Gigi Sinclair

With a final kick, Malcolm abandoned the punching bag and headed for the showers. For some reason, his usual routine hadn't challenged him today, and he'd barely broken a sweat. Malcolm didn't worry too much about it. As Trip would say, he'd been eating his Wheaties. He'd barely skipped any meals lately, and apparently that was paying off.

As he headed into the showers, Malcolm nearly walked into two entwined figures. He took a step back and was about to automatically excuse himself when he noticed that the figures were Cole and Money, and they weren't exactly discussing tactics.

Malcolm tried not to stare too overtly as he squeezed by the women, even though they looked too preoccupied with each other to pay much attention to him. No wonder Trip hadn't got anywhere with her, Malcolm thought, smirking.

The smirk dropped off his face when Malcolm stepped into the shower stall and saw Sergeant Kemper on his knees in front Corporal Chang. Malcolm's jaw dropped, and he couldn't take his eyes off the scene long enough to close it again. As Chang ran his hands through Kemper's blond brushcut, Kemper sucked, bracing his hands on Chang's hips as Chang thrust into his mouth.

Malcolm couldn't breathe. This was insane. He had to get out of there.

Using all of his willpower, Malcolm turned around, only to find the exit blocked by a naked Major Hayes, who had one arm around the equally naked Corporal McKenzie, while Corporal Hawkins nibbled on Hayes's neck.

Hayes grinned widely as Malcolm gaped, and shifted one hand downwards to squeeze McKenzie's breast. "Good afternoon, Lieutenant."

Malcolm could feel his face burning, but he still made an effort to sound cool and collected as he replied, "Major Hayes. I'm afraid I may have interrupted something."

"No interruption." Leaning over, Hayes kissed Hawkins for a long moment, then turned back to Malcolm. "This is how we spend a lot of our downtime. It's so important to really understand the people on your team, wouldn't you agree, Lieutenant?"

Hayes stepped away from his teammates, and Malcolm was vaguely aware of McKenzie and Hawkins embracing. He was too preoccupied by the ever-advancing Hayes to watch as the two corporals began to thoroughly examine each other against the shower wall.

Malcolm suspected what was going to happen a second before he did. He didn't stop it. Instead, he stood immobile as Hayes closed the final gap between them and kissed him.

And kept kissing him until, entire of its own accord, Malcolm's mouth opened and, without any conscious effort whatsoever, his tongue slid into Hayes's mouth and his hand slid down to Hayes's ass.

***

"Lieutenant Reed?" Malcolm's eyes slid open at the sound of a cheerful, insistent voice somewhere nearby. "Ah, Lieutenant Reed." Malcolm blinked, trying to clear his vision, andfound himself looking at a blurry Dr. Phlox standing at his bedside.

"Doctor?"

"Good morning. I believe you'll be quite satisfied with the way I handled the ship's security while you were asleep."

"Asleep?" Malcolm repeated, feeling like he was about two beats behind the pervading rhythm.

"Yes. Don't worry, the fuzziness will wear off in a few minutes. I believe Captain Archer is expecting you on the bridge as soon as you're ready."

"Captain Archer?" Malcolm struggled into a sitting position as Phlox said,

"I'm afraid I must leave you, Lieutenant. The crew won't wake themselves up."

Of course not. Malcolm shook his head and cleared a few of the cobwebs. Phlox had knocked them all out while they crossed a particularly dangerous stretch of the Expanse. Malcolm had been asleep for several days.

And, he remembered, he'd had a number of interesting dreams in that time.

Malcolm felt himself grin sheepishly at the memory of the MACO shower orgy, even as he got off the bed and found a fresh uniform to put on.

Still, it was only a dream. Nothing to be embarrassed about. He'd had more disturbing ones, he reminded himself, especially after that time he and T'Pol had been stuck in decon for three entire cycles, which she decided to spend in deep meditation. A man's mind started to wander when he had nothing to distract him.

As Malcolm arrived on the bridge, Malcolm saw Major Hayes standing off to one side, looking as stiff and immovable as always.

"Lieutenant." Hayes glanced up at him as he passed. "I see you made it."

"Yes." Malcolm allowed himself a small smile. "There are worse ways of spending a few days." It was true. He had been passionately against the idea at first, but, dreams notwithstanding, Malcolm hadn't felt so rested since they'd left Earth the first time.

"Right." Hayes glanced around. "Look, my men were wondering if you might want to join us one evening."

Malcolm's eyes snapped up. "I beg your pardon, Major?"

"We have a regular 1930 training session. Some of the men seem to think you might have something to offer when it comes to technique." Hayes's tone of voice made it clear that he didn't subscribe to this theory. Which meant Malcolm had to say,

"Thank you, Major. I'll certainly consider it."

After all, Malcolm thought, as he rebooted his console and waited for it to warm up, perhaps there was a thing or two he could teach Hayes. Both on and off the mats.

And maybe he'd bring Trip, just in case Cole and Money ended up sparring together.