Chapter 5

It was late into the night, everyone had been somewhat quiet since their talk. Jon had asked one of the guards several hours earlier about food and water for them all, only to be told that those "luxuries" aren't wasted on those who will be executed in the morning.

Jon huffed at the reply. "Great. We die hungry and thirsty. Thanks a lot." He responded sarcastically.

Trip couldn't help but to chuckle at the thought that his sarcastic nature was rubbing off onto Jon.

Jon looked over to the cells across from him. T'Pol was meditating and Malcolm appeared to be sleeping. He quietly called for Trip. "Hey, Trip. You awake?"

Trip called back. "Yeah, I'm awake. Are you doing ok?"

Jon nodded. "Just wish I could hold you right now."

Trip began tracing patterns on the wall with his finger. "Yeah, me too. Think they'll at least give us a chance to say goodbye before…"

Jon shook his head. "I don't know. Trip, I want to tell you… I love you. I loved you from the moment I set eyes on you and even through the years we weren't together, I still loved you. I'm sorry that I did things that hurt you-"

Trip let out a loud huff. "Jon, we've been through all this and I forgave you. Do you remember when I was injured and came to your quarters after being released from sickbay?"

The corner of Jon's mouth gave an upward twitch. "Who could ever forget that injury? It almost cost you your leg and put you off duty for almost a year."

"Eight months before I could get back to limited duty to be exact, but that's not the point. Point is, you were sitting there watching that recording, wallowing in misery. I told you then that neither one of us could change the past, all we could do was put it behind us, start fresh and move forward. Jon, that was the moment I let go of any resentment I had for what happened between us. That was the moment I started this life with you. I want you to stop feeling guilty for the things in that other life. Those people, who we were then, they're gone, ghosts of the past."

The tears stung at Jon's eyes. "I know you've forgiven me, and I don't hold any grudge against you for breaking things off. It's just some days I have a hard time forgiving myself. Today is one of those days."

Trip shook his head. "Don't spend our final hours dwelling on those bad memories, spend them on the happy ones." A smile came across Trip's face as he continued. "Do you remember the first time I took you home to meet my parents?"

Jon chuckled. "You could have warned me that there was going to be a family reunion. In fact, you could have warned me that you had such a large family."

"Now that wouldn't have been much fun, would it? I still remember the look on your face when you saw all those people. And the way you carried on with Aunt Betty-Lea! I swear, I don't think I had ever heard her laugh that much in the same day. Everybody said you had the magic touch with her."

Jon barked out a laugh. "She told me if she were 20 years younger… she'd do her damnedest to steal me away from you."

Trip looked at the wall in shock. "She did huh? Well, I'm going to have to have a talk with her about that."

They both went into belly laughs as T'Pol opened one eye to glare at them before huffing as she stood.

Trip had calmed his laughter. "Sorry. Didn't mean to disturb you."

T'Pol gave him a slight nod. "I was contemplating our situation. Considering the Dracarian's seem determined to have us executed, I suppose it's only a human need to distract yourself from the pending demise, since there doesn't seem to be a way out of this."

Malcolm snorted. "I haven't given up yet."

Jon leaned forward in his bunk to get the angle to see Malcolm. "I thought you were sleeping."

Malcolm rolled over to face him. "Haven't you learned yet? Never assume anything with me."

Trip lifted a brow. "So does this mean you have a plan?"

"It's been hours since any of us has checked in. Obviously Hoshi realized a long time ago that something is wrong and contacted the Vice Chancellor."

T'Pol shook her head. "There is no guarantee that the Vice Chancellor was truthful about our situation or whereabouts."

Malcolm waved a dismissive hand. "If the Vice Chancellor lied, I'm sure Hoshi's bullshit meter went off the charts. She would undoubtedly contact Starfleet to let them know there's trouble."

Jon sat up a little straighter. "So the pessimist has suddenly become optimistic?"

"Not really. I highly doubt help will arrive in time to save us. I simply plan on snapping a neck or two before they take me out." Malcolm smirked.

Trip thoughtfully rubbed at his chin. "Sounds like a good plan to me. We go out punching, kicking, clawing… whatever it takes, but we go down fighting."

Jon and T'Pol shared a 'whatever makes them feel better' look.

Jon shook his head. "Perhaps there is a more diplomatic way out of this situation. I could try and talk to the Vice Chancellor again and-"

Trip scowled. "How many times have you asked to talk to her? She won't come, she won't listen to us."

Malcolm nodded. "One of us could pretend to be sick and when the guard opens the cell, they could jump him and we make a break for it."

T'Pol rolled her eyes. "Wasn't that a scene in last week's movie? I believe that in the end the criminals were captured again."

"They weren't criminals." Trip replied harshly. "They were spies who were captured by the bad guys and they weren't captured again, they got away. See… this is why I keep telling you to stop bringing a PADD with you to movie night and pay attention to what's going on in the show."

T'Pol's brow lifted. "I am capable of multitasking."

"Apparently not." Trip muttered as he turned towards Malcolm. "Anyways, T'Pol's kinda right. I doubt that cheesy trick would work. Shit, they won't give us any food or water, what makes you think they'll care enough to check if one of us is sick? Damn I'm hungry! And I want my ring!"

Jon groaned. "Your ring, your ring! Will you shut up about your damned ring! You know, if you kept it on your finger where it belongs, you'd have it. Whatever, I'll get you a new ring when we get out of this."

Trip growled. "I don't want a new ring… I want my ring!"

Malcolm rolled his eyes. "I'm tired of you running off about your bloody ring too! All due respect Commander, shut the hell up!"

Trip turned his glare to Malcolm. "Oh you just stuff it! Not my fault you never been married and don't understand how special a ring can be!"

"If you really think it's so special, you wouldn't have taken it off!" Malcolm shot back.

Jon got to his feet and pressed himself against the bars. "You stay out of this, Lieutenant! It's my fault really, I know Trip can't always wear his ring due to his job and I've been meaning to get a necklace or something for him. I've just put it off and now my procrastination has got us into a lot of hot water!"

"No, what got us in hot water was that we trusted these people!" Trip shouted.

A guard came into the holding area. "What's all this yelling about? Shut up or all of you will be shocked!"

He pulled a device from his belt that Trip recognized as the weapon that had stunned him earlier, causing him to back away in fear.

Jon suddenly reached through the bars, grabbing the man, pinning him against the bars with both arms wrapped around the man's neck.

Jon reached for the device and held it against the man's ribs, grumbling in his ear. "What you're going to do now is slowly unlock this cage and let me out."

The man chuckled. "Can't do that, the lock control is on the other side of the door."

"Ah. Too bad for you then." Jon said as he pushed the trigger to shock the guard. When nothing happened, Jon tried several more times.

The guard started laughing wildly. "Don't know how to operate it, do you?"

The guard grabbed Jon's arm, forcefully pushing it in an awkward angle against the bars. Jon screamed out as a sickening crack could be heard and Jon slumped back to the floor, holding his wounded limb.

"Stupid fools." The guard groused as he picked up the weapon. "You know, I heard you have a little problem with our alcohol. Maybe I could get you a nice big bottle and pour it down your throat. Maybe then you'll behave yourself."

Trip shouted. "Don't you dare! Why are you people doing this to us? Why can't you just let us go back to our ship and we'll leave? You won't have to worry about us ever again!"

The guard smirked. "We won't let your kind go back out into the galaxy, hard telling how many worlds you've damaged with your disease. Besides, I'm curious to know what will happen to you aliens when you get shot with our weapons."

T'Pol shook her head. "The odds are high that we will perish, as you intend."

The guard laughed maniacally as he left the holding area. "That guy's fucking deranged!" Trip hollered.

"They all are." Malcolm agreed flatly.

T'Pol looked towards Jon in concern, seeing him cradling his arm. "Captain. How badly did he injure you?"

"I think it's broken." Jon winced when he tried to gingerly move his arm, the tight pain coming through in his voice. "So much for trying to jump them."

T'Pol tipped her head. "It was an admirable attempt. At the very least, we sent a message that we will fight to the end."

After a few moments and the tension settled, Trip looked through the hole. "Jon? Are you ok?"

Jon continued to sit on his bunk, holding his arm. Trip could hear the shakiness of his voice and knew his husband was holding back a great deal of pain. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, not like I've never had a broken bone before."

Trip gulped back his sorrow and concern. "We'll figure something out. I love you."

Jon silently nodded an acknowledgement as he tenderly laid to his side, continuing to nurse his arm.