A/N: Let's see if ffnet will let me get it right this time. Vulcan is in " " English is in ( ) and // indicates telepathy through the bond.

Chapter 31

"Out of my way! Move! I'm a Healer!" shouted Phlox as he threw his own hood back and pushed his way through the crowd. He barely took note of the guards taking V'Las and his troops into custody. His attention was focused solely on Trip. The other Healers in the crowd, jolted from their shock, swiftly joined Phlox in tending the wounded. V'Las' troops, those who could still walk, were restrained and forced to walk down the mountain to the Sanctuary.

Quickly Phlox ordered some of the men to take Trip into temple where he could be treated. Fortunately V'Las had aimed for T'Les' heart. When Trip had gotten in the way, he had taken the blow in his side narrowly missing his liver. There were some advantages to the differences in Vulcan and Human anatomy. Trip was badly injured, but he would not die from his actions. Phlox quickly set about correcting the damage while T'Pol fought her way to her husband's side.

While Phlox and the other Healers dealt with the wounded and the household guards dealt with the prisoners, the rest of the gathering turned their backs on the commotion in the temple. Once she had everyone's attention T'Les explained what V'Las had done, both on Vulcan and on other planets. The fact that their unfortunate current situation with both Andoria and Earth was V'Las' doing was little comfort to those gathered.

"T'Les, while we are aware of V'Las' insanity and the actions needed to deal with him and his followers, no one said anything about bringing aliens here!" T'Para said firmly. She was the oldest of the Clan Mothers and most bowed to her experience. Unable to walk unassisted, she was helped over to where T'Les was standing by two of the young men who had carried her litter. "This is our most sacred place. How could you bring outsiders here?"

"But it was not outsiders that I brought T'Para," T'Les said gently. "Did you not see what they were wearing? The honorable man who was injured in my place is my youngest daughter's bondmate. They have been examined many times in the last few months by both Priests and Healers. All have said the same thing. Commander Charles Tucker and my daughter T'Pol are chosen mates. My Clan will ally with the Human's Star Fleet through this marriage. My son-to-be's attendants are the Healer Phlox who serves with him and T'Pol on board Enterprise and Major Hayes, who serves as the head of security at the Human Embassy in Shi'Kahr. There are no other non-Vulcans here." T'Les' serene look defied anyone to find her actions illogical.

They stood inside a circle of the other Clan Mothers, more than one leaning on the arm of a litter bearer. The litter bearers were all grandsons and great grandsons of the Clan Mothers, specially chosen for this honor by their excellence in the ancient martial skills. They also served as personal guards should the occasion warrant, as this one had. T'Para thought the matter over for a few moments. She was not pleased with non-Vulcans being brought here but she could not dispute T'Les' logic. "Once more Clan Xtmprsqzntwlfd shows a grasp of logic that leads the way of all Vulcans. You are worthy of the man your House once produced T'Les. A Clan Alliance with Star Fleet will do much to undo V'Las' treachery and Commander Tucker has proven himself to be more than worthy of the honor the Other has chosen for him."

T'Les gave a short bow to acknowledge T'Para's assessment. The T'Para turned to the remaining priests. "What is done is done. The Gathering must still continue. We have much to do as we have been delayed. Continue," she ordered.

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T'Pol hovered anxiously over Trip while to one side Phlox worked on his wound. She touched her fingers to his, the only thing she was allowed to do here in public. //You just had to jump in front of my mother didn't you?// she asked him.

//Aw honey, its not that bad!// he said. He hissed as Phlox did something that he couldn't see. //I couldn't let her die!//

//I do believe we have had this conversation before.// she said.

Trip winced. They had, had this talk before, when she had been shot just a couple of months earlier. //I couldn't shove her out of the way. There wasn't anyone else who could get into the line of fire fast enough or get her out of the way. And most importantly he wasn't aiming at a place that would be instantly fatal to a Human. You took a shot near your heart. I didn't. I'll be ok with Phlox's help.// He didn't add the thought that was ringing through his mind, that T'Les was her mother.

T'Pol knew that it did not matter to Trip that T'Les was a Clan Mother or that her Clan had the highest status possible on Vulcan. All that had mattered to Trip was that T'Les was her mother and he could not allow her to be shot if he could prevent it. //There would have been three other people between V'Las and Mother had you not pushed your way to the front. I understand why you did so but I too do not like this situation. I find it distressing that you are injured, especially as we have only finished recovering from Tolaris' attack.//

(Alright Commander, you'll be fine in no time as long as you follow my orders,) Phlox said giving Trip a stern look. Trip was rather famous for not following doctor's orders and trying to get back to work far too soon for Phlox's comfort.

(Don't worry doc, I got things to work on that don't require me to get out of bed,) he said with a grin. Phlox humpffed but it was true, although Trip was aware that Phlox thought he was talking about his and T'Pol's honeymoon. He wasn't. Scotty had left him a data PADD with certain information. He was still working his way through the information but if he understood it correctly, Enterprise wouldn't have to worry about collisions again. Or at least not the same type of collisions that had occurred with the 1701. He was pretty sure that Captain Kirk hadn't known about that little present Scotty had left, just as Trip hadn't known about the slight modifications to his engine. Trip scowled again at the memory of learning what Scotty had done. Yet he did have to admit that the modifications were so slight as to be practically miniscule. That was the only reason he hadn't spotted them before.

Certain circuits had been tweaked to just fractions of a micron from where Trip would have placed them and the crystals that Scotty had installed had actually been installed in the opposite direction that he had intended, although still along the lines of the crystal's planes. He was still trying to figure out why those slight adjustments had made such an impact on his engine's performance. (Well you're very lucky Mr. Tucker,) Phlox said with a sigh as he began sealing the wound. (Not only did that shot miss your liver, I was prepared for your usual away mission outcomes and packed a full emergency medical kit. Do you think it will be possible for you to stay out of my sickbay for a while?)

(Hey! The last two times I was in sickbay had nothing to do with me!) Trip protested.

(Ah yes, I do believe that it was your wife I last treated for a similar ailment. But you were one of my patients the last time,) Phlox pointed out. He was keeping the semi argument going not so much because he hated to have Trip as a patient but because it was keeping Trip's mind off what he was doing.

(It's not my fault that I keep getting into these situations!) Trip protested. (And it wasn't me the last loony tunes wanted! He wanted T'Pol! Like I'd let him have her,) he growled the last line. He changed the subject, not wanting to think about his frequent trips to sickbay. (I need to get on my feet doc. We've got a ceremony to do.)

Phlox sighed. He had known that he wouldn't be able to keep Trip down for long. (You can get up now but I would prefer that you waited until it was time for the ceremony itself. I don't want you on your feet any longer than you have to be. Between the heat and your injury it would be far too easy for you to push yourself into a collapse. I want to avoid that.) He looked up and noticed their audience. "He can be on his feet for the ceremony but I prefer that he remain lying down otherwise."

One of the Vulcan guards nodded. "We will bring you out to the ceremony grounds when it is time for the wedding."

Phlox turned back to Trip. (Now as far as your recreational activities go,)

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Taking into consideration Commander Tucker's wound, and how he had acquired it, the wedding ceremony between Commander Charles Tucker and T'Pol, daughter of T'Les, of the Clan Xtmprsqzntwlfd was the last ceremony held that day. The Clans watched as the Human, held up by his attendants, rang the gong to start the wedding. The bells rang in answer and T'Pol was led up to him. The new priest began the ceremony as they both knelt across from each other. There was a long, drawn out part on different gods or elements or something that Trip didn't quite understand. But he did understand the section where Koss, T'Pol's ex was asked if he wanted to basically kill Trip so he could have T'Pol. Trip couldn't help the smirk on his face as he saw the relief on both T'Pol's face and Koss' when he declined. He'd have to thank Hoshi later for helping him memorize the ceremony. The priest touched their heads and they touched fingers but there was nothing for the priest to do, they were already bonded. They spoke their vows in turn, both in Vulcan.

If anyone internally winced at Trip's pronunciation, he couldn't tell and no one outwardly showed how badly his accent was mangling the words. Having gotten through his vows Trip finally let T'Pol help him to fully understand the rest of the ceremony. Not that understanding all of the words really helped him all that much. These were the full rites and thus they were full of references that Trip had never heard before. //Truthfully you're not missing much.// T'Pol told him. //Few have ever heard them outside of the temples.//

//Priests of every religion all over the galaxy all have their secrets T'Pol. Some are just the 'oh you wanted to know that?' sort and some are things that a priest would die before telling. Seeing as how these are part of the wedding ceremony, I'd say that these are more of the first sort than the second.// Trip said. He could feel her agreement and relief that it was almost all over. //Hey, remember we've still got a party to go to back on Earth.//

//That will be far preferable to being anywhere near Koss again. His presence is making me nauseous.// T'Pol said bluntly. Trip couldn't stop grinning for the rest of the day.