Author: AD
Rating: PG (language)
Category: Missing Scene
Characters: Hayes, Reed, Dr. Phlox, Archer
Spoilers: Up to and including the "Harbinger" (3.15) episode.
Summary: Brief scene following Captain Archer's loud `dressing down' of Hayes and Reed in "Harbinger."
Archived: If someone sets up one for Hayes, I'll also post it there.
Disclaimer: ENTERPRISE characters belong to Viacom, & Paramount Productions.
Author's Note: I thought I'd try my hand at a Hayes fic. I'm already apologizing for any Enterprise inaccuracies that absolutely WILL pop up throughout this short effort. For instance, how is the ranking of StarFleet officers different from that of MACO officers: what am I missing that allows LT. Reed to outrank MAJ. Hayes? (SF = Navy & MACO=Army???) Also, why are the senior StarFleet officers doubling as part of the Enterprise's security team? Here's one more: Reed is officially listed as an armory officer but now seems to be in charge of security---when did this happen? If you know, please tell me---I'm flummoxed. :D
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DECEMBER 29, 2153
HAYES' QUARTERS-DECK FOUR
ABOARD THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE
SOMEWHERE IN THE DELPHIC EXPANSE
~~~Minutes earlier in Captain Archer's anteroom�.
Lieutenant Reed heard the Captain exit the room. Seconds passed as he considered whether or not they should remain standing at attention. Catching a patch of brown out of the corner of his eye, he murmured, "Think we're dismissed?"
There was no question in Major Hayes' mind; he stood at attention and remained silent.
"I'm not bloody well going to stand here all morning," Reed announced. Hayes momentarily cut his eyes the right, but said nothing.
Relaxing his stance, Reed turned towards the stoic Hayes and made his decision. "We're dismissed, Hayes. Come on, we're out of here." The lieutenant walked towards the door, but Hayes never moved a muscle.
"Aren't you coming?" Reed asked.
Hayes stared straight ahead.
"Suit yourself, Major," Reed arrogantly advised. The Starfleet armory officer hesitated slightly and exited the room, muttering under his breath.
Hayes allowed himself a slight tightening of the jaw, but remained at attention. His left side was killing him and the cut on his forehead was throbbing, but he dared not move. Too many regulations had already been compromised by his uncharacteristic reactions to the lieutenant's taunts.
Momentarily closing his eyes, the major heard the intercom engage. His whole body instinctively tensed as he answered Archer's hail. The Captain's exasperated "dismissed" echoed throughout the room as Hayes barely nodded and executed a sharp turn on his heel. Proudly walking through the pneumatic door, he headed directly for his quarters.
Finally gaining the privacy of his own room, Hayes absently noted that his next watch began in four hours. Hayes couldn't prevent a resigned sigh from escaping his tight control. Wanting nothing more than to stretch out for a couple of hours, he stripped off his cammie jacket then flinched as he leaned forward to drop it on a chair. Slowly straightening, he headed towards the bathroom and propped his hip on the sink. Raising the brown tee-shirt, he used the large wall mirror to examine the vivid bruises covering his entire left side.
"Damnit, you're getting too old for this," he informed his battered reflection.
Reaching out for a small jar on the counter, Hayes tried to recall what Dr. Phlox had said about applying the nasty-smelling stuff. Scooping out a small amount with his fingers, he applied the green salve to his aching flesh. Wrinkling his nose at the pungent odor, he lowered his shirt and washed his hands.
A heavy wave of exhaustion rolled over him as he approached his bed. Deciding his other injuries were bearable, Hayes sat down to remove his boots. He'd barely gotten to the calf buckles when his intercom engaged.
"Major?" Dr. Phlox's voice drifted out of the small wall-mounted device. "Are you there, Major Hayes?"
Quickly refastening his buckles, the major stood up and flipped on the response button. "Hayes here, Doctor. How may I help you?"
"Sorry to bother you Major, but now would be a good time to suture that cut on your forehead," the good doctor informed him.
Hayes took a deep breath and rolled his head back on his shoulders. Eyeing the bed longingly, he took a deep breath and pressed the response button. "As you say, Doctor. I'm on my way."
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THIRTY MINUTES LATER
ENTERPRISE SICKBAY
Dr. Phlox carefully stored his instruments as Major Hayes sat up on the edge of the sickbay bed. "You have a remarkable threshold for pain, Major. In my experience with your species, very few humans could tolerate this procedure without some type of anesthetic agent."
Hayes held his right shoulder as he rotated his arm to loosen his tense joints. "Part of our Lunar Survival Training, Doctor."
Looking up with a slight smile, he added, "It also doesn't hurt that your skill with the staples caused me very little discomfort."
"A compliment, Major? I thank you, then." Noticing the major's discomfort, Phlox walked to his side. "Shall we check that kidney again, Major?"
"Nah, like you said---just needs time." Hayes reached up and lightly touched the transparent staples now adorning his forehead. "How long `til these dissolve?"
"Seventy-two Earth hours, give or take a few milliseconds," Phlox smilingly warned. "I suggest at least twenty-four of those hours be spent in rejuvenation---bed rest, Major."
Hayes gave a slight nod and Dr. Phlox correctly assumed that the major would simply resume his regular duties without any concession to his injuries. "Ah, well. I can see that my expertise will be ignored."
"Doctor?"
"You will exercise that admirable stubbornness you possess and ignore my advice, will you not?"
Hayes reluctantly nodded. "I have a job to do, Doctor."
"Which, unfortunately, does not allow me to perform my own. If you return to your duties before you have properly healed, these wounds will reopen and your kidney will develop an infection. This is my professional diagnosis, Major. Do you doubt my skill?"
"Of course not, Doctor, but---"
"Then it is confirmed. I will inform the Captain of your updated medical status and you will rest, hmmm?"
Realizing he'd been outmaneuvered by the perceptive physician, Hayes gave in and agreed to the bed rest. After all, he had no choice. Archer would insist that he follow the medical expert's advice. "As you say, Doctor," Hayes tonelessly acknowledged.
"Perhaps you can update your starlogs, Major? That shouldn't tax your recovery," the doctor suggested.
With the exception of today's entry, his were up to date. Nevertheless, Hayes thanked the doctor and got up to leave. Just as he reached the pneumatic door, he heard the sickbay intercom engage. Expecting some crisis that would require his attention, Hayes was surprised to hear Captain Archer request Reed's current location.
"He has not reported as of yet, Captain." Phlox crisply informed Archer.
Archer could be heard answering some unseen yeoman's question before responding to the doctor. "Let me know when he does. Oh, and doc? Was that three days he's off active duty?"
Dr. Phlox looked over to where the major had halted before the open door. Pushing the response button, he carefully observed the enigmatic MACO.
"Four sir," he corrected. "Lieutenant Reed's retinal injury is quite severe." An almost imperceptible flinch passed over Hayes' shoulders and Phlox nodded to himself.
Archer's reluctant chuckle carried over the intercom, "Got one hell of a beating didn't he?"
Hayes had turned around and Phlox considered Hayes' regretful expression as he answered Archer, "I believe the correct response is `as good as he gave,' sir."
Noting that his statement had earned a self-deprecating smile from the major, Phlox gave his full attention to what the captain was saying.
ARCHER: "Well, it's out of their systems now, I hope. How long will Hayes be out?"
PHLOX: "One day, Captain."
ARCHER: "All right. Any others on the injured list?"
PHLOX: "Commander Tucker took quite a hit, sir. However, other than some slight neural disruptions, he is cleared for duty."
ARCHER: "How about you, doc? You were down and out for a while."
PHLOX: "No lasting effects resulted. I plan to take my own advice and rejuvenate for the next eight hours, sir."
ARCHER: "Understood. I stand advised. Thanks, Phlox."
PHLOX: "At your service, sir."
Hayes gave the good doctor a genuine smile before exiting the sickbay. He was still smiling when he entered his quarters and eased down onto the narrow bed.
Reaching over for his portable log, Hayes activated the device.
"Personal log; Stardate December twenty-nine, twenty-one fifty-three. It is oh-nine hundred hours. Altercation with Lieutenant Reed is resolved. Whether I'll be able to do my job without his continued interference is still in question. Cocky bastard still seems threatened by the MACO presence on board�.."
~~~~~~~~~HAVE NO IDEA IF I'LL CONTINUE THIS~~~~~~~~~~