"Who is it?" Melanie asked

"It's me Commander Tucker. Can I come in?' he asked

"Sure." She said

"I brought you some Pecan Pie." Trip said with a smile

"Thanks, but I have never had pecan pie before." Melanie said

Trip Tucker almost dropped the plate when she said this. He thought that it was slightly strange that she never had Pecan Pie before. That was okay. He was just trying to be nice anyway.

They ate in silence. Melanie wondered if she offended the Chief Engineer. She sensed that he was a little uncomfortable around her. What she did not know was that Commander "Trip" Tucker liked her. It would be a matter of time before she knew how he felt about her. It was killing him inside because be wanted to kiss her. It never occurred to him that one of his best friends liked her too. The problem was that the person in question was Captain Jonathan Archer.

What the heck, Trip thought as he leaned in to kiss Melanie? She was too shocked to do anything. Trip was just hoping that his best friend wouldn't need him now. Melanie couldn't believe that he kissed her. He stopped and saw a look of shock and pleasure on her face. When she was on Earth she didn't have this many men fighting over her and that confused her. She was trying to hide the fact that her and the Captain were an item. She did not want to jeopardize Jon's career. She knew if Tucker found out he might want to kill Jon.

"I have to go now but I am sure that I will see you again." Trip said

"I don't doubt it Trip and thanks." Melanie said

"What for or do I have to ask?" Trip said

"I liked the pie and I liked your kiss." She said with a smile.

Melanie did not know what she was going to do. She wasn't sure whom she could go to. She didn't know many on the crew but she decided that she was not going to do anything and that she was just going to see how it worked out. She knew that if she tossed and turned she definitely wouldn't get any sleep. She thought what is he trying to do to me. Melanie sat up in her room. She knew that she was growing restless. She shook her head. She knew that unless she talked to Jon about this and got it out in the open she might not see any improvement. Melanie hated the fact that she was unable to sleep. In the beginning, she thought it was just because she was homesick. Melanie tried not to worry about it.

She thought that the others were catching on to how they felt about each other. A stolen glance here and a smiling face there. It was enough to make the Chief Engineer jealous. Speaking of jealous, she knew that she didn't want the armory officer jealous because he would have more of a reason to blow something up. She didn't want to hurt either man's feelings but she knew that they would both get hurt once it came out about her and the Captain.

Melanie liked Reed as a friend. She hoped that some of her optimistic personality would rub off on him. She knew that it was one thing to be professional at work but she had to wonder what he did to unwind. Then it came to her he might NEVER unwind. She decided not to worry about it. After all, he was what she liked to call a workaholic. She couldn't help it, there was just something about him that made her feel sorry for him. She was careful not to give him the wrong impression.

Meanwhile, Melanie hoped that Trip didn't find out about her and the Captain. She knew that someone was bound to catch on soon. They were being discrete about their relationship but she knew they couldn't be like this forever. She wondered if it would be a good idea for the Captain to tell his crew.

Things had been quiet aboard the Enterprise. Melanie would be able to hear a pin drop with this lack of noise. Just then she heard footsteps coming her way. She wondered who it might be. Commander Tucker stopped by. He walked in. Their eyes met. Melanie saw a familiar look in his blue eyes. She had seen that same look with Jon. It was a look of heated passion. He came close to her as if their bodies were touching. Trip leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't his usual kiss; this one had more of a meaning behind it. It never occurred to him how Jon would feel if he found out. He only cared about his feelings for Melanie. Trip and his best friend never had feelings for the same woman before. This time it was different and he knew that the two men would be in serious trouble if someone found out about how they felt about Melanie. He knew that their feelings wouldn't get them in trouble but if they fought over her than it could become a problem. The only way they could get around it was it her safety was an issue.

Melanie wasn't sure she had the right to tell Commander Tucker or Lt. Reed about her and Jonathan. She figured that it would be best if it came from him. As it was now, she was not sure how to approach the man she loved with this kind of information. She wanted to let Reed and Tucker down easily but she knew that was almost impossible. She thought that the best way to do that might be for them to see her with Jonathan.

She knew that the Sub-Commander might feel that they were being inappropriate. Melanie had to admit that she did not know much about Vulcans so she thought T'Pol might be jealous. Melanie knew that the Sub-Commander was giving Melanie dirty looks when Captain Archer wasn't looking. Even the tone of her voice; made Melanie think that the Vulcan thought she was superior to her. She knew that she did not want to get on the Sub-Commander's bad side. She had to admit that she wasn't sure if the other woman had a bad side to begin with. Melanie remembered some of the other crew telling her that Vulcans were extremely strong.

The Sub-Commander saw Melanie. The minute she spotted Melanie she walked over to her. Melanie looked up at the other woman because she had no idea what T'Pol wanted to discuss with her. Melanie smiled at the other woman.

"What is it Sub-Commander?"

"There is something of a personal nature that I need to discuss with you."

"And what would that be?"

"Your relationship with Captain Archer."

"Do I detect a bit of jealousy on your part?"

"Jealousy is an emotion."

"So, what is the problem with my relationship with the Captain?"

"For starters he is much too old for you."

The fact that the Sub-Commander brought age into it made Melanie so mad. She never rubbed it in about her being so much younger than Captain Archer. Jonathan didn't even care too much. Melanie remembered another time when she asked him how he felt about that and he told her that it didn't matter to him because he loved her. This was early on in the relationship.

Melanie had to admit that she was kind of a little scared because she knew that if the Vulcan Science Officer got mad enough she might hurt Melanie. Melanie even thought that this past time she was going to get knocked on her butt. So she tried to avoid her like the plague. If worst came to worst, Melanie knew Jonathan would defend her honor if he had to.

It never occurred to her that in addition to the Captain two other men would like her. This is getting a little to complex she thought to herself. She hoped that she was overreacting to this but she doubted it. She occasionally ran into the two men. Melanie knew that just like back home; there were still some men fighting over her. I know that this happened before but that was back home she silently thought to herself and not to mention it was a long time ago. She had to admit that she never thought she would see the day where that would happen again. I must be unworthy she thought to herself. She knew that if anyone heard her talking like that they would probably tell her that she was wrong and that she is a good person. She had no idea why she never had any good luck with males until now.

Just then, Melanie saw Sub-Commander T'Pol again. She had know idea what the Science Officer wanted to speak to her about this time. She had to admit that it might have something to do with what they discussed the last time Melanie saw the Sub-Commander. Only this time it looked as if Melanie might get attacked by the other woman in question.

"Can I help you Sub-Commander?"

"We didn't finish our discussion from the last time."

"What about that do you want to discuss with me?"

"I don't feel that it is in the Captain's best interest to have a relationship. He is supposed to focus on his duty to the ship."

"I am sure that he would tell you the same thing that I am about to. It is none of your business what he does in his off time. Also, he is entitled to a private life."

"You are not some girlfriend of his, you are just a slut, not to mention a bitch and tramp."

Just then T'Pol lunged forward trying to strangle Melanie. Instead, she ended up throwing her to the ground. T'Pol left but the noise from the fight alerted Commander Tucker and Lt. Reed to where Melanie was. Both men knew something happened but they were not sure what. Lt. Reed contacted the doctor while Commander Tucker contacted his best friend. No one knew that the Science Officer attacked Melanie. Captain Archer came running into sickbay. He looked at her on the bed.

"Does anyone know who did this?" Archer asked

"I am working on an investigation now, but I did bring her in with Commander Tucker so I wanted to know she would be alright before I left again." Reed said

"Captain, the Lieutenant and I found her so we thought we should stay here for a while until you got here." Tucker said

"Thanks, Trip." Archer said

The two younger men left the Captain alone with Melanie. Melanie we will find this person who did this to you. I promise you that whoever did this is going to get a severe punishment. He started to cry on her shoulder. He knew it wouldn't help her situation but he thought that it might make him feel a whole lot better. The Captain knew that he needed some rest but he felt guilty at the thought of leaving her by herself in here. The Captain knew that Phlox was a capable doctor but he knew that he would feel better if he could stay with her that way if the person who hurt her before came back he could protect her. The Captain kept blaming himself for not being there earlier when she needed him more than anything in the world. He was thankful however that Reed and Tucker got to her before it wss way too late.

Captain Jonathan Archer couldn't sleep knowing that someone did this to Melanie. He had no idea who would do this to her. He knew that the Sub-Commander didn't like her but he didn't think much of it. All he knew was that the Vulcan didn't get along with many people. It never occurred to him that it might be one of his own staff. He kept telling himself that the priority here was to find who did this and punish them severely for their actions. Captain Archer was finding it hard to sleep as a result of what happened to Melanie. He decided to pull out all the stops and ask anyone who might know what happened to her.

Even though both Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed both liked Melanie they decided to keep there mouth shut. Neither man knew how the other one felt about Melanie. Right now they were more concerned with the well being of the Captain because he had been taking this pretty hard. When the Captain was done with his shift he would visit Melanie and then he would retire to his quarter for the night. The Captain wanted to spend all his free time with her but he knew that was unrealistic. The Captain did have his own suspicion on this matter because he remembered how T'Pol acted when Melanie was around. Jon knew that he couldn't prove it right now but he figured once the doctor helped her. The tests might confirm what he thought. He knew that if he ever saw his Science Officer any time soon he would want to wring her neck for what she did.

"Well, I now have a better idea to the injuries involved Captain."

"What is it?"

"I found some finger prints on Melanie. I have to admit there were a few pairs. As you already know two of them belong to Lt. Reed and Commander Tucker because they brought her here. The third set is from Sub-Commander T'Pol because her prints were in a different area."

That was all the Captain needed for a confirmation of what happened now he was going to chew her but out for what she did. Even if she didn't like the other woman it was still unprofessional. He walked in the direction of the Sub-Commander's room. It was taking all his strength to restrain himself from hurting her for what she did. He had to admit he was furious and he wasn't sure that was going to go away any time soon.