Healing To Your Life

by pdsldl

This story begins with Trip and T'Pol grieving for their daughter. Their relationship had just begun. Now they must find a way to rebuild their life with each other and their friends. Will not be completed.

7. Chapter 7

Healing to Your Life – Chapter 7

The house was finally arranged to their liking. Once they made it out of bed, it had taken most of the rest of the morning. But now they agreed there was to be no more work of any kind for the next ten days. Trip had been sure T'Pol would argue with him, but she hadn't. She was usually more driven than he was to be busy and doing something productive and work related.

When Malcolm arrived unannounced Trip became suspicious. T'Pol was up to something, but he had no idea what. The tactical officer had coffee and talked of inconsequential things for some time, then he approached Trip with a thin device he wanted to place around his wrist. Malcolm quickly and quietly explained the purpose. So quietly it was as if he believed Trip would accept his words if he didn't really hear them. The device would allow their security teams to be close enough to assist them if needed, but far enough away to give the couple some privacy.

Trip held the item shaking it in Malcolm's face. "It's a tracking device? You've got to be kidding me. You want me to agree to this?" Trip was not happy. Malcolm proposed, several times, that all Enterprise's crew wear some type of homing device when on away missions, but Captain Archer never made it standard practice.

"Your security people's tricorders and my own have the frequencies. They can track you and scan the area around you for any threats." Teasing Trip Malcolm continued. "I finally have a valid reason to tag you and there is no way I'm going off into space until I know both you and T'Pol are safe." He might not be able to ensure this himself, but he would make sure every precaution possible was taken.

He handed them slimmer and smaller models of tricorders and weapons, with instructions they must carry them at all times. Trip took the small pouch with two pockets in it and watched as the color changed as the warmth of his skin started a chemical reaction.

Malcolm informed them both. "It will change color to match whatever clothing it's attached to."

Trip continued to balk about the tracker until his wife crossed the room and placed one around his wrist, then her own. Knowing he would not argue with her. "I want to know how they did that?" Trip's eyes opened wide as the tracker faded to match his skin tone. "This came from the Vulcans, didn't it?" Trip knew Starfleet did not have technology like this.

"Yes and Minister Sorren sends his best. He seemed to know you'd want to examine the technology so he had the data sent to your secure line with the understanding that the technology is classified. He said you'd understand." Malcolm knew that agreements had been reached between the two Captains and the Vulcans, but he suspected they'd also made agreements with the Andorians for technology and maybe even some with the Tellarites.

Malcolm finished explaining where the technology came from. "The tracking device itself came from Section 31. The Vulcans just put it in the wristband. It seems they discovered how to use chemical gels and crystalline substances that allow the material to change color. T'Pol's the scientist she can probably explain this better than I can? They also added the frequencies to your tricorders and your weapons now have several levels from stun to kill."

Malcolm was thrilled that Harris and Section 31 had been ordered to give him the technology. They were livid when Reed allowed the Vulcans access to the devices to see if they could add any enhancements and then allowed their security teams to incorporate them into their own security procedures for the Captains.

The Vulcans made it very clear that they took protecting their citizens very seriously and that Starfleet had no choice but to keep the pair from harm. The High Council had begun to see the advantages of having a close relationship with Captain Tucker. He had proven to be honest and trustworthy and his insights into the workings of Earth's government and Starfleet were proving very useful. His work with their technology had also proven to be beneficial. He had improved the power matrix's performance while refitting it for his needs. In the future, if he was allowed to acknowledge where the original design came from, he could truly take credit for the redesign of Vulcan ships. The Andorians and Tellarites also saw the protection of the Captains as a priority. They saw Trip and T'Pol as the catalyst behind the new openness among the Coalition members and the addition of Ambassadors to Earth.

T'Pol had planned all this with Malcolm, of that Trip was sure. But when he asked her about it, all she would say was while she didn't totally understand the custom of honeymoons she did not think it appropriate for security to be present during theirs. T'Pol objected to being under guard, at all times, as much as Trip did, but she never complained. It meant her bondmate was protected and she understood that the High Council would insist; at least; until the Romulans were no longer a threat.

---

Trip sat on the beach behind T'Pol. He automatically searched the area to ensure they were alone before wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck. His mind kept drifting to thoughts of wanting the air and water to be warmer. T'Pol had agreed to let him teach her to dive. He was open water certified and she wished to share his favorite hobby. But until the temperature came up that would be impossible. A wetsuit did not offer enough protection to allow her Vulcan physiology to deal with the rapid loss of heat the coldness of the water would cause.

His attention turned to the tension he felt in her body. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong yet?" Trip had been patient, but could no longer ignore her anxiety and the sensation of being blocked from her most troubling thoughts.

"I do not wish to upset you." She should have known this statement would send up a red flag. His blood pressure rose immediately.

"I might get upset, but I don't stay that way long, so tell me?"

T'Pol considered keeping quiet. To do so would only cause Trip discomfort and worry. "Your mother asked if we could have children." Her whole insides tightened up and visions of Lorian and Elizabeth were before their eyes.

"She did what?" Son-of-a-bitch. She's not even here and she's causing problems. "Why did she ask you and not me?" Then he thought about his talk with his mother. "When did she ask you?" Trip tried to keep himself calm, pulling T'Pol into his chest burying his face in her hair. "I'm so sorry. I wish I'd known about this."

His mother obviously ignored him when he said they made decisions together and Trip stupidly thought when his family left things would get back to normal or as close to normal as they ever got.

Trip could sense the discussion had taken place while his wife was allowing her mother-in-law to arrange their house.

T'Pol let out a breath and took in another deep one. "She presumed it would be my decision and wished to know if and when we would give her a grandchild. It seemed important to her."

He'd told her to let them make their own choices. "Why can't my mom be more like yours was? Vulcans respect privacy." T'Les had asked him about his feelings for her daughter, but she would never have asked him for more intimate information.

"My mother asked me if I thought a human and Vulcan could have a relationship and then questioned if we could have children. She thought they'd suffer if we did." T'Pol eyes looked down at the sand.

"So do they all think we're just breeding stock. You fall in love, get married, just to make babies?" Trip was angry. His parents couldn't acknowledge the child or grandchild they'd lost, but they wanted another baby. To what? Replace them? Didn't they care if he and T'Pol had gotten over their grief enough to even think of children. Why couldn't they just let them be happy? Then another thought struck him. "You told your mother about me?" He hadn't known they discussed him at all. But if they'd discussed her having children with him.

"She assumed my reluctance to bond with Koss was because of you. Vulcan females are raised to believe family comes first and having children is for the good of Vulcan. It is assumed all bonded females will produce children." T'Pol began thinking about all the lessons she had been taught since childhood. Vulcans did not have individual needs. The needs of Vulcan came first and children were necessary for the future of their species.

"I don't care about any of that. I've told you before you get to decide what you want, so what do you want? Do you want to have a baby?" Trip didn't want to tell her what he wanted until she made up her own mind.

"We have not discussed this. I know you wish to have children." T'Pol wanted to please her mate.

"T'Pol, I asked what you want, not what I want. I already know what I want." Or at least he thought he did.

T'Pol had a difficult time trying to put her wishes into words. She was conflicted. She had been devastated when they lost their children, but she had not been part of their creation and only suffered after the fact. "I do not know if I truly wish to have children, but I would not deny you the opportunity of being a father."

"Look darlin, Elizabeth wasn't our choice, but had she lived I would have been happy and raised her with you, no problem. But I wasn't ready to be a dad and I don't know if I ever will be." Trip rubbed his hands into his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "There are too many people out there who would want to harm a child of ours and we'd have to make some pretty drastic changes. I'm not prepared to give up my career; just yet; and I don't think you are either." Trip knew their jobs took up a major part of their lives and would for the foreseeable future. A child would demand more time and attention than they could give them and maintain their current positions. He had always thought he'd have kids. He'd told Malcolm there would be a Charles Tucker IV, but now he wasn't sure.

Trip could feel her relief. "I spoke to Dr. Phlox and he assures me we could have a child if we wanted, but it would have to be done in a laboratory." T'Pol had checked with the doctor when Trip informed her of the news that their DNA was compatible.

"We've got a couple of years before we can even think about this anyway, right? We'll talk to Phlox before our Pon Farr and go from there." Trip knew they wouldn't be able to even consider children until then, so they had time. He also knew this process would be as much about him as it would be about her because they were bonded. They'd have her extracted eggs and his sperm frozen once she started her mating cycle, so if and when they decided they wanted children they'd be ready. He'd consulted Phlox before they left Enterprise.

While human/Vulcan DNA could be safely combined medical science had not yet advanced far enough to allow the baby to develop in its mother's womb. A Vulcan mother would not be able to sustain the gestation of the fetus or provide the minerals and nutrients a human/Vulcan hybrid would require. Phlox had given him all the current information on Ectogenesis. The egg would be fertilized by his sperm, in the lab, and the fetus would be placed in an artificial womb where the oxygen and nutrients could be controlled to supply exactly what was needed. There was further research to be done, but that involved finding knowledgeable Vulcan doctors willing to assist them through the whole process. They'd need help with the bonding process. Having gained access to the full and complete Vulcan database he found little information. The Kir'Shara mentioned mind-melds and bonds, but not in detail. Bonds existed and were known to exist, but not all Vulcan couples sought to establish a bond and if they did they often did nothing to strengthen it. The parent-child bond was considered a natural part of parenting and was not discussed openly. People raised to live a solitary, emotionless (suppressing any emotions they felt without thought) life were not driven to seek anything else, even if they married. Subverting such information aided V'Las and his cohorts attempts to weaken and destroy Vulcan by reinterpreting their own beliefs.

T'Pol knew he was right about having time, but they would need to devise a strategy to deal with his parents questions about grandchildren sooner or later. Pon Farr was a subject that Trip had comfortably discussed but he was in total agreement with most Vulcans. It was a topic not to be discussed with anyone but his bondmate.

Trip could feel the tension slowly leaving her body. He reached up and began pushing the nodes in her neck to further the release of stress. "I need you to promise me that from now on you will tell my mom, dad, John or anyone else who wants to know about our personal affairs to talk to me." He waited for her to nod her agreement. "Turns out my parents don't always talk about things. My dad sometimes just lets my mom make decisions on her own, so she thinks all marriages work that way or should work that way. I tried to tell her we're a team. But I guess she didn't listen." Had his father wanted kids or had his mother made that decision too? Trip would definitely have to make it clear to his mom that she needed to ask him anything she wanted to know about their relationship in the future.

"Thank you." Was all T'Pol said.

"Glad I could help, but I'm not sure what you're thanking me for."

She leaned back into his embrace. "Just thank you." She was simply grateful he was her husband.

"Do you know how much I enjoy holding you like this?" Trip whispered in her ear. Sending a shiver down her spine.

T'Pol responded by pushing herself backwards forcing Trip to lay back in the sand, following him down, and turning over to face him. As she began kissing his chest and neck Trip raised his head upward. "Are you sure about this? It's a little chilly out here and sand can end up in some pretty uncomfortable places."

"I'm sure we can build up enough heat to keep us both warm and we can take a shower later." She replied as she moved to cease his talking by capturing his mouth with her own.

When they returned to the house a delivery truck was awaiting their arrival. T'Pol spoke to the driver instructing him to unload the boxes and place all but the ones with the orange stripe in the garage. The boxes with the stripe were then taken into the house.

Trip was puzzled. All the furniture and household items had already been delivered, but T'Pol seemed to know what the delivery was all about. "T'Pol, did you buy something you didn't tell me about?"

"Maybe." Was all she would say. Mysterious had not been a part of her nature prior to meeting Trip, but he insisted they not share their entire past through a mind-meld to maintain some mystery in their relationship. The idea of a total bearing of oneself to your mate seemed appealing, but after considering his views she agreed it was better to allow some parts to remain private and others to be discovered as they grew closer as a couple. She was beginning to like being mysterious and keeping him off balance.

"Are you going to tell me what's in the boxes or do I have to guess?" He questioned as he watched them being taken inside. He'd never seen T'Pol like this before. Playful and secretive. He liked it.

"You will know after dinner." T'Pol walked into the kitchen.

"You're really not going to tell me until after dinner?" This was worse than having Christmas presents sitting under the tree for days before you could open them.

"You can open the boxes after dinner." T'Pol kept her amusement at his impatience from reaching him through the bond and continued making dinner.

Trip slid in behind her. "Can I help make dinner?" Figuring it would speed things up.

"I do not require your assistance. Why don't you finish that game you were watching earlier?" Trying desperately to ignore his nibbling on her ear.

"I'd rather help you." Trip furthered his assault on her ears. Switching from one side to the other and back again. Stopping to include that spot at the back of neck.

T'Pol pushed back against him forcing him to step away so she could turn around. Grasping his shoulders and pulling him in close she leaned in to let the warmth of her breath add to the erotic import of her words. "Trip, ....if you continue dinner will never be completed."

In other words if he didn't go watch his game dinner would be postponed and he'd have to wait that much longer to see what was in those boxes. "Fine, I'll go watch the game, but it's under protest." She may not understand honeymoons, but she most certainly had made some plans for their time together.

After dinner was over and the kitchen was cleaned up T'Pol headed toward their room. "I am going to take a shower to remove the sand from my hair. Would you like to join me?"

He knew she was trying to delay him. And enjoying torturing him immensely. "Sure my hair could use a good washing too." Somehow he knew she wouldn't let him open the boxes without her, so he went along.

After the longest shower they'd ever taken together. "So do you need to meditate now?"

"Why would you think I wish to meditate now?" T'Pol asked innocently.

"I don't know. You managed to wash and massage of every inch of my body thoroughly several times. And you've done everything you can think of to keep me away from those boxes." He sounded like a petulant child.

"I did not know you were so eager to examine their contents. You didn't enjoy our shower?" Her intent had been to tease him by making him wait a little while, but when she saw how crazy it made him she decided to stretch it out longer.

What could he say? No, I didn't enjoy be touched and making love to my wife. "You're not usually such a terrible liar. You're enjoying this way too much."

He would never tell her, but he was enjoying this as well. He loved that she took the time to get under his skin like this.

T'Pol left the bedroom and went to the kitchen to make tea. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

He just shook his head 'no' as he sat down on the living room floor. "Can I open them now?"

As she watched the excited wonder on his face she was reminded of watching his younger self as Sim grew up. "Just a minute. You must open them in order."

"When did you have time to go to all the trouble of packing boxes in a certain order?" He didn't even know when she had time to go out and buy anything without him.

"I had some assistance." T'Pol didn't look at him, while trying to make her tea as slowly as she could without being too obvious.

T'Pol finally came in. Before setting her tea on the coffee table she returned to the kitchen for a saucer to place under her cup. She looked over the boxes taking her time examining each before moving them in the order she wished him to open them in. John had marked them as she had asked. "You can open them now."

The first box was opened. He found a double wide beach lounger with a canopy. He thought it odd that she'd purchased beach furniture. The second box was opened. It contained swim wear for both of them along with shorts, tank tops and assorted other beach items. He was touched that she had purchased things for them to use on the beach, but he had no idea why she had gone to this much trouble to show him.

He opened the third box. "Who helped you John or Dad? " He pulled out his scuba tanks, wetsuit, lycra suit, mask, snorkel, weight belts, and flippers. "Why'd you have them send this now?"

"You wish to go diving and require your equipment to do so." She answered matter-of-factly.

"I wanted to wait until it was warm enough for you to go to. That won't be for 2 or 3 months, yet."

"You have time now, you should go." She saw the look on his face. She knew he wished to wait until she could join him and she could sense his mixed feelings. On one hand he wanted to dive, but he also wanted her with him.

"You still have another box to open."

Trip opened the last box, pulling out another set of equipment. "You had them buy equipment for you?" On the bottom he found belts with several sets of batteries. "You had John get these didn't you?" He held up the heat belts.

T'Pol watched the smile spread across his face as he realized what she'd done. He moved to wrap her in his arms and immediately started talking about what they needed to do. Test her swimming ability, teach her to fill her tanks and check out her equipment, recover her regulator, clean her mask, and on and on for the rest of the evening.

They laid together. Trip's arms wrapped around T'Pol holding her as close to his body as he could. Her mate had finally fallen asleep. The darkness made it impossible to see his features, but she swore she could feel the smile still on his face. As she relaxed into the pleasure she still felt from him in the bond she let the feeling flow through her. Something as simple as allowing him to teach her to dive brought him so much pleasure. Diving was the one thing besides being her husband and working on warp engines that truly made him happy.

Once she knew Trip was deeply asleep she got up and meditated. T'Pol attempted to reconcile Trip's emotions towards his family and their behavior; as well as; her own. While he was angry and upset, mostly at his mother, he still loved them very much and went out of his way to not let his displeasure cause anymore of a rift between them than was necessary. She thought of her own mother and her feelings about humans and particularly about her association with Trip. Would her mother ever have accepted him as her mate? She liked to think so, but she could not be sure. The last few minutes she spent with her mother had not answered many questions. It had brought forth more.

This family she was now a part of was complicated and foreign. Vulcan children might disagree with their parents, but they did what they were asked to do. It was expected. Humans it seemed sometimes did as their parents wished, but at others did the exact opposite. When or how these choices were made the young Vulcan had no clue. She'd just have to observe and support Trip until she could figure it out.

Her mates statement about 'breeding stock' took her by surprise and it kept reappearing in her thoughts. Vulcans bonded their young to ensure they had suitable mates and once they entered Pon Farr children were an expected result of the pairing. A maternal instinct was not so much a natural thing as a learned cultural expectation. Until she heard his words she had not thought of this in such crude terms before. She had resisted her own betrothal because she did not wish to do what was expected of her and bond to Koss and bear his children. Was it his children or any children she did not wish to have? Fortunately, now she had time to answer these questions.

---

The next day was spent learning. The tanks and gauges were checked. Trip had T'Pol complete her swimming tests. 200 meters of continuous movement swimming and then 300 meters with the fins, mask and snorkel. When he began teaching her the safety procedures she needed to know, she chose not to tell him she had acquired several computer files and studied the information when she discovered how much he was enjoying teaching her. The little boy smile that became a permanent expression made her wish she had seen him on those Christmas mornings he'd described to her last night.

Trip had never used a heat belt before. The guys he had dived with in the past would have regarded it as something for wimps. Seeing any suggestion that they couldn't take the cold as an attack on their manhood. As T'Pol listened to his thoughts she pointed out the logic of using the device for his maximum pleasure and how irrational it was to be concerned what other men might think of him. Trip smiled at her logic as he attached the belt to his waist, having decided he was mature enough to admit he'd rather be warm then appear macho.

When they finally made it into the water it was only for a short time and then without the tanks for deeper diving. Getting used to the masks, snorkel, and fins was the goal for today. Trip stood behind T'Pol showing her how to recover her regulator by sweeping her arm upward. His fingertips kept sliding down her side causing a flurry of sensation through the bond until it became too much to ignore.

"Trip, if we are to complete this exercise you will need to move away from me. Your touch is extremely distracting." T'Pol closed her eyes taking in the sensations.

Trip smiled even broader than he had been as his fingers made another pass down her body. "So I can excite you through three layers of clothing?"

"It may also be the thoughts that you are having as you touch me. Do you wish to stop our lessons for today and mat...."

Trip stopped her when he abruptly turned her around and kissed her. Holding his forehead to hers. "I'm not trying to mate right now I'm just trying to be intimate with my wife so learning can be a little more fun, but I seem to be making it difficult for you to concentrate. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for. You need to learn how to use our bond so you know how you are affecting me. If you'd like we can both practice new skills." T'Pol held his face in her hands as she held steady in the water.

"Okay, then what do I need to do?" Trip was beginning to see that he didn't understand the bond as well as he thought he did.

"Concentrate on the bond. Then touch me as you were before and let yourself center on the sensations you are causing. Try to prevent your own feelings from coming into the flow." T'Pol let him do as she instructed. When his fingers moved away she continued. "Touch me again only this time slowly allow what you are feeling to enter the bond." As T'Pol became aware of the added sensation so did Trip.

He could feel the amplified affect his own emotions were having on T'Pol. "Wow, I guess I never paid attention to how much impact I have on you." He began to withdraw himself from the bond to lessen the affect of his touch.

"You can make an experience pleasurable without letting it draw my attention away from what I am doing. It is a matter of what your intent is and how much mental control you use, which I have discovered you have in abundance when you need it." She thought his mind was undisciplined when they first met, but soon learned he often let people think that. He in fact was very logical and organized when necessary, but he could also just let his control go and simply feel. He just needed practice to obtain the levels in between.

The rest of their vacation/honeymoon went exceptionally well Trip decided. He couldn't remember when he'd taken time off before and enjoyed himself as much and not thought about work at all. The visit to the Academy of Science gave T'Pol an opportunity to see about procuring a lab to conduct scientific research on her own. Originally they were to spend a few days in a cabin in the desert, but it was still to cold to enjoy being outdoors, so they postponed that excursion. Trip hated the heat of the desert, but neither of them wanted to deal with the cold. They could cuddle indoors at home and be much more comfortable.

They wandered through the various districts of San Francisco. They sampled foods from Chinatown and the various ethnic restaurants in the Mission district. Trip tried to explain how the atmosphere changed from one neighborhood to another depending on the ethnic background of the residence. Many of the landmarks had been rebuilt after the last war and T'Pol found it strange that many of the buildings had murals painted on them. While she found them pleasing to the eye, she could not imagine Vulcans ever allowing such displays in a public area. Art was part of her culture, but it was kept inside monasteries and museums not in the streets where all citizens could create it.

Billy and Melissa invited them to the Jazz festival in Ocean City. T'Pol had expressed an interest in going. She had listened to Jazz music in a club on a couple of occasions, when she was assigned to the Consulate, and found she liked it. As Trip watched her enjoying the performances he couldn't help but wonder what it was about this particular type of music that drew her in. As the more skilled musicians began to play Trip began to notice her interest level rise. It amazed him to realize it was the individual interpretations of the music she appreciated most. The lack of structure or rules. The fewer chords, scales, and rhythm the better she liked it. It was the antithesis of what it meant to be Vulcan. The freer the better.

--

As they passed through the door Trip instantly wished he could turn around and return to the warmth of their bed and T'Pol's arms. The Lieutenant, at the front desk, shot the Captains a strange look as they entered. The uneasy feeling intensified when he spotted Commander Neilson running towards them from the other end of the hallway.

"Captain, we have a big problem. Starfleet security busted in here about an hour ago and rounded up all the non-humans. I think they're in the gym downstairs." Neilson sputtered out while trying to catch his breath.

"Who the hell sent security and how'd they get in?" Trip wanted to know. His anger quickly spiked.

"They flashed their ID and Klein let them in. He's only a lieutenant and he says they were being lead by a Commander Spitz."

"Spitz? Where've I heard that name?" Trip had been in so many meetings he often lost track of who was who.

T'Pol kept track of those details. Her first officer training made it an automatic thing. "The Commander is attached to Admiral Candace of Starfleet Security." He'd been very vocal about his objections to allowing aliens to be part of the Warp Development Project.

Trip remembered his last run in with the Admiral. "He's that ass that thinks humans can save the entire quadrant all by ourselves." He did not like Trip Tucker at all. He brought more aliens to Earth and he was involved with one personally. Trip had asked Admiral Kilmer how such a closed minded man had been allowed to advance in Starfleet? Kilmer's only comment had been 'nepotism'.

They entered the gym to find all the engineering staff standing around in groups. He saw newly promoted Lieutenant Rivers standing off to the side. He'd been placed in charge of the team that would be working with Trip and T'Pol the most closely. Trip had wanted to keep his team leaders at the rank of Lieutenant Commander or Commander, but Billy, having been trained by Trip, was the best qualified to take charge of their team. Getting his promotion six months early had been difficult enough. Getting him bumped two ranks was never going to happen.

Trip looked around the room. He thought Scott said only the non-humans were here, but he saw all the engineers gathered with their assigned teams. "Rivers, what's going on? Has anyone explained what this is all about?"

Sensing his boss' frustration and anger Billy shrugged his shoulders. "A security check of some kind. Command thinks they need to re-investigate everybody who's not Starfleet, in person."

All the staff had been thoroughly investigated by several Starfleet departments. Trip and T'Pol had read so many detailed investigative reports they felt like they'd known these people since birth.

"Then why are all the human engineers here?" Trip looked around again.

"They're supporting their fellow team members. They were told to go to their workstations, but refused to even after they were threatened by Commander Spitz and his boys." Billy smiled in support of their stance.

A commotion started at the doorway. Trip and T'Pol caught a glimpse of their personal security teams being detained by the invading Starfleet security force. T'Pol moved to intercede. "Excuse me. What seems to be the problem here?" She inquired of the Commander who had Major Talas and Major Sojorn backed up against the wall. The human lieutenants with them were not being accosted.

Another of the force made a move toward T'Pol. She turned to face him head-on. "Stand down. Commanders. That's an order."

Trip moved in a little closer, angry and protective of his mate, but stood back observing. He wanted to step in and protect T'Pol, but the officer in him knew he couldn't do it. She'd be angry and it would not be helpful. He could not diminish her rank in the eyes of those she'd need to give orders to.

The young man who approached her backed off but the one holding the Vulcans didn't budge. "I have my orders ma'am." The young commander replied.

Moving a step towards the group. "I gave you a direct order Commander and I expect you to follow it." T'Pol's face remained passive, but the authority in her voice was very commanding.

"Rogers, I believe Captain T'Pol gave you an order." Commander Barnes bellowed from down the corridor.

Commander Rogers turned looking back over his shoulder in the direction of the voice. "She's a Vulcan, sir. Our orders are to detain all non-humans in this facility."

"Well, unless you're part of a different Starfleet than I am I suggest you stand down. Vulcan or not she's Starfleet and she outranks you. Don't make me have to testify against you at a court-martial. She's my commanding officer and those two you're holding are part of our security staff and it's my job to protect all of them." Barnes stepped up next to Captain T'Pol.

Watching the staff under their command handle things made Trip feel proud of the people they'd chosen, but it didn't help him feel better about letting T'Pol deal with the situation. It took all the control he could find to keep his feet planted where they were. The bond was buzzing with his anger and T'Pol's. The flow back and forth was starting to overflow creating a volcano like effect in their emotional control.

Rogers released the Majors. And remarked offhandedly. "They're security? They aren't even in uniform." He scoffed.

T'Pol spoke to the Majors quietly then answered Rogers. "They are assigned to protect Captain Tucker and myself, which necessitates they not wear a uniform." The Captain turned to Barnes. "Commander please gather all security teams and remove all unauthorized personnel from this facility. If anyone gives you a problem please contact Captain Tucker or myself."

"Yes, ma'am. I believe you'll find Commander Spitz in the hallway at the back of the gym being questioned by Sub-Commander Muroc and Commander Timmons." Barnes had been impressed by Robert Timmons. He'd arrived this morning minutes before HQ security dropped in and immediately challenged Spitz and his commandos. Muroc, a very stoic but obviously angry Vulcan, was at his side and they had managed to pin the Commander down until their superior officers could arrive.

"Good morning, Captain Tucker." Barnes offered. "Sorry about all the trouble on your first day back, sir, ma'am." He said as he tipped his head to them. He began herding the unwanted guest toward the stairs with the rest of his security team. "I'll send you some reinforcements. They should arrive in less than 5 minutes."

Trip motioned with his arms for T'Pol to proceed in front of him in search of Spitz. Tucker looked to his wife. "Do you want to do this or should I?"

"Exactly what do you want to do?" T'Pol asked.

"I want to order this ass... I'm sorry I know you hate it when I cuss, but I haven't even had my first cup of coffee this morning."

"I warned you about your coffee. It's your own fault for delaying our shower." She gave him a jolt through the bond.

Knowing she wouldn't have any sympathy for his lack of caffeine he went on. "Anyway, I want them out of here now, but do you want to order him out or do you want me too?"

"I will order him off the premises, but first we must get your anger under control." Trip had been angry recently, but nothing like this. Not only had their staff been assaulted, they had insulted his wife, and his new found protectiveness was in full bloom.

T'Pol stopped, facing her mate forcing him to focus and push his anger aside. They had not had to practice with staffs to help him expunge his stronger emotions since arriving on Earth; however the Vulcan made a mental note to borrow the equipment to take home this evening.

T'Pol set her jaw and Trip could feel her determination to throw her rank and the fact that she was Vulcan in Spitz's face as she strode down the corridor. "Go get'em. He's all yours." Trip laughed as they rounded the corner and saw Timmons yelling at the Commander.

"You xenophobic basta...." Timmons saw his commanding officers. He came to attention. "Good morning Captain Tucker, Captain T'Pol."

Sub-Commander Muroc straightened his posture as he lifted his hand in the ta'al. "Live long and proper, Captains Tucker and T'Pol."

Both Captains answered. "Good morning, Commander Timmons." Then raised their hands into the ta'al and addressed the Vulcan. "Peace and long life, Sub-Commander Muroc."

Trip looked to his staff. "Would you gentlemen join the others in the gym?"

"Yes, sir." They answered heading to the room.

T'Pol turned her attention to Spitz. "Commander, you are to gather all your personnel and leave the premises immediately."

Spitz looked to Tucker who had backed away. "I'm sorry, but my orders are to detain and question all non-human personnel in this facility."

T'Pol ignored the slight. "I am giving you a direct order. Leave the premises now or you will be arrested and brought up on charges of insubordination, Commander." Her voice was very direct and controlled.

Trip couldn't believe that Starfleet had officers who refused to follow a superior officers orders. Spitz acted as if T'Pol wasn't even there. "Captain T'Pol is an officer in the same organization that you and I are Commander and I advise you to do as ordered. If I have to become involved in this you will be brought up on charges by both of us and I will personally see that you're stationed in some far away posting until you're old and gray."

Spitz continued to act as if the Vulcan Captain wasn't there. "I do not recognize her authority to give me orders Captain Tucker."

Trip was caught off guard by his remark. He noticed a rather large group had moved outside the gym into the hall. "You're refusing to obey an order?"

"She may hold the rank of Captain, but she should not be in Starfleet. She's a Vulcan and I will not follow her orders." His contempt for Starfleet and the Vulcan Captain was written across his face.

Trip searched through the gathering. "Commander Telev would you and the rest of your team please place Commander Spitz under arrest. Confine him to one of the empty rooms near our office."

The four member team moved toward Spitz. When the Commander saw the Andorian Telev step out and head in his direction he started to reach for his weapon. T'Pol was standing an arms length away. When she perceived the movement her hand grabbed his wrist and twisted his body around forcing it behind his back, as she removed his phaser from it's holder.

Commander Telev donning his Warp Dev Project security uniform and his own weapon took hold of Spitz' pinned arm while a Tellarite officer held the other as they walked away, followed by a Vulcan and a human lieutenant.

Holding his extreme anger at bay, smiling his most wicked of smiles Trip almost spat at Spitz as he went by. "Hope it was worth it. We have a roomful of witnesses for your court martial." At the very least he'd be demoted and reassigned. Disobeying a direct order because the officer wasn't human would be a test of Starfleet's willingness to clean out the ranks.

Timmons came to stand by the Captains. "I always thought Spitz was a xenophobe, but he's always been very careful about what he says and does. Started spouting his dogma the minute he walked through the door and saw our little eclectic group. He's been on Earth away from any other species until today. It must have been too much for him to be surrounded by all these non-humans." Timmons knew there were problems in Starfleet because some had xenophobic tendencies, but he had hoped their training would override their stupidity.

Once Spitz was out of sight Commander Timmons jumped back into command mode and ordered the assembly back into the gym for a meeting. Ensign Burke arrived to catch his bosses up on the morning so far.

Before he spoke he handed Trip a cup of coffee and a hypospray and T'Pol a cup of tea. "Thought you could both use this since you never made it to the office."

Rolling the hypo between his fingers Trip questioned his assistant. "What's with the meds?"

"Just prepared, sir. Days like this tend to bring on headaches. If you don't need it now I'll keep it handy for later." The young ensign took the analgesic back. "Sir, ma'am, I have several messages from Admiral Kilmer, Ambassador Soval, Captain Archer, and Admiral Candace. I've told them all you are both busy at the moment, but you'll get back to them as soon as possible."

Days like this? The young man suddenly sounded older than he was. Trip looked at the ensign then at the headache remedy. He knew the answer to the question before he even asked it. "Burke, you were an Eagle Scout weren't you?" When the young man nodded 'yes' Trip laughed out loud. Jon and Malcolm both had been Eagle scouts and while Jon didn't take the 'be prepared' part of the motto to heart Trip knew it couldn't be a coincidence that he surrounded himself with people who took the scouting charge and challenge seriously.

Tucker's thoughts were that at this rate they'd never get a warp drive designed much less built. As he was formulating his response for his staff to what he couldn't believe had begun already, he saw Commander Neilson walking in with the eight newest team members. They all looked scared to death, with their eyes opened wide, stark white faces, and lost expressions.

"Neilson, where were they?" Trip asked before heading over to try to calm their nerves a bit. He didn't want them fearful and anymore anxious than was to be expected on their first day.

"It seems they all arrived together just after Spitz and his crew, so they missed all the activity and went to their duty stations. Been standing around waiting for somebody to come tell them what to do." Neilson sympathized with the group. He likened it to his freshmen year in high school after the first assembly. The students were let out well before the next class started and most of the freshman class stood around having no idea what to do or where to go, while the upperclassmen abandoned them, bolting for parts unknown.

Smiling with a bit of a chuckle, Trip thanked Scott. "Glad you found them. I can't imagine what I'd have done if my first assignment out of the Academy started off like this." These were the recruits he and T'Pol had gone after from the most recent graduating class. They were the only ones who hadn't applied for their positions, but had been selected based on their skills and interviews with their new commanding officers. Trip shook each of their hands and welcomed them by name. They visibly relaxed as he spoke to each of them, sending them to find their team leader inside the gym.

After the meeting with the staff, the first call he answered was to Enterprise. Malcolm's expertise and connections were the only way to get the security measures he wanted done and done quickly. But he'd have to speak to Jon to see what he wanted first.

Hoshi Sato appeared on the vid screen. "Hey, Lieutenant, how's it going?" Purposely using her new rank.

"It's going good, sir. Captain Archer's in a bit of a bad mood. Seems he misplaced Commander Reed." Hoshi cracked a wide smile.

While Trip was amused at her statement, he was also apprehensive. "Misplaced him, how?" Reed never left his post without telling somebody where to find him.

"I'll let the Captain explain. He's ready for you now." The communication officer transferred him to Archer's Ready Room.

"Trip have you heard anything from Malcolm in the last few days?" Jon didn't even bother to say hi.

Tucker hadn't heard from his friend, but they had agreed to skip their normal weekly calls until after their leave was over. Whether Jon knew they spoke every Thursday or not was not something Reed had told him, so Trip refrained from mentioning it. "No, I haven't. T'Pol and I were on vacation until today." Reed had planned on taking time off as well.

"He went on leave for a few days. Said something about having some plans, but never said where he was going. Hoshi has been trying to track him down for three days and nothing. I'm tempted to ask Starfleet Security to find him. And since when have you and T'Pol been unreachable when you're on vacation?" Archer had tried to bully Ensign Burke into disobeying their orders regarding not contacting them or allowing anyone else to unless there was a true emergency.

It was the first time in several years that Trip had gone on leave for any length of time and been out of touch and T'Pol usually only took a day or two to visit the Vulcan consulate. "We were on our honeymoon and didn't want to be disturbed. I'm sure Malcolm's fine Jon. This is Malcolm we're talking about, remember?" In an attempt to change the subject. "How's the refit going?"

Malcolm Reed would not want the security forces from Headquarters searching through his personal business trying to find him. Trip reached into his desk and found the device Malcolm had given them. He activated the signal and saw the locater beacon flashing. He was in the area, but must have blocked his signal from normal Starfleet channels to keep his location private. Trip then punched in the code to send a message to contact him immediately. Tucker couldn't inform Jon that he knew how to locate the tactical officer when his own Captain could not, but Malcolm needed to contact Enterprise before a full scale manhunt could be mounted.

Concern moved across Archer's face. "Mostly it's complete, but Hess is having a few problems with the station crews changing her requisitions for spare parts. Malcolm left orders with Hess to contact him if they gave her anymore trouble. He evidently had to deal with them earlier and wasn't too pleased. We need to know what he told them." Archer had rifled through the first officers desk trying to find his notes or his report on what he'd done, but was unable to find anything.

"I'll talk to Hess and see what I can do to help her. In the meantime I'm sure Mal will be in touch soon. He's too conscientious to disappear for to long."

--

Trip took in the shirtless Malcolm's appearance. "A little under dressed aren't we?"

A hand dangled the missing article of clothing next to him. As he watched his friend put on his shirt he noticed the name on the readout identifying the owner of the number seen there.

"So I take it the concert went well?" Trip asked in a teasing manner.

"Yes it did. The music wasn't bad." Reed didn't want to discuss this now with MacKenzie standing a few feet away. "I assume there's some problem if you had to contact me." Malcolm knew Trip wouldn't have bothered him just to find out where he was.

"Yeah, there are a couple of things. Jon's hot because you went into hiding and Hess was having trouble with the Jupiter Station guys again. He didn't know what you'd done before or what your orders were so he wanted to talk to you. Hess is fine now though. I just read a couple of messages she sent me and once she talked to Rostov he told her what I used to do to get around them. But you still need to contact Enterprise before Jon sends out the troops in search of his First Officer." T'Pol moved in behind Trip as he and Malcolm talked.

Malcolm saw her. "Thanks T'Pol for not telling me the Captain doesn't always pay attention to reports. I told him what I'd done and it's also in my weekly report that should be on his desk."

T'Pol had mentioned this to Reed. "Commander, I informed you that the Captain often fails to listen if he has no immediate need for the information you're giving him. And he reads several reports at a time on the nights he is unable to sleep and then has a list of questions or comments the next day."

"I guess you did say something about that. Sorry." Malcolm studied Trip's expression. "What else is wrong?"

"Remember those security measures you advised we institute and I was adamant weren't necessary? Well, I was wrong. We had a small invasion this morning. Can you figure out how to get that security field set up around us and the living quarters?" Trip bit his lower lip in frustration. He hated to admit Malcolm had been right.

"Call Commander Taggart. He's got everything ready and waiting for your call. He'll have you taken care of by morning." Malcolm waited for Trip's reaction that he'd gone ahead and put the plan in motion.

"So when were you going to try to convince me to change my mind?"

"Next week when I got back. I hoped I was wrong, but I've heard too many comments not to take them seriously. There are a lot of bigots out there and you've made yourselves targets." Malcolm had been told there were forces within Starfleet that were against Trip and T'Pol's push for openness with their allies; as well as; groups in the private sector who were against any aliens being allowed on Earth. Both groups were capable of disrupting the development of the warp drive given the chance.

"Did you mention we might need him to put something around the entire valley once we talk to the town council?" Trip had arranged for security teams to patrol the town to keep the non-human residents protected. The living quarters were converted motels owned and operated by local residents.

"Just tell him what you need and he'll take care of it. He'll set up a master code for you and T'Pol, which you will change immediately and then you'll need to have codes setup for your personnel to get through the barrier. Ask Taggart for a copy of the system manuals and the procedures for the setup and maintenance of codes. Read them, then give them to the Commanders in charge of security to maintain the system." He almost said have T'Pol read them, but stopped himself. He knew she'd be the one who read the manuals because she'd remember the details and feed them to Trip when he needed them. He needed to concentrate on warp theory.

T'Pol nodded her head silently letting Malcolm know she would read the material.

"Thanks Mal. I'll let you get back to your.....vacation. Call me once you're back and contact Enterprise to check in. I know nobody knows I can always find you, but does Jon know we talk every week? I didn't want to say anything in case you didn't want him to know."

"It's not a secret. The transmission is secure, but I've never said anything about it. I have to go. Have plans for this afternoon and I need to setup a call to the Captain and then I need to get cleaned up. I'll be in touch next week unless you need me before then." He needed to keep his comm unit from giving away his location when he contacted Captain Archer. He was on leave and unless there was an emergency he had every right to keep his private life private.

"We should be fine. Stay out of trouble and have some fun." Trip ended the transmission wondering who that man was he just talked to. Malcolm had never gone to ground before and certainly not to spend time with a woman.

----

By the time the couple reached the house Trip had been suppressing his emotions for several hours. T'Pol had begun reciting Vulcan text from the Kir'shara to him through the bond earlier in the day. He often asked her to talk to him when he was upset or frustrated. While she failed to understand why she found it forced him to use a separate part of his brain, which in turn made it easier for him to keep his shields in place while having the many discussions of the day starting with Admiral Kilmer and Ambassador Soval.

That Soval had been made aware of the incident so rapidly should not have been a surprise. They had locked down the area not the communications. That hadn't even been considered as it would have created bigger problems with the various political bodies from all the governments. Kilmer had not liked the idea of erecting a security barrier around the project, especially since it meant even he would need to contact them to get a code to enter the facility, but he understood the necessity of keeping the interruptions to a minimum and keeping the staff safe and unmolested.

After an hour of intense practice with the staffs in the backyard T'Pol noticed movement behind them. "I believe we are being observed." She informed her husband.

Removing his face gear Trip turned to find a girl of about 10 sitting on the wall surrounding the yard. He walked casually toward her. "Is there something you need little lady?"

"Are you Captain Charles Tucker III, who builds warp engines?" The young girl asked.

Trip smiled at the formal way she addressed him. "Yes I am, but everybody calls me Trip. Is there something I can do for you?" Trying to determine what her reason for being here was.

"My mom says I can't be dis..disre....disre..... I can't be rude so I have to call you Mr. Tucker." She held out her hand. "I'm Suzanne Mukavey and my daddy says you build big engines for starships and I need someone to fix my scooter. It won't start and my daddy's an accountant and doesn't know anything about engines. Can you fix it for me?" Those downcast, sad eyes were going to be killers when this girl got a little older. She'd have the guys drooling all over themselves trying to please her.

Trip heard a little voice that sounded as if it came from someone on the ground below the girl. "Susie." Trip opened the back gate and peeked around to see a little boy jumping around holding himself and whining at the girl sitting on the wall. "I have to go. I'm going to tell Mom you wouldn't take me home."

From farther down towards the road he saw the security team. "We're sorry sir. They were at the front gate earlier trying to get in to see you. We sent them away, but they must have snuck in through the woods." The Major pointed up. "The sensors picked them up when she climbed the tree to get over the wall."

He'd seen the kids from the shuttlepod on several occasions on their way home. "No problem. They're neighbors." He and T'Pol joined the two children near the tree as the young girl scooted back down to the ground. "Suzanne Mukavey do your parents know where you are?" T'Pol inquired of the girl.

"No, Mrs. Tucker."

Trip was startled when he heard T'Pol referred to as Mrs. Tucker and expected her to correct the child, but she didn't.

"Mrs. Tucker?" He questioned her acceptance of this title through the bond.

"That is my legal name, is it not?"

"I guess it is, but I never expected you to use it."

"There are occasions when it will be appropriate and as your wife it is my name." Accepting the human custom of taking your husbands name went against her own customs, but she would do it. It pleased her that Trip didn't demand she use his name, but he did seem to feel pride that she was willing to.

"My mom thinks we're riding our bikes in the empty lot next to our house." The girl lowered her head and stared at her feet.

"Is this your brother?" T'Pol continued with her questions.

"Yes. His name is James Mukavey We call him Jamie." Susie eagerly volunteered.

Watching the young boy squirm it was obvious he wasn't going to make it home. T'Pol spoke, directing him to the house. "Jamie if you will come with me you may use our bathroom." The boy looked from T'Pol to his sister then back to T'Pol.

"Susie needs to come to. Mom says I'm not supposed to go with strangers." The boy stated as he slid his hand into his sister's. Proud that he had remembered the rule.

Trip smiled. "That sounds like a plan." He pointed to the security team. "I'll have these guys bring your scooter to the garage and we'll go inside. Susie can call your Mom and we'll see what she says about fixing the scooter." He was sure she'd have plenty to say, but he was sure the scooter was the least of it.

Susie tried calling her home, but when she couldn't get through Trip and T'Pol decided to walk the pair home.

Young Jamie stopped to tie his shoe lace. After several attempts T'Pol bent down to assist him. Her ear was right there in front of the boy. His little fingers reached inside the top of the lobe and rubbed it. Trip was walking in front of the them and didn't stop until he felt the shiver from T'Pol. He knew exactly what brought that response and he instantly felt possessive of his mate. Of all the parts of her ear he could have touched the young boy was interested in the most sensitive area right inside the pointed tip. T'Pol locked down her control blocking the sensation from her mind and hiding her reaction from the boy.

Trip turned and his mind clamped down his emotions, which were directed at a little boy who had inadvertently caused this instinctual reaction.

Susie grabbed her brother's hand and jerked it away. Yelling at him. "You don't just touch people like that Jamie. And Vulcans don't like to be touched. I told you that. Now leave her alone."

Trip was embarrassed at his jealousy. As he listened to the older child he wondered if he'd been that overbearing with his younger siblings when they were young. Lizzie had been active and curious just like Trip, so he'd been gentler with her than with John. Never wanting to squelch her enthusiasm. He searched Jamie's eyes and took pity on the young and curious boy.

Walking back towards the pair he bent down speaking in a hushed tone. "You really should ask next time you want to touch someone, but I think they're kinda cute too." Jamie's grin became even wider and T'Pol sent him her support of his actions.

Betty Mukavey was a small woman, but not one to be messed with. Her children explained what they had done and then listened as she lectured them on lying to her and trespassing on the neighbors property before being sent to their rooms. Once the children exited Trip asked about the scooter and agreed that Susie and Jamie would come to the house this next weekend, when they were no longer grounded, to help Trip repair the scooter. That gave him time to unpack his tools and set up a work area in the garage.

--

Trip sat staring at the vid screen. Crowds had gathered outside, supporters and protesters. Word had been leaked to the press of the aliens Starfleet had housed at the Warp Development Facility. Security had managed to keep them miles away from the buildings, but their influence could still be felt. Hours of footage had already been shot as story after story blasted over the airwaves. Continuous coverage on the multitude of 24 hour news channels and several cut ins hourly on the rest. It appeared to be the only news out there that held any interest for millions. Which reporter could get the most in depth interviews or present the most tantalizing details. Then there was that group of reporters, the ones that only qualified for the title because they held press passes, but were actually little more than slimy worms in search of any fact, near truth, or morsel they could find and exploit for those much sought after ratings or readership.

"Trip we must go. Our meeting is in 30 minutes." T'Pol called from across the room. She had been suppressing her emotions from him since they were greeted by the gathering when the shuttlepod passed over them this morning. The gathering was much smaller than it was now.

Commander Burke had been joined by Commander Taggart. "We've added to your personal security for the foreseeable future. Security at Starfleet Command has also been increased." Taggart informed the Captains. Two shuttlepods would accompany them whenever they left the premises. The tracking devices were checked and rechecked and all weapons had been set to the maximum stun level to quickly ensure any attacks were quickly 'put down' in the words of the Commander.

The shuttlepods landed in the designated area. Malcolm Reed greeted the Captains as they exited with their security teams surrounding them. "Sorry to interrupt your time off, Mal. But thanks for being here. I feel better knowing you're looking out for us."

"Wouldn't be anywhere else. Made quite a splash didn't you. Wall to wall coverage." Malcolm chuckled shaking his head. He and MacKenzie went to the store for food and all he saw was Trip and T'Pol plastered all over every vid screen all over town. He immediately dropped Ms. Smith at home and came to Headquarters.

The walkway was lined with security to keep the many protesters under control. Trip reached out to T'Pol with his two fingers, to reassure and calm himself before they proceeded to the entrance of Starfleet Headquarters. Malcolm walked directly in front of them. T'Pol was to Trip's right. Just as they approached the point where her position put her closest to the crowds Trip moved to place himself between her and them. His peripheral vision picked up motion. As he turned to check on the movement a series of loud bangs started to sound.

Everyone froze. Two bodies came over the wall. The first landed on T'Pol. The second missed hitting Trip full on, grazed his chest with something sharp and landed on the ground just behind him.

As the knife found it's target T'Pol let out a yell that came out more like a whimper as the air left her lungs. Trip felt an intense stab of pain. The force of hitting the ground drove the blade deeper.

Hands ripped at the attacker pulling him off the Vulcan. Green blood spreading across the sidewalk as the his head was smashed into the cement surface. Trip's fists pounded into the body of the half conscious man. Each connection Trip's hands blindly made with their target had no discernible affect on the frustration and rage coursing through the human as he acted on his primal need to protect his mate. Enraged at his inability to prevent harm to her.

Someone yelled 'blanket' causing the entirety of the security force to form a closed circle around the pair, to whom they were to assigned, blocking the view of any who might seek to sensationalize the incident playing out before them.

"TRIP. Stop. T'Pol needs you." Malcolm, at the center of the circle, attempted to pull Trip Tucker away before he beat the man to death. "TRIP, we have to get T'Pol help. You have to get her inside now."

Soval stepped next to Malcolm who was still trying to get through to Trip. He let down his shields, reached across and touched Tucker's shoulder and screamed into the young man's mind, repeatedly. "Charles, pehkau! Tu ma gu-vam palutunau t'du t'hy'la." (Charles, stop! You have a duty to care for your beloved.)

He became aware of the words being broadcast over and over. "Charles? Who calls me Charles? T'hy'la? T'Pol. I must help T'Pol." The blinding emotions receded. He stopped, trying to identify the male voice in his head while turning to find his wife. Panic set in as he searched their connection to determine her condition. Without thought he picked her up and yelled for a clear path to the medical wing.

The doctor immediately rushed her into the surgical bay to begin repair on the damaged lungs and stop the flow of blood, forcing Trip to relinquish his mate to the medics assisting him. A young woman Trip believed to be a nurse guided him to a table where she began cleaning his wounded hands and chest.

He sat there dazed, not even aware enough to react when the antiseptic, which should have stung, was applied to his skin. When the bandages were secured someone from Starfleet security led Captain Tucker into a room down the hall and instructed him to remain there until Admiral Candace figured this mess out.

The room was a small office with a desk and two chairs. Trip felt claustrophobic, a condition not usually suffered by one in his profession. To relieve his suffering he paced back and forth muttering to himself and trying to feel T'Pol.

The door opened allowing Malcolm entry. "Did they say how T'Pol is?"

"She was bleeding pretty bad and at least one of her lungs collapsed. One must not have collapsed fully because she was still breathing. They haven't told me anything yet." All Trip could think was if she died it was his fault for not getting her here sooner.

"She's strong. She'll be fine. How are you?" Malcolm saw his bandaged hands and he knew Trip was very agitated when he paced like this.

"Okay. It's T'Pol I'm worried about. They want me to stay here till they decide what to do." His agitation level rose at that thought. "Did I kill that guy?" He didn't know what to feel about what he'd done.

"They took him to Starfleet Medical for treatment before they arrest him."

"How the hell did they get over that wall Mal? It was like they flew at us."

"Both of them were launched from some sort of catapults in the trees." There hadn't been time for Malcolm to study the setup. They each had wooden knives strapped to their hands to prevent them from falling loose.

"How'd they know we'd be coming here today? We didn't even know until an hour before the meeting." Why was he surprised? Starfleet's record with secured transmissions hadn't exactly been stellar of late.

"I'm sure Admiral Candace is going to have a lot of questions to answer. This is how many breaches, now? Kilmer warned him first when the Tellarites accessed classified information and then again when their engineer got that message directly to you. Maybe they'll move him somewhere he'll be less important." He'd just had to explain his actions detaining the staff at Warp Dev and how Spitz had been allowed to remain in Starfleet. Commander Spitz waived a hearing and was sentenced to the military prison for 9 months. After which he would be dishonorably discharged from service.

"Great, we can't even count on our own people to protect us. I knew there would be issues to deal with, but I thought Earth would be safer than a starship."

"Well, you won't have Romulans trying to kill or capture you on Earth. I hoped it wouldn't be like this. I'm afraid it's going to get worse before it gets better." Mal was pragmatic and tried to keep Trip grounded in reality.

Trip's emotions spiked again. "We should have found some remote planet or place far away from everybody." Trip continued to pace. Back and forth pounding his fist on whatever surface he could reach.

"Is that what you really want to do? If it is give me 48 hours and a location or an extra day and I'll find one. Just give me the word. No problem." Malcolm assured his friend.

"Malcolm Shut UP....." Trip screamed throwing the comm unit across the room, tears falling. "Please just shut up." He pounded his head down on the table. His head was on fire and going to implode.

Malcolm leaned against the far wall waiting and watching.

Trip looked up, wiping tears on his sleeve, at this man who would do whatever he and T'Pol asked of him. "You'd really do that wouldn't you? Even if it meant you never saw us again?"

"I'd hate it, but yes I'd do it if you ask me to." And he would without asking a question. He decided he needed to find a suitable place, in case. He knew exactly who to ask.

"Well, that's good to know. I really wouldn't want to do that, but if it comes to that I will. I can't lose T'Pol, Mal. I'd...." Trip voice trailed off.

"I know. You're not going to lose her and she's not going to lose you either. You have my word on that." If Malcolm knew Trip and T'Pol were safe somewhere he could live with that. He couldn't even think about the alternative.

Trying to get Trip's mind in a different place. "Who do I need to explain the condition of this room to?" Malcolm asked.

"Why would you need to explain this to anyone?" Trip assessed the damage.

"Because my best friend is going to go find out how his wife is and then he's going to sit with her until she's convinced him she's alright. I'll take care of the rest, so get going."

Trip tuned into the bond. "T'Pol's still in surgery and they told me to stay here until they can decide what to do about the guy I beat the crap out of." He could see the headlines. 'Starfleet Captain beats assailant, outside Headquarters, for attacking his Vulcan wife.'

"Don't worry about that guy. Security will deal with him and as for you going after him I wouldn't spend anymore time thinking about it. He's lucky you got to him first." Malcolm wouldn't have used his fist. If Trip hadn't been in the way Reed would have shot him and his phaser wasn't set on stun.

---

He lowered his head into his hands watching T'Pol sleeping. "I can't believe this. I knew we'd draw attention at some point, but not like this. You weren't supposed to get hurt. All I've ever wanted to do was design and build warp drives. How'd I get sucked into all this?" His thoughts reeled. "I'm an engineer not a....what? What the hell am I? A Captain?....boss?.....politician?....fool? When do I get to be just an engineer?"

"You're my husband. My mate. And the best engineer I have ever known. Do not allow fear to destroy what we have. This life we are building." T'Pol spoke to him, but she didn't know who she was trying to convince more - herself or her mate.

"I'm sorry, but I get scared sometimes. You know as well as I do what kind of damage the lunatics can do. I can't lose you too." Trip remembered their daughter. The thought of anything happening to T'Pol terrified him, making it difficult to think clearly.

T'Pol pulled him inside her mind grabbing his face. "Look at me. We cannot give into the fear. If we do they win. And I will not let them win. We cannot dishonor Elizabeth in that way."

Her words shook him. He hadn't heard T'Pol mention Elizabeth in months. And then her name always brought forth pain and despair. Now it evoked strength from her mother in a way Trip had been sure would never be possible. It hurt too much. "How did you do that?"

"Do what my husband?"

"Find strength from the memory of our daughter? Show me how to do that, so I can fight this." It was still so easy to let himself fall into that black hole of emotions in his mind when he felt overwhelmed by the forces outside himself.

"Give me your hand." T'Pol requested.

When he placed his hand on the bed she worked her fingers under the bandages to touch his bare fingertips. The calm he felt flooded through his entire body. His physical body reacted laying his head down at her side, eyes closed, concentrating, willing that feeling to push out all the darkness. How was it that Vulcans repressed their memories? Would he ever be that disciplined? He could bury them, but only until his psyche suffered another trauma and the dam burst open mingling with the new images, haunting his dreams once again.

The doctor entered the room reading the chart in his hand. Reaching to awaken the man sleeping at his wife's bedside.

"Leave him, doctor." Ambassador Soval spoke in his most authoritative voice.

The hand stopped. "I need to examine my patient and he has to leave." The doctor impatiently explained.

Soval moved closer. "It would not be wise to interrupt them. Vulcans require their mates presence in times of illness or injury to draw strength from." Soval knew this wasn't true at this moment, but observation of their synchronized breathing told him the two needed time to complete whatever it was they were doing.

The Ambassador had placed himself between the surgeon and the chair Trip occupied. The young man gestured toward Trip with his head. "He's not Vulcan and whatever mumbo jumbo you're talking about it won't help her wounds heal. I need to check on her lung capacity before my shift ends." He'd heard Vulcans went into trances or some such nonsense, but she needed good old fashion doctoring not Vulcan Voodoo.

"It's okay, Ambassador. He can examine my wife now, but I'm not going anywhere." Trip stood defiantly facing the pair.

"I need to give her a thorough exam and you will both need to leave Captain Tucker." The doctor repeated his statement fully expecting the men to do as he said.

Trip tilted his name tag so he could read it. "Doctor Drake, you can do whatever you need to do, but I'm staying. You can discuss it with T'Pol while I speak to the Ambassador." Trip touched T'Pol's fingers before he stepped away from the bed, focusing his attention on Soval.

"Thanks for that." Suddenly Trip remembered. "That was you out there who stopped me? You got inside my head. Called me Charles. Told me I had a duty to my beloved. How?"

"It seemed the best way to get your attention. Your shields were down, so when I lowered mine slightly it was a matter of finding the right words. You told me once you do not like being called Charles and I could sense that T'Pol's endearment means much to you." Soval had only invaded those thoughts he could easily read. To go further would truly have been an invasion of the human's privacy and forbidden by any Vulcan standards.

"I could have killed that guy. My anger almost cost me T'Pol, so thanks. I owe you again."

Soval had told him he owed him when he'd contacted Savoy and Doctor Kivel on his behalf. "I am no longer keeping score Mr. Tucker. We may not be friends, but you have proven to be more than worthy of my respect. I would do no less for any Vulcan. You may wish to contact the Consulate and request one of our own doctors tend to T'Pol. It would be much easier for you both, unless you're prepared to explain your bond to Starfleet's doctors." Soval's face remained unchanged, but Trip could feel his silent amusement at the idea of trying to make the doctor with T'Pol understand anything about Vulcan bondmates.

Did Soval mean he'd do no less for Trip or T'Pol. He wasn't quite sure if he meant Vulcan literally or figuratively. He guessed it didn't matter. Soval had helped him save T'Pol again. "No, I don't think I have enough patience to even attempt such a thing if I ever became inclined to try." He'd have to get a Vulcan doctor over here.

"I have pressing matters to attend to. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance." Soval nodded as he left.

Trip's face brightened as he registered the identity of the two figures headed his way. "Phlox, it's so good to see you." He grabbed his hand shaking it wildly. "I'm sorry for ever complaining about your bedside manner."

"I doubt your sincerity Captain Tucker. The whispers around here are that you are very stubborn and refuse to follow the rules." Phlox teased the younger man freeing himself from the handshake.

"If refusing to leave my wife alone is being stubborn then yes I am. It's a stupid rule and you know it." Trip shot back at him.

Before Phlox had a chance to respond Malcolm placed himself under Trip's arm repositioning his body to hide his face from the view of the others. "Are you okay, Trip?" Malcolm whispered, watching the color drain from his upper body.

Trip let his body relax into his friends grip on him. "T'Pol blocked me out. The doctor is scanning her." No use giving them any record of increased brain activity. The human doctors might not know what it meant now, but they may be able to compare scans and discern something in the future.

Doctor Phlox saw the flicker of pain in Tucker's eyes and accompanying change in his demeanor that Mr. Reed had so valiantly tried to cover for him. He'd known there were things the Vulcan and human had been keeping from him and this behavior only reinforced his belief. "Captain you need to sit down." The doctor then noticed his bandages. Perhaps he was injured.

The surgeon placed the chart at the end of the bed, leaving the room without acknowledging the visitors or Trip.

"I'm fine, doc. Just a little dizzy there. Haven't had anything to eat today." Trip hoped that would satisfy him. T'Pol was back now, having apologized for leaving so abruptly. The pain in his head eased.

"Sit down." Phlox ordered, pushing the chair under his legs, forcing him to drop down into it.

"Check on T'Pol, please. You know more about Vulcans than that kid that just left." The words came out in a huff reflecting his irritation at having been manhandled.

"I have no authority here and by the time I 'cut through the red tape' as I believe you would say you'd both be in retirement. I did take the liberty of contacting the doctors at the Vulcan Consulate. I came to discuss them with T'Pol's doctor. He can request a doctor be transported here to consult on her case." Phlox read through the chart he'd removed from its perch.

Malcolm saw the lines deepen across the doctors brow. "T'Pol's going to be all right isn't she doc?"

"She's appears to be doing; as well as; can be expected. My concern is for Captain Tucker. There's a notation here to remove him from the room by force if he refuses to leave when asked." Phlox knew enough about Tucker to know that he would fight such an action to the point of having to be rendered unconscious with a sedative. "We need to find someone to give the order to allow the Vulcan doctor to be brought here and to take over T'Pol's care."

"That would be me Doctor Phlox." Admiral Kilmer interjected. The Admiral opened his comm unit ordering the transport operator to contact the Consulate to arrange transport of whomever they deemed necessary.

Trip let out a deep sigh. "Thanks, Admiral."

"They aren't to happy with you or me around here right now. Ambassador Soval and I had a conversation several days ago regarding your safety and being allowed to provide their own personnel to ensure you remained unharmed. Also said it was important he correct my state of ignorance on Vulcan law and your 'status' as the husband of a Vulcan. It was quite enlightening. The administration here had no idea that you are the final authority in the care of your wife. When I explained they cannot even be in the same room with a married Vulcan female without her husband's permission they began to see the wisdom in allowing you to remain at her side."

Trip winced a bit at this. They had not told the Admiral about his citizenship or anything about Vulcan law. "We left out a few details, but not to hide anything. We just didn't think it was important because we're on Earth and not operating under Vulcan laws."

"I understand, but in the future you need to keep me apprised of all relevant data. It may not be relevant as a rule, but it can prove to be useful on days like today." Admiral Kilmer had learned long ago that one gathered and filed away as much information as was available. You never knew when some of it might be needed.

"Well, I'm sure the Ambassador gave you all the data he thought you'd need to have. It won't happen again, sir." Trip swallowed trying to hide his relief that Kilmer wasn't going to make an issue of the omissions.

"I've decided to keep you and Captain T'Pol reporting directly to me. You seem to be at the center of several matters and after talking to Captain Archer I find I agree with his assessment that it will make my life easier." He found Trip Tucker a rather intelligent, honest and extremely loyal officer, but also headstrong and stubborn. He'd received calls from every department regarding the Captain today. The last being from the medical director who was upset at Tucker's disregard for the rules and for administering a nasal inhibitor to his wife without the doctor's knowledge.

"You sound like Commander Reed." Trip stated as he gazed at Malcolm.

"I keep telling him he's never going to have a normal, quiet life. He doesn't really want that anyway. If he did he wouldn't have gone out into space in the first place and he definitely wouldn't keep putting himself in the middle of every squabble he comes across. And what fool really thinks pursuing a relationship with a Vulcan for years and then marrying her would lead them to a quiet life? Besides, he'd be bored in a weeks time." Malcolm laughed at his friends incredulous look.

"Okay, maybe I don't want a quiet life of obscurity, but I could really get used to not being a target for every nut job we run across. The whole point of coming back to Earth was to keep T'Pol from getting hurt. That's worked out real well so far hasn't it?" Exasperated Trip slide his chair forward and reached out to touch his mate's fingers.

Kilmer watched the touch, knowing it was the only public touch Vulcans allowed. "The Vulcans have become insistent that they be allowed to take over your security themselves. I told the Ambassador I'd leave it up to you. Talk to them and let me know what you want to do. Admiral Candace has been reassigned to the security staff at United Earth, so I have to promote somebody to take over at Headquarters."

Everyone visibly reacted to this piece of welcomed news. Admiral Kilmer was glad to be rid of William Candace. Let the bureaucrats at UE deal with his narrow-mindedness. Kilmer was tired of trying to convince him that the hope that was found along with the evils in the Pandora's box that space travel unleashed on the universe was only possible if all the species worked together. Earth could stop all space exploration, in fact they could have refrained altogether, and those evils would eventually have made their way to humanity regardless.

"Whoever it is will have strict orders that whatever you say goes as far as personal security for yourself and Captain T'Pol. Also you have permission to implement Taggart's plans. The sooner the better." The Admiral turned to leave. "Oh I took care of your meltdown earlier. You won't have any problems. If it happens again try to keep that temper in check. It's gets really messy when one of my officers tries to beat a man to death." Kilmer was amazed the man had fared as well as he had. If it had been his wife he wasn't sure he'd had used his fist.

As the Admiral turned the corner. "We'll reschedule our meeting for in the morning. And we'll come to you this time." That's what Tucker had wanted in the first place. He felt his team's security measures would be better able to keep them protected. He'd been right and Starfleet couldn't afford not heeding his warnings in the future.

A Vulcan officer Trip didn't recognize came into the room. "Captain Tucker, Captain Archer's on his way to see you, sir."

"Thanks, Major." He didn't know what else to say.

"Mal, unless you're ready to go back to work you need to get out of here. Jon's not going to understand and he'll want you back on Enterprise the minute he sees you." Trip didn't want to have to explain Malcolm's presence here when his commanding officer had only received rather short cryptic messages from him while he was off duty.

"I'll call you tonight. Just to be sure all's well." Malcolm took his leave through a side door at the other end of the corridor.

Jon arrived just before Doctor Drake reappeared with Doctor Valar and two assistants from the Vulcan Consulate. Drake stood at the back of the room as Phlox and the Vulcans consulted on T'Pol's condition. Jon took in the interactions between Trip, T'Pol, and the doctors. They were discussing the Vulcan's care, but never once asked the T'Pol for anything other than how she felt. Trip's expression was as blank as any Vulcans. He listened intently to their assessment and gave permission for treatment to proceed. Even Phlox had been taken back by the Vulcan doctors treatment of T'Pol. He was especially thrown by Trip's acceptance and handling of the whole scene. He began to suspect there was something he was missing when Tucker voiced a request for T'Pol to return to their home this evening to convalesce.

"I'll do what I can to get you home, darlin. I promise if I can convince them you'll be sleeping in our bed tonight. We can meditate after I speak to Jon and the doctor. Be patient and get some rest. Okay." Trip told her quietly.

"Yes, husband." T'Pol replied knowing she could not argue with him with the Vulcan doctors here thrusting Trip into this act of being a proper Vulcan husband.

"Captain Tucker. I'm Sub-Commander Kaso. Ambassador Soval has assigned me to you and Captain T'Pol. The doctor has advised me of your request to take your wife home."

"Yeah, if she's well enough."

"The doctor sees no reason why this would not be possible, but I require your permission to complete some security sweeps of your residence. A fully trained medic will be a part of the team with expertise in Vulcan and human physiology. There will be security at your residence at all times." Kaso waited for Trip's reply.

"I don't want anyone in the main part of the house, but you're free to sweep the rest whenever you deem it necessary. Put whatever security measures you wish in place, but keep us informed. We'll work out the rest of this once my wife is safely home." Living surrounded by bodyguards and visual surveillance wasn't the best of circumstances, but if it meant T'Pol would be safe he'd allow it.

"A Commander Taggart says you have given him permission to handle certain security measures." The Sub-Commander questioned.

"Yes. He's Starfleet, but he is operating as more of a personal favor for Commander Reed." Trip hadn't had time to ask Malcolm exactly how Taggart got permission to work with Trip and T'Pol.

"If you have no objection I wish to have Commander Taggart assigned to your security staff permanently. He's skills and dedication will prove to be very useful."

Trip smiled at what amounted to practically adopting Taggart by the Vulcan. He must be extremely good at his job if a Vulcan was willing to so openly praise him. "That can be arranged, but I'd prefer to speak to the Commander first. If he has no objection I'll speak to Admiral Kilmer."

"I've spoken to the Commander. He's agreeable and Admiral Kilmer has given approval for any request concerning your security."

Trip sat there stunned. He and Soval were going to have a lot to talk about and very soon. What had the Vulcans threatened Starfleet with to get them to look the other way and give the Vulcans carte blanc where Trip and T'Pol were concerned.

"Fine, then Commander Taggart's with you. I'd like you and he to be in command together. Let us know what your plans are and try to do that before you start changing things, whenever possible."

"As you wish Captain. I would have suggested such an arrangement if you had not. We'll let you know when the arrangements have been made to take you and Captain T'Pol home." The Sub-Commander left his new commanding officers sitting there in stupefied silence.

Jon listened to the conversation and wanted to know what exactly the Vulcans had said to Kilmer. "Where'd Soval get all the clout to back Kilmer into a corner? I heard he insisted Kilmer get rid of Candace and let them take over security for you and T'Pol, but I didn't believe it."

"I don't know anymore than you do, except that Soval meet with the Admiral and...I think Kilmer said he 'corrected his state of ignorance about my status as the husband of a Vulcan'. I thought it sounded like the Soval I used to know." Trip smiled at that thought. He hadn't seen that cranky old man since their time together on Enterprise trying to prevent a war with Andor. "I'm sure he came across as pompous and ornery, when he said it, but I'm glad he did it if it means they'll finally listen to us about security. If they want warp six in 6 months all this nonsense has got to be dealt with. We need to get to work not be running around dodging bullets and having meetings."

"Maybe you could help me figure out how to get along with the Ambassador. He seems to trust you and he still hates me." Soval and Jon had moments where it seemed they understood one another, but they were short-lived.

"He doesn't hate you. You just have to stop seeing him a Vulcan and see him as an ally. I guess getting to know T'Pol has made it easier for me to see past most Vulcans stoic expressions and proclamations about not having emotions. You have to read their body language." Trip knew that was not a skill Jon had developed. If he had he would have known how to read Trip. The person he was closest to for several years, but never truly understood. He knew it was possible because T'Pol and Malcolm had become experts at reading him. But Jon was his friend and Trip had finally come to terms with the limitations of the man.

"It's not just Vulcans. You seem to have broken through to the Andorians and the Tellarites without much trouble. I can talk to them and have good relations with certain individuals, but you and T'Pol have them all working with you." That easy-going nature of Trip's was deceptive. He slipped past your defenses and wormed his way under your skin. Once there he used all that southern charm to get you to see things his way. With his charm and T'Pol's focus they made a great team.

"If all we had to deal with was the aliens and autograph hounds we'd be fine. It's the isolationists, xenophobes, and what passes for journalists these days that are causing all the problems." It was oddly comforting to be sitting here with Jon. It had been a long time since Trip felt this way in his presence. He'd missed it.

"Hey, Trip. Slacking off again?" Billy yelled from the end of the corridor. Melissa at his side punching him in the ribs for being an 'insensitive boob'.

"I can think of better ways to get some time off Billy. Did you get everything set up?"

"Yes, sir. Everyone will be there bright and early to run the simulation." Billy handed him a padd. "I made a couple of notes for you to look at. It might be better if T'Pol looked it over, but I didn't know if she'd be up to it."

"I'll take care of it later. Any surprises I need to know about?" Trip was breaking his own rules about no discussions about work when off-duty.

"The hull is just about ready to be welded together. The supports are ready to go in and I'm not positive, but I think I saw Wilkins and that Andorian gal hauling the last of the components for the impulse engine into place." Billy tried to remember the Andorian engineers name.

"Lieutenant Juz said she had a way to get it to fit in the space available. If you saw them starting to construct it she must have figured it out." Trip saw Billy file her name away for later. Not that he'd be able to find it when he needed it later. The boy could do most anything with an engine, but couldn't put a name and face together to save his life.

"Enough shop talk. How's T'Pol and how are you doing?" Concern replaced the professional mask the young man wore when talking about work.

"She's better. They're going to let me take her home tonight." Trip felt the wave of pleasure that statement gave his mate.

Melissa snapped her fingers. "Burke said you're supposed to call him before you leave here. Something to do with the arrangements you wanted him to take care of for T'Pol. Some supplies he needed you to have loaded into your shuttlepod."

"Thanks. He's setting up the medical bay so T'Pol can be at work and still rest." Trip knew she wouldn't stay at home and recuperate. He'd be able to concentrate better if she was close by, so he could check in on her anyway.

Billy looked over at the bed to see if T'Pol was still sleeping or meditating. "We're going to get out of your way. See you in the morning. Tell T'Pol we stopped by." He hugged Trip on the way by. "Try to get some sleep, you look like shit."

Trip held him in the embrace. "Gee, thanks you sure know how to cheer a guy up. I'm sure T'Pol knows you're here, but she really needs to meditate. She's a little cranky if she doesn't." He released him from the hug and reached for Melissa. "You'll see her tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by." Billy noted the larger security contingent in the corridor as he walked by the group. The Vulcans must be serious about keeping them safe.

Jon and Trip sat quietly chatting while T'Pol rested. In the back of Trip's mind floated the questions about what had happened to him earlier. That mental list of questions and things to do had become cumbersome to keep in his head. One thing ticked off the list and ten things were added.