This Woman's Work (Chap 8)
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.
Sorry for the delay, this chapter proved more difficult to write than most.
_________________________________
0900 23 Aug 2151
"Doc, please tell me than she's gonna be OK?"
"Mr. Tucker, while it is far too early to make a prognosis, I can assure you than your pestering is not helping any." Phlox said, trying to push his way past the Commander. Trip relented and let the Doctor and Ensign Cutler prep for surgery. An overwhelming sense of helplessness consumed him as the whole tragedy played itself back in his mind.
He couldn't believe it when he looked over, amidst all the chaos and confusion, Kelis had somehow managed to find her way into Engineering. She was pleading in Vulcan for someone, anyone to listen to her. 'I shoulda paid more attentions to Hoishi's Vulcan for Dummies classes.' Trip thought to himself. He was making his way over to the little girl from across Engineering when he realized the she was standing right next to an exposed plasma conduit. Everything afterwards transpired as though it was in slow motion. He was seconds away from Kelis' side when another explosion jolted to ship, causing the conduit to rupture. When he was back on his feet he realized it was too late. The image of her little body burned and battered was indelibly etched into his mind as he carried her to sickbay. "A second faster…" Trip mused, lowering his head in resignation as Ensign Culter and the Doctor attempted to stabilize the child.
T'Pol walked at a pace that might as well have been a sprint to sickbay, desperately hoping the situation was not as grave as the Commander had led her to believe. But the deafening tone of a flatline, coupled with the image of Kelis' petite arm hanging lifelessly from the operating table, only served to confirm her worst suspicions. Dr. Phlox's hands were bathed in emerald green as he affixed cardiac stimulators to the child's body.
"Clear!"
Seeing Kelis' body jump from the current proved to be too much for T'Pol as she left sickbay with just as much haste as she entered. Trip looked up just in time to see exit.
"T'Pol!" Trip called in pursuit. "T'Pol!"
"Commander, I believe your presence would be best served in Engineering." She callously offered as she made her way to the turbolift.
"T'Pol, don't do this, talk to me." Trip really no idea what he was doing, but he knew why he was doing it. Even though she was Vulcan, he just felt that T'Pol could probably use a friend.
He stayed in behind her, following T'Pol into the lift before the doors closed. Trip accessed the keypad, isolating the turbolift from service.
He stood there silently as T'Pol refused to face him. In what was probably not the smartest move he's ever made, Trip grabbed the Vulcan by the wrist, turning her around to gaze upon her countenance. Her face was as impassive as ever, but the wall of tears that shrouded eyes conveyed the emotional battle she was losing. Trip wanted to say something, anything to comfort her, but found himself at a loss for words. His instincts though had another idea as he found himself slowly caressing T'Pol in his warm embrace. Her body remained painfully rigid in response to his actions. But slowly and distinctly, she began to snake her arms up Trip's back, returning his embrace. Try as she might, T'Pol's mental damn was incapable of handling the raising waters of her emotions. In reluctant defeat, she slowly placed her head on Trip's shoulder, her saltwater tears staining his uniform as she closed her eyes.
Minutes seemed to pass like hours as Trip held T'Pol, struggling to find the right words. If she were human, it would have been easy. A simple "it'll be OK" or "don't worry sweetheart" was generally all it took. But those placating statements would have been insulting not only to T'Pol, but also their friendship. So Trip chose to remain silent, hoping his actions would convey what words could not.
"It was illogical for me to have listened to your suggestion." T'Pol said, finally breaking the silence.
"Huh? How do you figure that?"
"I should have made Kelis' safety my top priority."
Trip could see what she was doing, and it wasn't very becoming of the woman he knew. "Hold up, you can't blame yourself for what happened to her. It was a freak accident."
"Nevertheless she was still my responsibility."
"As was this ship. From what I hear, we wouldn't even be here having this conversation if it wasn't for you." Trip countered as he turned to look into her eyes.
"That is a logical assessment I suppose." T'Pol stated as she slowly began to regain her Vulcan demeanor.
"Is that your way of saying I'm right?" Trip asked lightheartedly. "Look, I'm sure that she'll be fine."
"What makes you so certain?"
"Faith, I suppose." Trip decided to let her go, seeing her composure returning.
"A most irrational concept to be sure."
Before Trip could reply, he received a call over the intercom.
"Sickbay to Commander Tucker."
"Tucker here Doc, go ahead." Trip acknowledged as he tapped the comm pad.
"I am just calling to report that Kelis is in stable condition right now Commander. She will need more time to recover, but I believe that she will pull though. If you will, convey this message to Sub-Commander T'Pol?"
"No problem Doc, Tucker out." Trip said, smiling at T'Pol.
"Told you."
T'Pol simply looked back at Trip intently before posing her next question. "How do humans do it Commander?"
"Do what?"
"How do you live and accept uncertainty so capriciously?"
"Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I just remember a prayer my Mom taught me growing up. I think it goes Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."
T'Pol listened intently to his words as proved to be an accurate metaphor of her day. "References to a supernatural deity not withstanding, that is a very logical statement."
"I'm glad you like it too." Trip said as he watched the tender moment which they had just shared slowly evaporate away.
"If you will excuse me Commander, I am sure than I have pressing matters to attend to on the Bridge."
"T'Pol, I'm sure it's nothing the Reed can't handle."
"Commander, if I am to understand your last statement…"
"I know what I said, but I'm sure that there is no one the Kelis would rather see when she wakes up than you. Just think about." And with a narrow grin and a tap of the keypad, Trip exited the lift.
T'Pol stood for a moment and watched Trip walk down the corridor in confusion. 'I do not believe that I will ever understand humans.' She silently thought before deciding to heed Trip's suggestion.
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.
Sorry for the delay, this chapter proved more difficult to write than most.
_________________________________
0900 23 Aug 2151
"Doc, please tell me than she's gonna be OK?"
"Mr. Tucker, while it is far too early to make a prognosis, I can assure you than your pestering is not helping any." Phlox said, trying to push his way past the Commander. Trip relented and let the Doctor and Ensign Cutler prep for surgery. An overwhelming sense of helplessness consumed him as the whole tragedy played itself back in his mind.
He couldn't believe it when he looked over, amidst all the chaos and confusion, Kelis had somehow managed to find her way into Engineering. She was pleading in Vulcan for someone, anyone to listen to her. 'I shoulda paid more attentions to Hoishi's Vulcan for Dummies classes.' Trip thought to himself. He was making his way over to the little girl from across Engineering when he realized the she was standing right next to an exposed plasma conduit. Everything afterwards transpired as though it was in slow motion. He was seconds away from Kelis' side when another explosion jolted to ship, causing the conduit to rupture. When he was back on his feet he realized it was too late. The image of her little body burned and battered was indelibly etched into his mind as he carried her to sickbay. "A second faster…" Trip mused, lowering his head in resignation as Ensign Culter and the Doctor attempted to stabilize the child.
T'Pol walked at a pace that might as well have been a sprint to sickbay, desperately hoping the situation was not as grave as the Commander had led her to believe. But the deafening tone of a flatline, coupled with the image of Kelis' petite arm hanging lifelessly from the operating table, only served to confirm her worst suspicions. Dr. Phlox's hands were bathed in emerald green as he affixed cardiac stimulators to the child's body.
"Clear!"
Seeing Kelis' body jump from the current proved to be too much for T'Pol as she left sickbay with just as much haste as she entered. Trip looked up just in time to see exit.
"T'Pol!" Trip called in pursuit. "T'Pol!"
"Commander, I believe your presence would be best served in Engineering." She callously offered as she made her way to the turbolift.
"T'Pol, don't do this, talk to me." Trip really no idea what he was doing, but he knew why he was doing it. Even though she was Vulcan, he just felt that T'Pol could probably use a friend.
He stayed in behind her, following T'Pol into the lift before the doors closed. Trip accessed the keypad, isolating the turbolift from service.
He stood there silently as T'Pol refused to face him. In what was probably not the smartest move he's ever made, Trip grabbed the Vulcan by the wrist, turning her around to gaze upon her countenance. Her face was as impassive as ever, but the wall of tears that shrouded eyes conveyed the emotional battle she was losing. Trip wanted to say something, anything to comfort her, but found himself at a loss for words. His instincts though had another idea as he found himself slowly caressing T'Pol in his warm embrace. Her body remained painfully rigid in response to his actions. But slowly and distinctly, she began to snake her arms up Trip's back, returning his embrace. Try as she might, T'Pol's mental damn was incapable of handling the raising waters of her emotions. In reluctant defeat, she slowly placed her head on Trip's shoulder, her saltwater tears staining his uniform as she closed her eyes.
Minutes seemed to pass like hours as Trip held T'Pol, struggling to find the right words. If she were human, it would have been easy. A simple "it'll be OK" or "don't worry sweetheart" was generally all it took. But those placating statements would have been insulting not only to T'Pol, but also their friendship. So Trip chose to remain silent, hoping his actions would convey what words could not.
"It was illogical for me to have listened to your suggestion." T'Pol said, finally breaking the silence.
"Huh? How do you figure that?"
"I should have made Kelis' safety my top priority."
Trip could see what she was doing, and it wasn't very becoming of the woman he knew. "Hold up, you can't blame yourself for what happened to her. It was a freak accident."
"Nevertheless she was still my responsibility."
"As was this ship. From what I hear, we wouldn't even be here having this conversation if it wasn't for you." Trip countered as he turned to look into her eyes.
"That is a logical assessment I suppose." T'Pol stated as she slowly began to regain her Vulcan demeanor.
"Is that your way of saying I'm right?" Trip asked lightheartedly. "Look, I'm sure that she'll be fine."
"What makes you so certain?"
"Faith, I suppose." Trip decided to let her go, seeing her composure returning.
"A most irrational concept to be sure."
Before Trip could reply, he received a call over the intercom.
"Sickbay to Commander Tucker."
"Tucker here Doc, go ahead." Trip acknowledged as he tapped the comm pad.
"I am just calling to report that Kelis is in stable condition right now Commander. She will need more time to recover, but I believe that she will pull though. If you will, convey this message to Sub-Commander T'Pol?"
"No problem Doc, Tucker out." Trip said, smiling at T'Pol.
"Told you."
T'Pol simply looked back at Trip intently before posing her next question. "How do humans do it Commander?"
"Do what?"
"How do you live and accept uncertainty so capriciously?"
"Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I just remember a prayer my Mom taught me growing up. I think it goes Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."
T'Pol listened intently to his words as proved to be an accurate metaphor of her day. "References to a supernatural deity not withstanding, that is a very logical statement."
"I'm glad you like it too." Trip said as he watched the tender moment which they had just shared slowly evaporate away.
"If you will excuse me Commander, I am sure than I have pressing matters to attend to on the Bridge."
"T'Pol, I'm sure it's nothing the Reed can't handle."
"Commander, if I am to understand your last statement…"
"I know what I said, but I'm sure that there is no one the Kelis would rather see when she wakes up than you. Just think about." And with a narrow grin and a tap of the keypad, Trip exited the lift.
T'Pol stood for a moment and watched Trip walk down the corridor in confusion. 'I do not believe that I will ever understand humans.' She silently thought before deciding to heed Trip's suggestion.