***

2148

Trip stood at the water's edge, waiting. Naked as the day he was born, with a grin from ear to ear and, hidden in the dusk he hoped, a blazing blush across his face.

Trip: It's all you can do when the heat sets in like this. C'mon!

He splashed in a few feet then dove under, resurfacing in the center of the pond, water running down his chest, one drop hanging off the tip of his nose.

Trip: C'mon, Commander!

He couldn't take his eyes off Trip. The grin made Archer want him all the more. The June sky had darkened at last, giving its fire to the trillion stars above them. Archer looked up involuntarily at the wheeling galaxy above him; when he looked back, nearly a full minute later, Trip was chest-deep in the inky coolness of the pond, staring upward.

(...)

***

2154

Tegl worked nearly all night on his next entry. He crafted every word to be part of a smooth clean cloth, a screen that didn't say it was a screen, but merely passed before the eye.

(...)

Early in the morning, Archer knocked on Tegl's door, looking nervously left and right to see if anyone noticed him there. Tegl opened the door quickly, to his relief.

Tegl: Captain. Have I not fully apologized for throwing you to the floor? Or is there some other reason you're here?

Archer: What technology have you shared with Trip?

Tegl: Well, that's a welcome change.

Archer: Is it dangerous?

Tegl: I don't believe so.

Archer: Why did you share Tabran technology with a member of my crew?

Tegl: Because I do as I wish.

Archer: Tabrans don't share their secrets.

Tegl: Trip was curious. He asked about it.

Archer: So your well-known secrecy is a lie?

Tegl: Tabrans do not often lie, Captain. Our secrecy... is for our own good. It does not concern you.

Archer: Why Trip?

Tegl: I needed to build some trust between us. What I showed him helped him to feel more comfortable around me.

Archer: It also sent him to the infirmary.

Tegl: For a headache, I imagine. What is your point, Captain? I've been up all night.

Archer: Why Trip?

Tegl: I'm attracted to him, but I think you've guessed that. It terrifies you, right here, right now that you can't sort out your attraction to him.

Archer: I think you'd better build some trust with me.

Tegl: Mr. Tucker needs exactly what he doesn't have.

Archer: Trust. Give me something now.

Tegl: I can't. I've shared enough already.

Archer: NOW.

***

2148

Archer turned around and stripped off his shirt, ignoring the lusty noises from the pond behind him. A loud YEAAAAAHHHH! greeted the arrival of his shorts on the ground, followed by loud splashing sounds. Archer couldn't suppress a laugh that became a gulping of air.

Trip: C'mere, you! Get in here with me!

Trip had his hands and was pulling him into the pond.

Archer: I need...

Trip: You need me. You got me.

Archer's breathing was now so deep he was almost hyperventilating. Chains around his chest fell off.
Archer: Trip, I...

Trip: You need a rest. Between Forrest and the damn Vulcans you haven't had a moment's peace in six years. C'MERE! You won't be sorry!

Trip dragged him under the water. It cooled his skin, driving the heat deeper inside, where it burned away years of defenses.

(...)

Archer put his head on Trip's shoulder, kissing it, tasting the summer sweat and the next summer, and the next, in one mouthful. They sank lower into the water, farther from shore, Trip's breath came faster now, echoing in little scintillations of moonlight on the surface. The air went purple, heavy and hazy, obscuring the details of the shore, leaving only Trip in his arms, pressed tight against him, giving him every minute of his life.

(...)

***

2154

Tegl put his hand on Archer's arm, warming it. Archer thought of pulling back but didn't.

Archer: Our doctor hasn't found out anything more about Tabrans in the medical databases. Do you use telepathy? Chemicals?

Tegl: He won't find anything. Even his minimal scans of me were incomplete. You won't get that piece of the puzzle, Captain.

Archer: You aren't much of a Tabran, are you?

Tegl jerked his hand off of Archer; rage boiled up.

Archer: You share too much.

Tegl: I am Tabran in the truest sense. Don't presume that you know us.

Archer: I've learned more about Tabrans in these four months than anyone has been able to collect so far.

Tegl: I am here for the purpose of research.

Archer: And you deceive as well as we do.

Tegl: Better. If I have other goals to pursue, they are mine.

Archer: You want me to get back together with Trip. You say he still loves me. Do you think I didn't know that?

Tegl blinked, just for a second, then resumed his push.

Tegl: It wasn't in front of you.

Archer: And whose choice was that?

Tegl: You need to be together.

Archer: And whose choice is that?

Tegl: It's more important than you think.

Archer: Nothing is more important than Trip.

Tegl was unprepared for this admission.

Archer: Give me something to trust. I can't get rid of you, and I won't let you continue this ... interference.

(...)

Tegl leaned in to Archer, who didn't retreat.

Tegl: Did you ever wonder what we do with our information, with our reports?

Archer: Spying?

Tegl: No, nothing so simple. Spying only invites spying in return.

Archer: Information dealing?

Tegl: Captain, I was wrong to share anything with you or your crew.

Archer: Who did you lose?

Tegl looked at Archer with deep black eyes, so close that Archer could feel the warmth radiating from him. It made him a bit dizzy, and his ears seemed to buzz, but when he put his hand up to his face, it connected with Tegl's chest. The low vibration reverberating through the room came from Tegl's chest through Archer's hand, and Archer was lost. Alone.

***

2154

<beeep>

He woke, but ignored the comm, being in no condition to talk. With great effort he forced his mind to return to where it had just been.

Tegl: Try.

Trip: You can't be serious.

Tegl: I want you to.

Trip held Tegl's face and breathed in. His mind spun. When he could remember where he was, he sank his face into the hair behind Tegl's ear and breathed again. More intense this time. He was beyond aroused and in just a few seconds he

<beeep>

***

2187

Ambassadors, come quickly!

What's the problem?

The rebel faction is moving into our eastern capital! They aren't stopping as promised.

Typical Andorians.

We'll be at the council chamber in five minutes. Do NOT take any actions yet.

(...)

Put on your diplomatic face, okay?

Yes, sir.

And remember why we're here. The Federation needs peace now more than ever. Andorians or not, these rebels are undermining our solutions in the whole region.

Adm'ral, I couldn't agree more. But this isn't Shran.

What's on your mind?

        I'm impatient. This shoulda been resolved weeks ago.

Diplomacy is a slow process.

        By all means, be the diplomat. I'm not goin' anywhere.

You have full diplomatic rank. Why don't you handle this one?

If I can turn to you and whisper "Sonofabitch!" every few seconds...

I hope you do. After forty years, I still love hearing it.

Forty? Yer countin' from the time I proposed. I count from the party. Makes it forty-five.

<He stood slowly, using his partner's shoulder to steady him.>

Come on. Time to settle this mess.