INIQUITY



Chapter Five

Jon and T'Pol stood to the side as Dr. Phlox ran a scanner over Trip's still form. The captain and first officer had just sat down to dinner when word came from the Denobulan physician that his patient was missing. They'd met Phlox in the hall outside Trip's quarters only seconds ago.

"He's just sleeping, Captain," reported the doctor. He stood up and gazed down at the engineer. "Really sleeping this time. When I saw him hobbling out of sickbay, I was afraid he wouldn't make it here in one piece. He certainly is stubborn."

"That he is, Doctor," replied Jon with a smile. "Should we wake him up and haul him back?"

Phlox shook his head. "His vitals are steady and he's not bleeding internally. I'll just remain here until he awakens on his own. Right now, sleep is the best thing for him and he certainly seems to prefer his own bed to one of my bio beds."

"I'll stay," said Jon. "You've got things to do and I'm off duty for the night."

"Are you sure, Captain?"

"Yeah. I'll just have some dinner delivered. This'll give me a good chance to answer some letters from home."

"He should be just fine but you know where I am if you need me," said Phlox. He smiled at the captain then slipped out the door.

To Jon's surprise, T'Pol moved over to the bunk and pulled a blanket over Trip. She then carefully removed the padd from his slack hand. The engineer stirred and opened his eyes.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you, Commander," said T'Pol quietly.

Trip yawned then flinched, reaching for his ribs. He looked sheepishly at Jon. "I hafta go back, don't I?" he asked.

Jon couldn't help but smile. "No, Trip. You actually won this battle. Phlox still controls the war, though. I'll have to get you back first thing in the morning."

Trip nodded. "I can deal with that I guess." He looked at T'Pol. "We still need to go over those sensor upgrades, don't we?"

"There is plenty of time for that when you're feeling better, Commander," said T'Pol. She switched off the padd and laid it carefully on Trip's desk.

"Any luck getting a message to Kabaltan Minor?" asked the engineer around another yawn.

Jon shook his head. "No. I guess the Kabaltans are going to remain somewhat of a mystery."

"I've been thinking a lot about Rhea and what happened. I think she tried to warn me in my dreams."

"She assaulted you, Commander. It is highly unlikely that she would warn you," replied T'Pol. She settled herself at the foot of the bunk while Jon pulled out Trip's desk chair and sat down.

"But what if she didn't really assault me?" ventured Trip. He shifted slightly then gasped and shut his eyes.

"Maybe we should get Dr. Phlox, Captain," said T'Pol.

Trip waved his good hand. "No, no. I'm fine," he breathed. The pain appeared to pass and he opened his eyes again. "Really, I'm fine," he insisted. "My insides are still just a little sore is all."

"You had some pretty serious surgery, Trip. You've got to take it slow," scolded Jon.

"Aye, Cap'n," replied Trip with a sideways smile.

After nearly a decade of friendship, the captain knew just how hard headed the younger man could be. He still couldn't believe how close he'd come to losing that friendship. He quickly pushed that thought away and swallowed the emotions it stirred. Losing Trip was something he never wanted to face again.

"You don't believe Mrs. Priigel assaulted you?"

T'Pol's question pulled Jon back from his thoughts and he looked at Trip expectantly.

"Since Charles died," Trip began then he stopped as his voice broke. He cleared his throat then began again. "Since Charles died, I've been thinking about things a little differently. Trying not to look at things through human eyes anymore. What if Rhea was really just trying to seduce me?"

"She fell victim to the Tucker charm?" asked Jon with a warm smile. His comment thankfully was rewarded with Trip's grin.

"Yeah, right. The famous Tucker charm," the engineer chuckled.

"Please continue, Commander," urged T'Pol.

"Well maybe she didn't mean to hurt me at all. Dr. Phlox thinks that when she touched me, pressed up against me, she was probably introducing that toxin into my system. What if that's the way Kabaltan females make sexual advances? Maybe it's not the way Humans do or even Vulcans for that matter." Trip paused and looked at T'Pol. He tipped his head and quirked one eyebrow. "How do Vulcan females make sexual advances anyway?" he asked in mock seriousness.

T'Pol simply looked at him and arched one Vulcan brow.

Trip grinned at her and Jon just shook his head in quiet amusement. It was good to have his friend back.

"An interesting theory, Commander," replied T'Pol.

"But you don't buy it," said Trip.

"Mrs. Priigel almost killed you. If I hadn't come back to your quarters, you would most certainly be dead."

"You're probably right. I'm just saying that maybe she didn't intend to kill me."

"The end result is the same, Commander."

"But there's a difference between having the intent to kill and not having it, T'Pol."

"There is also a difference between acting appropriately in the company of females and acting inappropriately."

"Oh, so we're back to that again. T'Pol, I was not flirting with Rhea."

"So you deny using your wiles on her."

"My what?! My wiles?"

"Yes, Commander, wiles, charms, trickery? "

"I know what it means, T'Pol," Trip scoffed. Then he threw her a lopsided grin. "So you've noticed my wiles, huh?"

Jon watched in utter amusement as his first officer again gave Trip the arched Vulcan brow.

"You're easily distracted, Commander," T'Pol said.

"Okay, yeah, I deny using my wiles on her. What the hell happened to your agreement not to pass judgment on me too quickly?"

"You're right, Mr. Tucker. I apologize," the Vulcan conceded with a tip of her head.

"Thank you. As far as Rhea is concerned, I'm just trying to keep an open mind here, T'Pol."

"Having an open mind toward other species is very commendable, Commander. Just make sure you don't become so open minded that---your brain falls out."

Trip sputtered indignantly and his face turned a nice shade of red. Jon couldn't help but laugh out loud. He'd been thoroughly enjoying the bickering between his two most senior officers.

"Now I believe the doctor wanted you to rest," said T'Pol as she gracefully rose to her feet. She looked at the captain and Jon saw a hint of humor in her brown eyes. The Vulcan then quietly left the room.

Jon looked at Trip and laughed again. The days when his chief engineer was rendered utterly speechless were few and far between.

"I'm pretty sure she just insulted me, Cap'n," Trip finally managed.

"Oh I don't know, Trip. I think you may have just impressed her."

Trip looked at him in confusion then shook his head. "I've never understood women or Vulcans, Cap'n. How am I supposed to understand a Vulcan woman?" he muttered.

Jon reached out and patted Trip's leg. "I don't know, Trip. I don't know," he said. He sat back and watched his friend yawn. The engineer was still terribly pale and the bruises on the side of his face from impacting the cargo containers stood out horribly, but Jon could see the spark back in Trip's eyes and he felt himself relax for the first time in a long while. His mind replayed all the events of the last several days as he watched his friend yawn again.

"You know, Trip," Jon said. He leaned forward in the chair and looked the younger man in the eye. "If you ever need to talk, you do know I'm here for you, don't you?"

Trip averted Jon's gaze but he nodded.

"Trip?" pushed Jon.

"I know, Cap'n," Trip replied. "Its just that----."

"Its just that what?"

Trip turned his head to look at Jon. "You're the captain of the first warp five starship. You don't have time to deal with my problems."

"I'll make time, Trip. I know I've never told you this before, but you're like family to me. I promise you I will always make time for you, day or night. Understood?"

The engineer's face flushed slightly in embarrassment but he smiled. "Understood, Cap'n."

"Good," Jon said with a nod. "Now you get some rest while I order me something to eat. I was pulled away from dinner when you decided to make your escape from sickbay." He stood up and walked over to the comm.

After clarifying with the steward what he wanted, Jon turned to ask Trip if he needed anything. He smiled. His friend's eyes were just drifting shut as his exhaustion finally won out over his stubbornness.

"I guess that'll be all, please bring it to Commander Tucker's quarters," Jon said into the comm. He thanked the steward then returned to his chair. The captain sat back and relaxed as his chief engineer slipped quietly into his dreams.

THE END