Fibbers, Pistols and Cash

by CeRell

The wondering of what the final 4 eps of season two resulted in this fic. Note it's not writen to entertain, per se', LOL, but what I think could be. And we know tptb can be quite evil to us shippers and scapers. This will be a long devil, and you'll have to earn each new episode.. So lets hear your input...
; )

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Fibbers, Pistols and Cash

Part 1 - Freedom

They were close. So close he could taste victory. They had found the
location where Jothee was enslaved and they had finally arrived.

'Thanks to Chiana.' D'Argo scowled. She and Crichton refused to tell him
'how' she had gotten the information. With Crichton's unheard of refusal
to talk, he knew how she had gotten the info. He had to face the truth.
She was a tralk. For all that he enjoyed being with her. She 'was what
she was' as she so often repeated strenuously in their arguments. He
really had to accept that aspect of her personality. His inability to accept that was infringing on his enjoyment of her.

He grudgingly admitted that he really didn't trust her either. Even now
as he stood in the shadows impatiently awaiting word from Aeryn and
Crichton. He didn't feel very confident about her covering his back from
any peacekeeper troops that might happen to spy him skulking in this
dark corner where he was carefully concealed, clutching tightly to his Qualta blade, watching the entrance.

He wasn't sure how late they were, but Aeryn and Crichton were
definitely late in getting back to him. His worry was beginning to
mount. The diversion; the riots they had seeded, on the other side of the city was beginning to wind down. The fire at the temporary peacekeeper command looked like it was getting under control. Any moment they could be found out.
One of the dead peacekeeper's they had killed would be found or missed and a search started. Or one of the hirelings they had used for the riot could be caught and would start talking. They had to hurry.
**********
The guards weren't moving. They seemed to have decided to set up camp
right at the juncture of the very corridors they needed to follow. John
felt his thigh cramping from the crouch he'd had to maintain since
they'd dived into the small alcove a half an arn past when the guards
decided to plant themselves in their way, bringing their triumphant
escapade to a screeching halt. He could feel Aeryn moving restlessly
against his backside. She was enduring their discomfort far better than
he was. But then having been born and raised a commando graced her with
the aptitude for this stealthy type of work. That and her strict regime
of working out and keeping her body in tip top shape. He simply HAD to
stretch that leg. Aeryn's hand pressed on his lower back. The guards were finally moving off. Sweet relief!

He cautiously stood up and padded softly down the right corridor, his
body stiff and complaining. Aeryn moved with her usual cat like grace.
The look on her face was of stern concentration. The gleam in her eye as
she looked to him in confirmation of her question reflected the enjoyment she was getting from their current situation.

He nodded in agreement to her unasked question. According to Chiana's informant; this was the cell Jothee was kept in. Aeryn worked her magic with the key Chiana had been able to procure for them. They sidled alertly into the cell.

"Jothee." Aeryn whispered. A figure that was hunched studying the floor
in the near corner swung around.

Aeryn peered at him carefully. Looked like the face in the picture she decided.
"Jothee, we've come to get you out. Are you ready?"

"Since I came to this place." The youth replied eagerly and stood beside
them.

"Walk in front of us. We'll follow along like guards." Aeryn continued.

The trio set off and were nearly out of the building when they were
finally challenged.

"What are you doing with the boy?" The guard demanded.

John replied arrogantly, "A prospective buyer has summoned him."

"I wasn't told of this. Who gave the order?"

Aeryn ended the discussion with her preferred response; a slam to his
temple with the butt of her pulse rifle.

"Thank you, we'll be on our way." She looked down at the crumpled form,
handed her rifle to John, pulled the guard out of sight and reclaimed
her rifle.

"That was good for me, was it good for you?" John asked with a smile and
got a quick smile in response as they quickly exited the slave chambers
and met up with D'Argo.

D'Argo was stunned. He thought he was prepared. He was surprised at how stunned he was upon seeing Jothee after all those lost cycles.

Jothee seemed to be surprised at seeing a Luxan. His blond eyebrows rose as he nodded a brief acknowledgment as John and Aeryn hurried past.

"I see you found him." Chiana breathed as she hurried over to them carrying her rifle with the muzzle pointing towards everyone. Aeryn reached over and moved the muzzle to the ground.

"Hello!" Jothee looked her up and down appreciatively.

John grabbed his arms and hurried him off as he noted D'Argo's quick angry jealous scowl.

Jothee would have spoken in irritation at the rough treatment, but John
flashed him a scowl with a finger to his lips. He stayed silent as the
others intently kept a wary eye out for peacekeepers as they quietly
made their way to the safety of the pod.

John pulled Chiana aside as everyone else entered the pod. "Go sit in
the back in the cargo area." He quietly asked.

She looked at him incredulously. "What?"

"We don't need Jothee ogling you in front of D'Argo. Not right now.
Please, just keep out of sight for awhile?"

She took a deep breath. John quickly stopped her before she could
explode. "Please, just for a while. Just until D'Argo and Jothee settle
things. All right?" Chiana's fury was evident in her face. But she couldn't dispute the logic in what he was saying. In answer she spun on her heel and headed angrily to the cargo area.

Once airborne, Jothee finally challenged D'Argo. "Why do you keep
looking at me? Do we know each other?"

"We used to. I am Ka D'Argo."

"So?"

D'Argo was floored and asked in disbelief. "You don't remember that
name?"

"Should I? I haven't known too many Luxans in my life. I should remember you if I knew you. Are you sure you've got the right slave? Just who are you?" he asked rudely.

D'Argo was suddenly assaulted with fear that they had liberated the
wrong person. "I am the father of Jothee, son of Lolann."

It was Jothee's turn to be stunned. "My mother was Lolann." He paused as
several emotions flashed over his face. "What are you doing suddenly
showing up in my life? Did you finally remember you had a son?" He asked
bitterly.

"I was falsely imprisoned for killing your mother. Her brother killed
her and blamed it on me. I have been searching for you since I escaped
the eight cycles of my imprisonment. These are my good friends."

"I don't believe you." He stated flatly. "Why would a brother kill his sister?"

John quipped. "You don't beat around the bush do you?"

Aeryn spoke up. "Sebaceans are taught to keep the lines pure. It is
abhorrent to interbreed with other species. Your mother didn't feel that
way. She married a Luxan and had you. Her brother saw it differently. He
felt she was tainting the bloodline."

"Why wasn't I killed then?"

"I managed to get you to safety with a good friend of mine. He was
killed after I was arrested."

"I still don't believe you. You're lying."

He looked at his son. He had known it wouldn't be easy, but he hadn't
counted this blind aggression. "It's one thing to be angry with me for
abandoning you, but you could tell them," he motioned towards the rest
of the crew, "thanks for risking their lives to liberate you."

"Certainly, how remiss of me. Thank you all for risking your lives for
me." He spoke with a cool disdain and a clear arrogance.

John shot him a mildly surprised look. "Sure, no problem."

Aeryn shot Jothee an angry look. "You aren't pleased to be liberated
from a life of a slave? You think perhaps we should return you?"

"I didn't ask to be liberated. I had an escape plan ready to set into
action."

"So I noticed. You were going to escape through a crack in the floor?"
Aeryns sarcasm was lost on him.

Jothee blustered at her. "I had a plan. I was waiting..."

D'Argo yelled. "Enough of this! You WILL apologize to these people!"

"You may have been my father cycles ago but you did forfeit that when you
left. So don't be expecting me to fall at your feet in gratitude." He
railed back at D'Argo.

"Look." John stood up fed up with Jothee's unwarranted attitude. "We
don't expect you to kiss our asses, but we do expect a little
politeness. You have issues with D'Argo, fine. You DON'T with Aeryn or
me. So knock off the tough guy of the universe routine. Shut up and sit
DOWN."

Jothee backed off. "Sorry." He sat down sullenly.

Aeryn shot John an amused, impressed look. John winked at her and set
back down at his console.