Panic

Genres:  Family

Keywords: Challenge

Summary: T'Pol recalls the only time in her life that she panicked.

Author's Note:  At this point in my universe, everyone refers to Soval as family.  I established this in "Anticipation".

After dinner, T'Pol was sitting on the sofa holding the squirming mass that was her six-month-old daughter. T'San was wiggling, waving her arms and trying to reach her father. Sitting on the floor around the coffee table, Trip was busy playing a spirited game of cards with the couple's other two children.

 Soval sat drinking his tea, watching the three Tuckers' play poker, trying to comprehend the rules. T'Resa and Morgan were endeavoring to explain the intricacies of bluffing to Soval.

 The elderly Vulcan informed them, "I would never have been able to have a century long career as a diplomat without a clear understanding of how to bluff."

Soval simply raised an eyebrow when this comment caused uproarious laughter from his family.

Trip had bet all his chips on what he was sure would be the winning hand. Morgan's royal flush, however, crushed his father's full house.

"Since my son has seen fit to take me for all I have," Trip said getting off the floor, "Who wants some ice cream?"

Both kids jumped up to go help, and make sure they got their favorite flavor. The Vulcan contingent declined any dessert. As the group exited to the kitchen, Soval looked at T'Pol holding her cooing child.

"I wonder sometimes daughter, how you ever found the courage to bond with this exceptional human man. It could not have been an easy decision in the face of our people's preconceived notions of humans."

T'Pol was thoughtful for a minute, "It was actually easier that you might imagine."

The young Vulcan woman was irritated. Of course, she called it unsettled, no true Vulcan would admit to that particular pesky emotion. T'Pol had just found out that she was being temporarily assigned to the human starship, Enterprise. They were launching early to return Klang to the Klingon home world. The High Command wanted an observer on board to essentially make sure the humans didn't cock things up. She reminded herself that it would only be for a short time, less than two weeks. Soval, her mentor, had told her last night. It had been he who had encouraged her to leave the Security Directorate and pursue a career in the sciences and diplomacy. T'Pol headed to the Captain's ready room, orders in hand, to report for duty.

The lovely Vulcan woman squared her shoulders and activated the call button. T'Pol had faced down spies and traitors, fearlessly been involved in many fire fights, she could do this.

The captain called 'come in' and T'Pol proceeded forward. Upon entering the room she was overcome by several sensations. The first was a disgusting odor that seemed to be emanating from a small hairy animal. Trying to concentrate on what Captain Archer was saying, T'Pol became aware of a human man sitting across the room. He was making some smart remark about having showered this morning, but all she could focus on were the pheromones rolling off this man. She almost felt as if they were imprinting on her. Usually human emotions were easy to sense, but this man's were shouting at her. Distrust, suspicion, an appreciation of her appearance, and desire all warred with each other. When his introduction was finally made, the human male stuck out his hand.

"Trip, I'm called Trip."

T'Pol looked at the outstretched hand. During diplomatic training Vulcans were taught that many species shake hands. It was a custom that had to be observed so as not to create offense. Vulcan's had shaken hands with Cochrane during first contact. For the first time in her life T'Pol felt a wave of panic sweep up her spine. She knew deep in her soul that if she took that hand her life would be changed forever. Not sure how she knew this, the panicked woman never the less was certain it was true.

Turning away swiftly with hands clutched behind her back, T'Pol presented her usual emotionless persona. 

"I'll try to remember that."

Soval reached out to take T'San from her mother. "How do you mean, easier than I would imagine?"

"From the moment I met Trip, I felt a pull. It was quite a while before I recognized it for the beginnings of a bond, but it was always there. Humans refer to it as fate; however I believe that my katra had simply met its other half. It would have been illogical to deny this, especially after talking to Trip's grandmother," T'Pol said with just a touch of humor.

Later that night, Soval had offered to escort T'Resa safely back to her dormitory on his way back to the Vulcan compound. Morgan and T'San, both exhausted from the evening's excitement, were fast asleep. This allowed Trip and T'Pol a quiet moment together much earlier in the evening than expected.

The amorous couple was in their room making love. As their passionate kiss broke, T'Pol spoke to her husband.

"If I had known then what I know now, I would have shaken your hand."

Trip gave his wife a puzzled look and a chuckle, "What?"

"It's just that I now realize there was nothing to be afraid of."

With that T'Pol continued making love to her slightly confused husband.

The End