While they walked, Rose pointed out the various buildings in the camp and found herself warming to her subject "We have laboratories, where we can clean up our finds and analyse their composition, or identify the contents of old crockery and such like. And there are stores where artefacts can be kept in controlled temperature and humidity until they can be moved – we send them for further investigation and display, to museums throughout Valdor V.

"Although this planet has a tremendous history, its people haven't really majored on studying and preserving it, so they're happy to give us enormous freedom with their past, in exchange for using and learning from our expertise. We're finding out a great deal about the ancient Valdorians – especially that some of their ways are still very much alive.

"Actually, and you'll find this especially interesting, we were surprised to learn that the temple had its own armoury and we found recognisable fragments of weapons there. It appears that their favourite was a rather vicious-looking crossbow and, amazingly enough, its still in use today. They're small, lightweight, easy to obtain, quiet to shoot and farmers favour them for hunting and to control vermin. The government's own guards use them as a ceremonial weapon and almost every Valdorian home has one somewhere that's been handed down from father to son since God only knows when! Even sportsmen use them: mountaineers shoot pitons for their climbing ropes into rock faces with them. Its fascinating!"

Malcolm thought so too – but mainly because, while she was lost in her enthusiasm, the distance between them seemed to have closed to almost nothing and he was getting tantalizing glimpses of the Rose he met so long ago.

The ruins themselves were alternately majestic and surprisingly insignificant. Careful not to let him stand too close to the edge of the seemingly bottomless larder pit, Rose showed him the endless stairways going down to the subterranean storerooms. "These guys knew a bit about refrigeration, Malcolm! We found … what was that?"

Whirling, she scanned their surroundings for the source of the strange, metallic squealing noise she'd heard. Malcolm blinked at her, confused. "I didn't hear anything. Won't it be one of your team working late?"

Monty was staring over towards one of the more complete structures, his enormous ears pricked and listening. "No. We have a rule that nobody works after 5pm. I'm the only one allowed on-site after that time. Tired archaeologists make mistakes and precious things get broken."

There was an odd whistling sound and, suddenly, a cloud of dust exploded from the ruined wall only a few feet behind them. Straining forward, Monty yanked his leash from Rose's hand and ran towards it, barking loudly. She hurried after him, letting Malcolm follow at his own pace, and searched around the rubble at the wall's base, homing in on where Monty was avidly sniffing. "What's that boy? What have you got? Let me see, huh?"

Scrabbling in the dust, she came up with a metal object and showed it to Malcolm as he arrived beside her: "Hey! It's a crossbow bolt – but it's a modern one. How the hell did that get here?"

The male voice which answered wasn't Malcolm's, and was almost drowned out by Monty's rumbling growl. "Turn around, Ma'am, and you'll find out."

At his words, Monty started barking in earnest and Rose grabbed his collar, trying to restrain and calm him. She thought the owner of the voice was one of the most attractive men she'd ever seen, but the traditional crossbow he held, quite clearly aimed at Malcolm's chest, quickly captured her full attention. He grinned at her: "You were right about the crossbow. I've been staying in Parros for a while now and I had no trouble at all in buying one. I've been using it for hunting and I've become a really good shot. It's a lovely weapon."

Malcolm's gasp of recognition was almost lost beneath Monty's barking: "Archer." He shot a worried glance at Rose "Get away, Rose. Run." Stubborn, as always, he remained, transfixed, at his side and he turned back, exasperated, to Archer. The man laughed, then smiled in a predatory fashion: "Talking of hunting, what an unexpected pleasure it is to see you again, Lieutenant. It seems my Valdorian friends were a little slipshod in your disposal. Fortunately, Trip learned of the message your delightful friend here sent to Starfleet and passed the news to me. So … here I am to finish the job."

"I've been watching for an opportunity to get to you since Trip warned me. He's afraid you'll ruin his career but, as I told you before, he's mine – and I protect my own. An Enterprise shuttle pod will be sent down for you tomorrow, but it'll come too late." He raised the weapon a little higher and lined up the sights, his finger tightening on the trigger. "Goodbye, Malcolm. Its been … fun."

Rose reacted instantly: "Monty, seize!" Letting go of the dog's collar, she lunged to her right – knocking Malcolm sideways to the ground. As she lost her own balance, there was a tremendous jolt of pain in her head and the world, almost immediately, turned black. "Hello, sweetheart, can you hear me? Come on, lovey. Time to wake up. Tell me your name. What's your name?"

The woman's voice seemed uncommonly loud and Rose's head was already pounding. She grunted and opened her eyes "Tessa, will you shut the fuck up? I'm Rose O'Leary and you're getting on my nerves."

Her vision was swimming as she squinted up at the face, worriedly gazing at her, and remembered what had happened. "Oh my God! Malcolm! Is he …"?

Tessa raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Your thick skull saved his life. The crossbow bolt creased the side of your forehead and missed him completely - but you bled so much that I think you scared him half to death. Fortunately, JJ had spotted you two out together and got a group of the young `uns together to spy on you and do some heckling. They arrived at the ruins in time to see the whole performance and ran for help."

Rose shrugged off Tessa's fussing and sat up slowly, her head spinning "Is Monty OK? And Archer – the bad guy – what happened to him?"

Adjusting the dressing on Rose's forehead, Tessa smiled a little ruefully. "Monty's enjoying being a hero – JJ's feeding him doggie treats by the barrow load – but … well, Mr Archer won't be hurting anyone any more. He tried to back away when Monty charged at him and he fell into the larder pit. Vince reckons he died instantly. The authorities are on their way and I guess you and Malcolm will have to talk to them in the morning, if he's able."

Her heart suddenly seeming to stall, Rose turned and scowled at the nurse: "If he's able?"

"Rosie, he seems to be in shock. By the time we got to the site it was all over and Malcolm was hysterical and holding on to you as if you were his lifeline. Vince had to sedate him: he's in the Recovery Room with him now."

Without hesitation, Rose slid off the treatment table: "I want to see him."

Tessa grinned and offered her a steadying hand "I hoped you would. Come on."

Vince looked up as they entered, but Rose's full attention was on Malcolm, sitting rigidly on the edge of his bed. His arms were wrapped tightly around his body and he constantly rocked back and forth, occasionally fingering her bloodstains on his lilac shirt before resuming the agitated movement. His eyes were desolate, his terribly pale face still smudged with the russet-coloured dust from the excavation site, and one cheek bore a fresh graze - as a result, she supposed, of his unexpected fall when she'd thrown herself against him.

Ignoring her thundering headache, she stepped over and sat beside him. "Malcolm? Malcolm, please look at me."

There was no response, the rhythm of his rocking remaining unbroken, so, very gently, she caressed his cheek then took hold of his chin and turned his face towards her. Reluctantly, his dull gaze crept up to her face and, quite suddenly, a myriad of emotions flitted through his expressive, mist-grey eyes. Then Rose saw those tragic eyes grow moist, his lips trembled and twitched downwards and, instinctively, she reached for him: "Oh, Malcolm, I'm so sorry …"

The trickling of fragmented memories over the recent days had become a torrent when Archer reappeared - and now, even as he fought against it, the whole, terrifying jigsaw was fitting together in Malcolm's mind. He remembered the hotel; the peculiar com conversation with Trip; the hypospray; the helplessness; the terrifying realisation that Archer was there - free - when he was supposed to be incarcerated in a secure penal unit.

Most of all, though, he remembered the agony: the endless, tearing, burning agony.

Unable to face the reality of what had occurred, he'd unwittingly slammed a mental shutter down on the recollections, locked it in place and thrown away the key. He'd parried Vince and Tessa's questions and recoiled from every remembrance of his ordeal – but, tonight, his defences had been breached there was nowhere to run. His sordid past had come back to haunt him, and had almost meant the death of the woman he now knew that he loved, and always had done.

When she'd made him look at her - the dressing on her brow proclaiming her valour, the worry in her eyes, and the tenderness of her touch, betraying the feelings he'd feared she no longer had for him - it was his undoing. The floodgates opened, he was powerless to resist, and he sank into her outstretched arms, clinging to her for dear life, and wept.

Despite her behaviour since Malcolm had been found and brought to Base Camp, Rose was, essentially, neither hard-hearted nor selfish and having him sobbing in her embrace set her own tears flowing. Even while they were apart, he had still been a feature of her life and none of her many boyfriends – much has she'd enjoyed them - had ever been able to erase him from her memory. She'd foolishly tried to do that herself when he'd arrived at Novos.

Gently, she ran her fingers through his hair, twining it around them and making soothing patterns on his scalp. He nuzzled a little closer to her and seemed to be calming slightly, so she continued the movement and began to rock him a little. Another few moments passed then he yawned. She glanced up at Vince, raising her eyebrows in an unspoken question, and he smiled "Sedative takes a little while to reach its full potency. I think we can put him to bed now."

Although the doctor was almost whispering, Malcolm gave a little gasp of anxiety, and tightened his grip on Rose. She squeezed him back. "Its okay, Malcolm. I'm not letting you go. But I do think we both need to rest. Will you come to my cabin with me and try to sleep for a while?"

She could almost feel Tessa's smile on the back of her head: "Oh, that's a good idea, Vince, isn't it? You can help Malcolm to walk, if he's a little woozy, and I'll give Rosie a hand."

For a couple of seconds, Vince looked doubtful – then he grinned. "Who am I to think I'm the only healer around here? Sure. Let's go. I think that might just be the prescription Malcolm needs."

Leaving Monty in JJ's capable hands, the four of them made their rather unsteady way to Rose's cabin, where Vince and Tessa left the younger couple to themselves.

Malcolm was barely awake when she stripped him of his clothes and changed him into the pyjamas Tessa had brought for him. By the time she'd finished pulling the covers around him, he was asleep and she shrugged out of her own clothes then slid into bed beside him in her camisole and panties. Before putting out the light, she swept his hair back from his face and kissed him softly on the forehead "Rest well, my brave Lieutenant. I'll be right here if you need me – for as long as you want me."

Even though he was asleep, she could have sworn he smiled.

Valdor V was rightly proud of its criminal justice system: the Valdorian police duly arrived next day and were thorough in their enquiries. JJ and his cohorts were interviewed first, followed by Vince and Tessa then, finally, allowing plenty of time for the sedative to work its way out of his system, Malcolm and Rose. The officers concerned were polite and efficient, considerate of Rose's injury and Malcolm's delicate emotional state but the questioning distressed him terribly and, to his mortification, he frequently lapsed into uncontrollable tears.

At last, the police left – taking Archer's body with them and intending to continue their investigation by locating and questioning Commander Charles Tucker III. Rose had been devastated to hear the extent of Malcolm's abuse at the hands of Archer and his various accomplices. Only the realisation that, without any doubts or regrets, she'd been willing to die for him assuaged her guilt at having so determinedly pushed him away, in favour of her career.

Malcolm was still desperately upset but declined a further dose of sedation, determined now to try to face up to the past and work through his feelings. Rose was his constant companion, cancelling her speaking tour and handing over most of the site supervision to her deputy, retaining only the aspects of the work that could be attended to from her cabin. They slept together platonically, Malcolm needing her comforting closeness but too unwell to engage in any amorous activity. His sleep pattern was erratic, his appetite poor and his anxiety overwhelming at times - but she patiently weathered the storms with him, nursing him back to some semblance of normality.

Eight days after Archer's demise, Rose woke one morning and found Malcolm perched on the edge of the bed - arms folded defensively round himself, in a posture which made her immediately concerned. Hearing her stirring, he turned and smiled sadly at her: "I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Rose. You were right to keep me at arm's length. I'm too dangerous: I've interfered with your career and almost cost you your life. Can you forgive me?"

Perturbed, she got up and moved to stand directly in front of him, gazing down into the depths of his haunted eyes. "Only if you'll forgive me for abandoning you when you needed me most. I love you Malcolm, and I can honestly say I loved you in Mexico and never stopped loving you. It just took me a little while to get my head out of my arse and admit it to myself."

Rose had thought she'd never see Malcolm smile again, but the dazzling grin that now lit up his tired face was worth everything they'd been through. It made her want to kiss him – so she did, and overbalanced, tumbling onto the bed beside him as he flopped backwards, pretending to swoon. Laughing, Rose hugged him close: "I think I'm falling for you all over again, Mr Reed!"

Malcolm untangled himself, pushed her hair back and impulsively kissed her. "Likewise, Ms O'Leary." He was gazing up into her eyes and, suddenly, she was aware of desire shining in his. An answering spark of arousal made her catch her breath and hold it as, hesitantly, he let his hands slide onto her shoulders and ease down the straps of the nightdress she was wearing. "Hmm, I don't remember you having freckles there!"

Her heart rate ratcheted upwards and she wriggled free of the straps, pushing the garment down to her waist, before sliding her hands under his pyjama top and letting her hands roam freely over his chest and stomach. He was tugging the nightdress further down now, breathing hard and gazing at her hungrily. She moaned, happily enjoying his attention as his hands wandered and he renewed his acquaintance with her body. Standing between his legs, she leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss, before she untied his pyjama bottoms and began to ease them down over his hips.

Suddenly, his light heartedness gone, he sat up, pulling his clothes around him again, his eyes wild and frightened. Rose was thrown to one side and stumbled to her feet, dazed: "Malcolm! What happened?"

He was shaking uncontrollably, his passion of moments before completely vanished: "No! Don't … don't touch me. Please! I… I c.can't …"

Her stomach churning, she cautiously stretched out a hand and let it ghost down his arm until she could wrap her fingers around his own. "Malcolm, I have to. I can't leave you like this. Tell me what you're feeling."

To her relief, he clasped her fingers in return "They … undressed me…"

Rose squeezed his hand "I know."

"I couldn't … couldn't move… couldn't fight…"

Carefully, she stepped closer and stroked his face, feeling the muscles in his jaw tense. "Malcolm, I love you. I won't ever hurt you – or let anyone else hurt you. You don't need to be afraid."

"It…it won't … won't go away. I thought …"

Shivering, he let her pull him against her. "I'm sorry… I want you so much, but …but …"

Stroking his hair, she whispered reassurance "Hush. Its not your fault. I shouldn't have rushed you like I did. Let's just lie here and relax for a while. We'll get through this, Malcolm. And remember, I really do love you – just as you are."

Starfleet decided to leave Malcolm where he was to recuperate, until the enquiry into Archer and Tucker's crimes was complete. However, his continuing inability to deal with the memories of his abuse by the Valdorians started to take its toll. He began to be plagued by vivid nightmares, which haunted him well into the following day, his self-esteem plummeted and he grew irritable and contentious. Seriously worried, Rose conferred with Vince and decided on drastic action.

"I can't watch you suffering any longer, Malcolm: I know you can beat this. There's no way I'm going to let that bastard Archer go on destroying you, piece by piece. We both know what you still need to deal with and we're going to do it today, together, before you lose any more ground."

Afraid to risk any possible sexual contact, Malcolm had taken to sleeping – or, rather not sleeping - on the couch and he sat there now, in his pyjamas, disturbed and defensive. Rose kneeled in front of him, holding his hands and gently stroking his knuckles with her thumbs. "Malcolm, I know this sounds cruel, but I believe it's the only way forward. With the cooperation of the Valdorian police, I've arranged for us to have a few days in your hotel room in Parros. There are ghosts you need to exorcise and I have to make you face them. A shuttle's going to pick us up in an hour's time, so get dressed."

To her horror, he fell to his knees in front of her, begging - grasping her hands so tightly that it hurt: "No! No, Rose I can't. Please don't do this to me."

The terror in his eyes almost broke her resolve but she steeled herself and stood firm. "Malcolm, you have to acknowledge what really happened to you and move on, instead of burying the memory then running away from it every time something brings it to the surface. If I could do it for you, and take away the pain, I would. But the best I can do is make you face it and be right there with you - so that's where I'll be. No matter what. If we confront this together, maybe we can turn the negatives into positives and get on with life."

They travelled in silence, Malcolm painfully tense and afraid. They checked into their hotel and, as arranged, were allocated the same room in which Malcolm had been so savagely assaulted. It had been cleaned and put to rights but, as Rose opened the door; she felt his grip on her hand grow suddenly tighter. She slid an arm round his waist and stood with him on the threshold, waiting until his agitated breathing steadied, then drew him forward and let the door lock behind them.

His eyes were huge and frightened as he took in the familiar surroundings. Still clinging to her hand, he walked to the window and fingered the com-panel then, turning, he glanced at the door, the bed – now neatly made – and finally at the floor, where the ghosts of bloodstains were still visible, if one knew where to look, among the pattern of the carpet.

Rose hesitated, reluctant to resurrect his ordeal, then said what she knew she had to say: "I heard you tell the Valdorian police the bare bones of what happened, but now I want you to remember it all and show me, act it out right here, in detail."

Swallowing his fear, Malcolm let go of her hand, went back to the balcony doors and opened them. "I was … was admiring the view when Trip … Trip called me and …"

His voice broke and Rose had to force herself not to go to him. "He … he joked about me unpacking, then… then he told me it didn't matter because I wouldn't need the clothes anymore anyway." His fingers trailed over the com-panel again and he grimaced as the emotional pain washed over him: "I didn't understand, especially when he closed the com-channel, and then… then I felt the hypospray."

Rose had quietly moved behind him and he jumped when she lightly touched the side of his neck, further refreshing the memory: "Here?"

He nodded and she gently kissed the spot, and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Go on."

Malcolm dropped to his knees then lay on the floor, his gaze on the ceiling, remembering: "My legs just gave way and I couldn't move… couldn't see properly. Someone …" His lips quivered and he bit back a sob "Someone took off my clothes and …and …" He squeezed his eyes shut and held his breath, fighting for control.

Rose knelt beside him and caressed his face, shushing him quietly until he collected himself, then, slowly and gently, began to unbutton his shirt and slide it off his shoulders. Listening to the anxious hitching of his breath, and feeling his muscles tense under her touch, she began to massage his upper arms and plant kisses on his throat and chest before moving down to kiss the scars from his recent surgery, letting her tongue swirl around in his navel until he gasped at the sensation. She went on to remove his shoes, socks, pants and shorts, showering each part of his body – except for his genitals - with attention as it became exposed. "They undressed you, and …?"

His hands balled into fists and he again became rigid with fear: "Archer… touched me. Like he…he owned me. Like it didn't matter how I felt about it." There was an undercurrent of anger mixed with the sorrow in his trembling voice and Rose struggled to contain her own fury. She began to explore his body more intimately, with thistledown-light touches, dropping kisses here and there as she went. Slowly, she felt the tightness of his flesh begin to relax a little as she kept her caresses soft and caring: "He didn't love you - but I do. I want you to feel pleasure, not pain, and I don't want to own you and control you: I want us to love and belong to each other."

As she spoke, quietly and soothingly, watching him respond to her hands, she guided him to the buttons of her blouse and helped him steady his fingers to undo them. His eyes were fixed on her now, the pupils huge with desire, and the same rapt interest was being shown elsewhere in his body as she encouraged him to slip off her clothing.

When they were both totally naked, she allowed him one eager kiss, then led him on to the next stage of his recollections: "What happened next, Malcolm?"

Reluctantly, he moved away from her and got to his feet. "Archer told me all about the Valdorians' bodies, and how… how much they were going to… to hurt me, then the others came in and threw me on the bed… here."

He sat down and Rose joined him, gently pushing him back until they were in the position that had triggered his terror during their previous attempt at lovemaking. Again, he tensed, grasping handfuls of the quilt, his eyes wild with panic, remembering the violations that had been visited upon him. Sweat began to break out on his skin and Rose knew they'd reached the main obstacle he had to overcome. Only his own desperate need not to let his longed for happiness with Rose escape him was keeping him from giving in to his terror and bolting. She was shaking too now, but she forged ahead – knowing there was no other way to help him. "Malcolm, you need to tell me what they did next."

A whimper escaped his thinned lips and he gazed at her pleadingly, tears again beginning to gather. "They … God help me … they held my legs and … and got inside me and … oh, Rose, it hurt. I was so … so afraid..." He began to weep in earnest: "… and I screamed and cried like a coward…like now."

Rose was cooing reassurances again as she gently massaged his thighs, letting her hands slide up to his hips, where she planted an affectionate kiss on his tattoo. Then she moved carefully round to his buttocks, kneading and squeezing as she went. The sobbing continued, but diminished a little, as she returned to his thighs, easing them apart and letting her hand slide through to his rear, her fingers tenderly exploring the cleft and the opening which had been so barbarically used.

He was holding his breath and watching her now, lashes still wet, eyes still frightened, but her loving touches were focusing his attention and, she was pleased to note, definitely arousing him! She smiled: "I love you, Malcolm. I won't do anything to harm you. Not now, not ever." Ducking her head between his legs, she began nibbling, kissing and licking where, moments before, her fingers had been. His soft cries of need and pleasure made her heart leap with joy.

Looking up, she saw his pale cheekbones were flushed with excitement and he was breathing again - fast and a little erratically. Making sure he was watching, she wet the middle finger of her right hand in her mouth then returned to pressing it against his opening, hearing his hiccupping breath as she slipped it slowly inside. He bit his lip, moaned and pushed against her, so she ventured a little further and took her massaging to the next level. When her stroking, exploring finger found its target, he let out a yelp of delight: "That's it, my sweet Malcolm. There are two sides to every coin: what hurts when done with evil intent can heal when its done with love."

Although he was still grasping fistfuls of the quilt, his head was thrown back now, his eyes tightly closed, and he made small, kittenish sounds as his hips squirmed against her busy hands. Rose smiled: time for the grand finale. Withdrawing her finger slowly, she turned her attention to his genitals, stroking and pulling, cupping and squeezing, sucking and nibbling. He moaned loudly at her ministrations and she quickly knelt astride his hips, positioning him very precisely.

Then she sat down - hard.

Malcolm Reed had always been a quiet man. Even while working with ordnance and creating the explosions he so loved, he preferred to be distant from the accompanying racket. On Enterprise, he'd been seen as reserved – listening while others talked but seldom taking part – and he rarely, if ever, raised his voice.

He was raising it now.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, his father was scolding him, telling him that Reeds were well brought up individuals who never drew attention to themselves or made unnecessary noise. He mentally told the man to sod off: this was necessary noise. Very, VERY necessary!

Rose had been making an extremely effective job of counteracting his negative remembrances of what had happened in this room and her questing fingers were efficiently soothing the deep, inner pain that flared whenever intimacy even crossed his mind. His fear was gradually being edged out in favour of excitement and his thoughts had been almost totally on her searching touch deep inside him. Now he was lost in her and he was howling with ecstasy! There was nothing else in his world but Rose: she was all around him, covering his body and shattering his thoughts. When she moved, he went with her, pulling her closer, feeling her flesh devour his, wanting more.

Above the hammering of his heartbeat, he heard her voice raised, high and clear, calling his name, promising her love, and he barely recognised his own crying out urgently in reply.

The explosion, when it came, set every nerve in his body on fire, his overloaded senses singing out with joy! He was vaguely aware of convulsing and shrieking in a most unbecoming manner - but it really didn't matter. All that mattered was the woman who was now wrapped around him, face pressed against his, murmuring endearments and making him realise that, for the first time in his life, he was completely and utterly loved.

When their breathing had returned to normal, Rose, smiling broadly, slid off him and onto the bed, propping herself on one elbow so she could watch his reactions. He looked a little stunned but happy and she grinned at him: "Wow! We really should apologise to the neighbours." Malcolm blushed, then smiled and shyly peeked at her through lowered lashes "Mmm. It was awfully nice, though."

Suddenly serious, he turned on his side to face her "I was terrified when you arranged for us to come here, and a little bit resentful because I thought you were getting impatient with me, but I should have trusted you. You saw that leaving me to my own devices was making me worse and knew exactly what to do to help me – and you have helped. I'll never be able to thank you enough."

She leaned over and kissed him on the lips "You just have. Now, since neither of us has been sleeping well, and we've just used up a fair bit of energy, why don't we have a nap? Then maybe we can use up a little more energy in the shower?"

Four days later, the hotel room well and truly exorcised, they boarded a shuttle that would take them back to Novos. Malcolm had had a few nightmares and fits of weeping in that time, but he was able now to sweep them aside and move on. He no longer saw the room only as the venue for the worst day of his life but, more often, as a place of rebirth.

Vince and Tessa, standing with Monty at the shuttle pad, welcomed them back to Base Camp with hugs and kisses. The doctor studied them both with interest: "Well, since Malcolm just let me put my arm round his shoulder without so much as blinking, it looks like your little trip was a success. How're you feeling, son?"

Seeing Rose wink at him, Malcolm blushed furiously "Umm. I'm fine, thanks. We … we covered quite a lot of ground, ah, emotionally speaking. I … I'm much better."

"Great! Good to see you in some decent clothes too."

Rose laughed: "We went to the market on our last day and spent the entire allowance Starfleet sent him. We bought three pairs of everything! Your wardrobe is safe again, Tessa."

The older woman grinned "Hopefully, we won't be the same size for much longer anyway." She directed her remarks specifically to Malcolm: "Not now that you've started eating properly … haven't you?"

Still blushing at being the centre of attention, Malcolm shot Rose a "Help me!" look. She smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief: "He's eating like a horse, Tess. Hung like one too. My very own stallion: I can hardly walk."

Malcolm's strangled cry of horror set both women giggling and Vince, chuckling, led him away to dump their baggage in Rose's cabin, leaving her to fuss over Monty and gossip further with his wife.

"Well, Malcolm, Bill George, her deputy, told me she'd called him from Parros to ask if he'd be willing to take over as Excavation Director to let her go with you when you leave. I guess that means she does like you after all!"

Eyes shining, Malcolm nodded, clearly thrilled with the development. "She says she loves me more than anybody or anything else in the universe! Isn't that amazing?"

Enjoying the younger man's happiness, Vince couldn't resist teasing him "Not really, since you're hung like a horse!"

Three weeks later, the entire population of Base Camp turned out to see the Enterprise shuttle pod arrive to collect Malcolm and Rose and spirit them away to their new life together in space. The Enquiry was over, Trip Tucker was in a secure penal colony in New Zealand, having been convicted as an accessory in Archer's crimes, and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed had been given his old job back. A new uniform had been beamed down for him a day previously and now he stood, immaculate but nervous, watching as the shuttle landed and Captain T'Pol, elegant and dignified as ever, stepped out, with Travis Mayweather and Dr Phlox in tow.

Rose, in an emerald green dress which complimented her auburn hair and flawless complexion, and wearing her Aztec jewellery – salvaged from the waste bin the day after she'd almost been killed protecting Malcolm - nudged the Lieutenant "Jeez, Malcolm, you might have told me she was a goddess! I've spent three hours trying to scrub up to meet your crewmates and now I feel like something the cat dragged in."

Chuckling softly, he took her left hand and brought it to his lips, thrilled anew to see her wearing the opal ring he'd secretly bought her in Parros, and presented to her on the night of their return to Novos – when he asked her to marry him. "You're the most beautiful woman here, love, and I'm not just saying that because you're my fiancée!"

Stretching up, she planted a quick peck on his cheek "You say the nicest things … but don't stop."

Malcolm was still grinning when T'Pol and her small delegation reached them. Although, in the last few weeks, he had managed to make friends among the men working on the dig, he still felt a pang of anxiety at seeing another man in Starfleet uniform, albeit Travis. Rose felt him shudder and gave his hand a quick squeeze before letting it go so he could come to attention before his commanding officer.

T'Pol inclined her head in acknowledgement "At ease, Lieutenant."

The Vulcan nodded a greeting to Rose as introductions were made on both sides then she motioned to Mayweather to hand her a data padd he had been carrying. Malcolm fidgeted a little and Rose frowned, worried that he was agitated. T'Pol turned to her "Ms O'Leary, two days ago, I had a communication from Lieutenant Reed during which he asked me a … favour which I would be honoured to grant. If you are willing, he would like me now to marry you both, in the presence of your friends and colleagues. Would that be acceptable to you?"

Rose shot Malcolm a look of delighted amazement: "I … I'm willing. Oh yes! I'm willing! Thank you, Captain."

There was another graceful nod then T'Pol quickly scanned the data padd before placing the couple opposite one another with Phlox and Travis behind Malcolm while Vince and Tessa seconded Rose. The ceremony was brief and – oddly enough, since a Vulcan was officiating – suffused with emotion. Travis had, at Malcolm's request, brought with him a small, red velvet pouch, from which Malcolm took a gold wedding band, which had belonged to his late aunt Cherie – a woman who had meant a great deal to him during his less than happy childhood. It was a little big for Rose but was kept securely in place by her opal engagement ring.

As T'Pol concluded the ceremony, she fixed her gaze meaningfully on Rose: "And now, as I understand that human marriage is based on mutual trust and honesty, I believe your new husband has something to tell you."

For a moment, Rose's heart seemed to stop beating. What could he have been keeping from her? What was wrong? She stared worriedly and him and saw him begin to smile "As of today, I've formally resigned my commission in Starfleet. I'll remain in their employ as a defence analyst but I'll be based here, at Novos, where my wife is Excavation Director."

Finding her voice with difficulty, Rose stammered "But…but I made…I made arrangements … with Bill George …I …I resigned too!"

Bill was standing a few feet away, grinning in a way that would have rivalled Phlox at his Denobulan best! "I was in on it Rosie. You're still the big cheese!"

Stunned but ecstatic, Rose threw her arms around Malcolm and received a bone-crushing hug in return "I love you, Mrs Reed. How could I ever take you away from all this?"

Applause, laughter and whistles were ringing in her ears as the assembled company erupted. Excited by the sound, Monty began to bark and Rose was surprised to hear answering yelps, from somewhere nearby, which rapidly turned into baleful howls. T'Pol frowned and Phlox shuffled his feet: "Oh dear. I think its time for his walk."

Travis saw Malcolm's puzzled look: "Porthos is in the shuttle. Phlox has been looking after him since Archer and Tucker went away but he's not really settling down. I think he's pining. The doc thought some fresh air planetside might perk him up a little."

All eyes were on the Denobulan as he reappeared with a small beagle on a leash. Monty, already straining at his own leash, went berserk! JJ, who'd been holding him, was pulled off his feet as the enormous mongrel took off in Phlox's direction and the Denobulan's eyes widened in horror.

Malcolm, convinced blood was about to be shed, grabbed Rose and pulled her to him, hiding her face in his shoulder. There was shouting, barking, then laughter, and he cautiously looked round. Porthos was lying on his back, wriggling in delight, while Monty nuzzled him. Seconds later, he was tearing around the clearing, happily playing with the much larger dog.

Phlox ambled over to the wedding party, his face apparently splitting in a smile. "Well, Mr Reed, like yourself, I think Porthos has found a soul mate. Would you care to consider him a wedding gift?"

Glancing over at Rose, who was watching the canine pas de deux with glee, he accepted graciously. "Thank you, Doctor. I think that would be most agreeable to both my wife and myself."

He didn't miss T'Pol's control slipping sufficiently to let her sigh in relief at the thought of one less unpleasant smell aboard Enterprise!

That night, cuddled together in bed in what JJ had, rather primitively, signposted "The Reeds' Place", the newly-weds watched Monty and Porthos squashed together, fast asleep, in Monty's basket. Rose sighed "Aren't they sweet?"

Malcolm had been idly stroking circles on his wife's stomach and he turned back to her and smiled, letting his fingers wander lower. "Not as sweet as you, my perfect Rose."

She drew in a sharp breath and held it, as his hand continued its exploration, then rolled over onto her back, pulling him on top of her and spreading her legs so he fit neatly between them. She moaned: "Nor you … my stallion."

End.

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