An Unexpected Attraction - Part 4
See Part 1 for heading/disclaimer information.
*Malcolm*
I woke up
in heaven. I knew it was heaven, because there was an angel in my arms. I
tightened my arms around my new lover and spent a few minutes just looking at
him. His features were relaxed in sleep and there was a big smile on his
face. I hoped he was dreaming about me. I pressed a soft kiss on his forehead
and wondered if Trip would be horrified to know just how deeply I felt for
him.
I'd been
deliberately casual about starting a sexual relationship, because I thought he
might be overwhelmed if I started professing my undying love for him. I'd been
frightened that I'd ruined our current relationship after proposing a more intimate
one, but in the end, he'd agreed to try. I knew that he'd never been with a
man in the physical sense before, and was worried that he'd decide it wasn't
something he wanted. But he'd responded more favorably than in the most wild
dreams I've had about him. I was spoiled for anyone else.
Trip
mumbled something in his sleep and clutched at me briefly, acting out some
dream sequence. I savored the feeling of finally being in his arms for a bit
longer, but a glance at the clock told me I needed to move. I disengaged
myself carefully, not wanting to disturb Trip's sleep, but as I got out of bed,
his eyes fluttered open.
"Malcolm?
You leaving?" His voice was deliciously husky.
"It's
nearly 0400. I need to get back to my quarters before the early risers are up
and about," I explained briefly, picking up my clothes from last night and
getting dressed.
A frown
crossed Trip's face, and he pushed himself up to a sitting position.
"Oh. Yeah, okay." He was still sleepy, but smiled up at me when I
leaned in for a goodbye kiss.
"Mmmm,
nice." He yawned briefly. "Sorry. So, you wanna do this
again?"
"Oh,
definitely." As if he could keep me away. "We'll talk
later?" He nodded and yawned again, sinking back down on the bed.
"'Night,
Malcolm. You were right, it *was* fun. Thanks." He was almost asleep
again, eyelids drooping. I bent down and gave him one last gentle kiss.
"Thank
*you*," I murmured in his ear. I left his quarters cautiously and nearly
floated down the empty corridor.
***
*Trip*
I musta
fallen back asleep before Malcolm was out the door. And in the usual fashion
of galactic payback, I overslept and barely had time to grab a shower and get
dressed before high-tailing it to Engineering. And I was still 10 minutes
late, a fact that amused Hess all morning.
Rostov
earned himself some brownie points by bringing me some coffee and a cinnamon
roll. And just when I was getting ready to wander on up to the bridge, I
heard a muted pop, then a sizzle, and caught a brief glimpse of sparks and
smoke before alarms began sounding and Enterprise abruptly dropped out of
warp.
"Archer
to Engineering. What's going..."
I had
already been headed for the comm panel and interrupted the Captain's tirade
with one of my own.
"Tucker
here. We're on it Cap'n. If it's what I think it is, we'll be at impulse-only
for awhile. Couple a hours at least. I'll let you know. Tucker out." I
spit the words out in a rush, my attention focused on the crew removing the
component panels covering the equipment that was no longer sparking but had
resorted to hissing and issuing copious amounts of smoke.
"Get
that locked down. Turn off the power feed to that whole section. Take the
manifolds off-line. Let's go!" I sent my team scurrying to carry out my
orders so we could safely get a look at the problem. As we started in on what
promised to be a very long, exhausting day, I swore I could hear the universe
laughing at me.
It was
probably just Hess.
***
*Malcolm*
I had
resisted the urge to stop by Trip's quarters on my way to breakfast. I was
determined to let him set the pace of this new facet to our new relationship.
But both Travis and Hoshi commented that I seemed a bit out of sorts this
morning. It wasn't until I had spread marmalade on my pancakes instead of
peanut butter, that I realized my entire attention was riveted on the mess hall
door, waiting for Trip to appear. Hoshi's eyes flicked down to my plate and
back up to my face as she grimaced slightly. I bravely took a bite and choked
it down with what I thought was a rather convincing show of enjoyment.
"Felt
like a change this morning. It's quite good. Would you like some?" I
offered politely.
Both
ensigns shuddered and shook their heads. I shrugged and ate another mouthful
without gagging too noticeably. But my diversionary ploy had worked, neither
one was paying my meal any more attention. I abandoned the abominable
pancakes, picked up my mug, and let their conversation flow over me as I wondered
where Trip was. I firmly tamped down any thoughts that he might be having
regrets after all and was avoiding me. Again.
I'd been
sure I'd find Trip on the bridge, but after several hours into the shift, he
still hadn't appeared. I was starting to run through scenarios in my head,
looking for a plausible excuse to go down to Engineering when the entire ship
shuddered violently and alarms began sounding as Enterprise, without warning,
dropped to impulse. I was quickly occupied with my own duties, but the sound
of Trip's voice over the comm reassured me. Trip was in his element and my
universe clicked back into place.
Trip's
estimate of the time needed for repairs turned out to be nearly eight hours too
optimistic. I'd stopped by briefly at lunch time, but Engineering had been a
madhouse, and I had had no wish to interrupt the carefully orchestrated chaos.
I waited
until the repairs were finished before venturing back. Everyone looked
completely worn out, none more so than Trip himself. I found him in his
office, slumped over his desk, head in his hands. At first I thought he was
sleeping, despite his precarious posture, but he lifted his head when I entered
the small room.
"Hey,
Malcolm."
"You
look positively knackered." I told him bluntly. Trip smiled wearily and
flopped back in his chair.
"It's
been a hell of a day. Shoulda known something was up when I overslept. Barely
made it here, then the damned plasma coolant manifolds decide to
self-destruct." He paused, shaking his head and chuckling ruefully.
"And
here I was wondering whether you sabotaged your engine for an excuse to avoid
seeing me." I think I'd intended my comment to be humorous, but Trip's
head jerked around and he pinned me to the wall with his eyes.
"Is that
what you thought? That I was avoiding you? Because of... because of last
night?" I found I couldn't speak and I couldn't look away, so I closed my
eyes. I heard him sigh and the creak of the chair as he got up. When I
finally re-opened my eyes, Trip was directly in front of me, his face only a
few inches from mine.
"I was
not avoiding you, Malcolm. Do ya hear me? Not. No regrets, either."
His huge yawn destroyed the serious atmosphere that he'd built up, leaving us
both with smiles on our faces.
"Look,
I'm beat. I'm gonna do one final check here then go hit the sack. How about I
meet you for breakfast in the morning? Wait, no, scratch that, I'm supposed to
have breakfast with the cap'n tomorrow. Lunch, how about lunch? 1200?"
"Lunch
would be fine. Do you need any help here?" I knew the answer, but had to
offer anyway.
"Nah,
we're all done here 'cept for the postmortem. That'll wait 'til
tomorrow." We were walking out into main engineering and Trip stopped to
poke his head into an open panel, the charred cover of which lay off to one
side.
"Have
a good evening, Commander. I'll see you tomorrow," I said, conscious of
the presence of others as I continued on my way out.
"Sure
thing, Malcolm. See ya later," Trip's voice was muffled, what with his
head still being inside the wall. I chuckled to myself as I made my way to my
own quarters.
***
*Hoshi*
I can't put
my finger on it, but there's been something odd about Commander Tucker lately.
At first I'd thought the Captain was giving him a hassle about that silly video
I'd made, but that's not it. It started before that. He was so tense and
moody, everyone noticed it, even T'Pol asked me if I thought the Commander was
ill. He'd started isolating himself in engineering a few days before the
engine problems happened. I was just getting ready to try and talk to him,
when he showed up with a big grin and was his same cheerful self again. If I
didn't know better, I'd say he's in love. Warp engine maintenance as therapy, perhaps?