new morning

[ensigntanner]

*wakes slowly*

*wakes up alone*

*stays in bed, tucked under the covers, thinking about the past twenty four hours*

*lets a sigh whistle out through his teeth*

Big day...*pushes back covers

Comments

[mrostov]

*watches Stephen move over to the bunk, tidying up*

Can I ask you something about the self-injury?

And FYI, Phlox hasn't said a thing in your regard - that session was about how I should deal with it.

[ensigntanner]

*stiffens slightly*

Well, Phlox told me I needed to be more honest.

So ask.

*turns slightly towards Michael*

But if its too hard to answer...

[mrostov]

*sees him stiffen*

Okay.

Have you done it before?

[ensigntanner]

*keeps eyes locked on the sheets before him*

*feels his earlier light mood drain away*

*stays quiet for a long time*

*considers lying*

I've lied to him enoug

Yes.

[mrostov]

*watches and waits*

Was I around or was that when you were at the orphanage?

[ensigntanner]

*hears the note in Michael's voice, worry twined in with something else*

It started in the orphanage, and continued...after. But I thought it was something I had left behind...far behind....

[mrostov]

Okay... I... I just had to ask... if that's okay for you.

[ensigntanner]

*nods, still not looking up*

You need to know what you've let youself in for, I understand...

[mrostov]

*moves over to him, stands at his side*
*puts a hand on his arm*

Look at me, please?

[ensigntanner]

*toys with the sheets a moment longer*

*feels Michael's hand tighten on his arm*

*braces himself*

*looks at him*

[mrostov]

It's not a question of what I've let myself in for.

I was wondering if I had overlooked anything in all the time I've known you on the ship, when we were together.

[ensigntanner]

*searches Michael's eyes*

*finds no trace of the disgust or recrimination he'd half-expected*

No. Not since we'd met.

*musters half a smile*

And that is the truth

[mrostov]

*smiles*

I'm glad to hear that. So I've not been as stupid as I almost thought.

[ensigntanner]

*pulls Michael in*

*buries his face in the junction of his neck*

*mumbles*

No. You're not the stupid one...

[mrostov]

*hugs him close*

Bullshit, love.

[ensigntanner]

*giggles explosively into Michael's shoulder*

What? Didn't Phlox tell you to give in to the nutjob's every whim?