Jon leaned on one elbow and regarded her seriously, "We tracked Silik's ship. Can you tell me what happened?" Buffy made a face, rolling to her back, causing the sheet to slide down and bare her breasts. Jon seriously considered tabling the discussion but sighed and pulled the sheet up, making Buffy laugh at the pout on his face.
"Tell me what happened first."
Her eyes met his with a smile. "Well, by some miracle you found Silik's ship and started attacking. My guard was killed in the second hit and the door of my cell swung open. It was dark and there were Suliban running all over. I saw Silik," Jon's eyes went flat with anger, "He didn't see me, chill out. He sent some of his crew one way and said Enterprise, so I followed them. I watched them use wrist devices, say 'Enterprise' and disappear. So I knocked out the next guy took his device, didn't know which button to push," she winced, "just picked one, said Enterprise and I went into the future, onto a future Enterprise."
His eyes widened, "An Enterprise in the future!"
Buffy nodded, "It was amazing! Oh, you would be so proud Jon. We're making a difference, you're making a difference here. I could see it everywhere. No wonder Silik and his puppet master are so nervous." Her eyes were bright with excitement.
Jon smiled quizzically, "I don't know what to say. Wait, how far did you go forward?" He asked.
"Which time?" she said and now he stared.
"You did it more than once?"
Buffy nodded sheepishly, "Yup. The first time not very far, the second one a bit farther."
"Why?"
Buffy just looked at him, "Are you serious? I wanted to come home to you! It was a risk I was willing to take."
He leaned forward to kiss her, "So it worked!"
Now Buffy shook her head, "Not..exactly."
"Oh boy. Tell me what happened."
"Well, when I pressed the wrist unit and said Enterprise I landed on another Enterprise, and the stupid thing fell onto the hard deck and broke into a gazillion pieces." She grimaced. "I sat on the floor of their engineering and cried my eyes out. It was so embarrassing." She moved closer to him and cuddled.
"I shouldn't ask about the future should I?" he asked.
Buffy shook her head, "Not so much, no." She clutched him for a moment, "I missed you."
"Oh Buffy, I wish I…" Buffy slapped a hand over his mouth, "Ack! No wishing. Wishing bad. Say 'too bad I wasn't there'." She pulled her hand back and his eyebrows went up, "Why?"
"Duh! There are vengeance demons that make wishes, no matter how pointless, come true."
He shook his head at her, "In space?" he grinned.
But Buffy shook her head stubbornly, "You never know!"
"Ok, calm down sweetie. How did you get home?" he asked and she rolled over, pressing herself to him and throwing an arm around him,.
"There was an alien guy. He knew the Captain. Apparently his race watches other races and said I was not supposed to be there and brought me home."
Jon's arms snugged around her, "I'm grateful to him." He whispered and she nodded, "Me too."
Her stomach rumbled and she giggled softly, "I'm going to the crew mess to see everyone." She said and he groaned, "There's going to be a riot!"
She kissed his nose and wriggled out of bed, "I'll see you for lunch?" He reluctantly got out of bed and nodded, "I'll let you know when."
They showered and dressed and he kissed her sweetly. When her eyes fluttered open he grinned, "See you later!" He watched her walk down the passageway with a big smile then headed to the Captain's mess to eat with Trip and T'pol.
As she walked to breakfast she was hugged and welcomed back by crewmembers. Inside she hugged the mess staff and greeted some more crew before sitting down with Hoshi and Travis.
"Good morning all." She said cheerfully and they smiled.
"Buffy, I didn't expect to see you for a couple of days." Said Travis cheekily.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Har har." She said making Hoshi laugh.
Travis leaned forward, "So what happened to you?" and Buffy sighed.
"When the Enterprise attacked the Suliban, I was rescued by an alien that watches other races and he rescued me."
"Wow, why did it take so long?" Hoshi asked.
"They wanted to see if I was ok. It was weird, it all seemed to take forever, yet no time at all." Buffy looked puzzled. Hoshi and Travis nodded thoughtfully. They knew she was holding something back but they didn't pry.
After breakfast Buffy tracked Malcolm down in the weapons locker, "Hey stuffy British guy." She quipped and he turned and smiled, "Buffy! This is a surprise!"
"Don't tell me you expected me to be in bed all day too." Buffy rolled her eyes making him chuckle.
"Please, you and the Captain have already scarred me for life." He shuddered and she blushed and giggled a little, remembering the allergy thing.
"Sorry about that."
"So, are you alright?" he asked.
"I am the happiest I've ever been in my life! All that I need is something large, evil and ugly to fight." She spun around and he smiled fondly.
"I'll spar with you later. I have a phase rifle to repair first." She stopped being silly and walked over to peer at the disassembled rifle. "Show me what you're going to do."
They worked together for a couple of hours, Buffy learning about the rifles and Malcolm enjoying her company. It was nice to be home.
"Captain Archer to Miss Summers." This made Malcolm laugh as she walked over to the com unit.
"Yeppers, Buffy here."
The Captain smiled in his ready room, "Are you ready for lunch?"
Buffy looked over at Malcolm in surprise, "It's that late already?" He frowned and looked at his wrist unit, "Indeed it is."
She nodded and pressed the button, "I'll be right there." She turned and Malcolm made shooing motions, "Go eat. We'll spar later."
She narrowed her eyes, "You need to go to lunch. You've lost weight like Jon."
He stopped smiling and frowned, "I'm fine."
"Not going unless you promise me."
She stood there, arms crossed and he realized she was serious. "Fine. I promise I will eat."
"Now."
"Yes, now. Go see the Captain." She nodded and waved as she walked out, he would never break his word to her. Malcolm sighed and put away the now repaired rifle, and prepared to go to lunch.
There were crudités already set out as Buffy breezed into the Captain's mess. "Hey Greg, where's the Captain?" She stole a carrot from the neatly arranged plate and earned a scowl from the Steward. She winced and hastily arranged the carrots closer, "See, all better."
"Thank you Buffy, the Captain will be back in a minute." He left, the door closing with a swish. Buffy walked over to the oval window and looked out at the stars. Did they have names?
Jon opened the door to his mess and saw Buffy, her hair in a braid lying down her back. She was looking out at the stars and as always she took his breath away.
"Hey beautiful." He said and walked over to kiss her. She smiled against his lips, "Hey yourself." He wrapped an arm around her and stood with her looking at the stars. She took a breath, then stopped.
"What?" he looked at her.
"Do they all have names?" she asked curiously and he smiled.
"I have no idea. Wanna name one?"
She smiled brightly, "Really?"
"Sure. Pick one." He said seriously and Buffy looked at the window intently, "How about that blue one?" she pointed and he nodded, "What to you want to call it. Remember, most stars are like suns."
"How about Dawn's Hope?" she said quietly.
He kissed her forehead and smile, "Excellent name. Let's eat."
