Cooped up like a criminal! Archer raged to himself.

Forty-eight hours had passed since Jordan had confined him to sickbay. After she had settled him on his bunk, she had left. He gave her a few minutes before trying to leave. That's when he discovered that the sickbay door was locked from the outside.

During those forty-eight hours, it had been like he was two people. One part of him watched objectively as the other part reacted emotionally to every stimulus. His emotions swung in exaggerated highs and lows, yet he was strangely detached from the process. He watched the emotional scene from afar, unable to do anything about it.

But this morning, unbeknownst to Jonathan, the objective part of him died.

How can they do this to me? Jonathan's thought continued. I'm the captain! It's that Vulcan! "I'll show them!" he yelled, heading for the curtain around his bed. He heard the door to sickbay open. Immediately consumed by curiosity, he called out, "Who's there?"

The curtain parted and Jordan entered. "Good evening, Jonathan," she said in that falsely cheerful tone doctors used. "How are you this evening?"

I'd forgotten how beautiful she is, Jonathan thought.

"Contrary to popular belief, I'm fine. Stay and talk to me for awhile."

"Actually, I'm here to update my scans, if you don't mind," she replied, pulling a scanner from her thigh pocket.

He sat on the bunk. "Very well," he said. "Do that while you tell me what's going on with my ship."

She noticed the slight emphasis he placed on the "my". She bought herself some time by activating the scanner and moving close enough to begin the scan. Choosing her next words with care, she replied, "Well, we're still conducting our survey of the planet, but with full environmental gear this time. And Dr. Phlox and I are still working on your problem."

Rage erupted in Jonathan! Problem? What problem? It was a plot! He roughly grabbed her shoulders, causing her to drop the scanner as he shook her.

"I'm getting sick of people referring to me as a problem," he hissed. "Let me remind you that I am in command of this vessel. Or is that what's bothering you?" He shook her roughly. She grabbed his arms to maintain her balance.

"Jonathan!" she shouted. "Stop it! You're hurting me!" She pulled an arm free and slapped him hard across the face.

He stopped, shocked. He released her immediately. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what came over me. I'm really very sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" He began wringing his hands as he continued to apologize, tears forming in his eyes. The sight of him in this state broke Jordan's heart. She reached out and caught his hands.

"It's all right, Jonathan," she said gently. "You can stop apologizing. It's all right."

Suddenly, he became very aware of her closeness, her hands on his. He shifted his hands under hers, taking them in his own. "You're very beautiful," he said gently. He raised a hand to stroke her face. "Did you know that?"

"Jonathan-"

Abruptly, he slid his hand behind her head, pulling her into a long kiss. She stood completely still under the onslaught of his lips. Then, suddenly, she returned the kiss, her lips parting under his as he pulled her into his arms. Her arms tightened around him as his lips traced kisses along her neck and his hands reached for the zipper of her uniform.

Jolted back to reality by that move, she pulled away from him and headed for the curtain. He grabbed her arm.

"No, don't go," he pleaded. "I love you."

She turned back, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "No, you don't." She pulled free and fled the sickbay.

Shaken, Archer sat on his bunk. She didn't love him, he thought. He buried his face in his hands and wept.

Just outside sickbay, Jordan leaned against the bulkhead, closing her eyes for a moment. She must regain control, she said to herself. Her feelings were not important right now. How could she have been so stupid! She was a scientist! Besides, she reflected, when she and Phlox found a cure, he'd probably want to forget it had ever happened. If he even remembered in the first place.

She straightened her shoulders, tugged her uniform back into place, and walked back to the lab. Sitting down, she activated her computer screen, but stared at it blankly, not really seeing the data. She looked up when Phlox entered the room.

"Ah, Dr. Mallory. How is our patient tonight?" He looked at her carefully, noticing the strain in her face. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Doctor," she replied. "His condition is worsening."

"Hmm. A difficult malady for a man of such strong passions," he replied, putting two and two together. "All the more reason to find a cure as soon as possible. And, I think I may have discovered something that might help us." He beckoned her to the microscope.

"Really, Doctor?" she asked, joining him. "What is it?"

"Look closely at the chromosomal factors. Apparently, the plant that scratched him used a venom that contains a very specific neurotoxin. However, rather than causing paralysis, it is causing a violent genetic mutation, which in turn has affected the area of the brain responsible for emotions. The result is the behavior change that we have observed. And it's only going to get worse. In essence, the poison is creating a reverse evolutionary process."

"What possible use would such a venom have? I mean, from an evolutionary standpoint, what's the point?"

"Who can say? In the natural habitat, amongst natural prey, it probably acts as a simple neurotoxin, such as the rattlesnake on your world. But, since human beings aren't natural to the environment, the reaction is quite different. Rather fascinating, actually."

"I'd be a lot more fascinated if it weren't happening to the captain," Jordan replied sourly.

"I didn't mean to imply –"

"Oh, I know you didn't," she interrupted him with a wave of her hand. "And from a strictly scientific standpoint, it is fascinating. Well, now that we know what it is, how do we treat it?"

"There, I am at a loss. Because of the chromosomal changes, the standard antivenins won't work. They won't stop the degeneration process, much less reverse it. And if we can't reverse it, then as I predicted earlier he will need to be permanently relieved as captain."

She looked off to the right for a moment, deep in thought. There was something, but she couldn't remember.

"Dr. Mallory?"

"I thought I remembered something. It seems like there was a way to reverse this kind of damage, but I can't quite remember." She rubbed her eyes.

Phlox looked at her sympathetically. "That's hardly surprising. You haven't rested in quite some time. Why don't you go to bed? Very likely you'll think of it after some sleep. I'll watch over our good captain."

"How can you expect me to sleep now?"

"Doctor's orders." He studied her closely for a moment. "I think I understand. But you can't help him if you're so exhausted that you can't think."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Only to me. You and I have spent a great deal of time together since you've joined to crew."

"Well, I'll just have to forget about that right now. You're right, Phlox. I am exhausted. And tired people make mistakes. I'll see you in the morning." She stopped at the door. "You'll let me know if there is any change?"

"You'll be the first. Good night."

"Night."