Trip returns to Enterprise after a 3 week absence after Bound.

I do not own any of the characters they belong to Paramount. This is purely for entertainment and not for profit.

Trip forced a nonchalant pose. Anticipation hummed through him. The doors of the turbolift slid open.

T'Pol stood as if ready to enter the compartment, hands behind her back, face impassive.

"T'Pol – headed somewhere?" That got a slight eyebrow lift, but no reply.

"Commander, I heard you had returned. Your assignment to the Columbia is now complete?"

"Yep – back on Enterprise officially. Keplar will not be happy I assume."

"I'm sure you have much to arrange. Welcome back."

"Ah – T'Pol.." That eyebrow lift again.

"Care to walk with me? I've been assigned new quarters."

"I have the time available. Did you wish to discuss the current state of Engineering? I've done some work there but I'm sure there are staff from the department better equipped to inform you of the progress of repairs."

They proceeded down the corridor toward the officers' accommodation. Previously, they had been at opposite ends of these quarters. The shuffle around that had taken place when he left had seen Hoshi move into his slightly larger room, leaving him only a few doors from T'Pol. There could be an advantage in that, even if he lost a little closet space. But then - maybe not. T'Pol was showing no signs of accosting him and taking liberties as she'd done when he last saw her in this very corridor three weeks ago. He'd spent the mandatory two weeks needed to affect the transfer on tenterhooks thinking about how forward she'd been. How unvulcan. He'd then been forced to wait another week until arrangements could be finalized for his replacement on the Columbia.

Trip stopped at the door to his new quarters. T'Pol came to a halt.

"I'm sure Ensign Sato would return your previous quarters to you."

Here we go again. No give there. What really was the point of his return.

"She already offered – but I'm happy with this. Doesn't make much difference to me." By now he was sounding a little snippy – even to himself.

If he weren't with a Vulcan, Trip would have described the silence that followed as uncomfortable. Did T'Pol even understand the concept? He slid open the door. Unexpectedly, T'Pol stepped through ahead of him. Trip followed uncertainly, casting a glance up the corridor behind them as he went. The door closed behind them. The standard Enterprise room of bunk, table with two chairs and desk with the small bathroom accessed through the small walk through closet awaited. All of Trip's belongings had been delivered earlier and were neatly stacked on the table and chairs. Sitting there wouldn't be an option.

T'Pol turned to look at the commander. If one could look uncomfortable while looking completely impassive, she managed it.

"As I said…. I want you back". What followed could only be described as a stunned silence, even with a Vulcan involved.

Holding out her hand with two fingers extended, she grasped his wrist with her other hand. Instinctively he formed his fingers into the same pattern. As she brought them together a jolt of awareness swept through both of them.

"Welcome home, Trip". He pulled her toward him slowly with one hand – the other still forming the oz'chestra. This time she did not have to press for the kiss – it was mutual. No wiping of his mouth afterwards – got to be a good sign – what was that anyway? He pulled her closer, arms encircling her waist. T'Pol leant into his muscular frame, inhaling her mates aroma. She was too, was home.

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