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Chapter Two
Archer poured some water onto the Vulcans lips. T'Pol was still unconscious. He was relieved though, the medical scanner assured him that she was not in mortal danger anymore. Jonathan was glad that he had found some water and food supplies on the wreckage that were not destroyed in the crash. He also had gotten out a blanket. The sun was setting, and he didn't know how cold it got at night around here. Archer rinsed the wounds in her face and tenderly stroked back a strand of her hair that had gotten out of place. She looked too beautiful. He felt the need of touching her, of holding her close, but he controlled himself. He knew that Vulcans didn't like to be touched, and T'Pol had made it clear that she was not an exception. Jonathan had to admit though that on several occasions, when he was forced to physical contact with her, he enjoyed it. He remembered how they had been tied together, and how much he had to control himself not to get carried away by it.
He got ripped out of his thoughts as he saw T'Pol stir. She opened her eyes and stared at him. Her voice was weak when she started talking.
"Why… am I lying… on the ground?"
Jonathan offered her a hand to help her sit up, she gladly took it. But as she tried to stand up, she stumbled and fell back onto the soil.
"What is wrong, T'Pol?"
"I… I do not feel my legs."
No, this is not possible… I must have cut a nerve to her lower body! Please, let this only be temporary… Archer thought. He ran his scanners over T'Pol again. He took a deep breath before explaining their situation to his science officer.
T'Pol seemed a bit concerned, Archer didn't blame her for that.
"I thank you for saving me, Captain. Let me try to sit up, maybe I can lean on that tree over there."
He nodded, and with her unspoken permission he picked her up and carried her to a giant tree, letting her down right in front of the stem. She leaned on it, using her arms to keep balance.
Jonathan sat down next to her, he didn't want to look down on her, making her feel any worse. Feel? Archer didn't know to what extent T'Pol was actually able to feel emotions, he knew that she didn't express them, but he was sure that she didn't feel too good right now.
"So, I guess now it is the two of us down here. The initial scans of the planet didn't show any intelligent life forms, just a huge variety of plants and animals."
"That is reason we came down here, to explore the flora and fauna," replied T'Pol.
They were just sitting there, leaning against the tree, watching the sun go down. Archer lost track of time. He didn't care about time anymore. They would have plenty of it. As the sun had almost vanished behind the horizon, T'Pol moved her face towards Archer.
"We should spend the first night in the shuttle-pod, for we have no shelter outside."
Archer smiled.
"I would rather sleep outside than go back inside there. I haven't cleaned up yet, you know."
"I see."
"I will try to build us a shelter, starting tomorrow morning. I don't think it will hurt to spend a night under the stars."
T'Pol nodded. Archer got up to fetch some wood which he piled together. He used his phase pistol to ignite the fire, brightening up their surroundings. It has gotten dark around them. Archer decided to stay awake, to keep an eye on T'Pol. She wouldn't be able to run away in case some animal decided to attack them. Archer didn't know anything about this planet yet. Better be careful, he thought. He fetched the blanket for T'Pol.
"Ready to go to sleep?"
T'Pol nodded. She was exhausted. Jonathan helped her lying down, then tucked her into the blanket. She would be warm that night. He was very tempted to kiss her good night on the forehead, but he regained his control back just in time. He just smiled at her.
"Don't let the bedbugs bite."
She looked up at him, quite confused.
"Ah, never mind. Just sleep well."
T'Pol closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. Jonathan watched her lying there. So pretty… He stared at her for an eternity. When he was sure she was alright he got the medical scanner again. This time he examined himself. He didn't find any major injuries, a couple bruises and cuts, nothing that would heal off by itself soon. He had been very lucky to not get wounded seriously. He looked up into the sky. It had gotten all dark around them, but there were no clouds in the sky, so he could see the stars. He had to think about Ensign Barthez and Lieutenant Smith. They had been so anxious going on this away mission. Now they were dead. Jonathan reminded himself that he still had to bury their corpses.
First thing in the morning, he thought. First thing in the morning.
