Disclaimer in
part 0/1
SUMMARY: Archer and Trip make a decision.
Consequences Part 3 by Sara
Jonathan Archer lay in his bed, the relief he felt knowing that T'Pol and
Malcolm would not report his indiscretion mixed with the stark realisation of
what he had to do to remedy the situation. He felt tired but knew that he
wouldn't be able to sleep until he did what he had to do. Reluctantly he got up
and pulled on some sweats and a T-shirt. Porthos stirred in his own bed looking
at his master with sorrowful eyes, as if he knew what he was feeling.
Hesitating in front of the door, he realised that if someone should come along
his presence would look suspicious and so pushed the door chime. Trip answered
the door, wearing just his blue boxers, his hair ruffled from sleep.
"This had better be..." his voice trailed off when he saw who his
visitor was. "Cap'n?"
"Trip we need to talk." Archer walked past the younger man, and stood
by the window.
"Sure. What's the problem?"
"I've been thinking about what happened last night." He turned to
face his lover and before he could change his mind said the words that he knew
had to be said, "I don't think we should see each other again."
"What?... Why?" Trip looked stunned.
"I don't think it would be wise to carry on with our relationship. We can
of course still be friends..."
"Friends!... Jus' 'cause we got caught you want t' end it."
"It's too great a risk..."
"I don't believe this..." Trip ran a hand through his hair and walked
over to the window, staring out at the stars, his back to Archer. "So lets
see if I got this straight. Ya want us t' stop bein' lovers 'cause of T'Pol and
Malcolm."
"Trip, anyone could have caught us. It's not worth risking our careers
over." He regretted the words the minute they were out of his mouth and
saw Trip's back stiffen. The engineer slowly turned round and Archer saw the
mixture of hurt, disbelief and anger on his face.
"What ya really sayin' is I ain't worth the risk. "
"I never said that."
"Then what are ya sayin Jon? 'cause I don't understand why ya want t' end
this." He paused, some of the anger draining away, "I thought ya
loved me."
"I do but this has got nothing to do with love."
"So since we got back t'gether, it's just been what... sex?"
"No... not just sex... God I wish it was." He paused trying to keep
his own temper in check while he tried to explain, "Trip I do love you and
that's why everything is so complicated. I think we were stupid to start things
again while serving aboard the Enterprise."
"In other words ya didn't want a lover, ya wanted a whore." Trip
yelled, tears stinging his eyes, "If I'd know that was how ya saw me then
I would have started t' charge for my services."
The words shocked Archer and he tried to think of something to say that would
calm Trip and make him see that he was only doing this because he loved him so
much, that he didn't want to cost him his career. He wanted to make Trip see
how much the young man meant to him but instead he had only succeeded in making
him believe he was a complication, something to be tossed aside when things got
tough. An embarrassment, a dark sordid secret that should never have been
revealed.
"God Trip!... Is that what you think?"
"Well what else am I supposed t' think?" He paused and rubbed his
face with his hands, "Ya come here and tell me ya what t' end us and say
it like ya've changed ya mind about seeing a movie or having a cooked
breakfast. Then ya expect me t' say okay, fine, see ya tomorrow'" He
looked into Archer's eyes, "I can't do that. I can't throw what we have
away."
"Even if it cost you your career?"
"I won't lie t' ya and tell ya it would be easy t' walk away. I worked
damn hard t' be chief engineer of this ship but if I had t' decide whether t'
keep my job or the one person I've given my heart to..." he smiled,
"well I hear that workin' on cargo vessels ain't that bad."
Archer was stunned by the conviction in the younger man's eyes and suddenly
felt a little ashamed that he had doubted his love for this man and was
prepared to end what they both had. He made a decision and reached out to Trip,
engulfing him in his arms and nuzzled his neck.
"I'm sorry, I should have known better." He pulled back and held
Trip's face in his hands, his thumbs caressing the light stubble. "Don't
ever think that I don't love you Trip. I just want to keep you safe."
"I know and I really appreciate what ya tryin' t' do but we're in this
t'gether and if we get caught I ain't havin' ya give up ya career t' protect
me. From the first time we slept t'gether I knew we were takin' a risk but I
think ya worth it.... I think we're worth it." He moved in and placed a
gentle kiss on Archer's lips before pulling away and walking over to the bed.
"Now it's up t' you?" He looked into Archer's eyes, "Ya can go
now and I'll accept it, we'll be the friends ya want us t' be or ya can
stay and we take whatever happens. I ain't sayin' it's gonna be easy and I know
we're gonna have t' be extra careful now both T'Pol and Malcolm know but I love
ya Jon and I want us t' be t'gether."
Without a word Archer walked over to his lover and kissed him and, as he
lowered him onto the bed, the decision was made.