A.N.: Final chapter is up! Thanks to everyone who reviewed – I really apreciate it. There may be a sequel if anyone's interested and if I evr find the time to cure my writer's block and get it done…
Chapter 20:
Jonathan had hailed Starfleet Command again – telling them they would be back in a few weeks and had asked them to keep their return as private as possible. He had even asked them to not inform Trip's parents about it. He had for once – since they were aboard – listened to one of the young aliens woman's proposals.
She had asked him – actually asked him in a friendly tone – to not allow his family to welcome him. He didn't remember them and it was almost sure he wouldn't do so when they would approach Earth. It would just hurt all of them – him for not remembering them and his family for not getting back the son that he once was.
Jonathan had agreed to it – hesitatingly but he had done it and he actually had found an ally in Admiral Forrest, who was absolutely agreeing with his, better said the young woman's suggestion. He didn't want to break with protocol on this particular matter and as the young woman was an alien and Trip had been on that alien planet for the past two years – there were a lot of questions that needed to be answered, before the two of them would be allowed to go anywhere...
He hadn't given this information to Trip and especially he hadn't given it to Thydia. He was pretty sure she would freak out on it – would be absolutely furious if she found out about Starfleet procedure. He would leave it to the officers down on the planet's surface to deal with her.
He had no idea what the two of them had to expect exactly when they returned. In Thydia's case – got there for the first time. After all she was an alien, the only Talian that would be living on Earth and Trip was still a member of Starfleet although he didn't remember it. They probably would have to go through a long phase of talking and of physical examination, before they would be able to live a normal life.
He asked himself what it would be like for the two of them – they both didn't know the place they were going to – Thydia had never been there and Trip didn't remember being there. They had had a life on the desert planet – a miserable one though, but a life. Now they would be forced to start all over again. But they were both more the stubborn kind of character – they would find their way. He had no doubt about that.
He had done a lot of thinking for the past day since they had entered their homeplanet's solarsystem. Since they were close to home again. They had taken it slowly for now, he didn't feel any need to hurry, he wanted the two of them to have some more time for themselves, time for a final adjustment.
Keeping a close eye on them it had been a pretty good idea. He had seen fear when looking at them – Thydia was the one being able to hide it a little better, but still it was there, it was visible. He could understand it – he just hoped it wouldn't stay this way. It was a crude time right now.
Today was now the final day of their journey – no more delays, no more chances to run away, no more hiding. They were back, they were home... They had already been hailed and asked to send the two of them down, but Jonathan had managed to give them some more minutes aboard. For a first look at what was to be their future homeworld.
He had ordered both of them to the bridge, asking them to take a look at the wide viewscreen showing the beautiful picture of Earth that was sitting down under them. He had heard the unwillingness – especially in Thydia's voice. She didn't like to be ordered. But it changed, changed the moment she entered the room and moved her eyes to the screen.
He had never before experienced her like this – that revealing and emotional. She was actually smiling all over her face, wrenching her hands in excitement. She couldn't take her eyes of the viewscreen, of the picture of the planet that was shown on it. Jonathan – could understand her feelings... It was a beautiful look, even to adjusted eyes, but for someone who had never seen a jungle or an ocean before...
"Look at that! Isn't this beautiful? Isn't this just a dream? All these shapes in green and blue – it's a miracle! Have you ever seen anything more beautiful then this? Have you ever seen anything like this before?"
She turned to Trip, looking at him in amazement and wonder. His expression however was almost emotionless – but Jonathan believed he was seeing a slight smile on his friend's face. Trip was taking a few steps behind the young woman, holding her tightly from behind and looking down on the planet with her in unison, answering her in a soft voice.
"No, I haven't"
Jonathan was silently correcting him, wearing a slight smile on his face.
"Actually – you have..."