In Good Time-Pt. 4

In Good Time

PART FOUR: Chapters 15-22 (Conclusion)
(Disclaimers in Part One)

Chapter Fifteen:

Fruit Salad

"The two of you have been on duty for almost eight hours now without even a good breakfast." hinted Phlox sometime after his return from the mess hall.
"Vulcans can ..." began T’Pol.
"Have a decent meal like everyone else." finished Tucker, leaving his station and smiling at the doctor.
She arched an eyebrow at him as she left the helm station.
"Everything will be fine until you get back." Phlox assured her.
"Very well. You have the bridge until our return." said T’Pol, joining Trip at the lift.
"Was that so bad?"
"I would have a meal before hunger affected my judgment."
"Oh, I have no doubts there, but why miss a perfectly good meal? Hell, we could even cook something."
"I imagine you would want to char or broil a large slab of meat."
"Well, as tempting as that may sound, I think I might like to make some pancakes or French toast or something. We have missed breakfast two days in a row after all."
"I don’t like human breakfast foods. The smell is unpleasant."
"Fine. Then maybe we could toss a fresh salad or bake a potato."

"A fruit salad then. Would that be acceptable?" asked Tucker. He was beginning to lose patience. T’Pol had found the idea of baking a potato unacceptable and the lettuce was starting to wilt.
"Fruit from earth?"
"Yes, of course fruit from earth."
"In my experience edible fruits are usually agreeable to eat, regardless of their point of origin."
"Then why’d you ask?"
"I don’t have a great deal of experience with the fruits found on your planet."
Trip grinned and said, "This is going to be fun then."
When he had collected some fine specimens from the storage units, Trip lined them up on the counter next to a large bowl and a knife.
He held up a bright red apple and said, "This is an apple."
Commander Tucker was about to expound upon the virtues of the red delicious when T’Pol said, "I know the names of the fruits. I simply have not ingested them before."
For a moment Trip thought her lips twitched as though she wanted smile, or even laugh. Tucker sighed heavily and shook his head as he put the apple down.
"You can really take the fun out of anything."
"I am sorry, commander."
"Trip. It’s Trip." he told her as he began to peel the apple.
"If there is another knife, I would be quite willing to help you."
"Knock yourself out." he said, pointing to a drawer that held the utensils.
"With a knife? That would undoubtedly be very painful."
"It’s just a simple, human expression, T’Pol."
She took a knife from the drawer and picked up a green apple from the counter.
Holding it slightly aloft, she said, "This is also an apple."
"Sure is." agreed Trip, who was concentrating intently on removing the apple’s peel in one piece. "It’s an art." he told T’Pol as she began peeling the fruit in a more methodical fashion.
"I hardly think this is an art form."
"Try to remove the skin of the apple in one piece." he instructed her.
She furrowed her brow and said, "Fine. I will."

Three apples, two pears, and a very unfortunate peach later T’Pol had yet to remove a peel as a single piece. Commander Tucker could not help but to look just a little smug.
"I told you it was an art."
"How can you do it so easily then?" she questioned, looking at the whole peel from his first apple.
"Practice, of course." Trip told her. "Ever since I was a boy." he added.
"Indeed."
"Ready to eat then?" he asked, looking at the rather gooey mixture in the bowl. It wasn’t the best looking fruit salad ever, but it had been fun to make.
"Of course, Trip."
"You can carry the bowl while I get us some plates and ... spoons. Find us a nice table near a window, would you?"

*****

Chapter Sixteen:

No More Apples For You

“How was lunch?” asked Phlox as the pair returned to the bridge. It had taken them some time to eat and then to get their fingers unsticky.
“It was satisfactory.” said T’Pol.
“And here I was hoping that you’d admit that it was fun.” said Tucker.
“We made a fruit salad.” explained the Vulcan, resuming her place at the helm.
“You didn’t have any left over by any chance, did you?”
“I’m afraid we ate all of it, doc, but there is plenty of fruit left if you want to make one yourself.” Commander Tucker told him.
“I might do that, commander.” said Phlox with a smile. A soft wheezing sound caught the doctor’s attention. He turned toward T’Pol and noticed that she was rubbing her eyes. “Sub-commander, do you feel all right?”
“I am not certain, doctor.” she answered.
Phlox looked at her eyes, which were beginning to water, and at the slight irritation where she had rubbed them. Then he took a deep breath and sighed.
“Why don’t we pay a quick visit to sickbay, sub-commander?”
“What’s wrong?” asked Trip.
“I believe T’Pol may be allergic to whatever she just consumed.”
“You have the bridge, commander.” she rasped as Phlox ushered her to the lift.
“I’m not going to be able to live this down. Not ever. She will never forget this.” said Trip after the doors had closed behind them.

“I can’t be allergic. I have never been diagnosed with allergies. Check my files.” insisted T’Pol as Phlox prepared a hypospray to treat her.
“I have no doubt that you aren’t allergic to anything on Vulcan, but I afraid you are certainly allergic to apples, sub-commander, and apples are from earth.”
“It was a mistake to try human food.”
“Now, now. That isn’t fair. Even humans can be allergic to certain foods indigenous to their own planet. It is quite common.”
“Yes, I have heard of Lieutenant Reed’s unfortunate allergy to the pineapple. Perhaps I should have taken warning.”
“If you enjoy apples, I am sure than I can prepare a regular hypospray for you to ...” Phlox began to tell her.
“That will not be necessary. I have learned my lesson.”
“Don’t be too sure of that. After all, we won’t remember any of this once we return to our own time.”
“That is very unfortunate.”
“Because of the apples or because of the understanding you have reached with Commander Tucker?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Phlox smiled softly and pressed the hypospray to her neck. She continued to look straight ahead, but one eyebrow was slightly arched. Was it a sign of defensiveness?
“Of course not.” he chuckled. “You should feel perfectly fine in half an hour or so. If not, just let me know and I will give you another hypospray.”
“Thank you, doctor.”

Commander Tucker came to his feet the instant the lift doors opened. He expected that she would be angry, or at least annoyed with the situation. Then, as she nodded curtly and took her seated again, he remembered that she was Vulcan. It would easier for her to go nova like a star than to express any exasperation or annoyance he might have inadvertently caused her. Trip looked questioningly at the doctor, who gave him a small smile and a nod. Everything was okay.
“Commander Tucker, no more apples, not ever. Remember that for me.” she said unemotionally. For a moment he thought she might have found the entire incident humorous. Then he reminded himself for a second time that Sub-commander T’Pol was a Vulcan.
“Of course. Absolutely, positively no more apples.”
“Thank you.”

Note: The author realizes that allergies are no joking matter and isn't making fun of anyone.

*****

Chapter Seventeen:

Left Behind IV - So Damn Frustrating

“You could use a shave, lieutenant.” said Captain Archer as he looked at the information compiled from the readings taken by the probe. In was five o’clock in the morning, and he could tell that Reed had yet to sleep or shower. He was dedicated to the performance of his duty.
“Yes, sir.” he said quietly, watching Archer skim the carefully prepared report.
“Break this down for me, Malcolm. What does this tell us that we didn’t know last night?”
“Of practical use or just in general?”
“Just in general.”
“Dimensions of the phenomenon, energy readings, a better guess as to its age, and the relative strength of the disturbance as compared to known time travel technology used by the Suliban.”
“And practical use?”
Malcolm hung his head as he answered, “Absolutely nothing, sir.”
“Nothing yet, lieutenant. You never know what these readings may mean in the long term.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Malcolm, I would really appreciate it if you took a few hours to get some sleep.”
“But there is so much that I could be doing.”
“That isn’t already being done? I doubt that, lieutenant. A little time with your eyes closed might give you a fresh perspective.”
“I can spare three hours. Would that be sufficient, sir?”
“I believe so.”

Malcolm Reed was not a happy man as he walked down the long hallway to his quarters. He had practically vowed not to rest until his fellow officers were safe again. He couldn’t shrug aside the feeling that he was being delinquent in his duties. Rationally, he knew that he was only one man, despite the fact that he was doubling as both Armory Officer and First Officer, not to mention doing more science department-related things than he had ever intended. But that didn’t matter. He felt responsible for the crew of the Enterprise, and until they were all safe and sound, he wouldn’t be able to rest well, or if he had his own way, at all.
“I can’t believe I’ve been ordered to sleep.” he muttered to himself as he walked.
“I can’t believe you haven’t been ordered to bathe, Stinky.” he thought he heard someone say behind him. He whirled around, expecting to find someone standing there, perhaps Ensign Sato. The corridor was empty.
“I suppose a little shut eye might be quite beneficial.” he said, shaking his head to clear it.

*****

Chapter Eighteen:

What if Night Never Comes?

“The temporal rift has been detected on long range scanners.” said T’Pol, glancing over her shoulder at Tucker and Phlox, who were attempting to relax at the stations they had taken.
“Has it moved any?”
“No, commander.”
“That’s good to know.”
“And what is our estimated time of arrival?” questioned Phlox.
“Ten hours, twenty-three minutes.”
“I have lost all sense of time, T’Pol. What about you?” asked Trip.
“I must admit to a certain disorientation.”
“Doc?”
“Time is very subjective thing. The days aboard this ship have always seemed too short, if you ask me. I wouldn’t even want to guess.”
Commander Tucker yawned and stretched.
“If you are tired, commander, then it is probably late. Perhaps you should rest.” suggested T’Pol.
“I can’t really decide if I’m tired or just bored.”
“Really? The two sensations are not distinct?”
“Not at times like this.”
“You mean when there is little to do but wait.”
“That’s it exactly.”

“I don’t want to make it ‘doctor’s orders’, but I do feel that both of you could use some rest.” insisted Phlox. T’Pol almost seem to glare at the doctor as she rose slowly from her seat at the helm station, but if so, then it was a very tired glare. Tucker seemed to be dozing, rousing himself only slightly as he left his seat.
“Very well, doctor, but you must contact the commander and me once we are within two hours of the temporal rift or if our situation changes in any way.”
“Reasonable.” said Phlox with a nod.
“Then you have the bridge, doctor.” she said before turning to Commander Tucker. “You have been ordered to rest as well, commander.”
“You won’t get any disagreement from me, T’Pol. I feel absolutely beat.”

“I must admit that I find my own conduct less than professional.” T’Pol told him as they stepped from the lift and into the corridors of E Deck.
“How so?” questioned Tucker as they walked.
“A Vulcan officer does not leave her post because of fatigue.”
“You don’t think that extraordinary circumstances might have something to do with that?”
“To what circumstances do you refer?”
“Time deprivation, unexpected changes in the daily routine, dietary changes, and going through a temporal rift.” listed Tucker.
T’Pol considered the factors and said, “And, of course, the hypospray that Dr. Phlox administered earlier.”
“Well, there you go.”
“Thank you, Trip. I no longer consider my performance unsatisfactory given the circumstances.”
“So you feel better now?”
She raised an eyebrow as they stopped at the door to his quarters, telling him, “I am a Vulcan. I never feel better.”
Trip roared with laughter at the statement before managing to a chortle, “I’m sorry, T’Pol.”
“That was not what I meant.”
“Of course not.” said Tucker, his lips still twitching.
“Good-night, Trip.”
“Good-night, T’Pol.”

******

Chapter Nineteen:

Sleeping Arrangements

It was some time later, perhaps as long as two hours later, when Trip awoke to the sound of someone at his door. He was momentarily disoriented, but then he switched on the light and went to answer the annoying chime.
When the door whisked open, Sub-commander T’Pol was standing there in a robe with her hands clasped behind her back.
“Is something the matter?” he questioned.
“I could not fall asleep. I continued to think about what you said last night, even after I had decided to sleep.”
“What I said last night?” questioned Trip, rubbing his eyes and trying to remember.
“That I should stay and be certain that neither of us would disappear.”
“Oh, that.”
“Perhaps to do so tonight would be more appropriate.”
“Excuse me?” questioned Trip, certain that he had not heard or understood properly.
“Does the offer still stand?”
“Of course.” he answered, recovering quickly from the initial surprise. He stepped aside so she could enter his quarters.
He stood there stupidly for a moment as she, still wearing the robe, climbed into bed and said, “Trip, we only have a few hours left to sleep. Are just going to stand there?”
“No, no, wouldn’t dream of it.” Commander Tucker climbed into bed and switched off the lights. “Are you sure the smell won’t bother you?” he asked her in the dark.
“I took another dose of my nasal numbing agent. I will be fine.”
“That’s good to know.” he said.
They both lay in bed for several minutes, looking at the ceiling in the dark and listening to the comfortable hum of the engines.
“Good-night.” she said sleepily, closing her eyes.
Trip lay there for a long time before he could fall asleep again.
“Don’t let me forget this.” he pleaded silently with the surrounding darkness. “Don’t let me ever forget this.”

****

Chapter Twenty:

In Our Own Time

“Phlox to Commander Tucker. I have some alarming news.” said a worried voice over the comm system a few hours later.
T’Pol turned onto her side and made a soft sound as Trip extricated his right arm, upon which she had been sleeping. It tingled, but the only thing that Trip could think of at that moment was how beautiful T’Pol looked when she was asleep. He shook his head quickly to clear it as Phlox’s words penetrated both the drowsiness and wistfulness.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, turning the lights up to ten percent.
His voice was just loud enough to wake the sleeping Vulcan. She sat up in bed and combed her fingers through her short hair.
“I contacted Sub-commander T’Pol’s quarters a few minutes ago and received no answer from her. I am concerned, commander.”
They looked at one another for a moment. Commander Tucker smiled and stifled a laugh while T’Pol raised an eyebrow. Trip put his index finger to his lips before she could speak.
“I bet she’s in the shower or having an early breakfast, doc. You want me to look for her?”
“Of course, commander. That would be most satisfactory.”
“Okay, doc. Tucker out.”
“It would have been just as easy to allow me to speak.” said T’Pol, almost pointedly as she left the bed and straightened her robe.
“I didn’t think you’d want the doc to know.”
“We haven’t done anything inappropriate.”
“Of course not.” agreed Trip.
“Then I should perhaps have a shower and put on my uniform. It would be advisable for you to do the same.”
“Fine. Fine.” said Tucker, rubbing his arm, which was still asleep. He almost wished he could join it.
“I will see you on the bridge in a few minutes then.” said T’Pol curtly as she opened the door and left Commander Tucker sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Maybe I don’t want to remember this after all.” he muttered.

“I hope you told the doctor that you’re all right and everything.” he told T’Pol when he saw that she was waiting for him at the lift.
“Of course. I merely enlarged upon your explanation.”
“Darn good one, wasn’t it?” he asked, grinning.
“Indeed. One almost wonders how many times it has been used previously.”
“Not that many.” defended Trip with mock indignation.
“Shall we join Phlox on the bridge?”
Trip looked at the floor for a moment and shuffled his feet, but then he said, “I want you to know something.”
“What?”
“These last couple of days, or how ever long it’s been, have been real special to me, T’Pol. I know the aliens told us that we’d forget everything once we go back through that temporal rift, but I want to remember this.”
“You are being sentimental.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“I have no more control over the loss of memory than you do, Trip, but if it were possible, if I could control the effects of the rift on our memories, I would also choose not to forget.”
“That means a lot.”
“It means nothing. Nevertheless, what we have had here, this closeness and fondness for one another, we may certainly have again someday in our own time. What has happened here between us may yet happen again.”
“Really?”
“It is only logical.”
Then T’Pol leaned forward and lightly kissed him on the cheek. Commander Tucker was too stunned to speak or even move for several seconds.
“Wonders will never cease.” he whispered.
“Strangely enough, that has been my experience as well.”

“Our ETA is currently sixty-seven minutes.” reported Phlox as he good-naturedly gave up his seat for Sub-commander T’Pol. Trip sighed softly and felt the ache of loss that always comes when a human tries to hold on to a time or a place that will not last.
“Do we have visual confirmation of the temporal rift?”
“I don’t think so, but then, why should we be able to see a doorway in time?” questioned Phlox rhetorically.
With that remark the trio watched the stars rush by in silence, waiting for the end of their strange journey to come.

*****

Chapter Twenty-One:

Where Have I Been?

When Commander Tucker opened his eyes, he was lying in bed. But unlike most mornings, he did not feel sleepy or out of sorts. In fact he couldn’t figure out why he was in bed at all, especially since the lights weren’t even turned off. He glanced at his clock. It read all zeros. The glitch reminded him of something. But what?
He climbed out of bed only to find that he was in full uniform. Trip just stood there looking at himself for a moment, trying to remember something that he had forgotten. It seemed very important, but it was so elusive.
“Oh, hell, it’ll come to me.” he finally decided.
When he stepped into the corridor, he looked around. It was very quiet and very empty. He had an odd, inexplicable feeling of déjà vu. Then he heard wearily trudging footsteps. Turning toward the sound, he saw a very downcast and unhappy looking Malcolm Reed walking his way.
“Hey, Malcolm, what do you know?” he called, rather pleased to see the armory officer.
Lieutenant Reed’s head jerked up as the voice reached him. From a distance one might have thought he had been shot. He just stood there with his mouth open for a few seconds before dashing down the corridor toward Commander Tucker, who had the terribly uncomfortable feeling that Malcolm was about to hug him.
“Commander! Is it really you? I thought we would never see you alive again!” gushed Malcolm with extreme relief written on his face.
“Did I miss a meeting?” asked Tucker, frowning as Malcolm clapped him heartily on the back.
“I’ll say, commander. You’ve been missing for almost three days.”
“That’s not possible, Malcolm. Are you pulling my leg?”
“No, sir. Sub-commander T’Pol, Dr. Phlox, and yourself have all been absent from the ship since shift began two days ago.”
“How can that be?”
“We think a temporal anomaly of some kind was to blame. I have several reports on the matter, sir, if you want to look them over.”
“Of course. I think I would like to see them.”
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Where were you?”
“Did you check my quarters?”
“Naturally.”
“Then I haven’t a clue, Malcolm.”

******

Chapter Twenty-Two:

What Was Lost Must Again Be Found

“To two of the best officers in Star Fleet. We are grateful for their safe return.” said Captain Archer, toasting T’Pol and Trip. Phlox had elected not to join them for dinner. It was something about soaking a couple of mildly burnt fingers in some sort of unholy gross bile. The captain had wanted no details.
“Here, here.” said Lieutenant Reed, clinking glasses with the rest. The captain was giving him credit for somehow managing the return of the three missing officers, and Malcolm was glad to accept it.
“I just wish I knew where I’ve been.” laughed Tucker, feeling a perplexing flutter in his stomach as he looked at Sub-commander T’Pol.
“As do I.” she agreed, reaching for a bowl of apple cobbler.
“No apples, sub-commander.” said Tucker suddenly.
She arched an eyebrow and asked him, “Why not? You have eaten some of this dish.”
“I just have a bad feeling about you and apples.” said Trip, blushing and clearing his throat.
T’Pol hesitated and then drew her hand back.
“I will heed your advice.” she decided.
“You know, we should really do something nice for the doc.” said Captain Archer. “You know his birthday passed while the three of you were missing, right?” he questioned.
“And for all we know, we might have celebrated it.” joked Trip.
“I am not certain that birthdays are celebrated on Denobula.” said T’Pol.
“Well, they’re celebrated here.” said Archer firmly.
“We could always have Ensign Cutler jump out of a cake.” Commander Tucker offered.
Archer and Reed turned and looked at him somewhat disapprovingly. But he didn’t notice. What caught Trip’s eye was T’Pol’s hand suddenly clapping over her mouth. She had smiled.
“If that don’t beat all!” murmured Commander Tucker.
“Commander?” questioned T’Pol, removing her hand. Her facial expression was placid and unemotional again.
“Those three days must have been something, even if you can’t remember. I have never seen the two of you so civil. It’s a nice change.” chuckled Captain Archer.
“It is indeed.” agreed Trip with a smile. “And it’s good to be home.”

The End

Return to Part 3

Back to Fan Fiction Main Menu

Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!

A handful of people have made comments

great story, and a very sweet ending. thanks heaps.

I really liked this story. "No apples, sub-commander." -hee

That was great! perfect mix of banter, irritation and romance! I'm gonna read the sequels! :)

nice story

Thoroughly enjoyed your story. A great plot and everyone very in character. Thanks for the trip. (Pun intended of course ;)