Chapter 6

It had been a few hours since Archer had left her quarters, and yet still, she could sense his presence. Her need for him was increasing as each second passed by, and she knew in a short manner of time, her resolve would wear down to nothing. She hoped she would not make a fool of herself in front of her captain. She knew, however, that she would probably do something inappropriate if she were to be around him again. Her comm. went off and she rose to press the button. "T'Pol here," she announced.



"Sub-Commander, I'm getting a video transmission coming in for you. Shall I send it to your quarters," Hoshi's voice responded through the comm.



"Yes, please do Ensign," She answered and disconnected her end of the line. Making her way over to her console, she wondered who was calling her. As she sat down, she pressed the button and the screen flashed to life. She was surprised to see T'Kel, Koss' mother, on screen. "T'Kel," she said in greeting.

"T'Pol. You do not look well," The older woman said, her silver brow rising up slightly, her eyes raking over T'Pol.



"No. I am experiencing the symptoms on the Pon Farr. I believe your son is going through it as well," T'Pol explained.



"Oh, so that is why you were inquiring as to how my son was faring," T'Kel said, pursing her lips in disgust. Obviously, T'Kel was not pleased with T'Pol's decision to dissolve the bond with her son and stay on Enterprise.



"Yes, it is. I was wondering, where is Koss," T'Pol blinked back her rising anger at T'Kel's superior attitude.



"It is none of your concern, anymore. The affairs of my son are his alone and not yours any longer," T'Kel berated.



"I understand that," T'Pol blinked, pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts. "I still would like to know what is happening to him. I know he is going through pon farr. I believe that is why I am suffering from it as well. We are still branded in each other, and it is affecting me. I need to know if he is doing anything to stop the pon farr." She paused again. "Or do you not know? Did he leave?"



T'Kel's eyes widened ever so slightly. "How did you know that," She questioned, anxiety lacing her voice.

"I believe I might know where he is. I have been having dreams the past few nights. Koss is in them with me. We are in a desert, alone. I'm not sure where, though."



T'Kel's mouth dropped open a little and she looked down. Raising her eyes to T'Pol she asked, "Do you think that is where he is? Do you believe he is in a desert alone?"



"Yes, T'Kel, I do. I think I might be able to help you find him. I need to know, though, if we can find him, is there someone who would be willing to assist him in his Pon Farr," T'Pol asked.



"Yes, his father and I had found a new bond mate. She is not like you, though, but she will suffice. Are you certain you know where he is?"



"I will help you in anyway I can. I'll contact you later," T'Pol said, raising her hand in the comfortable gesture. "Mene Sakkhet Ur-Seveh, T'Kel. Live Long and Prosper."



T'Kel held her hand up as well. "And you as well, young T'Pol. I await your transmission. T'Kel out."



The screen blinked and then faded to black before T'Pol's eyes. So, she had been right. Koss was missing, and it was up to her to find him, even though she was far away from Vulcan. Sighing, she stood and made her way over to her bed. If she was going to find him, she must first reach out to him in dreams.

Archer paced back and forth in his quarters. He couldn't believe the fact that T'Pol was somehow still linked with her bond mate, ex bond mate, boyfriend, whatever the hell he was. Not to mention the fact that this link was bringing on her mating cycle and that no matter how much he tried, he couldn't get the image of her gaze out of his mind. He let out an aggravated growl and raked his hands through his hair. He had been sitting on the bridge when the transmission had come through for her. He knew that it would be Koss' family and that T'Pol would be finding out whether her theory was correct. Believing that she would call for him once she received the news, he let it go. Obviously, he had been wrong. After an hour of not hearing from her, he left the bridge and went to his quarters, where he had been pacing for the last twenty minutes.

He didn't want to push her into telling him anymore than he already had, but damnit, he deserved to know what was going on with her because he…he…loved her? No that wasn't it, was it? Screwing up his courage, he resolved himself to give her ten more minutes and then, he was going to her quarters and demand some answers…even if the symptoms of her Pon Farr had worsened.

Koss watched the setting sun sink below the horizon. Looking around, he decided that he had picked the perfect place to come and live out the last of his days. He looked at the familiar outcroppings of rocks that he had been fascinated with as a child. Five separate rocks curled out of the ground reminding him of fingers reaching out of the sandy depths of the desert floor and trying to touch the stars. He sat in the middle of them, feeling as if he was sitting in the palm of Vulcan's hand. Closing his eyes, he allowed another sharp pain of desire surge through his body, searching for an answer somewhere. Yet there would be no answer, just more and more pain and arousal until finally his body shut down from the elevated hormonal levels. He leaned back; laying down on the ground looking up as a few faint stars fought their way through the darkening sky so he could see them. Another surge racked his body and he shut his eyes, the last thing he saw, a shooting star brightening up the sky and soaring over the rock fingers.

It was cold, very cold. T'Pol shivered as a wind blew by her, making her fold her arms round her body in hopes of keeping some of the body heat that was slowly seeping out. She looked around. Where was Koss? Why couldn't she find him? "Koss," She yelled into the dark night.

Suddenly she saw a form in the distance. Recognizing it, she ran towards it. The familiar finger-like rocks jut up from the ground towards the heavens. As she approached, she felt a dull flow of want rush over her, not nearly as apparent as before. She blinked her eyes, washing the sand from them, and widened them at the sight before her.

Koss lay on the ground in the middle of the fingers, not moving at all. She was too late.

Continued in Chapter 7