Consequences-Part 13

Consequences

By Samantha Quinn

Rating: Right now: PG-13. Will be R later, Romance
All disclaimers in part I.
Spoilers: Refers to “A Night in Sickbay” rather profusely.

Part 13

A Meeting of the Minds

*****

T’Pol was careful not to allow her gaze to rest upon Commander Tucker as she entered the landing bay. Knowing him as she did, she was certain that the man would provide an emotional response to her presence, which would only prove to incite head discomfort. Still, she was unable to prevent hearing his voice when she and the Captain entered.

“Hello, Cap’n-T’POL?” Trip’s exclamation was full of surprise. “Cap’n, have you lost your mind? Why did you call me down here? I shouldn’t be here. What if T’Pol-"

“Commander Tucker, calm yourself,” T’Pol instructed the engineer. “I would remind you that it is your being emotional that causes discomfort. If you would act rational in my presence, there would be no cause for . . . concern.” T’Pol realized her voice sounded unquestionably harsh. However, she forced herself to disregard the obvious concern Trip was feeling for her. Now was not the place to dwell upon it.

“Which is exactly why I should go,” Trip protested.

“Now, Trip,” the Captain started, but T’Pol interrupted him.

“If you are incapable of performing your duty, Commander, then perhaps the Enterprise is in need of a new chief engineer. Lieutenant Hess has been covering your duties on the bridge extremely well while you have been neglecting them. Perhaps she should take your place permanently?” As T’Pol finished her statement, she was grateful that neither remorse nor sorrow could incite pain. She certainly felt both emotions quite clearly as she saw the expression of hurt cross Trip’s face. ** I lament causing you pain.** she thought inwardly. **Still, such harsh words were necessary. If you are angry, you cannot simultaneously feel concern for my welfare.** If Trip did not openly express his concern, T’Pol was certain she could suppress any sexual or possessive feelings. **But Commander Tucker is not a Vulcan. Therefore, he requires additional stimulus to refrain from being emotional.** Or at least, refrain from expressing the wrong emotions.

She knew Commander Tucker well. Perhaps too well. His momentary expression of hurt was replaced by one of anger as he replied, “No, Sub-Commander, that won’t be necessary. I am perfectly capable of doing my job, thank you.”

“Then perhaps you should demonstrate that ability more often,” T’Pol replied.
“That’s enough,” Captain Archer interrupted. From the tone of his voice, T’Pol could tell she had succeeded in making him angry as well. **An unfortunate side effect of my intentions,** she noted. “T’Pol, I know you’re sick, but that was inexcusable. If these negotiations weren’t about to start, I’d be tempted to confine you to quarters. We’ll have a nice little chat about this when our guests leave.”

**If the negotiations were not about to start, I would not have been so harsh to Commander Tucker,** To the Captain, T’Pol replied, “As you wish.”

Trip took his place beside the Captain as they waited on their guests to arrive.
Their wait was not a long one. Soval’s shuttle craft landed quickly and was followed soon by Shran’s craft. Although he landed second, the Andorian descended first. Coming to stand in front of Archer, Shran grasped the man’s hand readily. “Ah, pinkskin, again we meet!” the Ambassador stated cheerfully.

“Ambassador Shran,” greeted Captain Archer. “I trust you remember my first officer, Sub-Commander T’Pol?” At Shran’s nod, the Captain continued, “And I’m certain you remember my chief engineer, Commander Charles Tucker III?”
Shran could not help but notice the strange emphasis the human insisted on placing on the words “chief engineer”, but nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I remember Commander Tucker quite well. He’s one of the pinkest pink skins among you.” Before either Archer or Tucker could determine whether that was a compliment, Shran turned towards T’Pol. “And the Vulcan first officer. Of course. I suppose we should all be grateful for your existence, Sub-Commander.”

“Indeed? And why is that?” T’Pol inquired.

“I assume your presence on the ship has increased Captain Archer’s knowledge of the Vulcans and their ways. That will be an invaluable asset to our discussion, do you not agree?” Shran asked.

**It shall be if he applies his knowledge.** To Shran, she simply nodded.
Inside his shuttle pod, Soval was composing himself. He knew that he must emerge quickly, lest the meddlesome humans invade his private space. His condition had grown more and more difficult to control in the short amount of time it had taken to reach Enterprise. **Soon I shall have no control over the disease. At this rate, I shall not make it through the conference.**

A life time worth of achievement to be taken from him due to an inconvenience, Soval growled in disgust. Grinding his fists together, the Vulcan lamented the unfairness of his situation. There was of course, an easy solution to his illness, but Soval could not-would not-consider that option here. Besides, at best estimates, that would take at least a week as well. **No, I require an alternative.**

As he exited the shuttle pod, Soval’s gaze fell upon Sub-Commander T’Pol. Remembering the conversation with Sumarek and the Vulcan doctors over the Sub-Commander’s illness, Soval suddenly realized his solution. He would simply be more discreet in his actions than Sorik had been. He required only a host for his plan to be effective.

“Why, Soval, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I just saw you smile!” Shran greeted the Vulcan.

**Annoying cretin,** Soval thought irritably. Turning to face the Andorian, Soval replied, “Is it not appropriate, Ambassador? A new expression for a new beginning?”

Soval’s statement received three looks of surprise and one raised eyebrow. Turning towards T’Pol, Soval raised his hand in the standard Vulcan salute. T’Pol raised hers in the same greeting, and Soval leaned forward to touch his hand to hers. He saw the surprised look that momentarily flashed across her face.
**It has been a long time since Soval has greeted me with such an affectionate gesture.** T’Pol realized. As her own thought registered, she remembered her own lie to Commander Tucker with accordance to the “affectionate” gesture. The thought, and it’s accompanying desire, brought T’Pol to her knees in agony. Archer was at her side immediately. Seeing Trip rush to help as well, Archer shook his head. “No, Trip,” he said softly. “Don’t.”
Trip nodded and took a step back.**Dammit, I thought I was the only one that caused her to be uncomfortable. Now it’s Soval too?** Trip felt a simultaneous feeling of both relief and jealousy. Relief that he wasn’t the only one hurting T’Pol. . . and jealousy because he wanting to be the only one capable of making her feel so emotional. **That’s awful. Absolutely awful. She’s sick and all you can worry about is yourself.** “Ya should get Sub-Commander T’Pol to sickbay, Cap’n,” he said, using his best Commander Tucker voice. “I’ll show the Ambassadors to their guest quarters.”

Archer nodded. “Thanks, Trip.” Gingerly picking T’Pol up, he exited with only a brief “Sorry, gentlemen,” tossed over his shoulder.

“Well, that’s not something you see every day,” Shran remarked. “Normally Vulcan’s are much more composed than that. Is she going to be well?”

“I don’t know,” Trip snapped. “Come on, let’s get you to your quarters.”

Neither Shran nor Trip saw the second smile cross Soval’s face as he realized that he had just found the remaining ingredient to his solution.

***

“What has Commander Tucker done this time?” Phlox inquired as Archer laid T’Pol down on the biobed.

“Trip didn’t do anything, Doctor. It was something Ambassador Soval did,” Archer replied.

“Oh? Ambassador Soval?” **I was unaware T’Pol had sexual feelings for Ambassador Soval.**

As the hypospray was pressed into T’Pol’s neck, she murmured softly, “No. Not Soval. . . Commander Tucker. . .”

Archer looked surprised. “But Trip wasn’t anywhere near her when it happened. He wasn’t speaking to her, either.”

**Perhaps not. But he may have very well been in her head, Captain.** “And Soval was?” Phlox asked.

“Yes. He had just done the Vulcan hand salute,” Archer responded.
Phlox looked thoughtful. “Did they touch hands?”

“Yes. I’ve not seen it before. What does it mean?” Archer inquired.

“Ah. . . " Phlox mused out loud. “It is well, an affectionate form of greeting, Captain.”

Unfortunately, those were wrong words to use in T’Pol’s presence. Her spasms, which had calmed a moment ago, began with renewed passion. Quickly, Phlox increased her injection and added a sedative to help the Sub-Commander sleep. Before drifting off, however, she murmured softly, “Affectionate. . . Commander Tucker . . . desire. . . want . . . Charles. . . Trip.”

“What the hell?” exclaimed Archer. “Doctor, I want to know what’s going on with my science officer. She told me she was sick, but-“

“I suggest you wait until she wakes up, Captain. Then you can ask her. But I will offer this advice. Do you remember several months ago, when I proposed there to be some sexual tension between you and the Sub-Commander?”

Archer flushed, remembering the incident well. “Yes, Doctor, I remember.”

“Then you must also remember that I cautioned you not to talk to the Sub-Commander about it?” **Advice you foolishly did not heed, I might add.**

“Yes, but what does this have to do-“

“I had a good reason to give that warning, Captain. And I certainly was not referring to the command structure.”

Archer scratched his head, wondering what this conversation had to do with anything. But his gut instinct was telling him he didn’t like where it was headed. “And what was your reason, doctor?”

“Unlike my people, humans tend to value monogamy in a mate. As do Vulcans. It was fairly obvious even at the time that Sub-Commander T’Pol and yourself could not have such a relationship.”

“And why not?” Archer demanded.

Phlox smiled kindly at the Captain, with much of the same patience that parent has for a non-comprehending child. “I believe, Captain, the Sub-Commander told us the answer to that just before she drifted off into sleep.”

****

After dropping off Shran in his quarters, Soval and Commander Tucker made the small trek to the Vulcan’s quarters.

“Say, Soval, that gesture you did with T’Pol, I’ve never seen it before,” Trip stated to the Ambassador, trying to remain polite.

“Indeed?” Soval inquired.

“No. So, what’s it mean? It’s not a regular Vulcan greeting, is it?”

“Why are you concerned, Commander Tucker?”

Trip lost his patience. Stopping in the midst of the corridor, he placed his hand upon Soval’s shoulder and looked the Vulcan evenly in the eye. “I am concerned, Ambassador, because whatever the hell you just did put T’Pol in sickbay. I’m tryin’ to be polite here, Ambassador, but –“

“You are concerned for T’Pol’s welfare. . . that is admirable,” Soval agreed. “And I do believe I can help you, Commander.”

Trip was immensely relieved. “Really?” **T’Pol’s gonna be okay.**

“Indeed. But it is a private matter and not one I wish to discuss in the corridor. Perhaps if you would like to come in, we can discuss it further?” Soval suggested.

Trip nodded and followed Soval into his quarters. “It is not something I can speak of, out loud. However, I can and will show you another way, if you agree.”

“If it’ll help T’Pol, yes,” Trip replied. “What’s it involve?”

“It is a procedure called a mind meld,” Soval answered.

“A mind meld?”

“Yes. We will be briefly telepathically linked.”

The thought made Trip uneasy. The last time he had been ‘telepathically linked’ he had ended up pregnant. “You’re sure this is the only way?” he inquired of Soval.

“Yes.”

Trip sighed. “All right then. Let’s do it.”

Soval nodded. **Excellent. I will soon be rid of this illness. It shall be Commander Tucker’s problem and mine no longer.** With that thought, he pressed his hand to Commander Tucker’s face. “My mind to your mind; My thoughts to your thoughts,” Soval whispered intensely.

Trip involuntarily closed his eyes, as the intense emotions nearly overwhelmed him. **I thought Vulcans suppressed their emotions.** Trip thought. As he did so, he heard the mental reply from Soval, **Yes, that we do, Commander, that we do. But our logic does not come free. We must occasionally pay the price for our logic.**

**What do you mean?** Trip wondered. But he did not receive a reply. Instead, he felt another intense rush of emotions flood him. *Too much,* his brain registered. **Have to stop.** He tried to pull away, but Soval placed a restraining hand on the back of his head. The superior Vulcan strength, along with the effects of the mind meld, prevented Trip from breaking loose.

Moments later, Trip slumped to the floor and Soval walked to the Comm Unit. “Soval to Sickbay. Please come to my quarters at once. Commander Tucker has collapsed.”

To Be Continued

Please R/R.

******************

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Three people have made comments

This story is just getting better and better, but oh that sneaky Soval! What has he done to Trip? Will T'Pol help or hinder him? Please hurry with the next part, I really can't hold my breath that long.... A hundred thanks, Ali D :~)

Really enjoying this story, Samantha! The latest developments are fascinating... ;-)

OMG OMG OMG!! you just yanked a crazy ivan on us! what the heck???

Oh i am really enjoying this, more each post!