If Erika Hernandez had noticed Danaë that night in the bar, she probably would have assumed that any possible competition was run off. Perhaps for a moment she was right. When the second day of Archer's debriefing reached a boiling point between him and Soval, it was decided that the captain needed to take a few days and recuperate. Archer didn't wait to be told twice. He wanted to get away from everyone and everything. Having heard Danaë talk about her many adventures rock and mountain climbing, he had become nostalgic for the days when he had engaged in the pastime. For a moment he even contemplated inviting her, but changed his mind out of fear of prying eyes and wagging tongues.
The mountains he chose were about as far as you could get from people and the rewards for a hard day's climb were some of the most incredible views that the area had to offer. He had checked his equipment and supplies repeatedly before leaving so he was confident he could handle the journey. He checked his rigging no less than three times to make sure he had hooked it up properly and was ascending towards one of the peaks when movement on his right side caught his attention. He had not expected to meet anyone in such a remote area so it had come as a complete surprise when he turned and saw Erika climbing the mountain with him. She reminded him that it wasn't safe to climb without a partner and it seemed to Archer that having a good trusted friend at his side would only make the adventure better..
What he didn't expect was the way Erika's presence would dredge up a conflict within himself. During the Xindi conflict he had found himself in a moral conflict where he had given in to torture, piracy and other acts that were repugnant and against his better self. He had sworn he would never behave in such a fashion and yet he did, again and again. Where had the Archer that once left Space dock full of hope and excitement gone? Was he gone forever?
Talking to Erika and seeing that idealistic look in her eye was a constant reminder of how he used to be before the Xindi mission. She had his optimism, his naivety. When she kissed him and offered to help him find whatever he had lost, it seemed like exactly what he needed. She was warm and familiar and for a moment he dared to believe she could reignite the spark he feared had gone out. All that night they talked. He told her about different missions, things he saw both good and bad. He told her stories about Trip, T'Pol, Hoshi, Malcolm, Travis Mayweather, but in particular Lt. Darcy seemed to come up a little too often for Erika's comfort.
The next day they continued their climb and Archer seemed a bit more like his old self again. They had still not reached the summit, but as Captain Hernandez pointed out they could make it by nightfall. In a moment of flirtation she asked Archer why they had ever stopped seeing each other. He smiled and pointed out that he had been given a promotion and outranked her. It would have been inappropriate. Kissing her on the mountainside, she asked what Starfleet would think of them rekindling their romance. He quickly reminded her of the climber's code that stated that what happened on the mountain stayed on the mountain, before kissing her again. For a brief moment everything seemed perfect.
"Do me a favor," he said, smiling down at her. "When your ship leaves the space dock and you begin making your first contacts, don't let their fear and hatred change who you are." At this request she was surprised. "It's some advice Lt. D'Arcy once gave me."
"Lt. D'Arcy... Danaë." She gave a half-hearted smile and shook her head. He looked at her, not understanding the change in her demeanor, or why she moved away from him. "Jon, have you paid much attention to the stories you've told me since last night?"
"Not really. I know I've mentioned Trip and T'Pol."
"Yes, but another name keeps coming up. You even said it in your sleep." He suddenly realized the name she meant and furrowed his brow. "I don't know what transpired between you two during this mission and it's not my business, but I think the two of you really need to talk." She looked up at him, her dark eyes full of disappointment. "It's funny, I really believed I could help you find what you had lost. Turns out someone else already did."
The two didn't say much for a few moments. Archer looked up at the summit, the view that he once said looked fine, suddenly seemed a bit more precarious. There were a lot of things he had tried not to think about on the Xindi mission, particularly the less than ethical decisions he had made, but there had been another too. He was aware that he and Danaë had grown close... too close really. They both knew the regulations and had never really talked about it. Upon returning to earth, the guilt he felt over some of his decisions had been all consuming, especially when they had called him a hero. He would have liked to have gone to Danaë and talked to her the way he had in that cave on Dyfed, but he refrained. Instead he chose to follow the path of propriety as decreed by Starfleet.
Running into Erika at the bar seemed like a Godsend. Here was someone he had history with, equal rank, there were no rules to break. Still, where once he had possessed an attraction and even a romantic attachment to her, he now felt only friendship. Part of him wished he could recapture the fire they had had from many years ago, but it was impossible, and the truth was that he had no desire to erase what he felt for Danaë.
"How did you know about her and I?" he asked suddenly, wondering where he had slipped up and concerned that Starfleet would also discover the truth.
"When I was reading your reports I noticed that on a couple of occasions your knack for precise detail wasn't there," she answered and he looked at her puzzled. "For example, when you wrote about your first contact with the Gintare on Dyfed, there was no mention of Lt. D'Arcy after the prison break. It was as if she disappeared. That might not seem like much, but it was a bit odd for you. I've seen you go into great detail as to the opinions and comments made by Cmdr. Tucker, T'Pol or Ensign Sato, but when it involves Lt. D'Arcy you say nothing. Later when you reported the incident with the yamanu, you were careful to mention her abduction and return as well as the attempt to destroy the ship, but the attack on you was glossed over and her attempted suicide was barely a footnote. Dr. Phlox left notes in her file on the incident which were quite detailed until the attempted suicide. Then all it said was that you managed to get her weapon away from her and she could be taken back to sickbay."
