Chapter 2: A Stubborn Return to Duty

Miles woke up with a start, his heart racing as he quickly assessed his surroundings. He was lying on a couch in Julian's quarters, and his friend was sitting in a chair next to him, looking concerned. Miles tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him to lie back down. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his racing thoughts and steady his vision. Feeling a bit better, Miles decided that this was the perfect time to try and sneak back to work. He didn't want to cause any more trouble or worry for Julian, and besides, he had a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to waste. Slowly, he pushed himself up from the couch, wincing as his head spun. Julian had left him alone for a few hours, and Miles was grateful for that. He didn't want to be a bother, and he was sure that he could shake off this fatigue with some work. Quietly, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and made a tentative stand. The room spun, and Miles had to grab onto the bedframe to steady himself. He took a few deep breaths, trying to clear the cobwebs from his mind, and made his way out of Julian's quarters. Miles made his way back to his station, trying to focus on his tasks despite his body feeling like it was made of lead and his stomach churning with nausea. As he worked, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was still a bit off, but he was determined to get back to normal. Before long, Miles found himself fully absorbed in his work, trying to push aside the lingering fatigue and focus on the tasks at hand. However, as the hours dragged on, he began to feel a bit more energized. His focus returned to his work, and he almost felt as if he was back to normal. But just as he was starting to think he was getting back on track, Miles heard a familiar voice behind him. "Miles, what are you doing?" Julian asked, his voice stern and authoritative. Miles turned around to see Julian standing in the doorway of his quarters, arms crossed and a look of disapproval on his face. "I told you to rest," Julian said, his voice firm but worried. "I knew you weren't feeling well. What are you doing here?" Miles looked up from his console, a guilty expression crossing his face. "I...I'm fine," he stammered. Julian walked towards him, his eyes scanning Miles' face. "You don't look fine," he said. "You look like you're going to collapse at any moment. What were you thinking?" Miles looked down, feeling a bit ashamed of himself. "I just...I wanted to get some work done," he said, trying to sound convincing. Julian sighed, his expression softening slightly. "You can't just ignore your body, Miles. It needs rest and care, not some half-baked attempt to push through without taking care of yourself." Miles looked up at Julian, his face downturned. He knew that Julian was right; he was pushing himself too hard. Julian walked over to him, his eyes scanning his face. "Come with me," Julian said firmly, his hands reaching out to grab Miles' arm and pull him up. Miles tried to protest, but Julian was insistent. "You're not listening, Miles. We're going back to my quarters, and you're going to rest." Miles resigned himself, knowing better than to argue when Julian was like this. As they walked back to the quarters, Miles couldn't help but think that he was in trouble; not just for pushing himself too hard, but for not taking care of himself. When they arrived at the quarters, Julian helped Miles onto the couch and sat beside him, checking his vitals. "You know, I was worried about you," Julian said softly. "You're not exactly the most cooperative patient, are you?" Miles smiled sheepishly, knowing that he had been caught out. "I'm sorry," he said. "I just didn't want to cause any more trouble." Julian smiled back. "You cause trouble by not taking care of yourself, Miles. Now let's get you back to my quarters and make sure you rest properly." As Miles lay back, feeling the comforting presence of the couch beneath him, he knew that Julian was right to be mad at him. He had been stubborn and refused to listen, and now he was paying the price. "I think you've made that clear," Miles muttered, wincing at Julian's firm tone. Julian smiled and handed him a glass of water. Miles took a sip, feeling grateful for his friend's concern. "What were you thinking?" Julian asked, shaking his head. Miles smiled weakly, acknowledging that he had made a mistake. And as he looked up at Julian, he knew he had to trust his friend to take care of him.