7.

Daniel sat in his study fastidiously studying the flight plans for the next few weeks. They had some supplies to drop off at an out station and then they would continue onto Minerva where they were due to rendezvous with a scientific team in order transport them back to Pluto. Once there they would pick up yet more supplies and the process would start all over again. It was a process that Daniel enjoyed, ok it might not quite have the prestige of serving with the Corp but the lifestyle suited him.

Looking up from the screenpad in front of him Daniel's gaze fell on the time display embedded in one corner of his desk. The small blue lights taunted him mercilessly. 20:46. In less then fifteen minutes time Darren and his team would depart. In less than fifteen minutes he would be gone from his life again and who knew when their paths would cross again.

He was still unsure about the whole situation.

The rational part of him said that it was for the best. That what they had could never be again and it was useless to think any other way. It was this 'rationally' that had prompted him earlier to delete his favourite 'Darren' program. Erase the past and move on.

But however much he tried to deny it there was another part of him, the part that had loved Darren, mind, body and soul, that kept whispering Darren's words to him,. 'I meant it. I want to be with you, whatever it takes.' Had he really meant it, was it just possible that they might be able to find a way to be together again? Was it worth the risk? Darren had hurt him badly and it had taken him a long time to recover from his indifference.

Daniel sighed and cradled his aching head in his hands. He just didn't know anything anymore. 20:51. The sooner the search team were off his ship the better, at least then the decision would be beyond his control and his life could return to normal. He would wipe the rest of his programs that contained Darren images and finally put it all behind him.

The entrance pad to his study chimed and Daniel groaned out loud wearily. What now? Were his crew really so incompetent tonight that he couldn't even leave them alone for a few hours to run things without him?

'Come.' He called out, the interruption only serving to strength his resolve, this was where he belonged, this was his ship and he was her Captain. He wasn't about to give her up on a lovelorn whim that might well turn sour again after a few weeks.

That resolution evaporated the minute that Daniel saw whom it was that had disturbed his solitude.

'Darren?' The note of query due to the fact that man who entered his inner sanctum wasn't dressed as he might have expected in the familiar pale blue jumpsuit but instead in a pair of dark brown trousers and a loose unbleached linen tunic that reached to just above his knees.

'I told you I meant it.' Darren stated, his eyes hesitantly searching out Daniel's own.

'Meant what?' Daniel inquired cautiously.

'That I would give everything up for you if that was what you wanted.' He came round and leant on the desk beside where Daniel was sat. 'Is that what you want Danny?' he asked softly.

'You mean?' Daniel waved his hand up and down Darren's apparel.

'Yes,' Darren took Daniel's hands in his and drew him to his feet, 'I've resigned my commission, effective immediately.'

'Darren…' Daniel begun.

'Sshhh,' Darren silenced him with a finger to his lips.

'But what are you going to do now?' he whispered.

Darren's face broke into a faint grin and he raised his eyebrows expectantly.

'I will do anything you want me to if it just means that we can be together. I'll be you under cook fourth class, I'll clean out your radiation ducts. Daniel I want you to let me stay.'

Daniel didn't know what to say. Darren had been serious. He had just given up everything he had ever dreamed of, worked so hard for and he had given it up for him.

'Danny?' Darren said, dropping his hands and stepping back. Disappointment clearly evident in his features. 'You didn't mean it did you?' he said quietly, 'I don't mean anything to you anymore.'

Belatedly Daniel's brain caught up with the rest of his body and reaching out he pulled Darren into his arms. 'I meant every word,' he murmured against Darren's black and blond streaked hair.

He lifted his head and gazed tenderly into Darren's eyes, 'Every single word. I love you Darren.' He brushed his lips over Darren's just gently at first but the pair of hands that crept up to rest at the base of his neck quickly brought him into a deeper kiss. A deeper kiss that he sighed into, felt Darren part his lips and grant his tongue entrance. A kiss once more full of sweetness and love.

'So I can stay?' Darren said huskily when they eventually, and reluctantly, parted.

'No.' Daniel shook his head, noting with amusement the look of consternation that over came the visage that his fingers were now gracefully ghosting over.

'But I thought…'

One hand left Darren's face and depressed the intercom call button. 'Mr Carey please report to my study immediately.'

'On my way Captain.' Came the disembodied reply.

Turning back to Darren, Daniel kissed the tip of his nose lovingly. 'You are far too good to ever do anything as menial as working for me.'

The entrance pad chimed once more.

'Enter.' Daniel commanded, his hands dropping down to loosely rest on Darren's waist.

'Captain?' Ben enquired, tilting his head minutely in question and barely disguised surprise.

'Ben how would you like to Captain your own ship.'

'Erm, yeah, one day, yeah.'

'Howabout now?'

'I'm not sure I follow you.' Ben said.

'Me neither.' Darren muttered beside Daniel.

Darren smiled and took a deep breath. 'Mr Carey I am hereby promoting you to the rank of Captain and handing complete control of the 'Selene' over to you.' He dropped his tone to something much less formal. 'Ben I'm taking an extended period of leave, I have no idea when I will be back, if ever and I want you to look after my girl for me. Will you do that for me? You're a good starman, you are more than capable of handling her and more importantly you've been a very good friend, I know she will be in good hands with you.'

'It would be a pleasure and an honour…Daniel.' Ben smirked slightly.

'Good…well…' Daniel temporarily parted himself from Darren and picking up the screenpad from the desk handed it over to the new Captain. 'Those are the flight details for the next few weeks, I think you will find that they are all in order.' He glanced down at the time display. 'Now your first duty as 'Selene's' new Captain is to get that damn search team off of my ship.'

'Consider it done.' Ben said with a huge grin.

'And then perhaps you would be so kind as to allow me use of one of the transport pods.'

'Hey it's still your ship Dan. I'll see that it's ready for you within the hour.' And with that Ben departed leaving the two lovers alone again.

'So my love,' Daniel asked as his hands once more came to rest on Darren's back, 'where shall we go first?'

'You know my beautiful one it is going to take three weeks to get to Venus.' Darren wrapped his arms around Daniel's neck and straddled his lap. ‘However are we going to occupy ourselves until then?'

Smiling Daniel lifted him to his feet and taking him by the hand led him toward the rear of the transport pod. Towards a sunken area covered with a shimmering golden material and filled with dozen of large cushions all covered in the same.

'Oh I'm sure we'll think of something…'