*****

"How is she?" Archer asked as he hovered next to the dermal regenerator.

"She's unconscious and suffered third-degree burns along her legs and feet. A few more hours in the regenerator, and the scars will be minimal. I sedated her just in case she was to wake up, as I understand the lieutenant is claustrophobic." Phlox assessed Hoshi's condition as though it were routine.

Looking at the tubular machine, Jon felt the culpability for his actions. He should have known she wasn't up to the away mission, but he needed her ability down on the planet with him. The risk was supposed to have been minimal.

Enterprise had come across a planet, which was undergoing rapid tectonic disturbances on the surface. They would have watched from a safe distance, but there was a signal coming from the planet – a signal that alluded to intelligent life.

Harmonic crystals – that's what they found. The geologic disturbances were amplifying the crystals' natural waves in repetitive patterns. Hoshi didn't see or feel the fragile shelf she stood on as she studied the crystals. Luckily, her EV suit had protected her from the lava, but she had still suffered the environmental failure of the suit.

"We should have been more careful," Jon stated. "She could have stayed in the shuttlepod and observed the readings from there. There was no need –"

"Second guessing yourself isn't going to help the lieutenant, Captain," Phlox stated gently.

He knew what the doctor stated was true. "Let me know when she wakes up."

"I'll probably keep her sedated regardless. She needs to catch up on her sleep." Phlox adjusted the readings on the regenerator.

"Catch up?" Jon quizzed, pondering the doctor's statement.

"Hoshi suffers from frequent insomnia. My bat and her pup get their best quality time when the lieutenant's insomnia is at its height."

"How long has this been going on?"

Phlox shrugged his shoulders. "Ever since she came on board. Although, she did seem to sleep better when Mr. Reed was on board and…"

Jon nodded as though he were listening to the doctor's words.

He would never forgot six months ago when he told Hoshi about Malcolm. Seeing the devastation in her eyes, Jon wanted to comfort her, but he wanted to maintain some semblance of professionalism. He had let her get away with too much as it is. She had calmly asked to be dismissed and left the ready room for her lunch break.

Now that he thought more about her, Jon realized the extent of her insomnia. As captain, he suffered from bouts of it himself. Three nights ago, he wound up in the deserted mess hall, and she was there. She was tapping softly on a PADD the other night, oblivious to his presence. She looked tired and frustrated.

"Do whatever you have to for her, Doc."

--

Two days later –

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Hoshi stuck out her tongue. She looked like death warmed over and the lighting in sickbay didn't help much. Other than the headache, she was fine, not to mention well rested.

She set the mirror down and picked up the PADD, gleaning through the various news organizations and headlines. It was frustrating as hell. There was nothing about Malcolm in the news, and she wasn't able to access the Starfleet database for she still didn't have full access to it.

The Captain had called her into his ready room and she braced herself in anticipation of the fraternization speech, but it never came. She knew she had showed her hand in sickbay with Malcolm. 

"There's no easy way to say this, Hoshi, but I wanted to let you know before it became general knowledge."

She remembered feeling the vibration of the T'Vala disengaging from Enterprise, never questioning why the Vulcans had followed them, just assuming they were there rendering further assistance. She had never guessed Malcolm was on board until Jonathan Archer broke the news to her.

Jon cleared his throat, stood and stared out at the stars. "Malcolm Reed is on his way to Earth. He's being charged with treason and will stand trial."

It took a few second before his words registered and Hoshi waited – for what she didn't know.

"Malcolm's not coming back." Jon turned and looked at her.

Hoshi set the PADD down and yawned. Only once in the past six months had she asked him about Malcolm.

He had replied with a quick and cold, "I don't know."

She nodded, wanting to smack the shit out of him for being such an ass. Had he even considered that he had delivered Malcolm into further danger? The captain had assured her he hadn't, telling her the order came directly from Admiral Forrest.

Her lids grew heavy on the troubling thought and she slept, letting the sounds of Nala and her pup lull her to sleep.

--

Archer stared at the screen in disbelief, shaking the sleep from his head.

"I'm asking this as a favor, Jon. Besides, you're short an armory officer and you would be hard pressed to find somebody with his qualifications that – " Forrest pleaded his case.

"What happened to the charges?" Jon asked suspiciously.

"I can't go into detail, but Admiral Bryant has resigned pending investigation," the admiral stated sullenly. "Malcolm…well…I made up the charges. I needed to get him back here in one piece. I couldn't risk him being intercepted before he reached me. It turns out his brush with Lita Mukai triggered some old memories and he's made a complete recovery. He was able to complete the investigation regarding the phase cannon design theft." He paused. "Well, the findings of the investigation caused some bad blood and it really would be better if the lieutenant commander disappeared for a little while."

Jon waited for the admiral to finish.

"Well, I won't force the issue, but he specifically asked for assignment on Enterprise." Forrest leaned forward onto his desk. "Just let me know what you decide. It's ultimately your decision. Forrest out."

The screen went blank and Jon blinked. There was no way he was getting back to sleep tonight.

--

A few nights later –

Hoshi stared at the darkened ceiling, struggling to sleep. He would be here soon, tilting her world upside down again. Sure, she had told the Captain serving with the new armory officer wouldn't be a problem. Who she was trying to kid? Not only was she lying to Captain Archer, she was lying to herself.

The captain's eyes had become wider as he read off Malcolm's qualifications, as though he were a child expecting a special toy. He had made it perfectly clear that he was considering her wishes. What should she have done -- feign giddy schoolgirl thoughts and fan herself with excitement? Yes, she was excited that Malcolm was okay and coming back to her, but at the same time, she was pissed as hell that he hadn't even bothered to contact her.

*****