Best First Contact Ever Chapter 4: Best First Contact Ever 4, a startrek: enterprise fanfic

Best First Contact Ever - Chapter Four

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"Sub-commander T'Pol to Captain Archer," ordered the comm.

Archer's thumb weakly depressed the button. "Yes," he said, jerking to attention. Just hearing her voice sent a chill down his spine.

"Captain?" she asked.

"Yes?" he asked clearing the cobwebs from his head.

"We have reached the planet. We are currently in orbit."

"What time is it?" he asked hoarsely.

"It's 1900 hours. Have you been asleep this entire time?"

"Uhm, yeah," he said, sitting up with effort.

"I'll meet you at your quarters in fifteen minutes. Would that give you sufficient time to prepare?"

"Yeah. I'll see you in fifteen."

He changed into his uniform just as the door chimed. Again, his brain panicked. He hadn't combed his hair or brushed his teeth. He ran into the bathroom and did both quickly, hoping to look well groomed. He was getting sick of the drug's effect, and his need to primp himself before seeing her.

The door swished open. He stared in awe at T'Pol, who was wearing a purple cat suit and seemed to have a soft glow around her. She asked after noticing his stare, "Are you ready?"

He sighed deeply and touched her arm lightly. Just the feel of her skin sent a jolt of electricity, a spark, through every nerve of his body. "Yeah," he whispered.

They walked down the hall together. Rather than keep his gaze ahead, he continued to follow her with his eyes. As they rounded the corner to the shuttle bay, Trip barred the door. The commander was wearing a glower and was leaning against the doorframe.

"Cap'n, maybe you can help me out, 'cuz the sub-commander sure can't. Why are you heading back to Benovula instead of checking out the cloaked sphere?"

Archer's eyes remained on T'Pol.

Trip continued, "I thought you were all fired up to get the Xindi. Remember, 'whatever it takes …'?"

It was almost as if Archer couldn't hear him, his gaze was intensely focused on T'Pol. His hand briefly touched her hair and he dipped his nose as if to smell her shampoo.

T'Pol turned to Archer as if in slow motion and raised her eyebrow. "Captain?"

Archer leaned into her. "Yes?"

Tucker put his hands on his hips and called out, "Jon?"

He received no response.

T'Pol motioned to Tucker as all three of them walked into the shuttle bay. "Commander, " she began quietly, "the captain has been affected by a drug given to him on Benovula. Because of the effects he appears to be … attracted to me."

"No kidding," said Trip. His eyebrows shot up against his hairline.

"I hope you will keep this information to yourself. I do not wish to embarrass the captain."

Trip said, "Alright. But, I still think you're wrong. Our first priority is the Xindi."

"Over the captain?" T'Pol countered. "We have already discussed this."

"Jon?" asked Trip, snapping his fingers in front of the captain's face.

His voice was still drowned out by T'Pol. Archer ran his hand down her back, resting it almost at her waist.

Trip looked surprised by this maneuver. "Must've been some kind of drug. I just can't believe Captain Archer would make that kind of decision."

"He agreed with my recommendation," she said.

"Appears he'd agree with anything you say," commented Trip snidely.

She raised an annoyed eyebrow at him, but remained stoic.

"I should go with you," stated Commander Tucker.

"Commander, I have asked you to command Enterprise. Your place is here. It would be foolish for all three of the most senior officers to go to the planet."

"But it's okay for you and the captain?" asked Trip.

"Yes," she noted. "He needs my assistance." During the discussion, she noticed Archer's hand was stroking her back, making gentle swirling patterns. She felt his fingers caressing her spine. The gesture seemed less lascivious and more sweet. She decided not to draw attention to it and allowed him to continue.

"I don't like this, Sub-commander!" accused Trip.

"Commander, I have given you an order."

"I take my orders from Captain Archer. Captain?" he asked.

She said, "I have given you an order. As the first officer, I outrank you, Commander."

"Begging your pardon, but …," began Trip.

Archer snapped out of his obsession long enough to add his two cents. "Trip, T'Pol gave you an order. Give the sub-commander the respect she deserves. She's your senior officer." He added darkly, "Understood?"

Trip shied away, scolded. "Yes, sir."

Archer added, "Listen, I appreciate your help. But, right now I need you here."

Trip nodded. He asked, "Why go back to Benovula?"

Archer said, "I thought T'Pol's recommendation was sound. It shouldn't delay us long."

"You said, 'Whatever it takes," mentioned Trip. "Do you remember?"

Archer felt conflicted. He noticed his hand was still stroking T'Pol's back. He stopped the motion and wiped his hand over his face. He grunted, "I remember, Trip. We'll be back shortly."

T'Pol added, "We will contact you as soon as possible." She turned to Archer, "Are you ready, Captain?"

"Yes," smiled Archer, trailing behind her.

They entered the bay as Trip put his hands on his hips and huffed in irritation.

****************************************************************************

T'Pol had realized Archer's symptoms had gotten significantly worse. She had to take the shuttle controls as Archer was literally unable to maintain his focus away from her. Even as they climbed out of the shuttle, Archer slipped his arm around her, helping her out. His fingers lingered on her hip, kneading the fabric.

"Captain," T'Pol rebuked, scrambling away from his touch. Her eyes scanned the area. She had agreed to meet Councilman Dralan at the established coordinates, but didn't see him. She raised her eyebrow and murmured, "Curious."

She withdrew her scanner and waved it in the air. Suddenly, she spotted something unexpected … Xindi bio-signs within a mile radius. She whispered, "Xindi readings, due East."

He gave a curt nod, withdrawing his phase pistol and followed T'Pol as they sneaked their way through a large gate, into the government building. It was large and marble. It was mostly open with easy access. They crept through corridors, passing statues and paintings of dignitaries. Finally, T'Pol motioned toward a large rotunda in front of them. The room was scattered with marble columns. Councilwoman Larana was talking quietly with one of the reptilian Xindi. T'Pol ducked behind an old marble column as Archer followed suit, eavesdropping on the conversation.

"I gave you what you wanted," said Larana, her voice nearing vexation.

"That wasn't enough. I know you have an entire Earth database," said the Xindi.

"You must be mistaken," countered Larana.

T'Pol glanced over at Archer who seemed angry, but quiet.

"I know that you have it. Just like I know you have visitors probably somewhere around here," said the reptilian Xindi. He flicked his forked tongue to smell the air and smiled sinisterly.

Archer could almost guess what was going to come next. They'd agreed to meet Dralan. He'd guessed the councilman was a spy, providing the Xindi information about their arrival.

Suddenly the Xindi started walking around the room. "Yes, they're in here somewhere."

Larana instinctively knew who it was. She'd been expecting their arrival ever since they'd left. She cocked her head to one side, "Who, Dorath?"

Dorath smiled. "I think you already know." He flicked out his tongue again.

Archer changed the notch on his gun to kill as he watched T'Pol perform the same action. As she turned the setting her phase pistol made a quiet click … but was loud enough that Dorath heard it.

Dorath walked toward the columns as Larana stated, "I've given you what you want. I'd like you to leave."

"You have received your payment," said Dorath walking toward Archer and T'Pol, still hidden. "I might be able to live with our current arrangement, if I can have something …. A human."

"I said you should leave," asserted Larana again.

Dorath pressed a small device on his belt. "I have some unfinished business to attend to though." As soon as the button was pressed, Archer and T'Pol saw two more Xindi burst into the room holding much larger weapons. They began quickly running toward Archer and T'Pol's location. The two officers from Enterprise heard weapons being charged.

"Come out, and I'll let you live," explained Dorath. He smiled vulgarly, wielding a large sidearm.

Archer and T'Pol remained silent. Archer looked over at T'Pol. Although he was able to make decisions, he found just looking at her made it difficult to focus on the problem at hand. He tried to shake his mind into submission, though doing so was much harder than yesterday.

Two more reptilian Xindi ran closer to Archer and T'Pol's location. As they were almost on top of them, T'Pol nodded to Archer. They moved away from the columns momentarily, raised their weapon and fired – each bringing down the Xindi in front of them. Dorath, though, seemed to anticipate this maneuver and filed a single shot at the only person directly in his line of sight – T'Pol.

T'Pol had just watched her near assailant hit the floor, unaware of the impending doom. As if in slow motion, Archer watched the weapon fire at his first officer. Before he could think, he leapt in front of her. As he hurled himself in the air, Dorath's shot grazed Archer's left shoulder, where his shoulder and neck meet. Blood spurted in all directions. And, as he fell to the ground, T'Pol noticed blood had already began soaking through his uniform. Archer grimaced momentarily and hit the floor with a resounding thud. He was unconscious; his phase pistol knocked from his hand, clattering through the hall.

Larana screamed, kicking the weapon from Dorath's hand as the Vulcan leveled her phase pistol at the Xindi and pulled the trigger. The Xindi crumpled onto the marble floor at the feet of the councilwoman, leaving a trail of greenish-yellow blood behind him. Larana looked at the scene in front of her with regret and disdain.

T'Pol quickly pulled out her communicator and said, "T'Pol to Enterprise. Three to transport at my coordinates immediately. Have Dr. Phlox and a medical team meet me at the transporter. The captain has been injured."

As she gave the order, more reptilian Xindi burst into the room. T'Pol cradled Archer's sagging body to her chest, protecting him from further fire, as the transporter beam locked onto them. As their visage shimmered, another shot was fired, skidding through the translucent particles.

********************************************************************************

As the three solidified on the transporter platform, Archer's body was draped over T'Pol's arm. She'd realized that red blood had stained her suit and was already dripping onto the platform, pooling beneath them.

Phlox ran over to them and flung out his medical scanner. He motioned to two male assistants as they heaved Archer onto a transportable stretcher. As they began to strap Archer's body to the bed, the security guard who'd operated the transporter walked up to the first officer. She walked off the transporter, distractedly looking at the captain and said, "Please escort Councilwoman Larana to the empty quarters on C Deck."

The man nodded and took Larana by the arm. The councilwoman objected quietly as T'Pol followed Phlox to Sickbay. As they entered the room, she stopped dead in her tracks. Archer's face was already ashen and his clothes near the wound were completely soaked with blood. Phlox began to cut feverishly at the torso of Archer's uniform with a pair of scissors. As he was doing so, the captain was moved in front of the bio-readings screen. His life signs dipped; his heart rate beeped slowly. Phlox's frown had wormed across his face with grave concern. He looked over at one of his assistants and ordered, "Prepare 2 CCs of a stimulant."

Phlox splayed open the uniform and looked at the captain's wound. Even through the copious amounts of blood, he could tell Archer was hit in the shoulder/neck region, possibly severing the arteries that flowed to his brain. The doctor's face turned more grim as he began hurriedly collecting materials to take the captain into surgery. He was afraid the man would suffer loss of oxygen, resulting in death or brain damage. As Phlox collected the materials, T'Pol asked, "What is the prognosis?"

Phlox didn't stop, he mumbled, "Not good. His left innominate artery has been severed. If I don't get him into surgery right away, he could suffer brain damage or die."

One assistant walked over and shot the stimulant into Archer's neck near the wound. Jon's face tightened and he let out a small moan. His eyes fluttered quickly and he had trouble focusing.

T'Pol loomed over the bed. Archer tried to focus on her and noticed her typically stoic veneer was melting into concern.

"You should not have protected me," she stated.

"I wanted to. I'd do it again," he whispered, having difficulty speaking.

She raised her eyebrow at him. "It's your condition that affected your judgment."

The other assistant pumped another hypospray into Archer's neck that seemed to dim his eyes. His voice became more hoarse as he mumbled, "Maybe."

"You should have allowed me to take the weapon's fire. You need not risk your life for me."

"I wanted … I want … to make sure you're safe." The fingers of his right hand lightly entwined hers.

She furrowed her brow. "You would do the same for any crewman," she stated.

His fingers began to go limp as he whispered, "I don't think so."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

As the hyposprays began to take affect, Archer realized he couldn't stop the truth from being uttered from his lips. "I'm not in love with any crewman, T'Pol."

She whispered, "I don't understand."

His eyes shut and his breathing slowed. Alarms attached to the bio-readings clanged. Phlox ordered, "Sub-commander, I'll need you to leave." He slipped a rubber apron on and picked up a scalpel as she backed away from the captain. Touching him, she had known that what he said was absolutely true. But, having his feelings in the open confused her.

Phlox made an incision into Archer's flesh and said harshly, "I'm ordering you out of Sickbay."

She barely found her footing as she managed to back into the hallway. As the doors closed, T'Pol reached out a hand and stroked the door lightly. Just the thought of having his life extinguished was tearing at her logic. She regained a small part of her control and straightened her spine. She headed toward the Bridge. Chances were good if a Xindi was on the planet, a ship was not far away. And, knowing their capabilities, she knew Enterprise would be outgunned. As she stepped from the turbolift, Reed stood from the command chair. "The captain?" he asked.

"Unknown," she responded without emotion. She turned to the beta shift science officer. "Is there a Xindi ship in the vicinity?"

The dark skinned female officer peered into the scanner and with a horrified expression stammered, "Yes, yes ma'am." The woman continued, "They are only coming into scanning range now."

"Tactical alert, Lt. Reed."

He pressed a few buttons on his console and said, "Aye, aye." The bridge was bathed in a red flashing light.

She crossed over to the captain's chair and held her position there. "Bring hull plating and phase cannons online," she stated.

Reed looked up, "They're online."

She tentatively placed her boot at the helmsman's station and leaned onto the console, as she'd noted Archer had done countless times before.

She asked, "What bearing is the Xindi ship?"

Lt. Saul at the science station said, "Bearing mark 2 point 4. It's coming about, ma'am."

Reed called out, "They're bringing their weapons online."

T'Pol called out, "Fire."

Reed punched a few buttons, engaging the phase cannons in a dazzling barrage. He grinned at the yield and watched the scout ship take heavier than normal losses. He knew he'd incapacitated it.

Saul called out, "Their weapons are down."

T'Pol looked over at Ensign Sato and asked, "Begin communicating a surrender protocol …."

Suddenly the view screen lit up as the small ship blew up into tiny pieces. The screen was ablaze with fire, ship fragments and space debris. T'Pol stared at the screen with puzzlement. After watching the debris scatter she turned to Malcolm. "Lt. Reed, did you aim to disarm?"

He was drawn to the site of the fiery sparks of light on the screen and whispered, "Of course, Sub-commander." He looked back over his readings and confirmed, "Only their engines were targeted."

Hoshi clutched at the device in her ear and commented, "I believe I translated their last communication. They self-destructed."

T'Pol raised her eyebrow. "Why?"

Saul nodded. "Scans confirm the blast began in their Engineering department … internally."

T'Pol clasped her hands behind her back and stared at the particles beginning to fan out into space.

Reed looked away from his console. "Sub-commander. I would possibly do the same … if I was in charge and I knew the Xindi would capture us."

T'Pol nodded in agreement, but felt disappointed. She whispered to Mayweather who stared into the view screen ahead, "Set a course for the sphere. Warp 3."

He nodded and wiggled his fingers across the board.

She backed away from the helm and looked at Reed. "Lt., you have the Bridge. I have a guest to speak with."

He nodded as she headed into the turbolift and for Deck C. As the lift opened its doors, she saw one of the assistants from Sickbay. "Ensign Mathers?" she asked.

He was surprised she knew his name. He'd heard she was an ice queen –not very friendly. "Yes."

"The captain?" she asked.

"He just came out of surgery when I left. Phlox thinks he'll be just fine."

She felt overwhelming relief and blinked slowly. "Thank you," she commented.

He smiled, "You're welcome."

She inclined her head and continued walking down the corridor to talk with Larana. Every step she took toward the councilwoman's quarters, she wondered about her feelings of relief. As the first officer, it was good to know Enterprise's captain would pull through. She thought about her friend and was pleased he would recover. She was also thankful that the captain did not sacrifice his life for hers. But, something nagged at her. Perhaps it was the captain's last comments in Sickbay; she had a feeling roaming around in her stomach which she was unaccustomed to. She tried to place it as she came to Larana's door.

The security guard there opened the door for the sub-commander and she stepped through the portal.

"Why did you bring me onboard?" the councilwoman asked. She was used to having people answer her questions. As the woman in charge of their council, she answered to no one.

"You sold the human database to the Xindi," commented T'Pol. "Why?"

"I wanted to keep my negotiating options open," she said.

"You have betrayed the people aboard this vessel, and possibly the millions of people that inhabit their planet."

Larana disagreed, "The only information the Xindi received was the cultural information. I would never give them help in destroying the humans."

"Any information you give to them is potentially dangerous to Earth," corrected T'Pol.

"I guess we can agree to disagree."

"Why did you betray them?" asked T'Pol.

Larana turned her head and stared out the window. "I do not answer to you."

"No, you do not," replied the Vulcan. "However, given the speech you made the day we joined you, it seemed you were more interested in peace and friendship." T'Pol raised her eyebrows. "I would not have thought you would betray the Earthlings."

Larana's violet eyes flew back at T'Pol. "There are situations on my planet you do not understand."

"Explain them."

"Benovula needs revenue. And, I need my people, whether I personally like the Xindi or not, to be in their good graces. They are becoming the most powerful force in the Expanse," remarked Larana.

"But the wars with your people? I would not have thought you would so quickly ally yourselves with them," stated T'Pol.

Larana shrugged. "I see the larger picture for my world. I would like it to survive, regardless of my hatred for a people that enslaved Benovulans."

"The fact that The Xindi enslaved your people seems an excellent reason not to allow them to take power in the Expanse." T'Pol added, "You mentioned their enslavement included your grandparents."

Larana nodded slowly. "The rest of Benovula forgets."

"But, you do not."

"I don't like what I did. I felt it necessary. My people have been through enough," said the stateswoman.

"These are not the principles your people live by. Why lower your standards for mere wealth?" asked T'Pol.

Larana remained quiet. She thought about their economic difficulties, but there was an ounce of truth to what T'Pol had said. The fact that she hated delivering the database to the Xindi should have given her pause for thought. The values of her people were more important than small economic gains. But, she felt she was right to court the Xindi, even if she didn't like them. They would be powerful allies.

As if reading her mind, T'Pol said, "I believe you will find the humans to be important allies. My people have. I have been … impressed with the achievements they have made. If they are the victors in a Xindi war or free the Expanse from their oppression, no doubt your people would benefit greatly."

Larana furrowed her brow.

"You cannot cater to both sides for long, Councilwoman."

Larana took a deep breath. "Am I your prisoner?"

T'Pol raised an eyebrow. "No, you are a guest for the time being, although I would like to discuss something else with you."

"About your captain?"

T'Pol gave one nod. "You gave him a drug …."

Larana smiled and sat down. She crossed her legs and twirled her hair. "He seemed willing to mate with me …."

T'Pol sat down across from her. "Having taken the drug, though, he did not wish to mate with you. I do not understand."

Larana stopped twirling her hair. "The drug is intended to intensify feelings. Undoubtedly, he was more interested in you," said Larana with a small frown.

T'Pol sat back in the chair. "Dr. Phlox referred to it as a catalyst."

"That's an accurate description. I touched him during the day. On my planet that's a way of …." She searched for the right words.

The first officer asked, "Marking your territory?"

"Yes. In a way. When he did not move from my advances, I took that as a positive sign. I confirmed with him verbally before giving him the tea that contains the herb." Larana continued, "Once he drank it, he should've responded to me."

"He believed the elixir to be a drink of friendship with your people." T'Pol asked with confusion, "But, I do not understand why he responded to me instead."

"He had a stronger attraction to you."

T'Pol asked, "His symptoms grew worse?"

"Feelings and attraction became more intense until coupling occurs." She looked at T'Pol and asked, "I take it you two have not …?"

The Vulcan remained silent.

Larana smiled, "He is a handsome man. Strong. Intelligent. Friendly. Bold. Charming. I gathered, having walked through the museum with him he appreciated art, music and particularly literature. I find him quite irresistible. I take it he is well?"

"It appears he will survive," remarked T'Pol.

Larana said, "He's obviously chosen you …. Your physiology looks … similar. Why not …?"

T'Pol's eyes grew dark. She did not want to explain Vulcan mating rituals to this woman. She instead asked, "Is there something I can administer to him to … remove the effects?"

Larana shook her head. "No. We have no need to remove these effects. On my planet, mating is quite natural. Friends and strangers even participate, if there is mutual physical attraction. It obviously is not as highly guarded as on your planet."

The first officer furrowed her brow.

Larana offered, "He's attracted to you. He obviously cares deeply about you. After all, he saved your life." She watched the Vulcan internally struggle for the right thing to do. "He indicated you were friends. It does not seem so overwhelming a task."

T'Pol was slightly angered this woman had no idea of the consequences of her actions, either in selling the human's database or in drugging someone against his will. She struggled with whether she should divulge that Dralan was the spy. He was had sold out Larana and Enterprise. The Vulcan said, "If you assist me in removing the affects from Captain Archer, I will tell you the name of the spy on your planet."

The Benovulan said, "I don't know how to remove the affects other than copulation."

T'Pol decided to do something that she normally wouldn't. She put her hand on Larana's arm and asked, "Are you sure?"

Larana tried to sit back in her chair, as T'Pol's grip held steadfast. She said with fear, "I'm sure, Sub-commander."

T'Pol released her arm, satisfied the answer was accurate. She rose and said, "I will ensure you have something to eat."

Larana began to protest again as T'Pol walked out of the room. The Vulcan's mind was jumbled with confusing emotions. She sorted through the conflict as she made her way to Sickbay.

She entered and saw a more jovial doctor.

"Ah! Sub-commander T'Pol," he beamed.

She looked at Archer, who was still sound asleep, and then back at the physician. "I spoke with Ensign Mathers who indicated everything was a success."

"Yes," acknowledged Phlox. "In human physiology with a wound like that, it could cut off circulation. But, he appears to be doing just fine. I'd like to relieve him of duty for the next four days while he recuperates."

"When will he awake?" she asked.

Phlox said, "Should be anytime …."

He was interrupted by Archer's stirring. Both Phlox and T'Pol gathered at the bio-bed. The captain asked hoarsely, "How'd I get here?"

Phlox replied, "Sub-commander T'Pol brought you here. Don't you remember?"

Archer smiled at T'Pol, obviously still enamored. He tried to sit up, as he felt an ache in his shoulder. He groaned and fell weakly back on the bed.

Phlox continued, "Your shoulder was injured on Benovula. It should be sore for a while. I've ordered you off duty for the time being."

Archer nodded in comprehension.

T'Pol leaned over. "It was foolish to dive in front of me. A simple request to move out of the way is all I required."

Phlox grinned widely and folded his arms smugly, watching the interaction.

Jon smirked, "I'll remember that next time." He glanced over her. Despite the furrow in her brow and a large blotch of red blood on her clothing, she looked radiant. He asked nodding to the stain, "That mine?"

She looked at the blood on her clothing and realized in her preoccupation, she hadn't changed. "Yes."

Phlox joined in, "T'Pol acted very quickly in bringing you back."

Archer grinned more broadly.

"Captain, do you remember what you told me in Sickbay before?" asked T'Pol.

"Before? Before just now?" he asked.

"Yes, when we first arrived," mentioned T'Pol. She ignored Phlox's gleeful stare keeping her attention on the captain.

"I just remember waking up here. Why? What did I say?" asked Jon.

Phlox split his face with a grotesquely friendly smile, still peering at the Vulcan.

T'Pol backed away from the bio-bed. "Nothing." She put her hands behind her back. "I am pleased to see you are awake. Councilwoman Larana is also aboard."

Archer's grin flattened. "Oh?"

"She was unable to assist in your … ailment," she commented.

Archer raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I'm more concerned about her selling out my people. I can't believe she would hand over the database to the Xindi."

"I am not certain they still have that information. A scout ship orbiting the planet self-destructed, possibly taking the information with it." She could read his bewilderment and said, "I will explain it in more detail later."

"You say the Xindi don't have the information? I wouldn't be so sure," he said. He looked deeply into her eyes and smiled again. "I didn't mean to imply you were wrong. I was just saying that they continue to surprise me."

She raised her eyebrow. "I understand." She added, "The councilwoman indicated the information was only cultural."

"I don't trust her. And any information could be damaging."

"Agreed. What would you like me to do with her?"

"Do you have a recommendation?" he asked.

"Return her to the planet."

"Why?" asked Archer.

"Because we have no use for her."

He stared into her green eyes. She was so beautiful. Her voice sounded like a siren's song. Phlox watched Archer's pulse and heart rate continue to increase. Jon nodded slowly.

"Very well," she replied. She turned to Phlox. "When will you be able to release him?"

"I'd like to keep him over night. If all goes well, I should be able to release him tomorrow."

T'Pol hesitated and asked, "I assume he can have visitors?"

Phlox remarked, "Although I have several animals in here, I'm not certain I want to have Porthos …."

She interrupted, "I was referring to myself."

"Oh?" asked the physician, as the same creepy smile fell onto his lips.

Archer said, "I'd love it if you came by."

T'Pol straightened herself and nodded. "Very well. I will bring you something to eat later?"

Archer's right hand took hers. "That'd be great."

Rather than slip her hand out of his grasp, she let it linger as she replied, "I will speak with you later then." She gave his hand a light squeeze and walked out the door.

Phlox had shock written all over his face. He turned to Archer. "This is getting interesting."

Archer's grin turned dopey as he sighed. "God, she's wonderful."

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