Fragile-Part 33

Fragile Universe
An "Enterprise" story

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: "Sar's miraculous recovery and the effects on Trip confuse the Captain."
DISCLAIMER: The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Enterprise' are the property of Paramount. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Part 33

"SHARED GIFTS"

* * * * *

Sarsa stood inside Sub-Commander T'Pol's quarters, a shy smile on her face. T'Pol had bumped into her on the way to the mess hall. After sharing a light repast she had invited the girl back to her quarters. T'Pol had asked if she would like to learn to meditate and Sarsa had bobbed her head in grave pleasure. T'Pol began to prepare, laying out a cushion for herself and one for Sarsa with the candle on a small low table placed between them. "Please sit, Sarsa."

The girl nodded and copied the Vulcan's graceful movements. T'Pol explained what she was going to do as she lit the wick. The girl was a quick study and T'Pol did not have to repeat a single word of instruction. Their breathing fell into a companionable synchrony. The freedom silence gave them was enervating as T'Pol's words trailed off. No longer necessary to achieve the desired state. It was only later. When the meditation session ended. That the Sub-Commander realised something. "You already know the disciplines of meditation."

There was a soft smile on the young woman's face. "We call it Shared Breath."

T'Pol nodded slowly, her look thoughtful not offended. "Yet you did not correct me when I offered to teach you."

"You were not in error, T'Pol, and I was curious to see the Vulcan technique."

T'Pol inclined her head at the implied compliment. For several moments they just looked at each other. Each content in the company of the other.

"There was another reason I wished to see you."

A single eyebrow arched elegantly in query.

"I have feelings for Kai. Strong, deep feelings whose roots began in friendship and have become much more."

The Vulcan knew what she was saying. "You have developed the heart-love?" She used the Volaran term for romantic love. The deep love that developed between equals. Between mates. The love of a man and his wife.

"Yes."

"I do not understand why you wished to see me and not Commander Tucker. He is Kai's legal guardian and is now his father."

A smile teased Sarsa's lips. "I did not come for permission."

The eyebrow arched a little higher.

"I came for advice."

* * * * *

Captain Archer was anxious to get to Engineering as quickly as possible. Sar caught his eye. "There is one thing I must have before I see him, Captain."

The Captain just nodded, distracted. Sar could jump out of an airlock if he wanted. His only thoughts right now were of Trip. Dr Phlox frowned slightly at the big man but said nothing. Surprised that the Volaran would not be there with them when they reached Engineering. But he had no time to query him. He was still more than a little stunned by the virtually instantenous recovery of the man from burns that should have killed him. Lt. Reed met Sar's eye and gave him a grave nod. Travis and An-aga exchanged a look. They moved briskly, no one talking now. Each intent on keeping up with their Captain's rapid pace.

Lt. Anna Hess was almost beside herself when she saw them. Hands trembling, voice shaking. Eyes suspiciously bright. Captain Archer was not reassured by her state of agitation. "Where is he?"

She took them without preamble to the office. A white face Toby Weiss backed out the door to give them room. He looked as if he had been crying. Trip was lying on his side. Kai was sitting cross legged on the floor next to him, oddly calm and careful not to touch him. Captain Archer crouched down beside his friend, his breath catching as he took in what he could see of his friend's injuries. He noticed his hands and face were badly burnt. It looked as if his skin and flesh had been weeping in the intensity of the heat that had engulfed him. His clothing was blackened and singed. Hopefully it had protected the rest of his body. The Commander's eyes were closed fast but at least he was breathing. The Captain turned to look at Kai, the shock at seeing him there evident in his voice. "What are you doing here, Kai?"

To his surprise it was An-aga who answered. "We do not hide our joys and sorrows from each other."

He was about to argue with her when Dr Phlox pushed gently passed him to approach the stricken man. An-aga now turned her attention to the doctor. Her voice calm but urgent. "Do not touch him, doctor."

The Denobulan looked surprised. "I need to see how badly he is injured."

Just then Sar appeared, two stone jars in his hands. Lt Reed gave him a smile, relieved to see him. The Captain frowned. Malcolm gently tugged on Travis's arm and they both stepped back to give the Volaran room to pass. Sar thanked them with his eyes then padded over to Trip on bare feet. He knelt the other side of his Senisa. Dr Phlox looked from Sar to An-aga. "Now will you tell me why I cannot touch him?"

Sar answered for her. "The burns must be treated first or there will be permanent damage. Soreness. Pain. Ruptured flesh. The inability to heal properly will lead to infection."

"I don't think..." Began the doctor.

"Trust us." Said Sar quietly. "I would die before I would allow my Senisa to come to harm as he would for me. We have travelled this road before."

Captain Archer's eyebrows went up. They had been this road before? He looked at Trip. Wondered what the hell his friend had been through down on that awful planet. Had they been burnt before? Was that why Sar knew what to do now? He looked at the big man and saw that he was watching him. Waiting for his permission? That made him feel a little better. Reassured. "What are you going to do to him?"

"I am going to tend my Senisa then the doctor will do the rest."

"Tend him?"

Sar put the smaller jar down next to Trip and scooped a generous amount of the greasy gel from the other one into the palm of his hand. The Captain watched mesmerised while he rubbed his hands vigorously together not understanding that he was heating the gel first before annointing his friend. "Yes, Captain. We use this when we finish our day in the mines. It is the only thing that counteracts the intensity of the burns and cools the skin permitting the body to come out of shock and heal."

Dr. Phlox was looking at the jar with interest. Bright eyes now focussed on Sar's face. "What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing for the moment if you will." Sar glanced at An-aga. She nodded and the doctor moved back to allow her to kneel the other side of Trip. Kai watched in silence, his eyes steady upon his father's burnt and blackened face. His trust in these people absolute.

Gently An-aga rolled Trip on to his back then waited a moment for the body to rest. Sar began on Trip's face, his huge hands impossibly gentle. Working the gel into his tender and damaged skin. Eyelids, nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, lips. The hands worked into his hair, stroking and gently caressing the balm into his scorched scalp. Now working it into his sore neck, round his ears and the back of his neck. A slow low moan squeezed out of Trip's mouth but the eyes remained closed. "Hush Senisa, be at peace my friend."

The sound of his voice seemed to calm Trip. An-aga began to work carefully on his hands. Such a loving gentle touch. The Captain realised these people knew best. There was no trace of jealously this time. No sense of being pushed out and relegated to the side lines of his friend's life. He was just grateful they were there to help him. That his dearest friend would live. If he should lose him... The thought was never completed. Some nightmares he did not have to entertain. *Just let him be alright, God. The rest you can leave to us*. For some reason the Captain had assumed that Trip was unconscious. It came as a surprise to hear Trip's voice. Low and hoarse but still recognisable as belonging to his friend. "Cap'n, ya there?"

A soft smile played on the Captain's lips. He leant forward, careful not to get in the way of Sar or An-aga as they worked on him. "I'm here, Trip."

He sighed and seemed to relax. When he said nothing else the Captain began to panic.

"Trip? You okay?"

"Yeah..." He sounded weary. "Just wanted to know ya were there."

Captain Archer swallowed slowly, mastering his rush of emotion. "Always, buddy." He paused a moment. "You know if you wanted a few days off work you only had to ask."

Trip chuckled softly. "I'll hold ya to that, Cap'n."

Sar finished and sat back on his heels. He spoke quietly yet his soft deep rumble was heard by all. "Is your throat sore, Senisa?"

"Like a desert mid-day."

The big man nodded knowingly. Cleaned his hands on a cloth taken from his jacket then opened the small jar. "Open your mouth but keep your eyes closed, Senisa."

"Ya got jelly?"

The Volaran smiled at the hopeful note in his friend's voice. "Yes. Do not worry if you cannot yet swallow. Let gravity do the work for you."

Trip nodded slightly then held a breath. The tiny movement hurting him. Sar gently placed some gel in his open mouth and stroked his neck to help it slide down where it was most needed. Dr Phlox was excited. "What *is* that?"

"A cooling gel made up of micro-organisms that will coat and line his throat, take away the pain and prevent the swelling which would otherwise block his airway."

"Fascinating!"

"He can be moved now, doctor."

Dr Phlox nodded and indicated to Lt. Reed and Travis. Everybody else moved back to give them room. Gently Trip was lifted up onto a stretcher then carried out of the office and passed an unnaturally quiet beta shift. The engineers looked worried and anxious. Young Toby Weiss was close to tears. Kai saw him and spared the young man a small smile. Toby's eyes widened slightly then he smiled tremulously back. The Captain paused next to Lt. Hess. "He's going to be all right, Lieutenant. Looks worse than it is."

She exhaled a huge sigh of relief even though he could see she did not completely believe him. Sometimes a little white lie could be just as effective as the truth. "It was such a shock, Captain."

He nodded, patted her on the shoulder and disappeared with the rest of Trip's little entourage. Lt Hess turned slowly and noticed the rest of her shift standing around in a kind of daze. "Come on, let's get back to work. The Captain says Commander Tucker is gonna be alright. I don't want him to find out we've been sitting on our hands while he's getting back on his feet."

* * * * *

Sub-Commander T'Pol was smiling. Sarsa did not realise what a rarity that was. "Sarsa, I do not know the customs of your people."

The girl shook her head. "I do not want that. I want to know about Human customs."

"Kai is not Human."

"I know but Trip is and Kai is becoming more like him every day."

T'Pol almost laughed out loud. Her lips quirked up again. Eyes sparkling. "Are you saying you want to be like a Human?"

Now the girl looked uncertain. Perplexed. "No..."

"Then what do you want, Sarsa?"

"I want to do whatever will most please Kai."

"Then do not seek to become what you are not."

"What do you mean?"

"It is obvious to me that Kai loves you, Sarsa, as you do him. This has happened because you are each who and what you are. Change that and you may lose the very dynamic that draws you together."

Sarsa actually paled. Her golden eyes dulling with a look that was almost pure pain. "I do not want to lose him."

T'Pol's voice became gentle. Soothing almost. "Then follow your own instincts, Sarsa. Listen to Kai when he speaks, not only with your ears but also your heart."

The Volaran stared at the Vulcan, for a moment lost for words. When at last she did manage to speak there was a new respect sitting alongside the old. "You understand emotions far more than I was led to believe."

She heard the clear amusement in T'Pol's voice as she replied. "I had a good teacher."

Sarsa raised a disbelieving eyebrow and wonder of wonders, both women laughed. "If you ever tell the Commander I will have you banished to the furthest reaches of Vulcan space. *Without* an EVA suit."

T'Pol only just managed to keep her face straight. Not so Sarsa. She doubled up and laughed so hard she was clucking like a hen. The Volaran equivalent of hiccoughs.

"Now." Said T'Pol, solemn and in control once again. "I think it is time you told me about Volaran customs..."

* * * * *

The cold reaches of space could not contain them. The hot core of distant suns did not warm them. The silver light of passing millennia held no passion. They lived in the present and the now of eternity made Gods of them. "It is done?"

"Yes."

"Do any suspect?"

"No." A pause. "The Sword came close but not close enough."

"Then the control device is gone?"

"Yes."

A very long silence. Eternity just got a few degrees colder. "As it should be."

Planets spun in their slow orbits. Time unwound the spring of expanding stars. Majestic megallanic clouds drifted and refracted all the spectrum of light both ambient and pure until every mote of interstellar dust shone. The conjoining song of stardust was subtle. Within its' very depth it resonated with the sleeping Key.

"And when it is awaken?"

"The doorway will open."

"The risk is great."

"No. Necessary."

"They are so fragile."

"As is all sentient life."

"Yes."

"It is a fragile universe."

"What if they guess the truth?"

"They will never believe it."

"But if they do?"

A long pause. "It will change nothing."

"I do not agree."

"No?"

"It will change *everything*."

A very, very long silence fell. Stars burst and scattered across the sleeping heavens. New worlds burst into life. Old suns went nova. The last hurrah of dying worlds bathed them in the aftermath of radiation. For just a blink of time the universe warmed by a single degree. "As it should be."

"You trust the Human?"

"Honest truth is better than passionate lies."

"It will not be possible to predict this outcome."

"Trust."

"The Key will guide the path."

"The future is fragile."

"Better than the past."

"Ashes."

"Wasteland."

"Lost."

A sigh. The air of several galaxies flexed and new orbits bounced planets and stars into rythyms that sang a new song. "We must not break the Key."

"It will adapt."

"The Human will help."

"How?"

"Faith?"

"Yes."

"That could ruin everything."

A pause. Humour drifted among the great expanse where logic had no foothold. "As it should be."

* * * * *

Dr Phlox hummed, fussed and generally had a rare old time at the Commander's expense. Trip lay quietly and let him get on with it. Sar stood next to the head of his biobed but said nothing. Content to know that he had to but stretch forth his hand to touch him. An-aga wanted Sar to sit, to rest, but he would not move. Stubborn. Obstinate. And glorious to her. She knew he was waiting for his strength to be renewed. He could afford to be patient. Commander Tucker had saved him. Given of his gift of light to replenish that which was taken by the heat and radiation that had assailed him. So close to death he had come. But then, all life was precious. As the Prophets taught so it was.

An-aga was proud of Sar. Proud of Trip. She watched the Denobulan expend his energy and expertise to examine the Commander as thoroughly as possible. Determined to miss nothing in his diagnosis. Captain Archer watched every move the doctor made. Though he did not say or do anything, his presence was constantly hovering on the edge of the doctor's awareness. Dr Phlox looked up at the results of the last scan. "Hmm."

Captain Archer stepped closer to him, frowning at readings which meant nothing to him. "Hmm what?"

Dr Phlox pointed to the spectrum broken down on the screen. "The Commander's epidermal layers are healing, Captain."

"They are?"

"Yes." He paused and looked at Sar. "I would very much like some of that gel you have been using on the Commander."

Sar inclined his head graciously and handed over the two stone jars. "The larger jar contains a gel that needs to be excited by friction to heal the molecular structure before it is applied. The heat aids the burnt skin and tissue by aligning the temperatures of both to a compatible level of comfort. This helps take the heat out of the burns which in turn removes the stress and pain from the patient. Shock is lowered. Healing promoted. It also comforts the patient."

"Amazing! What did you say it is made of?"

The Volaran smiled slightly. "The essence of the Deathbloom has many properties."

Captain Archer went completely white. Slowly a flush of fury rose beneath the pale pallor as his temper rose. "You gave him *that*?"

"Captain," Said Sar calmly. Hoping to reassure him. "It has a most beneficial effect."

"Yeah, Cap'n," Mumbled Trip, eyes still closed, but voice slipping into an even more elongated drawl. It sounded as if he was falling asleep. "Feels great."

"This same Deathbloom almost killed me." Said the Captain through gritted teeth. "It caused Trip to willingly allow himself to be incarcerated for five years to save me from certain death. And now you tell me the *essence* of this poisonous bloom is healing the Commander's burns?"

"Yes, Captain. Do you not think it ironic? Does not the poison of the snake provide the anti-venom to treat snakebite? The Prophets say that in nature are all answers found. When we are baffled it is because we have been asking the wrong questions."

For a moment the Captain stared at Sar as if he had never seen the man before. He was completely stumped. Tempted to strangle Trip's bodyguard for the sheer hell of it. What did Volarans know of irony anyway? To his surprise it was Trip who broke the awkward silence.

"Cap'n, trust Sar. Even if ya can't trust the gel ya can trust him. If he said the sky was fallin' I'd believe him. Wouldn't even have to look up."

"Trip," Said the Captain with a sigh. "You're delirious."

Trip did not respond. He had fallen asleep. For a moment no one spoke. Dr Phlox checked the Commander gently and gave a satisfied nod. A smile forming on his lips. "He is sleeping."

The Captain felt weak with relief. For a moment there he thought he might have lost him. "What happens now?"

Sar closed the small distance between himself and his sleeping Senisa. He placed his huge hands gently on Trip's shoulders. "Now I will share the gift he gave to me."

"Gift?"

"Yes."

Dr. Phlox looked intrigued. "I thought *you* gave the light to Commander Tucker?"

"I did but when he gave it back to me he took in exchange some of my injuries. Now my light has recovered. I am sufficiently rested to give it back to him."

Captain Archer was shaking his head as if something in it was loose. Sure he was trapped in some odd nightmare. A mix of reality and a bad LSD trip. "Bottom line? Trip trusts you, Sar, and I trust him."

"Then Captain," Said the Volaran with something which sounded suspiciously like a quiet kind of joy. "Avert or shield your eyes."

The Captain looked at the Volaran in confusion just as the big man was suffused by a brilliant yellow glowing light. His mouth dropped open in shock. As he watched he saw the light travel down Sar's arms and into Trip. Sar's light did not diminish but slowly. As he watched in stunned awe. He saw the Commander fill with a vibrant yellow light. How long it took he could not say but after a while the light from both Sar and Trip faded then was gone. The Captain mourned its' passing until his attention was distracted by movement. Shaking his head in disbelief he watched as his Chief Engineer suddenly sat up on the biobed. No trace of the horrible burns marred what was now perfect skin. "What the hell am I doin' in Sickbay?"

Captain Jonathan Archer threw back his head and laughed. Trip glared at him. The Captain chuckled and got himself back under control, unable to stop smiling. He was so happy. "Are you hungry, Commander?"

Trip forgot that he had been annoyed with him. He smiled back. "Enough to eat a horse!"

Chuckling, the Captain turned to Dr. Phlox. "Well? Is my Chief Engineer well enough to leave Sickbay to get something to eat?"

The Denobulan looked at Trip and Sar thoughtfully. At last he nodded. "I don't see why not Captain but on one condition."

"What's that?"

"That Commander Tucker returns to Sickbay afterwards." He paused and looked at the Captain. "It's not every day I watch a miracle unfold before my very eyes."

* * * * *

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Three people have made comments

Sarsa and T'Pol talking about love what a concept. I loved it! This story has been wonderfull to read.

I'm running out of superlatives for your work. I bow to a superior being!

Another wonderful story, filled with so many emotions. But, is this the end? I do hope not...

I just came back from a weekend away and had three terrific chapters to read! What a treat!
Did I miss the explanation of what Sar was doing out in that shuttlepod or will that be coming up in a later chapter?