thanks to all my reviewers - I appreciate your comments

These next couple of chapters - I will be involving more of the crew. Travis in Chapter Eight, Hoshi in the upcoming Chapter Nine and Malcolm in the upcoming Chapter Ten.

Chapter Seven

The next morning, T'Pol walked into sickbay for her usual check up in regards to her Panar Syndrome.

"How is Commander Tucker this morning? Is there any change?" she asked with a hint of concern in her voice. She looked over at the man curled up on the far bio bed.

"I'm afraid there's no change in his condition," replied Phlox. "And unless we can find out just what happened, I don't think I will be able to find a cure any time soon. Has Mr Reed found any new evidence?"

"No," replied T'Pol sadly. "We have discussed where to go next in the investigation, but with the captain and Mr Reed unable to agree on whether Calla exists and whether she is responsible for Mr Tucker's predicament, a favourable outcome looks quite hopeless."

"What about you, T'Pol? Where do you stand?"

"I am with the captain in that I believe she exists because I remember having a conversation with her on more than one occasion," explained T'Pol. "I can not explain or understand why we are the only two people who remember her or what she has against Mr Tucker to do this to him. I find the whole situation quite...... illogical."

"Hmmmm..... it's quite a mystery isn't it? Anyway at least one good thing seems to be coming out of this."

"What is good about our chief engineer regressing to a four year old?" asked T'Pol, with a slight raise of her usual eyebrow.

"The captain and Commander Tucker's friendship seems to be reasserting itself. I must admit I was becoming quite worried about them both."

"Commander Tucker's youthful exuberance is quite inescapable and disarming at the moment," replied T'Pol quietly as she gazed across the room at Trip. Then getting up off the bio bed she turned to Phlox and asked, "Will that be all Doctor?"

"Everything looks fine, T'Pol. I'll see you again in a few days."

"Thank you, Doctor." Turning around with her hands behind her back, she slowly walked up to the bio bed where Trip was lying. She was quite concerned for Commander Tucker since they had become really close friends during their recent mission and she cared for him deeply.

"Hi!" said Trip looking up at this pretty woman with funny ears.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"Ya didn't," replied Trip as he sat up while stifling a yawn. "What's your name?"

"T'Pol."

"I'm Trip."

"I am already aware of that."

"How?"

"We are already friends."

"Oh!" replied Trip, stifling another yawn.

"Would you like to join the captain and me in the mess for breakfast?"

"What's that?"

"It's where we sit down to eat."

"Oh.... the dining room, okay then," smiled Trip as he stood up and held T'Pol's hand.

Understanding that Trip might need some reassurance during his present condition, T'Pol allowed him to keep hold. She didn't think that a four year old would understand that Vulcans didn't like to be touched. "Why don't you let Doctor Phlox help you get washed while I go and get you something to wear?"

"Okay."

As T'Pol headed out the door to Trip's quarters, Trip rubbed his eyes and allowed Phlox to lead him off to the bathroom so he could get ready. Ten minutes later, feeling a lot fresher and cleaner, Trip came back into sickbay where T'Pol helped him dress into some jeans and a t-shirt. Then, holding hands once more, they walked out of sickbay to go get something to eat.

T'Pol noticed that he kept giving her sly glances along the way, like he wanted to ask her something.

"Is there anything wrong?"

Trip shyly shook his head.

"Is there something you would like to ask me?"

"Yes," replied Trip softly.

"Go ahead, I do not mind."

"Why are your ears pointy? Did ya hurt yourself?"

"No, I was born like this. I am a Vulcan; it is one of the many differences between my species and yours."

"Can..... I touch them?"

"Yes, go ahead."

Trip slowly reached his hand up and softly caressed her earlobes with a wondrous expression on his face. His soft touch sent a shiver down T'Pol's spine, bringing back memories of their shared intimacy not long ago.

"They feel and look funny.....kinda like Tinkerbell's."

"I am not acquainted with that person. Is she Vulcan?"

"Dunno..... Can I make mine like yours?"

"No...... that would be illogical. Yours are nice as they are."

Trip smiled; this lady was nice. I like her

The Mess Hall was still quite empty when they walked through the door and entered the Captain's Mess.

"What would you like me to order you for breakfast?"

There was no reply. Trip gripped T'Pol's hand even tighter.

"Would you like some eggs and toast......" asked T'Pol as she felt Trip grab her arm with his free hand and pull himself behind her. She turned around to look at him with a confused look on her face.

"Is everything alright?" asked T'Pol, as she looked at Trip's frightened face. Looking across at where Trip was staring, she concluded that this was the first time he had realised he was onboard a ship in space and not on a planet.

"You are quite safe...." said T'Pol trying to reassure him, "I know the chief engineer. He is very capable and good at his job so you don't have to worry about anything breaking."

It wasn't working as he was still frozen to the spot, his eyes wide like saucers.

"We are on a ship."

"Ship....." replied Trip softly, trying to place the image in his mind so he could understand where he was.

"Yes a ship. We are exploring the stars." Hopefully if she put it as simplistic as possible, he would be better able to understand.

"Ya mean like a pirate ship?" asked Trip getting a bit more enthusiastic about the idea.

T'Pol didn't understand what he was referring to, but she still said yes, as it seemed to take away his fear.

"Pirate ship?" queried Captain Archer as he walked into the mess.

"I was explaining to..... Trip..... that he was on a ship when he thus referred to it as a pirate ship."

"Are you Captain Hook?" asked a very enthusiastic Trip, who had obviously drawn his own conclusions and made five. "Is that why you brought me here, to show me Peter Pan and Never Never Land?"

"Why do you think that, Trip?"

"Second star to the right, then straight on 'til morning," smiled Trip pointing to the stars outside.

"Damn T'Pol, he's just too clever for us. I told you he would figure it out before too long," winked Captain Archer, joining in. If Trip was happy thinking this, then he was happy to play along.

Trip cautiously walked up to the window and peeped through, trying to get a closer look at the vast array of stars outside. Tentatively he brought his finger up to touch the glass.

"Don't touch that......!" shouted Captain Archer suddenly.

Trip jumped back with an alarmed look on his face, but this soon changed when he realised the captain was only joking. Pretty soon they were both shaking from laughing so hard. T'Pol just raised her usual eyebrow at this as she sat down at the table. She couldn't understand what was so funny, but it didn't matter – it was good to see them both looking happy again.

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