***

2154

Tegl arrived at Trip's quarters unannounced, late at night.

Trip: More questions? A final interview?

Tegl: A Tabran custom - a gift of thanks. He held forward a stunning cloth, obviously intended to be worn. Trip accepted it graciously but couldn't imagine wearing it, ever. He placed it on the desk and went into his locker to get something special to drink. Tegl took the fabric up again, allowing a tiny roll of paper to slip into the shadows on the desk.

He held the cloth out to Trip.

Tegl: Won't you at least try it on? It's from a bonding ritual.

Trip's hand stopped.

Trip: Are we bonded if I take it from you?

Tegl: You already took it from me once.

Trip's face fell and Tegl laughed so loud that Trip shushed him for fear he'd wake the whole deck.

(...)

***

2154

For Archer, the silence in the gym was palpable. T'Pol didn't notice at all.

Archer: You're right.

T'Pol eyed him, but continued her exercises.

Archer: The mission comes first.

T'Pol: Captain, if you...

Archer: But serving together isn't enough.

T'Pol: As I said on the planet, when other things do not take precedence...

Archer bent his head and walked slower and slower until the treadmill stopped.

Archer: I love him.

T'Pol: This isn't a logical decision.

Archer: I didn't bring you on board for your logic, T'Pol. I picked you because you saw right through the High Command and through me.

T'Pol: Then do what allows you to focus on the mission.

Archer: Is that your answer?

...

T'Pol: Commander Tucker will never leave you.

Archer stood silently, staring at her. His face became hard and cold.

T'Pol: That was not intended to indicate blame or evoke guilt. It is simply a fact.

Archer headed for the door.

T'Pol: You have tried to build your career and lead a critical mission while avoiding certain facts.

Archer: Such as?

T'Pol: Commander Tucker is not at his most effective when you ignore him.

Archer: He's a fine officer. He served well in the orbital retrieval program while I was aboard one of your ships.

T'Pol: I have no knowledge of how he felt at that time. I do know that he is missing something. It's not just the attack or his sister.

Archer: We agreed to maintain a professional demeanor at all times.

T'Pol: A successful mission requires officers at their best. Do what allows him to focus on the mission as well.

Archer: And that is?

T'Pol: He responds well to touch.

***

2154

(...)

Tegl: I still see more in you than Archer has yet.

Trip blushed, and that angered him, making him flush even more.

...

Trip: He's gettin' better.

Tegl: Slowly.

Trip: He always moves slowly.

Tegl: You have to be with him, honestly. 'Walk together', we say. I'm certain of it.

Trip: Ya know, I don't know how you get so certain. Mental telepathy, clairvoyance, whatever. But it isn't up to you.

Tegl: It's your fate.

Trip: It may be. But I have to get there - myself. It can't be your doing! You're waltzin' off the ship in two weeks.

Tegl: Then I hope you understand exactly what I've done.

Trip: I don't know what you've done, Tegl. ... People keep asking me.

Tegl put his face close to Trip's. Trip held his ground, waiting for the hands.

...

Tegl: Did you ever wonder why I smell you?

Trip: No. And I wasn't even gonna ask.

Tegl: Breathe in, Trip. Just a little.

Trip took a shallow breath and found himself enveloped. His eyes closed. Tegl wasn't touching him, but Trip was fully aware of the alien's presence and the shallow breaths he was taking. And his mood - excitement under intense control.

Tegl: This is what I've taught you.

He heard Tegl's voice, softly, full of affection.

Tegl: My name is Tehar. Remember that.

Trip: Um.... H-Huh?

He was rubbing his face as he backed away, trying to refocus.

Tegl: Pay attention, Trip -- to everything.

He had left before Trip was fully himself again.

***

***

2154

Forrest: I'm always the most afraid when you call, Jonathan.

Archer: It isn't bad news, Admiral.

Forrest: Anything to report?

Archer: Things haven't changed.

...

Forrest: What is it, Jon?

Archer: Could you ask the Vulcan to leave?

Forrest: Yes, certainly.

(***)

Forrest: Thank you for that, Jon. I've been wanting to get him out of my office for an hour now. All he talks about is his career, and how this posting isn't helping him.

Archer: We need to talk. About Trip.

Forrest: What the hell happened out there?
Archer: Trip's EV suit froze up. He's okay now. The doctors said the narcosis and hypoxia didn't cause any permanent damage, but if I hadn't been there to retrieve him...

Forrest: You still want him on your ship?

Archer: I do.

(***)

Forrest: Then he's not a problem? The Vulcans warned us that Tabrans were very objectionable people, loud, domineering, and illogical. Worse than us, despite their uses.

Archer: No, he's... His name is Tegl. Things have been a little...shaken up, but the visit has been helpful for us.

Forrest: Starfleet is impressed with the reports he sends every month. His control of the language is a bit weak, but other than that they have no complaints.

Archer: That isn't why I called.

(***)

Archer: I want you to know that we've been pursuing a relationship for nearly four years now.

Forrest: Talk to me like a friend, Jon. I've known you since you were a kid.

Archer: Trip and I are going to stay together.

Forrest: Uh-huh. I thought so.

Archer: It's more than that. We want to make it permanent.

... It is permanent.

Forrest: I don't need to remind you that you're making a decision with consequences you can't foresee. Regardless of what Starfleet has to say about this, and that isn't certain.

(***)

Archer: You said the same thing to me after the Titan mission. Almost word for word. It's been four years since we ended it, and I know now...that was a mistake.

Forrest: So what changed your mind? And what does Trip say?
Archer: A lot has happened since the Researcher came on board.

Forrest: Is this because of him?

Archer: He...asked us a lot of questions.

Forrest: None of that is in the reports.

(***)

Archer: But in case it does appear, I wanted you to know about it.

Forrest: As a Starfleet Commodore, I can't wholeheartedly support this. I need to know that the mission comes first. We are so close to showing the Vulcans we can make it on our own, Jon. Everything you've worked for, that your father worked for, is coming into view. You have Warp 3.5...

Archer: I have Trip to thank for that...

Forrest: And obviously he means a lot to you, or you wouldn't be calling me about a little mishap. ...Thank you, Jon.

Archer: Thank you, Commodore.

...

Forrest: Did he really say you hadn't even kissed him once?

Archer: Yeah.

Forrest: Son of a bitch. Better get on that then, Jon.

He switched off the comm to avoid Archer's blush, but he knew it'd be good.

Forrest: (( How long did it take him to get Tucker in trouble with that test flight...a week, at most? ))

(***)

Archer: Those were his words. I didn't have the nerve to make a clear promise like that, but I did promise. I have to keep to that.

Forrest: This won't sit well with some of the Starfleet brass. They didn't like it the first time and were relieved when you ended things.

Archer winced, but his resolve grew.

Archer: We're doing this in any case, no matter what.

Forrest: I'm sure you are. Have you talked to the crew?

Archer: T'Pol and I have discussed it. The rest of the command staff may have some idea.

Forrest: And Tucker?

Archer: Tonight.

Forrest: Well, I've always admired you two as a team. You're unstoppable.

Archer: Thank you, Admiral.

Forrest switched off the comm and stared at the screen. (( Good for you, Jon. Glad you finally came to your senses. ))

***

2154

Tegl whirled around in his fury, eyes blinded by tears, not caring what damage he might cause to his guest quarters, to Enterprise - it mattered little. Shelves cracked, hands gouged the walls as he struck out again and again. He never could find it. He never could stop them.

(***)

(( Where is that book? )) He opened his eyes in the darkness of his guest quarters aboard Enterprise, feeling strongly that he had to find it. He saw the bookcase quite well in the darkened room, but the book was nowhere to be found. His fingers ran along the files, the documents, looking for the spot where - there it was! An empty slot, flagged with a red cloth. He came fully awake, remembering all the years he'd kept that spot open, waiting. His throat tightened as the rage began, driven by a deep sound of loss that seemed to resonate right through the walls.

(***)

2134

The officials came quickly when they heard the news, and began searching the house. Tegl was ordered to sit near the door while they investigated each room carefully. The file room was where they spent the most time, of course, scanning and selecting different records and reports. Tegl knew better than to resist at a time like this, but the investigators read his deception too easily and followed his glances to a shelf of small books. Many of them fell, scattering on the floor underfoot as they searched for evidence. When they touched the red-bound book, seemingly a book of tales amid others like it, Tegl froze.

(***)

Kous was found, late at night, the red book pressed to his chest with his left hand, a container of poison on the floor nearby. He was found quickly, as were most Tabran dead, because of the amount of noise he'd made taking his own life and in the final throes of giving it up. Of course they all knew why, the ones standing around watching; that Tegl had found him first was all the more tragic. Tegl was roaring his sobs out across the area, guilt growing with each new breath, the red journal buried swiftly in a fold of his robes.

(***)