The Bond - Part 2

The Bond

By TLR

Rated: PG 13 - adult content
Disclaimer: Enterprise is the property of UPN and Paramount Pictures.

Summary: This part takes up where the last ended. I back up a bit so you can get a running start. T'Pol is suffering from the effects of being aboard the Vulcan ship Seleya. She is having a hard time coping with the loss of her control over her emotions, and as she heals, she needs a lot of TLC to help her get through. Enter our lovable good natured chief engineer. Let's get back to the story. Enjoy.

January 5th, 2006

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Part 2

(Dream)

Trip walked the halls of the ship noticing the relative quiet around him. It was late and he knew that most of the crew was tucked in their beds sound asleep. The skeleton crew was at their posts, not leaving anyone to meet in the passageways. But what bothered him most was the fact that the silence was almost deafening. The normal hum of the engines was missing and its absence was unnerving the young engineer, who used it to gauge if the ship was okay. He looked from side to side to try and get a sense of something to help him.

As Trip turned the corner, he saw the commotion going on at the other end. At the far end of the hallway were a group of monster like creatures tugging and pulling the first officer apart by her limbs. Though valiantly fought, the frail Vulcan female was loosing her battle against the crowd. Trip ran to her assistance, realizing only now that even though there was a full out scuffle, there still wasn't any sound.

T'Pol's mouth was open. It formed what the engineer could only assume was a scream, yet still no sound. As Trip reached the group, the outer monsters turned to face the Human. Their eyes were wild, sunken and dark, the rage they held showing clearly through. They grabbed at him, ripping at his overalls and tearing into his flesh. Trip could feel the hot streaks of his skin as it was being torn from his body. He let out a shriek of his own. Like the Vulcan's, his was no more audible. The pain that seared through his lungs brought the young southern male back to consciousness.

Trip woke in a start, sitting bolt upright on the cushioned surface. Hyperventilating, the breath running in and out of his lungs stung at the back of his throat. He took several seconds to regain his bearings. As his eyes adjusted to the low blue lighting, he began to hear the broken grunts coming from the bed. He sprang to his feet and rushed to the Vulcan's side. Trip placed his hands on T'Pol's shoulders. He shook her lightly calling all the while her name out loud. "T'Pol... T'Pol"

The Vulcan's eyes snapped open, her hands wild in the air. In a split moment, one of those hands slipped beneath her pillow and pulled a curved blade out into a defensive stance. The blade came forward at the Human and stopped short just a few inches from his nose. Trip jumped backward, standing now about 2 feet from the crazed female. T'Pol's breath was rapid and her chest heaved, gasping to catch up with her fright. Her eyes were as wild, searching the room back and forth for any other threats. Trip kept his hands up in front of him just in case the first officer decided to lunge out at him. He placed one hand on the hypospray that he'd tucked into the pocket of his sweats. He continued to try and sooth her frayed nerves.

"It's okay T'Pol…..It's okay T'Pol…..you're safe now…..You're on Enterprise…. No one's gonna hurt you.." Trip reached out and saw the knife mimic his movements, so he shifted back.

T'Pol blinked several times as if the images she saw couldn't possibly be real. The were in her mind's eye, distortions, movements slowed and sounds exaggerated to the point that it began to overload her synaptic pathways. She saw the stretched face of the frightened Commander standing just before her. His words echoed in her ears, like they were being spoken through a hollowed tunnel.

"T'Pol….come on now…It's me Trip.." The chief engineer continued to keep his distance, but was afraid to retreat further in case his friend might in fact hurt herself. His eyes locked on the dagger, its tip still pointing in his direction. "Come on T'Pol….. wake up….you're on board Enterprise…..remember……"

The first officer shook her head several times, occasionally loosing sight of the male. When her eyes did go back to him, he hadn't moved, which started to bring a strange sense of trust into her soul. She squinted again, wanting to better see behind him, but the dimness of the room was making it difficult. Trip surmised this and eased back a bit. He talked his way through this all the while though, as to not create anymore fear in the young woman. "I'm just getting the lights, T'Pol…… Then you can see there is nothing here to hurt you." Trip reached behind him and blindly searched for the switch. "I'm just turning on the lights." With a flick of a switch the room filled with its usual fluorescence. The shadowy places were gone and for the moment the first officer could plainly see what the young Human had been saying was correct.

She eased back on her elbow, holding the handle and blade of the knife flat against her breast bone. Her breath still heaving in her chest, T'Pol looked away from her young friend, more in shame for her actions, then in fear of his disapproval. Trip's arms dropped and his stance became more relieved. He too was breathing hard and could swear his life flashed before his eyes at least twice during the whole episode. His shoulders dropped from their elevated position and Trip began to shuffle a bit in his stance, realizing the young woman's embarrassment.

"It's okay T'Pol…… That must have been one doozy of a nightmare… It's normal you would be a bit defensive." Trip tried to find the right words, knowing the Vulcan's fear of harming any living being. T'Pol didn't respond, still looking down at her legs, lying on the bed. Her shame was evident in the way her head hung. As her breathing slowed, Trip felt more comfortable in coming towards her.

"Hey….T'Pol…" He stopped and waited for her to finally address him.

"It's okay… I understand." He started once her eyes met his again. "I had a heck of a nightmare myself…" He moved in a bit closer and sat on the side of the bed. His eyes kept the knife in their periphery. "I guess all the talk of what happened aboard the Seleya got to me too. I can't even imagine how it is for you." He let an understanding smile grace his lips. This smile somehow eased the Vulcan further. Though not able to understand it, Trip's presence was comforting, more so than even Phlox's was. This Human had the ability to make her relax more quickly and fully than the Denobulan had the night before. Perhaps it was her control returning, T'Pol considered this, but something in her knew that wasn't the reason. It was still the question of why his words were some much more effective that concerned her the most.

Trip looked deeper into her eyes then eyed the knife more conspicuously. He gestured with his expression that perhaps it was time to put the weapon away. "How about I put that some place safe for you?" He asked holding out his hand and waiting patiently. His patience was rewarded as T'Pol placed the handle safely into his outstretched palm. The young Human took the blade, standing and moved toward the desk. He looked for a convenient place and decided that the cabinets above the work area would suffice. He opened one of them and laid the item among the neatly placed contents there. As quickly as he'd placed the blade, he closed the cabinet doors. Trip's anxiety level was now decreasing, but secretly he wondered if it would be a good time for that sedative Malcolm had slipped him.

While it was true T'Pol needed some rest, Trip couldn't get the words Dr. Phlox had said to the Captain out of his head. <<"Under sedation, T'Pol would be trapped with her nightmares, unable to escape them and may suffer some cardiac damage from the experience.">> That made up his mind for him. Although stronger than him, Trip decided that their friendship would keep harm from befalling him. He would tackle this problem with good old fashion Human compassion. He turned and moved back to where T'Pol lay.

T'Pol, who had been watching his movements, was still astonished at her actions. The blade, a weapon common to Vulcan offworlders, was simply beneath her pillow from habit. Ever since Tolaris' attack upon her though, she found it comforting to keep her weapon close. Logically she knew no harm would befall her at the hands of the Humans, but also knew that Vulcan female pheromones were as strong as Orion females' were. Once released, they would be a powerful inducement to any male, even Human. For this reason, she'd practiced extra hard to keep them under wraps. The only time they had been released was during her unfortunate taste of Pon Farr. The thought of that episode and of how she must have behaved, still made the Vulcan cringe. It was a good thing Phlox was immune and Lt Reed was in that EV suit or else there would have been some serious problems with her crew relationships. To her knowledge, she'd made an extra effort since the beginning of the Neuropressure sessions with the Commander to keep her pheromones and her femininity under wraps. Secretly, T'Pol didn't know if she could still do that in her current state. It was a worry that would keep her on edge for as long as the young Human was in her presence.

Trip returned to sit beside her. "Wantta talk about it?" He asked lending a compassionate expression to his willingness to be there for her. T'Pol simply shook her head.

"That's okay…" He responded. His tongue traced the inside of his cheek as Trip tried to come up with a better plan to keep T'Pol from her nightmares. "I got it!" He exclaimed softly, as he stood beside the bunk. The Vulcan looked at him questioningly, wondering just what he had in mind. "Move over."

This statement drew a shocked look from the female as she glared up at where he stood. "I beg your pardon?" T'Pol returned wondering if her fear was now justified.

"No it's not like that. On Earth when a Human child has a nightmare, they go in and get in bed with their parents. Something about the fact that they are in contact, keeps them from having any more bad dreams." Trip seemed very determined and waved his hand toward the Vulcan. "Move over."

"Trip I am not a child and I don't think it would be appropriate for us to be sharing a bed." The first officer leaned up on her elbows trying to dissuade the younger male.

"It's not like that, I said…. This is strictly platonic, a friend helping a friend." Trip started to ease down onto the limited edge. He saw T'Pol slide over in a start at his actions.

"What, afraid I am gonna bite?' He jested feeling just as nervous about this action as she was, but not wanting to show it.

"I am sure this isn't within Starfleet regulations." T'Pol tried to hide her fear, spouting rules and regulations from the young man's own organization.

"Hey, I didn't hear you speaking regulations to the Cap'n when you and he share that blanket on P'Jem. This is no different." Trip picked up the end of the blanket and scooted his way beneath.

"I was aware of your presence when you were sleeping over there. It didn't stop the nightmare from coming. How is moving closer going to change it?" She posed to him now with her back flush against the wall of the cabin.

"Cause this time, I will be holding you. You only knew of my presence while you were awake, but when you went unconscious, your mind wasn't aware I was here. That will be different this time. You'll be in contact with my body and that will help to remind your unconscious mind that I am here with you. It works all the time for Humans." He looked at her a bit surprised she didn't understand the concept. "When you were little, didn't you run and get into bed with your parents when you had a nightmare?"

"No." She returned flatly, pressing harder against the wall hearing of his intentions for their sleeping arrangements.

"What, one of your parents got in bed with you then?" He continued to ask as he made himself comfortable on the pillow and pulled the blankets up close.

"No." Again she replied watching him make himself at home in her bed.

"Well, how did you handle nightmares at home….What, did you just sit there in the dark, scared and try to deal with them alone?" Trip was now looking at her horrified that her parents could be so uncaring to their little girl.

T'Pol looked down to the bedding, she remembered those nights and how they were eased, but didn't know if the Human would comprehend Vulcan ways. She decided to try to let him understand.

"My pet sehlat would come, sit beside my bed and let me touch his fur." She stated plainly, with an almost defensive quality. Somehow she could sense his displeasure at her parents and the defensiveness had set in.

"Pet sehlat….what is that, like a dog?" Trip turned a bit and laid his head on his folded arm. He seemed quite content at talking a bit before he would force her to be in contact with his body.

"No….it is a four legged creature, fur covered which weighs about 100 pounds." She thought a moment then added. "And it has six inch fangs." With this she stiffened her resolve. Knowing the Commander's fascination for horror films, T'Pol knew that point would get his curiosity involved. Perhaps if she could keep him interested in talking, then he would abort his earlier idea about holding her. That wasn't the case though.

Trip turned back onto his back and spread out his arm toward her. "So touching the fur of this sehlat kept you from having nightmares…..Well that just proves my point and since we seem to be fresh out of sehlats, I guess I will have to do." He motioned with his free arm that the Vulcan should ease in closer and lay her head against his chest. She bulked a moment, wondering what else she could do to avoid contact with the Human in this manner. Trip waited patiently, not backing down and certainly not expressing any impatience in her indecision.

T'Pol finally acquiesced, sliding silently into his body. She hesitated resting her head to his chest and instead laid it on his out stretched arm. This arm bent at the elbow and encircled her shoulder, which caused her to start.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna bite." Trip jested, pulling her closer so her head had to come up onto his chest. T'Pol could hear the slow rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her sensitive ear lobe. It soothed her in ways she wouldn't have imagined, her eye lids becoming heavy the moment her skin touched the softness of his tee shirt.

"So having a 100 pound furry, four legged, fanged creature sitting by your bed and touching his fur was what helped you keep from having nightmares, huh?" Trip summarized her description for effect. T'Pol simply nodded her head against his shirt.

"I think that having a creature like that any where near me would have probably given me nightmares." He chuckled softly bouncing her up and down a few times. "So what was this sehlat's name?" He asked hoping to decrease both their anxieties about this closeness.

"Kelmouth" She replied her voice low and almost mesmerized.

"Kelmouth, does that mean something in Vulcan?" Trip found her childhood recollections fascinating.

T'Pol thought a moment trying to translate what the true meaning of the word was. "Full soft covering" she stated evenly, still with less force indicating her fatigue.

Trip heard the explanation and began to chuckle harder. "Fluffy….. You had a pet named Fluffy."

T'Pol picked her head up off his chest and looked him sternly in the eye. "My sehlat's name was Kelmouth…not Fluffy." She kept on glaring at him while he continued to laugh.

"T'Pol…. Something with a full soft covering is fluffy….Face it…. You had a pet named fluffy." Trip started to tear, his eyes trying to hold back the humor he found in the irony. The Vulcan however seemed to take offense at his demeaning of the creature. This pet had seen her through many years of pain both before and after her father's passing. For this Human to be making fun of it now, seemed very inappropriate. Perhaps her control being so diminished, her feelings were unjustly touchy, but still it was not like Trip to be so boldly disrespectful of her ancestry.

Her look continued, finding no humor in what Trip had said. She glared at him, which eventually caused the chuckling to subside. "All right T'Pol…. I'm sorry, but you have to admit, as ferocious as you made him out to be, the name doesn't quite fit." He tugged at her shoulder with the arm that was still wrapped about it. The Vulcan returned to her spot on his chest, allowing the slow pulsing rhythm to once more sooth her less than calm nerves.

"This Kelmouth…. I take it he was very important to you." Trip decided the lulling approach was the one to go with.

"Yes… Vulcans have sehlats as pets to guard the family and help look after the children. No home with children is without a sehlat." T'Pol adjusted her ear a bit to find a more comfortable spot. Inadvertently her face slid further onto his chest wall surface. Her arm, which was crammed up tight against her body, seemed awkward to the Human, so he reached over and took her hand in his. He laid it on his chest and covered it once more with his own.

"So this Kelmouth was like a babysitter?" He asked trying to hide the boldness of his actions.

"It would watch after me when my parents were busy…..and when I would get out into the desert without them." T'Pol eyed his hand on hers and wondered why her body was beginning to warm from inside.

"You mean you would go out into the desert alone?" Trip was amazed at the daring this child had. He knew that Vulcan adults professed to having no fear, but didn't think they would train their children in such a dangerous practice.

"How old were you when you would do this?" Trip looked down at the top of her head. The brown strands glimmered in the lighting.

"Less than a year. From the time I could walk, I was able to get out the back gate. Kelmouth would come after me and bring me back." T'Pol answered truthfully, still lost at why her mind felt so relieved by this Human's solution.

"How would he bring you back, even at one year old, it couldn’t have been easy for you to walk on all that sand." He contemplated stroking the lovely brown locks than thought the better of it.

"In his teeth." She replied totally unaware of his shocked reaction.

"He would pick you up and carry you in his teeth, like a pup?" Trip leaned forward a bit to glance at her eyes. His face was scrunched up and contorted.

"He would grasp the back of my clothing with his teeth and carry me home before harm could get to me." T'Pol corrected him, and heard the soft chuckle return as Trip laid back and tried to picture the large creature carrying the little baby dangling from obviously elegant Vulcan play clothes. This chuckle however didn't anger her. Instead it increased the level of warmth and the Vulcan's eyes began to close more fully. She jolted them open intermittently trying to keep from returning to sleep. Trip could feel the motion against the cotton of his tee and encouraged her not to fight the feeling of drowsiness.

"Hey….Just close your eyes and try to rest. I will be right here if you need me. The minute I feel you starting to stir, I'll wake you, good dream or bad. That way you won't get so into it." Trip allowed his arm to run up and down hers. The warming that it caused sent her over the edge, and T'Pol was once again sound asleep. With his free hand, Trip reached up and hit the dimmer switch. The lights fell a bit, but not enough to totally loose the room in darkness. He too relaxed into a deep and restful slumber.

****

Two hours later (dream)

T'Pol shifted in the arms of the male, her face now laying flush on the massiveness of his musculature. His breaths rising into her flesh made her body desire more of his contact. The Vulcan's hand slipped up and beneath the loose fitting tee. It played with small fine tuffs of hair it found there across his breast bone. The silken strands curled around the lean elegant fingers, the tips of those digits bent slightly providing a soft friction that tingled deep inside the male's flesh. His eyes opened, looking headily down at the young woman, who had already trained her eyes on him. She called to him without uttering a word, allowing all her femininity to waft past him like perfume of a romantic scent. His eyes were on fire and she knew it. She saw the burning in them deep within her soul and continued to let her passions call to him.

Without a struggle, the male turned her backward, coming atop her in a smooth clean movement. His brilliant blue eyes and reddish hue denoted his passions were meeting her own. T'Pol knew there would be no stopping this male's need for her.

That point having long since passed. She reached up and stroked his face, pulling it closer to hers to seal the deal with a kiss.

Their mouths opened, each finding a lip and concentrating on it. The young male pulled her to him hard, pressing body and particularly his hips into the young woman. She groaned with the pleasure of it all. Her groans were muffled, his swollen lips not relinquishing their hold of hers. Hungrily they groped with their mouths, each capturing the other's lips, tugging substantially then releasing them once more. Tongues played in and out, first hers than his. There was no limit to the contact they allowed each other. Their hands were no exception, for the hand that was slipped up the male's shirt, was returned with one of his own up hers. The buttons of the silken top restricted his movements, so without a thought he tore at them, sending the delicate items bouncing onto the floor.

Within seconds, the two edges of the garment were flung open and her large rounded curves were exposed to the coolness of the room. His hand encircled the first then returned the same to the second. He played with the peaks that were now so very aroused. As his hands concentrated on playing about her body, his mouth eased itself from her lips, down her neck. The sensation of his tongue licking the back of her ear sent shivers up and down her spine. T'Pol leaned her head back and felt her throat swollen with the groan she was trying to hold in. His hot breath started to waft over the soft flushed skin of her breasts, releasing that groan with an added gasp. As those talented lips took in her peaks, the Vulcan began to shiver. The sucking motion kept the quivering going, T'Pol's hands cupping his head and pushing him harder onto her. A slight slurping sound came from below her chin. It was accompanied by the feel of his hands yanking at the top of her low riding bottoms. The string of the bottoms grated as his callused fingers locked onto and began pulling it steadily. The release was like a soft poke, which was quickly followed by those rough fingers scratching their way down her sides.

Soft biting of her flesh brought out the savage need within her. She leaned in to his mouth and rose up her hips to allow him his own desires. The soft silky items slid down easily, reaching her knees in a single movement. The hairs of his chest brushed against the cleanness of her skin. His legs pushed their way between her knees, parting them and finding their own warm spot on the sheets. The male's hands were holding her hips now, as his lips were riding their way down her flattened stomach. His head reached the lower aspects of her abdomen as it tilted upward to look at the woman he was passionately caressing. T'Pol lifted her head, feeling the activity stop. Her breath was heavy, her heart pounding harder than she had ever known. It wasn't until the darkness of her eyes cleared, did she realize who the male was that had been bringing her so much pleasure. She had seen his face before, looked into those eyes intensely as they began their play, but now her synapses were putting two and two together. It was him. The very male she had been trying so hard to keep from knowing her. His brilliant blue eyes twinkled. A soft smile curved his lips knowing what his next move would bring her.

Trip's head dove into her moistened spot, causing a sharp inhale to tear at her throat. The combination of pleasure and surprise overwhelmed her, the heat from his breath sending an overload into her synaptic pathways. She writhed beneath his motions, once, twice and then a third time, trying hard to bring herself out of what ever elusion this was. Finally he pushed her legs out and up hard, spreading her wide before him. This caused a more forceful gasp that curled the Vulcan into a ball.

T'Pol woke with a start, pulling up and out of his arms. She curled inward, holding onto her knees and pulling them into her chest. Her breath was heavy coming in gasps as she tried to keep from allowing the unexpressed groans to escape her lips. The quick yanking motion woke Trip, who was himself flushed and ladened with sweat. He sat up on his elbows, out of the Vulcan's eye. He realized his appearance was a bit revealing, and quickly used his tee to wipe the beads of moisture from his brow. Having done that, he reached for the Vulcan's shoulders. T'Pol quickly pulled away, rocking back and forth, trying to force her over active hormones back beneath the surface.

"You had another dream about the Seleya crew?" He asked respecting her need for a moment. He saw her head shake in response.

"What did you dream about this time... Must have been something pretty disturbing." He continued to talk to her trying to keep her from feeling alone. This time he saw her head nod yes.

"Well, what was it... You can tell me." Trip was now more concerned with her state of mind than the slightly obvious bulge that was evident through the ripples of the blanket. He sat up fully beside her and looked over into her flushed face. The greenish hue was strangely right for her, having seen that hue several times before when they were arguing about a particularly important subject. She shook her head again and this time Trip respected her need not to speak of it.

"Well at least you got two more hours...." He noted and lay back onto the sheets. He noted his bulge becoming more evident and moved the covers a bit to hide it. "Come on, let's try and get some more sleep." He laid his arm back across the bunk and waved the open fingers begging for her to return into his embrace.

T'Pol shook her head. " I do not wish to sleep...." She replied sounding conspicuously like the wounded child Trip had imagined her to be.

"T'Pol... Two hours of sleep does not get you the rest you need. Come on..... I promise to be here with you. I won't go anywhere. Give this another chance." His words were difficult having just had the mother of all sex dreams about this very woman. Trip's vivid dream life was nothing new. Perhaps every alien he'd come to know while aboard had been the subject of something erotic. Lately though, the only one entering those dreams had been the first officer. While it was true that the crew wasn't being as chased as the Vulcan was, Trip too had a bit of a predicament. The no fraternization law about the ship made it impossible for him to even try and get to know his fellow crewmates. He, the Captain and T'Pol were the only members of command rank and of the three he and T'Pol were the only one's on his level. Not that he wasn't tempted from time to time. Especially when they went to Risa. That trip, the young engineer had fully planned to take advantage of the planets amenities, but ended up spending the two nights tied up in a cellar somewhere with of all people, Malcolm. And even though he thought he could have some meaningless sex with the paid professionals of that planet, Trip was really an old fashioned southern gentleman. It wasn't like him to just give into his needs. His needs were more about caring for the person he became close too. That is why this male hadn't had anything akin to Human sex with anyone since his last girlfriend dumped him.

So these fantasies were completely normal, he'd told himself. Sure after the first dream about T'Pol he was a bit shy about looking her in the face, but by the third or fourth, he was over the shock. But in all the other dreams, he'd never gotten her out of her undies and tank. Usually his own desires stopped him at that point. This one was far more graphic and secretly Trip worried a bit about his possibly talking in his sleep about what he was dreaming. T'Pol hadn't addressed him with any improprieties, so he rationalized, he'd made none. Slowly but surely, his arousal started to ease.

T'Pol on the other hand, was totally floored by this dream, knowing full well that the contents of it were strictly forbidden. She was a Vulcan female, unmarried and un-betrothed , but still under the boundaries of proper behavior. She contemplated just how this violated her people's ethics, but was at a loss to see the error. If she had been married, it would have been a sin against her bond, something that a properly bonded female wouldn't have happen. If she'd still been betrothed, than it would have caused a rift to form between her and her betrothed. But being neither, was her dreaming of the commander in such a fashion, truly disrupting anything. Another fear entered her mind. Was this an indication that she was beginning her own Pon Farr. She was way too young for this but like the bacteria, perhaps the trellium had started her mating cycle early? That thought chilled her to the bone.

Trip saw her shivering and thought she was getting cold. He brought the edges of the blanket up and around her shoulders as he tried to ease her backward. She didn't budge, sitting forward harder into her knees.

"Come on T'Pol, you're getting cold. Lie down and try to rest again." Trip was sympathetic to her fears, but was trying to help her as best as he could.

"I do not wish to lie like that again." T'Pol looked for away out of telling him about the intimacies of her dream. "My side is beginning to hurt."

"Okay...then turn over and face the other way." Trip left his arm out, making the young woman lay on his arm regardless. T'Pol eased down and turned away from him. Her shaking had lessened, but gain a bit of momentum when her skin came in contact with his. Trip pulled the covers over her shoulder then eased in close behind her. She felt this and began to shake again wondering what the Human had in store for her this time. Without a word, Trip laid his arm over hers and placed his palm against the pillow in front of her face. To block his contact with any intimate spots, T'Pol's arms came up in a crisscross fashion to block his. Her one hand rested on his arm, not wanting to be crushed beneath the weight of it. Trip readjusted a couple of times, bringing his body in closer and closer to get into a comfortable position. Finally coming to rest, he asked her if she had the same.

"You okay?" Trip's words should have stunned her, but instead they soothed her and suddenly his presence was letting the fatigue catch up with her again. Her eyes dipped and her hand began to rub lightly at his arm, totally without her knowledge. Trip took this as a sign she was fine and closed his eyes again too.

****

(4 Hours later.......A Dream)

T'Pol entered Engineering to find all the crew members standing about staring to the far wall in shock. No one moved, or even spoke, as she walked through them searching for Trip to find out what was the matter. As she rounded the warp drive, she saw what the multitude was staring at. There just to the back of the warp cylinder, was a large gaping hole in the side of the vessel. This seemed unreal, since there were no emergency bulkheads in place and the room wasn't being depressurized.

She made her way past the last few crewmen and saw what else she had missed. There in the vacuum of space was Commander Tucker floating without an EV suit, just dressed in his regulation blue jumpsuit, reaching back at the ship and calling out. There was no sound, just the motion of his lips as they opened and closed. The expression on his face was that of shock and fear. This struck the young Vulcan, knowing that being sucked out into space was the worst fear anyone on board a starship had to face. It was a death sentence, sure as being sucked out of an airplane was in the early 20th and 21 centuries was. She reached the edge of the metal bulkhead and reached out her arm. The other she held on to a jagged piece of metal. It was no use. The Commander was now about 10 meters from the ship. T'Pol looked around frantically for something to pull him back in with. She yelled at the crew to bring her something, but her words were as silent as the frozen figures about her. Her frustration grew, no metal, or rope was within her sight and she feared if she lost sight of him, only for a moment he would be forever lost in the vastness of space. The commander continued to move away from the ship, his arms flailing indicating he was still alive, but for how long.

In an act of desperation, she hurled herself from the edge with as much force as she could. Reaching out her arms, T'Pol hoped to at least get a hold of the commander to help keep him alive until someone else found a way to help. The two of them together would make a larger target to sense then just him alone. This was her rationale as she tumbled aimlessly forward toward him. She groped wildly into the blackness of the space, her fingers just out of his reach. She looked into his eyes and saw the worry and fear building. Her own worry started, and desperation took hold of her mind, leaving little room for logic. She cried out "NO" still deaf to the male who's eyes were beginning to close due to the lack of oxygen.

His body went limp and his arms stopped their purposeful movement. Instead they just swayed with the soft eddy of space. T'Pol began to grope for him more violently, thrashing her body harder and harder until the shear motions started to translate to her true physical form, lying in the bed.

Trip came out of the bathroom, having slipped out quietly from his embrace of the Vulcan. Nature called and he'd only been gone for a minute or so. Entering the room, he realized instantly by her frantic motions, T'Pol was in the midst of yet another violent dream. He crawled onto the bed once more and began to shake her, calling her name softly as not to startle her too much.

T'Pol came awake rather abruptly, turning to see if the commander was still alive. This time however, upon seeing his face, she threw herself into him, grasping on tightly and not letting go. This surprised Trip, but he instinctively answered her call with a comforting gesture of his own. He held her close, nuzzling her hair with his cheek and caressing her back with his hands.

"It's okay T'Pol... You're safe now." He whispered into her hair, the feeling of his breath soothed her even more. Trip continued to hold her, adding the rocking motion he saw her do after the last nightmare. He held her in silence, adding the occasional "Shhhh...it's okay." at the sound of a few sniffles he thought he heard. After about 15 or so minutes of this, T'Pol pulled away, her head hung low.

"Wantta tell me about this one?" He asked suspecting this dream to be a more powerful one than the last. She shook her head.

"Come on T'Pol....if you talk about it..... then it goes away." He added smiling softly as if he were more a father figure to her now. She thought a moment, and realized that her dream could indicate more than was real to the young Human. She decided to edit it, so he could feel as though he was helping.

"There was a hull breach in engineering.... I was at the edge..." She started trying to think how to edit the rest.

"And you were being pulled out, so you were grabbing for something to hold on too." Trip finished, knowing all to well that dream. "That's a nasty one..... I have had that dream more than once since we entered the expanse. But it's okay...you're in your quarters and I'm here with you. I won't let anything like that happen to you. I'd die myself first, before I'd let that happen." Trip didn't realize that was the true content of the dream and that the young woman had actually given up her life trying to save his. He looked into the soft brown eyes that right now were sure looking like the child she must have been.

"Come on... Let's try and get some rest." he stated hoping to get through the few remaining hours of night without anymore of these monster dreams of hers.

"No!" this time she stated her determination not to return to sleep.

"T'Pol, you slept 4 hours this time. It's getting better. There is only a few hours till morning, let's try and get some." Trip was cut off by her fierceness. 'No"

"All right....but it's a bit early for the mess hall. What do you want to do?" Trip eased back and allowed her to find a comfortable spot.

"I wish to meditate." She stated after thinking for several seconds. Trip considered this and thought perhaps that was a good idea. He moved back off the bed and allowed her to exit. "I'll get the candles." He offered quickly.

"I can get them myself." She returned her defiant nature trying to control her still shaky emotions.

"Fine, you light the one on the table and I'll place the others around the room." Trip followed her to the shelf and helped her gather the items. When they had all been placed, Trip watched her go about lighting them. Once perched on her pillow, he asked her once more if she needed anything. This time her head shake was less forceful and indicated a slight hint of gratefulness for his being there.

"Well if you don't mind, I think I'll try and get a little more shut eye. Wake me if you need anything or if you become..." He started to say the word 'scare' but thought better of it. "like I said, if you need anything." Trip moved back to the bunk and crawled beneath the covers. He turned to face her, watched for a moment through slit eyes as she took her routine cleansing breaths and closed hers. When he was content, she was okay he let himself fall to sleep again.

****

There, in a plain white space, stood Trip totally bewildered by the loss of dimensions. He could see no beginning or end to the room, only whiteness around him that seemed to get hazier as the distance continued. Over to his right sat T'Pol, on her pillow. Beside her sat a rather furry creature, looking a bit like an old drawing he once saw in a text book. This creature though had fluffy white fur and ironically six inch fangs. As they sat together, T'Pol's hand lay against the animal's large paw. There was little contact between them other than that, but Trip could feel their closeness, just as if she'd been hugging him bolt out right.

A soft smile graced his face, realizing the story she told of her favorite playmate, had come to affect him in this manner. He sat down where he stood and watched silently as the two continued to meditate together.

TBC

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Last part out next Thursday........ T.

Part 3

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

im first wonderful

Hard to read, seems like there is something wrong with the format.

This is really good, very enjoyable, so surely you don't REALLY mean LAST part out next Thursday!!!.........

Nothing wrong with the format... you just forgot to double space between paragraphs.

Sweet story. I love the closeness... and the reluctance T'Pol has to cuddle is very in character. I hope you continue this through Harbinger. I'd like to experience their first time together through the filter of these events as preparation... and you could go AU with the post-Harbinger breakfast. I wouldn't mind that at all. : )

wonderfully written!

I have to second what Hoppity wrote. This story is just great! Really sweet.

Sorry about the formatting guys. My screen showed double spaces between the paragraphs, but obviously there wasn't. I sent in a revised copy to Bucky and hopefully she can exchange it for the original. Otherwise, I will make sure the last part is properly spaced. I don't know that I want to take it through Harbinger, but I promise that there will be many experiences that will lead up to that episode. Thanks again, glad you enjoyed it....T.

Neat idea... I can't wait until next week.

Oh man, I'm gonna be on vacation next Thursday, I hope they have internet where I'm going! Great story, really enjoying it.

Looking forward to read more. Update soon please.

Formatting fixed.

Bucky

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Thanks Bucky for fixing it for me. I appreciate it. T.

After rereading parts 1 and 2 again this morning, in my mind Trip keeps saying "No hokeet, T'Pol" over and over again after he wakes her up. :-) I really like how this is going...

Great stuff, I can't wait to see what happens next! :)

Ha! I agree with Kevin! "No hokeet" indeed! Very interested to see the next chapter...

I'm enjoying this very much so far. Looking forward to the next chapter. :)

"No hokeet." I love how we all know what you're talking about Kevin. Hee. :)

Sorry guys, I must be out of the loop. Anybody care to explain to me exactly what "hokeet" is? Hmmm?

I believe hokeet is similar to nuggy....Hope that helps. T.

In part three of "Logical Proposal", a delusional T'Pol is dreaming about them and Trip wakes her up to console her. This story has that same sense of Trip's protectiveness of T'Pol, I guess that phrase just popped into my head. I have absolutely no idea what a hokeet is though.

"Logical Proposal" is required reading for this site. You're not allowed to remain here if you haven't read it. :-)

Hokeet are like Vulcan mice, I think...

Oh I'm really loving this, wish the real thing could have been like this, please keep this one going, can't wait for Thursday now, you have really captured how T'Pol would react, also Trips caring nature to perfection.......thanks

hey great tlr i really hope you right more

I have to say,,, I loved Trips idea for helpin to calm T'pol down. >:D ;) Even if it didnt work exactly the way they had hoped. An they were both very in character,,,, an after The one dream where Trip got sucked into space an T'pol went after him,,,,,,, an then she told him about it with out revealing to much detail,,,an He said that she shouldnt worry that if that were to happen there he would die before letting anything happen to her,,,, well I could of swore I heard T'pols heart goinin pitter pat. This chappie was just beautiful an,,,, a good bit fun to read to.;)

I cant wait to see what happens next. Keep up the great work TLR.