***

2154

Trip: Did you ever have a secret you could never tell anyone?

Hoshi: I'm not falling for that one, Commander. Birthday surprises are only a surprise if you don't talk about them.

Trip started wondering whose birthday he'd forgotten, and the problem slipped his mind.

***

Archer: Can you translate the Tabran version of this report?

Hoshi: I don't think so, sir. The Tabran language isn't well known. I've been looking at the few pieces of written language we have on file but I can't get a handle on it.

Archer: Even you?

Hoshi: Captain, I'm not a miracle worker. Tegl isn't using the UT - he never has. He speaks English as well as we do.

...

Hoshi: I can ask him about it if you want. He's interviewing me later today.

Archer: Don't worry about the report. But see if you can learn a little Tabran, okay?

Hoshi: Yes, sir.

***

2149

Archer: This has gone on long enough! We all need sleep! Move out, move out!

A.G.: Aw, come on, Jon, it's barely morning. You did it! We did it!

He stumbled back a bit as he raised his hands triumphantly, bumping a young lieutenant out of her seat. The others at the party, as well as they were able, cheered, raised their glasses, or simply slung their arms around Archer or whoever was closest.

Archer: We'll have plenty of time to celebrate while we prepare for this mission. You've made a mess of my quarters and the Admiral is coming at ten. Now get out!

Trip sat proudly on the table behind Archer, marveling at the man's ability to see his father's dream through. And his emergence in the last few years as a more open, more confident leader, which Trip credited to their relationship. And the way he introduced Trip as his 'partner in all things'. That got Trip going every time. And that incredible body... His eyes continued down

Cortland: I gotta go. Stop mentally undressing him for a second, would you?

Trip: Huh? God, is it that obvious?

Cortland: What do you care? You got yourself the best looking man in Starfleet, and a fast ship to tinker with.

Trip: It doesn't matter that I can't take my eyes off him?

Cortland: Well, Ensign Penke is a little jealous, but no, the rest don't give it a second thought.

A.G.: If I could interrupt, I'd like to say goodbye to Lt. Commander Tucker.

Trip: Goodbye, Commander Robinson.

A.G. You take care of him.

Trip: I... I will, sir.

A.G.: Good. Best thing that ever happened to him. Point me to the car, Ensign.

***

2154

Tegl: Are you ready to begin the interview?

Malcolm: Yes. <hem>

Tegl: Could you describe your relationship with Captain Archer?

Malcolm: I understood you were researching human customs.

Tegl: I'm interested in the military dynamic and the social bonds that develop between humans.

Malcolm: I wouldn't describe it as a "social" bond.

(...)

***

Hoshi: I don't know very much about your language.

Tegl: We don't share very much of our world. You wouldn't be able to grasp it even if I did tell you about it.

Hoshi: I never met a language I couldn't understand, at least partially.

Tegl: Do you want to know what's in my reports? The version I gave your captain is identical.
Hoshi blushed at Tegl's accurate assessment; embarrassed, but not sure why.

Hoshi: I'd like to learn it for myself. It's my job, and I have a talent for languages.
Tegl: In that case, come to my quarters after evening meal and I'll see what you are able to absorb. Don't get your hopes up.

***

Travis: You didn't look very happy after he interviewed you, Hoshi.

Hoshi: He doesn't really know how to be polite. He's going to teach me Tabran, he says. I hope I'm up for it.

Travis: What's he like up close?

Hoshi: Terrifying. His jaw, is... The way his eyes watch you... It's... he's just sort of wild; that's what Commander Tucker called him, and it fits.

Malcolm: May I join you?

Travis: Sure. We were talking about Hoshi's interview. Did you think he was terrifying too?

Hoshi shot Travis a daggery glance but Travis just grinned.

Malcolm: Terrifying?! Not at all. We got on quite well, after a few unusual introductory questions. I suspect he was just feeling out his way. He's quite fascinating. Did you know that Tabrans don't reveal the location of their homeworld? They also don't share their technology with every alien race they meet.

Travis: Is that admiration I hear in your voice?

Hoshi: Or a dark suspicion about our security?

Malcolm: Very funny.

***

2154

Trip woke with a start, exactly six hours after he'd fallen asleep. He was disoriented to find himself next to Archer -- the familiar warmth was intoxicating, and when he realized that his duty shift didn't begin for two more hours, he let himself sink into that broad, hairy chest. He stretched his arm out across Jon and drifted off again, safe, sure, at home.

(...)

Trip woke with a start at the ring of the alarm clock, his head pounding for coffee, nervous, cold, unsure, and alone.

(..)

In the mess hall he found Tegl, and no one else. Few others got up as early as Trip did, but it was never empty. He got a large cup of coffee with an unhealthy amount of sugar in it and drank almost half before turning around. (( Probably scared them away. ))

Tegl: Commander.
Trip: Not right now.

Tegl: No further questions, Commander. But I need to make a few things right.

Trip: There's nothing you need to make right.

Tegl: I misled you.

Trip: Look, that wasn't all your fault. I...

Tegl: You wanted it. But I didn't consider that you might need more time. As a human, I mean.

Trip: As a human. Uh-huh. Listen, Tegl, I don't think you did anything wrong, but you can't just tell people you want them. You can't just touch them like that.
Tegl sat quietly, waiting for what he could sense was next.

Trip: Are you telepathic?

Tegl: No.

Trip: Then how did you know?
Tegl: Many people suspect it is true, based on what I've observed in interviews.

Trip: You asked other people about me and the Cap'n?

Tegl: Of course not. I asked questions that gave me answers. Not the answers they were aware of.

Trip: (resignedly) And everyone knows.

Tegl: Those close to you strongly suspect it.

Trip: We ended this before the mission began. Before we met any of them.

Tegl: And yet they know.

Trip: They suspect.

Tegl: Isn't it clear yet?

Trip: I'm gonna need another cup of coffee.

Tegl: As I said, I'm hoping to make it right. I want to know how the customs of your culture would allow me to bond with you.

Trip: Well, for starters, stop talkin' about it. It isn't a plan. It has to happen.

Tegl: Will it happen?

Trip: It isn't a sure thing. Ever.

Tegl: It happened for you and Captain Archer.

Trip: That was different. It was something that we both wanted, and it helped us both. I was in love. He..., well, he was.

***

***

2144

Lt. Grinnell: Commander, there's a call for you.

(...)

Archer thought he had answered but he was elsewhere, laying in his own warm bed in the apartment. He felt Trip jerk awake and look at the clock, but pretended to be asleep. Behind his mask of sleep he focused on the sound of Trip's breathing, the warmth of his body pressing tightly against his side, and the smell that he'd first noticed when Trip grabbed and restrained him after his fight with A.G. -- a soft, curious smell, natural, innate, it seemed. It was damned irresistible. Trip settled with extraordinary luxury across his chest, his arm wrapped tightly around it, his face pressed in hard. His breathing slowed again and he slept.

(...)
Lt. Grinnell: Commander? It's Lieutenant Tucker. He's back. He wants to talk to you.
Archer: Put him through!

He blurted that out, rubbing his face with both hands.

Trip: Commander? You there?

Archer: Good to hear your voice, Trip.

Trip: Yours too! What's your schedule like tomorrow? Wanna get some breakfast?

Archer: That would... Uh.. Yes, sure.

Trip: Are you okay?

Archer: Just a little sleepy, Trip.

Trip: I'm sure I'll be a wreck tomorrow - it's a 15-hour time change. But I want to see you.

Archer: Okay, breakfast it is.

Trip: I'll pick you up.

Archer: See you then. Sleep well.

Trip: You too.

...

After a long pause, Archer clicked the comm off.

(( Why did I agree to this? "I want to see you"?? What am I going to do with him? I can't be in love with him. ))