A/N: I have no idea what dark corner of my mind came up with this, but here it is.

Please enjoy and let me know what you think.

Charlene

It was a quiet night, the crackling campfire was warm, the clear night sky showing off the twinkling diamonds against the black velvet.

Jon didn't think about the others when he sighed and rubbed his hand along Trip's thigh as he looked up in the night sky. "No matter what planet you're on, they're always beautiful."

Trip shifted his leg away from Jon's hand. "Yes, they are."

Jon looked down when Trip moved his leg, then looked across the fire to see Travis and Malcolm smirking at him. He suddenly felt embarrassed. "Um… sorry. I forgot you guys were here for a second. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Malcolm scoffed. "You didn't make us uncomfortable really. It's just so new that, I think, it will take a little time for the crew to get used to it."

Travis shook his head. "I still can't believe the two of you have been in a relationship this whole time and none of us knew about it. If it wasn't for Ensign Grant catching the Commander sneaking out of your quarters in the middle of the night, wearing his pajamas, then spreading the rumor all over the ship, we'd probably still be in the dark."

Trip shifted, still uncertain. "So… none of the crew is uncomfortable about our relationship?"

Travis shook his head. "I grew up on a cargo ship. Trust me, I've seen it all."

Malcolm snorted. "I don't see the problem, it is the 22nd century after all. No one gives a damn about someone being gay these days. Now… if one of you shows up on the bridge wearing a dress… that might cause more than one brow to raise."

Trip turned and gave a hard punch to Jon's arm, causing the Captain to grab at his arm, rubbing the spot. "Ow! What was that for!?"

"You told them?" Trip bellowed out.

Jon looked over and saw the shock on the faces of his junior officers. "No, but I think you just did."

Trip looked at Malcolm and Travis, then let out a groan.

Travis busted out laughing. "Commander! Please tell me you're not a cross-dresser."

Trip shook his head. "It was one time and I lost a bet!"

Jon chuckled. "The bet only said you had to wear a dress! No one said anything about a wig, high heels and make-up! Not to mention the long nails and stuffed bra!"

Trip shrugged. "Well, I figure if I was gonna do it… may as well go all out." He noticed Malcolm eyeing him. "What?"

Malcolm startled at being caught in his thoughts. "Hmm? Oh, nothing Commander. I'm just trying to picture you dressed like a woman. You're just so… masculine, I don't see it."

Jon wrapped an arm around Trip's shoulders. "Trust me, he makes a very sexy woman." Jon gave a low growl in Trip's ear as Trip pushed him away.

Travis shook his head. "So what was up with the bet?"

Trip rolled his eyes as Jon laughed. "It was while we were still at the complex working on the warp 5 core. Trip had been running his mouth for months that he was so good, he could strip down and rebuild a coil in 3 minutes… blindfolded. So, us test pilots finally made him either put up or shut up."

"And to this day I still say I did it!" Trip grumbled.

Jon shook his head. "No, you said 3 minutes. You did it in 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Therefore you lost the bet! Even Max called it a loss."

"Only reason he sided with you was because your daddy and Max Forrest were best buds. Hell… the man was like an uncle to you! Of course he'd take your side." Trip argued.

Jon chuckled. "Whatever. So anyways, Trip lost the bet which meant he had to show up in the mess at peak dinner hour wearing a dress. Of course we were all shocked when he showed up completely decked out, and I have to say… I pretty much fell out of my chair, I was so taken by his beauty."

Trip rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Sure you were."

Jon scowled. "I'm serious Trip, you don't really know how beautiful you look as a woman, do you?"

Trip pointed a finger at Jon. "Hey! I was born a man, I'll die a man. Don't you start getting any funny ideas. Let's just drop this. I'm gonna go to sleep." Trip laid down next to the fire, pulling his sleeping bag around him.

{A Few Nights Later}

Jon poured a couple drinks and carried them to the couch to sit next to his visitor. "I'm so happy to see you again, Charlene. It's been too long."

Charlene brushed her long red hair to the side as she shifted her long legs into Jon's lap. Her sweet voice was overly thick with her southern bell charm. "I have to say, I was surprised to have you come calling on me after all these years."

She dragged a long red painted nail down the bit of Jon's exposed chest peeking out from the top of his button down shirt. Jon shivered at the touch. "Yeah, I guess you've been on my mind a lot recently." Jon replied with a seduction dripping in his voice.

He leaned in for a passionate kiss. Charlene slowly sank herself down into the couch, pulling Jon on top of her as he started working his hand up one of her legs, sliding it under the hem of her dress to continue its upward movement. They both groaned in disappointment when the door chime rang.

Jon quickly got up. "Hold that thought." He winked as he rubbed his hand over his lips to get rid of any red lipstick that there might be.

As he opened the door, he gave Malcolm a glare. "I'm off duty for the rest of the night. What do you want, Lieutenant?"

Malcolm cleared his throat. "Uh, yes sir, I'm sorry to bother you, but I need your permission-"

He stopped when he heard a noise and noticed movement inside the room. He looked over Jon's shoulder to see the woman shifting herself on the couch. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you… uh… is she part of the crew? I don't recall seeing her before."

Jon sighed. "She's an old friend that came to visit me."

Charlene got up, sauntering over to Jon. "Now Jonathan, where are your manners? Aren't you gonna introduce me to this nice, gentleman?"

Jon gestured for Malcolm to enter the room. He let out a breath, unsure if he really wanted this introduction to be made. In fact, he was really hoping that no one would know about the woman in his room. "This is Charlene. Charlene, Lieutenant Malcolm Reed."

Charlene held out her hand in a lady's manner. "Pleasure to meet such a delightfully handsome man."

Malcolm took her offered hand, out of reflex of his childhood raising, gave a kiss to the back of her hand. "Yes. Nice to meet you as well. Might I inquire how you got onto the ship? We haven't gone by any planets or come across other ships where you could have boarded from."

Charlene gave a small giggle. "Well, the truth is, Jonathan didn't want anyone to know I was here. He is such a beastly bad boy when he wants to be."

Malcolm nodded. "Ah. I see. Captain, no offense, but for security of the ship, at the very least, I should have been informed of a guest arriving. I can assure you that I would be discreet about it if that is what you wanted."

Malcolm thought for a second. "Wait a minute. Uh… what about the Commander?"

Jon shrugged. "What about him? He's not here right now. In fact, I don't think he'll be around at all tonight."

Malcolm looked stunned. "But the two of you… um…"

Charlene threw her head back and laughed as she flicked her long hair over a shoulder. "Oh don't you worry none about Trip. He knows all about me and doesn't mind one bit when Johnny comes a-calling after me." She ran a finger along Malcolm's cheek. "In fact… you're just so cute… maybe we could spice tonight up a little? What do you say, Johnny?"

Jon smirked. "Hmm… maybe we could. What do you think, Malcolm?"

Malcolm was tongue tied. "I… uh… well…"

Malcolm's eyes narrowed as he looked at Charlene. "Have we met before? You look a little familiar."

Charlene thought for a moment. "You ever been to Mississippi?"

"No."

Charlene shrugged. "I'm sure it will come to you when you ain't thinking about it. So, what do you think about joining us tonight?"

Malcolm still couldn't shake the feeling that he knew this woman from somewhere as he continued to look at her trying to figure it out. Then he saw the unmistakable move. Charlene narrowed her eyes and stuck her tongue in the side of her cheek. "Commander Tucker! Is that you?"

Charlene's voice dropped significantly lower in octave. "Hi Malcolm."

Jon laughed at Malcolm, watching the armory officer stumble over his own thoughts. "You! You two! I! Oh bloody hell! You two are… I don't know what you are but… bloody hell! No, no, no! I didn't see anything, I don't know anything… in fact, I was never here! Goodnight!"

Malcolm stormed out of the room as Trip and Jon busted out in belly laughs. Jon tried to collect himself as he stumbled down the hall after Malcolm. "Malcolm! Wait, wait! What did you come by for in the first place?" He asked through the laughter.

Malcolm huffed. "Nevermind! I'll talk to you about it in the morning!"

Jon got himself back in his quarters where Trip was starting to calm down. "Oh my god! I can't believe you propositioned Malcolm like that."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I just couldn't help screwing with him like that." Trip smirked.

Jon's brows shot up in amusement. "And what if he took us up on that offer?"

Trip shrugged. "Well… either we would've chickened out, or had one hell of a wild night. Woulda been your call."

Jon shook his head. "You're crazy, Trip. You know that?"

Trip chuckled. "Well, I guess I should get out of this getup and put my regular clothes on."

Jon grabbed Trip by the waist, pulling him in tight. "Don't you dare… Charlene."

Charlene smiled, turning her southern charm back on. "Mmm, Jonathan! I like it when you get so forceful with me."

Jon growled. "I know you do, baby." He gave her a searing kiss.

Charlene pulled back slightly. "Darlin', you should turn your door chime off so we don't get disturbed again."

Jon reluctantly let go of her. "Good idea."

He started over to the door, but before he got there, the chime rang again. Jon let out a huff as he opened the door.

Malcolm quickly popped his head in, looked at Charlene, then looked at Jon. "You're right. He does make a sexy woman. By the way, turn your door chime off." And just that quick Malcolm was gone again.

Jon stood a second stunned by that as he heard Charlene giggling. He shook his head, locked the door and turned the chime off.

He turned to Charlene, smiling sweetly. "Now then… where were we?"

End