Deceptions- Ch. 7

DECEPTIONS AND TRUTHS

By plumtuckered

Rating: PG-13, Darma, Romance
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Paramount. No money was made.

Chapter VII

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Dinner began in uncomfortable silence. Trip looked across the table at T'Pol, who seemed entirely too focused on her bowl of broth. The captain seemed pretty focused on his meal as well. Trip sighed then took a bite of his steak.

"So where are we off to now?" he asked while chewing. His lack of manners gave him the desired response as T'Pol looked up at him with a brief and subtle look of disgust. Trip smiled at her. She thought she hid her emotions but he could read her just as easily as he could read the captain.

Archer just shook his head in amusement. "Actually, Trip. If you're still interested, High Premier Colthera would like to give you a personal tour of those warp 8 ships. Well, since you never really saw them the first time."

Trip grinned happily. "When?"

"Tomorrow morning, 09:00. I thought maybe Sub-Commander T'Pol and I would join you."

They both turned to the Vulcan who looked first at the captain then at Trip.

"That would be acceptable," she replied evenly.

A short time later, Trip pushed his chair back from the table and tossed his napkin on his plate.

"That was delicious! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm kinda tired. I think I'll turn in early tonight." He stood up. "Good night, Cap'n, Sub- Commander."

"I will walk with you, Commander," said T'Pol. She neatly folded her napkin and laid it next to her plate then stood. She tipped her head at Captain Archer. "Good night, Captain."

Trip looked quickly at Archer and caught the brief look of disappointment that crossed his friend's face. He puzzled over it for a moment, wondering what the meaning was behind it. Then he turned around to see T'Pol waiting for him by the open door.

"I'll see you in the morning," he said over his shoulder to his captain.

Trip and T'Pol walked in silence to the turbolift. When the door slid shut, Trip pushed the button that would take them to their level. He was all too aware of how close he stood to her in the confined space. When the lift door opened, he allowed her to exit first then quickly followed her into the corridor. He swallowed nervously.

"T'Pol," he began. "I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

"I just dined with you, Commander," she replied without looking up from the floor in front of her. "I assume I will dine with you again tomorrow night. You have no need to ask."

"I mean just you and me. Without the Cap'n," he stammered. They stopped in front of her quarters.

"Are you asking me on a.date, Mr. Tucker?"

"Well, yeah. I guess I am." Trip turned to face her. He suddenly felt his face flush and silently cursed himself. Their eyes met and Trip inhaled quickly. They stood looking at each other for several moments before T'Pol turned away.

"It is not appropriate for us to date, Commander."

"I thought about that already, T'Pol. Technically speaking, I'm not really your subordinate and."

"That is not what I meant," she replied, her voice low.

"Oh," he said, unable to hide the disappointment he felt.

T'Pol looked up at him. "Please do not misunderstand me, Mr. Tucker. I find your company quite.pleasing. I just believe if we were to take our.relationship to a different level, there would be serious repercussions to us both."

"Repercussions? Are you talking about Starfleet and the Vulcan High Command?"

"No," she replied then hesitated briefly. "I am a Vulcan. I cannot be anything else. Perhaps right now you are capable of accepting me for that but one day, you will no doubt realize that I am not nor will I ever be the woman you require me to be."

Trip paused as a member of the crew passed by. When she disappeared around the corner, he reached down and took T'Pol's hand. He gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

"I know who you are, T'Pol. I love who you are. I don't want you to be any different. I don't know what will happen in the future and neither do you. Maybe I won't be the man you need me to be. Who knows? But we won't ever find out for certain if you're not even willing to try."

T'Pol gently pulled her hand away then reached up and keyed in her security code. She turned back to him, her eyes suddenly darker.

"I am not willing to try, Mr. Tucker," she said quietly, her face expressionless. She then stepped into her quarters and let the door slide shut behind her.

>>>>>>>>>>

T'Pol sat on her bunk, her hands tightly clasped in her lap. The only light in her room was from the starlight that came through her view port. She had hurt him, she was certain. Since she had stood vigil over his sickbed, T'Pol had done nothing but think about her feelings for the commander. Up until a few moments ago, she had been certain of her decision. She replayed their conversation in her mind, lingering on his final words. T'Pol closed her eyes, seeing her mother's face from her childhood. Her mother had been capable of giving love to her father but they were both Vulcan. Commander Tucker thrived on emotion, more so than anyone else T'Pol had known. But she cared for him because of his emotions, not in spite of them. Could he be so accepting of her lack of emotions? She stood and moved to her meditation candles.

>>>>>>>>>>

It had been an hour since she left him. Trip rolled onto his side in his bunk. He knew there was no chance he'd be able to sleep but he pulled his blanket up over his body anyway. The warmth didn't comfort him, however, so he threw the blanket off and sat up. He briefly thought about telling the captain he wouldn't be going with him in the morning but then his friend would ask why. Trip didn't feel comfortable explaining to the captain how T'Pol had broken his heart. Trip stood up and moved to his view port. He gazed down at Talazor and tried to keep the hurt he felt from overwhelming him. When his door chime sounded, he ignored it. He was definitely not in the mood for company. It sounded again and again he ignored it, hoping whoever it was would decide to go away. When the door slid open, he turned around. T'Pol quietly entered and the door slid closed behind her. She stood in silence, her eyes downcast. Then she slowly looked up at him, her face a mask of control.

"I cannot give you tears or laughter, Mr. Tucker. I am Vulcan. It is who I am and who I will always be," she said softly.

Trip crossed the room to stand in front of her. "Can you love me, T'Pol?" he asked.

She looked down and didn't answer. Trip gently took her chin in his hand and lifted her face to his. "Can you?"

"I believe I already do," she whispered. Her face was void of any emotion but to Trip, her eyes spoke volumes.

"That's all I'll ever ask of you, T'Pol."

Trip pulled her into his arms and gently kissed the top of her head. He felt her arms encircle him. He brought one hand up and softly stroked her hair. "We'll take it slow, okay?" He felt her nod and he smiled.

THE END

You may wish to continue this story in "False Starts and New Beginnings"

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Three people have made comments

Wonderfully written story followup to Guilty until proven innocent.I liked the intrigue and The Manchurian canidate plot twisit to your story.All the caharacters were writen really well with a tense feeling to the story.I how you got Trip and T'Pol togther.I look forward to see more of your stories soon.

Excellent! I loved the whole conspiracy story and they way they had set Trip up as the fall guy, then how T'Pol twigged that something was wrong. It was gratifying to see use made of several of the characters from Enterprise so even Ensign Mayweather got to be an Action Hero. And then the part right at the end where T'Pol decides to take a chance on Trip after all, that just turned me all to goo inside. Thanks for a lovely story, beautifully told. Ali D :~)

Read this after Guilty until proven innocent. The title reminds me of a game of that name I played years ago. It just brings back fuzzy memories, I love this follow up, but poor Trip he's always getting banged up no matter what.