Author's Note: Please see notes in Chapter 1. All bold type if 'white space' and all italics are a memory.
XXX
"Sir, you need to calm down and not elevate your…" Mohamed called after Trip as they ran toward the Bridge.
"T'Pol's in trouble!" Trip called over his shoulder as he reached the turbolift and smacked the button.
"What kind of trouble?" Mohamed asked as he watched his Captain impatiently wait.
"I don't…I don't know but she's unconscious and…and…"
"We need to call Enterprise!" Mohamed said, his level of alarm suddenly higher.
"I called the doc and she has, hopefully, reached them," Trip said as the doors opened and he ran into the lift and smacked the button for the bridge. "I need to get on my Ready Room computer so I can contact them. Fuck!"
Mohamed watched the desperate man and felt sorry for him. It reminded him when their youngest daughter was born, there were complications and there was nothing he could do to help his wife. He was on Pulsar and was helpless.
The doors opened onto the Bridge and the Captain barely waited for them to start to open before he stepped through.
Mohamed ignored the surprised looks of the Bridge crew and followed his Captain into his ready room. When the door shut behind Mohamed, the Captain was already madly tapping the subspace code into his computer terminal.
The stood and waited for the connection to be made. Mohamed observed the sweat rolling down the side of his Captain's face, the sweat stains under his arms and the tired and worried look housed on his face. He was not in good shape; not by any stretch of the imagination.
"Enterprise," Hoshi said on the other side.
"Hosh, get me Phlox," Trip demanded.
"He was just called to a medical emergency on D deck and…"
"Jon?" Trip asked, his breathing challenging and his body overwhelmed.
"He left as well, Malcolm oversees…"
"Tell Malcolm to transfer this call the Jon's ready room I need to speak with him, now!" Trip said in no uncertain terms.
"Uh, oh…okay Captain," Hoshi stammered, taken aback by the hostility in Trip's voice.
The screen went momentarily blank and Mohamed handed his Captain a glass of water.
"Thanks," Trip said absently before he took a drink, his eyes never wavering from the blank screen.
"Captain!" Malcolm said animatedly as his face appeared on the screen.
"Mal, I need you to comm Jon and find out what's going on with T'Pol," Trip said as he leaned toward the screen.
"Uh, sure I can try and…"
"Now, Malcolm!" Trip yelled sharply.
Malcolm's eyes widened on the screen and he looked quite taken aback by the demands of his friend.
"Lieutenant Reed, Captain Tucker is ill and needs to find out the condition of Commander T'Pol immediately," Mohamed hedged as he leaned into the screen as well. "He's…he's not himself."
Trip backed away from the screen and started to erratically pace behind Mohamed and mumble to himself as he ran his one hand through his hair.
"I can see that," Malcolm said, trying to put the pieces of this confusing puzzle together. First, there was an emergency call to Phlox, then his Captain ran out of his ready room like a bat out of hell, and now Trip was calling and barking orders. Something was incredibly wrong. "Give me a moment."
Mohamed breathed a sigh of relief and looked at his pacing Captain. Mohamed was no doctor, but in his estimation the Captain's pon farr had just gone from bad to critical in the last few hours.
"Sir, maybe sitting and thinking calming thoughts?" Mohamed suggested.
Trip immediately stopped pacing and sat heavily in a chair, holding his head in his hands.
"I wish for the Council to recognize that my marriage to Koss should be voided," T'Pol said as she stood with her hands behind her straight back in front of the Vulcan Council.
Trip was sitting in the third row of the Council chambers and, surprisingly, Koss was sitting next to him. When T'Pol had explained her bond to Trip, Koss immediately had explained the relief he felt at the information. It wasn't that he wanted to dissolve their marriage, but the lack of any type of connection with T'Pol had been disconcerting to his Vulcan mind. Now, he was free to choose another and the lack of connection was not some genetic problem with him.
"And the reason for this? Vulcan marriages are rarely dissolved," an elderly Vulcan man said from his seat perched high atop the chamber.
"We are incompatible and have both agreed that marriage does not suit us," T'Pol said confidently. It had been agreed by T'Pol and Koss that they should avoid mentioning her bond with a human if at all possible. A simple dissolution was easier.
"How long have you been married?" an elderly Vulcan woman asked.
"203 days, as of today," T'Pol said.
"Hardly long at all." Another elderly Vulcan pointed out.
"Long enough to know that it is not for us," T'Pol countered.
"Have you lived together during this time?" the first council member asked.
"We have not," T'Pol admitted.
"Perhaps a period of time residing in the same household would resolve this issue," the elderly woman said.
Trip shifted in his seat, he didn't like how this meeting was going at all. He looked toward Koss and got nothing from him; the man sat stoically next to him as if he was watching someone defend a parking ticket, not trying to end his marriage.
"We both agree that it would not help," T'Pol said assuredly.
"I find it illogical to dissolve a marriage that neither party has attempted to make successful," the elderly man concluded.
"My job would not permit me to live on Vulcan," T'Pol added.
"You have three science degrees with highest honours?" the third man asked.
"I do," T'Pol reluctantly admitted.
"It is logical that you will receive an excellent position with the Science Directorate," the third man concluded. "And Koss is an architect?"
"He is," T'Pol answered.
"And he has a familial home you could reside in?" the third man continued to probe.
"He does," T'Pol said, annoyed.
"Then it is logical that you take a leave from your position with Starfleet, apply for positions at the Science Directorate and reside with your husband in his familial home for the period of one year before you decide if this is something worth dissolving."
Trip sighed heavily and several Vulcans watching the procedure turned to look at him, the annoyance wasn't in their features but he could see it in their eyes.
"We do not wish to remain married," T'Pol said, her anger just below the surface.
"Logically, you have not explored the concept of marriage as a couple, and should do that before any rash decisions are made," the elderly woman said. "I'd like to hear the testimony of Koss."
Next to Trip, Koss rose and walked stiffly to stand about two feet away from T'Pol.
"You are in agreement with your mate?" the elderly man asked. "Your marriage should be dissolved?"
"I am," Koss nodded. "We are incompatible and I wish to start a family. My pon farr will arrive in two months and T'Pol will be on her starship."
T'Pol looked at him surprised, he hadn't informed her that his pon farr was eminent.
"It seems logical, with pon farr to close, that you should remain married until you have, at least, dealt with that," the elderly man said as he folded his hands before him.
T'Pol looked taken aback for a moment and took in a sudden breath.
Koss looked toward her and then back at the Council.
"I call the Council closed," Koss said loudly and with authority.
Suddenly, the Vulcans around him started to murmur and Trip looked around wondering what had just happened.
"It is your right to do so, Koss," the elderly woman said, somewhat annoyed. "Although to what purpose, I am interested in discovering."
"Clear the council!" A man standing to the side of the chamber called loudly. All the Vulcans in the seats rose and started to neatly exit. Trip stayed in his seat and looked at the backs of T'Pol and Koss perplexed.
The man who had called the Council clear walked toward him and stopped near his seat. "Everyone must leave except those involved."
Trip was about to argue that he was involved, when a quick look by Koss over his shoulder told him he should just leave.
So, reluctantly, Trip left the Council chamber and waited on a bench outside. It felt like the times he'd been sent to the Principal's office in his youth. Twenty minutes later, the man who had forced his exit appeared at the door.
"Captain Charles Tucker?" He asked Trip.
Trip nodded.
"Your presence is required," he said as he help open the door to allow Trip entrance.
When he walked to the front of the room he stopped on the other side of T'Pol and looked at her or re-assurance. He received none.
"T'Pol claims you two are bound?" The elderly woman asked Trip.
"Yes, ma'am," Trip nodded.
"And this bond was initiated 572 days ago with the commencement of neuropressure sessions?" the elderly woman continued.
"I don't know the exact date ma'am," Trip conceded. "But I trust T'Pol knows the dates."
"And the bond became more established with the commencement of a sexual relationship?" the elderly woman asked. "Which began 381 days ago?"
"Again, I don't know the dates," Trip hedged. "But we were involved."
"Sexually involved?" the elderly man clarified.
Trip could see T'Pol's ears tinging a deep shade of green out of the corner of his eye.
"Yes, yes, sir," Trip nodded.
"And this sexual relationship has continued despite her marriage to Koss?" the elderly man continued.
Trip closed his eyes and wished he could have a much more honourable answer then the one he had. He looked briefly at Koss, standing stoically next to T'Pol and swallowed hard.
"It has," Trip admitted. He felt like the biggest asshole in that moment. Here was Koss trying to help them and he had been fucking his wife behind his back.
"And you were aware of this sexual involvement T'Pol had with Captain Tucker before your marriage?" the third man asked Koss.
"I was aware," Koss explained. "He attended our wedding."
Trip closed his eyes; this hearing was starting to sound like a bad soap opera.
"And T'Pol informed you of her sexual involvement with Captain Tucker after your marriage?"
"She called 96 days ago to inform me of the possibility," Koss admitted.
"What?" Trip asked, his head snapping to look at T'Pol and Koss.
T'Pol then looked at him for the first time since he had joined her and Koss in front of the Council. "It was only logical that he be informed."
Trip knitted his eyebrows together and contorted his face. "You called Koss to tell him you and I were going to cheat on him?"
"Technically, it was only T'Pol who was…" Koss began.
"And you agreed?" Trip asked Koss astounded.
"She was in space and I was on Vulcan, if she had needs that I couldn't meet, logically I needed to agree," Koss explained calmly.
Trip looked at him for a moment taken aback and then shook his head; it was all a little too much to process. And the fact that T'Pol hadn't informed him she'd spoken to Koss 96 days ago…wait, 96 days ago was about the time of the ceremony on Vulcan when they first saw each other again. They hadn't slept together until a month after that and…so, she knew even then that she was going to succeed at getting him into her bed?
"T'Pol also claims that the bond is mental, but the Vulcan Science Directorate states there is no evidence that a mental bond can be formed between a Human and a Vulcan," the elderly woman said with distaste.
"Can't you check it?" Trip asked. "With one of those mind melds or…"
"If it cannot exist then there is no logical reason to look for it," the elderly man explained. "We have decided to allow the dissolution of the marriage of T'Pol and Koss on the basis of incompatibility. Koss, we wish you luck finding a mate before your pon farr. T'Pol we hope you will take some time to meditate and conclude that your relationship with Captain Tucker is unhealthy. This case is closed and the records are sealed."
Trip looked at T'Pol confused. She nodded for him to follow herself and Koss out of the chamber as the Council members rose to take a break. As they approached the back-door Trip stopped walking.
"Wait a second, what just happened there?" He asked causing T'Pol and Koss to stop their forward motion.
"The marriage is dissolved," T'Pol informed him calmly.
"But, they wished Koss all the best, and said they hoped you'd come to your senses about me…" Trip said confused.
"They cannot condone our relationship," T'Pol said.
"But, why didn't they check the bond?" Trip asked placing his hands on his hips, everything seemed slightly off about this dissolution.
Koss stepped toward him and took a deep breath. "If they checked for it and found a Human-Vulcan bond, then they'd have to acknowledge that it existed. By not checking, logically, the bond is still impossible."
"Isn't that like burying your head in the sand?" Trip asked.
Koss and T'Pol both looked at him confused.
Trip sighed and looked Koss in the eye. "I'd like to apologize for not taking your marriage vows with T'Pol seriously and for how I behaved while you were married to her. I shouldn't have…became involved with her in that way. I'm not the kind of man to go behind…"
"But I was aware," Koss explained.
"It doesn't make it any more right," Trip sighed.
Koss looked at him confused for a moment and then nodded. "I accept your apology."
Trip smiled at him and felt a great sense of relief. Although it hadn't kept him from taking T'Pol into his bed several times over the last few months, he had always felt a great deal of guilt after each encounter.
"We should leave," T'Pol said as she nodded toward the exit.
Trip and Koss nodded and started to walk with her toward the exit.
"So, you need to find a nice Vulcan bride pretty fast?" Trip asked Koss. He was trying to end things better with her ex-husband.
"There is a woman, H'Yar, that I work with," Koss explained. "I think she would be agreeable to a match."
"That's great news," Trip said as they exited the chambers. "You'll have to send T'Pol some wedding pictures."
Koss nodded and turned to face the two of them.
"It was agreeable to see you again T'Pol," Koss said with a slight bow. "I wish you and Captain Tucker a prosperous future."
"Thank you, Koss," T'Pol said as she bowed slightly. "I appreciate your agreement to the dissolution and your help with the proceedings. I wish you a long and pleasant life."
With those final words Koss turned and left them on their own in front of the Council chambers.
"How do you feel about all of this?" Trip asked T'Pol quietly.
"I am pleased to be free," T'Pol said honestly. "If I had been stronger and not married Koss to begin with, none of this would have been necessary."
"Crooked roads are more painful," Trip said as they started to walk away. "But a hell of a lot more interesting."
"Trip?" Jon's voice came over the sub-space screen. When Trip looked up he saw a very worried friend on the other side.
"How is she?" Trip asked as she stood and walked toward the screen.
"Phlox has placed her in an induced coma and we've gone to Warp 4.6 to get to you as soon as possible," Jon informed him. "Phlox says she's being held in a sort of stasis until he revives her, but he believes we should wait for that until you are with her."
"What happened?" Trip asked.
"We're not sure," Jon sighed. "Sensory overload or…can we speak privately?"
Trip turned and looked toward Mohamed and sighed. "I'm kind of under 24-hour guard. Mohamed knows the situation and he'll keep whatever is said private, I trust him."
Mohamed's heart filled for new love for his Captain. He had really liked him before, but Trip's faith in him as a first officer and friend these last couple of days had made him more committed to Captain Tucker then ever before.
Jon shifted uncomfortably. "She was naked when we found her and Phlox seems to think her collapse and unconsciousness was from heightened arousal and sensory overload."
Trip rubbed at his jaw and dropped his head to his chest. "I might have had something to do with that, I didn't know it could…"
"What do you mean Trip?" Jon asked, confused.
"Remember how I told you we could sense each other? Sometimes hear thoughts?" Trip asked Jon.
"Yes," Jon nodded, still not sure where this was going. "Were you having some vivid sexual thoughts that somehow affected her?"
"No, well, yes, in a way," Trip stammered. "What you don't know…what we haven't shared with anyone, even Phlox, is that we can meet up in a kind of meditative space…"
"I'm sorry?" Jon asked, perplexed.
"We can kind of visit each other, in our heads, and talk or…or do things," Trip explained, somewhat embarrassed.
"But it's not real, it's in your head and…" Jon started to piece it together.
"It feels very real when it's happening, and the physical results are present when I come out of that state," Trip said uncomfortably as his face reddened.
Neither Jon of Mohamed said anything and both seemed increasingly confused by his explanation.
"Today, for instance," Trip started to explain. "I was trying to mediate because I was going squirrely in my quarters, and she appeared in my meditation. She and I got physical, and when she passed out, the link ended and I was left with quite a mess on myself."
"Ohhh," Jon and Mohamed said at once as realization hit them.
"I have found scratches, even bruises that I couldn't explain after we sparred one time and…"
"So, you and T'Pol are…together…even when you aren't together?" Jon clarified.
"Nothing is the same as the real deal," Trip said as he rubbed at the back of his neck. "But this…well, this is damn close."
"Holy shit," Jon said with a slight chuckle. "If humans could do this with each other, Starfleet would solve the whole deep space mission and staff fraternization issues."
"I hope neither of you have any intention of telling Starfleet about this, because I have no desire to be a lab rat somewhere," Trip said with a smirk.
"No, this is between us, Mohamed?" Jon asked.
"Absolutely, Captain," Mohamed nodded with assurance.
"Thanks," Trip sighed. "I just want you to get T'Pol here so she's not in danger anymore."
"As fast as we can," Jon nodded. "Are you planning to tell Phlox about these physical brain meetings? He may need to know that when he's monitoring…"
"I'll inform Carol and she can share with Phlox," Trip nodded.
"Okay, well we both better get back to our ships," Jon smiled at his friend. "This was an enlightening conversation."
Trip lowered his head and shook it embarrassed. "Shit Jon, all the dirt you have on me…"
"Friends have dirt, and never use it," Jon said with a smirk. "Besides, I think you could probably get me dishonourably discharged and have one woman put me on her hit list with the information you have on me."
"True!" Trip chuckled with his friend.
"We should be there in 36 hours," Jon said confidently. "You get everything ready on your end and we'll take care of T'Pol."
"Thanks Jon," Trip smiled at his friend.
"No problem," Jon smiled back. "Archer out."
