Diablo

Kaidan set down the last of Jarrett's luggage in the Captain's cabin.  Kaidan shook his head at the mountain of clothing and cosmetics.  "Worse than a girl," he muttered, and left the room to go check on the security console.  It had been beeping oddly, but he hadn't checked it yet.  Kaidan checked the console, and frowned at it as it reported that it needed a full diagnostic to resolve a data anomaly.  Kaidan started the diagnostic, then swore at the console as it threw up a series of errors.  With a sigh, Kaidan started going through the logs and fixing issues.

"Lieutenant Alenko, could I see you in my office, please?" said Dr. Chakwas.  Her voice was chilly and disapproving.

Kaidan looked up in surprise.  "Is it vital?  I need to finish this diagnostic."

"Your job is at stake, Lieutenant."

Kaidan looked down at the console.  "The integrity of the ship is more important.  I'll stop by your office when I'm done."

"You are not to leave this ship without speaking to me," said Dr. Chakwas.

Confused, Kaidan looked up at her.  "I have no idea why you're angry with me.  I'm not running, I'm making sure our scanners don't fail at a crucial moment.  You're perfectly welcome to set a guard over me, if it will make you feel better."  He went back to his work without waiting for her to respond, and she returned to her office.  The glass was still in privacy mode.  Kaidan couldn't think of why Dr. Chakwas was so angry.  Finally, he got the computer into a state where he could leave it for a few minutes, and he walked into the med-bay.

"This is ridiculous," sobbed Liara.  "It's none of your business, and it has nothing to do with you!"  She looked up in surprise as Kaidan entered.  "Kaidan, why won't she leave me alone?  Is this some stupid Alliance rule?"

Kaidan stared in surprise at the ugly bruise on her face.  "Dr.  Chakwas, what's going on?"

"I was hoping you could tell me," snapped the doctor, "since Liara is too afraid to tell me anything."

"Oh!"  Liara jumped up from the chair.  "You think Kaidan did this?  How dare you!"

"Liara, please calm down," said Kaidan dryly.  "Dr.  Chakwas, could I speak to Liara in private for a moment?  You can take off the privacy filter and watch us," he snapped before she could accuse him of anything.  "I'm not going to touch her."

"Fine."  Dr. Chakwas turned off the filter and stepped outside.

Kaidan rolled his eyes.  "What the hell happened?" he demanded.  "Sit down, and don't touch me."

Liara sat down again, and crossed her hands in her lap.  "I made Shepard very angry," she said softly.  "I tried to apologize, but it didn't seem to help.  And then he ran away.  I don't understand at all!"

"So why does Chakwas think I had something to do with it?"

"Well, I didn't want to get Shepard in trouble!  I told her it was my fault, that I tripped."

Kaidan groaned.  "That's Human for 'My boyfriend hit me.'  It's not your fault," he said quickly as she gasped in horror.  "You didn't know."  Kaidan put his hand to his head.  "This is going to be a bad day."

"Why doesn't Shepard like me?" asked Liara sadly.  "Why can't everyone just get along?  He hates me, and Joker hates you –"

"What?"  Kaidan blinked in surprise.  "Jeff hates me?"

"Well, he's very upset that you're with Shepard," said Liara, "and he did say some awful things about you.  In general.  I think he's jealous."

"I did not know that," said Kaidan slowly.  "I forgot that he and Shepard were old friends."

"Oh, yes," said Liara cheerfully, "they've been friends since the Academy.  He's very unhappy at not being able to touch Shepard anymore."

"Jeff was in the room with you, when Shepard came to talk to you."

Liara nodded innocently, not really understanding.  "He was trying to comfort me, until Shepard walked in.  Then he seemed to forget my existence.  Which I totally understand," she smiled, "Shepard has that effect on me, too."

And me, Kaidan thought to himself.  He sighed.  Life was going to be very complicated on the Normandy.  "I need to go talk to Shepard."

"What should I do?" asked Liara helplessly.

"Remind Chakwas that you're an Asari, not a Human, and tell her you want treatment, not a lecture.  If she keeps pushing, tell her you'll take it up with Captain Anderson."

"Do I look really bad?" asked Liara, as Kaidan walked to the door.

He stopped, and looked at her once before turning away.  "I think you look beautiful.  But I'm not the one you need to impress."  Kaidan left the med-bay and went back to the console, ignoring Chakwas' angry glare and Liara's pleased smile.

"Lieutenant Alenko," started Dr. Chakwas.

"Don't you have a patient to take care of, Doctor?"  Kaidan pulled up the screen.  "Someone who needed medical attention?"

"I would like to speak to you," she said coldly.

"Well, considering that I have a mission-critical role on this ship," he said sharply, "my work takes precedence over your desire for idle chatter.  Might I suggest that you return to your duties, and if you have a problem with me, that you bring it up with the officer in command?"  Kaidan turned away and started going over the diagnostic logs, completely ignoring her angry gasp.  As soon as she turned away, he scanned the ship for Jarrett's location.

"Don't think this is over, Lieutenant."

"Don't think I care," muttered Kaidan under his breath.  Jarrett was in the recreation room.  Kaidan set the diagnostic to run again, and headed to the lower level of the ship.  He stepped out of the elevator, into a crowd of crewmembers, split into a group of mostly men that was chanting "Shanxi" over and over, another of mostly women yelling at the men to shut up, and Wrex, who was sitting on one of the couches alone, laughing his head off while Garrus and Jarrett were trying to rip each other apart.

Kaidan stared in disbelief as Garrus rushed at Jarrett, claws outstretched, and Jarrett dodged with lightning speed before driving his stiletto into Garrus' back.  "What the hell are you doing?" he shouted.  Before anyone could react, Kaidan threw out a biotic blast, knocking all the spectators – except Wrex, who dodged – to their feet, and then followed it with a stasis field, trapping Garrus and Jarrett before they could attack each other again.  "The fuck is wrong with you people?" he snarled in fury.  "One deck apart, now!"  Sheepishly, the crew scattered before Kaidan's wrath, and he slowly released Garrus and Jarrett.  "You," he snapped at Jarrett, "one deck away from Vakarian."

"I need my knife," Jarrett smiled.

"Now."

Jarrett threw up his hands and left, muttering under his breath in Cantonese.

Wrex finally stopped laughing long enough to help Garrus with the knife in his back.  "That was pathetic, Turian.  Your ancestors are crying right now."

"That was the most humiliating fight I've ever experienced," Garrus grumbled.  "He was toying with me the whole time."

Wrex cleaned off the knife while Kaidan applied medi-gel and a bandage to Garrus.  "It's your own fault, Turian.  Shouldn't have shot your mouth off."

"What is going on around here?" Kaidan demanded.  "Has everyone gone insane?"

"You took away their toy, Alenko," laughed Wrex, "they don't know what to do with themselves anymore."  The Krogan's deep laugh made the floor of the room shake.

Garrus stared at the floor.  "I'm sorry for starting the fight, Alenko.  Could you – could you tell Shepard that I didn't really mean it?"

"He knows," grinned Wrex.  "If he had been really angry with you, you'd be a diplomatic incident by now."

"Shut up, Wrex.  I'm talking to Alenko."  Garrus' mandibles twitched in the Turian equivalent of blushing.

"Sure," said Kaidan in confusion.  "I'll tell him.  But I still want to know what is going on."

Garrus sighed heavily.  "I think you should talk to Shepard."

"Here," Wrex handed over the clean knife.  "You can give this back to him.  Maybe next time the Turian decides to insult your taste in men, he'll remember about the knife."

"Thank you," Kaidan took the knife carefully, and walked away without looking at Garrus again.

"You're trying to get me killed, aren't you?" muttered Garrus.

Wrex laughed again.  "You finally figured that out?  Turians are really thick about some things."

Kaidan went back upstairs, noting that everyone was suddenly very busy cleaning and fixing things, and trying to avoid eye contact with him.  He went to the Captain's cabin, still trying to find Jarrett.  He noticed that Ashley was in the med-bay, having a shouting match with Dr. Chakwas, but the privacy filter was blocking the sound.  Kaidan shook his head, and walked into the Captain's cabin.

"Why didn't you lock the door?" asked Jeff.  He was slouching so that Kaidan couldn't see his face, and was sitting on the bed next to Jarrett, who had his graceful fingers protectively curled around Jeff's hand.

"Because I'm not doing anything that he shouldn't see," said Jarrett firmly.  He glanced up at Kaidan, a slight challenge in his eyes, then back at Jeff.  "C'mon, man, don't be like that."

"Fuck you, asshole," said Jeff softly, and slowly stood up, carefully pulling his hand away from Jarrett.  "I'm getting really sick of being second with you."  Jarrett sat quietly and watched as Jeff left the room.

Kaidan locked the door, and tossed the knife on the coffee table.  "What was that?"

"That," sighed Jarrett, "was me making Kaidan angry because I don't want Jeff to go crazy."

"And the shit downstairs?  What the fuck was that?"

Jarrett grinned.  "That was me teaching Garrus to watch his fucking mouth."  He glanced up at Kaidan.  "Do I get my knife back?"

"And the shit with Liara?" demanded Kaidan.  "You told me you slapped her, she looks like you hit her with a stack of datapads.  What the fuck is going on?"

Jarrett shrugged.  "I'm very disruptive, what can I say?"

"Jarrett!"

Jarrett sprang to his feet.  "It's not my fault everyone is fucking crazy!  I know what I want," he screamed, "and I'll do whatever it takes to get it."  He threw his arms around Kaidan, buried his fingers in Kaidan's thick hair.  "And what I want is you, dammit!  I don't care what else happens, I just want you," Jarrett was whispering now, soft and desperate, his body pressed against Kaidan.  "I want you," he repeated.

Kaidan realized that Jarrett was shaking, and put his arms around him.  "Calm down," said Kaidan gently.  "What's going on in that head of yours, Jarrett?"

"I'm not giving you up," Jarrett insisted.  "I don't care what anyone else says."  He laid his head on Kaidan's shoulder, still trembling slightly, letting Kaidan's arms support him.

Kaidan sighed, and pulled Jarrett into a gentle kiss.  "Do you think I'm going to let you go?"  At the first touch of Jarrett's lips, the desire to possess him grew stronger, and Kaidan kissed him again, harder and faster.  "You think I'm going to give this up?"  He crushed Jarrett to him, forced him down to the bed, still warm from the heat of the bodies that had just been sitting there, and pinned Jarrett beneath him so that he could kiss every part of Jarrett's face and neck, making Jarrett arch beneath him, tantalizing touches that brought soft pleas for more.  "Mine," whispered Kaidan fiercely.  "You're mine," he slid one hand into Jarrett's pants, the other still holding Jarrett's arms over his head.  Kaidan kissed him again, sealing in the screams and passionate moans as his hand stroked over Jarrett's cock.  Jarrett thrust into Kaidan's strong grip as much as he could, and it wasn't long before Kaidan's touch quickly brought Jarrett to a shuddering orgasm.  "I'll fuck you properly later, and make you pay for letting another man touch you after I told you not to."

"I had to," Jarrett said softly.  "I'm sorry."

"I believe you," smiled Kaidan, "that's why the fucking comes first.  But you're still getting a few swats for it."  He kissed Jarrett again, then rolled off the bed and stood up so that he could wash his hands.

Jarrett smiled, blushed slightly, trying not to look too eager and failing miserably.  "Of course, Kaidan.  I'll explain once we're underway."

Kaidan stepped into the little bathroom and cleaned his hands.

"Shouldn't you just move in here?" suggested Jarrett hopefully.

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes," said Jarrett swiftly.  "If you want to," he said, suddenly shy.

Kaidan smiled to himself.  "I'll move my stuff in here after we take off."  He checked to make sure that his clothes were straight, and brushed back his hair.

The overhead beeped, and Joker's voice filled the room.  "I hate to interrupt, Commander," said Jeff, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "but have you seen the co-pilot?  I need him to clear the ship's computers so we can leave."

"I'm on my way, Joker," Kaidan sighed.

"Lieutenant Alenko!  I had no idea you were in the Captain's cabin," said Jeff with mock surprise.  "Shouldn't you be working, Lieutenant?"

"Enough, Joker," said Jarrett wearily.

"Of course, Commander."  Joker disconnected, and Jarrett put his hands to his head in despair.

"I have to talk to him," said Jarrett.

Kaidan leaned over and kissed him.  "You might want to clean yourself up first," he grinned, and kissed Jarrett again.

"Or not," smiled Jarrett.  "Maybe I'll just lie here and wait for you to come back."

Kaidan's cock twitched at the thought.  "You have to get up so we can leave this frozen, bug-infested hellhole."

"True," Jarrett slid out of the bed and went to the bathroom.  "You should probably get going before Jeff starts nagging again."

Kaidan kissed him one more time, then left to go deal with the ship's computers.

Kaidan realized he had fallen asleep on the couch after bringing his things upstairs, and compulsively putting everything away because he couldn't deal with all the mess of Jarrett's room.  He was also fairly certain that he had been fully dressed when he had slumped on the couch, and that Jarrett had not been in the room.  But his pants were open and Jarrett's hands were now on his cock, doing something very odd.

"No!  Not the chocolate!  My only weakness!"  Jarrett was doing that horrible imitation of Kaidan's voice again, and Kaidan wearily sat up a little, trying to figure out what Jarrett was doing.  Yes, he realized, Jarrett was indeed pouring chocolate syrup on his cock and playing with it like it was a puppet.

"Oh, no!  Don't worry, I'll save you!" cried Jarrett in a sweet falsetto.

"That is not a toy – " Kaidan gave up when Jarrett's mouth covered him, eagerly licking away the chocolate and making Kaidan groan in animal satisfaction.  He shifted slightly, giving Jarrett more room to work, and put his arms behind his head so he could get a better view.  Jarrett was kneeling by the couch, his shirt off, his head moving up and down on Kaidan's cock.  Kaidan reached out lazily, and ran a hand over the yellowing bruises and fading welts on Jarrett's back and shoulders.  Jarrett arched into the touch of his hands like a cat, and his tongue and hands moved even faster.  "Don't think you're going to get out of that spanking, slut," Kaidan muttered through the haze of lust caused by Jarrett's mouth.  Jarrett laughed in response, but he never paused in his sucking and licking of Kaidan's cock.  "Or that fucking," Kaidan growled.  "Are you wet already?"  Jarrett shook his head.  "Damn.  Fine, swallow it, slut.  Every drop."  He grinned as Jarrett sank on his cock again, "That was kind of a waste of breath, wasn't it?"  Kaidan watched in fascination as Jarrett's throat worked, matching his cock pulse for pulse as he filled Jarrett's mouth with his come.

Jarrett licked him clean and then finally pulled away, looking up at Kaidan.   "I did ask first," he grinned, "and your cock said I could play with it."

"I'm sure it did," Kaidan laughed.  "Come here."  He pulled Jarrett on top of him, into his arms.  "I have a question," said Kaidan calmly, as he pulled Jarrett's arms to the small of his back, and held Jarrett's slender wrists captive in his hand.  "Why didn't you mention earlier that Jeff might have a problem with you being exclusive?"

"Truth?" Jarrett grinned, as he snuggled up to Kaidan.

"Please."

"I wasn't thinking about it at the time.  Or afterwards.  In fact, anytime I can touch you, I'd prefer not to think about anything else.  And when I'm not touching you, for that matter."

Kaidan smiled.  "I guess that explains the chocolate."  He kissed Jarrett, then shifted so that he could pick him up so that they were both standing, and carefully walked Jarrett back, until the smaller man was pinned against the wall.  "So, did you talk to Jeff?"

"Yes," said Jarrett quickly.  "I told him I was taken and he would have to deal with it."

"And how did he react to that?" asked Kaidan as he turned Jarrett around, and moved Jarrett's hands over his head so that he could secure them to the wall, making quick but secure restraints out of the bandages that he always had in his pockets.

Jarrett had to stand on his toes to reach the hook on the wall where Kaidan had tied him.  He looked up, aware that his body was arched perfectly for punishment.  "Well, he cried a bit, and told me hated me.  Which is a step up from trying to break us up, so I guess that's good."  Jarrett swallowed nervously.  "I thought we were fucking first."  He tried to twist enough to turn and see Kaidan's eyes, but he couldn't get enough purchase.

"Did you kiss him?"

"Look, Jeff has serious attachment issues.  It's worked out now, though."  Jarrett screamed in surprise as he felt a searing lash across the skin of his back.  "I had to do something!"   He screamed as the whip danced across his skin again.  The whip landed again, then again, fire ripping into his wounded skin.  Jarrett screamed and twisted under the blows, unable to hold still from the pain, no matter how badly he wanted to suffer.  "I'm sorry, Kaidan!  I couldn't let him die!"

Kaidan stopped, and Jarrett held back a gasping sob at the sudden reprieve.  "What?"

"He's practically suicidal when it comes to me, Kaidan.  I'm sorry, I should have told you, I just wasn't thinking.  He just needs to know that I'll be there for him, that's all.  It was just one kiss, I swear it.  I won't do it again, not without asking first."  The words spilled out quickly, and Kaidan could hear tears in his voice.  "I'm sorry!"

Kaidan gritted his teeth in fury, and threw down the whip.  He moved forward, grabbing Jarrett by the hair and pulling his head away from the wall.  Jarrett gasped in pain, but Kaidan silenced him with a fierce and angry kiss.  "I do not share, do you understand that?  I can't do it," he snarled.  "I won't do it."  He kissed Jarrett again, possessive and wild.  He could taste Jarrett's tears, feel Jarrett's pain on his lips.  He ripped away Jarrett's pants, leaving him open and exposed for his hands.  "You little fucking slut, if I ever even think that you've had sex with him, or anyone else, I will kill you both!"

"I wouldn't," Jarrett gasped, "please, Kaidan, you have to believe me!"  He almost screamed in terror as Kaidan stepped away.  "Please!"

Kaidan turned his back to Jarrett, and stared at the blank wall, trying to recover his sense of balance.  "This isn't how you make someone trust you, Jarrett.  This is important to me.  I cannot – I do not share."

"I couldn't risk it, Kaidan.  I knew you would be angry, I don't understand it, but I came back.  I came back!  I'm telling you the truth," Jarrett pleaded.  "Beat me, punish me, anything, but just believe me.  I only kissed him, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Jarrett sagged miserably against the wall, and choked back a sob of terror.  "Please don't leave.  I'm sorry."

Kaidan closed his eyes against the pain.  He hated this about himself.  No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get past the need for sole possession.  Not even for something like this.  It was ridiculous, to be so jealous and angry over a simple kiss.  "Why?" he asked, trying not to snarl in rage.  "Why did you kiss him?  Why did you give him anything?  What does he give you that I can't?"  He turned back before he could stop himself, slammed his fist into the wall near Jarrett's head.  "Why?"  Jarrett twisted enough to kiss his hand before he could pull it away, and Kaidan felt the caress run through him, almost startling him out of his jealous rage.  He leaned closer to Jarrett, let his hands run over the bruises and welts, kissed Jarrett's shoulders, let his hand slide between Jarrett's legs.  "Why?"

"Jeff – he's my teddy bear.  He's there when I want something to hug.  He's candy.  He hates that I'm violent and twisted, he disapproves of anything weird, but he loves me," said Jarrett softly.  "I gave up most drugs, but I kept Jeff."  Kaidan's hands moved down his back, and Jarrett moaned as Kaidan forced a finger inside him.  "Please, Kaidan, can I keep Jeff?  We won't have sex, I swear it, but I need something.  Something for when you're not here."

Kaidan poured some lube on his hand, and worked another finger into Jarrett, making him gasp and moan.  "I was right here," he said softly.  "You could have told me.  You could have asked first."

Jarrett gasped as Kaidan thrust another finger into him, twisting roughly inside him, sending half-delightful shivers through his body.  He tried to shift to a more comfortable position, and shrieked as he lost contact with the floor, lifted into the air by Kaidan's hand.

"Do not test my boundaries, slut."  Kaidan's voice was very soft and very dark, but he knew that Jarrett heard him.  He withdrew his hand, and slowly pulled Jarrett onto his cock.  "I am not part of your fucking harem.  I am not a damned toy."  He punctuated each statement with a vicious thrust, slamming Jarrett into the wall and making him scream in pain and ecstasy.  He put one hand on the wall for balance, and used the other to keep Jarrett's hips in place as he pounded into him.  Jarrett writhed on his cock, his head thrown back in wild passion, trying to move with Kaidan's thrusts, eagerly taking everything that Kaidan was forcing into him.  "You are mine, Jarrett, and if you forget it again, I will fucking strangle you and set your goddamned teddy bear on fire.  Shut up!"  Kaidan snarled before Jarrett could apologize again.  "I know you're sorry, slut, that's not what I want to hear!"

Jarrett tried to think of what to say, but his brain was short-circuited by his impending orgasm.  Kaidan slammed harder into him, held him in place against the wall, pinning him there.  He could feel Kaidan's cock sink into him again, all the way inside, filling him with Kaidan's come.  Jarrett arched helplessly, screaming, wildly eager for Kaidan's touch, unable to resist the waves of pleasure that threatened to drown him.

Kaidan stared in surprise as Jarrett came so hard that he blacked out.  "Damn."  He released Jarrett's hands, and carefully carried him over to the bed.  He watched Jarrett lie still and quiet on the bed, sticky whiteness covering his chest and slowly seeping out of him, new lines of red covering his back over the faded scars.  He leaned down, and kissed Jarrett gently until he felt him stir.  "Keep your damn teddy bear, slut.  Kisses only.  No more."

"Thank you, Kaidan," smiled Jarrett gratefully.

They were almost at the Citadel.  Kaidan was building a required maintenance list for the Normandy's computers, and studiously ignoring everyone being quietly crazy around him.  His terminal beeped with a private message.  It was from Jeff, asking if he could talk to Kaidan for a few minutes in their quarters.  Kaidan sighed.  Like many things about Jarrett, he really didn't know what to expect from Jeff anymore.  Kaidan walked down to his quarters after he had finished his duties.  Jeff was already there, nervously pacing, his abnormal gait even more disjointed.

"Hey, Alenko," Jeff smiled wanly.  "Thanks for coming."

Kaidan shrugged, then realized he was being intimidating.  "You asked me," he said quietly.  "I don't want to be the cause of any more trouble than I can help.  Do you mind if I sit down?"

"What?  Oh, sure."  Jeff stopped pacing, and Kaidan sat down at the desk.  "Man, I don't even know where to start."

Kaidan waited quietly, and tried to be calm and trustworthy.  "I'm listening.  Say whatever you want, I'm not going to be angry at you."

"But you should be!" blurted Jeff.  "It's not his fault, you should be mad at me.  You shouldn't be hitting him because I piss you off!"

Kaidan blinked in surprise.  "That's not actually how it works, Jeff."

"Don't try to explain it to me, please.  I'll throw up.  It's not just the hitting, though.  I'm just – it's not just him, you know?  I'm fucking with you, too.  Or, I was.  I'll stop.  So stop being mad at him all the time.  Please."

Jeff's pleading was like a stab in the throat.  "You didn't tell him you were going to do this, did you?"  Kaidan looked at the ground, trying to keep his temper and jealousy in check.  That wasn't the voice of a friend.

"What?  No, of course not.  He'd freak.  He likes the attention you give him," said Jeff bitterly.  "He thinks it proves something."

Kaidan gritted his teeth.  "I know it doesn't make sense to you, and I can't demonstrate.  But I'm not taking advantage of anything or anyone.  I trust Jarrett enough to tell me when to stop.  He trusts me enough to know I won't go too far."

"Fine, whatever.  Just… I don't know.  He's not going anywhere.  Don't be jealous and crazy."

"Too late," muttered Kaidan under his breath.  Then, quickly, before Jeff could speak, "I'll talk to him, Jeff, but what you want for him and what he wants are not the same thing."

"I know!"  Jeff sat down on his bed, with a tired sigh.  "I know that, I'm just pissed because I thought he had given up on this stupid shit.  He doesn't need someone like you, Alenko."

"Are you sure about that?" Kaidan was genuinely curious, and hoped the question didn't sound like a challenge.

"No," Jeff admitted, "I'm not sure about anything anymore."

"Except that you still love him."  Try as he might, Kaidan couldn't keep the hateful note of jealousy out of his voice.

Jeff looked up at him in surprise.  "Of course I do.  It's Jarrett."

"Of course."  Kaidan stared at the floor again.  "I hate sharing," he said suddenly.  "This is the first time I've been with someone where I can't control that, and it's driving me up a fucking wall.  But, like you said, it's Jarrett."  Kaidan looked at the door, the laundry, anything but Jeff.  "I have to go check on the computers again.  I think one of the processors is bad."

"Sure."  Jeff watched him walk to the door.  "Hey, Alenko – "

Kaidan turned, and was rewarded by a tiny smile from Jeff.

"Thanks for listening to me."

Kaidan nodded, and went back to his console to finish his work.