They moved down the beach a little to find the shelf Hoshi had felt coming out. When standing on the shelf, the water was just grazing their collarbones, but one step further and it was a good 2 feet above their heads. The ensign decided this was the best place to teach T'Pol how to tread water. She stepped off the shelf and demonstrated after explaining to T'Pol how to do it. She came back next to her and said, "Remember, march and clap." T'Pol stepped off the ledge. And promptly sank.
Hoshi panicked. 'Oh my god, I killed a commander! They're gonna shoot me back to earth in a torpedo tube!' she thought. Though T'Pol would deny it, she panicked also. After the initial dunk, all thoughts of marching and clapping were driven from her normally structured mind. As such, she was flailing about, trying to push herself up for air. Even though her lung capacity could easily allow her to remain under for minutes, she hadn't gotten a proper breath because she sucked in quite a bit of water when she went under.
Hoshi jumped out and grabbed T'Pol, pulling her up for air. T'Pol gasped for breath and clung to Hoshi as the linguist swam them both to where they could comfortably stand. Still, even with her feet firmly on the ground, T'Pol didn't relinquish her hold on the ensign. Hoshi was becoming painfully aware of their closeness. And of the way T'Pol's arms were around her neck. And of their breasts molding together... All in all, Hoshi was becoming rapidly too comfortable. 'She nearly drowned,' Hoshi chastised herself, 'Calm yourself down!' But still, all she could think about was moving her hands farther down T'Pol's back, past her waist...
Hoshi stepped back and grabbed T'Pol's bicep and led her to the shore. The dry land beneath her feet seemed to shock T'Pol back into some semblance of herself. She looked at Hoshi, horrified at her lapse in control. "I must meditate," she said, and excused her into her tent. Hoshi grabbed her clothes and walked off to dry off and change.
When she came back some time later, T'Pol was still in her tent. Hoshi didn't know how long she usually took, but as far as she knew, T'Pol only meditated before sleeping. The swimming must've really rattled her if T'Pol had to meditate in the middle of the day. Well, Hoshi was hungry. She got out the food that the chef had packed for them. The ensign was unsure as to when T'Pol would come out, and she was famished. So, she fixed a plate for herself and one for T'Pol which she left in the stasis basket. She sat down on a log near their campsite. Hoshi was nearly done when T'Pol emerged, looking much more composed in her normal bodysuit. "There's a plate in the basket," Hoshi said. "I wasn't sure when you'd be hungry, so I made it up." T'Pol nodded appreciatively.
"That was very... considerate of you. Thank you, Hoshi." T'Pol retrieved the plate and sat next to Hoshi. The ensign unconsciously decided to eat slower so as to relish the time next to the older woman. It was a few seconds before Hoshi realized that the commander had called her by her given name. That was unusual. They ate in silence, watching the sun set. Until it started to rain.
AN: Sorry, I took a long time to get around to typing this. It's getting close to finals time, but I'm about 1/2 way through writing ch.5, unless I decide to go for broke and put it all in there. (Just musing out loud. Ideas are great. Just like plotbunnies. Did I tell you about the Andromeda one?)
