Omg! Omg!! *dances* This is the second last chapter of this fic! All that's left is the Epilogue and I plan on getting that done ASAP so I can finally finish this fic.

Enjoy this one, and I'll say more to you in the Epilogue.

Chapter 38

"There's been no change since she was brought in. Vitals are pretty good all things considered, but we cannot bring her to consciousness. We're pretty certain she can hear everything, so maybe hearing your voice will help."

"Thank you Doctor."

Asiles nodded and drew the curtain between him and Shran, leaving him 'alone' with the pale skinned Aenar who lay all but motionless, save for her antennas, which twitched every now and then and the constant rise and fall of her chest. She didn't look perfectly healthy, but she was still beautiful.

Shran approached her slowly, walking around her bed to the chair that stood by the bed. He swallowed, hesitating for a moment before sinking down into the seat.

"Jhamel? Can you hear me?"

There was no response.

"I hope you can… I'd like to believe you can. I mean, if you can broadcast images to me –that was you, wasn't it? I mean, you did help me remember you, you must have, because how else would I suddenly remember you? Especially since Trip never once mentioned you. I'm pretty sure it was you… maybe you sensed Trip and decided to help him help me remember… or something like that. Thank you for that."

Shran glanced at the machines but they continued to beep monotonously. Nibbling on his lower lip he reached out and rested his hand on hers, curling his warmer digits around hers. He could have sworn they tightened around his.

"Jhamel, I… I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm so sorry you suffered because of me. It really is all my fault. I convinced you to help me and pink-skin with the marauder, I was the one who brought us to your people… I let myself come to love you." Shran sighed, wondering just when he'd begun to consider bonding with Jhamel, mating with her and forming the marriage bond. After three years of essentially not knowing he himself existed, it was hard to recall. But the idea was bubbling in his mind, although he knew well that neither of them, even if Jhamel was awake, would be ready for that for a while.

Shran could think of no more to say, so he simply sat there, watching her and hoping to feel the touch of her mind on his. But there was nothing there, just the steady sensation of his familial bond. If he concentrated he could unravel it and see how many links were actually there, but it was probably in the hundreds. His parents made have found reproduction a difficulty, but none of their combined 55 siblings had.

'Oh no… my grandparents are going to be an absolute nightmare about all this when I go home.' Shran groaned, hanging his head. Then he chuckled. He was a Captain of the Imperial Guard –at least he thought and hoped he still was-, had been a POW, had negotiated peace with two old enemies of his people, had been tortured for five years by the Orions and his idea of a nightmare was still his grandparents in a mood. His grandmother in particular. Shran would rather deal with a pit of ice-bores than Aresa when she was in an indignant fury. And wasn't that just ironic.

"Would you like something to eat Thy'lek?"

Shran looked up to see the twinkling blue eyes of Phlox. He smiled a little and shook his head,

"No, I'm all right. I just… I'd just like to sit with her awhile longer."

"Of course. If you need anything…"

"I know."

Phlox nodded, then turned to walk away.

"Doctor Phlox!"

"Yes?" Phlox turned around.

"Thank you. For everything you did. You… well lets just say you showed a lot more patience than the Imperial doctors on Andoria the last time."

Phlox smiled and inclined his head, "I'm very glad I could help. You are a remarkable man Thy'lek Shran. Your loss was greatly felt among the crew of Enterprise as well as the ambassadors of Tellar Prime and Vulcan when you disappeared."

Shran's lips curled upwards in an amused smirk.

"You know me, I'm easy to love."

Phlox chuckled, "Surprisingly enough, you are."

Shran froze, his eyes widening in surprise. He swallowed, "Thank you Doctor."

"My pleasure."

Shran watched him go and then looked at Jhamel. "Funny, isn't it Jhamel, you don't ever know who you touch till you've been away from them a while. Funnier still… I actually miss that blasted Soval and insufferable pig Gral. Life is quite ridiculous, isn't it?"

Shran jumped as a soft touch brushed his mind, that felt rather like a giggle. He frowned down at Jhamel in concern, then smiled as he noted her lips had curved into a small smile.

It was a surreal moment, for everyone involved, and no one more so than the two men who'd been the focal point of the whole thing. It was the moment when they were to say goodbye and part. Trip had to see his family, endure evaluations and tests with Starfleet to prove he was fit for duty, when he felt fit for it. For now he was content to adapt to regular life, as a son, a man and a husband. He would also –although he didn't realise it yet- have to deal with his augmented celebrity status as a man who'd come back from the dead to coincide with his already commendable reputation as the crafty engineer of Enterprise.

Shran had to return to Andoria, his vast family was eager to see him face to face again, and the Imperial Guard wanted their soldier back. Shran's reputation too had grown, and he would return home to find himself revered by many young Andorians as the ultimate real-life hero. He would also have to meet Jhamel's parents and deal with their anger over what would be considered his fault for her current condition. Aenar may have been more serene than their cerulean cousins but they were by no means emotionless, and just because they were pacifist didn't mean they did not express anger. That was one meeting Shran was truly dreading, never mind the one with the Imperial Command.

Everyone was biding each other goodbye, assuring each other that they would see each other at the memorial service that would be held for all those lost in the mines. Shran and Trip had all but ordered Tholos and Archer to request it. Neither man wanted the souls who hadn't escaped to be forgotten.

Trip had just received a surprise hug from Senkrad, with a whispered "Thank you." that held more emotion than should be possible, and now only Shran was left. The two men stared at each other, unable to speak as they realised that they were about to truly separate. Both tried to hide the panic that was building inside them, well aware that they could not be dependant on the other for all their lives and they would have to part at some stage.

"Well…" said Trip, struggling to find the words to thank Shran for being there for him even when he hadn't know who he was.

"Yeah…" sighed Shran, wondering what to say to the man who'd seen him at his lowest moment. The others all stepped aside, giving them some privacy.

Trip shifted on his feet, swallowing hard. Then he said, "I know this place in San Francisco that made the claim it had made a better drink than Andorian Ale."

Shran's antennas quirked forward, "Oh really?" he drawled, feeling a small smile pulling on his lips.

"Really. It's stronger and better tasting. At least, that's the claim."

"Well, I highly doubt that claim."

"You can't say they aren't until you've tried it."

"Then I guess I'll have to try it some day."

Trip grinned, "I bet I can drink you under the table."

Shran snorted, "I could drink you all the way under the floor."

"Was that a challenge?"

"You going to accept it?"

"Oh you are so on! You come to Earth and I'm gonna get you so pissed you won't be sober for a week!"

"Sounds good to me. And if you ever come to Andoria, I'll show you just how to drink like a real man."

"Oh yeah? Bring it on!"

Both men grinned, chuckling. Then their laughter died down and the smiles dropped as Trip said,

"I can't believe this is it. Felt like we'd never get here. But still-"

"It feels like no time at all really."

"Yeah… now isn't that the damndest thing?"

"Memory's a funny thing. So are people. Trust me, I've met enough to decide everyone's insane and the universe is pretty much doomed no matter what we do."

"I'm sure Soval appreciates that."

"That pointy-eared Vulcan is the craziest of them all!"

Trip laughed, "I've just realised I've missed the best nickname for you."

"Oh?"

"Gimli! It's perfect! I officially dub you Gimli."

Shran frowned, "What pink-skin?"

"You are forever Gimli to me now, and I'll only tell you why when you come to see me on Earth."

"Then I'll have to come see you I suppose."

They smiled again, each itching to say what they wanted to and neither sure how.

Shran swallowed, "You know, if you're ever… I mean the nightmares will come at some point, probably when you don't expect them, so, if you need to… well, just so you know… I'll just be a comm. away."

"Thank you… I appreciate it. I really do."

Shran nodded, "You're welcome."

"The same for you too, you can contact me whenever."

They fell quiet again. Shifting from foot to foot, glancing at each other and then away. Then suddenly Shran huffed,

"Oh for the love of-!" and abruptly threw his arms around Trip, hugging him tight. Trip instantly wrapped his arms around the thinner Andorian, squeezing hard. They hugged for a time, unable to find the words to express the feelings swimming in their bodies. At last they disengaged from each other and looked at each other with fierce expressions.

"You, you take care Trip."

"You too Thy'lek. And I hope Jhamel gets well."

"So do I. Good luck with being married to a Vulcan. Personally I doubt I could stand it."

"I doubt you could too." smiled Trip. He held out his hand, and Shran took it, squeezing. It was less of a shake and more a reluctance to part. But finally, Trip let go and stepped away, moving to his people. Shran's sibling joined Shran standing on either side of him. Trip subtly took T'Pol's hand and together they and the rest of the Enterprise crew got into the awaiting shuttle. As Malcolm reached up and closed it, Trip caught Shran's eyes a final time and smiled at him. Shran nodded his head, his brown eyes smiling at Trip.

As Travis started up the shuttle and began to bring them back to earth, Archer met Trip's eyes and smiled,

"Well, ready to go home Trip?"

"Yeah, yeah I am."

There was a moment of silence, then Trip grumbled,

"I still can't believe you let them put Enterprise in mothballs!"

See you on the other side of the Epilogue. If anyone has been reading this since it was first published, can I say, you have the patience of a saint and I love you all!!

Night's Darkness