Title: Found

Author: Looneyluna

Rating: R

Category: General, Romance

Summary: Sequel to Lost. Malcolm's past isn't done with him yet. How will this affect Hoshi?

Author's Notes: No archive allowed. Thanks to PJ and Kathy Rose for beta reading.

I don't own Enterprise.

--

"That sure is a nice shiner Malcolm's sportin'," Cmdr. Trip Tucker stated before he stuffed a fork full of scrambled eggs into his mouth.

Travis Mayweather took a swig of his juice, hiding his smile. Setting his cup down, he leaned forward. "You should have seen who gave it to him."

Raised in a house full of women and his daddy, Trip knew the value of good gossip and leaned in to listen.

"She won't admit a thing, but I think Hoshi and Malcolm were…well…attracted to one another before he got his memories back. I don't have a whole lot of details, but I do remember how interested Hoshi was in getting Malcolm to socialize when we rescued him and – " Travis stopped mid-sentence as somebody walked by.

Trip watched the crewman walk by with a look of annoyance on his face. How dare he interrupt a good gossip session.

"Hoshi and I have been training in the morning with Lieutenant Gomez. To pass the course, we had to pass the finals," Travis continued. "We had to spar with the other instructor of the course."

"I flunked," Trip admitted. "I lost count of how many times Lieutenant Gomez flipped me. Of course, Malcolm's technique was anything but memorable."

"You flunked?" Travis asked incredulously.

"Does it matter? You're off track. How did Malcolm get the shiner?" he asked quietly, looking over his shoulder at the new armory officer.

Travis looked over his shoulder and around the room, then said one word. "Hoshi." He shoved his mouth full of cereal.

Somehow Trip kept his juice from coming out his nose as he choked on it. "Ya mean to tell me, Hoshi bested him? Our little com officer?" He shook his head, feeling sorry for Hoshi.

"But that's not all," Travis whispered conspiratorially. "It seems that Hoshi was mumbling under her breath the whole time she was…sparring with him."

"So," Trip mumbled with his mouth full.

"After he flipped her for the umpteenth time, he told her to stop cursing at him in French – that it was conduct unbecoming an officer."

Trip remained silent, waiting for his friend to continue. When Travis didn't volunteer any more information after a few moments, he asked, "Well, what did she say in French?"

"How would I know? I don't know French."

"What did she do?"

"Hoshi was pissed," Travis stated. "He flunked her."

"That still doesn't explain how he got the shiner."

"Lieutenant Commander Reed challenged her again. He had her in a choke hold and she threw her head back. I can still remember the cracking sound as the back of her head connected with his face."

"Really?"

"It dazed him for a little while because it knocked him on his back," laughed Travis. "You should have seen the look on Hoshi's face, as she stood over him poking at him with her boot."

"Uh, huh." Trip set his fork down.

"Well, she stood over him and kept saying how she had won and how he really should pass her. Before she knew it, she was flat on her back with Malcolm on top of her."

Trip's eyes went wide.

"Even though she managed to best him, he still failed her," Travis said.

"I bet Hoshi was spittin' mad and – " Trip stopped mid-sentence when Hoshi walked in, ever mindful of her hearing. "There she is," he whispered as low as he could.

Both men became silent observers as they watched her collect a tray, turn around and scan the room. If she even noticed Malcolm Reed, one couldn't tell as her glance skimmed coldly over the tactical officer.

Her gaze met Trip's and she started walking toward them.

"There who is?" Hoshi asked with a smile and set her tray on the table.

"Uh." Trip took a sip of his tea. "Lieutenant Gomez just left. Travis and I were talking about how I failed the final."

"Stupid class," Hoshi muttered under her breath. "I really don't see why we have to take the classes." Hoshi stuffed some pancakes into her mouth, frustrated.

Travis looked at Trip and Trip looked at Travis, neither knowing quite what to say.

"If it's any consolation, I flunked my final," Trip stated with a smile as he wiggled his eyebrows.

She couldn't help but laugh as the image of the petite Lieutenant Gomez flipping the tall, lanky engineer over her shoulder popped into Hoshi's mind.

--

Dabbing his lips with his napkin, Malcolm stood and picked up his tray. He envied how easily Hoshi got along with her fellow crewmates and couldn't help the spark of jealousy within him.

The more time passed, the more he was convinced he had made the right decision by requesting assignment to Enterprise, despite what the proximity to Hoshi was doing to him.

Further investigation into Madeline's death had revealed nothing new and her case remained classified as an accident, but doubts remained. Admiral Bryant had resigned without a fuss amid the phase cannon design inquiry.

There was still something that bothered him, though – something that kept him up at night.

It was just too easy.

In his mind, Malcolm knew Bryant was responsible for the attack on Jupiter station. But something told him Bryant wasn't the only one involved. He was missing something – something crucial he just couldn't put his finger on.

Hoshi's laughter carried across the room and Malcolm smiled, quickly wincing his black eye made itself known. At least she was happy…and safe.

She certainly was explicit and creative in her mastery of French during her final exam. Only having an average understanding of the language, Malcolm didn't know how he had kept a straight face when she had told him to bite her.

He'd had her in a headlock then and leaned into her, her scent and the feel of her in his arms momentarily weakening his resolve. He had whispered his reply in French so that no one else could hear. "Where would you like me to bite you?"

Next thing he had recalled was a loud cracking noise when the back of her head connected with his face. It had dazed him, and when Hoshi had stood over him gloating, he had realized she needed a lesson in humility.

Knocking her down, he had quickly pinned her. That had been a huge mistake. The bodily contact had shocked him, reminding him of what they had once shared and how much he craved to have it again. He should have let her gloat.

He was a coward and he freely admitted it when it came to her. He had purposely arranged as little contact with her as possible, but two months on board with such a tight-knit crew was proving problematic.

The training course had been split into two sessions – self-defense and weapons' training. He had made sure that Hoshi was in Lieutenant Gomez's course, but it was time for the weapons' training to start and there was no way around dealing with Hoshi. Besides, he still had to pass her on the self-defense course.

Tonight would define their relationship. He knew he couldn't continue avoiding her. It was time to bury the hatchet and establish the boundaries of professionalism.

He would rather be facing a firing squad.