Bird on a Wire (An Enterprise novel coming in September 2003)
* * * * *
"Aw shit...."
Trip let out a slow, heavy breath and stared at his reflection. He recognized his penchant for paranoia about Vulcans, but yesterday's episode in the caves was downright embarrassing, spores or no.
He'd managed medically to shift blame for his actions, and had cleared the air with T'Pol afterward. Still his position may have been undermined. He could little afford to dent his reputation further. Especially with a ranking officer, and doubly so in the eyes of the captain. Duty eventually trumps friendship.
He plopped his butt on his bed, rested his face in his hands and sighed.
* * * * *
Shit....
Archer didn't like miscalculating. Worse, he repeated the error. Mostly, he hated having put his crew in unnecessary danger. Again.
And in plain sight of Ms-Vulcans-Know-Everything. Did she enjoy each human misstep, each mistake closer to proving her right?
He squinted, studying his face in the mirror. I'm not that green. I may not be.... He paused. Humans...may not be as familiar with the universe as T'Pol, but we're still.... His thoughts trailed off.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice.... He rubbed his thumb and forefinger deep into his eyes, anticipating avoiding the next.
* * * * *
For no reason, T'Pol absently regarded her image in the mirror. After a long moment, she decided her demeanor remained the same.
She cleared her head with an imperceptible shake. There is no reason to expect a change. The spores are no longer present, the landing party has been treated. She straightened her posture and clasped her hands behind her. Prolonged exposure to intense human emotion disturbed her.
The intensity of her own emotions had startled her even more. She did not wish to repeat the experience.
At times she envied humans their expletives.
-- FIN--