12 — The Captain's Table IV

The old lady tugged an old-fashioned chronometer from out of a well-concealed pocket. "Oh, would you look at the time! I'm going to have to go," she said. She finished off the last of her Altair water, then got up.

"Old woman; you have not finished your story," Hompaq said.

Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, not intimidated by Hompaq's growl. "I'll come back and finish it. Time's meaningless here, isn't it?" Mischief filled her eyes, then she put out her hand to Picard's. "I thought there was something odd about Will, Deanna and Beverly. You're not from my time."

He clasped the small hand. "No," he admitted reluctantly.

"Oh, don't worry; I'm not going to ask where my grave is," Charlotte said. "Better things to worry about." She squeezed his hand, then looked sad. "I'm so sorry for your loss," she added softly.

Picard managed a small smile. "Thank you," he said.

Charlotte shook Janeway's hand. "Take care, Admiral," she added. "I'd like to hear one of your stories next time we're in here."

Janeway smiled, unsure whether or not she actually believed this tale of Charlotte's. She looked entirely human, despite some Vulcan mannerisms. "How do we know you were telling the truth?"

Charlotte chuckled. "You don't," she said. "If nothing else, think of it as a way to while away a cold wet afternoon in San Francisco." Then she reached over to clasp Hompaq's arm. "Qapla, Hompaq."

"Qapla," Hompaq replied.

Then Charlotte Logan walked to the door, opened it and stepped out into the rain.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

I sighed as I pulled the hood of my robe over my head. One thing I'd definitely not missed about America was the rain. I turned the corner and saw young T'Pol standing in a doorway against the rain, looking as unhappy as a Vulcan ever did.

The Vulcan had been back on Earth a couple of months after Enterprise's temporary return to Earth following the horrific attack by the Xindi, and would ship out again shortly. No-one in Starfleet had liked the idea of putting a Vulcan on the Enterprise as a senior officer, but the young woman had learned to work well with the primarily human crew.

She'd spent a good deal of time with Soval before coming to Earth, and had imbibed some of his attitude toward humans, although she had a better sense of humor. I'd witnessed her interaction with Captain Archer as they stood outside Klaang's isolation bay, and had snickered to myself, musing on the chemistry the two had shown.

After all, T'Pol was a beautiful young woman and Archer a handsome man. I might be old, but I wasn't dead yet — I could recognize an attractive man. And, as I knew only too well, inter-species romance was not only possible, but could be very successful.

"Have you decided yet?" I asked. T'Pol had been recalled to Vulcan by the High Command while the Enterprise would head out to the Delphic Expanse to search out the Xindi. I'd cautioned them against this — after all, so many vessels had been lost there — but Captain Archer had dismissed my concerns.

T'Pol wore a very faint troubled frown. "I find myself … torn," she admitted. "My first duty is to the High Command, yet …". She emitted a tiny sigh. "Where do you wish to go now, T'Sai Charlotte?" she added politely.

So much like her grandmother. "Let's go somewhere warm, huh?" I said, then my eyes widened as I saw a familiar figure approach. "Sutak," I breathed.

"Indeed," T'Pol said, raising a delicate eyebrow. "I knew that you would … wish to be together to attend the memorial for those whose lives were lost."

And who said Vulcans have no emotions? Even before my marriage to Sutak, I'd never bought that line. "Thank you, T'Pol," I said.

"I will go back to the embassy," T'Pol said, dipping her head politely. She walked away and exchanged greetings with my husband of over eighty years.

His hair was still thick, although tinged with gray, and his features as handsome as ever. He had filled out a little as the years had passed and was now in early middle age. Yet he drew the eye of many a passing woman. There was something magnetic about the quiet Vulcans to humans; maybe it was the idea of so much pent-up passion, the volcano under a thin layer of ice.

"T'hy'la," he said, extending two fingers outward.

"T'hy'la," I replied, brushing his fingers with mine. "It's good to see you again."

An eyebrow tilted. "It has only been two of your weeks," he pointed out.

I shrugged — as I'd gotten older, I'd become much more comfortable with displaying my very human characteristics. "So, call me a hopeless sap and have done with it," I replied. "I'm not too proud to admit I missed you."

Sutak's eyes softened and a tiny smile tugged at his lips. "I missed you also, my wife," he acknowledged. "The house is much … quieter without your presence."

I paused, trying to decide if that was a compliment. I decided it wasn't, and decided to ignore it.

"I hope you have managed to occupy yourself with something other than … sappy thoughts," Sutak teased gently.

"Oh yes," I returned as we made our way along the sidewalk to the shuttle terminal. "Next time we're on Earth, Sutak, remind me to take you to a little place called The Captain's Table. I have some debts to settle."

THE END

A/N: I know T'Pol ended up with Trip, but I thought there was greater chemistry between her and Archer — particularly in the early days. If I 'shipped' for Trek characters, I would ship for these two. Just my humble opinion!