Jon handed T'Pol a glass of fruit juice and took a glass for himself,
Together the two of them made their way around the room, They stopped and
talked with a few of the crew. Jon and T'Pol finally came to where Trip,
Amanda, Hoshi, Malcolm and Travis were sitting. Jon could have sworn he saw
Malcolm and Hoshi holding hands, but the embrace had ended the second
Malcolm had spied them coming their way. Travis was sitting next to a
pretty young Ensign from engineering, Jon was wracking his memory in trying
to come up with her name, fortunately T'Pol helped him out.
T'Pol: *Ensign Samantha Lourdes*
Jon: *Thanks*
Trip was the first to say something as usual.
Trip: "Wow T'Pol you sure do clean up pretty."
T'Pol just raised her eyebrow, slightly confused at his statement. Amanda simply hit Trip in the shoulder. Malcolm and Travis both also stated that they thought T'Pol looked quite fetching. Jon escorted T'Pol to an open seat at the table the rest of the crew were sitting at, he then took another seat next to her.
Jon looked around at the way the room was decorated, at all the crew who had dressed in the finest they had, or what they could get their hands on from ships stores, and he tried to remember who had talked him into this. Oh yes that's right, good old Trip. Jon looked over at his friend, who was wearing something similar to what Jon was wearing, black formal pants, a no neck white shirt with a black jacket, the only difference was in the style of the suits, and that Jon was also wearing a vest. Upon reflection, Jon realized that all the male members of the crew were wearing variations on the same thing, cept for Malcolm, who wore his dress uniform.
Jon: "Trip, this was a great idea. Thanks for talking me into it."
Trip: "No problem Jon, was my pleasure, 'sides, it gave me a chance to see all these lovely ladies dressed up so fancy an all." He said with a huge grin.
Jon glanced at T'Pol, who was trying to arrange her shawl in such a way that it covered most of what the dress was designed to show off. This struck Jon as oddly amusing, considering that her choice of everyday uniform was a formfitting suit that left almost nothing to the imagination. He hid his smile by taking a sip of juice.
T'Pol: *Aisha, I fail to understand why women from your world wish to show off so much of their bodies in occasions such as this. Something like this would seem to be better suited for a time of privacy and intimacy.*
Jon almost choked on his juice: *T'Pol, it's called an evening gown; they're worn during times like these I guess so that woman can, show off. That dress you're wearing was designed to accentuate and highlight a woman's, natural charms.*
Jon felt himself beginning to blush trying his best as a man to explain something like this to her.
T'Pol: *It is very illogical to confine ones body into a restricting garment.*
Jon: *Uh...don't you do that anyways? What about your uniforms?*
T'Pol: *My uniforms provide me with freedom of movement and are quite durable. This, gown, is quite restricting in the amount of give it provides in my chest area. I am also having difficulty in keeping the dress from displaying more of my, charms, than would be socially acceptable.*
Jon coughed to hide his startled laugh, Trip and Malcolm looked over at him.
Malcolm: "Are you alright sir?"
Jon: "Yes, yes thank you, just swallowed the juice wrong. I'll be ok in a minute."
Jon: *If you don't like the dress T'Pol, why'd you choose it?*
T'Pol: *I did not choose it, it was chosen for me by Ensign Sato, she stated that it would 'turn heads' and that I would be the highlight of the night.*
Jon: *Well she was correct in that, you certainly turned heads when you first came in, and I don't know about being the highlight of the night, but you sure look stunning in it to me*
T'Pol: *Ensign Sato stated that I should wear the dress more for you, than for myself.*
Jon looked over at Hoshi who was looking in their r direction, when she saw the captain look at her, she quickly blushed and turned away. Jon then turned his attention back to T'Pol.
Jon: *While I thank you for choosing it. You should have chosen something that you liked, not something you thought I would like.*
T'Pol: *Very well, next time I shall do precisely that*
Jon and the rest of his friends and crew enjoyed the party and they even had a moment of silence to commemorate those crew that had been lost on this journey, those that weren't fortunate enough to be returning home with the rest of them. Jon stood and made his way to the center of the room. There he looked over the crew that were there.
Jon: "We hold this gathering for two reasons, the first is simple, we've made it, we came out here and accomplished what we set out to do, and in doing that, perhaps we've made a new friend, only time will tell. Now we're going home, where we can go back and spend some much needed time with our friends, our families." Jon took a small pause, and then continued. "The second reason is to honour those that won't be returning home, those of us who've fallen along the way, those of us that were lost in trying to do the right thing. They were my crew, but they were also your coworkers, your shipmates, your friends. It is for them that we gather here tonight as well."
Jon reached into his pocket and brought out a small piece of paper, he had spent some time going through the ships database on something fitting to read. He hoped those present, and no longer present would appreciate it.
Jon: "Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's rush, I am the swift uplifting rush. Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there I did not die."
Jon calmly folded the paper and put it back in his pocket, then he bowed his head and silence ensued, it lasted for a minute, then he looked up again, he could see the sorrow on the faces of the crew, some were dabbing at tears in their eyes.
Jon: "I want to say that I am very proud of you all, and that I am very honoured to be your captain. If we get the chance to come back out here and get on with our original mission, I would be doubly honoured if you all came back out with me."
Jon turned and was about to go back to join T'Pol, when Trip stood and started clapping, he was immediately followed by Malcolm and Travis, then the rest of the room stood and began applauding. Even T'Pol stood, although she simple stared at him. Jon smiled and began to blush, after a moment her put his hands up and motioned for them to stop, when they finally did he spoke.
Jon: "I thank you, but not for me, don't clap for me, do it for them, for all those who never made it back."
This time the applause was more restrained, but Jonathan joined in, after a moment so did T'Pol. Once it had ended, Jon went back over to the groups table and sat down. He took a drink and was surprised to find that someone had switched the fruit juice he had for champagne, he looked over at T'Pol, she merely raised here eyebrow.
Trip: "That was a mighty touching poem there Jon, where'd you get it?
Jon: "I found it in the database, but it didn't have an author, I felt it was appropriate."
T'Pol: "It was indeed, Vulcan customs at times like these are solemn occasions, it is, unusual for me to participate in this way, however, it is, fitting."
Jon: "You're a part of this crew as well T'Pol, a big part. It wouldn't seem right without you here. A lot of the crew look up to you."
T'Pol: "Thank you Jonathan, I am honoured to be a part of the crew." *And your life*
They stayed there for many hours, late into the night. Trip got nice and drunk and was the life of the party, He had most of the crew laughing all night. Jon was happy to see that his crew had found happiness in these dark times, Travis had apparently been dating Ensign Lourdes for quite sometime, apparently since before they entered the Expanse. Hoshi and Malcolm had only recently begun exploring a relationship and Jon hoped the best for them.
Finally it was time to say good night, Jon knew this when T'Pol returned to their table, after having a discussion with Hoshi about her choice of wardrobe, and held out her two fingers to Jonathan. Jon was surprised at this public display of affection from her. Not wanting to lose the moment he quickly joined his fingers to hers. Hoshi almost yelped in delight.
T'Pol: "I find that I am growing fatigued my husband, would you please escort me back now?"
Jon slowly rose to his feet, shock clearly evident on his face at her use of the word husband, his fingers still joined with hers. "I would be honoured to escort you, my wife."
With their friends and crew looking on in somewhat astonishment, the couple walked out of the room, joined fingertip to fingertip.
Hoshi seemed to be bursting with excitement. Malcolm looked at her in surprise.
Malcolm: "What was that all about?"
Hoshi: "You see what T'Pol did?"
Malcolm: "Yes, what's it mean?"
Hoshi: "It means that she has publicly declared the captain is her mate. That's not something you see Vulcans do very often, actually It's very rare. It was so beautiful."
Malcolm: "I still don't understand, weren't they already mated, and bonded by that thing the Ambassador did a while ago?"
Hoshi looked at Malcolm, wondering how he could be so dense yet so charming at the same time.
Hoshi: "While they've been bonded for quite a while now, and they were officially married according to Vulcan law, T'Pol has never once shown any sign in public that the captain was her mate. I mentioned this to her while we were talking, I also told her that much of the remaining crew were unaware of her and the captains true status. I also mentioned that some of the female crew had certain thoughts about the captain, and that perhaps T'Pol may want to do something about it. That's what that whole display was."
Malcolm thought about it for a long moment, it certainly didn't help that his brain was more than a little fuddled from the alcohol. Then it dawned on his, and he began to laugh. Soon he was joined by Hoshi and Trip, although in fairness, Trip had absolutely no idea what he was laughing for.
Time passes, the lives aboard Enterprise continue, The ship and crew once again return to the Skagaran colony world to remind the humans there that they weren't forgotten. Jon lets them know that Earth has dispatched ships that should arrive in about 2 years to bring them all home, if they still wish to come back. After spending a short stay there, the ship moves on, resuming it's course home.
The crew once again settles into a set routine, with the urgency of finding and stopping the Xindi weapon now behind them, Jon has decided to do some exploring, they passed up numerous discoveries in the course of this mission, Jon was determined to rectify that. Jon knew that T'Pol was pleased with this decision, Jon smiled to himself, nothing pleased a Vulcan like doing scientific work, well almost nothing.
While the rest of the crew goes about their duties, Jon finds that once again he is left with little to do outside his normal work, for once he has caught up with his reports and paper work. He finds himself spending more time again in the Command Center, going over the information they were able to recover about the spheres. The memory of being on the future version of Enterprise with Daniels, and seeing the battle being fought there with the sphere-builders, and how Daniels said it had grown to 50,000 light years, kept returning to him. He studied everything they had on the spheres, Jon was trying to find out if there was enough firepower on the ship to destroy enough of them to disrupt the aliens plans of reconfiguring the Expanse.
Unfortunately, a side effect of this was that Jon was beginning to return to his old habits again, time apart from the crew, missing meals, loss of sleep. T'Pol had sensed something different in her mate, and had tried to discuss it with him once, but Jon had been able to calm her concerns, he had briefly returned to the man she knew and preferred. Now however while the ship was in the midst of studying a proto-star cluster, T'Pol had found her attention also focussed more on that task, and she missed Jons return to his 'broody Archer' phase.
It was only after weeks had passed and Jon and T'Pol saw less and less of one another and her attempt to contact him through both the ships COMM and their bond to show him the results of their discoveries so far, failed, that she became concerned again. T'Pol found him in the Command Center, dead asleep, from the amount of work displayed and the pots of coffee, it was apparent that he had been there for quite sometime. T'Pol took herself to task for not keeping a closer eye on her mate. He had learned to shield his side of their bond too well.
T'Pol not so gently shook Jonathans shoulder, attempting to wake him. Jon lifted his head up and blinked his eyes a few times, a confused look on his face.
Jon: "Huh? T'Pol? What's going on?"
T'Pol: "Jonathan, I have been trying unsuccessfully to contact you for quite sometime, I became, concerned for you."
Jon: "Oh, I'm sorry Aisha, I guess I got a little engrossed in my work."
T'Pol was actually quite angry, and was a little surprised he couldn't sense it.
T'Pol: "Jonathan, I believe we've already had a discussion concerning the amount of time you are once again spending here. You assured me that it was nothing to be, worried about. However, now I find that you have shielded your side of our bond, and also not taken this along with you." T'Pol held up Jons communicator, which he usually carried in one of his pockets.
Jon: "I'm sorry T'Pol, I just didn't want you to be worried, it's just that, there has to be a solution to destroying those spheres here somewhere, according to the scans you took a few months ago, this region of space will be totally reconfigured in under a year and a half, much to late for us to save the human colonists, or any of the other races we've encountered here, including the Xindi."
T'Pol: "Jonathan, Aisha, you must stop taking so much unto yourself. It is not healthy, nor is it wise, I believe Both myself and the Doctor have informed you of this. You are once again becoming withdrawn from the crew, and my self. I have, missed you, Aisha. In both my thoughts, and our bed."
A few weeks earlier, shortly after their visit to the Skagaran world, Trip had finally worked out away to please both senior officers. He simply took the now empty cabin beside Jons and knocked the wall down. There by giving them enough space where the could sleep, and relax, T'Pol now had more than enough room to do her meditation in, without being bothered by Jon or Porthos.
Jon: "My god, I hadn't realized just how bad I had become, I was obsessing again wasn't I?"
T'Pol: "Indeed, and if you continue, you leave me little choice but to inform the Doctor of this."
Jon: "T'Pol, you wouldn't do that, would you? "
T'Pol: "I most certainly would, it is the only logical course of action, this has once again begun to affect your health. If necessary, I would seek to have the doctor remove you from duty for treatment."
Jon became deadly serious: "T'Pol, you're talking about mutiny."
T'Pol: "I disagree, I am talking about saving the health and possible sanity of the captain of this ship."
Jon sat back and just stared at T'Pol for a few minutes, thinking over what she had said. He knew she was right, he just wasn't willing to admit it, at least, not yet.
Jon: "You know, according to Star Fleet regulations, I could have you charged with insubordination for even talking about what you're thinking of doing. And just cause you're my fiancé, doesn't mean I won't hesitate to toss your ass into the brig."
T'Pol raised her eyebrow "I should hope that our personal relationship would have no bearing on what you see as your duty. But I would request an answer to a question before you incarcerate me."
Jon merely nodded.
T'Pol: "Do you see your duty, being more to yourself and this, obsession you have, or to this ship and her crew and returning them home as you told them you would do."
Jon shook his head, she was good. Jon sat there thinking, he gazed at T'Pol, who coolly returned it with her natural Vulcan calmness. Jon stood suddenly and went over to a COMM box, As his thoughts were still partially shielded from her, T'Pol's shoulders slumped slightly, she assumed he was about to call security to escort her to the brig.
Jon: "Archer to, Phlox"
Phlox: "Phlox here, how may I be of service captain?"
Jon looked over at T'Pol, and smiled at her, and opened up his side of the bond again "Doctor do you have some free time? I've just been informed by my first officer that there is a crewman who needs some attention and a check up."
T'Pol felt Jons love wash over her, and sent hers back to him.
Phlox: "Certainly Captain, I have some time open right now, who is the crewmember you wish me to, mmm, help?"
Jon: "The crew person is me Doc, I'll be right down, the first officer will be escorting me to make sure I make it there."
Phlox: "Very well captain, I will se you shortly."
Jon: "You make a convincing argument Sub-Commander."
T'Pol: "It was only logical Captain."
Jon nodded and smiled, he held up the first two fingers on his right hand, T'Pol raised her eyebrow, than walked over and joined her hand to his. Jon felt the sense of peace and calm wash over him, as it always did when they touched this way.
Jon: "Thank you, Aisha."
T'Pol: "For what Jonathan?"
Jon: "For helping me to find my way again"
T'Pol: "I shall always be ready to assist you Jonathan."
Jon broke the connection and stepped out into the corridor followed by T'Pol. Jon greeted two crew as they walked by.
Jon: "Why don't you leave the rest of the studies to your science team, they can inform you of anything major. I was thinking that after my visit with Phlox, that you would join me."
T'Pol: "For what reason?"
Jonathan: "I find that I've missed you as well, I thought we could take some time and get, reacquainted." he said with a sly grin.
T'Pol: "I find your invitation to be most, agreeable."
The two of them continue on to Sickbay, their conversation continues, but this time, no one but them can hear it.
Captain's Log; April 8 2154:
"Today marks a momentous day in our journey home. Today we pass back through the cloud layer that surrounds the Expanse. As soon as it appeared on our sensors, my thoughts flashed back to what the pirate said on one of our first encounters in this region of space. He mentioned something about that they tried to get out as well, but the cloud layer wouldn't let them leave. I will admit that I was more than a little worried when it appeared on the view screen again after so long. The problem with the spheres and the possible destruction of life within the Expanse has been passed on to the Xindi to deal with. I spoke to Degra about it over long range comms, and he assured me they would be dealt with. I'm happy to say that we've encountered no problems so far and are only a few minutes away from leaving this area behind and beginning the final 7 week journey towards home."
Jon finished his log entry and got up from behind his desk and stretched, finally finished with this final task of the day. Jon moved out from behind his desk, and with a quick glance out the window of his ready room, headed for the bridge. As he stepped onto the bridge, he called out to T'Pol who was rising from the command chair and heading back to her station.
Jon: "Report?"
T'Pol: "All stations are normal, we are now 10 minutes away from the boundary to normal space."
Jon nodded and sat down, he crossed his legs and thought how happy he'd be to see 'normal' space again. No more spheres, no more spatial anomalies that could wreck the ship, or infect you with memory stealing parasites, no more worries about pirate attacks. Just a nice leisurely cruise at warp 4 home. Heck maybe he'd talk to Trip and see if they could push it to warp 5.
As the minutes passed, Jon found himself becoming tense, and nervous. He looked over at T'Pol, she only looked up from her scanner briefly and raised her eyebrow at him, one of these days he was going to get around to asking his future wife just what it was supposed to mean when she did that.
Jon turned back to the veiwscreen, and watched as the cloud layer simply, faded away. It was like coming out of a particularly thick patch of fog, into clear day. One minute they were enveloped by the stuff, the next they were free and clear, nothing ahead of them but open space.
Travis: "We have cleared the boundary, Captain."
Jon smiled: "I see that, nice flying Travis. If engineering is ready, set a course for home."
Travis: "Aye sir, what speed?"
Jon thought for a moment and then grinned: Open it up a little Travis, warp 4.5"
Travis grinned like a kid in a candy store: "Yes sir, warp 4,5 for home."
Enterprise gracefully aligned herself to the new heading, and with a burst of blue light from her nacelles, tore the fabric of space/time and leapt into warp drive.
Shortly after the ship reached it's cruising speed, there was a call to the Bridge.
Trip: "Engineerin to the Bridge, who jumped on the gas pedal?"
T'Pol: "Gas pedal?"
Archer grinned and looked over at her, he smiled even harder at the look of utter confusion on her face, well, the Vulcan look of confusion, which consisted of two raised eyebrows.
Jon: "I'll explain later." he turned and hit the COMM button on the arm of his chair. "Trip, I thought you wanted to get home?"
Trip: "Sheesh Cap'n course I do, everyone on the ship wants to get home, but least you could given us some warning before you sent my engine into overdrive."
Jon smiled: "Your engine? May I remind you Lt Commander, that this is my ship?"
Trip replied with amusement in his voice as well: "Respectfully speakin an all Cap'n, it may be your ship but with out my engine, it'd still be sittin home on it's thrusters."
T'Pol: "Captain, is this, debate, really necessary? This ship is neither yours nor is the engine Commander Tuckers, It is the property of Star Fleet."
And with that, Jon's and Trips little fun, came to an end.
Jon: "My apologies Sub-Commander. Trip, how about you keep an eye on Star Fleets engine, and I'll keep an eye on the rest of Star Fleets property."
Trip stifled a laugh: "Sounds good to me Cap'n, engineerin out."
Jon looked over at T'Pol: *Happy Aisha?*
T'Pol: *I can be neither happy nor unhappy. But I am, pleased you have ended your childish behaviour.*
Jon was about to reply when Hoshi interrupted his thoughts.
Hoshi: "Sir, We're receiving a long rage communication."
Jon: "Who is it from ensign?"
Hoshi: "It's from Star Fleet Captain."
Jon trying to lighten the mood: "They must want an update on how their property is holding up."
Hoshi: "I don't think so sir, it's encrypted, Captain's eyes only."
Jon sat up straight in his chair, he looked at Hoshi, then at T'Pol. Then he stood quickly.
Jon: "T'Pol, you have the bridge. Hoshi route it to the ready room."
Hoshi: "Aye Captain, sending it there now."
Jon headed for his ready room with out even looking to see if T'Pol had acknowledged his order. He was feeling very nervous again, they had been out of touch with earth since the first entered the cloud boundary. The only other time he had gotten a message that was this urgent, was a year ago, when the Earth had been attacked. Jon entered the ready room and sat down behind his desk, he gave the computer his code and the signal came through. On the screen Admiral Forrest's face appeared. He didn't look to be in that good a mood.
Forrest: "Jon! It's about time, we've been trying to get a hold of you for a while now."
Jon: "Sorry Admiral, we've only just emerged from the Expanse, we're on our way home now, and we should be there in about 7 weeks. What's so urgent that you're sending a captain's eyes only message?"
Forrest: "There isn't any way you could be here quicker is there?"
Jon shook his head: "We're at warp 4.5 now Admiral, any faster and would could begin to cause damage to the engines. Why the rush?"
Forrest: "Jon, I'm now officially ordering you to push your ship as much as possible, I want you back here as fast as you can."
Jon: "Understood Admiral. We'll do our best. But once again, why the rush?"
Forrest: "Alright Jon, I was just coming to that. There's been an, incident here on Earth."
Jon: "What kind of incident?"
Forrest: "Jon, the President of Earth, has been assassinated."
Jon: "My god, that's horrible, but why do you need us back home so fast, I'm sure it's not to investigate this, you have people there who could do it."
Forrest: "Jon, it's not just the matter of him being murdered, it's a matter of how it was done, and by whom."
Jon: "I'm sorry Admiral, I still don't understand. Why do you need Enterprise there so fast for a simple murder investigation?"
Forrest: "Jon will you just, shut up a moment, quit interrupting me and I'll tell you. The President was killed a few days ago after visiting the Vulcan compound here in San Francisco. He was meeting with Ambassador Soval regarding a new treaty he wants to get pushed through the senate. This treaty would see a greater, joining between our two peoples."
Jon: "Forgive me Admiral, but I'm still missing the point of this."
Forrest sighed. "Jon, the President was killed, by a Vulcan."
Jon: "You can't be serious. Vulcans are bred to peace."
Forrest: "I'm deadly serious Jon. The assassin was killed by the Presidents guards moments after he shot the President. We have the body here at Star Fleet Medical. Both our doctors and the Vulcans have examined it. As far as our doctors can determine, the assassin was a Vulcan male in his early 20's by our standards. The only problem is, the Vulcans aren't sharing anything of what they discovered. We want the Enterprise here in case anything else happens. Maybe that doctor of yours can give us a hand."
Jon still shocked to hear that someone was murdered by another person from a race of pacifists, Nodded slowly, then spoke
Jon: "Understood Admiral, we'll be there as soon as we can. Archer out."
Jon clicked the screen off and sat back in his chair. He reached over and hit the COMM switch "Archer to Bridge"
"T'Pol here"
Jon: "Increase speed to warp 5, if Commander Tucker questions it, tell him it's orders from Star Fleet, if he doesn't like it, ignore him."
T'Pol: "Understood Captain, increasing speed to warp 5" *Aisha, what is wrong?*
Jon: *Trouble at home, the Earth President was killed, by a Vulcan*
T'Pol: *Jonathan, that is impossible, a Vulcan would never resort to this*
Jon could feel her shock through the bond.
Jon: *That's what we're going to find out darling,*
Jon stood and crossed to the window, leaning his forehead on it, his mind whirled around what he'd just been told. He stayed like that for a long time, as Enterprise raced home.
T'Pol: *Ensign Samantha Lourdes*
Jon: *Thanks*
Trip was the first to say something as usual.
Trip: "Wow T'Pol you sure do clean up pretty."
T'Pol just raised her eyebrow, slightly confused at his statement. Amanda simply hit Trip in the shoulder. Malcolm and Travis both also stated that they thought T'Pol looked quite fetching. Jon escorted T'Pol to an open seat at the table the rest of the crew were sitting at, he then took another seat next to her.
Jon looked around at the way the room was decorated, at all the crew who had dressed in the finest they had, or what they could get their hands on from ships stores, and he tried to remember who had talked him into this. Oh yes that's right, good old Trip. Jon looked over at his friend, who was wearing something similar to what Jon was wearing, black formal pants, a no neck white shirt with a black jacket, the only difference was in the style of the suits, and that Jon was also wearing a vest. Upon reflection, Jon realized that all the male members of the crew were wearing variations on the same thing, cept for Malcolm, who wore his dress uniform.
Jon: "Trip, this was a great idea. Thanks for talking me into it."
Trip: "No problem Jon, was my pleasure, 'sides, it gave me a chance to see all these lovely ladies dressed up so fancy an all." He said with a huge grin.
Jon glanced at T'Pol, who was trying to arrange her shawl in such a way that it covered most of what the dress was designed to show off. This struck Jon as oddly amusing, considering that her choice of everyday uniform was a formfitting suit that left almost nothing to the imagination. He hid his smile by taking a sip of juice.
T'Pol: *Aisha, I fail to understand why women from your world wish to show off so much of their bodies in occasions such as this. Something like this would seem to be better suited for a time of privacy and intimacy.*
Jon almost choked on his juice: *T'Pol, it's called an evening gown; they're worn during times like these I guess so that woman can, show off. That dress you're wearing was designed to accentuate and highlight a woman's, natural charms.*
Jon felt himself beginning to blush trying his best as a man to explain something like this to her.
T'Pol: *It is very illogical to confine ones body into a restricting garment.*
Jon: *Uh...don't you do that anyways? What about your uniforms?*
T'Pol: *My uniforms provide me with freedom of movement and are quite durable. This, gown, is quite restricting in the amount of give it provides in my chest area. I am also having difficulty in keeping the dress from displaying more of my, charms, than would be socially acceptable.*
Jon coughed to hide his startled laugh, Trip and Malcolm looked over at him.
Malcolm: "Are you alright sir?"
Jon: "Yes, yes thank you, just swallowed the juice wrong. I'll be ok in a minute."
Jon: *If you don't like the dress T'Pol, why'd you choose it?*
T'Pol: *I did not choose it, it was chosen for me by Ensign Sato, she stated that it would 'turn heads' and that I would be the highlight of the night.*
Jon: *Well she was correct in that, you certainly turned heads when you first came in, and I don't know about being the highlight of the night, but you sure look stunning in it to me*
T'Pol: *Ensign Sato stated that I should wear the dress more for you, than for myself.*
Jon looked over at Hoshi who was looking in their r direction, when she saw the captain look at her, she quickly blushed and turned away. Jon then turned his attention back to T'Pol.
Jon: *While I thank you for choosing it. You should have chosen something that you liked, not something you thought I would like.*
T'Pol: *Very well, next time I shall do precisely that*
Jon and the rest of his friends and crew enjoyed the party and they even had a moment of silence to commemorate those crew that had been lost on this journey, those that weren't fortunate enough to be returning home with the rest of them. Jon stood and made his way to the center of the room. There he looked over the crew that were there.
Jon: "We hold this gathering for two reasons, the first is simple, we've made it, we came out here and accomplished what we set out to do, and in doing that, perhaps we've made a new friend, only time will tell. Now we're going home, where we can go back and spend some much needed time with our friends, our families." Jon took a small pause, and then continued. "The second reason is to honour those that won't be returning home, those of us who've fallen along the way, those of us that were lost in trying to do the right thing. They were my crew, but they were also your coworkers, your shipmates, your friends. It is for them that we gather here tonight as well."
Jon reached into his pocket and brought out a small piece of paper, he had spent some time going through the ships database on something fitting to read. He hoped those present, and no longer present would appreciate it.
Jon: "Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's rush, I am the swift uplifting rush. Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there I did not die."
Jon calmly folded the paper and put it back in his pocket, then he bowed his head and silence ensued, it lasted for a minute, then he looked up again, he could see the sorrow on the faces of the crew, some were dabbing at tears in their eyes.
Jon: "I want to say that I am very proud of you all, and that I am very honoured to be your captain. If we get the chance to come back out here and get on with our original mission, I would be doubly honoured if you all came back out with me."
Jon turned and was about to go back to join T'Pol, when Trip stood and started clapping, he was immediately followed by Malcolm and Travis, then the rest of the room stood and began applauding. Even T'Pol stood, although she simple stared at him. Jon smiled and began to blush, after a moment her put his hands up and motioned for them to stop, when they finally did he spoke.
Jon: "I thank you, but not for me, don't clap for me, do it for them, for all those who never made it back."
This time the applause was more restrained, but Jonathan joined in, after a moment so did T'Pol. Once it had ended, Jon went back over to the groups table and sat down. He took a drink and was surprised to find that someone had switched the fruit juice he had for champagne, he looked over at T'Pol, she merely raised here eyebrow.
Trip: "That was a mighty touching poem there Jon, where'd you get it?
Jon: "I found it in the database, but it didn't have an author, I felt it was appropriate."
T'Pol: "It was indeed, Vulcan customs at times like these are solemn occasions, it is, unusual for me to participate in this way, however, it is, fitting."
Jon: "You're a part of this crew as well T'Pol, a big part. It wouldn't seem right without you here. A lot of the crew look up to you."
T'Pol: "Thank you Jonathan, I am honoured to be a part of the crew." *And your life*
They stayed there for many hours, late into the night. Trip got nice and drunk and was the life of the party, He had most of the crew laughing all night. Jon was happy to see that his crew had found happiness in these dark times, Travis had apparently been dating Ensign Lourdes for quite sometime, apparently since before they entered the Expanse. Hoshi and Malcolm had only recently begun exploring a relationship and Jon hoped the best for them.
Finally it was time to say good night, Jon knew this when T'Pol returned to their table, after having a discussion with Hoshi about her choice of wardrobe, and held out her two fingers to Jonathan. Jon was surprised at this public display of affection from her. Not wanting to lose the moment he quickly joined his fingers to hers. Hoshi almost yelped in delight.
T'Pol: "I find that I am growing fatigued my husband, would you please escort me back now?"
Jon slowly rose to his feet, shock clearly evident on his face at her use of the word husband, his fingers still joined with hers. "I would be honoured to escort you, my wife."
With their friends and crew looking on in somewhat astonishment, the couple walked out of the room, joined fingertip to fingertip.
Hoshi seemed to be bursting with excitement. Malcolm looked at her in surprise.
Malcolm: "What was that all about?"
Hoshi: "You see what T'Pol did?"
Malcolm: "Yes, what's it mean?"
Hoshi: "It means that she has publicly declared the captain is her mate. That's not something you see Vulcans do very often, actually It's very rare. It was so beautiful."
Malcolm: "I still don't understand, weren't they already mated, and bonded by that thing the Ambassador did a while ago?"
Hoshi looked at Malcolm, wondering how he could be so dense yet so charming at the same time.
Hoshi: "While they've been bonded for quite a while now, and they were officially married according to Vulcan law, T'Pol has never once shown any sign in public that the captain was her mate. I mentioned this to her while we were talking, I also told her that much of the remaining crew were unaware of her and the captains true status. I also mentioned that some of the female crew had certain thoughts about the captain, and that perhaps T'Pol may want to do something about it. That's what that whole display was."
Malcolm thought about it for a long moment, it certainly didn't help that his brain was more than a little fuddled from the alcohol. Then it dawned on his, and he began to laugh. Soon he was joined by Hoshi and Trip, although in fairness, Trip had absolutely no idea what he was laughing for.
Time passes, the lives aboard Enterprise continue, The ship and crew once again return to the Skagaran colony world to remind the humans there that they weren't forgotten. Jon lets them know that Earth has dispatched ships that should arrive in about 2 years to bring them all home, if they still wish to come back. After spending a short stay there, the ship moves on, resuming it's course home.
The crew once again settles into a set routine, with the urgency of finding and stopping the Xindi weapon now behind them, Jon has decided to do some exploring, they passed up numerous discoveries in the course of this mission, Jon was determined to rectify that. Jon knew that T'Pol was pleased with this decision, Jon smiled to himself, nothing pleased a Vulcan like doing scientific work, well almost nothing.
While the rest of the crew goes about their duties, Jon finds that once again he is left with little to do outside his normal work, for once he has caught up with his reports and paper work. He finds himself spending more time again in the Command Center, going over the information they were able to recover about the spheres. The memory of being on the future version of Enterprise with Daniels, and seeing the battle being fought there with the sphere-builders, and how Daniels said it had grown to 50,000 light years, kept returning to him. He studied everything they had on the spheres, Jon was trying to find out if there was enough firepower on the ship to destroy enough of them to disrupt the aliens plans of reconfiguring the Expanse.
Unfortunately, a side effect of this was that Jon was beginning to return to his old habits again, time apart from the crew, missing meals, loss of sleep. T'Pol had sensed something different in her mate, and had tried to discuss it with him once, but Jon had been able to calm her concerns, he had briefly returned to the man she knew and preferred. Now however while the ship was in the midst of studying a proto-star cluster, T'Pol had found her attention also focussed more on that task, and she missed Jons return to his 'broody Archer' phase.
It was only after weeks had passed and Jon and T'Pol saw less and less of one another and her attempt to contact him through both the ships COMM and their bond to show him the results of their discoveries so far, failed, that she became concerned again. T'Pol found him in the Command Center, dead asleep, from the amount of work displayed and the pots of coffee, it was apparent that he had been there for quite sometime. T'Pol took herself to task for not keeping a closer eye on her mate. He had learned to shield his side of their bond too well.
T'Pol not so gently shook Jonathans shoulder, attempting to wake him. Jon lifted his head up and blinked his eyes a few times, a confused look on his face.
Jon: "Huh? T'Pol? What's going on?"
T'Pol: "Jonathan, I have been trying unsuccessfully to contact you for quite sometime, I became, concerned for you."
Jon: "Oh, I'm sorry Aisha, I guess I got a little engrossed in my work."
T'Pol was actually quite angry, and was a little surprised he couldn't sense it.
T'Pol: "Jonathan, I believe we've already had a discussion concerning the amount of time you are once again spending here. You assured me that it was nothing to be, worried about. However, now I find that you have shielded your side of our bond, and also not taken this along with you." T'Pol held up Jons communicator, which he usually carried in one of his pockets.
Jon: "I'm sorry T'Pol, I just didn't want you to be worried, it's just that, there has to be a solution to destroying those spheres here somewhere, according to the scans you took a few months ago, this region of space will be totally reconfigured in under a year and a half, much to late for us to save the human colonists, or any of the other races we've encountered here, including the Xindi."
T'Pol: "Jonathan, Aisha, you must stop taking so much unto yourself. It is not healthy, nor is it wise, I believe Both myself and the Doctor have informed you of this. You are once again becoming withdrawn from the crew, and my self. I have, missed you, Aisha. In both my thoughts, and our bed."
A few weeks earlier, shortly after their visit to the Skagaran world, Trip had finally worked out away to please both senior officers. He simply took the now empty cabin beside Jons and knocked the wall down. There by giving them enough space where the could sleep, and relax, T'Pol now had more than enough room to do her meditation in, without being bothered by Jon or Porthos.
Jon: "My god, I hadn't realized just how bad I had become, I was obsessing again wasn't I?"
T'Pol: "Indeed, and if you continue, you leave me little choice but to inform the Doctor of this."
Jon: "T'Pol, you wouldn't do that, would you? "
T'Pol: "I most certainly would, it is the only logical course of action, this has once again begun to affect your health. If necessary, I would seek to have the doctor remove you from duty for treatment."
Jon became deadly serious: "T'Pol, you're talking about mutiny."
T'Pol: "I disagree, I am talking about saving the health and possible sanity of the captain of this ship."
Jon sat back and just stared at T'Pol for a few minutes, thinking over what she had said. He knew she was right, he just wasn't willing to admit it, at least, not yet.
Jon: "You know, according to Star Fleet regulations, I could have you charged with insubordination for even talking about what you're thinking of doing. And just cause you're my fiancé, doesn't mean I won't hesitate to toss your ass into the brig."
T'Pol raised her eyebrow "I should hope that our personal relationship would have no bearing on what you see as your duty. But I would request an answer to a question before you incarcerate me."
Jon merely nodded.
T'Pol: "Do you see your duty, being more to yourself and this, obsession you have, or to this ship and her crew and returning them home as you told them you would do."
Jon shook his head, she was good. Jon sat there thinking, he gazed at T'Pol, who coolly returned it with her natural Vulcan calmness. Jon stood suddenly and went over to a COMM box, As his thoughts were still partially shielded from her, T'Pol's shoulders slumped slightly, she assumed he was about to call security to escort her to the brig.
Jon: "Archer to, Phlox"
Phlox: "Phlox here, how may I be of service captain?"
Jon looked over at T'Pol, and smiled at her, and opened up his side of the bond again "Doctor do you have some free time? I've just been informed by my first officer that there is a crewman who needs some attention and a check up."
T'Pol felt Jons love wash over her, and sent hers back to him.
Phlox: "Certainly Captain, I have some time open right now, who is the crewmember you wish me to, mmm, help?"
Jon: "The crew person is me Doc, I'll be right down, the first officer will be escorting me to make sure I make it there."
Phlox: "Very well captain, I will se you shortly."
Jon: "You make a convincing argument Sub-Commander."
T'Pol: "It was only logical Captain."
Jon nodded and smiled, he held up the first two fingers on his right hand, T'Pol raised her eyebrow, than walked over and joined her hand to his. Jon felt the sense of peace and calm wash over him, as it always did when they touched this way.
Jon: "Thank you, Aisha."
T'Pol: "For what Jonathan?"
Jon: "For helping me to find my way again"
T'Pol: "I shall always be ready to assist you Jonathan."
Jon broke the connection and stepped out into the corridor followed by T'Pol. Jon greeted two crew as they walked by.
Jon: "Why don't you leave the rest of the studies to your science team, they can inform you of anything major. I was thinking that after my visit with Phlox, that you would join me."
T'Pol: "For what reason?"
Jonathan: "I find that I've missed you as well, I thought we could take some time and get, reacquainted." he said with a sly grin.
T'Pol: "I find your invitation to be most, agreeable."
The two of them continue on to Sickbay, their conversation continues, but this time, no one but them can hear it.
Captain's Log; April 8 2154:
"Today marks a momentous day in our journey home. Today we pass back through the cloud layer that surrounds the Expanse. As soon as it appeared on our sensors, my thoughts flashed back to what the pirate said on one of our first encounters in this region of space. He mentioned something about that they tried to get out as well, but the cloud layer wouldn't let them leave. I will admit that I was more than a little worried when it appeared on the view screen again after so long. The problem with the spheres and the possible destruction of life within the Expanse has been passed on to the Xindi to deal with. I spoke to Degra about it over long range comms, and he assured me they would be dealt with. I'm happy to say that we've encountered no problems so far and are only a few minutes away from leaving this area behind and beginning the final 7 week journey towards home."
Jon finished his log entry and got up from behind his desk and stretched, finally finished with this final task of the day. Jon moved out from behind his desk, and with a quick glance out the window of his ready room, headed for the bridge. As he stepped onto the bridge, he called out to T'Pol who was rising from the command chair and heading back to her station.
Jon: "Report?"
T'Pol: "All stations are normal, we are now 10 minutes away from the boundary to normal space."
Jon nodded and sat down, he crossed his legs and thought how happy he'd be to see 'normal' space again. No more spheres, no more spatial anomalies that could wreck the ship, or infect you with memory stealing parasites, no more worries about pirate attacks. Just a nice leisurely cruise at warp 4 home. Heck maybe he'd talk to Trip and see if they could push it to warp 5.
As the minutes passed, Jon found himself becoming tense, and nervous. He looked over at T'Pol, she only looked up from her scanner briefly and raised her eyebrow at him, one of these days he was going to get around to asking his future wife just what it was supposed to mean when she did that.
Jon turned back to the veiwscreen, and watched as the cloud layer simply, faded away. It was like coming out of a particularly thick patch of fog, into clear day. One minute they were enveloped by the stuff, the next they were free and clear, nothing ahead of them but open space.
Travis: "We have cleared the boundary, Captain."
Jon smiled: "I see that, nice flying Travis. If engineering is ready, set a course for home."
Travis: "Aye sir, what speed?"
Jon thought for a moment and then grinned: Open it up a little Travis, warp 4.5"
Travis grinned like a kid in a candy store: "Yes sir, warp 4,5 for home."
Enterprise gracefully aligned herself to the new heading, and with a burst of blue light from her nacelles, tore the fabric of space/time and leapt into warp drive.
Shortly after the ship reached it's cruising speed, there was a call to the Bridge.
Trip: "Engineerin to the Bridge, who jumped on the gas pedal?"
T'Pol: "Gas pedal?"
Archer grinned and looked over at her, he smiled even harder at the look of utter confusion on her face, well, the Vulcan look of confusion, which consisted of two raised eyebrows.
Jon: "I'll explain later." he turned and hit the COMM button on the arm of his chair. "Trip, I thought you wanted to get home?"
Trip: "Sheesh Cap'n course I do, everyone on the ship wants to get home, but least you could given us some warning before you sent my engine into overdrive."
Jon smiled: "Your engine? May I remind you Lt Commander, that this is my ship?"
Trip replied with amusement in his voice as well: "Respectfully speakin an all Cap'n, it may be your ship but with out my engine, it'd still be sittin home on it's thrusters."
T'Pol: "Captain, is this, debate, really necessary? This ship is neither yours nor is the engine Commander Tuckers, It is the property of Star Fleet."
And with that, Jon's and Trips little fun, came to an end.
Jon: "My apologies Sub-Commander. Trip, how about you keep an eye on Star Fleets engine, and I'll keep an eye on the rest of Star Fleets property."
Trip stifled a laugh: "Sounds good to me Cap'n, engineerin out."
Jon looked over at T'Pol: *Happy Aisha?*
T'Pol: *I can be neither happy nor unhappy. But I am, pleased you have ended your childish behaviour.*
Jon was about to reply when Hoshi interrupted his thoughts.
Hoshi: "Sir, We're receiving a long rage communication."
Jon: "Who is it from ensign?"
Hoshi: "It's from Star Fleet Captain."
Jon trying to lighten the mood: "They must want an update on how their property is holding up."
Hoshi: "I don't think so sir, it's encrypted, Captain's eyes only."
Jon sat up straight in his chair, he looked at Hoshi, then at T'Pol. Then he stood quickly.
Jon: "T'Pol, you have the bridge. Hoshi route it to the ready room."
Hoshi: "Aye Captain, sending it there now."
Jon headed for his ready room with out even looking to see if T'Pol had acknowledged his order. He was feeling very nervous again, they had been out of touch with earth since the first entered the cloud boundary. The only other time he had gotten a message that was this urgent, was a year ago, when the Earth had been attacked. Jon entered the ready room and sat down behind his desk, he gave the computer his code and the signal came through. On the screen Admiral Forrest's face appeared. He didn't look to be in that good a mood.
Forrest: "Jon! It's about time, we've been trying to get a hold of you for a while now."
Jon: "Sorry Admiral, we've only just emerged from the Expanse, we're on our way home now, and we should be there in about 7 weeks. What's so urgent that you're sending a captain's eyes only message?"
Forrest: "There isn't any way you could be here quicker is there?"
Jon shook his head: "We're at warp 4.5 now Admiral, any faster and would could begin to cause damage to the engines. Why the rush?"
Forrest: "Jon, I'm now officially ordering you to push your ship as much as possible, I want you back here as fast as you can."
Jon: "Understood Admiral. We'll do our best. But once again, why the rush?"
Forrest: "Alright Jon, I was just coming to that. There's been an, incident here on Earth."
Jon: "What kind of incident?"
Forrest: "Jon, the President of Earth, has been assassinated."
Jon: "My god, that's horrible, but why do you need us back home so fast, I'm sure it's not to investigate this, you have people there who could do it."
Forrest: "Jon, it's not just the matter of him being murdered, it's a matter of how it was done, and by whom."
Jon: "I'm sorry Admiral, I still don't understand. Why do you need Enterprise there so fast for a simple murder investigation?"
Forrest: "Jon will you just, shut up a moment, quit interrupting me and I'll tell you. The President was killed a few days ago after visiting the Vulcan compound here in San Francisco. He was meeting with Ambassador Soval regarding a new treaty he wants to get pushed through the senate. This treaty would see a greater, joining between our two peoples."
Jon: "Forgive me Admiral, but I'm still missing the point of this."
Forrest sighed. "Jon, the President was killed, by a Vulcan."
Jon: "You can't be serious. Vulcans are bred to peace."
Forrest: "I'm deadly serious Jon. The assassin was killed by the Presidents guards moments after he shot the President. We have the body here at Star Fleet Medical. Both our doctors and the Vulcans have examined it. As far as our doctors can determine, the assassin was a Vulcan male in his early 20's by our standards. The only problem is, the Vulcans aren't sharing anything of what they discovered. We want the Enterprise here in case anything else happens. Maybe that doctor of yours can give us a hand."
Jon still shocked to hear that someone was murdered by another person from a race of pacifists, Nodded slowly, then spoke
Jon: "Understood Admiral, we'll be there as soon as we can. Archer out."
Jon clicked the screen off and sat back in his chair. He reached over and hit the COMM switch "Archer to Bridge"
"T'Pol here"
Jon: "Increase speed to warp 5, if Commander Tucker questions it, tell him it's orders from Star Fleet, if he doesn't like it, ignore him."
T'Pol: "Understood Captain, increasing speed to warp 5" *Aisha, what is wrong?*
Jon: *Trouble at home, the Earth President was killed, by a Vulcan*
T'Pol: *Jonathan, that is impossible, a Vulcan would never resort to this*
Jon could feel her shock through the bond.
Jon: *That's what we're going to find out darling,*
Jon stood and crossed to the window, leaning his forehead on it, his mind whirled around what he'd just been told. He stayed like that for a long time, as Enterprise raced home.