Significant Discovery

Significant Discovery

Author: Jash

Rating: PG for minor swearing.
Genre: Drama, Vignette
DISCLAIMER: Anything and everything related to “Star Trek: Enterprise” is owned by Paramount, which is owned by the mighty Viacom. All I own is an insistent imagination that likes to entice other people’s characters on little side trips. But they’re always returned, safe and sound.
Archive: If that means, “Can I save a copy on my computer?” then YES, by all means!
Spoilers: “The Aenar.” All aired season 4 episodes, any production information released on startrek.com and any spoilers posted on the HoT discussion board.
Summary: T’Pol must work with Commander Tucker on the Aenar project, but finds herself unwillingly distracted.

Author’s notes: This little bit was inspired by the photo on startrek.com titled “T’Pol and Trip in Sickbay.” This is most likely the first time they’ve worked together on a project since their conversation in Daedalus, and my imagination wondered how they would react to the necessity of it. My first fanfic, un-beta’d because of my rush to get it out before “The Aenar” is aired. I am always open to constructive criticism.

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Setting: Sickbay

T’Pol worked side by side with the Commander on the telepresence unit they were attempting to construct. She had been dreading this new project – she knew that she would have to work in close conditions with the Commander, closer than normal Vulcan protocol called for, closer than she wished for the sake of maintaining her control. However, it was proving to be much easier than she anticipated because the Commander was unusually silent, his emotions stilled. She expected to sense waves of emotion rolling off of him at the necessity of working with her after their last conversation, but there was… nothing. Her errant heart gave an odd little flutter with that thought, at which she drew in a quick breath. She turned her attention to the console behind them. Such useless, distracting things, these emotions. How had her counterpart ever learned how to 'live with' them?

The Commander raised his eyes from the apparatus before him and glanced over at her. Quickly, so he wouldn't offend her. 'God knows the last thing I need right now is an annoyed Vulcan,' he thought as quietly as he could. He knew that something happened to her in the expanse that had eroded her control. He knew that she had ended their... whatever it was... to focus on regaining that control. But it didn't make it hurt any less. 'Stop it, dumb ass. She always could sense human emotions. Focus.' He sought desperately to clear his mind. With a last ditch effort, he imagined himself turning his brain upside down and shaking all thought out of it, then got back to the task at hand.

T’Pol turned back around. While she had her back to him, the Commander had stepped to the other side of the console to give her more space. As she made this connection, a pang of regret hit her, gone as quickly as it appeared as her rebuilt defenses finally kicked it. Then she sensed it again, softer this time, almost like an echo. She heard a soft shuffling and realized the Commander had moved further away from her space. She sensed his eyes on her for a brief moment, then heard him sigh lightly and the presence of his eyes disappeared.

'This is gonna be harder than I thought.'

She brought her head up sharply at that, and stared at him. But he seemed oblivious, as if he hadn't realized he'd spoken, albeit very quietly. She decided to let it go, but found herself annoyingly attuned to his presence.

Deciding he was far enough away from her to not be a distraction anymore, he decided to let his mind wander. He found himself thinking about their current assignment, building this telepathic set-up for the Aenar. He just couldn't get his head around how it would all work, but Jhamal, the young-looking Aenar woman, seemed confident with how things were progressing. He glanced across the room at her where she worked diligently with Phlox.

'Never dreamed we'd meet telepaths,' he thought, enamored by the idea. He'd read books as a kid with characters who had ESP and such, but he always knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that it wasn't real.

Then he met the Vulcans.

He shook his head violently at that thought. Suddenly, Jhamal turned her head in his direction. He froze, and then remembered she was blind and wasn't actually looking at him, so he stared back at her.

'Never saw an albino back home, but I guess they don't look much different...' then he snorted in amusement.

T’Pol looked up to see the Commander gazing at their guest. She heard his voice, but had to strain to hear his words.

'...’cept fer the antenna.'

"Commander!"

Startled, he snapped around and met a pair of disapproving eyes. His brow creased in confusion. 'What th' hell's her problem?' he thought. He thought he must be going crazy because he coulda sworn for a split second that she frowned at him. But as he watched her step closer and lean in towards him, he found himself hopelessly frozen by her presence.

"Commander Tucker, need I remind you how much we need the assistance of the Aenar?"

Somehow, he found his voice. "N-no."

"Then I will caution you to keep to yourself any comments that might offend our guests."

He stared at her in disbelief; utterly confused by her words. As she continued to watch, a look of embarrassment crept across his face. She knew he was unaware that he’d spoken aloud. His slow response allowed a tendril of doubt to surface. Had he spoken aloud? She immediately squashed that errant thought.

“S-sorry about that, Commander,” he replied softly, avoiding her eyes, and quickly returned to his work. He chanced a quick glance in the direction of Jhamal, but their guest had been pulled back into conversation with the doctor. He squeezed his eyes shut. ‘I apologize if I’ve offended you,’ he thought, strongly aiming the words in her direction, as if that would make a difference.

‘Commander Tucker, I know not what you speak of, but be assured nothing you have done has offended me.’

His eyes snapped open, and his head swiveled around to look at their guest. Her head was once again turned in his direction, and he got the impression that even though she was without sight, she could still see him. He smiled sheepishly at her. She returned the smile, and he felt his heart give a little flutter.

‘Wow. She sure is beautiful when she smiles.’

T’Pol whirled around at that. She’d been trying to focus on the task at hand, but she still heard the Commander’s soft musings. But his last comment was taking things too far. Human or not, there was no excuse for… but when she saw the Commander and Jhamal facing each other with enrapt smiles on their faces, her words frozen uncertainly in her throat. Emotion tugged strongly at her thought process. There was no logical reason for the Commander to voice his thoughts aloud as he was looking at the subject of his statement. So why had he done so? Why voice his thoughts to Jhamal in the third person? She was still trying to rationalize this when she heard his voice. Her eyes on his face, she strained to hear what he was saying once again.

‘You… you heard me say that? How much have ya heard me… well, think?’

T’Pol dropped the PADD she was holding. It clattered to the floor, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Her eyes wide, she stared at Trip. He looked back at her in concern. Then he realized she was staring at him intently and breathing hard, her nostrils flaring with effort. She looked… petrified. He began to worry, glancing over at Phlox. The doctor met the Commander’s gaze briefly and looked back to T’Pol, his features etched with concern, his hand reaching into his pocket for his medical scanner as he paced the floor to her side.

“Commander T’Pol, how are you feeling?” Phlox asked, running the scanner around her head and torso. Her breathing was still erratic, her pulse and blood pressure elevated, her synaptic pathways hyper-stimulated. She seemed unable to respond to his question, her gaze locked on Trip. The Commander quickly walked to the doctor’s side, T’Pol’s eyes following him.

“Doc, what’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. Commander T’Pol, what is the date?”

No response. The Doctor grasped her by the upper arm and tried shaking her gently. She barely moved, her body rigid.

“Commander T’Pol?” the Commander asked, using the formal tense deliberately. He was really worried now.

‘What in th’ world’s WRONG with her?!’

T’Pol’s mouth moved soundlessly, as if she couldn’t command her words to come forth.

‘She has made a quite significant discovery, Commander Tucker, but appears to be in a state of shock. It will pass. Do not fear.’

The Commander turned around and saw Jhamal walking towards them with slow, deliberate steps. Always the gentleman, he quickly walked to her side and offered his arm to guide her to the melee. She took it gracefully, offering him a light smile.

‘What do you mean? How do you know what’s wrong with her?’

‘Well, what the hell is it? What can we do? How do we get her to snap out of it?’

T’Pol watched Trip walk to the… that… woman’s side, offer his arm. A surge of jealousy, of possessiveness shook her frame. She was unable to suppress it, though the doctor was the only other person to notice. He raised his scanner again, encircling her with it.

“Commander T’Pol, I can see no medical reason for your current agitated state,” Phlox began, speaking for her ears only, “which leads me to believe your response is due to emotional reasons. Would you mind telling me what could have possibly upset you so?”

T’Pol finally tore her eyes from Trip’s pleasing visage and met the doctor’s cobalt blue eyes. She would have to tell him that she was unfit for duty because she was suffering from a… ‘mental breakdown,’ was the human term. How else could she possibly be hearing Trip’s thoughts?

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Jash, this is AWESOME! What a great scene... 100% totally believeable, and right in character. Poor Trip, trying to be considerate and becoming the victim of misunbderstanding, again... poor T'Pol, what a shocker! I hope Jhamal can enlighten them... Great fic!

WOW great little story! This would be realy good to see on Friday. Have Ya thought of writing a sequal?

Great little vignette. Hope you write more!

keep going this is awsum

*furious blush* Gee, thanks, everyone! I'm glad you like it so much. This little bugger situated itself in my head and wouldn't let me rest until I got it out in the open. We'll have to see if a sequel appears, but if one does, rest assured it'll be here! --Jen =^..^=

Yes, I really enjoyed it too - I like your writing syle and it was an intriguing story line, and a sequel would be good!

You should really do a sequal. This was a really great story and I totally enjoyed it! Very nice Jash! ;)

Oh, I loved this little story--a really good realization of the bond tale. Well, T'Pol knows something is up, but it's clear where the tale is going.

I love me some T'Pol jealousy! Trip is clearly fond of exotic ladies, obviously to T'Pol's displeasure.

LOL. I like it. Continue, puh-lease! :-)

right in characte, it there gonna be a sequel? it would be g8

This was terrific! I loved it, please write a sequel.

Please tell me there's more to this? You've caught the characters really nicely. Well done!

that was awesome. Please do a sequal. Pretty Please

very nice.....

Oh yeah, tease us why don't you? This is brilliant, I just love it! T'Pol has placed herself in an impossible position. I can't wait to see what happens next and how Trip will react when he finds out what is really wrong with her. Ali D :~)

Loved it! :)

Ooooooooooooo! That was great! Hope you continue it, this promises to be good! :)

Great story, Jash! Great lead-in to the next episode, I thought. NICE!
Energy

Loved it! I'd like too see what happens to T'Pol when she snaps out of shock :-))))

Great job with this story. I loved it. Thank you.

wonderful please give us a sequel! preferably one that igores the f#@%nale