Ok.... for those of you who know me you know I usually write HP fics...but I've been watching Enterprise and this pairing is so blatant that I couldn't get it out of my head! I looked and could find no other so I had to write it for myself!

Ok. Now the Warning. This is a fic written about two men in being attracted to each other and, if we're really lucky, having male-male sex. If you don't like this kind of thing then turn back now!!! You have been warned. If you flame me for it after reading then you just end up looking like a twat to everyone else. So by all means, flame me for writing slash...just be prepared for the pointing and laughing afterwards. ;)

And what fan fiction would be complete without the obligatory Disclaimer. I do not own these characters, or anything else Star Trek related. I'm just borrowing them for a wee while, and though having lots of fun, I'm making no profit. This fic begins a week after Trip and Reed are rescued from the shuttle pod (Ep – 16 "Shuttlepod One) where they thought the Enterprise was destroyed and that they themselves were going to die.

~ Chapter 1 ~

Malcolm Reed sat back and stretched. His spine arched as the muscles in his back pulled themselves out of a position held for too long. He reached over to take a sip of his coffee, putting it down again quickly. Cold? Had he been sitting here that long? Reed glanced around the mess hall to see that it was empty bar a lone ensign in the corner, reading a data pad as he was. He stretched again. It was late, but Reed loved his work. He stood up to get another cup of coffee before settling down to read reports and assessments of the tactical schematics. The coffee at his side again sat untouched.

"Malcolm." The voice went unnoticed by ears too used to having to shut out extraneous sounds. It came again. "Malcolm!" This time it was accompanied by a hand obscuring his view of the data pad. Reed finally looked up.

"Jeez, I thought I was gonna have to call Phlox for a secon' there! Someone been slipping some'in in your coffee?" Reed looked up at the grinning face of the Chief Engineer, Trip. He had sat next to him, Reed totally oblivious. He blinked a few times, eyes adjusting to the new perception that included more than just text and diagrams.

"Oh...Comman...Trip. I'm sorry, I was reading up on the phase canon upgrades sent by Starfleet." Since the two men had been rescued from the shuttle pod a week before Reed had referred to the other man as "Trip", but he was still not entirely comfortable or practised with it yet. Well, he would he to get used to it. There were some things that if you went through together with someone you could not continue to be impersonal, calling by rank. Almost dying was definitely high on the list.

"Phase canon upgrades? At this time in th' mornin'?" Trip took the data pad out of Reed's hand and cast his eyes over it. "Hey! These are the specifications we got yesterday. We haven' even begun to implement them! Why're you so engrossed?" Trip was sitting on the chair backwards, arms resting on the back. He handed the pad back to Reed who placed it on the table.

"I just want to make sure I know what it is they are capable of, how much better they are, things like that." Reed went to sip his coffee again to find it cold. The Ensign from the corner was gone. What time was it?

As if answering Reed's unspoken question Trip spoke. "At 3am? Malcolm we won't have those upgrades complete for another month! Plenty of time to catch up on'em." Trip grinned again, his blonde hair flicked back from his face. "And I don' know why you're gettin' so into'em, I'm the Chief Engineer."

Reed smiled slightly wryly. "Yes but it's no good if the weapons specialist doesn't know how to fire them really is it." Trip grinned back. Reed stretched again. Maybe it was a little late to be reading up on systems that would not be implemented for at least another month. "Ok, but why are you up this late?"

"Just off duty. I'm grabbin' a sandwich before I head to bed." Trip waved towards the food locker that still contained some left over dinner and snacks. Reed nodded. He stood up and arched his back again. He really had been sitting in that one position for too long. Trip stood up to and walked over to retrieve a sandwich, grimacing at the choice. Reed nodded goodnight and went to leave.

"Hey waita sec." Reed turned back, eyebrows raised in question. Trip put down his sandwich and sat back down. "You liked that whiskey right?" He did not have to remind Reed what whiskey he was talking about.

"Yes. It was quite good considering it was to be our last. I'm glad the Captain was so understanding about it." Reed replied, wondering where this non sequitur had come from.

"Ah he'll take it outta us somehow." Reed smiled again. Trip knew the Captain better than he did. Trip continued. "Well, I got some whiskey doin' nothin' but takin' up room. Not as good as the Cap'n's, but good enough! Wanna have a post-death celebration drink tomorrow night?" Reed was surprised but managed not to show it. He had never socialised with the other man, but he did feel as though they had become closer in the Shuttle pod, learning things they had not really known and breaking down a few barriers. The Engineer was obviously trying to keep those barriers down, continue to build up a friendship. Reed was more than happy to do so.

"Yes. That's a good idea." Reed answered. "I have some brandy that a friend gave me before we left. I can bring that too."

Trip nodded. "Excellent! Well I get off duty about 19:00 so come by about then." Reed agreed and left for his quarters.

~

Reed set an alarm to remind him when it was 19:00 just in case he became caught up in work again. He adored his job, and loved performing it aboard the ship and could get quite carried away. He unpacked the brandy from the drawer he had kept it in and headed out the door. The Chief Engineer's quarters were only a few corridors away but Reed bumped into Dr. Phlox on the way.

"Ah, Lieutenant. I was just coming to see you!" The Doctor always seemed in a hugely good mood and this time it appeared no different. Reed greeted him warily, wondering why he could be looking for him. "Well, it's time for your check-up. I've had Commander Tucker in already today. Just to make sure neither of you are suffering any side-effects." While he was speaking Dr. Phlox began ushering Reed in the direction of the infirmary. He stopped.

"Ah, Dr... can't we do it tomorrow?" He held up the bottle of brandy. "I'm actually expected somewhere." Dr. Phlox's eyebrows raised, but he stopped ushering Reed.

"Oh, certainly. But you have to report to me first thing in the morning." Reed agreed and breathed a sigh of relief as Dr. Phlox walked off, still smiling. He walked the remaining distance to Trip's quarters and press the door alert.