Clarity Upon Reflection

A “Clipping Clue-pons” POV Fic CHALLENGE

Clarity Upon Reflection

By: ginamr

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters…too bad. If I did, Enterprise would never end and Trip and T’Pol would be together and immortal >:).
Genres: POV Challenge, Angst, Mild Language
Summary: Malcolm and Hoshi reflect on the distance between Trip and T’Pol after Trip returns to the ship.
Any Author’s Notes: For those of you who missed Season Four episodes through Demons, there WILL be spoilers. This takes place post-Affliction, off-camera.
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Mess Hall, 1342 hours

“Trip’s been avoiding people a lot lately.”

“Especially Commander T’Pol,” Reed mumbled.

Hoshi shrugged. “I wonder why he’s avoiding her. They were getting along fine until he transferred to Columbia.”

“Anna’s mentioned that he hasn’t been able to focus very well lately. He’ll stare at the ceiling with a glazed look in his eyes and she’ll have to shake his shoulder to bring him out of it.”

“And you’ve seen the same happen with Commander T’Pol on the bridge.”

“I knew there had to be something going on between them. The man was in a fury of a mood when he came back from Vulcan. All I got out of him was that T’Pol had married Koss. He avoided her like the plague until she and the Captain ventured off into that desert on Vulcan.”

“Poor Trip. It must have been so hard watching her marry that other man. I’ll bet he held back from telling her how he felt because he didn’t want to make it anymore difficult than it already was for her.”

Reed nodded. “I found out when I spoke to Commander T’Pol that Trip left shortly after the ceremony. She refused to tell me anymore than that.”

“The Captain thinks she’s the reason Trip transferred to Columbia.”

“Bloody hell. He’s in deeper than I thought. I thought it was just lust; but if the Captain’s right---he could be in love with her.”

Hoshi sighed. “Commander T’Pol’s in deep, too. I think something happened after her exposure to that Trellium aboard the Seleya. She’s probably confused because what she feels for Trip is new and scary. I was a little scared when I fell in love for the first time. I can only imagine how she must feel having been shielded from emotion her whole life.”

Reed looked slightly surprised. “Commander T’Pol? She’s Vulcan.”

Hoshi shook her head sadly. “Yes. Which I’m sure makes it much more difficult. She’s most likely trying to fight her feelings, which is bound to make a mess of things. Trip tried fighting his and all it got him was a transfer off Enterprise.”

“I suppose we can only hope that they both come to their senses.” Reed grimaced. “I don’t like seeing him unhappy. It’s like his sister’s death all over again.”

Hoshi smiled. “I remember how close they became in the months after his sister died. They started eating in the Mess together, they’d talk for hours when they were off duty---he even had her trying things like catfish, spaghetti, and pecan pie. After that first bite, she always had a slice of pecan pie with her evening meal. I was sitting at the table with her one evening when she had a piece. She savored every bite, closing her eyes---almost as though it would be a waste not to taste the flavor to the fullest extent.”

Reed chuckled. “I saw him try some of the Commander’s ploomek broth and chamomile tea once. He seemed to enjoy the change.”

“That’s Trip all right. Always willing to try something new.” Hoshi sighed. “It was really sweet seeing them together. After Christmas, they seemed so much closer as well. All he had to do was whisper her name or look into her eyes for a second and it was almost as though they could tell what the other was thinking or feeling. When you were in the room with them, you almost felt as though you were being left out of a conversation even when they didn’t say anything.”

Reed smirked. “I felt like a voyeur anytime I stepped near the two of them.”

Hoshi grimaced. “And after they lost their daughter---they became closer than ever then. I’d see him grabbing her hand for just a second and squeezing when he thought no one was looking. She would return the gesture if it was clear no one else could see.”

“Even before that, Hoshi, I caught him looking for an excuse to touch her or to even brush up against her.”

“And he’d get this glimmer in his eye whenever her name was said almost as though he knew something that we didn’t.”

“I’m wholly convinced that, despite Commander Tucker’s assurances that they were just friends, there was a brief romantic involvement between them. Cutler told me that she saw Commander Tucker slipping out of Commander T’Pol’s quarters very late in his underclothes around Christmas.”

“Hess told me the same thing. She said that she bumped into Cutler on the way to T’Pol’s quarters to give her a report, so they both decided to go together and get a late night snack from the Mess Hall afterwards. They were just turning the corner when they saw Trip leaving---in just his boxers.”

Reed nodded and took a bite of his turkey. “I’ve also heard rumors from Hess that T’Pol’s been looking for any excuse to come down to Engineering. And when she’s there, Trip is even less focused than usual.”

“Kelby seems to get even more agitated at Trip when T’Pol’s there. You’d think with her there, he’d be on his best behavior---”

“I suppose he’s a bit jealous. She is attractive and she doesn’t have eyes for anyone but the Commander---”

Hoshi sighed. “I wish they would just get together already. I mean, they’ve danced around it for long enough. She’s always loved flaring his fire and he’s always loved trying to melt her ice-shield. Arguing and bickering is like their way of flirting.”

Reed nodded. “Quite entertaining, actually. I’d prefer watching the two of them go at it to any movie night.”

“I suppose, in time, things will work out.”

“Yes. Time heals all wounds and helps love grow.”

Le Fin (for now)

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

I'm confused about the timeline here. Is the story post-Affliction or post-Demons? Demons is after Affliction, but it seems this story is set pre-Bound (and therefore pre-Demons).

Or is the story post-Terra Prime and you're going with canon that they separated around then?

I like your story but T'Pol's a vegetarian she wouldn't eat catfish.

Interesting idea... but it seems to me that they know a bit TOO much about TnT and the couple's inner feelings. Maybe you could do a prequel that sets up this conversation... one where Trip confides in Malcolm and T'Pol confides in Hoshi... or would it be the other way around? Hmmm. That has some potential, LOL! : )

I like the story - but maybe it would be interesting to see the circumstances of this conversation - like what actually made them talk about that. It's a good start, but still a bit rough around the edges...

Oh, and besides, it's LA fin, not le... sorry, but I can't help myself ;-)

Actually, if you're writing in French, you'd generally just put "fin" without the article at the end of a piece, but it is a feminine noun, and so, as KUgirl pointed out, would take "la" as the article if you chose to use one. : )

Nice, but I also felt that Hoshi and Malcolm knew a little too much. Still good, though! :)

Hey all,

I've done two companion prequels with "Woman To Woman" explaining the mention of T'Pol trying catfish. Also, "Man To Man" gives you some details that explain how Malcolm reached his conclusions. The same goes for Hoshi with "Woman To Woman". Anyway, hope these stories, hopefully posted tomorrow will answer some questions for everyone.

Nice! I'm looking forward to the companion pieces.

Hey all,

I got pretty sick...think it's a bad cold. Anyway, I have "Man To Man" finished, but I haven't started on the other yet. I'm going to wait and post them both at the same time. Hopefully, I'll feel good enough soon to have them mailed in to the Boss by the end of the week. ;) Cheers.

I liked the conversational exploration, speculation on what the little clues might add up to. But they did seem to know more than they possibly could at this point, accept for putting in the Cuttler's nocturnal observations, LOL.