"Have a good time?" Tripp smiled at T'Pol. She was going to a conference with Hoshi. Tripp held on to Charlie as he reached for his mother.
"I rather stay here," T'Pol picked up her bag. "We don't know if a Romulan ship is going to hit."
"T'Pol," Tripp sighed. "For the last few weeks, it has been stand still," They have been a front line for a few months and for awhile they were battling the Romulans, but the past few weeks it seems that everyone was taking a moment to breathe. "So, go to this women conference that you were invited to. We can handle it. Right, Four?" Tripp asked their son.
Charlie smiled at his parents. "Yeah, Mama."
"Relax," Tripp said. "You have been stressed lately," T'Pol nodded. For months now they have been trying for a baby and nothing. They knew that this could be possible, but between this and the war they both have been stressed. "Charlie, give Mama a kiss," Tripp leaned Charlie closer to T'Pol and Charlie gave T'Pol a kiss on the cheek. Tripp gave T'Pol a kiss before she left the doorway of their quarters.
Tripp watched his wife disappear down a corridor before turning to his son. "Are right, now we can have some father/son bonding," Charlie laughed.
Tripp was sitting in the captain's chair, bored. With T'Pol at the conference Tripp had to do shifts on the bridge when he would rather be in engineering. He glanced around to see who was on the bridge with him. Travis was in front of him, watching the screen. Malcom was at his station. There was someone else at T'Pol and Hoshi station. Tripp leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He was having trouble sleeping. He had a feeling that it was because T'Pol wasn't by his side.
"A M class planet coming up," Travis broke the silence.
Tripp opened his eyes and saw the planet come in view. The planet looked untouched. The water of the ocean was clear so that Tripp could see a sea creature swimming in it. "Any inhabitants?" He asked.
"I'm getting no readings, sir," The person in Hoshi station said. Tripp nodded.
"Captain to the bridge," Tripp called.
It wasn't long before the captain was on the bridge. Tripp moved out of the captain's chair even those Jonathan wouldn't sit. Jonathan looked at the planet before looking at Tripp. "The planet beautiful," Jonathan raised an eyebrow he had a feeling that Tripp was up to something. "What are you planning?"
Tripp smiled. "I was thinking about taking a team down there to check it out."
Jonathan knew how bored the team had been. He sighed. "Alright."
"Thank you," Tripp smiled. He turned to Travis and Malcom, who both jumped up to volunteer for the mission.
They took a shuttle down to the planet's surface. Tripp stepped off the shuttle and took a breath of the clean air. It felt refreshing in lungs. They made sure to grab their equipment to do some work. They spent the day walking around and knew that this place was beautiful. They can cross animals that were native to the planet. Tripp made sure to get samples because their science officer was going to want to see these.
At the end of the day, they headed back to the shuttle and went back to the ship. After getting Charlie to bed, Tripp fell asleep with no problem.
The next day, Tripp thought about an idea that might work. He wanted to camp on the planet and bring Charlie with him because he felt that it might do some good for Charlie. He needed fresh air not the recycled air of the ship. The only problem that they had was meeting T'Pol and Hoshi at the meeting point. Tripp smiled because they could come back for them.
Tripp finished up in engineering and headed to the captain's ready room. He found the captain leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. Tripp smiled when he saw Porthos lying next to his owner. "Captain," Tripp said. Jonathan still didn't open his eyes. "Captain," Tripp said a little bit louder.
Jonathan opened his eyes. "Yes," Jonathan sat up in his chair. Tripp smiled because Jonathan didn't like being disturbed.
"I was wondering if I could go on the planet and spend a couple of days on the planet," Tripp smiled.
Jonathan leaned on his desk. "Do you remember the last time we camped on an uninhibited planet?"
"Yes, sir, but this planet is different. I investigated the reports from the night before and there was nothing big happening."
"I don't know," Jonathan started.
"Please sir. I need to do something. All my work is done, and I want to take Charlie down there."
"In a day we are to meet Commander T'Pol and Ensign Sato. You say that you want to stay a few days. Are we going to pick you up along the way?"
"Yes," Tripp smiled. He was wearing Jonathan down.
"And what do I tell Commander T'Pol when she sees that her son isn't aboard," Jonathan had a feeling that Tripp was going to get into trouble with his wife later.
"I'll deal with my wife," Tripp said.
"Alright. It's your grave," Jonathan smiled at his Chief Engineer.
"This is perfect," Tripp looked out at the clearing they were at. He had held on to Charlie, who was ready to run around the forest.
"Yeah," Travis smiled as he started to put one of the tents up. "I think we needed this."
Tripp looked around to see that Malcom was gathering logs for a fire. When Tripp brought up the idea to them, they both wanted to come. They all made sure that their work was done before they left. Tripp looked down at Charlie. "You stay right around here."
Charlie nodded and Tripp let go of his hand and Charlie made a run for it. He left the clearing. "Charlie," Tripp yelled after his son before running after him.
Tripp had to remember that Charlie was half Vulcan and had a lot more energy. He went one way to cut off his son. He grabbed him by the arm. He pulled him close. "Papa," Charlie smiled at his father.
Tripp frowned. "Charlie, you have to stay where I or Uncle Travis or Uncle Malcom can see you," He picked up Charlie and brought him back to the camp.
Travis and Malcom were both laughing at Tripp. He threw his friends a look. "Wait until you have children." Tripp put Charlie down and waited to see what he was going to do, but Charlie plopped his butt on the ground and started playing with the toys that Tripp on brought him.
"Who said that I was having children?" Travis smiled at Tripp.
"Right," Malcom started to build a fire. Tripp gave them both looks before helping Travis set up the tents.
After their campsite was done, Travis said. "Maybe we should go on a hike."
Malcom and Tripp were down for idea. Tripp grabbed the carrier that he had for Charlie and put it on. He had it for when Charlie got tired from walking. Charlie grabbed Tripp's hand and they started to walk.
Charlie found a stick on their walk and started to run that through the grass as everyone took in the woods. They didn't talk much as they walked. They came upon a river where they could see the fish swimming in the water. They decided to follow the river for awhile when they came across a lake. The lake was just as clear as the river. They stood there for a moment and watched Charlie play with his stick in the water.
They were about to head back when Tripp saw a yawn come from Charlie. He was tired. Charlie turned to his father and held out his arms. Tripp was ready to pick him up when Travis reached behind Charlie and picked him up. Travis carried him to the carrier and placed him in. Tripp felt the weight of his son on him and smiled. They decided to head back a different way. Tripp soon heard the snores of his son and smiled. Charlie needed fresh air.
When they got back, Charlie was up from his nap and hungry. "Papa," He placed a hand on his stomach. Tripp knew what they meant. He found the food they brought and gave Charlie some cut-up fruit. Charlie sat down and ate his fruit. Travs and Malcom followed Charlie in sitting down. Tripp brought out the food and they started to cook what they brought. They ate their meal and started to play a game of cards. Charlie crawled up and placed his head on Tripp's leg and fell asleep again.
Tripp looked in the tent to check on Charlie to make sure that he was sleeping. Tripp smiled before backing out and zipping up the tent so the noise could be muffled. He sat around the fire with his friends.
"Are you and T'Pol planning on having more children?" Travis asked. He had seen T'Pol and Tripp with Charlie and they were both great parents. He didn't know how they did it with work and raising their son.
"Yes, we have been trying for another baby since we got back from Earth," Tripp said.
Both Travis and Malcom raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that is a good idea with the war going on?"
"T'Pol and I talked about it, and we don't know when this war is going to end, and we do want Charlie to have siblings." Tripp told his friends. Travis and Malcom nodded; they had a feeling that Tripp had to talk T'Pol around to the idea.
"When do you think, this war is going to end?" Travis looked around at his friend. They spent the rest of the night talking about that.
T'Pol was glad to be going home. She missed her husband and her son. She finished packing and went to find Ensign Sato, who looked ready to leave. "Are we ready to leave?" T'Pol asked.
"God yes," Hoshi said. T'Pol raised an eyebrow. Hoshi sighed. "It was nice finding out about other cultures, but I miss our ship and our men."
T'Pol nodded. "It's only logical," T'Pol headed for the door with Ensign Sato following her. They made it to their shuttle and boarded.
Enterprise was waiting for them at the meeting point for them. They returned to the ship to find Captain Archer there to greet them. "Welcome back, ladies," He smiled at them. T'Pol looked around to see if she could find her husband, but he wasn't there. Maybe he got caught up in Engineering or watching Charlie. The captain followed them out of the shuttle bay. "How was your conference?"
"It was good," Hoshi told him and told him what they did at the conference and that they were glad to home.
"Captain, where is Commander Tucker?" T'Pol asked. She felt that she would have seen her husband by now. She was gone a week and they have been apart from each other.
"He is not here. We will be picking him up in a few hours," Archer looked at T'Pol. He didn't lie to the woman if she didn't ask about Charlie. T'Pol nodded. "I'll leave you two to get settle again." Archer went back to bridge while Hoshi and T'Pol made their way back to their quarters.
T'Pol stepped into her quarters to find it dark. If her son was here, it would be lite. T'Pol turned a light on and went to set her bag in her bedroom. The bed was made, and the room was cleaned. She didn't think that it would be this clean. She knew her husband. She left her room and made her way to Charlie's room to see that it was cleaned, too.
T'Pol went to comm system and called Crewman Edgerton. It didn't take long for her to get to her. T'Pol didn't see Charlie with her. "Where is Charlie?"
Crewman Edgerton knew that the captain didn't tell Commander T'Pol where her son was. "He is with his father." She didn't lie to the commander. She hoped that the captain told Commander T'Pol where her son was.
Crewman Edgerton could tell that Commander T'Pol didn't like that answer by the look in her eyes. She hoped that she didn't take it out on her. "Thank you," T'Pol finally said after some time. Crewman Edgerton nodded before leaving. She didn't want Commander T'Pol to ask another question.
T'Pol made her way to the bridge to find the captain. She wanted answers. She found him there. She noticed that Ensign Mayweather and Lieutenant Reed weren't there either. Captain turned towards T'Pol and smiled. "I thought that you would be resting."
T'Pol crossed her arms. "Where is my husband and son?" She asked.
Before the captain could say anything the person at the helm spoke. "We have reached the meeting point."
"Thank you, Ensign," Jonathan smiled. He saw a shuttle coming on screen. "You can find out in an hour."
T'Pol was watching the screen, too, and saw the shuttle coming closer. She turned on the tip of her toe and made her way to the shuttle bay to wait for her husband. She wanted someone to explain to her what was going on.
She stood there watching the shuttle come on the ship. She watched as the hatched opened. She knew that the captain and the doctor were standing by her. The first person to come up was Lieutenant Reed, carrying bags. The next person was Ensign Mayweather. They traded a look between them when they saw T'Pol standing there with her arms crossed. Reed reached down and grabbed a sleeping child. T'Pol let out a breath as her eyes roamed Charlie to make sure that he was okay. Reed held the child as Tripp got off the shuttle with a bag over his shoulder.
T'Pol stood back as they greeted the doctor and the captain. The dovtor looked over Charlie before giving him all clear. Charlie was awake by then and he saw his mom. "Mama," He shouted. He broke out of the doctor's arms and ran to his mother. T'Pol picked up Charlie and hugged him closely. Tripp followed his son at a slower pace.
Trip smiled at T'Pol. He leaned forward and tried to kiss her, but he all got was her cheek. "Hello, T'Pol. How was your conference?"
"Where have you been?" She asked instead of answering the question.
Tripp looked around and found that everyone had left the shuttle bay. Tripp tried to smile but it couldn't turn. "I went camping with Charlie."
"Where?" T'Pol asked.
"A planet that we found." Tripp shifted the bag on his shoulders.
"Something could have happened to him." T'Pol said.
Tripp could tell that she was getting angry. "He was fine. We were watching the planet for a few days before I took him down."
"What if he ran away from you?" T'Pol held on to Charlie.
"Nothing happened to him," Tripp shouted. "I would never let anything happen to him." T'Pol didn't say anything as she left the shuttle bay with Charlie. Tripp went after her. "He is my son, too," He shouted after her, but he knew that she wasn't going to listen to reason right now. She was mad at him, and it was going to take her time to get over it. Tripp sighed as he made his way back to their quarters.