Author's Note: I'm really sorry for how long this chapter took. I had one of those serious cases of writer's block and couldn't think of anything to write that seemed relevant. Anything that did get thought of or write was off topic, poorly phrased, or five years into the future stuff. Anyway, if it stinks or not what you expected, I'm sorry; my muse doesn't seem to what to cooperate.
Summary: What happens when T'Pol sneaks out of her room to avoid being followed by T'Rith?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 14:
Decisions and Secrets
**Enterprise Hall**
T'Pol had not been left alone the next day either. T'Rith took his orders to observe her very seriously; he was at her door when she awoke and only left her side when she went to her quarters to meditate and sleep. He, of course, made sure that Trip in no way entered her room.
T'Pol had noticed that he followed a strict pattern; he arrived five minutes before her sifts began in which she was just about to leave. So, she had a plan; she would wake and get ready an hour earlier. By doing so, she could leave, unburdened about T'Rith snooping and watching all she did, and visit Trip. He had the same sift as she did meaning he would be waking up soon.
They had not seen each other for the past four days, except for the occasional pass by or for ship's business. She was dying to see him and could sense of ten that was eager to see her.
She found that no matter how irrational and impassive it seemed, she could help but go to him. She had a deep desire to see him and could no longer suppress it. She felt that if this desire to see him was not fulfilled, she would not be able to hide it from T'Rith any longer with his close watch over her.
She stopped at his door and her hand moved up to hit the buzzer. But before she hit it, she looked down the hall, both to her left and right. Since she saw no one, she hit the buzzer and waited for it to be answered.
When the door slid open a few minutes later, it reveled Trip. He seemed half awake and his hair was ruffled. The way he slouched against the side of the door and his attire suggested that he had just recently gotten out of bed.
Once he saw who it was, he immediately perked up and smiled warmly. "Hey, how did you escape your 'master'?" He asked as he pulled her closer to him.
Her hands moved to his chest and her eyes locked on his. She wore her own smile. Since she was still working to control the use of her muscles, it appeared to be slightly forced but Trip could tell that it was genuine. "T'Rith will not come by my quarters for another hour. Meaning-"
"We have an hour to ourselves." Trip's smile widened and he leaned in to kiss her. Then she was steered into Trip's room.
T'Rith had hid behind the cover of the wall as he watched T'Pol buzz the Commander's quarters. An action such as this was not sanctioned by his society but in this case he had been given permission to use 'any means necessary' to fin out what he needed to know.
He saw her as she allowed him to touch her. That thought had come close to disgusting him until he thought about it. He had realized that any Vulcan serving among humans must have learned to become accustom to be touched by them. But what she was now engaged with the Commander than a normal, casual touch. That showed to him that there was more to their relationship. She acted as if they were…
He could not bring himself to say the word. He had suspected it before, but now he was pretty certain. 'She has bonded with this human,' he thought as the door closed to Trip's quarters. This intrigued him but the only logical explanation was something that was impossible.
He made a mental not to discuss this with her later, but for now he would allow her time with her fiancé. White and he had hounded them quite a bit; they had not had much time to themselves that T'Rith was sure they needed.
He started down the opposite way of the hall than he had originally planned. White would have to know basically what happened and that they could have their space that he thought was much needed.
If he had not been Vulcan, than the smile that threatened to surface would already be hysterical laughter. But he made it stay in check as he walked down the deserted halls in his usual stride to White's temporary quarters.
**White's Quarters**
"Are you certain?" White hissed to his partner.
"You cannot be absolutely certain with this type of thing unless you ask them, which I might add is an invasion of their privacy." T'Rith calmly spoke back.
"Everything we've seen here points to the inevitable; they are already 'together'. Just not in the legal sense."
"And are we to allow them that privilege?"
"I don't think our decision is going to influence them to or not to. If we say 'yes', they will gladly do so. If we say 'no', they will do it in private. There is no stopping them."
"And yet we cannot remove either or both. They must stay together."
"Starfleet nor the High Command needs to know… that they're bonded. That's not part of the plan."
"But if it was something that happened, do you not think they would tell us? It is an important factor."
"Who knows. Sometimes I think they have their own agenda," White said in a solemn voice leaving T'Rith only the luxury of a simple nod.
**Archer's Ready Room**
"Captain, we have reached a conclusion," T'Rith began as he, Archer, T'Pol, Trip, and White stood in Archer's Ready Room two days later. The three of them remained silent as they anxiously awaited the news. The week had passed and, considering that both T'Rith and White had become a little more lax in their persistence, they assumed they had all the information they wanted.
"We have observed that the two can work together and their working relationship on board Enterprise has not been compromise," White stated.
"We could have told you that," Archer interrupted. T'Rith rose an eyebrow in annoyance at him, but he didn't speak about it.
"From what I have heard from Commander Tucker and Ambassador T'Rith from Sub-Commander T'Pol, they are both very… understanding about the other's culture. Thought they may not understand it in the fullest, they still are protective and allow the other to continue their own practices." White concluded his part if the report the two of them had made up for the three they were talking to.
"Both Starfleet and the Vulcan High Command have wanted a closer relationship between Humans and Vulcans. Although it will take both populations sometime to adjust, a step like this will help in achieving this goal."
Archer, Trip, and T'Pol were shocked. They wanted this! No, this must have been a dream. They were all dreaming. "Then what was the point of coming to observe us?" Archer though aloud.
"Both our governments believe that the only way for a union such as this to be possible, both parties must be able to understand and accept the other's culture, believes, and continuous. That is why we were here; to see if they indeed had those qualities." Once White had finished his explanation, all three of them were so shocked, T'Pol the only one not showing it, that they were speechless.
"So, in light of what we have seen and heard, they have their government's permission to get married," White finished off. The minute he did, Jon slapped Trip on the back and Trip himself was grinning ear to ear. T'Pol's eyes let a glint show through that very few people would recognize as joy.
"You're serious? You're givin' us permission to get married?" Trip asked; he almost didn't believe what was going on.
"That is correct," T'Rith answered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmm, what plan? Who is it with there own agenda? And why did they allow them to get married when they seemed so against it in the beginning? I guess you only have your own minds to think about that for now; I'm not going to tell you…yet.
Please R/R with your comments and/or answers.
