Some people laugh, some people cry
Some people live, some people die
Some people run right into the fire
And some people hide their every desire
-McFly "The Heart Never Lies"

His head still ached. The doctor claimed it was from the gas he had inhaled and would pass shortly.

Gerron wished shortly had already passed. After leaving sickbay, he had went to his quarters in an attempt to sleep the headache away. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to work as his mind wouldn't quiet down enough to let sleep come.

Which was why he now found himself sitting alone in a dimly lit messhall staring out at stars as they passed.

He could've died today. If it wasn't for Tuvok, and Chell, Henley, and Dalby, he probably wouldhave. Though he had joined the Maquis knowing that he was probalby going to die fighting the Cardassians, today was the closest he had ever come to actually dying.

It made him realize he didn't want to die.

It also made him realized that he hadn't really been living either.

His method of dealing with the cruelty in life was just to shut out the world. In doing so, he kept his emotions safe. However, he also shut out laughter and joy. He shut out the comfort that just being with someone could bring. He had turned a cold shoulder to those who had offered a hand of friendship.

Perhaps it was time to change that. After all, he had been given a second chance though he didn't know why. It would be stupid to waste it by going on making the same mistakes.

"I thought you would be sleeping?"

Though he hadn't heard Dalby approach, the question didn't startle him. The fact that it would have probably startled most people made Gerron wonder just how closed off from the world around him he had actually managed to become.

"Tried, however there were too many thoughts going through my head to manage it," Gerron replied, realizing that it was probably the longest reply he had ever given to one of Dalby's question.

"Is that why you answered my question?" Dalby asked lightly, as he held out a cup to Gerron. He could see the question on the young man's face. "Kava juice," the engineer told him in response to the unspoken question. "I've noticed you tend to order it when your brooding."

As Dalby sat down next to him, a mug of black coffee in his hands, Gerron thought of insisting he wasn't brooding. Except that to most people, his quiet withdrawn manner probably did make him seem like he brooded a lot.

"Why do you keep trying?" Gerron vetured, finally voicing the question he had pondered since before they got stuck here in the Delta Quadrant. "Most people would have given up trying to be friendly to me. Most people have."

"Because, I see a bit of myself in you," Dalby admitted, not about to avoid the question and be the cause of Gerron closing himself off again. "All the anger at the world masking the hurt inside. I knew what you needed was a friend, even if you didn't realize it yourself, yet."

Gerron took a sip of the juice as he took in Dalby's reply. He could see the truth in it.

"Thanks," Gerron replied, knowing the word was inadequate to coney his feelings but not knowing what else to say.