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.

Notes: I got my Vulcan phases and words from http://www.pinette.net/chris/startrek/vlg.html. Thanks, Chris! All mistakes with syntax are my own.

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



Chapter Four



Archer was wandering the corridors of his ship. Through their link he could feel T'Pol's fever rising, and the feedback was getting him aroused. Archer could only imagine the state she was in. He tried to concentrate on Jupiter.

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Tucker stood just inside Hoshi's cabin. The two of them looked at each other across the miniscule room as the tension grew.

"I'm not goin' to leave when this is over. Not unless you want me to," Tucker finally spoke. "Phlox said you picked me above of the rest of the crew. I'm hopin' that means somethin'."

"It does. These hormones are overwhelming me. I just have to know that I won't wake up in the morning and you'll be gone."

"I won't. But you'll have to take m'word for it. You'll have to trust me."

Tucker moved to stand a handbreadth from Hoshi. His control was slipping in this pheromone saturated compartment of hers.

She pulled his head down. Her kiss seared Tucker's soul. "Let's get out of this hole in the wall," he managed to get out. "My cabin's bigger."

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Reed was walking the ship also; he was trying to get rid of his anger as well as his arousal. Finally ending up in the armory, he worked on his experimental weapons, visions of alien ships neatly exploding in his mind.

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Tucker managed to keep his hands off Hoshi until they got back to his cabin. As soon as the door closed, he reached for the zipper of her uniform.

"Let me," Hoshi whispered, stopping him, and pulled Tucker's zipper down as he removed his boots. Hoshi peeled off his uniform, nuzzling whatever part of him the fabric revealed. Lifting his T-shirt up over his head, she reversed it down his arms, trapping them behind his back. Slipping her fingers under the band of his boxers, Hoshi slid them off too.

Breathing heavily, Tucker could only stare at her with glazed eyes. "Hoshi --" he groaned.

"Shhh." She kissed him, only their lips touching. Hoshi kept the kiss as Tucker heard the thump of her boots, the low growl of her zipper, and the rustle of her uniform. He could sense her movements as Hoshi pushed her tank top off her shoulders and over her hips. His mouth became more insistent as the scraps of lace loosely called underwear and a bra finally joined the rest of the clothes.

Hoshi stepped back and spent a moment looking at Tucker, and letting him look at her. "Darlin' -" he pleaded, taking a step toward her. Hoshi gave Tucker another kiss, holding him close as she turned them both, pushing him further into the room. Just before they got to the bed, she pulled off his T-shirt. Instinctively his arms went around her as they fell onto the bunk.

"Gawd, Hoshi, you feel so damn good -" Tucker's mouth and hands roamed over any part of her they could reach. "-- so warm, so smooth -"

Hoshi purred as she returned each caress.

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Archer passed Reed on his way to the wardroom. "Looks like we're alone for dinner. Come join me."

Reed shrugged and followed Archer. Both men ate in silence, Archer watching Reed pick at his food.

"Anything you want to talk about, Lieutenant?"

"No, sir."

Archer waited.

"I still can't believe I lost out to Trip."

"Reed, did you ever feel anything other than friendship for Ensign Sato?"

Reed sighed. "No. I realize now that only Trip would have done for her." He gave Archer a self-depreciating grin. "I just haven't lost at anything in quite awhile."

Archer barked a laugh. "Why don't you go to the gym and work off some of that frustration. You're certainly not using food to comfort yourself." He gestured to Reed's barely touched plate.

"Good idea, Captain. If you'll excuse me." Reed wiped his mouth and left the room at Archer's nod.

Archer sighed, put down his fork and left as he found he wasn't hungry either.

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In the gym Reed was starting on the free weights when Cutler came over. "Need a spotter?" At his affirmative grunt she moved to the top of the bench. Lifting the barbell, Reed noticed he had a rather nice view, up Cutler's flat stomach to the swell of her breasts. His mind started wandering as he stared.

"You know, sir," Cutler's voice brought Reed out of his trance. "Hoshi isn't the only female on this ship." Her eyes moved from his midsection up to his face. Reed looked at Cutler; she looked right back.

"Have you eaten yet, Lieutenant?"

"I missed dessert, sir ---"

"Not yet, you haven't."

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Back in his cabin, Archer pulled off his uniform. His skin felt crawly, his brain wired. He threw himself down on his bunk. :::Get a grip. How are you going to help T'Pol if you lose it now? Think of Jupiter --:::

Archer felt the tension dissipate as he imagined floating in the EV suit, looking out into the stars. He tried to send the feelings of tranquility back to T'Pol, but Archer couldn't tell if it was working. He finally fell into a fitful sleep, plagued again by visions of a hot barren planet.

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The door to his cabin hissed shut behind Reed and Cutler. "Do you know what you're doing, Cutler?" he asked as she advanced.

"Elizabeth. And I know exactly what I am doing, Malcolm." One hand moved to the back of his neck, up into his hair; the other curved around his waist and slipped under the waistband of his boxers. Her mouth came up to nip at his, her tongue tracing its outline.

"Elizabeth -"

"Let her go, Malcolm. She wasn't right for you; you know that."

"And you are?"

"Damn right I am."

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Archer bolted upright in his bunk. The feelings of desire and need from T'Pol were overwhelming. He checked his chronometer. :::0200::: The emotions raging through Archer wouldn't let him get back to sleep. He took a deep breath and reached out, following the stream of her consciousness. :::T'Pol:::

:::Jonathan. Sahris.:::1

:::At least she isn't too far away::: Two cabins down he waited for T'Pol to answer the door.

"Yasha."2 The heat hit Archer as soon as the door opened, and he stumbled over the gravity shelf as he entered.

"Ponu faru ra tako itisha. Maiya, wani ra yana yorosha i'!"3

T'Pol had Archer up against the door as soon as it closed, her hands tugging at his boxers.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "T'Pol, wani ra kotai Yakana ro konusha. Yanna ra Eikana ro futisha."4

"Now, Jonathan, take me now." She finished ripping off his boxers and slipped out of the Vulcan robes she had on, leaning into him again. Archer gasped.

"Your skin is so warm." He wrapped is arms around her, trying to touch as much of her as he could at once.

Archer kissed her, feeling himself slide deeper into the morass of T'Pol's desires and needs. The pain of her nails scratching his shoulder brought him back into his own mind.

:::Jupiter. Think of Jupiter, and the stars.::: Archer concentrated on that image until he felt her body relax somewhat. Trailing kisses down her jaw, he picked T'Pol up and took her over to the bed. As she had wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms still clung to his neck, Archer fell onto the bunk with T'Pol under him. He had a struggle prying her arms away and up into the restraints at the top of the bunk. T'Pol started growling, biting Archer's neck and tightened her legs.

"Wanino aisha, open to me." 5 He bit her in return, his hands pushing down hard on her hips. With a moan, T'Pol let go of Archer's waist and slid her legs down his body.

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In Tucker's cabin someone stirred.

"Again?" the other asked.

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T'Pol's spent body shivered next to Archer's. "Wani ra yatomi ro itisha."6

Pulling a blanket up over them both, he pushed her damp hair away from her face and kissed her temple. "Nemusha, wanimo aisha."7 Archer pulled T'Pol close, staying linked as they dreamed of Jupiter.

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Reed rolled over in his sleep, throwing a possessive arm over Cutler, who threw over her own possessive arm, and a leg for good measure.

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Chapter Five coming soon ---

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1 Hurry.

2 Come.

3 Mating time is here. Please, I want you now!

4 I understand little Vulcan. Speak English.

5 My love.

6 I am cold.

7 Sleep, my love.