Title: With Friends Like These .

Author: Josephine

Email: Lovellama@aol.com

Codes: A/S, T, R

Genre: Humor, Romance

Rating: R

Summary: Trip gets the surprise of his life

----------

You remember how you felt when you suddenly realized at sixteen that that wasn't a massager you found in your parent's drawer when you were five? That's how I felt when I realized Jon and Hoshi were seein' each other. All those times he went over to her console, sendin' messages to Starfleet, askin' her to find out Malcolm's favorite food . 'We're talking about a delicate assignment, Hoshi. It needs your finesse.' If it were a rattler it would'a bit me. I can't believe I didn't see it, but once you know it's there .

Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinkin'. 'You can find anything if you want to, Commander.' You sound just like T'Pol. Well, I'm not imaginin' things. Hell, this ain't my first rodeo. I know Jon like the back a' my hand, and I know what a woman looks like when she's in love. These two have got it bad.

I'll watch them sometimes, on the bridge, wrapped up in their own little world. Looking around, I can't believe no one else sees it. Malcolm's the Security Officer, for God's sake, aren't they supposed to be a little more observant? T'Pol's got a stick so far up her rear she'd just think it was humans bein' our regular emotional selves. And Travis. Totally oblivious to the intimate interaction that's possible between a man and a woman. If he's not a virgin I'd be damned surprised. Boy's gotta have some of that shine taken off.

So Hoshi walking' around all moon eyed, an' Jon wasn't even tempted by a pre-warp planet we passed. He ain't once wrangled with T'Pol this week. They had to work off some of this unresolved tension. So it came down to me. On a night I knew T'Pol was goin' to be working late, I begged off dinner, but offered Hoshi up as a substitute. Jon looked like a sinner in a revival tent, and I could have sworn Hoshi was gonna fall out right on the floor. But what could they do? Head up, back straight, they walked into the wardroom. I just about bust a gut.

----------

"What if you're wrong?" Malcolm looked over at Trip, both men picking at their food. The mess hall was deserted but for them and a few other stragglers.

"I'm not wrong. They've been in there two hours. It only takes the Cap'n an hour at the most to finish his supper."

"You took a very big risk, Commander."

"Trip. And I did not."

Both men fell silent at the sound of the wardroom door sliding open. They watched as Jon and Hoshi left together, their eyes never leaving each other.

"She looked thoroughly kissed. And I think the last time I saw the Cap'n with a possessive look like that on his face was when he saw Enterprise for the first time." A smug grin passed over Trip's face.

"When you're right, you're right." Malcolm grinned back at Trip.

"Damn straight." Digging into his food, Trip looked thoughtful. "Now how do we get it out in the open?"