Author's Note: Sooo Azati Prime gave me a thought and I explored it. Star Trek: Enterprise belongs to Paramount and not me. I write merely for fun, not for profit.

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"If we don't see a sign of an explosion or hear from the Captain in an hour, I'll go in myself and attempt a diplomatic mission," T'Pol said as she eyed Trip Tucker.

Both Trip and Malcolm looked at her as if she was insane, but only Trip had the courage to follow her into the Captain's ready room. She had dismissed him earlier but he wasn't going to allow that to happen again.

He waited for the door to shut before he spoke.

"T'Pol…"

"I don't wish to discuss…"

"I don't care what you want to discuss," Trip said forcefully.

"Commander, I think you are allowing your personal relationship with me to cloud your judgement," T'Pol explained.

"Personal relationship?!" Trip snapped.

T'Pol crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down.

Trip ground his teeth together and placed his hands on his hips.

"Advising my superior officer to not go off half-cocked in a shuttle to diplomatically deal with a race that has killed millions of people, including my sister, and probably captured our Captain, has nothing to do with any personal relationship we may have! But, while we're on the subject…"

"Trip," T'Pol said as her eyes looked toward the door to the bridge. His voice must have carried out onto the bridge at the volume he was yelling.

"Excuse me," Trip started, as he ignored her plea. "If I have a problem that the woman I…"

His speech was interrupted by T'Pol stepping forward and kissing him passionately. She felt resistance at first, he knew that she had ulterior motives, but finally he relinquished control and gave into her kiss, wrapping his arms around her back and deepening the kiss.

When she finally released him they were both panting heavily.

"You are too loud," she whispered to him. "I understand that you care for me and…"

"T'Pol, I more than care for you," Trip said softly, his forehead leaning against hers.

"I know," T'Pol said softly. "I hope I don't have to go, but you need to be prepared that I may need to."

"I can't just stand by and…" Trip started.

T'Pol kissed him softly again.

"Captain," the comm unit called out to her suddenly.

T'Pol broke the kiss and reached for the nearest comm unit.

"T'Pol here," she said as Trip stepped away from her.

"There are some readings that don't match with the scans," Hoshi said.

"I'll be right out there," T'Pol said.

She started to walk towards the door when she was stopped by his hand quickly grasping hers. She squeezed back and he released her hand before she left the room.

Trip Tucker walked in a tight circle and looked out the window at the stars that surrounded them. He had wanted to explore space; how was he to know that space would take away his best friend and, very probably, the woman he loved.