A/N: Ok people, from here on in things are going to get mixed up. Some episodes are going to be skipped, as in they never happened in this universe and others are going to be really different. All of this is due of course to finding out about the bond so early and the ever expanding repercussions of that discovery.

"So they need isolation, mental isolation?" Archer asked Phlox, looking over at the pair sleeping on the biobed.

"Yes Captain. That is what everyone agrees on, from the texts the Vulcan healers provided me and Tavin's crew. The real problem is providing such isolation," Phlox said. "We cannot just drop them off on an isolated planet and take off leaving them alone there. They still must be monitored for signs of physical distress. The best thing we can do is go to a planet where the entire crew can take shore leave. Then either we can find an isolated place on the planet for the two of them to go to and I can stay in communications contact with them or they can stay on the ship while everyone else takes leave on the planet."

"Risa, you must take them to Risa," Tavin said eagerly. "My family owns a small island there. It is completely isolated. They use it for meditation and certain medical emergencies." Tavin wasn't sure if Phlox knew what sort of medical emergencies he was talking about but it was best to talk circumspectly with Archer there. "It is my fault that Tolaris was exposed to your crew. I brought him here. Please allow me to provide the best place for their healing."

"Risa is a famous pleasure planet Captain. It is THE vacation spot in this quadrant of the galaxy. It's perfect," Phlox said eagerly. "The crew is in need of leave and the government does its best to provide something for everyone."

"I wish I could but Admiral Forrest just sent us orders to go and pick up a Vulcan ambassador. We're supposed to transport her to Vulcan as soon as possible." Archer really didn't want to deal with that right now but orders were orders.

"The longer it takes to isolate them, the longer it will take them to heal," Phlox warned.

Archer nodded. Just as he was about to speak a groan came from the biobed where Trip and T'Pol lay. "Oh man, now I know what you meant by us healing," Trip moaned.

"It will be extremely painful for some time," T'Pol agreed tightly. She had her head buried in his neck and was clinging to him tightly. Trip had one arm wrapped around her and one hand clutching at his head.

Phlox was at their side instantly, giving them a shot of medicine. "This will lessen the pain but it won't block it completely. I'm sorry that I can't block the pain completely but I'm not a telepath and I need to be able to monitor your bond. That means you need to be aware of whether or not you're still in pain."

"Ok doc," Trip said with a sickly grin. "But I gotta tell ya, it was worth it." They both sat up, T'Pol sitting between Trip's legs and leaning back against his chest. Trip had his arms around her and was leaning his head on T'Pol's shoulder.

At that Archer stepped in. "Trip, we know something happened, some kind of psychic attack but we don't know the details. I'm afraid you're going to have to give a statement. Tolaris is dead."

"Couldn'ta happened to a nicer guy," Trip said which brought a smile to his friend's face and a look of consternation to the three aliens in the room. T'Pol wasn't sure what to think of Trip's response but from what she was feeling through their bond she assumed it was merely another example of his strange sense of humor.

"Yeah," Archer said, letting Trip know that he was aware of what sort of person Tolaris was. He was also letting his officer know that for the record he couldn't say anything until after the reports had been made.

"We were working on our bond in our quarters when Tolaris tried to break it," Trip said flatly. "He wanted T'Pol for himself and was willing to kill me to get her. Captain, the mental assault that he attempted was essentially rape. I don't know how long it's going to take for us to heal from the damage he did. And we already knew he was dead. I'm the one who killed him."

"We killed him husband," T'Pol was determined that he was not going to shoulder that alone.

"I'm the one who did the killing," Trip said flatly. "I was the one directing the attack. You've never even seen half of the stuff I threw at him. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I couldn't let him hurt you!"

"As good as it is to hear you two bicker again," Archer interrupted. "I'm afraid I still need the details."

Trip shrugged. "It was a mental battle Captain. He tried to take over and make us fight on his terms but he couldn't fight both of us at the same time. Two heads really were better than one in this case. I took us to the Keys and well, I attacked him with sea creatures. I killed him with a swarm of crabs."

T'Pol wasn't about to let Trip take all of the blame for Tolaris' death. "It was I who refused to allow Tolaris to leave the link Captain. What he tried to do is a death sentence on my world."

"I understand that T'Pol and as far as the Earth government is concerned this is a case of self defense," Archer turned to Trip. "Are you saying you did the beetle scene from the mummy? The one where they sealed the bad guy in the mummy case filled with flesh eating beetles?" He shuddered. He had always hated that scene. Just the thought was enough to send his skin crawling.

Trip nodded. He knew how much that scene turned his friend's stomach but he'd do it again in a heart beat if Tolaris was still alive. Archer shuddered again but got down to business. "Alright, now that we've gotten that out of the way, we've got a slightly bigger problem. Phlox says that the two of you need to be isolated to heal properly and the Enterprise has been given orders to pick up Ambassador V'Lar and bring her back to Vulcan."

Trip could feel a shot of joy and determination shoot through T'Pol. "We will heal regardless of whether or not we are isolated Captain. It is simply faster for the healing to occur if those who have suffered the assault are mentally isolated. As you will need us on duty, we will cope until a more suitable arrangement can be made," T'Pol insisted.

"Don't worry about us Captain," Trip agreed. "It won't be the first time I've had to work feeling like the fourth day of a three day leave."

"To insure our top possible performance of our duties Captain, we should remain together," T'Pol said.

"I don't want to have to order you to work when you're both injured," Archer said. "If I don't have to I won't. We're just not going to be able to give you and the rest of the crew shore leave. So you'll be off duty and stay where ever Phlox decides is best until we can get to Risa."

"Two things wrong with that Captain," Trip said firmly. "First off, all I'm going to say is milk run. Second, this is the first time Vulcan has ever asked us for anything. T'Pol and I are going to need to be on duty."

"You also need to be well by the time we reach Vulcan," Archer pointed out. "Or have you forgotten that the two of you are supposed to get married the next time we're there?"

"We have not forgotten Captain," T'Pol said. "It does not change the facts. You will need me on duty as much as possible at the very least for this mission. There is also the chance that Trip will be needed in Engineering"

Archer sighed, he had known for years that Trip was as stubborn as they came and he had learned that T'Pol wasn't much better. That was usually because he could hardly ever figure out a logical argument that was better than hers. "Alright, since you're both going to be stubborn about this, Trip run Engineering through Hess until Phlox says otherwise. T'Pol you are both on light duty. I don't want either of you to push yourselves or each other trying to get stuff done. Pass as much of your duties as you can to your seconds. They both need more experience running a department anyway so this will give them the chance. I wasn't going to say anything but Admiral Gardner let slip the fact that they are both in the running to head up the Science and Engineering departments on Columbia."

"Well in that case," Trip looked down at T'Pol and she looked up at him. Archer could tell that they were communicating but he had no way to tell what. "Don't worry Captain, we'll make sure they're ready for it by the time Columbia needs them."

"I'll leave in the good doctor's care then," Archer said and gestured Tavin to follow him. As they left Archer could be heard to ask, "Now exactly where on Risa is this island?"

"I'm sorry but I am going to need to examine you separately," Phlox said to his two patients. "I realize that it is going to increase your discomfort but I need to check the physical damage. I can't send you off to your quarters until I'm sure that the damage hasn't been too extensive."

Wanting to get the exam over quickly, T'Pol slid down off the biobed. The separation made them both flinch but Phlox hurried through the exams and didn't force them to go any farther from each other than they had too. "There is bruising but no bleeding," Phlox announced. "You may resume physical contact and return to your quarters. I will have Chef have your meals delivered to your quarters. Unless you are on duty, I want you in your quarters and away from the rest of the crew as much as possible. You will need to be examined three times a day. Either one of you can do the scans and send them to me or I can do them here in sickbay, which ever is more comfortable for you."

"Thanks doc, Thank you doctor," they both said and walked hand in hand back to their quarters. Once there T'Pol dragged Trip straight to their bunk and threw the body pillow on the floor. Trip was amused but grateful that she was getting rid of it. He wanted to hold her until it was time for them to be back on duty. They crawled into bed and resumed snuggling. The alarm would go off soon enough. Now was time for them to rest and heal.