Author's Notes: Please see earlier notes. Anything in italics is a bond interaction.
XXX
Nova was not sitting between them now wiping her snotty nose and hiccupping.
"Nova, we need to speak with you about something else," T'Pol said as she met Trip's eye.
"T'Pol…" Trip pleaded.
"All at once is better," T'Pol said back.
"What?" Nova asked as she looked up at T'Pol teary-eyed.
T'Pol hesitated a moment, maybe it was not the time?
"Darlin," Trip said softly. "It's about your mother."
"She's okay?" Nova asked as she looked at him.
"No sweetie, she's not," Trips said as he cupped her cheek. "She was hurt really bad and…"
"She was shot with a phase pistol," Nova said with a cracked voice. "My estimation is that it damaged her left lung and possibly a heart valve."
"The…the doctors couldn't help her," Trip said softly. "She died."
"What?!" Nova yelled.
"I'm so sorry, Nova," Trip said kindly.
"Nova…" T'Pol started.
"Show me her!" Nova demanded.
"Nova…" Trip started.
"Now!" Nova demanded.
She jumped up from the bench they were seated on and looked a them both; anger in her countenance.
"Fine," Trip said.
"Trip…" T'Pol cautioned.
"No, she needs to…to know," Trip said softly. "I'll speak with someone."
He rose from his seat and walked toward Jon and Tara at the back of the room.
"Tell me about your mother," T'Pol said as she patted the bench next to her.
"She's alive," Nova started.
T'Pol sighed. "What is her favorite food?"
"She likes soup," Nova said quietly. "Cream soup."
"I enjoy soup as well," T'Pol said.
"I don't like soup, not really," Nova said as she sat next to T'Pol. "I hope they have cream soup here for her."
"I'm sure they do," T'Pol said. "What do you like to do together?"
"We like to play the game Blitz," Nova snuffled.
"I am not familiar with that game," T'Pol conceded.
"It's a logic game that involves multiple levels, two players, and coloured balls," Nova explained. "You need to block your opponent while still trying to get to your targets and gather blitz."
"It sounds interesting," T'Pol said, genuine.
"It's very fun," Nova said, her face lighting up for the first time since she learned of her father. "It usually takes several days to complete a game."
"Days?" T'Pol asked.
"We play the intermediate level," Nova said. "There are two levels above that; Skilled and Genius. Those can take weeks to complete a single game."
"Wow," T'Pol said. "I think I would enjoy this game."
"I can teach you," Nova said as she smiled at T'Pol.
"You can bring her out," Trip's voice said in her head. "Phlox made the arrangements while we were with Nova."
"I'd like that," T'Pol said honestly. "Trip said we can go see your mother now."
"She's going to be fine," Nova said as she jumped off the bench. "You'll see."
"Nova, she has passed away," T'Pol cautioned her. "You need to be prepared for that."
"You'll see!" Nova said before she walked away from T'Pol. "My mom will tell you she's fine!"
"Nova!" T'Pol called after her.
Nova just ran past Jon and Tara and out the chapel.
"Nova!" T'Pol said as she ran past them as well.
"T'Pol she can't see her mother!" Jon said as he followed her out.
"Her mother's dead, she can't…" Tara said as she turned and ran after them as well.
XXX
Marlie came back from getting Trip's mail and ran toward the ringing comm.
"Hello?" She asked as the comm answering machine started. "Uh, just a second…"
Marlie hit a few buttons to stop the machine. Trip's comm was quite different from hers.
"Is this the resident of 3478 Olive Crescent?" The man on the other side of the comm asked.
"Just a…just a…" Marlie hit some more buttons and suddenly she heard Trip's voice.
"Hi, you've reached Trip Tucker. I'm not available right now, but if you leave a message and your contact…"
"Ma'am? Have you considered your own funeral arrangements?" The man on the other side of the comm asked.
"No…no thank you," Marlie said as she disconnected the call.
"…Thanks," Trip's voice rang out.
Marlie reached for the disconnect button and stopped when she heard a message start.
"Chief Commander Tucker this is Dwight Fielding from Section 31," the voice started. "I need to speak with you about a relative. I hate saying this on a message, but, you have a daughter that I believe you are unaware of. We have contacted social services and her mother. Can you please contact me at the attached comm link as soon as possible?"
The message stopped and Marlie stood with her eyes wide.
"A daughter?" Marlie whispered out loud.
Just then another message started automatically.
"Mr. Tucker, this is the third reminder call from Spotless Dry Cleaning," the voice said. "Your suit has been at our facility for over a month. If you no longer wish to…"
Marlie ended the comm link and sat down heavily on a nearby chair.
"He's on Mars for work and he has a daughter that's been…found?" Marlie asked herself. "I've got to call him."
Marlie started to panic. What if this message was from days ago before he left? What if this child was sitting in some foster home somewhere? Who was the mother? How old was this child?
"Holy shit," Marlie sighed as she sat back in the chair.
She had no way of contacting him. They last spoke as he was on a transport to Mars…but his work would know. Yes, Starfleet would know where he was staying.
Marlie picked up a nearby PADD and searched his contacts. When she found his secretary Cathy, she placed the call.
"Starfleet Engineering: Design Division," Cathy's voice rang through.
"Hi Cathy, this is Trip's girlfriend Marlie, we've met a few times when I've…"
"How's he doing?" Cathy asked.
"Trip?" Marlie asked.
"Yes, I have a couple of projects that need approval, and no one will go ahead with them until he personally signs off on them. I've sent him the schematics but haven't heard…"
"He's gone to Mars on business, for Starfleet," Marlie said assuredly.
"I'm sorry?" Cathy asked.
"He was called away to Mars on Starfleet business almost four days ago," Marlie explained; Cathy seemed confused.
"Yes, I just…I just figured you'd hear from him more than I would, and I need those schematics approved," Cathy said, hoping she was lying well.
"Oh, no, I haven't heard from him since he called me on the transport, but I was hoping you'd have his accommodations or an office where I could reach him, it's important," Marlie said nicely.
"Oh, uh…the booking department deals with the Commander's accommodations," Cathy hedged. "I can put a call in there for you, but it's end of day so…"
"If you can find out today, I'd appreciate it," Marlie said. "It's pretty important."
"You said," Cathy noted. "I'll try my best."
"Thank you," Marlie smiled into the phone.
She disconnected the comm.
XXX
Trip stood with his hands on his hips pacing outside the chapel.
"Where is she?!" Nova demanded as she walked toward him.
Trip crouched down in front of her and sighed.
"Nova, we're going to take you to your mother but, but, I am worried about you seeing her," Trip admitted.
"Why?" Nova asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and stood a little taller.
"Darlin'…"
"Why do you call me that?" Nova asked as she narrowed her eyes at him. Trip was startled by her physical similarity to him in that moment.
"I call a lot of people that," Trip smiled at her.
"You don't call Tara, or Jon or Phlox darlin'," Nova said. "But you say it to T'Pol."
"Maybe I save it for people I care a lot about," Trip said with a smirk.
"Why do you care about me?" Nova asked.
"Because you're a very special young lady," Trip said as he swallowed hard.
Nova knew he wasn't telling her everything. He was much harder to read than T'Pol, but she could tell he was hiding something.
"Where's my mom?" Nova asked.
"Come on," Trip sighed before he stood and started to walk down a hallway.
T'Pol caught up with them and Nova noticed that Trip immediately took T'Pol's hand. When they got to the end of the hallway, Phlox was standing there waiting for them.
"Nova," Phlox said with a nod.
"Phlox," Nova nodded back.
"Your mother's medical record," Phlox said as he handed the child a PADD.
"I just want to see her," Nova said as she ignored the PADD.
"I'd like you to look at her record first, so you can ask any questions before we go inside," Phlox said as he nodded toward the PADD.
Nova huffed and turned on the PADD.
The first thing she noticed was the word 'deceased' and she felt her throat constrict. She tried to clear her vision to read her mother's name and birthdate. All the information was correct including the location of her injury. Nova shook her head; the information may be correct, but she was sure the woman this report was written for was not her mother.
Nova handed him back the PADD.
"Your mother will be cool to the touch and her skin will be very pale," Phlox cautioned. "Her limbs will be stiff, and her body will seem…hard."
Nova nodded; she was prepared to see a dead body, but that wasn't going to be her mother.
"If you don't want to go inside…" Trip started.
"I am prepared," Nova said as she lifted her chin in defiance.
"Can I accompany you?" T'Pol asked Nova.
Nova nodded and the two of them walked inside side-by-side. When Nova caught sight of the woman laying there, her mother, she grabbed T'Pol's hand.
"No!" Nova screamed.
"Let's go," T'Pol said to Nova and Trip.
"Mummy?" Nova asked as she took a step forward.
"Nova, let's…" Trip started.
"Mummy?" Nova asked as tears started to stream down her face.
"Come on," Trip said as he scooped up Nova and started to quickly walk from to room.
"No!" Nova screamed.
Trip continued to walk.
"Trip!" T'Pol called to him. "You were right."
He stopped walking and turned to look at her.
"She needs to confirm it's her mother," T'Pol said as Nova cried over his shoulder and twisted to look at her mother. "She will always wonder, otherwise."
"T'Pol, she's a child," Trip cautioned. "I think maybe…"
Just then Nova slithered to the ground and out of Trip's arms.
"Mom?!" Nova asked as she sat on the ground and looked at the woman across the room.
"Do you want us to see her with you?" T'Pol asked.
Nova wiped at her nose and nodded.
Trip helped her stand and they both took a hand and stood on either side of her.
"She liked cream soup?" T'Pol asked as they took a step forward.
Nova nodded.
"What's her favorite animal?" Trip asked as he exchanged a look with T'Pol and they continued to walk forward.
"The Rinia, it has two heads and changes color seasonally," Nova said, her voice shaky as they approached.
"I'd like to see that one day," Trip said softly.
"Does she feel anything?" Nova asked; they were only a few feet from her.
"No, darlin," Trip said as he swallowed hard. Tears were now flowing down Nova's face.
"She's on my star with daddy?" Nova asked.
"Yes," T'Pol said quietly as she felt Nova's hand tighten. They were now directly before her mother.
Nova dropped their hands and stepped forward to touch her mother's face. She stroked her cheek and kissed her chin.
Trip reached for T'Pol's hand and clamped both of his around her one; he was crying as well.
"She loved you very much," T'Pol said. "She played games with you and bought you books and…"
"Benny the Bunny. Benny the Bunnnnyyy," Nova sang soft and weepy. "Long ears, short tail. Long ears, short taaaailllll. Soft fur on his…"
Nova collapsed onto the ground in a heap and sobs raked over her body.
"Nova," Trip said as he let go of T'Pol's hand and scooped up the little girl. He cradled her in his arms and T'Pol walked by his side as they left the room.
"Oh Nova," Tara said as she saw them exit the room, the child crying in her father's arms. His face tear-streaked and her mother looking like she was going to vomit.
"Is there a…?" Trip asked as he looked side to side for a place he could take Nova.
"In here," Phlox said as he pushed open a door and held it for Trip and T'Pol to go inside.
They were followed by Jon, Tara and Phlox.
It was a small storage area with hospital gowns and supplies on shelves. Trip sat down on a crate and rocked the crying child in his arms.
"Shhh, shhh, shhh," Trip hushed her.
T'Pol crouched down in front of the child and pushed her messy blonde hair from her eyes.
Tara placed a hand on Nova's knee and tried to also bring her comfort.
"She's been through too much," Jon said softly as he looked at the scene before him.
"Children are amazingly resilient," Phlox said as he watched them.
Jon, Phlox and Tara exited the room and stood outside while Trip continued to rock the crying girl. She was sobbing, hiccupping, and wailing. Eventually, she tired and fell asleep in Trip's arms.
"What do we do now?" Trip asked T'Pol.
"She's exhausted," T'Pol observed.
"We need to bring her back to our room," Trip said.
"She'll be scared," T'Pol said quietly.
"Darlin, she'll be scared no matter where we take her," Trip said softly. "No place here is home for her."
"I'll meet you back there," T'Pol said as she turned to exit.
"You're just leaving me with…with…" Trip asked, flabbergasted.
"Take Tara and Phlox with you," T'Pol said before she walked out the door.
"T'Pol!" Trip called to her. "T'Pol!"
"Just get her back there," T'Pol said before she closed their connection.
XXX