Chapter Fourteen: Surprise
"Be careful, darling," Trip warned Hoshi. She was blindfolded as he guided her to their destination. "Okay, you can take off the blindfold now."
"Trip," Hoshi started. "What are we doing in Shuttlepod One?"
"It's a surprise," Trip answered. "Just a little something to celebrate our three month anniversary."
"Wait a minute," Hoshi began. "Charles Tucker! If you think we're spending our three month anniversary in some shuttlepod, which has gotten you stranded on certain occasions, then you will be celebrating this day on your own!"
"Aww, darling." He gave her a pitiful look. "Now, I spent a whole lotta trouble trying to get this day planned out for the both of us, and let me tell you, it wasn't easy."
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"Trip," Archer began. "Isn't it enough I left you two alone? Now this? Next thing you'll be asking is to run the ship, with Hoshi as your commander."
"But, Captain…" Trip pleaded. "It's a special day for me and Hoshi. I wanna do something for her, but somewhere away from the ship. It'll only be for one hour."
"Trip."
"I'll do anything you want, Captain, I swear! I'll work non-stop in engineering, or how about I fix up that chair of yours, maybe even put some of that fancy stuff I thought of before?"
"No, not the chair," Archer groaned. "How about something you don't do or haven't done already?"
"I know! I can walk Porthos for you." Trip was desperate.
Archer paused. "How about cleaning after Porthos, bathing him, and feeding him, along with those walks you mentioned?"
"Deal," Trip said automatically.
"For a month," Archer added.
"Umm…Captain…"
"Trip, do you actually think Hoshi will appreciate spending her anniversary working overtime on the bridge?"
Trip sighed. "Okay, it's a done deal."
"By the way, Trip. Please don't give Porthos too much cheese. He loves it, but it gives him runs. I don't think you'll like picking up after that."
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Hoshi looked at Trip. "Fine," she said in defeat.
"Thanks, darling." Trip smiled. "Now buckle up."
"Oh, Trip…"
"Yeah."
"Don't strand us anywhere, okay?"