A Thousand Years
By Drogna
In fact, it was a little over a day before Archer arrived at Deep Space One. Tyrfing was staying around to help out with the search before going on to its original assignment. Archer disembarked the ship and found T'Pol was waiting to greet him. For once he was travelling light, with no aides accompanying him, extra baggage or ceremonies on his arrival. It made a nice change and, even given the circumstances, he was pleased to get the opportunity to visit Trip and T'Pol.
"It is good to see you, Admiral," said T'Pol.
"You too, Captain. Let's deal with first things first. Where's Trip hiding?"
"The forward sensor array housing," replied T'Pol. "He is not aware that you are coming, although I was unable to shield the fact that someone was arriving on Tyrfing. Thankfully, he is too engrossed in what he is doing to take time to probe more deeply." T'Pol indicated for Archer to follow her and they wound their way through the maze like corridors of the recently reconstructed Deep Space Station.
Deep Space One had originally been intended as a multi-species deep space outpost, however during the Romulan War it had become far more important as an early warning station and listening post. The Romulans had also realised its value and it had been almost destroyed by a concerted Romulan attack a year into the war. T'Pol had spent the best part of six months putting it back together again with Trip's help and that of her crew. It was looking good but cables still dangled from the ceiling in places, indicating that there was more work to be completed.
Finally they reached the forward sensor array housing and Archer located a familiar figure, working away at an open maintenance panel. There was a slight sheen to Trip's pale skin and he had wrapped himself in a grey blanket. Occasionally he would stop what he was doing to cough violently before returning to his work.
"Captain Tucker," said Archer.
Trip turned quickly at the sound of the familiar voice of his former commanding officer.
"Admiral, what are you doing here?" asked Trip, then he turned to T'Pol. "You could have told me."
"I wanted it to be a surprise," said T'Pol, without even a twitch of her eyebrows.
"I had hoped for a better welcome, Trip," replied Archer. "Admirals are allowed to go where they want, you know."
"Yes, sir, Admiral," said Trip with a smile, before another coughing fit took hold.
"Shouldn't you be in sick bay?" asked Archer.
"I don't have time to lie around," said Trip. He shivered a little and pulled the blanket closer around him.
"Trip, you have a fever," said Archer in alarm. He took in the pale, damp skin, the coughing and shivering. Archer could even hear the wheezing in Trip's breaths.
"I can still work. I'm not an invalid, you know," said Trip. "We need to find Excalibur. If the Romulans have got her…"
"I know Trip, but not at the expense of your own health. Brief your staff on what you're doing and go to sickbay."
"It's not that easy, Admiral. This isn't exactly in the maintenance manual," said Trip. Archer saw a look pass between Trip and T'Pol and knew that his verbal argument wasn't the only one that was going on. There were a few moments of charged silence while Trip and T'Pol argued at the speed of thought. Trip's hand gestures were enough to indicate that he didn't like what T'Pol was saying, or rather thinking, to him.
"Eshikh svai t'platlar," said T'Pol out loud, looking significantly at Trip, once again excluding Archer from the conversation.
"What does that mean?" asked Archer.
"A desert rose has thorns," said Trip, not looking happy. Archer was none the wiser as to why that should be important, but it was obviously of significance to Trip as he was still arguing. "I knew it was a mistake accepting a post in your command. Just because they gave you your promotion one month before mine, you think you can boss me around."
"I do not "boss you around", I make command decisions. If you do not like it then you do not have to stay. You are a stubborn individual. I will carry you to sick bay if I have to," said T'Pol. "Kicking and screaming if necessary."
"I have a better idea," said Archer. "Captain Tucker, I hereby order you to present yourself to sickbay and not to leave until Doctor Phlox releases you."
"Admiral! I've got work to do," protested Trip.
"Captain, don't make me get security," said Archer. He sighed, if ordering Trip didn't work then perhaps something else would. "Trip you promised me that you'd try to take care of yourself. If you won't do it for me, think about what this is doing to T'Pol."
Trip shot Archer a dirty look, before he lent on a bulkhead and felt all the strength go out of him. He didn't have to think about how this was affecting T'Pol, despite her best attempts she couldn't shield or repress all her emotions in relation to him.
"Fine, whatever you want," said Trip. He handed the padd that he'd been working on to T'Pol. He brushed past his former CO and current CO, trying to be confident in his stride even if he didn't feel confident.
He had barely walked two steps when he stumbled and it was only Archer and T'Pol's quick actions that stopped him hitting the deck. Trip felt reassurance from T'Pol and he realised that the thoughts he was broadcasting at that moment were pure worry and pain. He did his best to reign in his feelings and shield his thoughts as he knew what it did to T'Pol, but he didn't think he was doing that well as T'Pol was still talking soothingly to him. Except her lips weren't moving and that meant she was speaking through their bond. He had to be out of it if he couldn't tell the difference, usually it was very obvious.
Archer and T'Pol helped Trip limp along to the station's sickbay, although it was clear that Trip was fading fast. The trio finally arrived at sickbay, where Phlox was waiting for them.
"Let this be a lesson, Captain," said Phlox as they helped Trip onto an empty biobed in the spacious sickbay. "If you had stayed in sickbay yesterday then you probably would have recovered in a day or so, instead I expect you'll be spending the week in my care."
"Sorry, Doc," mumbled Trip. "Just wanted to find Malcolm. Sorry to cause so much trouble."
"Next time, maybe you'll listen to me," said Phlox. "Although I seriously doubt you will learn from your mistakes."
"I have already chastised him for his stubbornness," said T'Pol, it sounded to Archer almost as if she was telling the doctor off for being hard on Trip. She placed a cool hand on Trip's forehead and he closed his eyes at the pleasant sensation.
Archer noted that T'Pol wore a ring on her left ring finger, exactly where a wedding ring would have been on a human. Trip hadn't told him that he and T'Pol had been married so he wondered what the ring signified in this case. The love in her touch and posture was obvious to anyone who cared to look.
Phlox administered medication and finally Trip's breathing eased and the lines of pain disappeared from his face. The doctor continued to work on his patient, attaching IV lines and oxygen tubes so that Trip could get well more quickly.
Once Trip was properly settled, T'Pol and Archer moved off to one side so that they could talk. Trip's eyes were closed but Archer doubted that he was sleeping, and even though they were trying to be quiet Archer would have bet money that Trip was listening in.
"What's the latest on Excalibur?" asked Archer.
"All grids are negative so far, but with sensors functioning at less than optimal settings it is proving difficult to search efficiently," said T'Pol. She looked down at the padd that Trip had handed her and paused for a moment. "However, I believe that Trip has given me the necessary instructions to adjust the main sensor array."
"Do you want a hand?" asked Archer.
T'Pol glanced back at Trip, and Archer knew that she was torn between her duty and her t'hy'la.
"Don't mind me," croaked Trip, eyes still shut. "Just find Excalibur." Once again T'Pol hadn't needed to voice her concern to Trip, he'd just known what she was thinking. Archer never failed to be amazed by his friends' link. T'Pol was looking at Trip in a significant way, her face softening.
"I'll be fine," said Trip, peeling his eyes open and blinking in T'Pol's direction. From that Archer guessed T'Pol had said that she didn't want to leave Trip alone while he was sick. "Tell her, Doc."
"He is in good hands," said Phlox.
"Very well," said T'Pol, turning on her heel and exiting sickbay. Trip smiled at the view of her retreating form and Archer decided that there was nothing to do but follow her.
Archer and T'Pol worked on the sensors together. Their usual roles were reversed as T'Pol gave instructions to Archer from Trip's padd. Archer didn't mind being the one who was doing the work as he doubted that he would have had any idea how to read Trip's schematics. He was slightly surprised that T'Pol was able to work it out since Trip had his own short hand that he used when he was making notes. This was one of the times that Archer was extremely glad of their close bond.
"How has Trip been?" asked Archer, as they worked.
"His health has improved considerably since he was injured. He has been working full shifts for the last month. However, this has made him tired and Phlox was considering restricting him to part time duty again."
"Which, knowing Trip, he wasn't too happy about," said Archer.
"Indeed. He has already violated medical orders regarding his working hours several times. The Doctor and I find this frustrating," said T'Pol.
"I'm sure frustrating isn't the word," said Archer. "Is he going to get any better? I don't mean from the pneumonia, I mean generally. You said he was still tired."
"Phlox believes that he may be able to develop further treatments to help him, but without more treatment, the doctor thinks he will not improve substantially more. Trip is reluctant to take time off work for an operation which would require lengthy recovery time."
"He's always taken his work seriously. Maybe too seriously. I'd hoped that after he put himself in the hospital, he'd start taking care of himself. I suppose I should have known better."
"He is not someone who takes advice easily," replied T'Pol. She turned back to the open panel, padd in hand. "The amplification module is complete."
"Do we need to depolarise these couplings before we connect the module?" asked Archer.
"I will ask Trip," said T'Pol. "He is still awake and trying to listen to our conversation."
Archer smiled. Even sick, Trip could still be a handful.
"He says it is not required," said T'Pol after a second or two. "Once these connections are made, we should be able to activate the enhanced sensor array."
Archer nodded. He finished the work and then carefully replaced the covering. Jogging circuits now could mean that connections were dislodged and then they'd have to come back to find the problem which could take up time that they didn't have.
Archer and T'Pol left the sensor housing compartment and headed up to the control room, where T'Pol ousted the Ensign who was currently sitting at the science station. She deftly pressed buttons on the control panel and began her sensor sweeps of the surrounding area.
"The enhanced sensors are functioning at optimal efficiency," she reported.
"Are you picking anything up?" asked Archer.
"Not as yet. To scan the whole area will take a number of hours," said T'Pol. "I have programmed the computer to carry out the required search pattern. Our continuous presence here is not required and I suggest we use this time to rest."
Archer knew that T'Pol meant that he should get some rest, she would be going to sickbay to visit Trip.
"Okay, I'll admit that it's been a long day. Do you have a bunk for me?"
"Of course. I will show you to the guest quarters," said T'Pol.
Archer hadn't found it easy to get to sleep. No matter how many starbases and ships he visited, Enterprise was the only one that had ever felt like home. He travelled so much now on ships that he didn't command, weren't his, that he always felt like an interloper. Even here on Deep Space One, it was T'Pol's station, her baby, and he'd be moving on as soon as Excalibur's disappearance was resolved, one way or another. He never thought that he would be looking forward to being back on Earth, but these days it was the closest thing he had to a home. He'd even bought an apartment in San Francisco, which he'd resisted at first, not wanting to be tied down in case he was called for deep space duty again. But Admirals didn't command deep space missions, so he'd given in and bought himself a place he could at least try to call home. Trip had always complained when he was on Earth that there were no vibrations to be felt through the floor, which wasn't natural, he claimed. Archer was beginning to strongly see what he meant by that.
When the com beeped at him, he knew he hadn't slept for more than a couple of hours. However, he was used to running on whatever sleep he could get.
"Archer," he said blearily when he located the com unit.
"We have found something on long range sensors," said T'Pol's unmistakeable tones.
"Is it Excalibur?"
"Unknown. Tyrfing is still in dock and I would like your permission to accompany it to investigate the readings."
"You have my permission, but I'm coming with you," said Archer.
"I am not sure that would be wise," said T'Pol. "You should stay on Deep Space One and assume command in my absence."
"Sorry, T'Pol, it's a package deal. You want to take Tyrfing out, then I'm coming too. Captain Austin owes me a favour or two."
"Very well, I will meet you at the docking bay in fifteen minutes," said T'Pol. The connection fell silent. Archer allowed himself a small smile before he concentrated on finding clothes and getting dressed.
By the time he arrived, T'Pol was waiting for him and he was well aware that he was late. T'Pol of course couldn't complain out loud about the time keeping of a superior officer, however her body language managed to clearly indicate her displeasure at the delay.
"The signal is coming from the Romulan Neutral Zone," said T'Pol, handing Archer a padd. "I believe I can also modify the sensors on Tyrfing using Trip's notes. We can then take more readings once we are closer to the source of emission."
"Good idea," said Archer, scanning the padd.
T'Pol turned her head and looked down the empty corridor, just as Archer was about to question her further.
"What is it?" he asked. Then he saw why T'Pol was looking. Coming around the corner, practically hanging onto the wall, was a forlorn looking figure with Captain's pips and an Engineer's red stripe on his uniform. "Trip!" exclaimed Archer.
"Don't say it," said Trip holding up a hand to stop the tirade that he knew was coming from either his t'hy'la or his friend, probably both. "You want to modify the sensors on Tyrfing, you need me to do it. They aren't the same as the ones on DS1 and my notes aren't going to help."
"How were you able to conceal your leaving sickbay from me?" asked T'Pol.
Trip shrugged. "You were busy analysing the sensor readings. I just made sure my shields didn't slip and I was home dry. I've had a good long rest and Phlox's meds have done me the world of good, so don't bother arguing with me, I'm coming along."
"You can barely stand," said Archer. "You aren't even cleared for duty, let alone shipboard duty."
"I can do it, Admiral. Just give me a chance to show you," said Trip.
"Trip, you've got nothing to prove to me. I know that when you're well you're very capable, but you've got a bad case of pneumonia and wearing yourself out is only going to make things worse. Please, just go back to sickbay and we'll keep you updated on everything that's going on."
"This is extremely illogical," said T'Pol, exasperation colouring her voice and proving just how frustrated with Trip she was. Archer hadn't heard her use the L word for some time.
"Love and friendship don't mix with logic, you know that, t'hy'la," said Trip. "Look, Tyrfing's got a sickbay just as good as the one here, we could take Phlox with us and, when I'm not working, I promise I'll be in sickbay. We won't even be away from the station that long. Please, you know I have to do this. This is Malcolm's ship that's out there. He pulled me out of more scrapes than I care to remember, this is my chance to return the favour." He added mentally, and prove that I really never blamed him for not coming to the rescue that one last time.
He heard T'Pol answer mentally also. "You have already apologised for that false accusation and he accepted the apology. As the Captain said, you have nothing to prove to any of us."
"Even if I don't have anything to prove, he's my friend. I'm not backing down T'Pol. You're going to have to throw me in the brig if you expect me to stay here."
Trip heard the amusement in T'Pol's mind at that prospect and wondered if his bluff was about to be called. Instead she said out loud, "I will inform the Doctor that he will be joining us."
Archer looked surprised but had obviously decided not to comment on T'Pol's change of heart. "Okay, let's get on board and I'll break the news to Tyrfing's Captain and Chief Engineer that we're going to be modifying the ship's sensors."