This takes place during season one of Eureka. This work of fiction is meant to be a slow burn romantic story between Nathan Stark and Douglas Fargo. I hope you enjoy my story. Thank you. Sorry for any typos or anything else. I haven't written anything in years. Thank you.
Chapter One Sync: Eureka season 1 Episode 13
Fargo was taking a sick day at his small home. It wasn't his idea either, Nathan forced him to. The young genius closed his eyes after his alarm started to go off. His hands balled up into fists and eventually, he curled up and pulled the blanket over his head. Eventually, he threw off the blanket and sat up turning off the alarm pursing his lips.
"Yeah, I can't go to work because he's mad at me. Again." he sighed and rubbed the nape of his neck.
After the incident with the SARAH and of course, how could he forget about the neural interface system of course Stark would be upset. All he could think about was the new office he was given and how much he had screwed up. He didn't deserve it, and he was sure Stark would demote him over this.
He thought about calling the psychiatrist, but honestly, he wanted to avoid her after what he had put her through. Henry was still going through his own issues so he couldn't go to him. Taggart was busy with Jo.
He didn't want to be the downer with his usual friend group either. He'd rather just watch movies and act like nothing was bothering him, and even that was taken away from him. He couldn't remember when they last had movie night after the incident. Fargo stood up and held himself rocking on the balls of his feet before letting himself go to make himself breakfast. Maybe food would get his mind off of things.
…
Nathan was in his glass office looking down at everything. He eventually moved back to his desk and looked it over.
"Fargo, get me my folder from the third filing cabinet drawer." he reached back and waited as he wrote on a glass tablet with a stylus. "Fargo." he paused and kept writing. His arm started to tire. "...Fargo." his voice didn't change.
Eventually, he lowered his arm and then looked over his shoulder. His eyebrows knit together and he looked around the room. He then looked at his watch. Fargo was late. His eyes glanced up and back at the work on his desk. That's right he gave the man the day off. He rolled his eyes and got up getting what he needed himself. It wasn't as if he couldn't function without Fargo. He returned to his work and after only half an hour did he lean back in his chair annoyed. There was a slight hum.
"Ah!" he opened his eyes and grabbed onto the chair arms in surprise. The CEO slowly relaxed as he felt the chair work out the tension in his back. "Fargo." he sighed with slight annoyance.
He'd admit it was a little sweet of the other to do this without any prompt but he should have warned him. The last thing he needed was staff wondering what else Fargo would make for him. People already thought he abused the other enough as it was. He didn't abuse him, they worked together. So what if he barked orders at him. He sighed and thought about it. He and Fargo were closer than most people assumed. Fargo helped him burn down his lab years ago and never mentioned it to anyone. If there was anyone Stark could trust it was Fargo but he couldn't remember why. Why did Fargo go out of his way to help him so much? Just to get ahead in the company probably. They were far from friends after all.
He shook his head trying not to think about it. His mind started to drift to the artifact instead. After the death of Kim, he was tentative to do anything with the artifact. At least for now.
Tap tap tap.
"Come in," Nathan called out.
"Sir, we're ready to show off the drag car."
"The solar one?" Nathan glanced up.
"Yes, the only way we can prove to the world solar cars can work is by making a fast one as you said." The scientist seemed pretty giddy and bouncy excited to show him.
"I see you've taken my coining at light speed literally. Good. Maybe we'll reduce the waste we put in our own air sooner than we think." he got up off of his chair and followed the assistant outside and to a race track.
Stepping onto the track he gazed at the car. Low to the ground. Bright red. Designed to reduce as much drag as possible. He circled it like a shark.
"Did you want to test it, sir?"
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't. So what other upgrades does it have? I'm sure it's not just a normal solar car."
"Kinetic motor as well. So even though the solar light is giving it energy, it also gives itself energy. When it motion it stores up electricity to run as a smart car, and with how fast it can and will go storing up that extra energy won't take much. Hitting a cloudy moment in the day after some driving during the morning won't affect it, and with how we built it rain and snow will not slow this car down. Though I do caution it because of hydroplaning of course."
"Of course." Nathan agreed in his stoic tone.
"It does have shielding capabilities. So if you wanted to run it over a minefield it'd be a good way to do so, not that that's legal anymore but if one suspected active mines in an area it could easily handle it."
Stark nodded and moved to get into the vehicle and buckled up. He started the car and drove on the track enjoying himself. He watched as the crew wrote as he would pass them. He wasn't going top speed yet. He turned on the radio and just relaxed. Normally he'd let Fargo drive him around but there was an appeal to driving. As he came upon the third lap his body jolted as his back conformed against the seat. He winced and turned his head slowly and kept his eyes on the road after he couldn't move easily. He could barely even turn the wheel but the driving was so sensitive he managed to keep the vehicle turning. He swore under his breath.
"Call Fargo," he grunted.
"Calling Fargo."
He was lucky to be wearing his earpiece today that he was testing to be more hands-free. Another little convenience invention by Fargo.
"Y-yes, Fargo speaking."
"..." Nathan knit his eyebrows together still driving. "Car, out, control."
"W-what?" Fargo froze in place.
"Fargo."
"Dr. Stark?" He had to make sure this wasn't some sort of strange prank with a voice manipulator.
"Fargo." He said with slight urgency..
"Where are you?!" Fear ran through him remembering he said something about a car being out of control.
"Testing, track. Clearly...Sick..."
...
Fargo bolted out of his home and into his car driving to the testing site. When he got there he saw only one other scientist there.
"Hey! What happened? He can't stop the car. Where's the rest of the crew? Here give me your computer I might be able to get into it through wifi." He looked around. "Where are the other scientists?"
Fargo looked around and saw a few white coats on the ground. He looked back at the man in front of him and started backing away. As the man advanced him he spun on his heel and started running towards the track.
"DR. STARK!"
There was a loud noise that caused him to fall over. Fargo gasped as his hair and body whipped around him. He looked up and saw the other scientist begin to back off watching the car make sharper turns to put itself between him and Fargo. Fargo hurriedly pulled out his tablet and put in his earpiece calling Stark.
"Fargo," he stated nonchalantly.
"Thanks, but I need to hijack your body."
"What?" his cold tone was dropped for utter confusion and hesitation.
"So, I know you told me not to work on the Neural Interface System but I have been because I wanted to show you it's not a failed idea, like with your phone-"
"Less...Words."
Fargo was quiet for a moment feeling anxious. He got up and started bolting. Away from the track. He knew Stark couldn't protect him for long, not unless he killed the guy. He looked over his shoulder watching the guy try to make a move to catch up to him. It seemed he was too afraid of getting in Stark's way unsure if the man would run him over. Fargo stopped running and kept typing on his tablet.
"Remove the earpiece and press it to your neck and click it like a pen."
There was no response but he knew by the light grunts that Stark was trying. He took that moment to put distance between himself and the now cautious suspect. He wants it to look partly like an accident. There was no telling what the other lab assistance remembered. What if they didn't remember everything? It could be written off as the brain refusing to remember a traumatic event.
"Got it. Pain." Stark hissed into Fargo's ear.
Fargo shuttered. Stark was relatively candid with his emotions and wasn't the type to admit to being in pain. To hear the man bend at the knee in pain right in his ear caused him to panic and tremble. He put down the tablet and a blue light came up like small cubes. He then put a neural interface system onto his neck. He waited to feel a strain on his body, gasping for air as if his life depended on it.
"FUCK!" Stark shouted feeling a wave of panic run through him. His eyes dilated as he began to sweat more.
"STARK FOCUS!" Fargo shoved his hands into the blue cubes and it formed into what looked like a steering wheel.
Stark felt his body tense and driving became more tedious. His hands started to go against his intentions.
"Seizure?" Stark felt his body start to become numb. "Seiz-"
"It's me. I'm in you." Fargo stated and turned his hands shaking. "Turn with me Stark we need to drift and then drift the other way to try to spin the car out. It might slow it enough for you to jump out."
"Fargo."
"We have to try or you're dead!"
Stark felt a wave of terror run through him. He wasn't sure if it was his own or Fargo's, and shortly afterward Fargo felt a wave of perfect calm. Fargo huffed and turned his hands. He didn't realize it at that moment but Stark placed his faith in him because he had little choice in the matter. Stark turned his own hands and it was easier as he worked with Fargo on controlling the car.
"STARK NT, I need you to send out a small EMP Pulse to blow out the generator and the car."
"Fargo, link." Stark could barely talk.
"I know but honestly we can get you down to 60 miles per hour with a few hacks, all you have to do is drift-"
"I don't drift!"
"Okay, I'll drive for you after that the emp will go off."
"We shouldn't use an EMP."
"Parachute hack initiated." STARK NT called out.
A weight was lifted off both their bodies. Fargo started to drift the car to try to slow it further. Feeling almost a rush of pleasure run through him. What on earth was his boss going through with his emotions?
"You named your new project after me?" Stark asked with a playful tone.
"Well, yeah, I mean. It stands for something."
"Oh? Got a crush on me Fargo?"
"Can we just...Make sure you don't die?"
"I'd buy you dinner for saving my life but it's all free in Eureka."
"Cut it out you're not safe yet."
"Eyes up where's our crazy lab assistant?" Stark asked looking around.
Fargo quickly looked around his surroundings and saw he was alone. The person must have fled upon hearing the plan about the EMP. Fargo kept looking feeling worried he was wrong.
"Calm down."
"I can't, I don't see him what if he's armed?"
"Then we die Fargo...Fargo I said calm down."
"SHUT UP!"
They both felt the whirlwind of rage and fear. Stark had to figure out something to say before his rage got the better of both of them.
"I like this side of you Fargo. Reminds me of myself."
There was a large mix of uncertainty between them. Fargo started to concentrate again on drifting to slow him down.
Stark meanwhile watched the speedometer go down. He undid his seat buckle and rammed his shoulder into the car door but it shut quickly from the pressure.
"Look I'll just have an EMP burst go off it'll stop the c-"
"An EMP might kill Walter."
"Oh...STARK NT, belay EMP order." Fargo quickly commanded
"As you wish master."
"...Oh I shouldn't have let it call me that." Fargo's hands shook slightly.
"Let what call you what?"
"Uh, nothing. I'll do a drift again."
"I'm ready."
He tried drifting the car again and made sure not to flip it. As it slowed Nathan quickly opened the door again and shoved himself out of the car rolling. His body bounced as he did his best to cover his head. He internalized his screams as he felt his suit rip around his arms, the threads cutting into his flesh with the dirt. His heart sank hearing Fargo screaming. After his body came to a full stop the adrenaline forced him upright and pointed in Fargo's direction. He only saw the man laying on the ground.
"Where's that son of a bitch?" Stark's eyes darted around but the attacker was nowhere to be found.
Stark sank to his knees not seeing any danger.
"Fargo...FARGO!" he shouted in a commanding tone.
After a moment he managed to push himself off the ground and staggered over to Fargo and let his body drop next to him. He looked the other man over and checked his pulse. He lightly started to shake him by rubbing his chest.
"Fargo...Fargo...Doug." he stared down at him.
Fargo opened his eyes slowly and relief filled Stark. Fargo reached up and pulled out the neural link from his own neck and sat up.
"You're hurt...I'll carry you. Get on my back or something."
"You're kidding...I'm twice your size."
"You're really hurt, I felt it. Just. Please get on my back."
"Fargo...Just help me up and walk me to your car. You can take care of me at your place. With everything that's happened you have to promise me not to tell anyone about this."
"But we SHOULD tell the sheriff."
"Trust me that doesn't do either of us any good. We can't stand each other, and he's not my bodyguard. Besides if word gets out I'm a target a hire-up might try to pull the plug on Eureka. So let's just keep this quiet for now." Stark countered.
Fargo watched him and slowly nodded before getting up. He carefully helped Stark up and let the man lean on him for support. The two almost fell over a few times but Fargo quickly corrects their positions so Stark wouldn't fall.
"I'm putting my link back in." he put the link back onto his neck and helped Stark walk to his car.
"Call an ambulance for the other scientists." Stark huffed as Fargo buckled him into the car.
The two stared at each other. Fargo wasn't sure what he was feeling was from Stark or himself but he felt frozen.
"I'm tired." Stark quickly closed his eyes.
This snapped Fargo out all the tingling sensations he was feeling and he hit the top of the roof with his head. Stark winced.
"Fargo...I hurt enough...Thank you." he chastised.
"Sorry." Fargo pulled the link off of Stark's neck then his own. "Okay. Um. STARK NT call for an ambulance for three in this area."
"Affirmative master."
He quickly moved away from Stark and closed the door and got into the driver's seat to get Stark to his house. It was quiet as Stark had his eyes closed for the ride. He looked like a disheveled mess.
"I won't tell anyone," Fargo said quietly while he helped Stark to his bed.
"Thank you, Fargo." Stark hummed. "So why my name? I forget if you told me."
"Smart telecommunication audio recognition kernel new technology, that's what STARK NT stands for and I mean, it was going to be my thank you gift but that got spoiled, again," he grumbled.
"Thank you?" Stark opened his eyes to see Fargo undressing him.
Stark raised a hand in objection then saw Fargo grab a wet cloth. When had he retrieved that? Fargo looked at Stark confused wondering why he was stopping him or objecting. Stark just lowered his hand slowly and let the man clean up his cuts and wounds.
"It's nothing doctor," Fargo replied.
Stark watched him but didn't push for answers, it wasn't in his nature, so instead, he shrugged it off.
"Well, whatever it is Fargo. You are welcome," he said closing his eyes.
Fargo just stared at the man dumbfounded. He wasn't even going to say thank you back at this moment?! After watching Stark fall asleep in seconds he smiled sadly at him. He did suppose Stark said thank you already. He smiled and cleaned and dressed his wounds. He then moved a chair into the bedroom to sit and rest in it to keep an eye on him.