Squeaky

Ensign Elizabeth Cutler settled back against her pillows and picked up her book. She sighed as she glanced again at the cover, smiling slightly at the graphics. The book was by a Debnobullan author, and for some reason that made the Earth-based publishers assume the readers would not like subtlety. The cover showed a picture of a beautiful Debnobullan woman kneeling over the body of one of her dead husbands, head thrown back to rail at the heavens as the wind whipped her hair crazily about her head.

"I know what that kind of pain is like." Liz muttered to herself. She sighed again, wishing that her bed felt cozy and private, instead of lonely and empty. Glancing to her left, she checked the chronometer on her bedside table. Only half an hour to this week's movie. A movie she had promised herself to attend. She had promised herself she was going to finally do it, to work up the courage to ask her out and move their friendship to the next, wonderful level. She had made plans, steeled herself to the task at hand, employed the same resolve and strength of purpose that had gotten her through the academy and a coveted position on the first warp five ship Starfleet had ever produced. Her intentions were firm as she had gotten dressed that morning, and her stride was sure as she made her way to the mess hall.

She had chickened out before breakfast. Liz closed her eyes and lay back on the pillows. She had really intended to go to the movie. Really, she had.

Her door chime sounded. Liz sat upright with a small gasp. She quickly glanced down at her grey pyjama bottoms and old, pulled out pink top, wondering if she had time to quickly throw on a bra before opening the door. "Fuckit." She muttered. Let `em deal with her breasts.

"Come in!" She called, and the door slid back, and Liz felt her heart clench tightly as Ensign Hoshi Sato came bounding through the door.

"Liz, Liz!" She cried, running over to where Liz was still sitting on the edge of her bed. She grabbed Liz's hands and pulled her to her feet, her face glowing with excitement. "You'll never guess what just happened!"

Liz allowed herself a full second to drink in the beauty of Hoshi's face. Her rich, dark, perfectly shaped eyes, her graceful cheekbones, that perfect nose and, oh! That mouth! Red and full and- Liz closed her eyes. Get a grip, Cutler! she chastised herself. She quickly opened her eyes again, and returned Hoshi's broad smile. "Archer just promoted you to Lieutenant."

Hoshi laughed, "No, better!"

"Better than a promotion?" Cutler laughed, "This must be good!" She tried again, "Ummm, T'Pol told you you did a good job on something."

Hoshi grimaced at the mention of the Vulcan's name. "Like that would ever happen!" She squeezed Cutler's hands and smiled again, "this is something that I've hoped for for a long time!"

Liz felt her heart sink. Quickly, she schooled her face to not echo the disappointment she felt punch her in the gut. She broadened her smile, hoping that the false joy she was projecting reflected in her eyes. "Commander Tucker asked you out?" She said, wincing inwardly as she heard her voice falter.

"Yes!" Hoshi cried, excitement causing her eyes to shine and an appealing pink shade to suffuse her cheeks, "just now! We were walking off shift together, and he asked me what I was doing tonight, and I said `going to the movie,' and he said `with who' and I said `no one' and he said `how's about with me?'" Hoshi paused for breath. Liz had never heard Hoshi, their communications specialist, sound so incoherent. She smiled in spite of herself.

"Go on," she found herself saying, caught up in Hoshi's obvious joy.

"So, I said yes!" Hoshi nearly shrieked, she was almost jumping up and down in her excitement. She still hadn't let go of Liz's hands, and Liz was painfully aware of how good they felt in her own. "And we made plans to meet at the mess hall but Liz…" Hoshi paused, squeezing Liz's hands for emphasis, "I don't have a thing to wear, and I only have…" She took her left hand out of Liz's to check her watch, and Liz keenly felt the sudden absence. She quickly disengaged her other hand, and placed them casually on her hips, watching as Hoshi's eyes widened in dismay, "22 minutes to get ready!" She turned her dark eyes to Liz's and Liz found herself inhaling sharply from their impact. Liz, get a grip!

"Liz, you've got to help me!" Hoshi continued, clasping her hands in front of her chest imploringly, "You must have something I can borrow!"

Liz swallowed hard; the last thing in the world she wanted was to help Hoshi have an amazing date with Trip "playboy" Tucker. "Of course" she heard herself saying, "it would be my pleasure."

Fifteen minutes later, Cutler's bed was strewn with nearly the entire contents of her closet. Hoshi had gone through everything, matching shirts up with pants and skirts, and discarding the choices one by one. "Look," Liz found herself saying. Hoshi whirled towards her, holding up yet another skirt and shirt against her uniform, a stricken look on her face. Liz smiled to soften her words, ashamed of how harsh she had just sounded, she continued in a lighter tone, "I think that you're just going to have to break down and try something on." She glanced at her own watch. "You're nearly out of time as it is."

"You're right." Hoshi replied. She put her hands on her slim hips and surveyed the pile of clothes on the bed, biting her bottom lip with indecision. Liz closed her eyes at the sight, trying not to imagine the feel of those teeth against her nipple, soft bites travelling lower down her body—Her eyes flew open again. "I'll try on…" she grabbed a sleeveless silky black turtleneck and short black skirt, and a light strappy summer dress in shades of lavender that Liz had yet to wear "these two!" She turned to Liz, "is that okay?"

Liz had been saving that dress for a special occasion. She had bought in on Risa during their brief shore leave especially with the Ensign in mind. She had imagined herself wearing it, walking hand in hand with Hoshi along the boardwalk of a beautiful alien city late at night, with a thousand stars reflected in the water. A beautiful fantasy. One that would never happen. "Of course!" Liz replied, "It'd look great on you."

Hoshi smiled her thanks, put the outfits down, and took off her boots. She quickly unzipped her uniform. Before Liz could even react, it was in a puddle at her feet, and Hoshi had taken off the black undershirt. She was balancing on one foot, in her Starfleet regulation blue underwear, trying to take off her socks. Liz gulped. In her dreams, she had often imagined Hoshi in her quarters, in her underwear or less, but the reality of the Ensign's body nearly was her undoing. Hoshi's underwear was cut long on the leg, and her bra was utilitarian at best, but it left the expanse of her lean torso bare. Hoshi's breasts were small, but would fit perfectly in her hand, Liz thought, wondering if her nipples were red, like her lips, or a darker brown than her smooth skin. Liz watched the play of muscles in Hoshi's side as she removed the sock, and changed legs to take off the other one. Her eyes travelled down over Hoshi's small, round ass and long shapely legs. Even her feet were beautiful. Liz felt herself pulse between her legs, and knew she was growing moist at the vision of Hoshi's nearly nude body. She felt her nipples harden, and involuntarily, she licked her lips. After an eternity, Hoshi stood before her in the lavender dress. The gauzy material clung to the woman's body, caressing her curves. It was almost more seductive than seeing her nearly naked had been. Liz found that her mouth was suddenly dry and she feared she was staring.

"That bad, huh?" Hoshi said with a self depreciating laugh.

"No!" Liz said, a bit too strongly, she forced her face into an easy smile. "Hoshi, you look great." Hoshi smiled tentatively at Liz's praise.

"You really think so?"

"Absolutely!" Liz replied. "In fact," she continued recklessly, "if Trip hadn't gotten there first, I'd ask you out!" She suddenly stilled as she realized what she said, feeling the blood rush away from her face. Hoshi didn't notice. She had turned back towards the mirror and was admiring herself, smoothing the fine fabric down and turning side ways to get a better view.

"Not bad, if I do say so myself!" She laughed.

"Trip will love it." Liz said, wishing she wanted that to be true.

Hoshi glanced at her watch, "ohmygod!" She said, "I'm meant to meet Trip in two minutes!" She turned towards Liz, enveloping her in a big hug, "Thanks so much for your help!"

Liz closed her eyes and lost herself in the feeling of Hoshi's arms around her, their breasts pressed together, the delicate scent of Hoshi's hair, and the smooth feel of her cheek. She let go before the embrace became too long, before Hoshi would know her true feelings. "No problem" she said, hoping her half smile would be adequate.

Hoshi turned towards the door, but stopped and turned back towards Liz's bed. "Liz," she said, indicating the bed with her hands, "look at the mess I've left! And I'm leaving my uniform here!" She picked up Liz's book "And I've interrupted your reading." She turned it over to read the cover, "Masters of Oblivion!" She said, with obvious surprise, "Phlox lent this to me in the original Denobullan! if you like it, I'll lend you some others I have by the same author in English." She put the book back, and her face took on an apologetic look, "I'm really sorry to have to leave you with this mess. Can I help to clean it up later?"

"Don't worry!" Liz said, "It's no big deal." She tapped her bare left wrist, pointing at Hoshi's watch with her chin. "I think that you now have only one minute to meet the dashing engineer."

"I'm going, I'm going!" Hoshi laughed, she quickly grabbed Liz up in another embrace, and then ran towards the door, "You're a great friend Liz, I love you!" she called over her shoulder as the door opened and she disappeared down the corridor.

Liz sank back on the bed. "I love you, too." She whispered. Unexpectedly she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Angrily she swiped at them with the side of her palm. "Well, isn't that childish!" She said to herself, and gave a half-hearted smile. She picked up the book that Hoshi had discarded on the bed and leaned back against the pile of clothes. "I guess "Oblivion" can have me for a while," she said, and began to read.