Malcolm rang the chime to gain entrance to the Captains ready room. When he entered the captain smiled at him.

"Malcolm, I've just finished reading your report." He said. "Under the circumstances you all performed amazingly well."

"Thank you sir." Malcolm smiled.

"I'm going to recommend commendations for all of you." he continued. "Especially you Malcolm, as I understand it you barely slept or ate while you were out here." Archer said raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, well," Malcolm shifted, slightly embarrassed, from one foot to the other. "I hardly had the time." he defended.

"I'm sure, in fact I was surprised you took a break at all." The Captain commented.

"You can thank Robertson for that, sir. She all but ordered me to get my act together." He said.

"Really?" Archer asked. Malcolm nodded. "It seems you two can work together after all."

"Only in dire situations, sir." Malcolm said quickly. "I don't think it'd work on a regular basis."

"Don't worry Malcolm I wasn't about to reassign her to the armoury. It's just good to know you can work together with descending into physical violence." He said smirking.

"Yes sir. If that was all?"

"No actually, we're about to unload our 'passengers', I wondered if you'd like to join me at the air lock?" Archer asked.

"Yes sir." Malcolm said eagerly.

They met up with the security team escorting the prisoners to the air lock along the way. Malcolm threw a nasty glare at the Larackian who had attacked Robertson, who grinned sadistically in return.

When they reached the air lock the Larackian Captain was waiting for them. Malcolm stood aside as the two Captain's exchanged formalities and watched as the prisoners were handed over. The last, and most definitely least Larackian, was still smiling cruelly at Malcolm.

"How's your little girl doing?" he purred, Malcolm bristled but remained impassive. "She bled so prettily didn't she? So fragile and weak, so easy to harm." He continued, Malcolm's jaw clenched and he tightened his hands into fists.

"Did you here her scream, little man?" The Larackian whispered, still smiling evilly. "Like a Pathetic. Little. Girl."

Without any conscious thought Malcolm swung his fist as hard as he could, with all his body weight behind it, and it hit the alien's jaw with a sickening crack. Seconds later he was lying on the floor in an undignified, unconscious heap.

Malcolm allowed himself a brief moment of triumph and smiled smugly as he looked down at him, before the Captain cleared his throat making Malcolm look up. Archer was looking at him reproachfully, but with a hint of understanding and amusement in his eyes.

"Sorry sir." Malcolm apologised, insincerely.

"I hear you defended me today."

Malcolm looked up from his coffee and met Ela's eyes.

"Maybe." He shrugged, and took a sip of his coffee. He contemplated the likelihood of the fact that she always seemed to corner him in the mess hall when he occasionally decided to go there in the early hours of the morning. It was a little suspicious.

"There's no maybe about it, Graham was there, he told me all about it." She smiled knowingly.

"Fine!" Malcolm said in defeat. "Maybe I did, but he was a jerk and deserved no less."

"On that we agree." She said still smiling.

"You know, I'm getting that surreal feeling all over again." He commented.

"What, because we've yet to say anything antagonistic towards each other?" she questioned.

"Yeah." He said.

"You're right," She grinned as she got up to leave. With a mock glare and a last smile she exited, adding just before the door closed; "You arrogant stuck up bastard."

"And now all is right with the universe." He muttered.

THE END!

Thanks to firebirdgirl,spootycup,volley,dottid andTatafor the reviews of the last chapter, they all made me smile. I love it when people say nice things like you'll be sad to see the story end, and that you enjoyed reading it, it makes me all happy! Lol.

I love writing it too, so I shall try to do some more writing in between my school work, but I'm gonna focus on finishing all my works in progress before I start anything new. But rest assured I already have many ideas! Already written a first chapter of a new Malcolm fic (co-staring Robertson of course) so that'll be my next new story so look out for it!

Anyway, I've babbled! Thanks to all reviewers of this fic, love reading em, so keep them coming and please REVIEW this chapter too! x thanks x