Artist/Author: rosesofred
Title: Do You Think They'd Let Me Watch?
Fandom: Star Trek Enterprise
Summary: Malcolm Reed struggles with overwhelming guilt after losing his communicator during a mission that nearly cost Captain Archer his life. But the captain isn’t one to stand by while one of his officers punishes himself. That’s his job, after all. And because this involves Reed’s health, Phlox is invited to observe and ensure the young man is physically sound, even if his emotions are a wreck.
Notes & Warnings: spanking
Malcolm Reed was a private man, certainly not one to go looking for trouble. Sometimes trouble just had a way of finding him and when it did he always found himself chest deep in guilt, an echo of his upbringing. He’d never been allowed to get away with things as a child, even something as small as a little white lie. His father had been harsh, his teachers more so but Malcolm didn’t resent them. They’d only been hard on him because he deserved it and he understood now more than ever as an adult how his actions demanded consequences. When his captain had offered a flogging there had been a brief moment, just a flicker in the lieutenant's eyes of hope- was it hope? Or possibly fear- where he’d accepted the punishment before realizing it was even a joke.
In the end the captain had forgiven him, even after they’d almost died together on the alien planet because of him and his stupid mistake. Because he’d lost his communicator and hadn’t been responsible enough to keep track of it during the mission. How Captain Archer was able to so readily forgive and move on was simply beyond him but Malcolm did his best to hide the lingering pains of disappointment in himself. He’d been invited to dine with the captain on multiple occasions now as the weeks passed but had declined, avoiding all social situations with him the best he could. At this point it was just becoming ridiculous, there were no more excuses he could use to exit any room the captain entered or decline friendly invitations extended to him.
Malcolm wanted so badly to find something, any kind of excuse to get out of meeting the captain in his ready room but he couldn’t find a single reason. He paced for a minute, wringing his hands nervously as he tried to calm himself enough to face the man he felt so terrible about letting down. Finally, when he was sure he could at least present the facade of confidence, he departed for Archer’s ready room, his pace quick and meaningful. His mind raced as he overthought the sound of the captain’s voice over the intercom, wondering if he would finally get the dressing down he deserved. The people unfortunate enough to be in Lieutenant Reed’s way had to dart out of his path as he stormed through the halls, focused on one thing and one thing alone. Obeying his commanding officer’s orders.
The door hissed open, surprising the already unsteady man as he found two people waiting for him in the ready room. “Malcolm, good of you to join us.”
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting Captain.”
“That’s alright, I was just explaining the situation to Dr. Phlox. Why don’t you have a seat?”
The nervous man shifted his weight, looking from the captain to the doctor and back again. “If it's alright with you I’d much rather stand Sir.”
“Suit yourself. Can I get anyone something to drink before we get started?”
The doctor shook his head, declining the offer as he moved across the room to sit down. Swallowing anxiously, Malcolm clasped his hands together, his throat feeling suddenly dry. “If I may ask, what exactly are we getting started on?”
“I’m glad you asked. It’s come to my attention that you may be neglecting your health. As captain of this ship I feel it’s my responsibility to make sure each and every one of the crew serving aboard this vessel are in top form.” He leveled a serious look towards the man. “Dr. Phlox tells me that you refused to stay in sickbay, is that correct?
The once confident lieutenant now found himself shrinking at the thought of a reprimand, the long nights of no sleep and overwork finally catching up to him as he raced to find a response. “Well-“ he sputtered slightly, eyes darting to the doctor as he wondered how much the man knew. “It hardly constituted treatment.”
A short silence lingered in the air as Archer nodded his head. “That’s not the only thing I’m concerned about.” The captain folded his arms across his chest, his expression becoming darker. “You’ve been acting strange ever since the communicator incident. This wouldn’t have anything to do with a guilty conscience would it?”
Malcolm’s eyes flicked away so fast that he might as well have worn a giant sign flashing GUILTY above his head, practically tucking his tail between his legs as he tried to avoid confronting the issue. “No Sir.”
The captain glanced at Dr. Phlox, exchanging a concerned look. “I see. Because I was thinking about what you said and I think you’re right.”
“Sir?”
“The discipline on board has been too lax. Isn’t that what you told me?”
“Well yes but-“
“Do you disagree?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No Sir.”
“Then we’re agreed, disciplinary action needs to be taken.”
Malcolm clenched his fists at his sides, anxiety stirring in his stomach from weeks of avoiding the captain and pushing down the guilt he’d felt from his unforgivable mistake. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“You asked to be punished for losing your communicator, well that’s just what we’re doing. I’ve asked Dr. Phlox here as both a witness and to ensure no lasting harm results from this.”
“Sir! You can’t really intend to- to-“
“Relax lieutenant, you’re not getting a flogging. I do intend to use physical punishment though, just so we’re clear.”
Malcolm shifted his weight uncomfortably, looking all the more like a scolded puppy trying to get out of trouble. “In front of an audience?”
Dr. Phlox waved a hand at the man in a haphazard manner, trying in his own way to disarm the tension. “Oh there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. On my homeworld these sorts of things are a public affair. Besides, you have my word; what happens here is between doctor and patient.”
“There, nothing to stress about. Now I don’t want to do this any more than you but I know you’re not going to let this go. So will you trust me as your captain to help you with this?”
A long pause stretched through the room as Malcolm tried to push down his pride until he finally nodded his head in agreement. He stared at the floor, arms at his side, mind racing as he thought about all the possible ways he could be thrashed. Would the captain use something big, small, sharp, heavy? Did the man even have something capable of the task aboard the Enterprise? That’s probably not something the Jupiter team had the foresight to think of.
“Malcolm?”
The nervous man snapped his head to attention, focusing in on his captain who now sat in a chair pulled out to the middle of the room. Archer motioned for him to come forward but the armory officer found his legs suddenly heavy as lead, stuck to the spot where his stomach had dropped.
“Come here Lieutenant, that’s an order.”
Reed pushed forward, finding himself now only a few feet away from his commanding officer.
“I need your verbal consent before we begin, Malcolm. Do I have your consent to use corporal punishment on you?”
The lieutenant nodded his head, blurting out a nervous “Yes Sir,” with his eyes downcast and fists clenched. So long as he was punished and the guilt went away he didn’t mind whatever method the captain decided on, no matter how harsh. He just wanted the sick heavy feeling in his gut to go away.
“I’m glad to hear it. Now let’s get this over with so we can both put it behind us.” The captain’s hands moved up to his subordinate’s uniform zipper and Malcolm panicked, instinctively moving to stop him. “Move your hands lieutenant.”
“But Sir-“
“I need to see what I’m hitting and so does Phlox.”
Reed felt a blush creeping up his neck at the realization of just how on display he would be but moved his hands out of the way obediently. The sound of the zipper might as well have sealed his fate and he swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to look anywhere but at his captain.
When the zipper was down Archer leaned back in his chair, patting his thigh as if to invite the man to sit. This of course only served to confuse the armory officer further as he didn’t understand what was being asked of him. “I need you to lie over my lap Malcolm.”
“Over your-” The creeping flush up his neck became darker almost instantly as he stepped back, too confused by this strange request to think clearly. His eyes darted around the room in hopes of finding a better alternative, because surely there had to be something better than that, right? The captain couldn’t really mean to- to do that, could he? “Wouldn’t you rather have me lean over the desk? Or the back of a chair?”
“That’s not what I asked you to do. I told you this isn’t a flogging Malcolm.”
Even more horrifying was the realization that Reed couldn’t seem to find any sort of implement within arms reach for the Captain to use. What was he going to use, his hand? His eyes went wide as he put it together; this really wasn’t a thrashing, it was a spanking. A child’s punishment.
“Malcolm, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be.”
Reed focused on the voice speaking to him, looking up at his commanding officer and the expression on his face. “But Sir. This is a child’s punishment.”
Archer furrowed his eyebrows, leaning an elbow on his leg as he spoke. “Well as far as I’m concerned the way you’ve been acting would warrant it.”
Malcolm scowled. “I take offense to that!”
“Well I take offense to any one of my crew ignoring their health and running themself down to the point of exhaustion! Do you want to know why I chose this punishment? Because you should have come to me if you felt responsible for what happened on that planet. But you didn’t, instead you’ve been avoiding me and Dr. Phlox for weeks so you could ignore it. That’s something a child would do, not an armory officer. So are you going to accept the consequences for your actions or do I have to help you with that too?”
Malcolm bit his lip in shame, walking swiftly over to his captain’s side and pausing as he stared at the man’s waiting lap. “I apologize for my unacceptable behavior and accept whatever punishment you deem fit.” He took a deep breath, lowering himself as Archer leaned back to let the man stretch across his knees obediently.
“Good. That’s a great start.” The captain adjusted him, moving the man by his waist to fit more snugly against his hip. He rested a hand on Malcolm’s back, partly to keep him in place but mostly as an offer of comfort to him. “Now, do you have anything to say for yourself?”
The nervous man wrapped one hand around a chair leg, the other touching the floor for support as he tried to think of anything at all to explain himself. “I’m sorry Sir.”
“I’m sure you are.” The first slap came as a surprise, not just to Malcolm but everyone present in the room who watched him closely. It was harsh and loud, echoing in the quiet and usually warm room with a coldness that felt unfamiliar. The second came in quick order, right on top of the first to build up a burn. No sound could be heard besides the slowly repeating pattern of muffled slaps on cotton-covered skin. It should have been surprising to Archer that his armory officer didn’t make a single sound while being disciplined but when he thought of it, well, it made a lot of sense actually.
Malcolm was private about anything and everything, why would punishment be any different? Of course the man would keep it all bottled up, neatly tucked away in a compartment somewhere so he wouldn’t have to let it out in front of anyone, commanding officer included. He had to know he was safe, that shoving all that emotion down didn’t have to happen here. But if there was one thing everyone knew about Malcolm Reed, it was that he didn’t let his guard down, not for anything.
“You know it could have happened to anyone.”
Malcolm bit his lip harder, mentally kicking himself at the memory of what his captain had to endure while captured as an alien on the foreign planet. Compared to that kind of brutality and the military men who’d planned to hang them for scientific purposes, this was nothing.
The captain shifted and he felt the man pulling Malcolm’s uniform down, slipping it off his arms and then down around his hips to settle just above his knees. The air hit parts of his skin that were exposed, though thankfully he wore a t-shirt and boxers under his Starfleet uniform so he wasn’t completely naked. Still, being in such a position while half naked over his captain’s lap merited a certain feeling of dread he hadn’t been aware of up until that moment. “Do you think Hoshi would have beaten herself up as much as you did for the same mistake?”
An image of her over his captain’s knee flashed through his mind and the man flushed, discarding the thought immediately. Malcolm shifted his arms, trying to regain some balance as he held onto the chair again and stared at the bland floor. “No Sir.”
The slaps started lower this time, skin on skin as Archer’s hand made contact with his subordinate’s thighs. “Then what makes you feel so responsible for what happened to us with those aliens? I’m the captain, your safety is my responsibility, not the other way around.”
The armory officer tried to readjust himself a bit, finding a heat beginning to build in his skin that felt rather unpleasant. “I should have kept track of my communicator, I was distracted and it was unaccept-ah!”
A harsh smack landed directly on the man’s sit spot and he sucked in a breath of surprise, determined to remain strong in the presence of his superior. “Any one of us could have done the same, Reed.”
“But it almost cost you your life!” The outburst didn’t go unnoticed as regret washed over him, his commander swiftly yanking down his boxers in response. He gasped at the change, suddenly feeling very vulnerable as the punishment continued.
“Risking your life is part of the job Malcolm, do you hear me? We all knew the risks when we signed up, this isn’t on you. It's ok to make mistakes, you’re only human.”
Malcolm grunted, though not out of pain. Why couldn’t Archer see how serious this was, that he wasn’t fit to carry out his duties if he was so careless? They couldn’t afford to make mistakes, big or small, and the Captain almost paid for the error with his life. “Sir!”
“Unless the next words out of your mouth are an apology to the doctor over there, I don’t wanna hear it.”
The lieutenant blanched as he remembered the doctor’s presence, squirming slightly as he fought the urge to protect himself. He couldn’t see Phlox but that only made it so much worse at the thought of him having a full view of his lower half. “Really s-.”
“I don’t wanna hear it Malcolm.” A crisp slap landed right across the crease of the Lieutenant’s arse and he yelped in surprise. “You’re not going to take all the blame for this, it was an easy mistake. If it had been my tricorder do you think I’d be wallowing in my own guilt for weeks refusing to take care of myself?” His hand slammed down hard on his subordinate’s now dark pink skin, emphasizing his point.
“N-no!”
“Then why are you?”
“Please sir! I just- I just-.”
Malcolm flinched in anticipation of the next smack, surprised when it didn’t land. “Alright Malcolm. Get up.” He didn’t remember ever shifting his position but realized with alarm that both his hands were on the captain’s leg like a support, crouched to push himself up. He took a deep breath before moving, slinking down to land on his knees against the floor beside the man. Malcolm wasted no time in pulling up his boxers and jumper, getting up to stand on his own two legs as he struggled to get his uniform all the way up. “I wouldn’t bother zipping up all the way,” Archer advised. “We’re not done yet.”
The flustered lieutenant stared at him with a startled expression. “We’re not?”
“I don’t think so. Looks to me like we’ve still got a ways to go.”
Malcolm swallowed at the promise of more, nodding his head in a daze. “Understood.”
“I want you to think about why you’re here for a while.” The captain glanced around the room, choosing a corner as he pointed it out. “With your nose in that corner.”
“Yes sir.” Reed walked stiffly to the other side of the room, adopting a rather exhausted form of parade rest with wobbly legs.
The moment his nose touched the wall Malcolm could hear the captain stand up and move across the room away from him. He recognized Phlox’s voice but it was so hushed and low that he couldn’t quite make anything out. Then Archer’s voice replied but it was still too quiet to make sense of any lost syllables here and there that bounced his way.
Time stretched in the corner as Malcolm pressed his forehead against the cool wall. His backside throbbed uncomfortably, but the physical discomfort paled compared to the emotional turmoil churning inside him. The whispered conversation between Archer and Phlox continued behind him, their words indistinct but their tone serious.
Malcolm's thoughts circled back to the captain's words. Was he truly punishing himself unnecessarily? The weight of responsibility had always been his burden to bear, taught from childhood that failures demanded consequences. Yet here was Captain Archer, insisting that his self-flagellation was unwarranted, even harmful.
The soft shuffle of movement drew his attention, though he maintained his position facing the wall.
"Lieutenant." It was Phlox's voice, closer now. "I'd like to take a quick medical scan, if you don't mind."
Malcolm tensed but managed a stiff nod. "Of course, Doctor."
The familiar hum of the medical scanner passed over his back and head. Malcolm kept his eyes fixed on a tiny imperfection in the wall paneling, focusing on it to maintain his composure.
"As I suspected," Phlox said, his tone clinical but kind. "Elevated stress hormones, signs of sleep deprivation, and minor malnutrition. Your body is experiencing significant strain, Lieutenant."
From across the room, Archer sighed. "Malcolm, turn around."
Reluctantly, Reed pivoted to face them, tugging at his uniform to maintain some dignity. The captain stood with his arms crossed, concern etched across his features rather than anger.
"Do you understand why I'm concerned?" Archer asked.
Malcolm cleared his throat. "I believe so, sir."
"I don't think you do." The captain stepped forward, his voice softer now. "This isn't just about the communicator. This is a pattern. You hold yourself to impossible standards and then punish yourself when you inevitably fall short."
Phlox nodded in agreement. "Self-criticism in moderation can be healthy, Lieutenant. But yours has become destructive. You've lost weight, you're not sleeping, and according to Commander Tucker, you've been working double shifts in the armory."
Malcolm's eyes darted between them, feeling cornered. "I was simply trying to-"
"To make up for a perceived failure," Archer finished for him. "Malcolm, I need officers who can learn from mistakes, not destroy themselves over them."
The truth of the words struck Malcolm hard. He'd been so focused on atoning that he hadn't considered the damage he was doing to himself—and potentially to the crew who depended on him.
"Come sit down," Archer gestured to a chair. "Let's finish this conversation properly."
Malcolm moved cautiously to the indicated seat, wincing slightly as he sat. The captain took the chair opposite him while Phlox remained standing.
"I'm implementing a new protocol for you," Archer said firmly. "You will maintain regular meal schedules, verified by the mess hall staff. You will adhere to standard duty shifts only, and you will report to Dr. Phlox twice weekly for the next month."
"Sir, that's not-"
"Necessary?" Archer raised an eyebrow. "Your physical condition suggests otherwise."
Malcolm fell silent, absorbing the captain's words.
"Consider these orders part of your punishment, if that helps," Archer added, a knowing look in his eyes. "But they're really about ensuring the well-being of one of my most valuable officers."
Something loosened in Malcolm's chest, a tightness he hadn't realized was there. The idea that taking care of himself could be framed as following orders made it somehow more palatable.
"Understood, sir," he said quietly. "I'll comply."
“Good. Now let’s finish this up, shall we?”
Malcolm's stomach dropped as Archer stood and retrieved his chair again, positioning it in the center of the room. The captain's expression remained serious but not unkind as he gestured for Malcolm to approach.
"Back over my lap, Lieutenant."
Malcolm's legs felt unsteady as he walked forward, the memory of the previous spanking still fresh on his tender backside. He hesitated beside the captain's knee, looking down at the waiting lap with apprehension.
"I know you're sore," Archer said quietly. "But we're going to finish what we started. You need to understand that your self-destructive behavior stops here."
With a shaky breath, Malcolm lowered himself across the captain's thighs once more. This time Archer didn't bother with the pretense of leaving his uniform up, immediately tugging the jumpsuit and boxers down to Malcolm's knees. The lieutenant bit back a gasp at the sudden exposure, his already tender skin hypersensitive to the air.
"This time I want you to tell me what you're feeling," Archer said, resting his hand on Malcolm's lower back. "No bottling it up."
"Sir, I don't think-"
The first smack cut off his protest, landing squarely on his already pink bottom. Malcolm jerked forward, gripping the chair leg tighter.
"That wasn't a suggestion, Lieutenant."
Another sharp slap followed, then another in quick succession. Malcolm's breathing grew ragged as the heat built quickly on his sensitized skin. He pressed his lips together, determined to maintain his composure despite the captain's orders.
"Malcolm." Archer's voice carried a warning as his hand connected again, harder this time. "I told you to talk to me."
"I- it stings," Malcolm managed through gritted teeth.
"What else?"
"I don't understand what you want from me!" The words burst out as Archer delivered a particularly firm smack to his sit spot. Malcolm's voice cracked slightly. "I made a mistake and people could have died because of it!"
"But they didn't." Archer punctuated each word with a measured slap. "You. Are. Not. Responsible. For. Everything."
Malcolm squirmed as the spanking continued, his composure finally beginning to crack. "I should be better than this!"
"Says who?" Another series of smacks rained down. "Your father? Those teachers you mentioned?"
The accuracy of the guess hit Malcolm like a physical blow. His breath hitched as memories of childhood punishments flooded back. Standing at attention while his father lectured him about responsibility, teachers who demanded perfection and delivered harsh consequences for any perceived failure.
"They were right," Malcolm whispered, his voice barely audible.
Archer paused, his hand resting on Malcolm's trembling back. "No, they weren't. They taught you that mistakes make you worthless, but that's not true. Mistakes make you human."
The gentle tone was Malcolm's undoing. A sob escaped his throat before he could stop it, followed by another. Years of suppressed emotion finally broke free as the captain continued the spanking with firm but measured swats.
"I'm sorry," Malcolm choked out between ragged breaths. "I'm so sorry, sir."
"I know you are." Archer's voice was kind but unyielding as he swung his hand down again. "But you don't need to carry this guilt anymore. Do you hear me?"
Malcolm nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face as the physical pain finally gave him permission to release the emotional pain he'd been carrying. "I hear you."
"Good. Because you're one of the finest officers I've ever served with, and I won't let you destroy yourself over one mistake."
The spanking continued for several more minutes, each smack chipping away at the wall Malcolm had built around his guilt. When Archer finally stopped, Malcolm lay limp across his lap, emotionally drained but oddly lighter.
"We're done," Archer said softly, helping Malcolm sit up carefully. "Are you alright?"
Malcolm wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, nodding despite his obvious discomfort. "Yes sir. Thank you." And to his surprise, he truly meant it this time. He felt better, lighter. Forgiven.