Disclaimer: I don't own Enterprise. Paramount does, for all the good its doing them what with their lack of advertisement. The title of the story, and the chapter, come from Sir Thomas Wyatt's poem 'With Serving Still.'
By Fortune Be
"Excuse me?"
"C'mon Malcolm. You heard me. I said 'No challenge is too great for you. In the bedroom.'"
"You've got to be kidding me. No one plays those games at your age, Trip."
"Just read yours."
"You will impress an influential person."
There was a slight pause at the table before Trip's glare forced Malcolm to mutter "In the bedroom."
"C'mon Malcolm, it's no fun if you don't say it all together."
"I can't believe I'm doing this. You will impress an influential person. In the bedroom. Happy yet?"
Trip grinned.
"Hey, T'Pol. Come sit over here!" Trip's grin broadened, anticipating his next victim. He hadn't seen a flustered T'Pol in a while, and considered it high time. Besides, it was important that she not miss out on such an important cultural aspect as the infamous Fortune Cookie.
----
T'Pol looked at the scrap of paper in her hand. 'You will find it
easier to share your fears.' Even after Commander Tucker's childish
addition of 'in the bedroom' the fortune appealed to her in a way that
most certainly was not logical. However, she was finding it easier than
she should to discard logic.
It was a daunting revelation.
----
Trip was on his way to his quarters to call it a night when he heard
someone call out. He was surprised. The only other person in their
quarters at this time was T'Pol, and she wouldn't be having nightmares.
Well, not normally, but she had been distinctly off for a few months
now, and this might be his chance to figure out why.
After tapping in the door code she had given him a little while back, he tiptoed into her quarters, and then wondered why he was tiptoeing. She was asleep. The bedclothes were twisted around her and her pillow was on the floor. She gave a little scream and started thrashing about in her sleep.
Quite before he knew what he was doing, Trip was leaning over her bed and shaking her awake.
"Commander Tucker, Why are you--"
He cut her off. "I heard you shoutin' in your sleep. Wasn't quite sure what to make of it, so I decided to see what was wrong. I thought Vulcans didn't dream?"
"I was dreaming. It is, however, none of your concern. Thank you for waking me."
His face fell. After he had opened the door, she caught sight of the fortune of her desk. 'You will find it easier to share your fears.'
"Commander."
He turned back to face her. "What?"
"Perhaps it is your concern."
"I've told you this before, I don't know if you remember or not, but I'm willing to talk. Whenever you need me."
"Thank you. I think... I think I need a friend more than I wish to admit." The words coming out of her mouth were certainly not hers. She, T'Pol, Vulcan follower of Surak, would never have said those words. But they seemed to have worked. Commander Tucker smiled.
"I'm more than willing to fill that position. Whenever you need it filled."
AN: Thanks to Rhi for beta-ing. If you like TNG or Stargate humor fics, look her up.
