PART 43:

Trip found himself back in the room in the cave. He sat down on the pillows. He knew he should be with the others, but he needed in some way to be close to Liana. His memory brought him back to their first time in the room, the first time he made love to her.

He picked up one of the pillows and hugged it. Inhaling deeply he could smell her scent on it. Trip had never believed in a higher being, but now that everything was out of his control he prayed.

Doctor Phlox had been brought down from Enterprise to see if he could assist the Kantare doctors in saving Liana. Trip prayed that he would be able to and everything would be all right.

"Trip," he head his friend. When he looked up, his Captain's eyes confirmed his worst fears.

"She's still alive Trip, but the doctors don't give her too much time."

The southerner closed his eyes and inhaled a shaky breath.

She wants to see you, Trip," Archer said. His heart ached for his friend, he wished he didn't have to go through this.

Trip stood and faced his Captain. Jonathan could see the tears in his engineers eyes and it scared the hell out of him. The fact that Trip hadn't spoken two words to anyone since the incident was not a good sign. He put his hand on Trip's shoulder and nodded. An unspoken message passed between the friends. Trip was ready to see his love.

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T'Pol, along with Lieutenant Reed and Doctor Phlox stood in the hallway near the room Liana was in. They watched as their Captain and Chief Engineer joined them. No one said a word.

Trip stared at the door. He desperately wanted her to be sitting up and full of life when he walked in there, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

The door to the room opened and Ezral walked out. He glanced at the group, before his eyes settled on Trip.

He cleared his throat. "She's waiting for you, Commander."

Trip couldn't move. He felt Archer place a hand on his back.

"You want me to go in there with you."

"No," Trip said his voice barely a whisper. He started towards the door. He stopped and looked at Doctor Phlox.

"I'm sorry Commander," Phlox said. "I wish there was more t hat I could have done."

Trip just nodded his appreciation to the doctor and went into the room.

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Liana lay in a bed in the middle of the room. To Trip she looked like she was already dead. He slowly walked over to her.

She opened her eyes and smiled. "Hey there," she said breathless.

"Hey there yourself," Trip replied sitting on the bed next to her.

"Thank you for being here with me."

"There's no other place I'd rather be right now, " he whispered, taking her hand in his.

"I wish we had more time together."

"We still could if you'd just fight a little harder," Trip told her.

"I can't Trip, my body just can't," she said.

"Please Liana," Trip pleaded as the tears ran down his face. "I need you."

Liana lifted her hand slowly to Trip's cheek. She wiped away a tear as he leaned into her touch.

"I don't have the strength to fight," she told him.

"I can't loose you."

"Trip, I love you," she took a deep breath. "Our time together just wasn't meant to be."

"I love you too."

"Trip," she said. "Promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Remember to love again."

"I don't...," Trip started.

"Please, do this for me," she interrupted him. "I don't want you being alone all your life."

With his tears flowing freely now, Trip couldn't find the words to answer her. He just grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

Liana took a deep breath and winced in pain. "Hold me please."

Trip gathered Liana into his arms as gently as he could. Liana rested her head on his chest and she let the tears fall.

It was just so unfair, she thought. She wasn't ready to die, she wanted more time with Trip.

"What are you thinking about?" Trip asked.

Liana smiled. "The first time we met on the ship. You had that phase pistol pointed at me."

Trip chuckled. "You looked so frighten of me."

"And you introduced me to rocky road ice cream," her voice was but a whisper.

Trip held on to her tighter. He was hoping if he did she wouldn't die, but he felt her take her last breath and then she was still.

"You'll always be in my heart, Liana," he said as he rested his cheek against the top of her head and sobbed.

End of Part 43