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]

*returns to the deck after the appointment he had with Phlox*

*is unsure if he should check in on Stephen now or wait for a while*
*has lots of things he'd like to talk about*
*decides that a general 'hi' wouldn't be a bad idea*

*stands in front of door, wonders if he should ring or open, since he still has the code*
*decides to do both*

*rings, then keys in the code immediately afterwards*

*enters quarters*

[ensigntanner]

*is towelling hair dry*

*hears bell ring*

*hears noise of someone entering*

*frowns*

*pokes head out*

*sees Michael*

*smiles*

Hey! Why didya ring the bell? Afraid of catching me in flagranti or something?

*ducks back in to finish drying off, but leaves door open to hear Michael*

[mrostov]

*sees Stephen poking his head out and smile*
*smiles back*

Nah... just... Phlox's given me a lot to think about... *wonders how to continue, then decides to go exactly by what Phlox told him to*

...I think I got kinda uncertain. Weird, huh?

[ensigntanner]

*comes back out, pulling t-shirt over his head*

I've come to the conclusion that Phlox has that effect on people

*looks down at hand*

*frowns*

*wonders if he should worry Michael....but can't do it alone*

*keeps tone deliberately light*

Glad you're here, actually. I need to put a fresh dressing on this...

[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]

*smiles*

I'm wiling to learn.

[ensigntanner]

*bites lip*

Is it something that can be learned? Because I know being angry at you is something that I will tire of very quickly....

[mrostov]

We just don't have to let it come to that, right? Learn to solve our problems by truly talking to each other.

Frankly, I don't want to be angry at you ever again. I hated myself for being so stupid that I didn't come to you directly after that stuff in decon.

[ensigntanner]

*looks at Michael*

*sees the hope radiating out of him, almost tangible in its intensity*

*shrugs*

Can but try...