DISCLAIMER: I don't own Enterprise.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is it. This fic is DONE. This fic is FINISHED. This fic is COMPLETE. Never thought it would happen, did you? It went totally nuts, I really didn't expect it to turn out this way. But it did. In fact, I like the way this is going to end better than my original ending. Will you like it? Read and find out! Thanks to all the loyal readers who have read and reviewed and kept me going! Thanks especially to those of you who put this on your favorites list!
ARCHIVES: If you want to archive this story, you'll have to link from FanFiction.Net, because I'm deleting it off my hard drive. I have no use for it.
THE SECRET LANGUAGE
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Ensign Scott?"
Amber pulled her uniform on and glanced around her quarters. Where had that sound come from? It didn't sound familiar.
"Ensign Amber Scott?"
Amber exited her bathroom. The voice had come from the screen on her desk. On the screen was Admiral Forest.
"Ah…Admiral?" Amber asked. Why was Admiral Forest calling her?
"I have a question for you." Admiral Forest said.
"I'm listening." Amber said.
"Sit down for a second and I'll tell you about it."
Amber sat down and looked at the Admiral. "What's up?"
Knock-knock-knock.
Archer looked up from the book he'd been reading. "Come in, Amber!" He yelled. He'd never get her to use the doorchime.
Amber entered his quarters. "Captain?" She asked.
Archer put his book aside. "What is it, Amber?"
"Well…I just got a call from Admiral Forest." Amber said. "Starfleet Academy's just received a new cadet, Brian Appleton."
Archer nodded. "And?"
"Cadet Appleton's deaf, sir." Amber said. "And since John died, Starfleet's fresh out of interpreters."
"And they want you to be Cadet Appleton's interpreter." Archer finished.
Amber nodded, looking at the floor. "I'm going to take the job."
Archer was silent for a moment. "Have you thought about this?"
"Yes, sir, I have." Amber said. "Please, Captain, it's not anything you've done, or anyone else. It's just that…well…I know it'll be impossible for Brian to go through the Academy with no interpreter. And, even though I really didn't like John, he was a good interpreter and he was one of the biggest reasons I got through the Academy at all."
Archer stood up. "It's a noble cause, Amber." He said. "But are you sure this isn't just an emotional reaction? You've always wanted to serve in Starfleet. Do you really want to give all that up just for one boy?"
"I'll still be serving in Starfleet, Captain." Amber said. "Just…not in the way I'd thought I would."
Archer thought for a second. "I'd be lying if I told you I was happy about this, Amber." He said. "I'm not. But if it's what you really want to do, I'm not going to stand in your way."
Amber's face broke into a smile. "Thank you, sir." She said. "I need to be to the Academy by next week; that's when the fall semester starts."
"Understood." Archer said. "Dismissed."
One week later, Amber stood in front of the shuttle that would take her to San Francisco. She had planned on leaving alone, having already said her goodbyes. But just as she was getting into the pod, the doors swooshed open.
"Amber!" Trip called.
Amber turned around. Trip, Hoshi, and Captain Archer were standing behind her
"Why are you here?" Amber asked. "We already said goodbye."
"Sure, but we had to see you off." Hoshi said, giving Amber a hug.
"Yeah, and we couldn't let you go off to sunny San Francisco without giving you a few pointers." Trip said.
"I've been to San Francisco before." Amber said. "I did go to Starfleet Academy, remember?"
"Oh, yes, but you also said that you spent most of your time in your room studying." Trip countered
"I did." Amber said.
"Well, now you won't be able to." Hoshi said. "So we're going to give you a few little tips."
"Never step in Jackson's roses." Captain Archer started.
"Who's Jackson?" Amber asked.
"The groundskeeper." Captain Archer said. "We used to joke that he had obsessive-compulsive disorder, and my guess would be that he isn't getting better with old age. He's fanatical about his roses. If he sees even one petal out of place, he'll go nuts all day trying to fix it."
"And take this camera." Trip handed Amber a green digital camera. "Jackson may have OCD but he sure keeps the gardens looking beautiful."
Amber took the camera and slung it over her shoulder. "Anything else?"
"Yeah." Hoshi said. "Keep in touch with us, OK? I'm losing my lunch companion now so you better write to keep me busy."
"I will." Amber said. She looked at her watch. "Oh, I have to go."
After another quick round of hugs, Amber got into the pod and began preparing to leave. "I'll miss you, Enterprise." She whispered, suddenly fighting back tears. "You've been good to me."
"I'm gonna miss her." Trip said when he, Hoshi, and Archer exited the shuttle bay.
"So am I." Archer said. "She wasn't with us for long, but she was a valuable member of the crew." He turned his gaze to Trip. "So how come you didn't kiss her goodbye?"
Trip's jaw dropped. "Huh? What…no. Why would I do that?"
"Oh, Trip don't give me that." Archer said. "Everyone knows you two were an item."
"Were not!" Trip argued. "We were friends, Cap'n, that's all."
"Uh-huh, sure." Archer said. "I'd stay and harass you more, Trip, but I've gotta get back to the bridge."
As soon as Archer was out of earshot, Hoshi asked, "So why didn't you kiss her goodbye?"
Trip blushed. "I didn't think it was that obvious."
Hoshi laughed. "You're a terrible liar, Trip Tucker."
"And exactly how terrible am I?" Trip asked indignantly."
"Malcolm, Travis, and I had a pool going as to when you were gonna pop the question." Without giving Trip time to answer, Hoshi left.
Trip slumped against the wall. How did she know? He thought. He certainly hadn't been going to pop the question anytime soon; he'd planned on waiting until Amber had more time to adjust. Now he would never have the chance.
"You'll never know, Ensign Amber Scott." He said quietly. "You'll never know."