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You and Me, plus Malcolm, Makes Three"You busy, Malcolm?"
Malcolm Reed looked up in confusion. He had been having dinner in the mess hall, working on some weapons schematics. Running the figures over and over in his head, he hadn't noticed the approach of Trip Tucker. He stared at Trip blankly. Finally, his eyes cleared as he pulled himself out of the realm of phase cannons, and he smiled in recognition.
"No, sir. Please have a seat." Malcolm nodded at Trip, glad to see him up and about again. A recent run-in with a criminal faction had left Trip a little worse for the wear—they had almost lost him. 'Not that I fared much better', the armory officer reflected, annoyed by his own weakness.
"You know, that food will eventually kill you, Commander." He nodded towards Trip's fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
Trip chuckled. "I'd worry 'bout starvation if I were you." Malcolm looked down at his salad and picked up his fork, digging in. "Besides, didn't Phlox say you needed to get some protein in you?" Malcolm shrugged noncommittally and continued eating, preferring to not answer.
Trip looked up past Malcolm and smiled. Turning around in his seat to see what had pleased the Commander, Malcolm saw Hoshi Sato headed in their direction. She sat down next to Trip, also smiling.
Malcolm watched the pair, his eyes going from one to the other. Seemingly unaware of Malcolm's presence, the couple sat gazing at each other in silence for at least a full minute. 'Quite an achievement for the Commander', Malcolm thought irritably. 'Honestly, look at them, smirking at each other like a couple of dafties.'
Sighing loudly, Malcolm cleared his throat. "Hello, Ensign." Hoshi looked up slowly. She seemed surprised to see him.
"Hello, Lieutenant." Malcolm watched her face grow red and turned his attention back to his plate. He had somehow lost his appetite.
"Well, I believe I will retire for the evening," he said, rising from his chair.
Trip, finally remembering Malcolm, frowned and said, "Ya didn't even finish your rabbit food."
Malcolm laughed. "I wasn't very hungry anyway." Before he left, he added, "Give my regards to your arteries, Commander. Good night, Ensign." He left the mess hall, returning to his quarters.
Hoshi watched him go. She felt a hand on her wrist and smiled, looking back at Trip.
"I didn't think you were gettin' off til later." He grasped her hand, linking his fingers with hers. She looked at their combined hands, still surprised by their relationship. It was very new and she had not grown completely accustomed to it. His forefinger sneaking up her sleeve distracted her thoughts. He was brushing it along the skin there, talking in a low voice laced with his southern drawl. "Not that I'm upset that you're here." He slowly raised his head, his gaze stopping on her lips.
Hoshi was having trouble concentrating. Her heart began to pound, echoing in her ears. "I wasn't expecting to either but the Captain said that I could leave."
Trip suddenly turned back to his food, leaving Hoshi surprised and a little bewildered. Looking back at her face, Trip grinned mischievously. "Sorry Hosh. Sometimes a man needs to store up energy. Ya never know what ya might need it for." He winked. Hoshi's face flamed and she quickly picked up her drink to hide behind it. He laughed and finally she chuckled in response. "You're a pain, Trip."
"Darlin, you don't know the half of it."
**
Hoshi tossed and turned in her bunk. Sweat stood out on her brow, and she moaned in her sleep.
She stood on the bridge of the enterprise with sound and lights from explosions screaming around her. People were running from it as fast as the lift could open. She grabbed her console as they were hit by another blast.
Archer was yelling, "All hands abandon ship!"
A light flashed and Viren, the leader of the faction that threatened them all, appeared on the bridge. Hoshi screamed and ran behind the console, holding on as fire licked at her face.
Suddenly she felt warm arms around her and a reassuring voice in her ear. "Shh, Hoshi. They'll never find us if we hide in here."
She turned and Malcolm led her down a shoot she had never noticed before. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward it, making her go through first. She fell for a long time, finally hitting the bottom. When she stood up, she noticed the room was cool and dark. It seemed like a cavern of some sort. She whispered, "Malcolm, where are you?"
Getting no answer she made her way toward a door that had a light shining behind it. She reached over, opening the door, and found Trip sitting inside at a table.
"Trip, what are you doing? We need to hide from Viren."
Trip smiled and said, "Hosh, we'll be fine. He isn't here now."
He stood up and walked over, wrapping his arms around her. She hugged him back, feeling a little better. Until she noticed the wet sticky feeling on her arms. She pulled back, looking at the blood on her hands, and reached for Trip as he fell. She started to scream…
