When Did It Happen
When Did It Happen?
A/N: Yes, I know it's been a while… but I have been extremely busy with coursework :-P anyway, I'm back for the summer! Just a little note about the story below: the incident, although it has never happened to Malcolm Reed, did happen to me. And yes, it has left me aquaphobic. However, the feelings are all his.
Disclaimer: neither Enterprise nor Lt. Reed belong to me.
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"When did it begin? I know when it began and where it happened. It has been carved into my memory like the Egyptians' hieroglyphs were into stone. It has haunted me throughout my life, from childhood, through adolescence and even now, as a well-respected officer.
"I wasn't always afraid. I once loved swimming. My mother would take me regularly. That changed when He came. 'He' being my Father. At first, it was just a normal day – just like others spent at the pool. Splashing around with my mum while my Father swam.
"She decided she wanted to swim in the big pool and left me with Father. She told Him not to let me jump in, but when did He ever listen to her? He helped me climb onto the walkway next to the pool. I demanded that He catch me and He promised. I never took one of his promises seriously after that.
"Now, all I remember is feeling myself go under. Nothing to stop me. I can still feel the water sliding down my throat. I can still feel the disorientation. He wasn't there when I surfaced. Where was He? I never swam there again."
Charles Tucker backed away from the monitor and mentally kicked himself. What right did he have reading a man's diary? And not any man's diary, but Malcolm's at that! Annoyed with himself, he powered down the screen and collected the things Phlox had asked for. As he exited the Lieutenant's quarters, Trip realised what the look had been on Malcolm's face as he fell on that away mission. It was the face of a petrified man.
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TBC…