Fic: Higher Than Hope (Sex Corps, Jeff/Jensen) (2/4)
Part 1
Part 2
Captain Chris Kane glared at his ship's monitor, as if he could will the appearance of Jensen's tracer on the grid map. They'd lost the trail back on Tanvir, but the kid had had backups installed right onto his body. There should be something. Fuck, even if Jensen were dead, the god damned homing device should still be working.
"Kane, it's been three months." Steve's voice came from the corridor, as if he didn't want to venture out on the bridge. "You don't think I've tried everything I could?"
Kane swiveled around in the Captain's chair. "Then we gotta try something else. He can't have just disappeared."
"It's a big galaxy. People disappear all the time."
But not Jensen. Kane had pulled that kid out of the fire too many times. Somehow he thought the mouthy scut would always land on his feet, no matter what happened. He just couldn't accept that he'd seen the last of him.
Kane startled as he felt Steve's hand on his shoulder. He hadn't noticed the other man coming closer.
"Look, we might have tried everything on the network, but there's one thing we haven't. You've got contacts in the Confed who know people who know people. We could actually talk to them."
He straightened in his chair, meeting Steve's eyes to see if he were serious about that. Kane nodded. "We can do that. I'll make up a list."
***
Jensen didn't expect the camera - that tiny hovering unblinking eye, staring at him - when they pulled off the hood he'd been forced to wear since they dragged him out of his cage. He wasn't alone. A quick glance, and he'd learned to be quick, showed him five other slaves knelt in the row next to him. Mike was just to his right, giving Jensen a piercing look before focusing his attention to the front.
It wasn't easy to look at his friend, not after the past weeks of being forced to hurt each other. The scars from that crisscrossed all down Jensen's back. At this point he was thankful he just didn't have to see them, unlike the burn marks that traced up Mike's left side. He swallowed hard and tried to focus on whatever the hell Isaacs wanted from them now. What the hell was the camera for?
He got the answer soon enough. Ryan led the group of Confed troops guarding them, all wearing a variation of the normal Confed force uniform - buckles and straps, black and turquoise. He hadn't thought Ryan was military, but this was the first he'd seen her so dressed.
"All of you." She gripped Jensen's hair first and forced his head up and back. "State your name and rank for the camera."
If they were about to do what Jensen thought they were…A pit of ice formed in his belly. Things had been quiet from the Confed recently, but an action like this would force the UP into total war.
He stared at the blinking camera. "Ackles, Jensen. Captain," he choked through dry lips. They never gave him enough to drink, it seemed. Everything was just enough to keep him alive, but barely comfortable.
Ryan went down the line, slapping those who didn't cooperate, although for Mike she just forced him to show the ruined remnants of his tongue. Then she moved in front of them, the camera tracking her.
"This is the cream of your resistance? You cannot defeat us in battle so you send whores against the Confederation, to attack us where we sleep. We've known about your stupid little sex corps for years. And like all things, we can do it better. Our own bedroom warriors have been placed in the highest levels of your government. Think about that the next time you turn out the lights." She tilted her head. "We will no longer sit by idly. Every one of your scuts we find we will take for ourselves. Don't even try to retrieve them. Just to show you we're serious…" Ryan nodded at one of the guards.
It happened so quickly. Jensen hadn't even been expecting it, though he probably should have. The soldier pulled out a large knife (later he wondered, why a knife, why not a laser rifle?) and used it to slit Mike's throat.
Jensen caught him as he fell, eyes wide open in shock, blood pumping from his lacerated neck. "Mike," he gasped, unable to help himself. Mike's blood covered him, staining Jensen's hands red. It pooled on the floor, all around the other horrified scuts, who crawled away. Jensen couldn't get away, the stuff surrounded him, sticking on his flesh, the last bit of life Mike would ever live.
***
Back in his cell later Jensen curled around himself, trying to stop shaking. At least the tears at stopped. He needed to try to sleep. They didn't give him long at all before the next session, whether it was in Isaac's lab or one of the lounges. But every time he closed his eyes Jensen saw red.
He hadn't let himself think about Jeff since he'd gotten here. He'd needed the focus to survive and it just plain hurt too much. For the first time Jensen really thought he might not make it out of this alive. All his plans for the future, for him and Jeff, for going back to Earth and watching Jared get married, all that ended the moment he saw Mike's dead eyes looking up at him.
Jensen pictured Jeff's arms around him, holding him. He could pretend this cage was just another scene, something he'd do willingly for his lover, his true master. Jeff would come get him any moment now and wrap Jensen up in his warm embrace. For just a little bit, Jensen could make it all go away.
***
Jared walked through the hospital hallway humming under his breath. He'd just assisted on the surgery of a little girl, who'd now be able to walk because of him and Doctor Graham. This was why he'd become a doctor in the first place. It made all the late nights and stress worth it.
He grinned at the nurses at their station, giving them a little wave before he headed toward the doctor's lounge. With luck he'd get some lunch and a little nap before going back on duty. Although Jared felt a little too wired to sleep, if he didn't try now he wouldn't be able to make it through the evening shift.
The lounge door slid shut behind him. Jared was surprised to find a crowd in the room. When he entered, all conversation died. Elisha had tears in her eyes as she came up to him and grasped his arms. "Oh, Jared. I'm so sorry."
"What's going on?" He took her by her shoulders, trying to see if something was wrong with her.
"On the media feed." The doctor who spoke Jared didn't know. He stepped out of the way and revealed the news broadcast the others had hidden with their bodies.
"Start it from the beginning," Brian choked out.
Jared saw the perky face of Katie Couric, one of the reporters for the UP Earth network. She was dressed in a light gray suit, sitting behind a desk, but she looked about ready to burst out of her chair.
"What you are about to see is footage exclusively provided to UPEN by the Confed ambassador directly. As of this broadcast, no one seems able to contact the ambassador. I should warn you, the images you are about to see are extremely graphic. No children should be present for this…"
The hologram fizzled, giving way to a 2-D display. That's why it took Jared a moment to realize exactly what he was seeing. "No," he whispered, seeing Jensen's face among the Confed's hostages.
When the blood started to flow, Jared could only give thanks it wasn't Jensen's. He stepped back, but the broadcast kept going.
"Now," Katie Couric said, still with that earnest perky face. "We are trying to determine the extent of the threat from the Confed. UPEN has reporters investigating the claim of this 'sex corps' as well as the individuals now held prisoner by the Confed. The question everyone is asking, of course, is will this increase hostilities in space? As you know, the last conflict…"
"Turn it off," Jared said. He had to wet his lips and say it again before anyone understood him. "Turn the damn thing off."
"Jared," Elisha still had hold of one of his arms. "Are you all right?"
He couldn't answer her. "I have to go. I just…" Jared turned around and left the lounge, unable to speak.
***
Jeff's hands were shaking as he walked into the tent that served as his temporary office down on 328. He stopped in mid step when he saw the Captain was sitting at his desk. Devine never left the ship. It went against all protocol.
She pulled something from under the desk and let the glass bottle thump on the table. "I brought the good whiskey."
"You saw it then," Jeff said. He let the flap fall closed behind him and dropped into one of the extra chairs facing his own desk.
Devine poured herself a shot into a tiny little glass and pushed the bottle towards him. Jeff took a hefty swig, closing his eyes as it burned down his throat. This wouldn't solve anything. The pain would still be there when the buzz from the alcohol dimmed and Jeff would have a headache in addition to a broken heart. But right now he didn't give a damn.
"Feed made it to Harmony. We never should have set up a channel on their tele."
"Yeah, well, it's too late to change it now." Jeff curled his fingers around the neck of the bottle. He concentrated on how the glass felt against his skin, the warmth stirring in his belly.
"This going to cause a problem with their Queen, Commander?"
Right then Jeff hated Devine. He appreciated the liquor, and that she came down here to speak with him. But if the most important thing was the fucking UP's relations with Harmony, then Jeff didn't want to talk to her.
"No." Jeff shook his head. "If they didn't hate the Confed before, they sure as fuck do now. Jensen is pretty darn popular in Harmony." He swallowed more whiskey, feeling the buzz finally hit his head. "How…how old is that feed?"
Devine downed her shot and then stared at the empty glass. "Nobody knows. Would be just like the Confed to string us along and then. . ." She trailed off and when she looked up at Jeff her eyes were wet.
And then kill all the prisoners. Jeff curled in on himself, unable to even consider the possibility that Jensen was dead. "What." He cleared his throat. "How is the UP going to respond?"
She pulled out a tablet and read the words from the private message she received from the admiral himself.
Jeff threw the bottle across the tent. It hit the cloth before clunking onto the ground, brown liquid seeping into the earth.
***
"You gotta be fucking kidding me."
Kane knew those words didn't bode any good news. Whenever Steve swore, Kane knew he meant serious business. "What's the problem, kid?"
Steve dropped his head in his hands, letting his earpiece fall onto the deck. "I've been following all the news feeds, trying to see if I can find any leads on Jensen."
Kane slid into the chair, bracing himself for bad news. "And?"
"The Confed is using them all as hostages." Steve flicked a switch, displaying the feed on the ship's monitors.
Biting his lip, Kane watched the feed, not speaking until it came to its bloody conclusion. He cleared his throat. "So just how long we got before the UP sends the armada this way?"
"That's just it, there's nothing in the data I've collected that shows the UP is marshalling any response at all. It's like they're ignoring it completely!"
"Fuckers," Kane spat. "Don't care when it's a coupla scuts dying."
"Yeah, well, I care, damn it." Steve plugged his earpiece back in. "And we're going to find him, with or without the UP."
***
"Jared?" Adrianne called his name as she opened the apartment door. She listened for a moment, hearing only the muted voices of the holo projector.
She found him curled up on the bed. He looked so small somehow, which was one hell of an illusion since she knew exactly how big Jared was. Jared rubbed at his knee absently as he watched the repeated broadcast. Dri wondered if it was bothering him, but she knew better than to ask. Not now.
"Turn it off, Jared," she said softly, coming to sit next to him on the bed. Dri ran her hand through his soft hair. "It's not going to help him if you keep torturing yourself."
He turned and buried his face in her shoulder, pulling her close. She could feel him trembling against her body. "It's my fault, Dri. He never would have joined up if I hadn't been sick."
She stroked his hair and let him have it out. Dri bit her lip as she watched the images in the holo viewer, how the camera seemed to zoom in on Jensen's face as the body fell towards him. His eyes widened, and he shouted something the feed hadn't picked up. Jensen just looked terrible. Too thin, with dark bruises under his eyes. How long had they had him?
"None of it is your fault," she said. Dri groped around with her free hand till she found the remote and snapped the damn thing off. "If you have to blame someone blame the damn Confed."
"It's not that simple." Jared pulled away and wiped at his eyes. He pushed himself out of bed and walked into the bathroom. Dri watched as he splashed water on his face.
"I tried comming you from work," she leaned against the doorway. "But you didn't pick up." Dri hadn't wanted him to see the footage alone. But it had been far too late to warn him.
"Shut it off." Jared patted his face dry, wiping his hands with exaggerated care. "Couldn’t deal with everyone calling me to see if I was okay."
Because Jared wasn't okay. Dri knew his brother meant everything to her fiancé. They were the only family each other had. The only thing she could do was offer her support. "Jared…" she started as he walked past her, picking up the remote again. "Don't watch it again…"
"Wasn't going to." Jared pulled up the comm menu instead. "I'm going to get General Ferris on the line and I'm going to get her to give me some damn answers!"
She didn't get a chance to respond before the hologram changed, showing the icon that meant a call was in progress. Adrianne just watched as a person in the dark red uniform of the Sex Corps answered.
"I need to speak with General Ferris," Jared told the aide. "Tell her it's Jared Ackles."
Dri caught the flinch in the features of the aide before a smooth mask covered his face. "General Ferris is in meetings for the rest of the evening. I can have her call you back?"
Jared's fists clenched and he took a deep breath to calm himself. "What's the soonest I can get in to see her?"
The aide seemed surprised at the request. "Um. She has about fifteen minutes before her first meeting tomorrow morning at 0900…"
"I'll be there," Jared snapped. He cut the connection before the aide could argue.
"I'll check the shuttle times," Dri offered. "You should pack if we're going to spend the night in DC."
Jared turned. "We?"
"I'm not going to let you go alone."
A sad smile crossed his face. Jared swept her into an embrace and held her close. "Thank you."
***
Jared tapped his thigh absently as they waited just outside Ferris' office. He'd been here before, years ago when he'd asked Ferris to be the first to tell him if anything ever happened to Jensen. The entire Atlantic base had been home once, more familiar to him than the house he'd grown up in. Here he'd relearned how to walk, went to high school, watched Jensen become a soldier. Jared realized he needed to call Sam Smith, see if she was on base. He ached to see her, talk to her about all of this.
Adrianne touched his arm and he sat up straight, startled. She pointed to where Ferris' aide had just come out the office door. "I think you're up."
Jared stood and straightened his shirt. As he moved toward the door the aide said, "Remember, only fifteen minutes. The press conference is at nine."
Jared wanted to tell the little runt that he planned to take exactly as long as he needed to. And then maybe shove the kid against the wall. Instead he only nodded and passed through the open doorway, the door sliding shut behind him.
General Ferris sat behind a glass and steel desk, the surface covered with data pads and tablets, a holo unit on the corner. She was scribbling something with a stylus and didn't even look up when he entered.
"You promised me you'd be the first to tell me if something happened to Jensen," he burst out, not caring if he sounded like a whiney five year old.
Ferris's snapped up. "Jared." She stood and came around the desk.
Jared stuck out his hand to prevent her from doing anything so annoying as hugging him. He didn't want comfort from her, he wanted assurances.
Ferris shook his hand, cupping her free hand over their joined grip for just a moment. "I would have contacted you. But the damn media got a hold of the footage before we did." She gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk. Jared sat, thinking the cushions were far more comfortable out in the waiting area.
She moved to sit back behind her desk. "Damn Confed sent it to the media on purpose. Hoping to incite a panic."
Jared didn't give a damn who panicked, just as long as they brought his brother home. "So what's the plan?" he asked. "How are we going to get him back?"
"Jared," she said. Ferris took a deep breath before continuing. "We don't even know how old that footage is. By now, Jensen is probably dead."
"He's not." Jared nearly jumped out of the chair. He held on to the arms, fingers digging into the cheap fake leather.
"Even if he's alive…" She folded her hands in front of her, looking at him with soft eyes. "He's probably deep in the Confed. There's no way we'd get a team inside, especially since they're looking for scuts."
"You can't do that. You can't just leave him there!"
"It wasn't my decision to make!" Ferris snapped back at him, sounding more like herself. "The joint chiefs have been meeting since the damn video hit the feeds. They're going to dismantle the sex corps. We've got to protect the people we have left!"
"I thought loyalty meant something," Jared said. "Jensen would never have left anyone behind."
Ferris picked up a tablet from her desk and handed it out to him. "You're right. He wouldn't have."
Jared took the tablet and skimmed the screen. "What the hell is this?" The words blurred before his eyes. This couldn't mean what he thought it did.
"Captain Ackles put some measures in place in case anything happened to him while on duty."
"But I thought he sold the ranch." Jensen had done whatever he could to pay for Jared's medical care.
Ferris shook her head. "He turned the property over to the Corps. We've been collecting the profits ever since. But now…it's yours."
All things considered, Jared would damn rather have Jensen back. "This doesn't make everything all better," he snapped.
"I don't expect it to." Ferris seemed to sink into her chair. Her face looked narrow and pinched, with dark rings under her eyes. "But it's all I have to give you, Jared."
This wasn't over. Jared knew he'd find a way to bring Jensen home, even if he had to do it himself. "Thank you for your time, General."
"I have to be there for the press conference. But you call me if you need anything, Jared."
Jared knew he wouldn't.
When he got back to the waiting area Dri was on her comm, plugged into her ear and talking in a low voice. Jared felt a pang of guilt. She'd taken off from work to come here with him and he knew she probably had more important things to do.
"I gotta go, I'll call you back," she said, touching her earpiece. "Jared, what happened?"
He took her by the arm and propelled her out of the office area. Last thing he wanted was giving that obnoxious aide the satisfaction of listening to their conversation. Jared punched the button for the elevator before he finally spoke. "They're not going after him. They're not going after any of them. Might just dismantle the damn sex corps."
"Jared…"
He waved the tablet at her. "Oh but the good news is that Jensen left me our childhood home." Jared threw it against the wall of the elevator when the damn doors finally opened. It bounced and clattered to the floor, none the worse for wear.
Dri stepped into the car and scooped it up. "Stars, Jared. The things your brother did for you…"
He punched the button sending them back down. "I know."
Jared leaned his head against the wall of the car. It felt cool against his forehead. He remembered that he'd wanted to talk to Sam. If anyone knew what to do in this fucked up situation, it would be her. He pulled his portable out of his pocket and punched in her code.
"Jared!" her voice came over his comm sounding excited. "Oh, Jared."
"Hi Sam. I'm at the base. Are you around?"
"Still stationed here sweetheart. You want to meet up for brunch?"
Sure, why the hell not? He still needed to eat. "Not on base, though." No, he couldn't bear to be around the cadets and other soldiers, all the time being reminded of the sacrifices Jensen had made.
"Do you know Amy's Place over the bridge? It's an outdoor café, nice view of the ocean. I'll meet you there in twenty minutes."
"See you, Sam."
***
Sam hugged him the moment Jared walked into the gated terrace of the café. He could stand it from her. She was the closest thing he and Jensen had to family.
Jared pulled away after a moment and cough. "Sam, do you remember Dri?"
Sam smiled at his fiancé. "Of course I do. Nice to see you again, Adrianne."
Dri hugged her too. "Glad to see you, too."
"Come on, I have a table for us." Sam led the way, pulling out an intricately patterned chair around a delicate looking glass table. He could put his fist through it if he wasn't careful.
The menu appeared on the table, holograms just under the surface. Jared picked a few things at random, not hungry, and not sure if he could even eat once the food got there.
"We just got back from seeing the general," Dri was saying to Sam. Thank god someone was able to carry on their part of the conversation.
"They're not even going to look for him," Jared blurted.
Sam stopped tapping at her menu. "What?"
"There's a press conference going on right about now. I'm sure they'll show it on the feed." Jared didn't know if this place had a holo projector. It wasn't a damn sports bar. "Apparently it's too risky. They're even talking about shutting down the sex corps."
Sam frowned, her brows coming together rather seriously. "Not going to happen. We're too important."
"Sam," Jared said. "We have to do something. I can't just leave him out there, never knowing what happened to him."
He slipped one hand into his pocket, fingering the tablet. What the hell did Jensen think he was going to do with the Ackles Ranch? Right now he wanted to shake his brother, tell Jensen he never should have gone back on active duty. What use was the ranch without Jensen there to see it with him?
"I have a few contacts on the border," Sam said. "I can contact them, but Jared, you understand I can't do anything officially. Not if I want to be in a position to help you."
Just her willingness to help meant everything. "That's great, Sam, that would be really great."
Dri pursed her lips and appeared deep in thought. "Who could overrule the Generals' decision on this? I mean, would it take the entire UP Senate or just one Senator?"
Of course, Dri worked for the Earth senate office, but Jared didn't think that gave her the influence to get the senator to bring it to the floor. But the idea ticked something in his memory.
"I think it would have to go up for a vote," Sam said.
"Senator McKellen." Jared sat up straight as he voiced the name. "Jensen worked for him at one time. Do you think he could do something?"
"He's the Senator for Quartzta. That gives him a lot of power." Dri stood, her hand on her earpiece. "I'm going to call my boss. See if he can get you an appointment."
Jared wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs. Just when one chance had been swept again, Dri had given him another. He was going to grab on to this chance and do whatever necessary to save Jensen. No matter what Jared had to do.
***
His assistant seemed to be in a particularly agitated mood this morning. Senator Ian McKellen took off his official jacket and hung it on the hook. "What is it, Cadet Wesley? Someone give you decaf instead of regular this morning?"
Paul Wesley apparently had learned by now not to respond to the senator's jibes. Shame. Part of the fun was riling up these scuts.
"You have a young man waiting in your office."
"Oh, I wasn't aware of an appointment?" McKellen went over his schedule mentally, nearly sure he hadn't scheduled anything this morning.
"It was a special request on the part of the Senator from Earth." Wesley's tone was as icey as his expression. McKellen made a note to get his aide to loosen up just a tad.
"Senator Bridges." He knew Lloyd. He was a good man. What was he sending McKellen's way? "Who's the young man?"
"He said his name was Jared Ackles."
McKellen paused in the middle of grabbing his morning coffee from the dispenser in the wall. "Ackles, you say? Hold all my calls, Wesley. And don't interrupt."
"Yes, sir."
He did bring the coffee in with him, sipping it slowly to cover his surprise. This tall, strapping young thing didn't bear the slightest bit of resemblance to Jensen. Although he did have some mighty fine charms of his own. McKellen let his gaze linger on those long legs, powerful thighs, and broad shoulders. When the young man turned around McKellen got the look of his features, pointed nose and chin, soft hair curling around his ears. Not a bad package at all.
"I don't believe we've been introduced, young man." McKellen held out his right hand. "Ian McKellen."
"Senator," the boy said. "It's an honor to meet you." He had a strong grip. McKellen could appreciate a man with a strong grip. "Jared Ackles."
"Any relation to Jensen Ackles?"
"He's my brother." Those sweet pink lips turned down into a frown. "He's why I'm here."
"Ah." McKellen set his mug on his desk. It was a bit early to start with the harder stuff, but right now he'd kill for a good Scotch. "I saw that bit on media feed. The lack of military response. Damn shame."
He meant it too. He still thought of Jen fondly. Few of the scuts assigned to Senate detail were as conscientious as Jensen. Or as bendy. The boy had been damn creative too, challenging McKellen to come up with some tricks of his own.
And Jensen had submitted so sweetly. McKellen had never met such a natural sub before. He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering Jensen's face, the way he'd bite his lip and moan, helpless beneath McKellen's hands.
"I was hoping you could do something to help. Maybe put it before the Senate." Jared all but fluttered his eyelashes.
"To order the military to take part in a highly publicized rescue mission?"
"To do something. Anything but leave any of those soldiers behind." For a moment McKellen saw a spark there, a fire beneath the kid's eyes. Then the lids lowered and Jared moved a step closer. "I'd be very…appreciative if you could."
Jared took another step towards him. He put a hand on McKellen's chest. It was very large, and very warm.
Oh, if he were twenty years younger and less scrupulous. Gently, he lifted Jared's hand and pulled it away. "Son, I'll be honest. You're terrible at seduction."
A pink flush rose on those cheeks and McKellen nearly rethought himself. McKellen walked around his desk. "But I liked Jensen. I don't know what I can do on the Senate floor, but I have a few other contacts who might be able to help."
For a moment he thought he saw a tear glisten in those beautiful slanted eyes. Then Jared nodded, his body relaxing. "Thank you. I just, I just want to bring him home."
McKellen grabbed his mug and took a long sip of his coffee. "I think all of the UP wants that, son. No one will forget his face." He tried not to think of it himself, the images from that vid enough to give anyone nightmares. Jensen's likeness had become a symbol for the UP, a symbol people flocked to in their outrage against the Confed.
A symbol that couldn't be ignored.
***
"Commander Morgan, could we have a moment of your time in the conference area?"
Jeff bristled at the interruption, looking up from the rows of crates he was checking against inventory. "I'm in the middle of something, Gyllenhaal."
"Just ten minutes. Please."
He needed to keep working. Ever since he'd seen the media feed - grainy and faded as it was - Jeff had immersed himself in his duties. Planet 724 might have possible survivors, but they could be living underground. He needed to figure out a way to investigate safely. But of course he had to be here on Harmony instead of working that out. It was next on the rotation for the Mercury's stops. Checking the progress on the base shouldn't have taken this long.
Jeff didn't want to stop. If he stopped, he'd have to think and then he'd remember.
Sometimes at night he thought he could still smell Jensen on his sheets. The scent would fill his nostrils just before he woke, when Jeff was caught in that moment before shaking off sleep. He'd catch spice and warmth and roll over, expecting his arm to catch against Jensen's skin. His hand touched cold sheets and Jeff would startle awake and realize he was alone. Jensen was gone.
"Ten minutes, Sergeant," Jeff agreed, following Gyllenhaal back to the structure set up for meetings. The base was well under construction, but it would be a little while yet before any of the rooms were usable.
Jeff entered the room, surprised to see it filled with people. There was Gyllenhaal of course, but also Chikezie and Whitfield. Dr. Johnson sat at the table, with Hank Tappen and his master, Guard Ian, standing behind him. Jeff gritted his teeth at the sight of them. You'd think they never had to rescue Hank, the way he'd given in completely to the Harmonian lifestyle. Behind them were the two scuts assigned to Harmony, Hodge and Bell, dressed no differently than Hank and Ian.
At his entrance all talking stopped. Jeff folded his arms. "Well? What's going on?"
It was Whitfield who spoke first. "We want to help."
Jeff blinked. "Help with what?"
At first nobody wanted to speak up. Then Hank, as usual, opened his mouth. "Rescue Ackles, of course."
Of all the things he didn't need. Jeff rubbed his forehead, trying to sooth the headache that hadn't started yet. "What the hell gave all of you that idea?"
"We all saw the broadcast," Caroline spoke up. "We want to be a part of the mission support."
Before anyone else could put in their opinion, Jeff held up a hand. "There isn't going to be a rescue mission."
For a moment there was blessed silence. Then everyone started speaking at once. This was not how you maintained discipline. "Enough!" Jeff cried, gratified when they all stopped and looked at him. "The joint chiefs determined that there is insufficient evidence to warrant a rescue mission. Based on the amount of time it took for the feed to reach us, they believe the prisoners are most likely dead. Risking other lives would be pointless."
There, he said it all with a straight face, exactly as Captain Devine had told him. She read it off the feed herself, and wouldn't meet his eyes when she spoke. Jeff didn't blame her one bit.
"With all due respect sir, that's bullshit." Hank again.
"What do you want me to do, Major? Commandeer the Mercury? Take on the entire Confederation by myself?" Jeff curled his fingers into fists, his blood thrumming in his ears.
Hank left his little circle to get up in Jeff's face. "If you had to, yes! You can't seriously be okay with leaving him there!"
"Do not tell me how I feel, Major! You have no fucking idea!" Jeff could feel his fist rise, almost of its own volition.
"Then do something! Anything is better than sitting here with our thumbs up our asses!"
His pulse pounded against his forehead. Hank had a lot of fucking nerve. He was sitting pretty, happy with his little Harmony lover when Jeff had to back to work and pretend, pretend it wasn't Katie all over again. He'd put duty before everything and Jeff had lost it all again.
"Commander!" Ian had gotten between them. He had his hand around Jeff's wrist and shook it slightly. He turned to Hank and said softly. "Get back and calm down." Then he turned his gaze back on Jeff. "I apologize for my sub's behavior. But if you want to hit someone, let me arrange it with someone who wants to be hit."
Only then did Ian let go and move back.
Jeff stared at those dark eyes, aware the silence in the room had changed. "Back to your stations," he ordered, gratified when they all left, except for Ian and Hank.
Hank had his arms folded and refused to meet Jeff's eyes. Well, he'd better conduct his business with Hank's master then. "All right," he said. "Arrange it."
He didn't know who was more surprised, Ian or himself.
***
Ian decided not to take Morgan to one of the taverns that he sometimes went with Henry. This he wanted to keep separate from that life. Ian had experimented with his sadistic side in his youth, but found it not always to his tastes. That didn't mean he didn't know exactly where to go.
The Open Hand was a well-known establishment at in the pinnacle of a tower in the Royal District. Morgan's status among Harmony would ensure them entry, even if Ian acted as his guide, sitting the commander down with the Master of the house as they hammered out a brief contract for the evening.
Unlike Henry, Morgan had never received any training in contract negotiation. Ian sat at his side and interrupted only when it seemed the other man floundered. Morgan had gone very still when he got to the bloodletting section.
"No knives," he said, crossing that out with his stylus.
Dom Feran hmmed under his breath. "I think Caden would suit you, then. He's free for the night."
"I don't think it will take that long." Jeff said.
Ian jostled him gently with his elbow. "As long as you don't put him out of commission for the rest of the evening."
As Jeff's face went pale, Ian wondered if he had done the right thing by bringing Jeff here. Clearly Morgan was grieving for his sub, but he needed some sort of physical release before he went mad or took it out on someone unprepared for it.
"I won't."
"I'll take you to one of the back rooms," Feran offered.
Ian gave Morgan an encouraging nod before going back to the couch where he'd left Henry, kneeling and waiting for him. Feran employed well-trained red-bands. He really shouldn't worry about Jeff Morgan.
"You really think this is what he needs?" Henry asked as Ian slid into the couch. He leaned his head so Ian could run his fingers through his hair.
"I don't know," Ian admitted. "What he really needs is Sub Jensen. And none of us can give him that."
Henry's eyes lowered, something he did when he became thoughtful. Harmony forbid Ian ever mistake it for the proper respect showed one's dom. He couldn't help a smile, slowing carding his fingers through Henry's soft but unruly hair.
"I would have let him hit me, you know."
Despite his verbal abrasiveness, few really knew how insightful his Henry could be. But that was Ian's job to know. They'd learned much about each other these months together. Ian needed Henry by his side. Neither of them could have contributed to the rebuilding of Pasdar alone. He'd have to cherish each of these moments together, to savor when Henry left when his contract was up.
"That's for me to decide," Ian said. "You shouldn't have instigated it."
Henry shook his head, dislodging Ian's fingers for just a moment. He tilted his head up, eyes flashing blue in the light coming from the sconce above them. "Are you going to punish me for that?"
"I'm not sure. I think you might like it too much." Ian had never really had to give out true punishment, the kind that provided correction to a sub that misbehaved. And since he liked Hank's outspoken nature, he didn't want to curtail that behavior. Then again, there was decorum to uphold.
Henry moved so he knelt between Ian's spread legs, wrapping his arms around his master's waist. Ian didn't expect Hank to finally say, "I'm fucking wrecked about Ackles. He doesn't deserve this."
Ian cupped Henry's face between his hands, rubbing his stubbled cheeks gently. All of Harmony had seen the terrible footage. It was the one time the Queen probably doubted her decision to connect the UP feeds to the tele. "No," Ian said. "No he doesn't."
And neither did Jeff Morgan.
***
As soon as the door closed behind the tavern's owner, Jeff second-guessed himself. What the hell was he doing here, about to scene with another sub who wasn't Jensen? He paced the length of the small room, his steps faster with each pass. The room was a well- stocked playroom. There was a padded bench in the center, about waist high, along with a chair, a set of stocks, and a tall wooden cross in the corner. Each of the walls held a series of items, a combination of toys and weapons. Jeff kept his eyes from the wall with the blades.
When the door opened again, he paused, swallowing the bile in his throat as Jeff prepared to meet this sub, Caden, for the first time. The man walked in, and whatever Jeff had been expected - maybe someone small and wirey, like Misha had been - Caden certainly didn't meet those expectations. He was tall and broad, with a finely muscled chest and abs. Beneath the short kilt he wore his thighs were tight and powerful.
Caden looked up from under dark curls. His eyes were an electric blue, startling to see from across the room, but for some reason, the sight comforted Jeff. He could never mistake them for Jensen's pure green. The red collar around the sub's throat sealed it all - he was here for temporary use.
"I've accepted your contract, Master." Caden smiled, revealing a perfect set of white teeth. "I only wanted to ask if you wish me to fight back." He gave a little shrug. "Different masters like different things."
Jeff nodded. "No. I don't want you to fight me. I want you to just take it."
If he hadn't been looking for it, Jeff would have missed the pulse leap in Caden's throat. His breath speeded up and the sub looked downright excited at the prospect.
"As you wish, Master."
"Before we start…" there was one thing Jeff had to ask. Despite everything churning in his belly, he knew he could not live with himself if he thought Caden didn't want this. "How will you…safeword if you need to?" He hadn't needed to worry about that before.
Caden winked and pointed to his collar. "The collar will glow if I wish the session to end. If you do not stop immediately, an alarm goes off for the bar master."
"Good." That safeguard made Jeff relax. He wouldn't have to worry about pulling his punches. If it was too much, he'd know immediately. "Take that damn thing off."
Caden undid the laces holding his kilt around his waist and let the fabric fall around his bare feet. He stepped out of it, leaving himself completely bare. Something about this strong man, nude but for his collar, made Jeff want to hurt him.
Jeff swung almost before he realized it. Today it seemed like his fist had a mind of its own. It crashed against Caden's face, sending the sub recoiling in response. Instead of backing away, he turned back and offered his unbruised cheek.
Jeff's left hook was just as brutal as his right. Caden was slower to come up, and blood trickled out of one nostril. The sub wiped it away and met Jeff's gaze with a challenging one of his own.
Good. The last thing he wanted was someone who simpered and cried. Jeff felt the anger burn in his gut and let the dark curtain cover his vision. He knew how to fight, had been trained in multiple forms of hand-to-hand combat. But this wasn't about skill. This was just punching and slapping, and throwing Caden around until he had the sub bent over the bench in the middle of the room.
Jeff grabbed one of the implements off the wall. He curled his fingers around the slim switch, bringing the wood down hard on that perfectly smooth ass. He wanted it marked, as bruised and bloody as Caden's face. Jeff held Caden's wrists together in one hand, heaving the rod with the other.
This held none of the trappings of any of his scenes with Jensen. There were no restraints to make it easier for the sub, no carefully orchestrated words. This was just violence for violence's sake. Jeff dropped the switch, tossing it away with a frustrated gesture. He pushed Caden off of the bench and onto the floor.
Caden knelt with his shoulders slumped and head down. His cock strained against his thigh, hard and leaking fluid all over the place.
"That for me?" Jeff growled. He all but choked on the word 'boy' that threatened to come out. No, that was a pet name for someone else, another time, something precious now lost to him.
Caden blinked up at him out of two swollen eyes. "For the pain."
Jeff slipped his leg between Caden's knees, so the tip of his boot rubbed up against his bare cock. "Take it. If you want to come, take it."
The sub leaned forward, bracing himself in the humiliating position of having to hump Jeff's foot for his release. He moaned, his hips snapping forward with surprising force. With a sharp cry, Caden came, erupting over the floor.
Jeff ran a hand through the sub's hair. "You all right?"
Caden nodded. He nuzzled against Jeff's thigh. "What can I do for you?"
Jeff had to step away. "Nothing." He wasn't even hard. This hadn't been about that. No, it had been about something entirely different.
***
Jeff held it together until he got back to his quarters on the Mercury. It wasn't hard. He'd gone months with the same expression on his face, using the shield of the soldier to cover everything churning inside him.
But after beating on Caden it had all come to the surface. Jeff couldn't pretend any longer. In some odd way he felt better. It didn't make sense, since beating Caden proved Harmony had lost its magic for him. If it had any at all on its own, and not Jensen's unique charisma.
Jeff turned on the comm recorder, leaving the video off and capturing only sound. He pulled off his sweat soaked uniform, folding it carefully before letting it fall into the laundry hamper.
"Jensen," he said. "This is the last message I'll ever send you."
He sat on the bed in nothing but his regulation boxers. Jeff leaned forward, clasping his hands between his knees. "They think you're dead. Or as good as dead."
"What do I think? Doesn't matter. Result is the same. You fucking left me." Jeff closed his eyes.
I hate you. I hate you because you made me love you and then you fucking left me.
But all he said was. "Goodbye, Jensen."
Jeff turned off the comm.
Part 3