It was an intense training session. Malcolm using the physical exertion to relieve the stress of an overactive imagination picturing scenes of intimacy between Hayes and Meara, Hayes revelling in what on the surface appeared to be an invigorated and invigorating Armoury Officer. After thirty minutes of alternating one-on-one hand-to-hand combat, Meara decided to change tact.

She took a sip from her water bottle. "OK. I'm a Klingon. I've just boarded Enterprise with the intention of taking out as many of you sub-species Humans as I can. It's a one way trip. I'm going to die with honour, in the heat of battle. Question is, what are you two going to do about it?"

The gauntlet thrown down, with nothing more than a brief glance at each other, both men began circling her. Meara noticed the glint in Malcolm's eyes, subconsciously registering she had given him permission to let loose on her. Good, she thought. Time to push off the mask of impeccable British demeanour and let the real Malcolm Reed stand up. Meara was fast and strong and fought on instinct, just like a Klingon. Hayes and Reed were much more tactical. She was relying on this quality to allow them to work together to subdue her. She wasn't disappointed.

She felt the air shift behind her as Hayes moved to force her into a headlock. She allowed the move, bracing her body to drive her bodyweight back and under Hayes, manoeuvring so that he ended up backflipping over her head. He landed in a body roll and was hauled up by Reed who used the momentum generated from the move to propel his body forward into a lunge at their just recovered "Klingon" intruder. Meara was knocked to the floor and momentarily winded, giving Hayes enough time to join Malcolm in a pinning hold that even she couldn't escape from. Meara smiled.

"Well I must say that was just beautiful, gentlemen. You two work well together…"

Hayes felt a slight blush creep into his cheeks as he glanced at Malcolm. He'd always thought Reed and him could work well together, if Reed hadn't insisted on being such an ass so much of the time. Malcolm was too busy feeling pleased with himself to notice anything but Meara's praise.

"Thank you, Ensign." He said, releasing her and extending his hand to help her up. He was feeling considerably more relaxed. So much so, as the three of them departed to hit the showers, he asked, "I don't suppose you'd care to join me for dinner in the Mess this evening?"

Well, it was about time. "Of course, Lieutenant. I think that's a grand idea. I believe the last time we shared a meal after my graduation ceremony, we locked horns over the merits of British Colonisation vs Irish Fraternisation. Care to pick that one up again?"

Malcolm smiled for the first time in days. "I think I'm up for that…"

By the end of their the sixth day of the journey to Qo'nos, things had gotten considerably more amicable. Even various crew members were noticing a marginally more relaxed Head of Security, despite the nature of the territory towards which they were speeding. While it was a diplomatic mission, it was still Klingon space. Reed's confidence was rubbing off on the rest of his staff. The tactical team had been running multiple simulations for encounters with Klingon vessels and Meara had been spending more time with Hayes putting the MACOs through their paces in hand-to-hand combat. Needless to say, the MACOs were developing a newly-acquired appreciation of stealth, speed and using gravity to your advantage, over strength and brute force. Ensign Shaw's merits in combat soon became the talk of the ship.

For himself, Hayes was developing a real appreciation of Meara's positive effect on Malcolm. She really had a way of smoothing out the edges. On occasion when they lunched or dined together, Hayes was treated to glimpses of what he believed was the real deal, as Meara exerted her considerable charms to bring the beating heart of Malcolm to the surface of his steely British armour. Once or twice, he'd even laughed, a deep, soulful laugh that shook his whole body. Hayes had been so caught off guard by the sound, he nearly choked on his food. On further reflection, as he replayed the evening in his mind lying in bed that night, he realised that he liked that sound very much.

Later the next day, they were standing at a terminal in the Armoury reviewing data on the sensor arrays. Meara chuckled to herself. "Something amusing, Ensign? Do share…"

"Sorry Sir. Meant to tell you that Commander Tucker "accompanied" me on the walk back here after lunch. He was - um - rather curious about our connection."

Malcolm sighed in exasperation. "I was wondering how long it would take. I've managed to dodge his nosiness since the day we left space dock, but the man is like a dog with a bone. Honestly, if there were a fence in Engineering, he'd spend all day propped up against it gossiping like an old washerwoman."

Meara guffawed at the image Malcolm's description conjured up. Damn, when he was himself he was such a joy to be around."So. What did you tell him or do I want to know?"

She looked at him as he continued punching in the numbers. "I told him that our relationship was need to know and he didn't need to know."

"Ha! That response must have earned you an incredulous Southern stare!"

"Actually—" Meara felt it before she heard or saw it. A change in the energy levels emanating from the console on the platform where they were working. Everything seemed to phase into slow motion. Lunging for Malcolm who was standing closest to the platform steps, she grabbed him around the waist before pushing off in a rolling motion. While they hurdled towards the deck plating, an energy surge raced across their console and a small explosion burst outwards, scattering monitor shards in the direction they had just been standing. Almost simultaneously, Meara's body hit the deck full force with Reed on top of her. Malcolm was so stunned, he took a few seconds to register what had just happened. He looked down at the dazed expression of the Ensign. "So tell me," she panted breathlessly, "is it always this exciting working on a Starship?" Then she passed out.

Phlox had released her from Sickbay with simple instructions to rest for the remainder of the day. A minor concussion was nothing to worry about and given her Augment physiology and healing propensity, he didn't see any problem with sending her to her quarters. Reed accompanied her.

"That was a foolish move, Meara."

"You mean saving your backside from several days in Sickbay? You're welcome, Lieutenant. I was just protecting the most important assets of the ship, as would any member of your security team."

He stopped and grabbed her arm. "You ARE the most important asset on this ship. Ensign," he said under his breath. "This mission fails if we fail you, you know."

Meara rolled her eyes. "Malcolm. You just have to trust that sometimes I can make a split second decision and effectively judge the relative outcome of that decision in the time it takes you to snap your fingers."

He dropped his eyes. "I know. I suppose I just like to think you need me as much as—" She smiled at his hesitation. "I do, Malcolm. Our friendship may have been put on hold for a while, but I never forgot the dimension that grew in me that I can only credit to the presence of you in my life, when I needed a friend most. Thank you…"

They had reached her quarters. She turned to him, leaned in and applied a gentle kiss. No heat. A kiss that sealed a friendship both would always treasure. At that moment, Hayes rounded the corner.

He stuttered. "Sorry. I— I didn't mean to interrupt…" Flushing slightly, he stumbled on. "I heard what happened and just came to see how you were and- and if you needed anything..." Meara saw the cloud descend in Malcolm's eyes and immediately dived in before his Size 11s could take up residency in his big British gob.

"Not at all, Major. Thanks for taking the time to check on me." She opened the door to her quarters. "I'll tell you both what I need." They looked at her expectantly. "I'm going to sleep for a few hours. We are only six days away from Qo'nos and I need to exercise my liver before having to down that God-awful Blood Wine the Klingons are so fond of."

Hayes and Reed exchanged a glance. "Be here at 2000h and bring a bottle of something an Ambassador would find palatable." She was standing inside the door. Just before she closed it, she said smiling, "And if I don't like it, I won't be diplomatic about it so make sure it's good."