The Second Night

Before Trip had gone to T'Pol's quarters, he'd showered and put on some light cologne. Just in case. When he had got to T'Pol's, she had traditionally covered her room with candles. According to T'Pol, they were necessary for concentration.

"You're late." T'Pol stated. Trip had always admired the way she stated things with such precision. He'd only been five minutes late.

"Hello to you too." Trip replied dryly. T'Pol was wearing her blue silk pyjamas and Trip wore a white tee shirt and sweat pants.

"Trip, I've thought about last night and I think we should not continue." T'Pol moved uncomfortably to sit on her bed.

"Easier said than done, darlin'." Trip replied, sitting next to her on the bed.

"I would prefer it if you wouldn't address me like that." T'Pol requested.

"What? You mean the 'darlin' remark?" Trip asked and T'Pol nodded her head. "Sorry, it just slipped out." After a silent pause, Trip asked, "So, I should leave."

Trip got up to leave, but T'Pol quickly got up to stop him.

"I see no reason to stop doing the neuropressure sessions if we both remain professional." T'Pol suggested. Trip turned around and gave her a defeated look.

"What do you want from me?" Trip asked, spreading his arms out and then dropping them by his side again.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." T'Pol stayed neutral. She wanted him so much it hurt, but to continue this, whatever this was, was madness. This morning she woke up and she was more alert, more sensitive and most of all, emotions that she had never experienced before had attacked her from all angles. It was like being with Trip had magnified her emotion crisis.

"You're giving me mixed signals here. First you avoid me, then we sleep together, I saw you glancing at me in Engineering, you break everything off and then still want to continue with the neuropressure?" Trip finally breathed, quite frustrated and confused.

"Neuropressure isn't supposed to be intimate." T'Pol countered.

"Could've fooled me." Trip murmured.

"I'm sorry if I've given you the wrong impression, Commander-"

"And then there's that. Why when we argue do you call me Commander and when we're doing neuropressure do you call me Trip?" He argued.

"I hadn't realised I did that." T'Pol shrugged. Not literally of course, he'd never actually seen T'Pol shrug.

"T'Pol, I'm going to be honest with you. If you want some kind of a relationship, I won't pretend that I'm not interested, but you can't keep changing your mind. I can't wait for you forever. You either want me or you don't." Trip said, a little relieved he got that off his back. T'Pol took this into consideration, not making eye contact. "Your choice." With that, Trip left, leaving T'Pol with swirling emotions that were beginning to give her a migraine.