A/N: Hello everyone sorry this was so late coming. This chapter is kind of short but that couldn't be helped. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2

Commander Tucker followed the Captain studiously as they made their way to the main transporter room. The Vulcan ship Ra'Shk had arrived moments before and was waiting to relieve its charge. The Vulcans had seemed anxious to get T'Pol off their ship. Trip was worried for his ex-lover. Archer had told him that T'Pol had broken down during her kholinar ceremony. The high priestess was ready to announce her free of all emotion when T'Pol began to weep. She had been dubbed a social pariah no one on Vulcan wanted to be near her. Trip felt bad for her, he wanted to be able to hold her and kiss away all of her pain. Archer was right though he needed to take his time. T'Pol had to see that he was willing to be more compassionate toward her culture and beliefs.

The two officers arrived in the transporter room just in time to see T'Pol begin to materialize. The Stoic Vulcan looked around the room with a raised eyebrow.

'I see Starfleet has gained a higher level of trust in their transporter technology.' She said as she stepped from the platform.

'It's going to be a long time before we've got everyone in earth command fully accustomed to the idea of having their atoms rearranged.' Trip said smiling brightly at the alien.

'Humans are a hardheaded lot.' She replied with her usual monotone.

Captain Archer shook his head at the pair who had been able to fall back into their old routine despite all that had happened between them. 'Welcome aboard T'Pol.' He said holding out his hand.

T'Pol took his hand and gave it a short shake in greeting. 'Yes it is quite good to be back Captain.'

'Come now there's no need for formalities your not one of my crew any more call me Jonathan.' the Captain said with his usual grin.

'Yes of course.' She said following the two Earthers into the corridor. 'Am I to have any official duties while aboard.'

'Well I'm not in any hurry to get back to earth. Thought we'd take a few days a chart a gaseous nebula on the way.' The Captain said. 'I'd like for you to be in charge of the research team. Give you one last mission for starfleet before you're put out to pastier.'

T'Pol lowered her head a moment before responding. ' Thank you Captain.'

The trio arrived on the bridge within minutes. T'Pol stood back as the two men took their stations. She noticed the young ensign occupying her old station. She looked nervous and kept sneaking glances at the former science officer. Had she still been on the path to Kholinar she would have told the Ensign that she needed to practice control over her emotions. As it was T'Pol couldn't help but think about how Trip would handle the situation. The thought of the engineer's carefree attitude brought a smile to her face. Might as well start acting like a human now rather than denying it, she thought. Resting a hand on the Ensign's shoulder she gave the nervous young woman a warm smile, something she found she liked doing very much. 'Be easy Ensign your only going to make yourself sick if you keep worrying.' She gave the ensigns shoulder a quick pat before making a minor adjustment the display. 'The lower light setting will help you relax.' As she came up from the console she noticed that Trip had been watching her. He had a large grin on his face that she found impossible to keep from returning.

'T'Pol would you like to give the order to embark?' The Captain asked standing up from his chair.

The Captain was pampering her and Trip could tell that she wasn't happy about it yet she still took his command chair as asked. She looked around the bridge and realized that this was the last time should would ever give these people her family and friends an order as their superior. 'Mr Travis set course for the Anarian nebula three quarters impulse.' turning in her seat to the communications terminal she addressed the Japanese-American Lt. 'Ms Sato launch a communications buoy to determine the harmonic resonance of the nebula once we are within range.' swiveling her chair around she came to the engineering station. 'Commander prepare for low warp.' T'Pol tried not to linger her gaze on the southerner. turning back around she addressed Lt Mayweather again. 'Travis begin to slowly increase the warp manifold in increments of point two. Keep the impulse engines at three quarters. We need to stay at low speeds in case the nebula reacts adversely to subspace travel.' Taking command felt good, made her feel like she belonged in that chair surrounded by those people. out of the corner of her eye she saw Trip get up from his station and leave the bridge.

'All right people duty shift.' The captain called out. 'Good job T'Pol you did great in that seat.' the captain said relieving his former first officer.'

T'Pol stood on the deck plating outside Commander Tucker's quarters. She had let herself smile all the way from the bridge. Now outside his door she was having a hard time suppressing the emotional expression. Once she rang the door chime she waited for about thirty seconds before entering the override command. She knew that he was in his quarters and she began to panic when no answer came. Stepping into the small room she saw Trip curled up into a ball on his bunk. For a moment she thought that he was asleep and began to walk out. Taking a backward glance she noticed his chest heaving erratically. Alarmed that he was in danger she ran to his body and pulled him onto his back. Looking down at his face she realized that he was crying. Since loosing control of her emotions she had cried several times and was well aware of the agony she must have put him through. Trip was crying so hard that he barely acknowledged her. She traced a finger along his face and smiled as a small tear ran down her face. Laying down next to him she fell into a peaceful sleep to the rhythm of his heart.

She woke several hours later to find that he had moved to face her. He was clearly awake propped up on his elbow mesmerized by her eyes.

'I believe your are staring at me Commander.' She said stripping her face of all emotion.

'I apologize I could have sworn you were smiling in your sleep.' He said as a smile of his own crept across his face. 'You looked really pretty.'

'Thank you Commander.' She let a hint of a smile cross her lips as she got out of bed. 'We both have several hours before our shifts start, would you like to get something from the galley.'

Trip didn't respond verbally he just stood up and threw his uniform on before jogging out the door. Shaking her head T'Pol followed him as they both proceeded to the galley on foot.

Several minutes later they passed through the double doors of the galley.

'You do realize that we would have arrived here much faster had we taken the turbolift.' T'Pol said arching one eyebrow.

'That was the whole point.' The engineer responded with a grin.

The two officers made their way to the protein synthesizers only to be interrupted by the chef. 'Hey you two wouldn't mind helping me in the kitchen would you?' The nearly two meter tall man asked.

'Certainly you are not understaffed Mr. Riker.' The Vulcan asked in her normal blasé tone.

'No not at all, I just thought the two of you would like a fresh meal.' He said with a triumphant smile.

'We'ed be delighted Chef.' Trip responded leading T'Pol through the kitchen doors. 'So what's the occasion? Starfleet make this official suck up to the first and second officer day?'

'Hardly.' The man said with a laugh. 'I thought I'd spare you guys the looks the crew are certain to give you.'

'Looks, what looks.' Trip declared sitting down at the prep table.

'The captain tried reaching T'Pol from the bridge last night. When she didn't answer he had Reed do a bio-scan.' The middle aged man replied as he kneaded a ball of dough. He laughed at the looks the two of them gave him. 'Everyone on the bridge got a good look at a inferred picture of your quarters Mr. Tucker.'

T'Pol blanched for the first time in Trips memory. She had a far off look on her face that was accented by a string of Vulcan curses. 'I must report to the bridge.' She said and left the kitchen before Trip could argue.

'I'm going to need some help.' He said looking at the chef. the older man simply smiled in reply and nodded his head.