A Woman in His Life
Chapter Six - A Big Fool By Penmom
Author's Notes - Sorry for the delay, this chapter actually got beta'ed - Thanks to Mackenzie!. Thanks to all who are reading, I appreciate your feedback. Keep it coming!
It is good to be back in her quarters. The past days in sickbay have been frustrating and not as restful as the Doctor seems to have imagined.
Her thoughts turn to Commander Tucker. Since the night she awoke, he has only come into sickbay once and then with Archer. It is only logical that he might be embarrassed by their recent exchange, however benign. Her convalesce has allowed her time to reflect on what occurred between them. Taking into account her knowledge of the human species and Commander Tucker specifically, she realizes that the psychic intimacy that they have begun to share may be more off putting than an actual physical encounter.
A Vulcan has never practiced Neuropressure with a human before, and for that matter, an unattached female would not practice the technique on a male of any sort - much less a human. Surely, these exchanges are impacting their relationship. She anticipates the opportunity to finally talk with him privately about these issues and seek some level of resolution.
If she is honest with herself, she will admit that she is quite eager to resume their sessions. Given her past weeks in the expanse, she may be in more need of a partner to practice the ancient discipline with than he.
The comm blares and she jumps. "Yes."
"T'Pol, it's me - Trip. Do ya' mind if I come in for a little bit? That is if you're not too tired."
The entrance to T'Pol's quarters opens before he finishes speaking. It is good to see her looking better. The gold color of the silken material of her nightdress highlights her skin. He cannot help but appreciate her as a woman. And whether he likes it or not, a large part of his male ego delights in the fact that she allows him to see her in this state of dress - or undress.
Standing straight, looking him in the eye, she speaks. "Commander Tucker -"
He interrupts, "For God sakes T'Pol, by now, you can call me Trip or at least Charles."
She nods and continues, "Charles, I am glad that you are here. We have much to discuss." She gestures to the large pillows on her floor, "Please take a seat."
He does so, with a wary look in his eye. She follows suit sitting in front of him, pulling a pillow across her lap in an almost protective gesture. Her clasped hands on top of the pillow show more anxiety than he is used to seeing her display.
With a deep breath she begins "Charles, I must thank you for your intervention in sickbay. I cannot quantify the role the L'Teal played in my recuperation." Bowing her head slightly to him, she speaks softly, "For this I thank you."
Sensing that she has not finished he remains quiet. "The fact that you were able to reach my subconscious with the use of the L'Teal would seem to point to a ---" She looks at him almost shyly - if possible, "a deepening of our --- our connection."
She expects that he will interrupt, giving her a much-needed break but this time, he stays quiet, looking at her intently with not a comment on the horizon.
She resists the urge to say something to provoke him in order to avoid proceeding. No, it is necessary to proceed; even Tucker seems to agree.
With another slight nod, she continues. "As I was saying, there seems to be a significant escalation in our psychic connection as illustrated by your being able to reach me."
To this statement, she only gets a slight widening of his eyes. She had anticipated some comment, some denial. But no, there is none. She feels the need to press, not accustomed to this silent Tucker.
"So, you agree Commander?"
Finally a response. "Now wait a minute. I agree there was somethin' as to 'a psychic connection' - I'm not too up on things I can't touch."
"But you felt something?"
Gathering his nerve not to back down, he answers, avoiding her gaze. "Well, yeah, I did. I could tell you were coming closer to wakin' up, that's all."
"Commander, " She starts off sounding as if she is about to make an order. "Charles, I believe that the Neuropressure sessions have come to somehow reinforce a natural affinity between the two of us. The discipline is typically practiced between a patient and a clinician of the same sex if not between spouses."
Straining to understanding what she is going around the block to get at, he cocks his head to the side and repeats what he thinks she just said. "So, you are saying that this touchy-feely stuff that we've been up to amounts to Vulcan foreplay?"
Now T'Pol's eyes widen as she looks down at her clasped hands. Deciding against embarrassment, she looks him in the eye, "A rather crude analogy but yes, Commander, that is what I am saying. Between a man and a woman, the practice of this discipline is considered to be quite intimate."
"Then why in the hell did you agree to do this in the first place?"
"When Doctor Phlox approached me with the idea, he was unaware of the social morays surrounding the practice. You were in pain and I --- I desired to be of assistance. I saw no need to bring these facts to the doctor's attention since I too thought the practice might bring you some measure of comfort."
Some of the old Trip emerged before he knew it. "Awww, T'Pol I didn't know you cared!" he exclaims with a gleam in his eye.
Falling into familiar territory, T'Pol reverts to her Vulcan Officer guise, "On the contrary, it is only logical that the Chief Engineer should be at optimal performance while in the expanse."
This final exchange has led to the pair being nose to nose. And now, speechless.
'OK, Trip - Ol' Buddy - now's your chance; ya' may as well be a big fool if you're going to be a fool.'
TBC
Chapter Six - A Big Fool By Penmom
Author's Notes - Sorry for the delay, this chapter actually got beta'ed - Thanks to Mackenzie!. Thanks to all who are reading, I appreciate your feedback. Keep it coming!
It is good to be back in her quarters. The past days in sickbay have been frustrating and not as restful as the Doctor seems to have imagined.
Her thoughts turn to Commander Tucker. Since the night she awoke, he has only come into sickbay once and then with Archer. It is only logical that he might be embarrassed by their recent exchange, however benign. Her convalesce has allowed her time to reflect on what occurred between them. Taking into account her knowledge of the human species and Commander Tucker specifically, she realizes that the psychic intimacy that they have begun to share may be more off putting than an actual physical encounter.
A Vulcan has never practiced Neuropressure with a human before, and for that matter, an unattached female would not practice the technique on a male of any sort - much less a human. Surely, these exchanges are impacting their relationship. She anticipates the opportunity to finally talk with him privately about these issues and seek some level of resolution.
If she is honest with herself, she will admit that she is quite eager to resume their sessions. Given her past weeks in the expanse, she may be in more need of a partner to practice the ancient discipline with than he.
The comm blares and she jumps. "Yes."
"T'Pol, it's me - Trip. Do ya' mind if I come in for a little bit? That is if you're not too tired."
The entrance to T'Pol's quarters opens before he finishes speaking. It is good to see her looking better. The gold color of the silken material of her nightdress highlights her skin. He cannot help but appreciate her as a woman. And whether he likes it or not, a large part of his male ego delights in the fact that she allows him to see her in this state of dress - or undress.
Standing straight, looking him in the eye, she speaks. "Commander Tucker -"
He interrupts, "For God sakes T'Pol, by now, you can call me Trip or at least Charles."
She nods and continues, "Charles, I am glad that you are here. We have much to discuss." She gestures to the large pillows on her floor, "Please take a seat."
He does so, with a wary look in his eye. She follows suit sitting in front of him, pulling a pillow across her lap in an almost protective gesture. Her clasped hands on top of the pillow show more anxiety than he is used to seeing her display.
With a deep breath she begins "Charles, I must thank you for your intervention in sickbay. I cannot quantify the role the L'Teal played in my recuperation." Bowing her head slightly to him, she speaks softly, "For this I thank you."
Sensing that she has not finished he remains quiet. "The fact that you were able to reach my subconscious with the use of the L'Teal would seem to point to a ---" She looks at him almost shyly - if possible, "a deepening of our --- our connection."
She expects that he will interrupt, giving her a much-needed break but this time, he stays quiet, looking at her intently with not a comment on the horizon.
She resists the urge to say something to provoke him in order to avoid proceeding. No, it is necessary to proceed; even Tucker seems to agree.
With another slight nod, she continues. "As I was saying, there seems to be a significant escalation in our psychic connection as illustrated by your being able to reach me."
To this statement, she only gets a slight widening of his eyes. She had anticipated some comment, some denial. But no, there is none. She feels the need to press, not accustomed to this silent Tucker.
"So, you agree Commander?"
Finally a response. "Now wait a minute. I agree there was somethin' as to 'a psychic connection' - I'm not too up on things I can't touch."
"But you felt something?"
Gathering his nerve not to back down, he answers, avoiding her gaze. "Well, yeah, I did. I could tell you were coming closer to wakin' up, that's all."
"Commander, " She starts off sounding as if she is about to make an order. "Charles, I believe that the Neuropressure sessions have come to somehow reinforce a natural affinity between the two of us. The discipline is typically practiced between a patient and a clinician of the same sex if not between spouses."
Straining to understanding what she is going around the block to get at, he cocks his head to the side and repeats what he thinks she just said. "So, you are saying that this touchy-feely stuff that we've been up to amounts to Vulcan foreplay?"
Now T'Pol's eyes widen as she looks down at her clasped hands. Deciding against embarrassment, she looks him in the eye, "A rather crude analogy but yes, Commander, that is what I am saying. Between a man and a woman, the practice of this discipline is considered to be quite intimate."
"Then why in the hell did you agree to do this in the first place?"
"When Doctor Phlox approached me with the idea, he was unaware of the social morays surrounding the practice. You were in pain and I --- I desired to be of assistance. I saw no need to bring these facts to the doctor's attention since I too thought the practice might bring you some measure of comfort."
Some of the old Trip emerged before he knew it. "Awww, T'Pol I didn't know you cared!" he exclaims with a gleam in his eye.
Falling into familiar territory, T'Pol reverts to her Vulcan Officer guise, "On the contrary, it is only logical that the Chief Engineer should be at optimal performance while in the expanse."
This final exchange has led to the pair being nose to nose. And now, speechless.
'OK, Trip - Ol' Buddy - now's your chance; ya' may as well be a big fool if you're going to be a fool.'
TBC
