The BLTS Archive - Too Late To Say Goodbye
Fourth in the Give & Take series
by alia (alia1999@hotmail.com)

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Disclaimer: Jon & Mal belong to each other and no one else,
certainly not me.

Warning: Possible spoilers for Zero Hour.

Author's notes: I have not seen Zero Hour (yet) but I have
read some great fiction based on this episode, including
MJ's A/R story "Not to Reason Why" which inspired me to
write this response.

Extra notes: While this ficlet is set in the Enterprise time
line created by Paramount it continues in the "Give & Take"
universe I have been playing around with.

Thanks: To MJ for betaing this ficlet for me and for
providing the inspiration to write it in the first place.

Comments: Are welcome.

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Even though I am aware that others may resort to quoting
protocol as a last ditch effort to cover their own
backsides, I know Malcolm's intentions have always been
purely selfless. This incident, with perhaps the exception
that it will be the last, is no different from any other to
him.

We do not have time to waste on a recitation of something we
are both fully apprised of, however. No matter what
Starfleet regulations state, I will not trade his life for
my own and I will not listen while he offers to sacrifice
himself in my place.  I am the one to do this, and no one
else.

The clock is ticking and I have to go. There is no time to
say a proper goodbye. To regret the debt that I now know I
will never have a chance to repay, or to tell him what I
should have told him months ago.

He has what I have asked for and our eyes meet briefly while
we make the exchange - as I take what I need from him for
the last time, and then turn away.

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The End