Chapter 4- Water Visions

Hoshi looked over at Trip, who was bending over and stuffing his belongings back into his bag. He really did have a nice backside, not that she had noticed it or anything. It was just common knowledge. All the women on board were always comparing the different male crewmembers assets, so to speak. Well, all the women except for the Sub-Commander that is.

Besides, everyone knew that the captain liked her, and she the captain. It was so obvious. It was only a matter of time until they gave into their mutual attraction and finally did something about it.

Hoshi's reverie was broken as someone sat down next to her. She looked up to see Ensign Cutler on the small log next to her.

"Hey, Hoshi, what you looking at?" Cutler grinned.

Hoshi blushed slightly and looked down at Porthos, who was curled up at her feet, his little head resting on her shoes.

"It's okay. I'm just messing with you. Besides, I can see what had you so enthralled," Cutler grinned as she watched Trip bend over once again to retrieve something that he had stuffed back into his bag.

Hoshi smiled and looked back at Trip. Oh yeah, she was definitely

enthralled.

T'Pol watched Archer as he gazed out at the stream that lay before them. His eyes had glazed over slightly, and he had a huge grin plastered on his face. He watched the blue-green water rush by, running over small stones that broke the surface.

T'Pol looked back at the water and then at Archer once more as she heard him sigh.

"This is absolutely beautiful, don't you think?" he asked, never taking his eyes off the stream.

"It is pleasing to the eye."

"Well, I guess that means you like it," he replied, turning his grin onto her. "How about we see where this little stream goes."

He started walking in the opposite direction of the way the stream

was flowing. His hand still gripped hers tightly and she wondered if he even realized he was still holding it. The emotions that were flowing off of him and into her were not unpleasant, but she was having slight trouble blocking them.

Deciding that it couldn't do her any harm, she let them wash over her. She felt his excitement over exploring this new world, his fear that something might happen, and a very subtle, but obvious pleasure -- a pleasure to be sharing this experience with her.

She shuddered at what that could mean. If she didn't stop this, she could be putting herself in an awkward position.

Resigning herself, she began to pull her hand away from his, when

Archer suddenly stopped in front of her. Both stared in wonder at the small expanse of water -- the product of a beautiful waterfall. The waterfall was approximately 10 feet high. Blue-green water fell over the side and splashed into a small, but seemingly deep

pool at the base.

Archer laughed and looked back at T'Pol. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked.

She let the images from his touch wash over her once more, and in her mind's eye she saw him splashing in the pool. As she watched, she saw herself jump in from the ledge by the waterfall. In the vision, T'Pol surfaced from the water, as Archer pulled her tightly against him and kissed her passionately.

T'Pol gasped and pulled her hand from his grasp.

Archer smiled and set his bag on the shore. He started to unzip the front of his jumpsuit.

"Captain, I don't believe this would be appropriate," T'Pol started.

"What's the harm? You said so yourself, after the survey team, there isn't anything harmful on this planet. What's the harm in taking a swim? It's not going to hurt anything."

Archer finished pulling off his jumpsuit. He stood before her in his blue underwear.

"Besides," he grinned. "You've seen me in my skivvies before."

After that, he climbed up the side of the waterfall and stood on the ledge beside.

"Geronimo!" he cried out as he jumped off and into the pool, creating a large splash that sent sending water everywhere, including on the still clothed T'Pol.

Archer surfaced a few seconds later.

"Woo, you won't believe how deep this thing is. I don't think I can touch the bottom. Perhaps it's a bottomless pit," he chuckled, his eyebrows waggling.

"Perhaps," T'Pol replied, though it was highly improbable that it was a 'bottomless pit.'

"Come on in, T'Pol. The waters great," Archer said, floating on the top.

"I don't think so."

"Why not? Can't swim," Archer leered.

"Of course I can swim. It would not be logical to be unable to swim. What if we were to come across a fully water planet and I was unable to perform my duties because I could not swim?"

"Then what's stopping you," Archer challenged, turning his face back up towards the heavens.

T'Pol stood there for a moment. He did have a point, and the water did look inviting. Was it right, though, for her to be swimming with her captain? Taking a deep breath, she began to peel off her uniform. Once she was dressed only in her underwear, she looked back over at Archer. He was floating in the water, his eyes closed.

She walked over to the waterfall and crawled up the side to the ledge. What was it he had called out as he jumped?

"Geronimo," she cried, diving into the pool below.

The water stung her skin, as it was much colder than she had realized. She broke the surface, gasping as the cold seeped into her skin. Unable to suppress the shiver that racked her body, she groaned.

Archer swam over to her.

"Are you okay?" he asked reaching out and touching her shoulder.

Once again, his previous vision ran through her mind.

She nodded.

"I'm fine. It's just; the water is much colder than I had anticipated."

Archer swam closer and put his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

"Captain, this is inappropriate," T'Pol started, but was cut off by Archer.

"It's Jonathan, T'Pol. We are off duty, you don't have to call me Captain," he said, his voice deep and hushed.

She shivered again, but this time it wasn't from the cold.

Continued in Chapter 5