Title: Enthrallment.

Chapter 5

Author's Notes: I apologize for the long time between updates. : (

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"You should take flowers, too, sir. I mean, candy's nice, but flowers…"

I glare at Hawkins. "Cute," I say. Hawkins is the only one of my men who could ever get away with that kind of insubordination. Sometimes, I'm tempted to court-martial him just for the hell of it.

I guess he has a point, though. Glancing at the small bag of hard tack candy sitting on the table next to my bed, I let out a long breath. Bringing candy to your superior officer could potentially be taken the wrong way. After all, I am meeting the man at a movie, and I am staring at myself in the mirror right now, trying to make myself look presentable.

What's the matter with me? This isn't a date.

Then again, what's wrong with offering a fellow officer a piece of candy?

It's very innocent, really. I have a weakness for candy, a weakness my father tried to break me of when I was a child. My mother, however, liked to sneak me a mint or a piece of chocolate after my father left for the base. Now, I carry a stash of various candies with me wherever I go. I have chocolate—my favorite—coffee, coconut, mint, fruit-flavored candies. Practically anything you can think of. During my physical yesterday, Dr. Phlox mentioned that Lt. Reed's favorite food is pineapple. What was I supposed to do with that kind of information?

Squaring my shoulders, I turn to Hawkins. "Round up the men. Make sure everyone is fit to be seen. I don't want anyone looking slovenly for movie night." I say the last two words with more than a hint of sarcasm. It's not that I think ship-wide social functions are a bad thing. I just think it's ludicrous that I had to order my men to watch a more-than-a-century-old movie about a vampire. They looked at me like I was suffering from oxygen deprivation.

"Yes, sir," Hawkins says, immediately disappearing through the door.

Movie night was supposed to be three days ago—the day of the M'c'll'tro'm Ambassador's visit. However, thanks to a minor…mishap with a rebel pocket of the Ambassador's people, Enterprise suffered some damage to our weapons system. Movie night was postponed until the repairs could be made.

Any hope I might have had that my men and I could avoid movie night was dashed this afternoon when I Captain Archer passed me in the hallway and said, "Don't forget movie night! I want to see some camaraderie between your MACOs and the rest of the crew. Are we clear?"

"Crystal clear, sir," I said with mock enthusiasm.

And I full well intend to establish a sense of camaraderie between myself and one member of the crew. Unfortunately, I don't think the Captain Archer and I have the same type of camaraderie in mind.

At that thought, I rub my eyes violently.

Thanks to the postponement of the movie, I've had three nights to have unnerving dreams about Lt. Reed. In my dreams, Malcolm…Lt. Reed is passionate, sensuous, and tender. And when I wake up, I find myself trembling as if I'd had a nightmare. Don't get me wrong. I've had racy dreams before. But these go beyond the physical. These dreams make me ache with some disturbing sense of longing.

For the first time in a long time, I think I might be falling in love. Or something.

I don't need this. I really don't.

Snatching the candy from my bedside table, I hurry out the door.

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Lt. Reed leans over and whispers to me, "I like these black and whites, but I confess I prefer war dramas."

"Imagine that," I say, smirking. "Can you imagine how easy life would be if all we had to do was expose the Xindi to sunlight?"

"That would certainly alleviate the need for MACOs aboard ship," he says. I can see Lt. Reed's grin even in the darkness of the makeshift theater.

"Nah," I say, trying to keep my eyes on the screen. "You people would get yourselves into trouble somehow."

"Is that a fact?" Lt. Reed asks.

Both the Lieutenant and I glance over our shoulders when we hear someone hiss a "keep it down" at us.

Ignoring them, Lt. Reed whispers, "Listen, Major, I need to have a word with you later this evening."

That sounds ominous.

"Of course, sir," I say, "To what does this pertain?"

He hesitates. "It's something of the…personal nature."

"Yes sir," I say.

"Don't worry," he says, "You're not in trouble."

I swallow. Personal nature. That could mean a lot of things. Perhaps the Lieutenant wants to discuss our recent differences of opinion. We've been getting along better, but there's still room for improvement. Of course, this could be a personal matter with one of my MACOs. Maybe Ensign Morey has been out of line with Cole again.

On the other hand, perhaps Lt. Reed has discovered my inappropriate attraction for him.

This is insane. I can't have feelings for a superior officer. Perhaps I'm confusing my physical attraction with love. Maybe what I need is to just throw myself at Lt. Reed…do the deed and get it out of my system. Maybe it doesn't have to be Lt. Reed at all. Maybe I just need a good roll in the hay. That's it. I just need to find a willing crewmember, and as long as we've been out here, I don't think that will be a problem. Once I've found an appropriate release for my sexual energy, I'll be fine.

I shift my body to get more comfortable, and I feel the bag of pineapple candy in my pocket. Why not? I think to myself.

"Sir," I say in a low voice, "Would you like a piece of candy?"

"Yes, thank you," he says.

I place one piece of candy into his hand and wait.

After a moment, he smiles. "Hmm…Pineapple. Pineapple is my favorite."

Imagine that.

"Really?" I say with feigned ignorance. "Well, I'm a chocolate man myself."

Lt. Reed mumbles something unintelligible.

"What's that, sir?" I ask.

"Oh, nothing," he says, sounding flustered. "This is wonderful, Major."

"It's homemade," I say with a note of pride.

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After the movie, Lt. Reed and I mingle with other crewmembers. After a few obligatory moments, we make our way toward the door.

"Why don't we head to the mess hall?" The Lieutenant says.

"Fine, sir," I say.

We've gone to a movie. Now we're going to dinner. This feels like a date to me.

I turn to him. "Another piece of candy?"

"Don't mind if I do," he grins. "So, that wasn't so bad."

"The movie? Ah," I say, waving my hand in the air, "I don't have a problem with social functions, sir. Neither do my MACOs. It's just…we're used to functioning as a group, with no outside influence."

"Perhaps you shouldn't think of us as outsiders."

I raise my eyebrows. "I think we're the outsiders here, sir."

"Well," he says, "If I've done anything to make you feel that way, I'm sorry."

When we arrive at the mess hall, several other crewmembers are already there. I feel an irrational swell of relief when Doctor Phlox and Commander Tucker wave us over. At least we won't have the privacy to discuss Lt. Reed's matter of "the personal nature."

"Well, Major," Commander Tucker says, "What did you think of the film?"

I plunk myself into a seat. "Well, Commander, Lt. Reed and I were discussing what the tactical advantages would be if the Xindi were vampires."

"You two know how to suck the life out of everything." Commander Tucker slaps me on the shoulder. "Get it?"

"Get what?" I say.

He frowns. "Never mind."

"What on Earth were we supposed to 'get'?" Lt. Reed asks, grimacing.

Commander Tucker scowls at Lt. Reed. "Honestly, Malcolm. You two are made for each other." With that, he stands up and ambles over to see what kind of pie is left.

Lt. Reed glances at me, and then quickly joins Commander Tucker at the pie case.

Picking up the small bag of candy, Doctor Phlox grins, "So, you brought him candy! I hoped my little 'slip' would be useful."

I knew it.

"I just happened to have pineapple candy," I say.

Ignoring me, Phlox bubbles, "Did he like it?"

"In fact, he did."

He leans back in his chair. "It's so inspiring to see young love!"

"Who ever said anything about love?"

Damn. It must be obvious.

"Why are you two so stubborn?" Phlox asks, tossing the bag of candy back onto the table.

Just then, a flustered-looking Lt. Reed and a smug-looking Commander Tucker reclaim their seats.

"There's apple and pumpkin!" Commander Tucker informs us.

Lt. Reed sets his apple pie on the table with a clink. "There's chocolate pie, Major."

"Is there?" I say with a grin. Part of me is flattered that Lt. Reed remembered my preference. Part of me is insanely glad to get away from Doctor Phlox's beaming smile.

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After dinner, Lt Reed and I slowly make our way back to my quarters. So, we went to a movie. I brought him candy. We went out to eat afterward. Now, Lt. Reed is walking me back to my quarters (like any gentleman would do).

It's official. I'm on a date with Lt. Reed.

He hasn't said anything else about the personal talk he wanted to have, and I'm half-hoping he forgets about it.

During my pie, I thought a lot about my attraction…feelings for Lt. Reed. Chocolate, I find, has a tendency to make things a lot clearer. And the bottom line is that I do indeed have some feelings for a superior officer. Perhaps I can purge those feelings through physical intimacy. And perhaps not.

But I do know that the last thing I need right now is a personal conversation with Lt. Reed.

When we reach my quarters, I nod and say, "Well, sir. I think I'll turn in."

"Actually, Major," Lt. Reed says awkwardly, "Do you mind if I come in?"