Kelly sat in her room, resisting the strong urge to throw the pad in her hand against the wall. With all the modern medicine in the world, and she still had to keep off her leg. Yes, she had sprained knee and ankle, but that was not a reason to keep here locked up in her quarters. After Phlox had found her on her way to engineering, he had told her that if he found her anywhere other than the mess hall or her quarters, he was going to confine her to sic bay until her leg was completely healed. Kelly grimaced. Though Trip had managed to stop the core breech, the engines were still in trouble. Wincing as she tried to stand up, she let out her breath in a hiss. The door chime rang and Kelly groaned. It was probably Trip again, giving her another reminder (in the form of a data pad) that she couldn't go anywhere.
"Trip, go away!" The door chimed again, she she rolled her eyes, wincing as she got up off her bed, and limped over to the door. She hit the button to open it, and was surprised to find Malcolm standing on the other side. She hadn't seen him in days. He looked tired, and obviously hadn't shaved in a couple of days. She gave him a meek smile, a little embarrassed because she wasn't wearing her uniform. Instead, she was wearing a pair of short sleep shorts to keep the cloth away from the brace on her leg, and a short tee-shit. "Sorry, I thought you were Trip." She said, holding the data pad. "He's been giving me at least three of these a day, and he's one short today." That brought a small smile to his face. As she turned to sit back down, pain shot up her leg, and she started to fall, backward. Of course it had to be while Malcolm was there, and it had to be backward, toward him. He caught her, and helped her over to the bed. She sat down and double checked the brace Phlox had made her wear. It was out of alignment. She started to get up, but Malcolm's hand was on her shoulder, firmly preventing her from moving. He glanced down at the brace, and stepped over to the comm panel.
"Reed to Doctor Phlox."
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"Lieutenant Archer's brace is out of alignment, again."
"I'll be right up Lieutenants." Kelly looked up at Malcolm.
"You don't have to stay." She said. "I know you've got a lot of work to do on the phase cannons." Malcolm shook his head.
"The Captain ordered me out." He said with a hint of a smile. "Didn't want his tactical officer keeling over from exhaustion."
"His words?" Malcolm nodded. Kelly shook her head. She had figured Reed would never use the phrase 'keel over' on his own. Kelly shook her head, and glanced up at the stack of pads on the desk. "Can you hand me that pad?" She asked, pointing. "The one second from the left." Malcolm handed it to her, and sat down on the bed beside her as Phlox came in.
"Let's have a look at that leg, shall we?" Phlox said. Kelly winced as he put a hand on her knee. Phlox frowned, a very unusual expression on him. "Lieutenant, have you been walking?" He asked. Kelly grimaced.
"Only limping around my quarters Doc." She replied. "I haven't left this room in two days." Phlox eyes darted up her leg, then at his scanner.
"Is there something wrong Doctor?" Malcolm asked, sounding concerned. Kelly felt like she had butterflies in her stomach, though she didn't know if they were because of her leg, or the fact that Phlox had turned her so her back was to Malcolm, and he had moved so he was close to her, his head over her shoulder. Phlox looked up at her, suddenly looking pleased.
"Nothing wrong Mr. Reed." He said. "In fact, I can move her leg into the next stage. Now Lieutenant, this is going to hurt. I can give you something for the pain afterwards, but not while I move it." Kelly nodded, and reached behind her for Malcolm's hand. His hand found hers, and she squeezed it. "Lean back." Phlox said. Kelly eyed him warily. "Lieutenant Reed has to hold you. If he doesn't, when I set your leg again, your natural reaction to protect your leg will take over, and I won't be able to set it properly. Now please lean back." Kelly did, finding her head resting against Malcolm's shoulder, the top of her head even with his chin. "Lieutenant, I need you to hold her still!" Kelly felt Malcolm shift under her, and his arms were around her, one holding her shoulders, one around her waist.
"I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with this Doctor." Malcolm said. He didn't sound very uncomfortable, and that earned a smile from Phlox as he put a hand on Kelly's leg.
"Ready Lieutenant?" He asked. This was directed at Kelly. She nodded, and felt the brace pull her leg back together. Phlox was right, the pain in her leg made her want to curl up into a ball, and she would have, had Malcolm not been holding her. As it was, he was having a hard time keeping her down. Plox finished setting her leg.
"Now Lieutenant Archer, I want you to stay off that leg! You won't walk properly again!" Kelly grimaced as Doctor Phlox pressed a cold hypo against her neck, then left. Malcolm removed the arm from around her shoulder, but otherwise made no attempt to move. Kelly closed her eyes, and leaned back against him. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this safe. She supposed it had been right after Trip had beat Talbot's head into the floor, and he'd come to her side. Damn. Why'd she have to think about that now? Suddenly the door chime sounded. Behind her, Malcolm started, and seemed to come to his senses, because he jumped to his feet. As his warm body left her back, she suddenly felt cold, and shivered. Malcolm managed to get to the desk chair before Trip entered the room. He looked from Malcolm to Kelly as he held up another data pad.
"Final check of the engines." He said. Kelly groaned, flopping backward on her bed and draping an arm over her face. She heard a soft laugh from Malcolm, and felt the weight of the pad drop onto the bed next to her. The door opened and closed again. When she looked up, both Malcolm and Trip were gone.