Things That Come in the Night- pt. 6

Things That Come In The Night

by The Watch Stander

AN: Tiny bit of shipping T&T in this chapter but not too much. Just enough to establish a friendship. Thanks again to all who review. More to follow and I hope you’ll be surprised at the ending I have planned!

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Part 6

Trip had left the Captain’s mess and headed back to engineering. His headache was back now full force. He kept telling himself that it couldn’t be true, it was just a dream!

It wasn’t an entity, I would know,

Or would I?

After all, he had gotten pregnant and never knew what was happening.

Inside he groaned, what was he going to do?

I can’t go to the captain, not with this. Have to solve this problem myself.

Nevertheless, he didn’t know how to resolve it, it wasn’t as if he could face the entity and ask it to go away.

It’s not my fault, I didn’t ask for this to happen.

He didn’t know how Jon would react, and he didn’t want to find out. The picture in his mind was of a very angry Captain Archer; same as the one he had seen when the Cogenitor had died. Trip couldn’t take that again. Having Jon turn his back on him that time had hurt more than he cared to remember.

When he arrived at engineering, he grabbed his tools and set out for an area in the Jeffries tubes that no one else went to. He was the only one that had clearance for that area. Right now, he couldn’t face anyone with their questions, knowing how upset he must look. Even the captain would be looking for him after that scene in the mess.

However, I won’t be anywhere they can find me.

The shielding in this particular tube and maintenance area would block any scans for bio signs, a fact know only to him.

I just need some time to think.

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Archer had seen Captain Broetag off in his shuttle and had agreed to visit tomorrow to pickup the charts. Broetag would decide what he wanted in trade for them and let him know then.

Trip didn’t look well when I left. Guess I’d better check on him.

Archer knew instinctively that something was wrong with his Chief Engineer; they had known each other too long for Jon not to be able to read him.

Could be his cold, he certainly looked pale and he’s been overworking the past two months. I’ve pushed him too hard and it’s beginning to show.

He felt guilty about that. Trip would work himself to death if asked and Archer knew it and had taken full advantage of that fact. So much of this mission depended on Enterprise being in peak operating condition. Trip, the consummate perfectionist, wasn’t happy unless everything was running perfect, and would keep working till that was achieved no matter what the cost to him.

Maybe it’s time I had a talk with Trip.

Archer resolved to do just that, but when he arrived back at the mess,

Trip was gone…

Archer tried hailing him with the comm, but didn’t receive an answer. Then he checked in engineering and found that no one had seen him. After checking his quarters, Archer tried one more place. The armory.

Malcolm was busy aligning sights on the new phase pistols that he had just unpacked. He knew from experience that each one would be off a fraction and would need recalibrating. When Archer walked in he was surprised.

“Captain.”

Archer looked disappointed after looking around and not finding a certain person there.

“Have you seen Trip?” he was getting worried.

Malcolm looked at him questioningly, “Not since noon. Is something wrong?”

Archer didn’t want to get the Lt worried as well, “No, I haven’t been able to locate him. I needed to ask him something.” He smiled, “If you see him give me a call.”

“I will, Sir.”

Archer left and Malcolm tried to fathom what was going on. The Captain had clearly been upset.

Malcolm tried calling Trip on the comm, but received no answer.

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Phlox was surprised when he received a call from Archer asking if Trip had been in to see him. He could tell the captain was disappointed in his answer of, No.

I wonder what is happening. I hope the commander is not in trouble.

He had seen how badly the captain had reacted to Commander Tucker’s interference with the Vissians. Archer had been livid and everyone knew he and the commander had a falling out over it. It had taken a long time for them to resolve that issue and get back to being friends again. Then the Xindi attack happened and their fragile thread of friendship had again been broken, this time it seemed for good. Phlox feared the two men would forever be at odds, one lost in his grief, the other bent on revenge and fulfilling his mission no matter what. Commander Tucker’s friendship had been sacrificed once more, and the two men became Captain and Commander, fellow officers, not best friends.

Phlox wasn’t sure there was anything he could do to help mend their friendship. However, he knew deep inside though, if something happened to Commander Tucker the captain would be devastated. Archer had shown signs of this fact on several occasions when the younger man had been feared lost.

While thinking this, he was suddenly surprised by a visit from one of the subjects of his thoughts. Commander Tucker walked in through the door.

“Commander,” Phlox said pleasantly and immediately noticed how exhausted the man before him looked.

“Doc, I really need something to help me sleep tonight, something that won’t let me dream.” Trip realized he was pleading and knew how desperate he must look.

Phlox considered the request for a moment. “Having nightmares again?”

“Yah, I really need to get some rest.” Trip’s face was haggard and his eyes looked sunken and glassy.

Phlox decided that he would give the Commander what he asked, but only on one condition.

“I’m only giving you one sleeping pill for it’s very strong. However, you must promise to see T’Pol and let her help you relax.”

Trip was surprised by the request, but he had already come to the decision of visiting the Vulcan tonight and talking to her. She was the only person he could trust right now.

“No, problem. I’m on my way there anyhow.” Relieved that he would be given the solution to prevent his dreaming and attracting the entity.

“Good.” Phlox smiled and went to fetch the medication, satisfied that the Commander would do as instructed.

Trip took the pill and placed it in a pocket of his uniform. “Thanks, Doc.”

Just as Trip turned to leave, Phlox said with that clown like smile of his,

“Pleasant dreams, Commander.”

Trip shook his head, “God, I hope not.”

Then he left, leaving a now frowning Phlox puzzling over that last comment.

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T’Pol wasn’t surprised to see Commander Tucker standing before her at 20:00 that evening. However she was surprised at how utterly exhausted and upset he seemed.

“ You look tired,” She said softly and her eyes seemed to see through him as she stared at him.

Trip knew how disheveled he looked, for he had worked in the Jeffries tube for three hours then had gone to B deck to walk off some of his anxiety. The uniform was the same one he had worn to lunch.

“I know. I told Phlox I was going to come here tonight, but I’m really too tired for a session. Thought we could just talk. “His voice was soft, but hoarse sounding, as if filled with raw emotion.

Something was obviously bothering the Commander and T’Pol found herself curious as to what he wanted to talk about.

“Why don’t you sit down and we can talk.” She said it softly and found herself worrying now that something was seriously wrong. She pointed to one of the cushions on the floor near her meditation candles.

After sitting as directed, Trip looked down at his hands trying to decide what to say.

T’pol waited patiently realizing how vulnerable and utterly lost he seemed. Something was clearly wrong and she wondered if it was going to be in her power to help him.

Trip finally looked up at her, “It’s about a decision I have to make as to what I need to do about something that’s happened.”

Again a sad smile and he went on,” I know that sounds vague, but I rather not reveal the cause of this decision. Just need to know what I should do. Something happened to me that I had no way of knowing about or controlling. I wasn’t even aware of what it really was until today.”

He looked back down at his hands as his eyes started to water, realizing he was in a no win situation and no matter what happened, would be found at fault.

T’pol looked at the distressed man before her and found herself drawn to his pain and wanting more than anything to reach out for him and pull him into her arms to hold. This sudden protective feeling surprised her, but wasn’t unwelcome, for seeing him this way was disturbing.

The Commander’s normally cheerful blue eyes were filled with unshed tears. It was heartbreaking knowing he was so upset about something, something so serious, that he couldn’t even tell her about it.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t her knowing about it that he was afraid of, it was the Captain and that was all too clear. Archer and he had been close once, but not now. Even she wasn’t sure how The Captain would react anymore.

“Commander, does this effect the safety of the ship or the rest of the crew?” She had to ask as first officer, it was her duty.

“No, just me. No one else that I’m aware of,” he answered sadly.

T’Pol knew he would not want this advice, but she said it anyway knowing that it had to be dealt with in this manner. “Then you must go to the Captain and tell him. You have no other choice. He will understand if it’s not your fault.”

Trip looked up at her and saw the sympathy in her eyes; he tried to smile, for she was trying to help him and at that moment, he knew she cared about what would happen to him. He took a deep breath wishing it were more than that, but put the thought aside as now was not the time to be thinking of that.

“I don’t think Captain Archer will understand.” His smile was wistful as he said it, for he truly believed that would be the case.

A tear slid slowly down his cheek as he looked down once more.

Jon doesn’t have time to understand loneliness; all he has time for is the mission.

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TBC

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