You know, sometimes I sit and wonder (because I have no life) if the Linguistics Database (I'm too scared to post there, so I just make visits when the whim strikes me...) uses my stories for challenges...So far they've had a 'Time travel fic where old Hoshi and young Hoshi meet' and 'Cave-in, claustrophobia, an admission of love'… Both of which I've done, apparently because I have a mental connection with that site...
Okay, don't mind me, I'm just ranting and rambling, like I normally do...Pay no attention at all...
And people, review! We love all reviews, big and little. Satisfy my competitive nature. Pwease?
Terribly sorry, Karone. He's ceded defeat, I'm afraid.
*********
Hoshi didn't know what to do. An uncomfortable silence hung around her and Reed as the walked from sickbay to the mess hall. Was she supposed to make pleasant conversation? Let him do all the talking? She could just imagine that topic that would pop up within seconds:
"Hey, did you mean it when you said you loved me?"
"...I apologize, Ensign. I really had no right telling you that. I'm terribly sorry."
She knew her luck would have things go in that direction. It was only her luck that would get her stuck on an alien ship that was literally falling apart at the seams with two brawling men and then get shot down by the guy she cared about. It was the exact same luck that had her running into dead aliens, being forced to crawl through the bowels of the ship and have problems while using that damned transporter. The universe was against her...
...But maybe not entirely. The mess hall was completely empty when the two walked through the doors. She couldn't have been more thankful. No one was there to see whatever horrible events she could feel were going to happen.
"Do you want to find a table, Ensign? I'll find us something to eat." He's back to using formal terms...she thought as he spoke, cursing in half a dozen various languages.
Instead of saying those curses out loud, however, she simply nodded, sitting down at some random table after 'careful' consideration of her options. It wasn't as if there was someone else in the mess hall to tell her that her seat was taken...
"Pecan pie. I'm beginning to think Commander Tucker is bribing Chef." The armory officer slid a plate to the ensign, taking a seat across from her as he did. The situation seemed oddly familiar.
Hoshi was still at a complete loss for words. She was a communications officer, damn it, why couldn't she find a single thing to say? "So..."
"So." Malcolm coughed, jabbing at the pie in front of him uncomfortably. "Did anyone ever tell you how they got us off that ship?"
"Supposedly T'Pol managed to contact the ship and get some help. I have no idea how they got into that cargo bay, though." She stared at the table, chewing on her lip nervously, "I wasn't really paying that close attention. You should probably ask Trip, not me."
"I'll be sure to."
...And after that, silence. That couldn't possibly be the biggest conversation the two of them could have. She had to come with some topic, and certainly start it with a word better than "So."
The armory officer cleared his throat again, glancing up from his now dilapidated pecan pie for a moment. "I meant what I said on that ship."
Hoshi could feel a faint coming on. "...W-what?"
"I was quite frightened."
"Oh." She had to force the disappointment from her voice. What a wonderful confession that was, considering she was a shaking, quivering little mess at around that time and he was the picture perfect little officer...but all that came from her mouth was, "So was I, Malcolm."
"You don't understand." He brushed his hand through his hair, pushing the plate aside as spoke, "It wasn't because of being trapped on that ship. Nothing is going to ever frighten me as much as being stuck in a shuttle with Commander Tucker. You see...well, it was because you were there, that I was frightened."
...It seemed she'd jumped conclusions. "What exactly do you mean by that, um, Lieutenant?"
"I'm absolutely horrible in relationships, but for what seems like ages now, I've adored you, " Hoshi's heart skipped a beat, "and there you were, in my arms. I didn't know what to do, hell, I still don't know what to do. I was scared because, well, I...bloody hell, how can I tell you this?"
You already have. You just thought I couldn't hear you. "You love me?"
The shock in his face was all she needed to see in order to know she'd hit the nail on the head. "I know it's inappropriate. I'm your superior officer, and it's strictly forbidden. But I understand completely if my feelings aren't returned..."
"But I do," She paused, trying to get sort through the mess this conversation had made out of her mind, "At least, I think I do."
That was one of the few times she had seen Malcolm Reed actually smile. Even though it disappeared within milliseconds, she knew it had been there. "But there's the fact that fraternizing with subordinates is against protocol..."
"I could get promoted, or you could get demoted."
"I am not going to be demoted in the near future. Commander Tucker has more of a chance at that."
"One these days you're going to get trigger happy and blow up the wrong ship."
"I think no--"
Hoshi coughed, grinning just a little as she interrupted him, "Don't worry, Malcolm. It's probably going to be a long mission, and rules are going to be bent out of proportion. But, for now, we'll just keep low-profile, okay?"
"That sounds fine to me, En…Hoshi." He took a glance at his discarded pecan pie and reluctantly pushed his seat back. "Doctor Phlox is probably wondering where I went to. Would you mind if I took you to this week's movie after your shift is over?"
Hoshi smiled, feeling about as giddy as the schoolgirl she used to be. "It's a date."
He stood up, laying a kiss on her lips before walking from the mess hall. Just as he the doors were closing she heard him call out, "And maybe I'll get to stop off at 'Hoshi's Stress Relief Service'."
His words were answered by a fork clanging against the closed doors.
********
"So, where's Hoshi?" Malcolm looked up from his dinner to find Trip Tucker
"She hasn't gotten off her shift yet," he replied, pausing for a time before raising a 'brow, "And speaking of her, why did you back off, Trip?"
The engineer sat down, an amused expression playing across his features. "A man doesn't mess with love, Malcolm. I've learned that by now."
"You know you could have won her over."
"Hell no." Trip chuckled, shaking head as he swallowed a mouthful of mashed potatoes. "I could see the way she looked at you. I'm not an idiot, y'know. Try as I might, she still liked ya. I must admit, the idea you loved her came as quite a surprise."
"And why is that?"
The other man looked like the answer was completely obvious. "You toasted to T'Pol's butt in the shuttlepod, remember?"
The armory officer could feel his cheeks growing hot. He'd nearly forgotten about that...and he'd just managed to push 'Stinky' out of his mind... "You seemed so incredulous about T'Pol, I had no reason to think you'd toast to Hoshi's bum."
"That would be somethin' I'd very willingly toast to. Or maybe her chest..."
"I'd suggest you shut your mouth, Commander." He chuckled, staring at the engineer as he shook his head in disbelief. "You admitted defeat, remember?"
Trip seemed to consider this for a moment, "I bet I could win her over if I tried. Nothin' beats good ol' southern charm, after all."
"I'd watch your back if I were you, Commander. I have a phase pistol, and I am not afraid to shoot you with it." Both men chuckled, continuing to bash each other with snide remarks as they both ate. It looked like nothing at all had gotten between the two in the not-so-distant past.
((...And we are done. A little corny, but it closes things up nicely.
I really don't think I can make a third one in this series, so unless a stroke of genius strikes me, we are completely finished! Be proud, oh so proud.
Probably so horribly out of character...but I don't know what these people would act like if they liked someone...
Hope you liked, review, and I'll now get to writing on my various other incomplete fics...))