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Malcolm was walking around the ship, trying to take his mind off his troubles.
He couldn't get the image of Travis laying on the biobed out of his mind. He knew when he was hitting him that he had won the fight, yet couldn't stop himself. His head and ribs were throbbing. He has just been down to Sickbay to check on Travis' condition and was nearly sick with relief at finding that he had woken. The elation he had felt was quickly overwhelmed by the need to flee.
"I am not a coward." He repeated over and over.
"That's it. I can't take this." He wheeled around, ready to turn himself in, when he was stopped by Trip.
"I was looking for you. They said Travis woke up and Crewman Sanchez will too eventually." Trip gave a halfhearted grin.
Malcolm did not return the smile.
"Trip, we need to admit what we did. I can't live with myself. I am going to the Captain and turning us both in." He moved to step around Trip but was caught by his hand on his chest.
"You can't do that, Malcolm." Malcolm looked into his eyes. They were large and dilated.
"If you tell, we'll lose our posts." His voice had real fear in it.
"There is no choice, Commander. We will just have to suffer the consequences."
Trip grabbed his arm, holding him where he was.
"Take your hand off my arm." Malcolm's voice was almost a snarl.
"You ain't going nowhere, 'less I say so, Lieutenant." Trip emphasized his rank.
Malcolm swung, knocking him to the ground. Trip leapt to his feet and hit Malcolm in the stomach causing him to double over.
Before Malcolm could straighten up, Trip hit the floor. Looking up, Malcolm saw T'Pol removing her hand from Trip's shoulder as he fell. She raised a phaser and pointed it at him. "Perhaps we should take Commander Tucker to Sickbay."
Malcolm, watching the phaser, said, "Yes. I think that would be best."
**
Dr. Phlox eyes widened when he saw T'Pol walk in the door with a phaser pointed at Lieutenant Reed. Another surprise was Reed carrying Trip over his shoulder. Walking over, he laid him down on the nearest empty biobed.
T'Pol kept the weapon trained on Malcolm. He warily sat down in a seat near Trip. "Doctor, is the cure almost ready?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Malcolm.
"I was just preparing to wake Ensign Mayweather. I have already injected him. We will see how well it works when he wakes."
Phlox reached over, picking up a hypospray. He pressed it into Travis' neck and waited. Slowly Travis' eyes opened and he blinked repeatedly.
"Doc, what's going on?" he asked, trying to sit up. He stopped, realizing he was restrained. Suddenly Travis eyes widened.
"Oh, wow. Doctor Phlox, I am so sorry. I have no idea why I behaved that way."
Looking over he saw a sheepish Malcolm, an unconscious Trip, and a gun pointed at both by T'Pol.
"Umm, hello, Ensign." Malcolm's face paled considerably.
"Sir." Travis cast his eyes down, trying to avoid his gaze. Dr. Phlox lifted his restraints.
"I believe the Ensign is feeling better, Doctor. Perhaps you should inject the rest of the crew." T'Pol said.
The doctor nodded and picked up the hypospray, injecting Trip and Malcolm.
T'Pol lowered her weapon.
"Perhaps it is best that we have forgotten most of what happened during the illness."
She looked between Malcolm and Travis meaningfully.
"Yes. That is a small blessing, Subcommander." Malcolm tried to smile and patted Trip who was just beginning to wake.
"I will remind Commander Tucker of our…amnesia," Malcolm said.
Trip opened his eyes and locked them onto T'Pol.
"Did you just pinch me?" he asked.