Title: Good Intentions
Series: ENT
Rating: T
Code: R/S
Malcolm was late for the party. Upon arrival he noticed that food had been served, drinks poured, and the gift giving was already underway.
Cutler, upon noticing his entrance, immediately went to his side and passed him a glass of champagne. In keeping with the holiday spirit, she was dressed in a red skirt with a red and white snowflake print top. "We couldn't wait any longer to exchange gifts," she explained to him. "But you haven't missed much."
Malcolm thanked her for the drink and took a sip. "I got delayed in the armory. Couldn't get the torpedo array aligned."
"Well, I've saved you a seat." Cutler led him over to the other side of the room where there was a vacant seat beside Hoshi and next to the rest of the senior staff.
Looking at Cutler he accused her silently of planning the seating arrangement.
"Glad you could join us, Malcolm," Archer said breaking the lieutenant's thought.
The tactical officer noted that Archer was seated between T'Pol and Trip, with Porthos laying on the floor by his feet. "Sorry, I'm late, Sir, but I had to tend to something in the Armory."
"Well yer here now," Trip said. "Have a seat. We are about to see what the Ensign Calloway got T'Pol."
Malcolm nodded to his friend, and looking at Hoshi, took his seat beside her. He made note of the communication officer's bright blue pant suit and how well it complimented her. She looked stunning.
"May I ask what purpose the wrapping of the gifts serves?" T'Pol asked the Captain as he deposited the package onto T'Pol's lap. "It seems a waste of resources to cover something and then just throw it away."
"It's suppose to delay the suspense," Trip explained before Archer could reply. The engineer, his gift of alien cheese clutched in his hands, leaned forward so he could see what item Calloway had selected for the Vulcan. "So you don't see the gift itself until the last possible minute. So whatcha waiting for? Open it up?"
"Why do you care what someone has given me?"
"It's just part of the fun. It's kinda nice to see the look on someone's face when they get something they like. Or try and look like they like a gift when inside really they don't like it at all."
Malcolm wondered if he was referring to the cheese.
T'Pol raised one eyebrow and carefully peeled the tape away from the square package.
"You know, it works out better if you just tear it off," Trip suggested. He reached over to demonstrate.
T'Pol batted the engineer's helpful hand away. "If I must participate in this 'tradition' Commander, I prefer to remove the paper in my own way." She looked pointedly at the engineer.
"Well of course. Just trying to help," he said with a shrug of apology.
Turning back to her task, the Vulcan pulled away the green and blue paper to reveal a white box. Lifting the lid off, she looked inside, pulled out a square white piece of material, and held it up for all to see. "It is a piece of cloth," she declared sounding puzzled.
"I think it's a handkerchief," Trip said. "Actually to be more precise, a white lace, embroidered...um...hankie."
"A hankie?"
"It's for, you know blowing your nose, wiping away tears," Trip explained. "My grandmother always told my sisters that a lady never left home without a clean hankie."
"I will endeavor to remember that. Since I don't cry and seldom have to remove bodily fluids from my nasal cavities, perhaps I can use them to kneel on when I meditate."
"See, now you're thinking!" Trip grinned broadly.
T'Pol glared.
Ensign Cutler smiled and clapped her hands together to break the tension. "Now who's next?" She looked over the boxes which had been placed on a large table and selected one. "This one says to Porthos from Crewman Dale Swartz." Liz knelt down beside the dog and let Porthos sniff at the present, then she passed the gift to the Captain.
"Porthos, you must have been a good dog, to have gotten a present," Archer said and beckoned the dog to place his paws on his lap with a pat on his thigh.
Porthos looked intently the package. His nose twitched trying to smell the contents while his tail wagged happily. Soon Porthos' Papa uncovered a blue and red ball, and the dog's tail wagged even faster.
"If you shake it, Captain, it makes a noise," Crewman Dale Swartz said from her position across the room.
Archer shook the toy and a squeaking sound could be heard and he grinned as Porthos barked.
"And it's non-toxic, safe for dogs. I checked it out with Doctor Phlox and everything!" Dale added.
Porthos reached for the toy with his mouth. Archer teased him with it a short while before he finally let the dog have it.
"I'm sure Porthos will enjoy playing with it," he assured the petite blonde woman. If he could, he'd thank you himself. As he can't, I'll thank you for him." Archer, with a broad grin on his face, looked down affectionately at his pet and scratched Porthos' head. "Good, boy."
Crewman Swartz smiled with satisfaction as Porthos lay back down beside the captain and chewed on his present.
"Ah, I guess we need another present." Cutler passed out another gift, which was followed by another until only two more presents remained on the table.
Selecting the large flat one first, she passed it to Malcolm. "Happy Holidays, Malcolm," Liz said.
The Brit took the package, and reading the tag saw that it was from Hoshi. Looking at the communications officer, he smiled. "You shouldn't have gone to the trouble," he said shyly.
"Believe me, it was my pleasure," Hoshi assured him. "Come on open it, I want to see if you like it."
Malcolm smiled nervously, being self-conscious with everyone looking at him, and tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a framed picture underneath.
Looking it over closely, he admired the craftsmanship. He made note of the man and the woman in the picture. The man had a compact build with dark hair, and the woman's dark shiny tresses fell down to her waist. He noted that they bore some resemblance to he and Hoshi.
"It's beautiful," he finally said.
"When I found it, I knew I had to get it for you," Hoshi explained. "The artist told me it was based on some old Xeleedian folklore. See," she pointed at a figure in the picture, "this is a Xeleedian knight and behind him is his lady. In his hand is a sword and he's trying to protect his lady from the...well I guess it's some type of alien dragon."
The tactical officer continued to examine his gift and gently ran his fingers over the surface to feel the surface of the picture.
"They create these pictures by embedding different minerals into a metal plate. When it is heated, only then are the colors revealed," she explained.
"It's a true work of art," Malcolm declared clearly impressed.
"When the Suliban boarded the ship about six months ago, I had to go to your cabin, remember?"
He nodded, how could he forget.
"When I was there, I noticed that walls of your cabin were rather bare."
And I noticed you were rather bare, he thought. It wasn't every day a beautiful woman showed up at his door half naked. Actually, it had never happened to him before.
"It's lovely. I'll treasure it always."
"I'm so glad you like it" Hoshi smiled warmly. "I was a little worried, you might not care for it."
Malcolm smiled warmly at her allaying her fears.
"And the last gift, for Hoshi Sato," Cutler declared and dropped the heavy rectangular package into Hoshi's hands. Looking at Malcolm, Liz winked at the lieutenant.
"Oh, it's heavy," Hoshi noted and then looked at the gift tag. "Oh, Malcolm, imagine us both drawing the other's name!"
Malcolm stole a look at Liz Cutler. Liz looked back, her lips curled up ever so slightly. So it wasn't an accident! They'd been set up by an expert!
Looking back at Hoshi, Malcolm saw that she had taken off the carefully applied wrapping paper, untied the twine, and was now removing the lid on the box.
"Oh, it's a book!" she exclaimed.
"Actually it's a cookbook," Malcolm said. "If I remember correctly, you once told me you liked to cook."
Hoshi giggled and pushing the red twine aside which was still encircling the cookbook, looked at the book's title. "Oh, I do, but this book isn't your ordinary cookbook. Malcolm, do you know what you purchased? Oh this is just too precious!"
"It's a Xeleedian cookbook. The shopkeeper recommended it himself."
"Well I've been studying their language since we got here. The title says: A Sensual Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Prepare a Meal to Catch the Man of Your Dreams."
Malcolm groaned and dropped his head in his hands. He could feel his face was flushed from embarrassment.
Hoshi removed the twine and picking up the book began to thumb through the pages. "Oh my, did you know it was illustrated!?"
"I didn't have time to look inside the book," Malcolm said, his words were muffled by his hands.
"My god, Malcolm, these people must be double-jointed! This is something I'll have to read in more detail. Strictly in terms of cultural understanding, of course."
The Brit groaned again, and snickering could be heard throughout the room.
Hoshi retied the twine around the book and started to place the book back in the box when she noticed some white fabric that had been placed beneath the cookbook. Tucking the book under her arm, she withdrew the white material. Holding it up, she could see it was a long white negligee made of a very fine white fabric which was almost see-through with delicate soft pink embroidery decorating the low neckline. Her mouth formed an 'O' as she admired the nightgown.
"Ah gee, Malcolm, I always thought you'd be one who'd like his woman dressed in leather," Trip snickered.
Trip's comment caused Malcolm to look up. Upon seeing the garment held between Hoshi's fingers and the look of awe on her face, he dropped his head back down into his hands. "I didn't...I don't know how...I'm so sorry..." Malcolm muttered. He prayed when he looked up again he'd find this had been all a dream.
"Don't listen to Trip, Malcolm," Hoshi placed a hand on his shoulder. "I think it's beautiful."
"I'll get you something else as soon as I can," Malcolm vowed. He removed his hands from his face but he refused to look at the other people in the room, instead choosing to focus his gaze on the floor. "Anything you want." Just please let me go back to my quarters and die. Well after I lock Cutler in her cabin for the duration of this voyage.
Leaning toward the Brit, Hoshi placed a soft kiss on his cheek, but before she moved back, she whispered in his ear. "Anything I want, Malcolm?"
"Anything, Hoshi," he whispered.
"My place, midnight, and don't be late."