Chapter Twenty-Seven: Warmth
Sweat glistened on Hoshi's body. She stepped off the treadmill and reached for her towel.
"Fancy meeting you here, Hoshi."
Hoshi turned around and glanced at Malcolm. "Hello, Lieutenant."
"Why so formal, Hoshi? We are off duty." He smiled easily. "In fact, I remember clearly, yesterday, you said my name with conviction while you aimed your pistol at me."
"I'm sorry. I don't know…what came over me," Hoshi stuttered.
"You were still hurting. I do, too. He was my closest friend. I can't believe it's been six months."
"Yeah," Hoshi said, softly, forgetting the towel still in her hands.
"So," Malcolm said, breaking the dreadful mood he had created, "I do believe we still had arrangements for your target practice and self-defense."
Hoshi groaned. "No more sessions."
"You can't possibly think you can side-step me and my sessions."
"Why yes I can." Hoshi threw her towel at Malcolm's face.
"Oof," he grunted.
She ran to the gym's exit and almost made it. Suddenly, she was spun around.
"Is that the best you can do?" Malcolm's arms were wrapped around her. He had her hands pinned to her back. "I knew you were getting rusty." He laughed.
Hoshi leaned closer and whispered, "I could escape from you right here, right now. But that would result in my causing injury to a certain 'special' part of your body."
Malcolm blushed. "You would never hurt me, Hoshi."
"Fascinating!"
Malcolm and Hoshi turned and saw Doctor Phlox, grinning.
"Oh," Phlox said. "Don't mind me; carry on." He motioned for them to continue.
Hoshi looked at Malcolm and realized the compromising position they were in.
Malcolm released her and was disappointed at the loss of her warmth.
Hoshi exited the gym.
"Don't forget your practice session tomorrow!" Malcolm called after her.
"Whatever," he heard her mumble. He smirked.
"Now that I'm here," Phlox said. "Would you mind explaining this contraption to me, Lieutenant?"
Malcolm watched as the doctor set the adjustments on the treadmill.
"Oh, dear!"
The doctor ran off the machine.