Episode 3: Homeward Bound

Three Weeks Later:

Degra has been killed. The Xindi weapon has been destroyed. Earth is safe. The second Enterprise has been mostly repaired and Archer's Enterprise is being escorted home by the Xindi Aquatics. The Temporal Cold-War is over. Both Enterprises are being ferried by the faster Xindi ships and should reach Earth in twelve hours.

Jon couldn't believe what was happening. Somehow he had always assumed that he would die stopping the Xindi. He hadn't allowed himself to think of a future after the mission. It wasn't healthy to dwell on what would never be. He had locked himself away in his Ready Room to keep the pain of losing his crew at bay. He knew they wouldn't all make it, he knew he was responsible for them, he knew he had made questionable decisions while in the Expanse, he knew it. But could he live with that knowledge? He had to. There was no other choice. Jonathan Archer was a weak man but he wasn't a quitter.

Archer arrived on the bridge and took his seat. He nodded to each of his officers. Hoshi was at her station composing a message to send home as soon as they were close enough. Malcolm was reviewing inventory in the Armory and initiating a diagnostic program on the weapons systems. Trip was at the Engineering station compiling a list of damaged systems and composing a repair schedule for the Jupiter Station staff. T'Pol was finishing reports on the crew and commendations were being compiled. He would sign off of each and every commendation she recommended. She was also putting in an application for the formalization of her Starfleet field commission. The other Enterprise was due to contact them for the daily report any minute and Archer didn't want to be late. A beep from Hoshi's station let him know that the time had come. She looked up at him with an unspoken question. He nodded and the message was put through to the main screen. Karyn was giving the report today.

"Hello Papa. I am pleased to report that all systems are functional and we are on our way to having the last hull breach patched. We have begun a repair list and schedule as per your request and will send you a copy to forward to Jupiter Station."

"Glad to hear it Karyn. How are your crew? How are the kids?" He smiled.

"The children are excited to see a new planet. We were all raised hearing stories about Earth. We're all pretty nervous. We're not quite sure what to expect when we get there. Enterprise has been our home for generations. Earth was always a pipe dream, a fairytale land from stories. I guess we're a little scared too. I am Papa but I know that no matter what this crew will endure." She smile proudly.

"Of that I have no doubt." He smiled again.

"Commander Tucker." Karyn spoke to the whole bridge but was clearly searching for Trip. He emerged from under his station, grease on his forehead, a wrench in his mouth.

"Yes'm?" He wiped the back of his hand across his face and put the wrench in his pocket.

"Lorian would like for me to invite you and Commander T'Pol to dinner tonight. I know this isn't really the right place to do the inviting but this is the only time I have available to relay the message. Will you accept?"

Trip looked over at T'Pol and must have seen something in her appearance that said "yes". The rest of the bridge crew didn't notice any change.

"Let him know we'll be there. Uh, what time?"

"1730. You should wear civilian cloths. It's causal."

Trip laughed. "Casual. Right. I have no doubt that my idea of casual is a lot different than T'Pol or Lorian's."

Karyn smirked. "You'd be surprised." The transmission cut off and left both Trip and T'Pol staring at it with identical eyebrows raised.

They exchanged a look and finally T'Pol spoke. "How well does Karyn know Lorian?" This question was directed at Jon but was intercepted by Trip.

"Now Darlin' they've known each other their whole lives. You can't go jumping to conclusions or acting overprotective. Lorian is older than you and I both. Besides, considering how little time we've know Lorian it is only logical that his first officer would know him better." Trip grinned.

"That smile did not indicate a First Officer's knowledge. It looked remarkably like your smile when you are about to get into trouble." T'Pol admonished with humor.

"T'Pol, if I didn't know any better I would think you liked it when I got into trouble."

"Trip, the only pleasant thing about you getting in trouble is that it gives me more ammunition to use against you in arguments."

The bridge just listened as they bantered back and forth.

"T'Pol all the ammunition in the Armory on your side and I would still get under your skin."

"Perhaps, but I know for a fact that I am capable of getting under your skin as you put it. A disturbing image."

Trip laughed. He finally noticed that they were still on the bridge and felt uncomfortable. "Well, looks like we have about thirty minutes until our dinner date. I'm going to go shower. Wouldn't want to offend your little nose. Cap'n?"

"Go. Let me know how it goes and don't get into trouble."

"Yes sir." Trip smiled and made his way to the turbo lift.

"Captain I would also like to go and get ready. I am afraid I have very little casual clothing and will need time to find some."

"T'Pol you can go through my closet. Borrow anything you like."

"Thank you Ensign Sato. Captain?"

"Go. Have a good time."

They both said, "Thank you sir" as the lift doors closed.

"Those two give me a headache."

Everyone turned to Malcolm who had just spoken. He looked up from his station.

"What? They act like we don't all know that they are seeing each other? Vulcan Neuro-pressure? Right. Maybe that's how it started. They're on their way to meet their son for dinner. No doubt the little family will soon be permanent and Lorian will no longer be an only child. It just makes my head hurt thinking about how weird the whole situation is. Lorian calls them Mother and Father for crying out loud! The Other T'Pol is still alive and kicking on the other Enterprise. This is all just too weird."

"I think it's romantic." This was not Hoshi but Travis who admitted that. He turned around not at all embarrassed. "I mean come on, they fight like they hate each other and they bicker. They are each other's best friends, they trust each other. They work best together, they even flirt on the bridge. I don't find it surprising that they might get married and start a family. I'd be more surprised if they didn't."

"You're right. Trip is the only person T'Pol fights with like that. The other day I could have sworn I saw her checking him out while he wasn't looking." Hoshi giggled.

"God, why don't we just rename our ship the Love boat?" Archer mock complained. The others all laughed, even Malcolm chuckled. Archer thought it was kind of nice that they found each other. He couldn't be there for Trip when he needed him but T'Pol could be. Archer may have let Phlox talk him into thinking he had feelings for T'Pol but he felt no jealousy, loss, or anger. He only felt happy for his two friends. Now he just needed to get Starfleet to change their Frat. Regs. and everything would be fine.


Trip stepped out of his shower and rubbed a towel over his head. He rubbed his hand over his face and decided not to shave, he'd shaved that morning so there was no reason to do it again. He rubbed the towel down his body and hung it on the rack. Walking out of the bathroom he stopped dead in his tracks. T'Pol stood in his room laying clothes out on the bed and humming to herself. Humming. What the hell is going on? Did I hit my head in the shower? I must be dreaming. He quickly grabbed a pair of briefs from the open drawer and slipped them on. Once he felt a little less exposed he cleared his throat. She froze and turned to face him.

"Whatcha doin'?"

"I have picked clothing for you to wear to dinner with Lorian."

"Why? I'm perfectly capable of dressing myself."

"Your normal choice of attire is of the variety I would not wish to inflict on the eyes of small children. I believe the proper phrase is, 'I wouldn't be caught dead with you wearing that.' I have picked clothing that will match my outfit and will not offend anyone we will see on the other ship." T'Pol was teasing him. This was absolute madness.

"You don't like the way I dress?" He smirked. "I guess I could just go like this." He gestured to himself clad in only briefs. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Fine, what have you picked for me? You aren't even dressed yourself T'Pol, you're still in your uniform."

"I will be changing shortly. The clothes on the bed are the only clothes I want to see you wear tonight."

"Yeah yeah. I'll behave myself." Trip sighed and T'Pol gave him a look before she left. "Damn, when did she start deciding what I wear? Why don't I care? Who am I kidding I love it. I love that she's spending time with me. I love that she cares what I look like. I love T'Pol. Everything about her." He picked up the blue button up she had picked for him and the khaki's. "Maybe I'll let her dress me more often." He smiled. If I offered no doubt she would gladly dress me everyday for the rest of my life. I wouldn't even complain. Well, I would but only to get a rise out of her.


T'Pol stood in her quarters staring down at the dress she had borrowed from Ensign Sato. It is the same blue as Trip's shirt and hits her just above the knee. The short heels were a khaki color to match his slacks. Trip would be wearing brown dress shoes. T'Pol quickly unzipped her uniform and quickly slipped into the dress and slid her feet into the shoes. It was rather lucky that she and Hoshi wore the same size shoe and were a similar dress size. T'Pol smoothed down her hair and double checked that her dress was smoothed out and headed for the door. Before she reached it the buzzer went off.

"Come in."

"Hey Darlin' I-" Trip stopped mid-thought. T'Pol looked amazing. Her blue dress fit her perfectly. It wasn't skin tight like her uniform, it draped over her body loosely and the heels accented the dress well. They really were a matching set. She was radiant.

"Is something wrong?" T'Pol knew that her clothing would have this affect on him. She was proud that she could make him lose the ability to speak.

"No, uh, you look beautiful." He smiled at her in a way that made her stomach flutter.

"Thank you. Are you ready to leave? We need to get to the transporter in two minutes."

"Ready when you are Darlin'." He smiled and offered her his arm. She took it and they exited her quarters. Once they were out in the corridor T'Pol dropped her arm and they walked quietly towards the transporter. Trip stayed well within her normal comfort zone but didn't touch her. They stood on the transporter pad awaiting clearance to beam over to the other ship for dinner.

"Sir you're clear to transport."

"Thanks Crewman, energize."