More to Tell, Ch. 1

Sequel to: Confessions

By: Angel

Summary: A Vulcan diplomat onboard Enterprise. What could possibly go wrong?

Archive: Let me know where.

Rating: I guess PG, for now.

Disclaimers: Star Trek and its many incarnations are the property of others and therefore I do not financially benefit from this in any way.

Notes: First, I want to thank everyone that responded to my previous stories. This story is a direct result of the positive feedback I received. Secondly, this is a sequel to "Confessions", but takes place about three months later. For the purposes of this story I have assumed that the season cliffhanger has been resolved. Therefore, Archer is back. Also, T'Pol has joined Starfleet, at the rank of Commander. This is very much a WIP, and I hope you appreciate it. Please let me know what you think so far. Now, on with the story.

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The day started out as any other. The three top officers of the Enterprise sat around the Captain's table intent on sharing breakfast, friendship, and a little bit of ship's business chatter. However, despite the common atmosphere, the Captain could not help but notice the slightly tense distance between his two most trusted friends. Normally the conversation flowed between them like water, sometimes a soft brook and other times a raging river, but always constant. Today though, there was only silence. Captain Archer attempted to make small talk with the engineer, but his answers were abbreviated. So, a not-so-soft quiet permeated the air and just as Archer was about to try again he was saved by the sound of the ship's communications officer wafting through the room. "Bridge to Captain Archer."

"Archer here," the Captain responded after punching the comm. Truth be told, he was glad for the interruption, even though he hadn't finished eating.

The melodious sound of Ensign Sato's voice returned. "Captain. We've just been hailed by the Vulcan High Command. They are requesting to speak with you."

Casting a glance at his first officer, he downed the last of his coffee before nodding as he answered. "Okay, Hoshi. I'm on my way." He turned briefly back to his friends and said, "Well, looks like you two have to finish without me today." He walked briskly toward the door before Commander T'Pol's voice stopped him.

"Captain, perhaps I should join you? Since the message is from Vulcan..." she trailed off as she began to scoot her chair out.

Archer waved her off. "No need, Commander. I'll let you know if I need you. Stay, enjoy your breakfast." With that, he was gone.

Across the table from T'Pol, Charles 'Trip' Tucker III watched the exchange, his frustration and disappointment warring just below the surface. His thoughts drifted back to their conversation the night before.



The couple sat on the floor of her quarters, on opposite sides of the meditation candle. Their knees touched lightly on either side of the pedestal holding the pillar of wax while their hands met in the air, his palms up, hers palms down, held steady at chest height. Simultaneously, two sets of eyes began to flutter open as the meditation session came to an end. "Hmm. I will never get tired of this," Tucker stated in a soft voice made sleepy by the relaxation technique.

T'Pol tilted her head to one side while slowly withdrawing her hands. She settled them in her lap before asking, "What exactly is it that you enjoy?"

Now it was his turn to tilt his head. He puckered his lips in thought as he stared into the eyes of his partner. "Well, for starters, there's gettin' to know ya' better." He smiled that disarming smile that always made her heart beat a little faster in spite of herself. "I also like learnin' more about your culture. Of course, I'd be lyin' if I didn't admit to enjoyin' the calming effect." He leaned up and blew out the candle before continuing up and over the top of it to give T'Pol a slight kiss on the forehead. Settling back into his position, he opened his mouth to broach a topic that he knew would disrupt the pleasant atmosphere, but he had put it off long enough.

She noticed his subtle change in posture just before his eyes looked down at the floor between them. Although she knew what the upcoming comments would likely be, she managed to maintain her control, something that would have been much more difficult not so long ago.

"T'Pol," he started. "I want to talk about something important." He hesitated slightly before returning his eyes to hers. He searched them for a sign. Finding none, he sighed in frustration. "I think ya' know what I mean."

"Assumptions would be most illogical. In a relationship such as ours, there may be many causes for serious conversation." Her response was calm, but he could make out the trace of dread in her. She did know.

Fine, be that way. Taking a deep breath, he plunged in. "That's just it. Our relationship. I want to let people know about us. I'm tired of hidin'." He rose from the pillow he sat on and began pacing the room.

The small breath he heard from her would've been a frustrated sigh from anyone else, in her it was barely discernable. "Trip," she started softly, "we've talked about this. We agreed to maintain privacy in our relationship." She, too, rose. Her stance on this issue was firm and her posture related that. She stood tall, arms crossed over her chest.

He stopped pacing and glared at her. "Yeah, we agreed, three months ago, when the Cap'n was gone and you were in command and we didn't know what was goin' ta happen. But, now, things are stable and, for once, all's right with the universe. I want to shout from the highest mountain how I feel about ya'!" He hadn't said 'I love you' to her since their conversation in sickbay, months earlier. They'd agreed to take things slowly. She had so much to work out and so much had happened that they decided to start over. They needed to rebuild some trust after her admission of Trellium addiction and they wanted to be friends first and foremost.

She felt her control slipping, something she normally allowed in small doses around him, but right now she needed it so that she wouldn't waiver. "How do you feel?" Her voice was small; he had to strain to hear her.

The question shocked him. Surely she knew. They'd become so close in recent months, but he didn't want her to feel pressured, so he'd bit his tongue every time he wanted to say it. He smiled softly and breathed her name. "Oh, T'Pol. I'm so sorry. I thought ya' knew. I love ya', darlin', more than I ever thought I could love somebody." He encompassed her small form with his strong arms and planted a light kiss on her forehead before meeting it with his own. "That's why it kills me that I can't share it with everyone...our friends, families." He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent.

She struggled with her inner demons yet again. More than anything, she wanted to make this man happy, but she couldn't do this, not yet. She pulled out of his embrace and took a cleansing breath. "I am only just beginning to regain some semblance of control. It has been an extremely difficult journey...for both us. I..." she faltered, her eyes searched his for understanding.

"You're afraid," he completed her thought in a gentle tone. "You're afraid that if our friends found out about us it would diminish their opinion of ya', somehow make ya' less Vulcan." He only needed to look into her eyes to see the truth of it.

Her head bowed slightly, unable to meet his gaze any longer. "Soon, I promise. Soon I will be ready." She paused before continuing. "We both knew that there would need to be compromises in our relationship, by our very natures."

His anger flared at that. "Yeah; but why does it seem that I'm the one making all of them?" His breath left him in an exasperated rush as he ran his hand through his hair.

Now she had looked up, her eyebrow reaching new heights. "Do you really feel that way?" she questioned.

Shaking his head, he realized he was exhausted again. "Ya' know what? Let's just call it a night. 'kay? I'll see ya' at breakfast." She watched, speechless, as he walked out of the room.



All of this washed over him in a flash. He looked up in time to see the doors close on the retreating form of his Captain. T'Pol's eyes met his briefly before looking down at her untouched food. Abruptly, he stood and mumbled some excuse about the engines needing him before following Archer out of the room.

Left alone, T'Pol felt the tears begin to well up. She clenched her fists tightly while breathing deeply. Slowly, her control reasserted itself and the carefully constructed façade she showed the world around her fell into place. She exited the dining room to attend her duties.

End Chapter 1