Author's Note: Please see previous notes.
I'm going kinda AU here and placing this after T'Pol says she wants him back and kisses him, but before the Terra Prime Elizabeth time. I know there wasn't that much time between the two in the series, but in this world, there's about one month after the kiss and before Elizabeth. I have written something later on in this story in Snapshot 34, but have decided to do some prequel writing before my snapshot. You'll eventually see Snapshot 34 come into play.
Let me know what you think!
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"A peach," T'Pol said from her seated position across from him.
"A Georgia peach," Trip corrected her with a grin.
"Fine," T'Pol said.
She sent him a simple thought.
"Circuitry board?" Trip asked.
"Specifically?" T'Pol asked.
"A useless circuitry board because of the adapter," Trip said with a tilt to his head.
"Yes," T'Pol said.
They had been using simple images across their bond for three days now and it seemed to be deepening it. Tonight, they are were going to try something new.
"I want you to only speak with your mind," T'Pol said in his head.
No response came.
"Trip?" T'Pol called to him.
"Yeah?" Trip asked her out loud.
"Only speak in our space," T'Pol said to him out loud.
"I just heard my name," Trip said
"You didn't hear my instruction?" T'Pol asked him.
"Nope," Trip replied.
"Odd," T'Pol said as she took a deep breath.
"How is it that we've had arguments in that space when I was on Columbia and now we can't?" Trip asked.
"I am not sure," T'Pol said, confused as well.
"Look, why don't we go back to the objects and…"
"I was meditating when we met in the space," T'Pol said. "Thinking about you."
"Aren't you supposed to think of nothing while meditating?" Trip asked.
"Yes, I found it difficult," T'Pol said, not meeting his eyes.
"I was working," Trip said. "I don't think I was really thinking about you at the time."
"Why don't we just try one word or a number?" T'Pol asked.
"I'll go first?"
T'Pol nodded.
"Copper," T'Pol said through their bond.
"Yes," Trip responded back in the bond.
He waited for her to send him a word. It seemed to take longer than he expected.
"Chair," Trip said over their bond.
"Accurate," T'Pol said.
"What took so long?" Trip asked.
"I sent the word three times," T'Pol replied.
"Huh," Trip sighed.
"Legs," T'Pol said
"Right," Trip said.
Again, there was a long pause before he got the word.
"Time," Trip said.
"That is correct," T'Pol said.
"Try again," Trip said.
This time is was less time before he saw the word.
"Book," Trip said.
"That was faster," T'Pol said.
No response.
"Trip?"
No response.
"Trip?" T'Pol asked, out loud.
"Were you sending something else?" Trip asked her.
"I was complimenting your speed, but I may have been premature in my analysis," T'Pol said.
Trip leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "I didn't think you liked speed when it came to us?"
"We are still working on this exercise," T'Pol reminded him as she returned his kiss.
"We can, later…" Trip said as he deepened the kiss.
She responded and leaned forward pushing him onto his back and climbing on top of him on one swift motion.
They kissed and rubbed against each other for a long time before she started to undo her small pajama top and pull his t-shirt over his head.
"Wait a second, darlin," Trip said as he placed his hands on her shoulders to hold her back.
"What?" T'Pol asked, with lust-filled eyes.
"A couple of days ago, we started this and didn't finish, well, at least together," Trip said as he looked into her eyes.
"You were not focusing," T'Pol said.
"And I will try and focus this time," Trip said. "But I'm not walking down that road again and having things end the same way as last time. It's not fair to me and…"
"I don't always reach completion during our sexual acts," T'Pol noted.
Trip nodded and swallowed hard.
"But I sure as hell try to get you there," Trip said. "You just…just abandoned me."
T'Pol's one brow raised and she thought for a moment before she spoke.
"The few times I have not reached orgasm you have worked considerably to achieve that outcome," T'Pol noted.
"Thank you," Trip sighed.
"So, my early dismissal of the act was unkind?" T'Pol asked.
"Yes," Trip said, relieved she understood.
"I apologize," T'Pol said, sincerely.
"Thank you," Trip nodded.
"I will genuinely work toward your completion," T'Pol said. "But you must genuinely attempt to focus or we will not progress the bond."
"I promise, I do," Trip nodded.
She leaned forward and took his mouth as her own. They slowly stripped each other of their clothes, and he had just entered her when her COMM beeped.
"Are you kidding me?!" Trip whispered.
"Who is there?" T'Pol inquired.
"Lieutenant Marsden," the woman on the other side of the door said. "You asked me to show you the results of the Jeuvulen spores as soon as…"
T'Pol rose between his legs and Trip rolled off her. He watched her reach for her robe and pulled a blanket off her bed and wrapped it around his waist and stepped into a corner in her room where he was out of the sightline of the door.
He watched as a calm, cool, and collected T'Pol opened the door to her room and spoke briefly with her scientist before she shut the door again.
She then stood in the centre of the room looking at him.
"I am needed in the lab, the spores are multiplying at an irregular rate and some equipment has been destroyed," T'Pol said as she watched the blanket clad, half naked man step forward.
"What's wrong with the spores?" Trip asked.
"We are unsure, they have not acted this way in the past and Lieutenant Marsden is concerned they may replicate out of control soon," T'Pol said as she reached for some clothing in the closet and started to dress.
Trip picked up his clothes and pulled them on as well.
"You are welcome to stay until I return, although I cannot promise when…"
"I'm coming with you," Trip said as he pulled a shirt over his head and reached for his pants. "It sounds like you may need the help."
"Thank you," T'Pol said. "And I apologize for the interruption of.."
Trip leaned in and kissed her quickly on the lips. "It's fine. All this spore talk, and almost getting caught kinda ruined the mood anyways."
T'Pol nodded and they turned to leave. As the door opened the two of them were about to step out when Malcolm stopped in front of her door.
"I was just coming to get you," Malcolm said as he noted the presence of Trip behind T'Pol in her room.
"Lieutenant Marsden just informed me of the issue," T'Pol said as she looked behind her at Trip quickly.
"Neuropressure," Trip offered as a reason for his presence. "But I'm going to come too and see if I can help."
"Sure," Malcolm said, still curious about his presence in her cabin at this late hour. "The more the merrier."
T'Pol started to walk toward the science labs and Trip and Malcolm fell into step behind her. Malcolm gave Trip a curious look that he ignored and they walked in awkward silence to the turbolift.
XXX
TBC
