x-x
It had taken Trip some time to convince Malcolm to go to sickbay. Once there, their conversation with Doctor Phlox went about as well as Trip had expected, with Malcolm slumped exhausted on the biobed, murmuring a series of soft, clipped answers in response to Phlox's questions.
Archer came in and Trip stood from the chair where he was sitting. The captain gave a tight nod to Malcolm, then waved Trip away until they were out of Malcolm's earshot.
"How's he doing?"
"He seems all right." At Jon's look of doubt, Trip shrugged. "I mean, for someone who's hearing voices."
"Phlox said that they've been getting worse."
Trip nodded. "Yeah, that's what Malcolm told me. Phlox hasn't found anything wrong with him yet."
"Could there be an external cause?"
Trip sent a worried glance in Malcolm's direction. He looked slightly lost as he sat there in Trip's oversized Florida State sweatshirt, his feet still clad in Trip's white socks. "I blocked his access to our systems, just in case, um..."
"Good," Jon said.
"I have a team running diagnostics, focusing first on Malcolm's quarters. If something's affecting him, we'll find it"
x-x
Once Archer left and Phlox finished his examination, Malcolm simply sat on the biobed, staring down at his hands. Trip watched as his friend's fingers worked the edge of the sweatshirt, tracing its frayed edge, his focus inward.
Trip stepped to Malcolm's side. "What'd the doc say?"
Malcolm jumped a bit, then looked up at Trip. "Sorry?"
"Phlox. What'd he say?"
Malcolm shrugged. "Not much. Just asked a series of questions, took some readings..."
Trip made as if he were looking over Malcolm's body. "So, he hasn't stuck any alien slugs on you, or asked you to eat any blue worms or anything?"
Malcolm gave him a half-smile. "No. At least, not yet."
"Well, that's good." Trip turned serious. "Still hearing the voices?"
"Yeah. Although..." Malcolm's voice trailed off, and he looked distracted.
"Malcolm?"
"I'm listening...yeah, they seem...less, now. Somehow." He looked up at Trip. "Maybe because I haven't been so focused on them."
Trip nodded. "Maybe...Hey, I have an idea. Will you be all right here for a few minutes?" At Malcolm's answering nod, Trip patted his arm and took off for his own quarters.
x-x
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