Consequences-Part 27

Consequences

By Samantha Quinn

Chapter 27

The Heart Grows Fonder

All disclaimers in part 1

I think this is still as strong PG-13. No sex is actually described, but well, Trip has pon far, for goodness sakes. Still, I don’t think it is bad enough to warrant an R. If you disagree strongly enough, I can be persuaded to change it.

***

In sickbay, Trip continued to dream.

She stood before him, completely and utterly naked.

“T’Pol?” he questioned.

“The Captain tells me you specified that I was not to be wearing any silk. I have complied.”

“So, you’re the one who’s gonna save my life, huh?”

“Indeed. Would you prefer someone else?”

“Nope.”

“Then I believe you are wasting valuable time. The lifesaving experience may be a prolonged one.”

***

T’Lal, science officer serving under Captain Vanik, took a preliminary glance around sickbay and then turned back towards the decon chamber. When Ventik had explained the situation to her, the highest ranking female on the Vulcan ship, she had volunteered immediately. There was no need to alert others. T’Lal would do what others before her had done in order to save a life. She wondered idly what the human Captain thought of the whole situation. If the myths about humans and the importance they assigned to ‘emotional’ sexual situations were remotely true, she was certain he found it hard to understand.

Although she was honored to perform the duty for her people, she had been a bit confused when presented with the human. Given his current health status, she was uncertain how the mating process would be achieved. She was willing, however, to make the attempt.

They had insisted upon the decon chamber for the event to take place. It was a logical choice. Moving Commander Tucker to his quarters would arouse suspicion. In the chamber, they could be concealed, in the event anyone else on Enterprise would need the sickbay facilities.

“The facilities are ready, Sub-Commander,” Phlox noted, emerging from the chamber. He had insisted on making it more comfortable for them. T’Lal reminded him it was unnecessary. Phlox reminded her that Commander Tucker was a human. Extraordinary as the situation was for a human to be enduring.

T’Lal simply nodded her reply to Doctor Phlox, picked up the human and walked into the decon chamber.

She laid him on the makeshift bed Phlox had prepared. As she began to undress, her scientific mind carefully took in the scene before her.

The human trembled and murmured incoherently. His sweat was also pervasive. The dreams and bouts of unconsciousness were rare in Vulcan culture, but they occasionally occurred. Such instances were found either in extremely young Vulcans-those undergoing their first pon far-or extremely elderly Vulcans. In either case, the symptoms were simply manifestations of the body’s inability to handle the demands pon far had suddenly thrust upon them. It made perfect sense that the human would be experiencing such sensations. His body had no reason to adjust to pon far. He was not a Vulcan.

If she were human, T’Lal would have felt pity for his state. Being Vulcan, however, she reflected that his state would only become more uncomfortable as he entered the plak tow. It was fortunate for him that she was here now.

Kneeling beside the human, she began the act of undressing him as well.

***

“I must stop now, Trip.”

“Please do not.”

“I must.”

“No, don’t go.”

***

The T’Pol of his dreams did not listen. Trip slowly became aware of someone else’s hands on his body. Glancing up, he became aware of a Vulcan female. A very naked Vulcan female.

One that was definitely not T’Pol.

“Who. . . what are ya doin’?” he questioned, struggling to sit up.

“I am Sub-Commander T’Lal,” she stated.

*Right rank, wrong name,* Trip thought to himself. He found himself struggling to maintain concentration enough to put the words he needed together to form the most basic of sentences. “I am Commander . . . Charles . . . Tucker . . .III,” he finally managed.

“I am aware of that,” the Vulcan in front of him replied.

*Well, I certainly hope so, considering you’re sitting in front of me naked and trying to get me in the same position,* Trip mused. “Why are you . . . undressing . . .me?” he asked.

“You need to mate. You will die if you do not,” T’Lal replied.

“Why . . .you?”

T’Lal paused, looking for a way of explaining to the human without further revealing her people’s secrets. “It is a Vulcan condition,” she replied. “It was deemed best for a Vulcan to be the one to assist you.”

*T’Pol is a Vulcan,* Trip’s fevered brain replied. To T’Lal he phrased it differently. “But why *you*?”

T’Lal pondered the meaning of that for a moment. “I am a Vulcan,” she stated. “The highest ranking one available.”

“No you . . . aren’t,” Trip replied stubbornly.

“Is there a specific sexual partner you desire?” T’Lal asked.

*Yeah, but if she was willing, she’d be here already,.* came the reply. “No . . .fraternization’s . . . against the rules,” he struggled.

“Then I suggest we continue. If you begin the next stage of the illness, you will experience unnecessary discomfort.”

“Ya mean more than I am already?”

“Indeed.”

Trip swallowed, wishing desperately for a glass of water. “Ya sure . . . you’re okay?” he questioned. He was attempting, with limited success, to make sure T’Lal wanted to do this.

T’Lal arched an eyebrow at that, making Trip realize how much he missed *his* Vulcan. “It is logical.”

Trip laughed. T’Lal wondered momentarily if he were becoming delirious. “Sex with . . . someone ya don’t . . . even know? How . . .logical?” he questioned.

“If we do not, you will die,” she repeated. Why was this so difficult for the human to understand? “Do you wish to die?”

“No,” Trip responded.

“Then we must mate.”

Generally speaking, Trip wasn’t the one night stand kind of guy. Even with Kaitaama, he had known something of her past, what made her tick. He knew nothing of T’Lal. But it was growing increasingly difficult to maintain concentration, and Trip was fairly certain this moment of awareness was about to end.

Trip did not wish to die. He was certain, however, that the disease plaguing his body was very capable of that. Even if it didn’t kill him, at the very least, it would cause him to permanently lose his sense of reality. Trip didn’t want that. He wanted to go back to work. He wanted his engines. He wanted his friends back. He wanted to see his family again. He wanted dinner at the Captain’s table. He wanted a chance to tell T’Pol what he should have realized sooner.

In the end, self preservation won over self dignity.

“Okay,” Trip replied. “Any. .. anything I should know . . .about . . . how. . .how ta. . ?” he left his question hanging, hoping she caught his drift.

“Are you a virgin?” T’Lal inquired, completing missing his point.

“No,” Trip replied. “B-but. . .never. . . with a V-Vulcan,” he managed, struggling to hold on to the last remaining threads of his concentration. It was leaving him.

“Our mating process is essentially the same,” T’Lal replied. With a slight pause, she added, “It would be appreciated if you would pay attention to the ears.”

As Trip began to trace the outline of her ears, he noticed that she shared T’Pol’s tendency for understatement. *Must be a Vulcan trait,* he noted.

As she reached for him, Trip wondered why T’Pol had not found his life worth saving

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aboard the T’Lar, T’Pol waited for Soval and contemplated the conversation that would be taking place. *Difficult may prove to be an understatement,* she noted to herself.

Since Skon had left, she had tried to attempt meditation. She had achieved the state once, in the preceding eight hours. The meditation had helped her head pain immensely. Unfortunately, she was beginning to experience the onset of head pain once again. She could only hope that their conversation would be brief.

That was unlikely. It was entirely more reasonable to expect that she would have to have Sumarek force Soval out of her quarters.

The sound of her door chime announced the arrival of both. “Enter,” T’Pol responded.

The door opened to reveal both occupants of her thoughts. Sumarek spoke first, briefly and to the point. “I will be waiting in the corridor, Sub-Commander.”

“Thank you, Constable,” she replied.

When he was gone, T’Pol gestured to the table where their food sat. “Dinner is prepared. Please sit,” she said to Soval.

The other Vulcan said nothing as he took his seat. Once they were both seated, he looked at the food she had prepared and remarked, “You have prepared human cuisine.”

“We have salad on Vulcan as well,” she replied.

“It does not contain . . . *lettuce*,” Soval remarked. He looked towards the offending vegetable placed in front of him with the same amount of disdain as one would afford to being served with rat poison.

“You do not have to consume the dish. I have also prepared plomeek soup,” T’Pol replied.

“Does it contain human substitutes as well?” Soval inquired.

T’Pol was suddenly overcome with the urge to tell him it contained a meat product. She recognized the urge as a demonstration of sarcasm. Another trait for which she would blame Commander Tucker.

“It does not,” she replied.

Picking up his spoon, Soval tasted the soup with some visible trepidation.

T’Pol blamed her illness for the irritation his demonstration stirred, but she said nothing. After a moment, he remarked, “It contains a considerable amount of pepper.” The unspoken comment being that this was not a Vulcan dish either.

“My duties on board the Enterprise have prevented me from concentrating on my cooking skills,” T’Pol rejoined. “Perhaps my return to Vulcan shall improve them.”

Soval continued to eat his plomeek soup, for all that he insisted he did not enjoy it.

They continued to eat in silence until Soval spoke again. “Skon informs me that you are ill. Is that the reason you are returning to Vulcan?”

“Is there any other logical reason you could think of?” T’Pol responded.

“It is feasible that you would return to serve as a character witness in my trial,” Soval replied. He gingerly took a drink of his water, as though expecting it to be contaminated with human material as well. T’Pol found herself wishing she had served him iced tea.

“It is feasible, but not likely,” T’Pol answered. “Have you not done what they have accused you of?”

“Yes,” Soval responded. There was no need to deny what medical evidence would show to be true. “However, the peace conference was at stake.”

“The conference was at stake because of your actions,” came T’Pol’s reply.

“Are you going to share the nature of your illness or shall I discover it in the same manner as I discovered your Pa’Nar Syndrome?” Soval asked.

T’Pol mentally bristled. “I saw no reason to inform you of the illness. Given your rank, I assumed you would hear of it eventually.”

“And if your assumption had proven to be false?” Soval demanded.

“Then you would have been spared knowing of the stigma I had brought upon our family,” she replied, taking a purposeful bite of her salad. The lettuce made a pleasantly loud crunch. In the strained quiet of T’Pol’s quarters, it was as noticeable as the sound of a bone breaking.

“The reports claim you had been forced,” Soval remarked, taking an equally deliberate drink of his water. “Is that true?”

“I was not a willing participant,” she answered.

“Then you have brought no stigma upon our family or our heritage.” Soval’s voice was an octave higher than it typically was. This was Soval’s way of showing concern. It frequently confused the humans, who could not understand the difference between Soval’s demonstrations of concern and his demonstrations of anger.

*Yet another trait the humans and I have in common,* T’Pol thought morosely. “It is agreeable to know that you believe so,” she responded.

“You have accessed the Pa’Nar treatment?” Soval inquired.

“Indeed,” T’Pol responded. She was pleased to discover that carrots made an even louder crunch than lettuce.

“Then I assume it is not the Pa’Nar Syndrome which is driving you back to Vulcan?” Soval asked.

“The treatments for the Pa’Nar Syndrome are not proceeding as we had believed they would. Nonetheless, the Pa’Nar Syndrome is not why I am returning to Vulcan.”

“What is your reason?” Soval asked. “You are behaving most illogically by refusing to tell me.”

“I was returning to take part in the mandatory Reflection Ceremony and prepare to die, as is the custom of our people.” she replied.

“Death is imminent?” Soval asked. Again, his voice raised an octave. If T’Pol’s illness had not been affecting her ability to notice detail, she would have detected two octaves.

“I had believed so. When Tolaris initiated the mind meld, he initiated a mating bond. Such a meld has to be reciprocated. I did not reciprocate the meld. Eventually, the medial insula, the portion of the brain which evidentially controls melding actions, will swell to such proportions that I shall die as a result.”

At such news, Soval sat his spoon down, leaned back in his chair and took a moment to simply observe T’Pol. True to Vulcan nature, his face refused to reveal the concern he had for her. “You indicated your return in the past tense. Why?”

“Captain Skon and Lady T’Pau have found a suitable bondmate with whom I shall marry, and complete the bond.”

Both of Soval’s eyebrows arched at the news. “To whom are you to wed?” he asked finally.

“Sopel. He is an Anthropologist,” T’Pol answered.

“He is also a lower level prince,” Skon remarked. “Such a match pleases me. It shall please your mother as well.”

“Mother is rarely concerned with such events,” T’Pol responded. Indeed, it had not been her mother who had written such a scathing letter to T’Pol after she had broken off the engagement with Koss.

“Indeed. I had believed you to be unwilling to take a mate at this time,” Soval questioned.

“He is a Melder. He has Pa’Nar Syndrome. I need to initiate the bond. Otherwise, I shall die. It was logical.”

“Commander Tucker was not willing to engage in such a meld?” Soval inquired.

It took all of T’Pol’s Vulcan training to control herself when she responded. “Commander Tucker is irrelevant to this conversation.”

“I do not believe so.”

“Then you are mistaken.”

“Why then do you dream of having his children when you heretofore have shown no desire to even marry a Vulcan male?” Soval questioned. “Indeed, you have turned down a perfectly good match for emotional, personal reasons.”

“How do you presume to know what I dream about?” T’Pol demanded. It could be argued that her voice lacked the calm emotionless demeanor she normally possessed.

“On the Enterprise, after you collapsed in the landing bay, I came to see you in sickbay. You talk in your sleep when you dream. The details left no doubt of the inappropriate nature of your relationship with Commander Tucker.”

“Commander Tucker is my colleague, nothing more.”

“I believe David began as your colleague as well, did he not?” Soval pointed out.

T’Pol mentally winced. The memory, having occurred over three decades ago, was still a vivid one. Soval was correct, of course, in that David had been her colleague. A brilliant scientist she had met on her very first visit to Earth. T’Pol had been younger then, and as such did not have the prejudices the majority of her people seemed to share against humans. “As I have told you before, David has no place in this conversation.”

“I believe he does.”

“You are mistaken. It is illogical to keep referring to an event which occurred years ago.”

“Has your character changed that much since your first inappropriate relationship with a human that there is reason I should not believe you would commit the same mistake?”

The headache T’Pol had known would come came back in full force. Perhaps she was growing delusional, T’Pol reflected, but it felt as though each reoccurrence saw a more painful head discomfort. “When I first met David, I was unaccustomed to the emotions of humans. . . I did not know that they are driven primarily by curiosity.” *I had no reason to believe one would engage in a romantic relationship out of curiosity alone. Nor did I have any reason to believe the relationship would end once the curiosity had been satisfied.* “My experience with David taught me that well. I have learned from the mistake and have no more intention of repeating it than I would attempt to once again feed a wild sehlat.”

She was referring to an incident that had occurred when she was a child. Soval remembered the incident well. The result had left no doubt in Soval’s mind that Vulcans were capable of feeling fear. He remembered, momentarily, the feeling of helplessness as he had carried his daughter to a the nearest healer, unable to stop the tide of green liquid gushing from her five year old body. Soval did not appreciate feeling helpless. “I believe I warned you about that as well. You have always been a stubborn child.”

T’Pol looked up from her soup and held his gaze steadily before replying, “It is a trait I share.” She then switched cuisines, taking another very deliberate bit of her lettuce.

Soval reflected that it was a trait she shared with her mother, but chose not to point this out. “You still have scars from the incident?”

“Indeed.”

“Good. Scars serve the logical purpose of being permanent reminders of our mistakes. Their presence is frequently a prevention of repeating the same mistake multiple times.”

“Then rest assured, I bear scars from my time with David as well.”

Soval looked up with surprise at that. He momentarily thought of chastising her for such an emotional display. Remembering her illness, he chose to overlook it. “Contrary to what you possibly believe, that does not please me. However, if it prevents you from engaging in yet *another* improper relationship with a human, then I appreciate their presence.”

They finished their meal without further discussion, for which T’Pol was grateful. When his food was consumed, Soval spoke again. “It is unfortunate that Skon is the one to arrange your wedding.”

“You are unavailable to do so and mother is currently doing research on Earth, as you well know.” T’Pol responded.

“Lady T’Pau could not have arranged it?”

“Captain Skon is a well revered member of our society,” T’Pol answered. “You are allowing your personal prejudices against him to color your perception of reality. I am honored to have him arrange my union.”

“Apparently more honored than you were by your parent’s arrangement of your union, as you chose to sever that engagement,” Soval responded.

“Would you prefer I chose death?” T’Pol asked. If she had not been ill, and if she had been able to meditate successfully, and if her emotions were not threatening to overwhelm her, perhaps she would have demonstrated more patience towards Soval.

“No, I would not,” Soval, not being ill, able to mediate successful, and not having his emotions threatening to overwhelm him, was able to have the patience T’Pol did not possess.

“Then you should be grateful. It is unfortunate you shall not be able to attend the ceremony of my union.”

“Indeed.”

They were interrupted at that moment by the presence of Sumarek entering T’Pol’s quarters. “It is time to go, Soval,” he informed the former Ambassador.

“I will be ready momentarily,” Soval responded.

Sumarek shook his head. “We must go now. Captain Skon specified that you were to be given no longer than sixty minutes.”

T’Pol mentally blessed Captain Skon, his ancestors, and his descendents for his foresight. Amazing that he could know both her and her father so well.

Soval looked for a moment as though he were ready to disagree, but apparently changed his mind. Rising, he said to T’Pol, “Live long and prosper, T’Pol. May your union be successful.”

T’Pol returned the gesture and watched him leave. Sitting back down on her bed once he had left, she reflected how much she had grown fond of the human tradition of dessert. It served no logical purpose, as one was usually full by the time the last course was served. Yet, she noticed its absence considerably.

***

“Your lack of presence has been considerably noticeable, David.”

“You missed me, huh?”

“Indeed. I do not wish to repeat the experience.”

“Ah, but T’Pol, haven’t you heard? Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

***

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. She had dismissed the phrase as yet another example of the human irrationalism. Yet, sitting here now, alone and away from the Enterprise, she realized its truthfulness. The affection she had started to form for her humans she had been able to deny while she was on the Enterprise. *I claimed to stay with them because they needed logic to guide their impulsiveness. Even in my letter to Koss, I cited that as my reason.*

Watching the stars twinkling back at her, T’Pol faced the truth. She had appreciated her time on the Enterprise for reasons having nothing to do with logic. *If I were human, I would use the verb enjoyed,* T’Pol noted to herself.

She walked over to the small desk and picked up the photograph of the Enterprise crew. Glancing at each face, she mentally took stock of what each of them were most likely doing at this time.

Captain Archer had most likely just completed his evening meal. Perhaps with V’Lar and Shran, as he was still in the midst of a peace conference. To her surprise, he was becoming an able diplomat. Much better than his gazelle speech had foreshadowed.

The beagle was no doubt sleeping faithfully at the foot of his master’s bed, waiting for him to return.

Lieutenant Reed was most likely in the gym, exercising to stay in the shape that his job demanded. Perhaps he was even practicing the martial arts skills she had taught him.

Ensign Sato would be engaging in the human custom of socializing. Most likely her partners would include Lieutenant Hess and Crewman Cutler.

Ensign Mayweather would likely be in the so-called sweet spot. He was convinced no one knew about the location except for Commander Tucker. He underestimated the thoroughness of a Vulcan first officer in knowing the whereabouts of her crew.

Commander Tucker. He was most likely still in the brig. When they arrived back to Vulcan, she would send a communication back to the ship to find out. Not knowing the nature of Soval’s illness, they could not have known that it was very likely Soval had provoked Commander Tucker.

Illogically, absence had made her heart grow the fondest of seeing him again. Soval’s words came back to her. “ . . . If it prevents you from engaging in yet *another* improper relationship with a human, then I appreciate their presence.”

Soval seemed to believe her the disastrous end of her relationship with David was the only reason she had not engaged in what he deemed to be an inappropriate relationship with Commander Tucker. T’Pol believed him to be incorrect in his assumption. Surely, she did not have such sentiments. Commander Tucker was as curious as David had been and as wild as the sehlat she had tried unsuccessfully to tame. Having affection towards him would be as detrimental as both of her previous experiences had been. She was certain.

And yet. . .

It was undeniable that Commander Tucker’s absence was the most noticeable.

When she could sleep, he often visited her dreams. When she was awake, multiple instances caused her to remember his existence. Her ears would itch, and she would hear his distinct voice say, “Good Ears.” She had unpacked her clothing and been in the process of laying her undergarments in her dresser, when she distinctly remembered, “Just because a guy’s in his underwear, you assume the worst.”

*Commander Tucker was frequently at his worst when in his underwear. Particularly around alien females,* T’Pol remembered. *It should not matter, of course. His mating habits are his own. But he may well cause a diplomatic incident one day in his haste to procreate.*

Proving, of course, his likeliness to David.

*Why do I compare them? David was a romantic involvement. . . Commander Tucker is my colleague.*

As if to be her undoing, images of the past two weeks came back to her. Commander Tucker and herself in the Mess Hall, the extra concern he had taken to insure he would not be in her presence to insure her good health, and finally the results of her science experiment.

Jealousy and Desire. Those were the emotions that triggered her illness. They were most noticeable around Commander Tucker.

*Soval was correct,* T’Pol realized. *I have developed an affection for Commander Tucker after all.*

T’Pol thought of her younger self and the ease with which she had accepted the relationship with her human then. Years later, such a minor concession proved difficult. Reflecting over the time she had served with Commander Tucker, she realized the pure physical attraction that she had noticed the first moment she stepped into the decon chamber with the man. With time, his intelligence and loyalty became noticeable as well.

Loyalty. *That makes him considerably different from David, doesn’t it?* A voice inside her head taunted T’Pol. Though she urged it to stop, it continued mercilessly. *Commander Tucker is entirely different from David. They share only the same color of hair.*

Her realization had come too late, T’Pol realized. If she had allowed herself to recognize the truth earlier, perhaps. . . perhaps things could have been different. Perhaps she could have discovered the true depth of Commander Tucker’s feelings for her. She was certain he felt some amount of attraction. It was only the depth that needed to be uncovered.

*I wonder if humans can engage in the mating bond,* T’Pol wondered silently.

Irrationally, she again heard his voice. “The regulations don’t apply to you. Have you been. . . sufferin’?”

In the quiet of her quarters, T’Pol responded with a mental, “Yes.”

As she undressed to prepare for sleep, T’Pol found herself wondering how different things could have been if her younger self had met Commander Tucker before she had met David. *The result would have been that I would not have spent the past two years punishing both Commander Tucker and myself for actions committed by someone else.*

T’Pol ran her fingers lightly across the sehlat scars which graced her upper arms before slipping into her night clothes.

****

T.B.C.

********

Continue to Part 28

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Three people have made comments

I'm on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen! So good. Thanks. I'm looking forward to more of the story soon.

It felt so heart achingly wrong for it not to be T'Pol saving Trip. All that angst and separation - I can't wait to see what happens next. Thanks for a great story. Ali D :~)

Need more! Please! Dear God, don't leave us hanging for too long!