The bed was warm, that kind of languid, scrunched-sheet warmth that you only got when the body heat was being shared. Archer slid his hand down the satin curve of Stazi's back and wished he could stay there forever. Instead he tucked the blankets about her and left her there. He hoped he was close enough to Phlox's deadline to not be risking more blackouts, but it really was time he got back to being captain of his ship.
He came face to face with T'Pol in the corridor. Do you know who Stazi Zimmer is?' she demanded.
Well, she's the lady who...' he tried not to point too directly back towards his cabin. Not that it was anybody's business, of course.
She's Anastasia Cochrane.'
Zefram's mother?'
We must return her through the temporal transporter before we destroy the space station.'
Zefram's mother.'
Zefram. That's a nice name.' Stazi, looking bleary and contented, came padding barefoot up the corridor. She stopped, bumping gently against Archer, making it hard for him to resist putting his arm about her.
You're Anastasia Cochrane?' he said.
Well, I'm halfway to changing back to my maiden name, yeah. Didn't want to keep Zimmer, why hang about at the ass end of the alphabet like that?'
We have to send you back,' he said. To your own time.'
She felt as if she'd been slapped. But...why?'
I,' he shook his head. I can't tell you that.'
But you...' she was angry and confused.
You have to go back, Stazi. I'm sorry.' And she could see by the way he looked that he was sorry, and as helpless as he'd ever been.