Do You Want a Ship of Your Own?

Do You Want a Ship of Your Own?

By Aquila

Rating: PG – The relationship between Trip and T’Pol shifts
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Paramount
Timeline: After regeneration, before First Flight
Summary: Resolution to the premise established in Someone was Seeking Permission to Enter

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“Do you want a ship of your own?”

T’Pol’s question chilled the air. They were no longer flirting. The Subcommander had returned to duty with her photon cannons charged. To avoid answering immediately, Trip collected the picnic residue, carefully stacking the dishes and glassware in the empty food container. T’Pol waited.

She occupied herself by analyzing the Commander’s current suitability for a permanent command. In his favour was his ability to an efficient and loyal crew. His leadership skills extended beyond his own department, affecting the entire crew. He had become the ship’s unofficial social director. Although he was adept at charming the female of any number of species, had he the diplomatic skills required of a starship captain? Admittedly Captain Archer’s skills were honed on the job, but T’Pol had seen in the beginning evidence of an innate skill that the Commander appeared to lack.

“Charles, do you want a ship of your own?” T’Pol looked up into the eyes of the man who stood over her.

Trip extended his hand, all fingers extended, a mute offer of assistance. She placed her hand in his, rising from her seat on the deck to stand toe to toe with him. His eyes were a stormy blue, his mouth stern. Her question had chased away the flirtatious young man, leaving behind a stern and lonely Starfleet officer.

“You will be more comfortable on the bunk, Subcommander.” Trip stooped to retrieve the cushions, which he leaned against the bulkhead, making a backrest.

T’Pol settled herself on the makeshift seating, curling her legs up under herself, then leaning back against one of the cushions. Would he accept the unspoken invitation, she wondered? He did.

As he settled his back against the other pillow, his legs extended in front, bending at the knee so that his feet were firmly on the deck, he asked, “What if my answer is I do not know?”

“My recommendation would be that you make the choices that an officer who wants a ship should make, until you have decided.” T’Pol answered calmly, without persuasion.

“So what would an undecided starship officer who had committed a gross error do to ensure that a captaincy might be in his future?” Trip stared at the opposite bulkhead while he waited for her answer.

“There are few precedents for the situation that you described.” T’Pol reminded him.

“Are ya sayin’ that the officer could write the book, setting the precedent for ambitious officers in the future?” Trip turned toward her, crossing his legs so that he could lean forward, hope tensing every muscle.

The Commander did not need an answer. T’Pol’s eyes shone with the pride of a teacher whose favourite pupil no longer needed her.

“I read about another Vulcan custom.” Trip whispered, raising his hand to her ear. He paused deliberately to allow her the opportunity to protest. Nothing.

Using his index finger, Trip traced the shape of her right ear, following the curve upward to the tip, then down along the back. His fingertip came to rest on her ear lobe, which he was surprised to note had been pierced. He lingered on the lobe until he felt the warm skin turn hot. He repeated the action on her left ear. This time he held her gaze, gauging his timing by the mounting desire in her eyes. When his hand reached the second earlobe, he stopped, each index finger resting on a lobe, the skin temperature rising rapidly.

T’Pol swallowed hard, then her jaw relaxed, releasing a moaning sigh. Trip watched as her pupils dilated. Slowly a smug grin crept from his mouth to his eyes. T’Pol had thrown her head back, breaking the connection with his hands and exposing her long neck. He moved in to finish the ritual. With his face micromillimeters from her skin, he used his nose to follow a line from the tip of her chin to the neckline of her uniform. He left a wake of breath in his path. T’Pol shuddered, falling limp against the pillow. Trip kept silent, the database said that if the male had executed the caress successfully, the female would need some moments to recover.

“Charles?” T’Pol whispered.

“Yes?” His stomach lurched. From the perspective of a Vulcan female his actions had been forward.

“You did not find that in the Vulcan database.” It was statement and a question.

“Can’t fool ya, can I Subcommander?” Trip stood up and began to pace. “I found that in Phlox’s database, under alien courtship rituals. Do I need to apologize?” He stopped to face her.

T’Pol rose from the bunk, the flush that had tinted her skin a deep emerald, had receded. “There is no need to apologize for demonstrating a skillful understanding and execution of interspecies relations. After all, it is the goal of these sessions to improve just that.”

Trip whooped! “Dang, T’Pol. You are temptation personified when you get all prim and proper. It makes me want to turn you into a smoldering, boneless mass, every time.”

“Commander.” The rebuke was sharp.

“I just undermined myself, didn’t I?” Trip hung his head in false shame.

T’Pol noted his insincerity. “Charles, off-duty, in your quarters – what happens here is private, is not to be shared or used to manipulate - or our sessions will have to cease.”

Trip Tucker’s reply surprised them both.

“T’Pol, you have done all that you can. I will ask Jon to put a permanent reprimand in my jacket tomorrow. The future is up to me. As far as I am concerned our sessions are finished.” Trip drew a breath. “From now on, there is only one reason to find ourselves alone in my quarters and that has nothing to do with ship’s business. I’ll respect your decision, T’Pol, but you gotta make one, ‘cause I want to do a helluva lot more than flirt with you.”

The End

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The series continues in The Data Had Not Changed

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Seven people have made comments

Dang...Dirty Little Trippy! Bad Bad boy!.... But dirty boy too... sheesh

Oh YES!!! MORE MORE MORE MORE of this little dirty ditty!

Oh yes, now you're getting stoked up Trip! I like where this is going and he certainly seems a lot more assertive now. I wonder how T'Pol will take their relationship further? Can't wait for the next part, this was terrific! Ali D :~)

Wowsa - that was brilliant! I loved it. Thanks for sharing :-)

Excellent courtship! but the sessions are done? or not! Hope you'll be continuing.

This is exactly what Trip thought. Too bad they'll never show it on the show.

oh my GOSH! i loved it.