A/N: So I decided to go ahead and send out this final chapter rather than wait until tomorrow. Thank you all who have taken the time to review and thank you to my silent readers. I hope you all have enjoyed this little adventure.

Chapter 7

My human walks with me down the hall. I'm not really too sure where we're going, I don't need to relieve myself at the moment, besides, we're not going in that direction.

I take the time to just sniff around, taking in the scenery. It's not that unusual since sometimes my human walks me around to other areas just for fun. I like doing that, it gives me a chance to stretch my legs and explore areas I don't go to very often.

We walk into a large area that I've been to before, but there has never been so many humans here the other times I've been in this place and it's giving me a feeling of uncertainty. I'm not sure what's going on, but I sense my human is relaxed, so I'm sure it's nothing bad.

I sit at my human's feet as he stands in front of every one and speaking in his voice that I know is not an angry voice, just a little louder than usual so every one can hear him. Like I said, I don't know what he does around here, but I'm pretty sure it's something important because when he speaks, no one else does.

I hear him say my human name a few times and now I'm really wondering what the heck is going on. I've never been brought in front of so many before and have my name said like this. Sure, my human has taken me to places where there's a lot of others around, and food, there's always been food the other times, and they are usually walking around, speaking to one another and I'm pretty much left alone, hoping someone will drop some food.

This time is definitely different. I don't smell any food, only my human is speaking, and no one is walking around, just standing still as my human speaks. You know...I'm starting to think he's the leader of the human pack. Intresting.

He bends down and puts something on my collar. "Blah blah blah Porthos. Good boy." He says as he gives me a pat on the head. I don't know what he put on my collar, but it's kind of big and feels a little heavy.

Suddenly, there's a loud noise that frightens me a little and it makes me go into my natural "fight or flight" instinct. I begin to realize that the noise is happy noises and relax. I hear humans saying "good boy" and "blah blah Porthos." My tail goes crazy.

I still don't know what this thing my human put on my collar is, but I think it's something important, something to be proud of. I sit with my chest puffed out as the humans come to give me pats on the head, ear rubs and some offer their paw to me that I oblige and return my paw. Even the human with the standing ears pats my head. Wow! Now that was something very important.

After everything settled down, my human walks me back to our area. Still don't know what this thing is, but I can't help puffing my chest with pride as we walk.

Once we got back to our area, my human bent down and took the thing off my collar. I look at him a little sad. "Please don't take it off. I like it." Oh course he doesn't understand me and puts it on his table that I'm not allowed to be on.

My ears perk when I hear a noise. I know that noise, it means I have a visitor. Yea! I like getting visitors and I run to the vanishing area because I know that whoever it is will be there!

Oh yea! It's the nice human female that gives me extras of the yummy chunk food when I spend the night with her. She never brings any of the yummy food with her when she visits, so I don't get my hopes up, but she does have something that smells extra yummy when she gives it to my human.

She bends down and gives me her extra special ear rubs. Only she gives me those ear rubs and it makes me happy. I hear her say "good Porthos, good boy." and that makes me very happy.

She and my human speak a little before she starts to go back to the vanish area, so I know I won't see her again for a long time. Something very shocking happens. I hear the word "Hoshi." Hey! I just learned a new human word! I wonder what this word "Hoshi" means.

I think about it for a while and I realize my human says that word a lot when she's around, sometimes when she's not around, and sometimes I hear my human say that word when he's sleeping. I'm going to have to pay attention and figure out what "Hoshi" means.

After she goes through the vanishing area, my human stands staring at the spot. He does that sometimes. Maybe he's fascinated about the vanishing area too...but then again, he only does that when she vanishes.

I give him a little whine to get his attention. I'm curious about that yummy smell he has. "Blah blah Porthos."

He sets the dish down in front of me. I never smelled anything this yummy before and I take a little taste. Mmmm. I look to my human just to make sure it's ok for me to eat it, but he's going into the other area. I know what that means. He's going to go in the bath box and make the water very cold. Seriously, why does he do that? Oh well. *Nom nom nom.*

XXX

I about fell out of my chair in a laughing fit when I received the package from Admiral Gardner at Starfleet HQ, but at the same time, this is a very serious occasion.

I have the crew assembled in the cargo bay and I'm feeling pretty proud of Porthos as I walk him there. I know he won't understand what's going on, and it's really a show for the crew than him but still, I'm proud of my pup.

He obeys when I tell him to sit next to me, a true and loyal Starfleet crew member if I ever saw one. I give a smile as I begin my speech.

"We are assembled here today to pay honor to a true hero. Without the bravery and wisdom of this crew member, I shudder to think of the outcome we all would have suffered. This member has been with us since our maiden voyage, and while we never really give him too much thought or credit, he has been a friend and companion to many of us.

"The events that took place a few weeks ago only proves that we should not take him for granite simply because of his size or species. He proved to all of us, myself included, that he will go to great lengths to protect us and care for us."

I reach into the wooden box and pull out the medal that was sent.

"In recognition of your bravery, heroic acts, and performing above and beyond the call, by order of Starfleet command, I award the bronze star to honory Captain Porthos."

I bend down to fix the metal to his collar, give him a pat on the head. "I'm very proud of you, Porthos. Good boy." Then I give a slight nod to my crew that they have permission to celebrate. Applause, cheers and rounds of "good boy" and "good Porthos" fill the air. I swear, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was puffing with pride.

I dismiss the crew and most of them stop to give Porthos their personal congratulations and appreciation. Trip offers his hand to Porthos, which he immediately puts his paw in, as I did teach him to "shake."

Trip smiles. "Good job Porthos. You really saved our bacon."

I was stunned when T'Pol stopped to give Porthos a pat on the head. She looks up at me, and I have to smile at her Vulcan-esque remark. "Your canine obviously posses great intellect...for a canine."

"Thanks, Commander." I say to her, trying to stifle a laugh, knowing what she really means is "you have a smart dog." Really, why do Vulcans always have to make the simplest comments sound so overly intellectual?

I have to chuckle as I walk Porthos back to our quarters. He's almost trotting and that chest! If he sticks it out any further...hmm...maybe dogs really do feel a sense of pride.

We get back and I take the metal from his collar. I'm going to frame it and hang it on the wall. I really am proud of my dog. He gives me a whine when I take it off his collar, he must really like it.

We haven't been back very long when the door chime rings. I can't help but give a little smile when I see Hoshi. I step to the side and invite her in as she hands me a plate.

I eye it curiously wondering what it could be as she bends down to give Porthos one of her playfully rough ear scratches and telling him what a good boy he is. I can't help but to sneak a glance at her bent over. I might be Captain, but I'm still a man, after all.

She stands and looks towards the plate that is now in my hands. "I asked chef to make something special for Porthos to celebrate his...promotion." She giggles and I grin stupidly. I really like her little, light giggle.

"Oh. Uh...what is it?" I ask to be sure it's not something that might upset his stomach, but mainly just to stall her for an extra minute or two.

"It's mostly ground chicken breast, some chopped chicken liver and a little ground beef. I know he has a sensitive stomach, so I made sure chef didn't season any of the meat before he cooked it, and there's only a small portion of beef, so it shouldn't be too heavy on his stomach." She always did understand Porthos' dietary needs. That's why I trust her to take care of him when I'm gone for a few days.

I start to ask her to join me for dinner, but before I get the chance, she says she has to get back to the bridge. Duty first, of course. So instead, I simply say "I'm sure he'll enjoy this, thanks Hoshi."

She turns and leaves. I stand there like an idiot wishing I could tell her how I feel about her, wishing I could show her the dirty little fantasies I have about her.

I hear Porthos whine. His head is tilted and his nose is wiggling. He can smell what I have for him. "Oh. Sorry Porthos."

I set the dish down in front of him. I think I need a shower. A cold one.

XXX

I ask chef to prepare a plate for Porthos, as a special reward for saving all of us, even though the pup didn't know that's what he had done and it was all circumstance, but nonetheless.

I smile sweetly as I hand the plate to the Captain. I may be a linguist, possibly the best on Earth, but I also know body language and I know Archer has a thing for me. If I'm being honest, the feeling is mutual.

I have to smile at the fact of him checking me out when I bent over to give Porthos a scratch behind the ears. I'm so glad I wore my tight fitting uniform.

It's a shame really that I have the beta shift this week. The way he shifted, I'm sure he was about to ask me to stay, perhaps come clean about his feelings.

It wouldn't matter though, him being Captain and me an Ensgin, it couldn't happen. Maybe with luck, someday, something will change and we can both be honest with one another.

End.

Thank you all for reading. Until next time, Peace and Love to you all, my friends.