Disclaimer: Star Trek (plus all its intellectual property) is owned by Paramount. No infringement intended.

Beta'd by Zero Credibility, to whom all due thanks!

Chapter 10. Reed

"How are you feeling, Lieutenant?"

He opened his eyes and blinked incredulously at the familiar face above him. "Did he get away?" he asked.

"You may be experiencing some confusion, Lieutenant. Please lie still for a little while." The Denobulan was running the med-scanner over him.

'Confused' wasn't anywhere remotely near it. He stared around at the utterly unfamiliar surroundings, becoming aware that he was back in uniform and that his heart was hammering so hard that it was threatening to burst out of his chest. He was drenched in sweat, and for some reason he couldn't move his arms.

His eyes switched to Trip, who was leaning in from the other side, looking anxious. "For God's sake! Did the captain get away?" he demanded impatiently.

"Uh ... buddy, I don't think you're really awake yet." Tucker patted his arm soothingly.

"Of course I'm bloody awake! Finally! It took you long enough! But the ..." He trailed off. "My God. It was the test, wasn't it?" He moved his body tentatively, half fearing to reawaken that heart-stopping pain. "I died," he said wonderingly.

"Well. It may have felt that way, Lieutenant, but rest assured that I would have intervened long before that happened." Phlox put away the scanner and dropped a reassuring hand on to his shoulder. "Your physiological readings suggest that you did experience something that you found extremely traumatic, however. I am afraid that when you return to the ship I am going to want to keep you in sickbay for a while, at least until you have had time to work through your emotional disturbance." He paused. "If there is anything at all of a personal nature you wish to discuss, you are of course assured of my confidentiality."

Good old Phlox. Those disconcertingly blue eyes sometimes saw very deeply. Nevertheless as the pieces of reality began falling back into place, so did habits that were far too old for him to change now. Whatever wounds he had sustained, he would conceal.

In the meantime, he had a transfer request to put in. He could postdate it to become effective if and when he survived the war, or some miracle occurred to prevent it. Perhaps he could do that from sickbay. The sooner the better, really.

++"We have sent a report to your captain."++ A face appeared behind Trip.

A face. Not a helmet. Not a particularly handsome face by human standards; the jaw was narrow, the small mouth as lipless as a lizard's. The eyes appeared to have no irises, and as far as he could see the aliens had no external ears. But a face, nonetheless.

"Does this mean I passed?" he whispered.

++"It does. You are free to leave. We will be in touch with your Starfleet regarding opening discussions with a view to a treaty."++ The gloved hand pressed controls on the chair and the arm restraints hissed open.

"You did it, buddy!" Trip was grinning from ear to ear. "I'd tell the cap'n, but I guess he already knows."

"I think he knows everything he needs to." He tried to sit up, but his head swam unpleasantly and he hurriedly sat back again. "I might need help getting to the shuttle."

"We can arrange that." The chair arms had dropped down, and Trip bent and picked him as if he were a child.

The indignity was awful. He opened his mouth to protest.

"Shut up and enjoy the ride, Loo-tenant."

"I'm not sure enjoying it is the phrase," he muttered, but all the same he rested his head thankfully enough on the broad shoulder with its maroon piping as the chief engineer strode back down the long corridor down which they had come. He pretended not to see Phlox's paternal smile, consoling himself with the thought that at least nobody on the Enterprise could see this. It wasn't exactly a dignified method of travel for the head of a department, being carried like a baby by the head of another.

Several Hev'shori officers met them at the huge shuttle bay. All of them were now minus their helmets. They were pretty hard to tell apart, but that would probably get easier on acquaintance.

++"You did well,"++ said the one who was presumably their captain. ++"I have told your Captain Archer that he should be proud of you."++

"Thank you." It was probably more diplomatic than chance would be a fine thing.

Phlox stepped forward to open the side of the shuttle.

"I can stand." There were benches in there. He would surely be able to hold himself upright long enough to reach one of them.

Trip set him on his feet inside the shuttle as carefully as though he were made of porcelain. The doctor stood ready to steady him, but he held himself upright with an effort. "One more thing." He turned around and looked at the Hev'shori captain. "Am I allowed to know what the test was looking for?"

The inhuman eyes looked back at him unblinkingly.

++"Loyalty."++

All reviews and comments received with gratitude!