer's tactical retreat puzzled Lenarian as much as it did the Enterprise crew. The prince sent a number of messages after the ship, but Archer gave Ensign Sato strict orders to refuse the hails.

They took up position just outside of Tenlakan territory and waited. And waited. The days turned into two weeks, then three.

T'Pol and Trip had the crew work to reconfigure everything the Royal Tenlakan Engineering Corps had gotten their hands on during their brief stay.

Reed's successors at the tactical station grew used to serving on the bridge during the day shifts.

Porthos snored quietly on the other pillow on the bed, while his master spent night after night, pacing in his quarters.

Finally, late one night, Archer packed up the chess set and took it to Reed's quarters. Not playing the game, the one with living pieces, was the most difficult task Archer had ever set himself. He was the king in this chess match, and he couldn't make a move.

He knelt in the darkness, holding the rook so hard that its edges cut his hand.

"Bridge to Captain Archer," T'Pol's voice said over the comm.

Looking up, he wiped his blood on his pants. "What is it?" he asked raggedly.

"There is a small ship approaching us at Warp 5. It is Tenlakan."

He swallowed hard. "Raise the hull plating and bring up the weapons. I'm on my way. Archer out."

Stumbling to his feet, he made his way to the bridge. T'Pol's gaze flickered to his bloody hand. Grimacing, he stuck the rook in his pocket and self-consciously sank into his chair.

"Report."

Sato hurriedly assumed her station and studied the console. "It's hailing us." Archer's stomach tightened. "Put it on."

Malcolm Reed stared at him warily. Archer bolted out of his chair. "Lieutenant."

Tilting his head, Reed sighed. "Captain. Permission to come aboard, sir? The Tenlakans can't get rid of me fast enough."

"Sounds like the Malcolm Reed we know and love," said Trip, pausing at Archer's shoulder.

Archer studied the man on the viewscreen. He looked fine. Just fine. "Permission granted." He hesitated a moment, then asked, "How did you manage to escape?"

Reed smiled ironically. "I gave Lenarian what he wanted, Captain," he said in a brittle voice. "I made him a king."

Archer caught and held Reed's stare for a long moment before his heart started pounding again.

*

Archer pushed another slice of toast at Reed.

The dog looked at them wistfully.

"Oh bloody hell," Reed muttered. He tore off the edge of the toast and dropped it to the floor. "Is he like this every morning?"

Archer laughed. "Usually I'm not privileged enough to have breakfast in bed."

Leaning back against the pillows, Reed smiled. "I could get used to this."

Archer shook his head. He picked up the tray and moved it to the table. "I don't think so. Didn't you tell me last night that Lenarian thought you were a terrible lap dog?"

Reed choked. Grinning, Archer handed him his orange juice. After swallowing, Reed sighed. "But I'm a steady tactician. You and Lenarian both have to admit that much." He winced. "I'm not proud of what I did, meddling with their politics. But it felt like such a grand game. I wish I could tell you how it felt."

He set the glass on the nightstand and picked up the rook. Tapping it against his cheek, he stared into Archer's eyes questioningly.

"I'm sorry, Malcolm," Archer said softly. "About everything that went wrong between us, and for going to Lenarian the way I did. You know you can tell me anything."

Reed closed his eyes. "I know." He opened his eyes and took Archer's hand. "The hardest thing wasn't telling you to leave. I had to fight myself to find the courage to come back to you. I knew you'd be waiting for me."

Archer knelt on the bed. He realized that Reed might never tell him the full story of what had happened to him among the Tenlakans, but he loved the image of Reed toppling a kingdom in order to return to his captain.

Reed ran the rook up Archer's arm, and stared into his eyes. "Why the rook instead of the knight? I've always fancied myself quite the knight in shining armor."

Archer grinned. "You would," he teased. He put his head on Reed's shoulder. "The knight is limited in his moves."

"The king is weak," Reed said, tracing the rook across his chest.

Archer wrapped his arm around his waist. "The king has his defenders, Malcolm. I always know where you are."

"I have your back," Reed said softly.

"And you love me."

The weight of the rook lifted from his stomach. Reed kissed him. "Yes. Always." Archer closed his eyes. The game would not end.

~the end~