Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters, only my OC - Kaitlyn Donovan.
This story is the sequel to All's Fair in Love and War.
Query: What sacrifices must be endured by those that secure our freedom?
Thank you to Just a Crazy-Man, bina W, and IrishBug74, LoyaulteMeLie, Lupinesence, jeangreyten, and Belen09 for the reviews, and to everyone that is following this story and adding it to their favorites!
Chapter 10 - The calm after the storm.
The Price of Freedom
Chapter 10 - The calm after the storm.
Memorial Dedication Ceremony.
Malcolm Reed narrowed his eyes as he saw a man transport into the crowd behind the rope line. He saw Kaitlyn turn and quickly head in the man's direction. He noted the man had his right hand clenched tightly.
A flurry of actions started to happen simultaneously.
The President and his entourage were transported away.
Kaitlyn grabbed the bomber's hand with her left and held it tightly as she punched him out with a quick jab of her right fist. Malcolm watched as she grabbed a hold of the man as he toppled over so she wouldn't lose her grip of the trigger.
Starfleet Security and MACOs quickly started ushering the crowd out of the immediate area and to a safe distance.
Ambassador Soval and the other Admirals were quickly transported away.
Malcolm quickly headed over to Kaitlyn. "Are you alright, Captain?" he questioned.
Kaitlyn glanced back over her shoulder as she was still laying on top of the bomber. "Landed on the metal casing of the bomb, but other than that - I'm fine." She saw him start to come closer to her and she stopped him quickly. "Stop. We've got a dampening field around me. As soon as everyone is at a safe distance, we'll lower it."
Captain Archer, Commander Tucker, and Doctor Phlox came over quickly.
"Do you require medical attention, Captain?" Doctor Phlox asked her.
"After we get this disarmed, I'll get checked out." she nodded.
Corporal Rodriguez came over, "Ma'am, we've got the crowd to a safe distance."
Kaitlyn nodded, "Get a sedative to keep him unconscious."
Rodriguez quickly called for a medic to be sent in. "Captain, MACO HQ want s to know who you want to come disarm the bomb." he relayed the message.
"I'll do it." Malcolm volunteered. He saw she was about to protest and he shook his head, "I'm already here. I just need some tools." He turned to the Corporal and had the young MACO request the needed items. Malcolm looked at the other members of the Enterprise crew, "It would be best if you went back with the rest of the crowd to a safe distance." he advised them.
Captain Archer nodded slowly, "If you need anything, just comm us."
Malcolm gave his Captain a slight nod.
Trip Tucker looked at his friend, "Are you sure you don't need me to stay here and hand ya tools?" he offered.
Malcolm gave his friend a small chuckle, "We'll be fine."
Doctor Phlox frowned slightly, "Kaitlyn, thank you for stopping him - but I don't envy the situation you're in now."
Kaitlyn smiled as she glanced at the Denobulan doctor, "It needed to be done."
Phlox shrugged, "When you do manage to get untangled from the bomber, I expect you in Medical on the Enterprise." he directed.
"I will see you then." she agreed.
Rodriguez came back a few minutes later with a hypo and a case. He gave the hand signal for the dampening field to be taken down, then he quickly administered the hypo in the bomber's neck. "That should keep him knocked out for a few hours. I've got another dose ready, if we need it." he explained as he set the case down for Reed.
Malcolm opened the case and checked for all of the tools he had requested. "Looks like it's all here. Thank you, Corporal." he nodded.
"Anything else, Ma'am? Sir?" Rodriguez questioned them.
Kaitlyn shook her head, "Just make sure you keep the crowds at a safe distance." She thought of something, "Actually - Admiral Stevens' wife and kids were here. Could you find them and make sure they know I'm fine?"
Rodriguez snapped to and saluted her, "Yes, Ma'am." he quickly left them alone.
Malcolm kneeled down beside Kaitlyn and the bomber and helped her move slightly so he could get a better view of what they were up against. The worry lines on his forehead became more pronounced as he looked over the casing and all of the explosives attached to the bomber.
Kaitlyn looked at Malcolm and watched him as he pulled the case closer. "How bad is it?" she inquired.
"He obviously had no intentions of backing down. I see three redundant systems - including that metal casing you landed on." he stated. "I need to start with his vest first and decide how to detach it from him without all of us being scattered to the winds." he explained as he put on an assault vest and zipped it up.
"We can't just beam him somewhere?" she asked.
Malcolm shook his head slowly, "The fuse is too short. With you holding onto the device, you'd go with him."
Kaitlyn nodded, "What do you need me to do?"
"Just keep holding onto that trigger and let me work." Malcolm took his attention away from the bomb for a moment and looked at her. "You did good stopping him."
Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow, "But?"
Malcolm frowned slightly, "You nearly gave me a heart attack. I know you are use to throwing yourself into situations, but I don't know what I'd do if I lost you again." he admitted.
Kaitlyn smiled softly, "You are not going to lose me again." she promised.
Malcolm gave her a small smile, "So, a dampening field - your idea?" he guessed.
She nodded, "As an extra security precaution. If he did actually manage to let go of the trigger - it would have only vaporized him and I."
"I'm glad you didn't let him release the trigger. You're grip is okay?" he indicated her still clenched fist.
"I'll be fine for awhile." she reassured him.
He touched her arm gently and he felt her love for him loud and clear through their connection - and also her calmness. "I don't know how you can be so calm right now." He moved around to the other side of them to start the disarming process.
"Because I have faith in you and your abilities, Malcolm." she pointed out.
Malcolm smiled softly at her compliment and got to work.
XXXXX
Two hours later.
The bomb had been disarmed, the bomber taken into custody, and they were in the process of giving their statements to Starfleet Security and MACO Security for the records.
Malcolm glanced at Kaitlyn skeptically as he felt a growing hum through their link. He watched as she held onto her side and stood stiffly. He finished up his statement to the Commander and indicated her side to the officer.
Commander Henderson frowned, "Captain Donovan, what is wrong with your side?" he questioned.
Kaitlyn frowned, "I landed on the metal casing. I'll get it checked out."
"Take off your jacket, Ma'am. Please." the Commander directed when it looked like she was going to refuse.
Kaitlyn took off her cami jacket and frowned at the place where her shirt was stuck to her skin because of the dried blood. "It stopped bleeding awhile ago." she tried to keep them calm.
Commander Henderson shook his head, "You need to get that treated immediately. We've got a shuttle waiting."
Kaitlyn nodded, "Yes, Sir."
"I'll see she gets treated, Commander." Malcolm said.
They were released and they headed to the shuttle.
Kaitlyn smiled as she saw it was one of the Enterprise shuttles and Archer, Tucker, and Phlox were waiting.
Malcolm quickly headed to the Doctor, "She needs to be treated."
Kaitlyn was ushered into the shuttle and Phlox quickly got out his scanner as Malcolm sat down on the other side of her.
Captain Archer quickly piloted the shuttle, while Tucker got in the co-pilot's seat.
Doctor Phlox's brows furrowed, "You're developing a slight infection, but I think we've caught it in time." he quickly injected an antibiotic into her. "I'll conduct a better examination when we get to Medical."
"Thank you, Phlox." she smiled softly. Kaitlyn glanced at Malcolm. She knew he was upset because she didn't say anything sooner. She spoke so that only he could hear, "If I had told you - you would have tried to work faster. That would have led to a possible mistake being made."
Malcolm took a deep breath and nodded slowly. He was still upset that she hadn't told him that her injury was that bad sooner, but he understood her holding back.
Malcolm, Kaitlyn, and Phlox headed for Medical while Archer and Tucker went to go check up on the latest repairs made to the ship.
Kaitlyn laid back on the biobed and winced slightly as she could feel the cut reopening slightly.
Phlox looked over the shirt, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut the shirt off, then I'm going to try and soak it around the wound to get the material to separate without reopening the wound again." he explained.
Kaitlyn closed her eyes briefly, "It's already reopening a bit." she indicated.
Phlox glanced at Malcolm, "Could you pull that cart over, Lieutenant?" he requested.
Malcolm quickly rolled the cart over and watched as the Doctor efficiently cut away her shirt from around the wound.
Phlox indicated the washcloth on the cart, "Soak that in water and ring it out just a bit."
Malcolm handed the wet cloth to the Doctor.
Phlox laid the cloth over the material on her wound and waited. He ran the scanner over her again. "The good news is it looks like just a surface wound - no internal damage. But, you will have a rather large hematoma. I'll use one of the newer resins to seal it up after I'm done cleaning it."
Kaitlyn nodded as she opened her eyes. She could feel Malcolm's worry radiating from him. "But, I'll be fine, right?" she double checked.
Phlox nodded as he removed the washcloth, then gently peeled off her shirt around the wound. "Oh, yes - you'll be just fine. But, I'll need to keep you under observation until tomorrow morning to make sure we've caught this infection in time." He smiled as Malcolm and Kaitlyn, "I don't suppose you will object to staying on board the ship tonight?"
Kaitlyn sighed softly, "I don't think that will be a problem. Thank you, Phlox."
Malcolm nodded and gave her a small smile.
Phlox tilted his head slightly, "Don't thank me yet - this is going to hurt a bit."
Thirty minutes later, doctor Phlox had finished and thankfully, she had a borrowed shirt on when Captain Archer came in to check on her.
"You're going to be okay?" Jonathon Archer questioned as he looked between her and Phlox.
"She will be just fine. Captain Donovan will be staying with us tonight so I can monitor her and make sure that infection was caught in time." Phlox explained to the Captain.
Archer nodded, "You may want to put that in her medical records and contact the MACOs." He looked at Reed and Donovan, "The news feeds are already hailing you as heroes and they are banging on the doors to get interviews. General Casey wants you to comm him when you can, as does Admiral Forrest and Admiral Stevens."
Kaitlyn nodded as she got off the biobed, "I will contact them momentarily."
Archer smiled, "You two did a great job. Join us for dinner in the Mess Hall, Kaitlyn. Chef is up here tonight making us dinner."
"Thank you, Captain." Kaitlyn smiled and watched as he turned and left.
Malcolm took a deep breath. She'd be fine. He knew she would - but it still unnerved him that she had been bleeding out while he disarmed the bomb. "You can use the monitor in my quarters, if you want." he offered.
Kaitlyn nodded and glanced at Phlox, "You'll be at dinner?"
The Doctor grinned as he rocked on his heels, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Malcolm walked beside Kaitlyn down the corridors to his quarters, then had the door open. He went to the monitor and quickly turned it on for her. He turned around and found her right in front of him.
She touched his cheek gently, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier."
Malcolm reached for her hand, then kissed it gently. "I'm still just a bit unnerved by it. I thought you knew you could tell me anything."
Kaitlyn frowned, "I know I can - I just didn't want you to be distracted. You had to disarm that bomb."
Malcolm held her gently and kissed her cheek, "I think five years got knocked off my life."
Kaitlyn ran her hands over his shoulders, "Can't have any more of that - I want to grow old with you, Malcolm Reed." she smiled and kissed his lips.
XXXXX
Kaitlyn came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and looked around. Where was Malcolm? He'd been in the shower with her just five minutes ago.
The door chimed.
Kaitlyn looked around quickly - where were her clothes? Shit. She pulled her bare shoulders back and held the towel tightly. She walked over and had the door open.
Trip Tucker raised his eyebrows, "Um. . . Is Malcolm in there?" he questioned as he took a step back. He tried not to ogle the woman that could take him down in the blink of an eye, though she might be a bit slower in what she was, wasn't?, wearing at the moment.
Kaitlyn tried to act as if it didn't bother her standing in just a towel, "He let me borrow his shower and I'm hoping he went to find me some clothes to change into, because this is not acceptable to eat dinner in."
Trip chuckled softly, "I'm sure that's where he went. I'll go see if I can find him and hurry him up for you. I just wanted to tell you Chef said dinner is in twenty minutes."
"Thank you for your help, Trip." she stepped back into the room and the door closed. She sighed softly as she looked around Malcolm's quarters.
It definitely reflected him. Nothing out of place, nothing personal for anyone to find out too much about him, and everything was clean.
She couldn't ever imagine him having a messy room - not with his personality. She briefly wondered if he had ever let people get close to him before he was in the Section, or if it just stemmed from working with them.
Kaitlyn turned as the door opened and Malcolm quickly came in.
"Sorry - I thought I'd be back before you got out of the shower." Malcolm handed her a standard issue MACO uniform and under garments that he'd retrieved from the MACO equipment lockers.
She raised her eyes at the standard grey female briefs and sports bra, "You know this isn't what I normally wear."
Malcolm blushed slightly, "Yes, well - I put your clothes in the wash. They'll be done after dinner. You can wear these in the mean time."
She smiled as he blushed. The thought of him going through the clean uniform lockers to find her under garments to wear was enough to offset her distaste for the plain underwear. "Thank you for getting these for me. Did Trip find you?" she questioned as she headed into the bathroom to change.
"He did. He had a fun time needling me for having you shower in here and disappearing with your clothes. He thought it was a real smooth move on my part." he rolled his eyes.
Kaitlyn came out a few moments later in the standard issue underwear. She pulled on her undershirt, then pulled on her cami pants.
Malcolm handed her the socks and she put them on, then her boots. She stood up and smiled as he held out her cami jacket for her.
"Thank you." she said again as she put the jacket on and buttoned it up. "Ready?"
Malcolm kissed her cheek once more, then they headed to the Mess Hall.
"How is Trip doing? He doesn't seem like his normal upbeat self." Kaitlyn pointed out.
Malcolm shrugged slightly, "He hasn't told me what happened on Vulcan yet - and I really don't know if he will. He's been pretty standoffish the past year - especially since Sim."
Kaitlyn took a deep breath and stopped walking. She knew that Malcolm needed his friendship with Trip. Malcolm was hardly friends with anyone, he kept himself closed off. "I know he's been distant. He's just uncomfortable. I don't think he's opened up to anyone about Sim and how he feels. The best thing for you to do is just be willing to listen to him when he opens up."
Malcolm nodded slowly, "I know - I just don't know how long to wait for him to say anything, or if I should bring it up."
"Maybe he'll be willing to talk to you tonight?" she suggested.
"We'll see. He did invite me over to play cards for awhile." he remembered.
"Good - go play cards with him tonight." she smiled and started walking again.
Malcolm frowned, "I don't want to just leave you alone in my quarters, especially when you're going to be heading off to Vulcan in a few weeks."
Kaitlyn shrugged, "I'll find something to do to occupy my time. You need to take this opportunity to mend things with Trip. You two are important to each other - even I realize that."
Malcolm knew his friendship with Trip was important. This past year things had been rough and it had been very trying on all of the crew. "We drink." he admitted hesitantly.
Kaitlyn chuckled, "So? You are both adults."
Malcolm stopped as they reached the turbolift, "Sometimes I'm a bit sloshed afterwards."
Kaitlyn pushed the button to call the lift. "Will you be able to find your way back to your quarters on your own - or will I have to come escort you?" she inquired with a slight smirk.
"I can make my way back - I just don't want to offend you." Malcolm stated quickly.
Kaitlyn stepped into the lift, "I'm pretty sure you won't offend me."
They were quiet on the ride in the lift and then down the corridor to the Mess Hall.
Dinner in the Captain's Mess was elaborate. Chef had decided that he needed to make special meal for the two officers that had saved the Memorial from being destroyed.
After dinner, Kaitlyn decided to play chess with Phlox in the Mess Hall while Malcolm and Trip went off to play cards.
Phlox moved his piece on the board and sat back to watch Kaitlyn, "You are feeling well?"
Kaitlyn moved her queen, "Just fine. It's healing pretty quick."
"That's good. How are you and Lieutenant Reed doing?" he inquired as he moved another piece.
Kaitlyn smiled as she played her next move, "Are you trying to distract me?"
"Are you trying to avoid answering the question?" he countered with a grin.
"I don't think this is the place to be having this discussion." she shrugged.
"I don't supposed there's any place to have this discussion. What will you do when you go off to Vulcan and the Enterprise heads off to explore again?" he questioned and made another move.
"We will communicate to each other, in code." she cleared her throat.
"Unbreakable?"
Kaitlyn laughed softly, "Actually, it's so simple that it will be overlooked. Besides , I often communicate with Security officers stationed everywhere because I like to stay up to date with security issues and tactics." She shrugged and grinned. "Check mate." She sat back and raised her eyebrow at Phlox.
Phlox smiled as he laid his king down in acquiesce. "You are very good."
Kaitlyn picked up all of the pieces and put them back in the case. "I've had a lot of practice."
Phlox stood up and patted her shoulder, "I wasn't just talking about your chess skills."
Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow, "Neither was I. Thank you for the game, and for being my friend, Phlox."
"I will always be your friend, Kaitlyn. Good night." he waved as he headed out the door.
Kaitlyn put the chess case back in the cabinet, then headed to Malcolm's quarters.
She changed out of her uniform and put on the shorts and t-shirt that Malcolm had left out for her. She laid down on the bed on top of the covers and picked up the book that she'd given Malcolm so long ago. She turned to the page that had been dog-eared and began to read.
Malcolm smiled as he came into the room a few hours later.
Kaitlyn had fallen asleep reading his book.
Malcolm gently removed the book from her hands and put it on his desk, then he turned off the light. He quickly took off his uniform and laid down beside her. He placed his arm on her hip. He closed his eyes and smiled.
He and Trip had a long talk. Trip had opened up to him about the hasty retreat from Vulcan because Commander T'Pol had gotten married to help out her mother. He and Trip had even talked about Sim. It was an emotional discussion, one that neither of them would probably ever admit that they'd shed tears during. But, Malcolm felt better. He'd felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He and Trip were on good terms once again.
He kissed Kaitlyn's forehead and she smiled.
"I'm glad you found your way back." she said as she wrapped her arm around his waist.
"So am I." Malcolm closed his eyes and settled himself against her. "Long day planned for tomorrow?" he asked quietly.
"Starfleet Command Council wants to meet with us at 0900." she murmured as she started to drift asleep again.
XXXXX
TBC.
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