A breathless Malcolm Reed arrived at Sickbay in record time after the Captain had dismissed them from their latest briefing. He'd been summoned to Archer's Ready Room beforehand and furnished with the highlights of the last 3 hours, while he was blissfully ignorant in his slumber. Initially, he'd been infuriated that Archer had kept him in the dark but realised shortly thereafter that Archer knew his Armoury Officer all too well. In hindsight, Malcolm's emotions were a little closer to the surface since Meara's joining the crew. Dammit. He'd have to keep an eye on that. If Archer could see it, he wasn't doing a very good job of keeping himself in check. He'd need time to process the latest revelations from the Book of Meara Shaw, but right now, his one and only thought was focussed like a laser beam on ensuring the wellbeing of his friend.

Phlox was using a PADD to monitor the progress of the treatment. He looked up as the door slid open to permit entry of a flustered-looking Lieutenant. "Ah, hello Mr Reed. I take it you've come to check up on the Ensign."

Reed stopped short and composed himself. "Indeed, Doctor. I've just left the briefing and simply had to find out her status."

"Well, she is currently undergoing irradiation therapy to neutralise the virus."

Reed looked at the monitor attached to the chamber. "Exposure to radiation? Surely that will damage her cells, Doctor."

"Well considered, Lieutenant!" smiling at him fondly like he would a student who had just passed a test. "However, in the case of Ensign Shaw, her capacity for self-regeneration is truly breathtaking. Her cells are more than capable of recovering from moderate level exposure while ensuring her little white blood cell passengers are no more."

Malcolm looked at the sleeping form of his friend lying in the chamber. "I'll have to defer to your judgement on the matter, Doctor." He furrowed his brow. "How much longer will the treatment take?"

"I shall be checking for signs of the eradication of the virus every twenty minutes. I will not be keeping the Ensign any longer than completely necessary."

"Very well, Doctor. I'll be on the Bridge. You will inform me when you're done, won't you?" Phlox gave one nod with an accompanying smile. "Absolutely, Lieutenant. The Ensign will be weakened considerably and may take a day or so to regain her normal strength. She will be fine in her quarters though I'm sure she would value a friend checking up on her well-being on occasion during her recovery?"

"Of course, Doctor." With one last lingering look at the prone body of Meara, he departed Sickbay. Even the seemingly unbreakable are vulnerable, he thought, as he made his way to the Bridge. Friends like Meara Shaw were too few in this Universe and too precious to ever be taken for granted. Malcolm realised in that moment, there were no lengths to which he wouldn't go to keep her safe…

"For goodness sake, Mal. You clucking around me like a mother hen! If you ever leave Starfleet Security I'm sure Phlox has a lovely little Nurse's outfit that you'd look positively stunning in!"

"Oh shut up, woman," he said heatedly. "You've just been through an incredibly invasive treatment that has left you in a weakened state. If you don't lie down and relax, I'll be forced to comm Matthew to come to your quarters and pin you to the bed!"

Meara stopped her fidgeting and raised herself on her elbows. Malcolm closed his eyes, as it dawned on him what he was about to called on. She was grinning like an idiot.

"I say… So it's 'Matthew' now is it?" Damn. "Shall I get you another pillow?" He turned his back to hide the blush threatening to break out.

Meara was aching from head to toe but she felt like dancing. Usually, it took a lot more effort on her part to encourage Malcolm to invest some of his precious time in others who might actually do him some good, but evidently, this had been building for a lot longer than even Meara had initially considered. She guessed Malcolm had been in denial about the attraction for so long, he'd convinced himself it would be far more straightforward to start out hating the man and build on that. Less chance of a broken heart, or a compromised mission. He was a stickler for the rules after all. How does the saying go? The best lie is the one the liar believes.

"Why Mr Reed. You are positively glowing…" He turned around and threw the pillow at her. "Hey! That's no way to treat a patient! I'm fragile you know!"

"You, my lady, are about as fragile as…" He was about to say, Matthew Hayes' resolve, but thought better of it.

"You were saying?" She queried innocently as she prodded the pillow before propping her head against it.

He popped himself on the edge of the bed, looking at her intently. She raised her hand and brushed his cheek fondly. "So. Section 31…" She sighed. "I really don't have the energy to talk about that right now, Mal."

Malcolm bit his lip. "Of course. That was unfair of me. You need to rest." He stood up. "And we need an Ambassador primed and ready to kick some Klingon arse."

"Thank you," she whispered through a small smile as she looked down at her hands. She looked up suddenly. "Speaking of kicking Klingon arse…" She pressed the comm. "Shaw to Major Hayes." A heartbeat. "Hayes here." She was looking at Malcolm mischievously. 'What are you up to?' he mouthed at her. "Can I trouble you to come to my quarters? I have something I'd like to share with you. Shaw out."

Malcolm's face was a picture. "I certainly don't hope you plan on sharing me? I'd like to think I'd have some say—"

Meara rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, Casanova. I'm sure we'll be able to keep it in our pants in your presence."

She reached under her bed and pulled out a flat-black case. "Put that on the desk, will you?" Malcolm did as he was bid just as the door chimed. "Come in!"

Hayes entered. A look of concern flashed his features at the sight of Meara. "You're concern is appreciated, Major," before he had a chance to say anything, "but I'll be right as rain in 24-36 hours." She didn't miss the look in his eyes when they came to rest on Malcolm, still standing next to her desk, splayed hand placed on the black case.

"Major." "Lieutenant."

"Ahem! Gentlemen - when you're done drinking each other in," Meara stood up, a little wobbly and walked to the desk. "I thought you both might like to see this." She flipped open the case. Hayes' eyes widened and Malcolm was actually getting aroused at his first close up and personal moment with—. Hayes broke the reverie. "Is that a—?"

"Bat'leth? It certainly is." She picked it up and turned to them both. "Now. How about you two arm-wrestle for the honour of who gets to hold it first?" she said wickedly.