Corridors

In the morning, Trip was thankful, but quite surprised, at seeing T'Pol still in his bed. Trip grinned at the sleeping Vulcan and wrapped his strong arms around her, letting her soft naked skin comfort him. It wasn't long before T'Pol's eyes fluttered open to meet Trip's gaze.

"Mornin'." He said, smiling.

"Indeed." T'Pol snuggled closer to Trip in the most subtle way she knew how. After last night she felt relaxed and renewed, but she knew from yesterday's experience, that wouldn't last long. In a few hours she would feel the worry of losing her Vulcan control, the weird queasy feeling that she had experienced yesterday and then overall uncertainty on what to do about the whole Trip situation. But for now, she was happy just to be close to him.

"You wanna go to the Mess Hall later for breakfast?" Trip offered.

"I have to do some work." T'Pol replied, feeling rather than seeing Trip's disappointment. She had also become quite in tune with his emotions, more than usual.

"I should shower." T'Pol moved out of Trip's embrace and walked to his bathroom.

"Want any company?" Trip grinned mischievously. T'Pol raised an eyebrow and continued to walk to the bathroom, choosing to ignore his somewhat bold request. He knew he was only joking, of course. Or was he?

Trip could hear running water and he decided to get dressed.

T'Pol came out with his towel covering up her body and he couldn't help but look her up and down.

"It seems I have a problem." T'Pol said, holding up her blue silk pyjamas. Obviously she hadn't intended on staying all night. "It would be inappropriate for me to wear only my night clothes around the ship to my quarters." Trip laughed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her so that they could still look into the other's eyes.

"You could stay here all day." He smiled.

"That would be-"

"Illogical. I know. But it would be nice." Trip sighed. A day off wouldn't kill them would it? Well, if they ran into a Xindi warship, actually, it probably would. "I'll go get you some clothes."

Hesitantly T'Pol kissed him and then pulled back, looking at him meaningfully. Trip smiled and released her from his hold. Trip had a feeling that T'Pol was definitely coming into the idea of them being in a romantic relationship.

"I'll be right back." Trip walked out of his quarters and proceeded down the hall to T'Pol's quarters. On his way, he spotted the Captain coming toward him.

"Hey Trip." The Captain smiled.

"Capt'n." Trip nodded, stopping when he saw that Captain Archer wanted to have a little chat. As long as it doesn't take too long, Trip thought.

"Have you seen T'Pol? I stopped by her quarters, but she wasn't there." The Captain inquired. Trip felt a sudden guilt about lying to his friend, but he had too. T'Pol didn't want anyone to know about their relationship yet, and deep down, neither did Trip.

"No. Have you tried the Mess Hall?" Trip suggested as casually as he could. Captain Archer displayed a strange look on his face, almost a knowing face. But there was no possible way to know, was there? If he did know anything, he didn't say.

"I'll check there now. You wanna join me for breakfast?" The Captain offered.

"Wish I could, but I've been summoned to Engineering." Trip put on a fake disappointed face.

"Ok, maybe another time." With that, Captain Archer went in search of T'Pol.

Trip didn't want to lie to the Captain, he was basically his best friend, but Trip felt it necessary.

After retrieving T'Pol's clothing, his favourite little red number, he bumped into Hoshi and Travis on his way back to his quarters.

"Hey Trip." Hoshi greeted. Trip didn't really feel like talking, with T'Pol waiting for him and all, but he didn't want to be rude.

"Hi Hoshi, Travis." Trip smiled.

"Missed a great movie last night." Travis chuckled.

Hoshi looked down to see what Trip was carrying. "Why have you got T'Pol's clothes?"

Ut oh, Trip's face went pale. He needed a good excuse. Now.

"Um, T'Pol spilt her drink in the Mess Hall and I offered to go get her clean clothes." Trip smiled, but also held his breath, hoping that they bought that. Travis and Hoshi looked at each other, confused.

"We've just been to the Mess Hall and we didn't see T'Pol." Travis said, his face drawing a blank.

"Right," Trip's smile fading fast. "That's because she's now in Sickbay checking on a complaint by the Doc." Trip lied. He caught a glance of their disbelieving faces and decided to get the hell out of there before anyone else came round the bend. "What is this? The Spanish Inquisition? Sorry guys, but I gotta go." Trip hurried past the both of them and walked rapidly down the corridor, leaving Hoshi and Travis smiled at each other knowingly.