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The Moment

Author - Energy4TripnT’Pol | Genre - Angst | M | Main Story | Rating - PG | T
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The Moment

By: Energy4TripnT’Pol

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: ~ an episode of “Star Trek: Enterprise”: $ on Paramount’s budget. Getting Trip and T’Pol together: priceless for us desperate fanfic writers. So no, I’m not making money and Paramount owns the series and all the characters involved. ~
Genre: Of course romance, slight angst, some mystery, just a hint of everything else . . .
Summary: After T’Pol’s return from Vulcan, she tells Trip about her divorce and he tells her how he feels. Sadly, not everything is as it seems . . .
Author Notes: This is my rendition about what I wished would have happened after “Kir’Shara”. At the time, I was unaware of this website’s existence and so I just now finished it and submitted it.

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If it was possible for the world to stand still after just one simple thing, it had happened.

He thought the world halted in its tracks when he got word his sister that his baby sister, Lizzie, was killed in the Xindi probe’s attack on Earth. He thought the world had halted when Earth was saved, after much effort and time had been spent trying to prevent it from being destroyed. He thought that time had stopped when he was told the captain was dead. Again, he thought that time had stopped when he personally discovered that the captain wasn’t dead, as long as he didn’t pull a trigger.

And then, standing on an alien world with T’Pol, when she had told him she was going to marry Koss. He heard her say that she was going to marry someone else . . .

Trip Tucker’s world nearly fell apart.

And then, one night shortly after the return of T’Pol and the captain after their journey on Vulcan’s treacherous deserts, after the crew had settled into bed and night shifts, just as he was about to go to sleep, his bell rang.

Trip stood up, evaluating his appearance. His brown hair was spiked from the humidity of the after duty shower and not bothering to mess with it. His shirt was flung towards the closet, the result of a quick game of basketball. His blue eyes were a bit dimmer than usual, yet he was still Trip Tucker, always ready to offer advice or consolation.

And he knew the only person that would be knocking on his door at this hour probably wouldn’t care.

“Come in.”

In her civvies, T’Pol entered. Stoically, as if she were asking for a systems report, she asked, “Am I disturbing you?”

His comforter was thrown against the bulkhead his bed rested against. Trip looked as if he’d just come off of a hundred shifts in Engineering without a break.

And he answered, “Nah.”

Ever since she had gotten married, T’Pol had been more formal towards him, yet he still suspected her feelings weren’t neutral. He sat on the bed and offered her the cleaner of sitting spots.

She sat in his chair at his desk. She was still appearing uncomfortable, but not in the “I’m-married-and-you’re-still-adjusting” style. Tucker thought it was something more, so he asked, “Is everything okay?”

She looked up at him, looking him directly in the eyes for the first time in weeks. Trip saw something in them that made him wonder if there had been something she hadn’t disclosed to him.

“Yes.”

“You’re doing okay, with your mother and all?”

“Yes. The emotions are still hard to suppress, from the time we spent in the Expanse, but they don’t seem to be affecting me adversely.”

“Losing family is hard to do. I mean, look how long it took me to get over losing Lizzie.”

“You’re not Vulcan.”

Three years ago, he would have taken that as fighting words. Now, he realized it was a reminder from a friend.

“I know, but with everything in the Expanse, it was hard on everybody, no matter what. And losing a parent is bound to be harder.”

T’Pol’s feet began shifting. Trip sighed. “Are you sure everything is okay?”

She looked back up at him, steadied her feet, and replied, “No. Something happened just before we left Vulcan that I should have told you about.”

Trip didn’t reply, silently hoping what he was thinking was a variant on what she was going to say.

“I’m no longer married to Koss.”

That was it.

Trip appeared concerned as a friend; he’d switch guises later. “What happened?”

“He realized that the only reason I married him was for my mother. Since she died, he came to the conclusion that there was no reason for us to continue.”

She seemed as if she had something else to say. Trip softly pressed it. “What?”

“I believe he may have sensed your feelings for me. Mother hinted at it on one occasion.”

“More than once,” he said under his breath, and then he wished he hadn’t said it. Not only were her ears pointed, but they were extra sensitive in hearing.

“Meaning?”

Trip sighed. “Your mother, being as she was, figured out that . . . there was something between us. She even suggested that I mention it to you before the ceremony.”

“Mention what?”

Trip switched the guise. “I’m in love with you.”

T’Pol’s eyebrows went high.

“I have been for a while, but when you told me you were marrying Koss-- it just told me I was. I figured you had enough pressure and you didn’t need me causing any more. So I didn’t say anything.”

T’Pol kept silent. Trip was debating whether or not to say more, so he paused. He looked at T’Pol, asking, “You aren’t mad at me, are you?”

In one swift motion, she answered. In an instant, she had pressed him against the bed and her face lingered just inches above his. In a quiet voice, she said, “I have no logical reason to be mad at you.”

“I have never heard sweeter words,” he said with a quirky little smile.

She leaned down and kissed him gently. Trip kissed back, wholeheartedly. He had been waiting for this moment for, how long now? He supposed it was since the Expanse; no, longer. He had been waiting since their first argument during the first Suliban incident.

She pulled back, looking slightly surprised at herself. Trip straightened up against the wall. “So. Does this mean we’re okay?”

T’Pol nodded, and then sat down on the bed. “I never stopped caring about you, Trip. I had hoped that I put this behind me, and I regret ever saying I would marry Koss.”

“I know.”

They both looked at each other, shyly. Trip moved forward on the bed, saying, “Ya know, things feel pretty weird, from some people’s point of view, but from mine,” he paused, settling next to her, “things couldn’t be better.”

She glanced up at him. “Thank you.”

Trip smiled at her. Disarming to her emotions as it was, she enjoyed it. She knew when she saw it that he was happy. And she couldn’t ask for anything more.

He settled back against the bed. “As much fun as this is, I gotta get some rest. Dr. Erickson is gonna be aboard when we get back to Earth.”

She rose from her position on the bed. “I apologize for keeping you.”

He shook his head at her, and he stood up again. “Don’t,” he said, leaning in and giving her one last kiss.

After who knew how long, T’Pol broke it. She raised her hand and touched his cheek. “Good night.”

“Night.” He watched her walk to the door, step outside the door, and knew she was walking off to her quarters.

. . . And then Trip woke up.

It had been over two months. He wasn’t even on Enterprise; he was in his new quarters on Columbia. He sighed. After all this time, she had broken his heart again. It was like a bad game of cat chasing dog chasing cat. After the last go-around, he asked for a transfer.

He thought she had made it clear that she didn’t care for him anymore. But she could have knocked him over with a feather when, right before he left, she asked, “Are you leaving because of me?

Trip smacked his head. God, was he stupid. He should have just told her the truth. But instead, he was being stubborn. “This may come as a shock to you, but not everything in my life revolves around you.

He got it from her. T’Pol was the poster child for being stubborn. It was a steady part of who she was, just as how him being on Enterprise was a constant in her life.

And here he was, lying in a bed with some badly located lumps in the mattress, and he realized just what an idiot he was. Then again, he was a bit too prideful to be nice to her again. After all, she had hurt him and he was rebounding. He needed time.

Then, Captain Erika Hernandez’ voice came into his room. “Bridge to Commander Tucker.”

Trip immediately had a bad feeling. “Go ahead,” he answered as he pressed the comm button.

And then Hernandez told him about Enterprise’s predicament.

One thought stood out among the others. He was sure that he could find an idea in his mind to help the ship; yet a single name stood out among the thoughts.

T’Pol.

He flung the covers aside. “On my way. Tucker out.”

THE END

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

". . . And then Trip woke up" Dammmit! ;)

You really had me going there. Of course, nothing for these two will ever be so easy, will it?

Nice story - I like Trip's introspective thoughts at the end - opens the door for the "three days ago I asked Capt. Hernandez..." line. Well done!

Ain't that the truth?

excellent, very realistic

How events continually sea-saw between our intrepid would-be lovers. I sometimes wonder just how much angst a poor old Human heart can withstand. Can't wait to see what happens next. Ali D :~)

just when I was thinking 'what a nice alternative timeline' those five words appear..."And then Trip woke up." way to burst a perfectly good bubble...but then we all know how things turned out :o)

Dang! It was a dream??

Actually, it was well-written. Sort of a nice little vignette leading to Divergence.

Oh nice job. I wonder if T'Pol got to share this dream. :)


yes there I was thinking 'FINALLY' they talked! and then ya slap us with that famous sentence. Sheesh, when will we ever learn??

As Boushh asks above, could we see this from T'Pol's view??

Stupid dream garbage face. What's the deal with that, huh? Seriously, cool story, hope there's more! :)

since they`ve been sharing dreams all the time, its even money they shared this dream too, so, who knows? : ) anyway, nice story

Glad ya liked it somewhat. Now just as soon as I can get to my computer I'll submit another story!
Energy

He woke up?! Damn. But you gave him a reason to wake up - a return to Enterprise and T'Pol. Your writing flows nicely - more, more please. And I like any story that mentions his sister. I am stuck on that sister-brother relationship.