Midnight with Pon Farr- pt 4

Midnight with Pon farr

By Triplover

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer in Part One

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Part four

Sub-Commander T'Pol made her way slowly to the turbolift and up to the bridge and her console where she felt the stare of Captain Archer and watched him walk towards her with a smile.

"Hey T'Pol, how are you this fine morning?"

T'Pol looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "I am fine." Archer looked down, as if amused by something then looked back up at her.

"Sooo, I had a talk with Trip yesterday. An interesting conversation to say the least."

T'Pol felt her face change temperature, heating up which she didn't quite enjoy and her face began to change color.

"T'Pol, are you blushing?" He asked her. He had noticed… T'Pol closed her eyes, trying to rid of herself of embarrassment over the fact that she was showing emotions.

"The branch seems to have affected my control over emotions. It is not permanent, but it does bother me from time to time." She explained as coolly as she possibly muster up.

"Oh… well you'll be happy to know that the doctor has run tests on the branch… if the Xindi were to use it against us… we'd be ready. But the Xindi may have only recently thought about using the branches… we can't know for sure. So, it wasn't as much help as I thought it would be. But we're still looking around, seeing what we can about the weapon. In the mean time, there's not much else to do here. If you'd like we could hold off on your duties for today--and maybe tomorrow--depending on how long this branch affects you."

T'Pol looked up in surprise. "Captain, I may be affected by this… branch…but I am still your science officer. I can do my job. I do not need time off." She said in what seemed to be a rather loud voice for her.

"T'Pol, I talked to the doctor… this branch didn't just… just… well… uh… make you sexually aroused… "He said in a whisper so that no one else could hear. T'Pol closed her eyes. The doctor had told the captain about her condition. "T'Pol… this thing has blocked your control over emotions. You're just as human as us now… but I don't know if you can take it. Phlox was worried that this may be… difficult for you."

"I can do my job, Captain. I do not need emotions for that." She assured him.

Archer sighed then looked at her. "All right… but T'Pol, take it easy. It's not so easy being human. Emotions are hard to control without discipline." .

"I can handle my emotions."

"Ok, I won't fight you. Do your duties. But if there's any problems…"

"I will be fine, Captain." She finished his sentence and made sure her eyes were sharp in showing that she had what it took, with or without her control over her emotions.

"So, on another note… you and Trip. I've been hearing a lot about you two on the ship's grapevine." He then said, changing the subject… T'Pol immediately wished he hadn't.

"And exactly what are they saying?" She asked looking down at her console.

"That you two are… well… uh… that you two are having more than just a little neural-pressure."

"Commander Tucker has already told me about these rumors." she almost mumbled.

"Yeah well, since a few days ago it seems to have intensified. Now people are talking about Trip walking out of your quarters in the morning. I suggest that if… something… is going on,… you might want to find a different way to be… together. That is… if you don't want people talking as much." He said with a forced smile. He looked disappointed… T'Pol didn't understand why though. But she was probably wrong. Her emotions weren’t accurate now, anyway.

"Trip is simply having trouble with something private. I am… helping him through it." She dissembled… T'Pol looked up down and cleared her throat.

"His sister?" Archer asked. T'Pol suppressed a smile.

"Uh… yes… his sister. He has been having… nightmares. My neural-pressure may help him sleep but that is all. I was giving him… emotional support."

"I see… good. But I'm surprised you'd be the one giving it to him!"

"Yes… but as a Vulcan, I have been able to help him control his emotions over the loss of his sister."

Archer smiled. "T'Pol… this has only been happening after you were cut by that branch… and after you lost control of your emotions. So why is he coming to you now? You're lying to me. If you didn't want to tell me the truth about you two, you could have just said it was private."

"I wished to make you understand that his visits to my quarter had nothing to do with what you have been thinking. He is simply having trouble with… something. I have been helping him." She said with a sigh.

"Understood." Archer said and walked away slowly. Just then Charles 'Trip' Tucker walked onto the bridge.

"Hiya folks!" Trip exclaimed as he walked into the bridge. T'Pol looked down, averting her eyes from him. Trip seemed to notice and walked over to the captain.

"Hey, Captain." Archer smiled.

"Hey Trip… what's up?" Trip sighed.

"Uh well, I wanted to talk to you about somethin'… in private. Mind?" Archer got up from the captain's chair and walked over to the turbolift… Trip followed. Soon they were in the turbolift.

"You have the bridge T'Pol." Archer said. Trip gave her a quick wink and the door closed. T'Pol blinked, wondering what was going on, then returned to work.

"So, what's this about, Trip?" Archer asked as the turbolift went down.

"Well sir, I uh… I have a personal problem. I know this isn't the best time but-"

"Trip, it's ok. Not much going on anyway. What'd your problem?" Trip sighed again.

"Well sir… uh… let's just say that two people are in love… but one person isn't the same as the other and has 'tolerated' him. And then-" Archer put his hand up to stop him.

"Let me guess, these two people are you and T'Pol." Trip blinked in surprise; he found it hard to say more after that revelation. Archer already knew???

"Uh… well… uh… yeah… how did you--?"

"Let's just say I figured it out." Archer replied, "Now, go on."

"Well uh… I care about her… and I… I can't seem to get past the fact she's a Vulcan. I mean, now she and I have been fine… but when she goes back to being Vulcan… I'm afraid things will go back to normal! I don't want that! I… this has been the best few days of my life. T'Pol and I are actually getting along… it's just… great!"

. Archer looked down, then back up at the turbolift doors. "Someone once told me that fighting could be caused by… sexual tension. Maybe when things get back to normal the fighting won't be a problem because you'll be together… and everything…" Archer said with some strain.

Trip nodded. "I guess… but still… I don't know… is it stupid for me to feel this way? Am I just kidding myself into thinkin' that this will all work out?"

Archer put his hand on Trip's shoulder. "No one ever knows whether it will work out or not… Vulcan or not, she still feels. And even if she doesn't show it… it will be there. Don't worry so much about it Trip. I'm sure that everything will be fine."

Trip groaned. "You don't understand Cap'n! You don't understand what's involved! I'm… I'm…"

"Your in love." Archer said, finishing Trip's thought.

"What are you, a mind reader?" Trip exclaimed. Then with a sigh looked at the captain with distress. "I can't do it. I can't live… with it. Being with a person who doesn't show even an inch of emotion! It just… I just… I can't do it! To look into a woman's eyes and see nothin'. To laugh and hear nothin' from her! I don't know if I can deal with that. I can't get past the fact that I'm in love with someone who shows nothin'."

"Trip, you'll learn to see past it. Just give it time."

"But what if I can't give it time?! I love her Cap’n! But when I'll see her after sayin' that she'll probably just nod and say 'I feel the same way Mr. Tucker'!" .

Archer smiled at his friend. "Something tells me she'll be calling you Trip by then." Trip sighed as the doors opened. Archer led him out of the turbolift and into his quarters.
Archer sat at his desk

"How do ya know? How do ya know everythin' will be ok?" Trip asked. .

"I don't… no one could know. But if you don't even try… you'll never know. And I think that would be worse."

Trip smiled. "Yeah… I know. Look… Cap’n… I'm sorry bout all this. It's just… I needed to talk to someone, and I didn't really have anyone else. Mind if ya keep this just between us? No need for T'Pol to know either… I don't want her to know I had doubts."

Archer nodded. "It's none of my business. But if I were you… I might want to share at least… some of this with her." He added. Trip sighed. He was right.

"Yeah… I know, Cap’n… but I doubt it'll be pretty!"

"Good luck!" Archer said with a chuckle.

"I think I'll need more than that!" Archer stood smiling almost glowing as he looked at his friend and put a hand on his shoulder. Or at least Trip hoped that they were still friends. He knew that the captain had been close to T'Pol… and he wasn't even sure how the man felt about her.

"So, you and T'Pol… I guess stranger things have happened but I can't think of anything right now!" Archer said jokingly. Trip ran his hands through his hair.

"Not exactly what I signed up for… but it certainly was an added bonus." Trip joked back.

"For what it's worth Trip… I hope it works out."

"So do I, Cap’n… so do I."

Trip slowly walked out of Archer's quarters and down the hall to the turbolift, but when the door opened he saw T'Pol and hesitated, but after a second he walked in.

"We've got a problem." He told her. She looked at him questioningly.

"What?" She asked. He sighed.

"This whole thing; I'm worried about us." He began and looked at her. She stopped the turbolift and turned towards him.

"About us? What kind of problem?" She then asked him. He thought a moment trying hard to pick his words carefully.

"I talked to Malcolm... he made me think about a lot of things. He doesn't know about us or anythin' but... he did say somethin' that got me to thinkin'." he went on. She looked at him intently, showing no emotion. He paused. Then went on. "T'Pol, this thing between us. I've never felt anythin' like it. I want to be with you so badly... sometimes... it hurts not bein' in the same room with you! But then when I am in the same room with you it hurts not bein' able to touch ya... to hold you in my arms. I feel it now all the damned time! And I... I'm scared that you won't feel that way about me. That after this thing with the branch wears off, you'll come to your senses and say that this was all a bad idea. It scares the hell outta me T'Pol. I want to be with you... and talk to you and... and I'm not sure if you feel the same way. And frankly, I'm worried that... well Malcolm said we wouldn't last a week. And... I tried to shrug off the comment but... what if he's right? I don't know if I could take that!" She kept her eyes locked on his, and he couldn't look away.

"I know how you feel... Trip. I have the same doubts. But... if we don't... at least explore this... new found feeling towards each other... that would be worse." She told him. Trip closed his eyes and moved back against the wall, his head leaning on it.

"This whole thing is goin' crazy on me! My own feelings are outta whack. I don't know what to think anymore."

"I know."

He looked down at her and felt his lips curl up. "I think I'm fallin' for ya." He finally said. T'Pol shifted her weight, obviously taken aback.

Then she swallowed and looked back into his eyes. "I... I do not like this feeling--this feeling of being... so vulnerable. I cannot control myself anymore. I want you so badly. I think about all the time. It is... hard to think about anything else sometimes. I do not know what to do about it." .

He walked closer to her, until they were so close that his lips were almost on hers. Then he moved his right hand behind her back pulling her even closer. His had traveled down her back to her butt.

"Maybe being vulnerable is the one thing that won't go away when you’re in control again. Maybe this is how you'll always feel, no matter what. I don't know anythin' anymore. But what I do know is that I don't want to forget about the last few days and just move on with our lives as if nothin' happened. I want you T'Pol... I want us." He whispered to her and with that they kissed, first a light brush which soon changed into a deep kiss. Their tongues dancing together inside each other. She moved her arms around his neck and pushed him even further into her. Their bodies so close that not even air could get through. He felt himself pressed against her, remembering the feel or her as he would go inside. The held her close, not wanting to let go. He just wanted to be with her... in that kiss... forever... He only wanted her in that moment, nothing else. Air didn't matter, nor food or water. Only her. She was the air he breathed. And only she mattered. But eventually they broke the kiss. He could feel her breathing hard; he was breathing just as hard.

"I want you." She whispered in his right ear. Trip looked into her eyes, seeing her desire for him clear in those beautiful brown circles. He gave her a smile.

"I know." He said and took one arm away from her body to press the button for the turbolift to keep going again. They moved away from each other. Trip cleared his throat and gave her another smile.

"Ya know, I'm on break for a little while. And I'm not really hungry. Care to uh... walk with me to my quarters for a little dessert instead?" She looked at him puzzled.

"I thought you weren't hungry?" She said in surprise. He held back a laugh as he looked at her.

"I wasn't talkin' bout food." She thought a moment as the door opened and he walked out, a second later with a hint of a smile she, too, joined him outside the turbolift, heading to his quarters for some 'dessert'.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cool control surrounded her once again. She could feel herself in control, feel the logic return. Her eyes opened and she looked over to see Charles 'Trip' Tucker looking at her with something she'd never seen before until the night before. Love. A love the two had never thought possible.

"Mornin'." he whispered to her, not daring to move. She breathed in slowly. "You’re... yourself again, aren't you."

She nodded. "Yes... I am."

Trip closed his eyes, took a breath then opened them. Readying himself for what he was sure to come.

"Well?"

T'Pol moved so that she was facing him completely. She then moved her right hand to his face."I'm still here." she whispered back. Trip smiled, a smile that was different from anything she'd ever seen. What was it? Relief that she still felt the same way? Trip moved closer to her.

"In that case... care to join me in some breakfast with the cap'n. You could be my date." He said jokingly. She raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know if that would be appropriate considering the fact that the captain does not know about us." she reminded him.

"Promise not to kill me?"

A strange question... she nodded yes.

“I uh... sorta told him already."

T'Pol frowned. "I came up with a story to protect the secretness of our relationship. Why did you tell him? And who else have you told?" She then asked, trying to keep the coolness that had finally returned.

"Sorry T'Pol... I just needed someone to talk to! He's gonna keep it all secret! Don't worry! And I haven't told anyone else. Just the captain. Oh come on T'Pol, he's my friend. I had to tell him." T'Pol gave out a very non-Vulcan sigh.

"Why didn't you just talk to me?"

"I needed some advice. This whole thing hasn't been a walk in the park ya know! Felt like I was in high school again!"

"All right. I understand." She finally mumbled after a rather long silence.

Trip's smile returned. "Don't worry T'Pol, everybody already knows anyway! Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone was given us funny looks. Seemed logical to tell somebody, and get things off my chest." She sat up, he did the same.

"I understand. But in the future... it might be best to talk to me about these things first." She said. He nodded in agreement.

"So. Gonna join me for breakfast with the cap'n?" . She nodded, then saw Trip slowly move towards her to give her a kiss.

"That's my girl!" He said jumping out of bed. "Now come on and get ready! As much as I love ya naked, I don't think it would be appropriate at breakfast!"

T'Pol got out of bed and got dressed in her blue uniform. Once he was dressed Trip looked at her and smiled. T'Pol put both hands behind her back. "Are you ready?" She asked in her normal calm manner. Trip nodded and walked to the door.

"Ladies first." He said allowing her to go before him. She walked out the door, Trip right behind her, and the two made their way to the mess hall to see the captain. Trip smiled as they walked into the turbolift. He'd never been so happy in his life. He looked over to T'Pol, she looked straight ahead. Not moving. Her beauty was still overpowering, even when she was being all Vulcan-like again. He wasn't sure how she pulled it off. When the door opened T'Pol began to walk out when Trip grabbed her arm, pulling her back in the turbolift with him. The door closed.

"What are you doing?" she asked him. He looked into her eyes, trying to look inside of her. And he knew… he knew in his heart that she was still there. This woman who was so… beautiful. This woman who felt so vulnerable.

"Trip?"

Trip smiled. "I just wanted to see it for myself."

"What?" She asked in confusion.

"I just wanted… to make sure… that nothing's changed… since the last few days…that's all." She looked at him, understanding.

"And?" She asked in a low voice. He looked back into her eyes.

Trip took her hand and put it on his chest, his hand over hers creating a warmth that seemed to be felt not just in his hands. "And I think I feel it. Right here."

T'Pol nodded. "Yes, because I feel it too." Trip smiled, and opened the turbolift doors. His fears were gone, because he knew she'd been right.

The End

Looks like the beginning of a beautiful relationship! I think I'm getting a little teary eyed!

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Half a dozen of you have made comments

Great story.... and a happy ending to boot...(sigh)!

Lovely! Happy little dance that everything ended up with them together. I was hoping like mad that when the branch wore off T'Pol would not change her mind. Thanks! Ali D :~)

Delightful story. Ahh, Pon Farr. Such an irritable little cycle, isn't it?

Well, I'm still on a high from our last Enterprise episode, so don't mind me (fabulous!)

Liked that T'Pol indulged Trip, giving him the time to prove to himself that she wasn't going to changer her mind.

thanks for sharing!
-Phaser Lady

Great story as always.

Great story!

Absolutely fantabulous!