To those who tried to read chapters 2 through 6, I hope by reposting this, I've fixed the problem.

Thank you very much to Gabi2305 for sharing that nice little trick. 

TITLE: Into the Mind's Eye

AUTHOR: plumtuckered

RATING: PG-13

GENRE: Drama/Adventure

DISCLAIMER: These characters do not belong to me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is mention of events from the episodes "Desert Crossing", "The Andorian Incident", and "Canamar", but no others. I've put Trip and T'Pol together, although they're really not the focus of the story, merely just a part of it. I'd say this is more about the friendship between Archer and Trip, a friendship that was captured beautifully in the recent episode "Observer Effect", IMO.

As always, reviews are most welcomed and most appreciated! Thank you!

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CHAPTER ONE

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"What color is this stuff again?"

Jonathan Archer threw an amused glance at his chief engineer. "Blue, Trip," he replied. "Phlox said the silk bark is blue."

"Oh, yeah, that's right."

The captain watched his long-time friend for a long moment. "She's only been gone a day, Trip," he teased gently.

Trip Tucker looked at Jon with a startled expression then he frowned.

Jon couldn't help but chuckle, much to Trip's obvious chagrin. T'Pol had left the prior day to join Soval at a meeting of the newly reorganized Vulcan High Command while Enterprise had proceeded onto the uninhabited planet known only as M-6. Phlox had deemed it necessary to replenish his supply of silk bark and Jon could think of no reason why he shouldn't oblige the Denobulan doctor.

He glanced at Trip again. What Jon thought would be a distraction for his friend didn't seem to be working. His chief engineer was clearly missing his bond-mate. Jon smiled at that thought. He hadn't really been all that surprised to find out his two most senior officers were involved in a relationship, but he had been surprised to discover how deeply committed and literally linked they'd become to each other. He still couldn't quite fathom how'd he'd missed such a serious change between the two. But then again, he thought sadly, he hadn't spent much time with Trip or T'Pol while in the Expanse. Those months seemed like a whole other life to him, like some other man had lived through those times. The very real pain in his soul, though, reminded him everyday that it was indeed Jonathan Archer who'd lived through that nightmare.

Jon shook his head.

"What's wrong?" asked Trip.

The captain sighed. "Just realizing how much I missed while we were in the Expanse," he replied.

Trip gave him a puzzled look.

"It's nothing, Trip," Jon smiled. "Let's find that silk bark, find Malcolm and Travis then get back to the ship. We've got that new match to watch tonight, remember?"

Trip rolled his eyes dramatically. "Don't remind me, Cap'n," he replied.

"Keep that up, Commander, and I might stop asking you to join me."

Trip snorted then he stopped. "Is that what the doc is looking for?" he asked. He pointed to a stand of large trees, their trunks blue in color.

"Sure looks like it," replied Jon. He moved forward through the dew-touched grass then suddenly froze. He felt a strange swell of anger inside, from out of nowhere and directed at nothing or no one. He stood still, his breathing speeding up as the anger built. Then the anger focused and Jon realized the growing rage was toward the man standing at his side. How dare Trip find love while Jon was making the tough decisions. How many times had Trip been lying with T'Pol in his arms while Jon had been awake in his quarters, tearing himself apart for the horrible things he'd done? Trip didn't care about what had happened to him at all.

"Cap'n? You all right?"

Jon felt the commander's hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. Somewhere deep inside he knew Trip loved him and cared about what happened to him, but the rage he felt was growing more intense and more focused. He looked up and met Trip's eyes. In them he saw concern, but was it real concern or just a well-played act.

"Kill him," hissed a voice in Jon's head. "You know he doesn't care about you. You know your friendship with him has always been one-sided. He's used you to get what he's wanted, he always has."

The captain shook his head. "No," he replied, but the rage kept building, burning him from the inside out. Jon clenched his fists at his side.

"Kill him!"

The captain of Enterprise lunged, closing his hands around the throat of the man he'd always thought was his closest friend.

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"I asked you to be here because I want your opinion, T'Pol," said Soval. "It is as simple as that."

"I am---curious to hear what the High Command has planned for the future of Vulcan, sir. I am honored that you felt I should be here," replied T'Pol.

Silence fell between the two Vulcans for a long moment.

"How is---your human?" Soval ventured finally.

T'Pol lifted a brow at her elder's hint of distaste. "Commander Tucker is doing well," she replied evenly.

"I am still not entirely certain embarking on a relationship with a human is a wise decision."

"I am quite certain it is, sir," replied T'Pol. She clasped her hands together at the small of her back and continued walking beside Soval toward the great building in which they would meet with members of the High Command.

Soval threw T'Pol a stern glance. "Others may disagree, T'Pol. Some may not accept your union with the commander as easily as I."

"With all due respect, sir, you hardly accepted my union with the commander---with ease. I am, however, pleased that you are growing accustomed to it. I hold out great hope that others will as well," replied T'Pol. She studied the ground ahead of her, remembering Soval's initial somewhat emotional response to her bonding with Trip. But, she thought, he had indeed finally conceded that it was her choice to make. T'Pol wondered if the former ambassador would have fought the relationship more if he hadn't worked so closely with Trip while she and Archer were on Vulcan with the Syrannites. The commander had made quite an agreeable impression on the sometimes-difficult Soval.

As she walked, T'Pol felt the comfort of her t'hyla's touch in her mind. Her bond with him was not as strong as one would be with a Vulcan, especially over great distances, but she still could feel the touch of his emotions flow over her. She felt his amusement at something and she reveled in its warmth. She wondered where he was and what he was doing that amused him so.

Then she stopped. T'Pol felt Trip's confusion which quickly turned to fear.

"T'Pol?"

She heard Soval's voice, but her mind and heart were clinging to her t'hyla. He was pulling away, his presence growing more distant from her. She reached out desperately, but he was gone.

T'Pol gasped and wavered slightly. "Trip," she murmured.

"What is it?" asked Soval.

"I must go back to Enterprise," replied T'Pol firmly. "Something has happened to Trip."

"The commander?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

T'Pol looked at the elder Vulcan then swallowed hard. "I believe he is dead," she whispered.

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CONTINUED