Disclaimer: Enterprise and her crew belong to Paramount, not me. Unfortunately.

Spoilers: again, minor one for 'Unexpected'.

Memory Lapse - Part 5

Archer sat back in his ready-room chair, stunned by what Admiral Forrest had just told him.

Earlier, he had left Trip reading yet more of his personal logs, and made his way to the Bridge. But he had only been there for about five minutes when Hoshi had informed him that there was an incoming transmission from the Admiral. Archer had of course informed Forrest about Trip's condition, but that had been two days ago, and Forrest had said something about needing to consult with other members of Starfleet before reaching a conclusion. That had sounded ominous to Archer, but he had all but forgotten about it in his efforts to help Trip. Now he was wishing that he hadn't ever contacted the Admiral, even though that would have flouted every rule in the book.

Forrest had begun by offering his apologies for keeping Archer waiting, and his sympathies for Trip's situation. And then he had dropped his bombshell.

"I can't allow Commander Tucker to remain on Enterprise, Jon. Not only does he now not make a useful contribution, but he's now a liability too. He doesn't know any of our procedures or rules. He's putting himself and others at risk by remaining in a situation he doesn't have a clue how to handle. I'm sorry, Jon, but you'll have to turn Enterprise around and bring him back. Rest assured that we'll do all we can to help him once he's back on Earth."

Archer had tried to protest, but Forrest had been unwavering in his decision. Trip had to leave the Enterprise. And that meant Archer had to as well. For there was no way he was letting Trip return to Earth alone. Trip needed a familiar face. And Jon needed Trip. Archer knew he couldn't survive out here in space without his best friend. He had joked about the grey walls sending a man crazy, but the truth was that he would go crazy without Trip. Not seeing the man he loved every day would drive him insane.

So Jonathan Archer was resigning his commission as Captain of the Enterprise. He would take a day to compose his letter of resignation, and then he would transmit it to Admiral Forrest. The thought of leaving Enterprise created a gaping hole in his heart, but when he thought about leaving Trip it felt as though his heart had been ripped out and stamped on by a particularly angry Klingon. And that was a feeling he couldn't live with.

Archer sighed and rose to his feet. Now all he had to do was figure out how to tell Trip.


"I was pregnant!" said an outraged voice as Archer let himself into Trip's quarters.

Despite his anxiety, Archer had to laugh. The look of dismay on Trip's face was so comical.

"Yep, you were the first human male ever to get knocked up," he replied. "You should be proud. It's an achievement that no other man will probably ever attain."

"Proud, my ass!" said Trip. "I'm startin' to think that maybe losin' my memory was a good thing. I seem to have gotten myself into a lot of situations that don't bear rememberin'."

"Don't say that, Trip," said Archer, suddenly all seriousness again. "There have been plenty of good times that you should want to remember." The idea that Trip might not want to remember his former life filled Jon with fear. He desperately wanted…no, needed…the old Trip to return.

"Hey, Jon," said Trip, reaching out to give Archer's shoulder a squeeze. "I was only jokin'. Of course I want to get my memory back. It's drivin' me crazy not knowin' who I am; readin' about my life on a screen instead of knowin' about it in my head. That's why I count myself lucky that you're here. I know from my point-of-view we haven't known each other very long, but I believe you when you say we're best friends – and even without a memory I still feel close to you. I need you, Jon. I need you to help me remember who I am."

"I'm glad you feel that way, Trip," replied Archer, forcing the words past a sudden lump in his throat. "I want to you to know that I'm not going to leave you. Wherever we end up, I promise I'll be there to help you."

"What do you mean, wherever we end up?" asked Trip suspiciously. "What's happened, Jon?"

Evidently the new Trip was just as perceptive as the old one, when the clues were there. "We're going back to Earth, Trip," said Archer, deciding not to beat around the bush. "You're being taken off Enterprise, and your Starfleet commission is being suspended until further notice."

"You mean, until I get my memory back," Trip translated. Then something clicked into place in his mind. "But I can't go back to Earth," he continued frantically. "I don't know anyone there any more. There'll be no one there who knows me well enough to help me. No one like you."

"But I'll still be able to help you, Trip."

"No, you won't. You'll have to leave again when Enterprise does, to continue the mission. You'll fly away, and I'll be alone."

"I don't have to go anywhere, Trip," said Archer quietly.

Realisation dawned. "No, Jon, you can't!"

"I can do whatever I like."

"But resign your commission? Listen, I may not have known you very long, but you've told me a lot about yourself and Enterprise, and I've read a lot of logs over the past few days. Enterprise means everything to you. I won't let you give up your life for me."

"But a minute ago you were saying that you didn't want to be left alone."

"There's a big difference between my staying on Enterprise, and your staying on Earth."

Archer sighed tiredly. "Trip, there's no way you can stay on Enterprise. Believe me, I tried to persuade Admiral Forrest, but I drew a blank. You have to go back to Earth, and so I have to go with you. There is no other option."

"Yes, there is."

"Trip, I just told you…"

Trip interrupted him. "How long will it take Enterprise to get back to Earth?"

"About a month," replied Archer.

"Then that'll have to do."

"Do for what?" asked Archer, confused.

"Since I can't stay on Enterprise," Trip explained, "and there's no way I'm letting you stay on Earth, we have only one other choice."

"And that is?" asked Archer again.

"We have precisely one month to get my memory back."