5.

'Computer freeze program.'

'It won't work Jonesy.' Darren looked up at him with an expression that Daniel couldn't figure out. It looked part sad, part regretful. But not regret at what he had done, what had occurred between them, but perhaps regret that he had been found out in this manner.

'Erm, Captain Jones?' Lee's voice was hesitant obviously confused at hearing two voices answer him.

'Yes Mr Novak, carry on.' Daniel was already getting out of bed and retrieving his clothing.

'I've located Captain Hayes Sir. It would appear that he is in your holosuite.'

'Yes I know,' Daniel ground out, 'thank you Lee.'

'Right…ermm ok… Novak out.'

'Why?' Daniel rounded on Darren, 'What sick mind fuck are you trying to pull on me now?'

'Did you mean it?'

'Huh?' Daniel mentally kicked himself. Why was Darren constantly able to do this to him? To rob him of all power of logic and reason.

'Did you mean it when you said you loved me?'

'Of course I did you arsehole, though fuck knows why and you still haven't answered my question.' Daniel went and stood with his back to the door, his arms folded across his chest, his face set, 'You have about thirty seconds before I forget diplomacy and sling your scrawny arse out of the nearest airlock.'

'I meant it too.'

'Darren will you stop talking in fucking riddles and for goodness sake cover yourself up.' Daniel stepped forward and flung a discarded bed throw in the general direction of the unabashedly naked figure still lying prone on the bed.

Darren sat up on his heels and put out his arms towards Daniel. 'I meant it when I said I loved you. That's why I did this. I had to know, I told myself that I felt nothing but now I know otherwise. I still love you Daniel. I have never stopped loving you.'

‘That doesn’t change the fact that you hacked into my holo-program and then gained unauthorised access to my suite.’

‘Right and you haven’t been anywhere near my logs?’

Daniel blushed and looked guilty.

‘Might have known.’ Darren continued.

‘You’re still running ‘Ganymede’.’

‘Of course I am, it’s my fucking program after all.’

‘With me?’ Daniel enquired softly.

It was Darren’s turn to look guilty and fidget with his fingers. ‘Yeah.’ He whispered.

Slowly Daniel advanced back towards the bed. His mind racing. What they were doing here was wrong. He should never have written this damn program. He should have left it behind him when he left Darren and the UNSC. But now faced with the objective of his fantasies all rational thought left him.

'How did you…your beautiful hair…what did you do?' Daniel ran his fingers through Darren's dark hair.

'I raided your ship's kitchen. Vhaliorian katli root, crushed and applied as a paste. It stank like a Mecurian's fart but it did the trick,' he paused and raised his eyes to peer up at his fringe, 'it washes out,' a grimace, 'at least I hope it does.'

'Me too,' Daniel curled a strand around his index finger, 'I kind of quite liked the blond, it suited you.'

Darren shrugged. 'It was time for a change so I thought I would go back to my natural colour.'

'Well that's true.' Daniel's eyes flickered down to Darren's groin and then back up again to meet a cheeky grin.

‘What are we doing Doze? Is this just a casual fuck for old times sake? I can’t take any more of your games.’

Darren shook his head emphatically. ‘No, it’s not. At least not for me. What we did felt so right. I’d forgotten how right it feels, how good you feel. Daniel,’ he slid his arms round Daniel’s waist and looked up at him, capturing Daniel in an intense gaze, ‘I want us to try again.’

‘It won’t work Darren.’ Daniel told him sadly but making no move to break the embrace, ‘You are still as ambitious as ever. Youngest admiral in the fleet I believe your goal was. It was always your ambition above all else including me. You made your choice and I can’t see either of us changing our minds. I’m happy doing what I do now, I have no desire to go back to the Corp, all their rules and regulations, structure. It was slowly killing me but you, you thrive on it. Constantly meeting alien dignitaries, all the pomp and pageantry, you love it so don’t try and deny it.

‘I’d give it all up for you.’ Darren replied, his tone indicating that he was sincere but Daniel just shook his head.

‘You couldn’t it you tried and besides,’ Daniel took a deep breath, ‘I could never ask you to, it means too much to you.’

‘You mean more, you mean everything.’ Darren gently moved his hands to rest on either side of Daniel’s face, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs, ‘you mean the universe to me Danny.’ Slowly, hesitantly he pulled Daniel down to him, pressing his lips to the younger man’s and Daniel found himself unable to resist, he had never been able to resist Darren. Such soft lips, such love poured out between them.

For a moment Daniel found himself wavering in his resolve, drowning in the taste of his lover, remembering all that has passed between them. Then, drawing back, he rested his forehead against Darren’s.

‘No Darren I can’t. We can’t.’

‘Danny…’ Darren purred, seeking to reclaim his lips, ‘why not?’

…and as if on cue a voice came over the intercom. ‘Captain Hayes?’

‘Yes Mr Lewis.’ Darren replied wearily.

‘The search team have completed their survey Sir and the ship is clean. We will be ready to depart at 21:00.’

‘That’s why.’ Daniel told him.