A/N: Thanks guys! Juliaw, I just might.

Captain Malcolm Reed entered through the door looking a little like a boy who'd been called into the principal's office for misconduct – darting his eyes around the room and kicking his feet against the blue carpet.

Archer silently wondered if the tactical officer had ever been called into the office; he figured the guy had always been a model student who'd worked harder than anyone else in his class to earn his well-deserved "A+." From looking at Malcolm's transcript, he at least had evidence to back up that theory; the tactical officer was on the Dean's list for both Kingston – where he graduated in history - and Starfleet Academy.

Malcolm has always been an overachiever.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Reed asked, his voice barely audible.

The shame he exhibited almost tendered Archer's heart. Jonathan always had great affection for his crew – every single one of them, and Malcolm Reed was no exception. But, this was a time to be steely; he needed answers.

"Shut the door," Archer said, sitting down.

Timidly the man did.

"You wanted me to find out about you … that you're in Section 31, didn't you?" Archer asked.

Malcolm's lips twitched. "Yes."

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I know how you feel about them. And, the channel I use in tactical isn't secure."

"My room is?" Archer asked.

"Surprisingly more secure, yes. And … well, sir our friendship--"

"You thought your involvement with Section 31 would jeopardize our friendship?"

"Yes."

"It wouldn't," Archer said.

Reed finally looked into his eyes, so Archer continued. "You're not involved in just this are you? I mean you've been involved in more than just the investigation of Ambassador Tamor or the Columbia. You've been in Section 31 since we discovered Terra Prime, haven't you?"

Reed was silent.

"Even when you were aboard Enterprise." It was a statement, not a question.

Reed answered, "I didn't want to compromise your trust. If there was something Harris asked me to do that conflicted with an order … or would jeopardize Enterprise and our mission … I wouldn't have done it, sir."

Somehow he believed that, but he pressed on. "Which missions were you involved in?"

"I can't say."

"I see."

The two men stared each other down, and Reed flinched a bit under his scrutiny. Archer knew he intimidated Malcolm from time-to-time. Finally, Archer spoke.

"Have a seat."

Malcolm sat in front of the desk in one of the open blue chairs.

"By telling me now, you could jeopardize the work Section 31 is doing," Archer said.

"Possibly."

"Did Harris tell you to do this?"

"No."

"Were you followed?"

"No, but it wouldn't matter if I was."

The admiral nodded. He knew he intimated Reed from time-to-time. Early in his captaincy, he disliked the feeling that he made Malcolm jump. When he entered the Expanse making the tactical officer nervous was what he'd hope to do; his goal was to push every single crewman to his or her limit in order to save Earth. After that, he'd occasionally he'd use that slight fear to his advantage, but … Malcolm was a good man. So the admiral sighed and tried to ease back on the military commander routine.

Archer said, "I know getting back involved with them wasn't necessarily your idea, and I appreciate your honesty now."

The younger man blew out a long breath. "Thank you, sir. Would you still like me to serve as the lead on the investigations?"

"Why wouldn't I? You're the best man for the job."

It earned the admiral a small smile. Reed broke the silence with an update. "By now I take it you've learned that Tamor is an Orion?"

"Yes."

"Section 31 suspects there's another spy on the Federation Council."

"I'd have to agree. Do you know who?"

"They've narrowed it down to three possible suspects."

"Who are the three?"

"You won't like the answer."

Archer waited.

"T'Pol, Bagdol and Merah."

Shock shown over every feature of his face. "T'Pol!"

Gravely the tactician nodded. "Yes, sir. I told you that you wouldn't like that answer."

Archer said, "It's impossible. She just joined the Council a few days ago."

"Yes, her appearance corresponds with a number of incidents."

Archer wanted to laugh. "No way."

"She's had several communications with T'Pau, one of which--"

"These people have diplomatic privileges to contact their own governments any time they want to. I'm telling you, it's not T'Pol." Archer immediately stood up and began to pace.

"Sir, we were able to translate something in one of the communications between Minister T'Pau and T'Pol."

"You're recording ambassadors' private conversations?"

"No, Section 31 is."

"That's against the Federation regulations."

"Not Starfleet's."

That exasperated him. "It's not T'Pol."

"This may be hard to accept, but … she indicated to T'Pau she'd lie about something. From the translation it sounds grave."

Suddenly, Jon remembered his conversation with her yesterday, where she'd asked for Phlox not to use a scanner on her during her questioning. He didn't like what this made him think; he didn't like the implications.

Not T'Pol. "The Kir'Shara specifically says that Vulcans do not lie," Jon started.

"The first official day T'Pol was in office, a spy was ousted and the Columbia was attacked."

"It could've been anyone."

"She's been acting strangely ever since she's arrived on Earth. You said so yourself."

"She's been through a lot, Malcolm. I think Trip's death was hard on her."

"No offense, but Trip's death was hard on everyone. Admiral, I don't like it either, but--"

"I'm not going to sit here and listen to this! This is T'Pol we're talking about. She'd never betray us."

In the smallest of voices, Reed questioned this theory. "What about her trellium use in the Expanse? Wasn't that betrayal?"

Trellium. It was never discussed. Ever. In all the years they'd known each other, he never asked about it … probably because he didn't want to know. He'd guessed about her exploration with the drug, but he'd always chalked it up to -- a method to cope with the constant bombardment of emotion, a way to show her feelings for Trip or a scientific experiment that she believed would somehow save the ship. In Archer's mind, the latter had to be true because she was too logical to do it for any other reason.

"Those were rumors," Archer said.

"I was on the Bridge with her, sir. They were hardly rumors."

The two stared at each other, and Archer's eyes hardened. "T'Pol has never lied to me. Never. And that's final."

"Sir--"

"I said that's final. Understood?"

Reed swallowed and then drew his lips together. "Have you asked Phlox to scan her as you question her?"

"I'm not going to discuss this with you."

"Admiral, I'm only telling you what I know."

Archer turned away to shoot his icy glare at the window outside.

Reed said, "You may not believe her to be a spy … I'm not sure I do either … but we have to at least consider the possibility. She left, without a word, for one year. We don't know what happened in that time. We know that when she came back, havoc erupted on the Council: a spy was discovered and the Columbia was destroyed."

Archer shook his head.

Reed continued. "If you haven't asked Phlox to ensure she's telling the truth, I would highly recommend you do. As your chief investigator, I think it's wise."

Jon didn't respond.

"She's my friend too, Admiral, but … this goes beyond friendship," Reed said.

Archer's brow dipped against his eyes, and he scowled. Finally, he turned his head slowly to the captain without looking him in the eye.

"I'll see you today at 1300 hours in my office to help question T'Pol."

"Sir, I hope--"

"Dismissed."

After Malcolm looked over his shoulder once – something Archer could see in the reflection of the picture of Enterprise on his wall – he filed out with his head against his chest. Everything in the man's demeanor let Archer know he wasn't proud to call T'Pol a traitor; in fact, the admiral wasn't sure Malcolm even agreed with that assessment.

He's just doing his job … the job I asked him to do.

Sitting at his desk, staring at the monitor in front of him, he considered what Reed had to say. The evidence was damning, but worse – his instincts lit up like a Christmas tree. Something about Malcolm's comments had an air of being true. Archer had known something was wrong yesterday even after their discussion about Phlox scanning her during questioning; T'Pol was quiet at dinner. Guilt marred her features; Archer had seen that expression before … the day he'd returned to Enterprise from being interrogated by the Reptilian Xindi.

Damnit!

His fist pounded the desk.

Then shaking his head, he whispered to himself. "T'Pol would never spy on the Council or Starfleet."

She's staked her reputation on me more than once; the least I can do is stake mine on her.

T'Pol's foray into apartment hunting was quick and successful. Rather than go through the tedious humanlike method of searching for apartments, going through them and determining if they fit her style, she began her search quite logically. Immediately, she called a few services and asked them search for her, giving them every specification she had.

The specifications, she thought, were easy to meet. The abode had to be quiet, filled with light – as much as San Francisco could afford and airy. It had to be close to work, so that she could walk or commute. And the dwelling had to be friendly to Vulcans.

As long as every criterion was met, she needn't see the apartment ahead of time.

Finding such a place took the service less than an hour, and by lunchtime she was already an owner with a set of entry codes.

Gathering her cloak to her, one that hung around her long Vulcan robes, she walked across the campus into the Starfleet building. It was less than a mile away, across a long courtyard from the Federation Council's edifice, and Archer's office was a short distance once she made it inside.

As she entered his office, she was somewhat surprised to see Captain Reed; Archer hadn't mentioned him attending in their discussion yesterday.

"Hello, Malcolm, I hadn't expected you."

"The admiral asked me to assist him."

"I see. Is Phlox--?"

Jonathan threw a glance at Malcolm and then shook his head. "No. Thank you for volunteering, Ambassador," he said, formally.

She thought it strange that he used her title. "Of course, Admiral."

Jon held his hand out for her to sit down, while Reed loomed over her.

"I take it Hoshi is well?" T'Pol asked Reed.

"Yes, very." He paused briefly. "Well, I'm sure we'd all like to get this over with."

Archer leaned against his desk, as Reed called up some information on PADD.

Malcolm said, "T'Pol, you'd made several calls to Minister T'Pau."

"I contact my government at least once a day. I assume the other ambassadors do as well."

"Staron, your aid, was able to reveal some damning evidence of Ambassador Tamor," Reed said.

"Yes. I'm fortunate to have a capable assistant."

"What made you think to see if Tamor was a spy?" Reed asked.

"He fought too vehemently against Merah, the Veralan ambassador, about trade. Andorians, although warlike and sometimes duplicitous, would've welcomed that alliance. In addition, it's the responsibility of the Federation to ensure we help each other in any way possible; Andoria would've. And it appeared they would've profited from that trade.

"When my assistant, Staron, viewed the data, he came across information that Tamor – specifically – had been negotiated personally many favorable trade agreements with the Orions, including weaponry. Andoria and Orion are not allies, nor have they ever been," she said. "Staron came across a photo of Tamor taken with the captain of the N'Gara. None of these were ever communicated to the General through formal correspondence."

"In the records, we see that Tamor actually recommended to take action against the Orions," Archer said.

"That is correct."

"Why would a 'traitor' do that?" Archer asked.

"Avoid suspicion."

Reed loomed over her. "During one of your communiqués to Minister T'Pau you indicated--"

"Let's not go over that," Archer said.

"Sir, I thought we'd come to agreement."

"You record the conversations I have with my government?" she asked.

"No, we don't," Archer said. His eyes flew menacingly toward Reed.

Reed looked at both friends. "Regardless of how we have the data, we have it. I'm sorry, T'Pol, but in one of the discussions, we determined that you would lie to protect the Vulcan people."

She stood up, incredulous; her eyes flung to Archer. "Decoding and translating private conversations is against Federation rules."

"Answer the question," Reed said.

She asked, "Would I lie to you to protect my homeworld?"

"Yes," Reed said.

She took a deep breath. "It's against Vulcan principles – everything we stand for - to lie."

Archer gave a smirk, as if he'd predicted that'd be her answer all along.

She continued. "However, yes. If I knew information would destroy my planet, I would hide it even from you two … my friends."

Suddenly Archer's face fell. "T'Pol, of all people you can tell us."

"There are some things, I can't tell you," she whispered.

"I thought you trusted me?" he asked. "Trusted us?"

"I do."

"I don't understand," he whispered.

"I'm sorry." Turning her attention to Reed she said, "Malcolm, do you have all of my conversation?"

She noticed his hesitation as if he was afraid to answer her. Finally, he gave in. "No."

"Starfleet didn't record it, Section 31 did?" she asked.

The question hung in the air without an answer.

"I see," she said. "Admiral, I won't disclose that you've recorded my conversations. If that information were revealed to the Council--"

"I appreciate it," Reed said.

"Is that all?" she asked.

As she was about to head for the door, Archer loomed over her – leaving his desk – causing her to sit back down.

"Do you know anything about the unidentified craft that fired on and destroyed the Columbia?" he asked.

"No," she said.

"T'Pol?" he asked.

"No."

Jonathan raised his eyebrows, as if to test her answer, and she responded by blinking slowly.

"No."

Once again, she was about to stand when Archer said something that startled her.

"Malcolm, could you give us a few minutes?" he asked.

"Admiral, I don't recommend--" the Brit said. Suddenly, he stopped when he saw Archer's laser-like gaze. "Yes, sir."

When the captain closed the door behind him, Archer stood over her – his face a little flushed.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You're impeding a Starfleet investigation."

Her head snapped back a little at the accusation. "Jonathan--"

"You realize Malcolm, as part of his duty, could take this request to a tribunal."

"I indicated I didn't know who attacked the Columbia, and I believe my answer regarding Tamor is--"

"You can lie to him, but don't do that to me."

She was silent.

"We've been friends far too long, been through too much together," he said.

"I--"

"I can read you, T'Pol."

Her gaze fell on her hands. "I have nothing to say."

"We'll find out soon enough. Tell me."

T'Pol placed her eyes on him again. "There are some things, I need to keep even from you, Jonathan."

He shook his head. "Not this."

Licking her lips, she disagreed. "Minister T'Pau specifically asked me--"

"Not this! More than ninety people died. You have an obligation to help. I need you to--"

"I can't." After watching his face get redder, she spoke up in her own defense. "More than ninety people's lives are at stake if I tell you what you want to know."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't you think that needs to be our decision, not yours?"

"It doesn't affect you."

"The Hell it doesn't! We're already involved."

"Please …."

He crouched down to her eye level and lost some of his anger. With a soft voice, the one he sometimes used -- like the time she was in Sickbay having barely survived the trellium from the Selaya, he implored her.

"I need you to trust me," he said.

His eyes shimmered, as they often did when he was angry or pained, and she found herself beginning to weaken under the pleas of her friend.

He said, "You once told me that you needed me to believe in you. Do you remember?"

She'd asked him at the time to listen to V'Lar, though there was no logical reason for him to do this. Although she'd spotted his mistrust, he'd agreed to do so and risked Enterprise to protect the ambassador.

"I've never asked you for anything before, but I'm asking this now. Too much is at stake, T'Pol. Too many lives are lost. We're at the brink of war."

"We're at the brink of war, anyway," she countered. He continued to gaze at her, hopeful and serious and her resolve vanished. "I asked T'Pau if I could tell you. We'd trusted you before; you helped to deliver the Kir'Shara. Vulcan owes you."

"I won't divulge anything you ask me not to."

"You mustn't. Vulcan, and our entire society and culture, is at stake."

"The unidentified craft?" he prodded.

There was one way she could get around revealing everything; he didn't need to know about the Romulans and Vulcans common lineage to take further action. She could also get around telling him that the Romulans had been the ones who'd destroyed the Columbia … and T'Pau had expected the humans to uncover this anyway and soon. Although she'd been asked to omit the truth … or, to use T'Pau's words "be silent" about it … she didn't see the harm in providing additional information that would lead him to the culprit.

"Tell Captain Reed to run a match between the weapon's fire and the vessel we encountered in the minefield approximately nine years ago."

"It is the Romulans?"

"I made a vow to T'Pau; I won't break it. I believe I've given you the information that you need."

It appeared he understood the answer was yes, and satisfied, he stood. "Why couldn't you reveal this?"

"The repercussions to this secret are enormous."

"I don't understand."

"For the sake of Vulcan, I hope you never do."

Getting up, she stared into his eyes. "Are you finished with me?"

"Yes," he said.

As she walked to the door, he asked a strange question. "We're still friends, right?"

Turning around to face him, she agreed. "Yes. Aren't we?"

"Yes." He gave her a small smile and then kicked the carpet with his foot. "It seems like politics will come between us from time-to-time."

"Our clash was inevitable. As you once told me, as an ambassador I'm bound to serve my people first. And your duty is to Starfleet."

"I guess so. But, I know you're mostly looking out for our best interest."

"And I know you're looking out for the interests of the Council."

He agreed.

She said, "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about the Columbia."

"I know you are. I didn't realize they were recording your conversations."

"That is quite unsettling. Although I won't discuss this with other council members, I'm hoping you'll take this up with Harris."

"Damned right I will."

He walked her to the door.

"Do you have dinner plans?" she asked. "I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

"It doesn't have anything to do with work, does it?" he asked. His voice sounded a little exasperated and at the same time light, as if making a joke.

"No."

He nodded. "What time?"

"2000 hours? Can you meet me at 803 Market Street?"

Squinting he looked away for a second. "I don't know of any restaurant there."

"Be at that address."

With that, she left and noticed Reed out of the corner of her eye.

"T'Pol, I'm sorry--" Malcolm began.

She shook her head slowly. "You were doing your duty, as you always do, Captain. And I was doing mine."

Touching his shoulder lightly, she looked him in the eye. "You've done nothing wrong. You are an excellent officer, Malcolm."

Before he could respond, she strolled away. On her way out of the Starfleet building, she noted the time by the clock on the wall. She'd been in Archer's office a little over an hour.

Deep down, she wondered whether she should've told even Jonathan about the Romulans. The clue was too obvious; of course he would know the culprit right away. And yet, an equally strong feeling lay in the pit of her stomach as well: she should've told her long-time friend about the enemy right away. The destruction of the Columbia was personal – not just to him, but also to her. As his friend, she should've told him. She owed it to him … that and a lot more. Worse, she owed it to herself as a woman who'd served in Starfleet for six years.

Politics had gotten in the way of their friendship and niggled her conscience, and silently she wondered if it would happen again. Actually, she didn't wonder, she determined it would and that the consequences would no doubt be more severe.

I wonder if our friendship can endure?

When Reed came back into Archer's office, the tactical officer hung his head; Archer could tell the young man felt shame … even if he didn't need to.

"T'Pol would never betray us," Reed said.

The guy had been doing his job, and a through one. Archer clapped him on the back.

"Don't worry. I don't think she takes what happened personally." Actually, the admiral was pretty sure she had – not that he would blame her, but Malcolm needed cheering up.

"She said she understood I was doing my job," Reed said.

"You are and were."

He nodded lamely. "Did she give you any information?"

"Check the Enterprise's database for the vessel that nearly lost you a leg nine years ago."

"The mines?"

"Yes."

"Romulans," Reed whispered.

Archer frowned. "Let me know what you find out."

"If the Romulans, Orions and Arali have joined forces …. It may be worse than even Section 31 thought."

Archer didn't disagree.

As Reed was about to head out the door, Archer stopped him. "Malcolm, don't ask Hoshi to translate anything else from Ambassador T'Pol's office. Okay?"

"How did you--?"

"Only one person in Starfleet could've decoded a Vulcan encryption and provided you a translation."

Reed raised his brows. "In her defense, sir. She didn't know what it was until she'd translated a few words."

"She's not working for Section 31 too, is she?"

Reed didn't answer until Archer narrowed his eyes.

"Her expertise is used by many offices."

Archer shook his head. Maybe it was better he didn't know. It was difficult to think of his previous sassy, yet sweet, communications officer as some Matahari … not that he believed she was seducing men across the fleet.

Better not think about it.

Archer asked, "So, working together, did it help you two develop--?"

Reed gave a shy grin. "We are often on opposite sides of an issue, but spending time together …. Let's just say it didn't hurt."

"Huh," Archer said. It was a comment to himself.

"Anything else, sir?"

"No. Thanks, Malcolm."

As the captain was about to head out, Archer called out to him. "And, continue to do you job – that includes challenging me. I'm not always right."

Malcolm laughed a little too hard. "Glad you recognized that, sir."

Archer gave a lopsided smile and nodded as the man left.

Things on Enterprise had usually been complicated, but for some reason – these days – things were more complex. It'd been nearly ten years ago that he would've questioned T'Pol's loyalty, and even now he understood her responsibilities to her own government would mean sometimes the two would be at odds.

It's understandable.

It didn't mean he wasn't disappointed anyway. Though she was there to represent her people and the government of Minister T'Pau, he'd held onto a silly notion that she'd support him and Starfleet no matter what … that she'd side with her old friends no matter what.

I was kidding myself.

TBC