Catch Me When I Fall -- Tannith's Story - Epilogue

Catch Me When I Fall -- Tannith's Story

by Rhylo

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

~~~~

EPILOGUE

Several weeks later..........

Thanks to Phlox, Tannith had made an amazing recovery. Her wounds had healed ~ at least the obvious physical ones ~ and her face and body were starting to fill out a little more. Thanks to Chef's best efforts she no longer resembled a walking skeleton. Trip had even introduced her to something called 'pecan pie'. She had never tasted anything so delicious.

Her mind often wandered towards thoughts of Trip. In the weeks following the destruction of Valsar's ship he had visited her without fail both before and after his shifts. Sometimes she had been sleeping, but her senses would always alert her to his presence ~ to the wonderful scent of his warm body close by. She didn't even need to open her eyes to know what time of day it was, either. In the mornings he would smell of fresh soap, scrambled eggs and coffee. In the evenings it was a more musky, heady aroma, she guessed from working with the engines. Once or twice he'd fooled her though ~ when he'd had to pull a last minute double shift.

As soon as she was strong enough, Phlox had started with the physiotherapy sessions. Her injuries had left her feeling so weak at first she could barely stand. Sometimes she wondered if she'd ever walk at all. Phlox said it was the after effects of the neurological injuries she'd suffered at the hands of Torg.

The doctor had his own medical assistants, of course, but Tannith liked it best when Trip's free time coincided with her treatments and he would come over to sickbay to lend a hand....usually two....when at first her legs would just give way without warning and he would catch her in his arms....so strong....yet always so gentle with her. She would link her hands round his shoulders and snuggle into his neck as he carried her back to the biobed to start again. Sometimes she wished he would never put her down....that she could stay like this in his arms forever.......

Now she was ~ literally ~ back on her feet, he'd not been round so often. The Captain had given her the use of the guest quarters on G-Deck ~ she supposed until he could figure out what to do with her. At the back of her mind was the lingering hope she'd be able to stay and help Phlox. She did know a lot about herbs and their medicinal uses. The doctor had even given her a book so she could study the flora native to Denobula......but for some reason she was finding it hard to concentrate tonight......

Her thoughts drifted off to Trip again. In some respects she wished she was still in sickbay, feeling him next to her, the comforting touch of his hand. She felt so safe with him.

She gave up with the PADD and went over to sit on the bunk bed. Leaning back against the bulkhead she drew her legs up into her body and rested her forehead against her knees.......She couldn't get the feeling out of her head that she'd done something to offend Trip....but she had no idea what.

For Trip's part, he was having a terrible time staying away from Tannith. It had been easy finding excuses to go visit her in sickbay ~ bringing her tasty little morsels Chef had cooked up specially for her, including a few of his own favourites. Her capacity to down pecan pie was second only to his!

He'd loved helping her with her physio sessions ~ even though he knew she'd found them painful and frustrating in the beginning when she was unable to keep her balance. Not once had he ever let her fall. She said he gave her confidence ~ she knew he'd always catch her, so she felt no fear......

But now she'd been discharged from sickbay he couldn't just call in on the way back to his quarters. She was two decks below him. He wondered if she thought about him as often as he thought about her.....like every constant waking minute! It racked him with guilt, but he knew he'd give anything just to be back in sickbay with her....holding her....keeping her safe.......

The chime on the door panel snatched her from a fitful doze. At first Tannith didn't even register what had disturbed her until it sounded again.

She blinked awake, disorientated from sleep.

"Come in."

She heard the entry code being pressed and did a double-take as she saw Trip standing a little awkwardly in front of her. She thought she was imagining it.....

"Ah.....ahm sorry...did I wake ya?" His Southern accent always seemed more pronounced if he felt embarrassed. Why the hell did he feel embarrassed anyway?.....Well, no....not embarrassed.....diffident maybe......

"No, it's fine.....I wasn't really asleep."

Tannith smiled up at him ~ that beautiful, angelic, jaw-droppingly mesmerising smile she seemed to reserve purely for him. At least he'd never seen it have the same effect on anyone else that it had on him. All his embarrassment.....diffidence......evaporated on the spot.

He noticed the PADD she'd left on the console.

"You been doin' some homework?"

She got up to show him. "Doctor Phlox has been teaching me about Denobulan plants......there's so much to learn."

As he took hold of the PADD to look, his fingers brushed against her hand. His whole body registered the familiar feel of her soft skin. He wanted to tell her something....was just about to....when she beat him to it.

"I've missed you so much, Trip."

Her timing took his breath away. "Me too," was all he could blurt out.

"Have I done something.....said something......wrong?.....It's just that....."

Trip suddenly realised what she must have been thinking all this time. He inwardly cursed himself for not having come to see her sooner.

"Hell, no.......No!....Never!" he almost shouted. His breath caught in his throat making his voice all husky. "I've never stopped thinkin' about you, darlin'.....it's not that.....I just....figured you didn't need me anymore....now that you're....."

His voice trailed off as Tannith pulled the PADD from his grasp and tucked it back on the console. His heart was pounding wildly as she took his hands ~ so broad and strong ~ in hers ~ so tiny and fragile.

"Why would you think I didn't need you?.....Don't you know you're all I think about?"

She stepped closer....slowly closer....until their bodies touched in a tender yielding whisper. Gently resting her head against his chest, her hands slipped around his waist in an overwhelming embrace.

Trip was instantly aware of an all too familiar feeling welling up inside him ~ radiating outwards to every nerve ending. Strangely it was inversely proportional to the weight of her touch. The lighter she touched him, the stronger the feeling. On impulse he folded his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, breathing in the intoxicating scent of her hair which shone like shimmering sunlight on morning dew.

Tannith's hands had found their way underneath his T-shirt. He could feel her stroking his firm, muscular shoulders, her fingertips caressing the length of his spine. Hell, he was shaking so badly he thought his legs would give way.... Surely she must realise.......

As she lifted up her head to look at him he heard her breath catch.

"Make love to me, Trip......make the pain go away."

He was too lost to remember the significance of those words.

Tannith eased his T-shirt over his head and let it slip to the floor. Her velvet mouth brushed exquisitely against his stomach, his chest and finally his lips, tracing their outline with the tip of her moist tongue. She had to stand on tiptoe to reach.

Trip gave a low moan and held her close, echoes of his earlier dream now flooding back. This time, however, their kisses were for real ~ deep, stimulating and passionate, intensely intimate and increasingly urgent. Trip's fingers found the tie to her long silky robe of pale turquoise. It came undone with a single light pull and with a small, almost imperceptible tremble, she allowed him to slide it slowly off her shoulders to fall in a fluid heap about her bare ankles. Trip looked down at her perfect naked body, bearing only the faintest reminders of the terrible trauma she'd suffered not so long ago and knew this time he was wide awake.

Their mouths and bodies entwining once again he took hold of her slim waist and lifted her effortlessly up. As she wrapped her legs tightly around him he carried her slowly over to the bed.

THE END

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Three people have made comments

I thought the story was interesting and well written even though romances are not my cup of tea as I prefer drama and or friendship stories. I look forward to reading more of your stories.

I really enjoyed your story a lot. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work. The sooner the better!

What a good story.

You should write more.