Love And Repayment
By Ami
This is response to a challenge by Gina on the Plotbunny 101 list: Use the phrase Its dead, Jim. in a fic. This is the SLASH version of the story.
"Its dead, Jim!"
Jim stared at his lover, curls flying all over the place, a broken-hearted expression on his face, and burst out laughing.
Blairs brow furrowed and he frowned at Jim. "Its not funny, my computer crashed."
Jim chuckled for a few more moments, and then finally managed to subdue his mirth long enough to gasp out, "Star Trek." Then he broke out in renewed fits of laughter.
Blair paused, thinking, and then joined Jim in his laugh-fest.
Long minutes later, they both finally pulled themselves together. Blair wiped tears out of his eyes as Jim got out a few last chuckles.
Jim stifled any thoughts he might have had about making more Star Trek jokes and finally turned serious. "Blair, you did have everything backed up, right?" At Blairs nod, he continued, "Well, well take it to a repair shop tomorrow and see if it can be fixed. If not, well just buy you a new one."
Blair looked miserable at Jims last words. "Jim " he said in a soft voice. "I dont have enough money for a new computer. I barely have enough money to make the insurance payments on my car. And without my laptop, its gonna be real hard to do all the stuff I need to at Rainier."
Jim sobered. Hed always had plenty of money; wise investments coupled with his back pay from the Army had insured hed never have to work if he didnt want to. But his Guide had almost been living hand to mouth before hed met the anthropologist. "Chief " he said, placing a comforting hand on Blairs shoulder. "Ill pay for your laptop, if it comes to that. No," he placed a finger against Blairs lips when the younger man started to protest. "I insist. You do so much for me, and you never let me pay you back. Those white noise generator earplugs that I never really thanked you for, the sleep mask, the sensitive skin shaving lotion and everything else youve gotten for me over the years must have cost you money you didnt have, but you did it anyway. And I have the money to buy you a new computer, hell, ten new computers. Let me do this for you, love, please?" Jim begged.
Blair stood for a moment, studying Jim, and then nodded. "Thanks, man." He reached up and gave Jim a searing kiss. "But Im sure Ill find some way to repay you," he purred.
Jim looked into Blairs smoldering eyes and thought, Hell, what am I going to do, say no? Nah He gathered his lover up into his arms and carried him upstairs, where they spent the rest of the night repaying each other.
THE END