Engine Trouble… In More Ways Than One!
By: Moonlit Sea
Disclaimer: I don't own Enterprise or the characters all I own is this fic and the characters Lt. Karyn Kelly, Lt. Davis Adams & Ensign Mark Matsuki.
/-Thoughts-/
Chapter 5 - Dinner?
"How you feeling Karyn?" Travis asked as they walked down the 'corridor'.
"Great thanks Travis." She replied in a cheerful voice. "Although I wish I could remember what happened over the past few weeks."
"I'm sure it will come back to you. Just give it time."
"Yeah… I guess so."
"So where are you off to?" Travis inquired. "I thought the doc told you to take it easy."
"He did and who told you?"
"Hoshi." He replied.
"I should of known it would be Hoshi. How is she anyway I haven't seen her for a while." She said changing the subject.
"She's fine, you wouldn't be heading to engineering would you." Travis answered wondering why Karyn was avoiding his earlier question.
"No why do you ask?" Karyn replied curiously.
"I heard that the Commander won't let you go near there."
"Where did you hear that? Wait let me guess… Hoshi." Karyn said answering her own question.
"Actually I heard it from Davis."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you mean you didn't know." Travis said in a half surprised voice.
Then from behind them a voice said
"Hey Travis wait up."
They both stopped and turned round to see Trip walking towards them.
"Now's your chance to ask him." Travis said quietly to Karyn.
"Huh?" forgetting what they were just talking about.
"About not being allowed in engineering." Travis reminded her.
"Oh right."
"So what were you guys talkin' 'bout?" Trip asked as he joined them.
"We were talking about you actually sir." Travis answered as they started walking again.
"Really, well I hope you were saying nice things." Trip teased.
"Actually Travis was telling me that you won't let me near engineering." Karyn said.
"And who told Travis?" Trip asked.
"Is it true sir?" Karyn asked taking the pressure off Travis who thanked her silently.
"Yeah it's true." Trip answered.
"May I ask why?"
"Phlox told ya to take it easy, an' if ya in engineerin' you ain't gonna be doin' that."
Karyn sighed he was right; she wouldn't take it easy if she was there.
"Where ya headed anyway?" Trip asked repeating Travis' earlier question.
"I'm going to see the Captain." Karyn said answering his question.
"Anything wrong?" Travis asked remembering the last time she had a problem.
"No he said he would help me in trying to get my memory back."
"Well good luck." Travis said as they reached the captain's quarters.
"Thanks Travis."
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
Malcolm was heading towards his quarters after a long day, and he found that he wasn't concentrating as much as he should be. He realised this after the captain had said his name for the third time on the bridge, at the time he was thinking about Karyn and how she was. What he couldn't figure out was why he was constantly thinking about her. When a voice from behind him said, "How are you doing?" He jumped at the sound of the voice. Malcolm was rarely caught unawares, and turned to see Hoshi behind him.
"I'm sorry?" indicating that he didn't hear her the first time.
"I asked how you were doing." Hoshi repeated.
"Fine thank you Hoshi." He replied as they continued walking.
"You didn't seem fine on the bridge." Hoshi said slyly.
"I…" Malcolm stuttered.
"Don't worry Lieutenant your secret's safe with me." Hoshi said matter-of-factly.
"Secret?" Malcolm said slightly confused.
"That you like Karyn."
Could that be it? Could that be why he was constantly thinking of her? No he was just worried about her in a friendly way wasn't he?
"I have no idea what you're talking about Ensign." Using her rank instead of her name to make sure she knew to drop the subject.
Hoshi smiled, she noticed that he wanted to drop the subject showing that he didn't know if she was right or not.
"Sure you do, otherwise it wouldn't have taken the Captain so long to get you to answer him on the bridge." She said reminding him.
Malcolm blushed at the thought of that embarrassing moment.
/-I knew it! He does like her!-/ Hoshi thought.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
(Captain Archer's quarters)
"So nothing happened between any of us." Karyn said as Jon filled in the gaps in her memory.
"Not that I'm aware of." Jon answered, "Although you were getting on with Malcolm pretty well." He said, thinking back to how Malcolm was acting on the bridge earlier.
"Lieutenant Reed?" Karyn queried
"Maybe he wants to talk about what's going on between you and Lieutenant Reed." She suddenly blurted out.
"What?" Jon said a little confused.
"It's what Mark said in engineering." She replied, "He was teasing me about something between the Lieutenant and me, but I can't remember what it was he was teasing me about."
"Sounds to me like your memory's returning." Jon stated, "Can you remember anything else?"
Karyn thought for moment then shook her head "No sorry."
Then the comm. system buzzed.
"T'Pol to Captain Archer."
"Archer here." He said as he tapped the comm. system on the wall.
"Captain, Tralaovic wishes to speak to you."
"Put him through."
"Captain, I regret to inform you that the Opalteen Council has overruled me. They will not allow you to visit our home." Tralaovic said.
"I understand I hope we meet up again someday."
"As do I. Your crew recovered?" Tralaovic asked.
"They're doing well." Archer replied a bit confused as to why Tralaovic asked.
"If it is acceptable Taiyalievis and I would like thank them for fixing our engine."
Archer was a bit hesitant at Tralaovic's request. Should he let Karyn speak to a species she can't remember helping? Or should he say that they were unavailable? But before he could answer Tralaovic noticed Karyn in the background.
"Taiyalievis is she one of the two?" Tralaovic asked.
Taiyalievis looked and replied
"Yes Leader, she is one who was damaged."
"We thank you for your time in fixing our engine." Tralaovic said to Karyn.
Karyn looked confused what was he on about fixing their engine? She turned to Jon who gave a nod of his head apparently he still had a little more to tell her.
"Uh… you're welcome… I guess… glad we could help." She said trying to think of something suitable to say.
Then both Tralaovic and Taiyalievis gave a nod and ended the transmission.
Karyn then turned to Jon and said
"Fixed their engine?"
"I'll explain later. Right now I think we better get outta here before their council decide we're a threat." He said as he headed towards the door.
"Right." Karyn said.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
The next morning Karyn lay in her quarters Jon wouldn't let her return to duty until tomorrow and she had promised Phlox that she would take it easy until then. The only problem was that she was bored she wasn't even allowed in engineering, as the commander wouldn't let her, although she understood why he wouldn't. This meant that she had nothing to do but lay about which was something she hated, even back on Earth she was always doing something because she couldn't stand doing nothing. Maybe that was why Kian loved her so. She snorted at that word 'loved' he had loved her but now he was with another. She sighed /-Argh! I can't this anymore!-/ she thought as she sat up, then the door chimed but she didn't hear it. /-I have to do something!-/
She got up and was about to reach for uniform when a voice said, "You're off duty remember." She turned round startled by the voice and saw Jon standing at her door.
"I knocked but you didn't answer." He said answering her unasked question.
"Sorry. I guess I wasn't paying attention." She replied.
"At the door or your uniform." Jon remarked as he stepped into her quarters.
"At the door and I guess I reached for my uniform outta habit." Karyn answered. "I'm not used to doing nothing you know."
"I understand that Trip won't let you near engineering."
"Now you know why I'm bored." She said with a little laugh.
Jon smiled.
"Not that I don't appreciate the company but what exactly are you doing here." she asked as she realised that she was still in her night stuff and looked a little embarrassed.
"I came to see if you've remembered anything else." Jon answered referring to yesterday. He then realised why she was suddenly embarrassed and added, "Perhaps I should come back later."
"If you don't mind." Karyn replied.
And with that Jon turned to leave. When she heard the door close Karyn began to change into her civilian clothing and proceeded out the door, where she bumped into Malcolm.
"Sorry Lieutenant." She apologised.
"It's okay I was actually coming to see you." He replied.
"You were?" she said a little surprised.
"Yes I was wondering how you doing." Malcolm said.
"I'm doing well thank you sir." She smiled.
They stood there for a while not knowing what to say each other when Karyn said
"Um… the Captain told me how well we use to get on and that I used to called you by your first name."
"That's right."
Karyn again stood there wondering what to say. She wanted to ask if she could start to call him by his first name again but knew it was improper to ask.
Malcolm could see that she wanted to ask him something but didn't think it proper.
"Is there something you wanted to ask me?" he says hoping to get her to open up.
"I er… was wondering if er…" Karyn said a little uneasily.
"If it would be all right for you to start calling me Malcolm again?" he says finishing her sentence for her.
Karyn gave a nod and went a tad shade of pink at the request she had just asked.
"Of course I don't mind." He answered with a small smile.
"You know about the letter don't you." Karyn suddenly said.
Malcolm looked shocked for a moment.
"Yes I accidentally picked it up when we bumped into one another a week ago."
"I'm sorry." Karyn apologised.
"What for?" Malcolm asked confused.
"I get odd bits of my memory back and confuse people by saying them out loud." She explained.
"Well it's nice to see that you might be getting your memory back." Malcolm smiled.
"You're right." She says returning the smile; "I should see it like that instead of thinking how annoying it is."
Malcolm felt like his knees were going to give in when she smiled. /-Why do I feel like this? How can this woman bring me to my knees so easily? -/ He thought /-Could Hoshi be right? Could I possibly like Karyn that way?-/
"Man I'm starved." Karyn said bringing Malcolm out of his thoughts.
"I take it you haven't had anything to eat yet."
"Not since yesterday." She laughed. "But first I want to go and see the Commander."
Heading towards engineering.
"I thought he wouldn't let you near engineering." Malcolm said as she started to walk off.
"Okay how many people actually know that?" she asked as she turned back to Malcolm.
"I believe the whole ship knows it." He answered.
"Great." She said sarcastically. "Well this should be fun."
She turned to start off again but only got a little way before saying.
"Would it be all right if we had dinner together Lieu…" she shook her head then said "Sorry Malcolm."
"I'd love to." Malcolm replied trying to retain his composure.
"Great I'll meet you in the mess hall after your shift ends. And perhaps you can fill in a few gaps that the Captain didn't." then started off towards engineering again.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
In engineering Trip was talking to Mark.
"So how ya feelin'?" he asked.
"Better thank you sir." Mark answered. "Do you know how Karyn is?"
"I'm doing just fine thanks Mark." A voice said.
They both turned to see...
"Karyn." Mark said surprised to see her in engineering.
She was wearing dark blue jeans and a blue and white top that had picture of a dog wearing sunglasses on it.
"Now I thought you not to come to engineerin' until tomorrow." Trip said to her smiling at her top. The dog reminded him of Porthos.
"You did Commander, but I wanted to talk to you. And I can hardly stay outta here when I know it's where you'll be." She said walking towards them.
"I better get back to work." Mark said not wanting to get involved.
"So what did you want to talk to me 'bout?" He asked.
"I wanted to say apology accepted." She said.
"What?" Trip replied a little confused.
"You apologised to me in sickbay. At the time I didn't understand why you were apologising as far as I knew you had done nothing wrong." She explained, "Then the Captain told me that you were giving me a hard time and why you were. And now that I know why I just wanted to say apology accepted." She smiled.
"Yeah I'm sorry 'bout that."
"It's okay. Well I better go before I start thinking I'm here to work." She joked.
But Trip didn't get the joke.
"Don't ya even think 'bout workin'. You're…"
"Suppose to be taking it easy. Yes I know I've only heard that from nearly everyone on the ship." she said mildly irritated interrupting him. "I'll see ya tomorrow"
She turned to leave when Trip asked.
"Hey ya wanna get a bite to eat or something?"
She turned back and replied "Sorry Commander…"
"Trip." He interrupted.
"I'm sorry?"
"Call me Trip."
"That would be inappropriate sir. You are a senior officer and it would be improper to call you other wise." As Karyn said this she couldn't help but feel that she had said it all before but couldn't think where. /-Damn amnesia.-/
Trip chuckled at what she had just said which confused Karyn.
"Sir?"
"You sound just like Malcolm ya know that." He says.
Karyn went a little pink at the comparison made between her and Malcolm.
"Trust me, I wouldn't of said it otherwise." Trip said.
"I… uh okay Com…" she stopped when Trip gave her a look that said 'now what did I just tell you.'
"…Trip but I'm having lunch with Lieutenant Reed. Maybe some other time."
"Sure." /-Lucky guy.-/ he thought.
Karyn smiled and headed out of engineering.
Trip turned back to start working again when he saw Mark and Davis staring at him.
"What?" he said.
"Nothing." They replied and went back to work.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
(Captain's ready room)
The door chimed.
"Come in." Archer said while reading his screen.
The door opened and in walked Trip.
Archer looked away from his screen and said
"Trip, anything wrong?"
"No." Trip replied and started to look round the ready room.
"I hardly think that you came up here just to have a look round." Archer said turning his screen off. "What's wrong?"
"Nothin'. You get a pretty good view from here don't ya." Trip answered looking out the window.
Archer sighed the last time he saw Trip act like this it was a week ago over Karyn and he figured it was about her again.
"What's she done this time?" he asked knowing the response he was going to get.
"Sir?" Trip said now taking a seat.
"Karyn, Trip what's Karyn done this time?" Jon repeated.
"Nothin' she just came to engineerin' to say she forgave me."
/-If that was it you wouldn't be here acting like this.-/ Jon thought.
"Anything else?" he asked hoping that Trip would come straight out with whatever it was that was bothering him.
"Nope." Trip replied.
/-This maybe a little harder than I thought.-/
"Trip." Jon said while standing up from his desk and taking a seat near him. "If that's it I doubt that you would be here acting like this." Voicing his earlier thought.
"Acting like what Cap'n?" Trip asked then suddenly realised what Jon was talking about, "Sorry."
"Now will you tell me what else Karyn said I doubt she went all the to engineering to just say that she forgave you." Jon asked.
"Actually that's all she wanted to do, even though I told her not come to engineerin' until tomorrow." Trip stated with a little sadness in his voice. "Did you know that she has a shirt with a dog on that looks like Porthos?" he smiled at the memory.
"No I didn't I'll have to ask her about it." Trying to think how the dog would look like Porthos. "If that's all she said then why are you…"
"Here… acting the way I did a week ago?" Trip said finishing Jon's sentence for him.
Jon nodded.
"Did you also know that she's havin' lunch with Malcolm?"
/-So that's it-/ Jon thought.
"Trip jealousy doesn't suit you."
"Why should I be jealous of Malcolm? He's only the luckiest person on the whole damn ship!" Trip said raising his voice a little.
"I'm sure there's nothing going between them. She probably just wants to know things that I didn't tell her." Jon said trying to calm Trip down.
"Oh and how do you know that? I thought you told her everything." Trip spat.
"Because she asked me Commander." Archer said using his command voice and remaining calm.
"I'm sorry Cap'n I dunno what came over me." Trip said in shock.
There was silence in the room for a while then Trip asked
"She asked you?"
"That's right, and I haven't told her everything. She's still to be told about the Samozans and her accident." Jon answered his voice returning to normal.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
Malcolm's shift had just ended and he was on his way to the mess hall to have dinner with Karyn. /-I wonder what she meant when she said 'perhaps you can fill in a few gaps that the Captain didn't.'-/ He walked into the mess hall expecting Karyn to be waiting but after a quick look round he saw that she wasn't there yet, was he early? He couldn't be she had said after his shift ended didn't she? He was about to sit at a nearby table and wait when he heard his name called. He turned in the direction of the voice to see the captain and commander; he went over out of politeness.
"Captain, Commander"
"Would you care to join us Malcolm?" Jon asked.
"Thank you sir but I'm waiting for Lieutenant Kelly." Malcolm replied.
Trip gave Jon a 'told you so' look then said
"But she's not here yet."
"Yes I know." Malcolm said looking round the mess hall once more.
"How about sitting with us until she arrives, we're much better company than an empty table." Jon joked.
"Thank you sir." Malcolm answered and sat down.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
(Sickbay.)
"Can I go yet?" Karyn asked impatiently.
"Just one more test then you may leave Lieutenant." Phlox replied.
"But that's what you said twenty minutes ago." She moaned looking at the time she was already late with her meeting with Malcolm.
"You seem to be in hurry today. Any particular reason?" Phlox asked.
"I'm suppose to be having dinner with Lieutenant Reed at this very moment." She replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"You're having dinner with Malcolm." A voice said from the door.
Karyn turned her head towards the door and said
"Hey Hoshi, yeah I'm having dinner with Malcolm."
"When did this happen?" Hoshi asked as she walked towards Karyn.
"What do you mean when did this happen?" Karyn asked trying to get up.
"These tests will be over a lot quicker if you lay still." Pushing her back down "Is there something I can do for you Ensign?" Phlox asked turning to Hoshi.
"Not really I just came to see Karyn." Hoshi replied.
"But how did…" Karyn said trying to get up again.
"Lieutenant." Phlox said a little annoyance in his voice.
"Sorry… ouch!" she cried out.
"Sorry." Phlox said.
But Karyn had a feeling that he did that on purpose.
/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/
In the mess hall Malcolm was wondering where Karyn was, not that the captain and commander weren't very good company it was just that he felt he was more like eating with them instead of Karyn. He was getting worried that she wouldn't turn up she was already half hour late. /-Where is she?-/ he was constantly staring at the door only occasionally turning round when the captain or commander asked him something. Both Trip and Jon noticed Malcolm constantly staring at the door and giving one or two word answers. /-He's worst than me.-/ Trip thought who looked at Jon it appears he had thought the same thing.
"I'm sure she hasn't forgotten Malcolm." Jon said.
"Yeah she's probably held up somewhere talkin' to someone." Trip added.
"Have you ever known Karyn to be late?" Malcolm suddenly asked as he turned back around to face them.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't." Jon replied thinking. "Unless you count the time she locked herself in her quarters."
"I don't really think that counts Cap'n." Trip said, "She's never been late for her shifts in engineerin' "
"So why is she late now?" Malcolm asked.
Neither Trip nor Jon had an answer. Karyn was now an hour late and by now Malcolm had given up hope that she was ever coming.
He sighed, "If you'll excuse me Captain I have things to do."
Archer gave a nod of his head and Malcolm walked out of the mess hall.
"Now that didn't go very well," Trip commented.
"He's right though I've never known Karyn to be late for anything. Especially if she's made plans to meet someone." Remembering a time back on Earth.
"Maybe she met with someone else and forgot." Trip said.
"Let's hope for her sake she didn't."