Trip woke slowly, not wanting to move too fast. He was rewarded with a dull ache in his ribs instead of the sharper pain of yesterday. :::Ok, now to get up::: Trip tensed, pushing himself partially up. A groan escaped.
       “What do you think you’re doing? Here, grab hold of me.” Trip was surprised to hear Hoshi’s voice.
       “What’re you doin’ here? You didn’t spend th’ night, did you?”
       “No, I came in early. Come on, let’s get you to the bathroom, your breakfast is ready.” Hoshi slipped under his arm.
       Half an hour later Trip sat in his cabin, alone. Hoshi had been a whirlwind, taking care of what had to be done. “I’ll be back for lunch if you want,” she said, pausing in the doorway on her way to start her shift. “Uhh, yeah,” was about all Trip could get out. Then suddenly she was gone.
       Trip felt like he had been beached by a storm. He looked around his cabin, not knowing what to do. “There’s always reports.” He pulled his computer toward him, and got busy.

       The next few days passed much the same way with various friends coming to visit, until one morning Hoshi walked in to see Trip out of bed, dressed in his uniform.
       “You’re up! I suppose you’re feeling better then.” She looked at him suspiciously.
       “I feel fine, much better. You can barely see the bruises, and I can raise my arms above my shoulders. I have to check in with the Doc though, want to come?”
       “Definitely. I want to make sure you’re ok.” Hoshi preceded him out the door.
       “I hope my crew hasn’t ruined Engineering,” Trip muttered on the way to sickbay. “They’re probably cooking soup on the warp core.”
       “And that’s the Chief Engineer’s prerogative, is it?” Hoshi teased as they entered sickbay.
       “Ah, our intrepid patient. How are you feeling today?” Dr. Phlox led Trip to an examining table and had him peel off the top part of his jumpsuit. “Has Ensign Sato been taking good care of you?” Phlox felt Trip’s ribs and checked his range of motion. “Very impressive. You healed quickly, Mr. Tucker.”
       “I think it was the massages every night. It kept my muscles from tightening up. Hoshi‘s pretty talented with her hands.” Trip pulled his uniform back on.
       “Oh really?” Phlox looked at Hoshi blushing and understood more than what was said. “I’ll have to remember that for future patients. You have made an almost full recovery, Commander; you can get back to Engineering. But take it easy for the next few days. We wouldn’t want you suffering a relapse.” Phlox looked at Trip, then Hoshi. “I think that continuing the massages would be a good idea. We don’t want those muscles to get stiff, now. I don’t think I need to see you again, not unless there is a problem.” Phlox shooed them out of sickbay.
       Walking to the turbolift, Trip seemed ill at ease. “You’re not in more pain than you let on, are you?” Hoshi asked.
       “No, I’m fine. I was wondering --- I know you have a lot to catch up on, coming to see me ev’ry day --- but if you weren’t busy tonight --- would you have dinner with me again? My treat.” Trip cleared his throat. “If you want.”
       “Of course. Maybe I can actually beat you at poker this time. What time?”
       “1900 hours. Casual, no uniforms. Until then?” Trip lifted her hand to kiss the palm again.
       Hoshi blushed and wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Until then.” She stepped into the lift, finally looking at Trip just before the doors closed.
       He walked to engineering, a grin on his face.

       :::I think that’s it. I hope I didn’t forget anything. Music, food, lighting --- ::: Trip lowered the lights and looked around with a critical eye. The jazz he remembered Hoshi liked played softly. A small table covered with a checkered cloth had been placed between two chairs in the middle of the room. Open flames were normally not allowed on the Enterprise, so a large flashlight with a small homemade shade became a lamp and cast a pool of light on the table. Flowers that he had begged from Hydroponics finished it off. :::Hope she doesn’t laugh:::
       The door chime rang, and Trip nervously croaked out “Come in!”.
       “Are you coming down with a cold now?” Hoshi came in and felt his forehead.
       “I’m fine, woman,” he laughed. “You don’t need to hover anymore. Sit down. Are you hungry?”
       “Yes, what are ---“ Hoshi trailed off seeing the table as Trip moved aside. “I’m impressed. Did you do this yourself?”
       She sat down after Trip pulled out her chair. “Everything but the actual cooking. I had to convince Chef to make the chili for everyone’s dinner since she wouldn’t do just two servings.” Hoshi looked at the food spread out in front of her. “There’s cornbread; and jalapenos, cheese and sour cream if you want it. Also chili powder. I didn’t know if you liked spicy food or not.” Trip fidgeted.
       Hoshi took a bit of the chili, smiling at the taste. “It’s good. She reached for the chili powder. ”I like spicy food. I grew up with wasabi, you know.”
       “What’s that?” Trip poured out two bottles of beer. “It’s traditional to drink beer with chili,” he explained at her look.
       “Wasabi is a horseradish paste from Japan. I should have you over for a Japanese dinner one night.” Hoshi dug into her food.
       The conversation ebbed and flowed, Hoshi and Trip comfortable in the silences that arose. When they were done, Trip cleared and announced “Now for the grand finale, Pecan Pie!” He placed a good-sized slice in front of her.
       Hoshi took a bite and closed her eyes. “Utter bliss ---“. She finished off the pie, leaning back and placing her hands over her stomach. “I am so stuffed. But I had to finish it, it was so good.”
       Trip stood up, holding out his hand. “How about a little exercise?”
       He laughed as she looked at him like he was insane. “Dance with me. Please?”
       Hoshi slowly moved toward Trip’s arms. He could tell she was nervous, but he pulled her close and she melted into him. Her head swam as Trip’s warmth, his scent, his heartbeat overwhelmed her senses.
       “Hoshi --- “Trip kissed her ear. “Ah’ve never been any good with fancy words. Ah need you with me to be happy.” He trailed kisses down her jaw. “Stay with me, be with me, only,” he whispered against her lips. At her silence he lifted his head to look in her eyes. “Hoshi ---?”
       “Shut up and kiss me, koishii.”
       “Ah’ll take that as a yes.” Trip managed to get out before Hoshi pulled his head back down to hers.