Trip was too slow. The tree came crashing down, the bark creaking as it split from its stump, and the flames roaring as they burned through the wood.
It landed on Trip's leg. He yelled in pain as the weight of the tree crushed his leg.
"Commander!" Stevenson called as he watched the chief engineer getting caught under the burning tree. He quickly moved over to the fallen man, knowing he had to do something.
"Get out of here Stevenson!" Trip called, trying his best to ignore the pain, but it wasn't easy.
"I won't leave you sir!" Replied the security man as he tried to lift the tree, which was quickly burning, and the flames were getting closer to them both. Also the alien policemen were getting closer. A couple of bullets buried themselves in the tree trunk close to Trip and Stevenson.
"Ensign I told you to leave me here!" Trip began to try and push the tree trunk off his leg, but it just wouldn't budge.
"Captain!" Stevenson called to get more help. Archer, T'Pol and Whyte appeared and began to push the tree. The flames were creeping closer and closer, but the tree wasn't moving.
"Captain you gotta get outta here." Trip pleaded as he watched the planet's inhabitants getting closer.
Archer quickly reached into his pocket and drew out his communicator. "Archer to Enterprise. Lock onto Commander Tucker's signal and beam him up to the ship."
After a few seconds Trip disappeared and the team legged it to the shuttlepod, the aliens firing at them as they continued to run. Lightning still continuing to streak across the dark night sky. After several minutes more of running they made it back to the pod where the others were waiting.
"Where's Commander Tucker?" Malcolm asked she he helped them into the pod and closed the hatch.
"He's up on the ship. We had to transport him."
They didn't ask anymore questions after that. The pod engaged its thrusters and it lifted off the ground and made it's way back safely to the ship.
As the aliens watched the pod leave the planet they knew that their planet was doomed.
After they were cleared through de-con Phlox, Malcolm and Hoshi made their way to sickbay.
"Are you all right Commander?" Malcolm asked as he placed Hoshi on a biobed.
"Yeah, nothing a little r'n'r won't cure." Trip replied as he looked at his injured leg. Phlox moved over and began to scan him. "How bad is it?"
"Like you said Commander, nothing a little r'n'r won't cure. It's only fractured. You'll have to take a few weeks off duty for it to heel."
"Great. A few weeks. I swear I'm gonna kill those aliens." Trip muttered as he put his head in his hands.
"That's not such a good idea Commander. It's the reason they took you prisoner is because they thought we were there to destroy their planet." Hoshi replied. She then look at Malcolm, and smiled at him.
"Hoshi. There's something I need to you."
A slightly confused Hoshi looked into Malcolm's eyes. She tried to read his body language, but he wasn't doing anything that may give a clue as to what he was going to say.
"What is it?" Hoshi asked. Trip looked at Malcolm and smiled, knowing what the man what going to say to her.
"Hoshi… I love you." It was almost like Malcolm had planed that he was going to say those words as it came out so smoothly and quickly.
Hoshi just starred open mouthed. She had never expected anyone to say that… especially Malcolm. She knew he was shy around women, and never really spoke about personal feelings to anyone and now... he had just said he loved her. It took a few seconds for the words to sink in.
Hoshi had no words to respond to Malcolm's. They just kept going round and round in her head. 'Malcolm loves me… Malcolm loves me... Malcolm loves me.' and then it sunk in… 'Oh my god!… Malcolm loves me!'... now she was shocked.
Malcolm just couldn't hold back any longer. He gently placed a hand on Hoshi's chin and pulled her face to his, and soon their lips were touching. Hoshi didn't even try and retaliate, she was still a little shocked.
They were both caught up in the moment, not wanting to let it go that they didn't notice who entered.
A certain man with yellow stripes on his shoulders was standing at the door, a little surprised to say the least. He looked at Trip who was just smiling at him, along with Phlox. He silently slipped across the room and over to Trip.
Hoshi and Malcolm gently pulled out of the kiss. Tears were slightly falling down Malcolm's cheek and Hoshi brushed them away with her small, slender hand. She then rested her head on his shoulder and comforted him.
Archer need not to ask Phlox how Hoshi was, all he needed to do was to look at the young woman himself. Knowing Malcolm was with her, he knew she was all right.
A/N: Well that's the end of that story. Phew… Took me a bit of time to figure out how I was going to end it, and I hope I ended it all right.
Thanks for all the reviews… they're what have pushed this story along.
More stories will come soon, so keep watching out… if ya have any suggestions for a story, don't hesitate to tell me… I like a good challenge.