If you are seeing this paragraph, the site is not displaying correctly. You can see the content, but your current browser does not support CSS which is necessary to view our site properly. For the best visual experience, you will need to upgrade your browser to Netscape 6.0 or higher, MSIE 5.5 or higher, or Opera 3.6 or higher. If, however, you don't wish to upgrade your browser, scroll down and read the content - everything is still visible, it just doesn't look as pretty.

The Reason

Author - Backlash2020 | Genre - Angst | Genre - Vignette | Main Story | R | Rating - G | T
Fan Fiction Main Page | Stories sorted by title, author, genre, and rating

The Reason

By Backlash2020

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don’t own them Paramount does. I just let them out to play.
SPOILER: Summary contains spoiler. "Affliction."

Summary: Vignette. Episode speculation. Just my take on what could be said in Trip’s room when T’Pol asks why he plans to transfer. (This is just a one shot)
1st timer, be gentle.

*********************************************************************************


His door chimed and opened. Without breaking his trance focused on the stars outside his room, he spoke, “I’d be willin’ to bet Archer sent you here to talk me out of going.”

T’Pol came to a halt on the other side of his room leaving a gaping space between the two of them. “You would have lost that wager. The Captain had nothing to do with my being here.” She stated evenly.

Slowly he turned his head around to look at her, and said “Why are you here Commander?”

T’Pol was slightly taken aback at the formal tone of his question. She looked down at the floor before answering in a soft voice “The rumor-mill, as you put it, informed me of your intentions to transfer off Enterprise. I had not heard this information from the Captain and concluded that this was just speculation on behalf of the crew. I came here to find the answer for them.”

At the end of her statement she looked at Trip, searching his face for the answer. Knowing it would be hard to face her, he turned back to look out his view-port. “Well, the rumors are true. I’m sure Cap’n Archer will inform you soon about the need to find my replacement for Chief Engineer. I’d recommend promoting from within the current structure of engineering, but that will be your choice to make.”

A pain, almost like a physical knife went through her body. He was leaving: leaving his engines; his best friend, Captain Archer; a new friendship with Malcolm; but mostly, he was leaving her. Everything in her being wanted to shout NO! but control was paramount. She didn’t say that; instead she said the second thing she thought of, “Are you leaving because of me?”

Trip’s shoulders sagged as her question hit home; trying his best he answered, “I’m basing this decision on logic-- thought you’d be proud of me. I’d like to think over time that you’ve rubbed off on me.” He faced her once again and gave her one of his endearing smiles. Yet the smile he showed wasn’t as bright or as warm as he had given her in the past.

T’Pol looked at him straight in those eyes of his and knew in an instance that he was hiding the entire truth from her. “Would you enlighten me as to the logic you used to come to your conclusion to leave Enterprise?”

Breaking eye contact once more, shifting his weight to look out at the stars, he began, “I can’t be objective about the mission anymore. Other thoughts overwhelm my decisions. A minor slip here and there might not be a big deal, but if I allow myself to slip a little, what stops me from slipping a bit more until the time I DO endanger the ship and the mission? I can’t allow that to happen; a change of venue will help me refocus my energy and allow me to give the best performance from my skills.”

T’Pol stood there in silence for a few moments after listening to Trip’s explanation, trying to find a flaw in his logic. “Perhaps, these other thoughts that override your control can be dealt with. I have been able to help you in the past; it would be logical to assume that I might be able to do so again. There are several techniques I would be willing to show you.” T’Pol stated, hoping that he would take her up on her invitation.

Trip sighed again. I need to protect her that is why I’m doing this, he reminded himself. *The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few,* Weird. Where’d that thought come from? He chuckled to himself, She HAD rubbed off on him in more ways than even he knew. Not turning around, he began, “T’Pol, darling. It’s you. How can you teach me a technique about something I don’t want to have control over? I’m human, baby; and with that comes all the emotions and confusion that is what it is to be human.”

T’Pol was taken back. “I thought we talked about this. You assured me you understood. Were you not truthful with me?”

He turned around and faced her wanting nothing more than to walk across the divide that separated them and take her in his arms. Yet he answered, “I do understand, and I will always support your journey to discover more about yourself. It’s part of life, the constant path to better understand one’s universe I can’t deny you that. I WON’T deny you that. But in order to do that, I must deny myself of you.” With that said, he leaned back against the bulkhead. But she never got the chance to respond. The comm. beeped and Archer’s voice filled the air “A Klingon ship just de-cloaked off our bow all senior officers to their stations.”

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 whole mess of folks have made comments

That was sad truthful and sweet. Are you sure your a First timer? Cause that was a Great Fanfic.

Poor Trip :(
Are you going to continue?

I liked this but I'm a bit ticked off about the entire 'T'pol having to find herself and decide what is and is not Vulcan and Trip has to sit in the wings waiting again' mess. She's 65 years old and she is a Vulcan. Anything a Vulcan does is being a Vulcan. All she has to decide is what sort of person she is. Why hasn't she figured this out by now?

great, great characters impressed so sad though

great, great characters impressed so sad though

Aww... *sigh* ANGST!

Good little fic. I hope we see more from you!

Great. I loved your take on it. Although, I so hope that when she asks him "Are you leaving because of me?" A little of that Vulcan honesty/bluntness comes through and he just answers, "Yes." and leaves it at that. Let HER be uncomfortable for a while. :( so sad. (your fic was great though! first time...wow. But it's not a picker-upper. *sigh* :( )

Trip is sounding more and more Vulcan everyday! In The Aenar for a minute there I thought he'd grow pointy ears! LOL Nice story! Very realistic for them. Great Job!

Wow! You can't teach that kind of talent!

very good! ;) I loved this take on what could happen.

Very good. Poor Trip he is always so understanding. I wish T'pol could show some understanding towards Trip for a change. She is a grown woman, I wish she would start acting like one.

Very good! I can't believe this is your first story, it is excellent and I can't wait to see what happens next. Your characterisation of both Trip and T'Pol is 'spot on'. Great job and well done, I anxiously await the next part. Ali D :~)

You nailed it, I'm sure! This will how it goes down on the show. True to what always happens to them whenever they're about to get into something 'heavy.' For a first-timer, you need to become a 'second-timer.'

best, susie

That was very good! I really enjoyed it and it was also very sad. I hope Trip will decide to stay or go and come back.

I think if they had actually spoken to each other like that, Trip would not have left. It would have opened up more conversation between them and they possibly would have come to an understanding. Sigh, what might have been...