Meredith 'Grey's Anatomy' – We deny that we're tired, we deny that we're scared, we deny how badly we want to succeed. And most importantly, we deny that we're in denial. We only see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe, and it works. We lie to ourselves so much that after a while the lies start to seem like the truth. We deny so much that we can't recognize the truth right in front of our faces.
- Chakotay - post-Resolutions -
He knew it.
The moment Tuvok hailed them, the second they put their uniforms back on, the instant they were back on the ship and her mask went back on, he knew it.
She was in denial.
And no, not the river flowing through Egypt, as Tom would say if he dared mention it.
Despite what happened during their medically-imposed banishment, the moment she became the Captain again, he knew it would never happen.
He knew they would never happen.
Not if she could help it.
As much as he wanted it to happen, and he could bet the rest of the crew wanted it to happen too, they all knew it wouldn't.
Because she was in denial, even if the feelings were hitting her in the face.
They were not happening, and there was nothing he could do about it.