Fiction: The Tardy Post. PG-13
TITLE: The Tardy Post
AUTHOR: Ashley-Pitt
CHARACTERS: Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Preserved Killick
GENRE: Slash
WORD COUNT: 718
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. I borrow them once in awhile, but put them away tidily.
AUTHOR”S NOTE: Follows sometime after Spring
AUTHROR’S NOTE #2: I hope this will cheer esteven
The great deal of commotion and hallooing in the yard caused Jack to turn away from the window. When he looked back the pale eyed bird was gone.
“No, don’t go Stephen. Stay with me." He called.
“Brother, when did you start conversing with the avian world?" A voice said.
Jack spun and saw Stephen standing near the table.
“Stephen!” Jack said as he moved quickly across the room. He grabbed Stephen’s hand and began shaking it furiously. Overcome with relieve Jack pulled him close. “I thought you was dead,” he said.
“I am not, but I will be if you do not release me,” Stephen mumbled from the depths of Jack’s embrace.
“Of course,” Jack said as he relaxed his embrace and backed away. “Where was you all this time?”
Stephen resettled his wig and replied. “I sent you a letter. Did you not receive it?”
Jack pulled the letter from his pocket. “Yes, just this morning. And the bird was here and I knew you wasn’t dead.”
“Jack, I sent that letter months ago. Bird? That bird?” Stephen said as he peered out the window.
“Yes. I saw him in the winter. That is when I smoked you would be back in the spring. Stephen you look all clemmed. Have you had breakfast?
"No." Stephen said, sniffing the air in hopes of smelling coffee." I rode since before dawn to be here.”
“Killick, Killick there!” Jack roared, just as the door opened and Killick walked in with a fresh pot and another cup.
“Two breakfasts! With Kippers… and bacon!”
“Which they will be wanting toasted cheese next.” Killick mumbled, but less sourly than usual as he had also missed the doctor.
“Sit down Stephen,” Jack said as he poured the coffee. “Are you well?”
Stephen took the cup and sipped. “Tea is fine if you are unwell, but I missed coffee. I am quite well Jack. Be assured that I was not kidnapped. I was not harmed in any way. I went of my own will albeit rather surreptitiously. I was…”
Just then the door opened and Killick returned with a tray laden with food. He placed the food on the table.
Stephen waited until Killick had left the room before continuing.
”Jack,” he said with a mouthful of bread. “You have heard of Daniel O’Connell?”
Jack stopped attacking his food and looked up, “A Papist trouble maker in Ireland, I collect.” He said.
“He is a champion for emancipation for Catholics in Ireland, yes.” Stephen said.
“What does he have to do with you?” Jack asked as he chewed thoughtfully on a piece of bacon.
Stephen sighed, “An associate of his came to me asking help. This put me in a rather delicate position. The relationship between England and my Catholic Ireland is not an easy one. You see the need for caution.
“Yes,” Jack said as he helped himself to several more kippers.
“I helped O'Connell design the Catholic Association. This is a campaign to remove discrimination against Catholics. He is thinking of running as MP for County Clare sometime in the future.” Stephen said.
“Stephen, an alliance with this cove could mean trouble for you.” Jack said putting down his fork,
“Brother, I am fully aware of all the consequences but it was something I was compelled by my roots to do. Be assured, that I have expunged all of traces of myself from any of his doings. Daniel is a good man and will not toss my name about in the wrong circles.”
“Stephen,” Jack said as he poured them more coffee. “What is the final destination with this plan?”
“A free Ireland of course.”
Jack looked at Stephen and said “Impossible.”
“Not in my lifetime perhaps, but in the future.”
Stephen stifling a yawn said “I am surfeit with food. I think I should take a brief rest. Is my room available?”
“Of course,” Jack said. “And the house should be still as a church. The family is away.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short time later, Jack gave a brief knock to Stephen’s door.
“Enter.”
Jack opened the door and walked across the room and into Stephen’s embrace. Jack’s lips sought Stephen’s hungrily. They kissed deeply and passionately.
Stephen moaned softly. “I missed this even more than coffee, my plum.”
AUTHOR: Ashley-Pitt
CHARACTERS: Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Preserved Killick
GENRE: Slash
WORD COUNT: 718
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. I borrow them once in awhile, but put them away tidily.
AUTHOR”S NOTE: Follows sometime after Spring
AUTHROR’S NOTE #2: I hope this will cheer esteven
The great deal of commotion and hallooing in the yard caused Jack to turn away from the window. When he looked back the pale eyed bird was gone.
“No, don’t go Stephen. Stay with me." He called.
“Brother, when did you start conversing with the avian world?" A voice said.
Jack spun and saw Stephen standing near the table.
“Stephen!” Jack said as he moved quickly across the room. He grabbed Stephen’s hand and began shaking it furiously. Overcome with relieve Jack pulled him close. “I thought you was dead,” he said.
“I am not, but I will be if you do not release me,” Stephen mumbled from the depths of Jack’s embrace.
“Of course,” Jack said as he relaxed his embrace and backed away. “Where was you all this time?”
Stephen resettled his wig and replied. “I sent you a letter. Did you not receive it?”
Jack pulled the letter from his pocket. “Yes, just this morning. And the bird was here and I knew you wasn’t dead.”
“Jack, I sent that letter months ago. Bird? That bird?” Stephen said as he peered out the window.
“Yes. I saw him in the winter. That is when I smoked you would be back in the spring. Stephen you look all clemmed. Have you had breakfast?
"No." Stephen said, sniffing the air in hopes of smelling coffee." I rode since before dawn to be here.”
“Killick, Killick there!” Jack roared, just as the door opened and Killick walked in with a fresh pot and another cup.
“Two breakfasts! With Kippers… and bacon!”
“Which they will be wanting toasted cheese next.” Killick mumbled, but less sourly than usual as he had also missed the doctor.
“Sit down Stephen,” Jack said as he poured the coffee. “Are you well?”
Stephen took the cup and sipped. “Tea is fine if you are unwell, but I missed coffee. I am quite well Jack. Be assured that I was not kidnapped. I was not harmed in any way. I went of my own will albeit rather surreptitiously. I was…”
Just then the door opened and Killick returned with a tray laden with food. He placed the food on the table.
Stephen waited until Killick had left the room before continuing.
”Jack,” he said with a mouthful of bread. “You have heard of Daniel O’Connell?”
Jack stopped attacking his food and looked up, “A Papist trouble maker in Ireland, I collect.” He said.
“He is a champion for emancipation for Catholics in Ireland, yes.” Stephen said.
“What does he have to do with you?” Jack asked as he chewed thoughtfully on a piece of bacon.
Stephen sighed, “An associate of his came to me asking help. This put me in a rather delicate position. The relationship between England and my Catholic Ireland is not an easy one. You see the need for caution.
“Yes,” Jack said as he helped himself to several more kippers.
“I helped O'Connell design the Catholic Association. This is a campaign to remove discrimination against Catholics. He is thinking of running as MP for County Clare sometime in the future.” Stephen said.
“Stephen, an alliance with this cove could mean trouble for you.” Jack said putting down his fork,
“Brother, I am fully aware of all the consequences but it was something I was compelled by my roots to do. Be assured, that I have expunged all of traces of myself from any of his doings. Daniel is a good man and will not toss my name about in the wrong circles.”
“Stephen,” Jack said as he poured them more coffee. “What is the final destination with this plan?”
“A free Ireland of course.”
Jack looked at Stephen and said “Impossible.”
“Not in my lifetime perhaps, but in the future.”
Stephen stifling a yawn said “I am surfeit with food. I think I should take a brief rest. Is my room available?”
“Of course,” Jack said. “And the house should be still as a church. The family is away.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short time later, Jack gave a brief knock to Stephen’s door.
“Enter.”
Jack opened the door and walked across the room and into Stephen’s embrace. Jack’s lips sought Stephen’s hungrily. They kissed deeply and passionately.
Stephen moaned softly. “I missed this even more than coffee, my plum.”