Gigi Sinclair

"Ah, Professor Higgins. Fancy seeing you here." Hoshi looked up from her fettucini Alfredo as Malcolm, sitting at the next table, greeted Commander Tucker.

"Don't start, Malcolm." Trip slammed his tray down on the table and sat across from the lieutenant. Hoshi had noticed that before about them. No matter how bitterly they fought, they rarely, if ever, walked away from each other. They'd come to blows first. As they had, she'd heard, back when they'd been victims of that obsessive disorder.

"Why? Do you prefer to be known as Mother Teresa?"

"At least I was tryin' to help her. Unlike you and that weapons officer."

"I was helping her, as well." Malcolm leered. "She was very keen to learn about human anatomy."

"Really fucking noble, Malcolm."

Hoshi started a little. Not at the words. She'd been around languages and military men too long to be shocked by anything she heard and, anyway, in the foul-language department, Trip had nothing on her petite, Hello Kitty collecting cousin Mariko. It was the tone that surprised Hoshi. Trip didn't sound angry, he sounded hurt.

"At least I was honest, Trip." Malcolm's voice changed too, although he kept up the bravado. "I didn't present myself as her goddamned saviour. And I really didn't expect her to adopt my name. Might have gotten a bit confusing if the Captain had let your friend stay after all. Would she be Charles Tucker the Fourth, I wonder, or would you have preferred Trip Junior?"

"She's dead."

Hoshi tightened her grip on her fork, to keep it from crashing to the floor, announcing to all that she'd been eavesdropping.

"What?" Malcolm looked just as surprised, although he kept firm control over his cutlery.

"She killed herself. Because of me." Trip looked up at him. Hoshi couldn't see his eyes, but there must have been something there. After a moment's hesitation, Malcolm reached across and put his hand on Trip's.

"Oh God, Trip."

To Hoshi's surprise, Trip didn't pull his hand away. "The Captain's right. I shoulda known better. Never could mind my own business." He chuckled humourlessly. "I shoulda stuck with your armoury gal's friend. I'd have saved a couple of lives, and got laid on top of it."

"I…" Hoshi saw Malcolm blush a little. "I didn't actually…have sex with her."

"What? You told me…"

"She wanted to. I kind of…" Malcolm cleared his throat and the blush got deeper. "Lost my nerve. If you know what I mean. Actually, my nerve never showed up."

"You mean you couldn't…"

Malcolm stiffened. A little late, Hoshi thought. "She said she'd only go out with me if I pleased her in bed. That's a lot of pressure to put on a man."

"And you weren't…up to it?"

"I don't think I left her with a very good impression of human men."

"That makes two of us."

"Thank God the Captain was there to flirt for mankind," Malcolm deadpanned.

Hoshi couldn't believe Malcolm had said it. Trip, she would have expected it from, but Malcolm…Trip was just as surprised. After a pause, he laughed, tentatively at first, then more sincerely. Malcolm smiled back at him, and Hoshi thought she saw his hand squeeze Trip's. As Trip's laughter subsided, Malcolm's smile remained. When Trip had finally calmed down, he lifted his drink with his free hand. He sipped his water, looking at Malcolm over the rim of his glass. When he set it back down, Malcolm said, quietly:

"Would you like to come back to my quarters?"

"What for?"

Hoshi saw the change in Malcolm's face. It was the same change she'd seen when he'd thought she was asking him out.

"I've got a bottle of scotch I thought you might like to share, but if you've got other plans…"

Thankfully, Trip didn't seem fooled for a minute. "No other plans." There was a hint of wonder in his voice. He wasn't the only one. Hoshi watched, scarcely able to breathe. "Malcolm, are you asking…I mean, do you want to…sleep with me? Even now?"

For a moment, Hoshi was afraid Malcolm was going to back out, but instead, he replied: "Especially now. But I only want to go as far as you're comfortable with."

"Hell, Malcolm, I'll take anything you can give me."

Malcolm smirked, but even from where she sat, Hoshi could see the relief on his face. Relief, and something else. "I don't think that will be a problem, Commander. After all, we've already been seen in public together."

Trip laughed, and Hoshi's heart leaped. She'd never considered it before, but now that she thought of it, they were a natural couple. Her mind had already begun planning the engagement party when Trip lowered his voice and, in a tone audible only to Malcolm and professional linguists with exceptional hearing, continued:

"You know I'm not into one-night stands. I'm…" He trailed off, then continued, irony evident in his voice, "I kinda like to see things through."

"You thought you were doing the right thing," Malcolm replied, just as quietly. Hoshi hoped it didn't look like she was straining to hear.

Another laugh from Trip, this one far more bitter. "The road to hell…"

"Is nothing you'll ever be anywhere near, Trip. Believe me."

The mess hall was mostly empty, but it was still a public place. Hoshi watched, amazed, as Malcolm, the man who acted like it was inappropriate to make eye contact with superior officers in non-battle situations, lifted Trip's hand to his lips and kissed it.

Trip was clearly surprised, as well, but he didn't waste any time. Neither of them did. Minutes later, Trip and Malcolm left the mess hall, leaving nearly full plates behind. As Hoshi turned to watch them leave, she saw Trip's arm briefly find its way around Malcolm. Malcolm didn't object at all. Hoshi turned back to her fettucini, pleased that, between Trip and Malcolm, the new linguistics texts and the technological upgrades, this first contact hadn't been a complete waste after all.