0000 Disclaimerme no own 0000 I so many reviews! Thank you all for your kind comments even though the original version of this chapter was pants-to put it mildly. Still although the beginning is the same the ending is different, thanks again! 0000

Fayla glanced to the back fearfully; Archer had stopped yelling at them and was now slumped against a wall out cold. Jac'tir took his eyes off the readouts for a second to quickly glance at what Fayla was staring at.

The little ship jerked violently and one of the consoles exploded.

"Shields have failed," Jac'tir whispered. "Engines are failing."

He turned back to Fayla now completely powerless.

"Fayla, I've never told you this before but...I love you! More than anything in the entire universe! My life without you would be like a broken pencil.........pointless!" he blurted out; Jac'tir grabbed hold of her and kissed her.

For a few seconds it was one of those hopelessly corny, romantic moments that almost always get included in romance films. A beautiful moment that would make the less romantically inclined throw up...............well, at least it was for a few seconds.

Till she punched him.

Then everything went dark. Very dark.

Fayla cursed loudly, she stared up at the viewscreen and watched with morbid fascination as the alien ship came about for its final shot. It was then she realised that the screams had stopped; she tore her eyes away from the screen just as the ship began to disappear around her.

0000000 Six hours later0000000

The first thing Trip registered some time later was that by some miracle, the incredible agony he'd experienced was gone. The violent shivers were still there but at least he wasn't in constant pain anymore-which was always a plus.

Briefly he wondered if he'd been sleeping but then realised the hours had melted into each other, completely indistinguishable from the next. He glanced around the room only to see two small aliens sat having a whispered argument, or more to the point the purple one was having a go at the green one for something or other.

Phlox's beaming face appeared in his line of vision.

"Congratulations Mr Tucker! You've made it through puberty," he said happily.

Trip merely blinked and stared confusedly at Phlox. Phlox for a second looked like he was going to launch into an explanation but was prevented from doing so by the appearance of Hoshi at the door.

"Hoshi," Phlox greeted her.

"Hello Doctor," she said, glancing over at Trip and smiling. "How are they?"

"As you can see, the Commander is progressing nicely and Mr Reed is currently with the Captain," Phlox told her. "I believe they're in the Captain's mess."

0000

"C'mon Malcolm," Archer wheedled, the spoon in his hand hovering an inch from Malcolm's face. "Look I promise you it tastes nice. Just have a bit..."

Malcolm merely stared at him his mouth clamped shut. Looking adorably sweet as all babies do even when they're puking all over your brand new clothes or screaming their lungs out at 3:00am.

"Captain, perhaps he isn't hungry," said T'Pol simply, watching this performance with a raised eyebrow. "He has been through a traumatic experience after all."

"He needs to eat-Phlox said so," Archer insisted. "You could always try it if you want."

T'Pol remained silent.

Archer turned his attention back to Malcolm who was currently trying to reach the knife on the table.

"C'mon Malcolm, this stuff is nice! Just open up," Archer tried inching the spoon closer; Malcolm batted the spoon away and started to cry. Again.

0000 Ok, writers block has lessened so I re-did this chapter; hopefully it's better than the original!! But please review it and tell me! 0000