Disclaimer: This is a fan written work. The copyrights and trademarks of Star Trek are owned by Paramount Pictures, CBS Corporation and their licensee, Pocket Books. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Chapter 7

Outside Guest Quarters July 5, 2161 1100

"Reed to Goyette."

"Goyette here. What can I do for ya, sir?"

"Send a man down to guest quarters to guard our newest crewmate."

"Shall I get a watch bill together while I'm at it?"

"Not a bad idea. I need a man here in the next few minutes."

"Aye sir. If I may sir. You sound real tired. Not burning the midnight oil, are ya?"

"Send a man down, Goyette. Reed out." Reed leaned back on the bulkhead, trying to put a wall up in his mind. Gouveia's mind was still active, though getting hazer by the moment and in turn Reed's mind was getting hazer. "I really need to speak with T'Pol."

"About what, sir?" Reed jerked his head up. "Ah. Sorry sir. Didn't mean to startle you."

"Crewman Elliot. Glad to see Lieutenant Goyette is getting things in to gear." Reed got off the bulkhead and started making his way to the trubolift.

"Sir?" Elliot looked from Reed to the guest quarters door.

Reed held a sigh in as he turned back to Elliot, "Yes?"

"Exactly what should I guard against?"

Reed did sigh this time, "Make sure no one goes in and no one comes out. Unless it is the Doctor, the Captain, or myself. Understood?"

Elliot smiled, "Yes sir. Very good sir. Good morning sir."

Reed shook his head and went on his way to the bridge to finish out his shift, wishing for time to speed up. Longing for his bunk.

(The smell of antiseptic and the beeping of a heart monitor had Reed's eyes open. A woman of around 50 years, dark hair and a round face was laying down on the hospital bed. Reed recognized her from the photo of Gouveia's family. "Mom?" A female voice with an American accent came from him. His right hand held the left hand of this dark-haired woman. A door opened behind Reed.

"How is she?" A man in his 50's, with salt and pepper hair and beard, placed a paper coffee cup in his hand.

"She's doing better, I think." His hand automatically held on to the cup, "I haven't seen the doctor yet." And took a sip, "Ugh. Thanks for the coffee." He got out of the chair. "Dad, take my seat. I'm going to give Hanna and James an update."

"Thanks' Alaine. I know we have disrupted your life. But I am really glad you could make it."

"I'm glad to be here." Reed left the room and went down a white corridor. In a small alcove he stopped and made sure there was no one around before tears started to fall. "Lord, I don't know why you are putting mom and dad through this. But please don't take mom away. I don't think we are ready for her to go. Please Lord." After a few moments Reed took a deep breath and went back on his way. After a while he entered a lobby. Sitting on a few of the chairs were James, Hanna, and Delores. "Hey all."

"Alaine." James got up, "How is she?" The two women stood as well.

"She is doing better."

"Really, cause I can see you were crying." Hanna said.

"It's only stress."

Delores held on to James, "We are all a little overwhelmed."

"I have to go, I will see you all later." Reed picked up a jacket that was laying on the chair James vacated.

"Get some rest."

"Where have I heard that before?" A blast came from his right. "Everyone get out! GET OUT!" Reed's body went in to action, running back to the three. "James, get them out." Shots started. "GO!"

Reed's body went down. Blood came from his right side.)

ARGH! Gouveia's inter cry woke Reed. 'Not again.' Reed turned over, saw the time of one in the morning, 'To go or not?' The comm buzzed.

"Maddox to Reed."

"Reed here." Reed's throat felt like gravel.

"Sir," pause, "I respectfully request your presence at guest quarters. I heard some sounds of distress."

"Be there in 10. Reed out." Reed could feel the tension in Gouveia. In ten minutes, Reed was dressed, shaved, teeth brushed and standing in front of guest quarters. "Ensign Maddox. Report."

"Sir. I relieved Crewman Leonard at 2200. Everything was quiet until about 15 minutes ago when our guest gave a shout. Nothing too alarming though." Maddox concluded.

"Very well. When does your shift end?"

"0600."

"Alright." Reed pressed the doorbell. "Ms. Gouveia, may I come in?"

Gouveia opened the door, in her torn uniform clothes with the blanket from the bed wrapped around her, did not meet Reed's eyes. She motioned for him to come in as she took a seat on the couch. Reed walked past her and sat in the chair, watching Gouveia. He saw the tear stains on her cheeks, the bags under her eyes, and the way she had wrapped her arms around her legs. Trying to ward off the world.

"Yes. I am." Gouveia barely spoke, but Reed heard her in the quiet room.

Reed placed his elbows on his knees, resting his chin on his fists, "Would you like to talk about it?"

Gouveia glared at Reed, "No. I would not like to talk about it. Especially if the it you are referring to is the dream where I saw my family. Where I saw my brother, his wife, my sister, and my parents? Where I almost lost them? NO. I would not like to talk about it." She looked away.

Reed stood, "Alright, if you are not going to talk, I need to get some rest before shift. I'll escort you to sickbay."

Gouveia grasped his hand before Reed took a step. Reed froze, "Please, don't make me go back there when I am cleared to be here. I'll," Gouveia stood as well, "I'll stay on the couch, take the bed." She looked down at their clasped hands, "Please, I don't want to be alone." Gouveia glanced up to see Reed's reaction, his face stone, "I know I have been pushing you away, but, you are the one person I trust. You may not be my friend, but you know what I'm feeling." She let go of him, "All I'm asking, is for some company on my first night away from sickbay."

Reed relaxed a little and sat down on the couch, defeated, "Take the bed, I'll be better off here."

Gouveia did not quite believe Reed, "You won't sneak off." She waited until he looked up, "Let me know when you leave."

"As you wish, Ms. Gouveia."

She smiled and, in relief, almost hugged the man. In a very controlled awkward matter, Gouveia patted his shoulder instead, "Thank you." And took herself off to bed.

Reed looked around in wonderment as he reclined into the couch, How did I get myself into this mess?

I ask the same thing.

"Would you like to talk now?" Reed's voice was ruff, but his mouth held a quiet smile.

"No." He heard her toss and turn for a few moments, "Ok, yes, I would like to talk." Reed heard Gouveia get up and walk to the front room, "Only to know you're there and haven't slipped out while I wasn't looking."

Reed held a sigh, trying not to show frustration with her lack of confidence in the validity of his word. Sitting up Reed waited for Gouveia to sit in the chair and when no words were forthcoming asked, "This is fun. Are you planning on staying up the rest of the night?"

"No."

"Ah. She speaks. Do you have any questions I can answer?"

"I don't know."

Reed looked around the room and saw a few books on a shelf, "How about I read a book to you, instead, until you are ready to sleep?"

"I haven't had story time in years."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes." Gouveia walked to a small set of books. After perusing the shelf, she took down a thick novel and held it out to Reed, "This one." Gouveia gave a one-sided shrug, "It's the only one I recognize."

Reed sat up and took the book in a smooth movement, holding it with elbows on knees, "The Odyssey?"

Gouveia nodded and took a seat next to Reed, "Kind of poetic. A man who is trying to get home and only by an intervention of those with greater power can do so. And me." Gouveia curled up resting her head on the back of the couch leaning toward Reed, "Trying to get back to my home as well. Though Odysseus had the good fortune of being in the same time line and on the same planet."

Reed settled back in to the couch and cracked opened the book, "Odysseus also had to go to different worlds."

Gouveia grimaced and crossed her arms, "That makes me feel so much better."

Reed asked, "Should I start at the beginning or would you like to skip to the best parts?"

"Go to the part where Odysseus is planning to go home and challenge the suitors." Gouveia commanded, settling her blanket around her.

With a nod Reed opened the book. Flipping through the pages toward the end, the book gave off a smell. "Don't you love the smell of old books?" Reed was startled and looked to her. Gouveia's eyes were closed as she continued, "They remind me of the library. Hundreds of books. Lightly used over 25, 30 years. Waiting for the next person to come and open the binding and uncover something wonderful. I miss the library."

Reed cleared his throat, "The next morning the suitors gathered in the dining hall for the contest. They set up a target at the end of the room, and.. "

"Do you have libraries?" Gouveia interrupted.

"Yes. We do, though it is not how you remember, I imagine."

"That's good. The building is there, at least?"

Reed nodded and continued, "And Telemachus handed his father's great bow to the first suitor to try his aim.."

"Will you take me to a library?"

Reed closed the book, "I may not be able to. Once we are back on Earth, you will be assigned a living and become part of the society."

Gouveia sat up, "Assigned? I don't have a choice in what I do or where I go?"

"I'm not the best person to have this conversation with. T'Pol or Captain Archer would be the ones to ask."

"Okay." Gouveia did not move or notice Reed not re-open the book.

Reed gave in to his curiosity, "Is there anything else?"

Gouveia's eyes were glassy with the tears held back, "What isn't on my mind? How am I going to make a living, where am I going to live, can I still make friends, what happened to my family, am I really so alone?" Gouveia gave in to her tears. Reed sat there, stunned. "I know I shouldn't push this on you, but you did ask." A hint of a smile came through in Gouveia's voice.

"Your right, I did."

"Not exactly what you expected, right?" Gouveia said as she wiped her eyes on the blanket.

"No." Reed looked inside for a moment, "I was blindsided, I did not know this was in your feelings at all. I feel your grief and helplessness, but not the why."

"I guess I have some strength in me yet, if even you could not comprehend why I am feeling the way I am." She nestled in to the couch, "Though now I am quite exhausted and embarrassed."

"Then take yourself off to bed before you fall asleep right here." Reed suggested as he leaned back into the couch, crossing his arms, allowing the book to fall.

The noise jolted Gouveia, "Right you are sir." Gouveia slid to the ground and picked up the book, "I would still feel better if you took the bed, sir."

Reed shook his head, took Gouveia by her elbow and brought them both to their feet, "No. Ms. Gouveia. You are an honored guest of the Enterprise. Take the bed." He took the book from her hands and gently guided her to the bedroom space.

"Alright." Gouveia turned back to Reed, "You're going to stand there until I get into bed, aren't you?" She giggled, "Are you going to tuck me in as well?"

"Only if you wish it." Reed's eyes bored into Gouveia.

Gouveia took a step back, "I was only joking, sir. Good night."

"Good night, Ms. Gouveia." Reed was hard pressed to maintain his self-appointed post at the door and not run and shake the girl, as Gouveia's thoughts were bashing the inside of his skull.

He does remind me of Wesley. It is nice to have someone worry about me. Though, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to ask him in. He is a senior officer on the ship and a spaceship at that. They are on a mission this is no time for you to swoon over a good looking British man though he is fit and has a grade A mind. You are a single woman away from all you know. Your guard needs to be up. Stop while there is nothing. There is no such thing as true love. I need to get to know Joanna what was her last ...

Reed spoke up when there was no reprieve in sight, "Ms. Gouveia, please relax. I can't keep up my mental walls right now." A few seconds and there was only droning from Gouveia instead of words.

"Better?" Gouveia asked quietly.

"Yes. Thank you. I will let you know when I leave in the morning." Reed murmured as he replaced the book on the shelf and took a new one, laying down on the couch for a very long night. Though I would like to know who Wesley is and where the dream came from.

In a sleepy tone of voice Gouveia answered, Wesley is the man in black and my dream is something for later.

Reed let out an audible sign, "Good Night." Alaine

"Good night Malcolm." Gouveia mumbled through a small tried smile. Reed smiled as he got down to reading his book and trying to sleep.