Retrieval- Ch. 4

Retrieval

By zealousgirl

Rating: PG-13, general
Disclaimers in Chapter One

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CHAPTER 4

Lodgings

It was early in the evening when they arrived in the Scaniran sector, and nearly 2 days since they had left Enterprise. They wandered down one of the main streets looking for a place to stay the night.

Trip grabbed the duffle bag that T'pol was carrying. She resisted him. "I am capable of carrying my own belongings."

"Hon, we need to fit in with these people, right?" He pointed out that the Scaniran men that he had observed so far seemed to be quite chivalrous. "They really treat a lady with some respect." She could not counter this argument so was forced to give in.

Trip and T'pol entered the lobby of the local hotel. He was carrying both duffle bags now. They proceeded to the reception desk.

"Mr. Tucker, I would urge you not to say too much." She whispered as they stood waiting for the clerk. "You have a habit of rambling on when you are nervous."

A Scaniran male, about 20 Earth years in appearance, came out from the back room to serve his new customers. He wore his hair is what almost looked like dread-locks, but his attire was similar to that that T'pol and Trip were wearing.

"We require accommodations for likely 1 week." T'pol took one of the duffle bags from Trip. From it, she extracted what looked like currency, and placed it on the reception desk.

"Sure." He eyed them suspiciously. "You are not from this area."

"No, we live on the other continent. We are anthropologists studying the Axanar culture. We are here on our. . . We have recently wedded." T'pol glanced at Trip, who was now stunned by that last statement.

'So, that would mean we are on our honeymoon. . . .' He could not figure out why his stomach was doing back-flips. 'Calm down Trip, we're only pretending.' He quickly composed himself.

"Oh, that is wonderful. Congratulations. We have a special offer available for you." The clerk started to make the arrangements.

Trip wandered around the lobby, trying to determine what he should be doing to assist T'pol on this mission. Actually it wasn't a mission in the true sense. He thought about that for a moment. This was actually a personal project and really had nothing to do with Starfleet or even Enterprise. 'Why did I ever agree to come with her?'

Seema stood behind a large potted plant, observing the strangers' every move. She was focusing on the man. Closing her eyes, she tried again to sense what he was thinking. She could perceive his frustration and confusion, but also his attempts to suppress something personal - his affection for the woman. Glancing at her time-piece, she noted that it was getting late; her parents would expect her home soon. She would return tomorrow. Unobserved, Seema ducked out of the hotel.

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They opened the door to their room to find it simply decorated yet spacious. Trip plopped down on the bed, dropping the bags on the floor.

"So do you sleep on the right or left side of the bed?" He propped himself up on his elbows and smirked.

"Commander, I sleep in the middle of the bed normally. As you are well aware, the beds in our quarters are quite narrow."

"You should try calling me Tuck. Someone may overhear you and get suspicious. I shouldn't have to remind you that we are undercover."

"Comman. . . Tuck, I have likely had more experience than you in covert operations. I did have another career prior to my involvement with the Vulcan embassy on Earth."

"Ya. . . what would that have been?"

T'pol did not respond verbally to that last question. She merely raised an eyebrow, and then did something very unexpected. . . she winked. With that, she turned, grabbed her bag, and entered the bathroom.

Trip was dumbfounded. T'pol had winked. 'Was she teasing me? Are Vulcans capable of teasing?' Well, apparently they were. He was pleased that he had been able to be a witness to her doing something completely out of character. He now felt challenged to bring more of this to the surface. 'Well, a lot sure can happen in one week.'

In the bathroom, T'pol was chastising her own behavior. The commander seemed to bring the worst out in her. She had never winked at anyone in her life. She had seen Trip wink on innumerable occasions. It had seemed appropriate at the time, but now. . . .

She was starting to regret her decision to involve Trip in this matter. Overall, he was trying to be accommodating. She would have to speak to him about what she expected from him. But, they could deal with that in the morning.

She began to prepare herself to go to bed, lighting candles in the bathroom and taking a seat on the floor so that she could meditate in privacy.

Trip sat on the bed for close to a half hour wondering what could be taking her so long in the bathroom, When a familiar aroma found their way to his nose, he deduced that she was performing her bedtime routine of meditating.

Mentally flipping a coin, he decided to take the right side of the bed. Stripped down to his Starfleet issued underwear, he climbed under the sheets. Within minutes, he was sound asleep, although a small grin was carved on his face. He was going to have very pleasant dreams.

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Continued in Chapter 5

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