Chapter Five
*****
Malcolm turned to Hoshi and saw her watchful, questioning eyes. She stifled a
yawn and shivered. He flipped his communicator open, and then snapped it shut.
He was going to contact a custodial crew, but with his luck, thought better of
it. They would probably get here before Em did with his uniform and he didn't
feel like explaining to anyone why he was standing around in his wet skivvies.
Hoshi sobbed, "It's happening. I'm going to sleep. You won't be here when I
wake up and the monster will eat me."
She sat there, dejected and shivering, fighting off sleep. Malcolm sat down
next to her and put his arm around her shoulder, laying her down on the bunk.
He comforted her as she fell into a fitful sleep. His bare chest was pressed
against her back, and his waist against her backside.
He shifted uncomfortably as blood rushed to places he would rather ignore right
now. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Malcolm, she's basically a child and you have
a raging hard-on for her. That's just bloody terrific. The next time we are
offered furlough, I am going to be the first one knocking on Captain Archer's
door.
She wiggled back, clutching his arm under hers, causing his erection to grow.
"Damn it! Why is this happening to me?" he murmured out loud to no one in
particular, feeling as though the universe was laughing its ass off at his
expense.
The door to the cell opened, making Malcolm jump away from the warmth in his
arms, thankfully not disturbing her.
Em smirked. "Am I interrupting something?"
Malcolm put his finger over his lips and glared at his second in command. He
managed to get off the bed without disturbing Hoshi, thankful that Em's
presence had thrown ice water on his problem.
He snatched the uniform out of her hands, and walked into the bathroom, taking
his wet skivvies off and putting his uniform on. He threw the skivvies onto the
floor, buttoned the Henley and zipped the uniform with a vicious tug.
Em stood there, still smirking when he walked out.
OK, smartass! "Call custodial." He padded past her, barefooted. "There's
quite a mess in there. Under no circumstances are you to leave her alone."
Malcolm left, leaving a gaping Em behind.
"What the hell am I supposed to do, knit?" Em asked out loud, but
received no answer.
***
The next day, Malcolm stood before Captain Archer and a disheveled Dr. Phlox.
"Dr. Phlox tells me you've formed a…bond…with our guest," Jonathan Archer
laughed, not really able to fathom the strange connection between the "wild"
woman and Malcolm.
"I wouldn't go that far sir," Malcolm stated as a really bad feeling settled
over him.
"Well, she won't let Phlox near her and swears at Lieutenant Gomez in Spanish.
She keeps screaming for 'Lieutenant Reed,' yelling that you said you wouldn't
leave her. I think that qualifies as a bond," Archer stated pointedly.
Malcolm remained silent.
"So, I am appointing you her…keeper, for lack of a better word. You will be
responsible for domesticating her and socializing her around the rest of the
crew. Stop, right there…" Archer held his hands up as Malcolm opened his mouth
to protest.
"Dr. Phlox assures me that the young lady does not present a security risk in
the least, and really shouldn't be held in the brig any longer. Therefore, I am
assigning you a temporary bunkmate until further notice," Archer stated, and
sat down.
"But, sir, I…" Malcolm stammered, not believing his ears.
Archer leaned forward, putting his hands on his desk. "The sooner you get
started domesticating your ward, Malcolm, the sooner you can have your quarters
back to yourself."
*****