New chapter.
He'd delayed too long. Archer knew that now.
Even after Trip's lecture last night he'd delayed, first telling himself she'd be sleeping, then that he needed to rest himself. When he'd woke up, there'd been showering, dressing, eating breakfast and feeding Porthos to keep him busy, and that had been followed by what they'd once called "paper work" when they'd actually used paper.
Walking from his cabin to his office, Archer hadn't seen a soul in the corridors. Only a day out of Vulcan and surrounded by friendly space, they were running with a skeleton crew, and giving everyone double shifts off. Most used it for extra sleep time. When Archer had finally made it into the bridge, only Hoshi, Travis and a science technician named Bartholomew had been there to nod salutes.
As Archer had sat down in the command chair – Trip called of it the "throne" and he didn't mean the one for kings – Hoshi had oozed quietly up to his side. "Thought you'd want know, Captain," she'd almost whispered, "T'Pol sent a message to Vulcan High Command two hours ago. I think she's told them."
Archer hadn't been surprised that Hoshi knew about T'Pol's new job offer. In a closed community like the Enterprise, when someone burped the next person apologized. They all knew each other so well.
"Oh?" Archer had said and raised an eyebrow. He hadn't dared actually ask if Hoshi knew more. Captains weren't supposed to gossip.
But Hoshi had understood the unspoken question. She'd shaken her head. "Encrypted."
That's why Archer was standing outside T'Pol's cabin now, his right hand hovering over the buzzer pad. Finally a finger descended and pushed the button. He had to know.
T'Pol had been asleep, but graciously insisted that he enter. After all Archer was the captain and T'Pol respected his authority. Too anxious to be ashamed of using even this small advantage, Archer entered and at T'Pol's invitation, gracelessly sat down on a floor pillow, leaning on one hand, his long legs tucked off at an odd angle. It was not really comfortable, but he didn't deserve comfort. And besides in T'Pol's cabin there was only the floor and the bed to sit on. The bed was rumpled and unmade. It suggested … things.
T'Pol sat down cross-legged a few feet away, clad only in baby blue satin pajamas that revealed more than concealed. Archer had seen the p.j.'s before, but today he and T'Pol weren't saving outer space for all civilizations and her bare smooth skin affected him. Archer made himself look only at T'Pol's face as he spoke. "I won't keep you up long, I've just come to tell you something." He looked for a reaction in T'Pol's elfin face. There wasn't one. There rarely was with T'Pol.
Archer took a slightly shaky breath and continued. "I've heard you made your decision and called it in to the High Command." T'Pol started to speak and he raised his hand to stop her. "No, don't, not yet. I want to tell you this because I'm figuring you took the new command. That's the smart thing to do and if there's one thing I know 'bout you for sure – you're smart."
Archer paused. This was hard to get out. "What I want to tell you is how much I'll miss you." T'Pol looked calm and perhaps a little sleepy, nothing more. "And that'll be a lot. A whole hell of a lot. For the Enterprise because you're one hell of an officer, but for me too. You see … " Archer couldn't stand it. His eyes slipped away and his voice trailed off. He was almost choking on his fear. Even shooting bad guys had never been this tough. He tried again. "You see, I think I'm in love with you."
Trip had advised Archer to say the words, and Trip knew T'Pol better than anyone. Trip may even once have been in this exact same spot, revealing the deepest secrets of his heart to cold Vulcan scrutiny. If Trip thought it worth the risk, Archer'd give it a go. But now that the words were out, Archer couldn't look at T'Pol and kept his eyes on the dead candle centering the meditation mat. The moment stretched out.
Damn, it was too late for anything, Archer thought. He'd lost her for good. And he hadn't yet apologized for his stupidity with Inez. Maybe if he did, it would make a difference. Maybe if he told T'Pol how wrong Inez had felt. What if he …
Archer heard a tiny rustle of movements, of satin p.j.'s and pillows squishing, and looked up quickly to find T'Pol kneeling next to him. "Then you'll be pleased with my decision, Jonathan," she said. She leaned forward until her full dark lips brushed his, her breath warm, sweet and faintly mint-y. The swell of her breasts pressed against Archer's chest, and he forgot to breathe. "I stay."
Next chapter's the last one! And it's racy! So be aware!