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CHAPTER NINE

"Trip! Hoshi!"

Jon was around the fire and dragging them into his embrace before Hoshi had time to process who was there. Her befuddled mind registered T'Pol standing back behind Jon.

Trip looked between Archer and T'Pol blankly. Then he let out a whoop and threw his arms around his old friend. "Jon! I can't believe it! I thought we'd never see ya again."

Hoshi stood and stepped back from the rowdy men. T'Pol caught her gaze and nodded in greeting. "Are you well, Ensign?"

Hoshi nodded and forced a smile that she didn't yet feel. "Yes. We're both well."

Jon and Trip were still beaming and pounding each other on the back. "I just…God, Jon, this just doesn't seem real. How did ya find us, after all this time?"

Jon laughed. "I guess it must have seemed like forever for you. But we've been working on it day and night. We finally found a way to reverse the Sh'ron. Malcolm found a way, to be fair." He grinned meaningfully at Hoshi. "He's waiting on the other side, a bit impatiently. He wanted to come, of course…" Jon's voice trailed off at their expressions.

His eyes widened slightly, remembering how he had found them. "Oh…" Recovering, he said, "Well, anyway, the important thing is that we've found you. You two ready to get out of here? Enterprise has been missing her Chief Engineer and Communications Officer."

Trip and Hoshi's faces reflected identical expressions of puzzlement. "Ya mean ya haven't replaced us?"

"Well, I have to admit, Starfleet was starting to push the idea. But we weren't ready to give up just yet," Jon said cheerfully.

"What?! Don't get me wrong, Jon, I appreciate the loyalty, but I never expected this. Two years is a awful long time to be without a Chief Engineer or a Com Officer."

Jon shifted, his brows coming together. "Two years? What do you mean?"

"I mean the two years that we've been here. Whatta ya think I mean?"

There was silence. Finally, T'Pol answered Trip. "Commander, you and Ensign Sato have only been missing for 36 days."

"Excuse me?" Trip said, standing. Hoshi opened her mouth, but realized she had no idea what to say to that. She closed it again.

Jon stood as well, saying, "She's right. It's only been 36 days since you disappeared, not two years."

Now Hoshi spoke. "No, that isn't right. We've been here for nearly two years. We kept track. And I remember." Trip nodded in agreement, his face confused.

"Well, I don't have an explanation…but when we get back, maybe Phlox can run some tests, figure out what's happening," Jon said.

He was a little taken aback when Hoshi and Trip simultaneously stepped away from him and closer together.

"Hold on, now. You're sayin' that if we go back right now, we'll be walking into our lives just as they were?"

Jon frowned at his friend. "What do you mean, if?"

Trip took Hoshi's hand. "It may have only been a month for you, but a lot's happened to us since you saw us. A lot. We just need a little time to process this, is all." He looked at Hoshi, who nodded in confirmation.

"Malcolm and his team are under orders to follow us if we don't return in three hours."

Frustrated, Trip opened his mouth to argue, but T'Pol stepped smoothly between the two men. "Captain, if what the Commander and Ensign have told us is accurate, we have some time before three hours will have passed for the Lieutenant." She turned to face Jon, adding, "Time to adjust might be all that the Commander and Ensign require."

Reluctantly, Jon said, "Agreed." Hoshi and Trip visibly relaxed.

Smiling again, Trip sprang into action. "Well, guess that means you're stayin' the night. Are you all hungry? Turns out I'm a hell of a Jafari cook. You'll love it, T'Pol. Not a ounce of meat in sight."

Jon smiled. "Sure. Maybe you can fill us in on what's happening while we eat."

While Jon and T'Pol ate, they did just that. Although T'Pol betrayed very little reaction, Jon was astounded by his friends' stories. When Trip described Hoshi's illness, Jon turned to her. "I'm sorry, Hoshi. I should have gotten to you both sooner."

Hoshi smiled kindly. "Trip said the same thing. Thank you, Jon, but it doesn't matter now. Everything worked out for the best." She looked at Trip, sitting beside her and smiled. Trip returned the smile, and just for a moment, Jon felt uncomfortable, as if he was intruding. His friends looked back at him and the feeling passed.

"Anyway," Trip said, "you all must be tired."

"No. I'm fine," Jon responded. His relief at seeing Trip and Hoshi alive had energized him.

"I am tired," T'Pol said. "If you have no objections, Captain, I will retire for the evening."

Jon shook his head, and Hoshi and T'Pol stood. "Goodnight," Hoshi said to the men. They each tossed a smile in her direction, but they were clearly focused on their conversation. Rolling her eyes, Hoshi led T'Pol into the home-tree.

"Just a moment, Subcommander, and I will make up a bed." She began to gather and arrange blankets.

While she waited, T'Pol studied the room. "It is a lovely home, Ensign. You and the Commander have fared well in this difficult situation."

Finished, Hoshi gestured to the bed. T'Pol sat, watching Hoshi prepare a bed for Jon. "Thank you. It was hard at first, but…we've been happy here."

"Yes, I see that you have."

Hoshi dropped down onto Jon's freshly made bed. "I know it must look strange—I was involved with Malcolm when I came here." T'Pol's face was impassive; Hoshi continued. "I…we thought we would be here forever. And my feelings…changed."

"You were faced with extreme circumstances. Building a new life was the only logical choice."

Hoshi smiled ruefully. "Then why do I suddenly feel so terrible?"

"Do you regret your involvement with the Commander now?"

"No! No—I wouldn't give up our time together for anything. I just…what happens if we go back? How will I explain this to Malcolm? To him, only a month has passed."

"I have found the Lieutenant to be quite reasonable. I believe he will adjust accordingly."

Hoshi shook her head. "I just don't want to hurt him."

"Hurting either Lieutenant Reed or Commander Tucker is inevitable. You must simply decide what is the best choice for you."

Head down, Hoshi didn't answer. T'Pol asked, "Do you intend to return with us?"

Hoshi met her eyes now. "I don't know. I think Trip and I will have to talk about it. We have a life here…but we also have so many people waiting for us. I guess we have a decision to make."

Satisfied, T'Pol nodded and lay down. Closing her eyes, she said, "Goodnight, Ensign."

"Goodnight." Hoshi crawled into the bed she shared with Trip.

They lay silently as the fire died down. T'Pol's voice broke the quiet.

"It is…good…to see you again."

Her back to T'Pol, Hoshi grinned. "I'm glad to see you to, Subcommander."