Title: Clutching at Straws
Author: Kendra
Pairing: Trip/ T'Pol
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek and I don't make any money from this.
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Clutching at Straws
Tucker, resigned to his fate, headed for the Sickbay doors.
"Guess the best thing to do is get busy; we might even find the Xindi before then!"
2 Months, he could do a lot in 2 months, Tucker didn't want to waste anymore time, if he worked himself relentlessly he could increase warp efficiency and even speed before it was over, he could still be of use to the mission.
There were other benefits from that idea as well, the work would keep him from contemplating too much about what was happening, and it would make things a whole lot easier to deal with.
A thought came unbidden to his mind, it brought him unexpected relief; maybe he could even get T'Pol to give him another good bye Kiss. He felt terrible for shouting at her moments before, she had only been offering comfort to him in her own way, and he would find a way to apologies before it was too late, though he couldn't deal with that just yet.
"Trip, hold on, we haven't heard anything the Doctor has to say!"
The Captain called, just as the Sickbay doors opened. This didn't sound like the Trip Archer knew, he hadn't noticed there was a problem before but it was clear his friend was not as well, emotionally, as he let on. Then again Archer hadn't spent enough time with his friend to know him at all anymore, maybe he had just changed!
Tucker turned back, he didn't really care, just wanted to hide in engineering until this whole mess disappeared. Archer looked expectantly at phlox.
"Doctor can't you synthesis the Valandrin serum?"
The Captain asked. Hope, that's all he could do.
"I have begun to do just that Captain. . ."
Phlox watched as his Captain and the Commander's eyes lit with hope.
"However there is a problem. . ."
There were times when Phlox hated his job.
"We're Listenin' Doc" Tucker exclaimed, exasperation getting the better of him.
T'Pol had already come to the same conclusion as the Doctor long before the Captain had suggested the serum and she was now deep in thought over the solution.
"If I were to administer the serum now, commander Tuckers natural life span would be halved as the cells would die in 20 to 30 years naturally, by the time it takes me, if possible, to synthesis the serum that time will have dramatically decreased."
"Aw Hell! Have you got any good news for me today. . ." Tucker shook his head. "Fine, just do it, as long as I'm alive long enough to stop the Xindi, I don't care!" Tucker made a move to leave once again.
"Wait!" The captain called once again. "What about growing another symbiot?" The Captain suggested, looking at astounded expressions, even T'Pol seemed a little aghast by the idea.
"You can stop right there Cap'n, there's no way I'm gonna allow you to do that again! No, God Damn way"!
Tucker almost shouted taking a few steps toward his Captain in an almost threatening manner, in that moment Tucker recalled Sims life in it's entirety as clear as crystal in his mind, He couldn't allow that again, and then have to carry the memories of that being for the rest of his life as well was unacceptable, it angered Tucker, it seemed his Captain had lost his humanity to this war, what had happened to his friend?
T'Pol had to once again steady herself against another torrent of emotion that flooded her senses, hurt, loneliness and anger emanated from the Commander! It made no sense, the commander was among friends, why he would feel alone was not logical, she again attempted to counter the emotions, while contemplating their meaning.
Archer allowed the insubordination from Tucker, this was a personal matter, and he was no longer his Captain but his best friend.
"It's a valid Suggestion Trip!" Archer raised his voice to get through to his friend.
"No Cap'n, you told me that the only reason you gave the order to create Sim was because the mission needed me, well it sounds like I'm gonna be around long enough to complete this mission. . . what you're suggestin' is amoral and wrong!"
Tucker began to feel his anger dissipate towards the end of his rant.
Archer opened his mouth to speak again but Tucker interrupted him!
"I'd rather take 5 years of a life than live 100 with that kind of guilt Jon"
Trip had nothing left to say on the subject and it was clear to all that he would refuse any such treatment.
"Alright Trip. . . Alright" What else was there to say? "Doctor, you'd better get started on that serum."
Archer had given up, besides Trip was right, he couldn't order the creation of another symbiot after what had happened with Sim. It was utterly wrong. And now he would have to say goodbye to his friend much earlier than expected. Archer vowed to take advantage of every moment of his friends last years, which was of course if Trip allowed him to, Archer was beginning to doubt that.
Tucker again turned to leave and the Doctor made his way to one of his desks to complete his research and tests.
"Captain, I believe I have a solution." T'Pol hadn't given up quite so easy. The Captain had almost forgotten that she was there; she had been silent so long.
The three men gave the Vulcan women their utmost attention.
"Sim"
T'Pol uttered, to the perplexity of the others.
"If I am correct the vacuum of space should have preserved his body intact, is it not possible that we could use more of his brain cells to re-perform the operation and then use the serum?"
T'Pol and the two human males looked to Phlox for confirmation. He was frowning in thought.
"I'm curious why I had not thought of that option myself! It has a good possibility for success. How long will it take to pick up the torpedo pod?"
There was no time to waste for celebratory means and so Archer moved swiftly to a com by the wall.
"Archer to the Bridge!"
"Yes Captain?" Reed answered.
"We're changing course Lieutenant, Take us back to the area of space we left Sim."
"Captain?" Reed asked, confused.
"You heard me Lieutenant; we have to get there before Sim's pod reaches the star!"
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Thanks for the reviews!
Author: Kendra
Pairing: Trip/ T'Pol
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek and I don't make any money from this.
------------------
Clutching at Straws
Tucker, resigned to his fate, headed for the Sickbay doors.
"Guess the best thing to do is get busy; we might even find the Xindi before then!"
2 Months, he could do a lot in 2 months, Tucker didn't want to waste anymore time, if he worked himself relentlessly he could increase warp efficiency and even speed before it was over, he could still be of use to the mission.
There were other benefits from that idea as well, the work would keep him from contemplating too much about what was happening, and it would make things a whole lot easier to deal with.
A thought came unbidden to his mind, it brought him unexpected relief; maybe he could even get T'Pol to give him another good bye Kiss. He felt terrible for shouting at her moments before, she had only been offering comfort to him in her own way, and he would find a way to apologies before it was too late, though he couldn't deal with that just yet.
"Trip, hold on, we haven't heard anything the Doctor has to say!"
The Captain called, just as the Sickbay doors opened. This didn't sound like the Trip Archer knew, he hadn't noticed there was a problem before but it was clear his friend was not as well, emotionally, as he let on. Then again Archer hadn't spent enough time with his friend to know him at all anymore, maybe he had just changed!
Tucker turned back, he didn't really care, just wanted to hide in engineering until this whole mess disappeared. Archer looked expectantly at phlox.
"Doctor can't you synthesis the Valandrin serum?"
The Captain asked. Hope, that's all he could do.
"I have begun to do just that Captain. . ."
Phlox watched as his Captain and the Commander's eyes lit with hope.
"However there is a problem. . ."
There were times when Phlox hated his job.
"We're Listenin' Doc" Tucker exclaimed, exasperation getting the better of him.
T'Pol had already come to the same conclusion as the Doctor long before the Captain had suggested the serum and she was now deep in thought over the solution.
"If I were to administer the serum now, commander Tuckers natural life span would be halved as the cells would die in 20 to 30 years naturally, by the time it takes me, if possible, to synthesis the serum that time will have dramatically decreased."
"Aw Hell! Have you got any good news for me today. . ." Tucker shook his head. "Fine, just do it, as long as I'm alive long enough to stop the Xindi, I don't care!" Tucker made a move to leave once again.
"Wait!" The captain called once again. "What about growing another symbiot?" The Captain suggested, looking at astounded expressions, even T'Pol seemed a little aghast by the idea.
"You can stop right there Cap'n, there's no way I'm gonna allow you to do that again! No, God Damn way"!
Tucker almost shouted taking a few steps toward his Captain in an almost threatening manner, in that moment Tucker recalled Sims life in it's entirety as clear as crystal in his mind, He couldn't allow that again, and then have to carry the memories of that being for the rest of his life as well was unacceptable, it angered Tucker, it seemed his Captain had lost his humanity to this war, what had happened to his friend?
T'Pol had to once again steady herself against another torrent of emotion that flooded her senses, hurt, loneliness and anger emanated from the Commander! It made no sense, the commander was among friends, why he would feel alone was not logical, she again attempted to counter the emotions, while contemplating their meaning.
Archer allowed the insubordination from Tucker, this was a personal matter, and he was no longer his Captain but his best friend.
"It's a valid Suggestion Trip!" Archer raised his voice to get through to his friend.
"No Cap'n, you told me that the only reason you gave the order to create Sim was because the mission needed me, well it sounds like I'm gonna be around long enough to complete this mission. . . what you're suggestin' is amoral and wrong!"
Tucker began to feel his anger dissipate towards the end of his rant.
Archer opened his mouth to speak again but Tucker interrupted him!
"I'd rather take 5 years of a life than live 100 with that kind of guilt Jon"
Trip had nothing left to say on the subject and it was clear to all that he would refuse any such treatment.
"Alright Trip. . . Alright" What else was there to say? "Doctor, you'd better get started on that serum."
Archer had given up, besides Trip was right, he couldn't order the creation of another symbiot after what had happened with Sim. It was utterly wrong. And now he would have to say goodbye to his friend much earlier than expected. Archer vowed to take advantage of every moment of his friends last years, which was of course if Trip allowed him to, Archer was beginning to doubt that.
Tucker again turned to leave and the Doctor made his way to one of his desks to complete his research and tests.
"Captain, I believe I have a solution." T'Pol hadn't given up quite so easy. The Captain had almost forgotten that she was there; she had been silent so long.
The three men gave the Vulcan women their utmost attention.
"Sim"
T'Pol uttered, to the perplexity of the others.
"If I am correct the vacuum of space should have preserved his body intact, is it not possible that we could use more of his brain cells to re-perform the operation and then use the serum?"
T'Pol and the two human males looked to Phlox for confirmation. He was frowning in thought.
"I'm curious why I had not thought of that option myself! It has a good possibility for success. How long will it take to pick up the torpedo pod?"
There was no time to waste for celebratory means and so Archer moved swiftly to a com by the wall.
"Archer to the Bridge!"
"Yes Captain?" Reed answered.
"We're changing course Lieutenant, Take us back to the area of space we left Sim."
"Captain?" Reed asked, confused.
"You heard me Lieutenant; we have to get there before Sim's pod reaches the star!"
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Thanks for the reviews!