The Sacrifice-Ch 15

The Sacrifice

By Triplover

Rating: R
Disclaimer: In Chapter One

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Chapter Fifteen

Happy Endings?

When Trip awoke to find Sub-Commander T’Pol in his arms his first thoughts were that he was dreaming. When he soon realized that what he was feeling was not a dream he had jumped out of bed faster than a cheetah chasing after antelope. They do eat antelope… right? Trip shook his head. I have a Vulcan science officer in my bed and I’m thinkin’ bout antelope?! Sub-Commander T’Pol was sleeping quietly, not even aware that Trip had jumped out of bed and was now staring down at her. The last thing he had remembered was getting arrested for the murder of Ambassador Vassion and Assistant Utaine… when had he gotten back to Enterprise? And when had he slept with T’Pol? Or had he slept with T’Pol? He’d just found her in bed next to him… that didn’t mean that they’d done anything. Right?

Trip then noticed that he still had clothes on… in fact, so did T’Pol. Perhaps they hadn’t done anything. Trip walked closer to her and sat down on the bed. He wondered how they had gotten from that planet to Enterprise. It just didn’t make sense. Trip knew he was staring at the sleeping Vulcan but he couldn’t move his eyes away from her. She looked so peaceful. She looked so… beautiful. What the hell? What was he thinking? This was T’Pol… to let his mind wonder to her beauty would only complicate things. He couldn’t let himself feel something for her. Not when he knew more than anything that she could never feel anything for him. “T’Pol? Hey… Sub-Commander!” It was best to wake her up.

He soon began shaking her and finally her eyes began to open. She first looked beside her, then up to see him looking back at her. Time seemed to stand still for a second as both looked at each other. Neither quite sure what to say. Trip never felt so uncomfortable, he stood and cleared his throat. “Uh T’Pol… what the hell’s goin’ on here? When did we get back to Enterprise?”

T’Pol sat up in the bed, “what do you last remember?”

“Getting arrested. We were on that planet lookin’ for Ambassador Vassion when these men came out. I found a Xindi weapon… body parts… it’s made me sick lookin’ at all that,” he told her.

Trip noticed immediately the strange look in her eyes. She could see a pain there that he’d never seen before. T’Pol swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, walking over to his desk. She then took a PADD and gave it to him. “This will explain what happened. Look it over… it will explain everything,” she assured him. “In the meantime I will get something to eat for the both of us.

Trip nodded and began to read. By the time he was done T’Pol had brought in some food for the two of them. But neither got the chance to finish when Doctor Phlox contacted them from the com. “Phlox to Commander Tucker, please meet me in sickbay immediately… I believe I have found something.”

==

“Right, must think happy endings.” Malcolm had said that once. Back when they’d been stuck in that shuttle pod together… so close to death… only Trip hadn’t accepted it. He wasn’t about to die with Malcolm in that shuttle pod. And he wouldn’t die now. “Must think happy endings,” Trip quoted that sentence over and over again as he walked towards sickbay.

T’Pol had told him she had to return to her duties and couldn’t walk with him to sickbay. His memory was cloudy on what went on between them but he wasn’t about to ask, not with his memory so clouded like it was. Trip sighed.

The sickbay doors opened and Phlox turned to look up at him. “Commander Tucker!”

“You called, Doc?”

Doctor Phlox nodded with a smile. “I did… I believe I can stop this… residue from killing you. What is the last thing you remember?”

“Uh… well… I remember us goin’ down to that planet Roelor to get information. But the Ambassador wasn’t there. Then me and T’Pol got arrested… after that everything’s kind of a blur,” he answered. “T’Pol filled me in on the rest with a report though.”

Phlox nodded with a frown as Trip sat on the bio bed. “Well I believe I can stop that residue from taking the rest of your memory. I’ve been analyzing that implant that was in your neck and I believe I have figured out how it works. The residue is like acid, eating at your memories. But I’ve been studying that implant of yours and I’ve found organic properties. Organic properties not unlike a certain bacteria I studied back on Denobula.”

Trip cocked his head, “what exactly are you getting’ at doc?”

The doctor smiled, “this organic property is what is used to take the bacteria in your brain. It feeds off the residue. Now when I found a match with that organic property and the bacteria I’d once studied back on my homeworld… things began to make sense.”

“So what… we’re gonna go back to Denobula to save me?” Trip asked sarcastically.

The doctor chuckled, “we don’t have to Commander. I have some of the bacteria here with me. You never know what you’ll need when you’re a doctor! The bacteria were first discovered around four years ago. It’s different from any other bacteria ever cataloged. It feeds on properties not that different from the residue that’s now affecting you,” the doctor then showed Trip a hypospray, which he injected into Trip’s neck. “This should slow down the process of that residue… it should keep you from loosing too much of your memory since the bacteria will take a while to work. Now you should lie down. This next serum will… hurt somewhat.”

“What are ya gonna give me?” Trip asked suddenly uneasy.

“It’s just the bacteria. I’ve found that it’s not dangerous to your race unlike with mine. It killed many on my world but it won’t affect you. Although it will hurt,” Phlox explained. Trip nodded and lay down on the bio bed. Phlox moved to his tray and took a different hypospray from his tray. He hesitated when he got over to Trip. “I don’t know if this will work. I can’t be sure if the bacteria will feed on the residue in your body… but it’s the best idea I could come up with.”

Trip nodded. “I understand, Doc… wish me luck. Must think happy endings,” the engineer muttered just before the doctor injected him with the bacteria. Trip’s eyes opened wide as he felt a sharp pain in his neck that moved all through out his body. Finally he fell into darkness.

==

“How’s he doing?” Captain Archer found himself asking the doctor as he looked down at the commander who lay on the bio bed still completely out. The doctor sighed.

“No change as of yet… but the bacteria is still working through his blood stream. I won’t know if this will work for a while.”

Archer’s eyes moved to the doctor. “How long?”

“Hours… five at the most. In the mean time I suggest we leave him be. His body will need rest. There’s nothing you or I can do now. We just have to hope for the best.”

Archer folded his arms and nodded. “Contact me once there’s a change. I think I’m gonna work out for a while. Get rid of some of this stress. Thanks doctor,” Archer said before leaving sickbay.

==

It had been five hours and there was still no change. Phlox was worried and he was beginning to think that perhaps his idea wouldn’t work. It was then that T’Pol walked into sickbay. Phlox took his eyes away from the sleeping engineer to look at the Vulcan. “No change?” she asked.

He shook his head.

T’Pol looked at the Commander. “May I stay with him for a second?” she asked. Phlox nodded and walked away to do something in the back and give T’Pol her privacy with Commander Tucker.

T’Pol hesitated before walking to Charles Tucker’s side. Charles was pale; his body was shaking slightly as his eyes moved back and forth under his eyelids. T’Pol touched his hand to hold it. His hands were clammy with sweat. Whatever was happening, T’Pol was worried. They should have known something by now. She feared he would not awaken. Perhaps he had been right. Perhaps he would not survive. Still she wouldn’t give up yet.

There was still hope. On that hope T'Pol would cling until his heart completely stopped and his body grew cold. Only until she saw his casket shot out into space, as was done with Sim, would she accept that he was truly gone. At that, she took out the necklace that he had given her at his execution and put it into his hand closing the hand tight. As if he could feel it, he held it even tighter.

T’Pol moved her hand to caress his cheek. “I am fighting for you Charles. Take my energy… you say you are tired. I am not. You will be okay. Awaken Charles… you must awaken,” she whispered to him. His head moved somewhat and T’Pol wondered if perhaps he had heard her. But he did nothing more. Finally T’Pol took a step away and closed her eyes. After she was in control of herself again she left him alone, hoping for the best.

==

It had happened in hour number eight. Phlox was sure that Commander Tucker was gone when he noticed that some of the residue that had been there was gone. A smile appeared on his face as he looked down at the commander. At last… results! He would live! He quickly walked to the com. “Phlox to Captain Archer.”

“Archer here,” the captain muttered through the com.

“The bacteria are working captain. Commander Tucker is going to live.”

There was a long pause as a sigh of relief was heard through the com. “Thank god!”

==

Doctor Phlox, Captain Archer and Sub-Commander T’Pol all stood over the bio bed holding the sleeping chief engineer who had fully healed and was no longer in danger of dying. He was safe once again. Archer held his breath as Phlox moved the hypospray to his engineer’s neck to wake him up. He’d been asleep for almost an entire day until Phlox was sure that he was out of danger. The commander’s eyes fluttered open and looked around. “Cap’n? T’Pol? Phlox? What happened?” asked Trip with a horse voice. Archer smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder.

“What do you last remember, Commander?” Archer asked him, not answering his question just yet.

“I was in engineerin’. I was fightin’ with Malcolm 'cause I got a little dizzy and he was worried. He wanted to send me ta sickbay… guess he succeeded,” Trip mumbled the last part under his breath.

Phlox, Archer and T’Pol all looked at each other with surprise and shock on each face. Even T’Pol was unable to hide the surprise she felt. “That’s all? That’s all you remember?” Archer asked.

Trip cocked his head on the bed, looking at Archer suspiciously. “Well yeah… sort of. Why? What happened?”

“You don’t remember anything else?” T’Pol prompted.

Trip looked over at her and frowned. “It’s all kinda foggy. I suppose I remember a planet… I think. I can’t be sure. I dunno… what happened? For god sakes what in the world happened?” No one said a word as they all looked at one another again. “Somebody tell me what’s goin’ on… please.”

Phlox cleared his throat and looked down at the confused commander. “It seems Commander Tucker that we have much to explain to you.”

==

A day later and Charles Tucker was back on active duty. Trip watched T’Pol do her work and let out a noticeable sigh. The captain immediately picked up on the sigh. “You okay Trip?” he asked. He’d been worried about him like crazy since what happened… whatever it was that actually happened. Trip still didn’t remember what had happened except for what Archer and Phlox would tell him. T’Pol told him very little and he was beginning to suspect she was keeping something from him.

“I’m fine Cap’n… just… gah, it’s nothin’!”

“I don’t think so Trip. You're not getting off that easily… what’s up?” his captain asked taking a step closer to his friend. Trip looked away from T’Pol and closed his eyes.

“It's just… I don’t know… I keep getting these flashes of what happened. I just have this feeling that I just can’t shake. Like… somethin’ happened,” Trip tried to explain. His mind was foggy and memories were becoming harder and harder to understand when they were so jumbled.

“Like what happened?” Archer prompted.

Trip again looked at T’Pol. “I dunno… somethin’. Somethin’ she won’t tell me about. No one will tell me a damn thing! I hate bein’ in the dark. Somethin’ happened. I know it.”

“Well, I could always order her to tell you…” Archer joked. Trip smiled while keeping his eyes on T’Pol. She worked quietly at her post, not even looking up at him. He knew she could tell he was staring at her. But she kept her head down.

“Have you ever felt like you did somethin’… said somethin’ to someone but you couldn’t remember what it was? Like you have this connection with a person and ya can’t figure out why or how… or even when?” Trip asked but not particularly to Archer.

“No… but I have a feeling you did.” Trip nodded at Archer’s statement.

“Wish I knew what I said to her that’s changed things so much. Seems like the woman’s been avoidin’ me lately.” He took his eyes away from T’Pol to look at his captain.

“Maybe you’ll find out soon enough. Maybe T’Pol’s just trying to find the right moment to tell you what happened,” Archer offered. Trip shrugged.

“Or maybe she doesn’t want to talk to me anymore 'cause I said somethin’ I shouldn’t have.”

Archer smiled. “Wouldn’t be the first time… and I doubt it’ll be the last.”

Trip gave out a long sigh. “Yeah… that’s what I’m afraid of.” Finally T’Pol stood and began to walk towards the turbolift. Trip watched her. “Excuse me Cap’n.” He chased after her and jumped into the turbolift before the door could close. He stepped beside her and focused his eyes in front of him. T’Pol did the same. They stood in silence for half a minute then Trip reached past her and stopped the lift. He gave a sigh and looked her in the eyes. T’Pol looked back into his and lifted an eyebrow.

“Commander… is there something you need?” she asked.

“I don’t remember much of what happened. Frankly, I’m clueless as to what the hell happened. But there are a few things I do remember,” Trip stopped when he noticed T’Pol tense immediately. He took in a breath and decided it was best to just continue. “I remember… this pain in my head. It hurt like hell. It was like a jackhammer was goin’ off in my head.”

“Jackhammer?”

“An old tool used by humans. It would break through concrete… things like that. My point is… I couldn’t take it. The doc says because I hadn’t been eatin’ much since what happened with Sim I was already in a weakened state. Then with my death and all… well… I was a dead man. I remember this feelin’… hopelessness. I was ready to give up. Then you were there. You held my hand. You looked into my eyes. I told you I wanted to give up. I told you that I couldn’t fight it anymore. That I just wanted to die. Then you told me you wouldn’t let me give up. You said if I couldn’t fight you’d fight for me. You said you wouldn’t let me die. And then… I felt… I felt like I could do anything T’Pol. Anything. In that minute and a half I was invincible. The doc says I shouldn’t have lived as long as I had. He said I should have been dead an hour ago. But I wasn’t because of… you.” Trip breathed in and out slowly. He tried to keep calm but around her his heart always did beat a little faster than normal. “I don’t know what happened between us… but I do know one thing. You saved my life. You gave me the strength to keep fighting until Phlox could save me. And I just wanted to thank you for that. If you hadn’t been there… I would’ve died for sure. You saved my life.”

The turbolift remained quite for far too long and Trip was sure she could hear his stomach tighten in apprehension. He wasn’t sure what it was but suddenly he could feel the air grow warmer somehow. His face grew hot as he realized he might have just told her how he felt about her. Surely T’Pol must know by now. It was then that T’Pol spoke. “This crew needed you, Commander. When you were executed I realized just how important you really were to the crew… to everyone aboard. Enterprise would lose a great deal if you were ever to leave us. I had to fight for your survival Commander. Without you… Enterprise would not be the same. Nor would I.”

Trip’s eyes grew wide at the last sentence but he didn’t say a word. He simply smiled and pressed the button for the turbolift to keep going. Almost a minute later and the door opened to Trip’s stop. He took one last look at her. “If the situation were ever switched T’Pol… I’d feel the same way. I’m glad ya chose us over the High Command. May sound selfish but I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think Enterprise would be the same without you either. I sure as heck wouldn’t be quite as happy.” With that last statement he gave her a sly grin then began to turn around.

T’Pol breathed in deep. Now was the time to tell him. She could tell him everything. She could tell them about the kiss. The promise she’d made to him. She could tell him what he had told her. She could tell him that she had the same affection for him. She could… could…. “Commander.”

T’Pol took a step forward. “Mr. Tucker.”

He again turned back around. “Yeah T’Pol?”

T’Pol for the third time hesitated. You must tell him. He should know what has happened. You didn’t tell him about Sim… but he should know what has occurred. T’Pol told herself. Yet still she said nothing.

“What is it T’Pol?” he asked her.

“We haven’t had our neuropressure sessions in a while. Perhaps we should begin again tonight after you shift?” she offered while suppressing the uneasiness she felt. Why did she not just tell him?

Trip’s smile appeared once again at the offer. “Sounds great T’Pol. I’ll see ya then.” With that Trip walked away.

T’Pol gave out a very human sigh. She was becoming more illogical every second. This was not good. She should have told him. The crew knew… yet they had left it up to her to tell him what had happened. But she did nothing. She couldn’t be frightened… could she? No! She was Vulcan. Vulcans did not become frightened with the proper discipline. Obviously whatever had stopped her had been something else. If she told him what happened… how would he have reacted? Shock? Amusement that she had let him get so close… that she had felt the same? Would he want what they had before? To T’Pol’s dismay she soon realized that even with all her discipline… even though she was Vulcan… she had felt fear. How could see tell him? She knew how he would feel. It would change their relationship. Everything would be different. Could they even have a future together? Should she risk such a relationship with an emotional human when Vulcans would obviously be opposed to the idea? They were so different. What if it didn’t work out? Then their relationship would be ruined. T’Pol closed her eyes as the door to the turbolift closed. She would have to meditate as soon as possible.

==

Trip Tucker cleared his throat as he looked at the woman before him. He then slowly moved his shirt back over his head and covered himself once again. “Thanks T’Pol… this was really great. I really needed this.” T’Pol said nothing. She simply watched him. He felt uneasiness take over and he moved his hand through his hair. “T’Pol?”

“Yes?”

“I… uh… I was just wondering if you’d like to go to movie night with me tomorrow. I hear the movie's gonna be good. It’s a chick flick but well… it would certainly be a good change of pace. I was thinkin’ that you could be my date for the evenin’.”

T’Pol took in a silent breath that obviously wasn’t silent enough since the Commander seemed to hear. His eyebrows raised much like hers would. “I am not sure if I can. I have paper work that I’ve missed.” Déjà vu hit her hard as she realized she was once again avoiding him much like she had avoided Sim.

“Oh,” Trip tried to hide his hurt and gave a slight smile. “Maybe another time then. I guess I should go. Goodbye T’Pol.” The last sentence almost made T’Pol lose complete control. She grabbed at the end of her bed and held tightly.

“Goodbye Commander.” At that he was gone. T’Pol closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Goodbye… was there a hidden meaning there in his response? Was it really goodbye? T’Pol opened her eyes and stood. She walked over to the door and touched it lightly with her right hand. No… she did not want it to be goodbye. She wanted to join him at movie night. She wanted… what they had before his memory was taken from him. She opened the door and looked around in the corridors. But he was gone. T’Pol stepped back into her room and turned around closing her eyes. Not even meditation could give her the escape she desperately wanted from such emotion in her dreams as she saw the object of her affections… Commander Charles Tucker the third. There was no escape. He would always be there. The thought made her stomach do flips. She moved to her bed and lay down while gripping the pillow tightly. But then again… did she even really want to escape? The question haunted her as she slipped into her REM cycles.

==

Trip walked out of the turbolift with a sigh while trying to force his thoughts away from T’Pol’s beautiful eyes and perfect body. He looked over at his quarters in the distance then moved back to the turbolift. This had to end. He had to talk to her. He had to tell her how he felt. Then maybe he could get her out of his head. The turbolift doors opened and a beautiful woman with long raven black hair appeared before him. He took in air. “Hi,” he greeted kindly to her. She smiled back.

“Commander Tucker right?” she asked. Trip nodded. Was it just him or was it really beginning to get hot in that turbolift?

“Call me Trip. And you're Corporal Cole?”

“Call me Amanda. I was just about to get some coffee… care to join me?” Trip frowned. He was going to see T’Pol. But he shook the thought away. Was he actually thinking straight about T’Pol? So she had a good body and was smart, funny without even trying… she’s Vulcan too. Trip knew better. He knew that to try and pursue a woman like T’Pol was like trying to be with a woman in love with someone else. Useless. T’Pol was in love with control. Trip on the other hand was not. Why try? It was only coffee anyway… right? Trip didn’t want to answer that.

“Well actually I just came from neuropressure treatments… I probably shouldn’t have anything that could keep me awake,” he told the corporal. Amanda folded her arms and smiled.

“Oh yeah… I heard about those neuropressure treatments… what’s it like?” she asked.

Without thinking he answered, “I could show ya sometime… T’Pol’s been givin’ me lessons.”

Amanda’s smile grew. “I’d like that… Trip. So what do you say we just get some tea instead… something to sooth?”

“Sounds great,” he said while ignoring the voice that was telling him to go back and talk to T’Pol.

Amanda Cole smiled once again as the turbolift began to move. “Great.” At that second Trip felt himself shudder. This was a bad idea.

Meanwhile on Roelor……

Corrow was stripped of his title. He was hated now. Everything he had done had now been shoved back into his face as he looked out at the people shouting for his death. Ambassador Vassion stood near Corrow’s wife and brother, a slight smile on his face. Corrow’s glare affected him very little as the guards escorted him to the middle where everyone could see him. They then put the pads on him as they always did and Corrow’s fear grew. His breathing quickened as he watched the guards do their job. Finally they were done and one guard stood behind him with the remote button in his hand and a smile on his face. It was guard Kalore! Ambassador Vassion took a step forward and looked at Corrow. “Corrow… what will be your last words to the world?”

Corrow looked around at all the people looking at him with anger. He had not known that the Xindi were using him… but now he did… and apparently the people knew too. “I did not know! I was only doing what was best for my people! I had not known that they were using us! Please forgive me! I do not deserve death!”

Vassion smiled. “You have been given the same treatment as was given to Commander Charles Tucker the third. You were whipped… and now you must die. You WILL be revived… but you will also suffer. Everything you have done to Charles Tucker will be done to you. An eye for an eye, Corrow. That is the justice you instilled in us… and now we will instill it in you.” With that he walked over to Corrow till he was looking at him face to face. Their eyes locked as Vassion’s face became serious. “You were once a good brother Corrow. I looked up to you. Now look at us. It didn’t have to be like this you know. We could have worked together. We could have worked as family. That was how father wished us to be,” he then added with a whisper.

Corrow straightened. “Father raised two strong boys Vassion… now you have become weak. I do not work with the weak. Kill me if you must. An eye for an eye? But what was done to me will only make me stronger. One day you will die Vassion… and it will be by my hands.”

The promise hit Vassion hard, and his eyes softened in pain. He nodded slowly. “So let it be, older brother. You will die by my hands and I will die by yours,” Vassion told him then turned around and walked away.

Corrow looked at the crowds, his anger growing. “I am ready Ambassador Vassion. I have said what had needed to be said.”

Vassion’s eyes moved over to Corrow’s wife and their other brother then back at Corrow. “Then it is done. Let the gods look upon you with mercy Corrow. For where you are going, only they will be able to help you,” Ambassador Vassion said putting emphasis on ‘you’ and then after a brief moment of silence he nodded at the guard behind Corrow. Corrow breathed in, this time holding his breath and closing his eyes. Finally the guard behind him pushed the button down, and the worst pain imaginable shot throughout his body. Corrow fell to the floor with a cry of pain screamed out of his open mouth. Streams of tears poured out of his eyes that were still closed. The crowd waited as the radiation pushed through him until he finally went limp. It was then that Ambassador Vassion walked over to his dear older brother and took the man in his arms.

“If it means anything Corrow… I will always love you brother. Even if you refuse to love me… I will always see you as you used to be. The one who had a heart… before it was taken away. Forgive me brother and goodbye.”

The End

A/N: I hope you liked this story! It was much fun to write and I loved to hear your comments! For this story I want to thank my parents foremost since they’ve always listened to me talk about all this like crazy just so I can figure out how it should end even when they're tired of hearing about it. And also I want to thank my friends who although most don’t like star trek read my stories anyway just to support me. Oh and I have another story that I’m working on now so in the words of a governor/actor we know… “I’ll be back.”

Oh and just want to thank you guys too… the ones who have read this story because without you… it’s not as much fun to write! So thanks! But I can’t forget the person who’s been helping me with this story… my beta! Thanks! You’re a life saver!

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Four of you have made comments

I like how you tailored the ending to fit into events in Harbinger. IT is consistent. You especially did a wonderful job with illustrating T'Pol's conflicting emotions where Trip is concerned. Great stuff.

Awesome! I also like how you blend the story to fit with Harbringer. Very crafty!

Amanda Cole is a pesky girl! Back away from the engineer, you MACO tart! *grr*
I enjoyed reading Trip's thoughts that offering her neuro pressure was a bad idea. Why doesn't he listen to that little voice??? ;)

Great ending. I'm glad you addressed why Trip seemed to be giving up quite easily. I love how you portray T'pols conflicting emotions on whether she should tell Trip how she feels about him. Very nice touch bringing in Corporal Cole. Great job!. Thank you.

Whoa! that's his brother?! Whoa! I loved it, except the fact that you included an intro to Harbinger. That trick Amanda had better keep her hands off of T'Pol's man!!! lol. Really!