Consequences-Part 38

Consequences

By Samantha Quinn

All disclaimers in part 1
Rating: Um, this one’s a bit tamer. Probably back to PG-13. Frank discussions of sex, though.

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Chapter 38

Purging the Fever *
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**Day Three**

Two days later, Captain Skon and Captain Archer had given up on educating one another on the benefits of chess and water polo. Instead, Archer was being given a proper tour of the Vulcan countryside. After Mayweather’s enthusiastic mountain climbing expedition, Archer had come to realize that in all the many times he had visited the planet, he had failed to actually explore it. Porthos skipped along happily in front of them. As the canine lifted its leg to relieve itself, Archer had a sudden and uncomfortable flashback.

“Skon, there aren’t any sacred trees around here that I need to watch out for, are there?” Archer inquired.

Skon looked at him questionably. “No. Why do you ask?”

Archer shook his head. “It’s a long story. Suffice to say, I’d prefer not to piss off all of Vulcan.”

Skon decided that Archer was probably not talking about he pissing contests Ensign Sato had described days earlier. “It is unlikely,” the Vulcan captain answered diplomatically.

“No, but I’ve probably come pretty close the past couple days,” Archer confessed.

Skon privately admitted that the impatient human had at times tried his patience-particularly during the first day of T’Pol’s bonding with Commander Tucker. “Your concern was understandable. You were worried about a crewman of yours. Perhaps you did not realize I had a similar concern.”

Archer looked at him with interest. “What do you mean?”

“Prior to her service in the Vulcan High Command, Sub-Commander T’Pol served on my crew,” Skon answered. “While she has not been under my command for some time, once someone has been under your command, you will feel permanently responsible for them. Regardless of where their career will take them.”

Archer was about to respond when Skon cautioned, “You should recall your canine. A sehlat is approaching.”

Once Porthos was safely in his arms, Archer asked, “What is a sehlat?”

“It is much like a Terrean bear, with the addition of two sets of nine inch fangs,” Skon informed him. “You may be interested in knowing that when T’Pol was a child she survived an attack by one.”

That did interest Archer. “Are they normally dangerous?”

“Not all of them,” Skon replied. “Most Vulcan households with children have domestic versions. However, there are wild sehlats as well.”

“And T’Pol had the misfortune of tangling with a wild one?” Archer surmised.

Skon nodded. “From what she has said, she was determined to tame the sehlat. Offering a wild sehlat food from one’s hand was not a wise endeavor.”

“No, but it sounds like T’Pol alright,” Archer laughed. “I would have liked to have seen the look on Soval’s face.”

“I do believe he expressed a sufficient amount of emotion that day,” Skon remarked dryly. “He has been somewhat protective of her lifestyle choices from that day forward.”

“Poor T’Pol,” Archer shook his head. “Poor Soval.”

“Indeed. Their relationship is somewhat strained,” Skon agreed.

“Were you close to your own father?”

“My father was quite an inspiration,” Skon replied, “His achievements were many and he was an accomplished and revered member of society.”

“So. . . the two of you were not close?” Archer asked.

“Not particularly. It is a somewhat common occurrence on my home world,” Skon admitted. “When T”Lara and I begin our family, I hope our familial relationships are less irritable. I understand you were quite close with your father?”

“Yeah,” Archer agreed. “How did you know that?”

“My father often spoke of yours,” Skon answered.

“Who was your father?”

“Solkar,” Skon replied.

Archer stopped and stared. “Ambassador Solkar?” he asked. “As in the first Vulcan Ambassador to Earth?” When Skon nodded, Archer shook his head, “You Vulcans really ought to consider having last names. It’d make the rest of us feel a lot less foolish when we run into your family members.”

“We have family names, Captain. However, I believe they would be unpronounceable by non-Vulcans,” Skon answered.

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

**Day Four**

T’Pol lay beside Trip and watched him sleep. His condition was steadily improving. His sleep was a natural one-he slept out of necessity, not exhaustion.

Lazily, Trip opened his eyes. “Mornin’, T’Pol,” he greeted.

“It is afternoon,” T’Pol corrected. “Approximately fifteen hundred hours.”

Trip smiled. “Sorry. I’ve been more worried about keepin’ track of the number of times we’ve been copulatin’, ya know.”

T’Pol did not appreciate the mocking tone with which he used the term “copulating.”

//I’m only playing, T’Pol. No need to be. . . disgruntled.//

//And ya gonna tell me you haven’t been pretty emotional the past couple days?//

Ignoring his last mental question, T’Pol gave him a disbelieving look. “You have the specific number?” she inquired.

“Nah,” Trip answered, “It wasn’t for a lack of tryin.’ But I figure it has to be a pretty high number. I lost track though. Probably has somethin’ to do with the whole ‘plak toe.’ ”

Humor flooded through their bond, and Trip scowled in mock frustration. “What? Did I pronounce it wrong?”

“It is the plak tow,” T’Pol corrected. “For the record, we have mated forty-eight and one half times.”

Trip laughed out loud at that. “T’Pol, what exactly does the ‘half’ mean?”

“Acts of oral sex do not constitute a full sexual act,” she answered.

Again Trip laughed and leaned closer to her ear. “As I recall, T’Pol, we’ve committed more than one-"

“Trip, you are an engineer. Surely you understand the basic mathematical principle of two halves equaling a whole,” T’Pol rebuked.

“Yeah, but I never applied it to sex before,” he admitted. Involuntarily, T’Pol shivered as he reached up and caressed her earlobe.

//You know, I really like it when you call me Trip,// he told her mentally.

//It is what you prefer to be called. It would be illogical to call you by another name. Even if nicknames themselves are inherently illogical.//

//It is considerably more dignified than ‘Trip.’//

T’Pol’s arguing skills were lost as Trip’s mouth replaced his fingers.

//Ya know, it’s incredible to feel exactly what you’re feelin’ at the same time that I feel what I’m feelin’// Trip marveled.

//It is a consequence of the bond,// T’Pol responded mentally. //And a reason I shall have to teach you shielding techniques before we leave.//

//Yeah, this could be a bit distractin’ on duty.//

//Indeed.//

//Although, it certainly leaves my mouth free to do other things.//

//I would hope you would not intend to do such things as you are currently doing while on duty.//

Again humor poured through their bond. When Trip realized it was a reciprocal appreciation of humor, he again expressed wonderment. //Ya know, I really like the fact that this bond lets me know how you’re really feelin’ underneath that Vulcan veneer of detachment.//

//Oh, it’s not the only benefit, T’Pol.// Trip assured her. //But ya know, it’s a pretty nice one.//

//Since you have broached the subject of ‘nice’ things, perhaps after this copulation you will find it ‘nice’ to bathe.//

“Ya sayin’ I stink, t’hy’la?” Trip whispered huskily.

“Affirmative.”

“Must be that superior Vulcan smell.”

“Unquestionably.”

“I think we should explore a different facet of Vulcan superiority,” Trip suggested. T’Pol did not argue.

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

**Day Five**

Soval sat in his office in Vulcan High Command and waited for the call to connect. He did not wish to take the call here-after all, he assumed his wife’s message would be of a personal nature. He was left little choice, however, as no Vulcan citizens had the technology for face to face calls and his wife had indicated that their conversation was urgent.

“Greetings, T’Par,” Soval said when the image of his wife arrived on the screen. “What is the urgency?”

“I have been sensing a variety of things from you through our bond, Soval,” T’Par responded.

“Indeed?” Soval questioned.

“You may drop the pretense, my husband. I may be light years away on Earth, but I can still tell when you are not being entirely truthful,” T’Par cautioned.

“I apologize, she that is my wife,” Soval offered hurriedly. “The past several weeks have been trying.”

“I imagine they have been if your fluctuations have been any indication. Describe for me what has happened,” T’Par instructed.

“My wife, surely this can wait. There is a matter I must attend to now. T’Pol-"

“Our daughter is well and content. I can feel as much through our bond. Any action you may take now would only disrupt her contentedness, surely. Thus, you have no reason not to share the events of the past several weeks,” T’Par answered.

“T’Par, would you not prefer until you have returned to Vulcan? We would be free to discuss at our leisure-"

“Cease stalling, my husband. I have contacted you because I felt the stirrings of something dangerously close to rage flood our bond. You will provide a sufficient reason for this. As your wife, I am so entitled.”

Soval stifled a sigh. “Fine.” He proceeded to tell her how he had been elected as the Ambassadorial function for the peace talks with the Andorians, and how that had been jeopardized by the stirrings of his pon far.

T’Par was not pleased. “When I contacted you then, when I first felt the stirrings of the pon far-you were dishonest with me?”

Soval could not deny that. So he nodded and continued. When he reached the part about Commander Tucker, T’Par noticeably paled. After he finished his story of transference, T’Par shook her head. “Soval, you have been truly ignorant.”

Soval did not hide his displeasure. “I was merely looking out for the future of both of our peoples,” he said firmly.

“I suppose you believe Surak’s ‘the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’ is an accurate description of your actions?” T’Par questioned.

“Of course.”

“Oh, Soval. Do you know that humans have a phrase: ‘cannot see the forest for the trees?’ I did not fully grasp the meaning of the phrase until now.”

“I do not understand, my wife,” Soval said in confusion.

“It is of little relevance. Please tell me one thing: prior to your infecting Commander Tucker, did you have any indication of his relationship with our daughter?” T’Par questioned.

Soval bristled. “No. However, it is clearly an inappropriate-"

“She has affection for him,” T’Par interrupted.

“T’Pol has told you this?” Soval asked incredulously.

“Not directly. However, he has been mentioned quite profusely in her letters and communications home,” T’Par answered. “Much more so than anyone else. Continue your tale, Soval.”

Soval continued, bringing it up to the present. Tos had informed him of the kalifee ritual, the human’s involvement and reported that T’Pol had not gone back with any other Vulcan. Soval had surmised that the “mate of her choice” had in fact been Commander Tucker.

“When I contacted you, you were planning on interrupting them?” T’Par demanded of her husband.

“Certainly. It is inappropriate-"

“You will leave our daughter alone, Soval. She is repairing your damage and in the process is quite content. I have not felt such contentedness in some time from T’Pol. You will not jeopardize that, is that clear, my husband?” T’Par commanded.

“I should permit them to continue their relationship? At the rate that our daughter insists on rejecting Vulcan mates, she may well decide to bond permanently with the human,” Soval snapped in irritation.

“What makes you think she has not already?” T’Par questioned. “If what Tos has said is true, then T’Pol used the kalifee before she could bond with Sopel. Since she told you she needed to meld in order to survive, then it is likely she has taken a second partner. The most likely candidate for that position would be Commander Tucker.”

Soval paled considerably. “No!”

T’Par remained calm. “You betray emotion, my husband. There are many worse choices T’Pol could have chosen as her mate instead of Commander Tucker.”

“I do not see what could be worse than a human,” Soval retorted.

“Perhaps a Vulcan unwilling to be flexible or unappreciative of our daughter’s accomplishments? Or perhaps one which would not demonstrate the proper amount of affection?” T’Par offered. “T’Pol is an extraordinary Vulcan, my husband. She will need an extraordinary mate.”

“If she were more disciplined, she would not need such an extraordinary mate,” Soval answered.

Ignoring a familiar argument, T’Par answered, “T’Pol once relayed an incident in which Commander Tucker believed loyalty to be an ‘emotion.’ Do you agree with that sentiment, my husband?”

“No. The human is clearly foolish. Loyalty is necessary for interpersonal relationships and governmental productiveness,” Soval answered.

“Then since you do not believe it to be an emotion, perhaps you could demonstrate a bit more loyalty to your family than you have heretofore,” T’Par offered before severing the connection.

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

**Day Seven**

After being thoroughly checked by both Dr. Phlox and a visiting Vulcan doctor, Trip had been given a clean bill of health and was currently bathing yet again in the sonic shower of Skon’s home.

T’Pol meanwhile was taking advantage of the opportunity to indulge in T’Lara’s plomeek stew. While the Enterprise’s chef made gallant efforts to prepare adequate Vulcan meals, they rarely tasted quite right. She was savoring traditional Vulcan stew-with just an additional hint of pepper. It was while she was appreciating the stew that she heard T’Pau’s familiar voice speaking to Skon and V’Lar. Although T’Pol did not intend to ease drop, her naturally astute Vulcan hearing picked up on their voices.

“T’Pol has demonstrated considerable emotional side effects with the bond,” T’Pau stated.

“That was only to be expected,” Skon answered, “given the nature of the human’s condition.”

“Yet the human’s condition has been alleviated and still she demonstrates emotion,” T’Pau remarked disdainfully. “Only this morning she demonstrated open affection during the human’s physical. Such a display is unseemly for Vulcans.”

“I believe it has little to do with the bond,” V’Lar spoke up. “Commander Tucker is a human and as such, a naturally emotionally intense species. The very nature of their interpersonal relationship requires some compromise on both their behalves.”

“She would compromise her Vulcan heritage?” T’Pau questioned.

T’Pol did not hear what was said by Skon or V’Lar following that question. T’Pau’s comment mentally froze the science officer. She had been so consumed by the quest to save Trip’s life that she had not had time to reflect accurately on her own behavior. As she sat in the kitchen dwelling over her actions during the past week, she realized the accuracy of T’Pau’s statement.

Undoubtedly, her relationship with Trip brought her great pleasure. But T’Pol was determined to remain true to her Vulcan heritage. There may not have been a way to severe the bond, but shields could be put in place and physical contact could be avoided. T’Pol was certain that would help to alleviate the emotional lapses.

So caught up in her thoughts was T’Pol that she did not hear Trip enter the kitchen as well. “T’Pol?” he questioned, concerned.

Startled, T’Pol jumped. Mentally she scolded herself and took her lack of preparedness as yet another sign T’Pau had been correct.

“I’m sorry,” Trip said immediately. “I didn’t mean to frighten ya.”

T’Pol bristled. “I am a Vulcan, Commander. I do not frighten.”

Trip gave her a doubtful look. “I think we’re a little past the ‘Commander’ title now, T’Pol. And the line about Vulcans not feelin’ isn’t really gonna work anymore. I know better now.” He leaned forward to gently caress her cheek, but she jerked away.

Trip tried to squelch the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. The same T’Pol who had so lovingly caressed his fingers earlier that morning was acting like an entirely different person. “T’Pol, what’s the matter? I know something’s wrong-you’ve put up those shields and I can’t feel anything from you.”

The feeling did not go away when she spoke. “As you have recovered, there is no reason for me not to call you Commander,” T’Pol said firmly. “Our sexual relationship is over and we shall need to rely on titles to fall back into our former roles.”

Trip stared at her. “Just like that?” he asked in disbelief. “We shared a week of love makin’ and-"

“We shared sexual intercourse,” T’Pol interrupted. “Any other term is a human attempt to attach feeling to an act that should have a purely procreational purpose.”

Trip was steadily growing from confused to angry. “Look, I don’t know what’s gotten into ya, but in case you’ve forgotten, this bond let me see inside your head. I know what you were feelin’, T’Pol. And don’t tell me that ya didn’t feel anything, because that isn’t true.”

T’Pol shook her head. “I do not deny having experienced them. I will prevent myself from experiencing them in the future.”

T’Pol’s shields may have been up, but Trip’s were not. She felt the waves of conflicting emotions-hurt, confusion, anger, and sadness wash over him. “Why?” was all he could manage to choke out. T’Pol turned away from him, determined to remain in control but uncertain she could do so if she continued to take in his heartbroken expression.

“I am Vulcan,” she answered softly. “You make me . . . feel. . . our relationship threatens to undue a lifetime of my heritage. I cannot permit that.”

“T’Pol-"

“I suggest you go, Commander Tucker. Captain Archer will most likely be waiting at the rendezvous point. I shall be along shortly.”

“Fine,” Trip snapped and turned as though he were going to leave. Then he stopped and turned around to look at her. “I wouldn’t ask you to change, T’Pol. I startin’ carin’ for you long before you ever showed any trace of emotion.”

“That was foolish of you,” T’Pol answered softly. Again, she felt the pain her words caused him. Then the shields went up on his end.

“Yeah, I guess it was,” he answered. He again turned to leave. This time, he did not turn around. On his way out, he nearly ran into Soval, who was waiting in the living room of the house.

“Commander Tucker,” Soval greeted. “I trust you are well?”

Trip snorted. “I’m not in any danger of dyin’, Soval. Not anymore.”

Soval arched an eyebrow. “I am pleased to hear that. You no doubt know of my involvement in your illness.”

Trip shrugged. “T’Pol told me,” he answered.

“I see. I wish to apologize, Commander-"

“Save it, Soval. I know how crazy the condition makes you. It makes you do some. . . foolish things,” Trip said. “Don’t worry about it-not that ya would, of course, bein’ a Vulcan and all.” With that, Trip abruptly continued on his way.

“Forgive me, T’Pol, but I did not intend to ease drop,” Soval told her as he stepped inside the kitchen a moment later.

T’Pol sat on the kitchen chair with her eyes closed, fighting for control. “I assume you managed to do so, however,” she remarked.

“Indeed,” Soval answered.

“Then you will no doubt be pleased to know that my ‘inappropriate’ relationship is over. You were quite correct in your concern. I should have paid closer attention to your warnings,” T’Pol remarked.

Soval hesitated momentarily. “Perhaps I was. Perhaps I was wrong. Time shall decide which is true.”

T’Pol glanced up at that. It was then that she noticed he held two wrapped packages. “Gifts?” she inquired.

“Yes. One is from your mother, the other from Koss,” Soval answered, setting them down on the table in front of her.

“You have talked to mother?” T’Pol asked. “Is she well?”

“Indeed. She was well enough to reprimand my recent decisions,” Soval answered.

“It is unfortunate that I was not privy to that conversation,” T’Pol remarked. “It must have been intriguing.”

“It was,” Soval agreed. “You mother is an intriguing Vulcan, T’Pol. She is also quite the loyal mate.”

T’Pol looked at him askance. “Loyal enough to disagree with you?” she questioned.

“Yes, T’Pol. The best mate will both stand by you and challenge you. In so doing, the couple grows together. It is my wish that you shall find one such mate during your life,” Soval answered.

T’Pol had not expected that. “Thank you for the advice, father,” she said finally. It was faulty advice, she decided. Commander Tucker frequently challenged her, but there could be no growth together. Only regression.

“I know you must be on your way, T’Pol. Will you see that your Captain receives this?” Soval asked, handing her a PADD.

“What is it?” T’Pol asked, taking it from him.

“It is my formal apology to his crew. I realized, with Skon’s help, that I only apologized to five members of the Enterprise’s complement. I wish to rectify that,” Soval answered.

“I will see that he receives it,” T’Pol promised.

“It is appreciated, my daughter,” Soval said sincerely.

Rising, T’Pol took her gifts and Soval’s apology in her left arm and held up her right hand. “Live long and prosper, father.”

“Live long and prosper, T’Pol.”

On the shuttle’s way back to the Enterprise, during which time T’Pol was confronted by the icy coldness of Trip’s shields where there had once been a warm bond between them, T’Pol wondered if she would be able to do either.

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

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