T'pol kneeled in front of the flame as she held the "heirloom".
The human fabricated bag was a link to her people and the humans.
It bound her to the humans as strongly as her own curiosity.
Her Fore Mother's Tale...her story of first contact with humans
had mesmerized her as a child. It was one of the reasons T'Pol had
ventured into space...one of the reasons she could not leave the
humans. T'Pol broke from her thoughts at the sound of her door chime.
"Enter" she said as she turned to face the door.
The silhouetted form of a tall human male filled the doorway as the light
from the corridor filled the opening.
"Commander?" she called out questioningly uncertain why the Engineer
was paying her a visit.
Trip Tucker entered the room hesitantly. "Sorry to stop by so late..." he said as he considered
the wisdom of his decision to visit the Vulcan. "I just..." The human paused as he searched for the
words.
T'Pol sensed the hesitation in the Engineer. "Yes?" she said softly as she attempted
to put him at ease.
"I just wanted to apologize." he finally said.
She looked at him puzzled. "For what?"
"Fer not belivin' yer story." he told her as he sighed. "I shouldnta accused ya of makin it up."
T'Pol raised her brow , "Your skepticism is understandable. My story contradicts everything
you have been taught about first contact." she explained and added, "You do not owe me an
apology Commander."
"Yeah...I do." he said and held his hand up when he saw she was about to protest. "You told me a
nd the Cap'n
somethin personal and all I did was question yer integrity. I shoulda treated ya better and I'm sorry."
They looked at each other for a long moment. Each reading the other's expression for a glimpse of what
they were thinking. Slowly, T'Pol rose to her feet, placing her hands behind her back. She approached Trip
Tucker; stopping a few inches in front of him. It was an obvious compromise of personal space for both
of them. Maybe it was the affects of the wine or maybe she just wished to do it. She looked up
into his face. His brilliant hazel eyes stared down at her.
"I accept your apology." she told him "Is that all you came to say?"
"Mostly.." he said looking away "and also...that I meant what I said...about you bein with us 'many more
years'."
He turned back to look at her. Almost afraid of the response he might get.
"Commander...I.." she stopped as their gaze locked once again. His soft features seemed to stir
something from within and she suddenly noticed the room had gotten decidedly warmer.
He looked at her and found that his feelings were threatening to overwhelm him. Hesitantly...he
leaned close to the Vulcan. His lips close enough to feel hot breath that came from her own. Before he
could consciously consider what he was doing he pressed his lips against hers.
T'Pol raised her hands in surprise...but to her even greater surprise...she did not make any attempt to
stop the Commander's advances. Ever so slowly...she parted her lips and let her tongue explore
the edge of his lips. Placing her hands on his muscular shoulders, she pulled herself closer and
deepened the kiss.
Trip Tucker felt the Vulcan's tongue gently lick across his lips. His knees went weak and he
was seriously considering that he might collapse, but remained standing in defiance of the
rush of raw emotion that was overwhelming him...overwhelming both of them!
T'Pol felt Trip Tucker's own tongue exploring against hers and the sensations threatened to
break what little resolve she was desperately trying to hold onto. Sensing her rapid
weakening she pushed herself away from Trip Tucker holding her hand out to keep
him away.
Trip Tucker breathed haggardly as he looked at the Vulcan with confusion and sadness
until he saw the look she returned. Through her own haggard breathing a slight smile played across
her lips.
It told him the kiss was not an unwanted advance...merely one they should explore further when
they were both in full possession of their faculties.
"Commander..." she said as she caught her breath. "I think...I think it would be best if we did not
continue these actions in our present condition."
"Yeah..." he agreed "Yeah, yer right...I guess I had a bit too much ta drink."
"As did I." she agreed.
"I..I should go." he said. "Sorry if I complicated things. Just wanted to apologize. G'nite."
Trip Tucker turned and headed for the door. T'Pol began to follow him but stopped herself.
She knew that if she allowed him to stay she would not be sleeping alone tonigh...or for that
matter...sleeping. She called out to him.
"Commander." she said softly. "thank you for accepting me as one of the crew."
He turned and smiled at her. "Thanks fer stayin."
The End
The human fabricated bag was a link to her people and the humans.
It bound her to the humans as strongly as her own curiosity.
Her Fore Mother's Tale...her story of first contact with humans
had mesmerized her as a child. It was one of the reasons T'Pol had
ventured into space...one of the reasons she could not leave the
humans. T'Pol broke from her thoughts at the sound of her door chime.
"Enter" she said as she turned to face the door.
The silhouetted form of a tall human male filled the doorway as the light
from the corridor filled the opening.
"Commander?" she called out questioningly uncertain why the Engineer
was paying her a visit.
Trip Tucker entered the room hesitantly. "Sorry to stop by so late..." he said as he considered
the wisdom of his decision to visit the Vulcan. "I just..." The human paused as he searched for the
words.
T'Pol sensed the hesitation in the Engineer. "Yes?" she said softly as she attempted
to put him at ease.
"I just wanted to apologize." he finally said.
She looked at him puzzled. "For what?"
"Fer not belivin' yer story." he told her as he sighed. "I shouldnta accused ya of makin it up."
T'Pol raised her brow , "Your skepticism is understandable. My story contradicts everything
you have been taught about first contact." she explained and added, "You do not owe me an
apology Commander."
"Yeah...I do." he said and held his hand up when he saw she was about to protest. "You told me a
nd the Cap'n
somethin personal and all I did was question yer integrity. I shoulda treated ya better and I'm sorry."
They looked at each other for a long moment. Each reading the other's expression for a glimpse of what
they were thinking. Slowly, T'Pol rose to her feet, placing her hands behind her back. She approached Trip
Tucker; stopping a few inches in front of him. It was an obvious compromise of personal space for both
of them. Maybe it was the affects of the wine or maybe she just wished to do it. She looked up
into his face. His brilliant hazel eyes stared down at her.
"I accept your apology." she told him "Is that all you came to say?"
"Mostly.." he said looking away "and also...that I meant what I said...about you bein with us 'many more
years'."
He turned back to look at her. Almost afraid of the response he might get.
"Commander...I.." she stopped as their gaze locked once again. His soft features seemed to stir
something from within and she suddenly noticed the room had gotten decidedly warmer.
He looked at her and found that his feelings were threatening to overwhelm him. Hesitantly...he
leaned close to the Vulcan. His lips close enough to feel hot breath that came from her own. Before he
could consciously consider what he was doing he pressed his lips against hers.
T'Pol raised her hands in surprise...but to her even greater surprise...she did not make any attempt to
stop the Commander's advances. Ever so slowly...she parted her lips and let her tongue explore
the edge of his lips. Placing her hands on his muscular shoulders, she pulled herself closer and
deepened the kiss.
Trip Tucker felt the Vulcan's tongue gently lick across his lips. His knees went weak and he
was seriously considering that he might collapse, but remained standing in defiance of the
rush of raw emotion that was overwhelming him...overwhelming both of them!
T'Pol felt Trip Tucker's own tongue exploring against hers and the sensations threatened to
break what little resolve she was desperately trying to hold onto. Sensing her rapid
weakening she pushed herself away from Trip Tucker holding her hand out to keep
him away.
Trip Tucker breathed haggardly as he looked at the Vulcan with confusion and sadness
until he saw the look she returned. Through her own haggard breathing a slight smile played across
her lips.
It told him the kiss was not an unwanted advance...merely one they should explore further when
they were both in full possession of their faculties.
"Commander..." she said as she caught her breath. "I think...I think it would be best if we did not
continue these actions in our present condition."
"Yeah..." he agreed "Yeah, yer right...I guess I had a bit too much ta drink."
"As did I." she agreed.
"I..I should go." he said. "Sorry if I complicated things. Just wanted to apologize. G'nite."
Trip Tucker turned and headed for the door. T'Pol began to follow him but stopped herself.
She knew that if she allowed him to stay she would not be sleeping alone tonigh...or for that
matter...sleeping. She called out to him.
"Commander." she said softly. "thank you for accepting me as one of the crew."
He turned and smiled at her. "Thanks fer stayin."
The End