Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to maba7x, bina W, SusanInColorado, LadyGAGA (cool username, by the way), and the prolific anon reviewer for reviewing!

Sorak walked into Soval's office with a small stack of PADDs in his arms, "Good morning, Osu, we have a lot of work to do today."

Soval looked up from his com and nodded. "The schedule has increased since last I looked."

Sorak nodded. "Indeed," he replied, sitting in his usual chair. He pursed his lips. "I find the absence of the MACOs to be most disagreeable."

Soval folded his hands before him on the table. "They have only been gone one month, fifteen days, twenty hours, seven minutes and thirty five seconds."

Sorak frowned slightly. "I am aware of the passing of time, Osu, acutely so. It seems illogical to say, but the passage of time seems to have slowed."

Soval raised an eyebrow and his jaws clenched. He nodded in agreement. "Let us focus on our work, perhaps we should engage in some kind of distraction soon?"

Admiral Forrest knocked on the door to Soval's office, and Sorak answered the door.

"Are you in a meeting or something? I probably should have called. I can come back later."

"Max," he heard Soval say from inside the office. "Come in."

The admiral obeyed and slipped inside, and he sat in the other chair across from Soval. "How are things? It's been...quieter around here, don't you think?"

Soval was quiet for a moment. "You miss Genie."

"Don't you?"

Soval nodded, "I do indeed. Sorak and I were just speaking on this matter."

Sorak nodded, getting up and moving to the other chair he pulled it out for the Admiral. "Please, Admiral, have a seat."

Max sat down and smoothed his pants down, shifting a little. "I keep thinking, at least after this assignment, we'll have them back. They pulled the next duty here at the Consulate. They'll be here at least until the NX project launches."

He sucked air through his teeth and sighed again. "My wife is driving me crazy, nagging me about how we still don't know how Genie got sucked into duty. I need a vacation." He rubbed his eyes with his hands and leaned back. "So, I came down to ask you," he looked toward Sorak, "you too if you want...how would you like to go on a week long camping trip in Yellowstone?"

Soval raised an eyebrow. "We too are researching her...impression into service. Nothing has been forthcoming. In the meantime, I would be honored to camp with you. Sorak as well."

Sorak nodded in agreement.

"When do we leave?" the ambassador asked. This would be the distraction he so desperately needed. Genie's absence gnawed at him, but he had never felt so affected by his mate's absence before. What was going on?

Sorak stood, "We have no appointments after Thursday, Admiral. We could leave at the end of the business day. I can arrange it, I believe we could use this camping."

Max grinned. "I'll put my paperwork in and we'll leave Thursday night. Do you...want to do this in a cabin or do you want to really rough it, tents and man-camping?"

Sorak looked to Soval and then back to Max. "It sounds like a great hardship to do this man-camping. I cannot speak for Osu, but I would be agreeable to the hardships. I believe it would be distracting."

Soval nodded. "I am in agreement with, Sorak. I wish to do the hardship."

Max chuckled. "Ok, I'll get things ready, and send you a list over of the things you need to bring."

He stood up and began walking toward the door, pausing he looked back to the pair. "You might find it useful not to dress in those robes. I'll send a list." He grinned at both of them. "I think it's going to be fun."

Soval sighed with relief at the prospect of going on this camping trip with Max, and Sorak seemed agreeable to the prospect as well.

"What do humans do on camping trips?" Soval asked, and Sorak promised to research that right away. (I feel a McCoy/Kirk/Spock moment coming on, only with two Vulcans, don't you?)

While Sorak went to work, Soval sighed and glanced at the latest letter from Genie.

My dearest Soval,

Further training is going well, and Amanda and I have pretty much solidified our friendship, because as far as we know, we're the only two girls with Vulcan husbands on this planet. Or did you say there were others? I can't remember.

And now I hear little Callie is getting a bondmate of her own? She's a lucky girl, in my opinion. How are things at the Consulate? Did you hear we'll be posted there once this assignment is over? I'll try not to oogle at you too much.

All my love, and say hi to womanizer for me,

Genie

Amanda leaned over the side of her bunk and tickled Genie's nose with one of the peacock feathers she'd found earlier in the week. "You asleep?" she whispered.

"No I'm scuba diving." Genie returned, scratching her nose. "Get that out of my face," she whispered and sat up. "What's up?"

Amanda dropped silently down onto the concrete next to their bunk and sat down on Genie's bed. "I miss Sorak," she admitted, wiping her eyes. "I know you miss Soval too...I just thought maybe you'd like to commiserate with me."

Genie slid up, leaning her back against the wall; she hugged her pillow. "Yeah, I kind of do. I was laying here thinking about him. I wrote him a letter. I know he might have it by now."

She frowned and leaned forward, resting her chin on her knees. "But I know until we get out of this training he won't be able to write me back. I want to use the bond, but that's torture when you can't touch him."

Amanda squeezed in next to her on the bunk. "I know. Sometimes I think I can feel Sorak missing me."

"I know, right? I feel it through the bond...but it kind of feels like you're making it up sometimes, like it's all in your head, but it's real and you know it."

Amanda nodded. "Yup. I can hardly wait to get back and start work at the Consulate. I love the way Sorak oogles me." She grinned. "He's such a little womanizer, in the cutest way."

Genie leaned over and slugged Amanda in the arm. "Go get some sleep. We've got major drills in the morning and I don't want bomb out and have to take all this again."

Amanda smiled. "Yeah. I'll go send erotic thoughts to Sorak and see if I can get some sleep." She started to get out and then leaned over and kissed Genie on the head. "We are some lucky women."

…

Sorak re-entered Soval's office with the information he had been tasked with procuring. "Osu, I have the information you requested," he said, taking a seat.

Soval nodded. "Go ahead."

"When humans go camping, they often eat packaged foods or bring along a device called a cooler if they desire to eat something fresh."

Soval nodded. "Sounds reasonable."

"They often fish or hike. I am not sure if one is supposed to eat the fish one catches, though. The information was not clear."

The ambassador frowned. "I do not believe the admiral will make us eat the flesh of an animal."

"No," Sorak conceded. "Though, from the guides I read, it seems eating the fish is optional. The main pleasure derived from the activity is the actual catching of the fish. Humans who enjoy fishing often let fish go."

"That is conscientious of them."

"And once night falls, they will often make a fire near their tents, and sit around it. They socialize, but sometimes they tell frightening stories or sing songs. It is appropriate to bring acoustic instruments along."

Soval raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Perhaps you should memorize a few stories, and see if you can frighten the admiral."

To his surprise, Sorak looked pleased with the idea. "I will do that, Osu."

…

Sorak arrived at Soval's at exactly 1701 hours, four minutes early. He had picked them up what he had read was the standard outdoors attire, several pairs of jeans and some flannel shirts. He was wearing his already, and in spite of finding the groin area to be binding, the flannel shirts were comfortable.

He saw Soval finishing his evening tea. "Greetings, Osu. I have brought you the clothes I told you about. I believe you will find the shirts are very agreeable, warm against the coolness of the air. I am not fond of these jeans, though. The groin is...well..." His ears tinged green. "It does not feel proper."

Soval smirked. "I'm sure you are exaggerating." He stood and took the clothes from his aid's hands. "It was a good thing that you were able to clear our schedule for an extra day. I am most ready to do this roughing it trip. I have never found the absence of a mate so disagreeable."

"Nor I Osu, nor I." Sorak began readying their bags while Soval changed into his new clothes.

Forrest was waiting to pick them up at 1730, which would give them time to be hiking to their destination by 1900 that evening. He also had dinner, some biscuits that Abigail had made. If they didn't want to eat, he would save them for later.

He snickered and quickly covered his mouth as Soval and Sorak came out of the Consulate, dressed like regular backwater farmers. He bit his lip hard in order not to laugh, then jumped into the pilot's seat of the flitter he had borrowed from Command.

"Got everything on that list? We're going to be miles from civilization, so if you don't have what you need, you're gonna have to go without!"

Soval nodded soberly as he took the co-pilot's seat.

"So we'll be spending the first night near the old highway, then move for the next week. We should have time to see at least a third of the park."

"That sounds agreeable, Max," Soval said, sliding his pack off his shoulder and placing it between his legs.

Sorak leaned forward. "We are both anxious to take this journey with you, Max...if I may call you that?"

Max chuckled, letting out some of his amusement at the two men he'd never seen messed up at all in farm duds. "Sure, Sorak, call me Max. This is a buddies week, we'll relax protocols...just a bunch of guys hanging out."

Sorak nodded. "Very well, and thank you. I have memorized some scary tales for the nights around the fire," he said brightly. "Things from Vulcan; there is evidence to suggest unnatural things in the Forge...perhaps frightening, since they defy scientific probability."

Soval turned to Sorak. "There are no such tales that I am aware of."

Sorak nodded. "You will see, Osu...I mean...Soval."

Max laughed aloud. "I look forward to seeing what frightens Vulcans. You should tell your children stories of Earth and its confounding illogic. That should keep them frightened for years!"

He chuckled at his own joke and glanced back at Sorak, whose eyes were gleaming with mischief.

"I almost forgot, have you eaten yet? My wife made biscuits."

Soval shook his head. "We have not."

"They're in my bag, second pocket, in the little tin."

Soval reached in the bag and pulled out the tin. Upon opening it, the smell of fresh baked goods filled their shuttle. Max smiled. "She does make some good biscuits. I packed two forks, I remember you guys don't eat with your fingers."

Soval nodded. "That is most agreeable, Max. You are correct, we do not...that would be very..."

"Sexual," Sorak finished. "Sexual when we eat with our fingers."

Max coughed and choked down laughter. He had never heard a Vulcan be so blunt before about something so private.

Soval's nostrils flared slightly. "Yes," he said evenly. "But it is not something we discuss."

Sorak brought up his PADD as he used a napkin to grab a biscuit. "It says right here, Soval, that adult males on camping excursions often share private information with each other. Subjects range from the last sexual encounter one had, to various stories of intimacy. I thought now would be appropriate to set that paradigm."

Max cleared his throat. "Yes, well, we don't HAVE to discuss that at the moment, Sorak. How's work going?"

"Work is...acceptable."

"Worried about our foray into the big boy's territory?"

Sorak raised an eyebrow, but Soval ignored him. "Admiral, I believed 'worried', in my case, is a gross understatement."

"Aw, ambassador, it's almost like you care!" Max teased. Soval bowed his head.

"I only want what is best for your people."

Max went quiet; that was a mouthful coming from Soval. He was already getting to know Soval more, and they hadn't been gone an hour. This week was going to prove educational, as well as fun. "What about you, Sorak?"

"While it is not my normal place to speak on such matters, Max, since we will be discussing things that are normally not in our wheel..." He paused and sighed. "I share Soval's concern. Both for your people as a whole, and more recently for my bondmate and he who is my friend's bondmate. I find the idea of Genie and Amanda on a human spaceship...untested as you will be...disconcerting."

Soval nodded. "And we now turn your own question back on you with that in mind. Do you find yourself agreeable to watching Genie fly off on this NX spaceship with an untested captain?"

Max sighed. "I trust Archer."

Soval turned to him in earnest. "She has often complained about his behavior, and she insisted that he either be occupied by my staff at our wedding, or else not be invited. You invited him, and I put a few of my staff into occupying him."

The admiral seemed surprised. "I...I didn't know she felt that way."

"I'm sure Archer has potential," Sorak offered. "But that is why we advocate that Gardner be captain of the Enterprise."

Max sighed. "I'm giving Jonathan the assignment, ambassador. I guess Genie will have to put up with him."

"Indeed," Soval said, controlling his ire. "But are MACOs really necessary for the Enterprise?"

Max grimaced. "She and Amanda are both going to be assigned to the Consulate, so it's not even a question we have to address right now."

Sorak watched Soval, noticing that he was a bit...emotional. He thought it best to change the subject.

"How long until we arrive at our base camp destination?" He moved forward slightly. "I am interested to see how these hiking boots function. The salesperson said the tread was beyond compare."

Max sighed, then laughed. "Well, I'm not an expert. I'd ask my son if you wanted a real opinion on that. Did you two hear about that flood in Fiji?"

Soval nodded. "We often follow news channels. Our...sympathies go out to all affected."

He noted his aide looked uncomfortable. "The thought of being in all that water..." Sorak muttered in Vulcan.

"What'd you say?" Max said, turning around to look at the elder Vulcan.

"I was...expressing displeasure at the thought of all that water."

Max paused. "Sorak, would you like to learn how to swim? Ambassador?"

Soval nodded. "I would." He looked to Sorak and raised a challenging eyebrow.

Sorak shuddered. "I do not think I would, but I would be agreeable to watching you teach Soval how to swim. That is as close to the water as I would wish to be."

"Don't tell me you're scared!" Max retorted with a laugh.

Sorak huffed. "I am not in the least. I just have no desire. There is a logical difference."

The admiral nodded. "Of course, Sorak. Whatever you say."