Hi guys! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. I appreciate the comments.
I speak a teensy bit about the Season One episode 'Silent Enemy', [the one with Malcolm's birthday] but it's not really a spoiler. Just letting you know.
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Malcolm and Hoshi exited the turbo lift onto the bridge, hands clasped. They were nervous. They were about to be de-briefed by Admiral Forrest in the Captains ready room. Their immediate futures were about to be decided, and the tension was coming off them in waves. The bridge crew seemed to sense their nervousness, and tried to convey their support through a volley of sympathetic looks and encouraging smiles directed at the couple.
When they entered the ready room, they saw Captain Archer sitting at a desk, talking into the computer. They both recognized Admiral Forrest from the launch of Enterprise, back in '51.
"Ah, Lieutenant, Ensign." Forrest began. Jon stood, and moved to the back of the room so that Malcolm and Hoshi could face the Admiral. "How are you both? Any lasting effects form your ordeal?"
"No Sir." Hoshi replied. "Malcolm will be having surgery tomorrow to correct the injuries to his leg that he received when he saved me from the creature, and we have a daughter."
"Other than that" Malcolm finished, "Nothing has changed. We are still the competent officers we were before the crash."
"Hmm. Captain Archer has given me the highlights of your experience, but I look forward to reading your report. However," Malcolm and Hoshi winced in unison at that word "Your relationship has caused some concern. You are aware, of course, that Starfleet regulations prohibit fraternization between officers of different ranks."
"Sir" Malcolm began "These were extraneous circumstances..."
"I'm aware of that Lieutenant. However, regulations are regulations. They are in place for a reason. Plus, Soval is trying to put a spin on this. He's still trying to build up a case against you being out there, and he's saying that this is just another example of how humans can't control their emotions, or their hormones."
"But Sir, that's ridiculous!!" Hoshi exclaimed.
"I know, but he's also honing in on the difference in your rank. It's just another black mark against you being out there. He's saying that Humans have not control."
"Sir. He can't expect to get anywhere with that argument"
"I don't think so Ensign. He's just taking whatever he can find. Alright Lieutenant" Forrest said "Start talking."
So, for the next hour, Malcolm and Hoshi explained how they came to be together, and how their being together would not change their work. Forrest listened attently, interrupting occasionally to ask questions. When they finished, he sighed deeply.
"I don't know" he told them. "I just don't know. And I assume that if one of you leaves Enterprise, you both will leave?"
"That's correct sir" Malcolm replied, taking hold of Hoshi's hand.
"We're not leaving each other, or our daughter." Hoshi finished for him.
Forrest looked as if he was going to speak again, but Archer, who had been standing out of the way, but watching the proceedings intently, forestalled him.
"Sir" he began. "If I may speak?"
"Of course Jonathan"
"Sir, you once told me that you trusted me, my judgment. That we are the ones out here, not Starfleet Command."
"Yes?"
"Sir, I'm asking you to trust me again. Malcolm is the best Armoury officer in Starfleet. And Hoshi is fluent in over sixty different languages! They are the best of the best, and I need them out here. I trust them to do their jobs well."
"What do you suggest Jonathan?"
"A trial run. Let them stay on Enterprise, and if their work standard remains the same, then they stay."
"If it doesn't measure up Sir" Malcolm added "We will leave."
"We don't want the crew or ship endangered because of us." Hoshi added.
"Admiral, we are going to be out here for years. This is deep space. The regulations should be changed. All we have to rely on is each other. It is understandable that friendships and relationships will develop. Malcolm and Hoshi are not the only couple on Enterprise, and I think it unfair for people to have to hide their feelings in such a way. I propose that if it works for Lieutenant Reed and Ensign Sato, then the regulations should be changed."
Archer took a deep breath, a little winded after his long speech. Forrest mirrored his actions and closed his eyes, as if deciding what to say.
"I'll discuss it with the Command Council. I can't give you an answer just yet. I'll be in contact. Forrest out."
The little screen went blank, and the tension visibly drained out of the room.
"What do you think will happen sir?" Hoshi asked, almost in a whisper.
"I don't know Hoshi. Hopefully something good."
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"Do it!"
"I don't know. Maybe tomorrow."
"Malcolm, call them!"
"You know..."
"Malcolm Reed call your parents or I will do it for you!!"
"Geez Hoshi, no need to get mad" Malcolm grumbled as he reluctantly activated his computer monitor. They were in his quarters after the briefing with the Admiral, and Hoshi had decided it would be a great idea for them to call Malcolm's parents.
'She obviously has never spoken with my father' Malcolm observed silently as they waited for a connection. Celeste was still with Trip and Travis, so his parents wouldn't hear or see her before he had a chance to talk to them.
Not that he was ashamed of his daughter. Just the opposite. But his father tender to get loud when he was surprised and he didn't want Celeste to be frightened of the loud voice.
'Please let them not be at home' he prayed silently. He positioned himself so his scars were in shadows, and Hoshi sat out of sight for the moment. His prayers went unanswered though when the comm. was activated form the other end. A familiar blond head and cheerful smile filled the screen.
"Malcolm!" Madeleine Reed practically squealed. "How are you? It's great to hear from you."
"Hello Maddy" Malcolm answered, his voice filled with genuine warmth. Hoshi smiled a little. Whenever Malcolm spoke of his family (which was rarely) Maddy was the only one he exhibited any affection for, and Hoshi thought she knew why. She remembered talking to her, trying to find out Malcolm's favourite food for his birthday surprise, and remembered her to be sweet and funny, and genuinely interested in her brother.
"I'm fine Maddy. Um, are our parents around?"
"Why, what happened?" Maddy was instantly suspicious. Malcolm almost never spoke to their parents voluntarily, especially their father!
"Nothing's wrong. I just need to talk to them."
Maddy studied Malcolm after she called Mary and Stuart Reed.
"Why are you sitting back from the screen?" she demanded. "Come closer."
"What? Don't be so suspicious Maddy-kins" Malcolm teased, using his childhood nickname for her in an attempt to throw her off a little. Hoshi snorted in amusement at his blatant diversionary tactic, especially when it became obvious that Maddy wasn't buying it.
"Who's that?" Maddy enquired when Hoshi snorted.
"Hi again" Hoshi said, moving so she was visible on screen. Maddy looked very surprised at Hoshi's sudden appearance on the screen.
"Hi" she answered. 'Ensign Sato, isn't it?"
"Yes. We spoke..." Hoshi got no further.
"Malcolm, what happened to your face?" Maddy exclaimed, and her brother inwardly cursed. He had moved to accommodate Hoshi, and she had seen the scars of his cheek.
"Maddy, I..."
"What's going on here?" Malcolm's father entered the picture, followed by his wife. They had heard their daughter's outburst, but hadn't seen the scars yet. Hoshi instinctively shrank back from view, and reached for Malcolm's hand.
"What happened to your face Malcolm?" his mother asked, worry tingeing her voice.
Malcolm took a deep breath, and told the story of their crash and survival. The entire speech was said in one breath, in a rush, and all three Reed's blinked in surprise at the amount of information that they had just received.
"So, you got the scars in the crash then?" Maddy asked.
"No. The planet was uninhabited by sentient beings, but there were animals. Hoshi was attacked. I got these trying to get her out of the way."
Mary and Maddy gasped is shock, but Stuart's eyes narrowed.
"Hoshi? You've mentioned her twice. You seem awfully familiar with her. What is she? A Lieutenant?"
Malcolm sighed in frustration. He just knew his father would hone in on that part of the conversation. Not the fact that his son had been in a shuttle crash. Or the fact that he had been stranded for years. No. He was worried about fraternization between the ranks.
"No sir." He replied, praying for patience. "She's an Ensign. And, you know, being stranded on a planet for two years tends to breed familiarity"
"Don't you back talk me, boy" Stuart warned. "And I thought I brought you up to know better that to forget your rank, your responsibility."
Hoshi could see the pain in Malcolm's eyes, and decided to take things onto her own hands.
"I beg to differ sir" she stated, moving into their line of sight again.
"Who are you?" Stuart snapped.
"Hoshi Sato sir. And I just want to say that I disagree with your point of view. You see fraternization and friendship between the ranks as undisciplined and I dare say offensive. But sir, you are not out here. Friendship is all we have to sustain us sometimes. This isn't the Royal Navy."
"I'm fully aware of that, Ms. Sato" Stuart responded icily. "And I'm also ..."
"Ensign Sato" Malcolm interrupted.
"What?"
"I said Ensign Sato. She had earned that rank through hard work and ingenuity, and you should respect that by addressing her by her rank."
Stuart just stared. Did Malcolm actually stand up t him? Back talk him?
Hoshi glowed with pride. Malcolm wouldn't defend himself, but he would defend her. She kissed him playfully on the nose.
"What was that for?" Malcolm asked surprised.
"For calling me ingenious." She grinned.
"No problem love" Malcolm replied.
Stuart's eyes were like ice chips as he stared at the couple.
"So it's like that, is it?" he spat out. "You're lovers" Mary and his daughter exchanged worried looks, and Mary put a hand on her husband's arm in an attempt to restrain his anger.
"No." Malcolm replied, his own anger rising. "We're not just lovers. We are engaged. We are both fully aware of the rank difference, and are willing to resign if it comes to it, for us to be together. We don't need your blessing, but we would like it."
"And if I don't give it?"
"Then you'll be missing out on knowing the most amazing woman alive. You'll be missing out on knowing your granddaughter Celeste. You'll be missing out on so much of our lives, and we want you involved."
"Grand-daughter?" Mary inquired.
"Yes Ma'am" Hoshi smiled. "We have a little girl. Her name is Celeste Ann Reed, and she's just over one year old." Mary and her daughter exchanged beaming smiles.
"You're a father Malcolm" Maddy exclaimed. "I don't believe it! Well, where is she? I want to see my first niece. But hopefully not my last" she teased.
"Never fear Maddy" Malcolm grinned. "It's already taken care of" he told her, placing a hand on his fiancées stomach. "We're expecting another baby in a few months."
Maddy and Mary hugged, and Hoshi could swear she saw tears in Mary Reed's eyes.
"So, you really couldn't control yourself, could you?" Stuart sneered, breaking the bubble of happiness. "Always knew you had no self-control, no honour. You're a disgrace to the family name."
Malcolm's face fell, and Hoshi could feel the pain reverberating off him in waves. She felt her anger rising at her future father in law. No one called her husband-to-be a disgrace, or implied that her daughter was something to be ashamed of. Surreptitiously, she tapped a few buttons, and the image on the screen began to flicker. She could hear Stuart continuing to talk, but she cut him off mid sentence. The screen went blank.
She turned to face Malcolm. He was hunched in on himself, and she could tell that the stoic armoury officer was close to tears.
"It's ok love" she told him, holding him close. He buried his face in her shoulder, and she let him get himself under control.
"Come on" he said after a while. "Let's go get Celeste before she drives Trip and Travis to distraction."
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They located their friends and child in Trips quarters. When Trip opened the door, they were shocked at his appearance. His hair was mused as if he had run his fingers through it dozens of times. They stepped into the room. Travis was sitting with his back against the wall, lines of exhaustion etched on his face.
Celeste was sitting on Trip's bed, laughing. She clapped her hands when she saw her parents, and started shouting 'Mama, Dada'. Hoshi bent to pick her up, and held her close. This was the first time they had been away from her for s long, and they had missed her.
"What happened Trip? "Malcolm asked his exhausted friend. "We were only gone for four hours."
"What happened? What happened!?!" Trip exclaimed. "Your child ran circles around us, that's what happened."
Hoshi smothered a laugh. "She does tend to do that" she smiled.
"I don't know what happened." Travis spoke up from the floor. "It started out just fine..."
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I'm really not too happy with this chapter, but... screw it. It's done. Not every chapter I write can be up to my usual excellent standards
[thud, as my big head hits against the door frame : -) ]
The next chapter is the babysitting chapter, and it should be up in a few days.
R&R please
LieutenantsLady
