Since Trip got word that he would be able to take the technology form
the alien ship and integrate it into Enterprise, he quickly formed teams to
begin work at once. Time was of the essence as a Vulcan had put it. The
longer they were stuck here, wherever here is, the Xindi construction of
the weapon would continue and they would have less time to stop it. As a
result of wanting to escape, none of them would leave the bridge until they
were in the clear. As a result several nerves were getting frayed. Malcolm
was the only one who eventually went to bed. "No use being so tired that I
cannot perform my duties." Malcolm said that hoping someone would hear him,
but it only fell upon deaf ears.
Once Malcolm was out of his uniform and into his shorts and t-shirt, he climbed into bed wondering how Trip was doing. Trip was just as tired, but they were making excellent progress. Then out of the busy head of Trip came a predominant thought. 'What's Malcolm doing?' Trip then realized that since they were dismissed from the meeting that he didn't see Malcolm. 'How's he holdin' up? God it was a long time ago we had dinner. Well... there was that time that I ended up cryin' my eyes out to him... that's don't count though. I miss him.' Every time that Tactical Alert would be called Malcolm would transform in Lieutenant Reed. Duty before personal needs. Trip had to talk to Malcolm and he had to right now.
"Tucker to Reed." There was a long pause before he got a response. "Y- yes commander?" 'God he sounds horrible.' "Care to join me for a bite to eat as I update you on the system upgrades?" Malcolm knew better so he was glad to be talking with Trip. "What time is good for you Tr- Commander?" "How about an hour?" "Excellent, Reed out." Malcolm now had to get dressed again, and had to decide what to wear. 'Casual or formal?' Malcolm was now faced with a difficult choice. 'Casual or formal?' Were the very same thoughts of Trip as he stopped by his quarters. "Casual!" They both announced without knowing what the other person was thinking.
As time slowly came to the hour both Trip and Malcolm made their ways to the Mess Hall. As always Malcolm is slightly more punctual then Trip and arrived moments before. While standing to find somewhere to sit, Trip came in and saw Malcolm. He saw Malcolm's black shirt. Noticeably the only black shirt or casual shirt that Malcolm had on the ship. "What are ya lookin' for? Is there someone special yer waitin' for?" Trip was now teasing Malcolm by keeping all his comments to a low whisper. "Trip... I'm looking for a young southern American. With stunning blue eyes and blond hair. You seen him around? Trip just smiled in response. "I think ya found me."
They quickly took a table for themselves and began to talk. They talked about anything and everything. "So how is the integration of that sensor technology coming along?" Malcolm started, not quite sure what to talk about. "Good, I left it with the rest of the team to finish. How are ya?" Trip was still concerned about Malcolm's emotional state. Since the little spill of Malcolm's past neither of them had the time to talk about it. Malcolm stiffened slightly before responding. "I am fine thank you. Your concern is touching yet not necessary." 'God damn he's gone behind those shields again.' "Malcolm I'm concerned. Ya can't expect me to believe that yer fine as if nuttin happened!" Malcolm sat there planted by Trip's outburst. "Trip I assure you that I am fine." "Then why are ya cryin'?" Malcolm quickly brushed the tear away. A Reed never cries. "I assure you there is nothing to concern yourself... over..." Malcolm waited for the response. "You're still cryin'." "I am not crying!" Malcolm yelled loudly, and as a result getting some strange looks. "I am sorry you think that there is something wrong." With that everyone in the Mess Hall saw both leave. Malcolm first and Trip trying to catch up.
"Malcolm... Malcolm what are ya doin'?" Trip was having a hard time keeping up with the smaller man. "I think it is quite obvious that dinner is over Commander." Malcolm replied, still fuming from the recent interactions. "Ya ain't getting away." As Trip grabbed Malcolm to stop him. Again seeing tears pouring from his eyes. "Please unhand me-." "No Malcolm I'm not gonna let ya run away. Talk to me please." Trip let Malcolm go hoping that he wouldn't make a break for it. Malcolm just stood there transfixed by what was being said. 'You can't let him get close to you, or you'll get hurt or you'll hurt him.' Malcolm just stood there with a fierce battle waging inside. "To hell with caution." Came a small whisper that Trip barely heard. "What'd ya-" Malcolm then brushed all reason aside and kissed Trip. Not just a peck on the cheek, but a kiss with all the love he could muster.
'To hell with caution... don't mind if I do.' Trip was taken back by the kiss, but being with Malcolm nothing else mattered. They stood there locked in a kiss, even with other members of the crew watching as they passed. Nothing else mattered. 'I guess I could talk to him about... this.' Malcolm pulled back long enough to put in his code for his quarters and took Trip in with him. "Trip you said you wanted to talk? Well sit down it's going to be a while."
"All hands report to stations." Sotils had now figured out what was going on with the ship. This alien ship, this "Enterprise" was trying to place technology of the Gennik to their own sensors, with that they will be able to detect them. 'Clever people, as soon as I finish contacting Vrisan. Then their fate will be sealed.'
A/N: This chapter isn't one of my best (considering), but the story will not solely revolve around this, it will take on a different feel soon. Reviews if you liked or hated it... If you hate it let me know, then I can try to make it better :)
Once Malcolm was out of his uniform and into his shorts and t-shirt, he climbed into bed wondering how Trip was doing. Trip was just as tired, but they were making excellent progress. Then out of the busy head of Trip came a predominant thought. 'What's Malcolm doing?' Trip then realized that since they were dismissed from the meeting that he didn't see Malcolm. 'How's he holdin' up? God it was a long time ago we had dinner. Well... there was that time that I ended up cryin' my eyes out to him... that's don't count though. I miss him.' Every time that Tactical Alert would be called Malcolm would transform in Lieutenant Reed. Duty before personal needs. Trip had to talk to Malcolm and he had to right now.
"Tucker to Reed." There was a long pause before he got a response. "Y- yes commander?" 'God he sounds horrible.' "Care to join me for a bite to eat as I update you on the system upgrades?" Malcolm knew better so he was glad to be talking with Trip. "What time is good for you Tr- Commander?" "How about an hour?" "Excellent, Reed out." Malcolm now had to get dressed again, and had to decide what to wear. 'Casual or formal?' Malcolm was now faced with a difficult choice. 'Casual or formal?' Were the very same thoughts of Trip as he stopped by his quarters. "Casual!" They both announced without knowing what the other person was thinking.
As time slowly came to the hour both Trip and Malcolm made their ways to the Mess Hall. As always Malcolm is slightly more punctual then Trip and arrived moments before. While standing to find somewhere to sit, Trip came in and saw Malcolm. He saw Malcolm's black shirt. Noticeably the only black shirt or casual shirt that Malcolm had on the ship. "What are ya lookin' for? Is there someone special yer waitin' for?" Trip was now teasing Malcolm by keeping all his comments to a low whisper. "Trip... I'm looking for a young southern American. With stunning blue eyes and blond hair. You seen him around? Trip just smiled in response. "I think ya found me."
They quickly took a table for themselves and began to talk. They talked about anything and everything. "So how is the integration of that sensor technology coming along?" Malcolm started, not quite sure what to talk about. "Good, I left it with the rest of the team to finish. How are ya?" Trip was still concerned about Malcolm's emotional state. Since the little spill of Malcolm's past neither of them had the time to talk about it. Malcolm stiffened slightly before responding. "I am fine thank you. Your concern is touching yet not necessary." 'God damn he's gone behind those shields again.' "Malcolm I'm concerned. Ya can't expect me to believe that yer fine as if nuttin happened!" Malcolm sat there planted by Trip's outburst. "Trip I assure you that I am fine." "Then why are ya cryin'?" Malcolm quickly brushed the tear away. A Reed never cries. "I assure you there is nothing to concern yourself... over..." Malcolm waited for the response. "You're still cryin'." "I am not crying!" Malcolm yelled loudly, and as a result getting some strange looks. "I am sorry you think that there is something wrong." With that everyone in the Mess Hall saw both leave. Malcolm first and Trip trying to catch up.
"Malcolm... Malcolm what are ya doin'?" Trip was having a hard time keeping up with the smaller man. "I think it is quite obvious that dinner is over Commander." Malcolm replied, still fuming from the recent interactions. "Ya ain't getting away." As Trip grabbed Malcolm to stop him. Again seeing tears pouring from his eyes. "Please unhand me-." "No Malcolm I'm not gonna let ya run away. Talk to me please." Trip let Malcolm go hoping that he wouldn't make a break for it. Malcolm just stood there transfixed by what was being said. 'You can't let him get close to you, or you'll get hurt or you'll hurt him.' Malcolm just stood there with a fierce battle waging inside. "To hell with caution." Came a small whisper that Trip barely heard. "What'd ya-" Malcolm then brushed all reason aside and kissed Trip. Not just a peck on the cheek, but a kiss with all the love he could muster.
'To hell with caution... don't mind if I do.' Trip was taken back by the kiss, but being with Malcolm nothing else mattered. They stood there locked in a kiss, even with other members of the crew watching as they passed. Nothing else mattered. 'I guess I could talk to him about... this.' Malcolm pulled back long enough to put in his code for his quarters and took Trip in with him. "Trip you said you wanted to talk? Well sit down it's going to be a while."
"All hands report to stations." Sotils had now figured out what was going on with the ship. This alien ship, this "Enterprise" was trying to place technology of the Gennik to their own sensors, with that they will be able to detect them. 'Clever people, as soon as I finish contacting Vrisan. Then their fate will be sealed.'
A/N: This chapter isn't one of my best (considering), but the story will not solely revolve around this, it will take on a different feel soon. Reviews if you liked or hated it... If you hate it let me know, then I can try to make it better :)
