And Baby-Ch. 16

And Baby Makes Four

By Samantha Quinn

All disclaimers in Part I.
Spoilers: “Shuttlepod One”
A/N: Words between // denote telepathic thoughts. Words between *** denote regular thought.

Part 16

Apologies

***

T’Pol found Commander Tucker in the cargo bay, making repairs. While she would not tell him to his face, she found his ability to use work as a means to relieve his frustration to be a worthwhile character trait. If their child were to inherit such a trait, T’Pol would be pleased.

T’Pol took a moment to reflect on that. Their child. And Lieutenant Reed’s.

Would such a child ever be able to fully embrace the tenets of Surak? It was unlikely, particularly given the insistence by Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker to take part in the child’s life. Yet another reason she would not be returning to Vulcan with the child, as Soval had wished.

“Commander Tucker,” she stated evenly, in an attempt to gain his attention. It was effective.

His face was a slighter redder hue than was typical for him, T’Pol noted. It was, no doubt, a sign of emotional distress. T’Pol wondered idly if her child would demonstrate the same characteristic. For that matter, would the child flush red or green? She had not had the opportunity to observe Alanna blushing.

“What is it, T’Pol? Come to rub in another one of my mistakes?” Trip greeted angrily.

“No.”

“No? Perhaps you’ve compiled a complete list of all the reasons why I’d be an awful father? Surely conclusive evidence why I shouldn’t have any right to be around a kid that has my DNA?”

“No.”

“Really? Then perhaps you’ve come to tell me just how superior you think Vulcans are? Which certainly explains why my kid should be raised entirely amongst your people?”

“No.”

“Really? Then maybe--“

“Maybe you should shut up, Trip, and let the Sub-Commander tell you what she came to tell you in the first place.” The sound of Malcolm’s distinct British accent interrupted Trip in mid-speech. Both Trip and T’Pol turned to look at him in surprise. Even T’Pol, with her superior Vulcan hearing, hadn’t heard him come in.

“I was looking for him as well,” Malcolm said to T’Pol.

“What do ya need, Malcolm?” Trip asked with a good deal less irritation than he had showed T’Pol.

Malcolm chose to address T’Pol. “If you would prefer to be the bearer of the news, I’ll go.”

T’Pol addressed him in return. “No, you may stay. It affects you as well.”

Trip’s temper, already short because of his confrontation with T’Pol, snapped. “Now that you’ve gotten that sorted out, maybe one of you can fill ME in.”

T’Pol returned her gaze to him. “Are you willing to let me finish uninterrupted this time, Commander?” she asked.

Trip sighed and slumped his shoulders in defeat. “I promise to be good, Sub-Commander.”

“I am unaware if that is even possible in your case, Commander Tucker.”

“Me? I’m not the one who--“

“Trip,” Malcolm interrupted in a warning tone. “Sub-Commander, perhaps it would be prudent to tell him the news now.” Inwardly, Malcolm wondered if he had been sentenced to serving as referee between Trip and T’Pol for the rest of his child’s life. Surely, no heavenly deity was that cruel.

T’Pol nodded. “That is sensible. I am certain his ability to control himself will not last.” Before Trip could interrupt her, she continued, “I have come to alert you to the fact that I have reconsidered my previous position concerning the child. I will not raise the child on Vulcan. Nor will I attempt to raise it in a capacity aware from either you or Lieutenant Reed.”

Trip looked at her in surprise. That was clearly the last thing he had expected to hear. “What made you change your mind?” he asked finally.

T’Pol glanced up at Malcolm for a moment before returning her gaze to Trip. “Lieutenant Reed and I engaged in further discourse after you left the room in an unseemly display of emotions.” T’Pol’s brows furrowed a bit when she added, “If I have caused you undue emotional distress, I apologize.”

“An apology from you, T’Pol? I never thought I’d live to see the day,” Trip retorted.

The look he received stated clearly that he would not live to see many more days if he continued to press his luck. “As Doctor Phlox can assure you, pregnancy causes a number of severe hormonal imbalances. Undoubtedly, these imbalances will have an effect on my logical processes.”

Trip grinned happily. “So, what you’re sayin’ is that we should look forward to nine more months of ya bein’ emotional?” he teased.

“A Vulcan pregnancy typically lasts for ten months, Commander,” T’Pol replied.

Trip did not try to stifle his groan. “Oh, come on, T’Pol. We’re havin’ a baby, for cryin’ out loud. Can’t ya call me Trip?”

T’Pol paused before answering, “I shall consider it.”

Trip’s smile re-emerged. “Good. Ya know, even Malcolm calls me ‘Trip’ when we’re off duty, and he’s almost as Vulcan as you are. Say, speakin’ of which, about the baby. . . "

T’Pol waited expectantly.

“Well. . . how Vulcan exactly do you expect her to be?”

“I am uncertain exactly what you are alluding to, Commander.”

Trip sighed. “Trip, T’Pol. And I mean. . . she’s not gonna be a full Vulcan--“

“Nor will she be a full human, Commander,” T’Pol reminded him.

Malcolm rubbed his temples and mentally hoped the offspring would not inherit such a penchant for arguing. Reflecting upon his own teenage years with his father, he decided such a result was unlikely. Poor, poor child.

“I know that, T’Pol,” Trip informed the Vulcan. “But she’s likely to have all sorts of human traits you’ll deem undesirable.”

“It is likely.”

Trip nearly growled in agitation. “Malcolm!” he protested. “Ya want to help me out here?” he demanded of his friend.

Taking pity on the Commander, Malcolm offered, “What I think Trip is attempting to ask, Sub-Commander, is what parts of the Vulcan heritage you plan to insist upon installing and which parts. . . are optional.”

T’Pol raised an eyebrow at the explanation. “You could have merely phrased your question in that manner, Commander.”

“Trip, T’Pol. And I did phrase it that way, T’Pol. Ya just didn’t understand me.”

It was perhaps the hormones, or perhaps it was the effect of Commander Tucker, that made T’Pol fight off the urge to sigh. “If you had stated it in that manner, I would have understood you with the ease I comprehended Malcolm’s question.”

“I don’t believe it,” Trip grumbled to himself. “I know ya do it on purpose, T’Pol. Just like ya call Ensign Sato “Hoshi” sometimes. Just to irk me. But ya still refuse to call me Trip.”

“In answer to your inquiry, we do have an additional ten months to discuss such matters. I assure you however, that I realize the child shall not necessarily embrace all of the tenants of logic that my people believe in. That is partially why I will not be returning to Vulcan with the child,” T’Pol responded, ignoring Trip’s protests.

This seemed to satisfy Commander Tucker, until T’Pol spoke again, “I am concerned however, with your desire to raise the child aboard the Enterprise. A starship is not a safe environment for a child.”

“T’Pol, I’m a starship engineer. Malcolm’s a starship tactical officer. Hell, you’re a science officer. Where else do you suppose we go?”

T’Pol folded her hands in front of her before she spoke. “There is a science station located--“

“A science station? What is Malcolm supposed to do on a science station?” Trip demanded.

“Science stations need tactical officers as well as starships,” Malcolm supplied.

Trip shot him a surprised look. “I suppose ya agree with her, then?”

Malcolm nodded. “The Enterprise is not a cruise ship, Trip. You should know that as well as anyone.”

Trip shook his head. “We’ve been out here two years, and we’ve only lost one crewman,” he argued. “You’re both just being paranoid.”

“We’ve been extremely lucky,” Malcolm responded.

Growing weary, T’Pol decided the conversation could wait. “Perhaps this is another issue we will discuss for the next ten months,” she offered, as she began to stand. She stood a trifle too soon for her body, however, and was hit with a slight wave of dizziness. Seeing her state, both Trip and Malcolm offered their assistance.

When she had regained her composure, Trip smiled, almost sympathetically. “Dizzy?”

“Yes,” T’Pol responded. “I believe you may remember the sensation from your Xyrillian encounter?”

Malcolm chuckled softly, while Trip threw up his hands in exasperation. “Ya know, I’m going to let that comment slide just because I know how much of an emotional experience bein’ pregnant can be. And given your condition, I don’t want to upset ya too much.”

“That would be wise, Commander, as my condition will not prevent me from applying the nerve pinch if necessary,” T’Pol responded. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have events which require my attention elsewhere.”

After she left, Trip looked at Malcolm questionably. “Damn, what’d ya say to her to get her to change her mind ?” he inquired.

Malcolm’s eyes twinkled. “It was quite an emotional reasoning,” he responded. More seriously, he added, “You know, she’s right about the Enterprise being too dangerous for a child to be raised on.”

Trip rolled his eyes. “You’re both paranoid,” he repeated.

***********

Continue to Chapter 17

Return to Chapter 15

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!