Chapter 4: Dedication

Doctor Phlox was waiting just inside the decon chamber when Shuttlepod One was brought aboard. He gripped his med-kit hard. T'Pol had cut off communications because Enterprise was receiving an incoming message from the Chieftain of Vasga, leaving him no time to ask for specific information.

Let's hope we have not started an interplanetary war.

The deck shuddered slightly when the launch bay doors closed, and Phlox heard soft hissing as the bay was being repressurized. Through the small observation window he could see the ramp being lowered, and the hatch of Shuttlepod One opening slowly.

Ensign Sato was the first to exit the pod. Studying her for a moment, she seemed unharmed, apart from some dark stains on her uniform; he dismissed them as not being bloodstains. The ensign turned around and offered her hand to the person after her. Phlox focused his attention on the hatch again. A disheveled, dark crop of hair appeared in the opening and a moment later the pale face of Lieutenant Reed became visible. He was sporting a big bruise on his cheek. Grabbing the hand Hoshi had held out for him, he weakly climbed upon the walkway. Captain Archer was right behind Reed, looking grim and keeping a hand out, in case the lieutenant might stumble. The captain seemed to have kept his uniform clean, in contrast to the other members of the away team. The attire of the armoury officer especially seemed to be smeared. The doctor was anxious to examine him for possible injuries.

Phlox opened the door before the small party reached the entrance, the lieutenant limping a little and leaning on Hoshi for support. She guided him over to the nearest bench. Phlox took out his medical scanner. "Can someone tell me the extent of Lieutenant Reeds' injuries?"

"It's not that seri…" Reed began, but Hoshi interrupted him.

"He twisted his knee and received a blow to the head. I think he has a concussion." She looked worriedly at the lieutenant, who had closed his eyes and was leaning his head against the wall. "He seemed dazed while we were on the planet's surface."

Phlox checked his readings on the scanner and nodded. The findings were as Hoshi had described. He looked at Captain Archer, who stopped pacing back and forth in the small room. "Ensign Sato is correct. Lieutenant Reed has sustained a mild concussion. I can treat him in sickbay." The captain nodded sharply. Phlox looked at the wall monitor and said, "None of you were exposed to dangerous substances."

"I'll be on the bridge," the captain said brusquely, and left without looking at Reed or Sato.

Phlox was somewhat puzzled by the captain's behaviour and the look of sympathy that Hoshi shot at the armoury officer. But he did not have time to dwell on it; a patient needed him.

"Lieutenant, are you able to stand?"

Malcolm Reed opened his eyes. "I think so," he murmured.

"I'm going to take a brain scan to make sure there is no damage."

With the help of the doctor and Hoshi, the lieutenant was able to walk the short distance to sickbay and lie down on the bio-bed.

When the bed had retracted inside the imaging chamber, Hoshi turned to the doctor. "I'm worried about him, Phlox. Malcolm didn't seem himself. He hardly said a word while we were in the shuttlepod."

Phlox calmly answered, "I noticed it, too. Normally, he would put up a verbal fight against being kept in sickbay." He looked at the scans of Lieutenant Reed's brain that were displayed on the monitor. "Symptoms of a concussion can range from a simple headache to confusion, nausea, unconsciousness and even amnesia." He turned back to Hoshi, who looked even more apprehensive, and smiled reassuringly. "The lieutenant will be fine after he has some rest."

When Malcolm was brought out from the chamber, the doctor had a hypospray ready. "This will help with any sense of vertigo or nausea." He continued, "It would be best if you changed into some clean clothes. You can find shorts and a T-shirt on a stool next to that curtain."

The lieutenant nodded, and awkwardly got off the scanning bed. Hoshi quickly stepped forward to help him move slowly to the nearest side bed.

Doctor Phlox consulted the bioscan once more, then prepared a unit of sonambutril that should help the lieutenant with much needed rest. Behind him, he heard the soft voice of Hoshi, and the low reply of the armoury officer.

He heard a thump. Phlox raised his head.

A groan, then another thud. He turned around. Two black, Starfleet boots were lying carelessly in the corner.

Hoshi closed the curtain and came to stand next to the doctor.

"I should change into a fresh uniform and return to the bridge," she informed him. "Is it all right if I check on him later?"

"The lieutenant needs his rest now, but I'm certain the medication will be worn off in a few hours." Phlox looked kindly toward the young ensign. "He'll be happy to see a familiar face when he wakes up."

"Thank you, Doctor."

After Lieutenant Reed had changed into more comfortable clothes, Phlox helped him get settled on the bed. He put a cooling unit around the swollen knee, and made sure the injured leg was elevated to keep the blood circulating.

He took the prepared hypospray from the side table and showed it to Reed. "This is a sedative that will render you unconscious for several hours. It will give your body time to heal."

The dark-haired officer had kept quiet during the doctors' monologue, so when Phlox pulled a light blanket over Lieutenant Reed, he was surprised to hear him whisper morosely, "I failed the captain."

"Lieutenant?"

But Lt. Malcolm Reed had already succumbed to a dreamless sleep.

Doctor Phlox was left to wonder the meaning of this confession. Was that why the captain seemed angry?

To Be Continued…

A/N: There's a small tribute in this chapter to my wonderful beta, Kathy Rose, and her latest story "Flying Blind". Did you recognize it?