A Woman in His Life

Chapter Sixteen: Stranger and Stranger

By Penmom

Author's Notes -- (1) Since this takes place beyond the present cannon - this is AU. (2) Chirssie - I know you like cliffhangers so this one's for you and Tracy - here's your Phlox fix for the day! (3) Just wondering - have any of you read any of my Buffy fics?

This just gets stranger and stranger.

Upon punching the comm button for T'Pol's quarters a Medical Services Block comes up. He's only encountered Phlox using this unique privilege a time or two and only when someone's really been through the ringer.

Still, Phlox allowing for a routine override on T'Pol's basic comm link seems a little odd and he's never known the Sub-Commander to brush off her duties. But then again, it is well into the second duty shift and there's been no sign of T'Pol on deck, even when the woman's off, she's on.

Whatever medical clearance she's got, if still doesn't negate the fact that he's got two Vulcan bio signs comin' up in her quarters.

Oh well, when in doubt, go by the book ----

"Security to Sick Bay, Phlox, you in?"

"Ahh, yes, I'm here. How can I be of service?" the doctor answers in his usual congenial tone.

"I have a question about a Med Service Block coming up for the comm link to Sub Commander T'Pol's quarters."

"Yes?"

Malcolm rolls his eyes, what is going on, the Doc is usually more forthcoming ---- "Well, I was running the bio scan and well, I'm coming up with an odd reading from T'Pol's suite. I tried hailing her to check it out but I wasn't sure if I should go around the Med Block."

"If I may ask, exactly what reading are you getting?"

"This is going to sound odd but I'm getting two Vulcan bio signs in her quarters. And as far as I know, there's only one Vulcan on board."

It seems like the pause before Phlox speaks is a long one, "I see. --- Would you mind terribly scanning the ship for Commander Tucker?"

"Alright, but I need to know about ---"

The doctor uncharacteristically cuts him off, "Please, do as I ask."

"Sure thing Doc."

It only takes a keystroke or two --- OK, that's weird --- no Trip. Here we go again. Two more scans come up empty. As he gets back to the Doc, he is quickly typing in more commands.

"OK, Doc, this is going to sound strange but Trip's not on board. I ran a person by person scan and I'm coming coming up without Trip and with an unidentified Vulcan male. Doc, I am going to alert the Captain ---"

For the second time in so many minutes, Phlox interrupts Malcolm. "No need, I have already briefed the Captain on the situation. Due to some confidentiality concerns, I would prefer to not share anymore with you at present. However, I can assure you that this is not a risk to security."

With that Phlox closes the link

Malcolm sits back and begins to sort out the puzzle in front of him. OK, we have a sanctioned Med. block on T'Pol's comm system, a very evasive Doctor Phlox, the bio signs of a male Vulcan in T'Pol's quarters --- and to top it all off, everyone else is present and accounted for except for Trip. Well if one thing's for certain, he knows a rat when he smells one. And this smells like a big one.

He's sorting out his plan of action when the Captain steps on the bridge.

"Captain, Sir? Do you have a moment?"

"Sure, Malcolm. What's up."

"Well that's just it, I'm not sure. I was running a Bio Scan when I came across a strange reading. At first I figured it was just an anomaly but if it is, it's much more localized than what we've encountered previously."

Archer comes to stand behind his security officer's chair, directing his attention to screen in front of them. Malcolm quickly runs back over his previous scans while recounting his conversation with Phlox.

Jonathan can't help but feel a little stunned even though he can guess what's going on. Trip is the Vulcan Male bio sign in T'Pol's quarters. God, his head is starting to pound. He promised the two that they could keep their escalating relationship quiet but it seems that this isn't going to be as simple as he first thought.

By now, Malcolm has turned and is looking at him expectantly. "Sir, what about Trip?" He was accounted for in the previous scan and it's not like we've been anywhere in the meantime, should I run a class one search?"

Archer raises up and before he can help himself, he is rubbing the small of his back in a characteristic movement that heralds his level of discomfort. Oh the Hell with it he thinks as he goes with the hard ass routine and responses sharply, "Malcolm, just let it go. Trip's fine. T'Pol's fine. The Doc just wanted them to get some rest."

"But, sir --- what about the Vulcan Life Sign? It could be a Xindi trick of some sort. Can we at least hail T'Pol, make sure she's alright?"

Again, Archer voice comes across more harshly than he would have liked. "Malcolm, let it go. Let the whole thing go. Not another word, that's an order!"

Upon his last word, Archer turns leaving a mystified Malcolm at his post.

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For the next two hours of his shift, Malcolm continues to mull over both the strange scans and the Captain's closed response. It comes to him that there are some similarities between the Captain's reaction and the Doc's. Whatever is going on, they are both in on it.

He fits what he knows together over and over again. As an officer, he knows that there are times when you will not be privy to information but still, this doesn't feel right. When Hoshi walks by, he has to fight with all he has not to call her over to discuss the mystery.

Finally, he's relieved of his post and before he knows it he finds himself on T'Pol's deck. Maybe he'll just hang out here for a while just to ease his mind.



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"Doc, we're gonna have to address this with the crew, at least the senior officers. If we don't its just going to create one big distraction and that's one thing we DON'T need right now. Malcolm's suspicious right now and I doubt if he'll be the last."

Phlox nods understandingly, "Unfortunately, I concur. I had not considered that many of our security scans would pick up the changes in Commander Tucker's chemistry."

"So what know? Is it OK if we hail them now? It's been close to twenty hours since they left my office. I checked Trip's entry log and he never entered his quarters last night."

Phlox is momentarily entertained by the slight blush on the Captain's cheeks, these humans certainly have issues around mating. "Sir, I would imagine that they can cope with, ahhh, being disturbed. From my understanding of the Vulcan mating cycle, I would think that they are most likely more cognizant and organized now that they have --- have had ample time alone."

Jonathan shifts from one foot to the other, attempting and failing to find a comfortable position. Taking a deep breath, he overrides the Med. Block on the comm system for T'Pol's quarters.

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She is on her back as he drives into her over and over. In an attempt to bring him closer, she wraps her legs tightly around his waist and surges up to meet him stroke for stroke. She savors his touch, his need of her. Each time he loses a bit more restraint and becomes more feral. She moves her body seductively in order to further encourage and ignite his aggression. She craves his mark on her, his primitive claim on her body.

They are close now and he is seeking yet more contact. In one swift movement, she finds herself pushed up against the wall, the hard surface giving him the leverage he desires. The muscular cords on his neck appeal to her and she bites him not so lightly. The addition of this last sensation pushes him over the edge and soon they are both falling once again. As they sink to the floor, he is still encompassed within in her. His only thought is how convenient for next time.

The slight sound that precedes a comm message pierces the silence. Given their preoccupation with their current entanglement, neither notices.

"Archer to T'Pol. Archer to T'Pol."

The seconds before she responds seems like an eternity to Jonathan Archer. He suddenly feels awkwardly parental towards his second in command.

When she responds her voice is deeper, huskier than usual. The sound only serves to immense him in a jumble of protectiveness, embarrassment and yes, envy.

"T'Pol here, Captain."

"T'Pol, you'll have to excuse me it wasn't my intention to bother you but it seems as if we're going to need to address your situation with Trip sooner than you would have liked."

The voice that answers shocks Jonathan a bit even though he knows full well that Trip is present. "How so, Cap'n?"

It registers with Jonathan that Trip makes no effort to explain his presence in T'Pol's quarters. It is as if he is supposed to be there well into the night.

"It seems as if your bio signs are throwing up some red flags with security. I'd like to see you both in my ready room in --- let say half an hour?"

Answering for both of them, Trip's voice comes back through to Sick Bay, "Will do, Cap'n. Tucker out."

Logged off the comm system, Trip mutters a curse but makes no effort to move. For that matter neither does T'Pol.

With a crooked smile, he jests, "Is it just me or was that the shortest honeymoon on record?"

T'Pol shifts her head to the side and lets out a sigh before touching her forehead to his own. "I find I must agree with you. I am not yet sated."

Trip groans in reply, "Ahh Honey, you sure know how to hurt a guy."

She pulls back more than willing to stroke his ego, "On the contrary, your prowess is quite outstanding. I simply feel the need to continue --- as we are." To emphasize her point, she squeezes him in the most initimate way.

"Well, I will introduce you to the old human custom known as the quickie."



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It's been the better part of two hours and it's been quiet the whole time. There are only so many times a guy can walk up and down a corridor despite a gut feeling.

Malcolm is just about to hang it up and turn in when the door to T'Pol's quarter begins to hum heralding its impending opening. The sound gives him just enough time to turn the corner before the door opens.

If he didn't see it with his own eyes --- well, it still doesn't add up. T'Pol isn't alone but her companion isn't Vulcan at all - it's Trip!

TBA