**The Aftermath of Weakness**

Miles tried to focus on the task at hand, but his body seemed to have other plans. The memories of his struggles to concentrate in Sisko's office were still fresh in his mind. As he sat there, trying to gather his thoughts, he felt bad for his friend. He decided to let him sleep as long as he needed and made an effort to be as quiet as possible as he worked. Julian quietly moved around the room, finishing up his reports while trying not to disturb Miles. He worked efficiently, his eyes occasionally flicking towards his friend, who lay motionless on the sofa. The doctor's expression was etched with concern, but he tried to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to disturb Miles' fragile state. As the hours passed, Miles slowly started to come to, his senses dulled by the lingering nausea. He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him back onto the sofa. He closed his eyes, letting out a soft groan. Julian immediately stopped working and approached Miles. "Hey, wake up," he said softly, concern etched on his face. "How are you feeling?" Miles slowly opened his eyes, taking a moment to orient himself. He was still in Julian's quarters, and the memories of his ordeal came flooding back. He let out a sigh, feeling a mix of emotions: frustration, embarrassment, and guilt. Julian's eyes locked onto Miles', and he could sense the turmoil brewing inside him. "You okay, buddy?" he asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper. Miles nodded weakly, still trying to gather his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Julian," he whispered, his voice barely audible. The doctor moved closer, his expression empathetic. "Sorry for what?" he asked, trying to keep his voice down. Miles let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of emotions. "For being such a handful. I'm just...I don't know, I'm just really sorry." Julian smiled softly and sat down beside Miles on the sofa. "You don't have to apologize, Miles. You're clearly not feeling well. Just rest, okay?" Miles looked up at Julian, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks for taking care of me," he said, his voice still weak. Julian nodded, placing a reassuring hand on Miles' shoulder. "You can take care of me, too," he said softly. "I'm here for you." With those words, Miles felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew he couldn't stay like this forever, but for now, he just let himself drift, helpless and exhausted. Julian gently stroked his hair, a soothing gesture that calmed Miles down. As Miles lay there, he started to feel a pang of guilt for being such a burden on Julian. He knew that his friend was only trying to help him, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was an inconvenience. This realization was enough to make him open up to Julian about his struggles. "Julian?" Miles said as he slightly sat up. "yes?" "How bad was it? I mean how did I act during that whole ordeal." Julian thought for a moment before he responded and gave Miles a reassuring smile,"You were a mess, but don't worry about it. I've seen worse. Just focus on getting better, okay?" Miles let out a sigh, feeling frustrated and weak. "I am sorry for being such a burden," Miles said, lowering his gaze. Julian looked at Miles and smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're not a burden, Miles. You're just dealing with a tough situation. Rest and focus on recovery," Julian guided him gently and encouragingly. Miles let out a weak smile, feeling grateful towards Julian and he settled down to sleep once again, grateful for his friend's understanding and care.