Posted by Josephine on 06-17-2002 08:05 AM:

Title: The Space Between

Author: Josephine

Rating: PG

Genre: Romance/Angst/Challenge

Pairing: S/A

Summary: Captain Archer tries to persuade Professor Sato

Notes: Answer to a number of challenges on the Linguistics Database (judy.jteers.net/lingdata/)

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the Trek dance hall; I like to call the steps once in awhile.

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Chapter One --- Archer – Tantalize – Stars

"Look at them, Hoshi." Jon's … Captain Archer's … soft voice caresses my ear. I feel the heat of his body behind me; the scent of him assails me, makes my head swim. The half bottle of wine I drank doesn't help. He said it would be a friendly dinner, just to catch up on old times. I should have known better. Jon … Captain Archer … is tenacious; he never gives up on what he wants. And he wants me. I raise my head to the night sky.

"Imagine how many new species are out there for us to meet, how many new languages for you to learn." He's right. I know every spoken language on Earth, and a few no longer spoken. The only challenges now are amongst the stars. I had thought to stay here, have the languages come to me. But to be in the field, learning from the people themselves … I'm at odds with myself, thirsting for the knowledge out there but wanting to keep my feet firmly on the ground. And Jon … Captain Archer … isn't helping any.

"Over there is Vulcan, and there's our closest neighbor, Andorra …" He slips his arm under mine, lifts my hand with his own as we point out the systems we'd visit, the places we'd go. My mind wonders about the people attached to the names at the same time as I feel the taut muscles in his arm. I sway, and Jon … Captain Archer … steadies me against him. Warmth floods through his thin shirt to my bare back. Our arms slowly drop down to our sides.

"We need you out there, Hoshi. We need your gift for languages." We need … We … I try to remember it's for Starfleet Jon … Captain Archer … is recruiting. Starfleet is the one who needs me. It becomes a mantra in my head. I'm caving, but not because of Starfleet. I slowly nod my head, the choice bittersweet.

"You won't regret it, Hoshi." I wonder if that's true. Captain Archer is tenacious; he never gives up on what he wants. And he wants me. But not the way I want him.

Chapter two Challenge: Archer – Disheveled - Breakfast

"Good morning, Hoshi."

I hold the door for my breathless Communications Officer as she enters the mess hall, her smile fading slightly as she realizes it's me. I frown at her retreating back, watching as she tugs at her uniform, tries to tame her hair into the smooth ponytail she usually wears.

The frown stays with me as I pass into the wardroom, automatically answering Trip and sitting down to eat, but my mind is on Hoshi and why she would be running late. Jealously flares as one reason comes to mind.

Was it another man? Had she spent the night with someone? Was he the reason for the smile and blush this morning? My hand curls into a fist around my fork as I think of that faceless man touching Hoshi … my Hoshi ….

I've loved her since the beginning. The memory is burned into my soul. Advanced Vulcan, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 1.00 pm. The alien words tripped off her tongue, mocking my dismal attempts. She just smiled and patiently coaxed the sounds from me. I did well, amazingly enough; the fact that I couldn't keep my eyes off her beautiful mouth helped. I fluctuated between happiness and despair that summer; as one o'clock approached I couldn't wait to see her, at two I was cast down. Why would she ever want an old man like me? When she offered private tutoring to any who wanted it, I jumped at the chance. Now I saw her Tuesdays and Thursdays also.

Trip wondered who she was, this siren that could take my attention from even the Enterprise. I wouldn't tell him though, afraid to share her. He laughed and shook his head, saying I was obsessed.

Was I? She filled my thoughts, constantly it seemed. I'd be absorbed in the details of the Enterprise, then something would remind me of her and I'd be lost in a memory. If it weren't for Trip pulling me back on numerous occasions, the Admiral would have quickly found a new captain for my ship.

I found reasons to stay in touch after the class ended, we'd go out to dinner every few weeks, always friendly, slightly professional. When her name made it onto the short list for my Communications Officer, my blood ran cold. To have her so close, but the chasm between our ranks keeping us away … She refused me the first time I asked, of course; and the second, and the third, and the fourth. I turned on the charm the fifth time, going out to Brazil to see her, showing her the stars I love so much. 'You won't regret it, Hoshi,' I told her when she nodded yes. She won't, but will I?

A sharp pain brings me back to the present. I look down to see the bent fork digging into my palm.


Chapter Three --- Captain – Happy – Communicator

"I'm sorry Hoshi. This was never supposed to happen …"

I look down at Jon lying on the bunk. Half of his beautiful face is covered by a dark purple bruise, and he grimaces every time he breathes. Cracked ribs, I don't doubt.

"Don't start that again, Captain." The water in the sink is tepid, but I wring out a cloth and place it over the bruise. With some effort I tear a sheet into strips. "Let's get this off." He sits up as I unzip his uniform.

Raising his arms to get the t-shirt off hurts more than he lets on, but it has to be done. My fingers skim over his ribs, feeling them shift unnaturally. He's got a bruise here to match the one on his face. I let my hand linger against his skin. It feels so warm, alive ... He draws a hissing breath, I look up in concern, but his eye is closed.

"I'm going to bind your ribs, it may hurt at first, but it'll help. Ready?" He nods, and I start to wind the strips around him. He shudders, but says he's fine. He doesn't lie very well. Every time I reach around him I want to lay my head on his shoulder. Having him so close like this, my need for him is overwhelming. A sigh slips out.

He lies back down after I convince him to sleep. We're not going anywhere for a while.

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"Captain, wake up!"

I'm instantly alert, thinking the Apmats have come back to 'interrogate' me more, but it's just Hoshi. Just Hoshi. How could it ever be just Hoshi. I can barely see her in the dim light from the corridor, but I don't need the light. I know every inch of her.

Her voice hold no sense of panic, I wonder what's wrong.

"I'm awake, Hoshi." Sitting up, I can tell my ribs feel better. I almost lost it when she wrapped me; I could feel her warmth, her gentle fingers sending shivers through me. "How's your shoulder?" I ask, remembering her sigh as she worked. She says its fine, but she doesn't lie very well.

Reaching under the thin mattress she pulls out a communicator, one of the spares she always carries with her. As she explains how she hid it after the Apmats dragged me away the fist time, I bypass some of the secondary functions to get more power to the transceiver. This woman never ceases to amaze me. Finally, thorugh alot of static, we reach the Enterprise. T'Pol's voice is the third sweetest sound I've ever heard.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab Hoshi in a hug and kiss her quick.