Trip couldn't watch his friend killing himself, he turned away and waited for the sound he knew would haunt him for the rest of his life. Silence.
Madison had to act quickly, she had to fight the side effects that were rapidly afflicting her to stop Malcolm from killing himself. She had heard the conversation between Malcolm and Trip as if it was a telephone ringing through a dream. She tried to shout, but she hadn't regained her voice just yet. Her only hope was for Malcolm to return to her before he blew his brains out.
Sure enough he did and she used all her fleeting energy to raise her hand to the nearest part of Malcolm's body she could touch. Don't faint again Malcolm, just see me and be happy. I'm alive Malcolm!
Malcolm's heart stopped, he dropped the phaser out of shock. She felt cold to his skin, but her eyes were open and warm to him. She was alive.
"Malcolm?" Jonathan questioned as Malcolm fell to the floor. "Malcolm?" Jonathan was losing his nerve, his armoury officer was losing the plot.
"Madison's alive!" Malcolm explained though gulping sobs. The only person who could have seen Madison's hand reach out was Trip who had turned away at the vital second.
"No Malcolm. She's dead." Jonathan's heart bled for him. He turned to Phlox. "Have you got anything to sedate him?" The doctor just nodded while getting a vile out of his bag.
"She's alive Captain." Malcolm repeated. Trip just hugged his knees and looked away, there was nothing he could do to help his friend. He couldn't talk to him and there was no way to remove the field with only one hand.
"Ok... She's alive. Phlox's needs to get in to take a look at her! You going to open the door for us?" Jonathan felt like he was talking Malcolm through a hostage situation. Malcolm picked himself up off the floor and disabled the force field. He had no reason the believe that they still thought she was dead, and even if they did think it there was no other way to prove it otherwise than to let them in. In one swift movement Phlox had rendered him unconscious as Jonathan and Trip made there way to the casket.
"Thank you very much John. The first time he sees me and doesn't faint. You knock him unconscious!" Madison shouted huskily when the two approached.
"Ho- Wha-?" Jonathan was lost for words.
"Oh Ye of little faith." Madison smiled weakly. She took in her surroundings. "Want to get me out of here?" She asked thoughtlessly to no one in particular.
"I would but... Oh wait. You cut off my hand!" Trip shouted, still obviously dumbstruck, but with increasing anger.
"Trip I can explain-" Madison tried to get up but she was still weak.
"While your at it you can explain why you made everyone think you were dead, again, and almost cause Malcolm to kill himself." Trip pushed her back down with his remaining hand. Jonathan pushed him away at that remark. Yes, he was angry, but Trip of all people should have realised that it was fixable, there was no reason to be so bitter and there was no excuse for being violent.
"She did what she had to do Trip and will explain everything when Phlox has checked her out." Jonathan reasoned, picking Madison up out of the casket. "You really are amazing!" Jonathan shot a glare at Trip and headed out the doors.
********************************************************
"She ready to talk?" Trip asked harshly, sat at the Captain's table, attempting to eat beacon and eggs with one hand. He looked sadly at T'Pol who resisted a raised eyebrow to cut up his food. He could get used to this. He thought as he examined her profile. He loved her ears, they screamed intelligence, and at that Trip tried to recall a Vulcan who lacked intelligence. It's all in the ears, he thought as his eyes scanned the red swelling on her cheek.
"Give her time Trip." Jonathan reasoned while putting more salt over his poached fish. "She's been through a lot."
"And it's been smooth sailing for us I guess? It has been three day!" Trip muttered. He wasn't ungrateful that she was alive, but it had always infuriated him how she would tackle the world by herself. Phlox had informed all present at the table that he had found traces of a poison in her system. A true Juliet. "She could have told me what she had planned that's all!" Trip said after he noticed T'Pol and Jonathan staring.
"Perhaps she believed you did not need to know." T'Pol answered flatly.
"I just want this thing to be straightened out once and for all. Nothing is making sense anymore." Trip decided it would be better, instead of filling the air with his anger, to fill his mouth with food.
"It will. When she's ready. She's asked me not to tell the admiral until she explains everything."
"I think that wise." T'Pol agreed. "And I believe the High Council must put a stop to the trade." She placed her hand hesitantly on her cheek. Her first encounter with Madison had not gone well, in her weak state she had mistaken her for an enemy and kicked T'Pol to the floor while in Jonathan's arms. While T'Pol took no offence it gave Trip another reason to resent her and even wonder why he ever wanted to save her.
"I got to go. I promised Malcolm I'd go and talk to him." Trip wiped his mouth and threw the napkin down.
********************************************************
A chime came at Malcolm's door. He had hoped it would have been Madison. He couldn't hide the disappointment in his face.
"Well hello to you too." Trip snapped, brushing past him to sit on the bed.
"You just usually barge in that's all. I had no reason to think it was you." Malcolm fidgeted with his hands.
"Like rubbing it in my face?" Trip questioned rhetorically. His eyes burning. Malcolm stopped immediately. "Sorry. It's not your fault.... You talked to her?" Malcolm shook his head. He knew what to say, he'd just forgotten how to talk.
"She said nothing can happen between us. When we get back to Earth, she's staying. She thinks she's wrecked our friendship and if she stays she'll make it worse." It all came tumbling out. "I love her Trip. I'll stay on Earth if I have to-"
"She's such a bitch. I fight to save her, I lose my hand to save her. I almost lose my best friend. I ignore the girl of my dreams for-" Trip had realised what he'd said. A little too late, he blushed. "I think I'm in love with T'Pol." He admitted, the first true secret he'd told Malcolm. "And I completely forgot about her for Madison. I was a complete ass to you 'cos of her-"
"And you have to remember it's not all her fault. She never asked you to rescue her, she never asked you to forget about T'Pol and she didn't ask you to fight for her." Malcolm sat down beside him. "And she cut off your hand to save you, you know mercury is deadly, and medics on Earth will be able to fix your hand."
"Yea I know. Phlox has been through all that with me. Won't be my hand though-"
"Isn't it better than no hand at all?" Malcolm questioned. Trip thought about it and blushed. "What?"
"Well the upside is, I had T'Pol cutting up my food. And what she was wearing was low cut-" Trip was cut short by the intercom. Malcolm reached over his bed to press the button.
"Malcolm," He answered in his normal cheery self.
"It's Madison. I'd like you and Trip to join me in the Captain's ready room." She seemed hurt by the upbeat in his voice.
"Yes, of course." He answered solemnly, pressing the communicator out.
*********************************************************
"...It's was Fresca's idea." Madison sat alone recounting everything that had happened, opposite Jonathan, Malcolm, Trip and Hoshi. Phlox was there to begin with but got called away when Hoshi had appeared in sickbay. She sounded almost pleased with herself. "I didn't think it would work, the poison was only to be detected once I'd awoken so that if Nova had done tests they wouldn't have found any trace."
"That it?" Trip added coolly glancing at T'Pol. "Little Juliet, same old, same old-"
"Not my fault you're always too quick to give up on me Trip." She glared at him.
"Hey, this isn't about you two-" Jonathan interrupted before a fight broke out. "Is that everything Madison?"
"No. Didn't you ever wonder why I'd been missing for almost two years and no missing person's file reported. Why you got brought all the way back to Earth when it was so important to get me home?" Madison asked.
"Because no one filed one!" Trip wasn't going to admit he was thinking the same thing when they were at the restaurant.
"Or some one did, and it was destroyed. My father's reputation wasn't the only one that could be blackened. His balls were not the only ones on the block."
"Then who else's were?" Trip questioned for everyone.
"Admiral Forrest!" T'Pol answered flatly.
Madison had to act quickly, she had to fight the side effects that were rapidly afflicting her to stop Malcolm from killing himself. She had heard the conversation between Malcolm and Trip as if it was a telephone ringing through a dream. She tried to shout, but she hadn't regained her voice just yet. Her only hope was for Malcolm to return to her before he blew his brains out.
Sure enough he did and she used all her fleeting energy to raise her hand to the nearest part of Malcolm's body she could touch. Don't faint again Malcolm, just see me and be happy. I'm alive Malcolm!
Malcolm's heart stopped, he dropped the phaser out of shock. She felt cold to his skin, but her eyes were open and warm to him. She was alive.
"Malcolm?" Jonathan questioned as Malcolm fell to the floor. "Malcolm?" Jonathan was losing his nerve, his armoury officer was losing the plot.
"Madison's alive!" Malcolm explained though gulping sobs. The only person who could have seen Madison's hand reach out was Trip who had turned away at the vital second.
"No Malcolm. She's dead." Jonathan's heart bled for him. He turned to Phlox. "Have you got anything to sedate him?" The doctor just nodded while getting a vile out of his bag.
"She's alive Captain." Malcolm repeated. Trip just hugged his knees and looked away, there was nothing he could do to help his friend. He couldn't talk to him and there was no way to remove the field with only one hand.
"Ok... She's alive. Phlox's needs to get in to take a look at her! You going to open the door for us?" Jonathan felt like he was talking Malcolm through a hostage situation. Malcolm picked himself up off the floor and disabled the force field. He had no reason the believe that they still thought she was dead, and even if they did think it there was no other way to prove it otherwise than to let them in. In one swift movement Phlox had rendered him unconscious as Jonathan and Trip made there way to the casket.
"Thank you very much John. The first time he sees me and doesn't faint. You knock him unconscious!" Madison shouted huskily when the two approached.
"Ho- Wha-?" Jonathan was lost for words.
"Oh Ye of little faith." Madison smiled weakly. She took in her surroundings. "Want to get me out of here?" She asked thoughtlessly to no one in particular.
"I would but... Oh wait. You cut off my hand!" Trip shouted, still obviously dumbstruck, but with increasing anger.
"Trip I can explain-" Madison tried to get up but she was still weak.
"While your at it you can explain why you made everyone think you were dead, again, and almost cause Malcolm to kill himself." Trip pushed her back down with his remaining hand. Jonathan pushed him away at that remark. Yes, he was angry, but Trip of all people should have realised that it was fixable, there was no reason to be so bitter and there was no excuse for being violent.
"She did what she had to do Trip and will explain everything when Phlox has checked her out." Jonathan reasoned, picking Madison up out of the casket. "You really are amazing!" Jonathan shot a glare at Trip and headed out the doors.
********************************************************
"She ready to talk?" Trip asked harshly, sat at the Captain's table, attempting to eat beacon and eggs with one hand. He looked sadly at T'Pol who resisted a raised eyebrow to cut up his food. He could get used to this. He thought as he examined her profile. He loved her ears, they screamed intelligence, and at that Trip tried to recall a Vulcan who lacked intelligence. It's all in the ears, he thought as his eyes scanned the red swelling on her cheek.
"Give her time Trip." Jonathan reasoned while putting more salt over his poached fish. "She's been through a lot."
"And it's been smooth sailing for us I guess? It has been three day!" Trip muttered. He wasn't ungrateful that she was alive, but it had always infuriated him how she would tackle the world by herself. Phlox had informed all present at the table that he had found traces of a poison in her system. A true Juliet. "She could have told me what she had planned that's all!" Trip said after he noticed T'Pol and Jonathan staring.
"Perhaps she believed you did not need to know." T'Pol answered flatly.
"I just want this thing to be straightened out once and for all. Nothing is making sense anymore." Trip decided it would be better, instead of filling the air with his anger, to fill his mouth with food.
"It will. When she's ready. She's asked me not to tell the admiral until she explains everything."
"I think that wise." T'Pol agreed. "And I believe the High Council must put a stop to the trade." She placed her hand hesitantly on her cheek. Her first encounter with Madison had not gone well, in her weak state she had mistaken her for an enemy and kicked T'Pol to the floor while in Jonathan's arms. While T'Pol took no offence it gave Trip another reason to resent her and even wonder why he ever wanted to save her.
"I got to go. I promised Malcolm I'd go and talk to him." Trip wiped his mouth and threw the napkin down.
********************************************************
A chime came at Malcolm's door. He had hoped it would have been Madison. He couldn't hide the disappointment in his face.
"Well hello to you too." Trip snapped, brushing past him to sit on the bed.
"You just usually barge in that's all. I had no reason to think it was you." Malcolm fidgeted with his hands.
"Like rubbing it in my face?" Trip questioned rhetorically. His eyes burning. Malcolm stopped immediately. "Sorry. It's not your fault.... You talked to her?" Malcolm shook his head. He knew what to say, he'd just forgotten how to talk.
"She said nothing can happen between us. When we get back to Earth, she's staying. She thinks she's wrecked our friendship and if she stays she'll make it worse." It all came tumbling out. "I love her Trip. I'll stay on Earth if I have to-"
"She's such a bitch. I fight to save her, I lose my hand to save her. I almost lose my best friend. I ignore the girl of my dreams for-" Trip had realised what he'd said. A little too late, he blushed. "I think I'm in love with T'Pol." He admitted, the first true secret he'd told Malcolm. "And I completely forgot about her for Madison. I was a complete ass to you 'cos of her-"
"And you have to remember it's not all her fault. She never asked you to rescue her, she never asked you to forget about T'Pol and she didn't ask you to fight for her." Malcolm sat down beside him. "And she cut off your hand to save you, you know mercury is deadly, and medics on Earth will be able to fix your hand."
"Yea I know. Phlox has been through all that with me. Won't be my hand though-"
"Isn't it better than no hand at all?" Malcolm questioned. Trip thought about it and blushed. "What?"
"Well the upside is, I had T'Pol cutting up my food. And what she was wearing was low cut-" Trip was cut short by the intercom. Malcolm reached over his bed to press the button.
"Malcolm," He answered in his normal cheery self.
"It's Madison. I'd like you and Trip to join me in the Captain's ready room." She seemed hurt by the upbeat in his voice.
"Yes, of course." He answered solemnly, pressing the communicator out.
*********************************************************
"...It's was Fresca's idea." Madison sat alone recounting everything that had happened, opposite Jonathan, Malcolm, Trip and Hoshi. Phlox was there to begin with but got called away when Hoshi had appeared in sickbay. She sounded almost pleased with herself. "I didn't think it would work, the poison was only to be detected once I'd awoken so that if Nova had done tests they wouldn't have found any trace."
"That it?" Trip added coolly glancing at T'Pol. "Little Juliet, same old, same old-"
"Not my fault you're always too quick to give up on me Trip." She glared at him.
"Hey, this isn't about you two-" Jonathan interrupted before a fight broke out. "Is that everything Madison?"
"No. Didn't you ever wonder why I'd been missing for almost two years and no missing person's file reported. Why you got brought all the way back to Earth when it was so important to get me home?" Madison asked.
"Because no one filed one!" Trip wasn't going to admit he was thinking the same thing when they were at the restaurant.
"Or some one did, and it was destroyed. My father's reputation wasn't the only one that could be blackened. His balls were not the only ones on the block."
"Then who else's were?" Trip questioned for everyone.
"Admiral Forrest!" T'Pol answered flatly.