Together {Star Trek Enterprise Fan Fiction}

Hope and Pain

"So you think this will work, Deb?"

"Yep. Hoshi showed me. The motion is, uh, you don't wanna know what it reminds me of."

"I'm sure I don't. Now, you've got the flattened tube and its cap?" he said, enlacing his fingers.

"Yes. Now, don't let me fall."

"'Course not," Jonathan said, "Don't wanna see those pretty pecan brown eyes cry."

She smiled to herself. That was still a rush. She pushed down and twisted, and then pulled, just as Hoshi had demonstrated. Sure enough, there was a pinging sound as a fastener hit the floor.

"Great!" he said, "Can you get a second one?"

"Sure," she said, but she was starting to hear a hissing sound. She worked quickly and there was another ping, "Okay, now let me down."

"Why?"

"'Cause we're about to be interrupted."

"Oh," he let her down easily, "You know, once we've gotten back to the Enterprise, we can't ...."

"I know," she said, looking down, "Just let me believe a little longer. It gives me hope, Jonathan."

"All right," he said, kissing her before the fuchsia gas arrived, "You've made this easier for me, too."

=/\= 

"Doug, a little to the right. Slowly."

"Yep, I'm on it," he held her ankles as he took a small step over, "Better?"

"Yeah," Melissa worked, "Whaddaya think you'll do when we get outta here?"

"I dunno. Go back to, uh, hmm, maybe going back isn't in the cards."

"Well, there's the war. Weren't you an army guy?"

"Melissa, I was a mercenary in my twenties."

"Well, so, you're still ... skilled," she said.

Ping.

"Huh. Combat? Lili would never let –"

"Let you what?"

"I got a little kid at home. There's gonna be another," he said, "I can't go running off to a war and get something blown off or die."

"Probably not. Just, yanno, it seems a shame to waste your skills."