Suns (LGBT - Sci-fi - Romance)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27 

Stefan walked straight into Nick's arms. They stood there, just holding each other until Stefan drew back slightly. "Can I stay here tonight? I don't want to have sex or anything, I just want to be with you." 

"Of course you can, the bed is big enough for two, or I can make up the couch?" 

"I want to be with you," Stefan repeated. 

"No problem. Do you want to talk about what happened?" Nick drew him over to the small couch and sat down next to him. "Shall I get us a drink? Brandy?" 

"That would be wonderful," Stefan answered. "I'm so tired, I want to talk to you but ..." 

"Just relax for a moment, I'll get the brandy." 

By the time Nick turned back with the glasses a few seconds later, Stefan was asleep.  

"Bed for you, I think," murmured Nick. 

He got one arm under Stefan's shoulders and half carried him into the bedroom. Stefan roused sufficiently to allow Nick to take off his boots and uniform then collapsed onto the bed, asleep again before his head hit the pillow.  

Nick picked up the uniform and put it in the fresher, wondering wryly how on Earth he was going to fall asleep again, with the man of his dreams lying next to him all night in his white briefs and nothing else. 

Nick woke some hours later to find Stefan watching him. His expression was unreadable in the dim light.  

Nick smiled sympathetically and turned on his side, facing but not touching him. "How are you feeling?" 

"Better, I think. I'm, er, sorry for passing out on you." 

"You were exhausted, it's not surprising." 

"I still can't believe Viktor's dead!" Stefan burst out. "Finding out what he did, that he deliberately helped those men escape so they could try and kill you, then saving my life ... I don't know whether to hate him or weep for him!" 

Nick pushed his own resentment and animosity towards Viktor aside, there would be time enough to deal with that later, and told Stefan what he needed to hear.  

"He saved your life because he loved you. I know he did some really bad things but I think you need to try and hold on to that, because whatever else he did, in his own way he loved you. In the end, you were more important to him than his own life." 

He held Stefan while he wept, wept for the man who, for all his faults, had been the only father he knew, wept until all the tears were gone and he fell back into an exhausted sleep. 

XXX 

When Stefan woke again it was morning and Nick was up already, showered and dressed. Nick had spent a minute watching Stefan as he slept, admiring those long black lashes resting on his cheek, his eyes still slightly swollen and then made himself get out of bed, fast. 

He didn't want to take advantage of Stefan's distressed state, encourage him do something he would regret later.  

"Would you like a shower or a coffee first?" he asked cheerfully. 

"I'd kill for a hot shower," replied Stefan, half disappointed, half relieved that Nick wasn't still in bed next to him. 

Nick had a coffee waiting for him when he emerged sometime later, fully dressed.  

"Today is going to be hard," he said soberly, handing him the cup, "but I'll be there if you want me. Dad too. He'll be staying a couple more days he said, if you want to talk to him." 

"Thanks, I might do that," Stefan replied, gulping his coffee. "I better go, Captain Okiro is coming up from Bast early this morning to take charge, he'll want to see me as soon as possible." 

The other man nodded. "Would you like me to come with you, now? Or do you need some time alone?" 

"I think I need to clear my head," Stefan replied apologetically. 

"That's fine," Nick assured him. "But before you go," he reached over and kissed Stefan lightly on his warm lips. "One more thing for you to think about," he smiled. 

XXX 

Captain Okiro arrived at the station a few minutes after Stefan had sat down behind his desk. He went out to greet him and ushered him into his office. 

"Come in sir, I'm Captain Rice. I'm glad you're here." Neither had met in person before, although Rice liked what he had heard about the older man. Captain Okiro on the other hand, had heard a lot of gossip and wild rumours and was trying hard not to let himself be swayed by them. 

"There are a few things I need to tell you up front sir," Rice began, immediately the senior Captain had seated himself. "Firstly, Colonel Rice was my adopted father, my natural father was Nicholas Mars." 

"Ah, I'd heard rumours about that," Okiro murmured. He sat back a little more easily into the chair, it appeared the younger man was prepared to be open with him. "Please tell me what happened yesterday," he invited in a conversational tone. 

"Unfortunately it appears Colonel Rice was involved in yesterday's prison escape from Hathor," Stefan started, keeping his story as straight forward as he could, pretending he was making an official report about an ordinary operation, not one involving his father and his would be lover. 

He fully expected that when he finished speaking, Okiro would ask him to stand aside until investigations were finalised.  

Okiro listened patiently without interrupting, then said slowly, "As you know, I am now officially in charge of this case. Officially, you can't be one of the investigating officers because you are too personally involved, but I'd appreciate your help Captain with some of the background research. I can't see a problem if you are working under my direction." 

"Thank you sir!" Rice was grateful. Although it was going to be painful, helping to find out the truth would be much better than sitting around brooding. 

The two officers spent the next few hours piecing together what had occurred. Marshall and Amoros both formally identified Viktor Rice as the man who had allowed them to escape from detention in Hathor. As they were both being charged with manslaughter and attempted murder, neither had anything to lose by trying to transfer some of the blame to the dead man. Marshall was happy to tell Okiro that Rice had released them on the condition that they swore to eliminate Lieutenant Connell while recovering the silver. It was clear they hadn't known that Stefan was his son until Viktor had leapt in front of the stunner.  

It soon became apparent that the Colonel had orchestrated a few other events, all of them with the object of ensuring that his son stayed on Aykut and Connell went down to investigate the mine. 

Ser Mitcham conceded that, now he came to think of it, the Colonel had been the one to suggest he should arrange a meeting with Captain Rice. 

The 'lost hikers' who had occupied Nakamura all day, turned out to be a costly hoax. An extensive search and cross referencing of guests and personnel in the various Eco Lodges revealed no-one who was unaccounted for. Although there was no direct proof linking the Colonel to the false call, neither Captain doubted that he had been responsible. In addition, the driver who had been involved in Sergeant Forrester's 'accident' had presented a false ID and couldn't be located. 

"I think the situation is clear enough, Captain," Okiro concluded. "I'll have to report this to my superiors on Capella, it will up to them what action to take against the Colonel, if any. Unfortunately, a lot of evidence against him will come out at the trial of Marshall and Amoros, I can't see how that can be avoided. I'm afraid it will be very difficult for you," he added unexpectedly. 

Rice swallowed. "Can I ask you sir, do you know if I will be asked to resign my commission?" 

"I think that's unlikely," Okiro said seriously. "It's clear you were not personally at fault in any of this." He gave a wry smile, "However you'll have to put up with a lot of gossip and innuendo. You may find your career stalls for a while, maybe even a few years." 

Rice nodded slowly. He was alive. Nick was alive. He straightened his shoulders, "I'll get through it sir."