I take it y'all liked the twist about the baby?

Were you surprised?

Thanks again for all the reviews. I love 'em. Makes me feel special... lalala...

Ok, on with chapter eight...

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Malcolm practically ran down the corridor, lost in his own thoughts, ignoring startled crewman who greeted him as he passed. All he could think about Alex, in a hospital bed, all alone. For what seemed like the millionth time, he cursed whatever force had taken her from him.

Images flashed through his mind, each worse than the last, all detailing Alex in pain, surrounded by strangers. These images spurred him on, and Malcolm practically sprinted the last fifty yards to sickbay.

The doors whooshed open quietly and Malcolm stepped through. The two occupants in the room didn't notice him, and he stood observing the scene before him with a wrenching heart.

Alex sat on a bio-bed, her knees drawn up under her chin, and her arms wrapped around her legs. She was crying, huge wrenching sobs that made Malcolm think that her heart was breaking. Phlox was sitting beside her, rubbing her back, murmuring words of comfort in her ear.

He looked up, and saw Malcolm standing there. Wordlessly, he stood up and tactfully left sickbay. Malcolm took his place, and wrapped his arms around his wife. Startled, she looked over her shoulder, and when she saw who it was, she collapsed against him. Malcolm lay back on the bed, taking Alex with him, holding her close. Her tears soon soaked his uniform, but he didn't care.

When her tears finally lessened, he stroked her hair.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Not really. Oh Malcolm, there's something I have to tell you. It's about why I was taken." Alex felt his body tense up, and he increased his hold on her.

"The Barcarnian agents took me... because I was pregnant"

Shock roared through Malcolm's veins, rendering him incapable of words. Pregnant? Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't this.

"Malcolm? Malcolm, speak to me" Alex begged.

"What can I say?" Malcolm forced out. He was a father.

Alex began to speak rapidly, for fear of loosing her nerve, and collapsing into tears again.

"I was four months pregnant, though I had only found out. You know how irregular I was. I thought I might by, but I wasn't sure, so I had tests run on Jupiter Station, and the doctor there confirmed it. It... it was going to be your anniversary present."

"If you had suspicions, why didn't you tell me? It's my baby too."

Tears fell down Alex's cheeks as she spoke.

"Because, I didn't want to believe again, and have everything fall down around us. Remember?"

Malcolm did indeed remember. They had been 21, and three years married. Alex was late, and she started showing the symptoms of early pregnancy. They were both so excited! They were dying to become parents. Malcolm and Alex went to the doctor, where he broke the news as gently as he could. Alex wasn't pregnant.

He would never, ever forget that day. They had stumbled home in silence. Once there, they had broken down. Alex cried for two days straight, as Malcolm just held her. Just as he was doing now.

"Go on" he urged her.

"When I woke up on Barcarnia, my first thoughts were of you. The next were for my baby. I was determined to protect my child. I was rushed to the hospital when they found out I was pregnant. For a month and a half, I fought for my baby. But, the effects of the stasis were irreversible." Her voice cracked at this point, and Malcolm held her even tighter, tears flowing freely from his eyes.

"I woke up one night in agony, covered in blood. I couldn't feel him moving. I was so scared, and started screaming. But... the baby died." She broke down into sobs again. "There was nothing the Barcarnian doctors could do. Our inner physiology is so different from theirs. They could only watch as he died. He was stillborn."

"It was a he?" Pain unlike any Malcolm had ever experienced lanced through him. He had a son. His son had died.

"Yes, our son. I called him Malcolm. He was so tiny! He had a head full of dark hair. His hands... His little fingers..." Alex couldn't go on. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed her heart out.

"I'm so tired Malcolm" she admitted. "I'm tired of being strong and reliable. I used to lie awake at night, crying, wishing for your arms around me. I'm sorry. I so sorry I lost our son"

"Lexie. Love, it wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was!" she shouted angrily. "If I had been a better mother, if I had taken more care, if I had done something different our son would be alive. We would have our family. Malcolm Reed Jnr. wouldn't be lying in the cold earth a million miles away from his parents. It was my fault. I wasn't good enough or strong enough."

(A/N I did a paper on bereavement for my Psychology class in college, and I found that women who miscarried, especially late into their pregnancy, often blamed themselves for the death of their child.)

For a long time, Malcolm lay down with her, and held her close. He assured her over and over that it wasn't her fault. His heart ached with the knowledge of his sons' death, and his heart ached for his wife. She blamed herself. He knew how all-encompassing this type of guilt could be, so he just held her.

"Malcolm, I love you."

"I love you too darling."

"Let's go to your quarters. I need to know how much you love me" she pleaded. Nodding, Malcolm took her hand and they left sickbay.

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James paced his rooms, thinking. (A/N Oh come on. You didn't think I'd leave it like it was, did you? James was always coming back to cause more trouble.) He was so mad, he could kill Alex. In fact, he was going to kill her, slowly and painfully. Stupid bitch! Did she honestly think he'd let her get away with all she had done? He just needed to get her alone, and he suddenly knew how. He knew her weakness.

The doors to his rooms opened to reveal two armed Starfleet guards. The taller one stepped forward.

"We're moving you to Enterprise where we can keep an eye on you" he told James. "Move."

He pushed James in front of him, and they walked in tandem towards the airlock. James was in the middle of two guards. Everyone stopped to stare at him. By now, they all knew his story. 'Well, in a few hours, it won't matter anyhow.' he thought to himself. He kept his outward appearance sullen, but inside he was leaping for joy. By moving him, they had made his escape plans a whole lot easier.

The guards led him aboard Enterprise. They passed the mess hall and he caught a quick glimpse through the open door. Perfect! The three men entered the turbo lift, and his guard's attention was distracted for a moment.

Quick as a flash, he pulled his still-concealed blade from his pocket, and stabbed one of his guards through the back. He'd probably punctured a kidney, but he didn't care. The other guard swung to shoot him, but James lanced out with the knife, slashing the young man's face. The Ensign cried out in pain, and James took the opportunity to knock him unconscious.

The lift stopped, and James peaked out the open door. No-one was about. He pushed the two unconscious and bleeding men into a dark corner, weapons and all. He briefly considered taking their guns, but he rejected the idea. Guns weren't his style. He liked the slow artwork of a knife.

He jumped back into the turbo lift, and headed for the mess-hall. He knew the person he was looking for was there. Alex Reed's major weakness... young Mikey Hollande. An evil grin spread across his face, and he entered the mess-hall.

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"Archer to Lieutenant Reed"

Malcolm's head jerked up.

"Ignore it" Alex whispered, pulling him down for a kiss again.

"Archer to Reed! This is an emergency. It concerned James Hathaway!"

That got Malcolm's attention. He leapt form the bed, and bounded to the comm.

"Reed here sir. What's happened?"

"We have a situation. Hathaway's escaped, and he's holding a hostage. He's demanding to speak to you. We're on deck seven."

"On my way sir!"

Malcolm spun form the comm. and began pulling on his clothes. He noticed Alex doing the same.

"You're staying here" he told her.

"I most certainly am not. James is my business too."

"This is a direct order form a superior officer. You are to stay in this room!" Alex looked as if he had slapped her. He had never used that tone with her before.

"Alex, it's for your own safety. I don't know what Hathaway will do." His eyes pleaded with her to understand.

"Alright, I'll stay" she told him. He kissed her quickly, and ran out the door.

"I just won't stay for long" Alex said to the empty room. Making sure he was gone, she crept out the door and ran towards the lift.

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Malcolm exited the lift, and was met by Trip. He brought him up to speed quickly as they jogged towards the babble of voices.

"Hathaway stabbed his two guards. He had a knife concealed cleverly and they hadn't found it when they searched him. He came into the mess hall and grabbed the baby Mikey Hollande. He held the knife to his throat, and said that he would kill him if he was stopped. He wanted to talk to you."

"I'll kill him. I swear I will. I will not let another baby die!!" Trip gave him a questioning look, but Malcolm ignored it.

By now they had reached the scene. Someone handed Reed a phase pistol, and he pushed through the crowd. Hathaway was holding the crying child close to his body, a wicked-looking knife pressed against the baby's soft neck. He smiled when he saw Malcolm, an evil smile full of malice. Mikey's mother was crying, and trying to get to her son. She was being restrained by Lisa Holt and Captain Archer. A security team had their phasers trained on Hathaway, but no-one shot.

"Ah, Mr. Reed" James taunted. "So good of you to join us."

"I swear, you hurt that child, I'll shoot you."

"I don't think so. You see, if you stun me, I will still have enough reflex action before I collapse to slit the brat's throat. Also, the stun might travel from me into him. And, since no-one has ever stunned a child, it could do irreparable damage to the kid's nervous system."

"What do you want?"

"I want off this ship. I want a shuttle, and I want it now."

"What do you want with me?"

At this, James grinned. "I don't want you. I want your lady wife." Malcolm took a step towards him, but Trip held him back. James laughed at this.

"You'll never get her" Malcolm snarled. "She isn't even here!"

"Oh, please. I've heard her talking about you. Wherever you go, she goes." He looked over Malcolm's shoulder. "In fact..."

"Oh God!" Alex's exclamation echoed through the corridor. Malcolm spun around. His worst nightmare was coming through, again. Alex was sprinting down the hall towards them He knew, just knew that he was going to loose her again.

James watched her approach with glee. She was so damned predictable! The brat in his arms started screaming "Alie!" on to of his lungs, and it was all James could do not to drop the kid to cover his ears. His patience paid off though.

"What do you want with me?" Alex asked him.

"What do you think?" he sneered. He saw her husband take a step towards her as if to protect her. Too late, my friend.

"A trade" James said. "You for the brat." He saw Alex visibly pale. Her damned husband shouted "No! I won't let you."

She turned to him, and spoke softly.

"I have to. If I don't, he'll kill Mikey. I won't have another child's life on my conscious."

"You didn't kill our son" Malcolm shouted. "It was an accident!"

She walked towards him, and kissed him. She whispered something in his ear. From where James was standing, he couldn't hear what, but like every person there, he was riveted to the drama unfolding in front of him. Her husband seemed to object to what she said, but she held firm.

"Promise me?" she asked. He only nodded. Alex turned and quickly walked towards him and the baby. When she was within reaching distance, James dropped the kid, literally, and lunged for Alex. He had the knife to her throat before anyone could blink. He began walking backwards as Jessie ran forward to grab her know howling son.

"Everyone, lower your weapons!" Malcolm shouted. He couldn't bear it if someone shot Hathaway and in reflex, he stabbed Alex. His security team looked confused but obeyed. Archer looked on, but didn't intervene. He trusted Malcolm.

"Very good" taunted James. "I see you're learning. Now, I want a shuttle out of here. And if I detect even a shadow on sensors, she dies slowly and painfully." He gestured the knife towards Alex, and a rivulet of blood ran down he neck. She closed her eyes in pain.

Malcolm couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't stand seeing her in pain or afraid. He knew what he had to do. He raised his phase pistol, and adjusted the setting.

"I'm sorry Alex. I love you." he told her, and fired.

The shot hit Alex square in the chest. Her eyes widened, and she slumped to the floor. James stared down at her in shock. The bastard had actually shot his own wife!

Malcolm took advantage of everybody's shock. Throwing down his pistol, he launched himself at James, catching him on the shoulder. James fell backwards, and the knife knocked out of his hand. Both men were quickly on their feet, circling each other. James threw a few punches, but none connected. Malcolm moved in, punching him twice in the ribs in quick succession, and then in the jaw. They were moving too fast for any of Malcolm's security team to stun James, so they stayed on the sidelines during the fight.

The fight quickly became ugly. James was strong and fast, and used every dirty trick in the book to get at Malcolm. But, Malcolm was a better fighter, even in a blind rage, he was highly trained, and he had the advantage of the power of rage and pain. Malcolm quickly reduced James to a bloody mess, with a broken nose (it hadn't fully healed from the last time. Still, it made a nice crunch when connected with Malcolm's fist.) and numerous cuts.

One final punch rendered James unconscious. Malcolm went towards him as he fell to the floor, but Jon restrained him.

"Malcolm" he warned quietly. "That's enough."

The words registered through Malcolm's haze of fury, and his mind cleared. He looked around, as if confused. His eyes suddenly widened in memory of what he had done, and he pushed through the crowd surrounding his wife.

He dropped to his knees beside her, and cradled her still body in his arms, tears flowing.

"Forgive me baby" he whispered. "I'm so sorry. Forgive me."

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Bet you weren't expecting that!!

Y'all know what to do.