It took five hours to compile a list of vacationers, assign them to shuttles – with officers to lead them —and for everyone to pack for the trip.

It was the packing that took the longest.

Although the crew would've normally jumped at the chance to a little rest and relaxation, the men onboard seemed more interested in starting a few fights and leering at their fellow female crew. Unfortunately, this wasn't limited to just junior members; officers had the same trouble.

Archer stepped onto the Bridge from his Ready Room after holing himself up there to avoid leering at any female members who happened to be on the Bridge. The only reason he joined the crew was to greet Trip and call everyone into the Situation Room to divulge which crew members would stay and the procedures for recycling the air.

Instead of settling easily into his seat and waiting, he found himself pacing around the room … and his eyes wandering over to T'Pol more often than he would've liked. His gaze was interrupted by the sound of a Southern drawl.

"Cap'n?" Trip asked.

Startled, he nodded, and then despite his best efforts, turned his attention to what he was watching before … as Trip joined in: T'Pol hunched over the sensors. When she finally glanced behind her, both Archer and Trip looked immediately away (at the ceiling and then the floor); the engineer managed to mumble a few words.

"Can I talk to ya for a second?" he said.

"Sure," Archer said. His attention again taken as T'Pol sat down and leaned over her console, no doubt entering the readings into the system. Her clingy catsuit showed the smallest amount of cleavage, but still enough for Archer to gape.

After a few seconds passed, and when he realized Trip hadn't moved an inch either, he turned to him. The engineer's mouth hung open. It made him take the engineer by the arm and head to the Ready Room. As soon as the door closed, the blonde said exactly what was on Archer's mind.

"Cap'n, I don't know how much more I can take of this."

He agreed, wiping his sweating forehead with his hand, and sitting down. "T'Pol," he said as the word hung on his lips "said the first shuttle will be ready to launch in an hour."

"Yeah, well … all I can say is it's a good thing we're leaving the crew behind. Apparently we've used more water in the past day than we typically use in a week. It'll take us a few days to recycle the water, too."

To back up his statement, he threw a PADD on the desk. Archer glanced at it and winced.

"This is more cold water than that day the heater broke," the captain said.

Trip nodded. "I took three showers that day. Felt like Miami in August." With a slight frown, he said, "I took two today … before you ask."

The older man narrowed his eyes and set the PADD down. "I wasn't going to ask."

The man shrugged. "I got my engineers picked out for the air recycling."

Archer nodded. "Who?"

"LeBron, Martin and Ferelli."

The captain's eyebrows raised. "Those are all women. Attractive women."

"Really, hadn't noticed. Besides, Travis is on the team, too."

"Well, sure, but he was already on the team. You didn't chose him."

"What's your point?"

"Trip, are they best qualified for the job?"

"You questioning my engineering skills?"

Archer drew a deep breath and stood up. "No. I'm asking about your choices."

"I stand behind them."

"Martin's the red head in Operations, right?" Archer asked.

"Yeah."

"Twenty six. She leads the kickboxing class that takes place on Wednesdays."

"I guess so."

"She reports to Kessler …. Why wouldn't you want him in your team?"

"It's not a tough job. Susan could use the experience."

"The other people in Operations are Basso, Rostov and Ewing?"

"Right."

"Martin doesn't have the least amount of experience. Ewing is twenty-three, fresh from Starfleet. Seems like he would have the least."

"Didn't want him to feel the affects of the pheromones."

"We'll be wearing EV suits."

"Listen, if you'd rather pick my team be my guest!"

"No need to get snippy. I'm just questioning –"

"I don't come in here and tell you that you've been looking at T'Pol's ass for nearly two minutes before I interrupted, do I?"

"Excuse me!" The man walked a little closer, to glare into the younger man's eyes.

"You heard me." Trip puffed his chest out.

Archer closed the distance to stand almost toe-to-toe with him. "I didn't pick three young, attractive women to spend three days with."

"No you picked one: T'Pol."

"She's my first officer."

"We need the captain, first and second officer for a routine air recycling?"

"It's more complicated than that."

"Navaar?"

Just as Archer was about to argue, the intercom blared. "T'Pol to Captain Archer."

Training his sights on the engineer once more, he broke off and punched the button. "Yeah."

"Sir, you indicated you wanted to hold the staff briefing at –"

"I'm on my way."

T'Pol's face flushed as she sat down at the end of the table opposite to Archer. Phlox, Reed, Mayweather and Trip all filed in and sat down. As soon as they did, she noticed, with a little unease, they seemed zero-ed in on her … much like when she was on the Bridge.

It's why she excused Hoshi from the meeting and assigned her to lead the landing crew.

"Where's Hoshi?" Reed asked. "I haven't seen her for a couple of hours." A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.

"Leading the first boarding party down to the planet. I determined we didn't need a communication officer for the recycling."

"Will she be back?" Travis asked.

She responded raising a slim eyebrow. "Not until the air is recycled. Captain, you wanted to debrief on what was happening?"

Archer stood and tugged at his collar – which had already been unbuttoned by three. T'Pol ran her tongue over her lips.

The man grabbed the back of his chair almost in response. "Yes. T'Pol's already told you that we're using the transporter to get the majority of the crew down. We'll begin tonight at 1900 hours, when the Shuttlepod Two leaves the bay. Phlox, Reed, T'Pol and I will change into EV suits –"

Reed grinned devilishly.

"Is there a problem Mr. Reed?" Archer asked.

"Pardon me, sir?" he asked.

"Perhaps I should change with Commander Tucker's team," T'Pol said. "That is LeBron, Martin and Ferelli."

"Oooh, LeBron," Travis said, beaming.

Archer shot the helmsman a cold stare. "Good idea. The men will change into an EV suit at 1900 hours then and …."

"Is Ferelli the blonde?" Reed asked.

Trip nodded, letting a winning grin pass over his lips. "Yeah."

"Gentleman," Archer sighed. "I know our nerves are a little … frayed, but let's focus on the task at hand."

T'Pol noticed Trip bit back a quip. The captain continued.

"At 2100, Engineering will start recycling the air. Lieutenant, I'd like you to keep a close eye on Navaar; I'd –"

"Navaar? Not a problem, sir," Reed said.

Archer blinked. "May I finish?"

"Oh. Yes. By all means."

"Under no circumstances allow anyone, with the exception of T'Pol, to enter that area. That includes me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"T'Pol, when is Shuttlepod One ready to embark?" Archer asked.

She brushed her fingertips through her hair and noticed the men all halted their activity with the exception of Phlox, whose eyes were closed.

"At 1700 hours, sir." Her attention averted to the Denobulan. "Dr. Phlox, please wake up."

The physician, who seemed to have just dozed for a second, flung his eyes open and snorted.

"Ensign Sato is leading that party."

Archer moistened his lips. "Thanks, T'Pol. That's twenty-two minutes. Do any of you have any questions?"

"Why you stayin' onboard?" Trip asked.

Archer narrowed his eyes. "Dismissed."

Phlox gave a great yawn and pushed himself up from the table. As each man began to file out, she heard Travis lean into Malcolm and say a few words.

"Martin, LeBron and Ferelli. Damn I've got it good."

Reed grinned. "I heard Ferelli is double-jointed. She leads the Yoga class on Friday."

"Ooooo," Travis said.

T'Pol gave a light cough, which stopped their salacious discussion, and slipped past to her workstation. Digging her fingers into the console, her eyes flitted to the chronometer at her station hoping to hold out for another few hours. Vaguely, she felt two eyes on her. Looking up, she noticed they belonged to the captain.

At first, she met them, wondering if he had a question. But, as soon as she met his gaze, she noticed he glanced away. Throwing a little caution to the wind, which she normally wouldn't do, she asked him a question.

"May I see you in the Ready Room?"

He gave a slow nod and then followed her in there, a few paces behind. When the door slid shut she turned to him.

"Commander Tucker asked an interesting question."

He sat on the edge of his desk and shrugged. "I think you know why I chose to remain on Enterprise."

"Navaar?"

"I'd like to find out about the child's father as soon as possible. Not to mention, I'm the captain of the vessel; I want to make sure everything goes smoothly."

"Yes," she said. She found herself walking closer to him. "I'm concerned about Commander Tucker's choices for his team."

"Me, too. But, he knows his people better than I do. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that these women can do the job."

For some reason, she found herself coming closer to him.

"The affects of the pheromones are becoming more … difficult to ignore."

Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "I agree."

"Are you finding it difficult to keep from seeing her?"

She noticed his breath stuttered. "Yes."

"The Bridge crew is growing more … anxious as well."

He was quiet.

"They're staring at me."

"I know." Archer nodded slowly. "I'm sorry. I'll speak with them."

"May I be blunt?"

"Yes," he said, quietly.

"You are … staring at me." She worked her way to standing merely centimeters away.

Uncomfortably, his eyes shifted at his feet. "I'm not trying to be disrespectful …."

Her lids almost closed, as she gazed at him. Feeling his breath on her lips, her head languidly moved toward his as if to brush her lips against his skin or slide her nose along his. She felt his pulse quicken and his breath become staggered, as his eyes met hers and then closed just a little. The two stared at each other, waiting for the other to move away or close in for contact. Catching herself from nearly bringing her fingers to his lapel to force his mouth to hers, she edged back and flattened her lips.

"It's understandable."

She noticed he gave a pant.

Relying on her willpower, or as she would esteem her concentration and determination, she dragged her feet across the threshold to enter the Bridge. All eyes on her again, she sat down in her chair with a thud.

I don't know how much more I can take of this.

By the look on Archer's face, as he sheepishly walked onto the Bridge, she wondered about him as well. Even in his Ready Room, she's noticed his hair at the temples was becoming damp and his eyes were permanently half-lidded. His cheeks were flushed – a color somewhere between pink and tan.

Gripping her console again, noticing it buckling under her fingers and hands – as if it was a tin can – she watched the clock tick.

Reed grumbled from across the room. "Hurry up, Hoshi."

And then a voice came over the intercom.

"Ensign Sato to the Bridge."

Seemingly relieved, Archer nearly sprinted toward his chair. "Hoshi, you're a little ahead of schedule, but Shuttlepod One has my permission to –"

"Uhm, I think we have a problem," Hoshi said. "Corporal Fields just let me know that Navaar isn't in Decon."

"What do you mean she's –" Archer began.

Even T'Pol managed to blurt out something. "Impossible."

"She's gone," Sato said.

TBC

A/N: Expect an "old friend" to show up. He makes things better ... and worse.