Part Ten
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A/N: Er, there is an end in sight, although it might not seem like it. (Just to warn you, in case it suddenly stops!)
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The following day, Trip entered the mess hall whistling. He grabbed a plate of food quickly and sat down at an empty table.
Phlox, following him in, went to sit next to the engineer.
"Ah! You certainly seem much happier today, Commander," Phlox noted cheerfully.
Trip looked up and smiled.
"Yeah, well, I guess I am, Doc."
"Mmm, are you finding the planet agreeable? I must say, I find the Raza a most amenable species, and their medical techniques are most fascinating."
"Well, they're certainly a friendly bunch 'a aliens – I'll give 'em that," Trip agreed.
"But not, perhaps, the reason for your raised spirits?" the doctor guessed.
"Ah, well, not entirely, perhaps," Trip allowed; although his smile to himself as looked away told Phlox much more.
"Would I be wrong in assuming it has something to do with a certain ensign we were discussing last week?" he asked.
"Maybe," Trip grinned.
"Then you've resolved your moral dilemma?" the doctor asked.
A frown spread briefly across Trip's features. "Not exactly," he said. "Let's just say it's better if things are kept quiet for now."
"Ah, well, I have always made it a point to be the sole of discretion, Commander.
"Well good, I'll be countin' on that."
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Hoshi found Liz in sickbay, storing some samples.
"Hey," she greeted her carefully.
Cutler stood up and looked Hoshi over. "Oh, hello," she replied.
"Can we talk, have you got time?" Hoshi asked.
"Well, I was pretty busy trailing around after Phlox, as it happens," she said sharply.
Hoshi looked around the sickbay.
"He's not here, Hoshi, don't worry. What do you want exactly?"
Hoshi took another step towards Elizabeth.
"I wanted us to talk. I want to apologise to you, Liz, I feel awful about what happened the other day. I'm really sorry."
"We were both angry. I said some pretty harsh things too, and I apologise for how I spoke to you, but I stand-by what I said, Hoshi."
"You think I've no future with Trip?"
"Yes. But you obviously don't agree with me. Your face is amazingly transparent."
"What if I told you we had dinner together last night?" Hoshi asked.
Cutler's eyes widened a little. "It doesn't change my opinion."
"Why? What have you got against the two of us together, you were the one that told me he cares about me. You even tried to make him jealous talking about Malcolm! Why did you do that if you're against anything happening between us?"
"Oh, Hoshi," Liz sank onto a stool and gestured to Hoshi to take one too. "I believe Trip likes you, I know you like him. You could have a bit of fun together, but we're on a self-contained star ship in the middle of deep space, for heaven's sake! What's going to happen when it's all over? He'll still be your commanding officer, it'll be so awkward, Hoshi." Liz said sadly.
"Maybe it won't end as quickly as you seem to think it will," Hoshi reasoned.
Cutler shook her head. "Trip Tucker's a womaniser, Hoshi, you know he is. There's no way he's looking for a serious relationship with you."
"No! He's not like that, Liz, please!"
"Hosh, within a few weeks of us leaving Earth he was pregnant by some alien engineer!"
"Oh, come on! You can't blame him for that!"
"Oh really? Would you have felt the same way if you two were together at the time?"
"Well - we weren't."
"Next time, you might be."
"Don't, Liz, just don't."
"Look, Hoshi," Liz came over and put her hands on Hoshi's arms. "You're my friend and I care about you. Have fun with Trip if that's what you want – you deserve it – but don't make it into more than it is. Because I can guarantee you he won't."
"Won't I?"
Liz spun round and Hoshi stood up quickly as they saw Trip behind them. He had just entered the sickbay.
"I'm sorry, Commander," Liz said, dying inside. "I didn't realise you were there."
"No, I see that," Trip said. "I didn't know you were back on board, Hoshi." He looked at her.
"The conference adjourned for the day. The captain's still down on the planet," she told him. "I took the opportunity to get back to Enterprise."
"The Doc asked me to look at the bio scanner but I think I'll come back later," Trip told them, glancing back at Liz and her pile of work. "You got time for a word?"
He walked out and Hoshi started to follow him. She glanced back anxiously at Cutler. She had gone noisily back to her work, slamming boxes back onto shelves.
"I'll explain," Hoshi promised.
"Don't bother," Liz called out. There goes promotion for the next ten years.
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Hoshi caught up with Trip in the corridor.
"Don't be angry, Trip," she said hastily, "we were just talking. Liz was just being a little over-protective of me."
He didn't reply, so she followed him into the turbo lift.
Suddenly, he turned to her.
"Is that what people really think of me?" he asked.
"No! Of course not! Well, except Liz perhaps…" Hoshi tailed off.
"You know, I work hard on this ship! I work closely with my team. I know the first names of everybody on the crew. I know who's married and who isn't. I know what everybody's specialty is. And all this time they've been lookin' at me as some kinda… lothario in a uniform!"
"No they haven't, Trip," Hoshi said soothingly.
"I thought I had respect on Enterprise."
"You do," Hoshi placated.
"Did you hear anythin' Liz Cutler just said in there?" Trip exploded. "She doesn't! Prob'bly half the crew don't! And for all I know, maybe you believe all that stuff in there too!"
"Trip, Liz does respect you, listen to me," she turned him to face her. "Of course she does, and so do I. You're her commanding officer, and she knows as well as everybody else on board knows that you're the best engineer Enterprise could have. She likes you because you're fair, because you listen to people, and you called them by their names instead of their rank. Everybody likes you. But she doesn't know you, Trip. People like to gossip and people like to talk, and on a ship like this they talk to each other. Maybe Liz does believe a few rumours she's heard about you. It doesn't mean that I believe them. And isn't that was really matters?"
Trip caught her hand and caressed it.
"You honestly don't believe any of that stuff? Especially about the pregnancy thing, 'cos I'm tellin' you I didn't know-"
"Trip!" Hoshi put a finger over his mouth. "It's okay, I believe you."
He moved her finger. "And this isn't just a fling for me, I promise you that."
"Well, what is it then?" Hoshi asked, a little confused now he had both of her hands trapped.
He smiled at her sweetly.
"The start 'a something," he whispered, leaning into kiss her.
The turbo lift doors opened and Trip and Hoshi sprung apart. Trip took a glance and saw no one outside.
"Where are we?" Hoshi asked.
"Engineerin'," Trip said.
"Oh… I don't need to be here," she said, a little confused.
Trip smiled.
"Well, if you've finished having your ego stroked, I'll get back to my work." Hoshi reached for the right level on the panel.
Trip stepped out the lift.
"Well you're damn good at it," he smiled.
"What?"
"Ego-strokin'," he grinned.
She pushed the button.
"Goodbye, Trip."
"Wait!" he put a hand in against the door so that it opened again. "Are you free tonight?"
"Let me see… I'll let you know," she smiled, shutting the door again.
Trip let her go, smiling to himself.