Author's Note: Please see notes in Chapter 1.
This chapter picks up where the last left off. Captain Archer has made the decision to cure Trip and reverse time 12 years, undoing the attack on Earth as well as all of the relationships/children/etc that occurred within that time frame. They have stopped the Xindi attack and are about to start some shore leave, but are currently still on board Enterprise tying up loose ends. But, in my world there's some residual emotions that are still lingering and this chapter is when the crew starts to realize there may be something more to their relationships then what meets the eye.
If you read it, please review it. Enjoy!
XXX
Trip Tucker walked down the hallway toward Engineering with a spring in his step and a whistle escaping his lips.
The doors opened to the section he oversaw, and he immediately spotted Anna Hess.
"Anna!" Trip chirped. "The Captain has asked to see you."
"Me?" Anna asked, worried.
"Don't freak out," Trip said nicely as he clapped her on the shoulder. "He's meeting with everyone to discuss their goals."
"Goals?" Anna asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Some new Starfleet touchy-feeling program," Trip said with a smirk as he leaned against the wall beside him. "Something about wellness and employee satisfaction."
"Do I need to prepare a report?" Anna asked, concerned.
"No, it's just a conversation," Trip said softly. "Honestly, he just wants to know what your goals are. What you want for your future in Starfleet."
"Have you already met with him?" Anna asked.
"Hell, no," Trip chuckled. "You're the first he's asked for."
"Why me?" Anna asked.
"I don't know," Trip chuckled as he pushed off from the wall and started to walk away. "I guess you're just lucky."
"Hardy har har," Anna countered to her supervisor as he left her area.
Trip walked toward his office and was shocked to find T'Pol sitting behind his desk.
"T'Pol?" Trip asked, surprised t find her there.
"Trip," T'Pol said as she stood from his chair.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Trip asked.
"I need your report on the new shift change procedures," T'Pol said as she stepped away from his desk and made room for him to step behind it.
"Uh, I've got it on my PADD," Trip said as he slid behind her and reached around her for his PADD. There was a moment where they were pressed up against each other and Trip felt a rush of desire.
T'Pol, surprisingly leaned into him and dropped the back of her head against his collarbone. Trip placed a hand on her hip and breathed in her scent before they both realized what they were doing and pulled apart.
Trip cleared his throat and T'Pol took two steps away from him toward the door.
"Uh, here's the report," Trip said as he averted his eyes. He wasn't sure what had got into him…into either of them.
"Thank you," T'Pol nodded and, not meeting his eyes looked at the PADD. "I'll need some time to read it and then I'll…if I have any questions…"
Trip nodded and shuffled some papers on his desk. "I better get back to…"
T'Pol nodded and quickly exited his office.
"What the hell," Trip gasped as he sat down heavily in his chair and looked at the spot where they had…he didn't know what they'd done.
XXX
T'Pol walked quickly toward her quarters and leaned heavily against the door once it shut behind her. What had she done? Yes, the neuropressure had created a type of intimacy between herself and Trip but leaning into him while on duty? Resting her head against him? What was she thinking? And the surge of excitement she received through their touch was like nothing she'd ever felt before.
She took several cleansing breaths and tried to clear her head of the barrage of erotic images that inundated her mind. Commander Tucker was just a friend, a highly attractive and virile friend…but a friend.
Truthfully, she had always felt an attraction toward him, hence her hesitancy to begin neuropressure sessions. Then it suddenly occurred to her that their neuropressure sessions may be the cause of such a breech of protocol. She would have to do more research on the subject; there she would most likely find the information she was seeking. Confident that that physical interaction would never occur again, T'Pol straightened her back, clutched the PADD to her chest, and left her quarters so she could return to her duties and read his report.
XXX
"I see you've taken leadership courses online," Jon said as he sat back in his chair and looked at her file. "You have your eye on a chief position?"
"I do, one day," Anna said with a smile.
"Your scores are quite high," Jon noted.
"I enjoyed the subject matter," Anna said kindly.
Jon closed the file and looked at her seriously. "Have you thought about becoming a Captain?"
"Captain?" Anna asked surprised.
"There's a new mentoring program. Starfleet Captains are asked to choose someone that wishes to explore leadership and mentor them. You know, see if, once they really get a look at the job, see if it's something for them."
"Wow," Anna said surprised.
"Would that be something you are interested in?" Jon asked as he leaned forward.
"Of…of course!" Anna said excitedly.
"Great," Jon smiled at her and stood from his chair. "I'll send you information about the program and we can schedule your first session."
Anna stood with him and reached out to shake his hand, "Thank you, Captain."
Jon felt a surge of warm feelings as they made contact and he held her hand slightly longer than was necessary.
She made eye contact with him and felt the attraction across the handshake. When he dropped her hand, she felt a loss as if a friend had disappeared.
Jon watched her leave his ready room and turned to Porthos when the door shut behind her.
"That was weird," Jon said to his beagle. Porthos merely snuffled the air and laid his head down to rest.
XXX
"Hey Hosh," Malcolm said as he sat down next to her in the Mess.
"Hi Malcolm," Hoshi smiled at him and moved her chair a little closer. "Did you do something different with your hair?"
"My hair?" Malcolm asked as he touched his hair.
"Yeah, it looks different," Hoshi said with a wide smile.
"Not that I know," Malcolm said as he smiled back at her.
"Huh," Hoshi said as she continued to gaze into his eyes.
Malcolm dug into his lunch and kept sneaking glances at Hoshi; there was something different about her as well.
"Are you going to movie night?" Malcolm asked as he cut into his meat pie.
"I'm not sure, why?" Hoshi asked.
"It's a World War 3 film, got a bunch of awards…starring Matilda Mathies…" Malcolm noted.
"Sounds like you want to see it," Hoshi smiled at him. He was such a good-looking man.
"Come with me," Malcolm said as he leaned into her frame a little more. "War movies are better with company."
"Are they?" Hoshi chuckled. "You'll have a Mess hall of company."
"Not the same," Malcolm admitted.
Hoshi looked at him surprised by his admission.
"Okay, I'll join you," she agreed.
"I'll pick you up at your quarters about 7:40?" Malcolm asked.
"It's a date," Hoshi replied.
Malcolm smiled at her broadly before he tucked into his salad.
XXX
Trip walked into the gym and noted that Travis and Amanda Cole were vigorously boxing in the corner. She was from a town not far from his and had approached him several times to discuss the Florida of their childhood. He had avoided Amanda because he wasn't sure how to deal with those memories just yet. She was a nice woman, but she seemed so nostalgic about the past that he didn't know how he'd react.
He noticed that Travis and Amanda were friendlier with each other then he'd realized. They were…incredibly friendly. In fact, they seemed to be talking and touching more then punching. Trip hopped onto a bicycle and started peddling. He needed to work off some of this energy, this tension. The movie tonight sounded like a good one but sitting in a dark space was not going to help his restless body and spirit.
He peddled hard and felt his physical tension start to ease. This was exactly what Trip needed.
XXX
T'Pol walked into the Medical Unit and noted that Phlox had his hand on the lower back of Ensign Cutler. They were talking quietly, and Elizabeth Cutler was…giggling.
T'Pol cleared her throat.
Both turned and looked at her surprised.
"T'Pol," Phlox said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"
T'Pol stepped forward and noted the Ensign Cutler vacated the area rather quickly.
"I hope I wasn't interrupting something," T'Pol said as she eyed the doctor carefully.
"No, nothing that cannot be continued later," Phlox said sheepishly. "Now, how may I assist you?"
"I think my emotional controls are…lacking," T'Pol said softly. "I was wondering if you could run a scan and see if my Pa'nar Syndrome has worsened?"
"It shouldn't, not with the medication and…"
"Can you please just check?" T'Pol interrupted him impatiently.
Phlox walked across sick bay to his scanner and ran it over T'Pol.
"No change from your last scan," he said as he met her eyes. "Why would you suspect an increase in Pa'nar?"
T'Pol swallowed hard and said nothing.
"T'Pol?"
"I'd rather not say," T'Pol said as she met his eyes.
"Well, there's no physiological reason why you are having issues with your emotions," Phlox said. "Have you been getting adequate sleep? Meditation? Exercise?"
"I have been sleeping well," T'Pol admitted. "But it has been several days since I last exercised."
"Maybe it's time to hit the gym?" Phlox asked. "Physical activity is known to reduce tension and would probably help to stabilize your emotions."
"Thank you, doctor, I will endeavor to get more exercise," T'Pol nodded before she turned to leave.
"We could all use some more physical activity," Phlox joked as she left the Medical Unit.
XXX
Trip Tucker stepped from the men's shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. He felt better after his workout and the hot shower to release his muscles was exactly what the doctor ordered. He was reaching into his gym bag when his deodorant rolled away from him.
"Fuck," he swore under his breath as he dropped his bag onto the bench and walked in the direction it rolled. He was almost on top of it when it rolled right into the women's change room.
"Oh hell," he swore again as he stood there in his towel with his hands on his waist looking at the forbidden territory.
"Hello?!" Trip called inside. "Anyone in there?"
There was no answer. He leaned forward slightly and listened carefully for any noises.
"Hello? If anyone is in there, my deodorant rolled into…hello?"
Trip heard nothing. He took a deep breath and stepped around the corner as he pointedly looked at the floor, he pretty much knew no one was in there but he would rather be safe then sorry.
"This is Commander Tucker coming inside…just to get my deodorant," he called to no one.
Trip rounded the corner and, seeing no one walked toward his deodorant which had rolled deeper into the women's change area and had stopped against a garbage can. Trip leaned over and picked up the rogue deodorant and palming it turned on his heel to exit. It was then that he bumped squarely into T'Pol.
"Oh, god I'm…" Trip started to apologize as he righted them both.
"Am I in the wrong change facility?" T'Pol inquired as she looked around.
"No, this is the women's one but I…" Trip started and then raised the hand holding his deodorant. "My deodorant rolled over here."
T'Pol looked at him confused.
"I came to retrieve it," Trip explained.
"Without clothing?" T'Pol asked as she touched his damp chest.
"I am…I am wearing a…a towel," Trip stammered as he stepped closer to her.
T'Pol nodded her head in the affirmative and looked up into his eyes.
"I'm…uh, I'm sorry if I scared you," Trip whispered to her.
"You didn't," she replied as she moved her hand up his pectoral muscle. "Just momentarily confused me."
"You're…uh, that's nice," Trip said softly as he placed his free hand around the back of her waist and pulled her a little closer.
"You have an athletic body," T'Pol gaped.
"So do you darlin," Trip smiled down at her.
Trip felt them both leaning in to kiss when Ensign Higgs rounded the corner and gasped.
"Commanders!"
As if cold water had been thrown on them Trip and T'Pol jumped away from each other and his towel started to drop in the process. He quickly grabbed an end and held it against him while he re-wrapped it.
"Oh god, I'm sorry I…" Trip started and then looked up to only see an astonished Ensign Higgs and no sign of T'Pol.
Ensign Higgs just gaped at him as he fixed his towel and quickly exited the women's change area without another word.
XXX
TBC
