Christmas at Lake Tahoe

Chapter 7

Jonathan approached the guy manning the gondola and asked whom he needed to speak to about a missing person.

"What's the problem exactly, sir?"

"I was skiing with my…friend. She went ahead of me and I expected her to be down here waiting for me when I arrived. She isn't. I've tried contacting her but there is no response. I'm concerned she's stuck out in this weather, injured or maybe even unconscious. She needs to be found." Jonathan tried to keep the panic out of his voice.

"You need to speak to a member of TNSAR. They can help you co-ordinate a rescue."

"Who are they and where do I find a member?"

"One of their offices is inside the building over there." He pointed to the mountain café where Archer had eaten earlier. "It's the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team."

"Thanks," Archer said, and walked briskly towards said building. He noticed someone following him and turned around. It was Hans.

"I overhead your conversation, Captain. I'd like to help."

"Thanks. Do you think she'll be okay?"

"T'Pol seems very resilient. I'm sure in a few hours we can all laugh about this over a drink. She might still be skiing down at this moment, merely taking her time because of the bad weather."

"Yeah…you're probably right. I suppose I'm worrying for nothing."

"Well it's a good idea to notify the search and rescue people just to be on the safe side."

"Right."

Jonathan glanced up the slope once more before entering the building. It was barely visible; there wasn't a sign of anyone. He walked inside, with Hans following closely behind. He opened the glass door to the TNSAR office, and found a group of three people busy taking calls, sat at their desks. One of them, a woman, removed her earpiece and approached Archer.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

Jonathan explained the situation.

"And you've tried contacting her several times?"

"Yes on my Starfleet communicator. Inclement weather doesn't affect them. If she's not answering well either her communicator is damaged somehow, or—"

"You fear she's been injured?" the woman finished his sentence.

He nodded, trying to remain calm. "You are?" she asked Hans.

"Hans Schneider, I'm T'Pol's ski instructor. I told the captain I'd stick around in case I could help."

"How good a skier is she? That slope is pretty steep," she noted, pointing to the mountain outside the window.

"She's a beginner," Hans explained. "But I've been amazed at her progress. In good weather, I don't see how she'd have any trouble coming down."

"Hmm…good weather. Those are the key words, Mr Schneider, aren't they? Let me see what I can do. We've had a few skiers reported missing because of the weather so our search teams are busy."

"You can't send someone right now?" Jonathan asked.

"I have all three of our shuttlepods scanning the area around Heavenly looking for around seven people. Three were reported missing before the storm. I will get in touch with the pilots and inform them to look for another person. You mentioned she's Vulcan?"

"Yes," Jonathan answered.

"That presents a problem."

"How?"

"Our scanners are only calibrated to pick up human life signs."

"You saying you could fly right over her and not know she's there?"

"Basically, unless she was visible from the ground. What's she wearing?"

Jonathan replied she was in a burgundy and white suit. He was growing impatient with the lack of progress. He heard the woman contact one of the pilots, giving T'Pol's description.

"He'll keep a look out but he's not in that area at the moment but on the far side of the resort," she explained.

"And that's all you can do?" Jonathan began to raise his voice.

"I'm sure they are doing their best." Hans attempted to calm the captain.

"It's not good enough! Do you know who I am?" he asked the woman.

"You already said your name was Jonathan Archer. And Mr Schneider called you captain — so I assume you're the famous Captain Archer of Starfleet. However, none of that changes anything. Do you think I can speed up your colleague's rescue just because you're members of Starfleet?"

"The captain meant no harm, Miss—"

"Andrews. My name is Melanie Andrews."

"You must understand. He's overwrought," Hans continued. "T'Pol and he, well they aren't just colleagues."

Jonathan shot him a glance — what was Hans saying?

"Mr Schneider, I deal with people anxious for their loved ones every day. I understand the captain's concern. Believe me, I'm doing all I can within my power. All I can suggest now is you wait. Why not go have a coffee next door and come back in ten minutes for an update?"

"Thank you Miss Andrews. We'll do that."

Hans led Archer out of the office, and into the cafeteria. "Want anything to eat?" he asked as he sat him down at a table.

"Err…no, coffee's fine."

Jonathan felt helpless and in a daze. How could he sit here drinking coffee while T'Pol lay somewhere unconscious in a snowdrift? She wouldn't even show up on the search and rescue team's scanner. Of what use were they?

He pulled out his communicator again and hoped against hope that T'Pol might respond. He tried several times but nothing.

Hans returned with their coffees. "I didn't know if you took sugar so I didn't sweeten it. But here's some sachets."

"Thanks."

"You look like hell, Captain. Don't worry, she'll be okay."

Jonathan ran his fingers through his hair and sighed heavily. "How can you be so sure? I'm an idiot. I should never have let her go off on her own. I was gonna be right behind her, but my ski binding became loose and I had to adjust it. By the time I'd done that, she was nowhere to be seen."

"Have you had any close calls on any of your missions together?"

Jonathan laughed sadly. "Yeah…but I was the one that was always being rescued. I got myself into so many scrapes, and she always saved the day. I got sentenced to a Klingon prison camp once and she rescued me. Another time I almost got myself hanged and she arrived, guns ablazing so to speak and saved my sorry ass."

"A little snow storm sounds like a walk in the park in comparison."

"I don't know," he shrugged, emptying the sugar sachets into his coffee. "By the way, what makes you think T'Pol and I are more than colleagues?""Because you are."

"What did T'Pol tell you?"

"She said you were only friends."

"But you think otherwise?"

"I'm not blind, Captain. I knew from the morning of her first lesson, the way you hovered around protectively. I've seen the way you look at her. It's obvious you love her."

"Oh." Jonathan had no idea he'd ever been obvious. "Even if you think that, why say it to Miss Andrews?"

"Well I had to explain why you were getting so upset."

"Yeah, guess I shouldn't have raised my voice or brought up my position at Starfleet. To be honest, I loathed doing so. I wasn't thinking straight."

"Like I said Captain, you were overwrought. It's perfectly understandable."

"Yeah well I used to shrink back from that kind of thing. When Enterprise first returned from the Expanse over 18 months ago they tried to brand me as some kind of hero. I could get into any restaurant in San Francisco without a reservation. People would stop me for autographs and thank me in the streets. I hated it."

"I can imagine celebrity status could be unnerving."

Jonathan finished his coffee and got up.

"It not ten minutes yet, they won't have any news," Hans reminded him.

"I can't just sit here."

"Captain, what else do you suggest?"

He sat back down. "I don't know." He glanced around the room — it was mostly empty except for a few employees who were cleaning up after patrons who'd left their dirty dishes on the tables. "One thing I hate is feeling helpless and out of control."

He remembered T'Pol had journeyed up from San Francisco in a Starfleet shuttlepod. It had scanning equipment onboard that would easily find a Vulcan and it was sitting idly in his garage right now. The only problem was that it would probably take almost an hour to get to the house and back.

Then an idea struck him. He pulled out his communicator and put a call into Commander Sarah Collins.

Ten minutes later a Starfleet shuttle was landing a few feet from the mountain café. Jonathan and Hans ran into the blizzard and hopped inside.

"Welcome aboard, Jonathan," Sarah greeted.

"Boy am I grateful you came up to Tahoe in a shuttle and not by car," Jonathan commented, as he sat down. He introduced Hans to Sarah.

"Any sign of T'Pol?" he asked her, fear in his voice.

"Not yet. It's quite a heavy storm, might be interfering with the scanners. These aren't as powerful as the ones you have onboard the shuttles in Enterprise's hangers. These shuttles are mainly used for travelling short distances on Earth."

"Well at least they are calibrated for most life forms."

"That they are." Sarah's hands flew across the controls and they were airborne. She flew up toward the slope Archer indicated.

He glanced at his watch. It had been over an hour and a half since he'd last seen T'Pol. She'd have been better off getting lost or injured in a desert than the mountains. Next trip we go to Death Valley he thought.

"Anything Sarah?" he asked with impatience. Why weren't the scanners picking anything up?

"Not yet, I'm still circling the area. I'll lower the shuttle a little. The closer we are to the ground, the better the scanners will work."

"Okay."

"You have a lot of sophisticated equipment on these shuttles," Hans noted.

"Sarah, why don't you let me fly the shuttle." Jonathan said, getting up.

"You convinced you're the best pilot in Starfleet, Jonathan? I came top in my class at flight school. Sit back. You won't find her any faster than I will."

"What's that?" Hans asked, hearing a faint bleeping noise.

"It's my communicator!" Jonathan answered excitedly, unzipping his suit to retrieve it.

"Archer," he answered. There was a lot of interference and crackling on the other end. "Hello?"

"Jonathan?"

"T'Pol! Thank God. Where are you?"

"I…I don't know. I must have strayed from the trail. I had an accident…my head…it hurts."

"Don't worry, we're on our way."

"Can you locate her communicator signal?" he asked Sarah.

She was working on it already, fiddling with dials and buttons. "Got it! Tell her we'll be there in a minute."

"Hear that T'Pol? Hang on, we're almost there."

Relief washed over him, but he was anxious about her injury. He hoped it wasn't serious.

Two minutes later Sarah landed the craft in a small clearing amongst a large group of trees. This was definitely far off the original trail; she must have really got lost. Jonathan sprinted out and found T'Pol sitting in the snow, her back leaning against a tree. She looked almost as white as the snow around her. He had no idea as to the extent of her injury, only that her head hurt. He couldn't see any blood. He wished they had a medic with them, or at least a collar to restrict her neck, so any movement wouldn't worsen the injury.

"Stay put," he instructed. "I'll carry you to the shuttle."

"I can walk, Jonathan," she answered, attempting to get up.

"I wouldn't recommend that. Let's get you inside. You're probably freezing."

He crouched down and placed one arm under her legs and another around her waist, lifting her from the snow. Hans had collected her skies and poles, placing them inside the shuttle while Jonathan attended to T'Pol.

He carried her inside, sitting down with her in his lap. He instructed Sarah to fly them to the local hospital.
"How you feeling, T'Pol?" he asked.

"Tired and my head hurts a lot."

"You'll be okay," he reassured. "I tried contacting you several times on your communicator. Did you not hear it bleeping?"

"No, I think I passed out."

She must have hit her head pretty badly for that to happen. "Do you remember what happened?"

"After I left you I could hardly see anything in front of me. I skied to the left to avoid someone I think — then I must have got off course. It suddenly became very steep and I lost balance. I tumbled in the snow, losing my skis. As I fell I remember hitting my head. The next thing I knew I woke up in the snow dazed and confused. I was freezing cold and my head was splitting. That's when I contacted you."

"You were unconscious for quite some time then," Hans noted.

"I presume so."

"Don't worry, T'Pol. We'll get the doctors to check you out." Jonathan tried to sound reassuring. He wished Phlox wasn't on Denobula. Would the doctors here even know how to treat T'Pol? Vulcan physiology was so different to human.

"Hans, can you reach up and get that med kit? It's just above you." Hans did as requested. "Open it and they'll be a medical scanner inside."

"Here, Captain." Hans passed him the scanner. Jonathan ran it over T'Pol and examined the results. He was relieved to find she had no broken bones or sprains. He'd need something more sophisticated to assess a head injury.

"Jonathan?" T'Pol asked.

"No broken bones. We'll have to see what they say at the hospital."

"I'm cold." He asked Hans to pass him one of the extra blankets in the shuttle and wrapped it around T'Pol.

"What's our ETA, Sarah?"

"Almost there. I contacted them letting them know they've got a Vulcan patient en-route."

"Thanks." He hadn't even heard her doing so. Sarah was an efficient officer; she deserved a position aboard a starship if that's what she wanted.

A few minutes later Jonathan walked into the hospital with T'Pol in his arms. He placed her on a gurney and she was wheeled into the ER. Hans and Sarah retired to the waiting area while Jonathan insisted on staying with T'Pol. A few medical staff tried to shoo him into the waiting area but he wouldn't hear of it. He asked to speak to the neurologist on call.

One of the younger doctors was shining a light in T'Pol's eyes and asking her to follow his finger. A nurse took her blood pressure. "I have no idea if this is considered normal for a Vulcan," she informed the doctor. A radiologist came in and took a scan of her head.

"We are a bit out of our league, Captain," the doctor said.

"What about your neurologist?"

"He's on his way, but I doubt he'll know any more. We don't study Vulcan physiology in medical school."

"No I suppose you don't." What should he do? "If she was human, what would your conclusions be?"

"I'd say she's got a concussion. She'll probably experience some tiredness, dizziness, with the possibility of memory loss over the next couple days. She should just take it easy. Do you know exactly how she hit her head?"

"She fell while she was skiing."

"Well this kind of injury is rather common in these parts. The only thing is that what's normal for a human may not be normal for her. I wish I could be of more assistance, Captain."

He left as the neurologist entered, introduced himself to Archer and began to examine T'Pol.

"Jonathan…" She moved her head away from the neurologist's light.

"They're just checking you out, T'Pol."

"I'm tired. Can't we go back to the house?"

"Soon. Just a little while longer and it'll be over."

"Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere, T'Pol," he smiled.

"I need to tell you…"

"Sshh, T'Pol. We can talk later. Just let the doctor finish his tests."

Her headache was getting worse. The pounding seemed to gain strength each minute. She wanted to tell Jonathan something. As she'd waited in the snow for the shuttle to land she'd decided it couldn't wait. He should know the truth about her and Trip — it was obvious he needed it spelling it. This probably wasn't the best time to tell him however, not in front of all the medical staff. She'd wait till they returned to his house.

The light they shone in her eyes was bright and merely exacerbated her headache. "Do you have something for the pain?" she asked. Jonathan stroked her head in comfort.

"I can give you a mild painkiller. Since I don't have your medical records I don't want to give you anything too strong in case of adverse reactions," the neurologist explained. He instructed the nurse to prepare a hypospray of something. He injected T'Pol with it, saying she should feel a slight improvement in a few minutes.

Another nurse walked in with the scans of T'Pol's head. The neurologist studied them. "I can't see any visible trauma. I'd agree with my colleague and confirm the diagnosis of concussion. It fits with all the symptoms. If you want to play it safe I'd suggest you get her seen by a Vulcan doctor," he told Archer.

The nearest Vulcan doctor was at the consulate in Sausalito. "Would it be safe for her to travel to San Francisco?" Jonathan asked.

"I wish I could say, Captain. This is really a guessing game. For the time being, I'd suggest taking her home and letting her get plenty of rest."

"It's safe for her to sleep?"

"Again if she were human, I'd say yes."

"Thanks, Doctor." He thought for a moment then turned to T'Pol. "I'll be back in a minute."

"But you said you wouldn't go…"

"I'll be right back."

He dashed out of the exam room, down the hall to where Hans and Sarah where. They both stood up as he entered and asked about T'Pol's condition. He told them briefly what the doctors said. Addressing Sarah he said, "I need a favour."

"Of course, Jonathan."

"If you can't do this, I'll go myself."

"What do you need?"

"Would you be willing to fly down to Sausalito and get a Vulcan doctor from the consulate to return with you?"

"It's not a problem. I'd be happy to help. I can be there and back within the hour."

"Thanks, Sarah. I just don't want to take any chances. The docs here are guessing as to her condition, and I won't rest easy until I know she's okay."

Sarah smiled and said she'd leave right away. She asked Jonathan if she should contact the consulate first. He said he'd get a message to Soval himself so they'd be expecting her.

"So I should bring the doctor back to your house?" she asked.

"Yes."

"See you in about an hour then." With that she left, striding down the hospital corridor towards her shuttlepod.

While the doctors discharged T'Pol, Hans went to his apartment to retrieve his car and drove back to the hospital. He found a pale looking T'Pol in a wheelchair waiting at the entrance with Archer.

Jonathan gently placed T'Pol on the back seat. "You feeling dizzy?" he asked.

"A little, but that is normal…yes?"

Jonathan smiled. "I believe so. I'm sure you'll be back to your old self in a day or two." He walked around to the other side of the car and got in, wrapping his arm around T'Pol. "Is the pain any better?"

"A little bit." The truth was the medication they'd given her at the hospital had barely touched the pain, but she didn't want Jonathan to worry anymore than he already was.

She leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt sleepy.

"Should you let her sleep?" Hans asked, turning his head to check on them in the back.

"The doctors said it was okay."Hans asked for Jonathan's address and the captain instructed him on the shortest route back to the house. "I appreciate your help. You must have had plans this afternoon. Thanks for taking the time out."

"I'm happy to help, Captain. Besides with the bad weather my advanced class for this afternoon was cancelled."

Within a few minutes they were at the house. Jonathan carried T'Pol in and placed her on his bed in his room. He knew she found it more comfortable — and her comfort was of utmost importance.

Hans said that if it were all right with Jonathan he'd like to wait around until the Vulcan doctor arrived. He wanted to know T'Pol was going to be okay.

"Of course. Make yourself at home. I'll be with you in a few minutes." Hans nodded, allowing Archer and T'Pol to have some privacy. He went to the living room and waited.

"How you feeling now?"

"About the same," she answered.

"Pain still pretty bad, huh?"

"I'll live, Jonathan."

"I got in touch with Soval and a Vulcan doctor from the consulate is on their way to check you out. In the meantime I think we should get you out of that ski suit."

"You shouldn't have bothered Soval."

"I don't want to take any chances. It's my fault you got injured in the first place."

"Jonathan—"

"No arguments. Think you can sit up?"

She tried to and the room began to spin. Jonathan started to unzip the front of her suit. She moved away from him. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you out of your suit and getting you into your PJs. Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"

"My head…it really hurts."

"Is it getting worse?" He was worried now. Hopefully Sarah and the doctor would be here soon.

She inhaled deeply and concentrated on her breathing. That seemed to help. "I'm all right, Jonathan."

"Well I wouldn't say that. Hang in there, it won't be long. Boy, I wish Phlox were here."

"He went to see…Feezal."

"I know."

"She's his wife."

"I know, T'Pol."

"Phlox is polygamous…that means he has more than one wife."

"That's right." Why was she stating the obvious? He finally managed to get her ski suit off. She shivered dressed only in her underwear. She seemed more co-operative now that she was cold. He helped her slip on her PJs and get under the covers.

"I'm in your bed," T'Pol noted.

"Yes. Is that okay?"

"It is…comfortable." She lay her head against the pillow. "I'm thirsty."

He suggested some hot tea and she said she wanted coffee. "T'Pol you never drink coffee."

"I would like to try it."

"Okay, be right back." She was acting different. The bump on her head seemed to be affecting her.

He went to the kitchen and put the coffee on. He offered Hans a cup that he agreed to.

"How's she doing?" Hans asked.

"I think she'll be okay. Though she's acting a little strange."

"In what way?"

"It's probably nothing. She's telling me about stuff I already know as if I don't know it." He carried a mug of coffee over to Hans.

He glanced at his wristwatch. Sarah should be here any minute; it had almost been an hour. He'd contacted Soval privately at his home in Sausalito and the Ambassador had recommended his own private physician which he'd contacted and asked to be ready for when Sarah arrived.

He return to T'Pol's side with coffee and a glass of water. "I made it black."

"I'd like it with milk."

"T'Pol, you don't consume dairy."

"I don't?"

Her head was throbbing. She didn't remember. She took the mug from Archer and sipped the black steaming liquid. She was unsure if she liked or disliked it. It had a strong bitter taste.

Jonathan sat by her on the bed.

"Your eyes…they're very green," she said, almost as if she were seeing them for the first time.

"Yup, from my mother's side of the family. How you feeling?"

"Are you going to ask me that every five minutes?" She sounded annoyed. He let it go, he'd probably be annoyed too if he had a pounding headache.

There was a knock on the front door. He presumed it was Sarah with the Vulcan doctor. He heard Hans answer and lead them to the bedroom.

They all entered and the doctor introduced herself as Dr. Seral. Jonathan had no idea Soval had a female physician. She looked about the same age as T'Pol.

"I would appreciate you all leaving the room so I can examine the patient," Dr. Seral requested. Sarah and Hans both exited.

"Jonathan is to stay," T'Pol replied.

The two Vulcan women eyed each other. Jonathan wondered if the doctor was curious about the relationship between himself and T'Pol.

"As you wish," Seral replied. She ran her scanner over T'Pol.

"How did you incur this injury?" she asked.

"I was skiing."

The Vulcan raised her eyebrow. "A foolish and reckless human sport."

"I find it…pleasing."

"I see living amongst humans for all this time has de-Vulcanised you, T'Pol."

T'Pol didn't wish to argue with the doctor. "What is my condition? Can you give me something for the pain?"

"It shouldn't be that grave. My scans show only mild bruising to your skull."

"Whatever your scans show, T'Pol isn't lying, Doctor," Jonathan interjected. This woman had no bedside manner whatsoever.

"Very well." Dr. Seral retrieved a hypospray from her medical bag and injected T'Pol in the neck. "How do you feel?"

The pain disappeared in a matter of seconds and she now felt a little light-headed, as if she'd consumed too much alcohol. "Better…thank you."

"It's a new drug developed specifically for head injuries. This along with plenty of rest and consumption of fluids is the only treatment I would recommend at this point. There is no brain damage and the trauma you experienced was slight. I'll leave a hypospray in case you need another dose in 12 hours. But don't take it before."

T'Pol nodded.

"She seemed a little disorientated earlier…and didn't sound like herself," Jonathan added.

"That is normal, Captain. Give it 24 hours. If she's made no improvement, I suggest you contact me again. I believe you'll notice a vast improvement by morning. The Vulcan brain is very resilient…unlike its human equivalent."

Jonathan got the feeling she didn't care for humans, or at least looked down on them.

"Can I go back to skiing in a day or two?" T'Pol asked.

"You'd take up the foolish sport again after this accident?"

"I'll be more careful."

"Then it's entirely your decision, T'Pol."

"Thank you, Dr. Seral."

"Vulcans don't thank each other. Another human custom you've obviously picked up." With that the doctor packed up her medical bag and left. Jonathan walked her down the hall.

"T'Pol is in your sleeping quarters, is she not, Captain?"

Oh boy! "Yes, that is my bedroom."

"I see. It is logical to assume you are in a relationship with her. It is fortunate she is no longer a member of the Vulcan High Command."

"Why?"

"If I'm not mistaken you are the second human she's entered into a relationship with onboard your ship. I could have explained one as scientific curiosity…but two?"

"That's up to T'Pol, isn't it?" he countered.

"Of course. I suppose she prefers human males to Vulcan — most unusual."

"It's her choice," he reiterated.

"Yes, Captain. Though it makes one wonder just how living amongst humans can affect a Vulcan's sensibilities. I believe the T'Pol you met several years would be as aghast as I am at the idea of an interspecies relationship."

"To be honest, Doctor, I also shared your opinion at the time. People change."

"Fascinating. Perhaps I should write a paper on it."

"I'd rather you didn't."

"Don't look so frightened, Captain. A bit of Vulcan humour. It is not my business what T'Pol or any other Vulcan wishes to do in their private lives. I was expressing my opinion, nothing more."

They met up with Sarah. "I'll be happy to take you back to Sausalito, Doctor."

"That would be acceptable.""Sure you don't mind Sarah?" Jonathan asked. "I can do it, if you or Hans stay with T'Pol."

"Not a problem, Jonathan."

Jonathan accompanied Sarah and Dr. Seral to the shuttlepod, thanking the Vulcan for her help even though he knew she didn't wish to hear it.

"If she does attempt those slopes again, Captain, perhaps you'll keep a better eye on her." Seral suggested.

"Of course, Doctor." He thanked her once more and closed the door to the shuttle. On returning to his bedroom he found Hans saying goodbye to T'Pol.

"I better be on my way, Captain."

"Thanks for all your help, Hans."

"Your welcome." Jonathan showed him out. "Take care of T'Pol, she's a special lady."

"I know and I will." He closed the door behind Hans and went back to the bedroom to check on T'Pol.

"How's the patient doing?"

"A little hungry and tired. Otherwise, I feel much better."

He said he could make her some rice with vegetables or pasta if she preferred. It was getting close to dinnertime and he felt a little hungry himself. She chose the rice.

"I'm going to rest while you cook," she told him. "If I fall asleep, will you wake me up when the meal is ready?"

"Of course." She turned onto her side and closed her eyes.

Jonathan stood over her for a moment, just admiring her — she was so beautiful. He loved her long eyelashes, her full lips, her Vulcan eyebrows and her adorable ears. It had been a close call today; fate had been on his side. T'Pol's injury could easily have been a lot worse.

She opened one eye and looked up at him. "Are you going to stand there and stare at me, or make me something to eat?"

"I'm off to the kitchen this very instant."

He smiled to himself. Sounded like she was feeling better already.

TBC