A/N: Is he actually dead?
"It is the saddest duty of a captain to have to bury one of his crewmates and comrade, especially this one. He has saved our lives multiple times, and he does it without thanks or praise. No one knows much about him, but we all care for him. So we bury him, and pray that he finds rest." Archer said sadly, looking at the faces of his crew. He nodded to Commander Tucker and Doctor Phlox. They closed the lid on the capsule and set it on the launching mechanism that would send him home.
Ensign Jacobsen launched the pod, and everyone watched it disappear in the distance, carrying its passenger home.
"Dismissed" Archer said, turning to Phlox, who was dabbing an eye with a tissue and trying to crack a joke at the same time. Archer grasped Phlox's shoulder. "You did all you could." He said. Phlox nodded and smiled slightly.
The second the first syllable left Archer's lips, Hoshi tore out of the room and down well-known corridors, bursting through a set of doors. "Sorry, the funeral took longer than expected!" She said breathlessly.
"That's fine. I'm just sorry I couldn't be there. After all, I owe that little bugger my life." Malcolm said, rubbing his side where one of Phlox's myriad pets had given its life to help seal the wound and increase blood production.
Hoshi nodded. "At least the knife didn't go too deep. Phlox was worried that it nicked something important. Like your British accent." She said playfully, grabbing the pineapple she kept in Phlox's non-disgusting fridge.
Malcolm laughed shortly before realizing that laughing made his side feel like it was on fire. He groaned slightly, clutching his side and breathing deeply.
Worriedly, Hoshi hurried to Malcolm's side. She tripped slightly and regained her balance, accidentally stepping on one of the cords connected to Malcolm's chest. The computer flatlined again, and Hoshi swore.
"Again?" Malcolm laughed in disbelief before remembering (again) that laughing hurt. Hoshi blushed.
"I never was very graceful..." She said with a shrug.
"You want to know a secret?" Malcolm asked, looking away and reddening slightly..
Hoshi leaned forward in interest. Malcolm looked back at her and grinned slightly.
"Neither was I."
A/N: In case you didn't catch it, the flatline from the end of the last chapter was caused by Hoshi accidentally stepping on one of the cords that monitored Malcolm's vitals
I got the idea for the " crewman's" burial when I watched the episode where Tucker "died" (No real spoilers there). I was thinking the funeral in the beginning would be for one of Phlox's pets. BUT NOPE! 0.0.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!
Read and review, please? =w=?