A Woman in His Life
Chapter Eleven - Sure Thing
By Penmom
Author's Notes -- (1) Since this takes place beyond the present cannon - this is AU. (2) Feedback please - I need it - we lost the soccer tournament - but no worry basketball starts on Saturday!
A young ensign turns to Malcolm as he walks toward the Turbo Lift. "Do you think it's broken?"
Reassuringly, he answers, "I doubt it, these are about the only things around here that don't break down! Here, let me try." He presses the panel and waits, only to be confronted by the still closed doors.
"That's odd, it looks like someone has stopped the lift between decks."
He thinks that it's good to be the Chief of Security as he quickly punches in the override code. "This should do the trick." He remarks as he stands expectantly in front of the doors.
******************************
The sensation of the Turbo Lift moving rouses the embracing pair. T'Pol jumps back until her back hits the wall by the control panel.
Before Trip can respond, the doors are opening. 'Oh no, not Malcolm - great, just great! Just act cool.' He says to himself.
"Malcolm" Trip says with a nod, "Everything goin' alright?"
"Ahhh, yes. Everything is fine, I've just finished briefing the Captain --- "
Malcolm's attention strays as he is momentarily distracted by T'Pol's stately figure stepping out of the Turbo Lift behind Trip. His thoughts light on the fact that it's not the first time that he's come across these two under somewhat strange circumstances. It gives him pause.
It really does.
******************************
This latest twist is one that Jonathan Archer didn't see coming --- not by a long shot. He takes a deep breath and attempts to assimilate the information just presented to him.
"So let me get this straight. This Vulcan Neuropressure, it allowed for some kind of psychic link between the two of you and it's had some side effects."
Sensing the Captain's unease, T'Pol gathers herself to fulfill her usual role of attempting to provide a succinct explanation of the phenomena.
"The evidence indicates that the Vulcan female brain, under certain circumstances, can trigger certain metabolic changes in a prospective male in order to --- to ensure a --- successful --- mating relationship. This has occurred between myself and Commander Tucker."
While T'Pol has managed to carry off her monologue as dispassionately as if she were describing any other scientific anomaly, Trip feels the waves of uncertainty radiating from her. He is moved to aid her in reassuring the Captain.
"Cap'n, I feel fine, no sense in makin' a big deal about this. The way I see it, T'Pol here was just helpin', she had no idea this was going to happen."
"Has Dr. Phlox come up with a way to reverse these effects?"
Trip responds quickly and without thought, "If it's all the same to you, Cap'n, I'd just as soon leave it as is."
A look of surprise lights Archer's features while T'Pol simply stares forward. Archer stops himself before he makes a few comments he'll regret.
"Very well then, if Dr. Phlox is confident that you're cleared for duty, then ---."
The Captain hesitates for a moment. This is a touchy subject and damn, he always thought that she ---. Well, never mind that now, ---
"Well, are congratulations in order at a time like this?"
T'Pol spares Trip, answering the question. "It is customary for the elder male in a Vulcan family to give his consent to a union if ---" She looks down as a bronze blush spreads over her cheeks. "If the male is ---" She cuts a look toward Trip, "acceptable."
If Archer didn't know better, he'd think she was teasing the Commander. Bruised ego and all, he takes the bait. "And is he --- acceptable --- that is?"
She raises her regal head but looks at Trip as she answers the Captain's question. "He is ---acceptable."
"Then I guess I get to give the bride away, huh?"
Trip senses additional unease from T'Pol at this line of conversation. "Cap'n, if it's alright with you, can we keep this quiet for a while. I mean, this is awful new to us too."
Archer nods, suddenly feeling protective of the couple, "Sure thing, Trip."
TBC
Chapter Eleven - Sure Thing
By Penmom
Author's Notes -- (1) Since this takes place beyond the present cannon - this is AU. (2) Feedback please - I need it - we lost the soccer tournament - but no worry basketball starts on Saturday!
A young ensign turns to Malcolm as he walks toward the Turbo Lift. "Do you think it's broken?"
Reassuringly, he answers, "I doubt it, these are about the only things around here that don't break down! Here, let me try." He presses the panel and waits, only to be confronted by the still closed doors.
"That's odd, it looks like someone has stopped the lift between decks."
He thinks that it's good to be the Chief of Security as he quickly punches in the override code. "This should do the trick." He remarks as he stands expectantly in front of the doors.
******************************
The sensation of the Turbo Lift moving rouses the embracing pair. T'Pol jumps back until her back hits the wall by the control panel.
Before Trip can respond, the doors are opening. 'Oh no, not Malcolm - great, just great! Just act cool.' He says to himself.
"Malcolm" Trip says with a nod, "Everything goin' alright?"
"Ahhh, yes. Everything is fine, I've just finished briefing the Captain --- "
Malcolm's attention strays as he is momentarily distracted by T'Pol's stately figure stepping out of the Turbo Lift behind Trip. His thoughts light on the fact that it's not the first time that he's come across these two under somewhat strange circumstances. It gives him pause.
It really does.
******************************
This latest twist is one that Jonathan Archer didn't see coming --- not by a long shot. He takes a deep breath and attempts to assimilate the information just presented to him.
"So let me get this straight. This Vulcan Neuropressure, it allowed for some kind of psychic link between the two of you and it's had some side effects."
Sensing the Captain's unease, T'Pol gathers herself to fulfill her usual role of attempting to provide a succinct explanation of the phenomena.
"The evidence indicates that the Vulcan female brain, under certain circumstances, can trigger certain metabolic changes in a prospective male in order to --- to ensure a --- successful --- mating relationship. This has occurred between myself and Commander Tucker."
While T'Pol has managed to carry off her monologue as dispassionately as if she were describing any other scientific anomaly, Trip feels the waves of uncertainty radiating from her. He is moved to aid her in reassuring the Captain.
"Cap'n, I feel fine, no sense in makin' a big deal about this. The way I see it, T'Pol here was just helpin', she had no idea this was going to happen."
"Has Dr. Phlox come up with a way to reverse these effects?"
Trip responds quickly and without thought, "If it's all the same to you, Cap'n, I'd just as soon leave it as is."
A look of surprise lights Archer's features while T'Pol simply stares forward. Archer stops himself before he makes a few comments he'll regret.
"Very well then, if Dr. Phlox is confident that you're cleared for duty, then ---."
The Captain hesitates for a moment. This is a touchy subject and damn, he always thought that she ---. Well, never mind that now, ---
"Well, are congratulations in order at a time like this?"
T'Pol spares Trip, answering the question. "It is customary for the elder male in a Vulcan family to give his consent to a union if ---" She looks down as a bronze blush spreads over her cheeks. "If the male is ---" She cuts a look toward Trip, "acceptable."
If Archer didn't know better, he'd think she was teasing the Commander. Bruised ego and all, he takes the bait. "And is he --- acceptable --- that is?"
She raises her regal head but looks at Trip as she answers the Captain's question. "He is ---acceptable."
"Then I guess I get to give the bride away, huh?"
Trip senses additional unease from T'Pol at this line of conversation. "Cap'n, if it's alright with you, can we keep this quiet for a while. I mean, this is awful new to us too."
Archer nods, suddenly feeling protective of the couple, "Sure thing, Trip."
TBC
