It had been a week since their romantic interlude and Trip was confused. Every time he asked Hoshi out, she came up with some sort of excuse. At first, he accepted them at face value, but now he knew he had caught her in a lie.

He had been eating breakfast with Jon that morning when Jon brought up the subject of Hoshi. "So how are things going with you and Hoshi?" He asked with an air of curiosity and slight smirk.

Trip froze with a mouthful of eggs almost to his mouth. He couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Starfleet had relaxed their fraternization policies regarding Enterprise and her mission, but he hadn't talked to Jon about dating Hoshi. He had just acted on impulse and let his heart lead him to her. He cleared his throat. "It all depends. Is this the Cap'n talkin' or my friend?"

"Friend first, captain second." Jon nodded then sipped some juice. "As your friend, I am ecstatic for you. As your captain, I am still ecstatic for you just as long as it doesn't interfere with your duties."

Trip let out a pent up sigh and put his fork down. He had been dying to talk to Jon about Hoshi, but hadn't found the right time. "Hoshi's great! Everything is goin' real well," he paused, "or at least I thought it was until I ran into Ensign Cutler on my way here.�

Jon prodded his friend silently to continue.

"Well, whenever I have suggested this past week that we get together, she makes up some sort of excuse. Like the other night, I asked her to dinner. She said she had some translations that you put a priority on, and she didn't have time for dinner. That's the excuse she has been using the last two nights. A few nights before that she wasn't feelin' well. Now, I ain't askin' for any special treatment for my girl, but she's had special translations for the last three nights. Anyway, I asked Hoshi to breakfast this morning and she said she had a workout date with Ensign Cutler. On my way here this morning, I passed Ensign Cutler in the hall and asked her how the workout went. Well, to make a long story short, there wasn't any workout that she knew of. I don't know, Jon, do you think Hoshi's avoiding me or something? Have I done something wrong? The last time we were together, everything was so perfect and now...well...now it seems like it never happened." Trip gasped for breath as he finished his rant and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

Jon could see the pain on his young friend's face. "Uh, Trip, did you say or do anything wrong?"

"What do ya mean?"

"Think Trip. There must be something." Jon prompted.

"What are ya gettin' at?" Trip frowned and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Well, I really didn't want to get involved, seeing as you and Hoshi are both my friends and all..." Jon paused.

Trip folded his napkin and leaned in with interest.

"...But I haven't give Hoshi any extra projects in the last month. Maybe I should check with T'Pol..." Jon startled at the sound of silverware being thrown onto the plate.

"Dammit to hell! She is avoidin' me." Trip's frustration grew.

"Maybe you should talk with her." Jon folded his napkin onto the table.

"I've tried. She just makes excuses." Trip mumbled and bowed his head.

"Well, then you all leave me no other choice." Jon stood and hit the comm. unit.

"I'm on my way, sir," Hoshi answered and glanced at Malcolm across the bridge hoping he would have some sort of clue as to what was going on. He shrugged his shoulders.

She stood at ease. "Sir." Just then, Jon stood and walked past Hoshi stopping long enough to whisper. "I think you owe somebody an explanation." Then he walked out.

Hoshi's face was flush red, and for a linguist, she was at a loss for words.

"Why, Hoshi?" Trip turned toward her but stood still. Obviously something was bothering her and she didn't come to him. Confusion masked his face.

Hoshi squared her shoulders and told her heart to shut up. Now was as good a time as any. She had put this off for far too long anyway. "Why what?"

Trip repeated all of the instances of avoidance in one quick breath. "I love you. You told me you love me. Are you having second thoughts? I just don't understand. Have I done something wrong? Have I..."

"I made a mistake. I don't want to see you anymore." Hoshi whispered the lie and looked past him.

Trip paled at the admission. "W-What?"

She stood there unable to repeat what she had just said.

Trip pounced on her hesitancy. "Why? What is wrong? Is there something the matter? Did somebody say something to ya?"

Hoshi flinched. No, nobody had said anything, but being rumor mill fodder was not her main ambition on this ship.

Trip saw the emotion cross her face. "That's it! Hoshi, darling," he tried to hug her to him but she stood stiff. "Are you worried about those fraternization rules? Because if you are, you need to stop. I've already talked to Jon, and he said that as long as it doesn't interfere with our duties, we're fine, and..."

Hoshi pushed Trip away from her. "It's already affected our duties. How dare you talk to the Captain about us! How humiliating it is to be called in here to the principal's office! I can't believe you would do that...use your influence over me like that." Hoshi's rage had just bubbled to the surface. She straightened her shoulders and walked out. She knew what she had just said was the biggest lie she had ever told, but she kept on walking as the tears poured down her cheeks.

Trip stood there. A picture of his heart shattered into several tiny pieces flashed through his mind, but a tiny sliver of hope sparked. He had seen tears streaming down her face in the reflection of the door.

His mind was set and he knew what he had to do. He was going to win her back no matter the cost. �Pucker up buttercups. Yer goin� for a ride.� He whispered to no one in particular and went to enlist the help of his friends.

TBC

Back to Chapter 7

Pulling Your Leg chapter listing

On to Chapter 9

To Cindy's page

To Main MEG Archive page