A/N: Sorry for the delay in this story, but I got sidetracked by other things. This is now complete. I hope folks enjoyed it!

Hoshi was beyond exhausted. She had already been getting very little sleep and rest while they searched for Malcolm. Now, she had been up for an additional seventy-two hours, practically all of them spent in sickbay. All Hoshi wanted to do was to crawl into her own bed and sleep for three days straight. It was not only physical fatigue that plagued her, but emotional and mental exhaustion as well.

Throughout the entire trip from shuttlebay to sickbay, Lieutenant Reed had maintained his steadfast grasp on Hoshi. It had been difficult for Phlox to examine the armory officer, but after much maneuvering, he was able to make a complete assessment of the Lieutenant's condition.

The foreign substances in Malcolm's body were slowly shutting down his vital organs. It would be no problem to flush them out of Malcolm's system, but to do that, he needed to remain still and he wouldn't stay still unless Hoshi was beside him. Phlox dared not sedate the lieutenant, uncertain of how the sedative would react to whatever his captors had drugged him with and the fact that the cleansing process would also remove whatever Phlox gave him. They had no choice but to keep Hoshi with Reed.

Reed had dropped off to sleep at one point and Hoshi, thinking he would be calm for at least a few hours, had slipped up to her station to begin work on translating the data modules brought back from the alien ship. However, she was only on the bridge for a half hour when Phlox requested she report back to sickbay. She exchanged looks with Captain Archer and he nodded his consent for her to go. She hadn't left since then.

Trip set up a small workstation for her in sickbay so she could do some work during some of the quieter hours she sat with Malcolm. Either the Captain or Trip would bring her something to eat and check on Malcolm's status, but neither stayed too long, Phlox insisting on a quiet environment for Reed. The Lieutenant had mumbled some incoherent sentences, but never truly seemed to understand what was going on around him. Phlox said it was merely the drugs in his system and that there were no permanent damages to Malcolm.

Permanent physical damages that is.

Even though she was constantly interrupted by Malcolm calling out to her, Hoshi was able to figure out the translation to the alien language fairly quickly. It wasn't too hard since some of it was in English. She saw the hologram programs to which Malcolm was subjected.

Her horror over the experience Lieutenant Reed had on the alien ship grew the more she delved into the files. T'Pol had exhibited extreme judiciousness in her selection of data modules. She later clarified that it was not her decision making that decided what was taken, she had simply grabbed everything, including, the recordings of Reed's captivity and the notes of his captors.

Sickened at heart as she combed through hours of tapes and read detailed report after detailed report, Hoshi glanced sorrowfully at the biobed Reed rested on. No wonder he had clung to her so fervently when he first saw her.

Hoshi took a second to gather herself as she stood outside the Captain's quarters. She should be sleeping. Phlox had finally flushed the last of the drugs out of Malcolm's system and was able to sedate him. The Lieutenant dropped off into a deep and healing sleep, freeing Hoshi up from sickbay.

The Doctor had glanced worriedly at her and told her to go to her quarters to get some sleep, but she knew the Captain was anxious to hear her report.

She hit the ringer on the door, announcing her presence.

"Come in!" she heard Archer call out.

Hoshi entered the Captain's quarters. Archer was dressed casually in a sweatshirt and jeans, reading a book with Porthos settled comfortably in his lap. He looked so calm, solid and comforting sitting there, that Hoshi felt slightly more relaxed knowing that soon she would be able to share with Jon what Malcolm had gone through, sharing the burden of knowing.

"Hoshi," he greeted her warmly. His smile faded as he took in the dark circles under her eyes and the pale pallor of her skin. Her back was straight as ever, but her shoulders had a slight, tired slump.

"Sir," Hoshi gave a curt nod, too tired to be polite. "Lieutenant Reed has finally dropped off to sleep. Dr. Phlox managed to get the last of the drugs out of his system and he expects the Lieutenant will sleep the better part of a day." She fought back a yawn and handed a data padd to the Captain. "I finished the translation of the data modules you brought back."

Archer looked gravely at Hoshi. Without a word, he got up and pushed her into a chair. He found a clean cup and poured some hot cocoa into it and wordlessly handed it to Hoshi. As she sipped the beverage, he swung his chair around to face her. He watched as the cocoa helped relax her and some of the tension leave her body.

"Sorry, no cheesecake to offer you. Okay Hoshi, let's drop the formalities. It's just the two of us here and I know you're too tired to remember proper protocol. Tell me what you found."

She smiled wanly at the Captain and rubbed her eyes in attempt to wake-up a bit more. Hoshi took a few more sips of the hot drink and felt somewhat more alert. She carefully set her cup down on a nearby side table and pulled out a data padd from her pocket. It contained the same information as the one she had just given the Captain. She could link his padd with hers and direct him to the particular parts she was referring to.

"We know that they managed to capture Malcolm's shuttle and took him prisoner. You and Trip were right in that they employed holo-technology to recreate the Enterprise brig."

Archer nodded, not hearing anything new. "The detail was amazing. They even had that dent on the grating next to the brig door."

"There's a reason for that," Hoshi said quietly. She indicated a spot in the report. "They probed his mind, his memories, essentially downloaded everything."

Archer looked at her in shock.

"Not only did they recreate the brig, they re-created us." Hoshi scrolled to another section in the report. "Those data modules you brought back also contained some interactive programs. I was able to activate them on our vid screens." She sighed. "The reason the Lieutenant was so…emotional, when he saw me was because he thought I was dead." She paused. "They made him think he killed me."

Archer let out a long breath as Hoshi's words sank in. He had been hunched forward, while listening to Hoshi, but her revelations made him sit back in his chair. He skimmed through her report, listening to her explain how Malcolm was kept locked in the cage they found him in, drugged to make him more compliant and accepting of what was going on around him. How, when the aliens realized the Enterprise was heading directly towards them they decided to abandon the ship and let it self-destruct, along with Malcolm on it. Rage boiled in Archer as he realized the extent of the inhumane treatment.

One part of the report made him pause and the Captain gave Hoshi a searching glance. "Any particular reason why they chose you to be the catalyst?"

Hoshi shrugged. "Everything was taken from Reed's viewpoint, his perception of people and events is how they molded the programs. They probably saw me as the weakest and most vulnerable person who had spent any significant amount of time with him."

"And that's it?"

Hoshi glanced sharply at the Captain, trying to ascertain what he was driving at, but he kept his expression neutral. Those who did not know Jonathon Archer well thought the man was an open book, someone who wore his heart on his sleeve and in many ways and most of the time they would be right. But those who truly knew Jon Archer were aware of the side of him that could be inscrutable, calculating and when necessary, manipulative. These weren't traits he showed that often and many times, his natural charm and warmth made one overlook them, but every now and then, when a situation desperately called for it, they appeared. "I can't say with absolute certainty, but it's a good guess," Hoshi replied cautiously. She didn't want to let on that part of the reason they had programmed the simulations the way they had was because they were using Malcolm's own perceptions and views of his fellow crew members and how they might react towards him in such an extreme situation. It spoke more of Malcolm's opinion of himself than what he thought of others. Hoshi understood that but she didn't think it would help explaining to the Captain that Malcolm saw him as something of a giant, avenging warrior who was in love with her.

Archer dropped the subject, but Hoshi could see he wasn't convinced. Internally she sighed and wondered if he was going to pursue it at a later time, probably when she wasn't prepared and hoping to catch her off guard. Jon also had a sneaky side. Archer continued to scroll through the padd. "But why?" Jon asked. "Why did they do this to Malcolm? They didn't need to torture him to get information. They already extracted it from him."

Hoshi allowed her shoulders to slump completely, fatigue and the knowledge of what her friend had endured nearly overwhelming her. "It was research. They were using the lieutenant as a lab rat." She let out a hollow laugh. "One of the 'scientist' referred to the experiment as a being the measure of man. They wanted to see what he could withstand and how long and what would ultimately break him."

Archer sighed again. "And I thought we've seen just about everything out here."

"Apparently not," was Hoshi's tart reply.

The Captain eyed his comm officer thoughtfully. His stare was so long and intense that Hoshi began to squirm in her chair.

"Okay, Jon, I know I look like hell, but there's no need to be rude about it," she snapped out finally as he simply continued to stare at her.

"Sorry Hoshi," Archer said as he finally broke off his gaze. He offered her a soft and winning smile. Hoshi eyed him suspiciously, her senses now on high alert. "I was just thinking. Malcolm is going to need someone to talk to about everything and since we have no counselors on board…"

"No. No, no, no," Hoshi shook her head vigorously. "I read all those databases, I've peeked into that man's head and I know things no one should be allowed to know unless that person tells you about it. I know too much about him."

"Which makes you the only person who can talk to him about it," Archer replied. He held up his data padd. "I know you left things out." He held up his hand to forestall any comments by her. "I know its all non-essential and related to private matters that should only concern Malcolm, I trust your judgment Hoshi, but you know about them nonetheless." His eyes were very serious. "He'll need you. He'll need a friend that understands and can help him through this, without having to explain everything himself."

The Captain would never know exactly how much she left out, especially the parts regarding their relationship or what Malcolm perceived her relationship was with Jon. Instead, Hoshi let out a long, annoyed breath. "Why, please tell me, why I'm constantly getting roped into doing things like this?"

Archer grinned that boyish smile of his that allowed him to get away with so many things, especially with her. Hoshi's response was a sour look. He got up and approached her chair. "Because I can only get away with asking you and Trip to do stuff like this and I know Trip will screw it up." He reached down and gently squeezed her arm. "Go to your quarters. Get some rest. Then you'll be able to think more clearly. Remember, I'm here as a sounding board if you need one."

It was a clear dismissal. Hoshi pushed herself wearily up and gave Archer a glare. He simply smiled back at her in that infuriating way he had and she rolled her eyes.

As Hoshi made her way to her quarters she considered the Captain's words. It will take Reed time to recover mentally, emotionally and psychologically. He clung to her now because her presence assured him that he did not kill her, but he would probably push her away once he physically recovered.

Hoshi sighed aloud. She knew men like Lieutenant Reed. They were self-sufficient and solitary. It will not be easy insisting he accept her help, especially when he realizes how much information she had seen.

Hoshi had more than a peek into Malcolm's mind. She had a grand tour. No one should have been forced to have their secrets, memories and thoughts exposed so completely. She saw his hopes, his fears, his desires and how he perceived his fellow crew members and how he thought they perceived him.

The young ensign knew that Lieutenant Reed admired Jonathan Archer so greatly that disappointing his Captain would be crushing to his own soul. But with that admiration also came a host of insecurities that ranged from insecurity of his own height in comparison to the taller man to worthiness of his place on the Enterprise.

Trip, the man who wore his heart on his sleeve for all the world to see, was Malcolm's most treasured friendship and Hoshi saw what the loss of that friendship would do to the armory officer.

The two aliens that served with their crew were viewed with respect though with some distance. T'Pol had a physical attractiveness that drew Malcolm, but her detachment and lack of emotions were often a too painful reminder of the coldness of his own upbringing. But Reed still admired her for her reasoning and level-headedness. While Phlox in some ways was the opposite of T'Pol's emotionless demeanor, his profession of doctor made Malcolm uncomfortable. A childhood filled with illnesses fed into the small phobia he had.

Happy, friendly Travis who never had a hidden agenda in his life could always put Malcolm at ease. Had he been a higher ranking officer, they might be even closer, but proper Malcolm always had to remember the differences in their ranks and the need of a distance to maintain discipline.

All people Malcolm cared about, all people his captors replicated and twisted in some way to heighten his fears of abandonment and isolation.

And what about Hoshi herself? What did she think of how Malcolm Reed saw her? Initially, to say she was a little angry and annoyed would be an understatement. Did he really see her as a victim? But as she continued to watch the tapes and go through the data, her attitude softened. Yes, he saw her as vulnerable, but he also saw her as warm, giving and loving. Idealized to be sure, but then again, how much did Malcolm really know about her? Afterall, he thought she and the Captain were in love with each other.

Hoshi squashed that thought immediately. She hadn't wanted to go there. While Malcolm seemed to have some exaggerated or even warped ideas about himself and his friends, he was also unerringly perceptive at times and perhaps a little too observant. It was what made him a good security officer.

There was a friendship between herself, the Captain and Trip that pre-dated the Enterprise. It wasn't something they advertised and Hoshi thought they kept it pretty well under wraps, but there were times they forgot themselves. She knew her familiar way of addressing the Captain at times had raised more than just T'Pol's eyebrows and Jon's over-protectiveness towards her seemed to go beyond just coddling of a nervous ensign. She was embarrassed though that Malcolm may have seen more.

Hoshi could honestly admit that at one time she had a crush on Jonathan Archer. She knew very few women who ever met the man and were straight who didn't have a crush on him (and probably several gay men as well). But it was something that she could laugh embarrassedly over, nothing more than that. She was just irritated that Malcolm seemed to have made it more than what it was.

And she was going to have to talk to Malcolm about all this? Fat chance.

She walked into her quarters, a comforting oasis in the sometimes chaotic world in which she lived and worked. She showered and changed into a pair of loose-fitting pants and a tank top, her feet in warm socks.

Her mind was racing at a breakneck pace, too active for her to go to sleep no matter how much her body protested.

Help Lieutenant Reed. That was all good and fine to be told to do that, but how?

Hoshi flopped down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, her hands pushing her hair off her face. She was a linguist, not a psychiatrist. What could she do? She could wind up hurting Reed more than helping him.

Damn Jonathan Archer, she thought viciously. He always puts her in situations like this. Hoshi's feelings towards the man right now were definitely not crush-like.

Hoshi closed her eyes and forced herself to relax. Fatigue finally won out and she felt herself drifting off into sleep. The comm button next to her bed rang. Blindly, Hoshi reached out to swat it.

"Ensign Sato?"

Hoshi groaned, recognizing Phlox's voice. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Reed has become agitated once again. I believe your presence would calm him down." He paused for a moment. "I know you're very tired, but I could set up a bed for you here."

Hoshi sighed softly and pushed herself up into a sitting position. "I'm on my way."

Hoshi entered sickbay, still in the loose-fitting pants and tank top, but she had slipped her feet into a pair of slippers and thrown a thin wrap top on. She saw that Malcolm was moving agitatedly in his sleep, twitching and mumbling. Her eyes met Phlox's.

"It would be better for Lieutenant Reed if he rested peacefully," Phlox explained. "I'm afraid if he keeps up this type of activity it will slow his recovery. Since you seemed to have such a calming affect on him…" His voice trailed off.

Hoshi nodded wearily and gave the doctor a wan smile. Phlox showed her the biobed he had set up next to Reed's that she could use and then left to finish some work in the back.

The lights had been dimmed. Hoshi carefully made her way over to Reed's bed. She could see the rapid eye movements beneath his lids as his dreams continued to torment him even though he was no longer a prisoner.

"Shhh," Hoshi hushed him as she gently brushed his hair off his forehead. "Don't worry, I'm here," she whispered.

The affect was almost immediate and Reed settled back down, twitching only now and then. After a few minutes, she started to move towards her own bed, but he seemed to sense her leaving. Reed whimpered slightly and began to flail his limbs again. Hoshi immediately hurried back to his side and calmed him down.

She couldn't stand beside his bed the entire night and possibly day as he slept. For a moment she was at a loss as to what to do. An idea came to her, but she hesitated, wondering how it would look.

Oh, what the hell, she thought to herself.

Carefully, Hoshi climbed up onto Reed's biobed and molded her body against his, spooning him. One hand propped her head up as the other circled his body in a comforting embrace. He settled down immediately and became so still that Hoshi knew he had finally dropped off into a deep, healing sleep.

"Don't worry, I'm here," she repeated.

THE END