The Cultural Addition
a
Star Trek: Enterprise - based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summary: An unexpected pregnancy has some interesting consequences for Trip, T'Pol, the Enterprise and the future of Humanity.
Author's note: This story takes place Season Three, so expect general episodic references. Though I loved "Similitude," it doesn't fit with this story's progression of our favorite couple's romance and will be ignored.
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Enterprise and associated characters are property of Paramount Pictures. I mean no copyright infringement, this story is for entertainment purposes only.
Special Thanks: Have I mentioned how great my beta Stub is?
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Trip/T'Pol Romance; Mystery

Chapter Four - How long IS that bun in the oven?

No matter how impossible it was for a Vulcan and Human to conceive, Jonathon Archer could not fully believe T'Pol's pregnancy was not the result of less-than-professional activities with the Enterprise chief engineer.

Nor could he shake the betrayal he felt, despite the evidence and testimony to his best friend's and first officer's innocence.

Seated behind his desk with the expectant parents before him, he found it difficult to hide his doubts.

"You're keeping the baby."

If he hadn't been mired in his own thoughts, Archer would have laughed at the look of surprise on Trip's face.

"Did Phlox already call up here? We just left Sickbay a minute ago."

"No, I haven't talked to Phlox," he answered, eyeing both of them critically. "I just know the two of you -- or at least I thought I did."

The Trip and T'Pol he knew were loyal to their captain and mindful of their responsibilities. Although Archer never expressed his own feelings for T'Pol, Trip should have known she was off-limits. She was his first officer. It was her duty to be there when he needed her. Trip should have respected that.

It was a visible effort for Trip to stay in his seat. "Are we going to get into that again? Phlox already told you neither of us had anything to do with this."

Archer straightened his shoulders, his eyes narrowing in accusation. "Phlox said there was some help in creating the hybrid, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been more going on with you two. You have been spending an awful lot of time together."

"The neuropressure sessions were begun at Dr. Phlox's behest to aid the commander's sleep. There has been no romantic involvement as a result," T'Pol provided, her voice calm as ever. There were times when her Vulcan stoicism only succeeded in making Archer more upset.

This was no exception.

"Right. Some unknown entity abducted you, performed a pretty sophisticated procedure to create a Human-Vulcan hybrid, and returned you where they found you without so much as a note explaining who or why or anything." Archer leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the desk. "Doesn't that seem a little far-fetched to you?"

"Of course it's far-fetched. It's like out of some freakin' science fiction plot." Trip's restraint vanished as he stood up and towered over the desk. "It scares the hell out of me to think that someone out there has the power to not only erase our memories, but to create another being without our consent. They've taken the most basic and beautiful of nature's miracles and used us as guinea pigs." He sat down again. "You think you're having a hard time with this? Put yourself in my shoes. Or T'Pol's."

No matter how much Archer wanted to believe this entire mess was the fault of surging hormones and an appalling lack of duty, he couldn't ignore the distress in Trip's voice. Nor could he ignore his own responsibility. Placing blame on Trip and T'Pol was neither productive or healthy to the current situation or the mission.

"I'm sorry, Trip. T'Pol." He leaned back, voice tired. "I'm still not sure if I entirely believe this...but I want to trust both of you. There isn't much we can do right now, about how this happened. Our focus should be what we're going to do in eight months..."

"Ten."

"Ten? What d'ya mean 'ten'?" Trip asked, looking at T'Pol. "Just how long is that bun in the oven?"

"The Vulcan gestation period is almost eleven months," she explained.

"Eleven months?" Trip threw up his hands in exasperation, real or mocking Archer wasn't sure. "You people can't do anything the easy way, can you?"

"And 'you people' do not realize that not everything must be done in rash fashion," T'Pol countered.

For a moment -- brief as it was -- things were normal again.

But then, just as quickly, Archer was reminded what they were talking about.

~ ~ ~

Trip knew Archer was mad at him. Hell, if he were in the captain's shoes, he'd be pretty mad, too. Even with Phlox's medical data and his and T'Pol's testimony to the contrary, he didn't expect anyone to believe that her pregnancy was the result of anything other than their own reckless behavior.

But Archer was more willing to talk than Trip had thought he would be. The way he'd stormed out out of Sickbay, though not unexpected, hadn't given him much hope for this conversation.

And after a rocky start, things seemed to be going pretty well.

"There's no guarantee we'll have completed this mission in ten months," Archer said, his voice grave. "I don't think the Enterprise is any place to raise a baby, let alone while we're still in the Expanse."

"Nor do I." T'Pol agreed. "But there is little choice in the matter. We will simply have to 'make the most' of the situation, as Humans are fond of saying."

While she spoke, Trip couldn't help but notice the hand she'd placed on her abdomen. There wasn't much to see there -- she still seemed flat as a board to him -- but that connection to the baby must be pulling out her maternal instincts.

And maybe he was developing some paternal ones of his own. When they'd first entered the captain's office, he'd fought the urge to pull out T'Pol's chair for her. He'd told her earlier that they were in the same boat, and he meant it, but Trip was pretty sure if he tried rowing for her she'd probably dump him overboard.

T'Pol paused in the middle of what she was saying and looked at him and he wondered if he'd laughed out loud at the mental image of them in the "paternity boat."

Jon didn't seem to have noticed, though.

Arching an eyebrow at him, she continued. "We must not forget the party responsible. There are still many unknowns to consider, many of which only they can answer."

"I already told you we can't go back to investigate," Archer reminded her. He seemed genuinely sorry for it, too.

T'Pol wasn't hindered. "I doubt we would find anything even if we did. However, I would like to review the scans taken during Mr. Reed's search. Perhaps we can uncover something that will help us to identify them or their intent."

Trip looked at T'Pol with surprise. His attention had been focused almost solely on what to do about the baby; he hadn't done a lot of thinking about who had done this and why. Obviously T'Pol, in that wonderful multitasking mind of hers, had. Not only that, but she even had an idea of how to track them down.

Even if it was kind of a long shot. "You really think we'll find anything?"

"We will not know unless we look," she answered. "There are several questions to this child's origins. Why was this hybrid created? Who was responsible? How did they know enough about Human and Vulcan physiology for successful conception? Why were we the chosen contributors? What was their plan for the hybrid? Perhaps by reviewing the security logs I will be able to uncover some answers."

Archer nodded in agreement. "I'll ask Malcolm to pull together everything he has."

"You going to tell him why?" Trip asked, wondering briefly what the Englishman's reaction was going to be -- what anyone's reaction was going to be -- when they found out about the baby.

"That's up to the two of you," Archer answered. "It's going to come out eventually, but I'm sure you'd like some time to get used to the idea before you have defend yourself to the rest of the crew.

"Frankly," he hesitated a moment, "They're as likely to believe you as I was."

Was. That meant he believed them now, right? Trip wasn't in danger of the wrath of Archer in the near-future? At least, not for this? He searched his friend's face before turning to T'Pol.

Without her saying anything, Trip could tell that she wasn't quite ready to share their secret with anyone, yet. How he knew that, he wasn't exactly sure, but he found he didn't like the idea much, either.

"I think we'd better hold off, Cap'n. At least a little while."

~~~
More to come...including reactions from the rest of the crew and some complications.

Oh, by the way, while we're at it...
POLLS OPEN FOR ONE MORE CHAPTER (which translates to one more week)
If you would like to vote for baby gender...please e-mail me (joycelyn_solo@hotmail.com) with a subject of either:

"Cultural Addition: It's a GIRL!!"

- or -

"Cultural Addition: It's a BOY!!"

Be sure to submit a review to FF.N, too, but votes must be e-mailed (makes it more of a surprise than if y'all can tally the votes yourselves).