Chapter4: Not the Only One...
A/N: Well, for some reason when I started this chapter, it went in a completely different direction than I had planned. So, we shall see where this takes us. I hope that you enjoy. Again thanks for your patience on my updates.
Archer woke from a sound sleep, but felt as though he had been floating in space. Space which was white rather than black. He frowned and rubbed his eyes and shook his head. What an odd dream.
He went outside and found T'Pol in the yard meditating. A sudden surge of warmth flooded him. Never in ten years had he ever expected to have this woman in his life in such a way. They were working on three days after experiencing Ponn Farr. If those days had taught him anything it was that he damned well wanted her as a man, but that his heart had opened itself to wanting her there as much more. The aftermath of the savage passion brought on by Ponn Farr had ebbed to a more bearable heat. He had not broken any more ribs at least.
Shaking his head he realized that he was still standing there just watching her; watching the breeze ruffle her hair and light gown that she was wearing. Bringing himself out of his reverie, he turned and left for his daily run. The sun seemed a little bit brighter and the breeze more refreshing. His thoughts wove in random patterns never settling on anything of true importance; not sure if he was ready to dispell the present with an uncertain future.
Archer returned to find T'Pol's things packed and at the front door. His stomach clenched in sudden dread and his face darkened. A shadow had settled over the sun.
T'Pol heard the door open and Archer enter the house and she sighed. She gave her room one last look, and finding nothing that she had left behind, turned and went out to Archer. Her resolve faltered as she met his dark frown, but lifted her head and faced her former Captain, her friend, her lover without showing her nerves were frayed. "Jonathan, I have been awaiting your return for some time. I believe that my time of Ponn Farr has come to an end."
She nearly flinched at the sudden look of betrayal that flashed in Archer's eyes.
"So, that is it then T'Pol? Your time is done, so you are done with me? What happened to our previous discussions and the understanding that we had more ground to cover?" His voice was clipped and harsh.
"I was contacted by Vulcan. It seems that they require my return as soon as possible."
Archer jerked his head in a nod. "I see."
T'Pol swallowed. "I am uncertain how much was Ponn Farr at this juncture."
"Again I ask you how are we supposed to figure any of it out if you leave and go to Vulcan?" The words were gritted out between his teeth.
She lifted a hand to him in such a human gesture..."I have been given no choice Jonathan. I have been informed that I have duties which require my immediate attention."
"Duties? Right now? Are they serious?"
T'Pol's face froze and her posture regained its height and stiffness.
Archer sat down suddenly feeling defeated. How does one argue with a Vulcan's sense of duty? With anyone's sense of duty. "Is this just a way to avoid dealing with us T'Pol?"
"No."
He took in a deep breath then blew it out harshly. "Any idea on how long this...duty problem will take?"
"No"
Archers jaw worked in frustration. "We aren't done here T'Pol. I, for one, am not going to just have you sail out of here after what we said to one another...after what we have...well, I'm just not going to allow it."
Her brows shot up. "Not allow?"
Standing again, he began to pace. "T'Pol, both of us know that what happened here was more than Ponn Farr. Oh it may have taken Ponn Farr to bring us to it, but that wasn't the whole of it. Just a small part" Before she could respond, he turned to face her "What happens if there is a bond now T'Pol?"
Her head ducked and she stared at the ground all Vulcan pride ebbing. Haunted eyes rose again to his face. "I don't know Jonathan." Eyes shifted away and she bit her lip "I had not expected to be contacted and asked to return to Vulcan."
Seeing that T'Pol had not just turned into a block of Vulcan stone in the last hour, he relaxed a bit. Archer walked towards her and reached out. His fingers touched her face, stroked her cheek and cupped her chin. "T'Pol, we are friends first. If there is something I can do to help...?" He trailed off, not sure what else to say.
T'Pol leaned into his touch for a moment before pulling away, a small frown marring her face. A brief flash of...some emotion shot through her mind; something painful. Fighting down the sudden yearning to tell him everything she shook her head. "No."
He reached back and took her chin again pulling her forward to kiss her gently on her mouth. When he leaned back he thougth he saw that her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she bent and picked up her bag so quickly that he could not be sure. "T'Pol..." he paused for a moment and took her bag from her. "Just tell me that we aren't done here. That it isn't going to be seven years...or even a year before I see or speak with you again."
Barely above a whisper "If it is at all within my choosing, it will not be long at all before I see you again."
Knowing that was all he could expect for now Archer nodded. T'Pol reached out to retake her bag and their hands met. She closed her eyes over the sweeping sense of loss, then walked out of his house.
Archer watched her leave with a heart almost as heavy as it had been after the Xindi had attacked Earth. Almost as an afterthought he lifted his hand in the Vulcan salute and whispered "Live long and Prosper T'Pol"
She was already gone.
T'Pol entered the Vulcan Embassy and found a somber Soval awaiting her arrival.
Soval watched the young Vulcan and wondered how well she was doing. She appeared...on edge. Of course, he mentioned nothing regarding such a thing; to do so would only embarrass both of them. Instead he lifted his hand in the Vulcan salut and received one in return. "T'Pol, your transport to the Panosh is this way."
T'Pol nodded in return and fell into step with Soval.
He cut his eyes towards her as they walked. She was stiff and formal, not inviting conversation. He intended to oblige her, however, he too had been amongst humans for a long long time. "How has your stay here on Earth been?"
For a moment she did not reply then "It was...memorable."
"I saw that you visited Admiral Archer. It must have been pleasant to see him after not seeing one another for a year. You were his first officer for ten years."
"Yes" was her only reply.
They came to a halt in front of the transport. "When you reach Vulcan, you will be taken to see T'Pau."
T'Pol nodded in response and stepped aboard the transport. She paused and turned back to Soval. "Thank you Ambassador. It was most kind of you to escort me here." She made as though to turn away then paused again. "If you should see Admiral Archer, please give him my...regards."
Soval inclined his head by way of reply and again lifted his hand in the Vulcan salut. T'Pol responded in kind and finally turned from the Ambassdor.
Settling into her seat she stared blankly out the window. Nothing was going as she had thought it would.
Once aboard the Panosh she was surrounded by a crew that was mostly Vulcan, so it was a quiet place much like home. Home...if she had been human she would have snorted at the irony of it; for she now felt much more relaxed on Earth. Thoughts of home filtered into her mind, weaving in and out of her obviously undisciplined consciousness. Home had been the Enterprise for ten years. Home had been where her crewmates...her human crewmates had been. Home was...home was where Archer was. Brows drew down in irritation at herself. Here she stood a Vulcan called to duty and she contemplated the concept of home rather than the duty for which she had been called. She must gain control over herself and her mind prior to meeting with T'Pau. The woman would be able to sense her disorganized self far too quickly... and judge her for it. So rather than attempting any contact with the crew, she went straight to her quarters and attempted to find some peace in meditation.
Having gone to work almost immediately after she had gone; Archer had found it a far to desolate place without T'Pol there; he found that he was just as unable to press his mind past her leaving there as at home. He glared balefully at the amount of paperwork on his desk, but finally tackled it as a means to escape. For a few small hours he succeded, then T'Pol driften back into his mind. He stood and stretched willing himself to...to what he questioned. Forget? That was a collossal impossibility. What exactly was he supposed to do now. He wished now that they would have had their little discussion that very same day, but T'Pol had firmly wanted to be sure that Ponn Farr was behind them before making further decisions. Even if she had proclaimed her undying love...she would still be gone to Vulcan for God only knows what. She was still T'Pol, she was still Vulcan...she was still everything that had made her the best first officer a captain could have ever hoped for. Fortunately, before he could drive himself insane, the comm sounded and his assistant announced Admiral Vikrahm was there to see him. Relieved, Archer punched the comm and advised his assistant to please send the Admiral in.
Admiral Barinder Singh Vikrahm entered the room, a tall stately dark skinned man of Indian descent. "Good Afternoon Admiral Archer. Thank you for seeing me without notice."
"Of course Admiral, please be seated" Archer gestured towards one of the empty chairs across from his desk. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Admiral Vikrahm sighed loudly and gave Archer a small smile indicating that this visit would likely be anything but pleasant. "Jonathan, something is going on out there in space again."
"Something is always going on in space Barinder." Archer replied dryly.
Barinder leanded forward "Well this something has the Vulcans aflutter."
Suddenly Archer could feel his blood pounding in his ears. Just what had T'Pol been called back to Vulcan for? Just what had been so urgent? "Are you going to continue to be enigmatic, or are you going to enlighten me Barinder?"
Vikrahm leanded back and lifted his hands "That is the problem Jonathan. We aren't really sure what has the Vulcans so disturbed. They have been calling personnel back to Vulcan from all over the place, but no one knows why and the Vulcans aren't talking."
"So why are you here telling me this?"
Vikrahm finally gave Archer a smile, which reached his eyes. "Well Admiral, with a little help from some of your old friends Starfleet has decided that you should be the one to find out."
Surprise crossed Archer's face before he frowned "It seems that Vulcan has her own concerns which are her business. What right do we have to go snooping about?"
"This business involved a few incidents near some space where you and your crew ran into some trouble...oh about nine years ago."
Quizzically Archer shook his head."We ran into trouble quite frequently back then, so can you please clarify?"
There have been several Vulcan ships which have gone missing in an area of space that contains a rather large minefield. Your weapons officer Reed sustained an injury there."
Archer blinked in surprise. "Romulans? Why would the Vulcans act so mysteriously about them?"
Admiral Vikrahm stood "That, Admiral Archer is what Starfleet wants you to find out."