Disclaimer: This is a fan written work. The copyrights and trademarks of Star Trek are owned by Paramount Pictures, CBS Corporation and there licensee, Pocket Books. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Chapter 4

Reed studied this strange unconscious woman. Her face was pale with scratches across the cheekbones, cracked lips, a slightly crooked nose, brown hair twisted in a ponytail at the back of her head. The woman was wearing what looked like a green Starfleet jacket and pants, except there were areas of green Velcro on the chest of the jacket. After a minute, Reed shook off the encounter, getting back to the task at hand. Making sure this woman survived. Pushing the starboard seat cushion up to expose the storage unit inside, Reed retrieved a few of the blankets, placing one over Gouveia. He noticed how still she seemed. Only the slight rise and fall of the chest indicated she was breathing. Taking a seat at the starboard secondary crew position, pressed the comm.

"Reed to Enterprise. Reed to Enterprise." Taking one of the blankets in hand, passed it over his rain soaked face, "Enterprise come in. This is Shuttle Pod I."

"We hear you, Malcolm. Report."

"Captain. We found a young woman requiring immediate medical attention. Ballard is not available at the moment. Captain, I need Doctor Phlox. I am afraid if we wait, she'll slip away." Reed had not pled for anything in the past three years, not even for his own life when captured by a few unsavory characters.

"Alright. I expect a full debrief once you are all back and safe aboard Enterprise."

"Understood, Sir." In the background, Reed heard the order for the transmission to be transferred to Phlox. A breath of relief eased passed his lips.

"Mr. Reed. Tell me the symptoms of the patient."

Reed jumped out of the seat, scrambling to his knees next to Gouveia's head, placing his left wrist on her forehead, "She's cold," Gripping her right wrist and found the pulse point with his free hand, "Her pulse is weak, almost thready."

"Mr. Reed. I know you are 'out of sorts', take a breath and get the medkit. Do a medical scan." A Denobulan eye roll almost came through with the words.

Reed silently got to his feet and pulled out all the blankets from the storage container on to the seat he vacated. He quickly yanked out the medkit from the clips holding it in place; opening the lid and retrieved the medical scanner. He turned the piece of equipment on and pointed it at the top of Gouveia's head, "Starting the scan." Reed moved the device slowly toward her feet.

"Ah. I see the readings here. Her vital signs are critically low. I don't know how she managed to survive. Hmm. There is something odd in the brain. Never mind that now. Her core temperature needs to be raised." The doctor paused as the scan was finished, he cleared his throat, "Mr. Reed. You and the patient may be uncomfortable with what I am going to request of you. Please keep in mind I ask this on the behalf of the patient."

"Doctor, the patient is a military officer. Lieutenant JG Gouveia. If she was awake, she would act with decorame. I will do so for her. Now ask and I will do the best I can." Reed growled out holding the scanner.

"Alright." The smile Phlox wore could be heard, "Undress yourself to one layer; after doing so for Miss Gouveia. Warp your arms and legs around her under a dry blanket next to her. This way -"

"Not bloody likely!" Reed shouted, "You want me to undress a girl I've rescued and have me hug her." He suppressed a shutter, "There has to be another way. Heat packs, extra blankets on top of her, wait for Ballard, anything."

"Lieutenant Commander. You said you would do the best you could. I have never seen you go back on your word. This is well within your power to complete. You must do this if Miss Gouveia is to stay a rescuee and not become a recovery."

"Doctor. How will I explain this?"

"You are saving her life."

"Bollocks."

"Quickly now Mr. Reed. The readings are not getting any better."

Reed clenched his teeth, near breaking a few. Taking the blanket from Gouveia's form, took a look at what garment he had to deal with to get the task completed in the least amount of time. The jacket and pants he noted before. Khaki boots with very little tread and laced up to mid calf. After unzipping the jacket off, Reed saw the pants were actually coveralls with a patch on the right breast pocket and a center zipper from neck to groin. A khaki shirt could be seen under the coverall collar. The boots went first, along with the soggy black socks. Taking a breath, Reed got up from his position at the end of the bench and locked the hatch, not wanting to be surprised in his skives or have someone stomp in while undressing an unconscious woman. Reed gripped the zipper of the coveralls by his left forefinger and thumb.

"Mr. Reed?" Phlox's voice came from the speaker, "What is your progress?"

Reed had jumped at the sound. He let out a sigh as his blood pressure went back down, "I got the boots and socks off. I was about to start on the coveralls and jacket. Doctor, are you sure this is the only way?" Reed asked mournfully.

"If you are not swift, there will be no way to help. Miss Gouveia will go into a coma and might not come back around."

Reed pulled down the zipper as he talked to Phlox, "I feel like a dirty old man."

"I am sure the rain did not help with getting clean, and you are not that old."

The young woman's breathing shallow, body unmoving as Reed sat Gouveia up, "I am compared to this woman."

"How old do you say her age would be?" Phlox asked curiously while Reed easied himself behind her. "The scans would suggest she is in her late twenties, early thirties. Did you happen to get her name?"

Grunting, Reed got the sleeves from both the jacket and coveralls off of Gouveia, "She introduced herself as Lieutenant JG has to be so uncomfortable for her." Standing up, laying her back down, ditching the jacket on the deck.

"Miss Gouveia doesn't know what is going on. And you are doing a fine job, Mr. Reed."

Reed grunted again not answering the Doctor as he focused on getting the coveralls past Gouveia's hips. "I should have cut the darn bloody thing off." The coveralls slipped from her hips and Reed fell on his rump with the coveralls in hand. Taking them and the jacket to the starboard storage container, forcing them in, shoving the lid down. Reed took a blanket from the seat and draped it over Gouveia's form.

"The door is, hm, locked." Ballard's voice came from the other side of the hatch.

"Lieutenant Commander!? Would let us in? The storm's getting worse out here." Kane's voice came with some distress.

Reed unlocked the hatch, opening it to see the rest of his team in a downpour. "Ballard you are needed in here. Everyone else, stay here until Ballard or myself let you in. Understood?"

"Sir, Are you alright?" Mayweather asked as he stepped forward.

"I will be once we're back on Enterprise." Reed closed the hatch after Ballard's entrance.

"Sir?" Ballard's face was pale, knuckles white on her specimen kit.

"Miss Ballard, good to hear your voice." Phlox said from the comm., "Please have Mr. Reed undress and get under the blanket with Miss Gouveia."

Ballard got color back into her cheeks very quickly, "Miss Gouveia?"

Reed pointed to the woman on the port side of the shuttle. "The rescuee. Lieutenant JG Gouveia"

"Right." The medic deposited her kit at the hatch, taking the discarded scanner, and did a quick once over of Reed and Gouveia, "That's interesting. Are you seeing this Doctor?"

"Yes, however, it will have to wait. Miss Gouveia is getting worse. Mr. Reed, I insist you get undressed and help Miss Gouveia."

"Doctor Phlox is correct sir. You are the only one who can do this." Reed did not move for a second, "Sir? Are you alright?"

"Mr. Reed, you promised to do your best. Are you going to go back on your word now?"

"NO! But what you ask is almost too much. How can I do this?"

"Without thinking. Do it like every other mission you have been on." Ballard replied without looking up from the scanner. Reed glared at Ballard.

"Alright." He began to undo his jacket and threw his cap to the side. "Alright. I have a condition. I will hold her up right; not lay next to her. Is this agreeable?"

"Doctor Phlox?"

"I see no reason why not. As long as you're gentle, Mr. Reed."

Ballard went to the medkit while Reed was undressing to tank and shorts. She got out gloves, a biohazard bag, and slipped a sedative hypospray into her jacket pocket. Hearing the Lieutenant Commander sit down, Ballard turned back to her two patients putting on the gloves. "Doing okay sir?" She picked up Reed's clothes and placed them in the bag.

"Bloody wonderfully. What are you doing with my uniform?" Reed had his back to the aft bulkhead of the pod with one leg on either side of Gouveia, arms wrapped around her waist under the blanket, with her back against his chest and head on his left shoulder, legs stretched out on the bench. The blanket slid down from under Gouveia's chin and was uncovering both officers, letting the cold in.

"There is a reason. Where are her clothes?" Ballard came forward and lightly gripped the blanket corners and tucked them under Reed's shoulders making sure the edge of the blanket was not strangling Gouveia.

"Her clothes are in the starboard storage. Why do you need our clothes in biohazard bags Crewman?" There was ice in the question.

"You may have been exposed to one of the specimens I have gathered which show powerful bonding traits." Ballard opened the starboard storage and was stuffing the clothes into the bag as quickly as possible without alarming the Head Security Officer. "Just a precaution. Right Doctor?"

"Absolutely Ms. Ballard. I am going to ask you to continue scanning. The readings are not coming in as clear."

There was a knock on the hatch. "Blast. Ballard let the team in." Reed braced himself for the comments and questions.

"I will sir." Ballard took the biohazard bag and placed it in the starboard container. "Doctor Phlox, I am going to cut the transmission, I will keep transmitting the medical scanner readings."

"Very good, Ms. Ballard. Please keep an eye on our patients and don't let anyone touch them without gloves."

Ballard pushed the comm. off, turned to Reed with the scanner in hand standing at attention, "Sir, permission to secure you both to the seat sir?"

"How?"

"Sir. Using the seat straps under and over legs and hips." She relaxed her posture and looked down at the scanner and back to him, "Not much we can do about the shoulders. But you are fairly strong. You shouldn't have much trouble keeping yourself and Ms. Gouveia steady through the turbulence."

"As long as I can still unfetter myself without much hassle."

"Shouldn't be a problem. Sir." Reed took a measuring gaze at Ballard and nodded.

After much frustration, huffing, and blushing on Reed's side, Gouveia and himself were secured to the satisfaction of the medic. The banging on the hatch became more and more frequent as they had worked.

"Now please don't undo all the work we just did Lieutenant Commander. Please." Ballard walk to the hatch with a stay put motion toward Reed.

All Reed could do was clench his teeth together, "Let them in." Ballard unlocked the hatch.

"Took ya'll long enough." Greer complained, letting himself in, and stumbled over Ballard's kit, "And still have some equipment out I see." He took the kit off the floor and handed it over to Ballard. Ballard and Reed shared a glance.

"Greer," Reed barked out from his immobile position, "You will take my position." nodding toward the starboard secondary crew position, "Kane will take your's." Fixing his gaze on Greer.

Greer nodded raising an eyebrow at his Commanding Officer's situation as he took the blankets from his assigned seat back in the starboard storage.

"Mayweather take us out of here." Reed commanded as the young man stepped through the hatch with Kane right behind him closing the hatch.

"Aye, Aye sir. Gladly." Mayweather jumped into his seat and began the preflight checks, "Everyone strapped in? This is going to be a more turbulent ride than before."

Reed sighed with impatience, "Very well. Know, however, we are against the clock for this woman's life."

"She's not lost to us yet Lieutenant Commander. Don't give up hope." Ballard admonished Reed, looked up after buckling herself in.

Reed in a loud voice spoke, "The sooner we get to the ship, the better the chance of saving her life."

"Yes Sir." Came from both Kane and Mayweather.

All Reed could do was wait. After what seemed like 30 minutes when it was more like two, Mayweather had the pod off the ground. "Here comes the hard part. Hang on."

Mayweather was correct about the turbulence. Kane and Greer held on to the consoles in front of them, while Ballard did her best to stay in her seat, and Reed held Gouveia with one hand and braced the other against the hull. Everything became quiet, only the sound of heavy breathing taking place.

Mayweather broke the silence, "We broke the atmosphere, T minus 3 minutes before we are docked."

Gouveia's head had shifted from facing the hull to facing Reed's chin during the flight. He could feel how cold she was all the way to his bones. "Don't worry. Phlox will fix you up in no time." He whispered down to her, more for himself than the unconscious person leaning against him.

"She looks mighty comfy there sir." Greer grinned with a bit of malice, "Maybe she attacked you because she finds you so cute."

Reed glared at the MACO, "She is a sick young woman who needs our help. You will treat her as such. Now, focus on getting us to Enterprise before she is beyond our help."

Greer went back to the console, "Yes sir."

Mayweather spoke up to try and ease some tension between the two, "Though you have to wonder how a human arrived at such a remote planet without a craft or energy source."

"I will ask her when she is recovered. Besides, Enterprise might have solved the question before she wakes up." Reed answered. The crew settled into a weighted silence.

Docking went off without a hitch and their passenger was still unconscious. Kane opened the hatch and stepped out. Reed was starting to carefully untangle himself from the straps and rescuee.

Phlox almost knocked Kane over in his effort to get to his patients. "Well done Mr. Reed. Please hold still while I take some detailed scans." Reed mentally shook his head as the scanner went over the woman in his arms. "Interesting." Moving the scanner over Reed. "Interesting. Mr. Kane please come back in here." Phlox scanned the whole crew one by one. "Mr. Reed, I need you to stay as you are. Ms. Ballard make sure he does. Mr. Kane, Mr. Mayweather and Mr. Greer, straight to decon. I'll be by in a little while to check in on your progress."

"Yes Doctor." The unneeded crew filed out of the shuttle.

"Wonder what that's about?" Mayweather asked.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about." Kane assured him.

"I wouldn't be to sure of that." Greer scoffed.

"Why is that?" Mayweather inquired.

"Maybe she has some contagious disease and she gave it to our beloved lieutenant commander." Greer sneered.

"I really doubt that..." Mayweather shot back.

Then the conversation was out of Reed's earshot. "Doctor, is there a need to be concerned about contaminating the ship?"

Phlox was deep in thought looking at his scanner, "What was that?"

"Is there a need to quarantine the shuttle pod?"

"Hmm. No. I should think not. I have staff waiting at decon who can give instructions to your away team and know how to take the proper procedures."

"Archer to Phlox"

Phlox nodded to Ballard who was near the comm. panel, "Phlox here."

"How is the patient doing?"

"From what I can gather from my scans, not well. She is dehydrated, malnutritioned, and missing quite a few vaccines. If I didn't know better I would say she is not from a human colony we are familiar with."

"Please confirm that supposition, if you can Doc. Archer out."

"Hmm. I guess this will be fourth priority."

"What are the three other priorities Doctor?" Reed said from his seat behind Gouveia.

"Oh, first is to return her to a normal temperature and back to good health. Second, is to use decon to get rid of the microorganisms. Third, is to find out why your preliminary brain scan is similar to hers. Last will be to determine her origin."

"Brain scan?"

"It's nothing to worry about at the moment. It will all work out. Now if you please, let's get these blankets changed out for clean ones."

T'Pol came through the hatch much to the surprise of the medical staff and derision of an armory officer.

"T'Pol. I did not expect you down here." Phlox spoke as he put on gloves from the open medkit.

"Captain Archer inquired if I may be able to verify the patient's origins. With your consent Doctor, I will be taking scans to discern an answer."

"Very well. Please work around us as we need to get her warmed as soon as possible."

T'Pol raised an eyebrow, "Of course Doctor."

"Doctor, shall we use the stretcher or carry the Lieutenant JG out by personal?" Ballard inquired as she took the blanket from around Gouveia.

"I believe the stretcher would be the best option." Phlox looked down at the woman, "Oh, seems my osmotic eel is going to have a 'field day' to use a human colloquialism." Gouveia's form was covered in abrasions and lacerations along her limbs and hands, some quite deep.

Reed gasped, mentally upbraiding himself for not noticing her injuries. He moved Gouveia's torso into a sitting position, placed his legs on the deck, standing slowly, lowering her to the seat gently, "Ballard, blanket."

Ballard moved from her frozen location to the starboard seat and grabbed two blankets. "I am so sorry sir." She handed them to the Lieutenant Commander who placed one over Gouveia and the other over himself, "For some reason those wounds didn't show up on the scanner."

Phlox saw the start of a reprimand from Reed, "She is correct Mr. Reed."

Reed's eyes were icy, "The only thing I am concerned about at this moment is to make sure this woman lives. Doctor Phlox, I will place her on the stretcher you and Ballard will be holding to expedite the move to sickbay."

"Very well Mr. Reed. Ballard if you please." T'Pol had already moved to the aft of the shuttle and taken out the stretcher while the order was given. Phlox cleared his throat, "Thank you T'Pol." Reed carefully placed his hands under Gouveia's shoulders and knees, taking her into his arms.

"I will take your place Doctor as you monitor the patients." T'Pol looked pointedly toward Reed. Ballard took her position at the foot of the stretcher waiting for the order to move out.

"Quite right." Phlox nodded sagely, "Mr. Reed place Ms. Gouveia on the stretcher."

Laying Gouveia down he felt a nudge in the back of his head, 'Don't let go.' Reed sat on the bench they had vacated as Ballard led the procession out of the shuttle.

"Come along Mr. Reed. I am going to do some scans on the both of you in sickbay." Phlox stood at the hatch waiting for him.

"Yes Doctor." Taking a breath, Reed gripped and tightened the blanket hanging on his shoulders. Standing with a straight unyielding form, followed the covey out.