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Turn (R)- Ch. 3

Author - Stubadingdong
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Turn

By stub & Joe

DATE: 10-25-02

RATING: R
Disclaimers in Part 1

Part 3

************

Malcolm Reed waved his hand in front of his dinner companion's face to get her attention. Hoshi had been transfixed with the Sub-Commander since she'd wandered into the mess hall a few minutes earlier. Malcolm had never before witnessed someone treat pouring a cup of tea as a spectator sport.

"Hoshi, you haven't heard a bloody word I've said, have you?" he asked, exasperated.

"I'm sorry, Malcolm," Hoshi whispered, blinking sweetly at him. "She just seems so different lately. Distracted even. It's not like T'Pol."

"Not unlike someone else I know." The tactical officer reached across the table and patted Hoshi's arm. "You need to learn to tend to your own affairs, darling."

"Darling?" she echoed with a smile, her attention back to him. "Where did you pick that up?"

Malcolm smiled at her mischievously. "No doubt from Commander Tucker."

"Trip calls you 'darling?'" said Hoshi playfully. "Interesting." She laughed as he couldn't help but blush. He'd always been so easy to fluster and Hoshi loved teasing him. Her attention was again turned to the Vulcan as she approached the next table.

T'Pol was completely absorbed with a data pad in her hand. She absently set the mug of tea on the table and was about to sit when she teetered off balance slightly. Hoshi was instantly on her feet.

"Sub-Commander, are you ok?" the communications officer asked.

"I'm fine," said T'Pol, as she sunk into her chair. She didn't realize she was being watched. She gazed up at Hoshi with a slightly confused look. "There is no need to trouble yourself."

Hoshi narrowed her eyes at T'Pol. "You certainly don't look fine. Maybe you should go to Sickbay."

The Vulcan cocked her head and replied, "I can assure you, Ensign, I'm fine. I am not in need of medical assistance." She took a sip of tea. "I'm just tired."

Malcolm had stepped over to the two women. "Please don't take this the wrong way, T'Pol, but you haven't looked yourself lately. Are you sure you haven't come down with...anything?"

"I appreciate your concern," said T'Pol, "but I am fine. Perhaps I should return to my quarters now and get some much needed rest."

As she rose from her chair, she closed her eyes as a wave of vertigo swept over her. T'Pol barely caught herself on the edge of the table. Malcolm was at her side, helping her back into her chair.

"That does it," he said, "you're going to Sickbay."

"Wait," T'Pol replied, still not opening her eyes. "I just need a minute."

"Out of the question," he replied. He moved towards the comm.

"Please," T'Pol held up her hand. She glanced up at him and sighed. She took a deep breath and gestured for her two curious crewmates to sit. "Not that this matter is your business but if offering an answer will let me enjoy my tea, I will explain." She paused for a moment. "Just over a month ago, I experimented with a reduced meditation schedule. I thought that perhaps I would try other non-Vulcan means of relaxation." She did not elaborate.

"Why in the heavens would you do that?" Malcolm asked. Hoshi elbowed him. Backpedaling, he rephrased, "I mean, don't Vulcans rely heavily on meditation? I hope everything is alright."

"Yes Lieutenant Reed, everything is alright." She continued. "Unfortunately ceasing my regular meditations was not the best idea. I became increasingly distracted and my performance on the ship became diminished. I have since returned to a more consistent meditation regimen but it seems that the time missed has been hard to make up. I will be back to 'normal' soon enough. I do not require a trip to Sickbay."

"That would explain why you've been so distracted of late," noted Hoshi. At the Vulcan's raised eyebrow she added, "I've noticed on the Bridge lately you seemed to be staring off into space." She realized how odd that sounded considering their mission. "Well, space in an abstract sense," she continued nervously. "I've never seen you do that before. We were just concerned is all." She stopped and looked uncomfortable.

"We don't mean to pry, Sub-Commander," Malcolm apologized. He lowered his eyes and absently chewed his bottom lip.

"It's alright," said T'Pol with a slight sigh. "I do appreciate your concern. I think I'm feeling better now. I'm going to return to my quarters." With that, she rose again and stopped. Sweat beads appeared on her forehead. Her eyelids drooped. Her hands began to shake. She appeared on the verge of collapse.

Malcolm again swooped to her side and she leaned into him. "Okay T'Pol, I'm not taking no for an answer this time," he commanded.

"No," T'Pol insisted. "I'll be fine. Just give me a moment....."

"Like hell," growled Malcolm. He nodded at Hoshi and she bolted to the comm. unit on the wall.

"Hoshi to Dr. Phlox," she spoke into it.

After a moment, "Phlox here."

"We need you in the Mess right away. T'Pol is ill."

"On my way," he replied hurriedly.

T'Pol sat perched on the edge of the biobed. Dr. Phlox had shooed Malcolm and Hoshi out of Sickbay almost as soon as they'd arrived. He'd assured them that the Sub-Commander would be fine with the help of a sleep aid.

"Is there any particular reason you had decreased your meditation time, Sub- Commander?" Phlox asked bluntly as he scanned her. Hoshi and Malcolm had filled him in on the way. If he was going to be thorough, he'd have to be somewhat invasive.

"I had my reasons, Doctor." "I wouldn't recommend this in the future. Your experiment has put a lot of stress on your body," he said. "It was a very dangerous thing you attempted."

T'Pol closed her eyes against his impending lecture. "It is a moot point, Doctor. I have resumed my usual schedule."

Phlox smiled politely at the Vulcan. "I trust Commander Tucker has resumed his own meditations as well?" At her icy glare he continued. "Yes, I have noticed changes in Mr. Tucker too. He has not come to sickbay for any reason but I have noticed that he had been acting differently lately." T'Pol's glare turned to a dark scowl. Phlox continued, "It would probably be easier for you both to deal with one another without the heightened emotions. It's amazing the change in him since he's been meditating with you.....at least until a few weeks ago."

T'Pol did not try to hide her displeasure. "What is your point?"

"I'm a doctor, Sub-Commander. These scans indicate a much higher level of hormones secreted in the past few weeks." He looked directly at her. "Not that it is any of my business but you have been engaging in sexual activity, have you not?"

The Vulcan glared at the doctor as she spoke, "You're correct. It's none of your business." He merely smiled at her, waiting.

She looked away momentarily before answering. "But if you must know, I have engaged in some sexual activity although I fail to see the relevance of my personal activities. And I also do not appreciate your insinuations about myself and Mr. Tucker."

The doctor shuffled over to a counter and prepared a hypospray. He momentarily turned to face her. "I am not here to judge you, Sub-Commander, nor anyone else on the ship. I am only here to assist you with your medical needs. Your sexual activity or lack thereof is not of my concern unless it directly affects your health. Or the health of others on board." He turned back to continue his work.

"I appreciate that Doctor," replied T'Pol. She was still smarting but it seemed that her and Commander Tucker's decision was a logical one.

Phlox continued, "Your lack of meditation has no doubt allowed your more basic instincts to take over. In effect, you've run yourself down to a complete exhaustion. If you wish to continue your sexual activity, you must find a more stable balance." He waited.

"That won't be necessary," stated T'Pol. "I have ceased the physical encounters permanently. It was not...healthy."

Phlox approached her with the sleep aid and injected it into her neck. "On the contrary, Sub-Commander, Sexual activity is quite healthy for two adults, Human or Vulcan. But for you, the decrease in your meditation appears to have caused your problem. If you say things are over then I wouldn't expect to see you in here again with similar symptoms. I will continue to go over your vitals but I think with a little bed rest you should be good as new in a few days." He smiled.

"Thank you, Doctor," she said through clenched teeth. T'Pol slid off the bed and headed for the door.

The doors to her quarters swished open to reveal several meditation candles already lit and a certain engineer already seated at the low table. He opened his eyes and smiled at her in greeting. T'Pol raised an eyebrow.

"Hey," Trip said softly. "Where've you been? I've been sittin' here for over an hour."

"I didn't realize we had a date," replied T'Pol, arms folded across her chest. There was the slightest edge to her tone.

Trip picked up on it immediately and his smile faded. "Sorry," he said, scowling slightly. "Thought we were gonna get back to normal and normal is meditatin' together." He rose from the pillows and started towards the door. "I guess I'll leave then."

She closed her eyes for a moment and stepped to block his path. "That is unnecessary. I apologize." T'Pol looked up at him, concern stretched across his features.

"What's goin' on, T'Pol?"

"I just came from Sickbay," she said quietly.

"What? Why?" Trip grasped her gently by the shoulders. "Is everything ok? What happened?"

A tiny smile tugged at the corners of her mouth at his reaction. She regretted using the word 'Sickbay.' She sighed, absently placed a hand on his chest and carried on with her explanation. "I felt light-headed and went to see the doctor." She made a face and added, "At the insistence of Mr. Reed and Ensign Sato. It seems that my system had an adverse effect to the lack of mental stability. I was physically weakened and with the cessation of our sexual activity, it 'caught up to me.'"

Trip narrowed his eyes at her. T'Pol noted a twinkle of mischief. "Need a little boost?" he asked seductively, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. If she wasn't so tired, she surmised this might have tempted her.

"No," replied T'Pol firmly. "The last thing I need is another distraction." She wiggled her way out of his embrace as he sighed heavily.

"Alright, alright," Trip relented. "Come on, sit down." He sat on one of the pillows again and patted the other with his hand. "I'm sorry. My body's a bit slow on the uptake. Even though it's been a while, it still hasn't quite tamped down the urges." He glanced at his lap and rolled his eyes at himself in mild disgust.

As T'Pol joined him on the pillows, she arched another eyebrow at his offending member bulging slightly more now than when she first walked in. She looked back at his face where he was smiling sheepishly, a blush creeping into his cheeks. Trip just shrugged and said, "It'll go away...eventually."

"Indeed," was all she said. T'Pol closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her health, not the man sitting next to her. Meditations the last day or so were not as easy as she expected them to be. It took far more focus and concentration than it ever used to. However, within minutes both participants were deep in their own minds.

Trip wasn't sure how long they'd been sitting there, but the candles were considerably lower when he opened his eyes. T'Pol was stretched out across the pillows. She had her head in his lap and she was sound asleep. He didn't recall her doing that. He must have really been out of it. Trip looked down at her and reached a hand to her face. He gently caressed one cheek and smiled. < Like a little elf > he thought warmly.

He hated to wake her, but he didn't relish the thought of spending the night on the floor either. And he didn't really want to leave her there on the floor. She'd probably wake up with one hell of a backache. Trip decided to just carry her to bed. If she woke up, oh well. He'd apologize when and if that happened.

Trying not to jar T'Pol too badly, Trip gently worked his way out from under her. He stood and stretched, listening to his joints crack and roll. He dropped to one knee and carefully hoisted the slumbering Vulcan into his arms and carried her to her bed.

As he pulled the blanket up around her shoulders, she only muttered a few words in her native tongue, sighed and was quiet again. Trip smiled and bent down to brush a quick kiss across her cheek.

"Sweet dreams, darlin'," he whispered and then he was gone.

***********


Continued in Chapter 4

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