Part 25:
Reed walked into the guest quarters, and spotted Trip coming out of one of the rooms with a metal case.
"Planning on going somewhere, Commander," he asked.
"I'm returning to the ship in the morning," Trip answered placing the case down.
"How come?"
"We have enough dilithium to start making repairs," Trip explained. "I figured I'd start."
"I see," Reed said. "Is Liana going to join you?"
"No, she'll be staying down here."
Lieutenant Reed inclined his head slightly. "Is everything alright between you two?" he asked and sat down on one of the couches.
Trip sat down on a chair. "We decided, actually she decided we shouldn't see each other anymore."
"Did she give you a reason why?"
"Yeah," Trip said with a laugh. "She told me she had to stay with her own kind."
"Is this why you and T'Pol were fighting."
"Yeah," Trip sighed. "I still think she had something to do with it."
Reed saw the hurt look in Trips eye's as he spoke. "You were falling in love with her weren't you?"
"Did the Captain send you to get information out of me?"
"I haven't seen the Captain since lunch," Reed replied, "it's just you and Liana have been spending every waking moment together and now all of a sudden you're not."
Trip took a deep breath. "I wasn't falling in love with her," he paused for a moment to clear his throat. "I am in love with her."
"Why don't you tell her?"
"I did and she said she loved me too."
"I don't understand," Reed said.
"That makes two of us," Trip said sadly.
"You going to do something about this?"
"I tried."
"And?"
"She made it very clear to me that she wants me to stay away from her."
The Englishman couldn't find the words to comfort his friend and his heart went out to him.
Trip stood and moved towards the door. "Listen tell the Captain I'm sorry for missing dinner. I'm just not hungry."
"Where are you going?"
"To get some fresh air," Trip said and walked out.
End of Part 25