Mood Swing-Pt 15

Mood Swing

By Sue

E-MAIL: susieqla@yahoo.com
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY: Romance
SPOILERS: Doctor's Orders
ARCHIVE: Yes
DISCLAIMER: Enterprise is the property of Paramount and its subsidiaries. No profit is being made.
SUMMARY: Missing scene.
NOTES: On-going series of vignettes focusing on this pair’s developing relationship.

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Part 15

"Hallucinatin'? Him? He told ya that?"

"Yes, he did. Vividly. It's not unusual for Denobulans to do so under extreme circumstances. He explained we were with him in a manner of speaking, at critical junctures during his soloing. He was even under the impression that Xindi intruders had infiltrated. One had sought to attack Ensign Sato, according to him. And then not long after that delusion, he saw her as a hideous creature with a horribly disfigured face tumbling out of her shower. It sent, and I quote, 'chills down his spine.'"

"He better not tell Hoshi about that hallucination. It's hardly flatterin'."

T'Pol went on. "He confessed that he nearly shot Porthos in the corridor not
far from the laundry, having mistaken the canine for a Xindi-Insectoid."

"Or Jon about his nearly fryin' the imaginary Porthos." Thoughtfully, Trip
replied, "Well, I'll be damned. Hallucinatin' or not, considerin' the
interference and who knows what other weirdness in that part of the Expanse,
ol' Phlox did a hell of a job."

"From what he related, the ordeal was quite the challenge. He was adversely
affected by his exposure, but to a lesser degree than we would have been, had
we been exposed."

Tucker eased himself more on his side firmly erasing what minimal separation had been between them. "A challenge and a half and then some. The doc practically pulled off the impossible, single-handedly. The engines aren't in the best shape at the moment, but there's no permanent damage." The chief engineer lapsed into a private reverie. Faintly, the Vulcan heard his heart beats step up along with his rate of respiration.

Sensing change in him, T'Pol used the quiet time to reflect as well. Together like this as they were, lying on her bunk, it felt to her as if they'd been apart longer than the former unique circumstance had mandated.

When Trip finally spoke again, T'Pol perceived that he had been rummaging through the esoteric workings of warp theory and its handmaiden, quantum mechanics.

"He's really got it on the ball. Stabilizin' the warp field from square one is the trickiest thing I know in normal space. He aced it in some lulu of a hodgepodge of abnormalcy." Trip whistled. "That Denobulan's got skills. Manipulatin' space and time isn't like walkin' across the street to the grocer's to pick up a six-pack, and that's on a good day. I know whose shoulder to tap in a pinch next time." He thought he saw a look ripple through T'Pol's attentive eyes, causing him to quickly qualify, "Of course, if you're unavailable, that is."

"I agree. Doctor Phlox is highly-qualified in many fields. Medicine and applied Astro-Physics are merely two of a host."

"But you're no slouch yourself, darlin'." His lips found their way to her forehead and made themselves right at home. Her skin always smelled wonderful, like the subtle essence of fresh-cut flowers with just a hint of sage. Though he teased her, her cleanliness intoxicated him. "Sure you feel okay? Not lightheaded?"

"Fine. How do you feel?"

"Not too bad considerin'. When Phlox brought me out, I thought I was back home, not Florida mind ya, but San Francisco. Guess I reckon Starfleet's my second one." He angled his head away from her. "Got a little crick in my neck, though. Sore, but I'll live. Must've slept on it the wrong way too long."

"I can remedy it with some neuro-pressure." She favored him with one of her best deep, soulful looks.

The backs of his fingers ceased their caress against her silken jawline. Faithfully, his intrepid digits began their ascent to the peak of her right ear, one of several favorite sites she relished him massaging. His smile was one of genuine gratitude. "Maybe later. I'm good as is." After yawning, he smiled again, looking as though he hadn't a care in the galaxy.

"Or, perhaps we should have sex now and neuro-pressure afterward."

Her cut and dry declaration ignited a furnace beginning to happen underneath his uniform. Their clothing was no obstacle; she could have them both stripped down to their bare essentials in no seconds flat. Despite his thoughts dipping into the torrid zone, he ordered himself to keep his cool.

"M-maybe we could just keep lyin' here like this awhile longer. Just talkin'. It's real nice, holdin' ya...bein' together. Means a lot to me. You don't haveta throw sex at me, like it's the only thing I want from ya. I'm not goin' anywhere."

"You don't want sex?" she said, sounding as though he had just told her humans
were more logical than Vulcans, always had been, and that his species had
initiated first contact.

"Not right now...unless... Uh? You've gotta have it right this minute."

Chuckling, he snuggled tighter with her. She resisted his concerted bid for greater closeness.

"You don't enjoy sexual union...with me."

He put a hand to her chin and his thumb pressed into her pliant skin. "Yeah, sure, right. That's it. Just like I can't stand pecan pie anymore, which I inhale with both nostrils."

"It is only logical you would prefer a human woman, or some other species of alien female as you've shown preferences for in the past. I'm not the optimal choice."

Trip felt the bunk buck, and his mind with it. "What the hell's logic got to do with it? You're talkin' nuts, ya know that? Where's this comin' from? Never figured you for havin' insecurities, T'Pol, sheeesh. Never in a million years." But that wasn't wholly true. Someone young, new to the wild and wacky world of relationships would do what she'd done: sleep with a guy to either get him, or keep him. Following a sigh, Trip closed his eyes and softly began humming bits and pieces of, "Too Marvelous For Words," just one of many schmaltzy ditties his dad used to drizzle his mom with.

Bemusedly, T'Pol let his spate of thought-provoking words sink in. She was loath to admit to him that that was her supposition, if their ebullient first encounter was the criterion. His overriding interest in her was sexual. Wasn't it what all human males solely cared about, craved, anytime, anywhere, anyplace? And, she was still quite the greenhorn to the playing field. It had never occurred to her, prior to this surprising conversation, unfolding, that he was capable of wanting much beyond that.

As with everything else since their interacting from day one, Trip never failed to be her prime candidate for underestimating which went hand in hand with misunderstanding.

"I think it's safe to say we enjoy each other a whole lot."

"Our experiences are satisfying," T'Pol assented. Not knowing what got into her, and half-suspecting he was waiting for her to say, she thought it imperative to add, "*Very.*"

"And we just keep gettin' better each and every time. True?"

She nodded against him as he fiddled with her earlobe, heightening her sense of pleasure and a good deal of well-being. Attuning her to his easygoingness with each gentle, playful flick, Trip started humming again long enough for him to order his thoughts.

"So, how is it I still know next to nothin' about ya? We turn each other on faster than greased lightnin' and when it's all over, we never talk. I mean, really talk. You get right on with business as usual, and, followin' your lead, me too." His tone was wistful. "Just before Phlox put me under, I promised myself I'd say this to ya. I'm sure glad we made it so I can now..." He forestalled.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizin'. It's just sometimes I wish we could have gotten to know each other better before rushin' headlong into sex. I'm not blamin'. I sure as hell didn't brake when you came at me full speed ahead. More than anythin', my shock called the shots. I was so flattered you even considered wantin' me, I went with your roll. Score first, ask questions later." Her silence was neither good nor bad, by his evaluation, so he kept going. "Well, now is later, and I'm askin'. Do ya even like me for the man, the person I am, even a little? Or are we just screwin' buddies? Nothin' more?"

"Screwin' buddies?"

"Friends who fuc -- uh, what I mean is...have sex, and that's all. No feelin's, and not the way you think of havin' no feelin's. I mean there's just no intent behind the act. We do it for the rush, the pleasure...the zippity-do-da."

"I trust you," T'Pol supported, rising up from him so she could see him better. The open look on his face perplexed her.

"But, I'm still an experiment?" he sanctioned like a lament. When he saw she couldn't answer, he assured, "It's okay; it's all still so new, hey for me too. Not to imply you don't have a clue. And, I'm no stranger to bein' used, so there's no problem with it. Women, any old kind, whether the Earth variety or they come from Venus, mystify the life outta me. I'm no genius when it comes to relationships. To save myself headaches, I just go along, not makin' waves, hopin' for the best. I don't haveta tell ya how good that's worked. Not a track record I'm proud of. Somehow, my true to form's not good enough with you. I know I'm pushin', but you know me. Could I ever matter to ya? Even a little?"

He wasn't expecting an answer, but hoping for one, he focused on the poignancy she lent to the moment. He wasn't aware of how shallow his breathing had become.

"You..." She hesitated as though breathing had become difficult, as though whether she spoke or remained silent, she'd suffocate either way.

"Don't answer if it's a stupid question."

Unused to the onslaught of so many feelings, T'Pol listened as though he were speaking to someone else.

"I'm not tryin' to be the usual me...Mister Difficult." He tapped the tip of her nose, liking its nearly imperceptible twitch. "I'm not gripin', believe me. You're the greatest. Great lover, greater friend. I'm lucky to have you as both."

Being a true friend to him was the gem she grabbed on to. Finally, she confessed, "You are no experiment."

Trip studied her face, agog. She never looked more appealing to him. He had a strong feeling this wasn't easy for her, and of course he was absolutely correct.

Yet, not uncharacteristically, there was a quiet strength leeching out of every one of her pores, and firm determination not to mislead him any longer. "You were never that, 'th'at ashalik.'" She hung her head as the full recompense for rationalizing in the first place hit her.

"'Th'at ashalik,' he repeated lazily, languishing in the term of endearment's phonetics. Having read all he could in the particular Vulcan database he had sought, into the wee hours, he knew what the phrase meant. "Then this relationship's got real potential is what you're sayin'?"

Sucking on his lower lip with her amazing mouth, she whispered into his, "That depends upon us, doesn't it?"

"All systems are go. Going...going...gone!"

Taking her into his arms, he gently rested her on her pillow, and held on tight. Still and all, his 'ashalik' had him easily beat. Her embrace was that
of a vise.

"Man, you're one strong woman..."

"For a human male, you're no slouch..."

"T'Pol," he buried in the side of her face.

TBC

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Half a dozen of you have made comments

Ohhhh,this was MOST excellent!

Thank you.

Very nice. Great dialogue.

T'Pol and insecurites? Who'da thunk. Nice job!

Awww... Trip wants T'Pol for more than just sex, how cute!

And awww... T'Pol want's Trip as more than just an experiment, also cute!

Great story! ;)

This was my favorite Mood Swing Chapter. Just awesome.

All of your comments have simply bowled me over like never before. Thanks one and all so, so much! I just keep hoping their relationship is given the chance to really solidify in canon.