Chapter 1

“Julian?”

No response.

Lieutenant Ezri Dax gazed fondly at the young man seated in the co-pilot’s chair of the USS Yangtzee Kiang. The Starfleet-issue PADD in his hand matched the ones in his lap and the others scattered about the deck. Dax studied his tense posture with a critical eye, one hand knotted in unconscious frustration at the back of his neck, sitting stiffly in his chair and staring at the hopeless jargon keyed onto the PADD with glazed eyes.

And despite Dax’s attempts at conversation for the past hour had not uttered a word.

“Julian?” Ezri pressed again.

Dr. Julian Bashir had been inundated with Starfleet paperwork, primarily postwar reports, for the past three or four weeks -- casualty reports, relief effort reports and a plethora of similar duties that Dax only understood to sympathize with Julian’s discomfort. However, Ezri excused herself from her daily reports to focus on the mental and emotional well-being of her charges on DS9 as station counselor. The war had taken its toll on everyone’s well-being one way or another.

Julian was turning out to be her toughest case yet, and for his sake, she attempted to reach him one more time.

“Juuuullllliiiiaaaan...”

Finally Ezri heard a soft “hmm?” escape the doctor’s pursed lips.

“I was just thinking that this trip to Bajor will be good for you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I mean I know you think it’s silly that Kasidy makes you go to Bajor for her monthly checkup,” she continued slowly, “but at least it gives you an excuse to get out and see your patients.”

“Hmm.” Bashir frowned slightly, shifting uncomfortably.

“After all, that’s the reason you became a doctor in the first place. Helping people, I mean. And working directly with them.”

“Hmm.”

Dax huffed and slumped back into her chair. Then a smirk curled her lips as she sat straight and picked up another tactic.

“And besides, one can’t spend all one’s time locked up in space, can one?” she ventured, her voice slipping into the motherly tone that tended to get on Bashir’s nerves. “I mean the station air is so stagnant. Fresh air is so much healthier, and real sunshine is much better for your complexion.” She paused, waiting for movement from Julian, then picked it up again. “Of course, I’m only a station counselor. You’re the physician, right...Jules?”

“...Mm-hmm.”

Uh-oh, Ezri thought. This was much more serious than she suspected. She had used his most irksome childhood nickname and he hadn’t even flinched. Ezri bit back a grin, then sighed slightly. Behind the teasing glint in her eyes there was concern that was getting harder and harder to ignore. Julian had grown increasingly withdrawn since the Dominion War ended, and two lifetimes with him allowed Ezri to recognize his silence as abnormal behavior for him, and also his way of shielding himself from the strain of the many abrupt changes in his life: the war ending, close friends leaving, close friends dying...

Or joining the prophets.

Dax sighed again.

She also knew that this kind of withdrawal could easily slip into serious depression.

Ezri knew there were some things Julian kept hidden from her. In hiding his genetic enhancements, he’d learned to keep secrets well, burying his feelings deep inside and putting on a mask for everyone else. But Ezri saw his true self at night when he woke screaming, his shivering body drenched in sweat and tears. Despite her constant pressing he never told her what he dreamed save that it was too painful to speak about, that they were safe and she was there and nothing else mattered. To make matters worse, he was a doctor, and a damn good one. He never admitted to being sick or having a problem, especially when he had patients in his care.

But Dax knew how to get him to talk about some things. Not all, but some.

Slowly and gracefully, Dax slid out of her chair and tiptoed behind Bashir’s. She pressed her hands upon his broad shoulders and gave a sudden jerk that knocked him against the back of the chair. With a rotating motion, she began working her hands up and down his shoulders, starting at the neck, pushing the knots and tension away. The edges of Dax’s lips curled into a smirk as she heard the clang of his PADD dropping onto the others in his lap. Julian became irritated and frowned stubbornly, folding his arms. He sighed.

She looked around from behind to see what the doctor was doing. The same thing usually happened every time. She would start massaging his shoulders, and he would get irritated. Then he would roll his eyes, let out a little sigh and purse his lips, showing distaste for what Julian called Ezri’s “incessant nagging.”

Julian dropped his hands to his lap, clasping them until his olive-skinned knuckles turned pasty, then finally admitted defeat and let his shoulders relax. As Ezri felt the tension release under her fingertips, she beamed triumphantly.

"Ezri..." he started.

"Hush," she muttered, digging her fingers into his shoulders.

Julian shook his head, ran a surgeon’s hand up until it touched Ezri’s small one and, nudging it a little he then pressed his lips to her hand with little kisses. After a fashion he shook his head again and lifted his chin until his brown eyes peered into her blue ones.

“Ezri...” he murmured softly.

“Julian,” Ezri whispered back.

Then he let out a sigh. “You don’t play fair.”

Ezri smiled broadly. “Hah! Well you weren’t listening to me,” she retorted mockingly.

Julian’s brow furrowed. “Yes I was.”

“No you weren’t.”

Julian, flustered, searched about for the right words. He wasn’t one to give up, especially when he was wrong. As he whirled his chair about to face her Julian declared with exasperation, “I heard every word you said!”

Ezri smirked. Julian was bluffing, and they both knew it by the raised intonations in his accented voice. She decided to play her trump.

“Then what did I call you?”

“Excuse me?”

Game, set, match. “I thought so, Jules.”

Julian stared at her, stunned for a moment, then let out another agitated sigh.

“I called you Jules,” she pressed incredulously. “You hate when I call you that. If you’d been listening you’d have...ripped my face off.”

Julian flicked a glance up into her elven face and smiled. “That would’ve been a shame.”

“Using your bedside manner to change the subject won't work, Doctor,” Dax scolded. Obviously Julian was trying to avoid confronting something, because he employed the same tactics all the time. He was so predictable. You’d think with his genetically enhanced brain he’d learn some new weapons, she thought.

Julian frowned back. “Ezri, what is your point?”

“My point, Julian, is that you are spending too much time doing paperwork and not enough time living your life. Being with your friends, your loved ones. You’re even neglecting your patients, as if Starfleet reports were more important.”

“Just one of the many responsibilities of a Starfleet officer.”

Ezri’s eyes narrowed. “Julian...” she warned.

“Explore the galaxy...blow stuff up...then you read and write reports about what you discovered and what you blew up.”

“Julian!”

Julian didn’t seem to hear Dax, and pressed on. “Catalogues, indexes, casualty reports, inventory reports, physical reports, logs...”

Ezri finally threw her hands in the air. “Stop it!” The sudden anger in her voice cut Bashir off. He stared at her, amazed at the fire in her eyes and the redness of her face.

“I don’t care what is wrong with you! Nothing in this universe is going to allow me to help you unless you are willing to help yourself!” she shouted.

Ezri plopped back into her seat and stared into space, avoiding Julian eyes. Julian turned his chair to face her, staring at her. Ezri could see his reflection through the glass. Julian looked away from her to the vastness of space, with Bajor looming large before them, and crossed his arms against his chest. Space felt so cold, so distant.

As Julian had become.

He finally got up turned Ezri tohim. Kneeling, he pressed his arms to her lap and smiled, resting his head on top. That sat that way for a while, until Julian finally broke the silence.

“I'll make you a promise: to spend less time working, and more time living.”

Ezri paused for a moment. “On your teddy bear’s life?” she inquired softly, not fully believing that Julian would make good on his vow.

Julian laughed, placing his right hand over his heart. “I promise...on the life of Kukalaka.” He reached out to Ezri, who simply pumped out her hand. Julian took it and gave it a firm shake.

With a stern gleam in her eyes, Ezri said “I’m gonna hold you to that.”

***

It was late summer in Kendra Province. Over the rolling green slopes of the Sisko’s land, warm golden sunlight flashed in and out through the windswept clouds. The hills fell gently to the plains of the Yolja river valley; a small stone house was nestled at its edge.

It was to this view that the two Starfleet officers opened their eyes when the transporter beam released them by the home of Jake Sisko and Kasidy Yates.

"Wow." Ezri's voice was barely a startled breath, swept away by the wind. "Benjamin never told me his land was this..."

"Picturesque." Bashir offered idly, lifting one hand to shield his eyes from the unaccustomed brightness. "Shall we?"

The Siskos' home matched the plan of the original designer, Benjamin Sisko, to the letter: a whitewashed stone cottage with a thatched roof. The doors and window panes were outlined in green, and flowering plants and shrubs lined the grounds.

"Jake has the house almost finished," she pointed out, in an effort to make conversation. "And in only two months."

Bashir made a slight sound of agreement as he made for the door. As if in answer to Dax's comment, the door of the cottage swung open, and Kasidy stepped out to meet them, causing the good doctor to jump back slightly.

Kasidy smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling at the corners in welcome. A few strands of dark hair escaped from the thick knot at the nape of her neck, blowing wildly around her face. With the wind pressing the folds of her dress close to her body, it wasn't hard to see the slight bulge just beginning to form. Her step wasn't as strong as it used to be, slow and cautious as if she were gauging each step to assure that she wouldn't lose balance.

In all other respects, Kasidy seemed as healthy and firm of bearing as she had ever been.

"Right on time, I see," she greeted them teasingly, her voice ringing out over the howling wind. "Are you ever late for anything, Doctor?"

"Well, not often," Bashir said dryly. "It's good to see you again."

"I'm sure it is." Kasidy took in his professional tone with a slight grin, pulling him into a warm hug, which Julian reciprocated with a weaker embrace. Upon noticing his unusually cool demeanor, Kasidy pulled away and stared into his eyes, full of worry. "Everything okay?"

Julian paused, forcing a smile. "Me?" he replied hastily, "oh, I'm fine."

From behind, Ezri's chipper voice rang out. "He's fine, Kasidy," she said, slight sarcasm underlining her tone, although no one seemed to notice. "He's his usual bubbly self."

Kasidy grinned at him again before turning toward Ezri.

"Dax, I'm so glad you could make it." Kasidy reached out to hug Ezri warmly.

"So am I," Ezri replied, meeting the other woman's smile with equal enthusiasm and returning her embrace. "The place looks great! The house is turning out perfectly."

Kasidy nodded proudly, glancing over her shoulder at the cottage.

"Well, it isn't much." She sighed and looked up at the crimson afternoon sky, knowing full well that Benjamin was looking back at her. "But I think Ben would approve." The casual warmth of her statement brought a new expression to Ezri's smile, and she cast a lingering glance at the low roof and stone walls, and then to the sky and hills beyond.

"I'm sure he would," she agreed after a moment, softly.

"Well, I've kept you two out here long enough," Kasidy said after a pause, shaking her hair away from her face. "Let's go inside before I get blown apart."

The interior of the house was open and airy - several wide windows that let in the evening light, a bare wood floor, a few pieces of simple furniture. Dax took an appreciative look around as they stepped through the doorway.

"This is lovely," she declared, clasping her hands behind her back with a comfortable air.

"Not bad, if you like rustic abodes," Kasidy said with a laugh. But it was impossible to mistake the pride in her voice. "It's gone up really fast. The only major job left is to get the pump system from the well up and running. And speaking of which..."

Kasidy leaned into an adjoining room. "Jake! Julian and Ezri are here."

Dax took a step forward to look into the room, which judging from the cast-iron stove and marble countertops was apparently the kitchen, at the mention of Ben Sisko's son.

Over the course of three lifetimes Dax had watched Jake grow up from a small baby to a tall young man, and she couldn't help but feel a motherly protection toward him. A most ironic concept for Ezri, since he had been taller than her to Jadzia's perspective and was dwarfing her now.

At the moment, though, all she could see of Jake's height was two long legs sticking out from beneath the sink. At Kasidy's announcement Jake pulled himself out of the opening and sat up to face them.

"Hi, Jake." Ezri said.

Behind her Bashir glanced up from where he was opening his medkit and put on a crooked smile, echoing Dax's greeting. "Hi, Jake."

"Hey," Jake replied before ducking back under the sink. There was a slight pause after he spoke; it hung uncomfortably in the air.

Dax cleared her throat. "I didn't see you as much of a plumber," she noted, glancing at the tools scattered around him.

"Yeah, well, it needs to get done. I don't like hauling water," he said, his voice echoing from inside the cabinet where the sink's pipe system was hidden.

Kasidy chuckled. "It isn't that big of a problem - the well is just out in the backyard."

Jake pulled himself back out and sat back up, his voice lined with exasperation. "Yeah, well, I'm not as trusting on divine intervention as Dad was."

Bashir glanced up again at this, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Kasidy sighed. "Jake's talking about the legend. When the Cardassians withdrew they poisoned most of the water sources. For the longest time the only way to get fresh water was from the mountain rivers." She grinned then, shaking her head. "Anyway, while Ben was on a tour of Kendra Province he stopped by one of the old wells and drank from it. It was quite a surprise to the Bajorans, who probably had abandoned the well thinking it was tainted permanently. I guess the contaminants had drained out somewhat, because he didn't get sick or anything. The townspeople took it as quite an omen." An amused note crept into her voice as she spoke fondly of her husband. "In any case --"

"In any case, I'm setting up the pipes with a purification system, just to make sure the Emissary wasn't just immune to the poison," interrupted Jake, and Ezri could have sworn she heard a hint of hostility at the mention of Ben Sisko's place in Bajoran history.

Bashir grinned slightly. "Oh, who knows, Jake. Maybe miraculous immunity is a genetic thing."

The comment wasn't much in the way of joking - not compared to the mischievous teasing Dax remembered so well from her past with Julian - but she hadn't expected the abrupt silence that met his words.

Jake focused his gaze on the wrench in his hands. "It has to get done," he repeated finally before retreating to his dark hole under the sink.

"Jake's spent a lot of time working on this place," Kasidy offered, attempting to jump-start the conversation. "I don't know what I'd do without him sometimes." Her words were light, but there was an undertone of concern in her voice. For a second, the rest of them stood uncertainly in the entryway, trying to think of something to say.

Finally Bashir's gaze fell to the tricorder in his hands, and his profession provided an outlet. "Well, it looks like I'm ready when you are, Kasidy."

"Sounds good to me," Kasidy replied. "What do I do?"

"Just take a seat," Bashir said. "At this point there isn't anything I can find out that the tricorder won't tell me."

"Easy enough." Nudging one of the wooden chairs to the center of the room with her toe, she sat down and stretched out her legs, glad to get off her feet.

Bashir approached her with an experienced air. "Now if memory serves, you're twelve weeks along. Correct?"

Kasidy gave a solemn nod. "Mm-hmm."

The doctor made a sound of acknowledgment, unfolding his tricorder. "Morning sickness easing a bit?"

Somewhere in the kitchen, Jake let out a wry snort. Kasidy shot an irritated glance in his direction before replying. "It's getting there."

Bashir’s brow creased in scholarly concentration. Tapping in a few commands, he passed the tricorder probe over Kasidy's belly.

"Your baby is developing on schedule. Its joints and internal organs are almost formed now." Then a new detail caught his attention, and he tipped the instrument to allow her to see the small monitor. "It's moving."

Kasidy leaned forward with a slight gasp, placing a hand on her abdomen above the slight flutter of movement shown on the screen.

Bashir smiled slightly. "Have you been able to feel it yet?"

She gave him a triumphant glance before returning her attention to her baby. "Sometimes - I think so. It's hard to tell, I'm not sure what to expect. But the point is, she's moving."

Dax frowned thoughtfully, leaning over Bashir's shoulder to glance at the readout. "How do you know it's a girl, Kasidy?"

"She's right," the doctor noted. Tapping in a new inquiry, he used one finger to point it out. "Gender characteristics are visible now."

Kasidy smiled gently. "I don't know. Just a lucky guess, I suppose."

"Well, you had a fifty-fifty chance," he quipped absently. Tapping in a few final commands, he transferred the findings to a PADD and handed it to her. "As far as I can see, you're in fine health," he said. "Don't be concerned about mood swings or a little blotching in your complexion, it's normal for this stage. Just make sure you keep eating enough."

She made a face. "Ugh. My appetite isn't too enthusiastic about that routine you have me on, Julian."

"That'll change," Bashir assured her wryly. "Trust me."

Dax grinned, still watching the tricorder readout. "Too bad Ben isn't here. He'd have a blast cooking things for you."

Kasidy laughed. "As much as he loved Cajun food? My insides would get kicked black and blue, and I'd deserve it!" Then a touch of sadness colored her smile, and she sighed, glancing lovingly at the image of her baby on the monitor. "He would love it, though." She fell silent after that, and Ezri began to sense a slight shift in the mood. "Thanks for your help, Julian," Kasidy said finally, getting carefully to her feet. "I think I'll go get a breath of fresh air." She placed the PADD on the table and walked out of the kitchen, making her way to the back door. Leaning on the frame, she gazed out to the setting sun.

Dax gazed after her thoughtfully, then got to her feet as well, touching Julian's shoulder lightly as she left the room. She joined Kasidy in the doorway, gazing down the valley to the horizon. Her voice was quiet, as if not to disturb the growing peace as evening approached.

"Are you all right?"

Kas shrugged, not taking her eyes away from the view. "Oh, I'm fine. You heard the doctor - mood swings are normal at this point."

The younger woman took in the subtle tone of her voice and nodded, understanding. "I miss him too."

Kasidy looked at her quickly, then smiled and shook her head. "Have you ever had the feeling that the whole universe has turned upside down overnight?"

Dax chuckled. "I think I perfected that one, Kasidy." Then she sighed. "It's funny. You'd think after nine lifetimes I'd be able to adjust to the scars war can leave behind."

"I don't think anyone can," came the response. There was a brief silence, and the sun slipped behind the hills at the edge of the valley. The windswept clouds overhead began to glow with the color of the sunset. Kasidy took a deep breath, smiling into the wind. "This place sure is pretty in the summer. Did you know that seven years ago, there was barely anything alive here?"

Dax gave the lush valley a surprised glance. "No, I didn't."

Kasidy nodded affirmation, gesturing. "The Cardassians hit this province pretty hard when they withdrew. I've been told that before the Occupation, all of this was fields of grain. But after the war, it had all been completely burned out."

"You wouldn't think to look at it," Dax remarked.

"That's the funny thing," Kasidy continued. "Everyone assumed the place would never recover. But they hadn't considered the seeds."

Dax looked confused. "Seeds?"

Kasidy gave a short nod, smiling. "When the fire came through here, the trees along the valley rim were singed as well. The heat caused all of the cones to open up at once. There were seeds scattered for miles. After that, it didn't take long for new grasses to take root, and the ashes had enriched the soil. Now we have a young forest where the grasslands once were."

"That's amazing," Dax responded, looking out at the dark green of the woods with a new respect.

"It is." Kasidy grinned again, warmly. "The land will never be the same place it was before the Occupation. But it survived, and now it's flourishing."

The subtle double meaning of her observation was not lost on Dax. A contented feeling eased the sadness of missing her friend, and she gave Kasidy an approving glance before turning back to the horizon. You don't need to worry about her, Benjamin, Ezri thought to the darkening sky. She's not going to give up.

Then her brow creased slightly as another one of her problems came back to mind, and she flicked her eyes over one shoulder to the shadows of the house. If only all her patients were so cooperative...

***

Bashir idly flipped his tricorder open and shut. The examination had been pretty simple - a quick series of scans, and he had all the information he needed to outline a list of things Kasidy needed to do to care for herself properly and prescribe a few medications. Now there was nothing left to do, and his only patient had left the room, leaving him alone with Jake. All at once, his professionalism was awkwardly out of place, and the silence was getting to him. Finally he placed his instruments uncertainly on the table and decided to attempt conversation.

"Hi, Jake."

From beneath the sink, Jake made a muffled sound in reply. It hung awkwardly in the air as Bashir realized he had no way to back up his approach. Idly, he picked up a tool from the floor and studied it intently. "Do you need any help?"

"No, I've got it." Jake barely lifted his head to glance up at him. Stretching out a hand, he began to fumble blindly on the floor for the tool Bashir had picked up. Oddly embarrassed, the doctor handed it back to him. "Thanks," came the reply.

"No problem."

Silence again.

Inwardly Bashir was getting annoyed at his own lack of conversation skills. Kira would be getting a kick out of this. "So... how's your writing coming along? Any new stories on the way?" "Fine." The answer came just a little too quickly and the doctor raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Finally Jake pushed himself out from underneath the sink and propped himself against a chair. He stared at a patch of pipe grease on his leg, his eyes refusing to meet Bashir's.

"Well, uh, actually I haven't really done much lately," he admitted softly.

"Why not?" Bashir asked bluntly, puzzled.

An exasperated expression flitted across Jake's face, and Bashir felt another stab of embarrassment. After all, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d fumbled up a conversation like this.

"I just… I don't feel like it right now, that's all." Jake lowering himself to his back to return his attention to the pipes.

"Oh." Julian breathed. He raised his eyebrow at the odd strain in Jake’s voice.

Jake propped himself back up on his elbows and shot Julian an angry glance. "There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"No, of course not," Bashir said uncomfortably. "I just thought - I mean, it seemed like writing was your life - for a while anyway." Why the bloody hell can’t I think of a coherent response? he wondered.

Jake smiled wryly. "Yeah, well, life changes."

You're kidding, Julian thought sarcastically. Abruptly Bashir found his mind pulled back to the past, before the war was much more than an abstract threat on the horizon, when things were much simpler. Sisko held efficient command of the station, Jadzia was still alive, his own genetic enhancements were still a carefully guarded secret - and Jake could always be found somewhere on the Promenade, often seated on the upper level with his legs dangling off the edge despite of Odo's constant warnings, jotting new character sketches on his PADD.

Bashir hadn't read much of Jake's writing in the past, he realized glumly. But he did remember that what he had read showed great promise. His brows creased as he looked at the young man in front of him, thinking back to one particular essay that was most prominent in his mind. They were preparing to leave Ajilon Prime after a ceasefire with the Klingons was instated, ending several long days of constant fear while the makeshift hospital was under siege.

Just before they prepared to beam out Jake had approached Bashir, strangely hesitant, and handed him a PADD. "I want you to read this." That was all he had said, his voice strained and quiet. And then he walked away, leaving Bashir behind him, curious and baffled.

An hour later, on the runabout, everything had become alarmingly clear. The story revealed everything about Jake's painful awakening to the realities of war, his fear in battle, and the unavoidable truth that when he and Bashir were trapped outside as the shelling started, he had panicked and bolted, leaving the doctor wounded and unconscious behind him, and the much-needed generator forgotten. It wasn't easy for Bashir to accept this fact, but even through his conflicting emotions of anger and pity, he respected the skill and courage with which Jake put his thoughts into words. Behind the deft, concise sentences Bashir could undoubtedly relate to the emotions the young man's heart had gone through during this experience, and he knew that Jake had found a clearer understanding of himself by writing them down.

Bashir sensed that it was through his writing that Jake found an outlet for his thoughts. Now, he couldn't help thinking that if Jake wasn't writing, something was definitely wrong.

All of this passed through Bashir's mind over several seconds; and a good chunk of it must have been written across his face, because Jake's gaze hardened abruptly as he looked at him.

"What?" Jake pressed loudly, exasperated by the doctor's glum, disappointing silence.

Bashir jumped, then flushed, as he realized he'd been caught staring.

"Nothing," he said quickly, then made a feeble attempt to explain himself. "I just… I think you should go back to your writing, that's all."

Jake snorted and shrugged indifferently. "Well, I don't."

"Jake." The doctor took a deep breath. He'd gotten himself into this, and now he had to blunder his way through to the end. "I know that since your father - left…"

His words were cut off with an abrupt, angry movement. Jake tossed his wrench to the floor with more force than was necessary and half rose to face him.

"That has nothing to do with anything!"

Bashir hesitated, any embarrassment for himself forgotten in a wave of increasing concern.

"I think it does," he replied after a moment, meeting his angry gaze earnestly. "Look, Jake, I understand how you feel, but it isn't right for you to shut yourself away like this…" His words trailed off again as Jake slumped back to the floor, setting his jaw stubbornly.

"You have no idea how I feel, doctor. You have no right to lecture me about what I should and shouldn't do. I have other things to do, and other things on my mind."

"I'm not..." Bashir's face tightened again, and he stared down at his hands, searching for the right words. "I'm not trying to lecture you, Jake - I'm just concerned. You're not spending enough time living your life, doing what you enjoy doing…"

Jake scowled and looked away, and Bashir gave up with a heavy sigh. Listen to me, he thought cynically. I'm starting to sound just like Ezri…

As if at the mention of her name Dax strolled back into the house, accompanied by Kasidy. Julian looked up at the pair, and was amazed by how dark the light was from the windows. The sun had all but retreated into the horizon, leaving a purple haze on a dusky sky. Kasidy turned the lights on, and Julian squinted, realizing that he and Jake had been talking in the dark the whole time.

"We didn't mean to stop the party," Ezri said playfully, leaning a hand lovingly onto Julian's shoulder.

"We were just talking," Julian muttered. "Actually, I was attempting to start a conversation and Jake was working on the pipes."

Kasidy smiled broadly. "Doctor, if you got Jake to say more than a sentence at all, it's surely another triumph to add to your list." Kasidy bent down and called into the cabinet after Jake. "Jake, honey, don't you think you've done enough for today?"

"In a minute, I just have to -- ouch!!!" He yelped, pulling himself out of the cabinet, holding a bruised finger that had already begun trickling blood.

"Are you okay?" Bashir asked, starting up to get the dermal regenerator out of the medkit.

"It's okay, I just pricked it," Jake said, sucking the finger. "I'm fine, honestly." After several seconds, Jake held up the finger, which had already ceased to bleed, and pulled himself back into the cabinet. "I just have to screw in the last couple of bolts. I think they're stripped or something though...they won't tighten."

"Well, here," Julian said quickly, "let me help." He opened the other door to the cabinet and slid in, his thin frame easily fitting into the cramped space.

"I don't think --" Jake started.

"Jake, really, two heads are better than one," Julian coaxed. "Err...or rather two pair of hands?”

Jake snorted. "You obviously never had to fix a pipe, doctor."

Kasidy and Ezri looked mischievously at each other and then at the cabinet, two pairs of long legs sprawled out on the floor. The women listened and held back laughter as best they could as the two men attempted to fix the stripped bolts.

"Ow!"

"Doctor, you're in my light! Move your head!"

"Well, move your elbow so I don't get hit with it!"

Jake made a grumbling noise and shifted slightly to get out of Bashir's way. "Okay, fine - you finish on that bolt and I'll start with this one. Wait until I'm done and then we'll turn on the pump."

After much arguing and clattering of tools, Julian announced "It's done! Ezri, could you turn the water on? Let's try it out!"

Pulling a straight face in the nick of time, Dax stepped quickly out the door. Jake suddenly sat up, banging his head on the sink's basin, and cried "Ezri, wait, I don't think I --"

Too late. Ezri had activated the pump, and water flowed up from deep within the well and through the pipes, leading into the house. As the water reached the sink's faucet, the bolts connecting the pipes under the sink gave way, sending a fountain of ice cold water streaming down on Bashir and Jake. The two men yelped from the cold and the sudden surge of water over their heads and shoulders.

Kasidy leapt back with a startled gasp, dodging Jake's frantic scrambling to escape the spray.

"What the - Ezri, turn the water off!"

It took a few seconds before Dax understood what was going on. Frantically, she slammed the switch of the pump back into position and dashed inside just as Kasidy was helping a soaked Bashir to his feet.

"Julian! What on earth happened?!"

Bashir only gave her a dumbfounded shake of the head, pushing his dripping hair away from his face. Jake, standing off to one side, thin shirt clinging soggily to his skin, regarded the doctor coolly and held up his wrench for emphasis.

"As I was saying," he stated irritably, "I wasn't done with my bolt yet. Which is why I told you to wait."

Up until this point, the two women had managed to keep straight faces, but maintaining composure while watching puddles form around the men's feet was difficult enough. Finally, this last exchange was too much. Abruptly, Dax choked, wheezed for breath, and started laughing. Kasidy lasted a few seconds longer before she joined in.

Bashir scowled at them, going a shade redder. "This isn't funny..."

"I'm sorry," Kasidy giggled helplessly. "I didn't mean... it's just...you..." Finally she gave up trying to talk and sat down in the nearest chair, practically doubling over.

In the meantime, Jake tried to hold onto his dignity, which only made Dax laugh harder. Jake scowled, mopping at his wet face with an even wetter sleeve, while Bashir only smiled tightly, embarrassed.

Finally, Kasidy sat up and gasped for breath, wiping tears from her eyes. "Well, that was exciting," she chortled gleefully. "Julian, don't worry, it's no problem! Sit tight, you two, I'll go get some towels."

"Don't bother," Jake muttered angrily. Pushing roughly past Bashir, he headed toward the main section of the house, tossing his wrench carelessly to the table as he left. "I'm going to change clothes. Thanks for your help, Doctor."

Kasidy took a perplexed step after him, her smile fading.

"Jake...!" Somewhere in the living section of the house, a door slammed.

A heavy silence fell over the three left in the room. Dax flicked a concerned glance from Kasidy to the doorway and back again. Kasidy smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry - I don't know why he's so upset..."

"It's all right," Bashir broke in quickly, almost curtly. "It was my fault anyway. I'll help you clean this up." He added the last statement as if by afterthought.

"No, I'll take care of it," Kasidy said, still somewhat confused. "Can I get you a towel or something?"

Bashir shivered. The cool night breeze coming through the windows wasn't making the clinging wet material any more comfortable.

"Don't worry about it. I'll replicate a dry uniform back on the runabout. If you don't need anything else, Kasidy..."

She shook her head. "No... that's everything, thanks. Are you sure you don't want to stay for a while longer? I could throw together some dinner."

"I think we'd better get going. Thanks anyway." Bashir gave her another forced smile, then went to gather his equipment, trying not to drip on the wood floor as he walked. "Dax, are you ready to go?"

Ezri frowned slightly at him, as if she was about to ask him something. Then she thought the better of it and shook her head.

"Go on ahead - I'll beam up in a second."

Bashir gave a muffled reply, then snapped his medkit shut and stepped to the center of the room. "I guess I'll see you later."

"Good seeing you," Kasidy said. Bashir nodded once more, then tapped his commbadge and hailed the runabout. A moment later, the transport beam swirled over him, and he vanished. Left alone, the two women exchanged baffled glances.

"What on earth was that all about?" Kasidy said, glancing at the wet floor.

"I don't know," Dax sighed. "I'm beginning to get worried about the two of them." Despite her concern, she couldn't help grinning impishly. "Although I'll probably never forget the way Julian looked with his hair plastered to his head like that..."

Kasidy laughed, if a little more quietly. "And probably never let him forget it either?"

Ezri chuckled appreciatively, then sighed again. "That's just the thing. Any other time I'd tease him about it for weeks, but these days it's just easier to leave him alone. I never know how he's going to react."

"I think I know what you mean," Kasidy murmured, glancing over her shoulder toward Jake's room. After a slight pause, she shook her head, pressing Ezri's arm warmly. "Well, I guess you don't want to keep Julian waiting up there. Thank you so much for coming."

Dax smiled, pulling her into a hug. "It was great seeing you again. Say good-bye to Jake for me. And Kasidy," she added, meeting her eyes earnestly, "please keep trying with him. Hopefully he'll be able to make it through this."

Kasidy nodded. "Same advice to you. Maybe they just need time. It can't be easy for them to adjust to so many changes."

Ezri grinned ruefully. "No, it isn't easy. It isn't easy for any of us."

***

Station Log, Stardate 4869.1: Starfleet, after months of procrastinating, has sent word that our new executive officer will arrive on the USS Normandy sometime today. Lieutenant Commander Endar Alden. While it's a relief to have someone to share the station load with the other officers and myself, it also adds to my uneasiness. So much has changed in a few short months, so many friends and enemies gone, so many new responsibilities; so much has happened it's hard to keep everything straight.

Colonel Kira Nerys paused from her log for a moment, lingering over her last words. She leaned against the frame of the wide viewport, thoughtful for a moment, gazing out at the endless points of white light peering back at her. Some of them had been discovered, but many of them were still a part of the mystery of uncharted space. They beckoned to her, promising the thrill of exploration, of discovery, of adventure.

Kira was blind to their allure. Instead, faces of her memory gazed back at her.

Sisko. O'Brien. Garak. Worf. Dukat. Winn. Damar.

Odo.

A stab of loneliness went through her as she pictured Odo's face, looked back on over seven years of memories about the one she loved. His absence was perhaps the hardest change for her to adjust to. His presence had been a constant on the station ever since she had first lived there, and it was impossible to picture life on DS9 without him. She had barely taken the time to meet the new head of security when the Bajoran government sent her as a replacement; she didn't want to see another person sitting at Odo's desk, someone who couldn't possibly do the job as well as he had. It made losing Odo seem so unshakably real.

"The new chief of security seems to be adjusting well to her post," the colonel went on slowly, pushing back her gloomy thoughts as well as she could. "Of course, security isn't as much of a threat now that the war is over, but Constable Emyn has handled what details that have come her way efficiently. I'll be expecting her to keep that level of productivity in more difficult situations. She has a high standard to keep up with."

Still deep in thought, Kira sat back at the desk and sighed. "Computer, save and end log," she said quickly.

She leaned back and reflected on the past few months. In the past eight weeks peace had transformed the station, taking away the habits so many had grown accustomed to: the weight of a phaser belt around the waist, the constant flashing red lights reminding everyone that the station was still on alert pending a Dominion invasion. The uneasy, shallow sleep in expectation of that fateful call to battle or defense. The station was so quiet now, no longer a strategic wartime outpost; the Federation space station Deep Space Nine was once again simply a normal commerce center.

Things were not completely back to normal, of course. For one thing, DS9 had become something of a religious shrine to Bajor in the past months. Bajorans often made pilgrimages to the station to see the decks the emissary once walked, the temple he often visited, to take part in his old baseball program in the holosuites. Meanwhile, refugees from war-torn regions of former Dominion space came to the station in the care of the Federation, seeking aid, and the Starfleet, Romulan, and Klingon fleets used the station as a repair site. All this on top of Starfleet's barrage of reports and manifests, etc. was beginning to bear down on the station commander.

Kira sighed, and upon noticing the white-leather, red-stitched baseball placed carefully on its black stand, reached for the ball and let it roll in her hands, passing it back and forth, her fingers gracing gently. The baseball had been Sisko's, and fiddling with it made her somehow feel closer to him, as did sitting in his former chair at his desk in his former office. It also reminded her of his promise to come back, reminding her that she was only keeping his seat -- not to mention his baseball -- warm for him.

There was a new atmosphere to the station since the Emissary had joined the Prophets. Members of the Bajoran militia spoke of Benjamin Sisko in gentle voices, mourning their loss and yet holding fast to their belief that he would return. All through the corridors there seemed to linger an unspoken conviction that when he did come back, he would find his station ready and waiting for him, well kept and efficiently run by his crew. As undeniable it was that this was a Cardassian-built station under Federation command, nearly everyone on board accepted that DS9 was owned by the Bajoran people, and they rose proudly to fulfill that status.

Smiling in spite of herself, Kira glanced down at the blue-gray material of her new uniform. Yet another change to adjust to, but this time a gratifying one. The smoother shape and hue of the Bajoran military uniform symbolized a recovery from the scars of the Occupation that filled Kira with a new hope. Bajor was healing, and would be strong enough to pull the Federation back to its feet.

Plus, she had to admit that the looser blue tunic and trousers and the sturdy, low-heeled boots were a damn sight more comfortable.

The front door's chirp snapped Kira back to reality. "Come in?"

The massive office doors parted to reveal Lieutenant Nog, Chief of Operations. The Ferengi marched into the office with the nervousness of the inexperienced and the fatigue of the seasoned. Nog had been thrust into Chief O'Brien's former position a mere two months ago, and already begun to show signs of longing for the simpler life of his crewmen, who now worked restlessly at repairing ships from the three fleets. Kira searched silently for the countenance of the young, mischievous boy she'd had thrown into the brig so many times only seven years earlier, but all she could find was a proud, mature and responsible young man whom she worried even still might not yet be capable of taking up the chief's huge mantle.

Only time will tell, Kira thought.

"What can I do for you, Lieutenant?" she said curtly.

"Sir, the USS Normandy has arrived," he replied. "They are dropping off one of our new officers. A Lt. Commander Endar Alden?" Nog looked slightly curious, checking his PADD to be sure of the name.

Kira bolted from her chair. "Already? I wasn't expecting them here so soon." She moved quickly to the door. "Mr. Nog, tell the Normandy they are approved for docking."

"Actually, sir, the Normandy will not be staying. They've been called to away to the Beta Lankal System. The Normandy has asked to beam Commander Alden over so they can be on their way."

"Permission granted."

Kira strode to the transporter platform, calming her emotions in expectation of her new first officer. Concentrating on staying relaxed, she tugged at the fabric of her new uniform. There's nothing to be nervous about, she told herself sternly. This is going to be a wonderful experience for you.

"The Normandy is ready, sir. Energizing," Nog declared from the transporter controls at his station.

All at once the transporter gathered a pillar of golden particles of light, which shimmered and swirled about until they faded and all that was left was a man.

He was about average height and slender, with cropped-cut dark blond hair and violet eyes that seemed to peer into the soul and make a person feel quite uneasy. He stood stiff in his red Starfleet uniform, a carryall bag slung over his shoulder. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the disorientation of transport to fade; then he opened them slowly and gazed from one side of Ops to the other, drinking in his new home. He wore a look of indifference, his eyes and mouth displaying neither wonder nor disgust, excitement nor boredom, but seemed almost cool and emotionless, save from the serenity that seemed to emanate from him. It reminded Kira of the first time she had met Jadzia Dax.

Kira smiled, trying to maintain a balance between authority and friendliness, and stepped forward. "Lt. Commander Alden, welcome to Deep Space Nine."

Alden looked at Kira with an intensity that seemed to dissipate her carefully maintained composure with one glance. I feel like he can see right through me, she thought suddenly, trying not to frown back at him. He knows I'm nervous.

Alden looked Kira up and down then let his head drop to the side in an almost android-like fashion. "Colonel Kira Nerys? I've read your profile."

You're not kidding, she thought quietly. She couldn't put her finger on what it was, but he seemed so eerie...

By then Nog had made his way from his post in engineering to Kira's side. Nog cleared his throat, jarring Kira back to reality. Kira looked down at Nog. "This is the station chief engineer, Lieutenant Nog. He'll be escorting you on a tour of your new --"

"Thank you, Colonel, but I would much rather be taken to my quarters. It's been a long trip and I'd like to get settled in," Alden said curtly, his eyes roving about Ops, not at all interested at what Kira was telling him.

Kira paused for just a second, concentrating on keeping her smile firmly in place.

"Well, I'm sure Mr. Nog can help you with that. You can get settled and then I'd like you to come by my office so I can clue you in on what you'll be doing specifically."

Her words were casual, but she was beginning to feel more than a little uneasy about his unshakable indifference. All at once she felt a sudden need to get out of the range of those strange eyes and pull her muddled thoughts together. Gesturing quickly to Nog, she gave Endar Alden a parting nod and retreated to her office.

While Nog busied himself with getting crew to take up Alden's luggage, Kira let the heavy doors close behind her. She didn't like the way this knew officer made her feel. Not at all. And she wondered how she would deal with his smug, reserved attitude. Kira fell back in her chair with a sigh, and then realized that the entire time she still had Sisko's ball in her hand. She balanced it lightly on the tips of her fingers, then rolled it between her palms idly, as she had watched Sisko done so many times. She wondered how he would've handled Alden. Leaning her head back on her chair, she closed her eyes and opened a new log entry.

"Station Log, Supplemental: Lt. Commander Endar Alden has arrived to take my former position as station executive officer. Time will tell if he is worthy of the position, but I can not tell at this time." Then her eyes opened slowly, and she turned her chair to gaze out at the stars, shining cold and distant beyond the window. "I already do not feel comfortable about him."

Chapter Two