**Beyond the Breaking Point**

Miles's world went dark, and he felt himself being pulled down into a sea of unconsciousness. Bashir's voice was a distant echo, guiding him towards a chair and helping him sit down. The chief engineer's body felt heavy, as if it was weighed down by lead, and his mind was foggy. The next thing Miles knew, he was waking up in his quarters, the soft hum of the station's life support systems a gentle serenade in the background. He was lying on his bunk, with Bashir sitting beside him, holding a cup of steaming hot tea. "How...long?" Miles stammered, trying to shake off the lingering fogginess. "You've been out for a few hours," Bashir replied, concern etched on his face. "I had to sedate you to get you to rest. You've been pushing yourself too hard, Miles." The engineer groaned, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "What time is it?" Bashir checked his PADD. "It's been about six hours since you collapsed. The station's running better than it has in weeks, but I think we can safely say you're not going to be fixing any more plasma injectors tonight." Miles rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of exhaustion. His mind was still foggy, but he was starting to feel a little better. He took a sip of the tea Bashir handed him, and it warmed his chest, reviving him. "Thanks for taking care of me, Julian," Miles said, his voice a little stronger now. Bashir smiled wryly. "You're welcome, Miles. But next time, I want you to listen to me before you collapse. You're not invincible, you know." The chief engineer snorted, "Invincible? Me? Don't be ridiculous." The doctor chuckled, "You may be a brilliant engineer, but you're no superhuman. You're going to have to learn to prioritize yourself, for once." Miles raised an eyebrow. "Prioritize myself?" "Yes," Bashir said firmly. "You're not going to be able to fix everything on your own. Not to mention, you're not exactly in top form right now." The engineer shifted uncomfortably, his eyes scanning the room. "I just need to...get back to work." Bashir placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "No, Miles. You need to rest. The station will still be here when you wake up tomorrow." Miles looked up at Bashir, his expression softening. "You know, I don't think I've ever thanked you for looking out for me, Julian." The chief medical officer smiled, "You don't have to, Miles. Just take care of yourself, and we'll get through this together." Miles nodded, feeling a strange sense of gratitude towards Bashir. For a moment, he let his gaze drift to the ceiling, and he closed his eyes, letting the fatigue wash over him. As he drifted off to sleep, he was vaguely aware of Bashir saying, "You know, I've been thinking... maybe it's time we got some more help in here." Miles's thoughts were a jumbled mess, but he knew he had Bashir to thank for his concern. He was grateful for his friend's support, even if it meant accepting a little help. The darkness closed in around him once more, but this time, it was a gentle, soothing sleep, one that he desperately needed. When Miles came to, he was lying in his bunk, the gentle hum of the station's systems a lullaby to his exhausted mind. Bashir was sitting beside him, monitoring his vital signs. "Hey," Miles mumbled, still feeling a little disoriented. "Hey," Bashir replied softly. "How are you feeling?" Miles took a deep breath, trying to assess his condition. His body ached, but he was feeling a little better. "I'm...okay, I think." The doctor nodded. "You're going to be okay. I've taken care of things around here. The station's in better shape than it was before, and I've even managed to rouse some of the others to help with repairs." Miles's gaze drifted to the console screen displaying his systems check. The progress he'd made so far was substantial, but there was still a long way to go. "You're a lifesaver, Julian," Miles whispered, his eyes growing heavy. The chief medical officer smiled, "Just doing my job, Miles. Now, let's get you back on your feet, and then we can talk about getting the station back online." As Miles continued to rest, Bashir couldn't help but wonder if his friend would ever learn to take care of himself. But for now, he was just happy to see Miles safe and sound, with a chance to recover and get back to work when he was ready.