TITLE: Into the Mind's Eye

AUTHOR: plumtuckered

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CHAPTER SIX

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Travis hadn't felt so helpless before. He looked at the monitors above Trip's bed to see the engineer's life-signs fading, knowing there was absolutely nothing anyone could do. He turned his head and watched Reed, his usually stoic face holding just the beginnings of grief held only for the loss of those held most dear.

Archer lay silently at Trip's side, one hand clenched tightly over the commander's hand where it still clutched the captain's arm. He seemed to be holding on, fighting for Trip while they all stood helplessly watching.

Taj-Mel gasped suddenly. "It is done."

Phlox looked up at the monitor then smiled. "His vital signs are returning to normal," he announced with palpable relief.

Taj-Mel met the Denobulan's eyes. "They are both sleeping, Doctor," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "The rebinding was successful."

"Where did they go---S'ele and the Umbra?" asked Reed.

"They are returning to the Vin-Tal," replied the Gonarian. "I must leave now." Her image began to waver. She looked at all three men. "Thank your friends for me when they recover." Then she looked down at Trip and the captain. "They did well this day."

Then her image disappeared.

Phlox tucked his chin. "I suppose it would have been inappropriate of me to ask her for my silk bark," he remarked, breaking the silence of the moment.

Travis looked at Reed then both men broke into relieved laughter.

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T'Pol knew as she entered sickbay that her t'hyla was dreaming peaceful dreams. She stepped quietly through the doors to see Phlox standing next to the captain's bed. Archer was sitting, his back settled on a cushion of pillows as the doctor examined him. Next to Archer curled up on his side on his own bio-bed was Trip. T'Pol's gaze fell on his sleeping face, noting how oddly young and innocent he appeared to her at that moment.

"T'Pol," greeted Archer softly.

"Captain," replied the first officer. "I trust you are well?" She moved across the medical bay to stand at Trip's bedside.

"I'm fine," said Archer. "Thanks to Trip."

"I believe he returns your gratitude, Captain. As do I."

Archer smiled. "I think you helped a little, too, T'Pol."

"Very little," admitted T'Pol quietly.

"Hey, he's here and he's safe. We didn't lose him," reminded Archer gently.

T'Pol inhaled then nodded her acceptance of the captain's words. She looked down at her mate as he rolled onto his back. He mumbled something unintelligible, wrinkled his nose slightly then settled back into a deep sleep. T'Pol watched as his chest rose and fell with each precious breath. She'd come so close to losing him. Her heart yearned to meld with him, to join him in his dreams, to lose herself in his warmth and gentleness, in everything that made him Trip, but she knew such time for intimacy was later. And thankfully, she thought with relief, there would be a later.

"He's going to be fine, Commander."

T'Pol looked up to see Phlox smiling kindly at her. "Thank you, Doctor," she replied. She clasped her hands at the small of her back. "I should be returning to Vulcan. There is still time to participate in the meetings of the High Command."

"Don't you want to wait until Trip wakes up?" asked Archer.

"He knows of my presence already, Captain," replied the first officer.

Archer smiled. "Yeah, yeah, I guess he does."

"I will return in two days," said T'Pol. She took one last gaze at her sleeping bond-mate then turned to leave. She hesitated at the doors. "Are you planning on returning to the planet for the doctor's silk bark, Captain?" she asked.

"I'd considered it," replied Archer.

"May I suggest, then, that you and Commander Tucker remain on board?"

Archer furrowed his brows for a moment then he chuckled good-naturedly. "Suggestion noted, Commander," he replied. "Suggestion duly noted."

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Malcolm glanced up at the man walking at his side. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Good," replied Trip briefly. The engineer took a left turn at the junction in the corridor.

"Commander, your quarters are this way," said the lieutenant with a smile.

"I thought I'd just drop down to engineering, see how things are going."

"If I recall your conversation with Dr. Phlox correctly, you were to go straight to your quarters to get some rest."

Trip turned around and put his hands on his hips. "What are you, my designated babysitter, Malcolm?"

Malcolm shook his head. "Not exactly," he replied. "But Phlox made it quite clear you were not to---drop down to engineering."

"That's why you're here, isn't it? To make sure I do as I'm told?"

Malcolm nodded. "With the approval of both Captain Archer and the good doctor, I might add."

Trip stuck his tongue in the side of his mouth then grunted. "You three are as bad as T'Pol," he grumbled. "You're all a bunch of mother-hens." He walked grudgingly back toward Malcolm then the two men continued down the corridor.

"We just know you too well," chortled the armory officer.

Trip just grunted again.

"We'll turn over our babysitting duties to Commander T'Pol tomorrow when she returns." Malcolm glanced up at his friend to see a smile brighten his face. He was clearly looking forward to having his bond-mate back on board. The lieutenant looked down and shook his head. He'd never seen Trip as happy as he was when he was with the Vulcan science officer. He found it puzzling that someone as emotional as his friend could find love and contentment with T'Pol, but he found it even more puzzling that T'Pol could find the same with Trip, yet she obviously had. "Hmmh," he grunted.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," replied Malcolm. He puzzled a little more then shook his head again. "Hmmh."

"What?" repeated Trip, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"Don't you miss it?"

Trip frowned. "Miss what?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's nothing."

"Come on, Malcolm. Something's obviously on your mind."

The armory officer hesitated briefly. "Being with T'Pol, don't you miss holding hands, putting your arm around her waist, things like that?"

"You're getting kind of personal, Lieutenant," said Trip not unkindly.

"I'm sorry. You're right, it's none of my business, but I can't help but be curious."

Trip sighed. "Listen, Malcolm. Being in love with T'Pol is different, yeah, but it's so amazing, I just can't----," the engineer shook his head. "We've both had to make some concessions to make it work, but it's just so damned worth it."

"But don't you miss the little things? I mean all I've ever seen you do is touch your fingers together when you say good-bye."

"No, I don't miss the little things 'cause they're just that – little things," replied Trip then he smiled warmly. "And for the record, the touching fingers? A hundred times better than holding hands."

"You touch your fingers, Trip," said Malcolm incredulously.

Trip nodded. "Yep," he replied simply.

"You can't be serious. That means something?"

"Yep, sure does," replied the engineer. He clasped his hands behind him and he continued walking up the corridor.

Malcolm stopped, even more puzzled then before. "Hmmh," he grunted then he hurried to catch up to his friend.

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Trip rubbed at his tired eyes then tried to focus again on the injector he held before him.

"I thought I'd find you down here."

The commander looked up to see Archer standing at the door to engineering. The captain smiled as he crossed the cavernous room to the table at which Trip sat working.

"Phlox know you're here?" continued Archer.

Trip grinned. "Probably," he replied. "The doc seems to have a sixth sense sometimes."

Archer snorted. "He sure does." He leaned on the edge of the table. "Trouble sleeping?"

"Yeah. It's funny, I've slept alone for pretty much all of my life and now I can't seem to get any shut eye when she's not beside me."

"She'll be back tomorrow."

Trip smiled then looked up at his friend. "What about you? Why are you up at this ungodly hour?"

Archer shrugged indifferently, but remained quiet.

"Cap'n?"

"Just a bad dream, Trip. It's nothing."

"About the Umbra?"

The captain shook his head. "No, about you, actually," he replied.

"Me? You had a nightmare about me?" asked Trip in surprise.

Archer braced his hands on the table then lifted his hips and slid back so he was sitting on the gray surface. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Most of it," Trip replied. "Things got kind of hazy there after S'ele left me, though." He leaned back in his chair. "Why?"

"I lost hold of you when S'ele started the rebinding process. I searched around and finally found you," explained Archer. He shook his head at the memory. "You were in such terrible pain, Trip."

"I kept telling myself it wasn't real---the pain, but it just didn't seem to matter. It sure as hell felt real enough."

"You were dying."

Trip met his friend's eyes and saw fear there. "But you wouldn't let me, Cap'n," he said firmly. "That's the one thing I remember so clearly; you holding onto me, not letting me go."

"But if T'Pol hadn't been there---."

"But she was and so were you," Trip finished.

Archer remained quiet for a long moment then he snorted softly.

Trip smiled, knowing he'd gotten through to his friend. "Let's face it, Cap'n. You had to save me," he teased lightly.

The captain looked at Trip quizzically.

"After everything I went through in that thick skull of yours? You owed me."

The captain chuckled. "I guess I did, Trip," he replied. "A debt I was more than happy to pay." He slid off the table to stand.

Trip grinned as he stood up to face his friend. His smile faded and he looked down at his feet. "Thank you, Cap'n, for not letting go." He lifted his head to look at his friend again.

Archer reached out and squeezed Trip's arm, but he just smiled, unable to say anything. Trip held the captain's eyes for a moment then looked away and cleared his throat.

"Well," said Archer, his voice rough. "Since we're both wide awake, how about catching that match we missed the other night?"

Trip nodded. "Sounds good," he replied. "Mind if we stop by the mess hall first? I'm kind of hungry."

"Why am I not surprised," said Archer with amusement.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, Trip," laughed the captain. He reached up and slapped Trip on the back good-naturedly. "Come on. Maybe Chef has some of that lasagna leftover from dinner."

Trip nodded. "Probably should get some coffee, too."

"Why?" asked Archer as the two men walked toward the door. "Are you inferring, Commander, that water polo puts you to sleep?"

"No, Cap'n," replied Trip with an innocent grin. "Not at all."

Archer shook his head in amusement then reached to open the door. "I'll have you know, Trip," he began as they walked into the corridor.

Trip sighed contentedly. He'd lost count of how many times Archer had told him about his college days spent tossing a ball back and forth in a pool. He smiled as the captain gestured with his arms dramatically. Nope, he thought happily, he'd let his friend repeat his tales of glory as many times as he wanted and he'd always listen to every single word.

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THE END

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