Pushing Us Together

Pushing Us Together

By: vero3110

Rating: G
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Enterprise and its characters belong to Paramount. No infringement intended.
Genre: Romance
Summary: Trip’s has a nightmare and wakes up T’Pol
A/N: This story is supposed to take place the night after Elizabeth’s service. I was wondering what it would be for them to go through something like this. It happened to me some time ago when my mom passed away; I clearly heard her calling my name while I slept.
A/N: English isn’t my first language so be kind.

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He heard the baby cooing just next to him and this sound made him open his eyes. He was wide awake, his heart beating hard and fast in his chest. The sound his heart made was clear in his ears and it seemed that his pulse was so strong that it was rocking him. The dim light in his quarters wasn’t enough for him to notice the details of the wall in front of him. He was certain that the soft cooing he just heard so clearly was Elizabeth’s and that she was somewhere in his quarters.

But she wasn’t there and he was all alone. It was just a dream, he thought. As he sat up his eyes filled with tears. I heard her so clearly, as if she were sleeping next to me. He wondered why he had to deal with his issues through dreams.

While he moved his hands to cover his face, a stab of pain from his left shoulder remained him while he was still using the sling.

Finally, he scratched his forehead trying to clear his mind. It was creepy, at least, hearing her as if she would’ve been trying to get his attention with her cooing and babbling. He moved to stand up and walked closer to his desk, where he stood for a while not sure of what to do next.

He looked at his terminal display checking the time. It’s not yet 3:00 AM, too damn early. He turned to his right and looked out the window; a field of unmoving stars greeted him back.

He knew he wouldn’t get anymore sleep tonight, so he walked back and sat on his bed. Images of the service, the burial and the short journey back to Enterprise, flashed through his mind.

It feels like being in a movie as if all this scenes passed in front of me and I was just an observer. I must be quite stressed, he thought.

The door chimed and Trip turned his head to the left while standing to open it.

He looked quite surprised at her standing in the door frame. But there was something in her face that made him ask, “You Ok? Something’s wrong?” He couldn’t pinpoint what it was…concern, fear maybe?

“I’m not certain” T’Pol told him. “Are you all right?” she asked him while stepping inside his quarters. Looking at his face, she knew he was still shaken by his dream.

He was about to tell her about it, while his mind was wondering what was she doing in his quarters at that time. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he said it out loud, “What are you doing here?”

It was as if a shadow went down her face into her shoulders, lowering and stiffening them a little. Seeing her response—well he felt it more than noticed it--but he knew that wasn’t the right thing to say.

It must be this bond thing. I must have woken her, he guessed.

“Did I wake you?” he asked before she could say anything. She looked at him directly into his face and he knew his guess was right. “It’s the bond…isn’t it? You told me that images, feelings even memories could be shared”

She just nodded “I believe your dream woke me” she told him, still looking directly at him. But her expression changed, I can read her after all. Trip wondered.

He turned towards his bunk and moved his right hand to invite her to sit down. She agreed with a nod and they both sat down. Trip turned on the lights and massaged his neck with his right hand.

She kept looking at him all this time and when the lights went up she could clearly see the bruising in his chest and over his left side.

“Trip…Are you all right?” was her question again. This time her tone was softer and warmer.

This made him look at her while he wondered what to tell her. Finally he spoke up “I’m fine, I guess…it was just a dream, a very vivid one, but only a dream”

“Do you think you’ll be able to sleep soon?” T’Pol asked him then. Trip couldn’t help it but he smiled at her, this confused her a little, and again he sensed it more that saw it.

“Just before you got here, I was thinking just that. You must have picked it up through the bond. I’m sorry for waking you…I didn’t know I could do that”

“No need to apologize, I wasn’t aware of it myself…Would you mind if I stay for a while to keep you company?” she said. At her words Trip looked at her amused and smiled again while saying.

“I’m a grown man, you know, even though this dream shook me, you don’t have to …” and then he felt it. She’s as shaken as I am, he thought. His expression changed and he looked at her with warm eyes.

“You heard her too, didn’t you?”

T’Pol’s eyes left his face and settled over his shoulder. “Yes”, she said.

“And it scared you…” Trip said. Vulcans don’t experience fear she remembered but instead she said, “It …distressed me…intensely” but her voice betrayed her, cracking, before ending the sentence.

Trip wasn’t sure what to do. His instinct told him to hug her but he knew that wasn’t her way, and he didn’t want to push her away. But he had this gut feeling that his touch wouldn’t be unwelcomed. So he leaned into her and pressed his right arm against her left shoulder. What she did next surprised him. T’Pol leaned into him as well and her forehead rested on his upper arm.

She was extremely tired emotionally and physically, but this was not an excuse. She knew quite well that she shouldn’t be here like this; it was completely un-Vulcan, although not completely illogical. Being with Trip--comforted by Trip--she corrected herself, had a soothing and calming effect not even her earlier meditation had had.

“You’re human you can choose” she remembered telling the captain a long time ago. I wish this time I were as certain as I was then when I chose to stay, she pondered her choice regarding them, Trip and herself. She had decided to trust him. But it was difficult.

As if he could read her musings, Trip said “When I saw her, the baby I mean,…all of my instincts kicked in…and the only thing I could think about was to protect both of you, not just her…it was weird but I had this sense of family…our family, the three of us…and I liked it…I…” but then he stopped talking and he looked down at his bare feet as if he wasn’t sure to continue.

It must have been a couple of minutes of silence and then Trip started talking again. “I guess I’m sad not only for her dying…it…feels like loosing our family too…I know we never got to agree on this but…I wanted it to come true…” and then he felt silent, the last words he spoke were in a thick voice

She knew what he meant. And she also knew, because she felt it that his eyes were filled with tears again.

“I know what you mean” she said in a low voice.

Trip turned to look at her, and watched her face for some time. He liked that, watching her openly, not worrying of being caught. He decided to risk it so he moved his right arm, sliding his hand down her back until it was resting at her waist. He pulled her a little closer and she relaxed into his embrace.

They were just enjoying each other’s company when Trip said “I’ve missed this…us”

T’Pol looked at him and spoke with a calmed voice “I have missed your company as well…but I wasn’t certain about what I should do” her voice cracked again and she stopped, closing her eyes trying to control herself. He kept looking at her waiting for her to finish. She opened her eyes and her hand moved from her lap to his face, tracing his cheek with the back of her fingers.

He just smiled at her and leaned into her hand, he could sense what she was trying to tell him and the huge effort that it was taking her to do it. It seemed that the bond was working both ways now.

“I know…” Trip told her. It was his turn now and he wanted to make things easier for her so he didn’t push her to end what she’d been telling him. He just wanted to be with her and he could feel that she didn’t want to go back to her quarters. It was like a gut feeling or a hunch maybe. “Let’s get some sleep, mmh?” he stated more than asked

She just nodded, while standing up and untying her robe. “You take the left side…”

A minute later, T’Pol was lying at his side looking at him. He turned and looked back at her.

She touched his face softly. It’s so strange to feel her touch, but so right at the same time he thought while looking back at her. At the same time she was pondering if she would regret what she was doing now.

Trip could sense her doubts, he didn’t know the cause but he guessed it had to do with her touching him and staying with him.

“You’re not alone anymore…” he told her. “I mean if…you don’t want to…” he was smiling at her again. She was surprised by his words and pleased as well. Her eyes narrowed a little.

“You can feel my thoughts” she stated.

“Sort of…not really thought or ideas…more like sensations…very faint ones, actually, so I’m going on instinct right now” he told her. “Do you think the bond could work both ways?” he asked her.

“It’s possible”, she said thoughtfully

“T’Pol…don’t…”he didn’t finish. And she didn’t ask him to continue; instead she just looked at him.

“Don’t push me away tomorrow…” it sounded like a plea.

She moved closer to him until her face was buried in the hollow of his neck. Her hand lying warmly on his neck.

“Sleep…” he heard her say.

Trip didn’t know what this meant so he tried to sense it from her. He could recognize the sensations as they came to him…deep sadness, exhaustion, doubts…trust, caring and tenderness. He was pretty sure that all of them involved him some way or the other but he wasn’t going to figure it out tonight. So he agreed to sleep. “OK…”

He closed his eyes and then he remembered Elizabeth; on her back with her head slightly turned to one side and sucking her thumb. And the sorrow hit him again. He wasn’t completely sure if it was one of his memories or if it was T’Pol who was thinking about her…

Fin

There is a sequel: Pushing Us Together II

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Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!

A whole mess of folks have made comments

I get to be the first to comment on this beautifully written piece! Score! Seriously, that was excellent, well done! :)

I'm glad I can't sleep and decided to read some T&T fan fics. This is absolutely lovely. Well done.

My wife and I have raised two daughters. Now one of my daughters is married and has a daughter. Please stop doing this sort of thing to me.

If English isn't your first language, then I marvel to think of what an incredible writer you must be in your native tongue. This was SO good...and SO sad. Gotta go have a good cry now. Bye.

I really loved this, so understanding and tender and I am sure Elizabeth was delighted in her afterlife at the part she played in bringing them both to each other for comfort and hopefully a building recognition that they belong together. So tender and poignant, wonderful job! Ali D :~)

Very wonderfully written, bravo....would like to see it continued....sequel...again very nice job.....T

Great story, will there be a next chapter ?? I'm looking forward to it, get them together, that's the way it should have been. Please, need some happiness !!!! After TATV.. snip

Wow...I agree, this was extremely well-written. A Kleenex warning would be good but I don't think it needs that note about English not being your first language. Not only is your use of English undoubtedly better than my use of your native language, at least in writing your use of English is better than the writing of lots of native English speakers. I found nothing to nitpick, and yes a sequel would be awesome, WHEN will it be out?
*lots of clapping*

I always pictured them doing something like this. WHHAAAAAA!

Thank you so much...I had this for a week or so in draft. I wasn't sure to send it but finally I took the leap. I don't know if there is going to be a sequel, it's kind of hard to me picture T'Pol talking to Trip in character, but I will try.
Thanks for the english stuff too. I've been a little frustrated about writing in english right away but I'm going to write in spanish now and translate later.

Thanks again

This is a wonderfully written piece..filled with tenderness. Thank you. I hope you add a sequel...

Beautiful story - Very touching. I like how you have them TALK. Such a concept. I especially liked Trip's plea, "Don't push me away..." You leave us with the hope that Elizabeth is a unifying force for Tri'Pol - as opposed to what that TNG ep implied.

Thanks for sharing - hope you write more!

This is the kind of conversation TNT needed to have!!It's a great little story, and best of all the characters sound like the characters should!

I love that you wrote T'Pol going to Trip, instead of him always going to her; T'Pol for once seems to realize that Trip is in pain too, and needs comforting. And that he says: 'Don't push me away..." Finally!! Hope you write more.

That was so sweet and sad but it gives me hope for them to be together. Thanks!

This was a wonderful beautiful story. This should have happned in the ep following Terra Prime instead of you-know-what. Very sad....but hope for the future is priceless.

That was so well written. TnT were sooo cute together with their bond. Can't wait to read the next chapter!

Lovely story - you've captured the caring and tenderness between them beautifully. Thanks for sharing this.

Amazing story!
Loved it, how you included the bond. This makes me wish for more...
;-)