Buffy went to the crew mess the next morning, the ring on her finger. The first to notice were Hoshi and the mess steward who both gasped at the same time.
"Buffy, is that?" Hoshi couldn't finish the sentence as Buffy nodded, a huge smile on her face.
"He proposed last night!"
Hoshi squealed and threw her arms around Buffy who hugged her back. "Congratulations!" Everyone came up to ooh at the ring and hug Buffy in congratulations. She spoke to each crewmember affectionately and Hoshi watched. Buffy would make a great Captain's wife. Buffy and Hoshi sat down to enjoy breakfast and were chatting about weddings when Malcolm wandered in late for breakfast. He got his tray and sat down with a smile to the women.
His eyes widened as Buffy waved her hand with the ring on it. "You're engaged?"
She smiled, "Last night." He took her hand and looked at the ring, "It's beautiful Buffy. Congratulations." Malcolm smiled at Buffy's happiness.
"Thanks Mal." He took her hand, admiring the ring in the light. His head came up, "Can you come to the armory later?"
"You bet." The women stood and left the crew mess and Malcolm stifled a sigh. He had been halfway in love with Buffy but instead of love it had evolved into a strong friendship. He was very happy for her and the Captain.
Buffy walked into the armory before dinner to find her friend nodding thoughtfully while reading a padd.
"Hey!"
she said and smiled at her best friend as he looked up. "Happy Birthday Buffy."
And he watched her face light up.
"Thanks Mal, how did you
know?"
He shrugged, "My secret. We promised the Captain that this year your birthday would be low key, but next year?" he shook his head, "Watch out!" She laughed quietly. He handed her the padd that he had been working on. "Here, read this."
Buffy activated the padd and was startled to see a picture of Giles and the title, "Rupert Giles -Watcher".
He shifted slightly, "It's a biography about him. Mostly the years that you missed. Um, I couldn't think of a better title." Buffy looked up, her eyes shimmering green with tears, "It's perfect." He walked over and hugged her gently.
The Enterprise had run across a Tellarite trader who had offered to take Jon on a tour of the local system. Jon had agreed and listened to Buffy and Malcolm's protests, then shook his head, "You worry too much, it will be fine."
Famous last words. The Tellarite's ship disappeared along with the Captain. They had been missing for 5 days and Buffy and Malcolm were worried. To keep her mind off of the situation Buffy was exercising, again.
Buffy was doing back flips and aerials when the com crackled to life. "Buffy, it's Dr. Phlox. T'pol is infected with a virus and is unaware of her actions. She escaped from sickbay. If you see her contact Lt. Reed, but stay where you are."
"Ok Doc." Buffy replied, puzzled. She continued to exercise when T'pol suddenly burst into the gym, falling to her knees. She held out a hand in supplication, "Buffy help me."
Buffy noticed that T'pol was flushed, her eyes wide and dilated, her breathing frantic and harsh. She cautiously approached T'pol, kneeling beside her friend. "It's ok T'pol, I'll help you." Buffy said reassuringly, and then knocked her friend out. Malcolm rushed in, full bio-hazard suit on, eyeing the women in dismay.
"Oh Buffy, you'll be infected."
Buffy shrugged and picked up T'pol in a fireman's carry. "Can't be helped. Let's see how it goes."
Dr. Phlox was relieved when he saw them walk in with T'pol. Buffy laid her on the biobed as Malcolm hovered uncertainly. "Buffy and the Sub-commander will be fine. I have the antidote. Go ahead Lieutenant." He said as he escorted Malcolm out the door.
Buffy watched as the Doctor injected T'pol. He adjusted the biobed and then turned to Buffy. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Ok Doc, out with it. T'pol wasn't sick, it was something else."
Dr. Phlox smiled slightly, "A microbe started her pon farr early. I've managed to make it go dormant again."
"Why didn't just let her have sex? I know a number of guys who'd have gladly helped." Buffy understood the seriousness of pon farr. Her and T'pol had a midnight talk about men and sexuality one long night.
" I think she would like to pick her own partner, not let the pon farr think for her." Dr. Phlox looked over at the sleeping T'pol. "Don't discuss this?"
Buffy nodded and checked her wrist unit, "Well, if I'm not going to get sick and die suddenly, I still have 10 miles to run."
"Have they heard from the Captain yet?" he asked quietly and Buffy shook her head, her eyes dark and troubled.
"I believe he will be fine Buffy." He said and Buffy's face brightened, "I know he will, thanks."
She was running full tilt on the treadmill when Malcolm found her. Her eyes met his and she smiled, "You look traumatized. Did T'pol try to seduce you?" She watched with amusement as his mouth opened and closed, then he nodded.
She smiled, "Don't let it spook you. It was a microbe that activated T'pol's pon farr. Believe me, she'll be embarrassed that it ever happened."
Malcolm closed his eyes, "I was tempted."
"Please, she's gorgeous, why wouldn't you be?" She said reasonably and slowed down to a jog, watching the emotion crossing his face.
"Been awhile?" she asked sympathetically and he blushed.
"I am not discussing my lack of a sex life with you Buffy Summers!" his voice was outraged and very British.
"Ok, don't get your knickers in a twist. I didn't mean to poke my nose in where it doesn't belong." She laughed softly. "Oh, the Doctor doesn't want up to discuss it."
His face was incredulous, "I would like to keep all of my limbs, thank you!" He grinned and the comm went off.
"Lt. Reed to the bridge. We've found the Captain and a Klingon ship." Came Hoshi's voice.
Buffy and Malcolm raced to the bridge, Malcolm moving to his station. "You're right Ensign, those are the Captain's life signs in that pod."
Travis looked at T'pol, "Pod is in launch bay two Sub-Commander."
T'pol's voice snapped, "Disable their ship Lt. Reed."
He grinned, "Aye Sub-Commander."
Buffy raced to the launch bay and when it depressurized she bolted inside. Jon climbed out, smiling as he saw her come in. "Hey! I missed you." He grabbed her tightly and held on, giving and receiving comfort.
She kissed him gently then looked up, "What in the hell happened?" she demanded, her anxiety showing through.
He laughed and slung an arm over her shoulders, heading them towards the bridge. "Apparently I have a bounty on me from Duras and the rest of my Klingon fan club. The Tellarite trader was looking to get his ship back with the bounty he'd get on me." He sighed, "I managed to convince him it was wrong but his life was in danger if he didn't so I gave him another plan. He sold me to the Klingon's anyway, but gave me a lockpick so I could rescue myself."
Buffy shook her head, "Mal's going to have kittens." Not to mention how she felt.
They walked onto the bridge and Jon looked at Trip, "Are we away?"
"Aye Cap'n, Lt. Reed disabled their engines and we're away clean. What happened? I thought you were takin' a sightseein' tour?" Trip asked.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Our Captain has achieved fame, but I'll let him explain."
Jon glared at her briefly, then looked over at Trip, "Apparently Duras and the Klingons are holding a grudge. There's a bounty on my head and the Tellarite sold me to the Klingons."
Malcolm groaned quietly, "Sir, if I have said it once, I've said it a thousand times…" He looked at Buffy who sighed, then they both looked at the Captain. Jon shook his head, "There's always a risk, but sometimes there's a reward."
Now Trip groaned and Buffy jerked back, threw up her hands and stalked off of the bridge. Malcolm looked at his Captain, "If you had taken Buffy we might have avoided all of the worry Sir." Was all he said.
Jon looked around, "Where's T'pol?"
"She's in sickbay Cap'n. She caught some sorta bug but Doc said she'd be back on duty tomorrow." Trip replied.
Jon nodded, "I need to make up with Buffy, take a shower and eat. Commander Tucker, you have the bridge."
Trip smirked, "Aye, Cap'n. Good Luck with Blondie."
