When I'm Gone
By: Dark Draconain
Rated: PG - 13
Feedbak: If you would be so kind ^_^
Disclaimer: See Prologue
Summery: Truth is in the eye of the storm. (A/T)

When I'm Gone
Chapter Three: Turbulent Relationships

The winds had picked up considerably, and icy sheets of snow had begun to whip the ground into a frenzy of little white flakes.

"'I don't think it'll be a storm,' he says. 'Maybe just some cloud cover,' he says. Well I've got news, it's a goddamned full-fledged blizzard!"

"Relax, Jonathan, she'll be fine," said Sen-te, trying to calm the frantic Starship Captain.

"The hell she will!" he frothed. Archer suddenly stopped his manic pacing and strode dutifully for the door, grabbing a pair of goggles and a heavy jacket as he went.

"Where are—you're not actually thinking of going looking for them are you?!"

"Yes. I am. Is that a problem?"

"Not unless you have a death wish! You'll never survive, let alone find them!"

Archer didn't respond, he just continued on his way out the door.

"Then I'm going with you!" shouted Sen-te to the indignant captain's back.

Archer turned, "Why?" he asked quietly.

"So you don't get yourself killed. C'mon, human."

~~~*~~~

T'Pol sat down on the cold, hard ground next to Tse-la. "How long do these storms usually last?"

"Oh, not too long. A few hours. We'll be fine down here."

"Does this happen often?"

"No," replied Tse-la, "not often. But this isn't the first time I've been caught in one."

"I see."

They had already been in the mine for several hours before they had realized there was a storm outside. The Darklyte crystals they had been examining were most intriguing indeed. Dark with streaks of an odd gold-like colour that flickered in different light. She wondered vaguely how Captain Archer was. Was he worried about her?

"What's on your mind, T'Pol?"

"Nothing. Why?"

Tse-la fixed her with a crooked grin. "You were thinking awfully hard for nothing."

T'Pol didn't respond. Instead she focused her gaze on the rock wall in front of her.

"It's that captain of yours, isn't it?"

T'Pol turned to face her, raising an eyebrow as she did.

Tse-la smiled. "It's written all over your faces."

"What is?"

"You know," began Tse-la, "us Azuures are part psychic."

"You were reading my thoughts?!"

"Oh, no! No. I can't do that. Some of us can, but not me. But, I can see through that stony façade of yours."

"Indeed."

~ to be continued....~