More to Tell, Ch. 10
Sequel to: Confessions
By: Angel
Summary: A Vulcan diplomat onboard Enterprise. What could possibly go wrong?
Archive: Let me know where.
Rating: I guess PG, for now.
Disclaimers: Star Trek and its many incarnations are the property of others and therefore I do not financially benefit from this in any way.
Notes: It has come to my attention that Dr. Phlox did mention being a psychiatrist during an episode. Oops, my fault. I must have missed that. Also, a technical note. I have been separating my scenes with a simple . However, it seems that ff.n has changed their systems, and now when I upload a document, that line has been erased. Again, sorry! I know how confusing it can be to read a story that doesn't differentiate between scenes. I'll work on it for future chapters. On with the show:
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"My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts." The mantra echoed in the stillness of the small room. Candlelight played across the faces of the two occupants as they sat across from each other. Their eyes were closed, her fingers touched his face at the pressure points, and she repeated the phrase again.
The Captain felt supremely silly. He was a grown man having nightmares, and because of them, he had resorted to this seemingly ridiculous activity. T'Shar had told him to relax; that the procedure would be more effective if his mind was receptive to her. He took another deep breath and tried to be mentally inviting.
She reached out with her thoughts. A slight tingle seemed to start at her temple and move down to her fingertips, into his flesh. She released it; let it go freely. It deflected back to her. She tried again. "My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts." Her voice got softer, but she continued to repeat the phrase. Once more the mental energy surged through her, seeking its destination. It traveled quickly. This time it was haltingly accepted.
He gasped as he felt the burst of electricity rip through his mind. The surge erupted within his brain and sent its tendrils out. His eyes flew open, unseeing, as her strength found his weakness. The nightmare played over in his mind with her watching. As it neared the end, he heard her voice. "Look into the scene, Captain. Know it for the fiction it is. Watch as you reveal your worst fear."
"No. I...I can't.... I can't look. It's me. I've become the monster." His voice started out a fierce yell but it mellowed into barely a whisper.
She maneuvered her touch slightly to allow a change in blood flow. Then she began the work of undoing his fears. "Captain Archer, you are not a monster. You have done nothing wrong."
"No, I did. I made terrible decisions..." his voice faltered.
"You did nothing wrong. You made the choices you had to make. You saved your crew; you saved Earth. It is illogical to second guess yourself at this time."
"But, I..."
"Hear me! You have no reason to berate yourself. You must face this fear and release yourself from it." She projected an image of herself into the dream. She held his face hard and forced him to look at the nightmare again. The scenes began again. He watched himself running, fighting, and finally overcoming his opponent. His dream-self tried to turn away at the last moment to avoid seeing the imaginary foe unmasked. She held tight. He had no choice but to watch. The covering came off and he saw himself.
They stared together at the gruesome sight of his dead face on the alien body. Then, suddenly like a continuous loop movie, the scene started over and played out again. It repeated itself several times, and never once did she allow him to look away. Each time, the final image became a little more blurred. She continued giving him encouragement. At last, the head of the fallen man was smeared beyond recognition. Again, she reinforced his positive outcome. Once more the dream played out. This time though, in the final scene, as the mask was pulled off in triumph the head it revealed was green and scaled. The dead reptilian did not mock him. It merely stared at him with lifeless eyes. He recoiled slightly before leaning down and closing the lids.
T'Shar grasped his hand and pulled him away. She gently turned him by the shoulders and they walked into the blackness together.
In reality, the Captain's eyes had closed again sometime during the dream replays. Now, Lady T'Shar carefully removed her fingers from his face. He nearly fell forward with exhaustion. The deep, rhythmic breathing they had synchronized during the trance-like state began to shallow out and separate. Archer opened his eyes and immediately turned to look out the window at the stars.
"You know," he began when he thought he could speak without his voice cracking. "I never really believed all that mind-meld stuff before. I mean, I knew it was real, but I didn't really believe that I could ever do it." He stopped and looked at Lady T'Shar. She was obviously fatigued. "I can't thank you enough for this. I don't know what else to say."
"I believe the correct response is, 'you're welcome,'. There is no need to say anything else. It was a logical decision to help you." She began to rise slowly with a grateful nod at his offered hand. He pulled her gently to her feet. As she regained her balance, she clasped her hands together inside the generous sleeves of her robe. "Now, if you will excuse me, Captain, I must meditate. Mind-melds are very beneficial therapy, but they are quite exhausting."
"I would agree with that." Archer made his way to the door. It opened with a slight whoosh. "Thank you, again," he offered. Then he was gone.
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Malcolm Reed was the first to see them. He tapped Hoshi lightly on the arm and pointed with his fork. "Look at that," he whispered.
Her mouth fell open. "I didn't believe you, but I guess it's true."
Commander Tucker held his head high and proud as he led T'Pol into the dining room. She looked up at him with a passive face, but her eyes glowed. They made their way to a corner table where he pulled a chair out for her and helped her back in after she sat. He walked back up to choose their meals. T'Pol glanced around the room once, before her gaze settled on his back and remained still. Hoshi would have sworn she saw a small smile flitter across her features.
When Trip returned to the table with their food, she reached out with two fingers extended. He met her touch with his own and smiled adoringly at her. After a moment of silent communication, they withdrew their hands and began to eat. Their conversation was soft, but whatever the topic, it was obvious to everyone else in the room that the Commanders where sharing an intimate meal. They spoke quietly, with their heads tilted toward each other. At one point, Trip even reached out and held her hand on the tabletop.
The Engineer had gone up to get dessert for them when Ensign Sato came up to him. "Congratulations, Commander." She beamed at him, and he returned the smile with one of his own.
"Thanks, Hoshi. Thanks a lot."
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The following morning, the sound of the door buzzer woke Trip. It took him a moment to remember that he was in T'Pol's quarters, then another to realize that she was in the shower. He rose quickly from the bed, pulling on his trousers as he went. "Jus' a minute," he called out to the door.
He was still wiping the sleep from his face as he said, "Come in."
The silver-gray door slid away to reveal Lady T'Shar in her formal robes. She entered the cabin and met his gaze. "Commander. Good morning. Is T'Pol here?"
He was blushing like a schoolboy at being caught in his girlfriend's quarters by her mother. He just nodded and went to the bathroom to tell T'Pol she had company. When he returned, he said, "I'll just be going now." He grabbed his shirt off the nearby floor and pulled it on. "If you'll excuse me, ma'am." He moved toward the door.
"Actually, I'd prefer if you'd stay, Commander." He halted abruptly and turned to face her. "I will only be a moment, and I'm sure that T'Pol will want your company."
"Ma'am," he nodded his head in concession. "By the way, is there any chance I can get ya' to call me 'Trip'?" He smiled his most charming smile.
She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow simultaneously. Trip instantly felt more at ease. He laughed aloud. "Never mind," he said when he had caught his breath.
T'Pol emerged a short time later from the bathroom. Her hair was damp and she wore a simple silk robe. She raised her hand in the traditional Vulcan greeting. "Mother. What may I do for you this morning?" Her tone was loving and patient.
"I have come to inform you that I will be staying on Mori for a time. The talks are going well, but they require many more intense sessions that will probably last for several weeks. Jesa and I will remain here to complete them and a Vulcan transport will come for us when we are ready to leave."
"But, ma'am, is that safe? They already shot you down once."
She shook her head at his question. "Your concern is appreciated, Commander. However, since I will be traveling down to the planet surface with representatives from both governments on one shuttle pod, it would be illogical for either of their respective sides to open fire."
"Quite logical," T'Pol acknowledged. She had moved to stand beside Trip and now turned to face T'Shar fully. Again she raised her right hand and separated the fingers into a "V". "Live long and prosper, Mother."
"Peace and long life, daughter." The elder woman returned the hand gesture before turning to face Commander Tucker directly. "I believe, sir, that you have very strong feelings for my daughter?" At his nod, she continued. "I am pleased by this. Her Father and I give our blessing for this union. May it fulfill you both."
For a moment, Trip was stunned into silence. He knew that T'Pol's parents did not disapprove their relationship, but this was so accepting it shocked him. He finally found his voice again. "Thank you, ma'am." He moved closer to put an arm around T'Pol's waist. "I promise to do my best to make your daughter happy." He paused at the perplexed look he received from both women, and then burst into laughter as they shared a knowing glance.
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End Chapter 10