Well. Here be the final chapter. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed. I'm a first timer so really appreciate your giving it a chance.

"So? What now for Meara Shaw?"

The crew from the Qo'nos mission were gathered in the Observation Lounge, taking a moment to wind down from the bittersweet start to relations with the Klingon Empire. A diplomatic incident could be avoided. Neither government wanted to draw too much attention to the attempted - and failed - Alliance as it would unsettle other less enlightened species in the sector. Meara hoped in time, the damage done by Terra Prime could be tempered, though she knew the Klingons trust would be hard won a second time. It could be more than a century before relations could be successfully reestablished. Meara was sure there would be much wrangling and upheaval in the interim.

"I believe my place is still with Section 31, Captain. Though I understand why you don't approve." "You're right I don't. Still, just because I don't approve, I feel more than reassured knowing someone of your calibre is sitting in their midst."

"Thank you, Captain."

She noticed Malcolm enter the room. "Won't you excuse me, Sir?" He spotted Malcolm and smiled, "Of course." He rested a firm hand on her arm. "Thank you for saving my Head of Security," his voice filled with heartfelt gratitude. She nodded. "I would have died trying, Sir." She headed over to her friend. 'I hope I can know such devotion and loyalty in my life,' thought Archer. "Captain…," the soft timbre voice interrupted his thoughts. 'Though maybe I already do,' he concluded privately, as he turned to address his First Officer.

Malcolm smiled as she approached and reached out to wrap her in a warm embrace. "Let's not leave it another eight years before we see each other again? Besides, I think the Major has grown quite fond of you too," Malcolm said as he caught the slightly haunted expression from Hayes cast his way, standing amidst his team. "I think I can fit you both into my schedule," she said warmly.

Shore leave.

Enterprise was en route to its favoured planetary destination for some well-earned down time before returning to Earth.

Kinda feels like we deserve it, thought Hayes. He wasn't, under normal circumstances, a man to indulge in such things, but he'd had a few wakeup calls during the Xindi Crisis and more recently, since the manifestation of Meara Shaw invaded his world. He was looking forward to spending some downtime with them both, strengthening the friendship. People like that come along once in a lifetime, and Hayes may be drenched head-to-toe in military discipline and the benefits of objectivity, but he was also just a man, a man who knew a good thing when he saw it, recalling for a moment the first time he had set eyes on Joshua…. He was in the midst of his reverie as he made some final checks before heading for the Shuttlepod. So absorbed in both, he failed to hear the bay door open. He felt him before hearing or seeing him.

"I thought I'd come to say goodbye," Reed said, "before you go planetside, Major." "Not so much goodbye as see you in 24 hours now, is it Lieutenant?" replied Hayes, not taking his eyes off the console. "Quite right," came the reply before starting his turn to leave.

To hell with it, thought Hayes.

He turned round and grabbed the front of Malcolm's uniform, all but lifting him off the platform, placing him on the console and pressing him into the viewscreen behind. "This is inappropriate, Major." Before Malcolm knew it, Hayes had his lips on his neck and was whispering softly. It seemed, Matthew had picked up reasonably quickly what Malcolm responded to. "You know I don't think I ever told you, after that firefight in the trellium mines, it took every ounce of my willpower not to hunt you down after decon and show you exactly how impressed I'd been with your tactical skills down there." Malcolm felt his resolve waning, Hayes' words doing little to help him keep his self-control in hand. "Then I'd say it's a good thing you managed to restrain yourself, Major, otherwise one or both of us may well have ended up in traction," Malcolm replied distractedly. Remembering the strength he still possessed residually in his system from Meara's blood transfusion, he made to relax beneath his grip before feeling Hayes relax in kind. Malcolm took the opportunity to quickly reverse the situation. Hayes was smiling in modest admiration. "How about you take me to your quarters and say goodbye properly, Sir?" Malcolm took a step back. "I'll have to teach you a thing or two about fraternising while on duty, Major. See you in 24 hours," he said, before climbing off the platform with as much decorum as was available to an officer in his state.

'Time,' thought Malcolm as he headed for the door, 'is a relative pain in the backside.' Because in 24 hours, when he finally got Matthew Hayes where he wanted him, he was fairly certain he wouldn't last 24 seconds.

"If you'll excuse me, Malcolm. I've yet to find a diplomatic solution to some other tensions that require attention…" Malcolm sipped his drink before saying, "I would have thought you would have exorcised all that tension in the Klingon Combat arena." "Augments, Mal. By the very definition of the word—."He didn't let her finish. "You know, I'd be more than happy to—". She didn't let him finish either. Meara put her fingers to his lips. "Wherever you're heading with that train of thought, Mr Reed, I'd advise you to pull the emergency stop lever before derailment." He smiled cheekily. "I didn't realise Augment capabilities stretched to the realm of mind-reading." "Where your mind is concerned, the ability is unnecessary. Oh hello, Major. Settled in?"

"I am. And Matthew will be just fine, Ambassador," he said with a respectful nod. At least in these surroundings…" "Apologies. Matthew. Old habits." Hayes allowed his gaze to meet that of Reed's. "Just arrived, Lieutenant?" enquired Hayes. "Not two hours ago, Major." He placed the remainder of his drink on the bar. "Now if you'll both excuse me, I'm going to unpack and freshen up before dinner." Meara and Hayes watched as he sauntered up the steps to the sleeping area. Meara cleared her throat as Hayes tore his eyes away from the sight to meet hers, looking up at him expectantly. "Don't you think you should, um, go help him freshen up, Matthew?" There was that Denobulan-esque grin again. "You know I think I will. See you at dinner, Meara."

Malcolm lay on his stomach and watched the rise and fall of Hayes' chest as he lay on his back sleeping. "I could grow quite accustomed to waking up to that sight every morning," he murmured to himself. Hayes opened one eye, startling Malcolm. "I'm glad to hear that, Mr Reed." "Oh. I— I thought you were asleep." Hayes propped himself up on an elbow to look down at him. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have let that little comment slip?" he enquired, gently tracing fingers down his back. "Well, it would be remise of me to give you ALL the power in this relationship," he replied, "I gave you quite a lot of said last night if memory serves…" Matthew smiled. "Malcolm. You didn't give me any power." His hand was travelling back up his spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. He leaned down to rest his forehead on his temple and whispered, warm breath caressing his ear, "you surrendered to yourself, not to me." Malcolm turned to lie on his back, Hayes' sober expression reflective as he trailed his thumb along the faint scar left by the Klingon blade beneath his ribs, a constant reminder of another reality without the presence of Malcolm Reed. "I only hope I'm worth it." "Well, if you'll permit me, I'd be more than happy to demonstrate how much I think you're worth, MACO," came the low timbre response. 'Mmmm… Husky and British sure do complement each other,' thought Hayes. "OWW! What the bloody blazes was that?!," Malcolm said gruffly. "What?" Hayes asked. "Oh that. Just a little "Cling On" move I picked up during my training at West Point…" Malcolm laughed. Yes, he thought, as he watched Malcolm's face, he loved that sound and everything that came with it. And yes. Matthew Hayes was more than happy to demonstrate how much a man of his word he truly was.

The sheets rolled like an ocean at war with itself. Yes, thought Meara, this was long overdue. Good to get it all out of the system before returning to Earth. Because when I do get back, she thought darkly, there will be hell to pay…

Epilogue

D'Ulev read the encrypted transmission again. He stood and looked out the porthole of his private cabin. It certainly wasn't the outcome for which they had hoped and worked towards, but it had successfully halted any chance of an Alliance in its tracks. For now at the very least. A divided galaxy was much easier to predict and control. Romulus would one day be the world to unite that galaxy. Not Humans, not Klingons and certainly not their estranged brethren, the Vulcans. A Galaxy united under the Romulan Empire. He smiled imperceptibly. What a vision that was to behold…

END

Author's Note

When I started writing this, it just began as a piece of slash fiction that I felt I needed to get out of my system. I didn't realise how much I cared about the life and needs of Malcolm Reed until his needs became a focus of the story. Looking back at my love and experience of the show, I realised that Malcolm was a great character who didn't really get to stretch his legs often enough for my liking (but I suppose cancellation after four seasons will do that). Sometimes he felt more like a plot device that a real character. I thought that was a waste. I did what I could to make life better for Lieutenant Reed by bringing a positive element from his past back into his world in the shape of Meara Shaw.

On reflection, it was Episode 'E2' that made me feel Malcolm Reed deserved better. "You'd think I would've found somebody on a ship this size."

So here's to all the Meara Shaws out there who are doing their level best in the universe of fan fiction to make life better for our lesser appreciated heroes.

Thanks for making it this far.

PS A special thanks to the wonderful LoyaulteMeLie who set me straight on a few things in my writing. Like Meara, I shall endeavour to evolve!