TITLE: Narellus
AUTHOR: plumtuckered
RATING: PG-13
A/N: This story is more or less a bridge between episodes. The action begins at the end of "Extinction" and carries through to the end of "Rajiin" so there are spoilers for those episodes.
This is all just guessing on my part, of course, but there were apparently some things that happened between the characters that led them to the lighter moods at the beginning of "Impulse".
Also, the 'connection' I mention is only speculation.
Reviews are greatly appreciated. I haven't written this much T'Pol in a while so any advice on keeping her Vulcan is very much welcomed.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Enterprise or any of its crew.
Chapter One
The mess hall was quiet when Trip Tucker entered. At 0400 he was more than slightly relieved to see it vacant. At least it meant that the others were still getting some shut-eye. He absently rubbed at his tired eyes.
Enterprise's chief engineer wandered over and grabbed himself a cup of coffee then settled down at a table. He hated the quiet times the most. They were the toughest. As hard as he fought not to think about her, his mind always drifted back to Lizzie.
"Trip?"
The commander started, jerking his hand and slopping coffee on the table.
"You okay?" asked Jonathan Archer.
Trip wiped up the mess with his napkin. "I'm fine, sir," he replied somewhat tightly. "I didn't hear you come in."
"You were pretty lost in your thoughts. You sure you're okay?"
Trip nodded.
Archer sighed. "Can I sit down?"
"Be my guest."
The captain sat across from Trip. He cradled his coffee cup in his hands and studied it intently.
Trip watched his commanding officer with interest. "You're up early," he said.
Archer kept his eyes on his cup. "T'Pol and I are going down to the dieuterium station this morning."
"Ahhh." Trip sat back in his chair, his eyes still on Archer. "So how've you been?" he asked conversationally.
"I'm doing okay. You?"
Trip sighed. "Fine, sir. I've been just fine." He pushed away from the table and stood. "I'd better shower before my shift. Good luck on your mission, Captain."
"Trip, wait." Archer reached out to grab the engineer's arm.
Trip paused, waiting for the captain to continue. When there was only silence, he pulled his arm away.
"Can we talk?" asked Archer suddenly. He looked up and met Trip's eyes. "Please?"
The commander's shoulders sagged. He'd been waiting months to hear those words from his friend. He sat back down, nodding at Archer.
Silence hung over the room for several long moments.
Trip leaned forward, his forearms on the table and waited patiently for the captain to begin. "You're looking better," he offered.
Archer looked up. "Itches like hell," he said with a hesitant smile. "Phlox gave me something for it but Porthos won't even come near me when I use it."
Trip nodded. The captain did look better than he had only days before. The commander still couldn't quite believe that an alien virus had mutated Archer, Ensign Hoshi Sato, and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed into another species. If it hadn't been for T'Pol's wondrous Vulcan K cells, the three would have been lost.
The commander sighed. "So what do you want to talk about, Cap'n?"
Archer shrugged. "The mission," he began. He looked across the table. "Us."
"Us, huh?" Trip asked tentatively. "What about 'us'?"
"Come on, Trip. You've been keeping me at arms length for a long time now and I'd like to know why."
Trip was exhausted and despite his best efforts to maintain his control, he was immediately irritated. "You have got to be kidding," he retorted, his voice growing louder. "You've spent months giving me the cold shoulder treatment. Half the time we're on duty, you don't even look at me. And I'm keeping you at arms length?"
Archer looked momentarily startled. "Calm down, Trip. And what do you mean, the cold shoulder treatment? I thought you needed some space."
"Space?" Trip laughed without mirth. "My sister was killed along with seven million others and you thought I needed space?"
Archer remained silent but he held Trip's eyes steadily.
Trip swallowed his anger. "I didn't need space, Captain. I needed a friend." He stood, accidentally knocking over his chair. "You know, I don't think you've ever even said you were sorry about Lizzie." Then he quickly left the mess hall and his captain behind him.
Trip headed to his quarters. He thought briefly about going to the sub- commander but decided quickly against it. T'Pol would be preparing for the away mission. She was probably already in the command center waiting for Archer. The truth of the matter was that he really didn't want her to know he hadn't slept a wink.
The engineer entered his quarters only to find himself pacing back and forth. "Breathe," he advised himself pinching the bridge of his nose. "Deep breaths. Relax. Just like T'Pol taught you." He stood still and closed his eyes, immediately feeling more in control.
The door chime brought him out of his light trance. He felt the irritation rise again briefly for he knew who was in the corridor. Before he could respond, the door slid open to reveal Archer. The captain hesitated at the threshold and Trip thought he would simply walk away. Instead, the older man entered and closed the door behind him.
Trip was standing in the middle of his quarters. Jon could feel the tension hanging in the air between them as he entered the room.
"I'm sorry, Trip," the captain began quietly. "I guess I thought you needed space because that's what I needed after my father died. And with this mission---."
Trip sighed and waved his hand. "You've had a lot on your mind, Cap'n. I should have seen that."
"Still no excuse."
"You've got a whole crew you're worrying about not to mention all of humanity," Trip said with a slight understanding smile. He moved to his bunk and sat down heavily. "And I've been doing okay. T'Pol's helped a lot."
Jon sat next to his friend. "T'Pol?"
"Yeah. She's been giving me Vulcan neuro-pressure. It's like a massage. Helps me sleep."
"You have been looking tired."
Trip looked at the captain in surprise.
Jon chuckled lightly. "What, you thought I hadn't noticed?" he asked. "I'm glad she's been able to help."
They fell silent.
Trip leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. "You don't have to take this on by yourself, you know, Cap'n. You've got me and T'Pol and the entire crew behind you."
Jon shook his head at Trip's perceptiveness. He sighed. "I know but you're my responsibility. I've already lost one crewman. I can't let anything happen to the rest of you."
"We all agreed to come out here. We all knew exactly what we were getting ourselves into. Don't take us on your shoulders as well."
Jon sighed again. "This may very well be a suicide mission, Trip."
"I know that and so does the crew so stop worrying about us," Trip replied firmly.
"Trip," Jon began.
"No, Cap'n. You worry about the mission. Don't worry about the crew. I'll do that. You just find the bas----," Trip stopped suddenly and took a breath. "You just find the Xindi."
Jon looked at his friend. Trip's tone of voice was in direct contrast to his body language. The captain could still see the tension in the shoulders and Trip's hands were clasped together firmly in front of him. "So tell me about this neuro-pressure," he said keeping his voice light.
Trip shrugged. "Like I said, it's kind of like getting a massage." The engineer stood and wandered over to his view port. "Lots of deep breathing. Real relaxing."
"You don't look very relaxed."
"I missed my treatment last night. T'Pol's still recovering from that last away mission so I thought she needed a break."
Jon stood and moved to Trip's side. "Trip," he began.
Trip smiled but didn't look at the captain. "You worry too much, Cap'n. I'm fine. Really. The neuro-pressure---."
"Has helped you sleep. But has it helped with what's going on inside you?" Jon saw Trip's jaw muscles tighten. "Don't lie to me, Trip." He put his hand on his friend's shoulder and was surprised when Trip shrugged it off.
"I'm not lying to you, Cap'n," the engineer replied tightly then he smiled again. "I'm fine."
Jon watched his friend. He'd known Trip for almost a decade and he knew him well enough to know he wasn't being truthful. The engineer was walking a tightrope and if Jon pushed too hard, he knew Trip would fall. Unfortunately, Jon reminded himself, the mission had to come first. He'd let the commander continue with his act for a while longer but he made a silent promise that he'd keep a closer eye on him.
"Shouldn't you be meeting T'Pol?"
Jon nodded. "Yeah. I guess I should." He turned to leave but stopped. "Trip?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about Lizzie."
Trip turned his head and met Jon's eyes. There was a great sadness Jon had never noticed there before and it shook him. How could he have been so blind? Then the shutters went up and Trip smiled. He simply nodded his head then turned back to gazing out his view port.
To Be Continued..
AUTHOR: plumtuckered
RATING: PG-13
A/N: This story is more or less a bridge between episodes. The action begins at the end of "Extinction" and carries through to the end of "Rajiin" so there are spoilers for those episodes.
This is all just guessing on my part, of course, but there were apparently some things that happened between the characters that led them to the lighter moods at the beginning of "Impulse".
Also, the 'connection' I mention is only speculation.
Reviews are greatly appreciated. I haven't written this much T'Pol in a while so any advice on keeping her Vulcan is very much welcomed.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Enterprise or any of its crew.
Chapter One
The mess hall was quiet when Trip Tucker entered. At 0400 he was more than slightly relieved to see it vacant. At least it meant that the others were still getting some shut-eye. He absently rubbed at his tired eyes.
Enterprise's chief engineer wandered over and grabbed himself a cup of coffee then settled down at a table. He hated the quiet times the most. They were the toughest. As hard as he fought not to think about her, his mind always drifted back to Lizzie.
"Trip?"
The commander started, jerking his hand and slopping coffee on the table.
"You okay?" asked Jonathan Archer.
Trip wiped up the mess with his napkin. "I'm fine, sir," he replied somewhat tightly. "I didn't hear you come in."
"You were pretty lost in your thoughts. You sure you're okay?"
Trip nodded.
Archer sighed. "Can I sit down?"
"Be my guest."
The captain sat across from Trip. He cradled his coffee cup in his hands and studied it intently.
Trip watched his commanding officer with interest. "You're up early," he said.
Archer kept his eyes on his cup. "T'Pol and I are going down to the dieuterium station this morning."
"Ahhh." Trip sat back in his chair, his eyes still on Archer. "So how've you been?" he asked conversationally.
"I'm doing okay. You?"
Trip sighed. "Fine, sir. I've been just fine." He pushed away from the table and stood. "I'd better shower before my shift. Good luck on your mission, Captain."
"Trip, wait." Archer reached out to grab the engineer's arm.
Trip paused, waiting for the captain to continue. When there was only silence, he pulled his arm away.
"Can we talk?" asked Archer suddenly. He looked up and met Trip's eyes. "Please?"
The commander's shoulders sagged. He'd been waiting months to hear those words from his friend. He sat back down, nodding at Archer.
Silence hung over the room for several long moments.
Trip leaned forward, his forearms on the table and waited patiently for the captain to begin. "You're looking better," he offered.
Archer looked up. "Itches like hell," he said with a hesitant smile. "Phlox gave me something for it but Porthos won't even come near me when I use it."
Trip nodded. The captain did look better than he had only days before. The commander still couldn't quite believe that an alien virus had mutated Archer, Ensign Hoshi Sato, and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed into another species. If it hadn't been for T'Pol's wondrous Vulcan K cells, the three would have been lost.
The commander sighed. "So what do you want to talk about, Cap'n?"
Archer shrugged. "The mission," he began. He looked across the table. "Us."
"Us, huh?" Trip asked tentatively. "What about 'us'?"
"Come on, Trip. You've been keeping me at arms length for a long time now and I'd like to know why."
Trip was exhausted and despite his best efforts to maintain his control, he was immediately irritated. "You have got to be kidding," he retorted, his voice growing louder. "You've spent months giving me the cold shoulder treatment. Half the time we're on duty, you don't even look at me. And I'm keeping you at arms length?"
Archer looked momentarily startled. "Calm down, Trip. And what do you mean, the cold shoulder treatment? I thought you needed some space."
"Space?" Trip laughed without mirth. "My sister was killed along with seven million others and you thought I needed space?"
Archer remained silent but he held Trip's eyes steadily.
Trip swallowed his anger. "I didn't need space, Captain. I needed a friend." He stood, accidentally knocking over his chair. "You know, I don't think you've ever even said you were sorry about Lizzie." Then he quickly left the mess hall and his captain behind him.
Trip headed to his quarters. He thought briefly about going to the sub- commander but decided quickly against it. T'Pol would be preparing for the away mission. She was probably already in the command center waiting for Archer. The truth of the matter was that he really didn't want her to know he hadn't slept a wink.
The engineer entered his quarters only to find himself pacing back and forth. "Breathe," he advised himself pinching the bridge of his nose. "Deep breaths. Relax. Just like T'Pol taught you." He stood still and closed his eyes, immediately feeling more in control.
The door chime brought him out of his light trance. He felt the irritation rise again briefly for he knew who was in the corridor. Before he could respond, the door slid open to reveal Archer. The captain hesitated at the threshold and Trip thought he would simply walk away. Instead, the older man entered and closed the door behind him.
Trip was standing in the middle of his quarters. Jon could feel the tension hanging in the air between them as he entered the room.
"I'm sorry, Trip," the captain began quietly. "I guess I thought you needed space because that's what I needed after my father died. And with this mission---."
Trip sighed and waved his hand. "You've had a lot on your mind, Cap'n. I should have seen that."
"Still no excuse."
"You've got a whole crew you're worrying about not to mention all of humanity," Trip said with a slight understanding smile. He moved to his bunk and sat down heavily. "And I've been doing okay. T'Pol's helped a lot."
Jon sat next to his friend. "T'Pol?"
"Yeah. She's been giving me Vulcan neuro-pressure. It's like a massage. Helps me sleep."
"You have been looking tired."
Trip looked at the captain in surprise.
Jon chuckled lightly. "What, you thought I hadn't noticed?" he asked. "I'm glad she's been able to help."
They fell silent.
Trip leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. "You don't have to take this on by yourself, you know, Cap'n. You've got me and T'Pol and the entire crew behind you."
Jon shook his head at Trip's perceptiveness. He sighed. "I know but you're my responsibility. I've already lost one crewman. I can't let anything happen to the rest of you."
"We all agreed to come out here. We all knew exactly what we were getting ourselves into. Don't take us on your shoulders as well."
Jon sighed again. "This may very well be a suicide mission, Trip."
"I know that and so does the crew so stop worrying about us," Trip replied firmly.
"Trip," Jon began.
"No, Cap'n. You worry about the mission. Don't worry about the crew. I'll do that. You just find the bas----," Trip stopped suddenly and took a breath. "You just find the Xindi."
Jon looked at his friend. Trip's tone of voice was in direct contrast to his body language. The captain could still see the tension in the shoulders and Trip's hands were clasped together firmly in front of him. "So tell me about this neuro-pressure," he said keeping his voice light.
Trip shrugged. "Like I said, it's kind of like getting a massage." The engineer stood and wandered over to his view port. "Lots of deep breathing. Real relaxing."
"You don't look very relaxed."
"I missed my treatment last night. T'Pol's still recovering from that last away mission so I thought she needed a break."
Jon stood and moved to Trip's side. "Trip," he began.
Trip smiled but didn't look at the captain. "You worry too much, Cap'n. I'm fine. Really. The neuro-pressure---."
"Has helped you sleep. But has it helped with what's going on inside you?" Jon saw Trip's jaw muscles tighten. "Don't lie to me, Trip." He put his hand on his friend's shoulder and was surprised when Trip shrugged it off.
"I'm not lying to you, Cap'n," the engineer replied tightly then he smiled again. "I'm fine."
Jon watched his friend. He'd known Trip for almost a decade and he knew him well enough to know he wasn't being truthful. The engineer was walking a tightrope and if Jon pushed too hard, he knew Trip would fall. Unfortunately, Jon reminded himself, the mission had to come first. He'd let the commander continue with his act for a while longer but he made a silent promise that he'd keep a closer eye on him.
"Shouldn't you be meeting T'Pol?"
Jon nodded. "Yeah. I guess I should." He turned to leave but stopped. "Trip?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about Lizzie."
Trip turned his head and met Jon's eyes. There was a great sadness Jon had never noticed there before and it shook him. How could he have been so blind? Then the shutters went up and Trip smiled. He simply nodded his head then turned back to gazing out his view port.
To Be Continued..