Chapter 2
The door opened and T'Pol gestured for Trip to enter. He sat on the couch and let out a sigh. "I guess I don't need to tell you do I?"
"No. It's been heavy on your mind since you got the message. I've felt you trying to put your walls up but...this is too much for you to shield."
He took her hand in his. "I've been too consumed to try to reach you. What are your thoughts about this?"
"If he is your son...I know you will be a good father. Losing his mother, he will need you now more than ever and you must make that connection to him."
"And what about you?"
"Me? I don't understand why you would be concerned with me."
"T'Pol, you're a part of my life and if it turns out that he's mine...I mean really mine...you'll be part of his life too."
She raised her eyebrow. It was something she hadn't considered and took the time to do so now. "I will support you in any way that I can. If you decide to wait to introduce me to David, I understand that and if you decide to make the introduction immediately, I believe that for his comfort, he would need to understand that I'm not taking the place of his mother. Either choice you make, you have my full support."
Trip gave a slight smile. "This is why I love you." He gave her a light kiss and laid his head on her shoulder. "I'm worried. What if it turns out he's not mine? What if this is another genetic trap of some kind? What if he is mine and doesn't want anything to do with me? So many "what if's" I can't keep it all together."
She pulled her arms tight around him. "When you are standing with him, in that moment, you will know what to do."
XXX
He stood looking at the boy sitting on the bio-bed. Dark blonde hair, blue eyes and a small depression under his nose. "So you're my father huh?"
"Well...I guess that's what we're about to find out. This is Phlox, our doctor. He's going to do some tests...I hope that's ok."
"Yeah. I get it. You didn't even know I existed until yesterday...making sure I'm really your kid makes sense."
Damn he's smart...and to the point Trip thought to himself both terrified and impressed.
Phlox walked over with a needle. "David, I'm going to take a blood sample from each of you. There will be a little pinch but it won't hurt much. Ok?"
"Yeah, yeah." David said nonchalantly as he rolled up his sleeve. "I've had my blood drawn before."
Trip crinkled his brows at him. "You have? When? Why?" As he watched Phlox take the vile of blood from David.
"I was seven and got Alterrian flu. Sick for about two months, but I got over it. They had to take my blood once a week to make sure I wasn't getting any infections."
Phlox looked a little concerned. "Hmm. Alterrian flu at that age could've been fatal. You were a very lucky and brave young man."
"Yeah. Mom said the same thing. Worst part was it was in the summer. Ruined my summer vacation. Why couldn't it have happened during school time so I didn't have to go to school? That summer really sucked."
Trip gave a chuckle as he felt the pinch of the needle. "Don't like school much huh?"
"Naw. It's kind of boring. I mean by the time the teacher gets around to explaining stuff, I already have it figured out and ready to move on to the next thing, but I have to sit and wait around for the other kids to catch on."
Trip had a flash of his own school years and knew exactly what David was going through. "Did your mom ever try to put you in advance classes?"
"Yeah...she was working on that but then...well Florida happened and kind of turned everything upside down. We moved around a lot at first then she got that contract and didn't have too much time for a while. She was going to try for the advance classes again next year but I guess now..." His voice trailed off. "So what happens if I'm not your kid?"
Trip gave him a sad look. Deep down he was hoping that David was his, but had thought of the possibility. "Well, if it turns out you're not mine, then we'll have to find out who your father really is. He should know about you."
"And if I am yours?"
"Then we'll have a lot of decisions to make. Do you think you'll be happy if it turns out that I am your father?"
David gave a small shrug. "I don't know. Mom told me about you working in space and being a Starfleet officer. I follow all the stories about Enterprise. Seems like an exciting life but...I know Starfleet don't let kids live on a ship. Guess this means you'll put me up for adoption or something."
Trip put a hand on David's shoulder. "Hey. I would never put you up for adoption. I know I haven't been around for you and I'm sorry about that. If I had known, you could bet your last credit that I would've been there. Now that I know...I'm going to be here for you and do whatever it takes to be part of your life and try to be the best dad I can possibly be. I promise you that, and if there's one thing anyone can say about me is that I never break my promises."
Phlox cleared his throat. "Commander."
"You say here, I'm going to talk to Phlox for a moment and be right back." He went to the side where they could speak privately.
"I did all the tests you asked for. He's not genetically engineered or altered in anyway. He is a one hundred percent human male. He is your son, Commander."
Trip's heart bounced in his chest and he fought the urge to celebrate as he turned back towards David.
"By the look on your face, you're not my father."
Trip cracked a huge grin. "Wrong. I am your daddy. Now we have some choices to make, but first...let's get something to eat."
