He kissed him.
Once for Ah'len.
Twice for Kaitaama.
Three times for the desert.
And four, four for Liana with her naive smile.
_____________________________________________
The string quartet moved on to Beethoven as waiters glided
through the crowd dispensing fluted glasses of champagne. Admirals
brushed shoulders with enlisted personnel and scientists as Malcolm Reed
tried to emulate anonymity among the potted palm trees. He self-consciously
sipped his drink and surveyed the hastily prepared reception which served
to announce the imminent departure of Enterprise. Although the entire
room was quite upbeat, there was a particularly boisterous table directly
across from him. Still laughing, a figure in the centre raised
his head and caught Malcolm's eye. Blue eyes met grey and Malcolm found
himself riveted to the spot. The owner of said blue eyes excused himself
with a rather distracted air and made his way over to Malcolm. He held
out his hand, "Trip Tucker, and I don't believe I've had the pleasure of
an introduction."
The wide, utterly glowing smile. The accent, so
unlike anything his ear was attuned to. The butterflies in his stomach
launched into the rhumba. They'd chatted. They'd had a drink.
They'd rushed out together, hand in hand. Behind them, the band played
on.
Civilian dress parties can be dangerous when one is in
Starfleet. Malcolm remembered how years ago a fellow ensign had made
advances on what turned out to be the survival training instructor.
That misadventure had made for a very uncomfortable three weeks in the Himalayas.
The Trip Tucker Malcolm had fallen for had been sporting a dark blue suit
that complemented his eyes. Imagine his surprise when the man's closet
was found to contain a rack of Starfleet uniforms, crisply ironed with red
piping and the rank insignia of commander.
He would have backed away. He'd have buried his feelings
and covered his face in a mask of the upmost propriety. Only the whirlwind
that was Trip Tucker had prevented that. He'd been implored, cajoled
and positively romanced beyond the limits of the shutters that hid his soul.
_______________________________________________
Malcolm kissed him passionately, deeply, marking him as
his own. He finally broke the kiss, brushing his thumb over the abused
lips as he slowly pulled back. Wide, shocked green eyes met his own. Malcolm
quirked a half smile at them as he fully backed away.
_______________________________________________
"Why didn't ya tell me Mal?"
"I.." any rebuttal died as he focused on his
lover. Trip's face was slack and his normally expressive eyes were
dull.
"I've done some stuff I ain't too proud of Mal.
But I always, always tell ya right away." Trip sighed and scrubbed
a hand through his hair before he continued.
"D'ya know what it's like ta have your best friend tell
ya what a good kisser your lover is? I loved you and I loved being
in love with you. Didn't that mean anything to ya?" Trip's use
of the past tense shook Malcolm to his very core. He sat opposite Trip
with his head bowed, knowing he should respond but unsure of what to say.
"I think we should take a break from each other Malcolm." His head
shot up and a protest formed on his lips but Trip had already turned away.
The door slid shut with an air of finality that made Malcolm want to cry.
________________________________________________
His hand reached for the doorbell for the third time that
evening. This time he forced it to press the button. Trip would
know it was him. For the first few months of the mission their nightly
routine had consisted of Malcolm arriving at Trip's door at this time. The
couple would make use of the privacy Trip's larger cabin afforded them until
Malcolm returned unnoticed to his own at 0500.
He rang again, and again until he heard the call to enter.
Trip was seated in his desk chair staring at the stars. His harmonica
lay on the desk and his back was to the door. Music filtered through
the cabin speakers, it was a singer Malcolm had heard Trip accompany on the
harmonica. He stopped inside the door and stood still. The music
surrounded them as the song continued.
"...I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall."
"Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall."
The song ended, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake.
Just as Malcolm was going to begin his prepared speech Trip spoke.
"I lied to Phlox." He kept his back to Malcolm as he continued, "I
also used my rank in a manipulative manner." Malcolm paused at this
revelation, sensing that Trip had more he needed to say.
"Some folks on Earth have made it quite clear to
me that they consider me Enterprise's first officer. I went to Phlox
and said there had been an incident surrounding the away mission you and
Jon were on. I said that in the capacity of the commissioned first
officer I needed ta ask some questions that could pry into medical records.
I said I needed ta know if there had been any medical condition that could've
affected your conduct. God Malcolm, ya don't know how badly I wanted
ya to've been hallucinating 'cause of an allergy or purposefully drugged
or drunk or anything. But he said no. He said anything that happened
was of your own volition." Trip spun in his chair to the point that
Malcolm could see his eyes glistening in the dimly lit room. "I found
out what happened from Jon, if ya wanted ta leave me couldn't ya have told
me that ta my face. God, if Jon didn't know we were together he sure
knows now. I lost it Malcolm. We were just talking about stuff.
We hadn't had a chance to unwind together since the away mission. He,
he was describing it ta me. How the festival was like New Years, how
couples would kiss." Trip began fiddling with his harmonica.
"I asked if there were any attractive aliens that he'd smooched..."
_________________________________
Jon responded negatively but a faint flush could be seen
creeping up his neck. Trip crowed in delight and began tormenting his
friend. "C'mon Cap'n, spill the beans. Ya can't hide this from
me, I've known ya too long!"
"Trip! It wasn't like that, it wasn't an alien."
Trip goggled at this bit of news. "Hoshi!"
"No! What do you take me for Trip?"
"You wound me Jon! Okay I'll just keep guessing.
Rostov? He was the pilot that mission, right? Details, Jon, I
want details."
"Fine, it was Malcolm. He just grabbed me and the
next thing I knew he was laying them on me. I'd have decked him if
I wasn't so shocked. I don't think anyone from Enterprise saw us but
Trip, he's a damn fine kisser! He does this thing with his tongue where...you
okay?"
Trip looked positively ashen. He set his drink on
the table and Jon was alarmed to see that his hands were shaking. "Malcolm
kissed you?"
"Yes Trip, do I need to call the doc? You really
don't look so good."
"Malcolm kissed ya more than once?" Trip's voice
was raised. Porthos started from where he had been sleeping on the
bed.
"That's what I said Trip, now what's going on?"
Trip jumped out of his chair as if it contained a scorpion.
"GODDAM IT WHAT IN THE HELL IS HE TRYING TA PULL HOW COULD HE DO THAT TO
YA?" Porthos sat up and began to howl along with Trip's tirade.
"HE'D BETTER HAVE A DAMN GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS AND WHY HE DIDN'T TELL
ME SOONER." Jon got to his feet and laid a hand on his friend's arm.
"Easy Trip, easy. Why don't you tell me what's going
on."
Trip turned to look at his friend and Jon was shocked
to see unshed tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry Jon, I gotta go. Trip
spoke softly before he turned and fled from the room.
_________________________________
The harmonica slipped from his grasp and clattered on
the desk. "I didn't tell Jon 'cause you asked me not to. Do you
have any idea how hard it was to hide 'us' from him. I've never, ever,
kept something from him, we're supposed to trust each other. After
this he'll probably never trust me the same way again. You're a real
trip, you know that Malcolm. One blow and you've taken my heart and
my best friend. I guess that's what you tactical guys are good at."
Malcolm's stoic reserves were at their end and he couldn't
stay quiet any longer. "I'm sorry Trip, I really am and I have a lot
I have to say because..."
"Don't" The interruption was soft but effective.
"I can't take this yet Malcolm. You had two weeks, two whole weeks
after the away mission to say something but you didn't."
"Trip, I..."
"Just go."
So he went.
____________________________________
It was 1300 hours two days later. Malcolm had just
entered the mess hall when he felt a hand at his elbow gently but firmly
guiding him into the captain's mess. The door shut behind them and
the captain rounded on him, cold fury in his eyes. "Am I to presume,
Mr. Reed, that you were in an established relationship with Commander Tucker
at the time of the away mission?"
Malcolm gulped, the Adam's apple bobbing in his throat.
"Yes Sir. I apologize for my conduct I..." The captain
cut him off.
"I didn't take up the matter earlier because you've been
a perfect officer the rest of the time but god help me Malcolm, if Trip keeps
hurting because of you, you'll be off this ship so fast you won't know what
hit you." Jon scrutinized the face of his armoury officer before he
continued. "Why Malcolm?"
"Sir?"
"Why did you do that to him? Do you have any idea
how badly you've hurt him?"
"I didn't do it to hurt Trip. That was never a conscious
intent on my part. I just... I can't explain it to you but I don't
want 'us' to be over."
"Then you'd damn well better tell him that, and soon."
Malcolm lowered his gaze to the floor, unable to meet
his superior's eyes. "But, I'm not really comfortable expressing my
emotions. Now in particular."
"Then I suggest you get 'comfortable,' for Trip's sake.
And your own." The door closed behind him as the captain strode out.
Malcolm took a seat at the empty table and held his head
in his hands as he tried to get a grasp on his tumultuous thoughts.
The only thing that he was certain of danced in the front of his mind.
Trip Tucker was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Their time
together had been the highlight of his otherwise unhappy life.
When he had discovered their mutual postings to Enterprise
he'd been stunned. He'd tried to end the relationship before it truly
got started but Trip wouldn't let that happen. Trip had argued with
a tenacity Malcolm had never seen equalled. He'd methodically shot
down every point Malcolm could make until he found himself agreeing to, in
Trip's words, "Give it a try."
Once Trip had scored that first victory it became clear
he was determined to keep Malcolm. From quick kisses in the turbolift
to a multitude of whispered "I love you"s and footsie at the most inappropriate
of times, Malcolm's ethics had bent under the constant barrage of affection.
The warmth he felt when he remembered his "private" birthday celebrations
could transcend the permanent ache that had marred his soul for the last
two weeks. Now he had to return the favour. Now he had to court
Trip Tucker, to explain what happened and try to have Trip take him back.
But would Trip ever have him again? And that begged the even more pressing
question, how to begin?
___________________________
Trip Tucker was the epitome of professionalism.
The extent of which was so out of character that people were starting to
notice. Malcolm Reed was eating a late lunch in the mess hall with
Travis and Hoshi. He had tried to engage in their friendly banter but
found his mind preoccupied with a certain engineer. He desperately
wished he could discuss his problem with someone but knew that was impossible.
He couldn't let any one else know, not yet, and his tactical sense told him
the captain was barely able to keep from flattening him. He idly wondered
if Trip had talked to the captain about the situation. He doubted he
had. Trip might be a shameless flirt but he was incredibly loyal
when all was said and done. Malcolm hadn't wanted to share before and
Trip would respect that to the end. It must be incredibly hard for
him to have no one to talk to. "Commander!" Malcolm was started
out of his reverie by Hoshi. "Commander, come eat with us." Trip
Tucker walked slowly over to their table, he was carefully balancing a tray
which contained a sandwich and what looked like tomato soup.
Travis grinned when Trip reached them. "Pull up
a chair Sir, we haven't had a chance to chat in ages.
Trip gave what was, in Malcolm's opinion, a rather forced
smile as he responded to the younger crew members. "I'm sorry but I've
gotta get back ta engineering." This statement was followed by the
rather thin excuse, "Plasma's been running a bit hot lately."
Travis tried to mask his disbelief, but failed in his
response. "But you've been cooped up in there for days Sir. I
haven't seen you on the bridge at all." That, Macolm interjected mentally,
is because I'm there.
"Couldn't an ensign or Lieutenant Hess look into it Sir?"
Hoshi added, helpful as always. "You do have crew under your command."
"Yes, and that includes the three of you so I've gotta
go. Ensigns." Trip nodded his head before adding "Lieutenant" as he
performed an about face and exited the room.
"That," said Travis, "was weird."
"Any idea what's wrong with him. He's been...distant
lately." Travis shook his head at Hoshi's question and Malcolm tried
to play it cool. A cool he nearly lost at her next comment.
"One of us should talk to him, try to see what's wrong."
"Good idea, shall we draw straws or what?"
"No!" They both turned to him, surprised at his
outburst . "I mean, I know him best. I'll do it." The two
ensigns shared a glance before Travis spoke up.
"When?"
"After my shift today." They nodded, appeased, and
lunch continued.
__________________________________
Misaligned targeting scanners had kept Malcolm in the
armoury until well after the end of his shift. It was 1900 hours when
he finally made his way into engineering. He tried to remain undetected
as he scouted around in search of clues that could tell him the whereabouts
of the Chief Engineer. It wasn't too long before he had a partial answer.
At Trip's workstation was a sandwich, minus a corner,
and a bowl of cold soup with an immaculate soupspoon. Malcolm
sighed and collected the tray. He dumped the food down the disposal
chute and took the tray with him as he left engineering. He could drop
it at the mess hall on his way to Trip's quarters.
Once again Malcolm found himself ringing Trip's door chime.
This time the door didn't open. Malcolm hadn't really expected it to.
Well he was chief of security for a reason. In 45 seconds flat the
door to Trip's quarters slid softly open. Malcolm scanned the room,
he took in the largely uneaten dinner on the desk and the uniform draped
over the back of the chair before his gaze settled on the room's sole occupant.
Trip Tucker was reading a book. A real book, leather
bound with paper pages, it looked positively ancient. He set it beside
himself on the bed and Malcolm glimpsed the piece of paper that served as
a bookmark. It looked as though it had come with the book and someone
had written on it in careful, even script. "Charlie- 'Dream as if you'll
live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow.' " Good advice James
Dean, thought Malcolm as he dragged his eyes up from the book. Here
goes nothing.
"We need to talk." Trip's face was sallow, it looked
to Malcolm like he'd lost weight.
"I'm fine Malcolm, I don't need ya."
"Come on Trip, we know both know your definition of 'fine'
is comparable to mine. You're not fine Trip. You're shut off
from the crew, you haven't been eating and if I know you, you've probably
been drinking."
"Oh, and you're fine?" Trip snorted, "Then I'm glad I
meant oh so much to ya."
"That's not what I meant Trip, you know that."
"Then what exactly did you mean Malcolm?" The blue
eyes were lit with a hostile intensity.
"Can we start over?"
Trip wouldn't give an inch. "To what are you referring?
This conversation? I suppose so. Us? I don't think so."
Malcolm's heart sank with the last statement but he would work with whatever
he was given. He removed the uniform from the chair and sat down. He
carefully looked Trip in the eyes.
"I think I have some explaining to do."
Trip couldn't remain calm any longer. "You're damn
right, and that's probably the last thing we're gonna agree on. What
d'ya expect me ta do?" He pitched his voice in a falsetto as he quoted
some arcane source. "Loosie, ya got some 'splanin' to dooo! And then
what? It's all fine and dandy?"
The bite of Trip's sarcasm was underscored by the pain
that could be seen in his eyes. "No Trip, it's not fine. Not
right away. Please let me try to make it better. Let me, let
me do what I should have done a long time ago." Trip looked at him
warily before giving an almost imperceptible nod. Malcolm breathed
a silent sigh of relief before he prepared himself to continue.
"Trip, I kissed the Captain on the away mission."
"Multiple times." Trip wasn't going to make this
easy.
"It was an isolated incident."
"It was my best friend!"
Malcolm forced himself to continue calmly. "And
it will never happen again." Trip snorted. "I'm deeply sorry,
I never wanted to hurt you or end the relationship. I was jealous of
you." Trip's head snapped up and he looked at Malcolm, really looked,
for the first time that evening. Malcolm kept going and the words started
to come out of him in a rush. "I'm jealous of you in so many ways.
Your family is wonderful and Jonathan Archer is the perfect best friend.
Mark was never a friend like that, he tolerated my presence because I could
tutor him so he'd get better grades. My family never loved me like
yours does, you're surrounded by love Trip Tucker and you don't know how
lucky you are. It seems like there hasn't been an away mission
where you haven't been snogged senseless. Ah'len got you pregnant,
Liana you kissed and Kaitaama you tell me you just kissed but I found you
in your skivvies. It seems like something always comes between us Trip.
We had that special day off together planned and then you take off into the
desert with the captain. You scared me to death that day Trip, then
I found you sheltered under the captain's body. It was him you reached
out to when we maneuvered through their defence grid, his hand you tried
to hold." Malcolm paused and took a long, shuddering breath.
"Then I was on an away mission and so was he and we were surrounded
by snogging. So I kissed him and as I did that was what
filled my mind. Ah'len, Liana, Kaitaama and Jon, not that I hate
you Trip, not that I wanted to end it. I was jealous Trip, of him and
of you. I'm so bloody neurotic Trip."
Trip tried his best to understand Malcolm's admission.
"So it was revenge? Ya know those events didn't mean anythin'."
"Yes. No. I don't know."
"Well what is it Mal?"
Malcolm's heart leapt at the use of his nickname and he
rushed to continue. "I know I said they didn't bother me, but I think
they did. You know just how many failed relationships I have behind
me." Trip, remembering the incident in the shuttlepod, grunted an affirmative.
"They all left me Trip, every last one of them. And they always left
me for another person that I couldn't compete with. I guess I had trouble
convincing myself you wouldn't too. To me, each one of those was the
beginning of the end. I just don't think I could take being left again.
"So you tried to leave first?"
"I didn't want it to be over, but if it was I wanted it
to be my choice for once. I wasn't really thinking straight Trip."
"Well that's fer sure. Malcolm, I was never going
to leave ya. I never wanted ta for a second."
"I know Trip, I'm sorry. I'd been harbouring these
doubts for so long that when I was on that away mission with someone else
you care about and everyone started snogging I couldn't help it, I
just acted on impulse." Malcolm made sure he had Trip's full attention
before he continued. "Could we start over. Really start 'us'
over?"
"I'm not sure it's a good idea Malcolm." He sighed,
"I've been in Starfleet for over 12 years and I'd never misused my authority
before. I'd always worked so hard to be the model officer, I guess
I have a lot ta prove in that arena." He paused and moved on the bed
so he was sitting up straighter. "D'ya know why I'm a commander Malcolm?"
"No, I did wonder though as we're almost the same age."
"It's 'cause of the engine ya know. When I was still
a cadet it was a given that I'd be an engineer. I was recruited to
the warp five project fresh from the graduation ceremony. When I got
there, some didn't take so kindly ta my presence. People had spent
their entire careers on that engine, and now they were supposed to listen
to what I had ta say. They called me 'the kid', drowned me out at meetings
and sent me ta get the coffee. I remember the night the engine first
worked. We had it set up for a final test, I was manning the coolant
intakes, Duvall had plasma and Johnson was doin' somethin' with the dilithium.
Even Jon was there as an observer. Only problem was, it wasn't goin'
so hot. No one knew what ta do differently 'cause they had expected
it ta work. Everyone had stepped back from their panels but me, I reached
over and made a routine adjustment. That's when it happened."
Trip seemed to glow at the memory. "It lit up like a Christmas tree
and this beautiful thrumming filled the room. The floor was shaking
and everybody was jumping and laughing and frantically scanning readouts.
There was this admiral in charge of the test and I heard him call out
my name. I went over and the next thing I knew he was pinning a new
pip on my uniform. It was an instant promotion Malcolm, years ahead
of schedule. He saluted and told me he'd been waiting for years ta
do that ta the person who got the engine ta work. Jon took me out drinking
to celebrate, that's when we became friends." The grin that had become
established on his face slowly faded as he returned to the present.
"The thing is Malcolm, I didn't do anything. The engine just chose
that moment ta kick in. I tried to explain it ta them but they didn't
want ta admit a mistake so I kept the promotion. But Malcolm, this
whole rank in a sham. I shouldn't be a commander at all." Trip
dropped his gaze to his hands as he continued. "Since then I've tried
so hard to show them I can do it. I tried so hard to be a good officer,
to earn my position. Now look what I've done. It's what ya do
ta me Malcolm, I'd never been in love like that before. I was so sure
that 'us' was a good idea but now I dunno."
"Then, as you once said," Malcolm put on his best
southern drawl, " 'let me convince ya'."
Trip looked up, he seemed unsure but Malcolm was certain
there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I can't live like this Malcolm,
always uncertain. I was sure it was over but now...please don't toy
with me."
"Give me one week."
"What?"
Malcolm leaned across Trip's desk. "Give me one
week to show you that 'us' is a good thing."
Trip seemed to consider the idea for a prolonged amount
of time. Finally he nodded.
_________________________________________
He exited Trip's quarters and was almost bowled over by
Jonathan Archer. The captain was in the middle of a walk with Porthos
and it was clear he had intended to stop at Trip's. The captain looked
searchingly into his face and Malcolm felt himself flush under the intense
scrutiny. Malcolm knew he looked terrible and he guessed it was still
evident that he'd been crying. "You talked to him?" Malcolm could
only nod.
"Right, let's go." With that Malcolm found himself
being steered by the captain through Enterprise's corridors. They paused
briefly at the door to the captain's quarters as he pressed in the code before
ushering Malcolm in first. Malcolm gratefully sank into the chair that
the Jon indicated as the captain went to place food out for Porthos.
Malcolm was still glumly sitting when Jon returned and thrust a glass of
scotch into his hands. The captain settled in a chair where he had
a clear view of his armoury officer. "Trip's always said I'm a good
listener. I'm willing to look beyond what happened on the away mission
and listen to you. But it better sound like something that will help
Trip."
Malcolm took a deep swig of his drink before he met his
captain's gaze. Slowly, hesitantly, he began to speak. Once he
began, he found it hard to stop. Jon didn't interrupt him save to refill
his drink. When he finally trailed off the captain regarded him in
silence for a moment before speaking.
"Looks like you need a plan."
_____________________________________
Romance. The whole concept was something that positively
baffled Malcolm. Affection was not prevalent in the Reed household,
indeed, public displays of affection had been frowned upon when he was a
child. This had left him totally unprepared for the complex world of
dating that awaited him. Malcolm had gone through what he understood
to be the expected motions of Valentines Day, but his efforts always fell
short somehow. Now he sat in the mess hall, sipping lukewarm tea and
despondently surveying the pad in front of him.
Mission: The Romancing of Trip
Duration: 7 days
Known Obstacles: Should be considered a hostile target. May try
to thwart plans.
Known Weaknesses of Target:
-Penchant for pecan pie
-Enjoys sentimental movies, particularly those with Ingrid Bergman (esp.
Casablanca).
-Often works past end of shift. Predictable behaviour when engines
aren't running smoothly.
-Probably still has feelings for me.
Methods of Assault:
-footsie?
He sighed and erased 'footsie'. It was well into
day one and he had yet to make any definite plans. For the first time
in his life Malcolm was having trouble filling out a standard tactical analysis,
partly because he had a sinking feeling that this was not the way he should
be approaching his problem.
Malcolm pondered on, oblivious to the attention his woebegone
demeanour was drawing.
"What's eating him?"
"I don't know, but he's been there for at least an hour."
"Time to act?"
"I think so. Just try to keep him from getting defensive."
"Play it cool?"
"Exactly."
They sauntered over. "Lieutenant."
"May we join you?"
"Hoshi...Travis, of course." He noted they appeared
to have already eaten. "Is something the matter?"
"We were hoping you could tell us." Hoshi groaned
and suppressed the urge to blurt out a 'great job Travis.' Tact was
crucial when talking to the reticent lieutenant.
"I'm fi.." He couldn't bring himself to say it this
time. After a pause Malcolm decided to take one of the greatest risks
of his life. He opened up. "Howdoyouwinsomeoneback?" The
words came out in a rush.
Hoshi and Travis tried to mask their surprise. It
was Hoshi that recovered first. "That depends. Who is it?"
"I can't exactly say." It didn't matter, she hadn't
really been expecting a straight answer.
"Well at least tell us what happened." Over his
initial shock, Travis was eager to help.
"I did something... unfortunate."
"As in stupid?" Hoshi glared at Travis.
"Yes." Malcolm blushed slightly. He imagined
their faces if he'd said 'As in snogging the captain senseless.'
Ignoring Hoshi's warning glances, Travis plowed ahead.
"Just how stupid are we talking here?"
"Really quite imbecilic."
"Sounds like it's time for drastic measures. Sweep
them off their feet, show them what they're missing."
Malcolm turned to Hoshi as the voice of practicality.
"Don't do anything too forward yet. Kissing is out. That should
be left until it can be mutual." Malcolm nodded. "Other than
that I can't say more without knowing the person." At Malcolm's
standoffish look she relented. "I'm sure you'll do just fine.
Be yourself Malcolm, how can they resist?" Malcolm managed a weak smile.
The ensigns stood. "We're due on the bridge soon,
I'll talk to you later?" Malcolm nodded at Hoshi's subtle question.
Hoshi was already across the mess hall as Travis, smirking,
turned to Malcolm. "Go get 'em Tiger!" Malcolm groaned, wondering
just what he'd unleashed on an unsuspecting bridge crew.
_____________________________________
Day one was fast drawing to a close and Malcolm knew some
gesture was expected. The more he thought about it, the more Hoshi's
advice made sense. If he was trying to convince Trip they should be
together, shouldn't he just show him what it could be like? Sure, they
had been a couple for quite some time, but in light of recent events Trip
would probably need a reminder of how nice it had been. Besides, he'd
always been the more passive partner in the relationship. It was Trip
who spent time planning things for them to do together and Trip who had instigated
every little impropriety they'd committed. He felt himself flush at
the memory of the snogging, not to mention fondling, that had occurred in
the turbolift.
He dragged himself away from the memories and used his
console to access the engineering status report. If the engines weren't
up to scratch he knew one gesture that would definitely be appreciated.
____________________________________
It had been a long day for Trip Tucker. While the
rank of chief engineer was high, the job still entailed crawling around in
cramped spaces. He stretched in an attempt to remove some of the knots
in his lower back before he made his way to his console. A malfunctioning
plasma injector, misaligned warp coils and gravity plating on the fritz
had made for a tiring day. Not to mention the fact that he still had
a good hour of paperwork left. He entered the alcove that served as
an office and stopped dead. Carefully arranged on his desk was a slice
of pecan pie, fork balanced on the side of the plate, and a thermos.
He crossed his fingers and unscrewed the lid of the thermos. The aroma
of hot coffee filled his nostrils. He inhaled deeply. Heaven.
_____________________________________
The next four days were filled with similar gestures.
Malcolm found the whole time span to be rather frustrating. No matter
what he did, no matter how hard he tried, Trip wouldn't give any indication
of his feelings. Malcolm could just hope he was on the right track
and try to increase the intensity.
_______________________________________
Although technically off duty until 1300 hours, Malcolm
made his way to the situation room for an early senior staff meeting.
He took a seat between T'Pol and the captain, strategically placing himself
across from Trip's chair. Trip finally arrived, offering news of a
near calamity in engineering to explain his tardiness, and the meeting got
underway. T'Pol was beginning what was sure to be a tedious monologue
on spacial anomalies so Malcolm buried his ideas about propriety and carefully
slipped his right foot out of its boot. He paused, unsure. Although
he'd eventually become a willing participant, he'd never initiated this action
before. Malcolm tried to look nonchalant as he carefully extended his
leg under the table. His foot came in contact with a clothed shin and
the slight start that Trip gave assured him he had the right person.
He began gently stroking the lower part of Trip's leg, sliding up the shin
to the knee, around the outside and then running back down the calf.
Malcolm kept this up for the duration of T'Pol's report but was dismayed
at the lack of response. Trip didn't so much as glance in his direction.
The doctor began a short briefing on a vaccine he wanted to administer, a
sure sign that the meeting was winding down. Resigned, Malcolm was
about to return his foot to its boot when he felt it. A slow, deliberate
stroke down his left leg.
_______________________________________
There was a definite spring in his step as he walked back
to his quarters. He quickly keyed in his code and entered. An
odd splash of colour on his desk caught his eye. There was a bottle
of red wine with a padd propped against it. He activated the padd and
one sentence came up. "Excellent with catfish." Malcolm grinned
and moved on to his desk console where a new message was flashing.
It had been sent to both himself and the galley and read, "Chef, Lieutenant
Reed may need to make some special requests of the galley tomorrow.
I hope you will be able to accommodate them. Sincerely, Captain Archer."
Malcolm's grin widened, that was probably the closest the captain had ever
come to issuing chef an order. He sat down and began to plan day 7
with renewed vigour.
_________________________________________
When Trip Tucker arrived in engineering the next morning
he found a new message flashing on his console. Curious, he called
it up immediately. The message was short, "Dinner, 1830" followed
by a string of numbers that could only be Malcolm's door code.
_________________________________________
At exactly 1830 hours Trip stood outside Malcolm's door.
He wiped his slightly sweaty palms before reaching to key in the access code.
The door slid open to reveal the interior of the room. The furniture
had been re-arranged and a table brought in. He scanned the room, trying
to take in the changes until something caught his eye. Malcolm, sitting
at the far side of the table, wearing the same black shirt as when they'd
first met, flashed a tremulous smile at him. Trip stepped into the
room and the door slid shut. The table was set for two, catfish occupied
a place of honour in the centre amongst dishes of vegetables. Two long
blue candles, a direct violation of safety protocols, flickered from alongside
the fish. A full glass of wine was set out at each place. Malcolm
remained sitting as Trip took another step forwards. The empty chair
beckoned to him, the picture of everything he had dreamed of from the moment
he set eyes on Malcolm Reed. He became aware of the music that was
softly filtering from the room's speakers. It was a very familiar Beethoven
piece, String Quartet No. 9. To some it might appear to be an odd choice
for the couple, but it had always seemed like 'their' song.
They ate in silence, savouring the moment together.
__________________________________________
Malcolm lay firmly ensconced in Trip's embrace, Casablanca
playing on the video monitor. He shifted slightly and Trip's arms tightened
around him. A soft kiss was bestowed on the top of his head. There
was still a lot left to be said, but it was looking like a happy ending.