Summary: Trip is a stud. �Nuff said.

Chapter 7 � Plot, the Necessary Evil

�Um, Doc, why do you need us?� Trip protested as he and Veronica followed the Doctor down the hall. He looked longingly at his quarters as they passed, and could see that Veronica was doing the same.

�I need to do some more tests,� Phlox explained. �I�ve isolated the chemical agents present in your bloodstream, and found some important differences with respect to what the other teams encountered. Since you reported no initial symptoms, there may be long-term effects I need to study.� He�d been speaking as they walked, and they now had reached Sickbay. When the door slid shut behind them and the three of them were alone, the Doctor turned to his two patients. �Unless you�d like to change your initial report?�

Trip and Veronica exchanged a worried glance, then looked down at their hands.

�Perhaps I can help,� the Doctor said encouragingly. �If my analysis is correct, you would have experienced increased sexual response, the pollen acting as a sort of aphrodisiac. Am I right?�

His two patients nodded and shifted uncomfortably on their feet.

�I see. And had you had any intimate encounters with each other before this?�

They shook their heads no.

�But the agent was powerful enough that you felt compelled?�

Two nods.

�Well, I appreciate your reluctance to explain, but really, there�s nothing to be embarrassed about. I think you would have found that no matter who�s company you had been in yesterday, you would have ended up being intimate with them.�

It took a moment for this last bit of information to settle in.

�Uh, wha- What are you sayin�, Doc?�

�I am saying, Mr. Tucker, that even if you had been partnered with Mr. Reed, the pollen would have had its effect.�

Now there was an image Trip didn�t want in his head, and he shook it hard to erase it. This succeeded in conjuring up a new image that he was more apt to credit � Veronica and Hoshi Sato. He glanced over at Veronica and wondered if she was picturing anyone.

�Well then, if I could just get a blood sample and some new scans from each of you, we can make sure you�re on your way back to normal health.�

Fifteen minutes later the pair found themselves leaving Sickbay. Doctor Phlox had found lingering traces of the compound remaining in their system and wanted to check them once more that night before declaring them clean. This news combined with the other revelations of the morning had left them quite subdued.

�So, um, you wanna go somewhere and talk?� Trip ventured, feeling exposed in the corridor outside Sickbay.

�Yeah, I guess we should.�

�My quarters okay? I mean, they�re right down the hall, and��

�Yeah, okay.�

The contrast between the way they�d entered Trip�s quarters yesterday and today was not lost on them as they rather furtively took seats as far apart as possible in the cramped room.

�So Doc says there�s still some o� that stuff hangin� around,� Trip began, perched on the edge of his cot since he�d let Veronica have his one chair.

�Yeah, I guess that�s what this morning was about,� Veronica replied, not looking up.

�And yesterday��

�Yeah.�

They sat for a while, avoiding each other�s eyes.

�Dammit, Veronica!� Trip suddenly said, standing to pace the room. �It didn�t feel like any drug to me. It felt�real. Ya know?�

�Me, too,� she replied, finally meeting his eyes. �But��

�But what?� Trip stopped his pacing to look at her.

�But I want to know for sure. Don�t you?�

�Yeah,� Trip grudgingly admitted, sitting back down. �So what are we gonna do?�

�I think� I think we should wait. Until Doctor Phlox gives us a clean bill of health. And then�start over.�

�Start over. You mean, like, date?�

�Yeah.�

�Okay, I can do that.� Trip looked thoughtful, then �There�s a movie tomorrow night. Wanna go?�

�Sure,� Veronica answered. �It�s a date.� Their eyes met, and they shared shy smiles.

�Good. I�ll see you tomorrow then.�

�Okay.�

Awkwardly, Veronica rose, stopping Trip with a gesture when he seemed to want to escort her to the door. She wasn�t sure, if he did, that she would be able to leave. She was just about to press the �door open� button, when she looked back.

�I�m really glad it was you down there with me, Trip,� she said quietly.

�That makes two of us, Veronica,� Trip replied as she pushed the button and stepped into the hall.

As she made her way to her own quarters, Veronica thought it was too bad that neither of them would get that much-needed massage; getting anyone else to do it just seemed like asking for trouble. So it looked like another hot shower would have to do. Or maybe, she thought wryly, I�d better make it a cold one.

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