14"You want what?" Lt. Hess looked at the plans on the PADD. Secretly delighted, she'd wondered about all that bickering between Commander Tucker and Subcommander T'Pol. When this morning's whispered revelations reached Christine's ears, they didn't come as a surprise. Well, not much of one anyway. It certainly explained the need for dual use quarters if the stories were true.
"The wall between those two cabins removed," Trip sighed. "It's really not a big job."
"Then the rumours are true?" Hess demanded, tiny hands on her rounded hips. Christine held back the smile, delighted for her boss. He worked way too hard. With another interest, maybe he'd end his duty shifts on time for a change and she'd get a little more expertise and authority.
"And what rumours would those be?" Tucker returned, attempting to keep a straight face.
It was undone when the Captain made the promised ship wide announcement at that very moment. Short and sweet, Jonathan Archer gave the facts. After an incident with the Vissian's, the Frist and Second officers uncovered a Vulcan telepathic marriage bond existed between them. Once Enterprise returned to Earth, both Human and Vulcan official wedding ceremonies would follow. However, Subcommander T'Pol and Commander Tucker were to be congratulated on their unique relationship. A small reception would be arranged in the next week, to be held between shifts so any crew who wanted to attend would be able.
"I guess," Hess gave her commanding officer threatening look for keeping his crew in the dark, "it's out in the open now. Marriage, big step, Sir."
"Yep," Trip responded, his expression cynical. He knew his engineers and if Hess had anything to say about it, he was in for some kind of prank. Commander Tucker would have to watch his step for the next week or two.
While Trip pondered the ramification within his department, T'Pol considered the Captain's announcement effective but crude. This new aspect to the bond hinted at emotions that were ruthlessly supressed in the Vulcan's mind. It made the Tucker wince, realising the discomfort, and influence, went both ways.
Trip sighed, no need to get your nose out of joint every time one of my crew teases me. It'll take weeks for them to stop. Until then, you're just going to have to learn to live with a human in your mind.
It is your exuberant reaction that bothers me, Husband, T'Pol returned caustically.
That's Commander on duty, wife, Trip sent back, mockingly.
"No point asking why I'm about to knock down that wall, then," Hess watched her boss's face become blank for a moment.
"You tried sharing a single bunk?" Trip teased. "Besides, my wife want's space to meditate."
Shaking her head, Hess responded, "Whipped already. It's been what," scrutinising the Commander's face, he gave nothing away. "Come on, you can't blame a girl for trying. I got to have something to tell the rest of the team when they ask how long this has been going on. If you can't tell your deputy, who can the Chief confide in?"
"My wife," Trip stated sardonically.
"Now, this I got to hear," Hess stood her ground. She would refuse to move until the boss spilled the beans. "According to the Captain, you aren't legally married. Out with it, Sir. What is this Vulcan bond?"
Sighing, Tucker shook his head. Understanding this crew wouldn't stop until they knew all the gory details, he signalled an impromptu meeting so they could spread the truth, not half-baked theories. T'Pol's frosty voice advised against his actions. Yet, it was Trip who won this round. His logic and knowledge of his team convincing his wife to come clean and avoid any misconceptions as to their relationship. Allowing his mind to remain completely open, the Subcommander seemed impressed as her husband willingly answered each and every question with a level of modesty and comic indulgence she'd not suspected he possessed.
"I'm assuming the terminals from the Frist Officer's and the Chief Engineer's old quarters," Hess threw in, just as the meeting broke up, "will need rehoming. I'm just not sure where. I think you need a couple of alcoves so you can work in the same space without getting on each other's nerves."
Much to Trip's satisfaction, and T'Pol's discomfiture, several members of the engineering team volunteered to get the conversion underway immediately. "We can have the wall down and a decent bunk installed by the end of the shift," one Ensign promised. He was backed up by several crewmates.
"You know, this design isn't very efficient," Hess hissed, looking to the thirteen faces surrounding her. It was the entire engine room day shift. "Men, you wouldn't have the first idea about interior design. Leave it to us women. We'll have something ready for you and T'Pol by the end of your shift, even if the refinements take a few days. Kelly, Raynes, you're with me. Rostov, Jenkins, Walsh, you stay here and help the Chief get through the work assigned for this duty shift. The rest of you, get going on that wall and changing out the fixtures. It shouldn't take the eight of you more than two hours."
"You heard Lt. Hess," Commander Tucker shook his head, allowing a grin to split his face. "We got work to do people."
Before Christine could move, Trip's hand shot out, holding her back. Giving him a dirty look, Hess sighed dramatically.
Trip tried to keep a frown on his lips while internally smiling, "if you want to involve every female on this ship so you can spread gossip, that's fine by me. Vulcan's like their privacy, so just make sure whatever you say, is the truth, or you might have to answer to the Subcommaner."
"Sir," Hess attempted to appeared offended as the unofficial reprimand.
"Dismissed, Lieutenant," Trip waved the woman away from his station. "Some of us have real work to do. Not that you've left me with much to work with."
With the limited manpower left him, Trip skipped lunch. If he left the engine room, passing crew stopped to give their congratulations. Some more enthusiastically than others. In general, it seemed everyone accepted the relationship. Stepping into the mess for evening meal, Trip found a crowd surrounding him, eager to ask questions. One ensign got his meal while a Lieutenant dragged a seat to her table.
You are not joining us, T'Pol asked.
Not to night, Darlin, Trip returned slightly sarcastically, too many fires to put out. You and the Captain have a nice meal in your private dining room while I deal with the rest of the crew.
I do not understand, the Vulcan stated, confusion in her mental tone.
That's obvious. If you want this to stop, the best way is lots of exposure now. Give the crew what they want, information, a little excitement, time to understand and come to terms with this change. Believe me, it'll die down a whole lot sooner, Trip promised.
It took two weeks until the grins and teasing stopped, until a new normal existed on Enterprise. Three days later the ship found an uninhabited Minshara class planet. Archer ordered shore leave on a rotating basis, while T'Pol organised her science teams. They would get an opportunity to vacation on the final rotation.
"I would have thought," Archer shook his head as they entered the shuttle pod bay, "you'd wait for T'Pol to take your shore leave."
"You kidding me," Tucker threw back. "I have her in my head, even on vacation. I need to a chance to get away. Besides, we need to see how far this bond goes and this is the first time we've had a chance to test T'Pol's theories."
"So, you decided to do a little research while spending some quality time with your Captain," Jon teased.
"Friend," Trip smirked in return, one of his animated expressions covering his face. "Don't seem to get the opportunity on Enterprise anymore. This married thing take up more time that I expected."
"You can say that again," Archer smacked the commander on the shoulder as he descended into the little vessel. Seven others crowded into the tiny space. Once Trip finally squeezed in, the Captain gave Travis the order to depart.
"I can still hear her," Trip sighed eight hours later, "even though T'Pol's on the other side of the planet."
"Looks like you're never going to get away from your spouse," Archer mocked. The change in both Trip and T'Pol had been subtle, more so than he'd thought possible in the early days of their bond. The engineer was more cautious, stopping his sudden outbursts of emotion on occasion, however, T'Pol's frosty demeanour thawed more than it had since coming aboard Enterprise. She was approachable but still very Vulcan.
"Tell me about it," Trip smirked. "Honestly, Captain, I don't really mind. Kind of got used to having my wife in my head. Don't know how I survived before."
Shaking his head, they continued their hike until recalled to Enterprise. The Captain was abducted, Trip injured and T'Pol left in docon after exposure to a virus. Cutler managed to get Commander Tucker patched up and back to the bridge. Aware of the issues occurring between Sub-commander T'Pol and Phlox, Trip couldn't allow the bond between them to interfere with his search for the Captain. That had to come first.
"Bridge to Phlox," Tucker comm'ed when T'Pol's mental voice demand he release her from decon. Trip could feel the waves of sexual tension and emotions rolling of his wife. They were unusual in their strength and determination. The Vulcan's plaintive mental cries restricted the Commander's ability to do his job. With little choice, he instructed, "I can tell you're having a little trouble down there, Doc. We got a few of our own up here. Do what you have to, subdue the Sub-commander if it necessary, that's an order."
"Understood," Pholx almost sighed, preparing the hypo.
"Commander," Malcom watched the engineer seated in the big chair. His complexion became white, indicating major issues in sick bay the rest of the crew couldn't comprehend.
"It's nothing, Lt. Reed," Trip stated, his mind feeling T'Pol lose consciousness. "Nothing that can't wait until we find that Tellarite vessel and get the Captain back at any rate."
"Aye, Sir," Reed responded automatically. Yet, he felt the change in Tucker, not his command style, just a new level of confidence in his ability to step into the Captain's role.
"It's good to have you back, Captain," Commander Tucker greeted a dishevel looking Archer several hours later. While he wanted to hear about his friends experience, Trip had other matters that needed his immediate attention.
"It's good to be home," Jon smiled tiredly. "Where's T'Pol?"
"Decon," Trip rolled his eyes, his voice distressed. "I'll explain over diner. Right now, I have to go and rescue Phlox."
A puzzled expression covered Archers features. Shrugging, Trip stated, "the virus she picked up on the planet had some unusual, ah, side effects."
"The kind only a husband can help with," Jon responded, holding back a chuckle at the absurdity of the situation and embarrassed expression on his friends features.
"Let's just say," Trip gave one of his unique expressions, "she's given Phlox hell and almost destroyed decon trying to get out. I'll send a team to make repairs as soon as we get to our quarters."
Nodding, Jonathan Archer watched Commander Tucker race away. Seems, he told himself, that his bond is a positive thing between them.
Reading the reports from several departments on the Tellarite encounter, the Captain finally understood just how much Commander Tucker had matured into his position. Sighing, Archer knew it wouldn't be long before Trip deserved a vessel of his own. A little device, cutting a swath in the Earth's crust changed everything. As events would show, the bond between Trip and T'Pol proved protective, for more than the couple. It was the only thing that stood between the command team and madness as they hunted the Xindi in the Delphic Expanse.
AN: and with this chapter were are finished. Drop me a line and tell me what you think.
