SETTING: Minor spoilers: "Stigma"; "First Flight" and "The Expanse". Set after the events of "Savior".
FEEDBACK: Always! [email protected] DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns the characters. I’m just borrowing them, and promise to return them safe and sound. The only thing I gain from this is some writing practice. SUMMARY: Everything has a price.
Chapter 23
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“Hey.” “Hey yourself. Have a good sleep?” Trip looked pleasantly surprised. “Actually, come to think of it, I did. I don’t remember any bad dreams, anyhow.” Archer smiled. “Well, you did get a little uneasy for a moment or two.” “Did I?” “Yeah – when I got into bed. So I just reminded you to have pleasant dreams, and you settled right back down.” “Oh. Thanks.” “My pleasure.” “And thanks for the shower last night.” “Again, my pleasure.” Trip smiled slightly. “I really doubt that.” He sobered. “But I’m sorry you ended up having a run-in with Phlox.” “Don’t be. It’s all right.” “I don’t know about that – he seemed pretty mad.” “We had a talk, and he cooled down. Mind you, I had to promise that I’d only give you a shower every other night. I hope you can live with that.” Trip stared at him. “Are you kidding? How the hell did you swing that?” “By my impeccable use of logic, of course.” Trip snorted. “Sure.” “Are you doubting my word, you brat?” “Me? No, never. I believe you. Millions wouldn’t, but I do.” “Behave yourself.” Archer sounded stern, but inwardly, he was pleased that Trip was up to some good-natured teasing. He sat up. “Ready for breakfast?” “Yeah. I guess.” “Not hungry?” Trip sighed. “It’s hard to get enthusiastic about poached eggs and weak tea.” “Well, maybe we can do something about that.” “Press on my feet, you mean?” “There’s that, too, but that’s not what I was thinking of.” Trip looked surprised. “Oh? What else is there?” “Just an idea I have. I’ll get back to you on it.” Trip, hearing his own pet phrase parroted back at him, knew that Jon would not answer any more questions right now. He sighed. “All right, you bastard – have it your own way. Be all mysterious. See if I care.” Archer chuckled and kissed him. “Ah,” he said, mischievously, “but you do care. Not only are you a spoiled brat, you’re a nosy one as well.”* * *
“You must be joking!” “I am not. The little dust-up we had the other night reminded me that we’ve been neglecting the health of one of our most important crew members. You.” Phlox shook his head. “Captain, I appreciate the thought – “ “- It’s not a thought. It’s an order. We’ve got just one more week here at Vesora. Then everyone’s shore leave is done, and we’ll be leaving. You’re just about the only member of the crew who hasn’t been off-ship. Aside from Trip, of course.” “And that is precisely why I cannot leave! Commander Tucker requires a great deal of care. You have done an outstanding job, but you are not a medical professional.” “I agree. However, I believe that there is a solution to that problem as well.” “And that is …?”* * *
“Commander Tucker – I would like to introduce you to Jahmeya. She will be taking care of you while I am on leave.” Trip smiled up at the Vesoram doctor. “I’ve got to say - she’s a hell of a lot prettier than you are, Doc.” Jahmeya smiled. “I was warned about you, Commander.” “Please – call me Trip. Warned about me? I’m not very dangerous – I promise.” “Perhaps not. But I’ve been told that you will attempt to charm me into breaking the rules. And I see that that is correct.” Trip looked slightly abashed. “You can’t blame a fellow for trying,” he finally said. “And you are prettier than Phlox. No offense, Doc.” “None taken,” was the cheerful reply. Archer smiled. Trip was right. With her blonde-white hair, slanted emerald eyes and aqua skin, she looked like a fairy out of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. But there was nothing fairy-like about her business-like manner, or her qualifications, which were remarkable. Mistress Y’Anya had highly recommended her and Archer could see why. She cast a cool, professional gaze over Trip. “You may try,” she said in her lilting voice, “but I must warn you, your attempts will be doomed to failure.” Trip rolled his eyes in response, and Archer carefully hid his smile. “Now,” she continued briskly, “you are scheduled for an afternoon nap. And I see that you did not sleep for the allotted time this morning, so I believe that you should start your nap now.” “But I’m in the middle of – “ “- Whatever it is, it can wait,” was the serene response. “I can see that you will be in excellent hands, Commander,” Phlox said. “So, Captain, with your consent, I will be leaving.” And he headed towards the door. “Have a good time,” Archer said. “And hurry back,” Trip called after him.* * *
Trip shifted, then awoke, looked around. Archer, who had been reading, put his padd down and slipped an arm around the younger man. “Bad dreams?” “No – the opposite, actually.” “Oh? Care to share?” “Nothing really special. Just you and I, walking somewhere.” He sighed. “I always took that for granted.” “What – walking?” Trip nodded, and Archer gave him a reassuring hug. “You’ll walk again – you know that, right?” “I know. It’s just funny – it’s like that old song says - you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” “It’s not gone, my own. Just misplaced for a little while. You’ll be up and around before you know it.” Trip smiled and laid his head on Archer’s shoulder. “Thanks.” He chuckled. “What’s so funny?” “Well, speaking of missing things – I never thought I’d say this, but I was real glad when Phlox got back today.” Archer chuckled in turn. “I’ll bet he seems like a pussycat now, doesn’t he?” “He sure does. The only other female I ever met who was stricter than Jahmeya was my grade 4 teacher, Sister Ada.” “Sister?” “Yeah. She was a special teacher my school brought in.” At Archer’s look, he smiled and clarified, “Advanced math, smart ass.” Archer smiled. “I didn’t think you went to school on the short bus.” “Yeah. Boy, you didn’t fool around in her class. Learned a lot, though.” “Well, Jahmeya might have been strict, but you have to admit, you got a lot of rest the past few days.” “There is that. Plus, she was a hell of a lot easier on the eyes than Phlox. I’ve never tried to imagine Phlox naked.” He chuckled again. “What’s so funny?” “Well, I mean – how weird is this? Here I am, talking about a good-looking woman, and look who I’m in bed with!” “You bet. And as long as I’m around, I’m the only one you’re going to share a bed with. Understand?” “Oh, yeah? Whatever happened to the all that stuff about having an open relationship?” “I said, if you wanted to, I’d put up with it. You said you didn’t, remember? So now you’re stuck. I suggest you learn to deal.” “You really are a bastard, you know that, don’t you?” “And? Your point is?” “My point is, who else would put up with you?” “Don’t know. Want to find out?” “No way.” “Make up your mind, brat. A minute ago you were bitching about being stuck with me, and now you’re bitching about me going off with someone else. You can’t have it both ways.” “In the first place, I wasn’t bitching, I was observing. And in the second place, like I said, who’d put up with you?” “And like I said – guess that means you’re stuck with me. Got a problem with that?” Trip smiled. “No, guess not. I mean,” he went on, “you’re still a bastard and all that, but I guess I’ve become used to it.” “So what you’re saying is that while I’m a bastard, I’m your bastard, is that it?” “Yep. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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