Disclaimer: I don't own Enterprise.
Author's note: Thanks so much for the reviews! I love to ruin their lives… wait, no I don't. :D I hope that you enjoy this chapter and review!
Thanks to my beta, Sita Z!
Chapter 9 – Damage done
Commander Tucker tried to roll over in his sleep, but discovered that he had a strange weight on his stomach. Opening his eyes, Trip realized that Mal's head was on his stomach. He couldn't remember how Malcolm got there. It was early evening and the sun was just beginning to set. Already it was colder than the night before.
"Hey Mal, you awake?" Trip asked, moving slightly to make Malcolm stir.
His friend didn't move. Trip started to panic, but saw that Mal's chest was rising and falling in regular rhythm as his chest expanded and contracted. He was still breathing. The last thing that Trip remembered was falling after hitting his leg and then everything went black. His mind pieced together what must have happened. Malcolm must have woken up, discovered he was gone, went to find him, and then carried him back. Trip felt the guilt weighing his heart down. Malcolm never complained, no matter how badly injured or sick he was. At this point, he had reason to.
Trip slipped the blanket under Malcolm's head and gently moved out of the way. The pain in his leg had gone down a tiny bit, but his fever had gone up. He desperately wished that he could do something to help his friend. At that moment, Mal groaned and began to wake up.
"Hey Mal, how are you feeling?" Trip inquired, looking at him with profound concern.
"I'm fine," Mal whispered. "I was just having the loveliest dream. We were both running around nude on the bridge and Captain Archer was singing that ridiculous song about being free as the grass grows."
Trip laughed uneasily. Something about the way Malcolm was acting wasn't right. He didn't seem to be in that much pain at the moment and he was able to move slightly and not yell in pain.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked. "You shouldn't have carried me."
"Trip… I'm fine, but I think my appendix… ruptured."
Mal seemed very calm at the prospect of his appendix rupturing and looming death. Trip was outraged! He snatched up the medical scanner and anxiously awaited the results. The scanner confirmed what his friend had told him. Infection was spreading throughout his stomach. Trip had no idea what would happen to Malcolm now. Enterprise, we need you now! His mind demanded. Looking at his friend, Mal didn't look so bad. His fever had gone down and his eyes weren't so bright. Movement wasn't drawing out pain that seemed to kill him at that time. Something was definitely wrong indeed.
"It's not your fault," Mal whispered, looking at him. "I carried out my duty by bringing you back. Don't blame yourself."
Trip couldn't decide whether to snap in anger at his friend or wallow in self-pity. Trying to hide his face and regain control of his anger, Trip took a few of the logs from the pile and started the fire again to attempt to get warm. In the few minutes they had been awake a cool wind blew in from the north and chilled the air even more.
"Malcolm, what are we gonna do?" he asked aloud, more to himself than Mal.
"I don't know. The pain isn't so bad at the moment, but I suspect that won't last for long. How's your leg?"
"It's painful, but bearable. Your health is more important at the moment," Trip declared. "We don't have much time now. Enterprise better get here fast."
Two hours had passed since Mal's appendix had ruptured. The pain had returned with full force and he was currently trying to lie still on the ground. Trip had covered him with a blanket, but his high fever caused him to push it off and sweat profusely. The night air wasn't helping him. He was enjoying the cold air, but Trip worried about him catching hypothermia. Malcolm was extremely thirsty, but feared throwing up if he drank any water. He eventually had to give in.
"Trip," he croaked. "I need water."
He watched his friend pick up the water bag and slowly move towards him. Trip's leg was causing him great pain and his eyes were bright with fever. Mal attempted to sit up a tiny bit, but the ache in his stomach held him down. Raising the bag to his lips, Mal let the cold water run down his parched throat. He greedily downed the water, forgetting the harm it could cause to his already queasy stomach. The liquid remained in his stomach for a good minute before Mal turned even paler. Trip barely had time to cap the water bottle and steady his friend's head as Mal choked and retched, feeling as if his guts were coming up. Malcolm waited until his stomach calmed down to move again as his vision blurred for a second.
"You okay?" Trip asked cautiously letting go of his head and slipping the blanket back under it.
"I'm… fine."
Mal moaned and rolled onto his side again, ignoring the burning sensation in his eyes. It wasn't a good position for him to be in. Trip helped his friend lie on his back. Malcolm wrapped his arms around his stomach, refusing to let his friend touch him there. His heart was thumping against his ribs as fast as it could, trying to keep his blood flowing and oxygen moving to the rest of his body. Mal's breathing was shallow and rapid. His body was fighting a losing battle.
Trip tried to ignore the throbbing his leg, knowing his responsibility was to take care of Malcolm. His friend had succumbed to the pain, only groaning and whimpering as speech was too much effort for him. It was disconcerting to see the normally strong Lieutenant that weak. Trip feared that he would give up if he didn't do something. Taking out the medical scanner for the umpteenth time, he scanned his friend. Mal's temperature was still 103.6 degrees and climbing. His blood pressure had dropped and his heart was racing. Each breath he took was a struggle to remain conscious. Mal simply stared into the sky, not talking at all. If Malcolm was going to make it, Trip needed a miracle. But first, he needed to get his friend's fever down.
Using the tools in his kit, Trip tore a strip of cloth off his blanket and folded it up. Then he soaked the rag in the water from the stream. Mal saw what he was doing and tried to move away from him, but groaned instead.
"Please… don't," his friend managed to say, gripping the dirt with his hands.
"I have to lower your fever and I don't have anything else."
Mal's embarrassment was evident on his cheeks as Trip began to sponge his friend's forehead. It was uncomfortable at first, but Malcolm visibly relaxed when he dabbed his cheeks and neck. He could tell that the fever was getting lower as he sponged Mal's arms and kept his forehead cool. Trip tensed up, pausing when he saw a tear fall from his friend's eyes. It was an image he would take to his grave. Trip quickly wiped it away and placed a reassuring hand on Mal's shoulder. Malcolm's shaking hand covered his as his eyes grew heavy.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I got Jon drunk?" Trip asked, trying to keep Malcolm awake.
Mal shook his head very slightly and then whimpered, tightening his grip on Trip's hand.
"It was about five years ago and Jon was upset about some girl, which was uncommon for him. I took him to the 602 Club and ordered him a couple rounds. The waitress thought it was strange. It wasn't long before he was drunk and muttering unintelligible things. I figured… hey, I could get him to do something really fun with me. So, I took him to the little street café was called Café Shi. One of the ladies that worked there owed me a favor. She helped me dress up Jon in a pink feather boa and big purple hat. Then we sat him on the opposite street corner with a bouquet of flowers, told him that a famous actress was coming to see him. He waited for her for two hours until he passed out on the sidewalk."
"What happened then?" Mal asked after Trip had sat silent for a minute.
"I took him home and cleaned him up. The next morning we went diving and Jon arrived late. He said he had the biggest hangover and couldn't remember what happened that night. I didn't want to tell him, but I had to pictures of him in that getup. A week later, we were having dinner and Jon smiled at me with this big happy grin. He wanted to see the pictures of him from that night. Turns out he remembered every bit of that night and was testing me to see if I would tell him the truth. I gave him the pictures and never saw them again."
"He was a good friend," Malcolm murmured. His accent was fast losing its sharpness, giving his voice the slur of someone losing their fight to remain awake.
"Yeah, he is."
Malcolm coughed suddenly, holding his stomach and closing his eyes. Trip moved his hand from Mal's shoulder and returned to his sponging, falling silent as the story ran through his mind again. Jon wouldn't leave them alone of this planet to die. They had been friends too long for him to abandon him. Enterprise had to save them. Trip finished dabbing and lay down beside his friend, putting his hand back on Malcolm's shoulder. He could feel his friend's heartbeat and labored breathing.
Half an hour passed with neither man speaking. Trip assumed that Malcolm had fallen asleep, but his moaning confirmed that he was still conscious enough to feel the pain. He didn't know what to say to comfort his friend. Mal drew in a sharp breath and began to retch. Trip sat up quickly, attempting to ignore his own dizziness as he helped his friend. There was little strength left in Malcolm. His head collapsed back onto the blanket when he finished. Trip felt Mal's fever still radiating from him and despair filled his heart.
"Tell Captain Archer… that it was an honor to serve with him," Mal muttered, opening his eyes.
"You can tell him yourself," Trip protested.
"Trip… I can't make it much longer. Tell Hoshi… she's the most beautiful woman ever. Thanks for taking care of me, Trip."
"Malcolm, you can tell her. Just hold on a little longer! Try getting some rest and you'll feel better."
There was a burning sensation behind Trip's eyes as he felt the tears pool up. He let a few escape as Malcolm looked into his eyes. Mal took his hand and smiled, despite the pain. He moaned and the hand in Trip's went limp. Trip panicked and shook his friend's shoulder.
"Malcolm!"
He had lost consciousness. Trip quickly felt for his friend's pulse and discovered it was still racing. His body was slowly drawing in breaths. Malcolm hadn't died, but nothing seemed to be in their favor anymore. His friend's fever was dangerously high and he was no doubt dehydrated since he couldn't keep down anything, not even a little water. Trip knew that Mal was dying. He lay down beside Malcolm and pulled his friend's body close to his to keep him warm in the freezing air. The fire was almost burned out, taking away the only light. If this was death, then Trip didn't want to die. He had to tell Malcolm's words to Jon and Hoshi. He had to get Malcolm back to Enterprise. Sighing, Trip closed his eyes to block the tears. He smiled when he registered a sound in the night that didn't belong. Someone was speaking to him through the shuttle communications. It was Hoshi's voice, but Trip was too weak to get up and answer.
"Commander Tucker or Lieutenant Reed, please respond," she hailed, sounding tired. "If you are there please answer. Trip, Malcolm?"
The sound stopped, but Trip wanted Hoshi to keep talking. It meant that Enterprise had come for them and they would be okay. Malcolm would live. Precious minutes passed and Mal still didn't wake up. Trip shook him gently, wanting to tell Malcolm that Enterprise was there. Malcolm groaned as he came around. Trip smiled as the transporter locked on to them and he felt himself slipping away.
Please review!
Emma
