"Chapter Ten - Epilogue

"Hey!" said Captain Archer as he entered Trip's quarters, "Where you've been hiding yourself for the past few days, we've been worried about you?"

Five days ago Enterprise had stopped to help a cargo ship, not knowing it harboured connections to an event in Trips past, which helped boost his career. Unfortunately the consequences of this event, which had turned out to be tragic and fatal, were withheld from Trip who had gone on with his life in his natural exuberant manner. Holding a grudge against Trip for what had happened and laying the blame firmly on his shoulders, a crewmember on the cargo ship Phoenix struck vengeance with three attempts on Trip's life. Unfortunately this again ended in tragic and fatal circumstances, when the perpetrator was killed in an unfortunately life or death struggle.

I've not been hiding, jus not felt like socialising that's all," replied Trip in a sullen mood, "especially after what happened."

"You can't blame yourself Trip, you were only defending yourself."

"Self defence eh, such a cold way of describing how I've destroyed someone's life twice over," replied Trip gazing out of his window. If I hadn't had struggled he'd....."

"If you hadn't had struggled you'd be dead, full stop, and I'm not going to apologise for saying I'm sorry that it didn't happen."

"I was impulsive again, god you'd have thought I would have learnt by now," replied Trip as tears slowly slid down his face.

"No not this time," said Archer as he grabbed his friend by his shoulders and turned him to face him. "Mark chose death over life Trip, yours - you choose life. If anyone destroyed their life, it was him, through his own bitterness and narrow mindedness. That's not being impulsive Trip, it's called self preservation."

"But!"

"No buts, you're not going to tear yourself up over something which wasn't your fault, I'm not going to let it happen."

"Sorry, I'm just finding it a little bit hard to deal with this right now."

"Your not on your own Trip, there's a lot of people out there who want to help, don't shut us out."

"I'll try!" replied Trip as he attempted a half smile.

"I spoke to Captain Jeffries today, he was devastated to find out what's been going on, but he's adamant that you did nothing wrong. Whether you were impulsive or not he doesn't believe you or anyone else could have stopped that explosion or prevented those doors from closing – it was an accident pure and simple."

"What's happened to Caroline and Captain McGane?"

"I believe they're going to carry on with the cargo business."

"I bet she's curses the day she ever met me."

"She doesn't blame you Trip, she told me. Mark was mentally ill pure and simple, I don't think anyone could have got through to him."

"Thanks!"

"For what?"

"For trying to cheer me up?"

"Is it working?"

"A little."

"Well then, sit down with me here and have a beer, cause I'm not leaving until I see a smile on your face and I manage to get you out of the damn room before you rot."

"Your gonna have a long wait then," smiled Trip as he sat down next to Archer.

"As long as it takes friend, as long as it takes."

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