Psyche and Sound - Chapter 3

Psyche and Sound

by Orion9

Rating: PG
Genre: General/Drama

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: Apologies if anyone was written OOC or anything wrongly expressed. Sometimes, research can only get you so far… :)

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Chapter Three – Confessions

Phlox looked up from his standard pile of paperwork when the Sickbay door swished open, admitting a harried-looking Chief Engineer.

“Good afternoon, Commander. And what can I do for you today?” Phlox smiled in greeting, his sharp gaze taking in the engineer’s pinched expression and oddly mussed hair. Something was clearly amiss with the young man; he looked as if he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days.

“I’m havin’ this terrible headache, Doc,” Trip said with a wince, one hand rubbing hard at his temple. At Phlox’s gesture, he gingerly sat down at the edge of one of the biobeds, keeping his eyes on his feet as the doctor ran a quick scan.

“When did this start?”

“I’m not sure … it’s kinda been there these past few days.”

“I see… Any nausea?”

“A little.”

“Vomiting?”

“Just once.”

“When?”

“Uh … Yesterday evening…”

Phlox nodded, a hint of surprise in his voice as he reviewed the results once again, “It appears that you’re suffering from quite a severe migraine, Commander, although I don’t seem to remember you ever being diagnosed with this affliction before.”

“First time, Doc,” Trip shrugged, making sure that he kept his voice casual. “What now? Can you give me somethin’ for it?”

“Yes, certainly,” the doctor answered with another smile. He continued to speak from over one shoulder as he turned to fill a hypospray, “A dose of ibuprofen should help relieve the immediate pain.”

Trip breathed a sigh of relief as the injection immediately dulled the sharp edge of his headache. Despite his resolve to not clue anyone in about what was going on with him, the pain had unexpectedly increased few hours ago, to such an extent that he was having trouble concentrating on his work. It’d left him with no choice but to seek some medical help.

“Are you having any trouble sleeping?" Phlox asked, moving to fill another hypospray.

“Jus’ some nights…” Trip mumbled, keeping his head bowed.

“Would you like something to help you sleep?”

For a moment, Trip was tempted to say yes. But he wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with his headaches. For all he knew, the medication might just make things worse, instead of better.

“Not this time, Doc,” he said in the end. “I think I’ll be able to manage without the meds for now.”

“All right. But come and see me if it becomes a problem.”

“I will,” Trip nodded. He rubbed his right temple absently, feeling the last of the headache ebb away. With a bit of luck, this medication would help keep the pain away for good. He looked curiously at the doctor as Phlox drew near, a hypospray in his right hand.

“This is filled with acetaminophen,” Phlox said, indicating the palm-sized medical device. “It’s an analgesic for any future episodes that may take place.”

“Any side effects I should be on t’lookout for?”

“There shouldn’t be. It’s a non-narcotic pain reliever, most effective when taken early in the onset of migraine, so use it the moment that you feel an attack coming on. One dose should be sufficient. Come back if you need more.”

The engineer accepted the hypospray with a nod, slipping it into his pocket and hopping off the biobed at the same time.

“Thanks, Doc.”

“You’re welcome. And, Commander, one more thing,” Phlox cautioned as Tucker reached the doors, looking visibly better now that he’d lost that strained look. “Excess use may lead to rebound headaches so be careful with the dosage.”

“I will. Thanks again, Doc.”

The Denobulan was still staring thoughtfully at the door long after the engineer had exited the room. He couldn’t actually pinpoint what it was that had aroused his misgivings but whatever it was, it didn’t sit well with him. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that something was troubling the young officer, migraine notwithstanding.

Phlox shook his head. What he was considering was not a normal course of action, but in view of the situation, perhaps it would be prudent to inform someone about what was going on with the young officer, preferably someone close to Tucker. Forewarned was forearmed after all. With that final thought in mind, the doctor reached over to the comm panel and pressed the button.

“Phlox to Captain Archer…”

* * * * *

“Good night, Sir,” Lieutenant Hess called out cheerfully on her way out the door, her shift over for the day.

Hunched over at his desk, Trip responded with a distracted wave, his eyes still fixed on the data that the engineering team had accumulated for the day. Thanks to the brief visit to Sickbay, he’d been able to complete the rest of the diagnostics of the engine without any further interruptions. Even the returning sore throat and accompanying cough that had cropped up unexpectedly after dinner hadn’t bothered him one bit.

Totally engrossed in his work, he hardly even looked up when the gamma crew started their shift. Suddenly, a shadow fell over him and he glanced up in surprise from the computer screen to find Archer standing beside his desk, a data PADD in hand.

“Hey, Cap’n,” he greeted softly, leaning back on his chair. Rotating his stiff shoulders, Trip stifled a yawn as he accepted the PADD from Archer. He took a quick glance at it, recognising the contents of the PADD as the report that he’d handed in early this morning. This morning. Frowning, he sought out the time, surprised to find that it was already close to 2300 hours.

“Hey yourself,” Archer replied as he grabbed another chair and sat down opposite the young engineer. “How’s it going?”

“Just great. We finished purging the plasma relay’s conduits ahead of schedule.”

“That’s good…” Archer looked intently at the other man, his thoughts and disquiet at Tucker’s much too cheerful answer carefully hidden under his answering smile. Even without Phlox’s notification, it was clear that something was wrong with the younger man. He’d known Trip far too long to miss the obvious signs – extra hours spent in Engineering, avoidance of the other crewmembers, uncharacteristic broodiness. It was the last that bothered him the most. Whatever the matter was, it was time to find out exactly what was going on with him.

Tapping at the screen at the latest report, he remarked casually, “Haven’t seen you for dinner lately.”

Trip grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry. I’ve been kinda busy these past few days.”

“You know, even T’Pol remarked on your absence this evening.”

“Really?”

Inordinately pleased for reasons he didn’t want to examine too closely at the moment, Trip’s surprised smile widened at Archer’s last comment.

“Well, I’ll be sure to pop in tomorrow then. The men in the Tucker clan have never let a lady down before, so I’m not aimin’ t’start any time soon,” he informed his commanding officer with a jaunty two-finger salute.

Despite his worry, Archer’s face creased into a smile. Plainly amused by his friend’s answer, he replied dryly, “I’m sure the Sub-Commander would appreciate the sentiment.”

“Now, that’s somethin’ I’ve gotta see to believe–,” Trip quipped. A brief coughing fit interrupted the rest of his sentence and he hurriedly turned away, mouth covered behind one hand. Clearing his throat once it was over, Trip turned back to his desk, reaching out for one of the many PADDs scattered randomly across it.

Archer nodded distractedly at Tucker’s reply; he’d been studying his friend’s face for the past few minutes and so far, he didn’t like what he saw or heard, in particular the sound of that cough. Skipping straight to the reason why he’d sought out his friend in the first place, he eyed him critically for another moment before asking brusquely, “When was the last time you had a proper night’s sleep?”

The younger man froze in mid-action, surprise flashing across his face at the abrupt change in the conversation. The sentiment was quickly replaced by sense of uneasiness as the question slowly sank in. It had all the signs of heading towards a direction that he’d rather not take at the moment. Shrugging uncomfortably, his eyes met Archer’s shrewd gaze for a brief moment before flickering away.

“Haven’t been doin’ much of that lately,” Trip mumbled in the end, looking steadfastly at the data PADD in his hand.

::Something’s definitely wrong.::

Unprepared for the full force of the immediate backlash, Trip flinched involuntarily, teeth snapping together. At Archer’s intrusive thought, the intense ache in his head started up again almost immediately. Ignoring the tight soreness of his throat, the engineer swallowed hard, pain flickering in his eyes. He kept his head down, fighting a sudden wave of dizziness.

“You’re having trouble sleeping?” Archer shot Trip a look, letting his concern show this time. It was obvious that the man was exhausted, he looked terrible – his eyes were bloodshot, the dark circles under them making them stand out prominently in his suddenly pale, drawn face.

Although Tucker was studiously looking anywhere but at him, the sudden flinch and visible tightening of the young officer’s jaw a few seconds ago were not difficult to miss. Neither was the brief flash of pain in the blue eyes just now. Brows furrowing, Archer wondered if the Chief Engineer was having another migraine attack even as he asked the next question, “Since when?”

Taking a deep breath, Trip tried his best to ignore the vicious throbbing in his head as he gave a nonchalant shrug in reply, hoping that the Captain would take his subtle hint and drop the subject.

“Well?”

The Commander groaned inwardly. Well, so much for that hope. For a moment there, he’d almost forgotten with whom he was having this conversation. From the look on his best friend’s face and the tone of voice that was used for that one single-worded question, Trip knew that Archer was not going anywhere until he was given a satisfactory answer.

Finally, the engineer muttered, “Maybe four … five days ago.”

“Anything to do with that insect bite?”

“It’s … possible…” Trip admitted slowly while he reached into his pocket. Pulling out the hypospray, he injected a dose, his next breath coming out in a rush when the pain gradually abated into a dull throb.

“Migraine?”

At his friend’s astonished look, Archer said quietly, ”Phlox told me…”

Correctly interpreting the expression on the engineer’s face at that information, Archer quickly lifted a hand as he continued, “Under the circumstances, Phlox did the right thing here, Trip.”

The younger man shook his head, his voice hard, “He … had no right–“

“Not where I stand. And when did you start coughing? Phlox didn’t mention anything about it.”

“Cap’n, please…”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on with you.”

Absentmindedly rubbing his temple with one hand, Trip considered Archer’s words. Perhaps it was time that he told someone. Contrary to his initial theory that whatever that was happening to him would fade away in a few days’ time, this strange ability of his seemed to be doing exactly the opposite, growing stronger with each passing day.

A novelty in the beginning – he’d even used his newfound skill to surprise his closest friends with a few appropriate gifts – it now seemed like he was constantly sharing his mind with someone else. And instead of just scattered words or phrases, he’d progressed to complete sentences, receiving each of the thoughts from the people around him at sporadic moments. Some of them were shockingly outrageous, even for him. It’s really amazin’, the kind of things that goes on in a person’s mind sometimes…

“Trip?”

Conscious that an answer was required of him, Trip quickly reined in his wandering thoughts, concentrating instead on the unexpected development of his physic ability, the main reason why he’d started taking his meals alone and avoiding most of his friends. What worried him the most in all this, however, was that the intensity of the accompanying migraine had also increased considerably with every new encounter. As his most recent experience moments ago had just shown him, each new shaft of pain was sharper and tended to last longer than the previous one.

With a sigh, Trip looked up, finally meeting his friend’s concerned gaze. “It kinda started a few nights ago…”

TBC

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A/N2: For reviewing the second chapter...
vanishingp2000: Thanks! That’s about one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received.
myst123: That dialogue was a last minute addition, and now I’m so glad that I added it in. Thanks!

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Two folks have made comments

Wow! I can't tell you how happy it made me to see that a new chapter had arrived! I really like the character and relationship development... Good job! Very mysterious, too... who were the people on the planet? What will become of poor Trip?

I can't wait to see what happens next! Keep up the good work!

This is a rally nice story
:) please hurry with chapter 4