^*^*^*^CHAPTER 8*^*^*^

"Jon?" his voice was a scratchy whisper. The captain forced a smirk, but there was still the terror in his eyes.

"Yes, Trip. It's me. How are you feeling?" he asked. It was obvious Trip was still in pain but he tried to think of the right thing to say without worrying his friend. However, he couldn't deny it,

"Awful, Jon" his voiced cracked and he closed his eyes. The captain glowered and his eyes dropped in anguish over his friend's suffering. His best friend lied there, sickly, pale, motionless. His face was expressionless, which was very rare for Trip Tucker. It was as if the life was struck out of him, and it nearly was. Trip just stared at the ceiling, eyes half open, as Archer looked at his lifeless body, the thick bandages over his stomach, and lowered his brow in anger.

"We'll find who did this to you, Trip, no matter what it takes. Malcolm is already on it" the captain couldn't keep his voice steady, he leaned in closer to his friend, "They will pay for what they did to you"

All Trip could do was lie there, silent. He wanted to say something, do something, get off of that hard bed and get on with his life. But, he couldn't. His arm could barely move but he gave all his might and slowly lifted it up towards him. Archer took his hand, held it in a firm grip but felt it shake and saw Trip bite his lip. He sunk his shoulders as his struggling friend's arm went limp. Trip couldn't look his friend, his captain, in the eyes. Archer knew Trip was ashamed of himself but he still held on tight, without being ashamed of him at all.

"You'll get through this, Trip. I know you will. You just have to wait, that's all" his captain tried to reassure him, and placed his arm back on the biobed. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Trip knew he would get through this but it wouldn't be easy. He would heal physically, yes. But some of the emotional and psychological parts would be difficult, he admitted. He didn't move or say anything. Archer still waited a few moments but decided he needed to be alone for awhile.

"I'll check on you later, ok?" Archer said, patting him on the shoulder. Trip slightly nodded his head, his eyes misty and dark. Reluctantly, Archer pulled back the white curtain and walked out, still watching his friend's every movement. It was difficult for Archer to see. After his captain walked out after having a few words with Doctor Phlox, the doctor came in.

"This should take care of the pain for a few more hours. Let me know when it comes back and I'll give you some more" the doctor said, trying not to show any compassion. He'd never seen the engineer in this state before. The injection pinched his neck but it didn't bother him and he just lied still, staring at the ceiling. Phlox didn't know what to think. He did feel sorry for him, but he knew what to say as a doctor, not as a friend. Deciding to keep their relationship strictly professional, he sighed,

"Let me know if you need anything." and he walked out. It was now silent except for the usual murmur of the infirmary. The doctor went on with his work and his creatures made awkward noises in their containers.

Being alone, Trip finally let a tear stream down his temple and that relaxed him a bit. He felt the cold air around him on his bare chest and it sent a chill down his spine. He didn't really want to be alone and thought of all the people who might come and see him soon: Reed, Hoshi, Mayweather, T'Pol maybe, and, of course, the captain again. Looking forward to seeing them, including T'Pol, he wanted to reassure them that he would be alright. Lifting his head, he looked down below at the bandages on his stomach. It still ached but he could tell the injection was kicking in.

*Why'd this have'ta happen to me?* he thought as another tear ran down his cheek. *I almost died. Someone wanted me dead. They're still out there somewhere… Tisk'rar…* He was now enraged but that didn't hold back the tears. Shaking his head he told himself *Pull yourself together, this isn't the time* and he lied his head back down. He attempted to wipe the years off his face with his hand, but he couldn't lift it up. Biting his lip, his arm shook as he lifted it, but it soon dropped on is chest, and his fingers were cold. Trip exhaled in agony and coughed for his throat was still scratchy. *Dammit, Charles*

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Come in" Captain Archer responded to the door chime of his quarters. He had been pacing for a long time, thinking of his suffering friend. Lt. Malcolm Reed walked in with a dismal look on his face.

"Any news on the investigation?" his captain asked. Reed lowered his head regrettably.

"No sir. Not here. We need more information from the surface but I'm not sure how the Veekicians will respond to our claim that one of them did… this… to Commander Tucker"

"Well I don't give a damn" Captain Archer growled, stopping in his tracks, his face nearly inches from Lt. Reed's. The armory officer averted his eyes form the rage in his captain's eyes, still standing straight with his arms behind his back. Archer realized he was being too harsh on Reed. He had been doing all he could so far in the investigation and Archer backed down, continuing to pace.

"I'm sorry, Malcolm… its not you… its Trip lying on that bed… weak… fragile… I can't stand it" Archer grit his teeth, scowling at his yellow ball used for water polo. Reed thought about how inert he saw his friend in the infirmary and lifted his head, trying to reassure his captain, and himself.

"I will find who did this to Commander Tucker… you can count on it" his voice could barely stay stable. "…if you'll assist me in getting permission to investigate on Veekicia, Sir" The captain looked him in the eyes,

"I'll do whatever it takes" Archer promised him, giving Reed the reassurance and the lieutenant forced a proud smirk. But before he could leave, Archer hesitated, "But you must ask Trip about the incident first."

Malcolm sunk his shoulders and frowned once again. Archer could see the pain in his eyes but tried to encourage him, despite his own pain,

"I know it'll be hard on Trip… but we need all the help we can get as soon as possible… we need to do it for him"

"I know…" Reed swallowed "… I'll get right on it"

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Commander Tucker was falling asleep when Lieutenant Reed came in. He spoke to the doctor briefly then quietly pulled back one of the white curtains. He noticed right away that his friend's eyes were peacefully closed. But just as quickly, they shot open, staring at him wearily. Reed apologetically shook and lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, Commander… I didn't want to disturb you but the captain needs you to answer a few questions" he explained trying to shift the blame on Archer for interrupting his peace, and walked over beside the bed. It was painful to look at him now.

"Tha's a'right, Ma'colm… I could use the comp'ny" Trip told him with the quiet, scratched breath. Reed looked at the bandages over his stomach, at his pale skin, at the dark circles around his drained eyes, and they stared right back. "I know… it's pretty bad"

"No Sir… not like you think" Malcolm lied, trying not to look at him.  

"That's okay, Malcolm… I can take it…" he encouraged him to say what he was really thinking but Reed wouldn't budge. He took a deep breath,

"What exactly can you describe about your attack last night?" Reed's neck stiffened and he attempted to act natural and indifferent. *Last night? Was it really that long ago?* Trip thought. Thinking long and timid, he lied there while Reed patiently waited for a response but Trip knew Reed underneath was eager to get this over with.

"It felt like… minutes ago…" he replied slowly, staring at the ceiling. Trip's eyes then started to close. He saw the blood, the shadows, and felt the pain. The pain would never leave his memory and it felt as if he were still living in it. "He hurt Judianna too… she needs help"

"Sir…?" Reed then looked at his eyes confused. Trip crooked his neck opposite his friend and looked through the white curtain. Reed keenly raised his voice in demand. "Sir…? Who are you talking about? …Another crewman?"

Trip's eyes glazed over as he blankly stared into space, and wrapped his arms around his cold chest, lying partly on his side. Frustrated, Reed scoffed and walked over to the other side of the bed. Trip didn't move, and looked through Reed as if he wasn't there.

"Commander Tucker… Trip, listen to me!" Reed urged "…look at me, Sir… I need to know who…"

"Lieutenant Reed" Doctor Phlox interrupted "I've given you time to speak with Commander Tucker but he now needs his rest"

"Doctor…"

"I will not have you badger my patient in his condition… more questions can wait 'til morning" Phlox ordered sternly, his arm spread out, aiming towards the exit with the other holding back a curtain. Reed upsettingly gawked at the doctor, his frustration building. Phlox gave a wry smirk "I'm waiting…"

Reed looked back down at Trip. His eyes were half closed, still staring through him. Irritated, Reed huffed and strode past Phlox out the infirmary.

Phlox harrumphed at the lieutenant, and then looked at the engineer. His eyes were now closed in peace. Satisfied, the doctor quietly closed the curtain and went back to his work.

Trip was half asleep, trying not to think about the attack, but couldn't avoid it. He wasn't sure what Tisk'rar had against him and wasn't sure if he really was his attacker. Jumping to conclusions wouldn't do any good but it made sense that, at least, a Veekician did it. Still thinking back to the incident, he remembered how lonely it felt, lying there, helpless, feeling his body ache and spew. Not wanting that feeling again, he desperately listened to the sounds of the infirmary, and opened his eyes, watching the doctor quietly pace about the room, humming now and then.

*No body can get me now… I'm not alone…* he thought. He wanted to see the rest of the crew again and he was hungry and wanted a real meal. He had been waiting for one and wanted to enjoy with friends and colleagues. His family was back on Earth and he wanted to see them as well, especially after that message he got from his mother the day Tisk'rar threatened him. There were other friends he wanted to see that were back home. His stomach growled at the thought of the sweet fruit he always had back home, that he couldn't get on the Enterprise, and it hurt. It still hurt to move his body and he still couldn't get the image out of his head. The loneliness was becoming unbearable but the sedative given to him before Reed interrupted his peace was really kicking in.

His eyes slowly closed and he soon fell back asleep, still thinking of the incident.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Captain Archer to the bridge" Sub-commander T'Pol called. The captain walked out of his ready room within seconds.

"Any news?" he eagerly asked her.

"We have run into a problem, Sir" she replied. He looked at her impassive face and then looked at Hoshi's. The Ensign's eyes were full of fear.

"Well…?" he urged, shifting his attention to Lieutenant Reed who was standing beside Hoshi.

"Its Tisk'rar, Sir… he's missing… the Veekicians are cooperative but… they can't find him anywhere" Reed regrettably told him, gritting his teeth. Archer sunk his shoulders. He looked at T'Pol, Hoshi, Mayweather, back at Reed, and then back at Hoshi. The rage was building inside of him.

"Find that Veekician captain… I need to have a word with him"

~TO BE CONTINUED…