Malcolm finished his combination, then took a quick break to wipe his face. A sly look at the clock revealed that it was 5:45. It was unlike Jasmine to be late, although it wasn't completely improbable. It would put a huge damper on his plans if she didn't show. While he was technically on campus to finish cleaning out his office and have a meeting with Phlox, he'd arrived early so he could make it to the gym and have the chance to speak to her in private. Their last meeting hadn't gone smoothly in any sense of the word, and he knew he owed her an answer to her question. He was quite anxious to provide one, in fact.

Another look at the clock. 5:46.

Damn.

If Jasmine was coming at all then she would have to be there in the next few minutes, especially if she was going to make it to her first class on time. Not that he'd been paying that much attention to her personal schedule, but last term he'd noted that she maintained a fairly regular routine, which is something he appreciated.

"I understand you're on the team for the Mission to Mars. Congratulations."

He and Hayes had been so steadfastly ignoring each other since he arrived that it was jarring to be so suddenly addressed. Malcolm shot him a cool nod.

"Interested in a sparring partner? I know you prefer to work alone, but-"

Malcolm opened his arms wide. "Be my guest."

"Great."

The two slowly began to circle. Malcolm had spent an entire term watching Hayes spar with Jasmine, and had been grudgingly impressed by his skill. However, he'd long wanted to see what the man was made of for himself. He was the first to initiate a strike, which Hayes seemed to anticipate.

For a few minutes neither spoke, both invested in testing out each others' skill.

Hayes was the first to break the silence. "I know we're not the best of friends, but I can't understand why you've been treating me with such suspicion."

"I could say the same of you Major. I just assumed you didn't want to involve a former British officer in whatever you're doing over here, and I was happy to oblige."

A grunt. "I suppose the Vice-chancellor told you."

"You suppose wrong." Malcolm scoffed. "You could give me some credit for being able to identify a special operations agent when I see one, especially when he's posing as a student in my classroom."

"Not your classroom anymore."

"No indeed."

Conversation ceased as they went for each other at the same time, and simultaneously blocked each other's jabs.

"Who do you work for? Forrest? Harris?"

"That's classified."

Malcolm sneered. "Come now Major, I know we're not the best of friends…"

Hayes' jaw tightened, and Malcolm felt some satisfaction that he'd annoyed the unflappable soldier. However it was a short lived victory. He was unable to dodge a flying kick to the jaw. The movement was so sudden that Malcolm was momentarily shocked into stillness on the floor. He shook his head to clear it, wincing as his tongue felt his split lip. He could taste blood as he regained his feet and cracked his neck. They danced around each other, then a faze to the right got him in range enough to land an elbow to the center of Hayes' jaw. Unfortunately he was unable to evade the counter attack. Harsh breaths filled the space between them as sweat and blood dripped to the floor.

"If you don't mind my asking, why are you here lieutenant?"

"I have business with Phlox."

"Strange. I didn't realize Doctor Phlox frequented the gymnasium."

Malcolm would have answered, but just then the door swung open and he automatically turned to look. He couldn't tamp down his disappointment as a student slipped inside and froze as he saw the two men looking his way.

"As you were." Malcolm spat, and the young boy scurried back out the door with a worried glance.

"She's not coming."

Now it was Malcolm's turn to be annoyed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm not an idiot Lieutenant." Hayes huffed. "You should give me some credit for being able to detect your interest in Jasmine Brookhurst, even if she was a student in your classroom."

A nerve in Malcolm's cheek ticked. The Major always had a terribly superior air about him that rankled.

"Good forearm block. Nice back fist. Now show me the combination."

In one swift move Hayes parried Malcolm's attack and threw him to the ground. "You're improving."

Malcolm barred his teeth and got to his feet, moving so fast the Major didn't know what hit him until he was staggering backward.

"You want to keep that left up."

Anger finally tinted the Major's usually disinterested features as he felt his cheek. He rolled his shoulders and went after Malcolm with a vengeance.

"That's it," Malcolm mocked, "stay loose, excellent."

Parry, dodge, body blow. "That's it, you're improving."

One sweeping move sent Hayes crashing to the ground, and as Malcolm pinned him to the floor he bent down to hiss in his ear. "See, you were looking at my hands, when you should have been looking at my eyes."

He released his hold on Hayes' neck, and the man immediately gained his feet. Anger radiated off him in waves.

"Okay, lieutenant."

"Major."

He saw the door shudder out of the corner of his eye, and the momentary distraction was enough to give Hayes an advantage. He was unable to counter the swift blow to his side.

"Tell me something," Hayes huffed, dodging a retaliatory punch, "Why won't you just admit you have feelings for her?"

"Because clearly it would be inappropriate for a professor to have a romantic interest in one of his students." Malcolm got in a well-aimed kick, and took a moment to crow as Hayes stumbled back and fell to one knee. It was difficult to breathe, and his face ached as he worked his jaw, but he took comfort that Hayes looked every bit as bad as he felt. "Not that it's any of your business, but that's what I was planning on talking to her about this morning."

Hayes spat out blood. "What."

"Since I am no longer a professor at Oxford, we are free to see each other in a romantic capacity."

Hayes looked at him with the one eye that wasn't swollen shut and nodded once. "I think you just have."

Malcolm registered that as Hayes gained his feet, he was looking towards the door. He whirled, his stomach dropping as he spied Jasmine staring at him with wide eyes.

He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Good sparring with you."

The Major was heading back to his locker, head held high. Malcolm had no doubts that Hayes had seen this coming, maybe even planned it. A deep fury built up inside him. "Hayes!"

He tackled the Major to the ground, and just like that the sparring match devolved into a brawl. They were using the full length of the gym, fists flying more blind rage than finesse. Both were tired, but Malcolm knew that he could no longer afford to lose this fight if he was to save face. He summoned the last of his strength to pull off a combination that laid Hayes out on the floor, eyes unfocused.

It took the man several moments before he could speak. "What was that?"

"A little move I picked up from a Punjabi."

"You'll have to teach it to me sometime."

The door burst open, and in strode Doctor Phlox. "What on Earth is going on here?"

"Nothing sir." Malcolm said, breathing hard.

"Just a friendly sparring match sir." Hayes agreed, and allowed Malcolm to pull him to his feet as Phlox bustled over holding a medical kit.

"What were you thinking Malcolm?" Phlox chided, looking over his bleeding lip and bruised face. "When Jasmine texted me that you and Major Hayes were fighting, I hardly knew what to think."

"It was a little misunderstanding." Malcolm muttered, trading glances with an equally stiff Hayes. "But we've handled it."

"So it appears. I mean really, brawling with one of your former students? Surely you know how that must look."

"As I am no longer under the school's jurisdiction, I saw no harm in-"

"I'm surprised at you lieutenant," Phlox cut in, his tone enough to fill Malcolm with shame, "you're now a part of a government affiliation and such behavior will no doubt be deemed as entirely reprehensible. You know I'm duty bound to report you to Captain Archer for this."

Malcolm blanched, but managed to stammer. "I understand sir."

"Please." Hayes said. "It wasn't his fault sir. I initiated it."

"And Lieutenant Reed finished it. The blame is to be equally shared. I will have to report you to your superiors as well Major, as I'm sure you know."

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now report to the infirmary, both of you, and no arguments! You made quite a mess of each other to say the least. You're lucky I chose not to report you to the Vice-chancellor. I'm sure he would have a much harsher sentence for the both of you than a simple visit to the doctor's office."

Hayes departed immediately, but Malcolm paused as he passed Jasmine. She was hugging herself tightly, looking concerned.

He opened his mouth the say something but she shook her head. "Later. You really need to get that looked at."

"I'll be alright."

"You're head is bleeding."

"I've had worse." He laughed, then winced as his whole body protested the action. "Look, we really need to talk..."

"Yeah we do, but maybe when you aren't covered in blood." She reached out towards him, as if on instinct. Malcolm held his breath as her fingers rose to touch his cheek. But she seemed to reconsider at the last second and let her hand drop. "You should go."

"Yes." He cleared his throat and sent a sideways look at Phlox, who was making no secret of his eavesdropping. "Yes I should. I will contact you later, if that is acceptable."

She nodded. "I'll be out of class by 4."

"Excellent."

"Yeah."

He couldn't help giving her one last long look before doing his best not to limp out the door towards the infirmary.