Chapter 5-
C'Taan, the chief researcher and physician of the Eklosian facility, spoke quickly and clinically to Archer. These people were not humanoid. They appeared more like giant bipedal insects with long snouts and thin crab like claws for hands.
Although the captain had opted to take the transmission in his ready room, he had T'Pol with him and a link to Phlox in sickbay.
"I appreciate that you want to help us, but you can understand my caution." Archer told the alien.
"Yes," C'Taan concurred. "But our scans show your officer is in grave danger and must be brought to our hospital immediately if we are to gain mutual benefit."
Archer looked up at T'Pol with a frown of uncertainty. These Eklosians appeared to be clinical to the point of being cold. Could their drive for research put Trip in further danger?
"Doctor?" Archer finally said.
"I see no alternatives, Captain." Phlox's comm voice piped up. "C'Taan is offering possibilities to treatments I have no knowledge of. We are out of options."
"But what about those two other antibiotics?" The captain asked.
"I administered them twenty minutes ago, sir." Phlox replied. "There has been no change."
Archer sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. T'Pol, sensing the captain's indecisiveness, slid in toward the terminal.
"What about the commander's eyesight?" T'Pol asked.
"We are still reviewing the data we gathered in our scans. We need to study further, but on the patient himself."
"I want our ship's physician present at all times." Archer finally decided.
"Agreed." C'Taan didn't hesitate at all. "When can we expect you?"
"Soon as Doctor Phlox can get Commander Tucker ready for transport." The captain said.
"We will prepare for your arrival." C'Taan nodded and the screen went blank.
"I'll get to it, sir." Phlox said and the comm silenced.
The captain rose from his seat and slowly walked to the window. He stared out at the planet before him. "You know I was beginning to regret blowing up that repair station. I couldn't help but feel it could've helped Trip now. But, I guess there are more little medical miracle workers out here. Just hope they all don't have nasty little secrets."
"Your aprehensiveness is to be expected, Captain." T'Pol offered. "Do not confuse it with foreboding."
"They seem on the up and up. But I can't help but feel I'm..." Archer was struggling. He wasn't sure he wanted to reveal certain aspects of his feelings toward Trip to T'Pol. Yet, they are the three senior officers and they had shared some intimate moments as a threesome as well as between each set of pairs.
"You're not abandoning him." T'Pol's voice had softened. She had used this manner of speaking with the captain in the past. More recently when she countered to his apology for the 'friction' between them when Porthos had been near death. She was beginning to realize the fondness and affection humans have toward their pets and each other were outwardly similar. Yet, the captain's actions now made her realize that inwardly there were distinct differences in those feelings.
Archer lowered his head and closed his eyes, balling the hand leaning on the ledge into a fist. Damn, she was good.
"For someone who supresses their emotions," Archer began. "I still find it surprises me when you sink your teeth into analyzing mine."
"You have done the next best thing, Captain." T'Pol continued. "You have made sure that Doctor Phlox remains with him. He will not be alone."
"I know," The captain said turning to face her. "Could you assemble the away team? I'll be in sickbay."
"Ensigns Sato and Mayweather will meet the doctor, and I'm sure yourself, in lauchbay two."
Archer nodded and T'Pol reached the door before she was stopped.
"Sub-commander," Archer called back. "Do you believe I made the right decision?"
T'Pol knew Jonathan Archer needed no one to reinforce his decisions. But she believed he wanted, at this time, to know what she thought about this one. "Logically, it was the only decision to make."
----------
The emergency room at the Eklosian hospital was every bit as sterile and cold as Archer believed these people were. The stark white walls, floors and ceiling mixed with the splatters of metal and steel made him shiver. He sat, with Hoshi and Travis, in the observation lounge. Looking through the glass at the alien team below working on his best friend, Archer wondered how much of what he was feeling was helplessness or hopelessness.
Trip was laying on a table, his head and shoulders elevated slightly. The bandages over his eyes had been removed and for the first time those in the lounge could see the burns across his closed eyes. His arms were upturned and spread out to the sides, resting in metal slots and there were tubes in his nose and in both arms. He was wearing only white briefs that were, apparently, standard Eklosian hospital issue. Archer let a smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he pictured the hospital personnels' shock at the bright blue regulation Starfleet briefs Trip had on when they prepped him.
Doctor Phlox hovered behind C'Taan as he worked with his alien instruments to take living, healthy tissue from Tucker's thighs to replace the skin on the commander's hands. He glanced up at the captain sitting behind the glass and nodded to him. He felt he needed to reassure his captain that he was confident these people were more than capable of treating his best friend.
"It's going in..." Travis was whispering to Hoshi.
"No," Hoshi disagreed, equally as hushed. "I think it's being flushed out."
Archer broke from his thoughts and turned to the two younger people. "What are you two talking about?"
"Sir," Hoshi sat up straight. "We were just wondering what the tubes in Trip's arms were doing. Travis thinks it's drugs going in. I think they may be flushing out the infection."
"Oh," Archer nodded. "Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I think they're flushing it out, too."
Hoshi smirked back at Travis who just rolled his eyes.
Archer watched as Phlox circled the table and came to a halt behind Trip's head. The ship's doctor leaned over and looked at the commander's face. He looked so peaceful sleeping, Archer thought. Trip was unaware of being the center of attention for so many. Another alien physician was at Phlox's side and the two switched positions. The physician began to use his instruments to treat the burns around Trip's eyes.
"This is fascinating." Hoshi marveled out loud.
"So far, all I see is they're making him look as if the accident never happened." The captain stated. "But it's what's going on inside that I want to know about. The infection, his eyesight..." His voice trailed off and he inhaled deeply, blowing out the air in puffed cheeks.
"Sir," Travis said. "Far be it from me to suggest you could be anywhere but right here. But they said it could be hours and we're going on two and a half now. Would you like to take a walk?"
Archer turned to Travis and smiled at the young ensign. He was right. There wasn't anywhere else Jonathan Archer could be right at this moment. But perhaps these two needed a break.
"Thanks, but I'll pass." Archer said. "Why don't you take Hoshi? I think she could use a walk."
"Thank you, sir." Hoshi smiled and she and Travis quietly left the lounge.
Archer turned his attention back to the emergency room. He watched the team work, he watched Phlox watching the team work. He watched Trip's face, still and at rest. He wondered when he would see those bright blue eyes twinkle again at him after some smart aleck remark. Then he felt a lump in his throat and a twitch of his lower lip as he wondered not when...but if.
--
"Captain, wake up."
Archer opened his eyes and saw Hoshi and Travis standing over him. He bolted upright in his seat and realized he had dozed off. He quickly shot a look down at the emergency room and the lights were dim and it was empty.
"What happened?!" Archer jumped to his feet.
"It's okay, sir." Travis placed an arm on his captain's shoulder. "They finished and moved Commander Tucker to a private room."
"Dr. Phlox is with him." Hoshi added. "We were coming back from our walk and saw the doctor in the hall. He told us you had fallen asleep."
"Take me to him." Archer ordered.
----------
The captain, Hoshi and Travis turned a corner and saw Dr. Phlox talking with C'Taan at the end of the hall.
"Captain," Phlox addressed. "The procedures went well."
"Your man is quite a fighter." C'Taan praised. "He will have no scars and should gain his strength within five or six days."
"What about his sight?" Archer asked eagerly.
"They healed all of the damage to his eyes, Captain." Phlox remarked in admiration.
"Can I see him?" Archer asked.
"Yes," C'Taan said, heading toward a door. "Follow me. He should regain consciousness within the next thirty minutes."
"That fast?" Archer exclaimed as his voice faded into the room.
Hoshi and Travis watched as Phlox followed them inside and the door closed. They turned and shared a shrug and found seats in the hall to wait.
----------
There were no more tubes sticking in or out of Trip. His face appeared to have more color in it around the cheeks. It was amazing, Jon thought. His face, his hands looked as if nothing had happened at all. He reached out and brushed Trip's bangs back off his forehead. All Jon needed now was to look into his friend's eyes and see he knew he was safe and not alone.
Phlox talked quietly at the door with C'Taan. They went over a padd with information on it. C'Taan told Phlox he would send some K'rotul root with him. It made a very powerful antibiotic when boiled and mixed with other ingredients. The other ingredients would not be difficult for the resequencer to produce, however the root was a different matter. C'Taan said they could try and he wished them luck.
Luck, Phlox thought. It had been on their side for much of this journey. The doctor wondered just how long the streak would last.
"Doctors," Archer called to them.
They turned their attention toward the bed and saw the commander was stirring. C'Taan quickly motioned for the attendant to lower the lights and followed Phlox to the bedside.
Jon stood back and let C'Taan stand next to Trip while Phlox took the other side. Trip's eyes fluttered and opened slightly, then closed again.
"Captain," C'Taan whispered. "Perhaps it should be you and the Dr. Phlox he sees first."
Archer slowly approached the bedside. Trip turned his head in his direction and his eyes opened wider this time.
"Trip?" Archer spoke softly.
"Cap'n," Trip mumbled, groggy from the sedation. He squinted up at the captain's voice.
Jon looked down at Trip. He looked closely in his eyes, but there was something wrong. They weren't focused on him. They were slightly crossed and looking past him.
"Let me see to him." C'Taan said, moving Archer aside. "Just lie still, Commander."
"No," Trip turned his head away. "Where's the cap'n?"
"I'm right here, Trip." Archer reassured the younger man.
"I'm here too, Commander." Phlox placed a hand on Tucker's shoulder.
"Doc?" Trip tried to focus on him. "Wh--what's goin' on? Who's that guy?"
"He's a physician. Let him examine you." Phlox told him.
C'Taan ran a scanner with a pale blue light over Trip's eyes. There was no indication that the commander saw it at all. He handed the scanner over to Phlox who read the results with a grave expression.
Phlox shared a worried look with C'Taan. Archer looked from one to the other, the tension building inside of him.
"Captain," Phlox said. "May I speak with you?"
Archer followed Phlox toward the door.
"I thought you said they repaired any damage done to his eyes?" Archer asked in confusion.
"They did." Phlox told him.
"Look, Phlox," Archer said, losing patience. "I'm no physician, but he can't see!" His voice raised considerably.
Phlox took hold of the captain's arm and pulled him out into the hall. C'Taan looked down at Tucker after the two left.
"When are ya gonna take off the bandages?" Trip asked, still mumbling.
"Just relax, Commander." C'Taan tried to hold him off.
Trip's hands came up to touch his face and he now realized his eyes were not bandaged, nor were his hands.
"They're...they're off!" Trip began to breathe heavily. "No! They're off and I can't see!"
He began to thrash around in the bed, as C'Taan tried to grab hold of him. Archer burst in through the door, followed by Phlox. Hoshi and Travis watched from the opened doorway.
"Trip!" Jon called out as he grabbed hold of the frantic man by the shoulders firmly.
"Cap'n!" Trip screamed out. "I can't see! I can't..." His voice cracked and he wrapped his arms around Jon in a tight bear hug. "Please...please tell me it's not forever!"
Captain Jonathan Archer looked up at C'Taan and Phlox, knowing full well he could not tell his friend what he wanted to hear. The truth was none of them knew the answer to that, simply because it was not in any of their power to reverse. He gathered Trip up in his arms and held on tight to ride the wave of grief that was coming.
"You're going to have to be strong, Trip." Jon told him feeling it was a lame response at best. "Listen to me. You're just scared and that's affecting your eyesight."
Trip began to sob softly now. "What d'ya mean?"
Archer looked up at C'Taan who nodded to him. He took a deep breath and went for it.
"There's nothing wrong with your eyes. Physically they're fine." Jon told him.
"I can't see!" Trip screamed into Jon's chest as he buried himself deeper in the embrace.
"Help me here, doc." Archer looked up at Phlox.
"Commander," Phlox moved closer. "There is a great deal of emotional turmoil inside of you that has caused such an impact that it's blocking visual impulses in your brain."
"It's hysterical blindness, Trip." Jon told him gently.
"No!" Trip began to struggle, but Jon held on tighter. "You mean...you mean I'm doin' this to myself?!"
"You can't help it." Archer told him trying to rock his friend to calm him down.
"No!" Trip screamed. "It's cause I'm afraid, isn't it? Afraid of...what he'll think of me!"
"Shhh." Archer rocked Trip and looked up toward the door, seeing Hoshi and Travis' somber faces peering in from the doorway. "When can we take him home?"
"He's able to be moved now." C'Taan told him.
Archer looked at the two ensigns. "You two get back to the shuttlepod and fire it up. Hoshi, you contact T'Pol and tell her I want Trip's parents contacted and waiting for me when I get there."
Both ensigns nodded and rushed off. Phlox followed C'Taan out of the room to get the K'rotul root and other medicinal items they'd need.
Alone in the room, Jonathan Archer rocked Trip Tucker who coughed and cried softly. The captain's mind was racing with thoughts of the dressing down he was going to give Charles Tucker the Second when he had him in view. And God help Trip's father if he tried to deny the part he played in his son's current condition.
TO BE CONTINUED
----------
C'Taan, the chief researcher and physician of the Eklosian facility, spoke quickly and clinically to Archer. These people were not humanoid. They appeared more like giant bipedal insects with long snouts and thin crab like claws for hands.
Although the captain had opted to take the transmission in his ready room, he had T'Pol with him and a link to Phlox in sickbay.
"I appreciate that you want to help us, but you can understand my caution." Archer told the alien.
"Yes," C'Taan concurred. "But our scans show your officer is in grave danger and must be brought to our hospital immediately if we are to gain mutual benefit."
Archer looked up at T'Pol with a frown of uncertainty. These Eklosians appeared to be clinical to the point of being cold. Could their drive for research put Trip in further danger?
"Doctor?" Archer finally said.
"I see no alternatives, Captain." Phlox's comm voice piped up. "C'Taan is offering possibilities to treatments I have no knowledge of. We are out of options."
"But what about those two other antibiotics?" The captain asked.
"I administered them twenty minutes ago, sir." Phlox replied. "There has been no change."
Archer sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. T'Pol, sensing the captain's indecisiveness, slid in toward the terminal.
"What about the commander's eyesight?" T'Pol asked.
"We are still reviewing the data we gathered in our scans. We need to study further, but on the patient himself."
"I want our ship's physician present at all times." Archer finally decided.
"Agreed." C'Taan didn't hesitate at all. "When can we expect you?"
"Soon as Doctor Phlox can get Commander Tucker ready for transport." The captain said.
"We will prepare for your arrival." C'Taan nodded and the screen went blank.
"I'll get to it, sir." Phlox said and the comm silenced.
The captain rose from his seat and slowly walked to the window. He stared out at the planet before him. "You know I was beginning to regret blowing up that repair station. I couldn't help but feel it could've helped Trip now. But, I guess there are more little medical miracle workers out here. Just hope they all don't have nasty little secrets."
"Your aprehensiveness is to be expected, Captain." T'Pol offered. "Do not confuse it with foreboding."
"They seem on the up and up. But I can't help but feel I'm..." Archer was struggling. He wasn't sure he wanted to reveal certain aspects of his feelings toward Trip to T'Pol. Yet, they are the three senior officers and they had shared some intimate moments as a threesome as well as between each set of pairs.
"You're not abandoning him." T'Pol's voice had softened. She had used this manner of speaking with the captain in the past. More recently when she countered to his apology for the 'friction' between them when Porthos had been near death. She was beginning to realize the fondness and affection humans have toward their pets and each other were outwardly similar. Yet, the captain's actions now made her realize that inwardly there were distinct differences in those feelings.
Archer lowered his head and closed his eyes, balling the hand leaning on the ledge into a fist. Damn, she was good.
"For someone who supresses their emotions," Archer began. "I still find it surprises me when you sink your teeth into analyzing mine."
"You have done the next best thing, Captain." T'Pol continued. "You have made sure that Doctor Phlox remains with him. He will not be alone."
"I know," The captain said turning to face her. "Could you assemble the away team? I'll be in sickbay."
"Ensigns Sato and Mayweather will meet the doctor, and I'm sure yourself, in lauchbay two."
Archer nodded and T'Pol reached the door before she was stopped.
"Sub-commander," Archer called back. "Do you believe I made the right decision?"
T'Pol knew Jonathan Archer needed no one to reinforce his decisions. But she believed he wanted, at this time, to know what she thought about this one. "Logically, it was the only decision to make."
----------
The emergency room at the Eklosian hospital was every bit as sterile and cold as Archer believed these people were. The stark white walls, floors and ceiling mixed with the splatters of metal and steel made him shiver. He sat, with Hoshi and Travis, in the observation lounge. Looking through the glass at the alien team below working on his best friend, Archer wondered how much of what he was feeling was helplessness or hopelessness.
Trip was laying on a table, his head and shoulders elevated slightly. The bandages over his eyes had been removed and for the first time those in the lounge could see the burns across his closed eyes. His arms were upturned and spread out to the sides, resting in metal slots and there were tubes in his nose and in both arms. He was wearing only white briefs that were, apparently, standard Eklosian hospital issue. Archer let a smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he pictured the hospital personnels' shock at the bright blue regulation Starfleet briefs Trip had on when they prepped him.
Doctor Phlox hovered behind C'Taan as he worked with his alien instruments to take living, healthy tissue from Tucker's thighs to replace the skin on the commander's hands. He glanced up at the captain sitting behind the glass and nodded to him. He felt he needed to reassure his captain that he was confident these people were more than capable of treating his best friend.
"It's going in..." Travis was whispering to Hoshi.
"No," Hoshi disagreed, equally as hushed. "I think it's being flushed out."
Archer broke from his thoughts and turned to the two younger people. "What are you two talking about?"
"Sir," Hoshi sat up straight. "We were just wondering what the tubes in Trip's arms were doing. Travis thinks it's drugs going in. I think they may be flushing out the infection."
"Oh," Archer nodded. "Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I think they're flushing it out, too."
Hoshi smirked back at Travis who just rolled his eyes.
Archer watched as Phlox circled the table and came to a halt behind Trip's head. The ship's doctor leaned over and looked at the commander's face. He looked so peaceful sleeping, Archer thought. Trip was unaware of being the center of attention for so many. Another alien physician was at Phlox's side and the two switched positions. The physician began to use his instruments to treat the burns around Trip's eyes.
"This is fascinating." Hoshi marveled out loud.
"So far, all I see is they're making him look as if the accident never happened." The captain stated. "But it's what's going on inside that I want to know about. The infection, his eyesight..." His voice trailed off and he inhaled deeply, blowing out the air in puffed cheeks.
"Sir," Travis said. "Far be it from me to suggest you could be anywhere but right here. But they said it could be hours and we're going on two and a half now. Would you like to take a walk?"
Archer turned to Travis and smiled at the young ensign. He was right. There wasn't anywhere else Jonathan Archer could be right at this moment. But perhaps these two needed a break.
"Thanks, but I'll pass." Archer said. "Why don't you take Hoshi? I think she could use a walk."
"Thank you, sir." Hoshi smiled and she and Travis quietly left the lounge.
Archer turned his attention back to the emergency room. He watched the team work, he watched Phlox watching the team work. He watched Trip's face, still and at rest. He wondered when he would see those bright blue eyes twinkle again at him after some smart aleck remark. Then he felt a lump in his throat and a twitch of his lower lip as he wondered not when...but if.
--
"Captain, wake up."
Archer opened his eyes and saw Hoshi and Travis standing over him. He bolted upright in his seat and realized he had dozed off. He quickly shot a look down at the emergency room and the lights were dim and it was empty.
"What happened?!" Archer jumped to his feet.
"It's okay, sir." Travis placed an arm on his captain's shoulder. "They finished and moved Commander Tucker to a private room."
"Dr. Phlox is with him." Hoshi added. "We were coming back from our walk and saw the doctor in the hall. He told us you had fallen asleep."
"Take me to him." Archer ordered.
----------
The captain, Hoshi and Travis turned a corner and saw Dr. Phlox talking with C'Taan at the end of the hall.
"Captain," Phlox addressed. "The procedures went well."
"Your man is quite a fighter." C'Taan praised. "He will have no scars and should gain his strength within five or six days."
"What about his sight?" Archer asked eagerly.
"They healed all of the damage to his eyes, Captain." Phlox remarked in admiration.
"Can I see him?" Archer asked.
"Yes," C'Taan said, heading toward a door. "Follow me. He should regain consciousness within the next thirty minutes."
"That fast?" Archer exclaimed as his voice faded into the room.
Hoshi and Travis watched as Phlox followed them inside and the door closed. They turned and shared a shrug and found seats in the hall to wait.
----------
There were no more tubes sticking in or out of Trip. His face appeared to have more color in it around the cheeks. It was amazing, Jon thought. His face, his hands looked as if nothing had happened at all. He reached out and brushed Trip's bangs back off his forehead. All Jon needed now was to look into his friend's eyes and see he knew he was safe and not alone.
Phlox talked quietly at the door with C'Taan. They went over a padd with information on it. C'Taan told Phlox he would send some K'rotul root with him. It made a very powerful antibiotic when boiled and mixed with other ingredients. The other ingredients would not be difficult for the resequencer to produce, however the root was a different matter. C'Taan said they could try and he wished them luck.
Luck, Phlox thought. It had been on their side for much of this journey. The doctor wondered just how long the streak would last.
"Doctors," Archer called to them.
They turned their attention toward the bed and saw the commander was stirring. C'Taan quickly motioned for the attendant to lower the lights and followed Phlox to the bedside.
Jon stood back and let C'Taan stand next to Trip while Phlox took the other side. Trip's eyes fluttered and opened slightly, then closed again.
"Captain," C'Taan whispered. "Perhaps it should be you and the Dr. Phlox he sees first."
Archer slowly approached the bedside. Trip turned his head in his direction and his eyes opened wider this time.
"Trip?" Archer spoke softly.
"Cap'n," Trip mumbled, groggy from the sedation. He squinted up at the captain's voice.
Jon looked down at Trip. He looked closely in his eyes, but there was something wrong. They weren't focused on him. They were slightly crossed and looking past him.
"Let me see to him." C'Taan said, moving Archer aside. "Just lie still, Commander."
"No," Trip turned his head away. "Where's the cap'n?"
"I'm right here, Trip." Archer reassured the younger man.
"I'm here too, Commander." Phlox placed a hand on Tucker's shoulder.
"Doc?" Trip tried to focus on him. "Wh--what's goin' on? Who's that guy?"
"He's a physician. Let him examine you." Phlox told him.
C'Taan ran a scanner with a pale blue light over Trip's eyes. There was no indication that the commander saw it at all. He handed the scanner over to Phlox who read the results with a grave expression.
Phlox shared a worried look with C'Taan. Archer looked from one to the other, the tension building inside of him.
"Captain," Phlox said. "May I speak with you?"
Archer followed Phlox toward the door.
"I thought you said they repaired any damage done to his eyes?" Archer asked in confusion.
"They did." Phlox told him.
"Look, Phlox," Archer said, losing patience. "I'm no physician, but he can't see!" His voice raised considerably.
Phlox took hold of the captain's arm and pulled him out into the hall. C'Taan looked down at Tucker after the two left.
"When are ya gonna take off the bandages?" Trip asked, still mumbling.
"Just relax, Commander." C'Taan tried to hold him off.
Trip's hands came up to touch his face and he now realized his eyes were not bandaged, nor were his hands.
"They're...they're off!" Trip began to breathe heavily. "No! They're off and I can't see!"
He began to thrash around in the bed, as C'Taan tried to grab hold of him. Archer burst in through the door, followed by Phlox. Hoshi and Travis watched from the opened doorway.
"Trip!" Jon called out as he grabbed hold of the frantic man by the shoulders firmly.
"Cap'n!" Trip screamed out. "I can't see! I can't..." His voice cracked and he wrapped his arms around Jon in a tight bear hug. "Please...please tell me it's not forever!"
Captain Jonathan Archer looked up at C'Taan and Phlox, knowing full well he could not tell his friend what he wanted to hear. The truth was none of them knew the answer to that, simply because it was not in any of their power to reverse. He gathered Trip up in his arms and held on tight to ride the wave of grief that was coming.
"You're going to have to be strong, Trip." Jon told him feeling it was a lame response at best. "Listen to me. You're just scared and that's affecting your eyesight."
Trip began to sob softly now. "What d'ya mean?"
Archer looked up at C'Taan who nodded to him. He took a deep breath and went for it.
"There's nothing wrong with your eyes. Physically they're fine." Jon told him.
"I can't see!" Trip screamed into Jon's chest as he buried himself deeper in the embrace.
"Help me here, doc." Archer looked up at Phlox.
"Commander," Phlox moved closer. "There is a great deal of emotional turmoil inside of you that has caused such an impact that it's blocking visual impulses in your brain."
"It's hysterical blindness, Trip." Jon told him gently.
"No!" Trip began to struggle, but Jon held on tighter. "You mean...you mean I'm doin' this to myself?!"
"You can't help it." Archer told him trying to rock his friend to calm him down.
"No!" Trip screamed. "It's cause I'm afraid, isn't it? Afraid of...what he'll think of me!"
"Shhh." Archer rocked Trip and looked up toward the door, seeing Hoshi and Travis' somber faces peering in from the doorway. "When can we take him home?"
"He's able to be moved now." C'Taan told him.
Archer looked at the two ensigns. "You two get back to the shuttlepod and fire it up. Hoshi, you contact T'Pol and tell her I want Trip's parents contacted and waiting for me when I get there."
Both ensigns nodded and rushed off. Phlox followed C'Taan out of the room to get the K'rotul root and other medicinal items they'd need.
Alone in the room, Jonathan Archer rocked Trip Tucker who coughed and cried softly. The captain's mind was racing with thoughts of the dressing down he was going to give Charles Tucker the Second when he had him in view. And God help Trip's father if he tried to deny the part he played in his son's current condition.
TO BE CONTINUED
----------