The sharp, high pitched chirps at first seemed part of a dream. They continued as Taurik groggily returned to consciousness, and when he finally realized what they were, he looked up to the clock in a panic. Instantly awake, he scrambled out of bed, hastily slipping his arms back in the sleeves, and zipped up just as he hit the door release button.

It was a fellow engineering ensign. "Hey, Taurik," said said, a little taken aback by his mussed appearance. "You were supposed to relieve me half an hour ago."

"My deepest apologies, Highsmith," Taurik said. "It'll never happen again-"

"It's OK. It happens to everyone. Commander LaForge sent me up to check on you. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes. I somehow overslept, that's all. I'm really sorry, again."

"It's alright, really! Just get your ass down there! You've never been late for watch. Mr. LaForge thinks you're deathly ill or something."

"Oh, no..." Taurik said, missing the sarcasm. He gave her a half-wave goodbye and shut the door. Then he rushed to get ready. He was combing his hair when Wesley woke up.

"What time is it?"

"0953," he said in a clipped tone. "I'm late for watch."

"Oh," Wesley said, more alert now. "I better get ready, too."

Taurik was about to leave without saying goodbye. Wesley grabbed his arm, but lightly. "Before you go..." he said. He was nervous, but knew he had to hurry and just spit it out. "Do you regret what we did?"

Taurik frowned. "Not at all!" He turned to give Wesley his full attention, figuring he could spare just one more minute. He held up his fingers and Wesley gratefully touched them with his own. Unsure what to say next, with far too much to express in too little time, he muttered, "...late for watch."

Grinning from ear to ear, Wesley leaned in to smack a sharp, wet kiss on Taurik's mouth and led him out. "Go on! I'll see you later!"

Geordi was running a diagnostic test when Taurik arrived. The Vulcan had a hard time purging himself of the anxiety of standing right there, working alongside him, just waiting for that reprimand.

Normally, Taurik could handle a situation like this. Just focus on the task at hand, concentrate on the data and the calculations, and soon enough the negative emotions would just wash away. Thanks to his training since childhood, Taurik could calm himself like this almost instantly; it was almost second nature. But he'd been having more difficulty the past few days. He attributed it to the the stress of the upcoming test and the rapid change in his relationship with Wesley. To him, them moving in together was a big deal, on par with the kissing, if not more so.

They were now sharing their home, their most private haven and refuge. It had been easy with his previous roommate, because they'd started out as strangers, but Taurik had come into this with someone he already felt a connection to, therefore someone who could hurt or betray him. Friendship was pleasant and useful, but carried risks.

Taurik spent that shift in barely suppressed angst, but did his job just fine. By the end, Geordi pulled him aside and asked, "Anything you want to tell me, Ensign?"

Taurik answered, "Sir, I overslept. I will repair the alarm function as soon as I get in."

Geordi looked at him a moment. "Alright. You can request some time off if you need to, you know."

"Thank you, Sir."

Taurik was glad to be done. That watch, those hours of torturing himself, left him drained and dispirited. He realized he was not in optimal health, but refused to consider anything but normal, manageable stress.

He tried to meditate that afternoon, waiting for Wesley, but climbed into bed soon after. He was just so exhausted, and yet sleep came only in fits and starts.

He had just started dozing when Wesley returned. He yearned to dive right back into that pillow, but was eager to see his friend. He stayed in bed and sat up a bit, a logical compromise. Wesley came over to him, frowning in concern, but seemed to be understanding of Taurik's fatigue. They touched fingers briefly and Wesley sat on the bed beside him. He listened politely as Wesley chattered on about his shift, but started falling asleep. He didn't notice when Wesley stopped talking, but he did sigh softly when Wesley stroked his fingers through his hair. The human bent down to kiss him and got up again.

"I'll just be at the holodeck, OK?"

"Mmm..."

"Be back in a few hours."

"Hmmm..."

"The ship's exploded and we're drifting through space."

"Mmmm..."

Wesley laughed to himself and left Taurik to finish his nap alone.

####

When Wesley came back, Taurik was still asleep. Though he slept for nearly five hours, he was hard to rouse.

"Taurik, wake up!" Wesley urged, shaking him harder. "You'll be late for watch again! Taurik!"

The Vulcan jerked awake and struck out at Wesley, knocking him to the floor. He was so filled with rage he was trembling and clutching at the bed sheets. Wesley was just a dark threatening shape that he's scratch to pieces if he came any closer.

He crept onto all fours on the bed and stared at Wesley with blazing eyes and a fierce sneer.

"Taurik?" Wesley whispered, getting to his feet. He started backing up slowly, never taking his eyes off Taurik. "Taurik, just calm down..."

"GET OUT!" Taurik shrieked. He flung his pillow at Wesley, who was already bolting to the door. But the boy did not flee outside. He remained by the door, but facing his Vulcan friend, shaking and pale with fear as Taurik tore out of bed and stalked over to him. Wesley kept himself just out of reach, but held his ground.

"Taurik, it's OK. It's me, Wesley! I'm your friend..."

"Get out of my room!" Taurik hissed through clenched jaws. His body was a taut spring, his hands like claws ready to strike at his sides.

"Taurik," Wesley persisted. He crept along the wall, feeling behind himself with his hands. He grasped a lamp, ready to swing it if needed. "We agreed I'd move in with you, remember? Do you remember anything we did?"

Taurik could remember very well, and a part of him wanted to end this. But he was trapped in his own chaotic emotions. "Get out, Wesley," he growled, but this was a plea of warning. He wanted to crush, to blindly attack right now, and it didn't matter whom.

"I'm gonna get my mom..." Wesley said, creeping towards the door, which, unfortunately, was towards Taurik.

"NO DOCTORS!" Taurik shouted, gripping his head with both hands. "Please! Just give me two hours! Go!"

####

"Commander!"

Geordi turned in alarm at that panicked shout. "Wesley?"

The boy was fighting tears as he confronted the engineer. "Sir, there's something wrong with Taurik," he said. "He...he won't be reporting for watch any time soon."

"What is it? Is he ill, or hurt?"

"I...I don't know!"

"Have you taken him to Sick Bay?"

Wesley blurted, "No! It's...it's nothing physical. It's like a nervous breakdown or something. He tried to attack me."

"Wesley, you need to get him to Sick Bay. Whatever's going on, they can help."

Wesley winced. "I'm going back up there."

Geordi lowered his voice. "Do you need Security to help, Wesley? If you think he might hurt you or himself..."

"No, no! He asked me to come back anyway. He'll listen to me. I'll...I'll call for help if I need it."

"You better. We don't need you out of commission, too!"

"Yes, Sir."

As Wesley turned to leave, looking absolutely miserable, Geordi trotted up to him. "Wes?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Take care of him."

Wesley swallowed, but his gaze was unwavering. "I will."