Love and Loss

Love and Loss

By Triplover

Disclaimer: I own nothin’… and it sucks.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After a very dangerous mission Varen Tucker returns home but is not prepared for what will come next.
A/N: I said I’d have a sequel coming after “Like Father, Like Son” and I meant it! I’m just full of ideas aren’t I?! Seems like I’ve been writing a lot lately but whatever… I guess my muse has a lot it wants me to do right now. And you can’t just resist your muse now can you?!

Part One

He ran. He ran as fast as he could but he knew sooner or later they’d catch up with him. He had to hide. Phaser fire flashed around him. Finally he reached where he’d been headed. The cave! He ran inside as fast as he could and looked carefully trying to find who he’d been sent to find. Dammit! Where were they?! He had to find them! They were right behind them and if he didn’t warn them…. “Captain! Captain Clyde!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Commander Rab!”

Nothing.

They had to be here! This was where they were going to meet! They had to be here. The Klingons were gaining on him. He had to hurry but he couldn’t leave without them! “Commander Rab! Captain Clyde!”

“Tucker! Is that you Ensign?!”

Varen smiled. “Captain?”

Finally he saw him. Captain Jason Clyde and Commander Toby Rab ran towards him. “Ensign Tucker… we didn’t think you were still alive!”

Varen sighed. “For a while I didn’t either! The Klingons are right behind me we have to get to the site!”

Captain Clyde nodded. “That’s just where we were headed, Ensign. When we realized the Klingons were coming, we wanted to warn you… we were just a little… preoccupied. I suggest you get your phaser ready.”

Varen grinned. “Yes sir!”

The three officers ran through the tunnel out the side Varen had just come from with weapons drawn. As soon as Varen caught sight of the Klingons he shot them with everything he had, as did everyone else. A second later right when they were at the clear he felt a burn in his side. Darkness took him immediately.

==

“Varen? Hey… wake up kid.”

It was blurry at first but he soon began to see more and more by every second. “Doctor?”

“Varen… how do you feel?”

Varen looked up at the man talking to him and smiled. It was Doctor Craig. He moved his head around to see where he was. He was back on the ship. “Doctor… I’m back. But… how?”

“Captain Clyde never leaves one of his men behind, Tucker… you should know that by now,” the doctor said smiling.

Varen smiled back. “Quite true.”

“Now how do you feel?”

“I feel a slight pain in my side but other than that… I’m fine.”

The doctor chuckled. “Well good… because the captain wants to speak with you.”

Varen nodded.

==

“Varen, how are you feeling?”

Varen shifted to his other leg. “Fine sir. I… just wanted to thank you for saving me.”

“It was the least I could do. If it weren’t for you Commander Rab would still be in that cell with those savages. You’re a great engineer ensign. You have a gift… just like your father.”

Varen smiled. “Thank you sir… it has always been my hope to follow in my father’s footsteps… I’m glad I’m doing well so far.”

“I know for a fact your father was very proud of you when you graduated. When we were on the Enterprise he was always someone I looked up to. When I learned that his son had graduated top of his class from the Academy, I had to sign you up,” his captain told him.

Varen nodded. “And I appreciate it sir. It’s an honor to serve under you.”

Captain Clyde stood and walked over to him smiling. “You did well today. Now that we’ve gotten the commander back we’re heading for Earth. This ship will be in dry dock for a few weeks, which means some free time for the crew. I think this crew deserves some R and R.”

Varen grinned. “I see sir. I’m sure the crew will enjoy the time off.”

His captain nodded then sighed. “From this moment on you’re off duty. Get some rest.”

Varen didn’t know what to say. His captain had always been different with him because of who his father was. It was a very uncomfortable situation at times but he knew he only did it because his father and the captain had been friends. “Aye sir… I’ll see what I can do.”

==

Jennifer Archer hadn’t been home for nearly a year. She was glad to finally get the chance to see her father. It had been such a long time. Jennifer walked into the house smiling as she searched for her father. “Daddy? Dad?”

Then she finally spotted him. He was in the kitchen cooking. He looked up and smiled immediately. “Jennifer!” He ran over to her and they hugged. “God Jen I didn’t know you’d be here! When did you get home?”

“This morning. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too sweetie! I can’t believe you’re home!”

“Do you really think I’d miss the reunion of the crew of Enterprise? Have you heard from Varen?”

Her father shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I’ve gotten a letter or two from him. He seems to be doing just fine but for now he’s on a mission, Klingons kidnapped the ship’s commander. They might not be home for a while.”

“I hope he’ll be all right.”

“I’m sure he will… he always is.”

Jennifer nodded though her worry wasn’t about to go anywhere until she saw him in front of her. “So how have you been? I heard you went over to Vulcan to see Trip and T’Pol.”

Her father nodded. “I did. They’ve been doing okay. Since Varen left they’ve had a lot more free space but T’Pol refuses to do anything with it. They say Vulcan’s aren’t sentimental but I can’t believe that for a second.”

Jennifer laughed. “T’Pol won’t change Varen’s room eh? And I was sure it’d be Trip who would refuse to change it.”

“Trip doesn’t want to either. They’re in agreement on that one.”

“Well that’s a first. But I mean Varen’s been gone for five years now… you’d think they’d get over it by now.”

Her father chuckled then shook his head. “You just wait until you have kids Jen… then maybe you’ll understand. Varen’s always been a good kid… I wouldn’t blame them for missing him still. It’s hard to lose someone you love.” Archer groaned inwardly just as soon as he realized what he’d said. It had been a month since Jennifer and Varen had broken up. It was hard for her to think about things like that after the big blow up they’d had. She still didn’t understand why he would do that to her… he’d wanted to be her friend and the only reason he’d given her for their breakup was ‘I love you… and I wish it could work but it can’t… it never could.’ Archer wasn’t sure what that meant but for whatever reason Varen had… it must have been important. He truly did love Jennifer… that’s what had hurt her the most… the fact that he loved her and still he had to leave her. “I’m sorry honey… I-“

“It’s okay, Dad… I know what you were saying. Just forget about it.”

Archer nodded it was best to change the subject now. “You know… Trip and T’Pol are not the only ones not willing to change things.” With that he began to walk away. Jennifer followed until they got to her old room. She looked inside and it was like blasting to the past. Her room hadn’t changed a bit. She smiled then looked at her father. Finally she couldn’t take it anymore and she hugged him once again even longer than before.

Part 2

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Two folks have made comments

You've got me curious... can't wait to hear more about all this!

I hope you feed your muse well, cause this chapter reads like an interesting series. Looking forward to more.