Sole Support

Sole Support

By Aquila

CATEGORY: Angst
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: Enterprise is not mine.
SUMMARY: Who will keep whom in line?

--

He wiped his dripping forehead on the sleeve of his uniform, leaving a damp dirty streak behind. He snapped shut the tool kit that sat on the deck by his side. He placed his hands on his thighs and pushed, rising stiffly from a crouch to standing. He reached for the switch to activate the comm. unit.

In a raspy, tried voice, he hailed the Bridge. “Tucker to T’Pol.”

“T’Pol,” she replied succinctly, causing the corners of his mouth to twist wryly.

“Life support is as good as its goin’ to get.”

Not exactly a Starfleet issue report, he knew, but the truth was not meant for public broadcast. No point in demoralizing the crew any further. He wondered idly if her mouth was pursed in disapproval or if she would connect the dots.

“Understood,” was followed by the briefest pause then, “Debriefing in the Ready Room in 5 minutes.”

The dots became a solid line. She got it. He sighed. He had 5 minutes to put hope into a hopeless situation. Prevaricating to induce confidence in the crew was a condition of his rank. There was nothing in the Starfleet Training Manual to tell him how to ignite hope in an emotional Vulcan leading what was tantamount to a suicide mission. In comparison, Warp Theory was as simple as addition and subtraction.

--

“Enter.”

His back was turned to the Bridge, but he knew every eye was on him. The Bridge crew was trying to glean information from his body language. He willed his shoulder muscles to relax and his spine to loosen. As he stepped across the bulkhead into her Ready Room, a murmur of positive speculation drifted behind him.

His eyes strafed the room, searching for her. The memory of their last encounter in this room as Captain and First Officer still caused him to bristle.

“I would offer you a seat…,” as much of an apology as she would ever give him he knew. But it was enough.

She stood in shadow. When she turned her head in his direction a beam from an emergency light caused the unshed tears in her eyes to glisten. He focused on her face. Was that her upper lip trembling? An involuntary blink sent a tear rolling down her left cheek.

“Report.”

The command was delivered in a tight choked whisper. For a millisecond he was not certain that he had heard it. By the time the order had registered, he had decided to ignore it, because her was certain that the only way she was going to be strong enough to lead their mission to destroy the network of Spheres was if he stepped out of line. He had to risk it all – his career and his desires – for her and the mission.

--

When he entered the room she stifled a gasp. The shining, vital, force that she knew as Commander Trip Tucker had disappeared. In his place was a dirt encrusted wraith, with dark circles under his eyes and hair askew. He had never looked more appealing. She quashed the instinct to reach out and push away the lock of hair that hung in his eyes.

Her mental struggle for control manifested itself physically. Tears welled in her eyes. Her upper lip trembled. Her throat tightened making speech difficult. She was immobilized, although she knew in the very core of her being that the turmoil would vanish if she allowed him to hold her for a moment.

T’Pol cocked her head slightly. His expression had changed. He had made a decision. She had seen that look a thousand times. He had decided to push the boundaries, step across the line.

Trip pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his long frame. His touch acted like a pressure valve, releasing the turmoil, balancing the tension between her inner and outer lives. Her control had returned.

“T’Pol?” He was certain his whisper sounded like a roar to her sensitive ears.

She waited, reluctant to pull away from the peace of his embrace.

“There’s an 80% chance life support will be lost the next time Enterprise encounters the enemy. We’ve got Warp, but the last attack took out the cargo bay with our remaining spare parts. Chef says he can keep us fed for another 3 days on full rations. I told him to go to half. The only good news I have to report is that the helm is fully operational.”

T’Pol breathed deeply, holding the lungful or acrid air for three heart beats. As she exhaled she removed herself from the shelter of his arms, strong and confident once again.

“T’Pol?” His question directed her attention to his face. She waited for him to continue. “T’Pol emotions like the ones we feel for each other aren’t meant to be contained and controlled. Emotions are meant to be given away and placed in the safekeeping of the person who engenders them. I’m giving you mine, T’Pol. Give me yours. I promise they will be safe until my last breath.”

“Until my last breath,” T’Pol vowed, renewed and ready for battle.

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

That was so tender, so sweet. I loved what you did with this story. Thank you.

''Who will keep whom in line?''

That was exactly my thought as well when Archer uttered his line to T'Pol at the end of Countdown. Great story.

Very nice story. Very well done.

That was beautiful and so very well written.

ooooooooohhhhhhh i like this very much. so much in fact that if u dont put a sequal im gunna seek u out and make u do it. :)

I like your interpretation of Trip and T'Pol's relationship -- powerful and moving story. I also like the way you show the seriousness of their situation through the "practical stuff" that we don't usually see in sci-fi -- like having to go to half-rations and not having an inexhaustible supply of spare parts. Looking forward to the next chapter very much.

Great ending for Countdown!!
I think it really made Trip look like he was in charge of the situation! He knew what T'Pol needed in order to face what she had to do! He put his personal feelings second.
He'll make a great Captain some day!
Thanks for a great story. Can't wait to see the next chapter!

*sniff* Very wonderful!

Beautiful. Very heart-wrenching and true to the characters in their current situation.

Loved this, I particularly love it that Trip and T'Pol have arrived at a place in their relationship where they are not afraid to show their feelings for each other and can offer mutual support. Very nicely balanced and very much aching for more, Ali D :~)

oh yes yes yes... very nicely done. what a wonderful short story... you've put so much in so few words. oh wow... i liked this very much.

raw and real and good.

hero -- an ordinary person put in extrodinary situations -- TnT ;-)

G'day,both characters are such fine leaders here,so capable.Behide closed doors they shine as a couple one leaning on the other.Its difficult showing leaders carrying such weight at the same time showing their personal need for compfort thats why these two are such a fine couple,thanks for an interesting story Hoo-Roo.

That was perfection!