"A Friend in Need"
by Quills

A Trip & T'Pol romance.

Trip Tucker stood outside her quarters. He was nervous as hell.
He'd been here once before. He was nervous then. She had a way
of intimidating him. This to his consternation since she looked
so small and frail. However, he knew better. He had seen her
stand toe to toe with a Klingon and disagree with
the Captain without missing a beat. She could take care of herself.
He admired that about her.

So what the hell did she want from him? Her note said it was important.
that he come to her quarters when he came of duty. Something about
needing a friend…friend? She had never referred to anyone aboard
Enterprise as a friend. Hell, as far as he knew, Vulcan's only had acquaintances.

Well, whatever it was she asked him here for, he sure as hell wasn't going to
find out starring at her door. So he took a deep breath and exhaled before he
rang the chime to her quarters.


T'Pol stood by the small view port in her quarters. Normally this would be
a time she would spend meditating. A discipline, which Vulcans had mastered
over many centuries of cultivation. However, tonight was one night that the
soothing order, which meditation brought, would be denied her.

For all their discipline and rigid structure, Vulcans contained a volatile creature
within each of them; a creature of great emotion, much greater than any human.
Hatred, sadness, passion, lust …they were all there and more. This night they
might prove to be her undoing. So why had she sent for him? He was hardly qualified
to give her the help she would need. Had her judgment already been impaired?
No, she was still in possession of her faculties. She was fully aware of why she chose
him. Would she have the courage to tell him? She owed him the truth. If he was
to decide, she would have to tell him.

She peered out the view port at the stars. Perhaps she hoped they were offer some small
comfort for this lone Vulcan, but even that was denied her as the chime to her door rang.
She turned to the door, but did not answer. If she did not answer he might go away.
No, she had asked him to come. Whether he stays or goes she will still face this night.
would she face it alone or with…a friend?

She straightened her posture as he looked at the door. "Enter."

The door slid open to reveal the human she had asked to come at the appointed time.

"Good Evening Commander Tucker." She said in her usual flat tone.

"T'Pol." He responded with a slight nod of his head.

She watched him as he stood in her cabin. She observed that he was displaying
obvious nervous apprehension, wiping the sweat from his hands on his duty
uniform. She wished to allay his fears. "It was considerate of you to honor my
request for you to come and see me."

"Your letter said it was important." He said as he cocked his head.

"Yes." She replied solemnly.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Both hoping the other might speak
first. It was Trip Tucker who finally broke the silence.

"So, ya wanna tell me why ya asked me here?" He asked her.

She looked at him for a moment and then moved her gaze to the carpeted floor of her
quarters. "I…I require a friend, Trip."

Her calling him by his nickname surprised him for a moment, but he recovered
his composure. "T'Pol, I wouldn'ta come if I wasn't."

"Yes, you would have." She said with a small smile. "You are what humans call
large souled, but I thank you for calling me friend. I know I have not really given
you good reason to do so."

She turned her back to him and faced the view port once more. It would be hard enough
to ask. She did not believe she had the courage to look at him as well."

"My people are a proud race Trip." She told him. "Perhaps that is the one emotion we
are guilty of more than any race." Tears began to form in her eyes and she shuddered
to drive back the feelings she was experiencing.

Trip Tucker did not know what was wrong, but he was certain that whatever it was T'Pol
was overwhelmed by it. He moved towards her, but she sensed his movement and
Reacted. "Please don't." she called out.

"T'Pol…" he wanted to say something, but she cut him off.

"Please, I-I do not have much time." She said. "I must say what must be said."

She turned to face him with fresh tears streaming down her face. He looked at her
and his heart turned to water. He had seen a woman cry. Why was this one so different?
Was it because she was a Vulcan. It was true, Vulcan's never cried. It would
surprise anyone to see one cry, but it wasn't surprise he was feeling.

All he could do was shake his head. "Ok."

She took a deep breath and tried to center herself. "There are afflictions among my
people." She told him. "Afflictions such as Bendai syndrome and Pon Farr, which occur
during the progressive life cycles of Vulcans and rob us of our logic and discipline, while
others such as Shefar are genetic and target a small percentage of Vulcans.
Like the life cycle afflictions it robs those afflicted of their logic and discipline.
Their emotions over-overwhelm them."

She paused closing her eyes and steadied herself on a nearby table. Trip Tucker ran to
her side. He put his arm around her and steadied her. This time she did not refuse
his help and leaned against his body. Trip Tucker helped her to the couch and eased
her down. He sat down next to her and placed his hand on hers. She opened her eyes
and looked up at him.

"Just relax, I'm gonna get the Doc." He told her as he began to stand.

He eyes flashed and she grabbed him violently pulling him back as she shouted. "NO!"

She looked at the shock on his face. She did not mean to do that. Control was slipping
from her fast. "Please, do not call the Doctor." She implored. "This is a private matter,
not for outsiders."

"But…what can I do?" he said with apprehension. "I'm not a Doctor, T'Pol. I don't
know what ta do. I don't wanta let you down."

She looked at him through glassy eyes. This human was insufferable. She was the one
in turmoil and she was guiding him. Yet there was something so noble about this
'boy' that stirred feeling in her she would normally keep more suppressed than all
her other emotions combined. However, things were far from normal and the emotions
she was now feeling overwhelmed her beyond comprehension. She flung herself
at him pressing her full wet lips to his own as she wrapped her arms around him and
pulled him close.

Trip Tucker reacted in surprise at the Vulcan's actions. She was kissing him…passionately.
He wanted to push her away but all he could do was
return the sweet kiss and hold her in his arms.

When they broke their kiss of passion, both were out of breath. Trip looked at
her with mixed emotions. Part of him was sorry the kiss ended while another
part was deeply concerned at what prompted it.

The Vulcan swallowed hard and fought for the last ounces of resolve. "Trip…I
am suffering from Shefar." She told him in haggard breaths. "I'm quickly losing
all my resolve. I'm giving in to feelings…desires that I normally suppress.
I-I had hoped to have more time to explain…more time to let you choose."

"Choose?" he asked excitedly. "Choose what!?"

"To stay with me…to…to watch over me." She told him. "Shefar causes the greatest
a-amount of loss in control, but…but it is short lasting."

"How short lasting?" he asked her in concern.

"Hours" she strained to get out as she grunted. "When a Vulcan suffers from Shefar
they can be a danger to themselves…so they seek out someone…a friend."

"Of course" he said. "I'll stay."

Her breathing was fast. Her last amounts of resolve were beginning to leave her.
"Be-Be careful of the choice you make Trip. You will see parts of me you may find…distasteful."

"I don't care." He said. "I'm not gonna leave you."

She sat back and started to laugh. Trip looked at her confused. He still wasn't sure he
understood what was happening, but he would be damned if he was going to leave her.
She might have been right. Maybe he wore his heart on his sleeve or maybe it was that kiss.
It stirred feelings he never knew he had. Feelings he never knew SHE had.

She surprised him by throwing herself at him again. This time she was still laughing.
"Oh Trip." she said as her laughs turned to sobs. She buried her face in his shoulder
and wrapped her arms around him tight. Hot tears began to soak into his uniform.
All he could do was hug her tight as she cried uncontrollably in his arms forcing tears from
his own eyes as he watched her slowly lose control of herself.

This went on till the early hours of the morning. True to T'Pol's word Trip Tucker saw
some of the ugliest parts of what Vulcan's held inside them….hatred and violence…
and he also saw parts he felt a profound sorrow for the fact that they buried them…tendernous…
joy…love. He never would have thought a Vulcan was capable
Of such strong feelings…feelings that made his own species' pale in comparison.

The emotions that poured out of her were enough to make the strongest heart falter.
She cursed his name calling him things he didn't even understand only to turn around
and try her hardest to seduce him with offerings of pleasures his fevered mind could not
even comprehend. His own control and inner resolve were tested. Confusion and fatigue
threatened to weaken him, but he would not….could not give in. She may very well
have genuinely wanted him. Perhaps that was why she chose him. She knew this might
happen and perhaps Trip Tucker was the man she was willing to share both her mind and
body with. It did not matter though. He promised he would watch over her… protect her.
That meant from his own passions she might ignite.

As the night continued and the morning came her emotional outbursts became more
confused and changed rapidly as they came pouring out of her. All he could do was hold her tight
and let the emotions come. When she turned violent he had to be careful
not to let her cause herself…or him harm. Fortunately those emotions did not come
as frequently. Perhaps T'Pol was a gentle soul at heart. In any case, Trip Tucker was grateful.

The last hour was the worst. She seemed more aware of what she was doing than she had been and
there was a great deal of shame and self recrimination as she cried in his arms
once again. Thankfully, this was end of the madness that had claimed her. As Trip Tucker
held her in his arms she slowly cried herself to sleep. He looked down at her with a sigh of relief.
But it wasn't for him. He was exhausted and haggard but what he had gone through was nothing in
comparison to the hell she did. He bent down and gently kissed
her head. Involuntarily, she hugged her arms around him. He sat back as he held her and
gently rocked her in his arms as sleep finally claimed him as well.

The End.