Title: Home continued

Rating: PG-13. Why? -shrug- I don't know. Suicidal angst, major alcoholic intake, offensive cursing, and whatnot. Maybe even some -gasp- sex! ...Yeah, right. I'm smutly challenged.

Summary: Takes place directly following the events of "Home"...screw the Augments! A/Tu friendship, Tu/T'P romance.

Major Characters: Jon, Trip

Disclaimer: Blah blah bitty blah. Paramount, etc. I'd also like to take this moment to lament over the introduction of Erika Hernandez. Damn that woman. Jon is mine, you hear me? Mine.

Author's Note: I know what you're asking yourself. If I've got so many other stories going, why am I writing a new one instead of updating those? I honestly don't know. I've been so busy with college...but this one was just begging to be written. God, Jon is so hot.

Chapter One

Captain Jonathan Archer of the NX-01 Enterprise walked into his quarters, letting out a deep breath.

What a day, he thought. Having a civil conversation with Ambassador Pointy...Shaking his hand ...It's more than a man can handle. Jonathan took a second to pay Porthos some attention before stripping off his uniform and stepping into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and let the water warm up. And now I've got another two weeks vacation to look forward to. Sighing, Jon stepped into the shower stall, allowing the steaming hot water to cascade down his back, soothing the taught muscles. He closed his eyes for a second and focused solely on the feel of the water against his skin. God, I wish I had a bath tub...

It had been such an overwhelming week. The attention that Enterprise had been paid after 'saving the world', as everyone said, was too much for Jon. Escaping to the mountains was a refreshing change, as was the companionship of one Captain Erika Hernandez. Erika... Jon couldn't help but smile at the memory of her leaning over to him. "What are you doing?" He chuckled to himself at his own naïveté. Spending a year in the Delphic Expanse had obviously had more than one adverse effect on him.

Jon turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel and wrapping himself in it on the way. He wondered if it was such a good idea to start this...whatever it was, with Erika. He'd obviously suffered more than the visible burn on the side of his face from his dealings with the Xindi. There were the scars that weren't so easily seen; scars that Erika had only briefly glimpsed during their week mountain-climbing. They weren't going to go away overnight, Jon knew. But did Erika realize this? Shaking his head, Jon pulled on his pajamas. The entire crew of Enterprise was more than just slightly damaged, and Jon wasn't sure if it was smart for him or fair to Erika to seek solace in her embrace. Was it right to bring her down? At least Trip and T'Pol are in the same boat.

Jon sat on the side of his bed, Porthos jumping up and casually draping himself over his master's legs. Jon stared blankly out at the Earth orbiting below, thinking. He could still feel his brain working painfully to comprehend the relationship that was Trip and T'Pol. Obviously there had been more than neuro-pressure going on during those late night rendezvous' in T'Pol's quarters, but when had it crossed the line of friendship? And more importantly, why hadn't he, Trip's best friend, noticed the difference? And why hadn't Trip told him about it? The shock at seeing Lorian, the potential future son of Trip and T'Pol, had thrown Jon into a fit of jealousy. He knew it was unwarranted – he'd never given Trip any indication that he felt anything more for T'Pol, embarrassed with himself that he'd ever even had those feelings. As time went on, however, the jealous feelings had faded, leaving behind only a puzzling curiosity. He could only hope that someday – hopefully someday soon, now that Earth was safe from the Xindi threat – he and Trip could talk about it, and everything that had happened, like the best friends that they had been. Jon knew that he was a changed man after what he thought of as the "Xindi Experience", and not all that change was for the better. But he also knew that Trip – and even T'Pol – had undergone many such changes as well, and as friends, the time would come when they would be forced to deal with those changes – together.

But obviously, such a discussion was not going to happen for at least another two weeks. In what had been a great surprise to Jon, T'Pol and taken Trip to her home on Vulcan for the three week vacation the Enterprise crew had been given. While he'd been happy for his friend - knowing that Trip no longer had a home town, and that it would be a great stride in his relationship with T'Pol to visit her home – Jon couldn't help wondering what on earth he was going to do with two weeks to himself without his best friend around. Sure, he could spend time with Erika, but he still had his doubts about her, and wanted to take things slowly. And after all, they had just spent an entire week alone together, hadn't they?

His train of thought was broken by the chirp of the com panel at his door. "Sorry, pal," he said to Porthos, who gave an annoyed grunt and slipped off his master's lap. Jon walked over to the panel and opened a channel.

"Archer here."

"Captain," said the nervous young Ensign who Starfleet had assigned to fill in for Hoshi. "We've just received word from the surface that Commander Tucker is coming back aboard. I, uh, thought you ought to know."

Jon glanced curiously at the com panel. Trip was coming back aboard? Why wasn't he still on Vulcan? "Is T'Pol with him?"

"E-E-Errr..." stuttered the Ensign, and Jon could hear his fingers flying over the com console, "No, sir, I don't believe so, sir, I'm sure the transmission said just the Commander, sir."

"Thank you, Ensign. Archer out."

Jon continued to stare at the com panel. This was not good. Trip rarely, if ever, turned down leave – and especially after a strenuous mission, such as the one they had been on. And why wasn't T'Pol with him? These questions, and more, were racing through Jon's head at a mile a minute when Porthos walked over and sat on his foot. Glancing down at his dog, Jon laughed at the tired and frustrated look on his face. It was still a bit early to be going to bed, but the look on the dog's face reflected his own.

"Fine, Porthos, fine. But you and I are going to have a talk with Trip tomorrow, no matter what. Understand?"

Porthos just wagged his tail happily and jumped up on the bed. Jon smiled at his friend and shut the lights off.

BEEP.

Jon rolled over in bed, glancing over at his digital clock. The display read 12:30 am. Ugh...

BEEP.

Moaning and tossing the covers off, Jon trudged half-consciously towards the door. He hit the light and opened the door.

Trip was standing there, nervously looking at his feet. He looked up a second after the door opened, eyes widening at his Captain's pajama-clad state.

"You were sleepin'," he said guiltily, taking a step backwards.

Jon put a hand on the engineer's shoulder, preventing him from moving away any farther. "I've always got time for a friend," he said, looking concerned. Trip didn't smile, but gave the Captain a grateful look.

"Can I come in?" he asked cautiously.

"Of course." Jon moved aside, allowing Trip entry into his quarters. The door whooshed shut behind him. "You look like hell," Jon said quietly, walking past his friend and sitting on the edge of his bed. Trip just crouched down and scratched an excited Porthos behind the ears, not saying a word. Awkward silence prevailed. Jon took a deep breath, trying to think of the right thing to say, the thing that wouldn't send Trip running. Their friendship had been so strained over the past year, and Jon desperately did not want to lose it. "...Why are you here?"

Trip let out a bitter laugh, looking at Jon with pained eyes. "Y'know, Cap'n, I haven't got a sweet clue." He looked down again, seemingly thinking hard about what to say next. "I miss you."

Jon just stared at him for a second. "That's not why you're here," he said matter-of-factly.

"True," Trip said, nodding his head, "But I think it needed to be said."

Jon sighed unhappily, getting off his bed and sitting on the floor in front of Trip. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you," he whispered, emotions flooding into his voice. Trip chuckled.

"Funny, Cap'n – I was about to say the same thing." Their eyes met, and Jon uncharacteristically leaned forward and engulfed his best friend in a tight hug. To his surprise, Trip immediately returned it. "I've missed this so much, Jon."

They pulled away, and sat in contented silence for a long time, Trip petting Porthos. They were at ease with each other for the first time in many months, much to their relief. Jon broke the silence after awhile, looking intently at Trip. "Do you want to talk about it now?" he asked cautiously, both of them clearly knowing what "it" was.

Trip raised his head, shaking his head. "I don't think I can right now," he whispered, almost embarrassed.

Jon got up and opened up a drawer at the end of his bed. Trip stood up, giving his Captain a curious look. Jon pulled out a blanket, a pillow, and a small cot, handing them to Trip. The engineer smiled, taking them from Jon. He arranged himself on the floor, Porthos curling up at his feet. Jon walked over to the wall panel.

"Thank you, Jon."

"Anytime, Trip. Goodnight."

He hit the light.

TBC, don't worry. ...But not if you don't R/R!