Insomnia

Despite running at high warp for several days, Enterprise wouldn't go to sleep even as repairs on her warp core coils continued.

Picard could see how haggard she was, despite her efforts to hide it, and felt somewhat guilty. It was at his insistence after all, that she keep up this frantic pace.

Troi's analysis confirmed his suspicions.

"She's exhausted." The half-Betazid said. "She'd more than likely fall asleep at warp than orbiting here. But she'll run herself until she "drops". If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was suffering from a misguided sense of insomnia."

"I can give her a sedative." was Dr. Crusher's response when told of this. "But it will have to be extremely mild. She's so exhausted that a regular dose may put her in a coma."

"Understood. Give it to her." Picard ordered.

Enterprise put up such a fight resisting the needle that the sedative wasn't necessary. She knocked herself out.

"It's for your own good, my girl." Picard said as he stroked his ready room's bulkhead, next to the replicator. Again, he ran his fingers down its length, affection pouring from him.

Even in her sleep, Enterprise sought strength from those around her and he could feel her tapping into him.

"It's alright darling, take what you need." He murmured before realizing his slip up. But Enterprise merely interpreted it as a dream and sighed in contentment, rolling on her side in her sleep. Fortunately her gravity generators held up and the only sign that she'd done that was the change in the planet's position out the window.

Picard smiled. "Sleep well, mi amour..." He whispered.