With graceful and powerful strokes, he swam with style and ease through the clear blue depths. Every now stopping to steal a photo of the vast coral reef below, which was teaming with alien aquatic life. It was so relaxing, just what he needed after a stressful six months of working non-stop on Enterprise. Trip was taken back by the sheer beauty of the place – from the myriad of colours reflecting back from the delicate, interwoven coral structures, the masses of tiny luminesant sea creatures; all which contrasted sharply with the clear blue tranquil depths he was swimming in. It was just sheer heaven.

Glancing at his watch he noticed that he had been down here for nearly two hours. His tank only had enough oxygen for another 15 minutes, so reluctantly he stowed away his camera and turned around to begin the long trek back to the surface above. Breaking the surface, he pulled off his goggles with one hand while brushing back his damp hair with the other. Treading water, he glanced around to get his bearings of the nearby beach. Once assured of his bearings, he set off in the right direction using powerful strokes. Reaching shallow ground, he waded out of the sea noticing two figures waiting for him in the distance.

T'Pol stared in awe at the tall imposing figure that was now walking out of the ocean towards them. Rivulets of water dripped off him as he pushed his wet hair out of his face, cascading down his strong masculine shoulders. T'Pol watched one droplet in particular with fascination as it traversed a path down his buff torso, through his forest of damp fuzzy chest hair that was just crying out for her to immerse her fingers in, down to strong lean abdominal muscles that gleamed in the sunlight. She licked her lips as she imagined the progression it would traverse with her eyes, past the waistline of his wetsuit, down to the lush hidden depths of…….. "Hey, Cap'n, T'Pol. What brings you down here? Have you come for some R&R as well," asked Trip, as he dropped his tank onto the floor beside him, not realising the erotic train of thought he had interrupted in Sub Commander T'Pol mind. "Are you okay, T'Pol? Ya look a little flushed."

"I'm fine commander, just not used to being next to all this water," replied an embarrassed T'Pol, trying to regain her composure.

"Sorry to cut short your vacation, Trip," interrupted Archer, "but shore leave's been cancelled. We've all been recalled back to Enterprise."

"Ah ya sure they wouldn't miss us for another 30mins, Cap'n. Ya gotta see it down there; it's like paradise."

"You don't know how tempting that appeals to me at the moment, but I'm sorry, we'll have to put it off for another time," replied Archer, as he threw a towel to Trip to dry himself off as they walked back to the shuttle pod. "The Andorians and the Vulcan's have finally decided to start their treaty negotiations. We're to rendezvous with the Vulcan ship 'Selaya' and the Andorian ship 'Whytan', to escort Ambassador Soval and Commander Shran to the meeting place."

"Geez ain't that going to be fun," said Trip pulling a sarcastic face as he tied to stretch his arm behind his head and towel dry his back.

"Ambassador Soval is an accomplished diplomat who has negotiated many treaties," replied T'Pol, as she grabbed hold of Trip's towel and began to rub his back dry for him, lingering her touch just a bit longer than was necessary. "His expertise will be greatly needed when dealing with the Andorians."

"Yeah, but he sure hates my arse," muttered back Commander Tucker, as he nodded a grateful thanks to T'Pol.

"With all due respect, Commander, it isn't your arse that he finds offensive," replied T'Pol, as she turned to walk on ahead.

"I dunno," laughed Trip, "Gimma a beer and a curry and I'll see what I can do in that respect."

Captain Archer laughed, waggling his finger at Trip, while T'Pol just raised her usual eyebrow.

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Three days later Enterprise pulled up to meet the 'Whytan' at the requested coordinates. The 'Selaya' had previously commed through a message saying they had experienced an unfortunate delay that would put their rendezvous back 24 hours, much to General Shran's amusement. This gave each ship some unexpected downtime before they could escort each other to the planet where the treaty negotiations were taking place.

Unbeknown to the Enterprise, a few stars shimmered out of existence as a clocked vessel pulled up in close proximity and hovered close by awaiting a coded signal.

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"I'm glad that you could join us, Shran?" said Captain Archer as he greeted him at the airlock with Trip and T'Pol, "it's good to see you under more pleasant circumstances."

"I wouldn't call being under the same roof with Vulcan's for a lengthy period of time pleasant circumstances pink-skin," replied Shran before turning to smirk at T'Pol, "except when it's your pleasant company, Sub Commander."

T'Pol didn't answer with words to his remark, just a deep penetrating glare of dislike.

Shran just chuckled at this, he love winding T'Pol up. "Commander Tucker, you're looking well. How are you?"

"Yeah, it's amazing what a little shore leave can do," replied Trip acknowledging with a smile that he understood the question was aimed at his feelings towards his departed sister and he was grateful for Shran's concern. "Although your Andorian ale works just as well in that department also," said Trip mischievously while waggling his eyebrows.

"Why don't I bring a bottle over tonight and the Captain, you and me can drink an equivalent '2 weeks R&R' together," smiled back Shran in an equal mischievous mood. He couldn't help it, he emphasised with how Commander Tucker's had dealt with his loss due to their shared bond of each losing much loved siblings. Each time he saw Trip now, a protective, playful older brother instinct took over, when ever he was around him.

"Sounds great Shran," laughed both Archer and Trip as they walked along the corridor.

"How about you, Sub Commander," asked Shran with an evil glint in his eye, "care to loosen up a little."

As T'Pol threw him a glare and quickly walked away, Trip could have sworn he heard her muttering quietly under her breath, "not with you blue boy."

"Was that steam coming out of her eyes?" asked Archer with a smile. He just shook his head, "You certainly know how to pull her strings, Shran."

"Vulcan's," smirked Shran, in response to Captain Archer, "they wouldn't know how to loosen up and have a good time even if it killed them."

Trip just smiled, he certainly knew different in that respect, but he wasn't telling anyone. It wasn't polite to kiss and tell; anyhow he was hoping for round two and beyond in that department. He was sure T'Pol was as well, especially with the way she acted around him on the beach the other day, rubbing his back with a towel and giving him longing lustful looks. Trip didn't want to admit to T'Pol that he had seen her because he didn't want to push her into anything she wasn't yet sure about. He knew deep down she was the girl for him and that they would make one hell of a couple. Trip just wished T'Pol would hurry up and admit it also.

"Something we should know about, Commander?" asked Archer, derailing Trip's train of thought.

"No…… just trying to picture a loosened-up drunken Soval, party animal of the Universe," laughed Trip as both Shran and Archer each pulled a face. "Naaa…… ain't ever gonna happen."

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