Buffy finished crying and went into the bathroom to blow her nose and wash her face. She came out and Hoshi looked at her. "You need to tell the Captain." Hoshi laughed at the face Buffy made but remained firm.
"I know. I'll tell him tomorrow." Buffy flopped down onto her bed and looked at her friend. Hoshi stood, "Let's go to the movie."
Buffy bounced back up, "Excellent! Do you still eat popcorn in the future?" Hoshi laughed, "Some things never change."
Hoshi and Buffy walked into the theatre set up for the crew and Buffy found seats while Hoshi grabbed the popcorn. Travis saw Buffy and got up to come sit by her.
"Hey Buffy!" He smiled and offered her his popcorn. She took a handful with a smile, "Hi Travis. What's the movie tonight?" She asked and popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth.
Travis sighed mightily, "Commander Tucker picked it. It's the Magnificent Seven." Hoshi had sat down and the women groaned in unison, "Another Western?" Buffy watched as Trip and Malcolm walked in, chatting with various crew members and getting their own popcorn. They smiled at Buffy and her group, Trip's eyes lingering on Buffy's until she looked away with a faint blush. He and Malcolm decided to sit up front and the movie began.
"Watch this!" she whispered and started throwing popcorn at Trip, hitting his ear. Travis snickered and they both pretended to look innocent as Trip swung around and glared.
"Would ya quit Travis!" he growled.
"Wasn't me sir!" Travis replied with a straight face and Buffy snorted with suppressed laughter. Trip shook his head and turned back around.
"Buffy!" Hoshi hissed, barely able to restrain her giggles. Travis was maintaining his angelic face, making Buffy jealous. 'Man he was good.' She waited until Trip was engrossed by the movie then threw another piece. When Trip swung around, she whipped around and glared at the Ensign behind her who raised his hands innocently, smiling at her deviousness. She turned back and met Trip's amused eyes with an innocent look and a smirk.
Trip turned and leaned over to Malcolm, "I think she's flirtin' with me." He whispered. Malcolm glanced back over his shoulder at Buffy, Hoshi and Travis, then smiled.
"I think she's nine years old and tossing popcorn at you." His voice was wry as another kernel flew between them and a muffled, 'rats' and suppressed giggles were heard.
After the movie was over and the lights came up Trip stopped by their seats and leaned over Hoshi, "You're a bad influence on our junior officers Buffy." He chuckled at her expression of shock.
"I don't know what you mean Commander Tucker." She replied primly. Travis snorted then grunted softly when she jabbed him with her elbow. This caused more giggles from Hoshi and Trip shook his head and walked on. Buffy turned to follow his lean body with her eyes, waving at Malcolm cheerfully and the two officers left.
"Thanks Hoshi, I needed this." Buffy sighed in contentment.
"You just wanted to look at his butt." Hoshi replied and Buffy nodded, "Uh huh." Both women laughed and Travis got up, "I'm not discussing men's butts with you two. See you at breakfast." He grinned at the giggling women and left, having enjoyed himself despite not seeing much of the movie.
Buffy woke up the next morning having had no nightmares, a good night's sleep and an appointment with the Captain. As she dressed in her blue jeans and a blouse she borrowed from Hoshi, she realized she would need to find out where to get more clothes soon. Did they still have shopping? She made a mental note to ask Hoshi.
She found her way to the Captain's cabin, after a couple of wrong turns, and knocked on the door. She heard Porthos barking over the Captain calling 'come in' and smiled.
The Captain looked up at the pretty blond and gestured to a seat, "Have a seat while I put Porthos away." He corralled the cavorting dog who was trying to nip Buffy's jeans and put him into his sleeping area.
"Sorry about that. So why are you here Ms. Summers?" he asked after settling into his chair.
"Could you not call me that? You remind me of my principal in high school that didn't like me." Buffy shuddered slightly and he grinned, "If you want." A pause. "Buffy."
"Thank you. Um, Hoshi asked you for permission to call home for me?" she watched as he nodded. "It was to an old friend, who is still alive." He looked at her. "Really?"
"Yeah, he was born in 1752." Buffy smiled at the disbelief on the Captains face. "Really. I can't tell you what he is, it's a secret, but he's part of my story." Archer nodded and let her continue, "I disappeared in 2003. My Watcher Giles, um, he was like my Dad, called and asked me to look for a demon at a hotel in Cleveland. I looked around but didn't see it so I decided to leave. Unfortunately a really drunk astronaut made a pass at me and I punched him in the nose." She looked at the Captain who smiled wryly. "Well the guy squealed like a girl and said, 'I wish you'd get sent out to space and not be found for a hundred and fifty years.' And his wish was granted by an inept vengeance demon."
"A vengeance demon." Captain Archer said flatly.
"Yeah I know it's hard to believe. But look at it from my point of view, 'Aliens'?"
The Captain looked at her thoughtfully. Dr. Phlox had stated she was mentally competent. "Your story sounds…"
"Whacked, unlikely, unbelievable?" Buffy interjected laughingly.
Chuckling he said, "I think I'll go with unbelievable. But Admiral Forrest did find old newspapers articles on your disappearance, including color pictures. It's still unbelievable."
"I'm here aren't I?" Buffy asked rhetorically, her eyes filled with laughter.
"I guess you really are." The Captain replied. "Admiral Forrest has authorized me to either let you off onto the first cargo ship headed to Earth, or let you stay."
Buffy looked a little forlorn, "Let me get back to you on that." After she left he sighed, he still hoped to pass her off on some unsuspecting cargo ship. Boy, she was sure pretty.
