Copyright 1999, Lyta. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be
re-posted in full or in part without written permission from me.
Disclaimer: Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is copyright 1998, Tribune
Entertainment Co., its characters are used without permission. No infringement is
intended.
Rated: PG
Title: Shared Experiences
Author: Lyta
Lyta_1028@yahoo.com
Summary: Da'an helps Liam learn to overcome his personal demons.
Author's Notes: Vignette following my previous story, "When the Truth is Known"
"Shared Experiences"
Liam woke up in a cold sweat with the sheets and bedspread
lying in a tangled mass on the floor. Shivering, he picked the covers off the floor and
wrapped the blanket around himself. This was the third night in a row he had awakened from
the dream, or rather nightmare.
In the dream, he was on the mothership again, strapped down to the
examining table as Zo'or forced him into a sharing. His every memory seemed violated, not
so special now that he was no longer they only one who could recall them. He had
never felt or been so helpless before that moment.
Giving up on the possibility of sleeping any more that night, Liam put
a robe on over his nightclothes and quietly walked to the kitchen. He rummaged around in
the cupboards, occasionally marveling at some of the items he could. Apparently Augur's
eccentric tastes extended as far as his pantry. Finally Liam ended up with hot chocolate
and settled himself in a chair by the gas fireplace. Even the cozy atmosphere around him
failed to dispel the terror of the dream, his memory. It did not help that he was still
trying to piece together his last hours on the mothership and understand why Sandoval had
saved him.
"Liam." A soft voice said from behind. Liam turned to see
Da'an standing in the doorway wearing a concerned expression. "This is the third time
in as many nights I have found you here when you should be resting."
"I couldn't sleep." Liam offered in explanation.
"It was the dream again." Da'an stated.
Liam suddenly found the way the marshmallows floated about in his mug
to be fascinating.
"You have been very quiet and distant these last few days."
The Taelon observed.
"I just needed to think." Liam said. Da'an gave him a
questioning look and Liam decided to elaborate a bit in hopes of getting Da'an to stop his
questioning. "I try to sleep, but all I can see in my dreams is Zo'or making
me
" His voice choked his emotion and Liam found he could not complete his
sentence.
"Sharing can be a tool of both mutual understanding and terror,
depending on its application. Captain Marquette recently told me an intriguing Human
phrase: 'if you fall off a horse, you should get right back on again'. Apparently it means
that if something which should not be frightening does induce fear then one should strive
to experience it in the intended manner before the fear becomes too deeply
entrenched."
Liam looked up at him blankly.
"I suggest we share. The Commonality is aware of your true nature
now and it would do no harm."
"I'm not sure that is such a good idea." Liam said, trying to
think of ways to dissuade Da'an.
"I would never intentionally harm you, Liam." Da'an told him
in a gentle tone.
After a long moment of hesitation, Liam slowly extended his hand to the
Taelon. Da'an pressed his own palm to Liam's cautiously, not wanting to make him back off.
Da'an blushed as he initiated the sharing.
Liam found himself immersed in a wave of emotion from Da'an and
instantly reciprocated. Their relationship was a curious mix of friendship and the bond
between a parent and a child. Da'an had long ago come to terms with the fact that he would
not have offspring of his own, and Liam had come to feel like his son. Now Zo'or had hurt
his child in ways not visible to the eye. It pained Da'an that Liam's smiles were rare
these days, and when he did smile it failed to reach his now haunted eyes. The sharing
became a conduit through which Da'an communicated his feelings to Liam in a way that words
could never be a substitute for.
When at last their hands parted, Liam's expression was one of wonder.
He smiled and it lit up his green eyes. Had Da'an been Human, he would have released a
sigh of relief.