The Man in Her Life

Chapter Three

Otherworldly

By Penmom

Thanks to all. TRULY

His blood is running high by the time, they reach their quarters. He tries to put a damper on his desire as he reads her preoccupation with the message from Vulcan. Something is definitely off to be sure and it doesn't take any extra sensory perception to catch that fact.

Once the door to their quarts slides shut, she heads straight to the terminal at the desk. Over her shoulder, he watches as she quickly accesses the Vulcan database for information regarding TerraZed 4. He mourns the fact that this isn't how he imagined spending the wee, small hours of the morning with his wife.

Observing her tense posture as she perches on the edge of her seat, he thinks to himself, oh well, if you can't beat um'---. And with that he swings a long leg over the seat of her chair so that she is sitting between his thighs. He slides an arm around her waist and settles her more firmly against him. After a moment or two, he feels her relax into his embrace as she continues to read the information in front of her.

Realizing that his distraction has not proved great enough to dissuade her, he snuggles his chin over one shapely shoulder and begins to read too.

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0600 hours comes quickly, stretching as he stands, he quips to T'Pol "Bet no Vulcan has ever had attentional problems."

She looks adequately perplexed by the statement. He lets it slide. It's nice to know that she can't figure out every obscure reference he can throw her way.

"I was saying that it amazes me how much my concentration has improved since --- well, everything. When I apply myself it just kind of sinks in. I always thought you were kinda' spooky that way - how you could shut everything else out like that."

She stands as she absently peels off the uniform that she donned in the middle of the night. Tilting her head, she considers him before replying. "And this is what you consider a complement? That I am 'spooky'? It is my understanding that spooky denotes a disconcerting, otherworldly quality."

Peeling off his own shirt, he approaches her with a grin. Oh, how he loves this girl.

"Otherworldly? You? Never." He proclaims as he catches her in his arms.

When he pulls her into his arms, he does so with a fierceness that belies the tenderness in his eyes. In the 97 days since their marriage ceremony, their sexual relationship has continued to flare. Their physical need for each other has continued unabated burning away whatever self-consciousness is left between them waning.

Despite being awake for quite awhile, they barely make the 0800 staff meeting on time. Trip ignores the slight smirk on Malcolm's face.

Jon calls the morning meeting to order before he's even poured his coffee. While the usual mundane ship's business is reviewed, both Trip and T'Pol are thinking of the information that they had gotten off the Vulcan database earlier.

Dr. Kochi's death was actually just the latest in a series of suspicious incidents on TerraZed 4. The Vulcan Outpost had been plagued with unexplained communications failures and instrument malfunctions since LS12 was first isolated. The exact properties of LS12 were still veiled in secrecy and were unobtainable from the basic Vulcan database. Whatever it was, it was valuable. Maybe valuable enough to merit sabotage and murder - even among Vulcans.

All speculation halted when Jon gave the floor to T'Pol. She quickly briefed the Senior Officers on both the appeal she had received from Commissioner Bach'Tal and the information she had gathered since. Ever true to her nature, she leaves out her own suspicions, allowing each individual to make their own judgements.

Malcolm is the first to chime in as he addresses the group. "What I question is why the Vulcan High Command would be coming to us? I mean, last I checked T'Pol wasn't high on their list."

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, he is regretting them. Looking beseechingly toward both T'Pol and Trip, he awkwardly apologizes, "My Lord, T'Pol, I wasn't thinking, I didn't mean..."

T'Pol comes to his rescue, interrupting his apology with a hint of warmth in her voice, "No offense taken, you are correct. I have given the matter some thought myself."

"And?" Jon asks.

"I hypothesize that the High Command would like whatever is found, to be kept quiet. Calling for an official investigation through the usual channels would only call attention to an already growing problem. Given my current status, I am both a Vulcan and an outsider - able to provide a degree of reliability and also capable of providing them with an alternative to a widely publicized investigation."

Trip finally speaks after an uncharacteristic silence. "Well, I don't like it one bit, after they the way they've acted, you sure as hell aren't obligated to jump when they say so. Period."

T'Pol turns her attention to him. "I appreciate your loyalty but the High Command has requested the Enterprise's assistance not simply my own. It is a decision for the Captain."

The expression on Jon's face displays his slight irritation at T'Pol throwing the proverbial ball in his court. He couldn't help but feel like he had been dropped in the midst of a Lovers' Quarrel. "Ahh well, given the diplomatic ties between our two worlds and the proximity of the colony to our current position. I would say that their appeal is reasonable."

TBC