Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine, I'm just playing with it for a while.

Author's Note: This is dialog heavy, but just an idea I had. Originally this story was The Price of Friendship. But I erased that one and am reworking it, piece by piece. I really like comments. Compliments are always good, but true critique in a constructive tone is even better. I welcome character analysis as well as issues of plausibility. So far, while there have been some changes to the story, it still runs pretty congruent to the original. Now, on the whole I had to throw everything out, except for some chunks of dialog. I ended up changing a lot and rewriting a lot. Bu one of the first rules of revision is "Kill all your darlings." Happy Reading.

ABOVE AND BEYOND FRIENDSHIP

By Beeswax

Chapter 6: Holding Pattern

T'Pol knew that he had entered sickbay, even though she couldn't see him. She felt hot all over, but Doctor Phlox had tucked her in so tightly she couldn't move her arms to pull back the covers. Now she could hear him, in the room, coming toward her. She twitched her nose because she couldn't scratch it. She closed her eyes before he pulled back the curtain; maybe he wouldn't wake her. The she felt him reach down, gently scratch her nose and pull back her blankets.

"I know yer not asleep." He said matter of factly.

She looked up at him and then pulled herself into a sitting position. "You do not have to come with me. I can go to Vulcan by myself."

"Not what Doc says."

"He is not a Vulcan doctor."

"Not a human one, neither, but he's done fine so far."

"I did not wish to involve anyone in this problem."

"Too late to worry 'bout that now."

"You have no desire to go. You said I injured you, will continue to injure you."

"Should have known you could hear us. Yeah, you did and you probably will again, but I can take it. This time wasn't as rough, must be getting' used to it."

"You do not care for my presence."

"Don't much care for any Peepin' Tom in my brain, but that's nothin' 'gainst you and ya know that."

"But I did this to you."

"You needed help, 'saida would."

"You had no concept of the actual need or consequences of it."

"Tha's what friends are fer? Look, T'Pol none of that stuff matters now. The thing is, I offered, you took me up on't and now we're in overtime. Doc says we can stay at his place."

"You do not have to do this."

"Yeah, I do. 'Sides if we wait too long you'll start runnin' pornos in my head again and I'd rather not."

He wrapped his arm around her small shoulders and pulled her off the biobed toward him. When her feet were securely on the floor he held her tight against him as they walked toward the doctor's room. Halfway there, T'Pol dropped her head down onto Trip's shoulder and reached her arm up behind his waist. The squeeze was very gentle and only for a second, but Trip got the message. His touch was gentle as he helped her into bed. Together they could make this okay.