84 Years Earlier
Admiral William's Office
San Francisco, California, Earth

"Admiral Williams? Captain Archer is here to see you," Lucy Schultz said over the intercom to Williams in his office.

"Thank you, Lucy, please send him in."

As Williams rose out of his chair, the doors to his office hissed open, and Archer walked in. When the doors closed, they sounded an unfamiliar chirp that made Archer turn and look at them with puzzlement. He looked back at Williams and pointed behind himself with his thumb. "What was that?"

"Oh, that noise? It's part of the new door system they just came up with…with some upgraded security mechanism or whatnot. I don't know…I just let them do their thing and go with it," Williams said as the two men shook hands. "They should be getting them incorporated on all the ships soon."

"Ah, I see…so they start with your office because you're the one who needs the most security? The luxuries of a promotion, I would assume. Congratulations again," Archer asked. Williams laughed.

"Well, I suppose so, and thank you."

Archer signed. "I guess Enterprise will never see such a thing, since she's now a permanent fixture at the museum." Archer paused and reflected for a moment. "Well, anyway…oh…any new news on Trip?"

Archer and Williams sat down. "He's still in exile on Risa, although he's enjoying the most lavish exile anyone could ask for. But it's been tough on him, being away from all of you…his family…his life, as I'm sure you can imagine. At least he's on a vacation planet and not tucked away on some barren world. But, he would love nothing more than to come home to Earth."

"I know…I understand, Admiral. But you know…" Archer paused. "I just wish I could tell T'Pol. She and Trip…well they were close. When we are finally able to let people know Trip's not dead, I think it's going to hurt her the most, even though she's a Vulcan." Archer bit his bottom lip. "I don't want to hurt her, you know?" Another pause. "Man…I just hate this. I really hate this for her." He shook his head and turned away, obviously suppressing several emotions.

Williams looked at Archer peculiarly. He was surprised how Archer's demeanor changed as soon as he began talking about T'Pol. Clearly, the thought of upsetting T'Pol ran deep within him. Williams carefully expressed an assumption that became of him. "Now…I don't pretend to know you as well as Admiral Forrest did, and I would certainly like that to change, but to me…it seems like there may be more between you and Commander T'Pol than just being former crewmates?"

Archer quickly turned his head back to Williams.

"Is there a problem with that?" Archer snapped defensively.

Williams was taken back. "Oh, no, not at all, Jonathan. I've always been an advocate of doing what you want if it makes you happy. If you and T'Pol are together, and are happy, hey…I think that's great. It just concerns me because obviously this whole Trip mess is weighing heavy on you, especially where it concerns Commander T'Pol."

"I'm sorry, Admiral. I didn't mean to snap. Yes, it is weighing heavy on me, and it doesn't help that Trip and T'Pol used to be together…well sort of," Archer said, uncomfortably. "Well, whatever they were, it's not going to make the truth any easier for T'Pol, that's for sure. I guess you can say I've become protective of her and her feelings. It's just when…when I thought I was going to die…"

"Which time?" Williams cut in, trying to lighten the mood a bit. Archer chuckled.

"When I went aboard the Xindi weapon, well…just before actually, I said goodbye to T'Pol as I left Enterprise. I told her I would return, but I was sure it was the last time I would see her. Her face was the last I saw of my crew, and I swear there were tears forming in her eyes. After I left, the whole time I thought I was going to die, she was the only person I thought of. All I wanted to do was go back to Enterprise and make her feel better. Her and Porthos, of course. I was told he took my absence hard, also."

"Oh, yes. That little guy really knows how to chug along, doesn't he?"

"He sure does. He's been living a good, long, happy life…especially for a beagle. You know," Archer chuckled again, "it's amazing how over time, it's Porthos whom T'Pol seems to have the most in common with, because as it came to be, I'm both of their best friends, and I think T'Pol sees that connection clearer than anything. We almost lost Porthos to an illness recently, and I think she took his potential passing harder than me. But…it was during that time when I realize how much she meant to me. Now that we are finally together, I'm just afraid when the truth comes out, things will get all messed up."

"Ahhh…so your concern is more about your relationship with T'Pol, rather than how she will react," Williams concluded.

"Well, one is related to the other. If you think about it…" Archer cut himself off. "Wait a second, here…what are you, a psychologist now? How did we get into this?"

Williams laughed. "You started it and ran with it. But that's OK…I'm happy when officers are comfortable opening up to me. It makes me feel closer to them and also helps me do my job better, and part of my job is why I called you in."

"Oh?" Archer asked.

"Now I can finish. I actually did have you come in because of Trip." Archer sat up in his chair.

"Really? Is he OK? What happened?"

"No, no…he's fine. Nothing's happened to him. Shran's 'friends,' so to speak…well they are no longer a threat. They have been eliminated, and retaliation is no longer a worry."

"Really," Archer said matter-of-factly.

"Really. Trip's ready to come home. He knows it, and he's waiting. And I would like you to take Enterprise to go get him."

Archer was shocked, not only to hear his friend will be able to start living his life again, which was never a guarantee, but because of what the Admiral said about Enterprise. Enterprise? Archer wasn't sure he heard him correctly.

"What, Admiral, what? Enterprise? But Enterprise is in the museum. She's decommissioned."

"Enterprise is not decommissioned, at least not at this moment. You see, Captain, one of the advantages of being in my new position is I have more say in what goes on around here. Enterprise has been recommissioned." Williams paused. "Jonathan, I don't think you realize how important you have been to Starfleet. You are an exceptional explorer and leader. We are truly indebted to you, and I would like to do a little something in recognition of that."

Archer jumped right it. "Admiral, with all due respect, what I did was not for me or recognition. I was just doing my job."

"Oh, stop being so darn modest. You're sounding more like a Vulcan than a human! Besides, don't you think Trip would love nothing more than to come home on the ship he practically died protecting? That being said, I would like you to take Enterprise to go get Trip and bring him home. There's just one thing."

Archer narrowed his eyes. "What's that?

"Nobody knows, and we want to keep it that way. You can take whomever you would like with you, but you can't tell them until they see him."

"What? Why not?"

"Because," Williams smiled, "then it wouldn't be any fun."

"Fun? This isn't about fun. Did you just hear what I said about T'Pol? She's going to kill me."

"Well, it's Trip's idea. I figured it's the least we could do for him." Williams could see the concern in Archer's face and became serious. "Jonathan, I won't force you to do this. It not an order. But I do have to know very soon if you want to go."

"Well of course I want to, Admiral." Archer said slowly. "I just wish…I wish I could I just tell T'Pol before we go. It's going to be bad enough when she finds out Trip's alive and that I've known that all along. But to bring her along on the mission…let alone how she would feel about me, it would be cruel knowing the history they had."

Williams thought about what Archer said for a good minute. They sat in silence and Archer was practically begging with his eyes. "Well, of course I didn't know about you and Commander T'Pol until now. And you are right…considering their history, perhaps she should know beforehand. Is she trustworthy?"

"Admiral, she's a Vulcan."

"Yes, of course," Williams paused another moment. "Alright, Jonathan, you can tell her."

"Thank you Admiral," Archer said with a big smile. It suddenly turned to a frown when he realized what telling T'Pol was going to be like. Williams recognized the change in his face and understood.

"Yeah, that should be a doozy of a time. Good luck with that. Now, you leave in three days, so make your preparations quickly."

Archer got up and Williams followed and they shook hands.

"Thank you, Admiral. I will report to you later today on my preparations."

"You're welcome, Captain. You deserve to bring him home."

Archer smiled and turned, still shocked and little bewildered by what had just happened, and undoubtedly nervous at how T'Pol was going to react. The doors hissed open and as Archer was walking through, Williams spoke up.

"Oh, and Captain?" Archer stopped in the middle of the doorway and turned.

"Yes?"

"Enterprise has the new doors. It seems like the perfect place to test them."

Archer chucked, and walked out, with the new door chirp sounding behind him.