Chapter Nine

The next couple of days were rough on Trip as nausea took hold and his hormones raged tenfold. Gossip over the cause of Trip's mood swings was flying round the ship like wildfire, especially after Travis had mentioned to Hoshi that he thought Trip had been crying in the Captain's quarters. Different theories were offered to explain his behaviour. One crewman opinioned that a lost promotion might have resulted in drinking bouts at night, thus causing massive hangovers the next day. Apparently, the Captain called him on it, which resulted in Trip getting upset. Another theory was that the Commander might have contracted to a mysterious ailment from the Daladians, and that theory would also explain why Enterprise was racing to intercept them now.

The idea of pregnancy hadn't factored into anyone's minds; there had been a lot of crew changes since Trip's encounter with the Xryillians, so most crewmen weren't privileged to that information. Except from Starfleet Medical, who had had a field day with all the data Phlox had gathered. Those who were still around didn't think that such a misfortune could be encountered twice. Even if it had occurred to anyone, he or she hadn't placed a bet in the ship's pool for their Chief's Engineer's misfortune.

The gossip went hand in hand with the looks and dearth of silence every time Trip entered a crowded room, and he was beginning to get quite paranoid about it. It didn't help matters that according to long range sensors the Daladian ship had stopped moving and lay dead in space. To Trip, this could only mean one thing: bad news. The matter caused his anxiety level to go through the roof -- much to the concern of Phlox. Entering Engineering eight hours before they were due to intercept the Daladian ship, T'Pol was determined to do something about this. Asking a crewman for help, she finally found him tuckered away in the far corner, an area he called his office, working on a mass of pads and reports.

Trip looking up when he noticed her coming closer. "Let me guess, Capt'n or Phlox sent ya to check up on me?"

"Neither, it was my decision," T'Pol replied, causing Trip to raise his eyebrow in surprise.

"Well, sorry to disappoint ya, but I've got too much--"

"None of your current tasks are critical or urgent," interrupted T'Pol, taking a pad out of his hand and setting it back down on the desk. "You can finish your work tomorrow. It's time for you to take a break and much needed rest. If you would accompany me, I have dinner waiting in my quarters."

"Dinner and quality time with a beautiful lady?" teased Trip while standing up. "That's one offer I would never turn down."

"As you have often shown, Commander," T'Pol teased right back, making Trip smile and chuckle.

This light hearted banter carried on between them until they had arrived in T'Pol's quarters.

"This is real nice, T'Pol. Thanks," Trip said softly before tuckering into his food. "I know Phlox ordered me to eat regular meals, but it hardly seems worth the effort given how little time that the food stays in there."

"Your symptoms appear more severe this time around," noted T'Pol. When Trip raised his head with a questioning look, she went on. "Your mood swings and sickness have raised some concerns and questions among the crew."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Can't seem to stop myself … I just keep finding myself losing it at the simplest things."

"Would you like to join me for meditation? I doubt it will halt your mood swings, but it would help you to control and to focus your emotions more."

"I'd like that. Thanks."

"Would you like to start now?" T'Pol asked, seeing that Trip had finished his meal. "We could start off with a neuro-pressure session to help relax your mind." Trip's eyes perked up at this, before he knelt down on the mat, like he remembered from their previous session's way back.

T'Pol sat down in front of him. "Relax your posture, Trip," she said before starting to softly ease the tension out of his face, neck, and shoulders. "You have adapted well to your predicament."

"Adapted, how so?"

"As I recall, you didn't handle the concept of being pregnant very well. This time I sense you are more centred with the whole idea."

"Yeah, I know what ya mean. It's weird, being male and all, but it feels like it's the most natural thing going on. Do ya think that our bond could be making me feel this way? Cos since the meld, it feels stronger than before; I've even starting to have those white room dreams again. They're not quite the same as before, since I'm not an active participant this time--."

"It's more like your presence is there," T'Pol interrupted, "but there is something else, an additional aura of serenity that pervades your whole being with the feeling of hope and trust …" Her voice faded as she remembered the scene.

"So you've felt it to," Trip said with a slight smile, bringing her out of this train of thought. "What do ya think it could be?"

"It could be the child," T'Pol suggested. "She may have empathic abilities. The Daladians believe her destiny is to unite her people".

"Hmmm," Trip thought, "that sure would make her job easier." His eyes twinkled slightly when he looked at her. "So how long have you been sensing my presence with ya in the white room?" he ribbed all the while wriggling his eyebrows.

T'Pol showed a bare hint of a smile when she replied. "Lie on your back."

Trip just smirked, and did as he was told.

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