Title: The Family Way
Authors: Sita/T'eyla
Genre: Angst/Romance
Rating: PG
Codes: T/T, R
Summary: Enterprise is en route to Vulcan, and Trip, T'Pol and their little son have to face T'Pol's family, who declared her an outcast because of her marriage. Then, however, something happens that changes everything...
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Enterprise, we're not making any money from this.
----------------------
Chapter 4: Arrival
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Trip turned and saw Archer standing in the doorway. Jon nodded at the window behind Trip.
"I'd never thought it would be like that. They say it's a bleak and barren world, but now I find there's a certain beauty to it."
Trip turned back to the window. He'd been sitting on his bed staring out there for about half an hour and still found the view to be overwhelming. Hanging below them in the darkness of space was the planet Vulcan, a gigantic orange globe, it's surface fogged by white layers of clouds moving with incredible speed. Here and there were tiny blotches of brown, green and even blue, but it was almost impossible to make them out against the vast spaces of orange and red, the colours of the deep desert. Vulcan's sister planet T'Khut, larger than Earth's moon and glinting with the blazing fires of active volcanoes, was hanging dangerously close, as if the two planets were to collide any moment.
Looking at Earth from the window of a spacecraft was an overwhelming experience as well, but still it was a peaceful sight, a calm picture in blue and green. This, however, was different. Vulcan and its sister planet seemed to be on fire, and the idea of any life existing on this world, let alone several billions of people, was strange. But Jon was right; there was a certain wild beauty to it, strange and unwelcoming as it was.
"I can't believe how they ever made it out into space, living on a world like that," he said, looking back at Jon. "Simply surviving long enough to develop civilization must have been hard enough."
Jon shook his head. "Maybe that's why they are so damn stubborn. On a world like that you have to be if you want to survive."
Trip smiled slightly and got up from the bed. "Anyway, seems like I'm going to be stuck on a desert planet again." The smile left his lips as he continued. "Doc says everything's ready, so we'll be leaving as soon as ShanaiKhar Hospital notifies us."
Jon nodded. "Travis will fly the shuttle. Vulcan space control was already informed that this is an emergency so you won't have to go through admission procedures. You'll be going straight to the hospital."
Trip sighed in relief. He'd been afraid of having to undergo endless formalities before they would let him accompany T'Pol to the hospital. But obviously the Vulcans thought mindless bureaucracy to be illogical, and for once Trip was glad to agree with Vulcan Logic. Looking up he noticed Jon watching him.
"Thanks, Captain. I'll... I'll be ready."
Jon nodded again and left, the door of Trip's quarters closing behind him. Trip sat there staring out of the window for another moment, then got up and walked over to Sam's carrycot, where the baby lay sleeping. Sam's crib had already been moved to Malcolm's quarters, as well as a suitcase with his clothes and several packages of babyfood and diapers.
"Well son, time to go," Trip said, picking up the cot. Sam never opened his eyes as Trip carried him out the door and down the hallways, heading for Reed's quarters. When he pressed the door chime, there were a few moments of silence. Then he heard Malcolm's muffled voice. "Come."
Trip opened the door and stopped in his tracks. Spread out on the entire floor of the room were the contents of the suitcase Trip had brought earlier. Half of the diapers and clothes were lying in a tangled heap on the floor just like Trip had stuffed them into the suitcase, the other half was neatly folded and stacked. Malcolm was kneeling in the middle of it all, currently engaged in the process of folding up one of Sam's blankets.
"Malcolm..." Trip watched the Armoury Officer as he placed the blanket onto a neat pile of folded cloth. "What are you doing?"
Malcolm looked up at him, eyebrows raised.
"Well, what do you think? Unlike you, I prefer to maintain a certain order, especially concerning things I'll be using daily," he said, glancing pointedly at Sam's suitcase standing beside him on the floor.
Trip looked down at the carrycot. "Looks like you're in for some fun, son."
Malcolm shot him a glare, placing another pair of socks onto the sock pile, then got up.
"I put his crib back there. Watch out so you don't step on anything."
Carefully avoiding the stacks of clothes and diapers Trip carried Sam over to the baby bed. Putting the cot down, he picked up his son and looked back at Malcolm, who was now busy lining up jars with baby food on a shelf.
"Watch out for the pacifiers," Trip said grinning. "They have a tendency to vanish, especially when you need them."
"I put the whole bunch of them into the desk drawer over there, so there should be no problems." Malcolm put down the last jar and picked up a stack of diapers. Trip stared at him for a moment.
"You sure you're not Vulcan after all?"
Malcolm ignored the question and came over to stand beside him. Looking down at Sam in Trip's arms, he sighed.
"Do you really think I'm the right person for this job?" he asked.
Trip smiled at him. "I'm sure you'll do just fine. And if there really are any problems, just call Jon."
Malcolm's eyes widened slightly. "Certainly not," he said, obviously shocked at the idea of asking the Captain to help him babysit Sam. Trip grinned.
"Or Hoshi, for that matter."
Malcolm glanced at him doubtfully, then looked back down at Sam, who had just opened his eyes.
"So you'll be leaving now?" he asked.
Trip nodded. "The Vulcans will be calling any minute now."
Looking down, he cradled Sam closer to his chest. "Time to say goodbye, little one." He placed a kiss on the baby's forehead. "Hope I'll be back soon."
Gently he handed him over to Malcolm, who took him gingerly, carefully supporting the baby's head just as Trip had showed him to. He looked up at his friend.
"Good luck, then."
Trip nodded. He knew Malcolm would take good care of Sam, but still he hated the thought of leaving his son behind. With a last glance at the baby in Reed's arms he turned, heading for the door. Before he left, he looked back one more time.
"Thanks, Malcolm," he said quietly. Malcolm nodded. Then the door closed behind him, and he slowly walked back to his quarters.
-###-
The trip down to the surface was a short one. Dr. Phlox's medical team had installed a biobed with a portable life-support system in the back of the shuttle so T'Pol could be taken to the hospital without having to use the transporter which would have been too risky in her condition. Phlox had agreed to accompany them to the surface so he could speak to the Vulcan healers before they began their treatment.
Travis set down the shuttle on a wide, open space in front of an extended building complex. There was a lot of traffic on the hospital's landing area, aircars and shuttles coming and going, people in the traditional ocre healer robes rushing by. When Trip opened the hatch, the sudden onslaught of heat made him catch his breath. He stepped out into the glaring sunshine and looked around. Somehow it reminded him of the Australian deserts, except for the pale orange sky and the huge white sun. Everything was bathed in an odd light, casting strange shadows on the heat-scorched ground.
"You must be Commander Tucker."
Trip turned and found himself facing a small Vulcan woman in the robes of a healer. Unlike most Vulcans she wore her hair long, her braided red curls falling down her back. Trip stared at her. He had always thought that all Vulcans had black hair and a dark complexion, but there she was, complete with green eyes and freckles on her nose. Her hair looked almost orange in the harsh light of the Vulcan sun.
"Commander?"
Trip blinked, realizing he had been staring at her. He cleared his throat.
"Yes, I'm Tucker. And you are...?"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "I am Healer T'Pyr. I will be in charge of the medical treatment of your wife. I assume Dr. Phlox has accompanied you?"
Trip nodded. "Yes, he's back in the shuttle with T'Pol."
That moment the hatch opened again and Phlox stepped out. When his eyes fell on Healer T'Pyr, his face lit up in his usual wide grin.
"Ah, there you are, T'Pyr. I've been looking forward to meeting you!"
She bowed her head slightly. "Welcome to ShanaiKahr, Dr. Phlox. Were there any complications during the flight?"
Phlox shook his head. "No, everything went well. I take it you already prepared everything for the admission?"
T'Pyr cast a short glance over her shoulder. "Yes, she can be taken to her room immediately. With your permission..."
"Of course."
T'Pyr waved to a group of Vulcans who had been waiting a few feet away. When she motioned them to the shuttle they picked up a gurney which had been standing beside them and climbed through the hatch.
T'Pyr and Phlox were talking rapidly to each other in some kind of medical jargon mixed with Vulcan expressions, and Trip didn't understand half of what they were saying. Anxiously he peered into the shuttle and saw the Vulcans quickly and efficiently move T'Pol from her biobed onto the gurney. When they were done, they carried her out the hatch and left, heading for the hospital building. Trip started to follow them, but T'Pyr caught his arm.
"Where are they taking her?" he asked, staring after the med techs who had just disappeared into the hospital, taking T'Pol with them. T'Pyr didn't let go of his arm, her voice soft as she spoke.
"Do not worry, Commander. T'Pol will now be taken to her room in the hospital. I am going to examine her as soon as Dr. Phlox has informed me about the course of treatment and her current condition. You will be able to see her later."
Trip stared down at her and saw an expression of sympathy in her green eyes. She let go of his arm, and he swallowed.
"Is there.. is there some kind of waiting room where I can stay in the meantime?"
T'Pyr turned to Phlox.
"Would you excuse me for a few minutes, Doctor?"
Phlox nodded. "Of course. I will take a look at those fascinating laboratory facilities of yours in the meantime. Commander..."
He left, heading towards the hospital entrance, and T'Pyr turned back to Trip.
"I assume you have never been to a Vulcan hospital before?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. The all-too-familiar gesture made him smile.
"To be honest, I have never even been to Vulcan before."
T'Pyr gave the Vulcan equivalent of a nod. "There are certain methods of treatment unknown to most non-Vulcans. We call them kir'y'pan, the healing of the mind. They are mostly used on patients who suffer from injuries to the brain, amnesia or the aftereffects of traumatic experiences. To practice kir'y'pan, it is necessary to enter a deep mind meld with the patient. On several occasions, if there is need."
Trip got the distinct impression that T'Pyr felt a little uncomfortable on that subject. He tried to formulate his next question as carefully as possible.
"So... you'll have to read T'Pol's thoughts?"
"Essentially yes. I will try to guide her mind back to consciousness, to help her enter the healing process. It is... difficult to explain."
"I think I understand." It was an unsettling idea, doctors tinkering around with their patient's minds, but for some reason he felt he could trust this woman.
"I'm glad it's you who'll be taking care of her."
T'Pyr raised her eyebrow again and Trip thought he had seen the ghost of a smile cross her face for a second.
"That is fortunate, especially since I will need your help in this."
Trip stared at her. "I'm not a telepath, I don't think I - "
"I do not require you to perform a mind meld." Now there was definitely an amused undertone in her voice. "The kir'y'pan can be very strenuous and is bound to exhaust both Healer and patient at some point. For the patient to gain strength from the melds it is necessary that they feel at ease with their environment. Therefore we always ask a close relative or friend, if possible the patient's bondmate, to be present during the meld."
Trip swallowed. "What do I have to do?"
"Simply be there, maybe talk to her. It is necessary for your wife to feel your presence."
Trip sighed in relief. That shouldn't be too hard, and he was glad that there was something he could do for T'Pol after all. Looking back down at T'Pyr he saw her watching him and cleared his throat.
"Thank you for taking the time to explain all this to me. Well...is there some place where I can wait in the meantime?"
"Since you will be staying here for an indefinite amount of time, we have prepared a room for you in the west wing. This is a plan of the hospital complex." T'Pyr handed him a padd.
"Thanks again," he said, turning to leave.
"I take it you have already informed the family?" T'Pyr asked behind him. Trip looked back at her.
"What family?" he asked, confused. T'Pyr raised both eyebrows this time.
"Your wife's family," she said.
"Oh." Trip shook his head. "No, I haven't. I don't really know them. I don't think it would be a good idea if I called them."
"They must be informed."
Trip sighed. "Sure, but I don't think they'd be exactly thrilled to talk to me. Maybe it'd be best if someone else told them."
T'Pyr clasped her hands behind her back.
"It is customary on Vulcan that the family takes care of these things. Since you are T'Pol's bondmate it is your responsibility to notify the family."
Trip looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "I'll take care of it."
"Very well." T'Pyr politely bowed her head and turned to leave. Glancing at the padd Trip set off for his room, trying to ignore the feeling of unease that was building in his stomach.
Authors: Sita/T'eyla
Genre: Angst/Romance
Rating: PG
Codes: T/T, R
Summary: Enterprise is en route to Vulcan, and Trip, T'Pol and their little son have to face T'Pol's family, who declared her an outcast because of her marriage. Then, however, something happens that changes everything...
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Enterprise, we're not making any money from this.
----------------------
Chapter 4: Arrival
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Trip turned and saw Archer standing in the doorway. Jon nodded at the window behind Trip.
"I'd never thought it would be like that. They say it's a bleak and barren world, but now I find there's a certain beauty to it."
Trip turned back to the window. He'd been sitting on his bed staring out there for about half an hour and still found the view to be overwhelming. Hanging below them in the darkness of space was the planet Vulcan, a gigantic orange globe, it's surface fogged by white layers of clouds moving with incredible speed. Here and there were tiny blotches of brown, green and even blue, but it was almost impossible to make them out against the vast spaces of orange and red, the colours of the deep desert. Vulcan's sister planet T'Khut, larger than Earth's moon and glinting with the blazing fires of active volcanoes, was hanging dangerously close, as if the two planets were to collide any moment.
Looking at Earth from the window of a spacecraft was an overwhelming experience as well, but still it was a peaceful sight, a calm picture in blue and green. This, however, was different. Vulcan and its sister planet seemed to be on fire, and the idea of any life existing on this world, let alone several billions of people, was strange. But Jon was right; there was a certain wild beauty to it, strange and unwelcoming as it was.
"I can't believe how they ever made it out into space, living on a world like that," he said, looking back at Jon. "Simply surviving long enough to develop civilization must have been hard enough."
Jon shook his head. "Maybe that's why they are so damn stubborn. On a world like that you have to be if you want to survive."
Trip smiled slightly and got up from the bed. "Anyway, seems like I'm going to be stuck on a desert planet again." The smile left his lips as he continued. "Doc says everything's ready, so we'll be leaving as soon as ShanaiKhar Hospital notifies us."
Jon nodded. "Travis will fly the shuttle. Vulcan space control was already informed that this is an emergency so you won't have to go through admission procedures. You'll be going straight to the hospital."
Trip sighed in relief. He'd been afraid of having to undergo endless formalities before they would let him accompany T'Pol to the hospital. But obviously the Vulcans thought mindless bureaucracy to be illogical, and for once Trip was glad to agree with Vulcan Logic. Looking up he noticed Jon watching him.
"Thanks, Captain. I'll... I'll be ready."
Jon nodded again and left, the door of Trip's quarters closing behind him. Trip sat there staring out of the window for another moment, then got up and walked over to Sam's carrycot, where the baby lay sleeping. Sam's crib had already been moved to Malcolm's quarters, as well as a suitcase with his clothes and several packages of babyfood and diapers.
"Well son, time to go," Trip said, picking up the cot. Sam never opened his eyes as Trip carried him out the door and down the hallways, heading for Reed's quarters. When he pressed the door chime, there were a few moments of silence. Then he heard Malcolm's muffled voice. "Come."
Trip opened the door and stopped in his tracks. Spread out on the entire floor of the room were the contents of the suitcase Trip had brought earlier. Half of the diapers and clothes were lying in a tangled heap on the floor just like Trip had stuffed them into the suitcase, the other half was neatly folded and stacked. Malcolm was kneeling in the middle of it all, currently engaged in the process of folding up one of Sam's blankets.
"Malcolm..." Trip watched the Armoury Officer as he placed the blanket onto a neat pile of folded cloth. "What are you doing?"
Malcolm looked up at him, eyebrows raised.
"Well, what do you think? Unlike you, I prefer to maintain a certain order, especially concerning things I'll be using daily," he said, glancing pointedly at Sam's suitcase standing beside him on the floor.
Trip looked down at the carrycot. "Looks like you're in for some fun, son."
Malcolm shot him a glare, placing another pair of socks onto the sock pile, then got up.
"I put his crib back there. Watch out so you don't step on anything."
Carefully avoiding the stacks of clothes and diapers Trip carried Sam over to the baby bed. Putting the cot down, he picked up his son and looked back at Malcolm, who was now busy lining up jars with baby food on a shelf.
"Watch out for the pacifiers," Trip said grinning. "They have a tendency to vanish, especially when you need them."
"I put the whole bunch of them into the desk drawer over there, so there should be no problems." Malcolm put down the last jar and picked up a stack of diapers. Trip stared at him for a moment.
"You sure you're not Vulcan after all?"
Malcolm ignored the question and came over to stand beside him. Looking down at Sam in Trip's arms, he sighed.
"Do you really think I'm the right person for this job?" he asked.
Trip smiled at him. "I'm sure you'll do just fine. And if there really are any problems, just call Jon."
Malcolm's eyes widened slightly. "Certainly not," he said, obviously shocked at the idea of asking the Captain to help him babysit Sam. Trip grinned.
"Or Hoshi, for that matter."
Malcolm glanced at him doubtfully, then looked back down at Sam, who had just opened his eyes.
"So you'll be leaving now?" he asked.
Trip nodded. "The Vulcans will be calling any minute now."
Looking down, he cradled Sam closer to his chest. "Time to say goodbye, little one." He placed a kiss on the baby's forehead. "Hope I'll be back soon."
Gently he handed him over to Malcolm, who took him gingerly, carefully supporting the baby's head just as Trip had showed him to. He looked up at his friend.
"Good luck, then."
Trip nodded. He knew Malcolm would take good care of Sam, but still he hated the thought of leaving his son behind. With a last glance at the baby in Reed's arms he turned, heading for the door. Before he left, he looked back one more time.
"Thanks, Malcolm," he said quietly. Malcolm nodded. Then the door closed behind him, and he slowly walked back to his quarters.
-###-
The trip down to the surface was a short one. Dr. Phlox's medical team had installed a biobed with a portable life-support system in the back of the shuttle so T'Pol could be taken to the hospital without having to use the transporter which would have been too risky in her condition. Phlox had agreed to accompany them to the surface so he could speak to the Vulcan healers before they began their treatment.
Travis set down the shuttle on a wide, open space in front of an extended building complex. There was a lot of traffic on the hospital's landing area, aircars and shuttles coming and going, people in the traditional ocre healer robes rushing by. When Trip opened the hatch, the sudden onslaught of heat made him catch his breath. He stepped out into the glaring sunshine and looked around. Somehow it reminded him of the Australian deserts, except for the pale orange sky and the huge white sun. Everything was bathed in an odd light, casting strange shadows on the heat-scorched ground.
"You must be Commander Tucker."
Trip turned and found himself facing a small Vulcan woman in the robes of a healer. Unlike most Vulcans she wore her hair long, her braided red curls falling down her back. Trip stared at her. He had always thought that all Vulcans had black hair and a dark complexion, but there she was, complete with green eyes and freckles on her nose. Her hair looked almost orange in the harsh light of the Vulcan sun.
"Commander?"
Trip blinked, realizing he had been staring at her. He cleared his throat.
"Yes, I'm Tucker. And you are...?"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "I am Healer T'Pyr. I will be in charge of the medical treatment of your wife. I assume Dr. Phlox has accompanied you?"
Trip nodded. "Yes, he's back in the shuttle with T'Pol."
That moment the hatch opened again and Phlox stepped out. When his eyes fell on Healer T'Pyr, his face lit up in his usual wide grin.
"Ah, there you are, T'Pyr. I've been looking forward to meeting you!"
She bowed her head slightly. "Welcome to ShanaiKahr, Dr. Phlox. Were there any complications during the flight?"
Phlox shook his head. "No, everything went well. I take it you already prepared everything for the admission?"
T'Pyr cast a short glance over her shoulder. "Yes, she can be taken to her room immediately. With your permission..."
"Of course."
T'Pyr waved to a group of Vulcans who had been waiting a few feet away. When she motioned them to the shuttle they picked up a gurney which had been standing beside them and climbed through the hatch.
T'Pyr and Phlox were talking rapidly to each other in some kind of medical jargon mixed with Vulcan expressions, and Trip didn't understand half of what they were saying. Anxiously he peered into the shuttle and saw the Vulcans quickly and efficiently move T'Pol from her biobed onto the gurney. When they were done, they carried her out the hatch and left, heading for the hospital building. Trip started to follow them, but T'Pyr caught his arm.
"Where are they taking her?" he asked, staring after the med techs who had just disappeared into the hospital, taking T'Pol with them. T'Pyr didn't let go of his arm, her voice soft as she spoke.
"Do not worry, Commander. T'Pol will now be taken to her room in the hospital. I am going to examine her as soon as Dr. Phlox has informed me about the course of treatment and her current condition. You will be able to see her later."
Trip stared down at her and saw an expression of sympathy in her green eyes. She let go of his arm, and he swallowed.
"Is there.. is there some kind of waiting room where I can stay in the meantime?"
T'Pyr turned to Phlox.
"Would you excuse me for a few minutes, Doctor?"
Phlox nodded. "Of course. I will take a look at those fascinating laboratory facilities of yours in the meantime. Commander..."
He left, heading towards the hospital entrance, and T'Pyr turned back to Trip.
"I assume you have never been to a Vulcan hospital before?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. The all-too-familiar gesture made him smile.
"To be honest, I have never even been to Vulcan before."
T'Pyr gave the Vulcan equivalent of a nod. "There are certain methods of treatment unknown to most non-Vulcans. We call them kir'y'pan, the healing of the mind. They are mostly used on patients who suffer from injuries to the brain, amnesia or the aftereffects of traumatic experiences. To practice kir'y'pan, it is necessary to enter a deep mind meld with the patient. On several occasions, if there is need."
Trip got the distinct impression that T'Pyr felt a little uncomfortable on that subject. He tried to formulate his next question as carefully as possible.
"So... you'll have to read T'Pol's thoughts?"
"Essentially yes. I will try to guide her mind back to consciousness, to help her enter the healing process. It is... difficult to explain."
"I think I understand." It was an unsettling idea, doctors tinkering around with their patient's minds, but for some reason he felt he could trust this woman.
"I'm glad it's you who'll be taking care of her."
T'Pyr raised her eyebrow again and Trip thought he had seen the ghost of a smile cross her face for a second.
"That is fortunate, especially since I will need your help in this."
Trip stared at her. "I'm not a telepath, I don't think I - "
"I do not require you to perform a mind meld." Now there was definitely an amused undertone in her voice. "The kir'y'pan can be very strenuous and is bound to exhaust both Healer and patient at some point. For the patient to gain strength from the melds it is necessary that they feel at ease with their environment. Therefore we always ask a close relative or friend, if possible the patient's bondmate, to be present during the meld."
Trip swallowed. "What do I have to do?"
"Simply be there, maybe talk to her. It is necessary for your wife to feel your presence."
Trip sighed in relief. That shouldn't be too hard, and he was glad that there was something he could do for T'Pol after all. Looking back down at T'Pyr he saw her watching him and cleared his throat.
"Thank you for taking the time to explain all this to me. Well...is there some place where I can wait in the meantime?"
"Since you will be staying here for an indefinite amount of time, we have prepared a room for you in the west wing. This is a plan of the hospital complex." T'Pyr handed him a padd.
"Thanks again," he said, turning to leave.
"I take it you have already informed the family?" T'Pyr asked behind him. Trip looked back at her.
"What family?" he asked, confused. T'Pyr raised both eyebrows this time.
"Your wife's family," she said.
"Oh." Trip shook his head. "No, I haven't. I don't really know them. I don't think it would be a good idea if I called them."
"They must be informed."
Trip sighed. "Sure, but I don't think they'd be exactly thrilled to talk to me. Maybe it'd be best if someone else told them."
T'Pyr clasped her hands behind her back.
"It is customary on Vulcan that the family takes care of these things. Since you are T'Pol's bondmate it is your responsibility to notify the family."
Trip looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "I'll take care of it."
"Very well." T'Pyr politely bowed her head and turned to leave. Glancing at the padd Trip set off for his room, trying to ignore the feeling of unease that was building in his stomach.