Just a little something
Trip smiled at all of the lights and decorations strung up in the Mess Hall. He loved Christmas, he had such wonderful memories of when he was a kid. He heard a familiar voice from across the room and turned.
Hoshi had her hands on her hips and was shaking her head, "It's not straight, Lt." she pointed out.
Malcolm Reed sighed deeply and gave her a stern look, "It's as straight as this crooked tree is going to get." He shook his head and gave the star on top of the tree a steely glare. Why did Starfleet send them a crooked tree? He knew it had taken them a bit of doing to get it out here to them, but he was the one that was stuck with the problem.
"Maybe you should try and tilt the base again." Hoshi suggested, oblivious to how frustrated the Tactical Officer was getting.
Malcolm closed his eyes and counted to ten in order not to lose his temper. Captain Archer had assigned him to decorating the Mess Hall with Ensign Sato today to "boost his morale". Granted, he'd been in a foul mood lately - but this was definitely not helping the situation. If anything, it had darkened his mood. Ensign Sato was a task master when it came to decorating.
Put the tree there, Lt.
No, it will look better over there, Lt.
The lights need to drape around the room, Lt. - not be pulled tight. On and on, she went.
He'd had enough. Malcolm took the star off the tree and climbed down the ladder. "Ensign, I think you need to find someone else to help you finish this task." he handed her the star and walked out of the Mess Hall.
Trip walked over to Hoshi and raised an eyebrow, "What just happened?"
She shook her head, "I think he just quit." she said softly.
Trip frowned. Malcolm never quit. He always finished whatever task was assigned to him. He knew Malcolm had been reclusive lately, but this certainly wasn't like him. "I'll go talk to him later. What can I help you with?" he gave her that devilishly handsome smile of his.
Hoshi grinned, "Well, the tree is crooked." she waved a hand at the tree.
Trip focused on the tree and grimaced. The base was straight, but then it curved to an awkward thirty-five degree angle at the top. "Well, that's interesting. Let me go get some tools."
