A/N: I truly truly would like to thank all that feed backed; you have all helped my confidence as a writer tremendously. Keep an open mind in this chapter folks! In the chappy, T'Pol does something, you'll see what, I'm not exactly sure if Vulcans, can or do, but in my story they can but don't. With a little push she does.

Thanks you so much to Apocalypse for beta-ing my first chapter.

This chapter will take a more comical turn that is what I was known for in the Soap Community at Wicked Games [I won a few award's for it too]. It's a lot lighter. I hope that's okay…

Chapter Two Brig

Malcolm watched one of his closest friends be caged like an animal, secluded from all life outside his cell. He had to remind himself exactly why Trip was in the brig in the first place, striking a superior officer. Malcolm ran his hand along his brow, concentrating as hard as he could but the answer to why Trip did what he did wouldn't come to him. He watched with concern as Trip was slumped over in the corner mumbling incoherent things to himself. He put his hands neatly in front of himself and dropped his head low. He took that time to pray for his friends' sanity. Once he finished his impromptu prayer her turned his heal and briskly walked out, the faster he walked the closer he would be to finding out what happened earlier between Trip and the Captain. It was his duty as armory officer and as good friends to both men.

Trip chuckled to himself, "Aww Polly, you'd be quite displeased seenin' me here. It's like only yesterday we first kissed." He closed his eyes and put his face in his hands, the memories of the night he first kissed TPol came rushing back to him, the pain was unbearable. Over time they began to know each others patterns. T'Pol could sense when he was frustrated with work and Trip could tell when he was in deep shit with her or not. Trip cracked a smile, all he had to do was flash the classic Tucker smile and call her Polly or darlin'. T'Pol's rough and tough Vulcan mask would drop; she was a woman after all. The Tucker charm affected all females, even animals.

Flash Back of some time before: [readers keep an open mind] T'Pol ran her finger down the list of human songs from the past, and made her selection. The most of the crew had taken a day off and Hoshi had the idea of an open mic old fashion karaoke bar so all the crew could just relax and hang out casually without rank or uniform. The captain and Trip practically threw T'Pol onstage, just to see what she would do in the situation. Trip stood behind her so she couldn't escape. T'Pol commented, "This selection is quite illogical, Britney Spear's Baby Hit Me One More Time; why would she want another person to strike her and do bodily harm?" A few chuckled in the audience, Travis spoke up, he enjoyed old fashion music, "Sub Commander, I don't think anyone really quite understood that song even in it's time" getting a few more laughs and a brow lift from T'Pol. "Indeed. I have made my selection, Mr. Tucker."

Trip leaned over, a large mischievous grin spread across his face; Archer could see the selection was going to be good from his friend's reaction, "Why'd you pick that song for?" T'Pol threw her reply over the shoulder, "As an anthropologist, I am interested in various aspects of human life, including 'genies', although The Vulcan Science Counsel was unaware of their existence. It is settled, I have chosen, Christina Aguilera's Genie in a Bottle."

You could hear pin drop, every mouth open in shock, even Porthos'. Archer thought of the logic T'Pol used to come to her conclusion, maybe she didn't understand the concept of music as entertainment instead of education; nevertheless, half the crew was smashed and wanted to enjoy themselves. "Okay, T'Pol, suit yourself. The lyrics come up on the screen, here's a tiny ear piece to hear it how she sang it. Break a leg." "Why would you wish me to break my leg?" T'Pol replied, with a tiny speckle of hurt in her eyes, she never expected that from Commander Tucker. Hoshi piped in, "Human expression, I'll explain it to you tomorrow." T'Pol nodded.

The music began, she squared her shoulders, and placed her hands neatly behind her back, beginning in her monotone voice, "Come on, come on. I feel I have been locked up tight in a century of lonely nights," T'Pol paused the music, "I do not understand, she is human is she not? How would she have lived for over a 100 years?" Trip spoke up, "T'Pol human music f'ur the most part doesn't make sense, it's jus' music. And just so you know, The Vulcan Science Counsel was right f'ur once, genies don't exist." T'Pol's brow went up immediately in confusion, "Why would Christina Aguilera sing the lyrics if they were untrue?"

Archer tried to settle it, "T'Pol, human music expresses how the musician felt, but some times it doesn't. Why don't you just sing the song for what it is, but uh this time …not flat…?" "Kinda like, ""If you wanna be with me there's a price to pay I'm a genie in a bottle," Trip sang half drunk with his Southern tongue. "Mr. Tucker, are you insinuating that you are a prostitute?" A roar of laughter erupted from the crew; this was truly one of the best nights of their lives. The captain dropped his bottle scaring Porthos half to death. One crew member screamed, "I'll take some of that!!" Travis joined in the fun, "Gurl friend you gotta fight me for him!!" Hoshi scolded him, "Travis! Girls certainly do NOT talk like that!" "The bloody hell they don't" Malcolm piped in. "10 bars of latinum!" one ensign screamed before Hoshi could scold Malcolm. T'Pol stared at each female intently with what humans would call, 'the look'. Everyone quickly shut their mouths, they didn't understand why but T'Pol marked Mr. Tucker as her own.

Trip joked, "Wait wait keep 'em coming lady's! Captain you want some of this?" Archer pretended to be talking to Porthos, deep in conversation with the lil dog. "Aww shucks, anyway T'Pol do you und'rstand?"

 "Vulcans do not sing. However, as part of our cultural exchange, I will 'sing' this as you have done…" Archer and Trip smile at victory, but T'Pol finishes her statement, "if Commander Tucker agrees to learn teachings from Surak." Trip looked at Archer for an answer but Archer turned around, he didn't have an answer. Trip looked at Hoshi who suddenly became interested in Travis's hand. She studied it as if it was the first hand she's ever seen, Trip looked at Malcolm, he seemed to be only one in the room with grumba*, "Just do it commander." Trip wished he didn't look for Malcolm for help but he still agreed to T'Pol's request. "Also, in this week Mr. Tucker, I know how you enjoy procrastination." Archer stifled a laugh, damn she had him down to a't', when Trip didn't wanna do something, he'd put it off except for his engine of course. T'Pol began to sing, it was music to Trip's ears. It wasn't perfectly as the original but just a damn near good to Trip. It was completely out of character for T'Pol and a milestone in human history. They could see in text books to come, "Drunk ENT NX 01 crew gets Vulcan to sing."

Travis rubbed his eyes in shock, was he seeing what he thought he was seeing? He quietly whispered to Hoshi, "Honey, remind me to get my eyes checked, I think I see T'Pol singing, like really singing." Hoshi leaned to him, "Only if you remind me to get my head checked because I see it too. I think the commanders blushing too." Travis smirked at Hoshi, they seemed to be the only two who saw the potential T'Pol and Trip had together. 

Later that night

            The bridge staff started out the mesh hall doors down the corridor and headed towards the captains quarters with Porthos running between all of them. They decided to keep the party going. Hoshi jumped on Travis's back. The captain had an idea, "Malcolm! Let's piggy back ride!!" (Non Slash- it's funnier that way) "Captain, I would advice us not too." "Oh come on Mal! Don't make me order you!!!" "As you wish sure." Phlox watched curiously, when humans were inebriated they surely acted quite strangely.

            "T'Pol, darlin' would you like ah…ah…what ya ma call it, Hosherr?" Travis chuckled, and then stumbled he almost slammed Hoshi between the walls, "Her names Hoshi!! It's a piggy back ride Commander!!" "Call me Trip!" "Okay Trip!! Ha! I better not trip," Travis said to Hoshi. "You better not Travis! You'll take me down with you!!"

            "Back to what I was saying T'Pol, would you like an old fashion piggy back ride?" Trip slurred to T'Pol. T'Pol noted she would require another nasal inhibitor, humans scent increased greatly while they were intoxicated, "No thank you, Mr. Tucker." "Aww shucks, how 'bout you Phlox?"

            Phlox looked at Trip with amusement, this was certainly something new, "No thank you commander, I am quite alright." They all reached the captain's quarters and they invited them in. Malcolm took a seat, Archer slummed down on the corner, Travis and Hoshi sat on his bed, Porthos ran around hunting cheese that he knew master was hiding. Trip dropped a few steps from the door and T'Pol stood bristly in the corner watching with some form of Vulcan amusement. Phlox stood by the window.

"Hey Jon! Grab yer guitar. Let's have our own lil karaoke," Trip stated. Jon replied, "Great idea! What song?"

            Trip thought for a second, then one of his favorite old songs came to mind, "Eight Our Love Story!!!" "Ha, Trip you really do love that." "Come on everyone lets all sing," Trip suggested.

            Hoshi, "A love story song?? Trav let's dance!!" They began to dance on the bed, another curious action Phlox noted. T'Pol raised her brow. Jon screamed louder then necessary, "I've heard Trip sing, he's got a voice on him!"

            Jon began to play, he was a little rusty but still had the chords about right, Trip started off, "I wrote the notes and I sent it over/ It read I'm lonely tonight

She looked up she looked away/ I wasn't sure if it reached / Then that note came back to say / You don't have to be alone/ I can believe that's what it said / You don't have to be alone/ Her sweet reply/ I stood up I turned away/ That was as far as I could get away/ Before she took my hand and led outside."

            T'Pol became antsy; she found it difficult to composure herself with the commander drunkenly singing this human song. The words hit her strong, she didn't have to be alone. Illogical, she wasn't alone…was she?

            Trip snapped her out her thoughts, "[Chorus] Let's pretend we can forget about/ And make believe that were are the only ones alive/ Flesh on flesh/ She leaves me as I follow/ Lets not get confused what's it gunna be/ oo is this another love story?" Human flesh, Vulcans and humans have mated before…it was possible. She noted that she would require and increased length in mediation, at least an extra hour tonight. "I woke dreaming about the angel in my darkness/ I never even knew her name/ As we moved this slow together/ I can still smell her sweetness/ I can't believe that I let her go/ [Chorus]…" another two hours perhaps. Strong solid mediation was in need.

            She started to notice things about the chief engineer that she never before, his chiseled body, and sweet Southern voice, the way his eyes light up passionately, was he singing for a human female back on earth? A flash of jealous ran across T'Pols face, but everyone was too drunk to notice, except Phlox and Porthos that is. But poor old Porthos had his own problems, still no cheese but the tall man that fly's the ship picked him up and started to swinging him around with the one master calls a genius in linguistics.

            "As I lie here on my own/ I'm already making plans/ Same place at the same time/ That's where I'm gunna be/ Hoping for another chance/ [Chorus]/ Eight hour love story/ Eight hour love story/ Eight hour Eight hour love story/ Eight hour eight hour love story….wow that was fun!! What ya thing T'Pol??"

T'Pol was in deep thought of her being alone, in thought of Trip being alone. She could fix that. Illogical! Jon's voice snapped her out, "Hey T'Pol! Pretty nifty ay?? I bet Vulcans can't do what Trip did!!"

            "You are correct captain, Vulcans do not waste their time in frivolous things such as singing, and we pride our self on self exploration and teachings of Surak." "Hey so yer saying I wasn't good? I'm hurt!" "I mean't no offence Mr. Tucker." "I won't accept that apology." "I wasn't apologizing Commander." "Apology taken, only if ya let me walk you to yer quarters, the corridors can get mighty scary at night." T'Pol raised her brow and Malcolm laughed. Trip was too damn obvious.

Trip felt like a school boy, his palms were all sweaty and he couldn't stop straightening his clothes out; he was just walking the Sub Commander to her room for god shakes. Being a gentlemen like his momma raised him to be.  They reached her quarters. "T'Pol ya have a really wond'rful voice, I was really shocked. You could sing circles 'round half of the female singers in human history." T'Pol raised her brow, that was illogical she was clearly a science officer not a musician, nonetheless Mr. Tucker was a human, she deduced it was a compliment. "Thank you Mister Tucker. When do you wish to begin your lessons? I believe Surak's philosophy will help you greatly." "Hey I think I'm doin' just fine. How 'bout tom'row night?" Trip cursed himself; it wasn't a date you don't need to see her at night stupid. "How about now commander," T'Pol mimicked him. Trip raised his brow, something half the crew picked up from T'Pol. "It's pretty late and I'm kinda smashed." "I could teach you one mediation posture, it would help you sleep in your intoxicated state. It will reduce the after effect when you awake."

Trip smiled, he had a feeling he'd be dreaming of one specific Vulcan for quite some time, he decided to agree, he may get to see T'Pol in her night clothes. "Sure." After T'Pol changed into her night robe, they both sat in front of a candle opposite each other. "Mr.Tucker…" "Trip." "Mr.Tucker." "Trip." "Mr. Tucker." "Mr.Tucker." "Agreed, Mr. Tucker." "Damn, I tried ta fool ya." "Vulcans do not fool."

"Please sit in the half lotus position or, loshiraq position. Now place your hands together, joining the bottom three together as well as the two thumbs. Your index fingers should be straight and firm against each other. Now clear your mind." Trip did as requested, he stumbled a bit being drunk and all; they both sat their in silence mediating until the small candles burned out. Trip was the first to open his eyes, he stared at T'Pol, a woman he could spend the rest of his life with. He closed his eyes quickly before he could get caught. Instead T'Pol opened her eyes and studied his features, Trip could feel he was being watched; he opened his eyes and held her gaze. There eyes locked, words weren't necessary. She raised her index and middle finger to him, and he mimicked no quite understanding what he was doing. They connected fingers and T'Pol gasped. Trip looked at her for explanation; he was worried he may end up pregnant again. "Vulcans use this form of contact as a way of … kissing. Something that can be quite intimate between my people"

Trip read between the lines, "I am honored you would share that with me, may I share the human form of kissing with you?" "Yes, Mr…" "Trip." "I do not understand the human need for nicknames."

Trip smiled at her, "You're just mad you don't have one that's all. How about, T'Polly?" T'Pol raised her brow, "That is not my name." "Trip's not mine either, but I love it just the same." "Please refrain from calling me 'Polly' in front of others." "Deal. Now how 'bout that kiss?" She hesitated, his smell was quite strong, but ultimately they kissed. END OF FLASH BACK

Trip rolled on his side and held himself, his body racked with soft sobs. He missed T'Pol more then he could ever express.  He had to get her back. His sanity and life depended on it. Once he finally composed himself he began calculating ways to get her back, ways to get himself to the Vulcan home world and take what was his back.


8 Hour Love Story- Jacob Young

[*grumba- I don't know if it's spelled correctly but when Picard died and Q paid him a visit, one Nausicaan said they didn't have any grumba so I am assume it means balls]

Also, I don't remember where but some people call T'Pol Polly, I figured, Trip would too.