Title: Lapses
Author: Kendra
Pairing: Trip/ T'Pol
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek and I don't make any money from this.
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Lapses
T'Pol knelt behind Commander Tucker firmly kneading his shoulders and back. Her mind drifting back to her conversations with Sim, they often did. It had been two months since that awful incident, an incident she was sure she had lost an integral part of herself to. One never dismissed a life changing moment like that very easily.
Life changing, perhaps more for her than for Charles; he had seemed to take it in his stride after the initial shock of seeing himself in a torpedo being shot out into the cold dark eternity of space, just another Expanse fairing oddity to be logged and forgotten about.
Commander Tucker suddenly jerked from under T'Pol's grasp.
"Ah T'Pol! What are ya tryin' ta do? Seein' how much pressure's needed to cause paralysis in Humans"!
Tucker's native Florida drawl seemed more accentuated in his pain. His usual jovial face now twisted to indignant. His hand instinctively reaching back to sooth and protect the offended muscles of his shoulder and back.
Momentarily startled T'Pol stood clasping her hands behind her back and looking to the half dressed Engineer still kneeling on her bed.
"Forgive me Commander. I had not been giving the exercise the amount of concentration it was due and could have caused you permanent damage, I believe the best course of action would be to end for tonight and reconvene tomorrow after you have consulted Dr. Phlox and been assured that you have not sustained any serious injury."
Commander Tucker looked over at T'Pol's rigid form and light expression of guilt and remorse. Taking a moment to marvel at his new ability to read her very nearly expressionless face he smiled gently and moved so he sat on the side of her bed.
"It's not that bad T'Pol and besides. what I'm more concerned about is what could have you so wound up?"
Tuckers voice was soft and reassuring any human would have given in then and spilt the beans, T'Pol however wasn't human.
She turned her gaze away and moved her body so she was facing 30 degrees from him; she seemed to bring her self up to her full height, lifting her chin.
"They are personal matters Commander, none of your concern; I do not wish to discuss them now or ever!"
T'Pol answered with finality and, she knew, a little too harshly; any Vulcan would have backed off immediately and repentantly for the intrusion to another's privacy, Commander Tucker however, wasn't Vulcan.
"T'Pol, don't think I haven't noticed that there's something going on with you."
He stopped and watched as she made no move to speak or even look at him, the conversation was over from her point of view; he knew how to change that.
"I know this isn't the only time you've been having trouble concentrating."
T'Pol's eyes snapped up to his immediately. Tucker resisted a smug expression; how he knew her so well, and continued, raising his voice a fraction, in the same manner as when reproaching a junior Officer.
"When your person problems start interfering when you're on duty then I'm afraid Darlin' that means they move right in to the realm of my concerns."
T'Pol was taken aback; she hadn't thought any one had noticed her lapses. There was a pause and just as the Commander was again about to speak she interrupted.
"Commander please."
It was the voice of defeat and any harsh words he had left to speak dissolved on his tongue, there was no need to rub it in; being first officer she knew most of all the consequences to the mission, of what could happen when an officer on board was not 100%.
"I can not explain, at this time, my personal quandary as I have yet to understand it, them myself. I can however, give you my word that these lapses will never occur again otherwise I will speak with the Captain and ask to be left at the nearest Menshara class planet as I am a risk to the mission!"
This was not what the commander had expected to hear at all, it enraged him that she would rather leave the ship than share a personal problem with him as he had done with her on numerous occasions since the beginning of this mission through the Expanse.
"T'Pol! No ones leavin' anyone behind, we've already been through this with the Cap'n! Why don't you just stop with the bullshit and tell me what's buggin' ya. maybe I can help you understand it!"
His drawl was back to full strength, she wondered at its attractiveness and quickly scolded herself for her inappropriate thoughts; her new found closeness to Charles was clearly to blame.
There was a long pause, neither spoke. Tucker held his fingers crossed in hopes that maybe this time she'd really give in.
"I have given you my assurances Commander."
"T'Pol!" He almost shouted, she wasn't doing it again.
"No"
"NO!" Tucker repeated incredulously, literally fuming. There was clearly nothing left to say.
"Commander you heard." Tucker was out the door before she could finish.
T'Pol stared at the space Charles had just vacated from and began to slowly raise a single eyebrow. It was unreservedly illogical. After all the energy she had expended on making him do as he just did, she had wanted him to stay, had wanted him to take the time to break down her resolve until she had no will left to deny him access to her thoughts, as if in the action she would find answer to a question Sim had proposed, one which she still had no inkling of an answer to. Why she needed an answer to Sim's and now her own question was simply another issue she desperately needed logical justification for, it was as elusive as the answer to her question.
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I would really love some reviews! Bad or good!
Author: Kendra
Pairing: Trip/ T'Pol
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek and I don't make any money from this.
-------------------
Lapses
T'Pol knelt behind Commander Tucker firmly kneading his shoulders and back. Her mind drifting back to her conversations with Sim, they often did. It had been two months since that awful incident, an incident she was sure she had lost an integral part of herself to. One never dismissed a life changing moment like that very easily.
Life changing, perhaps more for her than for Charles; he had seemed to take it in his stride after the initial shock of seeing himself in a torpedo being shot out into the cold dark eternity of space, just another Expanse fairing oddity to be logged and forgotten about.
Commander Tucker suddenly jerked from under T'Pol's grasp.
"Ah T'Pol! What are ya tryin' ta do? Seein' how much pressure's needed to cause paralysis in Humans"!
Tucker's native Florida drawl seemed more accentuated in his pain. His usual jovial face now twisted to indignant. His hand instinctively reaching back to sooth and protect the offended muscles of his shoulder and back.
Momentarily startled T'Pol stood clasping her hands behind her back and looking to the half dressed Engineer still kneeling on her bed.
"Forgive me Commander. I had not been giving the exercise the amount of concentration it was due and could have caused you permanent damage, I believe the best course of action would be to end for tonight and reconvene tomorrow after you have consulted Dr. Phlox and been assured that you have not sustained any serious injury."
Commander Tucker looked over at T'Pol's rigid form and light expression of guilt and remorse. Taking a moment to marvel at his new ability to read her very nearly expressionless face he smiled gently and moved so he sat on the side of her bed.
"It's not that bad T'Pol and besides. what I'm more concerned about is what could have you so wound up?"
Tuckers voice was soft and reassuring any human would have given in then and spilt the beans, T'Pol however wasn't human.
She turned her gaze away and moved her body so she was facing 30 degrees from him; she seemed to bring her self up to her full height, lifting her chin.
"They are personal matters Commander, none of your concern; I do not wish to discuss them now or ever!"
T'Pol answered with finality and, she knew, a little too harshly; any Vulcan would have backed off immediately and repentantly for the intrusion to another's privacy, Commander Tucker however, wasn't Vulcan.
"T'Pol, don't think I haven't noticed that there's something going on with you."
He stopped and watched as she made no move to speak or even look at him, the conversation was over from her point of view; he knew how to change that.
"I know this isn't the only time you've been having trouble concentrating."
T'Pol's eyes snapped up to his immediately. Tucker resisted a smug expression; how he knew her so well, and continued, raising his voice a fraction, in the same manner as when reproaching a junior Officer.
"When your person problems start interfering when you're on duty then I'm afraid Darlin' that means they move right in to the realm of my concerns."
T'Pol was taken aback; she hadn't thought any one had noticed her lapses. There was a pause and just as the Commander was again about to speak she interrupted.
"Commander please."
It was the voice of defeat and any harsh words he had left to speak dissolved on his tongue, there was no need to rub it in; being first officer she knew most of all the consequences to the mission, of what could happen when an officer on board was not 100%.
"I can not explain, at this time, my personal quandary as I have yet to understand it, them myself. I can however, give you my word that these lapses will never occur again otherwise I will speak with the Captain and ask to be left at the nearest Menshara class planet as I am a risk to the mission!"
This was not what the commander had expected to hear at all, it enraged him that she would rather leave the ship than share a personal problem with him as he had done with her on numerous occasions since the beginning of this mission through the Expanse.
"T'Pol! No ones leavin' anyone behind, we've already been through this with the Cap'n! Why don't you just stop with the bullshit and tell me what's buggin' ya. maybe I can help you understand it!"
His drawl was back to full strength, she wondered at its attractiveness and quickly scolded herself for her inappropriate thoughts; her new found closeness to Charles was clearly to blame.
There was a long pause, neither spoke. Tucker held his fingers crossed in hopes that maybe this time she'd really give in.
"I have given you my assurances Commander."
"T'Pol!" He almost shouted, she wasn't doing it again.
"No"
"NO!" Tucker repeated incredulously, literally fuming. There was clearly nothing left to say.
"Commander you heard." Tucker was out the door before she could finish.
T'Pol stared at the space Charles had just vacated from and began to slowly raise a single eyebrow. It was unreservedly illogical. After all the energy she had expended on making him do as he just did, she had wanted him to stay, had wanted him to take the time to break down her resolve until she had no will left to deny him access to her thoughts, as if in the action she would find answer to a question Sim had proposed, one which she still had no inkling of an answer to. Why she needed an answer to Sim's and now her own question was simply another issue she desperately needed logical justification for, it was as elusive as the answer to her question.
------------------
I would really love some reviews! Bad or good!