Authors note: Sorry it's been a week, been busy. About the story--I don't know how correct hard core fans are going to find chapter this chapter. Sorry, I'm trying to improve.

Chapter 5 Part 1 This Sure Wasn't A Headache

T'Pol was fighting her irritation… "Dr. Phlox, I have already told you that your diagnosis is highly impossible. You are either miss reading the tricorder or it is malfunctioning".

She wasn't the only one fighting irritation. Dr. Phlox had lost his sunny disposition ten minutes ago. He was about to forget every oath he had ever made and kill the most annoying Vulcan he had ever met… "Sub-Commander, we've already been through this…I've already tried two tricorders at your request. Nothing is going to change the diagnosis. According to the information you gave me and all of the tests I have run you are not under the influence of a temporary bond. You are under the influence of an incomplete permanent bond and are at the beginning of your Pon Far".

T'Pol took a deep breath…"Your certain".

Dr. Phlox took a deep breath himself before answering and then asking a few questions of his own…"Yes, I'm certain… but I don't understand what the problem is Sub-Commander? Why is this is such a surprise? You have bonded with… …someone…recently. You had to know this was going to happen? This is the normal progression into maturity".

She stiffened her spine more then it already was…"I'm aware of how Vulcans mature, Doctor. I am one. However there are factors you are unaware of. I presume that like before, you will be able to at least stop the Pon Far".

He started shaking his head no even before speaking…"Sub-Commander, your Pon Far is being brought on by your mate's hormones not a pathogen. There is nothing I can do but give you medication to slow it's progress but your going to have address it sooner or later. I don't know how many times we can delay your maturity with out damaging your future fertility". Dr. Phlox thought she looked like she might start crying and was starting to feel bad about his homicidal plans.

Why wouldn't he listen to what she was saying? For the third time in two days, she wanted to cry. Well she thought… at least I'm not becoming violent… yet… "You must be mistaken. I have only been around human males. The Vulcan Science Counsel has deemed that it is impossible for human hormones to effect Vulcans"

When Dr. Phlox started to talk… She held up her hands to stop him from interrupting her as she continued…. "Though their hormones are similar they do not produce high enough levels even in puberty to experience anything similar to Pon Far or induce it in the opposite sex. It is impossible".

Finally Phlox got his say and T'pol thought he was acting like a human…sarcastic… "Like time travel Sub-Commander. They have been wrong before and I have no doubt are again. You have exceedingly high amounts of male hormones in your blood stream. Human male hormones, so unless your injecting them into yourself, your Pon Far is being brought on because your body is responding to your human mate the same way it would to a Vulcan".

She defiantly wanted to cry…"Dr. Phlox, my mate is not going through the Pon Far".

He didn't know what to tell her…"I know that and with a little more time I will be able to give you an explanation but it doesn't change the facts.

T'Pol didn't want to discuss this anymore. She couldn't disprove something that was probably true. The Vulcans should stop deeming things impossible; they were always proved wrong…"I understand doctor. How long will I have before I become incapable of functioning even with meditation"?

The Denobulin answered with far more compassion then earlier…"A few weeks, maybe a month at most without medication. Two months with. But as I said before I'm afraid that the medication may damage you're ability to conceive...I know this is a sensitive area for Vulcans but I'm hoping you'll discuss this with your mate soon. You know that the longer you wait the harder it will be for you later. So when do you think you'll tell him"?

The last thing T'Pol wanted to talk about was Commander Tucker. So she only answered the questions she thought he should be concerned with…"Doctor you know I have Pa'nar syndrome, I would not risk passing it to a child. I'll take the medication and increase my meditation for now. That will be all Doctor".

He was becoming irritated again. She was going to have to give more information. The last thing he wanted was another incident like the one after she was affected by the pathogen… "That is not all Sub-Commander. You are going to answer some question. Explain the factors I'm unaware of or I'll ask the captain to relieve you of command effective immediately".

All she could say was…"Excuse me"

Dr. Phlox's response was not what she wanted to hear…"You heard me. I need to know what is going on if I'm to help you. Not to mention the fact that I remember what happen the last time you were going through this and need to keep the crew safe. It's just starting and you're already emotional. Now when are you going to tell…your mate…that you are experiencing your Pon Far"?

She actually sighed, "Doctor, I do not have a mate".

To say Phlox was stunned was an understatement…"Sub-Commander you are going to have to give me more information. You have bonded with someone therefore you should have a mate. Unless the to of you have decided to end it… if that's possible. This is not the time to tell me half-truths. Tell me everything that is going on…now".

She was experiencing a new emotion…She was sure it was embarrassment…"You said your self that the bond was incomplete. One sided; the person I bonded with was not affected. There for I have no mate".

He was even more shocked then before. Dr. Phlox suspected from what was said in Commander Tucker's check-ups that he was developing feelings for her…He had thought they hadn't been intimate yet. Not that the bond was incomplete because he hadn't wanted to bond with her. He had to be jumping to conclusions…How was he suppose to ask her…"I see, one sided"… was all he could come up with.

What didn't he understand about what she had just said…"Yes, one sided, so it is possible for the bond to be severed if I chose. However I will need to return to Vulcan in order to do so".

If she choose, so does that mean she wanted to be with the Commander even though he didn't want her. He didn't like to see his collogues in pain but this was getting good. Like those human soap opera reruns he had watched with Ensign Sato…He was already starting to pick out titles…The Pink Skins and Vulcans or better yet AS the Warp Core Hums…He knew he was being morbid but couldn't seem to stop himself.

He finally got himself together but only enough to repeat what she had said…"I see... you will have to return to Vulcan to have it severed. If you chose to have it severed"?

T'Pol asked her next question with very little thought… "Have you been spending time with Commander Tucker"?

The habit of repeating things she had said was as annoying in the Doctor as it was in Commander Tucker.

Phlox gave T'pol a curious glance. Then smiled as he asked… "Why"?

If she had see him smile she never would have answered his why… "You have developed his habit of repeating the things I say in the form of a question…It is annoying".

The Doctor smile had become so big he had to turn away from her. She would not miss it this time. He knew he should point out her error but couldn't resist, she was asking for it and he was starting to hear theme music…"I didn't think Vulcans became annoyed Sub-Commander"?

T'Pol got the distinct impression he was laughing at her so she again gave no sign of answering the question he asked her and instead inquired… "I'm I free to go Doctor"?

She certainly was persistent when she set her mind on something. He wondered why she couldn't have decided to help him deal with the situation instead of ignoring it. But he already new the answer to that… she was Vulcan…He had noticed a pattern among them if they thought something was illogical or emotional or personal (such as the Pon Farr) it was best to treat it as if it didn't exist until they could no longer ignore it. Then they would meditate and only after that failed, after it was almost to late would they ask for help. Well it wasn't going to happen again. He would create a truth serum if the had to…"No, Sub-Commander not even close to being free. You still have a lot of questions to answer. Now, you said if I chose to have the bond severed. Does that mean your thinking about remaining in an incomplete bond with… …whom…if I were to hazard a guess…Commander Tucker"?

She lifted her eyebrow in an effort to show him how ridiculous the question was… "It would be illogical to do so Doctor".

"Yes it would, so explain. Do you want to be with the Commander"? Doctor Phlox couldn't wait for her answer…The theme music was getting louder…He wanted answers… "No half-truths…just tell me the facts. All of them".

T'pol answered… "Yes"…very softly.