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Trip supported Malcolm with one arm around his friend's back as they half-walked, half-stumbled down the hall towards sickbay. They passed the occasional crewman, usually eliciting a glance of surprise at Malcolm's obviously inebriated state, which Trip would quash with a withering look.

As they entered sickbay, Phlox waved them to a nearby bed, smiling broadly as he asked, "How was your night?" a flash of amusement in his eyes.

Malcolm snickered as he slid onto the bed, saying, "It didn't go exactly to plan, but..."

"Is that the liquid in question?" Phlox asked, interrupting as he scanned the bottles that Malcolm was holding.
Malcolm placed the bottles on the bed beside him. "I swear, I had just the few pints..."

Trip interrupted. "He was toasted after the first drink. I think it was drugged."

Phlox nodded as he bustled over Malcolm. After a few moments, he stepped back, smiling as he addressed the Lieutenant. "Although you are still rather intoxicated, you seem fine otherwise." He turned to Trip. "He was drugged, although those chemicals have passed out of his system at this point, with no lasting effects. And these bottles have not been altered." Phlox reached to Malcolm's side and opened one of the bottles, then held it up to his nose and sniffed it. He looked at Malcolm over its top, eyebrows raised.

Malcolm looked embarrassed. "Good stuff, that," he said as he blushed, then looked down.

The doctor cocked his head to the side. "Can I try?"

Malcolm looked up. "You can indeed." He smiled broadly and hopped off the bed, sitting on a chair as Phlox pulled three glasses off a nearby shelf.

Trip stepped forward. "But, um...what about his neck?"

Phlox nodded. "I've sealed the wounds. Whatever she, um, took from him..." He glanced at Malcolm, who was giving Trip one heck of a smile. "She seems to have, shall I say, replaced..."

Malcolm interrupted with a laugh. "Believe me, I gave as good as I..."

Trip waved both hands in the air to stop Malcolm from speaking, then sank into the chair next to him. "That falls into the realm of too much information."

Phlox smiled, sliding a chair into their circle. "In other words, he's fine." The doctor poured two small drinks, then looked to Trip, who simply shook his head in amazement as Phlox poured a third serving.

Malcolm raised his glass and said, "Cheers!" He drank the whole thing down in one quick gulp. Phlox joined him, sipping gently. Malcolm laughed, then reached over and poured himself another. "Let's get pissed, will we?"

Trip muttered, "I think you're already there," as he took a small sip from his glass. The stuff really wasn't bad, actually, so he took another. He turned his head when he heard the sound of the doors opening and saw T'Pol entering, holding a small cup of a hot drink, the steam still rising off its surface.

"Doctor, I..." T'Pol began, stopping herself when she saw the scene before her. She stood still, raising one eyebrow. "If this is a bad time..."

"No, no," Phlox said, waving her over. "Please join us. We're just sampling a local beverage." He pulled over a fourth chair.

Trip said, "And Phlox is studying its effects on..." He waved at Malcolm, who raised his glass to T'Pol, smiling before he downed it.

T'Pol joined them, sitting on the edge of her chair, the hot drink balanced delicately between her palms, a soft, almost minty scent wafting through the air. "And the Lieutenant is a willing participant in this study?"

Malcolm nodded enthusiastically. "Quite. Try some?" He moved his glass towards her, and she shook her head, sniffing the air that had been displaced by his movement. She looked at him sharply.

"No thank you, Lieutenant," she said crisply, leaning away from him slightly, then standing. "I had simply stopped by to bring the doctor some of the tea he'd asked about." She took another sniff, and then a step backwards, away from Malcolm. She turned to the doctor. "But perhaps another time." He nodded as she turned quickly, taking a deep sniff of the tea, then sipping it as she exited.

"What, do I offend?" Malcolm asked in jest as the doors closed behind her.

Trip leaned towards him, dropping his voice. "You probably reek of...ahem." He raised his eyebrows.

Malcolm smiled, his eyes glassy. "Ah, yes. Right." He stood, stumbling a bit. "Perhaps I should shower, hmm?"

Phlox capped the bottle and handed it to him, then turned to Trip. "It may be best if you would help the Lieutenant back to his cabin. He's had quite the night."

Trip nodded. "Will he be okay?"

Phlox smiled. "Absolutely. It's relatively harmless. He should be fine after some sleep."

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