This Woman's Work (Chap 4)
By vandiver49
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters associated with Star Trek, I'm just borrowing them for a moment. Please don't sue; people in the Navy don't make that much money.
All parenthetical statements in Vulcan are denoted by (*)
Please forgive me if the date doesn't correspond exactly to the series.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews.
_________________________________
1700 22 Aug 2151
T'Pol was at odds with what action she should take. Obviously, she needed to consult Ambassador Soval with her suspicions, but she very well couldn't traipse up to the Bridge with a child. Leaving the child unattended was not an option either, feeling that her first duty was to Kelis. T'Pol reached only one logical conclusion as she walked toward the intercom.
"Sub-Commander T'Pol to Commander Tucker."
"Tucker her, go ahead."
"Commander, I require a private audience."
Ok, give me a minute."
T'Pol waited for Trip to reach the comm panel in the ready room.
"Alright T'Pol, I'm here what's up?"
"Commander, I desire to be removed from the command rotation temporarily." Without the pressures of command, T'Pol felt that she would not only have a little more latitude to conduct her investigation, but be able to properly care for Kelis.
"No way T'Pol, we're already short with the Captain away, if you go down it'll just be me and Reed."
"Commander, I am sure you are aware of the unique situation that I am in, and I do not know of another alternative. Do you?"
"Well…" Trip pondered momentarily, "You could let Hoshi and Dr. Phlox watch over the kid for you, I mean they both know Vulcan."
T'Pol silently mulled over Trip's suggestion, "Unacceptable, neither is versed in Vulcan parenting."
"T'Pol, that's the best you're gonna get. Someone has to continue the investigation as well as coordinate with the Vulcan High Council and it damn sure won't be me."
"I cannot impose on them."
"Come on T'Pol, you know Hoshi and Doc will be glad to. You know at some point you gotta start accepting a little help from your friends."
T'Pol reluctantly conceded, as there was much to accomplish outside of tending to the needs of Kelis. "Very well Commander, I require some time before I assume my…" Her statement was interrupted by an audible crash from her meditation area.
Trip had to stifle his chuckles. "Look, I'll ask Doc if he can baby-sit first for you, Ok. It sounds to me as though you've got some mommying to do."
"Indeed." T'Pol said as she turned to see Kelis walk out with one of her meditation candles in pieces. "Thank you Commander."
"Anytime T'Pol, Tucker out."
Trip returned to the Bridge with an ear-to-ear smile on his face, to the amazement of everyone on deck.
"What kind of conversation could you have with T'Pol that could make you smile like that?" Reed inquired.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Trip said laughingly, "Suffice it to say that I believe T'Pol has her hands full." The thought of T'Pol trying to negotiate her way the joys of parenting sent a wave of laughter through the Bridge.
Once Trip collected himself, his gaze wondered over to Hoshi. "Hey Ensign Sato, I have a favor to ask. When was the last time you babysat?"
Back in her quarters, T'Pol was still cleaning up the mess that Kelis had made.
*I'm sorry T'Pol; I did not mean to create an accident. I just wanted a closer look at your candles.*
*It is quite alright Kelis, but it would be best if you were more careful.* T'Pol was inwardly shocked by how she sounded so eerily familiar to her own mother. Parenting was something T'Pol simply assumed she would be good. With less than a day on the job though, she realized that it may prove to be slightly more challenging.
The door chime interrupted T'Pol's musing.
"Enter."
"Evening Sub-Commander, Commander Tucker informed me that you were in need of a babysitter. Dr. Phlox gingerly said.
"Kelis is far from a baby, Doctor."
"I believe that humans use the term in such a way that it encompasses the preteen years. I also come bearing gifts." The Doctor said, displaying a small fabrication of T'Pol's outfit.
Kelis inquisitively walked over to the Doctor. *Is that for me?*
*Yes it is, this should help keep you warm.*
Kelis accepted the garment, and headed to the bathroom to change out of her tattered clothing and clean up.
"Do you have any special instructions T'Pol?"
She quietly pondered all that could go wrong before responding. "Kelis has not had anything to eat yet, could you please escort her to the mess hall and ensure that she has a proper 'Vulcan' meal?*
"Of course Sub-Commander." *Kelis are you ready?*
The little girl responded by walking out of the bathroom area in her new attire.
"Well Sub-Commander, we'll be on our way. Phlox said as he extended his hand toward Kelis, and exited with her out the door.
T'Pol indulged in the minor respite before heading to the Bridge.
Back in the Ready Room T'Pol found herself confronting Ambassador Soval once again. *Sub-Commander T'Pol, I thought I instructed you and your crew not to land on Sendrini VI under any circumstances?*
*I was fully aware of your instructions Ambassador, but being that you had me conduct my investigation under the auspices of an emergency beacon, I could not find a logical reason to prevent the Humans from attempting to render aid.*
Soval's voice contained a certain degree of discomfort. *Did you discover the source of the outpost's problem?*
*The problem Ambassador, it that the outpost was destroyed. Their assailants were most effective only leaving one survivor. We will we receive Vulcan assistance on this matter?*
"We have a ship en route, it is expected to reach your position in two days, Ambassador Soval out.*
Perplexed by the abrupt end of her conversation, T'Pol walked back out to the Bridge.
Trip was in the Captain's chair, strumming his fingers on the armrest. This was a very annoying habit in T'Pol's estimation, but a clear indication that he was deep in thought. "Any good news T'Pol?"
"Not at this time Commander." She replied as she approached the Captain's chair.
"Hey I gotta question for you. How fast can a Vulcan ship go?"
"You know that information is classified."
"Yeah, I know but bear with me here. Let's just say that y'all can do Warp 6.5 for argument's sake. At that speed it would only take five day to get here from Vulcan." T'Pol was beginning to see his train of thought, but allowed him to finish. "You gotta figure that there are some Vulcan ships on patrol somewhere closer than that to here."
"Correct Commander, perhaps though the Vulcan High Council has more pressing concerns."
"What could be more important than figuring out who killed over 130 Vulcans!? I don't think they're coming T'Pol," Trip Said as he rose to look T'Pol in the eyes, "and neither do you."
By vandiver49
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters associated with Star Trek, I'm just borrowing them for a moment. Please don't sue; people in the Navy don't make that much money.
All parenthetical statements in Vulcan are denoted by (*)
Please forgive me if the date doesn't correspond exactly to the series.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews.
_________________________________
1700 22 Aug 2151
T'Pol was at odds with what action she should take. Obviously, she needed to consult Ambassador Soval with her suspicions, but she very well couldn't traipse up to the Bridge with a child. Leaving the child unattended was not an option either, feeling that her first duty was to Kelis. T'Pol reached only one logical conclusion as she walked toward the intercom.
"Sub-Commander T'Pol to Commander Tucker."
"Tucker her, go ahead."
"Commander, I require a private audience."
Ok, give me a minute."
T'Pol waited for Trip to reach the comm panel in the ready room.
"Alright T'Pol, I'm here what's up?"
"Commander, I desire to be removed from the command rotation temporarily." Without the pressures of command, T'Pol felt that she would not only have a little more latitude to conduct her investigation, but be able to properly care for Kelis.
"No way T'Pol, we're already short with the Captain away, if you go down it'll just be me and Reed."
"Commander, I am sure you are aware of the unique situation that I am in, and I do not know of another alternative. Do you?"
"Well…" Trip pondered momentarily, "You could let Hoshi and Dr. Phlox watch over the kid for you, I mean they both know Vulcan."
T'Pol silently mulled over Trip's suggestion, "Unacceptable, neither is versed in Vulcan parenting."
"T'Pol, that's the best you're gonna get. Someone has to continue the investigation as well as coordinate with the Vulcan High Council and it damn sure won't be me."
"I cannot impose on them."
"Come on T'Pol, you know Hoshi and Doc will be glad to. You know at some point you gotta start accepting a little help from your friends."
T'Pol reluctantly conceded, as there was much to accomplish outside of tending to the needs of Kelis. "Very well Commander, I require some time before I assume my…" Her statement was interrupted by an audible crash from her meditation area.
Trip had to stifle his chuckles. "Look, I'll ask Doc if he can baby-sit first for you, Ok. It sounds to me as though you've got some mommying to do."
"Indeed." T'Pol said as she turned to see Kelis walk out with one of her meditation candles in pieces. "Thank you Commander."
"Anytime T'Pol, Tucker out."
Trip returned to the Bridge with an ear-to-ear smile on his face, to the amazement of everyone on deck.
"What kind of conversation could you have with T'Pol that could make you smile like that?" Reed inquired.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Trip said laughingly, "Suffice it to say that I believe T'Pol has her hands full." The thought of T'Pol trying to negotiate her way the joys of parenting sent a wave of laughter through the Bridge.
Once Trip collected himself, his gaze wondered over to Hoshi. "Hey Ensign Sato, I have a favor to ask. When was the last time you babysat?"
Back in her quarters, T'Pol was still cleaning up the mess that Kelis had made.
*I'm sorry T'Pol; I did not mean to create an accident. I just wanted a closer look at your candles.*
*It is quite alright Kelis, but it would be best if you were more careful.* T'Pol was inwardly shocked by how she sounded so eerily familiar to her own mother. Parenting was something T'Pol simply assumed she would be good. With less than a day on the job though, she realized that it may prove to be slightly more challenging.
The door chime interrupted T'Pol's musing.
"Enter."
"Evening Sub-Commander, Commander Tucker informed me that you were in need of a babysitter. Dr. Phlox gingerly said.
"Kelis is far from a baby, Doctor."
"I believe that humans use the term in such a way that it encompasses the preteen years. I also come bearing gifts." The Doctor said, displaying a small fabrication of T'Pol's outfit.
Kelis inquisitively walked over to the Doctor. *Is that for me?*
*Yes it is, this should help keep you warm.*
Kelis accepted the garment, and headed to the bathroom to change out of her tattered clothing and clean up.
"Do you have any special instructions T'Pol?"
She quietly pondered all that could go wrong before responding. "Kelis has not had anything to eat yet, could you please escort her to the mess hall and ensure that she has a proper 'Vulcan' meal?*
"Of course Sub-Commander." *Kelis are you ready?*
The little girl responded by walking out of the bathroom area in her new attire.
"Well Sub-Commander, we'll be on our way. Phlox said as he extended his hand toward Kelis, and exited with her out the door.
T'Pol indulged in the minor respite before heading to the Bridge.
Back in the Ready Room T'Pol found herself confronting Ambassador Soval once again. *Sub-Commander T'Pol, I thought I instructed you and your crew not to land on Sendrini VI under any circumstances?*
*I was fully aware of your instructions Ambassador, but being that you had me conduct my investigation under the auspices of an emergency beacon, I could not find a logical reason to prevent the Humans from attempting to render aid.*
Soval's voice contained a certain degree of discomfort. *Did you discover the source of the outpost's problem?*
*The problem Ambassador, it that the outpost was destroyed. Their assailants were most effective only leaving one survivor. We will we receive Vulcan assistance on this matter?*
"We have a ship en route, it is expected to reach your position in two days, Ambassador Soval out.*
Perplexed by the abrupt end of her conversation, T'Pol walked back out to the Bridge.
Trip was in the Captain's chair, strumming his fingers on the armrest. This was a very annoying habit in T'Pol's estimation, but a clear indication that he was deep in thought. "Any good news T'Pol?"
"Not at this time Commander." She replied as she approached the Captain's chair.
"Hey I gotta question for you. How fast can a Vulcan ship go?"
"You know that information is classified."
"Yeah, I know but bear with me here. Let's just say that y'all can do Warp 6.5 for argument's sake. At that speed it would only take five day to get here from Vulcan." T'Pol was beginning to see his train of thought, but allowed him to finish. "You gotta figure that there are some Vulcan ships on patrol somewhere closer than that to here."
"Correct Commander, perhaps though the Vulcan High Council has more pressing concerns."
"What could be more important than figuring out who killed over 130 Vulcans!? I don't think they're coming T'Pol," Trip Said as he rose to look T'Pol in the eyes, "and neither do you."