Chapter Text
“Well?” asked Jonathan with an expectant look.
Trip chewed and swallowed slowly before washing down his food with a sip of wine, choosing his words carefully.
“I’d be lyin’ if I said I didn’t have a few – concerns,” Trip replied honestly.
“You knew as well as I did planning this expedition that the Vulcans would want one of their own on-board,” The Captain pointed out to him.
“Yeah I know,” Trip agreed with a small wince, his disregard for the Vulcans wasn’t something he kept well hidden. “But did you have to make them your second in command?”
“That a hint of jealousy I hear there Trip?” Jonathan gave a small smile.
“I wasn’t puttin’ myself forward for the position,” Trip spluttered over his wine. “Lord knows you need me in that engine room, who else could you trust to keep your ship tickin on her merry way. But a Vulcan, really Sir?”
“Your opinion is noted Lieutenant,” Archer grinned. “Is Commander T’Pol the only concern of the crew compliment?”
“Some of the ensigns are a little wet behind the ears,” Trip said in thought. “And isn’t it the SCO’s job to discipline them – how come I got landed with that chore?”
“You know very well of the Vulcan opinion on human relationships and how we live, and whilst they are helping us find our feet in our space exploration and accept we’re part of the space race nowadays, they are certainly not going to be involved in more personal matters such as discipline and order. You’re the highest ranking Dominant officer beside myself, so you’re the natural choice for the role,” Archer explained to him, smiling to himself at Trip’s resignation of the fact. “But if you really don’t think you’re up for the challenge – I can request we bring in someone else -.”
“No, no,” Trip shook his head, rolling his eyes at him. The Captain certainly knew how to push his buttons and the idea that he would bring someone else in especially, just because he assumed he wasn’t up to the task was something Trip couldn’t live with. His ego wouldn’t allow it. “I’m only warning you I’m not a hard ass twenty four seven, I’m not gonna be enforcing discipline just for the hell of it.”
“Good because that’s not the kind of ship I run,” Jonathan reminded him. “Any way, there are only a few sub ensigns who may come to you regularly, so unless you find it necessary to enforce some discipline or I think it appropriate in some cases, you may find it a ‘chore’ you aren’t having to carry out often.”
“Yeah well, we’ll see,” Trip nodded, not looking completely convinced.
“So aside from the Vulcan and inexperienced ensigns, anything else on your mind you want to challenge me on before we start this mission?” Jonathan asked.
“Chef has the recipe for the pan fried catfish?” Trip asked him seriously. “The one I recommended.”
“It’s in the database,” The Captain assured him. “Although I’m pretty sure I offended Chef just by asking him if he knew how to cook it.”
“Chef has a problem with it, tell him to see me, I am after all the discipline officer,” Trip chuckled.
“You trying to discipline a Dom like Chef, that I would be interested in seeing,” The Captain laughed.
“Why can’t he have the job?” Trip asked him.
“He’s too busy feeding the crew, you want him to serve up spankings as well?” The Captain asked him, pushing his chair back and standing, Tucker followed suit. “Sorry to cut this short but I have a meeting with Admiral Lewis.”
“Off to dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘t’s huh Cap’n?” Trip asked him as they headed for the door.
“Something like that,” Archer nodded. “See you tomorrow, 0900.”
“Aye Sir,” Trip smiled, shaking hands before they departed, a spring in his step at the thoughts of the missions that lay before them.
~
“Problem?” The Captain asked as soon as Tucker entered the ready room, the look on his face a clear indication something was bothering him.
“No,” Trip sighed heavily, slipping into his seat. “It’s nothing.”
“Clearly,” Archer chuckled, pouring him a glass of wine. “That why you look like you have the world resting on your shoulders.”
Trip lifted his glass and took a long drink before setting it down, staring at the glass intently as he pursed his lips, “I made Ensign Miller cry today.”
Archer suppressed a smile at Trip’s face, he’d known the man long enough to know he was a Dominant who definitely wore his heart on his sleeve. Charles Tucker was the kind of man who cherished those he was in charge of, even the handful of ensigns assigned under his care on their current mission, submissives without a Dominant of their own. Discipline was sometimes a difficult task and Trip took every reaction from a submissive personally. Archer could sympathise, Ensign Miller was a sweet woman, a little on the timid side, sharp and clever and he had no doubts she would make a fine officer one day. It was unfortunate that she, along with two other Ensigns had bought themselves discipline after a turn of events had caused several system malfunctions due to a prank gone wrong. Archer hadn’t missed the shiny tears speckling her eyes when he’d given them a sharp talking down too before handing them into Trip’s capable hands.
“Did she take it well?” Archer asked him.
“Course she did, they all did,” Trip told him. “They’re fine crew Cap’n, you know that. Fact is they did something stupid and they understand the consequences of their actions could have been far far worse, I didn’t need to give ‘em a lecture, yours worked just fine. To be honest I don’t think the pain of a spanking is what set off the waterworks, it was the reality of the whole situation hitting home’s what did it. You got three very subdued Ensigns feeling mighty sorry for themselves scrubbing plasma coils for the next month and I doubt they’ll be sitting easy the next few days either after I was finished with them. But she was doing that silent crying Sir, you know the kind – kind that makes you want to wrap em up in blankets and protect them from any bad stuff about to come their way.”
“Sounds like she’s made quite the impression on you,” Jonathan teased, knowing perfectly well it was merely Trip’s Dominant nature of nurturing most submissives around him than any personal feelings he had for Miller.
“Aww c’mon Cap’n, she’s fresh out of the academy, can’t be much older than twenty one,” Trip exclaimed with a look of indignation.
“It was a joke Trip,” Archer laughed, waving a hand at him. “I know fine well she hasn’t caught your eye.”
“Well, long as you know it,” Trip sighed as a steward brought in some plates of food “What’s on the menu?”
“Salmon en croute,” Jonathan replied, helping himself to more wine and looking at the plate with interest.
“T’Pol not joining us today?” Trip asked him as they got stuck in.
“No, she excused herself, said she wanted to study the data of our recent survey more closely,” Archer replied. “I was going to invite Malcolm to join us instead but -.”
“But?” Trip asked him curiously when he didn’t finish his sentence.
“Oh I don’t know,” The Captain shrugged, taking his time to savour his food. “I’m still getting to know my crew and – well – what do you think of him?”
“He’s a fine officer if that’s what you’re askin’,” Trip replied. “Knows his job better than most, always working on some kind of new improvement, you can’t fault him for his enthusiasm in that regard.”
“I always feel like he can’t relax around me, like he feels he needs to always be on ceremony,” Jonathan replied. “I don’t want people to feel uncomfortable when we’re eating an informal dinner.”
“Like you say it’s a new crew, still getting to know their Captain,” Trip pointed out. “From what I can figure of him, he doesn’t switch off easily, which must be difficult for him seeing as he’s a subby.”
“He hasn’t come to you for any ‘help’ in switching off?” Archer asked him.
“No Sir and I don’t expect him too,” Trip shook his head. “You said I was in charge of the Ensigns, you didn’t say nothin’ about disciplining the senior staff too.”
“Even if one of those senior staff may be in need of a firm handling time to time?” Archer asked with a raised brow.
“Aww hell now you’re trying to take advantage of me,” Trip said knowingly. “You know I didn’t want this responsibility in the first place. I barely know the guy.”
“Don’t worry,” Archer chuckle again at his friends reaction. “I’m not going to order you to start dealing with the senior staff too, even if one of them is in need.”
“Plenty of Dominants on this ship, I’m sure he can find one to help him out if he really needs it,” Trip said sullenly.
“He doesn’t seem the type to approach a subordinate about such a – delicate – situation,” The Captain said calmly.
“We don’t even know that there is a ‘delicate situation’, like I said, I don’t really know the guy that well. Maybe it’s just how he is all of the time, maybe my Dominant tendencies are riding a little higher than usual because I’ve been disciplining three wayward ensigns all afternoon,” Trip replied.
“Of course, you’re right,” Jonathan nodded his head. “Although I find it a personal concern I don’t know him well enough myself to discern the situation. I’d ask T’Pol’s opinion of him but you know how well that would go down.”
“You want me to talk to him?” Trip asked, knowing his Captain’s intentions and shaking his head at him, impressed he’d been railroaded into the task so easily.
“It’s a small ship Trip, we all need to get to know one another a little better,” Jonathan chuckled.
~
“Mind if I join you?” Trip asked when he found Lieutenant Reed in the mess hall, sitting alone by one of the viewing windows later that evening.
Reed gave him a startled look and moved to stand when Trip held his hand up, “Jeez. At ease Mister Reed, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I – sorry Sir – I must have been lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear you come in,” Reed replied hurriedly. He motioned to the seat beside him, “Please.”
“Up late aren’t ya? Didn’t I see you at stupid o’clock this AM heading for the armory?” Trip asked as he sat down, recalling seeing Malcolm as he made his own way to the engine room.
“I could ask you the same thing Commander,” Malcolm replied with a nod. “I always enjoy a nightcap before I retire to bed, helps me to relax.”
Trip made a play of leaning over to peer into Malcolm’s cup, “You sneaking down grog Lieutenant?”
“No – I – it’s hot chocolate Sir,” Reed quickly explained with a horrified expression.
Trip looked at him in somewhat surprise, “It was a joke Reed, I’m jus’ playin’ with ya. You’re off duty any way, how you spend it is your business.”
“Oh, yes, very good Sir,” Malcolm nodded, picking up the cup and drinking down the dregs and looking more and more nervous by the second.
“Well I’m no expert but I’m not sure that hot chocolate is relaxing you,” Trip said before pressing his lips together, stopping himself from putting his hand over his mouth. He hadn’t meant to say that aloud.
“I’m perfectly alright thank you Commander,” Reed said stiffly, looking far from it.
“Were you – uh – I mean,” Trip began, glancing out of the window and remembering he’d found Malcolm staring out into the vast expanse of space beyond. “Were you viewing anything particular out there Lieutenant?”
Malcolm looked out of the window himself and took a steady breath, letting it out slowly, “No Sir, simply enjoy the wonder of the universe. She can be both terrifying and calming can’t she?”
“Lady universe – oh yeah she’s a wonder alright,” Trip nodded in agreement. “Think there’ll be a day when mankind sees every one of them?”
“Oh no Sir, never,” Malcolm shook his head. “I mean aside from the fact a lot of those lights out there are from stars long since dead – but also, if mankind eventually sees every wonder the universe has to offer we’ll go extinct. It’s in our DNA to explore and be curious, if we see it all, that will be the end of us. We’d have nowhere else to go.”
“Well that’s a sobering thought,” Trip said solemnly.
“Sorry Sir, didn’t mean to put a downer on your thinking,” Reed apologised. He picked up his mug and gave Trip a small smile. “Well Sir I think I’ll turn in for the night.”
“So soon?” Trip asked, wincing when Malcolm looked away with slight embarassment, chastising himself for sounding so flirtatious. He only wanted to get to know the man.
“As you pointed out yourself Sir, it’s been a long day,” Reed said as he got to his feet. “But thank you for the company, short lived as it’s been.”
“Any time,” Trip smiled up at him. He thought he saw a flash of confusion on Malcolm’s face but it was gone as quickly as it appeared and the other man turned away. “Goodnight Malcolm.”
“Good night Sir,” Malcolm replied pleasantly as he exited the room.
~
“You look – perturbed,” Jonathan said once Trip had updated him on the continued efforts to get more out of the warp engines. “Something on your mind?”
“No,” Trip shook his head, frowned, then sighed as he gave him a look, knowing the Captain saw right through his lie. “Yes.”
“Want to talk about it?” Jonathan asked with a small smile.
“Well I guess I should seeing as it’s your fault anyway,” Trip told him, with an air of respect but knowing they were now talking as friends and not as officers. “It’s Lieutenant Reed.”
“Oh,” Jonathan said, smile tweaking at the edge of his lips playfully before he sat down, waving a hand to the free seat for Trip to sit also. “Problems?”
“Yeah – the guy is like a fortress, you break through one wall and hit another,” Trip said in frustration. “He’s always on his guard around me – it’s disturbing. I don’t think he knows how to relax.”
“He seems to have a good relationship with Mayweather and Sato,” Jonathan replied. “They use the gym facilities together, they play chess. I think Hoshi is teaching them both Klingon.”
“Fine – I don’t think he knows how to relax around me,” Trip admitted, letting his own guard down a little further.
“You like him -,” Jonathan exclaimed in surprise. “As in-.”
“He’s caught my attention,” Trip said, straightening a little and playing with his collar. “After you asked me to talk to him, well every time I try it’s either a short, idle conversation or, well, shop talk you know? For some reason that’s real frustratin’ for me.”
“Because you like him-,” Jonathan teased.
“He’s a subordinate officer,” Trip said stiffly.
“He’s a submissive,” Jonathan pointed out to him. “Placed in one of the most demanding roles on this ship. I chose him for the position because of his record, it’s impeccable to say the least, but with enough room for him to make spur of the moment decisions, a quick mind when under pressure.”
“I shouldn’t compromise that responsibility,” Trip shrugged and shook his head.
“Compromise?” The Captain asked him in surprise.
“He’s the highest ranking subby on-board,” Trip explained himself. “If he were to get into a relationship with me-.”
“Are you saying you wouldn’t trust yourself to be able to keep things professional and personal?”
“I’m saying I wouldn’t want him to feel his position as an officer would be compromised, that he’d feel like he needed to run things by me first,” Trip shrugged. “You know how intense relationships can get, I don’t even know what kind of subby he is. Maybe he likes intense, I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of responsibility.”
Trip stared in dismay as Jonathan, who had begun to silently laugh, let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head at him.
“Trip I asked you to try and get to know him better, see if he was coping, from a Dominant to a submissive point of view. In a few days you seem to have fallen head over heels and are pondering on a future together,” Jonathan laughed, wiping the back of his hand against his eyes.
“You’re real sympathetic Cap’n,” Trip replied sulkily. “Really – like I said, this is all your fault anyway.”
“I said make friends with the man, not make moves on him, that is all on you,” Jonathan grinned. “Trip for gods sake, stop thinking the worst, trust your instincts, give him the benefit of the doubt and look for an opportunity. If anything were to emerge, I’m sure you’d both be able to figure something out.”