JP Lieutenant JG John Kendrick & Lieutenant-Commander T'Lea - The Gain of Time (Part 8)
Jon Van Pelt
((The Wanderer - Kendrick’s Cabin))
Somehow the two spellbound lovers had ended up in Kendrick’s personal cabin.
Somehow? Was that really a question?
As if T’Lea didn’t know the truth. As if it was a mystery. As if she was trying to fool herself about the events that led them here. No. She recalled every sumptuous kiss, every rough and sensual touch, and every tantalizing telepathic detail, vividly and energetically. The truth was that Sickbay had facilitated the insatiable demands of Pon Farr. But the second time was of their own volition.
Perhaps it was the residual residue of the mating ritual, an after-shock of sorts, or maybe, just maybe it was a totally, “why the hell not,” free-will moment that had spawned shortly after Pon Farr had been quenched. Either way that’s how they’d ended up on a tiny mattress built for a single person in John’s cabin. And that’s why the small bedsheet was in a quiet, slumbering tug of war between them. A war, by the way, that John was currently losing.
The important thing, however, was that Pon Farr was over. The seven year curse had been diligently broken, satisfyingly smashed, exhaustively obliterated, and zealously incinerated in the fiery throes of passion. What they’d left behind in their wake was a smoldering, ashen field of hard earned tranquility and silence.
In that restful peace, T’Lea slept serenely beside her mate, dangerously close to falling off the bed, but well covered with a majority of the sheet. After spending months plotting and planning, toiling and struggling, and after mentally and physically conditioning herself to transform her Pon Farr into a weapon of death and revenge, she’d failed magnificently. Dal Selta was still alive, and surprisingly so was T’Lea’s mother. She would feel like a fool when she woke up, there was no doubt about that.
Although these failures were solely hers to bear, the success of having survived one of Vulcan’s stupidest biological adaptations laid beside her in the shape of one man. One unsuspecting, tragically Human man.
John Kendrick.
Security Officer.
Crewmate.
Subordinate.
Friend?
Lover?
Break-glass in case of emergency Pon Farr partner?
Those feelings would be questions that the steel-hearted Romu-Vulc wouldn’t particularly care to research any time soon. Why turn out the lights on a perfectly good after-glow with those risky questions when she was still basking in warm and fuzzy contentment.
A chill of cold air skated across her bare thigh. She reached for the stolen sheet once again and rolled on her side, yanking the thin fabric back, only this time it delivered extra warmth. She felt the inviting heat from John’s muscular body wrap around her own, and she couldn’t help but settle back into him.
Even though T’Lea had the reputation of a snarky, tough, cruel, and occasionally sadistic badass, very few people knew just how affectionate, attentive, gentle and caring she could truly be. John was now on that short list.
For a certainty, there was another daunting question hidden in there somewhere, and it had to do with how this would affect their work relationship.
Thoughts for later.
Sleep for now.
Yes. Sleep. Sleep. Oh how he had longed for it. He felt so, so very tired now.
From the moment T’Lea had materialized on the transporter platform of the Wanderer, John knew he had been acting under the influence of the force known as Pon Farr. The force that had been slowly but steadily gnawing away at his ability to think clearly. The same force that had driven him to her. The force that had bonded them.
Although a part of him tried to fight it, deep down he longed for her. She was beautiful. She was smart. She was strong. Perhaps she was everything he wasn’t. But she was also his superior officer. Unattainable. Until now. Until her Vulcan DNA had decided the time had come for her to choose a mate. And she had chosen him, John Kendrick, a human, over Ajen - a strong and attractive Romulan male and perhaps even more importantly, her mother’s candidate. Maybe that’s why she had picked him. Maybe he’d been nothing more than a perfect opportunity for her to make a fool of her mother. The question lingered somewhere in the back of his mind but, truth be told, she had left him little or no time to ask this or any other question he might have had.
He had made the first move as he had placed his lips on hers down in Sickbay. At least that’s how he remembered it. Looking back now, it all seemed to have happened in a haze. He was rather timid at first. He was no stranger to love making, but this wasn’t love. It was unbridled passion. Sensations he’d never experienced before in his life and maybe never would experience ever again.
As he cuddled up beside her on his tiny bed, he felt her breathing in and out. It almost had a soothing effect on him. He closed his eyes and smiled, hoping the moment would last forever. And then he fell asleep.
((Timeskip))
T’Lea had showered, dressed, grazed on what was probably the equivalent of an acre of food, and was still in the process of replenishing her sustenance levels when she’d spoken to the Captain about his Romulan guests and where they were being held.
News that they were in a refrigerated container in the cargo hold had put a brief smile on T’Lea’s bruised face, which still hurt where John had decked her.
She would see the ship’s EMH about that and other injuries sustained during her else-world battles and mating rituals later.
In the meantime, arrangements were made from the ship for Starfleet Intelligence to pick up Raivus and her Romulan cohort, Ajen, at Lightside Station when they arrived, shortly. A three day return trip didn’t seem like much when part of it was spent purging Pon Farr from her system, and the other part was spent recuperating from it.
With everything squared away for the proper authorities to take over, T’Lea stopped by the kitchen once more and gathered a full platter of manly food for John, whom she sensed was still recovering.
Sure enough there he was embedded in bed where T’Lea had left him.
For a moment she worried that she had put the man in a comatose state, but after reaching out telepathically she was comforted by his level of awareness… or was it stubbornness to get out of bed. Sympathizing with the strain that she had put on him she had mercy and entered the room with a shiny plate of goodies in her hand.
Stood there at his bedside she admired his restful form and the way the sheet highlighted all those striking attributes that she had enjoyed discovering.
She could get used to this, she thought, and then shook her head out of the ridiculous idea.
T’Lea: Ahem?
Had he not heard her polite call to arms, or was he just ignoring her?
T’Lea: ::louder: Ahem?
Nope. Maybe she had broken him.
Testing that theory she picked up a grape from the assorted fruits and berries she’d specially selected to help replenish his health. Rolling the firm round fruit between her fingertips she considered eating it herself, but ended up throwing it at the slumbering hunk of man. It harmlessly struck his chest and landed on the mattress beside him. There was not enough of a reaction, so T’Lea threw another that bounced off his arm. Then a third and a fourth armor piercing grape that snapped against his chin and forehead.
If only he could’ve seen himself lying there on the mattress, with that blissful smile upon his face. He felt happy, lucky… Dare he say in love? He didn’t know and perhaps it didn’t even matter. For the first time in ages, he felt good about himself. Ever since he had left the Academy, he was constantly worrying. Worrying about his career, his family, … . Now it seemed a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Still half asleep, he felt something bouncing off his chest, his arm and then finally his chin and forehead. As he blinked his eyes, slowly getting used to the lighting in the cabin, he could see T’Lea’s silhouette standing next to the bed.
Kendrick: Are we under attack, Sir?
She smiled a wicked little grin at him – it was nothing like the soft, welcoming smile she’d shared with him at the height of their intimacy.
T’Lea: Maybe. I have an entire cluster here. Don’t make me go full-auto.
Kendrick: I’m not hungry.
He pulled the sheets back up, covering his head as well.
She hated that she thought that was cute. Taking a seat on the edge of the small bed, she set the nourishments before him on the mattress.
T’Lea: Eat something, stupid.
Yes, there was nothing like being on the receiving end of T’Lea’s loving kindness.
He lowered the sheets again, and sat up straight in bed. Apparently together with her clothes, she’d also found her unique sense of humor. He looked down at the plate of fruits and smiled. Maybe she did care about him?
Kendrick: Well, guess that’s an order.
As he reached out for the plate, trying to decide what he was going to pick to eat.
Kendrick: Though you should’ve brought something with a bit more proteins. ::with a boyish smile:: That is if you’re planning on playing a third round of course.
Surprisingly that thought hadn’t been far from her mind, which perhaps could have been why he said it. The bond was truthful if nothing else.
T’Lea: I could have brought you a T-bone steak, but I didn’t think you’d appreciate me throwing it at you. Just eat the damn fruit. It’s good for you.
All of that was served with a good helping of friendly snark. While he seemed to contemplate the tray’s contents, T’Lea snagged a mewi melon ball for herself and popped it in her mouth. She was still ravenously hungry. And rightfully so, she hadn’t eaten since leaving for Phorth.
He picked up a couple of blueberries and put them in his mouth.
Kendrick: Guess we still have to figure out what to do with your mother and my… rival.
T’Lea: I spoke with Captain… ::finger snap:: whatshisface-
Kendrick: ::chuckling:: Hennessey. The man’s name is Hennessey.
T’Lea: Right. Arrangements have been made for the prisoners to be transferred into SFI custody at Lightside station. We’ll be there in a few hours. ::her eyes softened:: Credit for the capture is yours and this crew if you want it.
He shifted on the mattress and she couldn’t help but notice the newly exposed flesh as the sheet drifted off. The memory of what he felt like was still so very fresh in her mind, and distracting as hell.
As John stared down at the sheets, almost out of nowhere a sense of sadness took a hold of him, as he realized that this - whatever this was – was about to come to an end. He looked back up at her and tried to put up a smile, hoping she wouldn’t notice.
Kendrick: ::eye wink:: I’ve already gotten my reward. ::serious again:: The Captain is a good man and so is his crew. They deserve whatever reward Starfleet Intelligence is offering. Because the truth is, without them, I’d never been able to reach you in time.
A quiet pause fell while she contemplated the fruit filled platter, but she wasn’t necessarily thinking about her next snack to devour.
T’Lea: I know you probably have questions, and you deserve answers. ::looking at him with honesty:: I don’t know if I can answer them, but… ask.
There were so many questions he wanted to ask her, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that although she was trying to open up to him, she too had difficulties understanding what exactly had happened between the two of them. So he decided to ask her the only question that actually mattered.
Kendrick: Did it work? I mean the Pon Farr. Are you…
He almost stumbled over his own words, suddenly feeling uncomfortable talking to her.
Kendrick: Fulfilled?
He felt his cheeks warming up. His stomach felt weird. Even the thought of them together, felt like poking up the embers of lust.
T’Lea: Yes.
The answer was quick and sincere, but there was so much more dialogue going on inside her head as she’d said it.
He looked back down at the sheets, afraid that if he looked into her eyes right now he’d be lost forever.
Kendrick: That’s good. ::stuttering:: I’m glad I could help.
The confidence he felt only moments ago seemed to have evaporated into thin air. He had to get out of here. He had to try to put some distance between them.
He leaned to his left and wanted to jump out of bed, only to feel almost every muscle in his body hurt. As he slowly got up, he looked around the cabin for his clothes only to find out there were none there.
He turned to T’Lea and although she didn’t say a word, the grin on her face confirmed what he had feared.
Kendrick: You mean we ran down the ship… naked?
T’Lea: Some were more clothing-impaired than others.
She probably should have brought his clothes to him, but honestly it hadn’t occurred to her until now. And frankly, she was enjoying the free show. He was damn gorgeous, she mulled while snacking.
He quickly pulled the sheets off of the bed and wrapped them around him like a toga.
Kendrick: Guess I’ll better head down to Sickbay to collect my clothes.
He headed for the door, trying not to trip over the sheets in the process. T’Lea tried not to giggle out loud.
Kendrick: Or what’s left of them. ::turning to T’Lea:: I’ll be on the Bridge if you need me.
She gave him a few silent nods and watched him make an exit and struggle with his bedsheet, and apparently a lot more. He needed space. Maybe they both did.
TBC in part 9
===
Lieutenant Commander T’Lea
First Officer
USS Juneau
Author ID I238301T10
&
Lieutenant JG John Kendrick
Security
USS Juneau, NX-99801
Author ID J239801JK3