Consequences

By Hoshissis

Rating: PG

Genres: general, humour, missing scene, friendship

Disclaimer: Property of Paramount.

Authors Note: This second chapter revolves around Archer and Trip discussing what's happened in Trips quarters and reconfirming their friendship. Something I felt was needed in the actual show in the following episodes.

A Huge thank you to my Beta Dinah for all her hard work, encouragement and advise.

Chapter Two

Trip wasn't sure how long he'd stood looking out of his quarter's window, contemplating everything that had led up to the Cogenitors death. A few hours maybe. Basically he didn't really care; it was too much of a struggle trying to rein in the guilt he felt from the part he played that had led to Charles's death. A buzz from his door interrupted his train of thought. He felt like ignoring it, as he didn't really feel like company at the moment, but it carried on. He might as well reply, as whoever it was wasn't going to give him the curtest of going away. "Enter."

Captain Archer walked through the door. "Didn't think you were going to invite me in for a moment," he said as he walked into his room.

"If I hadn't …"

"I would have overridden your lock and come in anyway," answered Jon as he sat down on the corner of Trip's bed. "I wanted to come and check on you."

"Surprised you want to," replied Trip, "especially seeing how you ended it in your ready room."

"I was in shock … angry," explained Jon. "Don't get me wrong, I still am. I just need to talk to you, one friend to another, to find out why? I've know you a long time, Trip. You can be impulsive, but I've never seen you act this irresponsible before. Talk to me … please! Explain to me why you did it!"

Sensing a plea from one friend trying to reach out to another, Trip decided to unburden himself. Maybe it would help heal the tremendous guilt that he felt. "I just wanted to help her. She just seems so alone … vulnerable. She was just left by herself with nothing to do and no contact with anyone unless she was needed for her part in that … three-way baby-making process." "Ask Phlox, he has pictures," said Trip, when he noticed Jon's confusion. "They treated her like an object, with no rights." Jon nodded in agreement to this, as even he had gotten that impression during the negotiations. "I just thought that if I could maybe teach her to read, then she could show them that she was just as good as them and maybe, they would make some concessions in how she lived and let her do more. You should have seen it Cap'n. In just a few hours, she went from learning a few words to reading whole texts."

"But why all the sneaking around, Trip?"

"The first time, I knew it was wrong and that the Vissians would be mad if they found out, but I just wanted to help her. I couldn't tell them where I was going and what I was going to do. They just wouldn't have understood. Hell, they couldn't understand why I would even ask about her when I sat down and had dinner with their Chief Engineer and his wife. As far as they were concerned, she served no other purpose than to help them make a baby," explained Trip, as he walked over to sit down next to Jon on his bunk.

"When they told me I was no longer welcome, I thought that was the end of it. I'd pissed them off, but I didn't care, I knew I'd done the right thing in helping her. When she came over to Enterprise and asked to see our ship, I knew I should have put a stop to it there and then and said no, but I just couldn't," he said, shaking his head as his voice faltered a little. "She'd finally reached out to someone, Cap'n. I just couldn't let her down and turn her away. When she came to ask for asylum, I knew there and then that I'd messed up really bad, but deep down inside I knew I had to help. I'd started her on this course; I couldn't abandon her just because the going had gotten rough."

"I can't say I agree with how you went about it," replied Jon, "but I think I can understand why you did it."

"Sorry I let ya down, Cap'n"

"I'm sorry too, Trip."

Both fell quiet, each silently thankful that they'd were at least going to get out of this with their friendship intact.

"So how long do I get?" asked Trip. "Ya know your're gonna make Malcolm's day, so ya might as well tell me now, so I can prepare myself in advance for all the teasing I'm gonna get," he joked in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood.

"What do you mean?" Jon replied, slightly confused as to what Trip meant.

"Disciplinary action … that's what you're here for, isn't it? Your're gonna tell me how long I've going to be in the brig. I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but after what I just nearly put Enterprise through, I certainly deserve it."

"I'm not here to put you in the Brig, Trip," replied Jon.

"So it's a demotion then," murmured Trip, his eyes downcast on the floor.

"No, not that either. Like I said before, I came to check on you. I'm not going to punish you. You're going to have to live with what's happened and I think that's punishment enough. It's going to be hard, Trip, but just remember, my doors right down there. I'm always here, night and day, if you need to talk about this."

"Thanks, Cap'n. I appreciate it."

"Breakfast, tomorrow morning, 8 a.m. in my dining room, don't be late."

"I'll be there. Thanks, Cap'n."

Captain Archer laid a hand on Trip's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "That's what friends are for, Trip. I'm just glad we can still say that."