Ok this is a side story from a fic i did last year called Back To Normal (sequel to Skeletons) I don't think you have to have read them to read this, it pretty much stands alone. But if you like Jennifer, and want to see her future adventures with the Enterprise crew, go and have a read! (and review while you're there!)

The base of this fic was refered to in chapter 15 - 'Malcolm's Explanation',there was a sentence that said Malcolm's mother didn't approve of the present Jen gave him for his 17th birthday and i never explained what that was, so here it is.

Anyway on with the story! Hope you enjoy!

He didn't see why he had to go. It wasn't fair. He was afraid of drowning and that was that, no shrink was going to be able to do anything about it, this was a complete waste of time. But his father thought otherwise. 'How could Malcolm ever have a career in the navy if he was scared of the water?' he had asked. Easily enough solved Malcolm had thought, he just wouldn't go in the navy, but his father wouldn't hear of that.

And so that was why a sultry sixteen year old Malcolm Reed was trudging down the street behind his mother, to Graceman's institution for the psychologically unstable in central London.

"Come on Malcolm do hurry up!" his mother turned round to scold him. Sighing, Malcolm picked up the pace to match hers and they were soon at their destination.

They made their way towards the elevator quickly, Malcolm matching his mothers brisk pace, it was almost as if she thought if they stayed in one place to long they might catch a mental disorder.

He shoved his hands in his pockets nervously as they neared his doctors office. When they reached the small waiting area outside Dr. Lieberman's office and the next door one, belonging to a Dr. Heather they stopped silently.

"Just go in when he calls your name Malcolm, I'm going to go and get a spot of lunch across the road, I never got round to eating anything before we left." She whispered, and before he could even respond that he hadn't either she had stepped in the elevator and was out of sight.

Sighing for what felt like the millionth time today he dropped into the nearest chair and began, out of boredom rather than obsessive neatness, picking bits of barely visible dirt off of his jumper.

After what felt like hours, but in reality was probably only a few minutes Malcolm heard footsteps coming closer. Then Malcolm heard a distinctly American voice say, "Do I really need an escort?" it was a female voice. Inwardly hoping the American girl wouldn't come and sit near him he looked back down and resumed his task.

"Really, I mean I'm really beginning to enjoy these sessions I'm having." The girls voice echoed down the corridor. "Honestly, me and Heather have a real good rapport goin' on, why would I try and get out of our wonderfully enlightenin' sessions together?"

Malcolm smiled to himself, and despite his reservations looked up as the girl entered the waiting room. She looked about his age, she had chocolate brown hair and dazzling green eyes. She was obviously a resident, dressed in bright white baggy trousers and a short sleeved white T-shirt she was being escorted by a nurse and an orderly. The orderly had her by the arm and the nurse held a clipboard in one arm and the girl's left arm in her other.

"That's excellent news Jennifer, I'm glad you are finally beginning to adjust to life here at Graceman's." the nurse said cheerfully, completely oblivious to the sarcasm underlying Jennifer's comments. Malcolm smirked as the girl rolled her eyes for his benefit. He watched as the orderly forced her into the seat opposite him and pulled out handcuffs and cuffed her right hand to the chair.

"Thank you ever so much Andrew." She said sweetly. "Much appreciated."

"We'll be back in an hour to collect you." The nurse said.

"Looking forward to it already!" Jennifer called as they left.

She pulled her legs up onto the chair and crossed them and leaned on her free arm and began to stare intensely at him.

"Hi!" She said brightly after about a minute. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Hello." He said hesitantly.

"Name, rank and serial number?" she smirked.

"Malcolm Reed."

"Jennifer James." She paused and studied him for a few seconds. "Outsider huh? Not as crazy as the rest of us?" The question seemed rhetorical so Malcolm remained silent.

"So what you in for then?" she asked. Malcolm hesitated, he didn't usually tell anyone, but then again who was she going to tell?

"Aquaphobia." She looked at him blank for a moment and then mouthed the word aqua.

"Afraid of water?"

"Drowning."

"Oh." There was a few moments of silence before she spoke again. "Go on then ask, you know you want to." She smiled at him.

"What are you 'in for'?" he asked.

"Suicidal." She said calmly. Malcolm stared at her for a few moments before he realised what he was doing and stopped.

"Why?" He asked bravely.

"I had a kid, she was gorgeous. But-" she paused, "but my Dad took her away, put her in care, he wouldn't let me go see here or even talk about her." She said quietly staring at the floor.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She smiled sadly at him. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" he asked, she didn't look old enough to be a mother.

"Sixteen, everyone asks me that when I tell them I have a kid."

They were silent for a long time after that. Malcolm kept checking the clock. Jennifer must have noticed because after a while she commented.

"They always run like twenty minutes over, what time is your appointment?" she asked.

"Five minutes ago."

"Mine too, we'll be waiting for like another fifteen minutes at least." She said and they lapsed into silence again.

"Soooooo, Malcolm." She paused thinking of a topic of conversation. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Malcolm smiled sourly, and before he knew it he was telling her all about his father and how he wanted Malcolm to join the navy, and how he didn't want to. It felt good opening up, Malcolm smiled, and he hadn't even gone into the doctors office yet.

What do you think? Review with, postive, or negative comments I don't mind, as long as if it's negative it's constructive. (I typed this real quick so feel free to criticise my grammar, spelling etc.) So hit the little purple button and drop me a line! x x x