Missing Scene from The Forgotten

Disclaimer: Star Trek names, features and borrowed dialogues are copyrighted by CBS/Paramount, all rights reserved. No claims.

Acknowledgements: Vulcan terms taken from the Vulcan Language Dictionary. Thanks to Opal for her kind beta-reading and suggestions.

T'Pol looked for Trip in the debris filled corridor where she knew he was trying to adjust power couplings. When she found him he was angry and he abruptly discarded the Xindi power cell that she had brought for him. His emotional outburst was expressed in short angry phrases as he dealt with the aftermath of the death of Ensign Taylor. However it was his long hidden feelings about the loss of his baby-sister Lizzie that came to surface.

“There's so many people dead. I tried not to see her any differently than the other seven million, so I've spent the last nine months trying to pretend she was just another victim. But she's my sister, T'Pol...My baby sister.”

Trip started to cry, tears running down his cheeks, sobbing he finished, “I envy you Vulcans.”

T'Pol put her hand on his shoulder, and he grasped it, while she looked intently at him:

“You think that the loss of a colleague or friend doesn't affect us? It does. But if we give in to those emotions, they overwhelm us. You're the ones to be envied.”

T’Pol was silent for a moment and then she said in a firm voice, “Leave the work on the EPS array relay grid until later. You are in no condition to work safely. Come with me.” In the void corridor she let her hand gently touch his arm as they began to move.

Too weary to argue Trip went with T’Pol. He was still crying when they entered her quarters.

“You need to relax, please take off your uniform and t-shirt. I will then be able to commence neuropressure.”

He did as he was asked without contention, and then went to sit on her bed.  T’Pol started the first posture. She talked in soft voice,
“Trip, you are not the only one who worries about death and damage. It also hurts me, in a way I have never experienced before.”

She stopped abruptly; it was still not easy to openly express her feelings, even to him.  “I have lost my control on a few occasions recently – this is a disturbing experience for me as a Vulcan. I also find myself unable to meditate correctly. My sleep is disturbed by dreams and I cannot rest. Relax...breathe.” She continued, still tense: “I thank you for agreeing to this, applying neuropressure also serves to help my self-control.”

“I am sorry I can’t return the favor. I feel out of focus. My hands are trembling and in the last three days I have barely slept for the four hours Phlox ordered. I have been troubled by nightmares about Lizzie and Ensign Taylor.”

 “Both of us need a restful night’s sleep tonight!” T’Pol lowered her voice, almost whispering: “I would like you to stay here with me; you really do need to rest.”

“I don’t know if I can rest. I’m afraid of having back the nightmares. And there are needed repairs all over the ship.”

She interrupted him, murmuring

“Sorry Trip – we do really need to rest.”

T’Pol let her fingers slip to the point where his neck met his shoulder and she applied gentle pressure at the to'tsu'k'hy points. Trip fell asleep almost immediately. She then lay down by his side and pulled up the blanket to cover them both.  She let her head touch his bare shoulder and held on to his hand. The presence of Trip by her side was a gentle way to immerse herself emotionally in him. She focused her thoughts moving towards her white meditation environment and let her mind enjoy the quiet absence of feelings, images and sounds. She felt the strain in her body dissipating. In a few moments she was also asleep.

The next morning T’Pol had already showered and dressed while Trip slept on. She lightly touched him on the shoulder: “Trip you need to wake up, Maintenance have reconnected the water for our deck. You are entitled to a three minute hot shower.”

T’Pol waited until Trip was ready then she suggested, “Would you like to accompany me to the Mess Hall where we can break our fast?”

“T’Pol, what happened last night? I don’t remember anything after the start of the neuropressure session. I don’t think I had any dreams last night, or at least no bad nightmares.”

“I used a gentler version of a Vulcan nerve pinch to help you go to sleep. I apologize, I decided not to tell you what I was going to do as I was sure that you would have refused my help. I also benefited from the experience because I managed to rest; having you by my side all night was comforting.”

“Well, I suppose I should thank you. I feel much better. I even believe I can face writing the letter of condolence to Ensign Taylor’s parents.”