Sleeping Arrangements
It was some time later, perhaps as long as
two hours later, when Trip awoke to the sound of someone at his door. He
was momentarily disoriented, but then he switched on the light and went
to answer the annoying chime.
When the door whisked open, Sub-commander
T'Pol was standing there in a robe with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Is something the matter?" he questioned.
"I could not fall asleep. I continued to think
about what you said last night, even after I had decided to sleep."
"What I said last night?" questioned Trip,
rubbing his eyes and trying to remember.
"That I should stay and be certain that neither
of us would disappear."
"Oh, that."
"Perhaps to do so tonight would be more appropriate."
"Excuse me?" questioned Trip, certain that
he had not heard or understood properly.
"Does the offer still stand?"
"Of course." he answered, recovering quickly
from the initial surprise. He stepped aside so she could enter his quarters.
He stood there stupidly for a moment as she,
still wearing the robe, climbed into bed and said, "Trip, we only have
a few hours left to sleep. Are just going to stand there?"
"No, no, wouldn't dream of it." Commander
Tucker climbed into bed and switched off the lights. "Are you sure the
smell won't bother you?" he asked her in the dark.
"I took another dose of my nasal numbing agent.
I will be fine."
"That's good to know." he said.
They both lay in bed for several minutes,
looking at the ceiling in the dark and listening to the comfortable hum
of the engines.
"Good-night." she said sleepily, closing her
eyes.
Trip lay there for a long time before he could
fall asleep again.
"Don't let me forget this." he pleaded silently
with the surrounding darkness. "Don't let me ever forget this."
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