Major disclaimer.......The characters aren't mine......I'm just borrowing them for a short while...........This is my first attempt.....so bear with me........Comments are welcome.....( I need all the help I can get!!)

Beth

An Archie Story............set during his imprisonment........

The Hole.........part 1

Rats, he used to fear them....but now after nearly three weeks in the hole...they were almost becoming his friends. At least they were something to talk to. Talkin g to rats....he knew now he was losing his mind for sure.

Mr. Midshipman Archie Kennedy , he had been. A Midshipman aboard His Majesty 's Frigate, Indefatigable. Until his worst nightmare came true....and he had a fit at the wrong moment. Was there ever a right moment? No....but just as yo u are about to try and take a French ship is definitely the wrong moment.

He couldn't remember anything except that he was part of a boarding party about to slip aboard the Papillon..........and he could feel a fit coming on............When he came to...he was floating alone in the Jolly boat...........Where was everyone? Why did they leave me here alone? Questions, questions and more questions....but never any answers.

He had been captured by the Spanish.......and he had tried to escape five times now.....getting farther and farther from England every time. But this time was the worst.....he was now in a tiny hole in the earth.....to small to stand up or lie down......and his only company , the Rats...........

The beatings at the hands of his Spanish captors were bad.......but the hole in the earth was even worse. On good days they did hand him down food and water. On bad days....nothing......but most days, a few dry biscuits were tossed in the gratings.........The rats learned quickly the sound of the biscuits falling......they would scurry out and try to steal the crumbs. That's when he discovered that if he tossed them a piece of the bread..the y would take it and hurry away. So gradually they became more like companion s than things to be feared..........

His only escapes, though only in his mind, were his dreams and fantasies..........and even they couldn't keep him going for much longer.There were the good dreams...........of life on board the Indy........and there were the fantasies...........of Horatio...........tall, handsome, brave.......

Damn.....why had Horatio let this happen to him?

Horatio Hornblower had come into Archie's life at what seemed the perfect time.....Jack Simpson was gone.....and life was looking up for a change....Then Jack returned......and the perfect world crumbled again...........More abuse....more fits.......Jack was even out to get the new Midshipman Hornblower..........Archie had tried hard to tell Horatio about Jack after he returned.....but he really didn't need to...Horatio fo und out for himself what a cruel bastard Jack Simpson really was............Archie had hoped and prayed that his new found friend didn' t find out the really awful truths............

Now here in this hole, all Archie could think about was that Horatio was bac k on board the Indy with Jack.......and Jack's abuse. Archie shuddered to think of Horatio strapped down with Jack grunting over him.........

No, no.....Archie thought......shake it off..........Think only of the good times....Of the laughter when one of the midshipmen pulled a prank on Mr. Bracegirdle.........or Mr. Bowles..............Of Captain Pellew commending the men of the Indy for a job well done......There wasn't a finer captain in His Majesty's Navy than Captai n, Sir Edward Pellew..........Archie hoped that the good Captain had seen through Jack Simpson....and stopped his awful reign of terror.............Things had been so much better without him when Archie and Horatio had transferred to the Indy...........and then Jack found his way there too................

Oh Horatio......why did you let this happen to me?? You were my best friend, you looked out for me with the fits............how could you let me end up like this?......Oh Horatio........Archie dozed from exhaustion.........maybe this night would bring good dreams.................one could only hope..........

The sea was calm and the winds were brisk...........good sailing for the Indefatigable.........No French ships dared challenge the Indy.......life wa s calm.......once duties were done the midshipmen settled down for a good card game...............Archie glanced at Horatio........Horatio gave him a sly smile...........

"I think I'll take a walk........it's getting stuffy in here......" Archie announced......."anyone else want to head topside?"

"Sounds good to me" answered Horatio...........

"Ah.......the lovebirds out for a midnight stroll" announced one of the other midshipmen..........which prompted Archie to look around for something to throw at the unfortunate young man.............this time it was the spitkid by the door.........

Laughter roared from the group....as the poor midshipman sat there drenched in spittle................" I was only kidding, Archie........"

By this time Archie was out the door and making his way to the deck.....Horatio not far behind him.......

" He was only joking, Archie.........he didn't mean anything by it"... ...

" I know he didn't Horatio........that's why I tossed the spitkid..... ...if I thought he meant something by it.......I'd have used a fist".......

"So......would it be so bad if they knew we cared about each other ?"

" I....I ....I ....don't know Horatio........They have looked at me as J ack's boy all this time...." Archie started to tremble........but a steadying touch from Horatio calmed the tremors.............

He gazed into Archie eyes.........and drew him closer......

" What's this??? Mr. Hornblower.....Mr. Kennedy belongs to ME...." Jac k Simpson's voice came out of the darkness...............

" No , No, No......." Archie woke up shaking............

Damn........even in his dreams.....Jack Simpson continued to torment Archie Kennedy...............Even in this vile pit...Jack Simpson continued to haun t him.........

The Hole, part 2.

A light rain started to fall......the hole would soon be worse than miserable......and the rats would start looking for higher ground.........Like Archie's shoulders.........

ooohhhh .....he shuddered at the thought............

He didn't normally mind rain......it had been raining the first time he me t Horatio.......so rain wasn't so bad........if he could just be warm.........oh to be warm.....to be warm in Horatio's arms.................his mind began to go back....back to the first time.....the first time he knew there was more between them than just the friendship between midshipmen...............it had been raining then too.... ..

He remembered the night.......a night of shore leave.......all the midshipme n headed for the nearest pub.............most with the total intent of getting positively smashed beyond words...........They didn't have to be back to t he Indy until the next night...........Mr. Bracegirdle warned them all to be on their best behavior and to be careful.........( He knew full well that NONE were listening....)....

It rained that night........torrential rains..........once in the pub...no one wanted to leave.......why should they......here was a warm, dry place.......all the food and spirits anyone could ask for.......and rooms upstairs for those so inclined.............

It started off innocently enough........two friends a bit past tipsy........they would share the room and split the cost............neither one had any interest in "sport" with the tavern wenches.............Just a pillow for a spinning head.................

Once upstairs and safely into the room........the young men decided to share the last of the bottle they carried with them.............It sent them both quite over the edge.........Archie staggered for the bed.......and missed.......bashing his head into the bedpost.........Horatio, in trying to assist his friend, crashed over the chair...............They looked at each other and took stock of the situation.........Horatio was fine...........he sat there giggling at his landing..........Archie wasn't so fine..........he had a nasty gash on his head.........bleeding profusely as most scalp wounds do.........

Horatio struggled to his feet and made his way to the wash stand.......he soaked a cloth in cool water and took it over to where Archie sat propped against the offending bedpost........he dabbed the cloth to the bleeding laceration............Archie looked up at him......

"What would I do without you, Horatio? Always there to pick up the pieces of Midshipman Kennedy...."

"Sssshhh, Archie.......that's what friends are for...........it could ha ve easily been the other way around..........I seem to have broken that chair........it could have been pieces of me all over the floor, for you to pick up."

"But you never seem to need me Horatio........and I need you all the time".............

Horatio looked gently into Archie's eyes..........." I do need you Archi e" he said softly.........."I need you a lot.........I ..I...I......."

Archie wasn't sure how to read Horatio's last words or the look in his eyes..................The look in his eyes was not the look of a buddy.........it was deeper than that...................it was a look of love.......that was the only way Archie could read it...........

"Horatio" he began slowly......." Just how do you need me?"    

The Hole...part 3

"Horatio" he began slowly......." Just how do you need me?" Archie l ooked deeply in to the dark brown eyes of his friend..............

"How do you want me to need you, Archie?.........As a friend, or.......... " he looked deeply into Archie's blue eyes.........watching cautiously for the response as h e uttered his next words...." as a lover?"

Horatio hoped he was reading Archie correctly..........or else he was probably going to get a very unpleasant kick in answer to his question...................

Archie didn't answer......instead he leaned up and kissed Horatio.........."does that answer your question, Mr. Hornblower? "

" yes, Mr. Kennedy, it does, thank you..."

With that the two young men burst into laughter............

When the laughter subsided.........Archie reached out for Horatio's hand......"I think I'll be needing a bit of help to stand up, if you don't mind........my heart is leading me in one direction.......but I'll be damned if the rest of my body will comply"..............

Horatio stood up and offered his hand to Archie........who did his best to stand......." Are you sure we're on dry land?" he asked ......" the floor seems to be mo ving a bit"......

" Oh we are on dry land, Archie............but I think you might need to l ie down"........

He gently helped Archie over to the bed.......

Archie fell back onto the bed giggling......."So Mr. Hornblower, have you ever done this before?"

"Well .........to be totally honest.......no........"

" Not even with a girl? "

"No, not even with a girl......"

"Oh great........I'm drunk on my ass.....and I've got a virgin on my hands!"..............with that comment........Midshipman Archie Kennedy passed out.............

Horatio wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry........He knew what he wanted.....what he needed...........but now it would have to wait..........Probably better, he thought.....his head was starting to spin a bit........Carefully he undressed Archie and tucked him in...........and then he undressed himself and crawled in next to his friend...........hopefully his lover.......and fell asleep.............

Just before dawn , Horatio awakened to a warm body moving gently next to his.....he turned to face Archie.........who was smiling at him.........

"so.....you decided to wake up.....I'm glad".......Archie said softly. ....."I was beginning to think our whole night together was going to be wasted on sleep"

"How long have you been awake?"

"About an hour.........you were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wa ke you .....but I couldn't help myself...." Archie grinned at Horatio.......

Horatio could feel Archie's hands slowly caressing his body.......it felt good......he wasn't sure whether to respond or just relax and enjoy the feeling..........

"Archie, I'm new at this........you will have to guide me..."

"Don't worry Horatio......I'll take it nice and slow.......just enjoy the sensations...."  

It was becoming more than Horatio could stand..........and Archie was clearl y enjoying watching Horatio quiver beneath his gentle touch.........Slowly he began to stroke Horatio's swollen manhood.............Horatio gasped.......

~

Back in the hole.......the memories were warming more than Archie's mind.......there was a stirring in his breeches.......he reached down to help the feeling along............ but it wasn't HIS manhood his hand touched............a big brown rat had found shelter on his lap.......he had been so lost in his memories he hadn't noticed...............when he realized what it was......... he flung it away and he began to shake........ ..        

The Hole.....part 4

Archie sat there shaking...........not so much from fear of the rat......as just being startled by the rat...........Not exactly what he was expecting to be touching.............After a while, he began to calm down......He was just thankful it was over......he chuckled thinking how badly he must have scared the rat...............Yes.....he WAS losing it......now he was thinking about the rat's feelings................

The rain began to subside.........Oh how his legs ached from being in one position for so long..........he did his best to shift his body around.......but it didn't do much good....... His thoughts turned back to Horatio...........but the memories were distant now.........he couldn't seem to lose himself in them again...........He wondered if Horat io ever thought of him..........if Horatio ever wondered what happened to him..........if Horatio still cared.........

" He doesn't care about you........look what he let happen to you!" J ack Simpson's voice echoed in Archie's tired brain............" He's my boy now, Archie........and you can't do anything about it........Just think what fun I'm having with young Snotty"......

Archie couldn't shut the voice out of his mind.........it just kept echoin g .....louder and louder..........By dawn, when the light finally filled the hole in the earth......Archie was in tears............

The only positive thing about the whole time in Spain was that the fits had subsided........at least something in Archie's tormented soul seemed to know that Jack Simps on couldn't get him in Spain.....

The day brought a crowd of people out into the prison yard........some of them delighted in kicking dirt down on the lost soul in the pit........Archie closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands..........

Several days and nights passed........thankfully without nightmares.....but also without dreams........just the constant ache in his body from not being able to move....

One evening the grate above his head opened.......and Don Massaredo, his captor, looked down from above....."Mr. Kennedy......today is my birthday....and I decide d to share it with all the prisoners..........by giving you all a very good meal tonight. I hope you enjoy it ...and remember it.......because any more escape attempts from you......and you won't live to see another one like it...............".

The guards lowered a tray down to Archie........roast chicken, vegetables, fruit, fresh bread..........Archie wondered if this was really a shared birthday dinner or a last meal for a condemned man..........Whatever the case.....he was going to eat every mouthful.......and he didn't plan on sharing it with the rats...........

His stomach filled for a change......Archie drifted off to sleep...........and to dreams.....This time.....good dreams............dreams of Horatio........and the night they finally became real lovers................

Life on the Indy was great..........no Jack Simpson to torment them.............The crew had another shore leave.....and Archie and Horatio headed back for the pub..........the rest of the lads decided to try a new place......but Archie and Horatio decided to g o back to the same one...........To finish what they had begun the last time there..............

Their last night together in the quiet room above the pub had been heaven..........but Archie had wanted to take it very slowly.........he wanted it all to be perfect for Horatio......a luxury he had not been afforded his first time............He wasn't going to rush anything......even if it meant waiting........They had spent the rest of tha t night just caressing each other and enjoying being caressed............

This time......... things would be different.........Still slow and easy........But Horatio was going to get a taste of passion..........fire in his soul.........Archie was going to see to it that Mr. Hornblower finally lost his virginity...................and it didn't matter to him which way it happened..............as long as everything was perfect for his Horatio...............

After a few drinks, the two pretended to be quite drunk.......and stumbled their way up the stairs......no one gave them a second look..........which was what they intended.........A couple of overimbibed midshipmen wouldn't be disturbed unless the Pub cau ght fire........

Once inside the room, Archie bolted the door........alone....together........at last..........

Archie lead Horatio to the bed.......all the while gazing lovingly into his brown eyes...... "This is our night, Horatio, nothing and no one is going to disturb us.........."

He slowly began unbuttoning Horatio's vest.........and then eased it away and dropped it to the floor........Horatio returned the gesture.........

next were the shirts.........Archie lovingly caressed Horatio's bare chest......... sending shivers down Horatio's spine....but they were good shivers........ . He wanted more...........much more.........and so did Archie............

Just as Archie had promised it was to be a night of gentle pleasures and furious passion.......Archie began by slowly kissing Horatio and tracing the line of his jaw with his tongue.........little by little he worked his way down his lovers chest............occasionally glancing up to see the response.........

Horatio lay there with his eyes closed.........trying hard to remember to breathe............

Lower and lower down Horatio's lean body Archie continued..........he coul d tell Horatio was not far from exploding...............As he caressed his lover, he delighted in knowing that he was the first..........the only.........Horatio was learning loves pleasures as they should be learned...........Slowly, gently, lovingly..........with a true lover..........

Archie had learned about Sex in Drury Lane.........it had been pleasant enough......but not love.......He wanted things to be perfect for his perfect love..............

As he took Horatio's cock into his mouth......it was more than Horatio cou ld bear........he came with a rush he could never have imagined in even his wildest dreams.............

Archie wiped his face on the sheet and smiled up at Horatio...."Kind of a big hurry there, aren't you?"..............

"Oh God, Archie.............I've never..........."

" I know, that was half the fun of it for me....." Archie giggled...................

" Where did you learn to do that?"

"Drury Lane........and Horatio........That's not all I learned....." h e said with a twinkle in his blue eyes..................  

A rattle of the grate above his head awakened Archie...........he looked up to see two large Spaniards looking down at him............Grinning..................Oh how he wanted to escape back into his dreams..............back to Horatio.......but it was not to be.........    

The Hole....part 5

The two Spaniards drug Archie from the hole in the earth. He had been there a month........The bright sun hurt his eyes terribly and he squinted to see just what was going on around him. They tried to stand him up but his weak legs would not support him. He collapsed on the ground between the two guards.

Roughly they carried him back to his cell..........His hard cot was a welcom e relief to his aching body...........part of him wanted to stretch.......but it hurt.........the muscles had grown used to the position in the hole and did not want to comply when he tried to use them.............he finally decided not to fight them.....and lay curled in a fetal position.

Every hour or so the guards would look in......and if they saw him sleeping, would beat loudly on the door.....

Archie had never seen these two guards before.........and he wished he could never see them again......Sadistic creatures they were.........and they seemed to enjo y every moment........Just like Jack.......Just like Jack Simpson............

Finally the two were relieved of duty.........one of the kinder guards came to take their place, but it was too late........Jack Simpson had returned....if only in Archie's mind........

As Archie slept, Jack came calling.............

This time aboard the Indy...............why,oh why, did they save that man? Horatio should have hit him with an oar and thrown him back into the sea..........but with all the other crewmen in the rescue boat, that was not an option........They had to bring the slime back aboard the Indy.

Horatio had warned Jack that things were not the same aboard the Indy as the y had been aboard Justinian.............and Jack seemed to hear him......at least on board ship......

The Indy was back in Gibraltar for supplies.........Archie and Horatio had been assigned to locate a few things for the Captain. They enjoyed the day, laughing and sharing the time together......There wouldn't be time for any "real" fun......but just the day together, away from everyone, was enough.............

There aquisitions made, they started back for the ship.........

" Horatio, you go on without me......I'll catch up, I have a few things to pick up while I'm here"...........

"We aren't in any particular hurry to return, Archie. I'll accompany y ou."

"No, that won't be necessary, I can get them by myself. The Captain will want these things immediately and my errand will only take a few minutes....you go on ahead......I'll be there presently" Archie was insistant in his tone...........

He really wanted to buy a gift for Horatio.........and the last thing he needed was Horatio there with him while he made the selection.

Grudgingly, Horatio complied and headed off to the Indy with the Captain's supplies.

The little shop was in a back alley.........Tucked away where only those who knew exactly where to find it would ever dream of looking.........As Archie opened the door the scents were overwhelming...........Spices, Friuty smells, a whole world of aromas.............Yes...he had come to the right place....The shop stocked all kinds of scented oils an d perfumes.........Archie wanted something special for the next time he and Horatio had time alone..............

As he walked around the shop, he became aware of someone else being in the shop......only this person didn't seem to be shopping..........he seemed t o be watching Archie...........After a while, the observer left the shop..........

Archie made his purchase and headed back out of the alleyway, back to the Indy........

But he never made it..............

Just as he rounded the corner a hand covered his mouth and a strong arm wrapped around his body..........

"Shopping I see.........." it was the voice from hell.................Ja ck Simpson......." what pretty little bottles did you buy today........and for what purpose? One can just imagine.......Two pretty boys ..........." he said with an evil glint in h is eye......

"We aren't on the Indy now, Mr. Kennedy........and your precious Mr. Hornblower isn't here to protect you................I wonder if young Snotty will still want you when we finish with you............I would bet he wouldn't want to be on the same ship wi th the likes of you when we are done".....................

Archie struggled to break free.......but a fist caught him in the ribs.......cracking several...and he slumped down..............

When he came to, he was in a room.........surrounded by Simpson and the 6 of his cronies..........they were all quite drunk............he lay there hoping they wouldn't notice he had regained consciousness.............but they did...........

" The pretty boy awakens" one of the men announced to the group......... ." now we can have our fun"

Archie wished he could pass out again.......he knew what Simpson had in mind and he wished they had just killed him.....instead of this.............anything but this.........

Two of the men grabbed Archie while a third began to pull down his breeches...........The nightmare had begun.............Any resistance from Archie resulted in more fists.........the pain was unbearable.............but Archie's body would not succumb to unconsciousness..........

One by one, the men forced themselves on Archie.............and when all had had their turn......it started over again.................

Archie began to beg them to just kill him.........please......no more ..........but no one listened.....

When they were finished Jack Simpson grabbed Archie by the hair........" I f you breathe one word of this to ANYONE............Young Snotty is NEXT!"..........

With that said........two of the men blindfolded Archie and carried him outside.........They carried him to an alley next to the docks.......and left him there.........battered, bruised and bleeding...........

Archie never told Horatio what really happened...........he just told him he was robbed and beaten.............He had to protect Horatio as best he could from Simpson.........  

Back in the Spanish prison, the nightmares continued..........night after night Archie relived that night in Gibraltar..............Nothing would take away the pain........He knew that as much as he loved Horatio.........he could NOT go back to the Indy and Jack Simpson...........NEVER.........NEVER.........NEVER would he go through tha t again............He would kill himself first......................

Little did he know that shortly, Horatio would be there to change his mind.........

THE END...................    

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