Child of Time-Ch. 11

A Child of Time

By JD1

Rating: PG, Mystery, Romance
Disclaimers in Chapter One

Author’s Note: Some of the things, like conversations and such, in this chap between Trip and T’Pol, I have no actual experience in. So if something isn't right, a description or something, hang with me, all this stuff is from TV and other stories I've read.

Summary: A 'mishap' in the turbolift could change Trip and T'Pol's relationship forever. Will it be for the good or bad? And when Malcom discovers something wrong with the data they collected, who will fingers be pointing at?

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Chapter 11

Discoveries

**A Turbolift**

Trip was waiting outside the turbolift to go back to his quarters. He was still trying to muster up some courage to go and ask T’Pol out on a date. ‘But what would we do. Have dinner together in the Mess Hall? Well, that could work. Or one of our rooms.’ Trip thought as he waited.

Trip was brought out of his thoughts, when the lift stopped and the doors opened. And there was T’Pol, standing in there. His face turned pale and that same feeling in the pit of his stomach returned.

T’Pol looked up from her PADD and noticed he was just standing there. She also noticed the clammy, pale like look to his face. “Are you ill, Commander?”

“Huh? Ah, no. I’m fine.” Trip gave a forced smile and walked in. Then he called out his destination. They stood in an awkward silence for a few more minutes as Trip continued to gain his courage to ask her what he wanted to.

“Computer, halt turbolift.” Came from T’Pol before he could ask. “Commander, it has been brought to my attention that you may have romantic interest towards me. Is that correct?”

Trip could not help laughing. What she had said did help to lighten the mood. Only now she knew his feelings but he had no idea was hers were. Trip was still smiling, especially at T’Pol’s confused look. “I don’t know how to answer that.”

“Then you do not feel that way toward me?” T’Pol more stated but phrased as a question.

When Trip looked at her, he could see that that had… hurt her? Maybe he did know how she felt after all. He stepped closer, leaving a half a meter or so between them. He shook his head ‘no’ and said, with a smile, “No, I do have… romantic interests in you.” He stepped closer, now only a few centimeters were between them, and he was relieved she didn’t back away.

He looked into her eyes and she his. Neither one had any idea what they were doing, what had possessed them to do this. Nor what had changed from their constant bickering to them here, standing centimeters away from each other.

They must have stood there for almost a minute, their eyes locked. When, “Commander, Sub-Commander, is something wrong? The lift hasn’t moved for almost three minutes.” Malcom said over the comm.

They both broke their eye contact and back away, embarrassed. “Na, we’re fine, Malcom. We, uh, were just… talking.” Trip said in almost a disappointed voice.

“Computer, resume.” T’Pol ordered the computer once Trip had cut the comm. link. She regained her composure as she chastised herself for her moment of weakness. She had wanted to be touched by him, to be close to him, had wanted… she didn’t want to finish the thought. She had felt something for him, something she had never experienced before, something she could not comprehend, something she still felt even as he walked out the turbolift doors.

They stopped at Trip’s deck a few seconds later. Embarrassed, he walked out without so much as a good-bye.

‘What was I thinking. I was about to KISS T’Pol. It was T’Pol for crying out loud!’ Trip thought to himself as he walked on automatic to get back to his quarters. Even though his actions puzzled him, he still felt the same way as in the turbolift, with her. ‘Oh my god, I am fallin’ for ‘er.’

**Bridge, Tactical**

Malcom had gone over and over the data collected, and something wasn’t right, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it. It was as though some of the scorch marks just couldn't have possibly had been made while the same ship was under attack.

'That's it!' Malcom smiled victoriously at his new idea. His fingers immediately flow over his console as he tested his idea. With the patterns they used to attempt to stop the cloaked ship's firing and how many shots they got at the planet, he was able to determine their attack pattern and it was nothing like the data Selack collected. That either meant someone tampered with it or their scanners were flawed. Malcom ran a diagnostic on the Shuttle Pod's scanners but found nothing wrong with them.

...Meaning Selack tampered with the scans. But why? That was the important question. Even if Malcom didn't know the answer to that, he knew he had to tell the Captain what he had found out.

**Captain's Ready Room**

"Yes?" The Captain said, looking up to be greeted by Lieutenant Reed. "Lieutenant, is there something I can do for you?"

"I have some more information on the data from the planet." Malcom said hesitate.

"Yes," The Captain said, urging him on.

Malcom looked down and sighed. When he looked back up he said, "I cross-checked the data Selack gathered against how many shots they took at the planet and how many times we hit them. The two don't match up, sir. They're close, but it doesn't fit with the way we hit them and how it would mess up their aim."

"What are you saying, Malcom?" Archer asked, a little confused and upset.

Malcom sighed, he liked the kid and he really didn't have real evidence saying it was him. "I had a diagnostic done on the shuttle sensors and they were fine." Malcom paused to let him digest that and at his look, he continued. "Meaning someone must have tampered with the data."

"And Selack would be the main suspect, correct." Archer asked. Malcom just nodded. "We still need to know who attacked them. Use all data we have seen if you can get the real attack pattern used. And don't let Selack know, just in case. But keep looking to see who tampered with the data."

"Aye, sir." Malcom said and walked out.

**T'Pol's Quarters**

After Trip had thought things through, he knew he needed to talk to T'Pol. He had tried her quarters, but she wasn't there. After seeing that, he figured she must be on duty. The next shift was in a few minutes, so she'd be back any minute.

He stood outside, very uncomfortable, waiting for her to return. Again, he had picked the time when most people were on duty and didn't come down this way. The silence was almost comforting, giving him the chance to clear his mind and think. But it also gave him an even more awkward and aggravating wait.

When she did get there, he got an interesting look from her that made him smile widely. Actually, her presence was enough to make him smile and he found he couldn't stop staring at her. The strange thing was, she returned his stare.

After a minute of starring, Trip finally found his voice and said, well more stuttered, "Uh, could I, um, come in?"

T'Pol nodded and opened the door. They walked in and the familiar spartan room filled his vision. At her gesture he sat down on the bed and continued to take in his new surroundings. "Is there something you wished to talk about?" T'Pol asked, knowing full well what it was.

"You know what." Trip said and T'Pol looked at him expectantly. "What happened in the turbolift…"

"Nothing happened." T'Pol flatly stated, cutting him off.

"Something almost happened." Trip rebutted. He took a deep breath; he didn't want to lose his temper, which definably wasn't what he was here for. He rubbed his face and looked at her.

Trip stood up and walked over to her, as she was still standing. He took her hands in his and she looked down at them. After a few seconds, he lifted her chin, making her look at him. He starred into her eyes and tried to see what she was feeling. "Commander…"

"Trip," He corrected her.

"Trip, what are you doing?" She asked, unsure, as her Vulcan control was starting to break. Something about him suddenly seemed to make her lose her control and want to embrace the emotions. However illogical, it was true.

Slowly, Trip moved his hand to caress her cheek, never breaking their eye contact. Both were shocked by his actions, and by T'Pol's response, which was to not resist but to lean into his caress. She could feel his rapid breath against her neck and her heart pounding against her chest.

As they continued to stare into each other's eyes, their faces proceeded to get closer until they were only inches apart. Trip was able to see that her control over her emotions was slipping away; it was in her eyes.

The next thing he knew, their lips met. After what seemed like an eternity, which in reality was only seconds, they broke apart.

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So, that was ok? Not too wrong or completely away from real life? Well, please R/R and tell me which one it is.

Second, I’m out of town till Sunday, so I won't be able to read any of the reviews until then and I might have to be a little late on posting chapter 12. But you will get, I promise.

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