Faith- Part 7

"FAITH OF THE HEART"
An "Enterprise" story
By Alison M. DOBELL

RATING: NC-17.
ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.
FEEDBACK: Welcomed
EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com
WEBSITE: http://www.carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY": "When members of the crew go suddenly missing, Captain Archer finds the only witness is unable to tell them anything. Lieutenant Reed takes it upon himself to turn detective."
DISCLAIMER: The characters and 'Enterprise' belong to Paramount. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Part 7

* * * * *

She was drifting in and out of pain. Everything hurt. From the physical to the mental. No demarcation lines between one and the other. Everything was a living, breathing, aching, heart breaking sorrow. An agony of heart, mind, body and soul. Death would be a relief but it would give her no satisfaction. She was angry. Wanted vengeance. Was full of sorrow. Wanted justice. Was lonely. Wanted loving arms to find her. It took hours to surface close enough to consciousness to hear the muted voices talking over her while the Vulcan surgeon worked. They had immobilized her limbs so that she would not accidentally move while the delicate internal stitches were drawn together to close up the rips and tears where she had been forcibly raped. Tears leaked from her eyes, the stoic expression fragmenting under pressure. Another violation. Albeit these were her people trying to help her. She did not want them. She wanted Trip. But she could not tell them. Was not supposed to form any intimate relationships especially with a human. It could jeopardise everything.

The sting, pinch and stabbing pain of the needle woke her the rest of the way. The voices stopped. Then the Captain spoke quietly, his voice pitched for her ears alone though to a Vulcan that meant nothing. Their superior hearing would pick up the slightest whisper. "Sub-Commander T'Pol, it is Captain Vornak. Can you hear me?"

She would have nodded but could not move. Her thoughts were quick but her movements so sluggish that she knew there had to be some kind of drug in her system. She hated that, it showed weakness in the face of pain. But she did not comment on it. Pushed aside her distaste. She had to get through this. Recover enough to hunt down the enemy responsible. For that she needed information. That meant she had to stay conscious. Do something Trip referred to as *playing nice*.

"Yes."

Her voice was a hoarse murmur. Captain Vornak felt a flicker of relief. An emotion he was careful not to show. "You were captured and violated."

"I was raped."

He did not comment on the correction. "We have located Enterprise."

That got through to her. Something flickered momentarily in her eyes. "Enterprise?"

Did that sound like hope? Captain Vornak could not be sure. He frowned. She should have been happy and relieved to be back among her own kind. Not eager to see the humans again. Perhaps it was the drugs? Yes, that must be it. "You require more surgery then you will need to rest and recuperate."

"I will be fine." *Once I am back on Enterprise. Once I am back where I belong*.

Captain Vornak shook his head. "You will not be *fine* Sub-Commander. Not for some time."

She flinched as the needle pierced tender flesh yet again. Her breath hitching as the slide of surgical thread tugged tightly between the folds of intimate skin. The Vulcan doctor made no apology. His expertise was workmanlike not compassionate. How she missed human compassion. The Vulcan Captain noticed her pupils were beginning to dilate, she was beginning to drift off again. He gave the doctor a nod then turned and left. The doctor encouraged a deep sleep, increasing the dose of medication to ensure she would not wake again until long after the procedure was finished.

* * * * *

Lieutenant Reed was quiet. He had left to carry out his duty shift then looked in briefly on Ensign Sato as she slept. He went to his quarters and showered, rested for a couple of hours then returned to sickbay. The lights were dimmed. Dr. Phlox had retired to snatch some much needed rest. He was surprised to see Commander Tucker sitting next to Hoshi's bed with her hand held loosely in his. His head lolled to one side. He tried to push aside the flash of irritation, remembering that Trip was suffering too. He had lost the Sub-Commander, it was only natural he would want to make sure his remaining friends were all right. But it was the familiarity of it that irked the armoury officer. He wanted to be the one sitting at her bedside holding her hand. He wanted his face to be the first thing Hoshi saw when she woke. Realising that his anger was fueled by unreasoned jealousy made him blush. Though he had been standing quietly something must have roused the Commander. He opened tired eyes and immediately took in his friend's awkward stance. Trip smiled wearily at him. It really was time he started sleeping in a bed again.

"Malcolm, good to see you."

Lieutenant Reed nodded, waiting for Trip to get up. The Commander seemed to take ages to get to his feet. He watched Trip gently put Hoshi's hand under the top of the coverlet. He looked sad for a moment then straightened and stepped away from the biobed.

"I'm glad you're here."

"Are you?" Snapped Lieutenant Reed quietly.

The sleepy look in Trip's eyes shook clear for a moment. He blinked at his friend in surprise then gave a slow nod. "I''ll see ya."

Before the lieutenant could apologise for snapping at him, the Commander left sickbay. Lieuenant Reed sighed heavily, annoyed at himself for his unreasonable behaviour. True, he had hardly spoken but since their time together on Enterprise he had formed a strong friendship with the Commander. Had learnt to value his opinion and to trust him. He would apologise later. But for now, all he could think of was Hoshi.

Trip made his weary way back to his quarters. His head hurt. The sutures were still sore but the inside of his head felt like someone had sewn a tropical steel band inside. He knew if the Captain found out he had spent all night sitting up with the injured he would be in for it big time. He sighed with relief when he reached his quarters without bumping into anyone. Sanctuary. He let himself in then stared at the little room. Never had it felt so empty before. Holding back his sorrow he stripped and slid into the cold bed. Lying on his back staring up at the ceiling he tried to prevent the tears from falling but his heart had other ideas. He closed his eyes and silently apologised to T'Pol for being weak. In the next few seconds he drifted off into a deep but not dreamless sleep. It was as if he was being carried on a journey, the distance no object to his sleeping mind. Gentle hands bore him though he could see no one. A loving touch smiled in his mind making his heart ache though he knew not why. Then he was there. The end of his journey. The one place he wanted to be. T'Pol opened her eyes and beheld him. He could not speak, could not reach out for her. Tears blinded him with joy. T'Pol reached out and took his hand, guiding him gently over ochre coloured sand dunes. The heat did not trouble him for once. The painfully bright sky meant nothing to him. His eyes were averted. Fixed upon the single most dazzling sight to ever capture his heart. T'Pol. She was there, with him. The place did not matter. The time was immaterial.

"T'Pol! I thought ya were dead, darlin'..."

She hushed him with a finger placed to his lips. He luxuriated in the physical sensation of her touch. Inhaled her unique spicy scent and kissed the finger with his lips. Tasting cinnamon.

"What happened, sweetheart?"

"Don't talk, Trip."

"But I want ta know..."

"Sssh..."

Then her hands were framing his face, her lips covering his as she imitated the human art of kissing. He forgot what he had been going to say. The questions it had been so important to ask. Her body brushed up against his setting off a fire beneath his skin. He tingled all over like a gentle electrical current. The kiss deepened, her hands drifted down to undress him. He cradled her so gently in his arms, worried for her. Afraid that one touch from him would hurt her. His throat ached as he pulled out of the kiss to speak. "T'Pol, you don't need to do that."

She had the front of his jumpsuit open, her tongue lathing across his collar bone as she kissed the newly exposed skin and tasted his salt. He moaned softly then forced himself to cup her wandering hands with his own. To still her actions for just a moment before he lost all restraint.

"T'Pol, darlin'. I don't wanna hurt you."

"You will only hurt me if you stop me from loving you."

New tears glistened on his fair lashes. "You don't know how much I want that too but you have to heal first." He said gently. "I can wait for as long as it takes, T'Pol."

She drew a wondering finger across his parted lips. Watching him carefully. "You can?"

His heart ached with love, his body with need. "Yeah."

"What if I just want to love you?"

He was not sure she had said what he thought she had. "Come again?"

She went back to peeling his clothes off. He became aware they were outside. On some planet he had never been before. Either that or he was inside some damn holographic room again. No, scratch that. "T'Pol, at least let's go inside."

Her lip quirked up a bit at one corner. He stared at it, his heart missing a beat. Her hands still moving, now beginning to remove his regulation vest.

"T'Pol?"

"We are the only ones here, Trip."

"We are?"

She loved how husky his voice had become. Watched him glance around once in a daze.

"Where the hell are we?"

"On Vulcan."

He shivered as her hands slid down the inside of his pants and began to touch him more intimately. Oh Lord he was getting so damn horny. "Uh T'Pol, if you keep doin' that I won't be able to stop myself...."

She smiled and finished undressing him, using her instep to push off his shoes and then rub off his socks. Every inch of skin she could touch and caress got warmed by more than the Vulcan sun. He was burning up with lust. His eyes were half lidded with desire, just a fraction away from completely losing control. She loved watching the struggle on his face as he tried to remain a gentleman.

"You'll hate yourself in the mornin'."

"Just as long as you love me today."

He groaned aloud, her mouth closing over his to stifle any further objections. She guided his hands to her one piece outfit and encouraged him to remove the clothing, her own hands drawing delicious friction over naked flesh. Her body wrapping round him as her own clothes were peeled away. He wanted to tell her he would be content to just hold her but T'Pol needed him. Wanted him. And his own heady desires were already driving him crazy. Whatever T'Pol wanted she could have. Not even a semblance of control was his to command any longer. They stood naked atop the highest dune. The sun bleached sky scorching them but somehow unable to rival the heat they were producing between them. T'Pol slid down his chest to her knees, kissing and licking her way down his throat and chest, teasing her tongue across his nipples as she stroked him gently between the legs. He kissed her brow and closed his eyes as she dropped to her knees leaving him standing. It was what she wanted so he waited for her to guide him. To tell him what she wanted.

Feeling him tremble was exciting her so much. Drawing out every sensation with her tongue, teeth, hands and mouth was eliciting delicious sounds from the back of his throat. T'Pol was delirious with delight at the ability to bring him such pleasure. So happy to be able to break down his control. Excited by the pleading sounds coming out of him as she probed the dark scented forest with her moist tongue. He was hardening quickly in her hand, the languid strokes of her palm around his penis drawing blood hot and vibrant into the inflated muscle. Hot, throbbing and now thrusting with the movement of his hips rising to meet her busy hand. She smiled and breathed in his scent, flicked out her tongue and washed the head of his cock. He trembled and shuddered. The taste drew another slower lick, a lingering suction that pulled the head of his cap into her moist cavern and let her drag her tongue back and forth across the slit. He was on his tip-toes now. Groaning louder, his penis beginning to leak into her mouth. She savoured him slowly, her free hand sliding around his waist to keep him upright.

"T'Pol...." He groaned.

She never did find out what he wanted from her. Her own lust becoming more demanding, her mouth riding his cock as she sucked and ran her teeth up his length. His shuddering egging her on, his hips pumping slowly into her mouth as he tried to hang on. He wanted to roll her on to her back, fill her and bring her to orgasm with him but she had other ideas and he had no way to deny her. Already too far gone to put the genie back in the bottle he was speeding up, rocking like crazy now. Her hand slid under him and caressed his balls, rolling them with her fingers and increasing the feelings driving him to the edge as they tightened.

"Oh Lord... I'm so close... so close..."

Then he was coming, her mouth riding him all the way. His hips bucking into her face. The warm sand dragging him down as he came closer and closer. Then with a great sudden rush his spine snapped back and he orgasmed. Her two hands now around his waist to keep him upright while she raked him with her teeth as the jism hit the back of her throat in a hot white frothy film. As she continued to empty his seed inside her mouth she carefully flopped on to her back guiding him down on top of her, her fingers parting his ass cheeks so she could caress and finger the tight channel and increase his excitement as he finished coming. He tried to wriggle off her face but she held him fast, her throat flexing rapidly as she drank him down not wanting to waste a drop. She had him exactly where she wanted him. A moistened finger penetrated him, pushed carefully passed the tight ring of muscle and had him rocking hard, the excitement tumbling inside him, his hips erratic from too much stimulation, her whole being working him to within an inch of his life as she pressed the finger in deep and stroked his prostrate. His hips bucked violently. The breath huffed out of him and she rocked him dry as he spasmed. Spent, he sagged at last against her. She did not push him off but rolled him gently over in the hot sand until he was lying flat out and exhausted beneath her. His ragged breathing punctuated by moans and little aftershocks of pleasure as she wriggled down to lick him dry. His penis deflating in her happy mouth. She played with him with her tongue, washing the sand out of the creases and savouring his unique flavour. Another kind of explorer than the one he had grown so used to here in space. After a few mute moments his eyelashes fluttered to half mast. Dizzy from her gentle touch. His hazy blue eyes settling on her liquid brown depths.

"D'you always get what you want?"

She raised her head and wriggled up his body, pausing only to tease his nipples with the flats of her teeth. She was rewarded by his shudder. "Would you have it any other way, beloved?"

His eyes opened fully in surprise at her teasing tone then he laughed outright. A light happy sound that filled her heart with joy, and warmth and deep content.

* * * * *

Captain Archer could not believe it. A Vulcan ship. Hailing *them*? He steadied the sudden thunder of his heart and tried to hide the relief. Travis Mayweather watched the Captain take a deep steadying breath before activating the com. "This is Captain Jonathan Archer of the Star Ship Enterprise. How can we assist you?"

The short stocky image of Captain Vornak filled the screen. He looked even more stoic than was normal for a Vulcan. "Captain. My name is Captain Vornak and I need to speak with you immediately."

Puzzled, the Captain tilted his head slightly. "I am at your service."

"I will arrange to transport across immediately."

Before Captain Archer could query him the com cut off. He glanced at the helmsman. Travis shrugged apologetically. "I guess they aren't too fond of small talk, Captain."

Captain Archer frowned at him then decided to let the matter drop. Travis had not meant any offence. He got to his feet and noticed that Lieutenant Reed was not at his post. "Contact Lt Reed and ask him to join me in the transporter room, Travis."

The Boomer nodded and proceeded to com the armoury officer. No sooner had the Captain and lieutenant reached the transporter room than Captain Vornak and Lieutenant Rolrak beamed on board. The Captain was more curious than annoyed. It was rare to see a Vulcan do anything that could be described as *hasty*. This was the closest any had come to it in his experience.

"Captain Vornak, welcome to Enterprise."

"Have you somewhere private we may talk, Captain?"

The Captain nodded. Intrigued but also unsettled. What the hell was this all about? "Of course."

He led the silent Vulcans to his situation room. The four of them gazed at each other for a moment then Captain Vornak explained. "I apologise for seeming abrupt Captain Archer, but I believe you have had a confrontation with a violent species."

The surprise on Captain Archer's face told the Vulcan all he needed to know. "How do you know about that?"

"I know because we rescued Sub-Commander T'Pol."

A look of barely believed hope lit up the Captain's face. "T'Pol? She's ALIVE?"

Captain Vornak frowned at the use of her name without the accompanying rank. Over familiarity was not encouraged among Vulcans and was offensive to his ears. "Yes, Captain. The Sub-Commander is alive but very ill. Our surgeon has had to operate and it will be some months before a recovery can be expected."

The Captain leaned on the table and took a deep breath. Lieutenant Reed watched the Vulcans' reaction but was feeling the same euphoria and relief as his Captain. Captain Archer indicated the seats and sat down before his legs gave out. "This is indeed good news, Captain Vornak. We thought we had lost her."

The Vulcan tried not to frown. "This would have distressed you?"

Surprised, the Captain's eyebrows rose. "Of course. The Sub-Commander is a valued member of this crew."

"She is Vulcan."

A small smile teased the Captain's lips. "I don't care if she's bright yellow with purple spots. She's a good first officer and this crew would be diminished without her."

The praise startled the Vulcans. Captain Vornak took a moment before asking the question he had come to ask. "The Sub-Commander was worried about the others."

The Captain nodded gravely, no longer smiling. "Yes. The aliens call themselves Hirogen. They used some kind of stealth technology to sneak aboard our ship then abducted most of the female crew." He paused, his voice becoming pained. "Every one of them was raped, Captain Vornak."

He nodded. "That is why I am here."

"To return Sub-Commander T'Pol?"

He shook his head. "No."

"No?"

"I have come to offer our services in restoring your crew to health, Captain."

"They've been RAPED, Captain Vornak. Perhaps you don't understand the kind of trauma that creates."

"I do understand and losing your temper with me will not help them."

Breathing heavily Captain Archer took a few moments to calm down. He looked a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Captain, but these have been emotional times for us. I am sure Dr Phlox could use any help your physicians could give him."

Captain Vornak rose to his feet and everyone else did the same. "Good. You will follow us to our colony on Rastak."

"I thought you would have physicians on board your ship?"

"We do but on Rastak we have full facilities and it is only two days away at Warp 5."

"I don't think we need to put you to all that trouble, Captain..."

"You do not understand. We have experience with many kinds of encounter. Your people do not. We have facilities for dealing with traumatised victims and Rastak is a good place for the rest of your crew to recover from their shock."

"That's..." He paused a half second as if choosing his words with care. It would be churlish to refuse the offer of help. Lieutenant Reed stayed silent. Watching and listening with interest. "Very kind of you."

"It is logical."

Captain Archer nodded. "May I see Sub-Commander T'Pol?"

The Vulcan shook his head. "Not at this time, Captain. She is still in surgery. Her injuries are very serious."

The Captain went pale. "How serious?"

"If we had not found her when we did she would most certainly have died."

* * * * *

Continue to Part 8

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Nine of you have made comments

Ooh. Hirogen. Keep it coming please

This is disturbing, but bloody good. Keep going!, BTW, it's RUSSELL Watson who sings the theme, not Robert.
On 16 February 2003 at 01:24 PM Bucky said:
Well, if emails can be red-faced, Alison sent me a red-faced one today asking me to correct the error. Thanks for the heads up, Sarah. We've corrected the name, and Alison apologizes to her readers.

Thanks for the comment, Sarah. If email can be red-faced, then Alison sent a very red-faced email to be asking me to correct the error. It's now done.

Wow! This is excellent. Very visual and intense. I'm anxious to read more!
On 15 February 2003 at 12:56 PM Hopeful Nebula said:
One more little tiny nit... you say in part one that "He could not even countenance the thought of losing him." As good as it is to see somebody using a thesaurus, "countenance" means "face" as in eyes, nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, and forehead. :)

Bucky the former linguist stepping in here. Actually "countenance" has multiple meanings. As noun it does, indeed mean "face," etc.; however, as a verb it means "give moral approval."
So, in this case, it's a stretch, but okay.

This is GOOD, sad but GOOD! Hope you post another chapter soon!

wow. excellent. I love the R/S parts especially- you have Malcolm's character down brilliantly!

What an emotional roller coaster. It will be interesting to see how the crew draws together due to this.

I jsut dont see how the ship will survive with the present crew..
rape can leave even the strongest woman shattered for a period of time. And with it happening to the majority of women on the ship..a ship that is but a former shell of itself.

Oh with counseling ect they will be ok but not after a period of time.

and then you have how the men will react to them..
i just cant see how you can even hope for a happy ending..