Unrequited (Trip x OC)

Eighteen

I sat in my quarters, unable to really sleep. No matter how long I kept my eyes shut, I just couldn't be carried away by dreams.

There was a trick my brother had told me when we were kids. "Just keep your eyes closed, no matter what, and eventually you'll fall asleep."

Now, there were constant noises and the illusion of flashing lights to coax my eyes open. So eventually I gave up and stood, moving to walk down the corridor.

I found myself wandering to the mess hall, moving towards the array of foods, closed in by glass barriers to keep them fresh. I was startled by a voice right behind me.

"Can't sleep either, huh?"

I jumped, then whirled around to see Trip sitting at the table, his hands wrapped around a cup of something steaming.

"Commander—" I caught myself. "Trip. I didn't see you there."

"You alright?" he frowned. "You look... troubled." He wrapped his hands around his mug and took a sip.

"Well..." I laughed, grabbing a cup of hot cocoa. "Intelligence often comes with depression, and I never asked for either."

"Yeah..." he looked down.

"Should you be out of bed after... the removal?" I took a seat across from him.

"Yeah, didn't take much. Doc had me healed up pretty quick," he looked down.

"Oh... well, do you... Remember anything?"

He looked up in confusion. "You mean during the surgery? They had me under, I never saw or felt anything. They took me to my bed."

I hesitated for a few moments before I spoke up. "No, they didn't, Trip."

"Oh, yeah? Hows'at?" he looked at me confused once more.

I wasn't sure I should continue, and I considered just leaving it at that. Then I sighed, my heart beating out of my chest.

I wouldn't meet his eyes. "You wandered to my room after the surgery."

He was silent, and I couldn't help but look up at him.

He was looking down at his own lap with a furrowed brow.

"I... don't remember," he looked up at me. "Did I say anything in particular?"

"Well... you didn't say much to offend," I bit my lip. It was my turn to stare at my lap now.

"Aw geez, what'd I do? I didn't break anything did I?" he went pale. "Did I hit you? Oh, God, I don't know what I'd do if I—"

"No, you didn't hit me," I shook my head, still not meeting his eyes.

He leaned towards me. "Come on, Emily, don't leave me hangin'. What'd I do?"

I looked slowly up at him. "You tried... well, you tried to—"

"Emily? Is that you?" a voice from the doorway.

I glanced up, partly relieved, and partially disappointed.

"Doctor Phlox," I sighed. "It's you," I stated.

"Yes." He seemed to have just noticed Trip. "Ah. Commander Tucker. I assume you two are finally talking about—"

"Doctor Phlox!" Trip and I shouted at the same time.

He glanced between the two of us. "Oh. Maybe not." He afforded a polite smile. "Pardon. I was just... grabbing a small snack. I'll leave the two of you to... talk."

He grabbed some Denobulan food from the shelf. Trip and I both watched him warily as he exited.

When he had left, I looked reluctantly to Trip.