I hope I can wind this up in the next Chapter. I have lots of ideas for
other fanfic just swirling around in my head. Thanks so much for all your
support, reading and reviewing. I'll be carrying a full course load in the
fall so I'm not sure how long it will take to complete another fanfic.
Hang in there with me please.
Chapter 12
T'POL'S QUARTERS
"Lieutenant Hess, I know it is very late, however I'm sure you are willing to do everything you can to help Commander Tucker." T'pol watched her face while speaking.
Eagerly she replied, "I'll do anything I can to help the commander. Just tell me what to do."
T'pol stood directly in front of the lieutenant and fixed her with a stare, "Do you know a man named Gary Bullock?"
Lieutenant Hess tried to maintain eye contact and failed. Her eyes dropped to her feet and her hands, which she held behind her back, began clutching one another nervously. Looking back at the Sub-Commander she cleared her throat and replied, "I don't think so Sub-Commander. There's no crewmember on board with that name. Why do you ask?"
T'pol noticed her nervousness, "You seem agitated Lieutenant. Is anything wrong?"
The lieutenants breathing increased and a dull flush crept up her face. She replied hurriedly, "No, nothing's wrong."
Dropping the subject T'pol asked, "Where were you between 0800 and 1200 hours the day of the accident?"
Hess's voice quavered slightly as she replied, "Helping Lieutenant James inspect the plasma manifolds."
Did you see Commander Tucker?"
Hess shook her head negatively, "No."
T'pol pushed, "Are you saying, you didn't see him during that time, or you didn't see him that day?"
Hess's agitation increased, her eyes began darting around the room, perspiration filmed her upper lip, she stuttered, "I, I don't know. I'm sure he was around, I just can't remember. The explosion was horrible; I was so scared. I'm sorry I don't remember that day very clearly. Talk to Ashley, I mean, Lieutenant James."
Ignoring her reply, T'pol asked, "During that time did you see anyone near the main power grid?"
Hess hesitated before replying, "No, I didn't."
T'pol's eyes narrowed, "Thank you for your time Lieutenant, you're dismissed."
Hess spun around and practically ran out of the room. T'pol watched the door close a speculative look in her eyes. She knew Hess was lying but how to prove it. She needed to talk to the captain. T'pol pressed the comm., "T'pol to Captain Archer."
TRIP'S QUARTERS
Archer sat at Trip's desk reading over a stack of reports he let pile up over the last several days. A soft groan came from the bed on his left. Commander Tucker opened his eyes and squinted at the light over his desk.
"I thought ya left. What are ya still doin' here Cap'm?"
Archer looked at Trip, "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd catch up on some reading."
Disbelieving Trip replied, "In my quarters? Struggling to sit up he winced at the pull he felt in his stomach. "Come on Cap'm, I don't need a babysitter."
Archer sighed tiredly, "The only reason you're here and not sickbay is I promised Phlox I'd keep an eye on you tonight. Now go back to sleep, that's an order."
Trip snorted and carefully slid under the covers sighing in contentment at being in his own bed. Archer watched him enviously, wishing he could find a little sack time. Instead he picked up a ceramic coffee pot and poured himself another strong cup of coffee. In a few days he felt things would be resolved then he was going to take a few days off and just sleep.
The comm. drew Archer's attention, "T'pol to Captain Archer."
"Archer here."
"I need to speak to you Captain."
Archer looked at the chronometer, "Do you realize the time Sub-Commander? It's 0100, can it wait until later this morning?"
"I think you need to hear this now."
Archer hung his head and slowly shook it, "Alright T'pol, come to Trip's quarters, Archer out."
"She sounded excited," Trip remarked.
Archer turned around, "I thought I ordered you to sleep, and how could you tell she was excited?"
Leaning on an elbow, he grinned, "It's a gift Cap'm. Some of us are born with it, I guess you missed out."
Archer smiled, "You're delirious, Commander."
Trip laughed, "You're just jealous."
The door buzzed announcing T'pol's arrival. Archer stood up and called, "Come in."
T'pol entered, stopping just inside the door, "Captain, Commander."
"What was so important it couldn't wait until later?" Archer asked.
T'pol handed the captain a recorded version of the interview with Lieutenant Hess, "I think you and the commander should listen to this."
Trip and the captain listened in silence as the conversation played itself out. When it was finished Trip whistled softly, "That didn't sound like Jennifer Hess. She's always been confident and on top of things when she's workin'. Maybe the accident really shook her up."
"She sounded frightened to me," Archer stated.
"I believe she lied when I asked her about Lieutenant Bullock. Her body language changed when she heard his name. She became agitated and with each question her discomfort grew."
"Trip you know her best," Archer said, "If you feel up to it, later this morning think up an excuse and have her meet you here. See what you can get out of her."
Trip nodded, "I'll find out what she's hidin'."
"It's 0130 now," Archer said, "can you get her here at 0800."
"Yeah, her shift starts at 0730, so there shouldn't be a problem."
"I want a run down as soon as you've finished." Looking at Trip, Archer realized the tremendous strain the younger man was under. He looked totally washed out and doing his best to hide it. "Maybe I should talk to Lieutenant Hess, if you end up back in sickbay Phlox will have my head."
Trip immediately replied, "I can do this Cap'm, I just need a few hours sleep."
Archer gave in, "Any problems give T'pol or myself a call, understand?"
"Yes Sir. Now if ya'll leave me alone; I can get some sleep." Rolling over he yanked the covers over his shoulder and closed his eyes.
Archer looked over at T'pol, "You heard the man, out."
T'pol gave Archer her Vulcan stare then turned and let herself out.
Archer wearily rubbed his face; by this time tomorrow he hoped things would be resolved. Taking his cold coffee he dumped it down the sink in the bathroom. Pouring a fresh cup he sat down at the desk to finish the reports.
END OF CHAPTER 12
One more chapter I think and I'll wrap up my first fanfic. I want to let all of you know how much I appreciate your support. Reading other fanfic I can see what I need to work on to make it better. Hopefully I can incorporate some of what I've learned into my next story. Thanks again.
Chapter 12
T'POL'S QUARTERS
"Lieutenant Hess, I know it is very late, however I'm sure you are willing to do everything you can to help Commander Tucker." T'pol watched her face while speaking.
Eagerly she replied, "I'll do anything I can to help the commander. Just tell me what to do."
T'pol stood directly in front of the lieutenant and fixed her with a stare, "Do you know a man named Gary Bullock?"
Lieutenant Hess tried to maintain eye contact and failed. Her eyes dropped to her feet and her hands, which she held behind her back, began clutching one another nervously. Looking back at the Sub-Commander she cleared her throat and replied, "I don't think so Sub-Commander. There's no crewmember on board with that name. Why do you ask?"
T'pol noticed her nervousness, "You seem agitated Lieutenant. Is anything wrong?"
The lieutenants breathing increased and a dull flush crept up her face. She replied hurriedly, "No, nothing's wrong."
Dropping the subject T'pol asked, "Where were you between 0800 and 1200 hours the day of the accident?"
Hess's voice quavered slightly as she replied, "Helping Lieutenant James inspect the plasma manifolds."
Did you see Commander Tucker?"
Hess shook her head negatively, "No."
T'pol pushed, "Are you saying, you didn't see him during that time, or you didn't see him that day?"
Hess's agitation increased, her eyes began darting around the room, perspiration filmed her upper lip, she stuttered, "I, I don't know. I'm sure he was around, I just can't remember. The explosion was horrible; I was so scared. I'm sorry I don't remember that day very clearly. Talk to Ashley, I mean, Lieutenant James."
Ignoring her reply, T'pol asked, "During that time did you see anyone near the main power grid?"
Hess hesitated before replying, "No, I didn't."
T'pol's eyes narrowed, "Thank you for your time Lieutenant, you're dismissed."
Hess spun around and practically ran out of the room. T'pol watched the door close a speculative look in her eyes. She knew Hess was lying but how to prove it. She needed to talk to the captain. T'pol pressed the comm., "T'pol to Captain Archer."
TRIP'S QUARTERS
Archer sat at Trip's desk reading over a stack of reports he let pile up over the last several days. A soft groan came from the bed on his left. Commander Tucker opened his eyes and squinted at the light over his desk.
"I thought ya left. What are ya still doin' here Cap'm?"
Archer looked at Trip, "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd catch up on some reading."
Disbelieving Trip replied, "In my quarters? Struggling to sit up he winced at the pull he felt in his stomach. "Come on Cap'm, I don't need a babysitter."
Archer sighed tiredly, "The only reason you're here and not sickbay is I promised Phlox I'd keep an eye on you tonight. Now go back to sleep, that's an order."
Trip snorted and carefully slid under the covers sighing in contentment at being in his own bed. Archer watched him enviously, wishing he could find a little sack time. Instead he picked up a ceramic coffee pot and poured himself another strong cup of coffee. In a few days he felt things would be resolved then he was going to take a few days off and just sleep.
The comm. drew Archer's attention, "T'pol to Captain Archer."
"Archer here."
"I need to speak to you Captain."
Archer looked at the chronometer, "Do you realize the time Sub-Commander? It's 0100, can it wait until later this morning?"
"I think you need to hear this now."
Archer hung his head and slowly shook it, "Alright T'pol, come to Trip's quarters, Archer out."
"She sounded excited," Trip remarked.
Archer turned around, "I thought I ordered you to sleep, and how could you tell she was excited?"
Leaning on an elbow, he grinned, "It's a gift Cap'm. Some of us are born with it, I guess you missed out."
Archer smiled, "You're delirious, Commander."
Trip laughed, "You're just jealous."
The door buzzed announcing T'pol's arrival. Archer stood up and called, "Come in."
T'pol entered, stopping just inside the door, "Captain, Commander."
"What was so important it couldn't wait until later?" Archer asked.
T'pol handed the captain a recorded version of the interview with Lieutenant Hess, "I think you and the commander should listen to this."
Trip and the captain listened in silence as the conversation played itself out. When it was finished Trip whistled softly, "That didn't sound like Jennifer Hess. She's always been confident and on top of things when she's workin'. Maybe the accident really shook her up."
"She sounded frightened to me," Archer stated.
"I believe she lied when I asked her about Lieutenant Bullock. Her body language changed when she heard his name. She became agitated and with each question her discomfort grew."
"Trip you know her best," Archer said, "If you feel up to it, later this morning think up an excuse and have her meet you here. See what you can get out of her."
Trip nodded, "I'll find out what she's hidin'."
"It's 0130 now," Archer said, "can you get her here at 0800."
"Yeah, her shift starts at 0730, so there shouldn't be a problem."
"I want a run down as soon as you've finished." Looking at Trip, Archer realized the tremendous strain the younger man was under. He looked totally washed out and doing his best to hide it. "Maybe I should talk to Lieutenant Hess, if you end up back in sickbay Phlox will have my head."
Trip immediately replied, "I can do this Cap'm, I just need a few hours sleep."
Archer gave in, "Any problems give T'pol or myself a call, understand?"
"Yes Sir. Now if ya'll leave me alone; I can get some sleep." Rolling over he yanked the covers over his shoulder and closed his eyes.
Archer looked over at T'pol, "You heard the man, out."
T'pol gave Archer her Vulcan stare then turned and let herself out.
Archer wearily rubbed his face; by this time tomorrow he hoped things would be resolved. Taking his cold coffee he dumped it down the sink in the bathroom. Pouring a fresh cup he sat down at the desk to finish the reports.
END OF CHAPTER 12
One more chapter I think and I'll wrap up my first fanfic. I want to let all of you know how much I appreciate your support. Reading other fanfic I can see what I need to work on to make it better. Hopefully I can incorporate some of what I've learned into my next story. Thanks again.
