Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in If Desperate Wishes Were Horses

(snip)

Once she fell asleep, he settled in and tried to sleep. He couldn’t. His mind kept jumping back to earlier that day. I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t hurt you. the officer had said. Aasrel had felt the pity, the look they gave him. They all looked at him differently. Like he wasn’t Betazoid or humanoid anymore. (they didn’t really, but to him they did).

Why? Why were these stupid things attached to him? Why couldn’t he get his own looks back, his own body? His fingers gripped his implant tightly as he drowned in his own self sorrow and hatred. He wanted them gone, he wanted them off. He couldn’t stand them. He needed them away from him. How could he go home, and let his family see what he was now? See them give him that same look everyone else did… No, he couldn’t. He couldn’t. He just wasn’t himself anymore. The Aasrel they’d known growing up had been lost to the Borg.

Lt., j.g. Aasrel Izei
Chief Medical Officer

“You’re not lost,” Bethany’s arms tightened around him, hugging him in her sleep. “I found you.”

Lt. Cmdr. Bethany Kovra Gadi, Chief of Security

Aasrel set one hand gently on her arm, wrapped tightly around him. He hugged her tight and pressed his face into her, crying softly.

Lt., j.g. Aasrel Izei
Chief Medical Officer

His grief was strong enough that it broke through her sleep. Bethany was instantly awake. She was still as she identified what woke her. Aasrel? She knew it was him. She lifted her head to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

Lt. Cmdr. Bethany Kovra Gadi, Chief of Security

Aasrel kept his face pressed against her and shook his head. Go back to sleep. He said, using his telepathy to speak to her without his cry-y voice. But his emotions were there for her to sense, strong and all consuming. He couldn’t just put a cork in it at the flip of a switch, not even to save her from feeling what he felt. Not that he wasn’t trying.

Lt., j.g. Aasrel Izei
Chief Medical Officer

There were fluctuations, making her feel like she wasn’t really connecting correctly. But Bethany trusted her gut and she could read people. “Hey, talk to me. We promised to be open and honest with each other. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

Lt. Cmdr. Bethany Kovra Gadi, Chief of Security

It was easier for Aasrel to project to her his emotions and thoughts, sharing with her exactly ‘whatever it was’. All the hurt and self loathing and self pity and the thoughts that went with it all. He cried quietly against her. He tried to hold back, not let the emotions overwhelm her. We did promise. I just… You’re already struggling.

Lt., j.g. Aasrel Izei
Chief Medical Officer

Bethany hugged him tighter. It was easier, right now, for her to speak. The physical action sort of grounded her in the onslaught. His emotions brought tears of grief and loss and anger to her eyes. “We both are. That’s no reason to put off taking care of both of us.”

Lt. Cmdr. Bethany Kovra Gadi, Chief of Security

Aasrel didn’t mind whether she spoke or used telepathy. For him, telepathy was easier. For her, speech was. Both got the job done. He looked up at her at last, his face covered in tears. I was afraid of my emotions influencing you. I know you’re still working on separating others’ feelings from yours.

Lt., j.g. Aasrel Izei
Chief Medical Officer

“I am, but I know that is what is going on. I’m able to at least control my reactions, even if I can’t stop feeling it yet. I’m not afraid for you to share with me. It’s just everyone else, all at once. Thank you for protecting me.” Bethany kissed his cheek and settled back. “Talk to me. Tell me about it. You’re keeping it in, and it’s slowly eating away at you. I won’t judge and I certainly won’t think differently of you.”

Lt. Cmdr. Bethany Kovra Gadi, Chief of Security