At nineteen hundred hours Captain Jonathan Archer re-entered sickbay. He'd spent the afternoon in his ready room talking things through with Admiral Gardner about their new guest, trying to get as much information to him as he could, which wasn't easy when he didn't fully understand everything himself. He was pretty sure the Vulcans would have a field day with this information and once more might try to persuade Starfleet Command that they shouldn't try to meddle in things they didn't understand. He could see that Mallory was sitting up on her bed, her arms wrapped around her legs as she had nothing else to do. He moved over, speaking as he walked so as not to startle her too much. "How are you feeling?"

She turned her head to look at him. "The headache's gone. Back still hurts like hell, apart from that I'm ok." She looked away briefly then looked back at him again, studying his face and body language. "It's not good news, is it?"

Wetting his lips he perched himself on the next bio-bed, placing his hands on his knees. "It doesn't look good, no." He wasn't going to lie to her, it wouldn't be fair. "We have a theory as to what might have happened." He paused for a second so that she had time to prepare herself for what he was about to say. "Miss Reed, you're in an alternate reality."

The news sunk in quickly with her, her heart suddenly feeling like a sack of stones being thrown into the sea, but she kept her composure, she couldn't let her emotions get in the way of her professionalism. 'That certainly explains why Malcolm's here.' She thought to herself as she sat up a little straighter. "Let me guess… there's no way to send me back?"

"Doesn't look like it. I'm sorry." There was a short pause as he watched her hiding her face from him. She was obviously close to tears, and he could sympathise with that. "Are you hungry?"

Mallory gently nodded her head. "Just a little."

Getting her out of sickbay seemed like a good move. Walking along to the Mess Hall she seemed a little happier, though she got the odd stare from one or two crewmen. That was going to be one thing that was going to have to be explained to everyone on board. As they walked in they could see Trip and Malcolm sitting together with Hoshi and Travis at a table near the window. The two Ensigns couldn't help but look in their direction. Escorting her quickly into his own little mess he got her sitting down as he ordered the food for both of them.

"I hope you like spaghetti carbonara?"

The young woman smiled a little. "It's one of my favourites."

The Captain glanced at her and smiled a little. She already seemed like she was a lot easier to get talking than Malcolm had been. "So…" Archer began as he made sure she was comfortable before moving to his own seat. "What happened to Malcolm?"

"Sir?"

Archer sat down in his own chair and began to pour drinks for them both; iced tea. "It's obvious something happened to Malcolm where you're from, seeing as every time you see him you look like you're seeing a ghost, and you're my tactical officer, not him." He passed a glass to her end of the table.

Mallory glanced down at her hands that were folded neatly on the table. She reached forward and picked up her glass, taking a sip of the iced tea. She returned the glass to the table and looked at him. "Thirteen years ago he died saving my life."

"You really are seeing a ghost then." He realised and picked up his own beverage. "How?" He put his hands up almost immediately. "Sorry, if you don't want to talk about it, then you don't have to."

She looked at him, trying to decide if she should explain the whole story to him. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, keeping her emotions under control for the time being. "Malcolm and I were inseparable, the best big brother anyone could ever have. I looked up to him. He looked out for me at school, we enjoyed the same things. We joined Starfleet at the same time, despite Mum and Dad's protests, he always wanted Malcolm to join the navy, carry on the family tradition. I was seventeen when we joined, eight years younger than Malcolm, but I knew it's what I wanted to do, as I said, I couldn't be separated from my big brother. We graduated together and went everywhere together. We…" She paused suddenly. One bit of their history that she wasn't too proud of, but had no idea if anything like it had happened here, and if it had, would certainly make things difficult. No, for now that would have to be kept quiet, until she knew this Malcolm's history. "We looked out for each other. One evening we were at the 602 club in San Francisco, celebrating his birthday. I was twenty-two at the time."

Flashback

"Two more beers please, Ruby." Mallory ordered, standing at the bar. Her hair was left loose as it was too short to tie back, chin length. She set herself down on one of the bar stools as she waited for her order to arrive. While she was waiting a couple of young Starfleet officers entered the club and headed straight for the bar, stopping near Miss Reed.

"Look, all I need are just two more able crew and I'll win the race and the bet!" One of the men exclaimed to his friend as he lent on the bar with his left forearm.

"You'll never find them, Tucker. Everyone wants to be in space, not on the water." The man's friend replied.

Mallory turned her head to watch the two of them, being careful not to be seen spying on them, her ears pricking up as she listened to their conversation. A race on water? Now that sounded like fun. Now she just had to convince someone else that it sounded like fun too.

"Usual, please Ruby." Tucker ordered, turning to his friends. "How hard can it be? Even if I have to teach 'em from scratch."

"You're totally crazy! You know that? Bonkers!" The men laughed.

Mallory's two beers were passed over to her and she returned to the table where her brother was sitting, setting down one of the glasses in front of him. "Hey, Malcolm… How would you like to be in a race?"

"What sort of race?" Malcolm queried after taking a gulp of his beverage, he was almost immediately wary and suspicious of his little sister and what it was she had in mind.

"A boat race."

The brother shook his head. "No… no way, Mallory… you know I don't like it."

"Come on. It'll be good for you. The Lieutenant by the bar, he's looking for two experienced crew. I'd be willing to bet we'd be the best people for him. Dad raised us on boats, who else could possibly know as much as we do!"

For several seconds he was looking hard at her, the mere mention of his father sent a slight chill down his spine. Ever since the two of them had gone into Starfleet their father had spoken less and less to them, all because they didn't want to join the Royal Navy like previous generations of the Reed family had. He continued to look at her, and the more he looked the more she gave him those puppy dog eyes that usually made him cave. This was no exception, his little sister certainly knew how to sway him. He sighed heavily. "All right." A grin spread across her face. "I'll do it."

In a flash the young Ensign was up and heading back to the bar before Malcolm could stop her. "What have I let myself into?" He thought, shaking his head slightly. He loved his little sister really, how could he not? She was always so full of life, so happy, almost the complete opposite of himself. He remained seated, watching his sister from a safe distance. She seemed to know what she was doing anyway and who to talk to. He picked up his glass and took another long gulp.

Once Mallory got an idea in her head it was always very difficult to stop her, which sometimes got her into trouble. She came up behind the two officers that she had been eavesdropping on and cleared her throat to get their attention. "Excuse me, Lieutenant?" She spoke to him and the friend turned so that Tucker could see her better. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I couldn't help over hearing that you're looking for a couple of people to help you win a race?"

The Southern American Lieutenant nodded his head, drinking from his own beer bottle. A quick swig before he began to explain one or two things to the young woman. "It's a boat race, ma'am… no offense but…" In his eyes she seemed far too young to be in Starfleet, let alone know much about boats.

"My brother and I were raised on boats." She continued before Tucker could say anything more. "Our dad was in the Royal Navy, and so was his dad, and his dad before him."

Tucker looked her up and down, studying her, obviously already intrigued by her boldness and family background. He glanced to his friend who also seemed to be intrigued by her. "Your brother, huh?" He noted the dark hair and looked around, spotting a young man with similarly dark hair. Malcolm rose to his feet and moved over, carrying his drink and Mallory's as she had left it behind. "You say you were raised on boats?"

"That's right." Malcolm nodded, glaring at his sister slightly as he passed her drink to her. He wasn't too fond of being on the water, and hated to be in it even more. "Knew how to steer a sailing ship before we could ride a bicycle."

"What are your names?" He queried.

"Ensign Malcolm Reed, this is Ensign Mallory Reed." The brother replied placing a hand on his excitable younger sister's shoulder, his beer in his other hand.

"Lieutenant Charles Tucker." He held out his hand and shook the sibling's as he thought for a second or two. His eyes locked with Mallory's and he smiled softly. She was a very pretty young woman, that he couldn't ignore. "Meet me tomorrow morning at the harbour. Let me see what you got." Malcolm could only smile a little, Mallory however had a big grin on her face.