Fragile-Part 18

Fragile Universe
An "Enterprise" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

Rating: PG-13
ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.
FEEDBACK: Welcomed
EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com
WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Sub-Commander T'Pol receives advice from Dr Phlox. Commander Tucker has an unexpected surprise. Meanwhile the Captain has to wrestle with his conscience."
DISCLAIMER: The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Enterprise' are the property of Paramount. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Part Eighteen

"FAMILY MATTERS"

* * * * *

Dr. Phlox handed them their toweling robes without comment. He guided the Sub-Commander over to a biobed. Trip smiled at her then noticed a curtained off area. He looked at the doctor. "Someone sick, doc?"

The Denobulan was smiling. It took effort for him to school his features as the Commander turned back to face him. His expression mildly curious. "No."

"Then why the...?"

"Commander, if you please!" The Commander stopped mid-sentence. "I am trying to examine the Sub-Commander. If you wish to make yourself useful you could go with Sar and get showered and changed. Please return with a change of clothing for the Sub-Commander."

He flushed and nodded. "Sorry, doc. I'm on it."

T'Pol watched the two men leave then turned her cool gaze on the Denobulan. "You are hiding something."

He did not answer. Busy with taking readings and frowning at some of the results.

"What are you hiding?"

He paused and looked at her for a moment. "My frustration, Sub-Commander. Now please lie still. The sooner you co-operate the sooner I can release you from Sickbay."

She arched an eyebrow at him. Curious. Not only had he refused to answer the Commander's question he had done the same to her then tried to distract her from any further enquiry. Realising he had no intention of elaborating, she lay still and allowed him to complete his examination. He just stared at her stomach after he had finished, as if stunned.

"What did you find?"

"You have a number of internal tears and damage to the uterine wall. Nothing too serious but very painful at certain times I should imagine." He cleared his throat carefully, not quite wanting to meet her eyes but direct eye contact was often necessary to establish the truth. "Your injuries are consistent with rough intercourse or rape. Depending on whether or not you consented at the time. I am aware that when Vulcan males are in the throes of Pon Farr the effects can be brutal. There is also some scarring indicating this has happened repeatedly over the last few months. In other words the period of time you have been with Koss."

Her face was a mask. She made no response. He felt even more uncomfortable now but pressed on.

"I also find evidence of later more recent sexual activity." He paused. His throat gone dry.

"My sexual proclivities are none of your concern, doctor."

"I disagree, Sub-Commander. The spermatozoa is still active indicating we are talking about the latest activity having transpired within the last hour. Perhaps even the last minutes of the last hour. While you were in the decontamination chamber with Commander Tucker if I am not mistaken."

"Your point, doctor?"

"My point Sub-Commander is that increased sexual activity is the last thing you need right now. You need to heal not rupture further the tears that you carry from Koss. If you do not heed my warning you could be made infertile. Barren. Unable to bear children. Do I make myself clear? If you have developed feelings for the Commander you must consider that should you decide to embark on a serious relationship, he may wish to father a child by you and vice versa. You either must warn him of the risk or stop what you are doing."

"And if I do not want to stop?" She asked quietly.

"Then you are, as the Humans would say, 'tempting fate'. Setting both yourself and the Commander up for future heartache."

She thought about that for a moment. "What do you suggest?"

He leaned towards her slightly as if reducing the distance between them could somehow reduce the awkwardness of his intrusion. "You can still show your affection for him. Engage in various sexual practices that do not require full penetration."

"That would not be efficient."

"Efficiency does not have to lie in only one direction, Sub-Commander. You may improvise."

She looked at him. Not sure what he meant. "Explain."

The doctor nodded, his voice becoming quietly animated as he gave her some rather explicit examples. If she had been Human she would have been blushing for a week. "...and I have a number of very good books and visual guides." He concluded helpfully.

"For Humans *and* Vulcans?"

He rocked his head from side to side while pulling a strange face. As if unwilling to commit himself. "More or less."

She frowned and sat up. Her eyes burning holes in him. "More or less?"

"Some of the work deals with multiple partners." He confessed.

A look of horror stole over her face. The doctor was feeling uncomfortable again.

"Some *are* multi-species." He soothed as if that little tidbit would allay her concerns.

T'Pol looked offended. "I hardly think that would be appropriate material."

"Perhaps it would be better if I spoke to you and the Commander together?"

Now a definite shutter came down. Had he been any closer it would have chopped his head off. Metaphorically speaking. "The Commander and I will sort out our own sexual preferences, thank you."

Before the doctor could take his foot out of his mouth and insert the other one, Commander Tucker returned. Now dressed in a clean crisp uniform. Sar had also changed and Trip carried a new folded uniform for the Sub-Commander. There was an anxious look on his face. "How's she doin', doc?"

"I am doing fine, Commander." Responded the Sub-Commander in a somewhat crisp manner before the doctor could open his mouth.

The Commander looked from one to the other. T'Pol took the clothes from him and asked them to turn around so she could change. A suddenly shy T'Pol was almost too much for Trip. With an effort he kept his face straight and tried not to laugh outright. He did not want a very pissed off Vulcan in his bed that night.

* * * * *

The rending, screeching sound of tearing metal was punctuated by loud cracking sounds as pieces broke away from the listing wreck. The Naausican vessel was hardly recognisable now, pieces shearing off and tumbling end over end in the dark vacuum of space. Deep inside the bowels of the stricken ship the eye closed for the last time. No shuddered breath. No stir of dying limbs. No sussurated sigh to accompany the terminal demise of the vessel in its' death throes. The Vulcan ship, the K'tan, approached warily and kept its' distance. Captain Patar watched with a baleful expression in his eyes, his face otherwise a blank canvas. His passengers watched without emotion. Sub-Commander S'tan checked for life signs. His readings showed none. He looked at the Captain and gave a small shake of the head.

Captain Patar looked at his esteemed guests, waiting for their permission to contact the Earth starship Enterprise which was now visible on their viewscreen behind the twisting spinning wreckage. He misdoubted the wisdom of such a venture but they had been insistent and his orders had been quite specific. They were to be accorded every courtesy and respect. And short of starting a war were to be granted anything they chose to request. Such largesse was not simply rare in the Vulcan military hierarchy. It was unheard of. A solemn nod from the man was enough. The Captain ordered a hailing frequency to be opened and proceeded to contact the Human's ship.

* * * * *

An-aga smiled at him. Sar said nothing but watched his Senisa pace. Commander Tucker had not at first been concerned when he had not seen Kai. Hearing that he was with Sarsa was all it took to reassure him that his adopted son was alright. But he missed him. Needed to see for himself that not only was he settling in aboard Enterprise but that he was genuinely happy. Now he knew why one of Sickbay's biobeds had been curtained off. Felt an unreasoning sense of panic swamp him with fear. Had he found T'Pol only to lose Kai? Sar saw the tears glisten unshed in his eyes and felt sorrow and guilt rise in him. He stepped up to his Senisa and put his two huge hands gently on his friend's shoulders, making the Human stop in his tracks and raise his worried eyes to his.

"I am sorry, Senisa, for the deception. We meant no harm or distress to you but Kai wanted to surprise you."

"I love him, Sar. How could anyone think I'd want him to go through that alone? When he went to see Phlox I thought nothing could be done and accepted it because no one said anythin' to the contrary and I wasn't about to upset my son by questionin' him if the answer was *no*." He swallowed back a surge of emotion, a lump rising in his throat and almost choking him. *Oh God, let him be all right.*.

Sar wiped the falling tears from his friend's cheek. For a big man he was surprisingly gentle. An-aga spoke quietly. Her voice calm, compassionate but firm. "The doctor assured us it was routine and the operation went well. Your son will wake soon, Trip, and when his eyes finish adjusting to a gift he never thought he would embrace the wish of his heart will be complete."

"Wish of his heart?" Asked Trip softly. What did she mean?

She was smiling at him now. "Do you know what his motivation was, Trip?"

He shook his head. Numb to everything but what he imagined was happening behind that curtain. How could something so flimsy make him feel so helpless, so excluded?

"He wants to look upon the face of his father. See the man who has come to mean more to him than anything else in the universe. When he can see your face all the dreams of his heart will be complete."

Fresh tears rolled down his face. So much emotion. Sar patted his shoulder. An-aga was more direct. She stepped up to him and hugged him tight. They moved apart automatically as the lights in Sickbay dimmed. Trip held his breath as the curtain twitched. Sub-Commander T'Pol had been called to the Captain's Ready Room half an hour beforehand. No doubt the Captain wanting to check up on her progress. But for Trip there was only this moment. If anything had gone wrong he did not think his heart would be able to take it. Then there was Dr. Phlox, pulling back the curtain and momentarily blocking Trip's view of the figure on the biobed. He stepped forward, searching the doctor's face anxiously. Dr. Phlox smiled. "I do believe, Commander, that your son is ready to see you."

His heart stumbled at the words. Dr. Phlox nodded happily and stepped to one side. Trip stared through a veil of tears. Saw Kai sitting propped up in bed with the biggest smile on his face he had ever seen. The dark glasses were a shock though. What the hell? It did not matter, his son was alive, safe. Here. He closed the distance and put his arms around the boy, hugging him to his heart as if he never wanted to let him go. "Oh Kai, don't ya ever do that to me again. I thought ya were playin' with Sarsa, off creatin' mayhem round the ship. I didn't know ya'd gone ahead and had Phlox operate on ya eyes. Ya should'a told me, son, God ya should'a told me."

He pulled back gently. Kai was looking straight at him. "I'm sorry, father." He whispered softly, but it was obvious to Trip he simply meant he was sorry for frightening him not for having the operation. Sitting in the chair next to the bed Sarsa was grinning like an idiot. She got up and ran over to her mother. Quietly the three of them retreated to give Trip and Kai some time alone.

"How d'ya feel, son? Eyes sore?"

Kai raised his hands to touch Trip's face. His fingertips trembling with joy. "I can *see* you." He whispered in a voice hushed with awe.

Trip let the boy outline the features of his face with his fingertips, all the while those hidden eyes watching him, seeking details of their own. Etching the slowly coalescing blur of his face into features that would be engraved on his heart forever.

"Father." He sighed. Savouring the right to call him by that title. As if it made Trip his. Such happiness, joy and content. So many feelings encompassed in that single much cherished word.

Then the boy was crying, hugging him, telling Trip he loved him. Trip thought his heart would break with joy. Cradling him in his arms he rocked him gently, stroked his hair and told him how special and how precious to him he was. Told him stories about his own father and how he would talk to him, share the things he loved most with his youngest son. Told him about his family and then his friends. The boy drank it all in with thirsty ears, just as his slowly adjusting eyes were absorbing everything they could about the man he clung to by his heartstrings. Never had his world seemed so beautiful. His heart so full. He had a father. He had a home. And. He was no longer blind.

* * * * *

Captain Archer was dumbfounded. The figures on the screen could not be serious. "You want to *what*?"

"It is the only logical thing to do, Captain. Our daughter should be with us. We will take her home. Back to Vulcan."

T'Pol staggered back a step. Ensign Sato and Travis Mayweather could hardly believe what they were seeing and hearing. Over at his tactical station Lt Malcolm Reed narrowed his eyes and resisted the urge to swear in his most virulent naval slang. It was one of the more useful things he had learnt from his father.

"I am *not* going back." Said T'Pol. The words were not carefully enunciated but bitten off tightly reigned studies in anger management. Her control was slipping badly. They would see. Know. But she did not care. She would not, could not, be separated from the Commander now.

To her surprise her mother's face softened slightly. "We will of course make no hard and fast decision until we have spoken at length with our daughter."

"Which is why," Said her father stiffly but with a certain amount of authority and grace. "We will spend a few days with you. If you are then adamant in your wish to stay, T'Pol, we will not oppose you."

The Sub-Commander held her breath. Her eyes searching theirs, looking for a trap. She saw none. Captain Archer frowned slightly then looked at his shaken Sub-Commander. "Sub-Commander T'Pol, it might be good to talk to them." He suggested quietly.

She hesitated. They would want her to go aboard the Vulcan vessel. She wanted to stay on Enterprise. Felt safe here. Plus *he* was here. Where else was there she could possibly be? "I will agree but on one condition."

Captain Archer was amused to see T'Pol's father raise an imperious eyebrow at her daring. For a moment he did not speak. Her mother remained silent. "What is your condition?"

"That you come aboard Enterprise to talk."

Her father seemed to be thinking about her words but was also looking behind her. A slight frown flitted over his face then was gone. "Where is Commander Tucker?"

The Captain was surprised by the question but answered smoothly enough. "In Sickbay."

Something flickered in the Vulcan's eyes. He looked at T'Pol for a moment. A subtle critical shift in his demeanour that the Humans missed. "We will agree to your request."

"I'll have a shuttlepod come over to..."

"Do not trouble yourself, Captain. We will transport over."

Before anyone could respond the screen went blank. The connection had been closed. Captain Archer blinked. Well. That was one of the weirdest conversations he had ever witnessed with a Vulcan. He looked at his Sub-Commander. Noticed she looked too pale, her skin glistening. Was she sick? Or suffering reaction still from her hideous ordeal in the hands of a madman? "Sub-Commander, I suggest you have Dr. Phlox check you over."

She shook her head. "No. I am fine."

"Forgive me but you don't look fine." He turned his head and nodded to Ensign Sato. "Ensign Sato, please take the Sub-Commander to Sickbay."

T'Pol was about to refuse then remembered that the Captain had said Trip was there. Trip. Her breathing calmed at the thought of him. A semblance of control and normalcy flowed through her. Her back straightened a little and she gave a solemn nod of acquiescence. The Captain breathed a sigh of relief. He really had *not* wanted to make that into an order.

* * * * *

The Human vessel and the Vulcan one paced each other at Warp 2. A sedentary pace for the Vulcan vessel. A reminder from Captain Archer to his guests that Enterprise still had a mission to perform and that while they would accommodate the Vulcans they would not be deflected from their primary role of exploration. It was hours later. The Naausican vessel was little more than scrap metal fouling up the symmetry of space. A vessel dropped out of warp. Small. Sleek. Built for speed. It approached warily, highly advanced sensors scanning the wreckage. Too small for a salvage vessel. Too slick to be there by accident. No life signs. No heat signatures. Everything was broken.

The little ship slowed, matched the speed of the wreck's rotation. A short narrow band encompassing a single triple encrypted transmission was aimed at the wreckage in a single compressed burst. A bundle of complicated information released in a fraction of a second. A thousandth of a heartbeat. The ship waited. The wreckage continued to spin oh so slowly in the cradle that would soon be its' grave. Within the mangled putrid depths of what had been the bowels of the ship something lifeless stirred. Something that had no heartbeat. No warmth. And no compassion. The eye flickered open. Recognised the summons and gave itself up to the call. A short sharp burst like static wailed from its' tiny depths. Something infinitesimal shifted within it then two tiny chambers broke down, their contents mixed in an implosion totally disproportionate to its' tiny size. As the eye disintegrated in a furious dull explosion it took the last of the protective wall that harboured it with it.

* * * * *

Trip sat on Kai's bed answering thousands of questions that tumbled from the boy's mouth. The Commander laughed. It was as if having sight had released the boy's tongue. Had he ever been like that? He chuckled to himself and was honest enough to admit he had. Some would say he still was. The thought amused him, warmed his heart but not as much as the boy did. He was almost as tall as Trip now. A frightening thought considering he was the approximate age of a 14 year old back on Earth. How tall would he grow? Would he end up making Sar look like a midget in a Land of Giants? He laughed aloud at that image and Kai stopped talking. Behind the dark glasses a bright intellect watched Trip's mobile face. Loved every smile and every trace of emotion mirrored on his adoptive father's gentle face. Eyes that had known such loneliness, sorrow and pain looked on him with adoration. A quiet joy stole through him.

"Why are you laughing?"

Trip chuckled. "I was listenin' to ya babble, all those questions flyin' so fast out of ya mouth that not even God could keep up with answerin' 'em."

"God?"

"Yeah, God. On Earth we have all kinds of beliefs and one of them is that there is a Creator, a single intelligence that formed everythin'. Not just our world but the stars, the heavens, the dust between the stars. Ya name it, God made it."

"Did he make me?"

Trip's breath caught. "The angels made ya, Kai." Said Trip softly. His voice tinged with love and awe.

For a moment neither spoke. "What are angels?"

That did it. Trip caught the boy up in his arms and hugged him. "I'll tell ya in the mornin' Kai, right now ya need to get some rest. Okay?"

Kai nodded. Trip paused, reluctant to let him go. Wanting there to be no secrets between them. "Kai?"

The boy noticed his solemn mood. So tuned in to this man that he would be able to detect his emotions across a crowded room. "Yes, father?"

"Did they tell ya we found the Sub-Commander?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"I need to tell ya how special she is to me, Kai. Never knew how much until I thought I'd lost her."

The boy considered what he was being told. How cautious Trip was now, as if holding his breath over every word. Insight struck him. Behind the darkened lenses his eyes softened in understanding. His heart too was holding its' breath. "You love her?"

Trip laughed nervously. His emotions displayed so openly on his face that Kai wanted to hug him, reassure him that he was not going to make him choose. "Yeah. More than I ever dreamt possible."

"Can I meet her, Trip?"

He watched the boy's face for a sign of what he was thinking. Damn those glasses. He needed to see the boy's eyes. "I'd like that, Kai."

Kai smiled. "If she makes you happy I know I'll like her."

Trip grinned like an idiot. Oh God, the boy was something else. How could he have been left to rot all those years in that awful place on Volara? A prison by any other name. Cut off from anyone who could help him, love him. He was so proud of his son. But he did not want Kai to simply like T'Pol. He wanted him to love her. He touched the boy's face gently, a look in his eyes that Kai committed to memory. "Get some sleep, Kai. In the mornin' you're gonna meet T'Pol. I have to tell ya she isn't Human like me. She's a Vulcan and the best damn thing to come out of that repressed uptight culture in a million years."

The boy laughed and was delighted when Trip joined in. The past had never looked so distant nor the future more promising. Content, he let Trip fuss over him and tuck him up in bed. A hand rested gently on his forehead while Trip looked at him. So damn happy and grateful and humble. He whispered his goodnight and kissed the boy's forehead. As he walked away from the biobed he heard the soft sleepy voice of his son whisper back. "G'night father. Love you too."

* * * * *

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A handful of people have made comments

Trip as a dad is just great! And the way you write him is bery believable in that role. What will Kai think of T'pol, and what will T'pol think of Kai?

That was worth waiting for (hint, hint), such lovely emotion between Trip and his son, not to mention the equally lovely emotions running between Trip and T'Pol.

And the scene with Phlox was a riot...he's a bit of a rascal, isn't he?

So what's this 'eye' all about?

And will T'Pol's parents be able to force her to return to vulcan?

And did her father believe Koss about Trip? Is he planning some mischief where our beloved engineer's concerned?

Let's have the next exciting installment, SOON!!!

Although I agree that it was worth the wait, I hope we don't have to go a few days without another chapter. Loved the Trip/Kai scenes; I can really picture Trip as a dad and loving every minute of it. I also liked the T'pol/Phlox "discussion" - and she didn't discourage his suggestions of children for her and Trip! Hum....
Looking forward to the next chapter (and a happy ending- hint, hint).

Oh man... now we have to wait for another chapter! I feel like a drug addict. ;-)

I agree with Zane. Every time there's a new chapter a feel like I'm on a high. I love this chapter; it was worth waiting for.I can't wait to for the interaction between Trip and T'Pol's parents. Write quickly.