Chapter 8

As it turned out, both Admiral Forrest and Soval stayed for eight weeks. The Enterprise was in route to Earth, as they decided that this was a good time to do some much needed updating to the computer systems and weapons systems,which Malcolm was excited about. It was a time for Jon to reconnect with his mentor, and to realize how much he looked up to him. They had spent many hours just talking and laughing. Soval had joined them often and had learned a lot about Captain Archer and had seen what the young man would have been like if that incident with his broken arm had not happened to him. He began to regret the broken arm and how he had handled it at the time it happened.

Many times, Trip was included, and he truly enjoyed the stories of how Jon had grown up and the many antics that he learned about his best friend. Sometimes T'Pol would join them and she found that she actually enjoyed the banter between the men. Even Soval seemed to enjoy the get togethers. Jon had even caught him in a slight smile at a story that he and Admiral Forrest had told.

"So, I though my dad was sleeping upstairs and I was quite pleased with myself that I had gotten away with sneaking in when all of a sudden I hear his voice say 'You're in big trouble young man' "

Trip was now laughing out loud and Admiral Forrest was smiling as he remembered the incident.

"When I turned around, he was quite mad. I knew I was in trouble by the look on his face. That look always meant trouble."

Soval was now trying not to smile as he listened to this story of the antics of this man. He was beginning to realize that this was a unique person. He had a special way at looking at things and Soval realized that was what made him a good captain and now he saw why his crew looked up to him and followed him. He was beginning to see this man in a new light.

"And what do he do?"

Soval inquired. He had worked with Henry Archer and found him to be an honorable man. Jon looked at him and smiled

"I was grounded for a month and he had me working in the yard for that month. He knew I hated to work in the yard, and he had me out there everyday for three hours after school and on the weekends, it was five hours! I think he thought up new jobs everyday!"

Trip and Admiral Forrest were still laughing. Now Trip said

"Cap'n, how old were you?"

Jon looked at him and said very seriously

"Ten... I thought I could get away with sneaking out to go see the new space port and see the ships, but what I didn't count on was that the last transport vehicle left the port at eight pm. I missed the last one by ten minuets so I started to walk home."

"And you walked all the way home?"

"I did. Took me three hours and I got home way after ten pm. I had just started to go up the stairs when dad appeared."

Jon was petting Porthos as he remembered that day.

"I really liked the space port though...Saw lots of ships and even got to board one. Saw the bridge and I got to sit at the pilot's consul as at the time I wanted to be a pilot."

Jon now got up and went to feed Porthos, as the dog was giving signs of being hungry. As he was finishing up with the food, he heard

"Phlox to Captain Archer, can you come to sickbay please? I have some news about this condition you are suffering with."

Jon immediately replied

"What's up Doctor? What's going on?"

He looked at the others in the room and they saw a concerned look on his face.

"Nothing Captain, I have been checking the last checkup on you and I believe I have good news for you."

The frown on Jon's face relaxed and he said

"I'll be right there."

He looked at the other people there and said

"Lets go see what Phlox has."

They all filed out of the Captain's quarters and the Captain, Admiral Forrest and Soval headed to sickbay, while T'Pol headed for the bridge and Trip went to engineering, both needed to attend to business. They had been heading to Earth at warp two and although they had met a couple of ships, neither was hostile.

Phlox looked up as the sickbay doors opened and saw not only the Captain but Admiral Forrest and Soval with the Captain.

"Ahh, Captain I am glad you're here, I have some news for you."

He turned to both the Admiral and the Ambassador and said

"I'm glad you're here too as this news is good."

"What have you found out?"

Jon was curious as to what Dr Phlox had to tell him. Now he turned to the Captain and continued as Jon sat on the bio bed.

"Well as you know, I've been studying this phenomenon that has overtaken you and I think I've found some interesting facts."

"What have you found Doctor?"

This came from Admiral Forrest. Phlox turned to him and continued

"As you know, since you have been on board Enterprise, the Captain has has two checkups, and I'm please to announce that..."

He turned to look at the Captain as he finished

"you are now aging faster and I predict that within three weeks, you will be back to the age you were before the anomaly."

He gave the captain his wide grin. For a moment, Jon was silent and then he said

"What happens then?"

"Well Captain, you should revert back to your usual rate and just begin to age as you did. I see no reason to suggest any different scenario."

With that, Jon let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He looked at Admiral Forrest and saw a wide grin on his face and Soval had a...pleased look on his face and for the first time in his life he realized that the Ambassador wasn't all that bad. He smiled at them both and then said to Phlox

"Thanks Phlox for sticking with this. I really appreciate your diligence in this."

Phlox again grinned but not that wide one that always seemed to give the human crew a weird feeling and said

"I couldn't do any less Captain."

He laid a hand on Jon's shoulder as the captain stood up from the bio bed. As Jon moved to leave he again thanked Phlox. He hadn't realized how worried he had been that once he had reached his normal age that he might continue to age quickly and then that would mean... No he would not think of that. Both Soval and Forrest followed him out of sickbay.

Jon was sitting in the mess after hours as he thought about the last few months of his life. It seemed like ages since that anomaly and his change. But he was glad that he was almost back to normal and he was glad for that. He took a sip of his coffee and looked out the window at the stars streaking by at warp two. He never tired of watching the stars. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. The mess hall was empty and the lights were low. He took a second sip of coffee and was just thinking when the mess hall doors opened and someone walked in. He turned to see who it was and was surprised to see the outline of Soval, who paused a moment in the doorway. A soft voice broke the silence

"Am I disturbing you Captain?"

Soval moved into the mess hall and then moved over to the beverage dispenser and ordered a camomile tea. Once it was dispensed, he moved over to Jon's table and took the seat opposite Jon. He took a sip of the tea and Jon was sure he heard a sigh as Soval enjoyed the tea.

"You know, T'Pol enjoys tea also, she says it...relaxes her."

Soval raised an eyebrow but said

"I find it is...pleasing. Since I've been on Earth I have found humans seem to indulge in many diverse foods and drinks."

He picked up his cup and took another sip before he continued

"I have found this tea to have relaxing quantities and it helps me meditate."

Jon nodded and said

"T'Pol says the same thing, but I notice she drinks it at other times too."

Jon had gotten up to refill his cup and returned to sit back down. They both sat in companionable silence as they enjoyed their beverages. In the last seven weeks, Jon had gotten to know this man better and he felt that he had misjudged him for years. They had talked several times during this time and he had learned a lot about this Vulcan. He had found that he actually liked the older Vulcan, something he never would have admitted to during his 'other' life. Funny how a second chance could change your whole outlook on people. He was silent for a few more minutes before he said

"You know, Ambassador, I feel I owe you an apology."

Soval raised an eyebrow and said

"How so Captain?"

He seemed to genuinely be confused.

Jon continued

"Since I was ten, I blamed you for what I thought was Vulcan interference. I believed that you were behind what I thought of holding us back and resented it. I thought you delayed my father's warp five engine development because you did not want the human race to break the bonds of Earth. I know now that was wrong."

Jon took his last sip of his coffee and then slightly shoved it away from him. He stared at the cup for a moment and then looked up at the Vulcan. Soval's expression was thoughtful. Jon wasn't sure what the other man was thinking so he continued

"I also blamed you for the fact that my dad never saw his dream of a warp five engine come to completion. I actually thought you were against my dad and his engine."

Jon now seemed to be embarrass at his attitude towards the elder Vulcan.

"I treated you poorly and for that I'm sorry."

Soval now saw something he had seen the Captain do so long ago as he interacted with his father...he hung his head. So many times he had seen this when Jonathan had not known he was at the Archer's home and his father had admonished him for some comment he had spouted. He thought back to those days and realized how much Jon had looked up to and loved his father. And for the first time he completely understood the man before him. Had he'd been a Vulcan child, Soval realized he would have brought his family honor. He knew he brought honor to his human family.

"Captain...Jon... you are under the impression that Vulcan's take offense to...offense. That is an emotion."

He looked at Jon with a raised eyebrow. Jon began to chuckle. He was well aware that Vulcan's did have emotions, they just hid them better.

"None the less, your apology is...accepted."

Soval had also finished his tea and also had pushed the cup slightly away from him and towards Jon's cup. The symbolism was not lost on Jon. He knew at that moment that they had put behind them their differences and could now move forward. He smiled and said

"I'm glad we have this second chance."

Soval looked him straight in the eye and replied

"So am I Jon, so am I."

They settled down to a long talk of things past and things future.

The End

A/N Thank you all for sticking with me during this trying period. I had struggles with this last chapter as I wasn't sure how I wanted to go, but I finally got it done. An update, my Chemo is doing well and the only two side effects I've suffered is the loss of my hair and leg cramps which come apox 2 days after a treatment and last apox 3 days. I feel very blessed these are the only side effects I have.

I still need to finish my Voyager story but will try to get to that soon. Again, thanks for your patience with me.