He noticed.. something in her gaze, but she turned away before he could tell. This was painful, he knew. And he did not know just what to do about it. '<strong>Why does she have to be so damn difficult?</strong>' he thought as he approached the door, and her. He almost winced as she poke again. Her words were like cold razors on his skin, but he also knew it to be true often enough. He grated a little over her imperious words, informing him of her intentions about Malin, but he held his tongue. Perhaps that was just as well. She would be better protected aboard the Novalis, plus if anyone could take that collar off, it was Jade. "That's fine." he said. He knew from the start, that he could not really deny her anything. "She'll be safer with you. Spirits know I can't even take care of myself.." he muttered as he stepped into the hallway.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Outside to infirmary, Doc wheeled his cart towards the cargo hold, on his way to the Novalis, eager to get away from the possible shouting match he may have started.<em>That hard-headed boy,</em>he thought.<em>Why can't he just accept her love?</em><br/><br/>His mental tirade was interrupted, as he heard voices in the cargo hold. One he recognized. It was Kienan, Jade's first officer. Good ol' boy he is, Doc mused. The other voice was a woman, but it had a certain.. purr to it. A catwoman? Doc's thoughts immediately went to Merriam, the young cat girl he had adopted some months ago, and was now his medical assistant.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Kienan smiled softly at Malin's responses about his race. He could not help but feel sorry for the girl. Knowing nothing but work and pain. But before he could say anything else, he noticed the Doc coming from the hallway. "Oh, there you are Doc." he said, but then noted the Doc's stare. he had noticed as well. Kienan just stepped back, for he knew the Doc would take care of this.<em>And hope Tarkan is in no way responsible, or he'll have hell to pay..</em>he thought.<br/><br/><br/><br/>As he passed through the hatch, he saw them both. The woman, however, was on her knees, cleaning up the blood. Kienan was talking to her about something, he did not catch what. She had marks on her back as she had been beaten.<em>Tarkan better not have done this..</em>he though as he approached them. What made him stop in horror, was the collar. Then he remembered what Tarkan said.<em>This girl.. a slave girl..</em>he though sadly.<em>The boy must have rescued her from somewhere..</em>Doc thought. He came a little closer, then knelt beside. That was indeed an anti-shifter collar. He had encountered those many times before. Nasty pieces of work. "Hello there. My name, is Leonard Terrence, but all aboard our ship, call me Doc." he said, reaching to touch her shoulder to get her attention. "I need you to come with me. You need those wounds attended to, and that eye! My goodness!" he said trying to get her to stand. He then spoke into his crystal communicator. "Merry, dear? Prepare a bed in the infirmary. We have a special guest coming in."<br/><br/><br/><br/>Before Malin could say anything to the Doc, a voice sounded from the hallway. "Malin! Go with the Doc. You're in good hands with him. And Jade will figure out some way of getting that collar off." Tarkan said as he came out of the infirmary, then glanced at Jade, before looking back. "No more work for you, until you are well. That, is an order." he said, looking down a bit as he said it, then moved past Jade to get to the cockpit.