Title: Cause and Effect

Author: Josephine

Rating: R

Genre: Romance/General

Pairing: T'Pol/Archer, Hoshi/Trip, Reed/Cutler

Summary: Archer helps T'Pol with a problem; her situation has a domino effect.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the Trek dance hall; I like to call the steps once in awhile.



Chapter Two



The next morning Archer walked into sickbay to see Tucker talking with the doctor. He waited while they finished up.

"I've been feelin' kinda strange, doc; real possessive of Hoshi, gettin' jealous whenever she talks to any other man. This morning when I walked into th' wardroom and saw her surrounded by most of the male crew, I nearly lost it. I wanted to grab her and hole up someplace, just the two of us." Tucker sighed and rubbed his face. "Then the dreams I had last night, well, the least said the better. What th' hell is going on with me?"

Phlox ran the scanner over Tucker. "Hmm, yes, androgen levels are high, especially testosterone and DHEA, adrenaline up too. I have noticed Ensign Sato looking more --- sensual lately; I think I'll get her in here to run a few tests. I wonder ---." Phlox looked up and saw Archer outside the doorway.

"There is nothing technically wrong with you, Commander, right now all I can suggest is to keep your mind on your work, and plenty of cold showers." He clapped Tucker on the shoulder and gave him a smile.

"Yeah, I've already tried that last one," Tucker muttered as he walked out. "Cap'n."

"Trip," Archer nodded back.

"What can I do for you today, Captain?" Phlox ushered Archer into his office.

"I talked to T'Pol last night, and she asked me to do her a -- favor."

"Ah yes, her upcoming pon farr. Have you agreed to do this -- favor for her?" Phlox looked searchingly at Archer.

"I have," Archer said slowly. "We melded last night, I can still feel her in my brain. I keep wanting to turn around to see who's there. But I need to know more. "

"Well, there's really not that much more to tell, other than what I'm sure she has already shared with you. There is of course the medical side to it: the rapid build up of hormones which causes an uncontrollable desire to mate; the extreme hyperthermia which basically cooks the internal organs, and causes brain damage ---"

"I get the idea," interrupted Archer. "She broke her betrothal, staying on the Enterprise and risking all this - chance of dying, mating with someone outside her species, not forming a proper link with the one she did mate with -- why? To continue a mission with a people that she doesn't like and don't like her?" A confused Archer looked at Phlox.

"I have no answers for you, Captain. Sub-Commander T'Pol has always kept her reasons for anything her own. The only piece of advice I have is to be a considerate lover to her. Vulcan males are swept up by their own passions during pon farr and are not always attentive to their partner's needs. There won't be much else but mating the first few times, but later on it isn't as frantic. She may not show it, but I'm sure she would appreciate it."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Archer got up and walked to the bridge, deep in thought.

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It was a strange morning on the bridge of the Enterprise. Archer was getting used to the feeling of someone else in his head, and Tucker kept coming to visit on the weakest of excuses. Reed and Mayweather would stare at Hoshi, Hoshi would gaze at Tucker, and Tucker alternated between sneaking glances at Hoshi and glaring at Reed and Mayweather.

Tucker finally broke the silence. "It's 1200, want to go to lunch with me, Hoshi?"

Reed and Mayweather's heads jerked up, frowns on both their faces.

"I have to stop by sickbay first, how about after?" Hoshi replied, closing the files she had been working on.

"I'll walk you there." Tucker took her arm and marched her to the lift. He could feel two sets of eyes boring into his back.

"What was that all about?" Archer asked no one in particular. "Hungry, T'Pol?" He walked over to her station.

"Yes, I will be with you in a moment, Captain," T'Pol closed out her workstation also.

"Reed, you have the bridge," Archer tossed out as the lift doors closed after him.

Mayweather turned back to the view screen. "I don't know what it is, but Hoshi is looking mighty good to me!"

"Oh, shut up," Reed replied, still looking at the lift doors.

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"How are you feeling?" Archer waited until the crewman had set their lunch down and left the room.

"The fever is building, I expect it will come to a head sometime tomorrow. I would like to continuing working in my cabin, it is calming there and I can meditate if I need to."

"That's fine. I have been feeling more - antsy today. Like an itch I can't scratch."

"Is the link causing you discomfort?"

"No, it's just different."

They ate their lunch in silence, Archer trying to reach out to T'Pol through the link.

"Are you sure you are alright?"

"What? Oh, yes, fine, why?"

"I am sensing something from you, but I cannot tell what it is."

"Oh." Archer cleared his throat. "I was trying to see if I could send you my thoughts."

T'Pol raised her eyebrow. "We can practice if you would like. When we mate, I will need you to remain focused, and to project that sense of calm back to me. It will help control my emotions." T'Pol put her soupspoon down. "Are you ready?"

Archer took a last swig of his ice tea. "Ready when you are."

They both closed their eyes. "Do you sense me in your mind, Jonathan? Can you feel me there?"

"Yes, I have it -"

"Follow it back to me."

Archer reached out for the thread of T'Pol consciousness in his mind. It was like tracing a meandering stream. He felt the same calmness as before, but with the strong undercurrent of desire. Suddenly it felt as if he was plunged into a pool filled with T'Pol's thoughts.

:::You are here.:::

He heard her voice from within. :::Where? :::

:::In my mind. :::

:::I thought we would only be sharing emotions.:::

::: - Not everything is a science, Jonathan. When we withdrawal from one another we will go back to only sensing emotions. Can you think of a place where you feel calm, relaxed?:::

:::Yes --- :::

:::I can feel it. Open up to me, Jonathan, share this place with me. :::

Archer intensified his thought of the time he was in an EV suit, floating above Jupiter, looking out into deep space. It was the most peaceful he had ever felt, knowing that one day he would be traveling amongst those stars. He tried to project that to T'Pol.

"Phlox to Archer." The doctor's voice cut into Archer's concentration. The deeper link was broken, and Archer was left with an ache behind his eyes.

"Your image was peaceful, Jonathan, the link is stronger than I thought it would be. I have made a wise choice in selecting you to mate with."

Still a little rattled, Archer could only mumble a thanks.

"Go ahead, Phlox."

"I would like to see you in sickbay when you have a moment."

"I'm on my way. Archer out."

"I'll see you on the bridge," he said to T'Pol, getting up and moving toward the door.

She had already picked up the spoon and was calmly eating her soup. "Until later, Captain."

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