Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap

By Favors

Rating: PG-13 (for language)
Genre: Angst, Romance
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: Enterprise is owned by Paramount, not me. No infringement intended, no profit made.
Spoilers: “The Observer Effect”, all season 4 spoilers, and any aired episodes.
Summary: T’Pol comes to grips with her decisions and extends a hand to Trip

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Doctor Phlox’s last briefing of Commander Tucker’s condition disturbed Captain Archer. Hoshi had responded to the treatment and had regained consciousness 6 days ago. She had been released from sickbay 4 days ago and was still recuperating in her quarters. Trip, however, remained in a coma. Archer looked over to T’Pol she was sitting, staring vacantly at her console. T’Pol had taken to checking on him every few hours and spending her off-duty time sitting by his bed. She had been distracted during her shifts; he knew her mind was on Trip.

“Lieutenant Reed, you have the bridge. T’Pol, come with me.” Archer order curtly.

T’Pol dutifully followed Captain Archer from the bridge. “Where are we headed, Captain?”

“Sickbay, there’s something you need to know.” Archer’s face showed his deep concern.

“Is it about Commander Tucker?” T’Pol asked anxiously.

Archer pointedly ignored her question and continued on in silence to sickbay. His expression was solemn, and T’Pol’s concern grew with every step they made on their way to sickbay. She was fearful that Commander Tucker was dead. As they entered sickbay, T’Pol could detect the faint rise and fall of the chief engineer’s chest, indicating he still lived. Relief flooded through her.

They progressed towards where Trip lay deathly still on a biobed. Archer went around the biobed to stand next to the doctor, opposite of T’Pol.

“Phlox, I want you to tell T’Pol what you told me earlier this morning.” Archer’s face betrayed a deep sadness.

“I do not believe Commander Tucker will survive more than another week or so. He has, quite literally, given up the will to live. There is nothing more I can do.” Phlox spoke with regret and grief.

“There must be something you can do, you cannot let him die!” T’Pol felt her whole world spin away. She couldn’t lose him! She had pushed him away, again. He had withdrawn from her, avoiding her at every step. Her decision was far more painful than she had anticipated. When she had finally realized the depth of her mistake, she had sought out Trip to talk to him. He had dismissed her claiming he had work, and that maybe ‘some other time’, he would have time for her. He was bitter, and his words hurt. She had returned to quarters and cried for hours. She could only imagine now how he must have felt when she rejected him, and so often. Yet he had always come back. Not anymore, it was up to her now. The captain had sent Trip and Hoshi on an away mission before she could seek him out again and a virulent disease had afflicted them both.

“I believe there is someone who can help him.” Phlox’s voice was grave his eyes never left T’Pol’s face. He had been watching her intently while she digested the serious news of Trip’s condition.

“Who, doctor? We must get them here immediately!” T’Pol spoke vehemently. Unconsciously she had placed her hands on Trip’s chest and abdomen.

“You.” Was Phlox’s quiet reply.

“I am not a physician.” T’Pol was taken aback by his response.

“That’s not what he needs. He needs a reason to live.”

“T’Pol, what do you feel for Commander Tucker?” Archer spoke quietly to T’Pol.

“He…is…a trusted colleague.” She answered haltingly.

“A colleague? Is that all he is to you?” Archer’s face showed his disbelief. He could already guess at the answer, he was stunned that T’Pol could stand there and still deny her feelings for the man before them.

“T’Pol?” Archer prompted.

“No.” she whispered. She struggled to keep tears from pooling in her eyes and fought to control her emotions.

“T’Pol, what do you feel for Trip? And don’t give me the “I am Vulcan” speech. I know you have feelings. I’ve seen them too many times. Do you care for him? Do you love him?” Archer had walked over to T’Pol and gripped her by her shoulders.

“I don’t know how to handle these…emotions. I’m confused, Captain. I can’t eat, meditate, or sleep. I can’t concentrate on my duties. I have this…this…discomfort in my stomach. I don’t know how to identify these emotions. I struggle to control them, but to no avail. I have…feelings…for Commander Tucker, I know that. I am…bereft…without his presence.” T’Pol answered hoarsely, emotions thickening her throat.

“T’Pol, I don’t know exactly what went on between you two. But maybe I can help you sort out these feelings, help you identify them, if you tell me what happened.” Archer’s tone softened, T’Pol was the key to helping Trip. If she did in fact love Trip, he and the doctor had discussed a plan of action. If she didn’t, there was little hope for Trip.

T’Pol struggled within herself. Vulcans are very private concerning personal matters and the captain wanted to know the extent of her feelings for another. Both the captain and the doctor had been staring at her intently watching her every reaction. Only Trip had been able to read her easily, she had found it difficult to hide things from him.

As Archer watched her inner turmoil, he wished he had Trip’s insight. Trip could read the subtlest nuances of her expression, speech, and body language. Archer decided she needed nudging. “Did you know that Trip requested transfer off of Enterprise?” That brought a reaction. T’Pol’s head came up sharply. When T’Pol only wordlessly shook her head, Archer continued. “Two days before I sent him and Hoshi on that away mission.”

“Did he say why?” she asked, her voice barely audible. Her eyes were open wide and she reminded Archer of a frightened little girl.

“He didn’t even ask me in person, just sent me a communication. When I went to his quarters to speak to him about it, I found him drunk and sobbing. Said he couldn’t take seeing her anymore, that it was too painful. That he would never love another as long as he lived. While he didn’t name names, I can only guess at who ‘she’ was. Do you know who the ‘she’ is T'Pol?” Archer looked at her pointedly having emphasized her name. How these two had ever gotten involved, he couldn’t imagine. Trip was gregarious, enthusiastic, chaotic, and impatient, T’Pol was quiet, reserved, and thoughtful. She could take hours to make a decision. Trip had always claimed there was so much more to her than anyone knew. T’Pol must have revealed a side of herself that she only had shared with Trip.

“He does not wish to be with me.” T’Pol answered, anguish evident in her voice. Archer was astonished to see tears pooling in her eyes.

“Then you weren’t listening very well. The man’s in love with you. So much so, that the sight of you hurts him because you don’t want to be with him.” Archer retorted angrily. It finally dawned on Archer that T’Pol had no idea how to cope with a relationship. She had never dated, never had the experiences most humans had with a romantic relationship, she didn’t know how to deal with being in love. “Is that true? Because to me it sure as hell seems you’re in love with him as well. Your work has been sloppy, you’ve been distracted, and you’ve spent every free moment down here. T’Pol, can’t you just trust me? I’m your captain and friend. Please, tell me honestly, how you feel about Trip. It’s important. I know you value you privacy very highly, but a man’s life is at stake.”

T’Pol had heard Trip refer to a leap of faith, just blindly trusting in something or someone. This must be what he meant, a leap of faith. “I am in love with Commander Tucker. I wish to be with him for all the remaining years of my life. But…I…I…have” Tears spilled down T’Pol’s cheeks. Archer gathered the weeping T’Pol in his arms and hugged her gently while nodding to Phlox.

Phlox cleared his throat. “Commander T’Pol we have an option to assist him. A mind-meld.”

When T’Pol looked up startled, Phlox held out a reassuring hand. “I know it’s frightening, but I believe it is the only way to communicate with Commander Tucker. You must let him know how you feel. It will give him purpose.”

“I do not know the procedure; I only had it performed upon me by force.” T’Pol’s was obviously scared of repeating the procedure.

“Soval can. He performed the mind-meld on an unconscious patient recently. He is willing to do so now.”

T’Pol could only nod in mute agreement. Archer flew to the comm. Panel, “Archer to the bridge. Set maximum warp to Vulcan, contact Soval, tell him it’s a go.”

***

Enterprise pushed the engines as hard as they would go to reach Vulcan as quickly as possible. Soval was transported up immediately and taken to sickbay straight away.

Soval took in the scene with a Vulcans disinterest. Commander Tucker lay virtually motionless on a biobed with Commander T’Pol by his side. She was holding his hand tightly in her own. She had quite obviously been sobbing, her eyes were rimmed green and she looked haggard. Doctor Phlox and Captain Archer stood off to the other side.

“Ambassador Soval.” T’Pol bowed her head slightly towards the older Vulcan.

“Former Ambassador. Greetings Commander T’Pol.”

“Soval, would you please explain exactly how the procedure will work?” Archer asked.

“I will act as the bridge between them. I will meld with T’Pol first and then Commander Tucker. I will be able to witness everything that occurs. Are there any surprises I should know of T’Pol?”

T’Pol knew immediately what he inferred; he seemed to sense the deep connection between them. “The Commander and I have been…sexually intimate. He may bring it up.”

Archer tried not to show his surprise at this revelation. He whispered to Phlox, “Did you know?”

Phlox nodded slightly in the affirmative.

“While the Commander and I have clashed on occasion, I respect him. He is a…good man. Captain, I understand that Commander Tucker is a friend, how do you expect him to react to T’Pol’s presence?”

Archer looked directly at T’Pol. “I expect him to be angry, hurt, sarcastic, and bitter. You have your work cut for you T’Pol, make no mistake of that. It won’t be easy, you’ve hurt him, a great deal. Be honest with him, tell him how you feel. Don’t give up. He’ll probably lash out and say things to hurt you. You’re going to have to acknowledge and deal with that. Just follow your heart.”

The words were familiar to T’Pol, her thoughts turned inward.

‘Follow my heart. My older self told me the same thing when I visited her during our mission in the Expanse. She said I would one day know what I want. What I want is Trip. She said she could not imagine her life without him, neither can I.’

“I agree with the captain, Commander T’Pol. Just be completely honest with him and tell how you feel.” Phlox added his expression was grim.

“I am ready.” T’Pol stood straight, fearful, but ready.

Soval reached out a touched T’Pol’s face with his right hand. “My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts.” After he made connection with T’Pol’s mind, Soval touched his left hand to Trip’s face, repeating the words. Archer and Phlox could only look on and hope for the best.

***
Trip sat on a large piece of driftwood idly making designs in the sand with a twig. The sky was a leaden gray with the surf foaming on the shore. The water looked murky and cold.

Trip wasn’t aware of how long he had been sitting on the log, but it seemed like forever. Occasionally he thought he heard something, a woman calling his name and maybe the captain. But they were too faint to hear. He just ignored them, he didn’t want to leave here. He had no reason.

“Commander.” A man’s voice from behind him interrupted his thoughts. Turning, Trip recognized Soval.

“Soval, what are you doing here?” Trip was astonished to see him.

“I brought a friend.” Stepping to the side, Soval revealed T’Pol’s slight frame.

“You’re wrong, she’s no friend. She’s made that real clear!” Bitterness and anger were evident in his voice. Trip turned away from them a walked briskly down the beach. Soval noted that the sky was becoming agitated.

“Your captain was indeed correct; you do have your work cut out for you.”

“Trip! Wait!” T’Pol ran after Trip. For a fleeting second she felt humiliation wash over her, this was not proper behavior for a Vulcan, but perhaps it was for a woman in love.

Trip ignored her and continued down the beach. T’Pol raced down the beach to catch Trip. When she finally caught up with Trip she grabbed for his arm to halt his progress. He whirled on her and roughly shoved her away. “What do you want? Why are you here? Why’s he here? Hell, I don’t even know where we are!” Trip’s eyes were blazing with rage. T’Pol fell away from him, terrified at the hatred in his voice. Soval calmly stood nearby. Gone was the amiable, gregarious engineer, replaced by a bitter, angry man. She was responsible. The captain had warned her. She would not falter from her course. She knew she deserved his wrath, she just hoped she could repair the damage.

Soval answered Trip’s question before T’Pol could respond. “I am here to act as a bridge between T’Pol and you, Commander Tucker. You are lying in a coma in sickbay on Enterprise, your body is dying. We are in a mind-meld.”

“Well, I don’t need ya! Get out of my head and take that bitch with you!” Trip once again turned his back on T’Pol and Soval and stormed down the beach.

The skies turned more leaden and a cold wind chilled T’Pol. The ocean churned with large waves breaking on rocky outcroppings. “The storm is intensifying with his emotions. If this continues much longer, we will wind up in a hurricane.” Soval noted dryly. “Only you can save him, T’Pol.” T’Pol was struggling to contain her own emotions. Tears were welling in her eyes. “Captain Archer and Doctor Phlox suggested you be honest with him. Have you told him how you feel about him?”

“No.” she whispered.

“Then perhaps you should tell your Commander.” T’Pol looked down the beach, Trip was 100 yards ahead of them now, headed for a rocky outcropping. Swallowing her pride, T’Pol ran after him.

Trip heard the hiss of sand and as he turned was knocked over by T’Pol. A professional football player couldn’t have executed a better tackle. Trip was driven to the ground by T’Pol’s momentum and she landed heavily atop Trip.

“Trip, please listen to me!” she pleaded with him.

“Commander Tucker!” Trip shot back with venom.

“What?” T’Pol was caught off guard by his response.

“Commander Tucker! I don’t want you calling me Trip!” he shouted at her.

Now T’Pol was starting to get angry. “For 3 years you nagged me to call you Trip and now you don’t want me to?!”

“It’s intimate remember? And as you well know, we are not intimate!” Trip threw T’Pol off and got to his feet. She landed with a heavy thump a few feet from him. Once again, Soval stood a few meters away.

“Commander Tucker, you will listen to me as your superior officer!”

“We’re the same rank, darlin’! Or had your uppity self forgotten that!”

“As 1st Officer I still out rank by position! You will listen to what I have to say!” T’Pol shouted back.

While he found their exchange amusing, Soval was concerned for the human, his emotions, his anger and hurt fed the storm. The storm was picking up and soon it would be dangerous to remain in the open. While this was all in the human’s mind, his mind made it real. T’Pol was not unaware of the storm, only Trip seemed unconcerned. T’Pol shivered in the chill wind.

“Well, well, well! Commander T’Pol, please go ahead, I can hardly wait for whatever crap you’re gonna tell me!”

T’Pol gathered her resolve and blurted out “I love you. I made a mistake in ending our relationship. I need you, I cannot live with out you!”

For a few moments, the winds died down and the ocean swells reduced in size. But then suddenly they picked back up. He wanted to believe her, had waited so long to hear those words, any words of affection from her. She had pushed him away too many times, he couldn’t trust her. “No! I don’t believe you!”

“It is the truth! I have hurt you, I know that and for that I am deeply sorry. But I can’t undo the past, I can only go forward.”

“Well, you’ll have to do it without me! I’ve had enough bein’ hurt by you! A person can only take so much you know.” Trip turned to stalk away again as the storm raged around them again.

“If you jump, I jump!”

“What?! Now you’re quotin’ the last movie we saw together? How appropriate, a movie about a sinkin’ ship!” Trip’s bark of laughter showed no humor, just empty bitterness.

“A movie about two people in love.” T’Pol had walked to stand in front of Trip, her hand on his chest.

“And why should I believe you? You know, I think the captain ordered you to do this.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his look defiant.

“He did not. When they told me of your condition, I was shattered. The doctor does not believe you wish to live anymore. That you have no reason to live. Is that true, do you really wish to die?” anguish was evident in her voice.

Trip finally took in her physical condition. She looked like hell. She had lost weight, her skin was blotchy, her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were rimmed green. It tugged at his heart. Trip regarded her thoughtfully, he wanted to believe her, wanted desperately to believe her. Too many times, too many times he had reached for her and she pushed him away.

“Trip, I need you in my life, and I think you need me as well. I know you are angry with me, and rightly so. But please, choose to live! I love you. I will never push you away again. I…I…want you to be my bond mate.” T’Pol looked on, her expression hopeful.

“Your bond mate? What’s a bond mate?”

As T’Pol explained the significance of the bond mate, the storm died down. They would be together for the rest of their lives, linked mentally and emotionally. She was asking him for a life-long commitment. The irony made him laugh. “I don’t get you. You jump my bones one night, just to tell me I’m an experiment the next day. Toy around with my feelings, have me watch you marry someone else, who dumps you because of your ‘illness’. So stupid me, I think the way is clear for us, but no! Can’t have that! Now you want a life long commitment. I can’t even get you go out on a date with me, and you want us joined at the hip for the rest of our lives?” His anger was dying but he was still unconvinced.

“Yes. And I never said you were an experiment. I was frightened of the emotions you stirred in me. I had been attracted to you for so long. I don’t know how to deal with these emotions. My older self on the other Enterprise said I could trust you. I know I can, and you can trust me.” T’Pol looked over to Soval, he appeared strained but calm and in control. Soval was wondering what Commander Tucker meant by ‘jump my bones’.

“Soval, can I touch his mind directly, can he touch mine so I can show him the truth of my words?” T’Pol directed to Soval.

“No, I am just a bridge between you two. You must convince him another way. If Commander Tucker chooses life, then when you bond, he will know your thoughts.”

T’Pol knew Trip had always been a man of action, and Trip had said before actions speak louder than words. With a last glance at Soval, T’Pol launched herself at Trip. She grappled him to the ground kissing him passionately. “Maybe this will convince you.”

Trip found himself abandoned in her kisses and embrace. After several minutes, T’Pol released Trip from her hold and stood. Trip watched as she slowly removed her clothing, never taking her eyes from his. She knelt in the sand and carefully peeled his off as well. Soval watched as the couple made love on the beach. After seeing T’Pol launch herself at Commander Tucker, it was clear what he had meant by ‘jump my bones’. Neither seemed aware of his presence anymore. He walked a short distance away and sat on a patch of dry beach. He watched the storm, a gauge for the human’s mood. T’Pol apparently threw away all her Vulcan stoicism and copulated with her human repeatedly. Despite being different species, their bodies molded perfectly to one another. Soval was amazed at the perfect unison of their climaxes. The storm receded each time they made love. After their sixth coupling, rays of sunshine broke through. Soval knew the human had finally been convinced of T’Pol’s declaration. Feeling the sunshine on her back, T’Pol asked “Do you believe me now? Will you choose to live, t’hai’la? Will you return to me and be my bond mate?”

“You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that? I do love ya T’Pol, I never stopped, nor will I ever. I’ll always be yours. I’’ll be your bond mate.” Trip kissed her soundly before lifting her off of him. Trip stood unabashed in his nudity and gathered his clothing. After he dressed he strode over to Soval, and extended his hand. To his surprise, Soval clasped his hand in return. T’Pol had dressed as well and stood beside Trip. “Thanks for bridgin’ the gap, Soval. How the hell do we get outta here?”

***

Phlox and Archer watched mesmerized at the scene before them. All three were deathly still, with no apparent changes in Trips’ condition. After almost an hour, Soval’s eyes fluttered open. He looked bone weary. T’Pol was in much the same condition.

“Well?” Archer demanded of them.

“He has chosen to return to you.” Soval intoned. Phlox helped him into a chair.

“T’Pol? T’Pol?” a familiar voice cracked. T’Pol turned at the sound and weary blue eyes regarded warm brown ones. Tears were flowing freely down T’Pol’s cheeks. She had seen Trip cry with happiness before, and had never understood until now. Happiness filled her heart, her t’hai’la would live.

“Hey, don’t cry darlin’! I’m OK. Shush. I’m here, I won’t leave ya. Shush.” Trip reached up to wipe away T’Pol’s tears as she leaned down to kiss him full on the lips. Archer and Phlox looked on with grins plastered onto their faces. Trip pulled T’Pol close into a fierce embrace, as fierce as his tired body would warrant. “When I get outta sickbay, I’m gonna make love to you all night long. Make that beach experience pale in comparison.” Trip spoke softly into the T’Pol’s delicate pointed ear. She shivered at the caress of his breath.

“I will hold you to that t’hai’la.” She whispered into his ear.

“You’re gonna have to tell me what that means you know.” Trip’s smile and chuckle were a welcome sight to Archer and Phlox.

“What did she say to convince you to come back Trip?” Archer asked relieved that his best friend was back. Trip had a weary smile on his face, kissed the top of T’Pol’s head, and answered, “She proposed.”

The End

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

i like it, there is a huge grin plastered on my face.

Pleased and smiling.
Thank you. :o)

One hell of a proposal!

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

How can a guy say no to a proposal like that!
Great story I loved it!

I'll just say Wow too! I loved the storm/emotion comparison. Nicely done.

Wow how great . Really romantic .
How could Trip say no to a proposal like that!

That was great! A little sequel, maybe? :)

Awwww.......... :-)

Very, very nice! I wish TPTB would take note of your story as well as some of the other ones here.

This was lovely *shoves the story in a megaphone and blasts it Bermaga's way*

Loved IT! It made me happy, I wished THAT happened on Enterprise

"Soval was wondering what Commander Tucker meant by ‘jump my bones’." Only now have I wiped the tears from my eyes from laughing. I could see Soval's eyebrow raise and the *almost* quizzical expression on his face as he pondered the term. Great Writing!!!!

That has to be the best proposal I have EVER heard of!