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Chapter 2Jon stuck his head out into the hall, looking both ways. Not seeing anyone, he stepped aside so Hoshi could pass him into the hall. She flattened against the other side of the door, not wanting to touch him. Following her out into the hall, he reached past her, pushing the lift button.
They stood across from each other, both engrossed in an apparently fascinating part of the wall.
Finally the lift door chimed and the doors swished open, revealing a dumbfounded Commander Tucker. Trip had recently assigned himself to the late shift. A crewmember that was in need of guidance was working that shift, so Trip decided to train them himself. This was his last day before returning to regular hours. He had just been thinking how much he hated it when his opinion drastically changed.
"Mornin' Jon. Hoshi," he said after a minute of awkward silence.
They stepped onto the lift with mumbled greetings. Jon stood next to Trip while Hoshi pressed her nose against the door, almost. Jon pushed the deck for Sickbay and they rode in quiet.
Trip, looking at Hoshi's voluminous clothes, realized he had seen Jon wear that outfit when exercising. It took every bit of willpower he possessed to not start smiling.
"So." Trip began but was silenced by one look from Jon.
The doors opened to Sickbay and Hoshi scurried off. Jon stepped off more slowly. Before the doors could shut he said, "Trip, if you could not mention this to anyone right now…"
Trip grinned broadly and said, "You know me, Cap'n. Consider it locked in the vault."
Jon frowned, knowing that Tucker possessed no such thing. The doors swung shut to Trip's laughter.
Jon swore and made his way to Sickbay. Upon arrival he saw Hoshi talking to Dr. Phlox in a low voice. When she looked up at the Captain, her face turned red yet again.
"Ensign Sato has filled me in, Captain. I would like to run tests on both of you, check for any abnormalities. If you could both have a seat we will begin."
Hoshi looked at Jon, waiting to see where he was sitting. It was plain to him that she was planning on being as far away from him as possible. He sighed and sat down on the nearest biobed.
Hoshi sat with her back to him on the bed across from him. The doctor puttered about, making idle conversation as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.
"Alright. These tests will take awhile. I believe it is almost time for your shifts to begin?'
Jon nodded and they left Sickbay. As they got back on the lift they found themselves alone again.
"Captain, I just wanted to say I am sorry," she said.
"Why Hoshi? You didn't do anything wrong." He stepped in front of her so she would have to look at him.
"We are going to find out what happened." He smiled encouragingly and finally she returned it.
The doors opened and Hoshi stepped off. "See you on the Bridge."
The doors closed and he leaned his head back against the wall. "This is going to be a very long day."