The First Promise
(Episode addition to Liars, Guns and Money (3): Plan B.)
By Gumnut
Oct – 22 Nov 2002

"D'Argo, kill me. D'Argo, please kill me."

D'Argo chilled, frozen at the terror in his friend's eyes.

"John-"

"D'Argo. He's in my head, he-" John broke from his grasp throwing himself across the room. Grabbing his pulse pistol, he thrust it to his head.

D'Argo saw the movement in slow motion, he struggled to grab Crichton, hold him back, stop him from-

The gun went to his head, his arm spasmed, and…..nothing happened.

D'Argo reached him and dashed the weapon from his hand. He turned, grabbing Crichton and shoved him up against the wall.

"What…do you think you are doing!"

The man before him looked at him, his face twisted in anguish, the hope completely gone from his eyes. "D'Argo, I can't…." His face crumpled and he broke down.

D'Argo held him. The human shuddered violently in his grasp, huge sobs of anguish muffled against his chest.

xxxxx

She was still a fair way down the corridor when the yelling started again. She had started running by the time she came around the last bend and collided with Jothee. They both staggered.

Jothee looked almost frantic. He pointed in the direction of Crichton's quarters.

"He's gone completely fahrbot! He-" She didn't wait for him to finish, she flung herself the rest of the way.

The room was a shambles. Clothing, pieces of furniture, and John's chess set lay scattered all over the floor. Even Winona lay abandoned beside the bed.

D'Argo stood in the centre of the chaos, holding on to a wildly struggling Crichton. The despair on D'Argo's face cut her. The insanity on John's, cleaved her in half.

"What happened?"

At the sound of her voice, Crichton stopped struggling and went almost limp in D'Argo's arms. "Aeryn?"

She looked at D'Argo as she approached them. His eyes darted in the direction of Winona, then back to John. Aeryn held her breath. He wouldn't have, would he? But she knew the truth in her heart. John wouldn't have but for that THING in his head.

John's eyes were red-rimmed, his gaze almost vacant. He looked at her almost pleading. She cupped his head in her hands. "John?"

"Aeryn….I." He gasped, took a breath. "D'Argo, you can let me go now."

"John-"

"Let me go!"

The Luxan let go and John almost fell, Aeryn catching him by the shoulders. "John?"

"Aeryn….he's….aah, in my head….and I can't…." He started swiping at himself again. Aeryn grabbed his arm, holding it down, he began to struggle again.

"John!" He stopped, shuddering. His eyes clenched shut and he swallowed. When they opened again, they bored into her, an intense blue.

"Aeryn, do….do you remember the bugs, and the…the heat delirium, when you made me p..promise?" She nodded, her eyes widening. "I want you to promise me." She opened her mouth to object. "Promise me, Aeryn. He's taking over. I don't know how long….I don't want to hurt any…please, Aeryn, please k..kill me."

"John, I-"

"Aeeryn, please." His grip on her shoulder became almost painful, tears of desperation trailed down his cheeks as he clung to her.

Her pain-filled hesitation sent a flicker of betrayal across his face. He flung himself away from both of them and crashed on to the bed.

"Get out of here, both of you." He buried his head in the pillow.

Aeryn and D'Argo looked at each other, neither exactly sure what to do. D'Argo quietly knelt down and picked up Winona, passing her to Aeryn.

"I said, GET OUT!"

They left him sprawled face down on the bed.

xxxxx

Out in the corridor, Aeryn realised she was crying. She wiped an awkward arm across her eyes. D'Argo said nothing, his eyes saying everything.

"What do you want to do?" He finally asked.

She took a breath and composed herself. "Umm…Pilot and Crais are looking for a medical facility for Moya. Hopefully we will be able to find help for John, as well." Her eyes betrayed her more optimistic tone.

"And, if we can't?" He said, gently.

She looked up at him, her voice trembling but firm. "Then I will keep my promise." She turned abruptly and walked off. D'Argo followed her with his eyes until she turned a corner, both his hearts in pain.

Turning back to Crichton's quarters he saw that John appeared to have fallen into an exhausted sleep, his breathing soft against the hum of Moya. D'Argo decided to stay for awhile and keep watch.

If Aeryn failed to keep her promise, he would keep his.

xxxxx
FIN.