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CHAPTER TEN

Jon opened his eyes to a blinding headache. At some point during the previous night, Trip had broken out a container of homemade Jafari liquor, saying, "It tastes lousy, but it does the job." That prediction had really hit the mark, Jon decided, given his own current state. But they'd had a lot of fun celebrating at the time.

Head throbbing, he finally sat up to discover he was alone in the home-tree. His cottony mouth convinced him to venture outside in search of water. Just beyond the door, Trip, Hoshi and T'Pol sat talking to a dark-haired female Jafari holding a baby.

Trip burst out laughing when he saw him. "You look even worse than I feel. Here." He handed Jon a cup of water, which Archer took gratefully. "Jon, this is Mila. Our friend."

Mila smiled brilliantly. To Jon's surprise, she stood and embraced him, then walked away.

Trip and Hoshi grinned at him. "She thinks you and T'Pol are here because you are Shekan—mates," Hoshi explained. "We tried to explain, but, well, we tried to do the same thing when we came. Trust us, it's easier not to argue." T'Pol and Jon made a point of looking away from each other.

Hoshi offered Jon food, and they all talked quietly while Jon ate. As he finished, Trip said, "Well, I have some work to do in the fields. Jon, I'd love for ya to come take a look at what we're doin'."

Jon looked inquisitively at T'Pol, who said, "Ensign Sato has asked me to join her while she teaches the Jafari children their lessons."
"They've never seen a Vulcan before," Hoshi explained. "I think it would be interesting for them."

"All right, sounds like we have a plan." Jon stood to join Trip. He was eager to return to Enterprise, but it seemed best to allow Trip and Hoshi a day's time to adjust. Plus he was always intrigued by new cultures. He followed Trip to the fields, thinking how good it was just to talk to his best friend again. He could worry about the future later.

**

After Jon had admired Trip's irrigation system, and endured the embraces of all of the Jafari men, he and Trip escaped to walk along the river. They strolled along the edge, talking of Enterprise.

As Jon finished filling Trip in on the status of Engineering, Trip stooped and picked up a pile of small rocks. He handed several to Jon before skipping one across the water's surface.

"This is where they pulled Hoshi out," he said conversationally, watching his stone skim over the river. Jon followed suit with his own mjrock, but didn't answer. After a minute, Trip continued.

"She was dead when I got here. Scared me to death; I could barely remember how to do CPR." Jon watched him, but Trip kept his eyes focused on the rocks they were throwing. "When she started coughing…I can't tell ya how I felt. And then she got sick and almost died. I sat there beside her, watching her fight, and it's the most terrified I've ever been." He turned back to his friend. "All of those times I could have died—the shuttlepod, the desert—I've never been that scared. But she made it and…she's been my whole world, Jon. I can't give her up."

"I know."

Continuing as if he hadn't heard him, Trip said, "I want to go back. I miss Enterprise. And to think I've only missed a few days…I could just walk right back into my life. But it's up to her. I can't go without her."

Jon nodded and put his hand on Trip's shoulder. "I think maybe you're talking to the wrong person right now."

Trip grinned. "Good point. Wanna head back?"

They turned back towards the village. "Ya know, I been thinkin'. It's kinda interestin' that you and T'Pol came through the Sh'ron together." Trip gave Jon a knowing look.

Jon eyed him. "What's your point, Trip?"

"Nuthin'. Just that it's supposed to pick out mates. Hoshi and I came through together, and now look at us. So, I was just speculatin'…"

Jon paused in his walking. "Well you can stop 'speculatin'." He gave Trip a stern look. It didn't have the desired affect, judging by the laughter that followed him when he stalked on. He looked back. "You know, I'm starting to wonder why I missed you so much."

Trip laughed again, and this time Jon joined him.

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