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Each Touch a Promise - Ch 5

Author - Hopeful Romantic
Fan Fiction Main Page | Stories sorted by title, author, genre, and rating

Each Touch a Promise

by HopefulRomantic

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer found in Chapter 1.

Date: 1-12-05

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5


Callahan was delayed by business across the bay, so he got to the club later than usual. The joint was in full swing by the time he arrived. The band was starting its second set, couples were taking to the dance floor, and the bar was a zoo. Just the way Callahan liked it.

He made his way through the happy throng to Kyle, his barkeep. “Howzit, K?”

“Fast and furious, Boss,” she smiled, as she filled four orders at once.

Callahan craned his neck, trying to see the tables near the stage. “Any sign of our lovebirds?”

Kyle nodded. “Right on time.”

Callahan grinned as he caught sight of Lorian and Karyn at their regular table next to the parquet dance floor. They’d been coming here for a couple of weeks now, literally falling for each other right before his eyes. He’d never seen two people more sublimely swept away by their feelings for each other; it had been a thing of beauty to witness.

Tonight, they looked like something out of a fairy tale—Lorian in a dark, elegant tunic and slacks, and Karyn wearing a low-cut dress with yards of flowing skirt that showed off her petite figure to perfection. Callahan wondered why they’d gotten so gussied up...until he saw that they weren’t alone at the table. “And they brought friends. That’s a switch.”

“They mentioned yesterday that they were bringing family tonight,” Kyle said.

Callahan studied Lorian and Karyn’s three guests with interest, trying to figure out who was who. “Hmm...well, the lovely Vulcan beauty is obviously Lorian’s...daughter?”

“Hard to tell with Vulcans,” Kyle commented, eyeing the darkly stunning Vulcan woman sitting across from Lorian. “They look ageless until they’re 150. She could be his mother, for all we know.”

“Naw. Really?” Callahan shook his head in wonder, then moved on to the man beside the Vulcan woman. “Check out the human gent next to the lovely Vulcan beauty. Blond and blue-eyed, just like Lorian. Half-brother, maybe?”

“But look how close he’s sitting next to the aforementioned Vulcan beauty. Like he’s her boyfriend.”

“That shoots my theory all to hell, then.” Callahan couldn’t see the face of the fifth person at the table, another man. “What about the other guy?”

“Dunno for sure,” Kyle said. “He seems to be relating most with Karyn. Looks old enough to be her dad, but I haven’t gotten a good look at his face. I don’t know if he has the same...” She gestured to the bridge of her nose, a reference to Karyn’s alien ridges.

Just then the mystery man laughed at something Karyn said. He turned to give her a kiss on the cheek, and Callahan got a clear view of him. “Holy shit—that’s Jonathan Archer.”

Kyle looked more closely. With a start, she recognized him too. “Whoa. Earth’s number one hero, right here in our midst...related to our little Karyn...”

They ogled in silence for a moment.

“You sent over the bill yet?” Callahan asked.

“Nope.”

“Don’t.”

-- -- --

Trip stared across the table at Karyn, his jaw ascrape. “Soval is a...pussycat?”

Lorian winced. He gave Karyn a look of patient reproach. “Karyn...”

But she was on a roll. “He accepted the evidence. About time travel, about Lorian’s parentage—all of it! He was downright respectful to Lorian. And when he got sick of the other two Vulcans sneering at Lorian like he was some kind of half-breed mutant, Soval said, right in front of the whole briefing panel, that he had no prejudice against human/Vulcan relationships.” She sat back in placid triumph, waiting for further reaction.

Trip looked even more stunned, if that was possible. “He musta been sick or something.”

“Or,” T’Pol suggested, “perhaps Lorian succeeded in widening the ambassador’s horizons after all.”

Trip shook his head dizzily. “This is messin’ up my whole belief system.”

“Explain,” Lorian said, intrigued.

“There are certain rock-solid, universal truths that I’ve always been able to depend on,” Trip replied. “Y’know, hell won’t freeze, and pigs don’t fly, and Soval is a bitter old crank who’s always finding something to complain about. Last time I saw him, he was huffin’ on about T’Pol’s uniform, for cryin’ out loud.”

“After my debriefing,” Archer spoke up, “he thanked me for helping save Vulcan from the Sphere Builders. Even shook my hand.”

Trip grabbed his head with a groan. “Aw, I can’t take much more of this. The next thing you know, someone’ll be telling me that Koss isn’t really a skunk.”

“Trip...” T’Pol chided him tolerantly, eyeing him with a picture-perfect copy of the look Lorian had given Karyn a minute earlier.

Like mother, like son, Archer thought wryly.

Trip held up a hand in dignified surrender. “It’s just gonna take me a little time to adjust, is all.” He caught his son regarding him with open amusement, complete with a little Lorian-smile. “You sure are smiling a lot more,” Trip observed.

“Am I?” Lorian’s eyes automatically went to Karyn...and his smile widened a little. She put her hand on his, glowing happily.

Trip waited expectantly.

“We have been courting,” Lorian acknowledged.

“That much is obvious,” T’Pol remarked, as Trip and Archer grinned like the proud parent and great-grandparent they were.

“We find each other’s company quite agreeable,” Karyn added sweetly.

“Indeed,” Lorian said, with satisfaction.

Karyn cocked an eyebrow at Archer. “You’re getting that nosy look, Papa.”

Archer tried to look innocent as he sipped his drink. “Me? Oh, I was just...curious about any future plans you might—”

“Captain!” T’Pol admonished.

Trip playfully thwacked him across the shoulder. “Leave ‘em alone, Papa! They’ve only been dating a couple weeks!”

“It’s all right,” Karyn chuckled. She slipped her arm through Lorian’s as she smiled at Archer. “So far, we’re just enjoying each day as it comes. Not to mention learning how to live on land, and getting used to life without the threat of Earth’s destruction hanging over our heads.”

“None of the crew has had any experience at living a ‘normal’ life,” Lorian added quietly.

“Don’t get too comfortable with this ‘normal’ routine,” Archer warned good-naturedly. “Admiral Forrest sent me a message before he left for Vulcan. Apparently your crew’s field evaluations have exceeded all expectations. Their level of resourcefulness and intuition across the board has Starfleet HQ doing handsprings. There are bound to be a lot of commissions offered them...and the lion’s share of credit rightfully goes to their commander.”

He raised his glass in salute to Lorian—and saw that Lorian was doing the same to him. “Commanders, Captain,” he amended, with a nod of respect.

As they drank, the band launched into a soulful blues number. Karyn turned her lovely brown eyes to Lorian. “Dance with me?”

His blue eyes warmed as he took her hand. “A request I am helpless to resist.” He nodded to the others. “If you’ll excuse us...” He escorted her onto the dance floor. They moved into each other’s arms, as if they’d always belonged together, and began to dance gracefully, effortlessly, their gazes never leaving one another.

“I have determined through independent means that I am, indeed, in love with you,” Lorian stated, with pleased certitude.

Karyn knew it already, of course, but she enjoyed playing along with his dry sense of humor. “Oh? What did you do, take a test?”

“I consulted a film we often showed on Movie Night,” Lorian explained. The Adventures of Robin Hood.”

He’d gone and found yet another way to charm her. “Tell me more,” she prompted.

“Maid Marion and her lady-in-waiting have a discussion about the condition of being in love,” Lorian went on. “They agree that one must have all-encompassing thoughts of the object of one’s affection; suffer from a not-unpleasant state of insomnia; and experience a ‘prickly feeling’ along the spine. I exhibit all the requisite symptoms.” He gave Karyn a tiny, impish smile. “Though I experience the ‘prickly feeling’ in a decidedly different area than my spine.”

Karyn chuckled, low in her throat. “We’ll definitely have to investigate that further.”

“I look forward to it,” Lorian, his baritone voice rich with promise. He held her closer as they continued to dance.

-- -- --

Back at the table, the three surrogate parents watched their two kids, spellbound. “If that isn’t love,” Trip murmured, “I don’t know what is.”

Archer glanced at his first officer. “So, T’Pol, have you decided how you’re going to introduce Lorian to your mother?”

“I would prefer to do it in person, considering the complexity of explaining his origin,” T’Pol sighed. “However, it is unlikely I will be granted leave any time soon. To make introductions by subspace message will be...awkward.” She looked nervous. “Frankly, I do not know how to begin.”

“Just tell her the simple version,” Trip said lightly.

T’Pol looked blank. “Which is...?”

“While we were in the Expanse, we went through a subspace corridor, triggered a time warp, got stranded in an alternate timeline 117 years in the past, got married, had a son, met up with him when our two timelines converged again, thought he died when he helped us save the universe, but the Xindi found him and brought him here. And hey, meet your grandson Lorian.” Trip shrugged.

T’Pol stared at him. “That is the simple version?”

“Oh—and Soval signed off on the whole thing,” Trip added. “But we can’t show any of the evidence, because it’s all classified.”

“Right,” Archer said, deadpan. “She’ll eat that up with a spoon.”

“What’s the problem?” Trip looked from T’Pol to Archer and back again. “We’ve got the Ambassador Soval, VHC Stamp of Approval here! Pluswhich, why wouldn’t she believe her own daughter?”

“Because the explanation is incomprehensible,” T’Pol said flatly. “Because her grandson is almost as old as she is. Because the Vulcan Science Directorate has determined that—”

“T’Pol.” Trip took her shoulders. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out. As soon as she lays eyes on Lorian, she’ll love him, just like we do.”

She looked hopefully at him, clearly wanting to believe him. “How can you be so certain? It is not logical.”

“I just am.” He smiled at her, and she relaxed a little. Archer watched them both, marveling at the almost palpable connection he sensed between them.

Trip stood, holding his hand out to T’Pol. “C’mon. You need to get your mind off your mom for a while. Let’s dance.”

Archer thought he saw a hint of disappointment on her face. “I do not dance,” she said.

Trip kept his hand extended. “Lorian told me you taught him how to dance.”

She regarded him dubiously. “I did?”

“Yep. That’s why I need to teach you. Otherwise, how could he be out there with Karyn?”

T’Pol was curious now. “Why didn’t you teach him?”

“I was already dead,” Trip replied matter-of-factly.

Archer shook his head. “This is the weirdest conversation I’ve ever heard...”

T’Pol rose and took Trip’s hand. “Am I skilled?”

“Of course you are!” he declared. “I taught you, didn’t I?”

“Not yet.”

“Don’t take my word for it—look at Lorian over there,” he said as he led her to the dance floor. “You taught him everything he knows...”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The band was playing a torchy ballad, slow enough for cuddly sway-dancing, but expressive enough for the more demonstrative couples. Lorian was leading Karyn through a rumba, and their sensual steps and turns had more than a few spectators watching. They certainly knew how to entertain an audience...although Jon suspected they were aware only of each other.

Trip had started T’Pol off slowly, with a lazy box step, as he held her lightly in his arms. They were talking softly, Trip smiling often as he instructed her. T’Pol’s expression was attentive as she smoothly picked up the syncopated rhythm of the music and the steps.

Jon sighed wistfully as he watched them. They fit together, in their own way, as perfectly as Lorian and Karyn. He hoped, for the millionth time, that Lorian’s theory about Koss was correct.

He heard a familiar voice in his ear. “Can’t a galactic hero even get a dance around here?” He turned to see Erika Hernandez standing behind him. With a smile, she gave him a quick but tasty greeting-kiss. “Hello, Captain.”

“Hello, Captain,” he replied in surprise. “Of all the jazz clubs in all the towns in all the world...”

Erika took a seat beside him. “I’d love to claim I’m incredibly intuitive...but I asked. Lieutenant Sato told me you were here, at a ‘family gathering’.”

Jon pointed to the dance floor. “Family’s out there. The incredibly beautiful young lady in the flowing dress is Karyn Archer, my great-granddaughter from another timeline. And her dashing partner is Lorian, also of said timeline, and son of...” —he pointed again— “...Commanders Tucker and T’Pol.”

“So that’s the famed Lorian,” Erika said with fascination. “He doesn’t look quite like I expected.”

“Let’s just say…now that his mission is over, he’s a lot more relaxed,” Jon smiled.

“And who are you with?” Erika asked.

“I am the designated Fifth Wheel,” Jon announced with a flourish. “I would have asked you, but I thought you were out putting Columbia’s warp drive through its paces.”

Erika scowled. “Just got back. The damn injectors aren’t calibrated yet.”

“Who’s your Chief Engineer?”

“Nobody,” she said tiredly. “I’ve been running through candidates like cheap socks, but none of them has that...magic. It’s frustrating as hell.”

“I know,” Jon nodded with understanding. “Would you believe I ran across Trip by accident?”

“No!”

He smiled at Trip, who was teaching T’Pol a turn now. “The best decision I made for Enterprise was Trip.”

“Which gets us to why I’m here,” Erika eased in delicately. “You don’t suppose he’d let me entice him into jumping ship to Columbia...?”

Jon smiled. “Not likely.”

“Promotion? Promise of the XO spot once the engines are humming?” Jon just shook his head. “Come on,” Erika persisted. “I haven’t found anyone with half his expertise or experience. He’s a genius.”

“Which is why I put him on Enterprise,” Jon said.

“You’ve had him for over three years! It’s time to share.”

Jon waved her toward the dance floor. “Go ahead, ask him. Waste your time. I’ll wait here.”

She watched Trip with a sigh. “Is it that hopeless?”

Jon shrugged. “If you’re really nice about it, he might let you borrow him for a few weeks. But I doubt he’d stay away any longer.”

“What is so special about Enterprise that...” Erika’s voice trailed off as she saw Trip and T’Pol meet each other’s eyes. “...Oh. That’s why. I didn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“That he and T’Pol are...you know...”

“Friends?” Jon supplied helpfully.

She sniggered. “C’mon. That look they’re giving each other screams out Torrid Sex-Drenched Love Affair.”

“She’s married already,” Jon clarified. “They’re friends.”

Erika looked at him in frank disbelief. “Are you sure?”

“As sure as I’m sitting here,” he replied with quiet sincerity.

The tone of his voice got Erika’s attention. She eyed Trip and T’Pol again. “She’s married...they’re just friends...but they look at each other like they’re eternal soulmates?”

“It’s complicated,” Jon said.

Erika pursed her lips. “That clears things right up for me. Thanks, Jon.”

“Any time.”

“But it still leaves me Chief Engineer-less.”

A slow smile spread on Jon’s face as an idea came to him. “I know of another engineer who could probably do as good a job for you as Trip. He’s got plenty of command experience, too—he’d make a fine XO. He’d be a good stop-gap until you find a permanent Chief Engineer. Who knows, he might even want to stay on permanently. I’ve never discussed it with him...”

Erika was leaning forward eagerly now. “Who? Who is this miracle man?”

Jon grinned. “Lorian. He learned everything he knows from his old man. He has about eighty years experience with the NX-class Warp 5 engine. I’ll bet he knows more tricks on how to get her to go than every other engineer in Starfleet, combined. Admiral Forrest all but told me the brass will be offering him a commission as Commander as soon as they finish fooling with the red tape.”

Erika couldn’t help but be intrigued. “But doesn’t he want a command of his own?”

“We’ve never talked about it. But it’s possible that, after everything he went through in the Expanse, he wants to take a break from command and just be an engineer for a while.”

Erika studied Lorian for a moment, noting the way he was dancing with Karyn. “Does Karyn go with him?”

“She’s a first-class helm officer. Do you have all of yours picked out yet?”

“How good a pilot is she?”

“She’s an Archer!” he said stoutly, almost offended.

Implacably, Erika simply folded her arms. “How good is she?”

Jon folded his arms. “She landed Enterprise practically dead-stick on a planet surface after their last battle. Didn’t even break a viewport.”

She whistled in admiration. “Good God.”

“They’re yours for the asking, as soon as Starfleet puts them in uniform.”

Suddenly her face fell. “Wait. What about the no-fraternization policy?”

Jon wasn’t swayed. “According to the record, I personally absolved that crew of the no-frat policy 117 years ago.”

“Jon...”

He took her hand, turning serious. “Just go with it, Erika. They can be as discreet as you need them to be. Besides, I doubt Starfleet will be hassling this crew over anything for a while. It owes them too much.” He raised his eyebrows expectantly. “So? What do you say?”

Erika broke into an exasperated smile. “Damn you, Jon. I come here for one thing, and ten minutes later, you have me considering three other things.”

He spread his hands. “Just looking after my family.”

They both turned their attention back to the dance floor. Lorian and Karyn were holding each other close, in their own world as they swayed to the music. Nearby, Trip and T’Pol were enjoying themselves, adding turns to their routine.

Erika noticed Jon’s pensive expression. “What are you thinking?” she asked softly.

He smiled gently as he continued to watch. “Just that these four people are very dear to me, and I want them to be happy.”

“I’d hazard a guess that Lorian and Karyn are already there,” Erika observed.

Jon nodded with warm satisfaction. “Love at first sight, a lifetime in the making. They’re a good match.” He grew wistful again, as he watched Trip laughing, twirling T’Pol gracefully around. “Trip and T’Pol have never had it easy. They probably never will. But they deserve the chance to try.”

“What about her husband?” Erika asked.

“It’s complicated,” Jon said again. “But I have reason to be hopeful.” A ghost of a smile played on his lips. “Stranger fairy tales have happy endings.”

~~tbc~~


Chapter 6, the conclusion

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

That was another sweat chapter. I loved this chapter, Im kinda feeling hopeful that the next chapter has things get a little easyer for T/T. Since this is obviously an AU story. Loved that T'pol taught Lorian to dance, I would love to see T/T dance on the show. I cant wait for the next update!

This was a very nice story. I like the little facts you added such as T'Pol teaching Lorian to dance. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

continue to love this story.
sometimes au is better.
:)

and i noticed Callahan is moving up a little..
what Callahans crosstime jazz club
;)

This is a wonderful story, a real find! It's very cute and I can't wait for the next update!

I love this story. I love all your stories. Like a nice drink of milk. They don't have to ever end you know. You could just go on with them forever, i wouldn't complain and i'd keep reading... I love what your Lorian and Karyn, I love your T/T interaction. I really, really like your Archer. And putting Lorian and Karyn on Columbia is a stroke of genius - but it's gonna be hard for Lorian to take not being in charge after being in command for like 50 years...that'll be interesting. OK, now i'm just typing internal dialogue. sorry. yay! can't wait for more!

Beautiful as always!

I *adored* this chapter, you had everything PERFECT! Sigh. Lovely to see Lorian and Karyn falling deeper and deeper in love, really enjoy the way you handled the complications of the time lines crossing without making an incomprehensible muddle of it. Such a lot to cherish, I can't wait to see where you take the story from here. Bravo and thanks, Ali D :~)
Eagerly waiting for more...

I hope T'Les gets a chance to meet Lorian!(maybe she'll rethink her words about the children)I love it as always!

Torrid, Sex-drenched Love Affair.... I love it! That was a fun chapter, and I actually felt sorry for Mr. Fifth-wheel (who I dislike highly - that man has only one volume... loud!). Please tell me you're going to show that T'Pol/T'Les convo, that'll be priceless. Will you be keeping everything canon (other than Lorian etc and T/T)?

So sweet. I really hope T/T get together soon, keep it up.