by Anne
Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, Thames/Tetra and ITV television. Stargate SG1 are owned by Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Products. Highlander is the property of Panzer/Davis, Rysher/Gaumount Television.
I promise to return the characters in one piece, more or less, when I'm finished, but hold no liability for any physical injury or psychological trauma sustained by them in my fiction.
Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without permission.
Thanks to: The beta reading team – Linda, Misanagi and Ruth.
Dedication: For Linda. She knows why.
[ ] indicates telepathy
Rob held Kevin as best he could, the other man a dead weight against him. Galt looked up, and smiled. Rob shuddered. He had always believed that there was some good in everyone but after what he'd seen he just wasn't sure anymore. He just wasn't sure about anything anymore.
Two loud popping noises reverberated through the enclosed space and suddenly there were four people in the room. The two young men who had just appeared dropped to their knees, their heads in their hands. "Fuck," muttered the redhead.
Their companions, a middle-aged man and a blonde woman, drew their guns and pointed them at Galt. "It's over, Galt," the man said.
Pulling Kevin closer, Rob glanced over at Alex who was lying, still and pale, at Galt's feet. Damn it, there was no way of getting to him. Rob might be outnumbered but that didn't mean that he wouldn't do whatever it took to protect his friends. While he hoped like hell that these people were on his side, until he was certain, he wasn't taking any chances.
"Why, General Damon, how nice to see you again," Galt bent over Alex and placed his weapon against the younger man's temple. "I suggest you lower your gun or I'll put a bullet through him." His finger tightened on the trigger. "That means you too, young lady." The blonde woman glared at him and looked over at Kevin, the anger growing in her eyes.
They were friends. They had to be. "The machine. It's in the briefcase," Rob called out urgently. Galt grabbed the briefcase with his free hand, and pulled it close.
"And I have the briefcase, so none of you are going anywhere." Galt smirked. "I believe I have all the advantage. Let's see. Gun." He stroked the side of Alex's head with his weapon. "Teleporter who can't teleport." His voice took on an edge to it that made Rob shiver. "Put down your guns or I will kill him."
The dark-haired young man forced himself upright. He was shaking. "Let him go," he muttered between clenched teeth.
"Adam, how nice to see you again," Galt shook his head. "I'm sorry but I can't do that. I see you're enjoying the effects of the machine." He patted his briefcase. "I'm so very pleased to see that it works so well."
They were like Kevin and Alex.
Using Kevin's body to shield his actions, Rob felt around in his pocket for the key to the handcuffs. If he could just distract Galt long enough to get Alex away from him, they might have a chance.
"Fucking asshole," the redhead spoke again. "Like being in control, don't you? Or thinking you are."
"Megabyte," Damon spoke in a warning tone. "I'm putting the gun down now, Galt." He bent and laid it at his feet and then took a step back. "Major Carter will do the same."
"Tell your son to watch his manners," Galt said. "It's very kind of you to deliver him to me. I do so appreciate it."
"Fucking asshole," Damon echoed his son's words. "Harm him or any of them and I will kill you." He paused. "And I can kill."
Major Carter placed her gun at her feet. "Lower your weapon, Galt," she said. "You've made your point. We've put down our guns."
One handcuff loose.
Rob held his breath.
Beside him, Kevin stirred, cried out, but didn't open his eyes. Galt lowered his gun, and looked over at Rob. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Get down!" yelled Megabyte.
Galt's gun whipped out of his hand, seemingly moving of its own accord. He dived after it, the briefcase abandoned beside him. Carter reached into her coat. Rob covered Kevin with his body, handcuffs forgotten.
Adam disappeared into thin air, reappeared next to Alex, and then swore under his breath, collapsing against him. Carter fired the strange looking device in her hands at the briefcase. Once, twice, three times. The briefcase glowed, and then vanished.
"No, you don't." Damon retrieved his gun, and pointed it at Galt.
The cell phone in Galt's pocket rang.
"Answer it," Damon ordered.
"You haven't won," Galt said, not making a move.
Megabyte walked over to Galt, and took the cell phone from his pocket. "Basic model," he snorted. The cellphone rang again, and then stopped. "Your backup isn't coming. You're not getting your hands on any more Tomorrow People."
"I know now that the machine works. This hasn't been a complete waste of time." Galt smirked. "You've always treated me like an idiot, Damon. I used to see the way you looked at me when I worked for you. I don't forget such things."
"I won't forget what you've done today, either," Damon snapped. His voice softened. "How are they?"
Adam shook his head. "Not good. I can feel Alex, but very faintly. Kevin feels stronger, but not by much. They're both fading." He and Megabyte exchanged a glance.
"Galt injected Alex with something," Rob said. He fumbled with the key and managed to unlock the other handcuff. Carter was by his side, examining Kevin's injuries. She threw the handcuffs towards Damon.
Catching them, Damon quickly cuffed Galt. The action had a nice irony to it that Rob appreciated. "What did you do?" he asked Galt.
"You'll find out soon enough." Galt shrugged. "He's a Tomorrow Person. Figure it out. He was in pain. I helped to take it away."
"Why you…" Megabyte took a step forward.
"Take them to Janet," Carter said, interrupting quickly. She glanced down at Kevin, and brushed his hair from his brow. "He's burning up. Janet can give them something to slow this down. General Damon and I will handle things here."
Adam nodded, already placing his arms around Alex. He closed his eyes, and they both vanished. Megabyte walked towards Kevin and put his arms out for him.
Shaking his head, Rob pulled Kevin closer. "No," he said. "We can call a doctor. I don't know who you people are, but don't you think he's been through enough with doing whatever that is."
"It's okay," Megabyte said. "We're friends." Kevin groaned and struggled against Rob. "Kev, it's Megabyte. You're safe now."
Kevin opened his eyes. He looked around, his voice panicked. "Alex! God, where is he?" He tried to struggle to his feet. "Got to get to him, got to …"
"Adam's taken him to Janet," Carter said gently. "Megabyte's going to take you to him." She looked worried, even though her tone was calm and reassuring.
"Sam?" Kevin shook his head, his eyes searching her face frantically. "Safe?"
"Safe," she said, her voice sad. He shook his head again, and went limp in Rob's arms. "Megabyte's going to take him to Janet," Carter told Rob firmly. "Janet is a doctor who has dealt with this before. She knows what to do. You've done what you can. Let us take over now. Please."
Rob hesitated. Kevin knew her, seemed to know both of them. He couldn't do any more. Nodding slowly, he released his grip. "Look after him, please. Look after both of them," he whispered.
"No worries. Not going to let anything happen to them." Megabyte took Kevin from him and put his arms around the younger man's waist. His eyes glazed over and the two of them disappeared in the same way Adam and Alex had.
"Are you okay?" Carter was watching Rob carefully. She helped him to his feet. He was shaking. "General, I think he's in shock."
"I'm fine," Rob protested. Whatever the hell these people were using to disappear into thin air, he wasn't going to be subjected to it. "I can walk. Really." He swayed again and she caught him, placing her arms around his waist.
"You won't be going anywhere until Dr. Frasier has given you a clean bill of health," Damon said. Galt opened his mouth, and closed it again. "Not a word out of you, Galt, until I say so. If either of my kids doesn't survive I will make sure you suffer slowly and painfully. Got it?"
Galt snorted. "Your kids?" He rolled his eyes. "Pair of them confirmed what I'd always thought. Animals in heat have more control. They aren't human, never will be, even if we do manage to fix them. Cling to your illusions, Damon, for as long as you can."
"Excuse me?" Carter made sure that Rob was steady on his feet and then took a step closer to Galt. "They are more human than you will ever be."
"Next stage of human evolution?" Galt shook his head. The man was an idiot who didn't know when to shut up. "I think not. It's sweet that you feel so protective towards them, Major, really it is, but they are nothing more than lab rats in an experiment gone wrong."
"Begging your pardon sir, but…." Carter glanced at Damon.
Damon shrugged; he looked as though he had just eaten something bad. "If you don't, I will."
"Galt," Carter said. "Can it." She swung her fist. Galt looked at her for a moment, an expression of total surprise on his face, and then crumpled at her feet.
Alex stirred, trying to pull himself out of the darkness. He could feel Kevin faintly but wasn't sure whether he was real. [ Love you.]
"More," Kevin whispered. [Alex? Love?] Fingers stroked Alex's hair, breath hot against his face.
Groaning, Alex half-opened his eyes, and couldn't see anything but a haze. Panicking, he choked out "Oh god, oh god." Something was wrong. Galt must still have them. The last thing he remembered was Galt injecting him, feeling Kevin briefly, reaching for him, and then pain.
"Ssh, Alex." Kevin pulled him close. [ It's okay, love. We're home. You're safe.] He wrapped himself around Alex telepathically, something Alex had thought he would never feel again. "Love you."
He could feel Kevin. He could feel him! "Kevin? Kevin? I thought….I…" Alex curled in closer, tried to roll over and groaned. "Head hurts. I can't see. What's wrong with me?" His panic grew. "I can't see."
Kevin wrapped his arms around him and stroked his hair. [ Your eyes are still half-closed. It's the sedative. You're still waking up. Relax. Trust me. ] He kissed Alex's face softly, repeatedly. "You're safe. I promise. You're safe. [ You're safe.]
"No, no. They're open." Alex's vision was still hazy. He reached out for Kevin telepathically. "I can feel you." His breathing was coming in gasps. "I can feel you. But I thought Galt…" He stopped, fearful, scared that if this was real that Galt still had them, was watching them, using them against each other again. "Where are we? Where is he?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "I thought I'd lost you."
The bed moved as Kevin moved away for a moment. He then leaned over and put Alex's glasses on for him. Alex blinked at him, his vision clearing. He felt foolish. In his panic, it had never occurred to him that the reason for his poor vision was something so simple. Being so short-sighted was a curse. [ I can feel you too. The machine is gone. Sam destroyed it.] Kevin stroked Alex's cheek. He sounded more like himself, in control and calm, his voice soothing. "We're home. Janet sent us home; she said you just needed to sleep. We're safe. I'm here. You didn't lose me."
"You're real." Alex looked around, recognising their bedroom at home. "We're okay. We're okay." He frowned, seeing the worry on Kevin's face, and felt guilty remembering the pain his lover had been in because of him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, lowering his eyes. "I'm so sorry."
Kevin's smile was sad. "I'm very real." He tightened his hold on Alex. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who kept making things worse. I thought…" There were tears in his eyes as he swallowed. [ I thought he'd killed you.]
"I felt you for a moment before he…" Alex shook his head and choked on his next words. "Then I couldn't… I couldn't get to you." He buried his face in Kevin's chest. "I'm sorry. I should have got out. I should have listened. I nearly got us killed." The memory of Kevin handcuffed, bleeding and desperate was one he would never forget. "I thought we were going to die."
"We're safe now. I still have you. That's all that matters." Kevin cradled Alex telepathically, keeping him close, keeping him safe, their psychic connection growing stronger, but still not complete.
Leaning into the embrace, Alex's need for Kevin, his desire for him, grew the more awake he became. "I'm sorry I worried you. I shouldn't have fought him, but I needed you so badly and I couldn't get to you." He grimaced as he moved his arm. It hurt. "I couldn't think straight."
"I needed you too. The bond." Kevin stopped, frowning. "Your arm is bruised from the needle." Galt had not been gentle, but the comfort of his captives had not been high on the list of his priorities. "I'm so sorry, Alex."
Alex managed a shaky smile. "It wasn't your fault. It was mine. You're here now." He paused, frowning, trying to fit all the pieces together. "How did we get here? What happened?" For one awful moment he wondered if this was a dream or a drug induced hallucination. "What did he give me?"
"A sedative." Although Kevin was calm, there was still an edge of frustration in his voice. Alex shifted slightly, feeling his body reacting to their closeness. He stroked Kevin's arm, resisting the urge to kiss him, and bit down on his lip so that he could concentrate on the rest of his partner's explanation. "It had another drug it in to suppress your psi powers. We were rescued. Sam destroyed the machine and Megabyte and Adam teleported us back to the SGC."
"Oh." Alex leaned over and kissed Kevin. He needed to touch him, needed to feel him, to feel him properly. Kevin's skin was firm under his touch, his lips wet, inviting. Oh God. [ This is real, isn't it? Please tell me this is real.]
Kevin moaned into the kiss, touching Alex, his hands caressing, fingers exploring every exposed bit of skin. [ Oh God, yes. So real. Need you.]
[Need you more.] Alex bit back a whimper and deepened the kiss.
Breaking the kiss, Kevin tugged on Alex's shirt, and began biting up and down his neck. Alex hissed; it was one of his weaknesses. Kevin biting him always turned him on. He often had to wear high necked shirts to work after they made love.
[Don't want to hurt you.] Kevin was panting. They both were; frustration and need driving them. [ Bond. Oh, God. Alex.] Kevin rubbed against him, and Alex nearly lost it right then and there.
[Need this. Want you.] Alex put his arms up to help pull his shirt off. Arching his hips, he tilted his head back and groaned loudly. [ Hurt me more by not doing it. Not whole without you.] He growled and pulled at Kevin's trousers. [Want you naked.]
Kevin rolled onto his back and took his clothes off quickly, hissing when his hand accidentally touched his cock. Taking Alex into his arms again, he thrust against him, biting down on his neck, his fingers scratching up and down his lover's back. [ Need you. Want you.]
[God yes. Yes] Alex kissed him, thrusting his tongue into Kevin's mouth, panting through the kiss. He whimpered, frustrated by his clothing. He needed to feel Kevin, to touch him, damn it.
Taking Alex's trousers off, Kevin moaned loudly as they touched, skin against skin. He cupped Alex's arse, pulled him close, and bit down hard on the base on his neck, whimpering around the skin.
"Kevin." Alex licked at Kevin's neck and his chest, grinding their erections against each other. The heat of their bodies sliding, slippery, sweating and needy was driving him crazy.
[Take you or take me?] Kevin's breathing was ragged and gasping. He tweaked Alex's nipples with his fingers and arched into his mouth.
[Take me.] Alex blushed. [ Is that okay? Not sure if I'm up to taking you. Do that later.] They were bonding. There would be little sleep and a lot of sex over the next few days; they had never been able to keep their hands off each other, even without their hormones being driven by this. Now he could touch Kevin again, he didn't want to stop.
[ Perfect.] Kevin retrieved the lube from the bedside cabinet and opened it, coating his fingers and pushing them into Alex. He shuddered as Alex felt himself tightening in response. [ So hot. So tight.]
Alex gasped. A flash of a memory, not his own, of himself wet and dripping emerging from the ocean was quickly followed by others gone so fast he wasn't sure whether he had imagined them. Reaching out for Kevin telepathically, he arched into his lover's fingers. [ Please. Oh God.]
After carefully preparing Alex, Kevin positioned himself and started to push in. He was sobbing; Alex could feel his need mixing and merging with his own. Kevin was losing control. They both were; their sense of the other was growing stronger, more than just telepathy, bonding, becoming one.
He couldn't focus, couldn't breathe properly. Kevin was in his mind; they were sharing memories, love, desires. [ I can feel you. I can feel you.] Images followed images; he was drowning in them. [ Faster. Harder. Please, Kevin, want you. Love you. Need you,] he sobbed. Cupping Kevin's arse in his hands, he pulled him deeper inside.
[Love you. Can feel you.] Kevin thrust wildly, his hand closing around Alex's cock, pumping him. [ Love you so much.]
Something snapped in Alex's mind, the final barrier between them torn away by a tidal wave of lust, desire and love. The memories flashed, faster and faster. Kevin was in him, in his body, in his head and in his heart. [ Whole, we're whole.] He arched his hips, both of them climaxing together, holding each other as they fell. "Kevin!"
Kevin collapsed on him, gasping, trying to breathe. He pulled out, moaning, rolled onto his side and lay there panting. [ I can feel you. Really feel you.] Alex could feel him caressing him through the bond. Their bond. [ Did I hurt you?]
[No. You'd never hurt me.] Alex returned the caress; his heart was beating fast, his skin on fire, but he couldn’t stop shivering. [ Never.]
[ I needed to feel you so badly.] Kevin rolled over, taking Alex into his arms. [ I kept trying and I couldn't.] He was crying, tears rolling down his cheeks.
[ I know.[ Alex wiped the tears gently with his thumb. [ I tried to feel you too.] He shuddered. [ It hurt. God, it hurt. I felt so empty, so alone. Could see you, but couldn't feel you.]
[ It was like you were there, but not really. It hurt but I didn't care.] Kevin wrapped his legs around Alex. [ I just kept trying. I needed you.]
Alex kissed him, and threaded his fingers through his hair. [ I would have done anything to get to you. It was all I could think about, especially at the end.] He bit down on a sob, but couldn't stop it from escaping. [ When Galt pulled me off you, I wanted to kill him. I wanted you, needed you so badly. You touched me, but I still couldn't feel you.]
[I would have done anything to touch you again.] Kevin leaned into the kiss. [ To feel you.]
[I reached for you, tried so hard but it wasn't enough. It was like when we first bonded, but worse, one hundred fold worse. Like a physical pain.] Alex stopped, a thought striking him, guilty that it hadn't occurred to him before. "Oh god." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Rob."
Kevin flinched; Alex knew his own reaction was responsible. "He's okay, love." It was difficult to hide anything with their bond, but he wouldn't have it any other way. "They checked him out at the SGC and Adam teleported him home."
"I was totally out of control." Alex lowered his eyes, embarrassed. He brushed his hand across Kevin's cock. Although they had just had sex, he was already becoming aroused again, and couldn't stop touching him. "God knows what he must have thought. Umm, did they tell him about the Tomorrow People?" The thought of facing him and Roger at work was not one he wanted to dwell on. Maybe he could just quit, and not deal with it. Alex hated the spotlight, and his powers made it a dangerous place. "What about Roger? Is he okay?"
"Rob talked to Adam and Megabyte. Roger's okay, but I don't know what he's been told." Kevin whimpered softly, rubbed himself against Alex's hand, and kissed him again. [ I was more concerned about you.]
Returning the kiss, Alex knew he was growing hard again. [ You're okay aren't you? ] There had been blood; Kevin had been bleeding. [ Janet checked you out?] He stroked Kevin's cock; his lover's need was as strong as his own, mingling and merging through their bond.
[Yes, I'm fine.] Kevin pushed harder into Alex's hand, and started to stroke him lightly in return. [ Just some minor cuts and scrapes.] Kevin deepened the kiss and nipped at Alex's bottom lip.
Alex frowned. [ Minor?] He looked down at Kevin's wrists. They were red and raw, angry marks covering them where the skin had ripped. [Oh, Kevin.] Alex brushed the fingers of his free hand against them. With every touch it was becoming more difficult to focus on the conversation.
[ I'm fine,] Kevin repeated, wincing. [ It was my own fault for fighting them.] He shifted, twisting his wrist to pump Alex's cock as he leaned forward to nibble on his lover's collarbone and neck.
[I'm sorry.] Alex removed his hand, not wanting to hurt Kevin any more. A memory flashed across his mind of Kevin screaming at Galt.
Kevin embraced Alex, holding him close and stroking his back before resting his head on his lover's shoulder. He was struggling to calm himself; Alex could feel it. [ We're safe, Alex.] Kevin reached out and stroked him again, this time through the bond.
[I'm sorry,] Alex said again, knowing that he was responsible. He swallowed. [This should have never happened.]
[Don't be sorry, love. It's not your fault.] Kevin sighed. [Galt is the only one I hold responsible.]
[He hurt you.] Alex traced a finger across Kevin's chest.
Kevin tightened his embrace. [ He hurt you too.]
"Kevin?"
"Yes?"
"I know I can't kill but I want to." Alex gripped the dog tags around his neck. Galt had tried to take them. Kevin had given them to him and Alex had vowed to himself that night that he would never take them off. He had never broken that promise. "I want to fucking kill him."
"I would have if I could," Kevin said very quietly.
"I used to think that not killing was a good thing." Alex couldn't get rid of the memory of Galt hurting Kevin, of him being in pain. He shivered. "I don't like feeling like this."
"I don't either." Kevin gently caressed Alex's face. "I much prefer the way you make me feel." He kissed him softly.
Alex sighed, kissed him back and curled in closer. "Do you think these feelings and memories will ever go away?"
"No," Kevin said, thoughtfully. "We'll just learn to accept them and not let them control us. I wish I could say it will all go away but you know it won't and I won't treat you like an idiot or a child. You are neither."
"No, I'm not." Alex nodded slowly and sighed. "The longer I’m a Tomorrow Person, the more hatred I see. I used to think that we could change the world and make a difference, that there's good in everyone and then people like Galt, like…" He paused and swallowed, knowing he now had new nightmares to add to his existing ones. "The Hunters that Adam and I met." Alex shook his head. "Why is it so hard for them to accept we're different?" He shrugged. "Maybe we need to change things a bit at a time, show the kids out there that here are options, that so called normal isn't all you can be." Blushing, he realised that he was rambling, and that Kevin was smiling. "That's why I decided to go into teaching, after what happened with the Hunters. Did I do the right thing or am I chasing dreams that won't happen?"
"I love you, Alex MacDonald. Do you know why? Because you give me hope, because you believe in the future, in our future." Kevin's voice grew softer. "Don't ever stop chasing your dreams. It's what makes you you. And I love you so very much."
"I love you more, Kevin Wilson." Alex paused and brushed Kevin's hair from his eyes. "You have such dreams too. I can see them in your eyes and in your heart. You believe in people, you reach out to them, to help them. You feel their pain, their fears," he kissed Kevin gently, "their love. You're strong in your beliefs, you stand up for those beliefs, fight for those you hold dear." It was one of the things that had drawn him to Kevin when they had first met. He just hadn't realised for such a long time that what he had thought was friendship was actually love. "I think we're so much stronger together than alone; together we stand a better chance of making our dreams a reality, and really our dreams aren't that much different, we just have slightly different ways of getting there." Alex shook his head, not wanting to take any credit for Kevin's own strengths. "I don't give you hope, my love. You already have that; it just sometimes gets buried under practicality and," he grinned and ducked his head, "lists."
Kevin blushed, his smile widening as he traced a pattern with his fingers over Alex's shoulder and arm. "Don't make fun of the lists. They are a very efficient way of approaching a problem or question." He paused for moment. "Did you know that when I first thought I might be falling for you I sat down and wrote a list of all the reasons I thought I was in love with you? I still have it."
"Really?" Alex had had no idea. "I was important enough then for you to make a list?" he asked in a choked voice. "Can I see it?"
"Certainly, if you want to. There are a few things I would add, but if I remember correctly it is fairly complete." Kevin cleared his throat. "It's rather long and I'm not sure that all of the reasons make sense but you are welcome to it. Would you like me to get it?"
"Love isn't meant to make sense," Alex said softly, amused by Kevin's embarrassment. "And yes I would. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"No, I don't mind." Kevin shook his head, and climbed out of bed. Alex licked his lips as he watched Kevin walk across the room. God, he was beautiful; Alex never tired of looking at him.
"You have a file labelled Alex?" Alex caught a glimpse of Kevin's thoughts. Although they were bonded and a couple, they each respected the other's privacy as much as they were able, trust taking the place of the shielding which no longer worked between them.
Kevin slid back into the bed and handed Alex some papers. [ Yes, I have a file labelled Alex. I have one for every Tomorrow Person. It has basic information including how to contact them.] Kevin was so very organised; everything in its place and a place for everything. His very analytical mind was one of the things that made him such a good scientist. Alex felt a surge of pride and grinned at him. [ Yours just has more personal information.] Kevin blushed. He was doing that a lot tonight. Alex rather liked it. "Are you hungry? Would you like some tea?"
"I hadn't even thought about food," Alex admitted. "It didn't seem important. My throat is dry though." He licked his lips. "Not sure whether it's the sedative or not."
"I'll go make tea and heat up some take away." Kevin got out of bed again, giving Alex another chance to admire the view.
[ I might come out to the kitchen with you.] Alex swung his legs over the bed and stood. "Whoa." Grabbing for the edge of the bed, he sat back down again quickly, his breathing coming in gasps. [ Umm, maybe not.]
Kevin came back into the bedroom at a run. "Alex? Are you okay?" He pulled Alex into an embrace.
Sensing Kevin's concern, Alex felt guilty and tried to put his lover's mind at ease. "Yeah, I'm fine," He forced a shaky smile. "Er, sort of. It's okay if I don't get out of bed."
"I can help you if you need to go to the bathroom." Kevin pulled back the covers for him.
[ How long did Janet say this would last?] Damn Galt. Now they were safe, this was supposed to be behind them.
[Twenty-four hours or so. She wasn't sure.]
"Guess I'm stuck here until it wears off." Alex frowned, glancing over at the clock on the bedside cabinet. That couldn't be right. "How long was I out for?"
"You were out for about twelve hours." Kevin examined the blankets on the bed. "Eleven hours and fifty seven minutes to be exact." He kissed Alex softly. "I was watching the clock."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I worried you." Alex was still trying to piece everything together. "Why…were we okay? The bond." He cringed, remembering. "Things went bad so fast, faster than with the others. I didn't think that we would have had twelve hours. I thought I felt you," Alex paused, not sure whether it had been his imagination fuelled by desperation. "It must have been really bad for you while I was asleep."
"Once Sam destroyed the machine I could feel you, just far away." Kevin swallowed. "It was like being able to touch you with the tips of my fingers. When we got back to the SGC and Janet determined what it was you were injected with it was…" He paused, his face creasing in remembered pain. "Bearable. I knew you weren't going to die then."
"Does Janet have any idea why things happened so fast?" It had been several days before Sam had worked out a way to reach Megabyte and Adam in the alternate reality; their decline had been that much slower. How could Kevin and he have slipped so fast in mere hours? From what Adam had said, it had taken over twenty-four hours before they had even noticed the beginnings of loss of motor control.
"She thinks that the initial power surge from the machine that Galt hit you with broke the bond artificially. I only felt it directly on a lower setting, but by then the damage was already done. The others didn't lose their powers like we had, and they had counterparts of their partners in the alternate reality. Although they couldn't rebond, it helped to slow things down. We didn't have that, and with our powers gone…" Kevin trailed off, his voice hoarse.
"We're okay now," Alex said. "That's what matters."
"Yes, it is," Kevin replied. He smiled. "We both got estrogen shots. That helped too." Jade and Lisa had coped better than their partners but it had taken Janet a while to figure out why.
"Estrogen?" Alex blushed and couldn't help but look at himself under the covers. He had been embarrassed when Janet had made her initial discovery and made a point of explaining it to them. She could be quite evil when she put her mind to it. No, there was nothing there that shouldn't be. He knew that his reaction was irrational but he enjoyed being all male, damn it.
Kevin chuckled. "I'll be right back, love."
[ You don't have to look after me, Kevin. You need to rest as well.] Alex could hear him out in the kitchen. [ We've both been through a lot.]
[I want to take care of you.] Kevin caressed him telepathically. [ I almost lost you.]
[ I nearly lost you too. When I’m better we'll take care of each other.] Alex leaned back against the pillows, picked up the papers and started reading. [ I never knew you thought that.] He blushed again, and put them down.
"Never knew I thought what?" Kevin came back into the bedroom with two mugs and plates of food on a tray. He put it down, climbed back under the covers, handed Alex a plate, and started to eat.
"Umm," Alex said quietly, trying to put his thoughts into words, "that you have a thing for glasses."
Kevin turned red. "Well yes. I think they look sexy on you." Alex opened his mouth to argue, and closed it again. "There is something vulnerable about how you look without them on. Completely open." He cleared his throat, and continued telepathically. [ This is not on there because I wrote that before we were together but, umm, when we are kissing or necking and you take them off, I know we are going to make love. It is like a signal to say I don't need these anymore.]
[Oh.] Alex hadn't realised that he'd been that obvious. [ I don't need them when we make love because I can see all of you, in my mind, in my heart, through the bond.] He looked down, and examined the food on his plate. [ You're also so close to me that I can see you without them. I'm short-sighted, but I can see a few inches before my vision blurs.]
"When you take them off, you are mine," Kevin said softly. "The Alex that only I get to see." He looked embarrassed. [ It makes me feel very turned on.]
"I am yours, love. Only yours and only ever yours. You are my first love, and will be my only and my last." Alex lifted his head to meet Kevin's eyes, to see the love he felt reflected there. "What you see, no one else does. The same way that what I see, no one else does." He finished his meal, drained his cup, and put the crockery on the bedside table. Giving Kevin a smile, he took off his glasses and laid them next to his plate.
Kevin looked at him, tears in his eyes, as he put down his own plate and cup. Sliding under the covers, he reached for Alex both physically and telepathically. "Love you."
Leaning in close, Alex kissed Kevin, projecting all his desire and need. "Love you more."
Close window to return to Author's Index
Return to Dryer Space