Rating: PG-13 for Angst.
A/N: This chapter has a secondary but important human character involved with a same sex relationship, which is accepted by everyone. Also, Trip mentions his gay brother, who appears in the novel "The Good that Men Do".
Chapter 6
Amanda Cole-Reed was curled up on the bathroom floor, hoping the last of the sickness had passed. Malcolm stood in the doorway, with Lily at his side.
"Are you sure we can't help at all?"
"No," said Amanda, "but you're sweet to offer."
"I'd be happy to hold your head next time," said Malcolm.
"You've done enough," snapped Amanda, "and you need to get to the command briefing. Especially since the captain and first officer are returning to duty this morning."
Malcolm folded his arms, and he sighed. He looked down at Lily, whose eyes were wide.
"Promise to get Mummy anything she needs?"
Lily nodded and smiled. Amanda's sickness had come and gone over the past three days, so she no longer appeared as concerned for her mother's well-being as she had been the first day.
"I'll see you this afternoon then," said Malcolm, "and remember to tell Hayes about the limits Sanders has put on your training."
Amanda nodded. With that, Malcolm kissed the top of Lily's head and disappeared out the door.
****
When Malcolm finally arrived to the morning briefing, only three minutes late, he nearly did a double take. Trip and T'Pol both appeared to have been in some sort of an accident. Trip had a cut on his eye, and she had a bruise on her cheek. He found himself wondering what kind of peculiar Vulcan illness would cause cuts and bruises.
"Sorry for being late," said Malcolm.
Trip glanced at the chronometer.
"Three whole minutes," he said, "but then again, I can't recall you ever being late before."
Malcolm smiled.
"Amanda's sick," he said.
"What is the illness?" asked T'Pol, "Has she seen the doctor? Is it contagious?"
Malcolm shook his head.
"She's seen the doctor, and she should be fine by now," he paused and then smirked, "It's morning sickness."
Trip grinned, and T'Pol raised an eyebrow. Vulcan women didn't get morning sickness, but T'Pol had no doubt learned of it since three of the other female crew members had become pregnant.
"That is agreeable news, Lt. Commander Reed," said T'Pol.
"Congratulations," said Trip, "It's about time."
"We wanted to wait until Lily felt like she was really one of the family. Four months ago she started calling us Mum and Dad, so we thought then it was a good time for her to get a sibling. She's excited to have a little brother."
"So it is boy?" said Trip.
Malcolm nodded. Then, he looked at the two of them again. He knew better than to ask why they were so battered, but he still felt he needed to say something.
"How are the two of you? Feeling better?"
They glanced at each other, quickly.
"I am well," she said.
"All fine," said Trip, sipping his coffee.
"I've not yet read your report of the previous two days," said T'Pol, "Is there anything critical I should know about?"
"It was quiet. In fact, we haven't had a major incident with pirates in at least six weeks. So, I think we should be prepared for one soon. They usually come in intervals of six to eight weeks, though that hasn't always been the case. Sometimes the window is smaller, sometimes larger, as you both know."
The three continued discussing security concerns, weapons upgrades and the recent intelligence reports about the Xindi positions.
****
Archer had been trouble when T'Pol was indisposed. The first day, he had accused Hoshi of being an alien impostor and had to be subdued by security before he hurt her. The second day, he had fallen into a deep despair and attempted to take his own life. He spent the rest of that day under deep sedation in sickbay. Dr. Sanders, who was quite young but one of only a handful of trained human physicians left, had suggested they keep Archer sedated.
"I cannot allow that," said T'Pol, who found the notion both cruel and disrespectful.
"Captain," said the young doctor, "it would make your life and everyone. . ."
"No," she said.
Dr. Sanders was an attractive, red-headed woman, about T'Pol's height but a little rounder and stockier with green eyes and freckles.
"How are you?" she asked, changing the subject. "It seems you and Commander Tucker came through your cycle none the worse for wear? Have you experienced any residual symptoms?"
T'Pol thought about this for a moment.
"I am still fatigued, but other than that I am fine."
"If you need more time to rest, take it," ordered the doctor, "or I'll order you to."
"That won't be necessary," replied T'Pol, "but I will retire early this evening."
"I'm going to ask Commander Tucker to keep a careful eye on you," she said, "I understand that is appropriate, given your relationship with each other."
T'Pol nodded. Dr. Sanders had known little of Vulcans before taking over for Phlox, but she had studied his notes as well as the Vulcan database.
"Security to Captain T'Pol," came the voice over the com.
"T'Pol here," replied the Captain.
"Captain Archer has awakened. We told him you would arrive soon to answer his questions."
"I'll be right there," said T'Pol.
"Let me know if you need me," said Sanders, sympathetically.
With that, T'Pol lifted herself off the bio bed and headed to the door. She ran into Hoshi on the way.
"Lt. Sato," she asked, "Are you well?"
"Oh," said Hoshi, "I'm fine. I was just assisting the doctor on a project. Translating some of the more complex interspecies medical files."
"Very good," said T'Pol, "Carry on."
"Thank you, Captain," said Hoshi.
****
An hour later, T'Pol sat across from Jonathan Archer. She had told him the entire, horrible story. Over the past years, she had learned that it was best to tell it quickly and without much embellishment. She also believed her Vulcan nature helped the story go down easier.
Archer went to his window, where he could see the planet below.
"So there a human settlement down there?" he asked.
"There are approximately 6,000 humans living on Ceti Alpha V," she said, "The is a small United Earth Government, let by President Antonio Borges."
Archer leaned his head against the window, for a moment she feared he would collapse. He didn't.
"How's the crew?"
"Those that survived the conflict are well. Phlox returned to Denobula two years ago. A young intern who was part of a Tellarite medical exchange program replaced him. She has proved a very quick learner. Our situation has given her much experience. You have been impressed, the times you have met her."
T'Pol didn't think it was necessary to mention the many times their new doctor had had to sedate him.
"How's Trip?" said Archer, "He survived, didn't he?"
T'Pol nodded.
"He is well. He has proved invaluable to me as a first officer."
Archer sighed.
"That doesn't surprise me at all. Do you think he'd come by?"
"He usually does, on the days you request it."
The conversation continued, until T'Pol could no longer spare anymore time.
****
About a week later, T'Pol was walking in the hall near sickbay, and she saw Dr. Sanders and Lt. Sato together. Something about the way they were interacting made her hang back around a curve and not let her presence be known. Firstly, her position often made people nervous, and secondly, their body language was strange to her. She watched for awhile, and then saw the two women kiss each other, not as friends, but as mates.
T'Pol remained hidden around the corner until they separated. Her keen Vulcan hearing did make out their conversation.
"I'll see you later, sweetie," said Dr. Sanders.
"Don't be late," smiled Hoshi, who headed toward T'Pol.
T'Pol continued down the hall as if she had heard nothing.
"Good evening, Lt," she said, walking by.
"Hi Captain," said Hoshi cheerfully.
T'Pol was not offended, as several human members of the crew had paired off with members of their own gender. Same sex mating was a common enough phenomena among humans and even existed among Vulcans. One of the few grounds for the dissolution of a Vulcan marriage was the inability of one partner to form a matebond with the other, often because a bond already existed with a third party. Sometimes those extra-marital bonds were formed with a member of the same gender. However, when Vulcans bonded it was for life. Hoshi had until recently been mated with Corporal Hawkins. T'Pol knew they had separated, and he was now seeing another woman. But she was surprised at Hoshi's new relationship.
That night, she broached the subject with Trip while they were lying in bed, enjoying the closeness of their matebond.
"Well, I'll be damned. No wonder Hoshi's been loitering around sickbay so much lately," he laughed, "Good for her. Hawkins didn't treat her right.'
T'Pol remained puzzled.
"You don't have same sex couples on Vulcan?"
"We do, but we are generally not. . .flexible in regards to which gender we are attracted to."
Trip pulled her closer and ran his fingers through her hair. Through their bond, he could tell that the same sex thing didn't bother her nearly as much as the general idea of rotating partners.
"Humans are flexible I mean, most of us go one way or another, but the consensus is that we all have an ability to be. . .flexible under the right circumstances. Some people are more open to it than others. Clearly, Hoshi's just open."
T'Pol sat up and looked him in the eyes.
"Have you ever been flexible?"
Trip smiled.
"No. Not that I didn't have opportunity, but I've just always preferred girls. . .my brother Bert went the other way. He was married to man, and they adopted a little boy. . .we kind of had a deal when we were young. I had dibs on the girls and he the boys."
Trip spoke wistfully as he remembered his dead brother.
"I'm sorry to bring up unpleasant thoughts," she said, putting her head on his shoulder.
"They're not unpleasant," he said, "Just sad. Albert was my big brother. He always looked out for me. Taught me how to deal with bullies - ironically, he also taught me how to talk to girls. I guess he knew how because he preferred talking to them over dating them. I do miss him."
"I had no siblings," said T'Pol.
"Was that lonely?" he asked.
"I have nothing to compare it to," she said logically.
"I loved having siblings. Lizzie and Bert were like ready-made friends. All three of us were pretty tight. . . you know, I'd give anything to have them back. But I can't think of people I'd rather have as my new family . . .you. . .Malcolm and Amanda. . .Hoshi. . .if we've got to be stuck in this existence. . .I'm glad to be stuck with all of you."
T'Pol cuddled up to him. Even after the years had passed, she always sensed terrible sorrow in Trip. But when he spoke of her and the others as a new family, the sorrow faded.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear.
She buried her face in his chest. By now, she knew he needed to say those words, but it was antithetical to her culture. She knew he loved her, and he knew she loved him back. The bond between them made it so. But he was still human, and she had to say it. She took a deep breath.
"And I love you," she said softly.
"Thanks, darlin'," he said, as they drifted off to sleep.