I don't know why I'm doing this. I have unfinished fics everywhere…The phrase in my head (look at an outburst Reed had at Trip…) just got too much for me to bear.

This is a sequel to "Mutiny Aboard the Enterprise", but you don't have to read that to get the gist of this. I'll drop little summaries around for ya. Or you can just read and review the other fic…

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek or Enterprise. If I did, I assure you, I'd model a character after myself and have her kidnap Malcolm and Trip as her love slaves. Yeah, that wouldn't make any money, and neither will this story.

Rating: PG-13 because I'm fond of cussing.

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                        Hoshi Sato knew the lieutenant was going to sit with her. Don't ask how she knew it, but she could just feel that Malcolm Reed was going to talk to her, and it wasn't going to be something she wanted to hear. She stared down at her spaghetti, trying not to notice him; trying to will him to turn to a table where he would read a padd alone. The tightening of her stomach and the loud 'ahem' she heard told her that her luck had simply run dry.

            "May I sit here, Ensign? I need to speak with you." The English accent rang in the linguist's ears, causing her to look up. Indeed, there Reed was, looking stiff and in his most proper form.

            A meek smile crossed her face as she nodded, gently setting down her fork. Her hands didn't know what to do with themselves and her mind kept straying to their long talks, to those quick, gentle kisses…that hadn't been real. She had to clear her throat as she tried to brush the thoughts aside and actually speak. "Go ahead, Malcolm. I need some company, anyway." The words were immediately scolded within her mind. Now he'll think that I'm interested in him! Maybe I am, but he can't know that!

            The armory officer stoically seated him across from Hoshi. It seemed to her that he wanted to get as far away from her as humanly possible, but still just close enough to say whatever he had to say. "Ensign," the word seemed almost embarrassing to even be uttered, "I must apologize for my behavior. Even though I was under alien influence, I had no right to make any advances upon you."

            "Oh, it's…"

            "If you'd please let me finish, Ensign." He snapped, but it looked as though he wanted to take back the harsh tone of voice. His words went back to the indifferent, obviously well practiced speech, "I'm your senior officer. It was completely inappropriate behavior, both as an officer and a gentleman, and I sincerely apologize."

            Hoshi paused for a long moment, making sure that he was completely done, and she wouldn't be cut off once more. During the few seconds, the lieutenant seemed to grow increasingly agitated, as if bracing himself for some loud, screaming outburst. She was incredibly close to giving him what he expected, but wouldn't show that. "It's fine, Malcolm. It was…it was that alien monument. It made everyone do things they never would have done, including me."

            "Thank you, Ensign." Not even the smallest flicker of appreciation shone in his face as he pushed himself from the seat, but it seemed a huge weight had been lifted from him when she didn't smack him or put up an argument. "Now if you would excuse me, I have some work to do in the armory."

            And he left. Just as soon as he had come, he was walking out the mess hall doors. A slight depression came over her, thinking that nothing he had let on in that dream was true. It wasn't as if would work out anyway -- he was her superior. It was the exact same way with Trip. But hell, even Trip might be willing to sneak around for a while… That's an idiotic idea Hoshi. What if the two of you were caught? The thought was buried in her mind, wallowing in her disappointment as she watched Reed leave.

 Glancing over at the place he once sat. Hoshi noticed that in his rush to leave, he had left his padd. Hesitantly reaching over, she picked it up, her eyes scanning the text briefly.

            I must apologize… No right to make any advances… Completely inappropriate as an officer and gentleman … Sincerely apologize. The notes brought a smile to Hoshi's face. It seemed that the apology was harder to say than he had let on.

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            I made such a bloody ass out of myself, Reed thought as he exited the mess hall. He punched the button of the turbolift, rubbing his eyes as he thought of the apology. He had spent half the night phrasing it perfectly, and at the time he didn't realize he'd end up sounding like some cold bastard in front of the woman he thought he may be in love with.

            "Lieutenant!" Hoshi's voice rang behind him. His eyes nearly widened as he turn around. She was going to flog him, wasn't she? After that god awful lecture he just gave her, he wouldn't be surprised. To his shock, she just handed him a padd. "You forgot this. I fixed some of the spelling up for you. I hope you don't mind."

            "Thank you…" He glanced down, only to find himself staring at the words he had just told her. He could feeling the warmth of a blush rising up his neck as the turbolift doors opened. Finally, he could run away in peace! He had to get away from Hoshi before she saw him acting like a complete buffoon. He turned and was ready to rush into the safety of the doors.

             When he saw Trip Tucker standing there. A hot rage started to bubble in his blood when he remembered that nothing that went on between him and the commander had actually happened; it had only been some plot to make innocent victims 'remember' a civil war. But still, there were those lingering feelings of hatred towards the engineer.

            "Hey Hoshi," A coy smile flickered across Trip's lips as he winked at the linguist before glancing towards Malcolm with a look that asked 'what the hell are you doing here? "Lieutenant. Both of you getting on?"

            Hoshi, suddenly gained a deer-in-the-headlights look, began to work her mouth, before stuttering, "Yes…No. No, I'm actually going to walk around to the other turbolift…"

            "It's halfway down the deck!" Reed said, completely shocked that she would go to such great lengths to avoid him -- or maybe Trip. Yes, it had to be the engineer… He took comfort in the thought that perhaps the other man was the cause of her anxiety.

            The Lieutenant stepped into the turbolift, listening to Hoshi mumble something about needing exercise and walking away as fast as she possibly could. "That was very unnecessary, Commander."

            "Wha'?"

            "Winking at Hoshi." Reed mumbled, the tone nearing a low growl. "It was very unnecessary."

            Trip turned to him, gray-blue eyes staring in utter exasperation. "What the hell are you talkin' about? Me an' Hoshi, we got to know each other real well. I think I can wink at her if I want."

            Malcolm's eyebrow raised as he went over what the engineer had just said. He seemed too cocky -- too satisfied and arrogant with the sentence. What gives him any right to wink at her? The officer thought bitterly. The doors swished open, revealing the deck he wanted and the armory stepped out with not another word.

As the doors were closing, suddenly the color drained out of his face as a realization struck him. Anger coursed through his veins as he rammed his fist into the control panel of the turbolift, reopening the doors.  "Bloody hell!" he shouted, ramming his hand on the 'stop' button of the 'lift, watching the doors open to a shocked Tucker.

 "You slept with her didn't you? You bloody bastard." Reed growled, stalking back into the turbolift. He looked about ready to kill, and at the moment, all of the discipline he had worked so hard to keep was just barely stopping him from murdering the commander right then and there. Trip had done something completely uncalled for to that wonderful linguist. That was something that just couldn't be forgiven.

            The engineer's expression looked like he was just caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Y-No! No." As soon as it was decided, the answer was resounding. Suddenly, he turned from panicked, to defensive, glaring daggers at the lieutenant. "We were in some dream, livin' out someone else's life. I didn't sleep with her!"

            "There I was, apologizing for talking to her. Don't I feel like an ass."

            "Now listen, Malcolm…"

            "Lieutenant."

            Trip rolled his eyes, continuing on. "Now listen, Lieutenant. You can't go insultin' me because I was forced to do somethin' against my will. I'm sure you didn't mean to kill me."

            Reed clenched his fists, staring stonily at the engineer. He was right on edge, just barely managing to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't blow up on his superior -- he'd be thrown out of Starfleet at the drop of a hat. "Just like I'm sure you didn't mean to shoot me dead with the phase pistol."

            "See? We're on the same level of thought. Now, why don't you get of the 'lift and fix your phase cannons. I hear they're half a micron off, that's gotta get your pants in a twist." Trip pushed the button once more, the turbolift doors opening as the commander stared impatiently at the lieutenant. Without another word, Reed exited the turbolift. He glared straight ahead and cursed to himself as he walked into the armory.

Every crewman on duty that day knew they were about to have a very, very long shift.