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Chapter 10.

She felt the quick flutter of a pulse beneath her fingers, watched the rapid movement of his chest. Stared at his shut eyes, willing him to relax.

T'pol had been standing by Trip's side in Sickbay since they brought him here from engineering. She couldn't explain it, but seeing him now, unconscious, flopped over a bio-bed, was…unsettling. She felt something in the pit of her stomach, something unnerving. She didn't like it. Partly because she knew that she shouldn't be experiencing it, partly because she knew that it was proving only what she had been denying all these months. It was fear. Fear for this one individual. She cared for him, not just as a friend. She knew that a human and Vulcan could never happen, but it didn't stop these feelings growing deep inside of her. The feelings had overwhelmed her time from time, but this human, he made her feel….. happy. She had come to enjoy the sessions with him. And know, watching him, she was afraid that she would not be able to tell him that.

Phlox looked up from his work to once again see the Vulcan standing there, as though she were a mother protecting her baby. He sighed. He had been aware of something going on between the two for quite some time now. This only proved his theories.

"T'pol." He called. No response. "Sub-commander." Her head shot up, eyes darting around the room eventually coming to rest on the Doctor.

"You don't have to stay, I will call you if he wakes up."

He thought he saw something in her eyes at the word, if. Maybe not the best wording in the world. "He will be fine." He walked over to the Science officer.

"How are you coping with the trillium?"

"I'm fine Doctor." She fought hard to keep her voice flat. "In fact, I was wondering if maybe I should assist you to help the Commander."

Aaaaaa, young love. Phlox thought to himself. "T'pol, The Commander will be quite alright, I've told you it's just……" He looked up at the sound of the sickbay doors opening.

"AAAA, Captain."

Archer strode across the room wasting no time. "How is he?"

"It's nothing to get worried about. It is simply lack of sleep."

Archer looked up at that. Slightly puzzled. Not knowing whether to be relieved or angry.

"I ordered him to get some sleep!" He glanced at his Commander. T'pol had returned to her pace by him.

"As did I, and T'pol has given him Neuro-pressure sessions."

"So this could have been avoided if he'd simply followed our orders."

"Actually Captain. I think he did try to follow them."

"I don't follow."

"I don't know if I should be telling you this, it is Doctor Patient confidentiality."

At that Archer looked quite worried. "Phlox, is there something wrong with Trip?"

"Well…" He was interrupted by a loud groan from the bed, which was son followed by a short sharp yelp.

Phlox went to the Commander, checking his vitals. "His heart rate is increasing."

"Why?" Archer came up behind.

"He's having a nightmare Captain."

Nightmare? It was then that he remembered what Malcolm had told him earlier on.

"I'm guessing he has these often?"

"That is correct."

"He hasn't been able to get to sleep, because of these." Archer sighed. He should have listened to Reed. Then maybe he would have talked to Trip about it. But did he have the time? He jumped as Trip let out another cry. His body tossing. Fists clenched tightly into balls. Sweat was rapidly forming on his forehead and his breathe came in huge gasps. Trip was terrified.

T'pol stood there, her eyes never leaving his face, her hands clenching his. She seemed to be calming him in some way. But how? They couldn't tell.

"T'pol." Phlox prepared a hypo-spay, I need you to help Archer hold him down while I inject him with this. Finally T'pol pulled her eyes away from The Commander who was now jolting violently.

Almost immediately after she turned away the Commander let out a scream. "Move!" He yelled. Jon thought he saw tears.

Here!" Phlox bustled over holding a hypo-spray."

"Lizzie!"

Phlox injected him. Trip's body went limp and the room fell silent.

Jon stood back not knowing what to make of it.

"I better get back to work." He stammered. "Let…."

"I'll let you know when he waked up."

Archer nodded his thanks and left.

He marched down the corridor trying to walk of this constant feeling of guilt. He should have done something sooner. Why hadn't Trip told him? He felt slightly betrayed by that. But then, he should have noticed the signs. No, they were all tired, and he was busy. But still, that didn't block it. The thing he had heard. The thing he just left Trip to deal with on his own. He thought he was over it by now, but clearly he had been wrong. It kept on playing over and over in his mind, what Trip had said.

"Lizzie."

T'pol still stood by his side. Fighting for both his and her control.