No. 15 Emotional damage (lies)
TW: attempted suicide
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He was working at a console, whistling happily. Scotty would be so proud when he saw how fast Keenser had managed to fix the problem.
Lately the Scotsman had seemed so sad. He spent most of the time at his office, didn't want to be disturbed. Even Keenser couldn't get through to him.
But when Scotty would see the fixed console, it would surely cheer him up. So Keenser finished his work and headed to his best friend's office.
He wanted to knock but found the door to be open. That was strange.
"Scotty! Scotty, dammit! Wake up!"
That voice. It was the doctor's voice. And it sounded in panic!
Keenser bursted into the room and was shocked at what he saw.
Scotty was lying on the ground, McCoy at his side.
There was a hypo in the Scotsman's lifeless hand. McCoy grabbed it and swore loudly.
Keenser grunted worriedly but the doctor didn't even seem to notice.
"Come on, come on! Don't do this to me!"
McCoy slapped Scott's cheek but nothing happened.
Keenser fell to his knees next to his friend and he grabbed his hand tightly. He heard McCoy calling for help before the man focused on Scotty again.
"Wake up, Scotty."
Tears were swelling in McCoy's eyes.
Keenser whimpered and squeezed Scotty's hand. What had he done? Why was he unconscious?
Fear gripped his heart.
Hours seemed to pass before a med team arrived, handing McCoy a hypo. The doctor took it and injected it into Scotty's neck.
"Scotty…"
Keenser murmured his friend's name and finally! The eyes fluttered open!
Scotty seemed to look at him for a moment, eyes wide.
"Keen…ser?"
The Roylan nodded eagerly.
"Scotty! Wake up!" McCoy ordered again. Why? Scotty was already waking up. Didn't he see it?
Scotty blinked a few times before he looked at McCoy.
"Keenser… he…"
"He's dead, Scotty. He's dead…"
Keenser's body froze. What? What was the doctor talking about?
Tears ran down Scotty's face as McCoy hugged him tightly.
"But… no… he was there. I saw him."
McCoy swallowed.
"Because you took an overdose."
Keenser grabbed Scotty's arm but only now did he realize that his green skin looked different. It… was bright. Nearly transparent.
He shook his head in disbelief.
No… this was a lie! It wasn't real! McCoy was lying.
He couldn't be dead. He… he was here. With them.
"I… I should have been the one dead. I was supposed to be the one working on that bloody console! Not him!"
Scotty sobbed violently.
No…
"You really think he would want you to kill yourself?!"
Keenser tried to hug Scotty but his body went right through him.
No… he wasn't dead!
It was a lie! A nightmare!
"I…" Scotty shook his head.
Keenser felt hot tears on his cheeks as memories flashed through his mind.
Him working at a console. The console exploding.
He couldn't help but cry out as realization set in.
It… was no lie.
Keenser was dead.