You Have Me

by dilly




Lt. Malcolm Reed stared intensely at the view screen. The point of light glided towards its target, and missed. He slammed his fist into the control panel.
"Dammit! Twenty four hours and I could have this fixed."
"Burning the midnight oil, Malcolm?"
His head snapped towards the chief engineer's voice. He signed and turned back toward the view screen.
"Is there something you want?"
Trip sauntered next to him and nodded toward the panel, "If you break that thing, I'm sure as hell not fixin' it. And I'm not sending some ensign here to do it for you either."
"Point taken."
He leaned against a metal rod nearby. "Weapons still off mark?"
"Yes," Malcolm hissed irritably.
"Woah," Trip put his hands up in mock surrender, "Calm down. I know you're doin' your best. Maybe you should call it a night."
"If we run into anyone dangerous we'll be entirely helpless," he sighed, "We won't even be able to put up a decent fight."
Trip patted Malcolm roughly, but reassuringly, on the back. "You don't gotta expect the worse all the time. You could use a little optimism." His voice danced cheerfully up and down his words, the exact opposite of Malcolm's.
"It's my *job* to expect the worse."
Trip chuckled and shoved Malcolm playfully. "Someone's gettin' cranky!"
Malcolm let a small smile crack his countenance despite himself. "It is getting a bit late.
Perhaps I *should* get a few hours in."
"Damn right," said Trip, obviously self satisfied, "I'm headed to my quarters too. Your room's just on the way, ain't it?"
"Well, I have a few more tests to run before--"
"Malcolm, if you run a few more tests I'm gonna have a busted panel in here and I'm pretty sure the Cap'n wouldn't appreciate that," He grabbed Malcolm's arm and pulled him toward the exit.
"You're rather pushy, aren't you Mr. Tucker?"
"That's my daddy. *I'm* Trip. And yes," he yanked at Malcolm's arm again, "I'm pushy."
Malcolm sighed and tried desperately to stop the smile that was threatening to overtake his face. He could have easily broken Trip's grasp, but only gave a bit of a half-hearted struggle.
"Okay, you have me."
Trips ever-present grin widened. He leaned towards Malcolm.
"Do I, Lieutenant?"
There was something in his voice. Something that made Malcolm uncomfortable and strangely elated at the same time. Trip let the moment last for only a second before dropping Malcolm's arm and turning towards the ladder. Malcolm watched the chief engineer climb up, then followed after him, the odd feeling still tugging at the edge of his mind.

To be continued...