After the Keller Machine (Yates/Benton)
Title: After the Keller Machine
Rating: PG-13
Summary: part of a series of "after the episodes" stories, about the relationship of Captain Mike Yates and Sergeant John Benton.
After the Daemons
After the Chronovores
After the Giant Maggots
After the Dinosaurs
After the Keller Machine
Sergeant Benton was quite anxious to see Captain Yates. After Yate’s disappearance from the convoy ambush site, and neither sight nor sound of him for hours, Benton had had a reason to be worried. He had been so relieved when news came that Mike had made it to the mobile HQ. And he and the Brigadier had returned from taking care of the Master and that missile.
The Brigadier had returned to the prison governor office, allowing Benton the freedom to go look for Mike. He found his lover of almost a month so far in one of the empty prison cell corridors. He tapped Mike’s shoulder from behind, startling him to turn around.
“Sorry, didn’t mean-“
Mike’s face split into a wide smile. “John.”
Benton gently pulled the other man into a vacant cell, being careful to not hurt his apparently injured arm in the sling. He closed the door behind them, then pulled Mike into a loving embrace.
The captain let out a small gasp. “Too tight.”
Benton apologized and loosened the hug. “What happened?”
“Shot in the shoulder during the ambush. Then I was captured by the Master’s thugs. I escaped. The field medic did a good job with patching me up.” Mike pushed away a little to look at Benton’s face. “About the ambush… I didn’t have time to really make sure you were alright. They were stealing the missile, and-“
“You had to do your duty. Though you did leave me very worried. I came to, and there was no sign of you. We assumed you had followed them.” Benton’s eyes flickered over the sling. “Does it hurt too badly?”
“As much as expected.” The captain checked to make certain the door was closed. Then he raised his hand to caress Benton’s face. His fingers brushed over the bandage above Benton’s eye. “What happened to you?”
“A little scratch, that’s all.”
Mike teased, “What you call a little scratch is what the rest of us call a concussion.”
“I promise I’m fine.”
“I know.” Mike pulled Benton in close for a kiss. It was slow and loving, an expression of relief at finding each other alive and relatively unharmed.
When they stopped to breathe, they pressed their foreheads together and closed their eyes. Mike smiled at the feel of his lover’s breath on his face.
The sergeant had one hand on Mike’s back and one on the back of his head, simply holding him close. He sighed in thought. This had been their first test. Both of them had done what needed to be done to finish their mission, despite the circumstances, despite knowing the other was injured or missing in action. They knew that they could do what needed to be done, despite their anxiousness about each other.
Mike said, “I’m supposed to be at the prison doctor’s office right now, but I’m glad I ran into you first.”
“So am I. Still, you should get over there and make sure the field medic did his job right.”
“Fine, I guess I will.” Mike pulled Benton in for another kiss. “And I think the Brig will be looking for you soon, if he isn’t already. Your place tonight?”
Benton grinned. “If you want.”
********
They got to Benton’s apartment in time to catch most of the rugby game playing on the television. They had a simple dinner of pizza. Benton also made Mike some hot cocoa.
Both men were cuddling on the sofa, the television now turned off with the end of the game. They had changed into pajamas. Mike had needed help getting his uniform shirt off, and he hadn’t wanted to spend the effort to put another shirt on. He was a bit cold, but he didn’t mind, especially since he was using Benton’s robe as a blanket.
The prison doctor had given Mike some painkillers, and now they were starting to take effect, if his relaxed state was of any indication. Benton saw him trying to stifle his yawns.
“Mike, come on, sit up.”
Mike didn’t move, content with where he was.
“We’re going to wake up sore if we fall asleep like this.”
“Don’t care,” Mike sleepily responded.
It was a challenge for Benton to determine how to pick Mike up from their position without him noticing his movements to do so. Once he figured out a way to do that and not jostle the injured arm too much, he took his lover into his arms and stood in one smooth motion.
“Hey!” Mike protested in surprise.
“If you start squirming, I might drop you,” Benton teased.
“You wouldn’t.” Mike looped his good arm around Benton’s neck. “I’m an injured man.”
Benton carried Mike to the bedroom and gently set him down on the sheets. Mike kept his hand on the back of Benton’s neck and whispered, “You’re so good to me.”
“I have every reason to be.” Benton went down for a kiss, supporting himself with one hand on the mattress. There was a lingering taste of chocolate in Mike’s mouth, which only made the kisses taste sweeter.
They stopped when Mike yawned again. Benton laid on his side and draped his arm over Mike’s waist. Mike stayed on his back, which was the most comfortable position with his injury. He turned his head to face Benton.
“Love you, John,” he said as he faded into sleep.
Benton snuggled closer against Mike’s side, until their noses were almost touching. “Love you, too.”
Rating: PG-13
Summary: part of a series of "after the episodes" stories, about the relationship of Captain Mike Yates and Sergeant John Benton.
After the Daemons
After the Chronovores
After the Giant Maggots
After the Dinosaurs
After the Keller Machine
Sergeant Benton was quite anxious to see Captain Yates. After Yate’s disappearance from the convoy ambush site, and neither sight nor sound of him for hours, Benton had had a reason to be worried. He had been so relieved when news came that Mike had made it to the mobile HQ. And he and the Brigadier had returned from taking care of the Master and that missile.
The Brigadier had returned to the prison governor office, allowing Benton the freedom to go look for Mike. He found his lover of almost a month so far in one of the empty prison cell corridors. He tapped Mike’s shoulder from behind, startling him to turn around.
“Sorry, didn’t mean-“
Mike’s face split into a wide smile. “John.”
Benton gently pulled the other man into a vacant cell, being careful to not hurt his apparently injured arm in the sling. He closed the door behind them, then pulled Mike into a loving embrace.
The captain let out a small gasp. “Too tight.”
Benton apologized and loosened the hug. “What happened?”
“Shot in the shoulder during the ambush. Then I was captured by the Master’s thugs. I escaped. The field medic did a good job with patching me up.” Mike pushed away a little to look at Benton’s face. “About the ambush… I didn’t have time to really make sure you were alright. They were stealing the missile, and-“
“You had to do your duty. Though you did leave me very worried. I came to, and there was no sign of you. We assumed you had followed them.” Benton’s eyes flickered over the sling. “Does it hurt too badly?”
“As much as expected.” The captain checked to make certain the door was closed. Then he raised his hand to caress Benton’s face. His fingers brushed over the bandage above Benton’s eye. “What happened to you?”
“A little scratch, that’s all.”
Mike teased, “What you call a little scratch is what the rest of us call a concussion.”
“I promise I’m fine.”
“I know.” Mike pulled Benton in close for a kiss. It was slow and loving, an expression of relief at finding each other alive and relatively unharmed.
When they stopped to breathe, they pressed their foreheads together and closed their eyes. Mike smiled at the feel of his lover’s breath on his face.
The sergeant had one hand on Mike’s back and one on the back of his head, simply holding him close. He sighed in thought. This had been their first test. Both of them had done what needed to be done to finish their mission, despite the circumstances, despite knowing the other was injured or missing in action. They knew that they could do what needed to be done, despite their anxiousness about each other.
Mike said, “I’m supposed to be at the prison doctor’s office right now, but I’m glad I ran into you first.”
“So am I. Still, you should get over there and make sure the field medic did his job right.”
“Fine, I guess I will.” Mike pulled Benton in for another kiss. “And I think the Brig will be looking for you soon, if he isn’t already. Your place tonight?”
Benton grinned. “If you want.”
********
They got to Benton’s apartment in time to catch most of the rugby game playing on the television. They had a simple dinner of pizza. Benton also made Mike some hot cocoa.
Both men were cuddling on the sofa, the television now turned off with the end of the game. They had changed into pajamas. Mike had needed help getting his uniform shirt off, and he hadn’t wanted to spend the effort to put another shirt on. He was a bit cold, but he didn’t mind, especially since he was using Benton’s robe as a blanket.
The prison doctor had given Mike some painkillers, and now they were starting to take effect, if his relaxed state was of any indication. Benton saw him trying to stifle his yawns.
“Mike, come on, sit up.”
Mike didn’t move, content with where he was.
“We’re going to wake up sore if we fall asleep like this.”
“Don’t care,” Mike sleepily responded.
It was a challenge for Benton to determine how to pick Mike up from their position without him noticing his movements to do so. Once he figured out a way to do that and not jostle the injured arm too much, he took his lover into his arms and stood in one smooth motion.
“Hey!” Mike protested in surprise.
“If you start squirming, I might drop you,” Benton teased.
“You wouldn’t.” Mike looped his good arm around Benton’s neck. “I’m an injured man.”
Benton carried Mike to the bedroom and gently set him down on the sheets. Mike kept his hand on the back of Benton’s neck and whispered, “You’re so good to me.”
“I have every reason to be.” Benton went down for a kiss, supporting himself with one hand on the mattress. There was a lingering taste of chocolate in Mike’s mouth, which only made the kisses taste sweeter.
They stopped when Mike yawned again. Benton laid on his side and draped his arm over Mike’s waist. Mike stayed on his back, which was the most comfortable position with his injury. He turned his head to face Benton.
“Love you, John,” he said as he faded into sleep.
Benton snuggled closer against Mike’s side, until their noses were almost touching. “Love you, too.”