Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Rating: PG-13
A/N: Thank you Crystalswolf and Aquarius for all your help.
Trip opened his eyes and found himself in the white space where he had spoken to T'Pol across all those light years. But this time, she wasn't there. Weirdly, he sensed she was nearby, somewhere. He waited for a few moments, expecting her to appear.
When she didn't, nervousness started to creep up his spine.
"T'Pol?" He said her name softly, questioningly. He was met with silence.
Finally, he spoke loudly. . .then practically shouted.
"TPol! T'Pol, where are you?"
His own voice echoed through the white space, but he still didn't see her. He didn't know what to do.
T'Pol sat on a chair in her white space and gently rocked Elizabeth. The child continued to make contented noises, and she reached up and grabbed a tiny fist of her mother's hair and pulled.
T'Pol gently undid the infant's grip and whispered soothing things to her. The child's big eyes stared up at T'Pol, and although it was illogical, it seemed to T'Pol that Elizabeth wanted to speak.
"She's very beautiful," said a voice.
T'Pol looked up and saw her mother standing before her.
This isn't right, thought T'Pol, I know T'Les is dead.
"Yes, she is beautiful," said T'Pol softly.
"She's also worried about you," replied T'Les, "She's afraid you're going to stay here because of her, instead of returning to the other side."
T'Pol looked at her mother, and in the distance, she heard Trip's voice. It was louder than before.
"T'Pol! "T'Pol, where are you?"
"He'll want to see her," said T'Pol as she hugged her daughter to her chest.
T'Les shook her head. "He won't be able to come this far, but you can go to him. You can leave Elizabeth with me."
T'Pol closed her eyes. She couldn't imagine letting go of Elizabeth. If she did, she wouldn't see her again. That she understood.
"I'll take good care of her," said T'Les, "and you'll see her again. . .some day in the far future."
T'Pol didn't say a word, she just clutched Elizabeth closer. T'Les looked in the direction from which Trip's voice was coming.
"Commander Tucker is worried about you, too. You don't want to leave him behind, do you?"
T'Pol shook her head. T'Les leaned forward and without even thinking about it, she handed over her daughter to her mother. T'Les stepped back, and T'Pol stood up.
"Live Long and Prosper, daughter. Now go."
T'Pol brushed her daughter's head with her hand, and she suddenly felt at peace. Elizabeth wanted her to go.
"Goodbye," she said to both her mother and her daughter, and she turned and walked toward Trip's voice.
Trip heard T'Pol's footsteps first, then she appeared. She didn't look as pale as she had been in the hospital room. She looked healthy, although not as peaceful. She also looked sad, and she wasn't trying to hide it. He wanted to ask if she was okay, but she wasn't okay. She was dying, and he needed to help her.
"T'Pol?" he said softly.
"It is agreeable to see you," she replied, and she lifted her fingers up and held two of them out him.
He could do nothing else but respond. He entwined two of his own fingers in her. The bond sparked between them, and he knew she was truly grateful to see him.
"Good to see you, too. But I'm here for a reason. We need to talk," he said as they undid their fingers.
"We're talking now," she replied.
He sighed. "That's not what I meant. Do you remember what happened? You collapsed."
She nodded slowly.
"You're in a coma," he began, and he soon filled her in on the two options for her treatment.
Her lip quivered, and she looked around nervously. "What do you want?" she asked.
Damn, he thought, We could go around in circles like this forever.
"We're not going around in circles," she replied, "It's a relevant question. I do not wish to force you into anything. You must desire to be with me. I will not force you to retain the bond."
"How'd you. . .right, this bond thing," he mumbled, "If we do keep it, you're gonna have to tell me how to block you. I . . .I. . ." his voice trailed off. She wanted to keep the bond. Just as badly as he did. He just knew. "You want to keep it, don't you? You always did."
She nodded. "Yes, of course. I thought you wished to break it. You seemed so angry about it before, when we were searching for Elizabeth. . ."
She looked so sorrowful at that moment, it nearly broke his heart. "That doesn't mean I wanted to break the bond. . .I just didn't. . .I still don't fully understand it. But you can help me with that. Are you willing to do that?"
She nodded.
"And another thing," he continued, "There's no halfway. No changing your mind. Once I claim you as my wife. . .that's it. I'm going to expect you to be my wife. I can't keep this bond to help you get over this coma and then have you shut me out. I just can't. I'd rather give you up and have you forget me. But if you'll agree to accept me as your mate. . .fully and completely, I promise you won't be sorry."
T'Pol made a gesture, as if she wanted to reach out and entwine her fingers with his again. But she pulled back, and she was trembling.
"It will not be easy," she whispered, "We come from two very different cultures. We will need to compromise with each other."
He nodded. She sounded like she was willing. He started to hope, really hope, this thing would work out.
"You should know," she continued, "My emotional control has been permanently damaged. . .that will affect both of us."
He couldn't stand it anymore, he stepped forward and pulled her into a deep embrace. It took a few moments, but she placed her arms around him and laid her head against his chest.
"It's okay," he said, "I'm sure Valrick will help us deal with this thing. . . .Is . . .is that a yes?"
She nodded.
"Yes," she said.
Suddenly, it was as though the bond opened up, he felt enormous relief coming from her. . .and something more. He felt love. He felt it as surely as if she had said it.
"I love you, too," he whispered in her ear as he hugged her closer.
She flushed green in her cheeks, but she wasn't unhappy. He decided to see just how willing to compromise she was. "Say it back," he said, "That's customary, among humans."
She looked up at him, and her heart beat faster. "The bond makes verbal expression of emotion unnecessary."
"For Vulcans," he whispered gently, "Humans like to hear it. So, say it."
He caressed her gently and waited. He knew she'd say it; she just needed time.
Finally, she took a deep breath. "I love you," she stated.
He smiled, and more and more of the bond energy flowed. He recognized how vulnerable saying the words made her, but he also sensed that she got pleasure saying them. "Say it with my name," he whispered, "Say, 'I love you, Trip'".
She responded quicker, this time looking up at him. Exhilaration poured forth from her mind and made his heart beat faster. She was ready to accept the challenge. "I love you, Trip," she said.
He grinned and kissed her as lovingly and gently as he could. He had momentarily forgotten how sick she was and that this wasn't. . .well, it was real, it just wasn't . . .he didn't know what it was. All he knew was that things were going to be all right.
The Vulcan Neurological Specialist arrived to find a vexing scene in Lady T'Pol's hospital room. The human, Commander Tucker, had joined her on the bed and they were sleeping peacefully in each other's arms. The monk, Valrick, sat in the corner looking out of the window.
"I'm afraid you cannot proceed with your treatment plan, doctor," said Valrick, "The human is her mate, and I will testify to that in front of the medical board as well as in the courts."
The doctor approached Lady T'Pol and check her vital signs. Strangely, she no longer appeared in a coma but rather in a normal, healthy sleep. The doctor had never seen anything like it. It was fascinating.
The doctor looked over at Valrick, who he knew was quite respected in the new order. The doctor recognized the way the world was moving, and Valrick's testimony would hold weight. The human was Lady T'Pol's mate, and therefore, the law would not allow them to be parted against their will. Whatever regime was in charge, the right of a husband and wife to be together remained.
The doctor raised his eyebrow at his sleeping patient. "At least," he thought, "she appears to be recovering. I might even be able to present a paper on this case at the interspecies medical conference on Andoria next year."