Too Careful

Too Careful

By Aquila

Rating: R
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Enterprise and the universe that surrounds her.
Summary: Post Rajiin, T’Pol recovers from Rajiin’s attack with Trip’s help– spoilers, A/U, sequel to Careful.

==

A red flush crept up the body of the engineer as he recalled the depth of his embarrassment when he mistook T’Pol’s attempts to convince him of the usefulness of neuro-pressure for sexual advances. His right hand whipped out from under his head to halt her hand that was exploring his groin. He had left one volatile situation only to find himself immersed in another that could cause him to lose his commission, his self-respect and a friend.

“T’Pol,” her name came out as a croak, “I need some clarification here.”

She withdrew her hand slowly, trailing a finger lightly across his abdomen, causing him to shiver. Her passive gaze gave no hint to the amount of disappointment she was experiencing. Communicating with Vulcan was a challenge at the best of times, but during a moment like this it was nigh unto impossible. His face, however, was an open book which she read easily.

“You have not misinterpreted my action,” she whispered in his ear, while she traced the bridge of his nose with a finger. “I was making a sexual advance.”

“I’m feeling like the girl again, T’Pol.” He took the edge off his remark by accompanying it with a grin. “Look, we’re both out of sorts. I’m nearing exhaustion. And you, well you look like you need a week on Risa.”

So out of sorts, she acknowledged silently, that I am going to trust my intuition and remain silent. He has not yet made his point. She rose on one elbow for an unobstructed view of his face.

“Why don’t we get some sleep, here, together, in your bunk?” He waved an arm about to make perfectly clear where here was. “Then in the mornin’ when we are both feeling more like ourselves, we can discuss advancing whatever seems to be goin’ on here.”

His face scrunched with doubt as he waited for her answer.

“With you in such close proximity during the night, I may experience another flash,” she warned.

Immediately, Trip started to disentangle from T’Pol, preparing to leave. She halted him with a hand on his chest.

“I did not mean for you to leave. I would take comfort in your presence.”

He pulled up so that he could lean against the bulkhead at the end of the bed. His legs stretched along the bunk. She answered his move with one of her own, sitting cross-legged by his side. He surprised her by grabbing the hem of his T-shirt and pulling it over his head. He threw it on the floor.

“Working with you, Sub-commander, these past two years has taught me the importance of compromise.” He winked. “I really need to get some sleep. But if your overcome by one of your flashes, I’m giving you permission to do what you will with me while I’m asleep.” He paused for effect, “As long as it is above the waist.”

“Agreed,” was the only neutral response that came to her.

With the conditions settled, she rose to extinguish the candles. He arranged the pillows on the bunk for two. When she returned he was prone, having made a hollow between the bulkhead and his side for her. She snuggled down, draping her left arm across his chest. He covered them both with a blanket then fell into a deep sleep.

==

Three hours later T’Pol’s body betrayed her. Her pulse pounded. Her mouth was dry. She felt a deep ache for an unknown desire between her legs. Her fingers itched to touch and caress. He had given her permission to touch, but she held back, until the craving could no longer be denied. Her hand was poised above his breast bone, when the communication console chirped to life.

“Archer to T’Pol.”

If Trip had been awake to witness it, he would have seen an expression of frustration settle on T’Pol’s face. She did her best not to disturb the sleeping engineer as she crawled out of the bunk to answer the hail.

“T’Pol here,” she said in a clipped and dispassionate manner.

“Again I apologize for disturbing your sleep, but I need you in the situation room.”

“Right away, Captain.”

==

He lay in the dark with his eyes wide open. Where am I? Enterprise. A bunk, but it is not my bunk. He reached for a light switch, aware that they were situated in the same place above every bunk on board. A pool of light fell on his torso, illuminating his chest, but nothing else. He sat up. I’m naked from the waist up. I’m wearing civilian trousers below.

“Of course,” he hit his forehead with palm of his hand. “I’m in T’Pol’s quarters.”

With the realization came the instinct to seek her out. He threw aside the blanket while thrashing about for the switch to the lamp that would cast more light on the situation.

“Maybe she’s in the head?” he said aloud. A quick glance through an open door told him she was not tending to some private need.

“Calm down, you idiot.” His heart pounded in fear. “She isn’t here, but that doesn’t mean she has come to harm.”

Just as he moved toward the comm. unit, T’Pol entered the cabin.

“Is there something wrong, Mr. Tucker?” She waited for his answer.

“I woke up and you weren’t here,” he said sheepishly. “I thought something might have happened to you.”

“Understandable, but untrue, as you can see,” she said as she began to change from her duty clothes back into sleeping attire.

Trip returned to the bunk to allow her a modicum of privacy. “You were called away?”

“Yes,” she said, stepping out of the catsuit. “The Captain has deciphered another segment of information from the Xindi database Hoshi retrieved. The Captain also reported that Mr. Reed has asked that we assist him with the captured Xindi weapon. He says that as it appears to be a biotech weapon the science is beyond his experience.”

“We are going to have a busy day tomorrow,” was Trip’s response as he tidied the bedding in preparation for their return.

“Today, actually,” explained T’Pol, coming to his side. “We are on duty in two hours.”

“There isn’t much time for sleep then,” he remarked innocently. His uniform was in his quarters. He never began the day without breakfast if he could. He needed a shower and a shave. His mind ran down the list of morning tasks that had to be completed before his shift began.

“I expected you to say that.” T’Pol tugged his arm so that he was standing facing her.

She let the top that she had been buttoning fall then slid her hands along his abdomen, up his chest and around the back of his neck. They were skin to skin from collarbone to waistline. She applied pressure so that he bent his neck, bringing his head into position for the kiss that followed.

“Well, maybe there’s time for some good old fashioned petting,” he said when at last she broke the embrace. “But only above the waist.”

The End.

You may wish to read the sequel: Very Careful

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Thank you so much for doing a partII, I loved it.
I think you should continue on once again I'm interested to see where this goes.

Aquila, your stories never cease to be a little wonderland of all things forbidden to us by B&B. Thanks!

This is coming along nicely.
Must thank you for brightening my day whenever I come here and see a new Aquila piece.

love the second part, can we hope for a third chapter ? :)

Now that was perfect! You´ve left me breathless... Can we hope for part 3 ????

This was all tease but delightfully done. I wanted to brain the stupid Captain for interrupting T'Pol's sleep period. What an idiot especially when she is going to be on duty in a few hours and would be able to see the segment and work on it then. Or was his intention to interrupt anything that might be happening? Hmm. Can't wait for the next part. Ali D :~)

How about a sequel called "Not Careful Enough".
I would love to read that one. I love you work, please keep writing!

Rita G...I'm falling off my chair laughing...actually the third one is titled - very careful. But I'm not going to finish it...firstly because your title is way better and because Impulse silenced the muse.

"But I´m not going to finish it..." Aquila! Please, NOOOOOOOOO! We NEED our part 3, sniff.

Aquila, why did Impulse silent the muse?

BTW, MoulinRouge started another thread at Startrek.com.

We need the third part to this desperately. :-) Of course, just as it was about to get interesting, the captain interrupted. How does he always know?? Heh. I hope your muse decides to get with it because I'd love to see more of this!

*chimes in* Please get to Very Careful. Don't silence the muse! Please!