A rusted out green metal door slides slowly open to the right and after a few seconds the unconscious body of Graham is being dragged in by Archer's henchmen. The two men shuffle into the small semi lit cell turning sideways heading straight for the bed. The two men like they did without any care whatsoever in the main room with Archer, as well as the rest of team, dropped him face down on to the bed causing the dust blanketing the bed to rise in the air.

They stand over him for a brief moment and then grab the battered director in order to aggressively flip him over to get him on his back. For the seemingly two strong, rough, and rugged soldiers it was considerably tough because of Graham's size making it somewhat difficult to turn him face up. After successfully turning him over, they are about to search the fallen C.I.A. Director when one of the men suddenly breaks the silence.

"Riker, what was up back there?"

"I don't know Sisko…" responded Riker to his bald African American teammate shaking his head. "…you tell me."

"I saw Archer lose it out there…" said Sisko pointing out the cell door towards the main room. "…and that's what you saw too."

Riker didn't want to make any assumptions despite what he saw clear as day with his own two eyes. The hesitancy he feels in immediately responding could be clearly seen in his face and yet it became masked from his Wolverine teammate within the darkened cell. He wanted to give Archer the benefit of the doubt as to his apparent outburst directed to the man that lay unconscious before the two of them.

He bends down to rifle around the inside left pocket of Graham's suit jacket. After a moment or two, he takes a small piece of paper out. He stands straight up and then turns around walking towards the opening of the cell closely inspecting it in the available light in the hallway. The small piece of paper was the receipt to the restaurant that the old man ate at before his unfortunate accident.

"I don't know what I saw." Riker retorts.

The response he gives threw Sisko off a bit as a look of astonishment appears on his face while he knelt down to unbuckle Graham's belt. He unbuckles it and then proceeds to forcefully pull it towards him to the point of jerking it completely off from the last 2 loops of his pants. Now with Graham's belt in right hand he twirls it around a couple of times then throws it around his neck inevitably catching it with his left hand.

"You know as well as I do that Graham got in his head…" Sisko emphatically stated. "…and he nearly got it blown off because of it." he added.

He's right Riker thinks to himself. The 2 years he served under Archer's command in the elite covert ops team codenamed Wolverine not once did he lose his composure even when it seemed the pressure of a particular mission were getting to him. As young as Archer is, he's most certainly impressive at not only exhibiting mental strength, but physical strength to keep pushing forward.

To him, Archer exudes all the qualities to establish himself as a bonified leader. He's smart, deviously cunning, driven, relentless, and has the ability to think quickly on his feet in order to come up with several contingency plans at a moment's notice. However, the man who stood several feet in front of him in the main room was nothing like the man he described. This was a man who lost control.

As he stood there with his arms crossed and receipt in hand looking out into the hallway he couldn't help but think that nobody not even Archer is impervious to mentally breaking down when pushed to a certain point. Riker has known tougher men than Archer who have succumbed to the extreme mental, as well as physical torture they were put through and have never really been the same since."

"Graham's lucky Archer didn't aim lower." jokingly responded Riker as he turns around to face his brother in arms.

"You don't get it…" said Sisko. He walks towards him and as Sisko steps in the light Riker sees a look of disappointment of his face. "…do you?"

"What am I not supposed to get?" Riker walks past Sisko and stands over Graham. He bends down and begins searching him for more materials that he could possibly use to escape or contact for help. "Archer is human, just like you and me." he added pointing blindly behind him in Sisko's direction.

"Are you sure?" inquired Sisko in a question manner. Are you sure? Did he actually hear him right Riker thought to himself? He can't truly believe that Graham is an alien or something because it would be far fetched even for him to think let alone say. He shakes his head at the mere thought of it because to even suggest one of their own is considered not of this world is absolutely crazy. Riker turns around and gives a look of confused bewilderment as he slowly walks towards Sisko. "That's not what I meant." he defensively said.

"What do you mean then?"

"Listen…" Sisko paused as he briefly takes in a quick breath. "…there is no denying the fact that kid out there is a super soldier. We've seen him do things that boggle the human mind but he has a weakness. He has a chink in his armor."

"Maybe."

"Ever since Capt. Pike's death, he has never been the same." He intently looks at Riker with seriousness in his eyes. "When he contacted the both of us to be a part of his plan knowing the 4 years we served under Pike before joining Graham's operation back in 2003 I had some concerns. I still have those concerns."

"Look, as far as I'm concerned he's mentally stable and was able to regain control of the situation."

"For now." responded Sisko with doubt in his voice. There was a brief moment of silence in the cell as the two men stood there. Sisko rubs his chin with his right hand and then points at him. "Can you tell me beyond a shadow of a doubt that Archer is fully capable of effectively leading this team without the threat of his personal feelings for Graham getting in the way?

"Affirmative." responded Riker nodding his head in response to Sisko's question. "What? You disagree?"

"Here's what I think…" Sisko leans in and lightly taps his fellow soldier on the chest."…he's a ticking time bomb waiting to explode."

XXX

A stream of hot water steadily comes out of the faucet down into the aluminum sink into the drain below until two hands cupped together reach in disturbing the flow as the steam rises. The steam from the hot water not only blankets the mirror in fog, but conceals the person's identity as well. The water fills up causing the overflow to spill over on either side of the two hands as they rise up to give some much needed relief.

Two hands return once again but instead of retrieving water they are placed on the side essentially gripping it. The person looks into the foggy mirror and then wipes away the build up of condensation revealing the reflection of Kirk Archer. He bends down once again to splash his face with water and then returns looking back into the mirror once again as the water slides down his face dripping off from both his nose, as well as chin.

He is no longer wearing the dark brown coat and black v length shirt as they are both hanging just off the right. The black tank top fit tightly showing not only his upper physique, but the scars of battles past. Around his neck hung the dog tag of his fallen mentor and friend Capt. Jonah Pike. It's considered to him a symbol…an incentive to right the wrong that Pike so richly deserved.

Get it together Archer. He leans in staring deeply into the mirror at his own reflection. He shakes his head at nearly losing control of the situation and at that point his thoughts begin to drift back to the fateful night in Kabul. Pike's death was years ago, but to him it seemed like it just happened yesterday to the point where it replays over and over in his mind. A haunting memory that has never gone away.

However, the events leading up to that night were thoroughly engrained in his mind as it all began with a phone call 2 weeks prior. He and his team were heavily involved in a deep cover ops of surveillance and intelligence gathering mission in Afghanistan when he received a text message from Capt. Pike. A smirk appeared on his face as it was a nice surprise because he hadn't heard from him in a while.

He thought it would be a message consisting of the banter he would usually receive from him but this time it was different. When he opened it, the smirk quickly faded and his face fell reading the first 2 words on the small screen…I'm Compromised. He didn't read the rest of the message because those two words said more than enough causing him to take immediate action.

The Wolverine team leader scrolled through the numbers and dialed his mentor but when he tried to call he would hear the same thing over and over…the number you have dialed is no longer in service. He didn't waste any time as he began searching for another number in his phone as he would be the one person he knew would provide him with more information…Graham.

He pressed his number and waited for the other line to pick up but it never did. He left several voicemails instead. The anxiousness he felt turned to worry and the worry would ultimately go to sheer frustration at not being able to get through to talk to him. The minutes felt like hours as each tick on his wrist watch meant that Pike was running out of time. On thing was for sure, Archer's focus was completely gone from the current mission at hand.

It wasn't until several hours later that Graham called him back. He listened intently as much of the information he could give and when there wasn't anything more he could provide the concerned soldier waited for Graham to provide the next crucial move in order to extract Pike from danger. Archer expected him to give him orders for his team to implement a search and rescue knowing the friendship they shared from talking with Pike. For the life of him he didn't know how those two could be friend knowing how much exuded a laid back, friendly personality while Graham exuded more of a tight ass who you never be friends with.

As he was talking to him, the tone in Graham's voice didn't sound like a man concerned for the safety of his friend but rather of a man concerned with the safety of United States. A slew of questions began running through his mind all of which came down to asking why? Why did the greater good of protect millions of Americans come at the cost of human life…a close friend and colleague for that matter? Then he heard the unthinkable.

Your orders are to do nothing. Those were the words that he heard Graham utter causing him to experience a brief stunned silence. He wanted to repeat those orders just to clarify if those were indeed the words the old man said. The man he ultimately turned to for help would not give it as Archer answers the question he didn't want know to be true…he's turning his back on him.

All through his training back at "The Farm" Graham constantly preached about the rules and how knowing them would keep you alive. Rule 1: Love and friendship…emotional attachments will get you killed. He remembered him saying to all of them that the trust you have for those around you will not be there and if your foolish enough to think so then you'll end up dead.

In hindsight, he should known that Graham truly was an emotionless, foolish bastard that didn't trust anyone not even his own friend. When he got off the phone he knew what had to be done and that meant defying orders. It was just a matter of gathering his team and informing them what the situation was to where he would give them a choice to either follow or walk away. They chose to follow.

He was a man on a mission and on that fateful night in Kabul he was able to locate him through trusted contacts he established during his stint in Iraq leading him, along with his team, to a warehouse where they found him hanging by his wrists and judging from the instruments on the table along with devices that were simply unimaginable to fathom they worked him over. They quickly eliminated the individuals responsible without any remorse whatsoever and took him to a undisclosed safe house provided by one of their contacts to tend to his injuries.

The easy part was finding him but the reunion would be short lived as the hard part would be safely finding their way out because of the heightened state of security. They had to lay low giving them time to get him bandaged up and as much as Pike's injures were considered treatable he knew he had to get him out of there as soon as possible. He devised a plan. The plan was essentially simple…stay low, keep out of sight, and avoid hostile fire with Kahn on standby awaiting his orders to bring the Blackhawk.

It didn't go exactly the way he wanted it because it ended up in all out fire fight. Yet, by hell or high water he was bringing Pike home. The barrage of gunfire and escape routes possibly blocked off causes he and the rest of his team on high alert causing him to implement plan B, which was in the black duffle bag that currently hung around him. He contacted his team to split up and spread out knowing they would be able to find their way out.

It was up to him and him alone to get Pike out. He remembers contacting Khan and telling her its time to snatch and grab. The snatch and grab was a risky move as it involved hooking a floating transmitter with not one person attached but two. It was a risky move to say the least because the person flying is in a high pressure situation and would need to be 100% accurate or fail. It would similar to fishing but there would absolutely be no bait at the end of the hook. To do it in broad daylight was easy, but to do it at night was unheard of.

Archer knew Khan was capable of pulling it off because he considered her an outstanding pilot. To pull it off, he and Pike would have to be standing on top of the tallest building which was Landmark Hotel and Kabul City Centre. There was no time to waste as they booked it to the second extraction point hot wiring the first car they come across leading to a frenzied hot pursuit. As they were speeding off, Archer gave the go ahead to Khan.

It was utter chaos all the way with their vehicle barrel rolling a block away from the building. Both men were banged up and injured more so for Pike but that didn't stop them as they ran to and then up to the top of the roof of the LandMark Hotel and Kabul City Centrre. They were both certainly feeling absolute fatigue and with their lungs and legs burning they reached the top. Archer wasted no time in opening the black duffle back getting 2 harnesses out...his and Pike's. He quickly put his the harness on attaching himself to an already harnessed Pike. He then took out from the bag the floating transmitter attaching it to the harness essentially triggering it to where it quickly inflated and then let it float several hundred feet in the air all in one fell swoop.

The extraction was pulled off in a matter of seconds with a few gunshots just to add to the tension. Yet, they were safe or so he thought. The initial jerk shook him to the point of nearly passing out but he quickly recovered. Pike, on the other hand, was already in a considerably weakened state causing him to be rendered unconscious. For all Archer knew he was fine but what he didn't notice was that one of the shots apparently hit Pike in the chest. He was literally clinging to life but he didn't know that at the time. He saved him but his mentor ended up dying nonetheless.

Archer didn't have time to be sad as it became his solemn duty to bring Pike home and honor him with a proper burial. While taking a few days to recoup from his injuries in Gardez Airbase in Afghanistan he knew his return to the states would not be welcomed with cheers, especially from one particular person. When he stepped off the back of the cargo plane in Quantico, he felt a mixture of emtions running through him. The body of his mentor laid in a casket with an American flag draped over it was carried it out by his team. The first person he saw was Graham himself in a pissed off mood but he was equally as pissed off. He was seething in anger and when Graham walked up with mp's behind him in a huff about to give him the third degree. It was at the point, he immediately cold cocked him right across the jaw.

It didn't take long for him to be taken into custody. He knew Graham would punish his team, but they were spared after informing Graham they were only following his order. He was citied for a section 8, served his time, and several days later in a hearing he was dishonorably discharged with Graham in attendance. It would be the last time the two men saw each other as he would give Graham a death glare before leaving never to be seen again.

To see Graham again after 5 years brought back all the hatred he had for him. It took everything in his power to keep from getting his hands around his neck and choking the life out of him. Archer bends down to splash his face with hot water again. Turns off the faucet, and then grabs a towel to wipe his face. As he leans in with the towel now around his neck to take one more look in the mirror a knock is heard at his door. He throws the towel on his bed and walks to the door. When he opens it Khan is standing there.

"Sir…" Khan firmly said. "…may I have a word with you?"

XXX

"What makes you think he's a ticking time bomb?" questioned Riker.

"His eyes."

Riker really didn't get a good look at Archer's eyes as he was more preoccupied with rationalizing the entire situation he just witnessed. It was hard to believe that Graham could even stand up after being in a car crash of that magnitude because any normal human being wouldn't even attempt to get up. However, Graham wasn't considered a normal human being in his book.

Graham would not be type of guy that when you have him down he stays down he thought to himself. He was most certainly the type of guy who would make his enemies believe he's hurt only to pull a rope a dope on you inevitably getting the upper hand without even realizing until the end. The act of utter boldness to defy Archer by not flinching when he fired off 10 rounds directly at him at point blank range showed he had major cahones on his part.

"What about them?"

"During his tirade with Graham the lights were on, but there was definitely nobody home." Sisko replied.

"I think you're reach-"

Sisko quickly interjects before Riker could even finish what he was about to say. "They were cold, lifeless, and of absolute death."

"Archer wants justice like the rest of us…" replied Riker. "…and to get that he wants to admit he turned his back on Pike." he added.

"He wants more than just getting justice that is deserved." he added as he turns his head to look at the somewhat dark silhouette of Riker standing in the doorway.

"The truth and nothing but."

Sisko wonders if Graham is even capable of telling the truth…the real truth. He shakes his head at the mere mention of the word. The work they did as an elite covert ops unit blurred the lines of what is and wasn't the truth. The truth is what this team wants and yet its something that has most certainly been Archer's main focus for the last 5 years he thinks to himself.

He turns around heading towards Graham, and bends down searching his pants pockets retrieving a ball point pen, tie, his wallet, his watch, as well as loose change to which he puts in his own pocket. Sisko straightens up to where he moves towards the open cell door where Riker stands and before passing him he places his left hand on his left shoulder.

"Look, I think we have to protect our own interests here in case this whole things turns south."

"Let's just play it by ear for now and if Archer continues to show signs of erratic behavior we'll talk with Khan, agreed?" suggested Riker.

Sisko nods in agreement and before they both leave Riker walks over to a still unconscious Graham. He removes his shoes leaving him wearing only his black socks. When he walks out the cell door he gets a strange look from his Wolverine teammate as if to say why take the old man's shoes.

"Hey…" shrugged Riker as he quickly glances back at Graham laying on the bed shoeless. "…you never know."

Riker pats his teammate on his right shoulder as he walks off. Sisko responds with a smirk on his face and before following him he swipes his key card to where the cell doors slowly closes with Graham inside.

XXX

Kahn stands at attention in the middle of Archer's quarters. She's stiff with both feet together and hands at her sides. She doesn't say as her eyes are keenly focused on the wall before her. They don't dart back and forth searching to see where her commanding officer is. Its at that point, Archer walks into view looking straight at her.

"At ease Capt." commanded Archer. Khan eases her stance as her hands are behind her and her feet are now separated a few inches apart. "What's on your mind?"

"Can I speak freely sir?" asked Khan.

Archer nods giving the lone female Wolverine team member the opportunity to ere the concerns she has. "Proceed."

"I didn't want to ask you this in front of the men, but…"

"But what Capt?" responded Archer.

The look of intensity in his eyes causes her to choose her words very wisely. "I just want to know if…if Graham's trial is still a go?" she asked.

"Affirmative." There is moment of awkward silence as Archer stands there giving a question look towards Kahn. He sees by the look on her face that she wants to say something. "Is that all?"

Kahn stands there wanting to blurt out the question she's itching to ask. She wanted to speak about the situation that just happened out there and how it caught everyone in the room completely off guard. She wanted to know whether or not he could mentally handle what was to come because if what was seen out there was any indidcation of what might possibly happen then everything they…he worked for would fall apart.

It's going to be challengeing to say the least because Graham wouldn't make it easy for Archer. He knew how to push his buttons and as much as the old man accredited himself to be the master puppeteer pulling the strings of his band of many agent marionettes it would be Archer who could cut his own strings and no longer be his puppet. He respected him for that and now with Graham captured he can finally cut ties with the past.

Her thoughts began drifting off when the sound of a clearing throat brought her attention back to Archer standing there expecting an answer. He was type of guy who not only gave you what you needed to know nothing more nothing less, but also the type of guy who didn't take kindly to be asked too many questions. She didn't want to push the issue any further.

"Yes sir." responded Kahn.

Archer gives another nod signaling her that its time to leave. As she turns to reach for the door handle, she feels a hand firmly placed on her forearm stopping her from leaving. She looks back glancing down and then looks up to see Archer a few inches away from her. She feels him pull her in closer and just as they about to kiss she closes her eyes. The kiss itself felt soft and tender leaving all of her concerns to slowly faded away. She felt totally at ease as he held both her hands. And when their lips parted she opened her eyes to see Archer's eyes locked with hers.

"Don't worry about me…" Archer comfortingly said with a hint of a smile on his face. "…I'm fine really I am." he added squeezing both her hands.

Khan responds with a smile of her own as she rests her forehead on his. She feels his right hand caress her left cheek and then a light kiss her forehead. The looks in his eyes as he looks at her reassures her things for the moment are fine. Archer escorts her out the door and when it closes with her behind it the hint of the smile on his face slowly fades as he lightly taps the door with his fist. He leans forward resting his forehead on the door, takes a deep breathe in, opens his eyes and then reaches over with his left hand flipping the lights out.

XXX

NOTE: First off Merry Christmas everybody and secondly hope you like this present. This chapter was a bit difficult to write but it got written. Please leave comments and tell me what you think.