Christmas at Lake Tahoe

Chapter 8

She was dressed in a long white gown, walking towards Jonathan at the end of the aisle. He was in a tuxedo and held his hand out to her. As she accepted he smiled at her, whispering how beautiful she looked.

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse for richer for poorer…"

She glanced in front of her to the man asking her this. Her head ached. She wanted to answer yes but the words wouldn't come out of her mouth. Jonathan asked her what was wrong but she couldn't reply.

"What kind of Vulcan are you, marrying a human?" She looked to her right. It was V'Lara, her mother's sister. "And in a white dress, just like a human! Why not have your ears reshaped as well? You should be ex-communicated from Vulcan society!"

"She's always had a fondness for humans," Soval interjected.

"It is puzzling…I don't see the attraction. They are interesting specimens to study…but certainly not marry." Dr. Seral stood in front of her, looking down at her with a disapproving glare.

"Nothin' wrong with us humans." Trip came bounding in. "I don't blame T'Pol for liking us — we're a much friendlier bunch."

"Who is this?" V'Lara asked.

"Her first human lover," Seral answered.

"Your poor mother, T'Pol. I'm glad she didn't live to see this."

T'Pol clutched her head — the pain was excruciating! And where did all these people come from? They weren't invited.

"Ignore them," Jonathan told her. "Proceed," he instructed the man marrying them.

The man seemed confused and rifled through a leather bound book in his hand. "Ah, yes, I think I was here…if anyone present can show just and legal cause why they may not be joined, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

"We already had this part," Jonathan stated.

"Seems I turned up in the nick of time," Trip interjected. "I object."

"As do I," chimed in V'Lara.

"You said you didn't love him," Jonathan said to T'Pol. "What's Trip doing here, T'Pol?"

"I don't," T'Pol answered, finally finding her voice. She felt dizzy and nauseous.

"I knew it all along…this is just a game to you, isn't it?" Jonathan face became red with anger.

"No," she answered. "How can you say that, Jonathan?" She felt unjustly accused.

"Face it Jon, it's always been me she wanted. From that first decon session we had, it was written on the cards."

Jonathan left T'Pol's side and punched Trip in the face. He went flying. Dr. Seral went to attend to him, getting out her scanner. "He has a broken nose, Captain."

V'Lara took T'Pol's arm. "Come along, T'Pol. We're going home to Vulcan, and you're undergoing the Kolinahr. Perhaps we can purge these illogical urges you have to be with earth men."

"Let me go!" T'Pol shouted.

"A human and a Vulcan — not logical," Seral interjected.

"You need to spend time with your own kind," Soval advised.

"Do you still love Trip?" Jonathan asked, pulling her away from V'Lara.

"No, but you obviously don't believe me." Her head was throbbing, and the room began to spin. The faces of Trip, Jonathan, V'Lara, Seral, Soval and the rest of the guests all began to mesh together. She continued to hear their voices, despite not making out their faces. Their voices began to merge…no longer making any sense and then everything went black.

As her vision cleared she found herself standing by Mount Seleya, in a Vulcan red robe. The wind was blowing through her hair.

"You should have stayed with me, T'Pol." She looked to her left and found Koss standing next to her, in his wedding robes. "Marriage to me was hardly shameful. You would have remained a respected Vulcan."

"Where's Jonathan?" she asked.

"Forget him…"

"He loved me, I need him."

"He's gone, T'Pol. It was not meant to be."

"No, you're wrong…it was…it is…"

The wind began to pick up speed, and the landscape changed. Koss disappeared. She shivered as the snow fell around her. She was standing on a mountainside, surrounded by trees. She was in the white wedding dress again, and the cold penetrated right through it. She felt lost and alone. In the distance she could barely make out a man walking towards her. She focused in on him. It was Jonathan!

As he approached she saw he wasn't alone. He was with a woman, but T'Pol couldn't make out her face. They were holding hands. He walked straight past T'Pol, giving her a mere glance and continuing on his way. She called to him but with no response. Then he stopped. For a moment she thought he would retrace his steps and come to her. The woman wrapped her arms around Jonathan and began to kiss him. T'Pol noted a gold band on the woman's finger.

"Jonathan!" T'Pol cried.

"T'Pol, I'm right here. Wake up!"

T'Pol opened her eyes. She was in Jonathan's bedroom in Lake Tahoe. "You're here," she said catching her breath.

"Of course I am. Where else would I be?" he smiled, brushing the hair from her face. "You okay? You don't normally shout."

"I shouted?"

He nodded.

"I had a peculiar dream…the imagery was disturbing. It must be a side effect of the medication."

"Sounds like it. You don't normally dream do you?" he asked, recalling a conversation they'd had about dreams almost four years ago after she was attacked by Tolaris.

"No." The only other dream she'd experienced had been her Trellium induced nightmare of attacking Trip. "You told me once that you enjoyed dreaming."

"For the most part, yes. But believe me, nightmares are no fun."

"They seem to be the only kind of dreams I experience."

"T'Pol, I'm sorry." He stroked her cheek. "Did you want to talk about it?"

"It was an amalgamation of my thoughts and fears. The last part I was back on the mountainside where you rescued me, in the snow."

"What was so nightmarish about that?"

"In the dream you walked straight passed me, as if I wasn't even there, and just left me."

Jonathan was horrified at the imagery her mind had created. He'd never imagined that T'Pol could feel insecure about his feelings for her, or that her subconscious would think that.

He gathered her up in his arms. "It was just a dream. If you only knew how worried sick I'd been about you. I was frantic. When you contacted me in the shuttle and I heard your voice, I was overjoyed."

"I believe you. Don't be concerned. I'm sure it is a side effect of the medication."

He kissed her on the forehead. "Glad to hear that. I was just getting a tray prepared for you when I heard you call my name and I rushed in here. Let me go get your dinner."

She nodded and propped up the pillows behind her. What an unusual set of images, she thought. Koss appearing was strange, she hadn't thought of him in months. She wasn't that surprised by Dr. Seral's appearance. She'd made no qualms about her feelings. Anything to do with human activities she appeared to condemn. As for her aunt, well she surmised that although she hadn't given it much conscious thought the letter she'd received two nights ago had bothered her.

Jonathan brought her food in on a tray and placed it on the bed. "This looks delicious," she noted. "Thank you." He smiled and got up. "Will you not sit with me?" she asked.

"I'm just going to get my own plate. Of course I'll sit with you."

When he returned he pulled up a chair to sit across from her and had his own tray across his lap. "So how you feeling…despite the bad dream?"

"Sleepy…but the pain has diminished." She ate a few forkfuls of food. "Jonathan, in the hospital…I tried to tell you something."

"You weren't feeling yourself."

"No…it is important. There is something I feel you misunderstand, and it needs to be clarified."

"Well whatever it is I'm sure it can wait till tomorrow. Eat up before your food gets cold."

"I can eat and talk at the same time. Isn't that what humans do at mealtimes?"

"Sure," he smiled," but I don't think in your condition that we should get into any serious discussions. And I'm pretty sure Dr. Seral would have my hide if she knew you weren't resting, but sitting up talking with me."

"Oh." Maybe it could wait till tomorrow. Jonathan wasn't going anywhere…like in her dream. "She knows about us, doesn't she?"

"She insinuated that she did. Does it concern you?"

"No, not at all. And you?"

"No."

He hadn't really had time to think about it. It wasn't as if what some Vulcan doctor thought or said would make any difference. And T'Pol was a member of Starfleet; she didn't fall under Vulcan jurisdiction. Seral might even mention it to Soval. The question was would Soval tell Gardener? If that did happen…well he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

"Are you certain?" She'd told Hans they were only friends, in an effort to keep their relationship a secret, which she assumed was what he wanted.

"T'Pol, it is something we need to discuss at some point, but now isn't the time. My main concern is your well being. I want you to get plenty of rest." He wanted to stir the conversation away from the serious path it was taking.

She finished her rice and asked if he could help her to the bathroom. She pulled the covers back and as she tried to stand on her two feet began to feel dizzy. Jonathan put his arm around her and instructed her to lean on him. He even offered to carry her but she told him it wasn't necessary.

He hovered over her as she brushed her teeth and washed her face, making sure she wouldn't lose her balance.

"I think I'd like to take a shower." She wanted to go to sleep feeling fresh and clean.

"I don't know if that's wise," Jonathan said. He was worried she could slip or get dizzy again.

"Then why don't you join me?" she suggested.

"Okay, but it will have to be quick. I don't want you getting dizzy and making your condition worse."

"I will be fine."

They undressed and Jonathan turned the shower dial, checking the water temperature with his hand before entering the cubicle. He helped her inside, standing behind her, ready to catch her if she faltered.

She reached for the soap but it slipped out of her hands and fell onto the cubicle floor.

"I'll get it," he said, bending down and picking it up. He soaped his hands up. "If you'll permit me—"

"Yes, it would be easier."

He soaped up her back and shoulders, then moved down her waist and legs. It was hard to do this and not admire her beautiful feminine form. She was the most gorgeous woman he'd laid eyes upon — perfect in every way. He instructed her to turn around.

"I think I can handle this part," she said, taking the soap from him. When she finished she moved directly under the shower to rinse the soap off. In the process her hair became drenched. She pushed it back, out of her face.

"Do you have any shampoo?"

"You want to fuss with your hair now? I thought we said this was going to be brief."

"While we argue over it, yes it will take longer."

He got the message and reached out of the shower for the shampoo that he kept in the cabinet above the wash basin. Squirting some of it into his hand he massaged it into her hair.

"How's the dizziness?" he asked with concern.

"It has passed."

"Okay, you can rinse off. Your hair is done."

She thanked him and dunked her head under the spray, closing her eyes. He stepped out of the shower first, getting her a towel and holding his hand out to her. She took it and wrapped herself in the towel he offered.

She noted he was standing in the nude, dripping water onto the bathroom floor. She reached over to the towel rail and passed him a towel. "Here, now you won't drip water onto the carpet."

"T'Pol, you don't sound like yourself." Why would she care? That was something a wife, or the owner of the house — namely him, would worry about. Wrapping the towel around his waist he escorted her back to the bedroom and sat her down on the bed.

"Do you feel light-headed or dizzy?" he asked.

"No, I feel fresh and clean. Thank you for your assistance."

"Let me get you another towel for your hair." He returned with it and lightly massaged her hair dry. "You want to comb it out or shall I?"

She answered that she would and asked him to get her hairbrush from the guestroom. While he went to do so she slipped into her PJs and climbed into bed. He handed her the brush on his return. Then he slipped on a pair of jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt.

As she brushed her hair he sat on the bed by her side. "I'm fine."

"What?"

"I can see it on the tip of your tongue, Jonathan. You want to ask me again if I am feeling well. The answer is yes. I appreciate your concern, but there's no need to over do it."

"I didn't realize I was."

"I believe you cannot help it. It is part of your human nature. Humans expend a lot of energy worrying."

"I suppose we do. But it's usually about those we care about."

"I understand. As for the comment about the carpet, that was just my feminine instinct coming out. It has nothing to do with my concussion."

"Okay." Guess she was right — her quarters on Enterprise were the neatest of the entire ship. "I'll get you some water for the night," he said noting the glass on the bedside table was empty.

Upon his return he tucked the covers around her, and inquired once more as to her comfort. She assured him all was well.

"You'll join me later?" she asked.

"If you'd like me to. But you might be more comfortable on your own."

"No. I'd prefer if you were with me."

"Then I will be," he promised. He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. "I wish you a dreamless sleep. Goodnight, sweetheart."

She closed her eyes and he returned to the kitchen to clear up.

Around 8pm he checked in on T'Pol and found her to be sound asleep. He tiptoed out of his bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar in case she woke up abruptly and called to him. Hopefully she wouldn't have any more bad dreams. Nightmares were disconcerting for humans; he could hardly imagine how scary they must be for someone who rarely had dreams.

He threw some more wood on the fire, poured himself a drink and curled up with his book of Yeats poetry. He'd read a few poems when he heard a knock on the door. He stood up to answer. As he opened the door he found Sarah standing on the other side.

"Come in," he invited.

He led her into the living room, then returned to his room and gently closed the door.

"How's she doing?" Sarah asked, as Jonathan sat down on the sofa.

"Well she's sleeping now."

"That's good. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"Thanks again for all your help. I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it, Jonathan."

"Did you want a drink?" he offered. She said coffee would be great so he put the percolator on.

"How was the journey back with Seral?" he asked from the kitchen.

"Oh she was pleasant enough," Sarah answered.

"Well I got the feeling she didn't care for me."

"Hmm…"

"She say something to you, Sarah?" He returned to the living room with her coffee.

"No, it was more about T'Pol. She seemed perplexed as to why a member of her race would be so attached to humans. I suppose being a logical race Vulcans try to explain everything in a logical fashion. T'Pol's relationships with humans…I got the impression she didn't deem them very logical."

"Yeah…I got the same impression."

"You should have told me, Jonathan."

"Told you what?" He didn't know what she was referring to.

"How wrong I was. Here I was thinking you and T'Pol are just friends, and it seems I'm way off the mark."

No point in denying it now. He remembered that when Sarah had arrived with Seral she'd shown her to his bedroom, where T'Pol had been in his bed. Being far more concerned with T'Pol's diagnosis and recovery, he hadn't considered what anyone would think of T'Pol staying in his room until Seral had mentioned it to him on her way out.

"I wanted to be discreet."

"That's understandable. But you should have told me Christmas night. Why did you go to dinner with me?"

"I thought it was just dinner — no strings attached."

"There weren't any strings. But you're an attractive man, can't blame me for trying," she smiled.

He felt a little embarrassed. "I'll take it as a compliment."

"As intended."

"Sarah, I did enjoy your company and didn't really fancy spending the evening alone. That's why I accepted your dinner invitation. I had no idea T'Pol was on the way up."

"Ah, I see. So this is a new development?"

He seemed hesitant to answer.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry, Jonathan. And it isn't my business. I'm sorry for what I said the other day about her and Trip and all that gossip."

"It's not as if you were spreading it."

"Whatever is between you and T'Pol, if you wish it to remain secret I won't say a word to anyone. You have my word on that."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate it."

"However, the other day you should have just said you couldn't meet me for a drink in San Francisco. I suppose you were trying to be polite and discreet at the same time."

"Something like that, but not doing a good job of it. I'm sorry. I should have been straight with you."

"No harm done, Jonathan."

"You're a good sport, Sarah. Listen, I'm glad you stopped by, because I wanted to say if you're still interested I was going to put in a recommendation to Erika Hernandez to have you on Columbia."

"You'd do that?"

"It's the least I can do. In fact last I heard Erika's first officer is seeking a transfer. I think you'd be perfect."

"But my experience is in security."

"Consider this a promotion. I can't promise, but I can bend Erika's ear. She seems to think I know what I'm talking about."

"I'd really appreciate it."

"You wouldn't be homesick for Earth?"

"No, I've wanted this a long time."

"Okay, then I promise to get in touch with Erika as soon as I get back to San Francisco."

Sarah thanked him again and finished her coffee. They talked a little more then she said she'd better be getting back to her hotel. There was a poker tournament on tonight and she was taking part. She called for a taxi, explaining that she'd left her shuttlepod at the hotel.

"Good luck then. You betting all those slot winnings?"

"No, about half. I think luck is on my side this trip. Anyway, say hi to T'Pol from me, and I hope she feels better tomorrow."

"I will and thanks again."

She smiled and he walked her to the taxi. "T'Pol's a lucky woman."

"I think I'm the lucky one," he answered.

"Goodnight, Jonathan." She stepped inside and the vehicle drove off.

He used the guest bathroom to prepare for bed, not wanting to wake T'Pol up. He entered his room and tiptoed across the floor. Disrobing he pulled back the covers and slipped into bed beside T'Pol.

He tried not to move too much as he got comfortable. He turned onto his side, watching her as she slept facing him. Her eyelids slowly opened.

"What time is it?"

"Just after midnight. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't. I've been awake for a while, just resting."

"How you feeling?" Then he remembered she didn't like him asking, but it was too late.

"I am fine. Was someone here earlier?" She'd been sure she'd heard voices.

"Sarah stopped by."

"I wish I'd been fully awake. I would like to thank her personally."

"I'm sure you can do that another day."

"Yes…and Hans. They were both kind." She then realized Jonathan must be tired himself, it had been a long day. She shouldn't bother him with conversation. "We should both go to sleep then."

"Sounds like a good idea," he agreed.

She moved closer to him, so their bodies were touching. She ran her hand down his bare back in a gentle caress. "I'm glad you sleep shirtless," she whispered.

Jonathan lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. He could sense his body wanted more than just a goodnight kiss, but that would have to wait. T'Pol was in no condition for such activities. The kiss ended with both of them a little breathless. They gazed into each other's eyes.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For just being you — even asking how I am more than twenty times a day."

"I don't think it was twenty."

"An exaggeration on my part. But your concern is appreciated."

"Thanks. As for being me, last time I checked I was being a royal pain in the ass."

"You can be at times…but I believe we can remedy that. And no one is perfect, not even this Vulcan."

That was a concession. "You're perfect in my eyes, T'Pol — in every way."

She assumed that was a man in love speaking. She'd read somewhere once that in the first few months of a new relationship human partners always viewed each other in a perfect light, being blind to each other's faults.

She caressed his cheek and locked eyes with him. She could stare into those eyes of his endlessly. In them she could read the love he felt for her. They were gentle, kind but also passionate. Without thinking she found herself kissing him, desire bubbling inside her.

"T'Pol…as much as I'd like to—"

"Yes, you're correct. I was being illogical. I'm sure Dr Seral would highly disapprove."

He laughed at the thought of the Vulcan doctor. "We should try and get some sleep now."

She agreed and said goodnight. She snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest, using it as a pillow. She asked if that was comfortable for him.

"Having you close is always comfortable, sweetheart." He coiled his arm around her shoulder.

She liked that term, especially the way Jonathan whispered it to her. It was almost melodious. She closed her eyes and found herself drifting off, listening to Jonathan's regular breathing.

TBC