Midnight Snack

Title: Midnight Snack

Author: Iocane

E-mail: iocane@crosswinds.net

Summary: Galen returns after an unusually long period away from the ship.

Rating: NC-17

Series/sequel: Part fourteen of "Dreams of Silence"

Disclaimer: Galen, John, the Excalibur, and all related names, places, and people belong to JMS and many
other people.  The story itself is mine.

Archiving: CDC, WWOBM, Selena's Galen Page, Lady May's Slash Archive, DM's Place, and the Crusade
Fic Archive all have ongoing permission. Anyone else, please ask.

Warnings: This story contains explicit M/M sex.

Notes: First and foremost, thanks to Antoinette for her expert beta'ing, comments, suggestions, motivations,
and generally beating me over the head until I finished it. :)

Second, the following notations are used throughout the series
...

Single brackets [] around text indicate personal thoughts.
Double brackets [[]] around words indicate telepathy.

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated. This is my first planned out story of this scope, so any
suggestions you have would be wonderful.

                                   Midnight Snack

John pulled off his uniform, tossing it into the hamper. He glanced worriedly at the candle for the hundredth
time that night. [Calm down, John.] he told himself. [He'll be back. He always is. And he said he would be.]
John slid into bed, pulling the covers up to his neck. Since they'd become lovers, Galen had never been away
for more than a week at a time.

Two weeks ago, Galen had left the Excalibur, claiming he needed to rejuvenate. The day with Ms. Jones had
been far more draining than the technomage had initially anticipated.

"I have to go, John." The technomage had insisted. "I need to rest, and as much as I wish it were otherwise, I
can't get the kind of rest I need on the Excalibur, and your duty keeps you here."

John had simply nodded. He'd once told Galen that he knew the technomage had the freedom to leave when he
had to. Still, a tiny part of him resented it. Resolutely, he always pushed that part deep down, studiously
ignoring it. "When will you be back?" He'd asked.

"I don't know." Galen's voice had been sad, as were his eyes. "I honestly don't know, John. I wish I didn't
have to go, but I need to replenish my energies." He had tried to kiss his lover good-bye, but John had pulled
away in a moment of peevishness. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise."

Now, in the darkness of his quarters, as he had countless times in the past two weeks, John regretted again
refusing that final kiss. He'd decided that never again would he refuse a kiss from Galen.

He would never know which one was going to be his last.

A tear slipped from John's eye as he fell asleep.

                                        ---------------

John was standing beneath a waterfall. As the water cascaded down his naked body, he glanced around. The
waterfall ended in a large pool with smooth white sand beneath the crystal clear water. In the center of the
pool was a large flat rock, perfect for sunning. The banks of the pool were lined with smooth grey stones,
bordering a sweet smelling green grass. John ducked under the water and swam to the rock, pulling himself
onto it. Laying face down on the warm surface, he could feel the twin suns heating his back.

A pair of warm hands caressed the backs of his calves, moving up to his thighs. John arched into the hands as
they stroked his buttocks. The touch was as familiar to John as the lips that grazed the skin of his back. The
hands ran up John's back and into his hair, massaging his scalp. The strong fingers sent shivers down John's
whole body, causing him to raise off the rock. An arm slipped under him and a moment later, John found
himself immersed in water.

He yelped at its coolness on his sun warmed skin. When he stood, the water lapped at his waist. Turning to the
culprit, he saw Galen laughing at the expression on his face. Growling, John lunged at him, toppling Galen
backwards into the water. The two men briefly struggled, with Galen finally getting the advantage. Pushing
John's back against the smooth rock, he covered the other man's mouth with his own, cutting off any further
protests.

John moaned softly, his hands circling Galen's body, pulling his lover closer to him. Galen pulled away,
allowing John a single intake of breath before attacking his mouth again. His hands moved over John's body,
caressing every accessible bit of skin, except for the part that most clearly ached for his attention. John ran
his hands down his lover's body, reaching below the water to find Galen's hard shaft, stroking it slowly. Galen
arched into the touch, his teeth closing gently on John's neck.

Tightening his hand, John continued to stroke his lover, watching his face, his eyes. John's other hand fondled
Galen's balls gently, tormenting his lover. John skillfully sent Galen to the edge, and pulled him back, time and
again. Finally, he glanced at Galen's blue eyes and saw an almost dangerous desperation. Finally he pushed
his lover over the edge, watching his blue eyes go wild for a moment.

Galen panted heavily as he recovered. Looking down, he saw the tip of John's throbbing shaft poking out of
the water. Grabbing his waist, Galen lifted John from the water easily, setting him back on the rock. The angle
of John's hips was perfect and Galen surged forward, taking his lover's cock into his mouth and throat in a
single motion.

John thrust upwards, amazed that he kept control of himself. For what seemed like hours Galen taunted him.
He would kiss the length of John's shaft, stroking it slowly while sucking his balls gently. Finally he swallowed
his lover's cock again, feeling the explosion hit the back of his throat. John arched upwards, his body leaving
the rock as he climaxed, moaning Galen's name.

                                          ---------

Breathing heavily, John fell back onto the bed. Before he was aware of it, he felt a pair of lips on his, a tongue
seeking entrance to his mouth. Reaching his hands up, his fingers found a familiar face close to his. Breaking
the kiss, he smiled "Galen!"

"You were expecting someone else?" Galen grinned and kissed the young man again, his hands in John's
black hair, savoring the silken feel of the strands.

John kissed Galen thoroughly, realizing that he could taste his essence in his lover's mouth. Looking down, he
saw a large wet spot on the covers. [[I thought that was just a dream ...]]

Galen broke the kiss and lay beside John on the bed, rolling onto one side and gazing at his lover. [[It was a
dream. It was also something more ... It was an apology.]]

[[For what?]]

"For staying away so long." He kissed his lover tenderly, pulling him close.

They made love, tenderly, roughly, countless times that night. As though making up for the days Galen had
spent away. Their minds remained joined for hours, their souls melding with each other long into the night.

On its table, the endless candle burned brightly.