"Morning Sickness"

Miles O'Brien groggily opened his eyes, wincing as the bright light streaming through the window hit his sensitive eyes. He lay in bed for a moment, trying to shake off the feeling of malaise that had settled over him. He had no idea what was wrong, but he knew he didn't feel right. As he sat up, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he had to grab onto the bedframe to steady himself. He knew he had to get to work, but he was determined to hide his condition from his friends and colleagues. Miles was not one to complain or make a fuss, and he didn't want to be a burden to anyone. He slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet firmly on the ground. Taking a few deep breaths, he tried to calm his racing heart and shake off the fatigue. After a few minutes of composing himself, Miles made his way to the bathroom to start getting ready for the day. As he splashed water on his face, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and was shocked by the dark circles under his eyes and the pale complexion. He quickly looked away, not wanting to dwell on his appearance. As he made his way to the mess hall for breakfast, Miles was intercepted by Julian Bashir, the station's chief medical officer. "Miles, good morning! How are you doing today?" Julian asked, eyeing him with concern. Miles forced a smile, trying to appear as normal as possible. "I'm fine, Julian. Just a bit...tired, that's all." Julian raised an eyebrow. "Tired, you say? You look like you've been up all night, Miles." Miles chuckled, trying to brush off Julian's concerns. "I've just been working late on some projects, that's all." But Julian was not convinced. He had known Miles for a long time, and he could tell when his friend was not himself. As they walked to the mess hall, Julian kept a close eye on Miles, noticing the way he stumbled slightly and the way he kept clutching his stomach. As they sat down at a table, Julian turned to Miles and said, "You know, I think we need to take a closer look at you. You're not fooling anyone with that 'tired' act, Miles." Miles tried to protest, but Julian was already dragging him towards the infirmary. "Come on, Miles, let's get you checked out. I have a feeling you're not just tired." As they entered the infirmary, Miles realized that he wasn't going to be able to hide his condition for much longer. Julian was going to take care of him, whether he liked it or not. And as he lay down on the examination table, Miles couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that his friend was taking charge. Maybe he wasn't alone after all.