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, but with definite AU qualities.
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: To Stub, the wonder beta
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Trip/T'Pol Romance; Mystery
Chapter Eleven - I got a noisy neighbor
The threat of nearly losing the child she carried had affected T'Pol to her very core. In addition to the pain she'd felt physically, she had experienced fear and pain as it gripped the life within her. T'Pol's relief upon waking -- feeling the reassuring presence of the paternal bond -- was almost as overwhelming as the terror she'd experienced before slipping into unconsciousness.
Feeling that bond now, the expectant mother marveled at the two lives within her. Even with two days in Sickbay to become accustomed to the fact she was having twins, T'Pol found it difficult to believe that she'd carried both children for twenty weeks without realizing there were two of them.
Though, as she'd explained to Phlox and the commander, multiple births were unheard of on Vulcan. There was no reason for her to think there could be two lives within her. If she'd been able to properly meditate, she may have been able to focus more clearly and discovered the individual essences.
Her fragmented thoughts had been the source of many surprises she would -- or should -- have otherwise seen. Perhaps if she had been more in control of her own emotions, she would have noticed the increased attachment the Enterprise chief engineer apparently held for her.
Not simply an 'attachment,' T'Pol reminded herself. He said he loved me.
The Human concept of love was one that often eluded her, even after watching several films of the genre during Movie Night. Vulcan coupling revolved around arranged marriages and the need to procreate -- not flowery ideals of passion and romance.
T'Pol cast a glance at the commander as he escorted her from Sickbay to her quarters. She'd insisted she did not need his help in finding her quarters after only two days under Phlox's care, but the stubborn Human had been insistent. T'Pol had also informed him that she did not require his company during her time in Sickbay, but the commander had refused to leave except for his duty shifts on the Bridge and in Engineering.
Despite the amount of time he'd spent with her, the engineer had not made any further overtures of affection to her nor had he made reference to his earlier confession. Perhaps the stress of the situation had compelled him to share his feelings; perhaps he did not truly experience those feelings.
The commander had not made further mention of his idea that they share quarters, either, for which T'Pol was grateful. She knew his intentions were noble, but T'Pol doubted she could handle living with --
"Welcome home, T'Pol."
Pulled from her thoughts, T'Pol found they had arrived at her quarters. She was surprised he'd managed to remain quiet for the entire walk and, even more so, that she'd found been so lost in her own thoughts that she had not been aware of her surroundings.
"Thank you for the escort, Commander." Attempting to cover her lapse in attention, T'Pol keyed the door open and stepped inside. When the door did not close behind her, she turned to see him still standing in the corridor. She raised an eyebrow at his break in routine. She couldn't remember the last time he had not simply followed her into the cabin.
Not moving, the engineer said, "I've got some schematics to look over and you should get some rest."
"I have rested enough, Commander," T'Pol protested. "There are several reports that need my attention. I have been under the doctor's care enough times to know that paperwork stops for no one."
"Just don't do too much, okay? I don't want you to push yourself too hard after only two days."
"I sincerely doubt crew reports will be overly taxing, Commander."
"Just take it easy, okay? I'm right next door if you need me."
"Your cabin is two decks and three sections away," T'Pol reminded him.
"Not anymore." He smiled. "After your little episode, I thought it might be a good idea if I was closer. So I switched."
"What about Crewman Helenski?" T'Pol asked, referring to the anthropologist who resided next door.
"He's fine. He's living in a senior officer's quarters now. He's got almost twice the space."
"Meaning that you have half the space."
"I never spent that much time in my cabin, anyway." The engineer shrugged. "Besides, it was worth the trade to be closer to you and the twins. The three of you are more important than having room to play floor hockey in the privacy of my quarters."
Two hours after Commander Tucker left T'Pol in her quarters, Ensign Hoshi Sato pressed the door announcer and waited for the sub-commander to answer.
As she stood in the corridor, Hoshi debated with herself once again if it was such a good idea to bother T'Pol so soon after her release from Sickbay. She knew Phlox wouldn't have cleared the first officer if he didn't think she wasn't up for fulfilling her duties, but she had undergone a pretty terrible ordeal only forty-eight hours ago. That wasn't a lot of time to fully recover from nearly losing a child.
Of course, maybe T'Pol would appreciate the distraction. In theory, Vulcans didn't dwell on things and healed much faster than Humans -- but Hoshi had noticed the maternal glow that surrounded the science officer. Vulcan or not, no mother could be expected to deal with a fright like that in such a short time. Plus, if Hoshi used her last extended stay in Sickbay as an example, she'd been crazy for a distraction by the time Phlox released her.
T'Pol could probably deal well with a distraction right about now.
When the door slid aside to reveal the Vulcan mother-to-be, Hoshi smiled brightly.
"Can I help you, Ensign?" Though T'Pol did not return the smile, she did not show signs of disapproval for it either.
"If you're feeling up to it, I thought you might be able to help me with something."
T'Pol stepped aside, allowing Hoshi room to enter the cabin. She'd only seen the first officer's quarters once before and they were as immaculately maintained as she remembered. Looking around, she frowned at the stack of PADDs on the sub-commander's desk.
"If you're busy catching up, I can come back later," Hoshi said, indicating the desk.
"That is not necessary. I have reviewed each of the reports and found that Commander Tucker has already dealt with them."
Hoshi wasn't sure, but she almost thought she heard a trace of disappointment in T'Pol's voice. Knowing the Vulcan work ethic, T'Pol had probably been looking forward to reviewing the crew reports and getting back to ship's business.
"That was certainly thoughtful of the commander," Hoshi offered. "Because now you can help me with the communications relay."
One eyebrow rose in curiosity.
"As you know, we've been pretty lucky that we've been able to communicate with Starfleet for as long as we have, but it's been a week since we sent our last transmission with no response from Earth."
"Are the buoys we've deployed intact?"
"I think so. I'm getting a strong signal from the closest two with only marginal degradation toward the edge of the Expanse. But even allowing for the delays in relaying through so many beacons, we should have heard something two days ago. If we've lost contact with Starfleet, we're really on our own."
T'Pol was quiet for a moment as she seemed to think about the problem. "Though I believe we are perfectly capable of carrying out this mission 'on our own,'" she began, "I believe there is one option we can attempt before making that determination."
"Really?" Hoshi asked, surprised that the science officer -- no matter how brilliant she was -- had found an answer so quickly.
"I was working on a theory for strengthening our sensor range by linking long-range sensors to the communications array. However, we may be able to boost the communications signal by linking it into the ship's sensors."
"Because they both work on the same algorithm," Hoshi said, seeing where T'Pol was going, "integrating the two would intensify the strength of both."
"In theory," T'Pol added.
"Right," Hoshi agreed. "In theory."
"If you will accompany me to the Command Center, we can collect my calculations and apply them to the communications array in Engineering."
"Sounds like fun," Hoshi said, then remembered who she was talking to. "I mean, sounds like it might solve our communications problem."
"I also believe solving our communications problem would be gratifying, Ensign."
Did T'Pol just agree with me that this was going to be fun? Hoshi wondered, following the first officer to the door. Sometimes, even after working with someone for a while, she still had the ability to surprise you.
---
Sorry it's been so long since I've updated (what's it been...a month?), but life has thrown a couple of lemons my way and, with the juicer on the fritz, I haven't had a chance to make lemonade yet. But, in the meantime, I've hashed out an outline for the rest of this story and -- wait for it -- we're looking at about twenty more chapters, give or take. Crazy huh? I hope you all plan on sticking with me to the end because I think it's going to be quite the ride.
Oh, look, there's still Chapter Twelve to read. How exciting.
