Disclaimer: We own none of the Star Trek universe, and wish many thanks
upon those that are involved with its creation and running.
A/N: Is there paper in the 2150's? We don't know, so if this is wrong.. tough!
Chapter Two: Out of the Hat
There was a sombre silence in the Captain's ready room. Trip had managed to rope in Captain Archer and Lieutenant Reed, Travis had persuaded Doctor Phlox, and Hoshi had even managed to get T'Pol vaguely interested. After repeated explanations of what exactly a 'Secret Santa' was, everyone had gathered to put their names into a hat.
In silence, Archer held out a regulation, Starfleet issue cap, upside down. Inside was a single data chip. Without saying anything, Hoshi dropped her own data chip into the cap.
"Now, y'all know what I want for Christmas right?" Trip asked, hesitating before putting his data chip in.
"A warp eight engine?" Travis asked. "In which case, I want one too!"
Everyone chuckled dutifully as they dropped their data chips in to join the rest. Archer jiggled the cap and contents about. Everyone waited. It all seemed so serious, and yet it was supposed to be a bit of fun. Yet everyone was dreading having to get T'Pol a present, except for the Vulcan herself.
"Who picks first then?" Reed asked, speaking for the first time since greeting everyone.
"Ladies first." Archer proffered the cap to T'Pol. She glanced into the cap with one eyebrow raised in typical Vulcan scepticism. However, she plucked out a data chip and moved round the desk to the computer. She put the data chip into its slot and activated the monitor.
"I have..."
"NO!" The humans protested in unison, before Hoshi added, "You're not supposed to tell us who it is, remember?"
"Indeed."
~~***~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
Chatter had broken out once everyone had found out who they were getting a present for. Travis and Trip were arguing about how to wrap up a warp eight engine. Hoshi was explaining to Doctor Phlox the principle of Christmas.. for about the eighth time. Reed was somewhat quieter than the rest, and his cheeks had gone a fierce shade of red.
"Captain." T'Pol turned to Archer.
"What is it?" Archer asked, wondering how on Earth you would ever find enough wrapping paper to wrap up a warp engine. Paper was scarce enough on Earth these days as it was.
"What makes an appropriate Christmas gift?"
"It depends on who you're buying for."
"Ah. Generally speaking then. A friend."
Archer paused to think. He obviously wasn't going to be able to dupe her into telling him who she had pulled out of the cap. He answered as best he could. "I don't know. Chocolates, a piece of jewellery.. a potted plant.." He shrugged.
"Thank you."
"We have a saying on Earth." Archer tried to be more helpful. "It's the thought that counts."
~~***~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
Later that evening, Archer and Trip were sat drinking bourbon together in the Captain's mess and watching a game of water polo. Suddenly there was a bleep at the door. The door slid open at Archer's command, revealing a somewhat flustered Lieutenant Reed.
"Malcolm!" Archer greeted him. "What can we do for you?"
"I was wondering.. is it against the rules to swap data chips?"
Trip and Archer glanced at each other, a smile creeping onto the chief engineer's face.
"You got T'Pol, dincha?"
Reed nodded miserably.
"Well, somebody had to I guess." Pondered Archer "But then, I suppose getting a Christmas present for a Vulcan might be tricky.."
"Oh I don't think Malcolm's without ideas, Jon." Trip was grinning.
"Just kind of short of.. 'appropriate' ideas." Reed confessed, staring down at the deck plating and blushing furiously. The image of T'Pol unwrapping something small, black and lacy just wouldn't get out of his head. He looked up again hopefully. "Can I persuade either of you gentlemen to swap?"
"Not me." Trip refused quickly. "I got mine sussed."
"Alright." Archer stood and fished his data chip out of his pocket. When Trip and Reed stared at him in amazement, he shrugged. "You gotta think of these things as a challenge."
Malcolm had never looked, or felt, so relieved in his entire life.
A/N: So. Archer's getting a pressie for T'Pol. Trip's being secretive. But just what do you get a Vulcan for Christmas? You'll just have to wait and find out!
A/N: Is there paper in the 2150's? We don't know, so if this is wrong.. tough!
Chapter Two: Out of the Hat
There was a sombre silence in the Captain's ready room. Trip had managed to rope in Captain Archer and Lieutenant Reed, Travis had persuaded Doctor Phlox, and Hoshi had even managed to get T'Pol vaguely interested. After repeated explanations of what exactly a 'Secret Santa' was, everyone had gathered to put their names into a hat.
In silence, Archer held out a regulation, Starfleet issue cap, upside down. Inside was a single data chip. Without saying anything, Hoshi dropped her own data chip into the cap.
"Now, y'all know what I want for Christmas right?" Trip asked, hesitating before putting his data chip in.
"A warp eight engine?" Travis asked. "In which case, I want one too!"
Everyone chuckled dutifully as they dropped their data chips in to join the rest. Archer jiggled the cap and contents about. Everyone waited. It all seemed so serious, and yet it was supposed to be a bit of fun. Yet everyone was dreading having to get T'Pol a present, except for the Vulcan herself.
"Who picks first then?" Reed asked, speaking for the first time since greeting everyone.
"Ladies first." Archer proffered the cap to T'Pol. She glanced into the cap with one eyebrow raised in typical Vulcan scepticism. However, she plucked out a data chip and moved round the desk to the computer. She put the data chip into its slot and activated the monitor.
"I have..."
"NO!" The humans protested in unison, before Hoshi added, "You're not supposed to tell us who it is, remember?"
"Indeed."
~~***~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
Chatter had broken out once everyone had found out who they were getting a present for. Travis and Trip were arguing about how to wrap up a warp eight engine. Hoshi was explaining to Doctor Phlox the principle of Christmas.. for about the eighth time. Reed was somewhat quieter than the rest, and his cheeks had gone a fierce shade of red.
"Captain." T'Pol turned to Archer.
"What is it?" Archer asked, wondering how on Earth you would ever find enough wrapping paper to wrap up a warp engine. Paper was scarce enough on Earth these days as it was.
"What makes an appropriate Christmas gift?"
"It depends on who you're buying for."
"Ah. Generally speaking then. A friend."
Archer paused to think. He obviously wasn't going to be able to dupe her into telling him who she had pulled out of the cap. He answered as best he could. "I don't know. Chocolates, a piece of jewellery.. a potted plant.." He shrugged.
"Thank you."
"We have a saying on Earth." Archer tried to be more helpful. "It's the thought that counts."
~~***~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
Later that evening, Archer and Trip were sat drinking bourbon together in the Captain's mess and watching a game of water polo. Suddenly there was a bleep at the door. The door slid open at Archer's command, revealing a somewhat flustered Lieutenant Reed.
"Malcolm!" Archer greeted him. "What can we do for you?"
"I was wondering.. is it against the rules to swap data chips?"
Trip and Archer glanced at each other, a smile creeping onto the chief engineer's face.
"You got T'Pol, dincha?"
Reed nodded miserably.
"Well, somebody had to I guess." Pondered Archer "But then, I suppose getting a Christmas present for a Vulcan might be tricky.."
"Oh I don't think Malcolm's without ideas, Jon." Trip was grinning.
"Just kind of short of.. 'appropriate' ideas." Reed confessed, staring down at the deck plating and blushing furiously. The image of T'Pol unwrapping something small, black and lacy just wouldn't get out of his head. He looked up again hopefully. "Can I persuade either of you gentlemen to swap?"
"Not me." Trip refused quickly. "I got mine sussed."
"Alright." Archer stood and fished his data chip out of his pocket. When Trip and Reed stared at him in amazement, he shrugged. "You gotta think of these things as a challenge."
Malcolm had never looked, or felt, so relieved in his entire life.
A/N: So. Archer's getting a pressie for T'Pol. Trip's being secretive. But just what do you get a Vulcan for Christmas? You'll just have to wait and find out!