Faith-Part 23

"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. Lt Reed takes it upon himself to turn detective."
DISCLAIMER: The characters and 'Enterprise' belong to Paramount. No
infringement of copyright is intended.

Part 23

* * * * *

Dr Phlox was humming lightly to himself, moving around sickbay with the grace of someone sweeping across a dance floor. His mind so completely at peace and in harmony with action and thought that it was a shock to his system when he realised he was no longer alone. He paused and stopped
humming, his kind eyes settling on the face of Ensign Cutler. "Ah, Ensign," He murmured joyfully. "What can I do for you?"

There was no answering smile. No upward tilt of the face reflecting back any measure of his own self content. His smile vanished. He crossed quickly
to her, realised she was trembling. Concern shot through him.

"What is it? Tell me what's wrong?"

She searched his eyes before speaking. He was not sure what she was
looking for. "I've been having these nightmares..."

Her voice trailed off. Then she saw it. Just a flicker. A hint of guilt that vanished under his professional armour. Her heart fluttered with an ache. "You know."

There was no heat of passion, no accusation in her voice or in her eyes. Just a vague sadness that hurt him more. He thought he had been doing his best for them. First Lt Hess now Ensign Cutler. He took a deep breath to steady himself. Getting over emotional before he had all the facts would help no ne. "Tell me everything you can remember about the nightmare..."

* * * * *

She missed him. Knew he had been working round the clock on repairs but her bed still felt cold and empty, her heart strangely bereaved by his absence. Temporary or not she could not stand it. It was almost 3am but time meant nothing when her heart was on standby. Her body burning for him.
She put a cloak over her sleepwear and went to his quarters, not bothering
with the chime but using the over ride code. He was sleeping on his stomach, arms flailed, blanket half on the floor where he must have tossed and turned
trying to get comfortable. T'Pol gave a ghost of a smile, her face glistening and glowing softly. The door hissed shut behind her. He did not stir. The sleep of exhaustion made him inert, a boneless sprawl that drew her to him.

Divesting herself of the cloak she undressed completely and padded over to his bed. Knelt beside him and gently removed the rest of the blanket. He
was not wearing a stitch of clothing and the sight was rousing her. She reached out a hand and gently touched him, tears pricking her eyes as she skimmed the healing injuries she had inflicted on him in the throes of pon frell. Bending her head she kissed his shoulder, licked the bruises and trailed her lips up the side of his neck. He moaned softly in his sleep and T'Pol paused and moved in closer, her tongue lapping the nape of his neck where she knew he was sensitive. Her hands warming his back and sweeping gently to his waist. He murmured in his sleep. She blew in his ear then gently inserted her tongue. The unconscious shiver made her fingers and toes tingle and the need in her belly grew stronger. He rolled on to his back and mumbled something that never made it passed his lips. She touched his sleeping face as she mutely adored him. Fascinated by him. In thrall. In awe of everything about him. Every word they had ever exchanged tumbled like poetry in her mind as her hands continued to map him, her lips grazing his skin as she kissed him so lightly with the silk of loving lips. A sweet spicy scent mingling with his own and becoming theirs.

He was dreaming but could not wake. The dream was fragmented and hard to hold on to. It was a fey thing and swept and soared through him taking him with it. Beautiful sensations caressing him and filling him with liquid heat. Stirring he could feel the intensity of arousal, his body responding to a call to action yet his mind was sluggish and ill prepared. He had no defenses. A sigh escaped his lips as the dream deepened taking him with it.

T'Pol entered his mind slowly, not wanting to wake him all of a sudden. She loved these moments so much, like something stolen they were precious to her. As her mind navigated his sleeping thoughts she drew her hand down in an intimate caress, pleased to find an automatic and positive response to the merest touch of her hand. He filled her hand, firming to her touch, the warm
throb of his blood pumping its' vibrant pulse up his growing erection, tissue
sacs filling, the virile throb like a drumbeat filling her with unbridled lusts as she flexed her hand around his foreskin. She was slow, gentle, matching the seduction of his thoughts with the movements of her body. She licked his lips and watched them part slightly, his warm breath fanning her face with his exotic scent making her tremble with anticipation. She knew he was tired, his energy levels low, but she knew how to increase his stamina. How to flush him with a strength potent enough to sustain their love making and fulfill the building need that was driving her to distraction.

Her mind delved deeper into his, deliberating sparking off memories of their earlier love making. Drawing out the images with matching sensations,
breathing into his senses so softly that he thought it was his own breath oxygenating sleeping lungs. She breathed for him and rejoiced in his breath seeping into her own lungs in exchange. A level of breath control that made a seamless circulation of air between them. The envy of any musician. So precious to her was this breath of life. This gift they shared. Her touch on him was knowing, expert, teasing him to the brink of agony but not enough to shatter the dream. Bringing him slowly to the point of no return. The head of his penis was leaking now. Not a great torrent but a slow slip and slide of jism that wept from his salty slit and covered the cap. She broke off her kiss to lick the come, her tongue dragging slowly across the slit, the tip of the tongue washing back and forth to excite more white tears. She loved the taste, the flavour of him. Excited by the act of seducing him as he slept. Her own juices pooling with want and need but she pushed those desires back, intent on working on him, bringing him to the fulfillment of a promise she had made herself when she first entered his room.

He sighed in his sleep. Unable to wake as the waters dragged him down yet he did not drown. Sweet air puffed into the fabric of his flagging lungs, sweet lips trailed over him, hands caressing him, so beautifully loving him. He thought he would die for the joy of it. Felt the unmistakable stir of T'Pol in his consciousness. A dream. He was dreaming. Oh and what a precious dream! He reached for her with his mind, cradling her in his thoughts with such love. She sucked him gently as he wept, milking the flow of him as her teeth gently teased under his cap, her tongue savouring him so that he began to jerk gently in her mouth. A mute thrusting of hips that she did nothing to discourage. T'Pol slowed down her sweet torture making him ache, he continued to weep, the white river searching for its' own inland sea. He moaned softly. His face damp with sweat, his mind awash with wet dreams he had no control over. He remembered the disjointed words of a Roberta Flack song and wondered if it had been written for moments such as this. If not, it should have been. He shuddered suddenly, sleep shattering around him like shards of broken glass as T'Pol shoved down on him with her hips, hands guiding him deep inside the hot nexus of her sex.

"Killing Him Softly" was hardly a lyric in his mind any more. As his spine snapped and burning heat shot through him it became a fact. In one explosion of deliriously overpowering desire he came, a pounding tsunami to rock her inland sea. His waves crashing against shores that hugged him and rose with him as he pumped hard and erratically into the strong interior muscles that held and coaxed him to dazzling heights.

Minutes drew out their laboured breath. He lay awake now, a shining
jewel bathed in the heat of spent passion. His heart thundering so loudly in his ears that he thought it would burst. T'Pol lay glistening happily in his arms, her lips forming a kiss just under his right ear, her body snuggled up close against his, her hands marking her possession of him. He felt her lips, their moist touch electrifying his skin. His body beginning to stir, need running like a current through him where she had switched him on. All his senses tuned to her, his excitement building as he recovered enough to speak. She wanted to hush him, silence him but he would not be quiet. He loved her so much. Wanted to make love to her forever. "C'mon darlin' you've had your fun. It's my turn."

She arched a perfect brow at him but could not hide the humour and affection that stared back at him. When had he learnt to read her so well? He touched a gentle wondering hand to her face and this time it was his fingers that gently splayed outward, reaching for the contact points and delving into her mind. She gasped in surprise. Had not expected him to embrace this part of her nature so seamlessly. He smiled gently and explored her with a lover's grace, so tenderly that it brought tears of joy and passion to her eyes. He kissed her tears but did not break off the deepening meld. Carefully he rolled them over so she was now beneath him. Looking deeply into her eyes he simply said what was in his heart. "I love ya, T'Pol. Not just for now darlin' but for always."

Then he told her mind to mind, in pictures, feelings and a whole raft of sensations that moved her and roused her and brought her fierce and demanding into the circle of his embrace. She clawed him urgently, her grip on him painful. Hardly easing off as she stirred him and elicited a deep groan of
desire from him. She was hot, he was burning, together they had lit a fire
neither could extinguish. He bent his head to kiss her. Flames leapt from
her mouth immolating him. She pulled him down and rose her hips up to greet him with a violence that excited him even further. He growled with passion as her hands encircled his waist the better to pull him closer, needing him now. Inside her. *Now*. Pumping harder, shoving deeper, her walls like a slick elastic prison opening to suck him in deep before snapping shut and
squeezing with painful precision as she settled into a death grip rhythm
around his cock. Oh God, he was going to lose it. Big time. Over excited, over sensitised and definitely out of control. She bit him hard on the shoulder drawing blood, gripped him firmly with her interior muscles to hold him in place then rolled her tight secondary muscles up and down his shaft, drawing him so deeply inside her that they were almost merged. The heat that encased him was doing crazy things to his self control as she pumped him hard inside her while his effort to ram himself deeper was taken away from him. He was held in thrall, T'Pol stringing him out, his mind flying and soaring on updrafts of such exquisite ecstasy that he lost contact with all reality. There was only T'Pol. Nothing else existed for him. Pain was pleasure, pleasure was pain. It was like making love inside out.

Impossibly, the feelings intensified as she poured on the desire of her sex, her pheromones electrifying him with an unrelenting passion. The writhing action of her body against his everything he dreamed heaven could be. The ecstasy almost too intense to embrace and survive. If he could only do one thing he would choose to embrace it. Survival without this was not worth the having. As he hit the crescendo of their joint orgasm there came the sudden ragged silence of utter bliss. Their cries, shouts, whimpers and moans swallowed up by stunned exhaustion followed by a deep and radiant sense of conjoined peace.

* * * * *

Lieutenant Anna Hess lay awake in the darkness. Eyes staring straight up. Afraid to close them again. The nightmares were getting more vivid not less. As if another reality was impinging on this one in a war of wills and the other was winning. Commander Tucker had wanted to take her to sickbay after she had told him about her nightmares but she had refused. Pleaded anxiously with him to give her more time. Why, she did not know. It seemed important for her to first try to make sense of what was happening. Anything but admit
that it could be real. He had looked at her long and hard then made her
promise to tell him if it happened again. Without hesitation. No prevarication. And *no* excuses. She knew he had not been humouring her but was genuinely concerned. It eased her conscience somewhat to have told him.
Now she waited in the darkness of a growing despair, terror building, afraid
that they would come. That this time there would be no rescue and no escape.
She should have listened to him but it was too late now to change her mind. Fear held her rigid and the distance to the com was another world away.

* * * * *

Breakfast in the Captain's dining room was subdued but oddly content. Captain Jonathan Archer noticed but made no comment on it. He tried to hide his amusement but Commander Tucker noticed though he said nothing. That amused the Captain even more. Only weeks ago Trip would have demanded to know what he found so damn funny. Nowadays he simply knew. And. It did not bother him. That was the most wonderful thing about it. He raised his head
to see Trip looking straight back at him. He looked serious. "What is it?"

"The repairs'll take another two maybe three days, Cap'n."

He nodded and waited. Uncharacteristically, the Commander hesitated. Just a fraction but it was noticeable. T'Pol stirred in his mind. *What troubles you, beloved?*

*Not sure but when I know you'll know* To the Captain he gave a little shrug. "May be nothing. I'll let you know if it turns out to be anything."

The Captain looked surprised. It was unlike his friend to be obtuse. "Why don't you just tell me what's bothering you, Trip?"

He tried to make light of it. "Let's just say I don't like things that go bump in the night."

Instead of laughing it off he frowned slightly. "Are you having nightmares?"

Now he really felt uncomfortable. When would he learn to keep his big mouth shut? To his surprise T'Pol did not agree with his reticence. *Tell him*

He took his eyes off the Captain to stare at her. *Tell him?*

*Yes. He is your friend. The Captain.*

*T'Pol, it's not my story to tell*

Now she frowned. She thought he had been alluding to the nightmares they had been having, though these had fallen off sharply as their level of intimacy deepened. They only had nightmares now on those odd occasions when through extended work shifts they slept apart. Perhaps at the end of a night's love making they had simply been too shattered to dream? He thought
about that but it was hardly advice that he could give to Lt Hess. T'Pol picked up his train of thought. Inwardly frowned. *Lieutenant Hess?*

Trip damned himself. Flushed slightly. He had not meant the name to slip even in his thoughts. The Captain noticed his flushed face and leaned forward. "Perhaps you should just tell me and let *me* be the judge as to whether or not it is *anything*."

The Chief Engineer gave a huffed out sigh. "I'm sorry Cap'n, I gave my
word."

Captain Archer was truly baffled now. He looked at his Sub-Commander but she seemed to be no wiser than he. How he knew that he had no idea but it felt true.

"Tell ya what I can do. If the person concerned agrees then I'll tell ya. If not," He shrugged. "Then that person is gonna have'ta figure it out on their own." He paused and flashed T'Pol a lovely little smile. "Right now I gotta get down to Engineerin' so if you'll excuse me, Cap'n?"

As the door slid shut behind his Chief Engineer, the Captain let out a soft breath. "I wish I knew what was going on." He murmured.

Silently T'Pol could not help but agree with him.

* * * * *

Ensign Hoshi Sato stared at the view screen. The Vulcan vessel had positioned itself bang in front of Enterprise, seemingly unconcerned about bringing the star fleet's finest to a premature halt. Travis Mayweather did not look pleased, a frown of grave disapproval on his normally good natured
and happy face. "What are they saying, Hoshi?"

"It's Captain Vornak. He's demanding to speak to Captain Archer without delay."

Just then the doors swished open and the Captain and Sub-Commander came
on to the bridge to take up their stations. Seconds behind them came Lieutenant Reed. He had hurried up from the armoury the instant Ensign Sato had commed him with the news. He looked wary and suspicious but tried to hide it for the sake of the Sub-Commander. For her part, T'Pol was as intrigued as the rest of the crew. Ensign Sato turned to the Captain.

"We are being hailed by Captain Vornak. He is demanding he speak with you immediately, Captain, though he does not say why."

That sparked undiluted curiosity. He flicked a glance in T'Pol's direction but she seemed as emotionless as ever. He would get no clues from that quarter it seemed. "Put them on screen, Ensign."

The moment the Vulcan's image filled the screen, Captain Archer knew it was going to be bad. Yet he was unprepared for the exact nature of the news. "Captain Archer, what in the name of Surak do you think you are doing out here?"

He blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"Did you think we would not find the remains?"

The Captain was nonplussed. "You have me at a disadvantage, Captain Vornak. I do not have any idea what you are talking about."

Captain Vornak straightened. Every inch of him seemed to be filled with barely concealed anger. Who said Vulcans did not have emotions? He was actually glaring at the human Captain. "The Romulans."

*The Romulans?* Captain Archer felt his heart miss a beat. *Oh no, don't let this have anything to do with the Romulans* "What about them?"

"We have found what is left of their ship."

"One moment Captain, what do you mean you found the remains of their ship?"

"It has been almost completely destroyed. There are *no* survivors."

"What makes you think this has anything to do with us?"

"I have learnt, Captain Archer, that wherever there are humans trouble is never far behind."

"Now just wait a minute..."

The Vulcan Captain gave him no time to complete his protestation. "Save your denials for Starfleet, Captain."

"Captain Vornak, I do not know what you are talking about and I would appreciate it if you would bring me up to date on whatever has happened.
Then maybe we can help find out what is going on."

"I will tell you what is going on, Captain." The Vulcan said in cold, clipped tones. "Thanks to your interference the Vulcans and the Romulans are now at war!"

There was a stunned silence on the Enterprise bridge. Captain Archer broke the deadly hush. His face had gone pale with shock. "I can assure you we did *not* open fire on any Romulan vessel let alone destroy one. You seem
convinced that we did. If that is the case then why would the Vulcans and Romulans be at war? Surely it would be the Humans at war with the Romulans?"

"How little you comprehend the lessons of history. The Vulcans have
shepherded the Human desire to explore space - much against the wishes of a number of other races. The Romulans among them. This act will be seen as proof that the Vulcans have allied themselves with the Humans *against* the Romulans."

"That isn't true and you know it."

Captain Vornak gave Captain Archer a cold look. "Perception is far more powerful right now than dry fact. In this way are whole races manipulated."

"Then don't fall into that trap!"

The Vulcan stared at him for a moment. He did not relax a single iota
but Captain Archer felt something indefinable shift. He just was not sure
whether it would turn out to be in his favour or against. The Vulcan Captain now turned his attention to the only Vulcan on board Enterprise. "Sub-Commander T'Pol?"

"Yes, Captain Vornak?"

"You will prepare to leave Enterprise within the hour. We have arranged
quarters on our vessel for you. It is no longer appropriate for you to serve aboard a Human vessel."

The Sub-Commander stiffened. "By what authority do you speak?"

Something that could have been a smug look flitted briefly across the
Vulcan Captain's face. As if he were secretly enjoying this. Lieutenant Reed longed for the right to remove that look with phase canon fire at point blank range. Not that Captain Archer would ever give such an order but an armoury officer could dream. He had to shake himself into paying attention as the Vulcan Captain continued speaking. "Vulcan High Command. When we contacted them with the information we have now imparted to you they immediately ordered your recall to Vulcan. Rather than send the message to a disgraced human vessel we were asked to deliver it in person and bring you back with us."

Sub-Commander T'Pol opened her mouth to protest but before she could say anything Captain Vornak snapped out a few last terse words. "We will send a
transport over in one hour. Any protest you may wish to make will have to be
made direct to Vulcan High Command on our return."

Then the view screen went blank as the connection was severed. Captain Archer stared dumbfounded. Sub-Commander T'Pol actually felt sick. The natural green tinge of her skin looked grey. She thought of her mate, Commander Tucker. How could she bear to be parted from him now? Even temporarily? And how would he cope with the Pon Farr without her essences to keep him calm and stable? Her own condition was no longer critical. Each round of love making stablised her more and more. If they were parted now
she would survive but the emotional pain of severing that connection would scar her for the rest of her life. How it would affect Trip she did not like to imagine. He was Human. Not only was he not used to the ravages of the Pon Farr he could not know how violent and dangerous it could be. And he would have none of the safeguards afforded to Vulcans to aid him. She blinked to hold back tears. Thinking of him filled her with such agonising sorrow. Still she managed through years of implacable discipline to hide the depth of her emotional anguish while inwardly she could not stop weeping. If what was threatened came to pass weeping would be all she would be capable of doing.

* * * * *

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A handful of people have made comments

Oh no. T'Pol being separated from Trip. Not good, not good at all. *ponders when the next part will be released*

HOLY MOLY!!! You sure know how to yank the rug out from under us... from T'Pol, from Phlox, from everyone! OMG!!!

please hurry the last two days have been agony!

WOW! T'Pol and Trip going to be separated? This is agony...can't wait for the next part.

Just when I thought you were going to let them have a bit of happiness, this happens!
One twist and turn after another. Gotta love it.
Excellent.

Now would be a great time for T'Pol to tell the
Vulcan High Council where to go and how to get
there! She could join Starfleet! Trip's furry friend won't let the Vulcans hurt him by taking T'Pol away. I can't wait for Chapter 24!