A/N: Sorry it has taken a few days to get this next bit out...had a hard time connecting two points and was busy at work. I hope you continue to enjoy! Thank you 8-)
Better Late Than Never Chapter 3:
"Hoshi?" Trip exclaimed startled. "Why are ya goin to see Hoshi?"
"Who is Hoshi?" Trip's parents asked.
T'Pol was watching Malcolm carefully as she responded to the Tucker's query "Hoshi Sato was our communication officer on Enterprise. I must admit to being curious as to why Cmdr Reed has suddenly decided to leave and go to Brazil."
Malcolm shrugged "I've just decided, after the last ten years, to pursue something that I never felt was appropriate while on Enterprise. I've also decided, that after bearing witness to some people I know avoid everything about how they feel, that life is short and I should act rather than regret".
Trip's parents smirked at one another for a moment then turned to wish Malcolm well on his visit and thank him for bringing their son back to them.
Trip let his eyes drift to T'Pol. Malcolm's comments had been less than subtle. Over the last week, Malcolm had made it very clear on several occasions that he believed Trip was acting the fool and that he needed to do something about his behavior. It was something that both of his parents had made clear as well. It was also something that scared the hell out of him. How was he supposed to bridge the gap of six years. How could he trust that she would not slam the proverbial door in his face again. He had learned to build some walls around his heart when she continued to shut him out and he had transferred to the Columbia... He hated walls.
"I'll walk you out once you're packed" he drawled.
Reed nodded and trotted up the stairs.
T'Pol watched him leave and slid her gaze back to Trip, who pretended not to notice.
Trip was relieved when Malcolm did not take a long time before he came back down the stairs. He grabbed the smaller second bag and walked Reed out the door. "So, tell me what brought this on exactly... Pretend I did not understand your oh so subtle commentary in the kitchen."
"You know, I was always enamored of Hoshi when we were on Enterprise, but the fact that I was a lieutenant and she was only an ensign held me back quite a bit. She was always so bright and positive... Besides, I was also too afraid to reach out and even really think about what could happen. So, I just let it go. Helen and I have had a really good time together this last week, but Hoshi is still in the back of my mind as a 'what if'. Helen is leaving on an assignment for a little while, and I would like to step out of my protective shell even more and just see what might happen." Malcolm shrugged "If the last ten years didn't teach me just how fragile and short life can be, well, the last eight months certainly did."
Trip sighed "Yeah, I know." He held out his hand and both he and Reed shook hands warmly. "Well, I wish you luck... Take care."
Malcolm nodded, jumped into the transport and headed away from the Tucker home to an uncertain future. Possibly a brighter future.
Trip watched for a moment then returned to the house only to find his mother and T'Pol working on dinner. He stopped in the doorway for a moment to smile at the domestic picture of peace the two created. Neither really spoke, but both seemed completely comfortable in the other's presence. "Is there something I can help with?"
"No" both replied at once.
He held his hands up and left the room, not willing to take on that battle and not really wanting to either.
He sat down on the porch swing staring out at the beach, thinking of what Malcolm had said. Thinking about the grisly horrors they had encountered at Terra Prime's hidden outpost. He swallowed the bile which rose in his throat at some of the memories that bubbled to the surface. Memories containing so much hatred. So much violence. So much fear.
As if by magic T'Pol appeared next to him. She wordlessly handed him a cold beer and stood sentinel with him for a moment before returning to the kitchen.
Trip breathed easier for a moment relieved by her presence. He drew on her indomitable strength, her unwavering loyalty and support.
He had been a fool.
T'Pol sat up in her bed. Her breath was rapid and harsh. Her mind rattled like a dried husk in winter's grip, having been surrounded by swirling darkness and the sharp scent of blood. Dread. Disgust. Aching grief. Each of these mingled with the sense of urgent frenzied activity. Still shaking, T'Pol got up and went out to the bathroom in the hall where she splashed water on her face in an attempt to regain control. It was too much, she had to do something, offer something to him to stop these nightmares.
Trip was also awake in his own room, his own breathing was rapid and harsh as he attempted to shake yet another nightmares grip on his psyche. He nearly jumped a foot at the soft knock at the door. Eyes widened as he opened the door to a disgruntled pale T'Pol. "What's wrong?" he asked startled to see her looking so worn.
"May I come inside?"
He blinked and stood there a moment, his mind trying to wrap itself around her request. Still too tired and frazzled from the disturbing dream he gave up and stood aside and nodded.
T'Pol entered the room then turned and spoke in a calm voice, totally at odds with the ghosts shining from her eyes. "I would like to attempt the Vulcan Nerve Pressure with you again."
"You what? This late?" Trip still couldn't shake his head free of cobwebs. "Why? Why now?"
T'Pol sighed "I too am missing sleep due to your habitual dreaming. You do not need to discuss the contents of these dreams with me if you do not choose to do so, however, the nerve pressure should aid in your sleeping without the dreams themselves. "
She was experiencing these visions from hell with him? Great! What next. He would not wish these things on anyone. He rubbed his hand over his face and stepped into his bathroom to splash water on his face. He came back out still holding the towel. "You have the same dreams as I do? This still part of that bond thing isn't it?"
Her hand fluttered in the air "It appears so. I began having them several months ago, but not often. I have been awoken each night with what I believe are your dreams from experiences from your mission with Terra Prime. Your proximity must be intensifying the effect. They are affecting my sleep and making meditation difficult." Raising haunted eyes to his, she continued "Please allow me to help both of our sleep with the nerve pressure."
Trip shuddered "Until this week, I did not even suspect that we still held a bond."
"Nor did I. Apparently, the bond was much stronger than we knew."
"Ok. It helped before when my sister died, so I guess that it could help now, but you want to start now?" Trip asked nervously, remembering where else that Vulcan technique had led.
"Yes now. I wish to get some sleep and there have been nights where I have woken up several times due to your dreams. "
He gave her a shocked look, horrified that he was the cause of so much misery. "I'm so sorry T'Pol, I had no idea...none at all."
She shook her head "You are not to blame for this...just allow me to attempt to correct the problem."
Trip sighed and slipped his shirt over his head. He sat down on the much larger bed..."Quite a change from the cramped quarters on Enterprise" He attempted to joke.
"Indeed." She sat behind him and reached out to touch him with her hands. His scent filled her and for a moment she had to restrain herself from leaning into him and breathing that smell. To touch him again after all of this time...she focused on the position of her hands and the pressure of her fingers attempting to ignore the turn of her obviously undisciplined mind.
Trip chewed on the inside of his lip in an attempt to ignore how soft her hands felt and how good the pressure felt. In the long ago past, he had been able to mindlessly chatter about his engines or the next assignment while she worked her magic. There had been little tension at those sessions in those days. Here in his room, he found it hard to breath because of the tension. Grasping at anything to talk about, he began to discuss boat engines and all the different types he had ever worked on in his life. For awhile the tactic worked and he found himself enjoying T'Pol's presence as a friend. He started talking about the old sailing ships, which required a totally different type of engineering, but were works of art in and of their selves.
T'Pol continued working on Trip's body at first taken aback at his sudden stream of one sided conversation about an inane topic, but then allowed herself to just listen to the drawl and cadence of his voice. She half smiled at her own memories of his inability to remain quiet for any length of time... He suddenly shifted away from her and turned to face her. T'Pol's eyes widened uncertainty.
"I figured that you should get some sleep benefit out of this too...Your turn."
"Of course" she responded softly, not sure of how else to respond. She turned around and lifted her shirt over her head. Her eyes closed as his own hands began touching her.
"Now, it has been a long time, so let me know if I screw it up."
"You can be certain that I will inform you of any misstep."
Trip nearly held his breath. Her skin was even softer than memory, smoother. How a creature from a world of dry sun and fire could keep skin so soft was a mystery... one of her many mysteries. He found that he had a harder time keeping his head clear while he was the one touching her. He tried to focus on his own memories of how to place the hands and fingers just so in order to obtain the proper results. Instead, he found himself thinking of touching her in a completely different manner...one that required less precision but just as much finesse. The slender graceful form, the long neck, the tipped elfin ears... all brought him back to the last time he had stepped into her meditation and she had risen out of the water like a sea siren bent on seduction. A slow flickering warmth spread tendrils of desire curling through his extremities settling in his loins. Embers burning inside of him as hands slid along silken skin flushed with emerald hues.
As most acts of true passion, it lacked thought or contemplation, instead being instinctual and impulsive: He bent his head and touched lips to the base of her neck, running his tongue along that smooth surface.
He was rewarded when, rather than jerking away, T'Pol made a soft sound and leaned back into him tilting her head to allow his mouth full access to her neck and throat. Trip groaned and pursued further action tracing a path to those tempting ears. He managed to ask if she wanted him to stop, her only answer was to reach up and back running her fingers into his hair pulling his mouth to hers. The slow burn flared into a flame which began the inexorable path of consuming them both.