A/N: Just before I begin, I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed this story. You guys rock. I'm so happy that you have enjoyed it thus far.
Anyone else sad to see this end? I'm sad. :(
Anyhoo...here you go. Love to all.
Chapter 13- Endless Possibilities
Archer slowed as he and T'Pol neared the camp. He held T'Pol's hand in his, and he used it to pull her back to him. T'Pol in tow, he led them to the edge of the forest, so the trees hid them from view. Dropping his bag, he looked around; making sure no one saw him or her.
"Jonathan?" T'Pol asked, obviously confused at his actions.
"Shh … I just want a few more moments alone with you before we get back to the real world," he said, lowering his lips to hers.
Her mouth went slack against his, and it wasn't long before her lips began to move against his. For someone who had never really been with a man before, she was quite good at this. Definitely a quick learner.
He raised his hands to her cheeks and caressed them. He felt her move her hands up and grab hold of one of his. Feeling two fingers press against his palm, he formed the gesture she had taught him. As their fingers caressed, their kiss became more heated. He wished they didn't have to go back to the ship today; he wished they could stay this way forever.
Knowing that there was no way that they could, he released her lips and took a step back, their fingers still touching.
Her eyes were glazed, and her pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips. He groaned in response. It couldn't go any further right now, so he let her fingers go.
Pulling back, he reached down and grabbed both of their bags -- his which he had dropped purposely, and hers which had been dropped carelessly once his mouth had descended onto hers.
He watched her swallow, and then nodded. She nodded back, and he began walking towards the camp, her at his side.
As they approached, he saw Hoshi, Travis, and Trip standing in a group watching them walk their way. He took in the grins on the ensigns' faces and Trip slack jaw and knew immediately that his and T'Pol's last minute forest embrace had been seen.
Looking over at her, he knew that she realized it as well. She raised her brow at his look and he just grinned and shrugged. At least it had only been his trustworthy friends that had taken notice.
He walked straight over to the three officers. T'Pol followed him.
"Did you guys have a relaxing night?" Archer asked.
Hoshi and Travis smiled and nodded. Archer looked over at Trip, who hadn't given him a response. Trip's eyes were roving from him to T'Pol and back, his mouth still hanging open.
Archer watched as Hoshi reached up her hand, and silently shut Trip's mouth. This seemed to break his spell and he stammered, "Uh, yea, relaxin', right."
Archer grinned and called the whole group over, letting them know it was time to get back to the ship. He motioned for Travis to go ahead to the shuttle-pod, and everyone made their ways to their respective pods.
As he walked, Porthos ran up to him, jumping up, signaling to Archer that he wanted to be petted. Archer bent over and picked him up, chuckling as Porthos smothered him with puppy kisses.
Hoshi laughed as she walked beside him.
"He's missed you. He decided that he wanted to spend the night with Ensign Cutler though, so I didn't get to see him much," she said.
"Ah, he's such a ladies man," Archer laughed.
Hoshi giggled in response, and sped up her pace, slowing down only once she reached Trip.
Archer watched the two interact. Hmm … perhaps there was a reason that Hoshi hadn't been able to spend much time with Porthos. Could there possibly be something going on between his friends?
Archer sat on his bed, a book in one hand, and Porthos in the other. He contemplated the events of the past two hours.
The crew had arrived back on the ship, the next group ready to go down to the planet to enjoy their shore leave.
He had immediately gone to his ready room, telling T'Pol that they would talk later. She had agreed and made her way to her quarters to unpack.
It hadn't been more than 5 minutes before the chime to his ready room had signaled he had a guest. He had told them to come in, and was surprised to see it was Trip.
"Cap'n, I think we need to talk," he had said, a serious look on his face.
Archer had gestured for him to sit. Trip sat down and had gathered his thoughts.
After a few long moments of uncomfortable silence, Trip began.
"I don't exactly know what I saw down there, Jon. I mean, I know what I saw, I just can't believe it. You and T'Pol?"
Archer nodded, "It would appear so. Is this a problem to you?"
"Nah, I just can't really understand it. Jon, she's Vulcan. You hate Vulcans," Trip reminded him.
"Well, they sort of grow on you after a while, Trip."
"Okay, if you say so. I just don't get it, but it's your life. If she makes you happy, which is almost an oxymoron in and of itself, then I'm happy for ya. I won't stand in your way," Trip said, but didn't move to leave.
"Was there something else, Trip?"
"Yeah, uh, ya see, while we were down on the surface, I kinda got a lil' closer to someone," he said quietly.
Archer signaled for him to go on, sure of where the conversation was going, but wanting to hear it from Trip.
"Well, me and Hoshi kinda," Trip stammered. "Well we kinda kissed."
Archer laughed. That was all? They had just kissed and Trip was acting embarrassed about that?
"Okay?" Archer said once his laughter had subsided a bit.
"Well, I mean, I know she's like a daughter to ya, and I just wasn't sure how you'd feel bout me datin' her." Trip said, his face red.
"Daughter? I'm not that old," Archer sobered.
"You're a geezer," Trip laughed in response.
Archer raised an eyebrow. "Just keep digging that hole. Keep on and maybe I won't give you my blessing."
"You'd do that?" Trip widened his eyes.
Archer leaned forward. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. I know the man you are, and frankly, I don't think Hoshi could find better. You have my permission to pursue the relationship, as long as it doesn't interfere with your work. If that happens, you'll have to end it. Starfleet doesn't really like the fraternization between crew members, but they aren't out here, I am. Relationships will grow on a ship this size, and we can't all be expected to stay celibate, now can we?"
Trip nodded in response.
A quiet silence overtook the room as the two men thought over the past night.
Trip stood and made his way to the door. Turning back to Archer he smiled.
"You know, you're not half bad, for an old guy."
After that, Trip darted out the door, before he could respond.
Now, here he was, two hours later, sitting in his room, reading.
The door chimed and Porthos jumped off the bed and ran to the door. Archer chuckled and called out, "Come on in, T'Pol."
The door opened and T'Pol walked in, nodded her greetings to Porthos. Porthos followed her to her chair, and sat by her feet as she sat down.
Archer smiled and shook his head. She even had his dog in love with her.
"Jonathan," she started, only to be cut off by him.
"I know, I know, we need to talk."
She nodded in response. The room grew quiet, only the sound of their breathing filtered through.
"Look, I know what you are going to say. That it isn't rational to have the two of us pursuing a relationship while we both serve on the same ship. That a captain and his first officer shouldn't be in a relationship at all, and that Starfleet and the Vulcan High Command won't allow it." He paused. "Just tell me you don't regret what happened between us."
He had his heart on his sleeve, now it was just up to her to either take in gently, or squash it and all of his hopes.
She looked down at her lap and then met his eyes: her serious gesture.
"I don't regret it. You are correct, though. I was prepared to say all those things to you. However, I have been evaluating the past events for the last 2 hours, and have come to the conclusion that," she paused, swallowing. "That, I don't wish to end what we have."
He blew out the breath he wasn't aware he had been holding.
She continued, "It is completely illogical, and I'm sure our relationship will have consequences later on, but you are a part of me. A part that is necessary to my existence. If we were to end this relationship, then we would both still want it, and it would make our work efficiency decrease, because we would not have it."
"That sounds logical." Archer agreed. "It will probably help our performance if we were to continue to pursue this, that way it wasn't constantly on our mind, well at least not the worrying." He stood.
"I know that, I have cared for you for quite a while now, and it always made me nervous to allow you to go on away missions, but I did it anyway, because it was your job. I don't think that it will be any different now. It wouldn't matter if we were in a relationship or not, I would still love you, and it will always be nerve-wracking when I have to send you into a potentially dangerous situation."
T'Pol nodded in agreement.
"I understand completely. It was never comfortable for me when you were in danger, either."
This admission brought a smile to his face. He walked over to her, and got down on his knees. Taking her hands in his, he kissed each one in turn.
"So we are in agreement? We are going to do this?"
"It would appear so," she agreed, her gaze dropping to his lips.
He smiled and raised up to meet her lips in a soft kiss.
They kept the kiss sweet and slow, knowing now that there were endless possibilities that would come later.
He smiled as they fell onto the bed together.
Who would have thought that this would have ever happened, and all because of one little shore leave.
The End.
*special thanks to Tami for her wonderful beta job
Anyone else sad to see this end? I'm sad. :(
Anyhoo...here you go. Love to all.
Chapter 13- Endless Possibilities
Archer slowed as he and T'Pol neared the camp. He held T'Pol's hand in his, and he used it to pull her back to him. T'Pol in tow, he led them to the edge of the forest, so the trees hid them from view. Dropping his bag, he looked around; making sure no one saw him or her.
"Jonathan?" T'Pol asked, obviously confused at his actions.
"Shh … I just want a few more moments alone with you before we get back to the real world," he said, lowering his lips to hers.
Her mouth went slack against his, and it wasn't long before her lips began to move against his. For someone who had never really been with a man before, she was quite good at this. Definitely a quick learner.
He raised his hands to her cheeks and caressed them. He felt her move her hands up and grab hold of one of his. Feeling two fingers press against his palm, he formed the gesture she had taught him. As their fingers caressed, their kiss became more heated. He wished they didn't have to go back to the ship today; he wished they could stay this way forever.
Knowing that there was no way that they could, he released her lips and took a step back, their fingers still touching.
Her eyes were glazed, and her pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips. He groaned in response. It couldn't go any further right now, so he let her fingers go.
Pulling back, he reached down and grabbed both of their bags -- his which he had dropped purposely, and hers which had been dropped carelessly once his mouth had descended onto hers.
He watched her swallow, and then nodded. She nodded back, and he began walking towards the camp, her at his side.
As they approached, he saw Hoshi, Travis, and Trip standing in a group watching them walk their way. He took in the grins on the ensigns' faces and Trip slack jaw and knew immediately that his and T'Pol's last minute forest embrace had been seen.
Looking over at her, he knew that she realized it as well. She raised her brow at his look and he just grinned and shrugged. At least it had only been his trustworthy friends that had taken notice.
He walked straight over to the three officers. T'Pol followed him.
"Did you guys have a relaxing night?" Archer asked.
Hoshi and Travis smiled and nodded. Archer looked over at Trip, who hadn't given him a response. Trip's eyes were roving from him to T'Pol and back, his mouth still hanging open.
Archer watched as Hoshi reached up her hand, and silently shut Trip's mouth. This seemed to break his spell and he stammered, "Uh, yea, relaxin', right."
Archer grinned and called the whole group over, letting them know it was time to get back to the ship. He motioned for Travis to go ahead to the shuttle-pod, and everyone made their ways to their respective pods.
As he walked, Porthos ran up to him, jumping up, signaling to Archer that he wanted to be petted. Archer bent over and picked him up, chuckling as Porthos smothered him with puppy kisses.
Hoshi laughed as she walked beside him.
"He's missed you. He decided that he wanted to spend the night with Ensign Cutler though, so I didn't get to see him much," she said.
"Ah, he's such a ladies man," Archer laughed.
Hoshi giggled in response, and sped up her pace, slowing down only once she reached Trip.
Archer watched the two interact. Hmm … perhaps there was a reason that Hoshi hadn't been able to spend much time with Porthos. Could there possibly be something going on between his friends?
Archer sat on his bed, a book in one hand, and Porthos in the other. He contemplated the events of the past two hours.
The crew had arrived back on the ship, the next group ready to go down to the planet to enjoy their shore leave.
He had immediately gone to his ready room, telling T'Pol that they would talk later. She had agreed and made her way to her quarters to unpack.
It hadn't been more than 5 minutes before the chime to his ready room had signaled he had a guest. He had told them to come in, and was surprised to see it was Trip.
"Cap'n, I think we need to talk," he had said, a serious look on his face.
Archer had gestured for him to sit. Trip sat down and had gathered his thoughts.
After a few long moments of uncomfortable silence, Trip began.
"I don't exactly know what I saw down there, Jon. I mean, I know what I saw, I just can't believe it. You and T'Pol?"
Archer nodded, "It would appear so. Is this a problem to you?"
"Nah, I just can't really understand it. Jon, she's Vulcan. You hate Vulcans," Trip reminded him.
"Well, they sort of grow on you after a while, Trip."
"Okay, if you say so. I just don't get it, but it's your life. If she makes you happy, which is almost an oxymoron in and of itself, then I'm happy for ya. I won't stand in your way," Trip said, but didn't move to leave.
"Was there something else, Trip?"
"Yeah, uh, ya see, while we were down on the surface, I kinda got a lil' closer to someone," he said quietly.
Archer signaled for him to go on, sure of where the conversation was going, but wanting to hear it from Trip.
"Well, me and Hoshi kinda," Trip stammered. "Well we kinda kissed."
Archer laughed. That was all? They had just kissed and Trip was acting embarrassed about that?
"Okay?" Archer said once his laughter had subsided a bit.
"Well, I mean, I know she's like a daughter to ya, and I just wasn't sure how you'd feel bout me datin' her." Trip said, his face red.
"Daughter? I'm not that old," Archer sobered.
"You're a geezer," Trip laughed in response.
Archer raised an eyebrow. "Just keep digging that hole. Keep on and maybe I won't give you my blessing."
"You'd do that?" Trip widened his eyes.
Archer leaned forward. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. I know the man you are, and frankly, I don't think Hoshi could find better. You have my permission to pursue the relationship, as long as it doesn't interfere with your work. If that happens, you'll have to end it. Starfleet doesn't really like the fraternization between crew members, but they aren't out here, I am. Relationships will grow on a ship this size, and we can't all be expected to stay celibate, now can we?"
Trip nodded in response.
A quiet silence overtook the room as the two men thought over the past night.
Trip stood and made his way to the door. Turning back to Archer he smiled.
"You know, you're not half bad, for an old guy."
After that, Trip darted out the door, before he could respond.
Now, here he was, two hours later, sitting in his room, reading.
The door chimed and Porthos jumped off the bed and ran to the door. Archer chuckled and called out, "Come on in, T'Pol."
The door opened and T'Pol walked in, nodded her greetings to Porthos. Porthos followed her to her chair, and sat by her feet as she sat down.
Archer smiled and shook his head. She even had his dog in love with her.
"Jonathan," she started, only to be cut off by him.
"I know, I know, we need to talk."
She nodded in response. The room grew quiet, only the sound of their breathing filtered through.
"Look, I know what you are going to say. That it isn't rational to have the two of us pursuing a relationship while we both serve on the same ship. That a captain and his first officer shouldn't be in a relationship at all, and that Starfleet and the Vulcan High Command won't allow it." He paused. "Just tell me you don't regret what happened between us."
He had his heart on his sleeve, now it was just up to her to either take in gently, or squash it and all of his hopes.
She looked down at her lap and then met his eyes: her serious gesture.
"I don't regret it. You are correct, though. I was prepared to say all those things to you. However, I have been evaluating the past events for the last 2 hours, and have come to the conclusion that," she paused, swallowing. "That, I don't wish to end what we have."
He blew out the breath he wasn't aware he had been holding.
She continued, "It is completely illogical, and I'm sure our relationship will have consequences later on, but you are a part of me. A part that is necessary to my existence. If we were to end this relationship, then we would both still want it, and it would make our work efficiency decrease, because we would not have it."
"That sounds logical." Archer agreed. "It will probably help our performance if we were to continue to pursue this, that way it wasn't constantly on our mind, well at least not the worrying." He stood.
"I know that, I have cared for you for quite a while now, and it always made me nervous to allow you to go on away missions, but I did it anyway, because it was your job. I don't think that it will be any different now. It wouldn't matter if we were in a relationship or not, I would still love you, and it will always be nerve-wracking when I have to send you into a potentially dangerous situation."
T'Pol nodded in agreement.
"I understand completely. It was never comfortable for me when you were in danger, either."
This admission brought a smile to his face. He walked over to her, and got down on his knees. Taking her hands in his, he kissed each one in turn.
"So we are in agreement? We are going to do this?"
"It would appear so," she agreed, her gaze dropping to his lips.
He smiled and raised up to meet her lips in a soft kiss.
They kept the kiss sweet and slow, knowing now that there were endless possibilities that would come later.
He smiled as they fell onto the bed together.
Who would have thought that this would have ever happened, and all because of one little shore leave.
The End.
*special thanks to Tami for her wonderful beta job
