Part 8: The Shock

Odo and Dietzbader crouched in the shadows of a deserted maintenance nook in Docking Bay 35T, watching as the Hunter and his Jem'Hadar escorts mounted the ramp and disappeared into the ship.

"I wish you'd tell me how you snuck onto that ship," Odo said, still smarting a bit that he'd been stuck waiting impotently in this corner while Dietz planted the device. He knew that logically it was far easier for one person to sneak aboard than two, that without his shapeshifting abilities he wouldn't be much help, and that he didn't know anything about the device and therefore Dietz *should* be the one to go but it still smarted.

"Trade secret," Dietz said. "I've been an outlaw a long time, Stretch."

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

Dietz shrugged. "It's a term we sometimes use for Changelings. I've never known one long enough to use it to their face...but I mean it as an affectionate nickname," he said, chucking Odo on the shoulder and dropping a wink.

Odo snorted. "Affectionate nicknames are something I'm accustomed to."

"Is that so?"

"Back on DS9 I'm often called 'Constable.' It's an archaic Earth term for a local law enforcement officer." He smiled to himself. "Actually...Kira was the first person to call me that, although at the time she didn't mean it affectionately."

Dietz regarded Odo with an expression something like wonder. "A Changeling who's found love *and* a community of friends? You keep surprising me, Odo."

Odo glanced at him. "That's 'Stretch' to you, Dietz." He straightened a bit. "They're preparing for takeoff."

"Let's get out of here. We should leave as soon as possible. My ship is docked not too far from here." They slipped out of the bay and into the labyrinthine passageways. Odo, his sense of direction confounded by this place's architecture, surrendered navigation to Dietz, who seemed to know his way.

"It's in bay 35T!" Briggs shouted at Kira, trying to read her tricorder despite the endless jostling on the back of this lumbering behemoth.

"That's not where he landed!"

"No, this is a different ship! The landing transport he arrived on is gone, the warship must have left!" Briggs squinted at the detector. "He's on board!"

"We're almost there!" Kira hauled their mount around a corner and into the docking area...where a long wall loomed ahead of them, a gate set into the center. It was unguarded but locked...probably required a docking clearance code for entrance and egress. SOP, really. Kira started to slow the creature.

"No, keep going!" Briggs shouted. "It'll take too long to hotwire the damn thing! Let's see what's left of my aim!" Kira trusted Briggs by now, so she kept up the gallop and the wall drew nearer and nearer. Briggs' arms appeared on either side of Kira's face, a gun in each hand...Kira's mind noted absently that she held her guns sideways, parallel to the ground, and wondered if that position were better somehow. Despite the animal's rolling and quaking the arms were steady. Kira felt rather than heard four of those spits again. She saw sparks fly off the wall on either side of the gate where the two locking mechanisms were but the gate remained closed. She heard Briggs curse and then felt her take a deep breath. More spits in rapid succession...this time two struck home. The locks blew out and the gate slid open just in time for them to gallop through. Kira was marginally aware of someone somewhere shouting something as they passed but she was looking for the bay markers. She headed for the 35's.

It took all of her strength to haul back on the reins hard enough to stop the animal when they reached bay 35T but it eventually screeched to a halt, foam dripping from its muzzle. Kira and Briggs jumped down and ran into the bay just as the Jem'Hadar scout ship lifted off the ground, dust rising in clouds beneath its atmospheric engines.

Kira started to run into the bay's open floor as the ship rose into the sky but Briggs held her back. "They'll see you! We don't know who's in control up there!"

Kira stopped. "Dammit! Come on, we've got to get to the runabout. We can beam him off if we're quick about it. They can't raise shields until they clear the..." That was as far as she got before the scout ship exploded in the sky above Araf Galnac, showering debris and fiery trails onto the dome of the outpost's shielding. Briggs sucked in her breath, cold horror and disappointment washing over her, but some part of her pragmatist's mind had expected something like this.

Kira just stared for a moment, her face white and shocked, then she stumbled a few steps forward. Briggs could see her chest heaving from where she stood. "Noooo!" Kira screamed at the indifferent sky, her arms reaching instinctively upwards as if she could pluck him back from oblivion. She fell to her knees in the dust and her head dropped to her chest. Briggs hurried forward and grabbed her.

"Kira, we have to get out of here. It's not gonna take them long to find us." Kira's body was almost dead weight as Briggs dragged her to her feet, gritting her teeth against the pain in her shoulders and arms. The Bajoran's head lolled on her neck, always trying to keep looking upwards at the sky, as she reluctantly stumbled along with Briggs.

"Odo," she murmured. "No...we can't leave without him..."

Briggs stopped, took Kira by the shoulders and shook her once, hard. "He's dead, Kira! Dead!" Her heart ached as she watched Kira flinch away from the words, but they had the desired effect. Her brown eyes came back into focus, full of her familiar steel. "We have to leave, now!" She could hear alarms warbling in the background and even fancied she could hear approaching feet. Kira cast another look skyward. The cloud of smoke from the scout ship was still visible, and debris was burning in the shields like glowing orange stars out of place in the daytime sky. She swallowed hard, once, then nodded curtly, stepping close to Briggs. "Briggs to Congo, two to beam up." They disappeared in the matter stream as the Docking Control officials burst into the bay, guns raised.

Odo and Dietz were several hundred meters away when it blew. Dietz didn't spare it a second glance...you've seen one exploding Jem'hadar ship, you've seen 'em all...but Odo stopped and stared upward, transfixed.

"Odo! Hey, Stretch! Tempus fugit, buddy! DC will be around and we don't have a docking clearance yet!" Odo stood there in the middle of the passageway as if he hadn't heard a word while Dietz beckoned to him from a branching corridor twenty meters away. "Oh, bollocks," he muttered as he heard the approaching footsteps of the Docking Control officers who would be searching the area for unauthorized stragglers in the aftermath of the explosion.

Odo barely heard Dietz' supplications. He was mesmerized by the burning cinders falling from the sky and a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of what he'd done, or rather had allowed to be done. He was accustomed to violence, but mostly of the non-lethal sort...and the death of a Changeling at his hands, albeit indirectly, still had the power to paralyze him. He heard footfalls nearby and looked around for Dietz...then he was grabbed by a long, golden, de-solidified Changeling arm and yanked into the corridor out of sight. For a shocked second he was sure the Hunter had escaped, that he'd somehow found him and would now take him back...but no one was there but Dietz, looking very put out. "Come on, you," he said, taking off down the corridors. Odo had no choice but to follow or be left behind.

After what seemed an eternity of running through a maze of passages of varying width, lighting and length they came out into another docking area. Dietz slowed to a casual walk as if he had every right to be there. Odo followed a few steps behind, feeling conspicuous in his Jem'Hadar exterior, but there were very few people around and those that were didn't spare them a second glance. Dietz led him to a docking bay where there was berthed a mean, fast-looking skimmer ship. It was pretty heavily armed and shielded. "Your ship?" Odo said.

Dietz nodded as he keyed in the access codes. The gangplank lowered and they boarded the ship. Odo breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind them...perhaps they would live to fight another day after all. Dietz motioned him into the copilots seat as he contacted Docking Control. "DC, this is Nam Dietzbader, docking code 2348Y requesting clearance to launch."

A brief pause. "2348Y you are cleared to launch on vector 23 mark 158."

Dietz entered the launch vector and fired up the engines. Odo could feel them thrumming through his feet. The ship lifted off the ground and streaked into the sky. "You don't know where we're going," Odo pointed out.

"Away from here is a good enough start," Dietz muttered as the ship left orbit.

Odo shook his head, amazed. "You're a Changeling," he said.

Dietz pointed a finger at him. "Now *that* is between us, got it?"

"Of course...but why didn't you tell me?"

"It's on a strictly need-to-know basis...well, you didn't need to know."

"Why didn't the Hunter read you?"

Dietz looked at him and sighed, seeming a bit nonplussed to have to be spilling all his secrets. "I wear a disc, just like yours, but mine is tailored to my own specific energy signature so I can wear it indefinitely and it doesn't keep me from shapeshifting." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, tweezer-like instrument. "Speaking of which...c'mere." Odo leaned towards him and Dietz pressed the instrument to his chest. Odo felt the disc being pulled out of him and then it slid through his flesh into the instrument. With a sigh of relief, Odo morphed into his usual form. "Welcome back."

Odo stretched his arms a bit, forming and reforming them. "I need to regenerate soon."

"Just tell me where we're going then you can go in back for a snooze."

Odo closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Which is nearer, Beta Eridon or Gatlick II?"

"Gatlick II."

"Then we're going there. There's a...colony on the southern continent..."

"Yes, I know it." Dietz set the course and then the cockpit lights dimmed. Odo looked around, surprised.

"This ship has a cloaking device?"

Dietz chuckled. "I've accumulated a lot of handy little items in my life," he said. He activated the warp engines and the stars outside streaked into the familiar kaleidoscope of hyperlight travel.

Odo stood up, too tired to engage Dietz further...for the moment. "We have a lot to talk about," he said.

"Indeed. I'm still waiting to hear what this mission is that you're so bent on completing."

"And, no doubt, the exact cut and fit of Kira's uniform."

"Well, that goes without saying."

Odo contemplated the back of Dietz' blue head for a moment. "Don't you need to regenerate?"

"Oh no. I only need to revert about once a week."

"Really? How can you last that long?"

"You're only what, fifty years old? You're just a baby. When you get to be as old as me you'll only have to regenerate once a week too."

Odo was bursting with questions but they'd have to wait. He was about to lose his shape out of exhaustion. He went into the rear of the ship and found a surprisingly well-equipped and laid out vessel. Science stations, a small laboratory, even a living area clearly meant for humanoids...but there was an odd depression in the middle of the floor underneath a table that was too conveniently shaped to be a coincidence. Odo slid into it with a tired sigh and soon fell into uneasy dreams.

The runabout warped towards the wormhole on autopilot, the silence inside its cockpit like a heavy, sodden blanket. Kira sat slumped at the controls while Briggs slowly and methodically checked, cleaned and put away her weapons and tools. Neither had said a word since leaving the planet.

"Remember when I told you the worst thing that had happened to me on the job was being interrogated by the Obsidian Order?" Briggs finally said. Kira turned slowly to face her. Briggs didn't look up, her gaze fixed on her tools as she spoke. "Well, I lied."

"What then?" Kira asked, her voice hoarse.

Briggs' hands moved automatically, her motions and her entire posture one of detachment. "I had to watch as my husband was executed," she said flatly.

Kira shut her eyes. "Oh, Nora..." she breathed. "They made you watch?"

Briggs shook her head, her eyes still on her tasks. "No, you don't understand." She sighed, her hands pausing momentarily. "I was on a long-term deep cover assignment in the Orion syndicate. We had intelligence that they were planning...well, something that would have been disastrous for the entire quadrant. At a prearranged time, another agent was going to enter the scenario as a Terran middleman, to spring the trap that would stop the Orion's plans. That other agent was my husband. Harry London was his name." Her voice was steady as a metronome. "He was caught. It wasn't his fault, he did everything right...it was just bad luck. He was brought forward to be executed, and since I was a member of the Orion Council by then, I had to watch...and watch as if I were enjoying it and approved." Kira stared at her, stricken. Briggs swallowed. "I could have saved him, it wouldn't have been hard...but it would have exposed me and ruined the operation. I still had a chance to bring down the syndicate's plans if I preserved my cover. He was willing to die to make sure the syndicate didn't succeed...and so I had to let him, because I honored what he stood for." She snapped her weapons case closed and shut her eyes, drawing a deep, shaky breath. "I stood there with a drink in my hand and laughed and joked with the other council members while they strapped him into the execution chair...and I clapped and cheered when they cut his head off." She picked up the case and slid it onto the shelf, her motions a bit more forceful than might have been necessary. "I left as quickly as possible, went back to my quarters and vomited until I passed out." She took off her jacket and sat down in the copilot's chair, meeting Kira's eyes for the first time. "I'm not telling you this so you'll feel sorry for me. I made the choice and I can live with it." She reached out and grasped Kira's fingers. "I'm telling you because I want you to know that I understand what it means to lose the man you love right in front of your eyes."

Kira gripped Nora's hand tightly, shaking her head. "I...I can't think about it right now, it's too much. It's too huge," she managed. She pressed her other hand to her forehead for a moment, then turned back to the controls. "I just want to go home," she whispered.

Briggs nodded. "Me too."

Odo came back into the cockpit, feeling much refreshed after an hour's regeneration. "How long till we get to Gatlick?"

"Four hours," Dietz replied, looking up from the book he was reading. "Have a nice rest?"

Odo sighed, sitting down in the copilot's chair. "I had unsettling dreams, but yes."

"I guess that's not surprising." He tossed the book into a basket beneath the console. "So...I believe you were going to tell me about this mission we're on?"

"You first," said Odo.

Dietz nodded, his lips pursed. "I was afraid you were going to say that. What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"I'll give you the short version, okay?" Odo nodded. "I'm 634 years old. I left the Link permanently when I was 213 and have been living apart from it ever since."

"Why did you..."

"I'm getting to that. As you know, the oldest Founders stay in the Link all the time, but the younger ones are the ones who are sent into the universe to carry out Dominion business. I was one of the ones who was frequently sent to deal with problems that arose involving individuals...traitors, spies, etc. In all of this work, I was the perfect little cookie-cutter Changeling, no different than any other. Then I met someone...a Bajoran, actually."

Odo stared. "How is that possible?"

"She was captain of a science vessel that had mysteriously ended up in the Gamma Quadrant...they were investigating the odd navigational readings in the Denorious Belt and, I'm sure, happened upon the wormhole and ended up stranded here. Their ship was badly damaged and was picked up by the Jem'Hadar. I was sent to retrieve the captain for interrogation about her quadrant and her people. We were en route back to the homeworld when we were attacked...I was never sure by whom, as I was down in the holding area with the Bajoran captain when it happened. Most of the crew died, the ship was incapacitated. I was trapped down in that holding cell for seven days with that woman. Her name was Litan Meru."

"Meru?" Odo said, surprised.

Dietz nodded. "So?"

"That's Kira's mother's name," Odo said.

Dietz shrugged. "Small cosmos, I guess. At first we just sat there and stared at each other, then she began to talk. You know how Bajoran women are." Odo chuckled. "Yes, I do."

"She grilled me mercilessly. Who was I, what were my people like. The more I told her, the less she liked it. She interrogated me on why the Founders thought they were superior, how we got off imposing ourselves on others, on and on and on. I had an answer for everything, but basically they were all the same answer..."

"The Founders are the supreme life form, that excuses everything," Odo finished.

"There ya go, you're down with it. Anyway, her arguments were very convincing but it's hard to overcome eight millenia of arrogant superiority. Finally, a few hours before we were finally rescued, she said to me: 'Do you love?' I didn't know what to say, I didn't know what she meant. In the Link, there is no love, there's no need for it. I told her I didn't know what that was, but that anything a mere solid could experience was nothing compared to the Link. She said, 'Does the Link make you feel like you could fly?' I told her that I *could* fly, if I chose. She said, 'Well, I can't...but love can make me believe that I can and even feel like I am.' I asked her to tell me more, and she did. She told me about her husband, who had died in an accident a few years before. She told me about her family and friends and all the different ways there were to love other people, and how it could make you feel like there was something outside yourself that was worth living for and even dying for. When she asked me what there was in the Link that was like that, I was stumped. There was nothing. I was stunned that the solids had something that we lacked, and by the time the rescue ship arrived to take her into custody, I'd had my perceptions badly shaken up."

Odo was hanging on Dietz' every word. "What did you do?"

"Nothing, right away. I wanted to return to the Link...I knew I'd find an escape there...but something held me back. I heard she was being moved to the interrogation center, where I knew what would be done to her...and that she'd be disposed of when they were finished. I was amazed to discover that I couldn't let her die. So I broke her out of her holding cell, stole a ship and ran away. I told her that I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it, but I was counting on her to help me figure it out. She did."

"Did you love her?" Odo asked.

"Not in the way you mean. Meru and I were the best of friends. We traveled together until she died a natural death of old age many years later, but we were never involved in that way. We became active in the resistance, never revealing my identity. It was Meru who designed my original disc to conceal my energy signature. Everything I know about goodness, nobility, and courage I owe to her. I miss her every day," he said, blinking. "After she died, I continued to be active in the resistance. I'd assume an identity, age myself accordingly, then at the appropriate time fake my own death and return with a new form and a new name and resume my work."

"Don't you miss the Link?"

"Of course. A child misses its nursery, that doesn't mean it's going to stay there forever."

Odo regarded his surprising companion. "That's an amazing story, Dietz."

"I guess. Now, about this mission."

"Of course." Odo folded his hands on the console. "What I'm about to tell you may come as a shock. I know it shocked the hell out of me..."

Part 9: The Aftermath

Kira watched the bay doors close over the runabout, fetching a sigh as they locked and the bay lights came up. Briggs had already beamed her equipment to her quarters...some of it would be a little hard to explain. The two women rose wordlessly and headed for the hatch. Kira paused in front of the airlock door, earning a questioning look from Briggs. On sudden impulse, she reached out and embraced the lieutenant tightly, needing contact with this woman who had shared so much with her and done so much for her...and she understood without having to be told that once they walked through that door, whatever magic spell had brought them together on this mission would be broken and it would never be the same.

Briggs hugged her back, feeling the sharp blade of her own isolation. They separated and nodded to each other.

Kira opened the door and they started down the airlock corridor. She could see at the far end the gathered officers waiting to meet them...Dax, Sisko, Bashir. She steeled herself as she and Briggs drew nearer. The door slid open and Dax stepped up, holding her arms out to Kira with a relieved but infinitely sad expression on her face. Kira felt her chest loosen...she couldn't have imagined until that moment how glad she would be to see Jadzia. She came into her embrace gratefully, feeling some of the immense burden of this mission and this entire situation slide off her shoulders. From now on, at least for a little while, she would not be the one in charge or the one forced into impossible decisions...she would just be a woman in mourning. "Oh Nerys..." Dax murmured into her ear. "I'm so sorry."

Kira drew back, surprising herself at how calm she was. "Jadzia," she said, managing a small smile. "It's..." Words failed her. "It's like a nightmare."

Two tears slipped from Dax' eyes and ran down her cheeks. "Thank goodness you're all right," she said hoarsely, her words tinged with grief for one who was not.

Julian stepped forward and hugged Kira as Sisko greeted Briggs. "Lieutenant, welcome back."

"Thank you, sir." She shook his hand, then Dax's...then moved back. Most of their attention should be focused on Kira.

"Nerys," Sisko said, stepping forward...he'd been agonizing over what to say to her ever since they had come back through the wormhole and called Ops with the news. "I can't begin to say how sorry I am...we all are." He would have continued, but Kira raised a hand, her face torn in several directions: angry, miserable and exhausted.

"Captain, please. I appreciate the sentiment...but I hope you'll understand when I say that unless we're on duty, I don't want to see you or talk to you for a while. Got it?" The strain came through a bit on the last words.

Sisko nodded, although clearly hurt. "I understand." He turned to Bashir. "Take them to sickbay and check them over." He glanced at Dax and left.

"Don't say it," Kira said to Jadzia's tentatively reproachful look. "I know that he isn't to blame for all of this...but right now my feelings aren't listening to reason." Dax nodded and slipped an arm around her shoulders as the four of them started down the hallway towards the turbolift.

"Good Lord! How on Earth did you manage to rupture every single ligament and muscle in both shoulders?!?" Julian exclaimed. Kira and Briggs exchanged a look.

"Long story, Doc," Briggs said. "A rather...ad libbed prison break."

"Well, you're going to be sore for a few days even with regenerative therapy."

"Sore I can handle."

Kira sat on the edge of the biobed as a nurse ran a tricorder over her. Dax stood in front of her, one hand protectively on her leg. She spoke in low tones. "Just so you're prepared,there'll be debriefings..."

"Until I want to shoot someone, I know," Kira finished.

"You'll probaby get away easily, his mission really didn't involve you...and I doubt they'll be all that interested in the details of your experiences."

Kira sighed, shaking her head. "Prophets...it's all so senseless. He'd succeeded, he was almost there..."

Dax leaned closer. "Someday it will help you to know that he died trying to come home...not home to the Link, but home to you," she said.

"Perhaps, Jadzia, perhaps..." She looked away. "But all I know right now is that he was wonderful and amazing and I loved him and he's dead...and that doesn't help." She put her hands over her face. "Odo's dead," she repeated, more forcefully, as if trying to shock herself into believing it. Briggs and Bashir looked over at her, worried expressions on their faces. Kira dropped her hands and met Dax's gaze squarely, her eyes dry. "He's dead and I have to accept it...and I don't know how I'm going to do that." She hopped down and went over to Briggs. "Are you going to be okay, Nora?" she asked.

Briggs smiled. "No sweat, Major. I'll just let the Doc finish up here then go to my quarters. Captain told me to take the day off."

Kira could feel...more than feel, she could *see*...the shift. Section 31 assassin, meet Lt. Briggsie. Now scram...till we need you again. She nodded. "Good work, Lieutenant. I'll see you later."

"10-4, sir."

Kira and Dax walked out of sickbay down the Promenade towards the habitat ring turbolift. Kira became gradually aware of many pairs of eyes following her as she went by...it didn't escape Dax' notice either. "The news spread pretty quickly, Nerys. Brace yourself for a lot of condolences."

Kira looked around at the sad faces. Many of them smiled sympathetically at her, bowed their heads, mouthed brief prayers in her direction. "That's okay," she said quietly. "I don't have to brace myself. He was admired and cared for by many people on this station. Anything they have to say to me I'll be glad to hear." Dax slipped her arm through Kira's and they walked together down the hushed Promenade, neither of them looking into the office where Lt. Saunderson now sat, wondering how he was ever going to fill a shapeshifter's shoes.

Kira returned to duty the next day, over Sisko's protests. She hoped getting back to her daily routine would help her jump-start her existence, which seemed stuck in neutral.

The first day went without incident. The Captain gave her a wide berth out of respect for her disinclination to see him. Dax, to Kira's great relief, treated her normally, as did the other officers...but she could sense their pitying looks and whispers when they thought she wouldn't notice.

She was working her way methodically through a stack of blessedly numbing docking reports when the Chief tapped her on the shoulder. "You're coming over for dinner tonight, Nerys, make no mistake," he said with a smile she couldn't help but return.

"Oh, Miles, I..."

"Keiko and I both want you to...and neither one of us will take no for an answer," he said. Kira somehow managed to keep a composed expression even though that phrase hit her like a wrecking ball.

"Then I better say yes," she heard herself say. The universe is determined to make me relive every moment, she thought to herself as Miles left, mission accomplished. Her eyes fell closed and she took a deep breath, then returned to the docking reports.

"Aunt Nerys! You're back!"

"Oof!" was the first sound out of Kira's mouth as she entered the O'Brien's quarters and was struck by the hurtled projectile of eight-year-old who flung herself into her arms. "Hi, sweetie!" she said, a genuine smile touching her lips for the first time in what felt like years as she kissed the little girl, whom she loved almost as much as if she were her own child. She put Molly down and smiled to Keiko, who came forward to embrace her, swiping a hand across her red eyes. Kira sat on the couch and pulled little Yoshi onto her lap, cooing to him and plantinga kiss on his chubby cheek. He grinned at her well-known voice and clung to her happily, gurgling up at her and batting his hand against her face.

Keiko sat down next to her while Miles busied himself getting everyone a nice cup of tea. That was the Miles O'Brien cure for what ails you...a nice cup of tea. "How are you holding up?" Keiko asked, sotto voce, her eyes full of the sympathy that can only be felt by someone who knows all too well that there but for the kindness of fate goes she.

Kira sighed. "I don't think I even know the answer to that...I'm just numb." Keiko nodded and grasped her hand. Kira felt herself beginning to relax in this familiar, cozy setting where she had spent so much time. The O'Briens had treated her...and she couldn't help but feeling...like she were a part of their family. She let her head fall back against the sofa and her eyes slip shut. Keiko took Yoshi onto her own lap as Miles slipped a cup of ginger tea into Kira's hand. "I keep seeing it," she said hoarsely. "Every time I close my eyes I see that explosion..." Keiko ran a comforting hand along her shoulder.

At that moment Molly bounced up to lean against Kira's knees. "Aunt Nerys, why didn't you bring Odo with you? Last time he turned into a dog for me to play with!" Kira smiled to herself...so that's where those two had disappeared to while she and the O'Briens were stuck clearing the table. "He told me next time it would be a cat!"

"Oh, Molly..." Miles began. Keiko tried to pull her away and shush her, a stricken look on her face, but Kira shook her head at them and mouthed that it was okay. She drew the little girl onto her lap.

"I'm sorry, Molly. I wish I could bring him with me but I can't."

"Why not?"

"Well..." Kira swallowed and looked uncertainly at Keiko, who nodded to her to go ahead and tell the truth. "Honey, Odo's dead."

Molly looked up into Kira's face, her eyes big and full of questions. "He died?" Her face grew cautious and sad. "Like Missy?"

Kira nodded. Missy was Ensign Martinez, a young officer who had also done quite a bit of babysitting for Molly before Yoshi was born. She had been killed in a Dominion attack very early in the war. "Yes, like Missy. He went on an important trip, and he was trying to come home and there was an...an accident."

Molly nodded, her little face heavy with a wisdom of death beyond her years, then solemnly put her arms around Kira and hugged her. "I know you liked him, Aunt Nerys. I bet that makes you sad." Keiko stifled a sob against the back of her hand.

Kira hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. "It sure does, sweetie."

"It makes me sad, too. I'd sure like to see him again."

"So would I, Molly," Kira managed over the lump in her throat. "So would I."

"Did you look over the new crew rotations?"

"Yes, I did. They look fine...you're keeping Lt. Briggs on night duty?"

Kira frowned. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I?"

Dax shrugged. "Well, I just thought you might want to give her a better assignment, since she..."

"Risked her life to help me? The thought crossed my mind, but the truth is she likes the night shift. She's best kept where she is."

"If you say so." They were sitting at the Ops central console near Kira's station, going over numerous PADDs of the bureaucratic paperwork that a station of this size necessitated. They worked in silence for a few minutes.

"Say what's on your mind, Dax," Kira finally said. Jadzia jumped.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you've been stealing little glances at me for the last five minutes and you keep clearing your throat. You got something you wanna say? Say it."

Dax sighed. "Nerys, it's been a week now. Isn't it time to think about organizing a memorial service?"

Kira studiously shuffled her PADDs, her lips pursed. "No. Not yet."

"I can't tell you how many people have called up here to ask when it's going to be. People want to pay their respects, they need closure. Frankly, so do I. Can you tell me what it is we're waiting for?" she asked gently.

"I'm just not ready, okay?" Kira said, more sharply than she had intended to.

Dax' face fell. "Will you ever really be ready?" she whispered.

Kira looked at her sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nerys, I'm worried about you!" Jadzia exclaimed. "You won't talk to me, you won't talk to anyone, you work insanely long hours, you spend all your off time alone in your quarters...what are you hiding from?"

"Don't tell me how to deal with my own grief, Jadzia!"

"That's just it, you're not *dealing* with it at all. You're going through the motions as fast as you can trying to avoid any contact with a world that's no longer complete!" She stopped, feeling she'd said too much, and lowered her voice. "Nerys, I've been where you are more than once, don't ever think I haven't, but this isn't any good, it just isn't." She peered at Kira's profile, the first officer's gaze still fixed solidly on her paperwork. "You need to let yourself feel it, you need closure just as much as everyone else. You need a good cry."

Kira shook her head. "I'm not much for crying."

"Not ever?"

"Oh, once in a while. The Accessional Rites always get me teary-eyed. Weddings, of course."

"Then why not for Odo?"

"Wouldn't bring him back, would it?" she said sharply.

"No. But it might bring *you* back."

Kira stared at her for a moment, then sat down on her stool. "I've tried, but I can't do it, Jadzia. I...I'm afraid that..."

"That...?"

Kira sighed. "That if I start I'll just never stop."

Briggs fingered the silky resiliency of a new bolt of material on Garak's rack, wondering how much he'd gouged the price on this one. "Lieutenant!" came the glibly gleeful greeting. "How nice to see you, and looking so well!"

"How's business, Elim?" Nora said casually.

"Oh, couldn't be better." He sobered. "So terrible about our dear Constable. He was one of the only truly unique individuals I ever had the pleasure of meeting."

"I didn't know him very well."

"Well, I did and I considered it a privilege. I daresay the lovely Major isn't looking at all well these days."

Briggs fixed him with a flat stare. "She's just lost the man she loved, Garak. Cut her some slack."

"Of course," Garak sighed, looking genuinely sorry.

Briggs sighed and strolled around the shop, her hands clasped behind her back. "Interesting trip we took, though."

"Was it, now?"

She shrugged. "Got to use that new crouch-spin kick you showed me."

"On who?"

"Few Jem'Hadar. Worked, too."

"I told you it would. I heard that you had the most interesting shoulder injuries when you returned." He gave her an arch look. "I thought you weren't going to try that again."

"It wasn't as if I had a whole host of other appealing options," she said. "Anyway, it worked this time. Hurt like hell, though."

"I'm sure." They contemplated each other over the cutting table. "How much did you tell her?" he asked mock-casually.

Briggs sighed and idly toyed with a pair of shears. "Too much, probably. The situation seemed to call for it."

Garak picked up a bolt of fabric and began rolling it up for storage. "You're far too conversational for your own good, Nora. It's your worst failing. You just don't stop to think."

"You didn't think it was a failing when it worked in your favor."

"Naturally. But it would be a shame if Major Kira became an...extraneous variable, shall we say, to Section 31? You know their usual knee-jerk response."

Briggs smirked at him. "Far better than you do, Garak. I can handle it."

"Can you?"

She leaned over the cutting table, her eyes twinkling. "Let's not forget that it is only due to my good graces that you yourself are not considered an extraneous variable."

"I'm not frightened of you, Nora," Garak said with a laugh.

She shrugged, her trademark smile warming her features. "Oh yes...you are." She quirked her eyebrows at him and left the shop. Garak slid the bolt of cloth back onto the rack and followed her progress down the Promenade until she left his field of vision, silently cursing the day that Section 31 had decided to station a discretionary free agent here. When he'd been in the Order, DFA's were the only people they were all ordered not to mess with unless absolutely necessary. He did enjoy Nora's company...they'd had a number of very stimulating conversations over the years...but it was like having a mostly-tame shark in your swimming pool. You could never quite stop looking over your shoulder to check for the fin.

Ben Sisko had decided he'd had enough, he was going to sit down and read a book and paperwork be damned. A nice juicy mystery, perhaps one of those Hammer novels that Odo had...

He stopped in the act of turning the first page, the sadness catching him by surprise, as it always seemed to. It would be a long time before this place felt right without Odo.

The door chime sounded. Swallowing his annoyance at being interrupted in this first bit of respite he'd had in days, he called out "Come in!" The door opened and he was surprised...no, more like shocked...to see Kira standing there. He stood up, the book falling to the couch. "Major. Come in, please."

She came in, her hands behind her back and her face averted. She had the look of a woman on an unpleasant errand. "Captain, may we speak?"

"Of course," he said. "Sit down."

She did so, but still looked uncomfortable as she sat there examining her fingertips. "Benjamin...I should apologize for the way I've treated you throughout this entire thing."

"There's no need to apologize, Nerys."

"I blamed you and it wasn't warranted. I'm...glad you understand." She sighed.

"That's not why you came here, though," Ben said on a hunch. She shook her head. She still hadn't looked him in the face. "I remember, when Jenny died," he began cautiously, "I started spending a lot of time with our science officer. We'd been friends in a casual way...but her husband had died of Arqualian encephalitis."

Kira looked into Sisko's eyes, unsure what she'd see there. If she'd seen polite interest, or friendly sympathy, or sadness...she would have thanked him, gotten up and left. But she didn't. She saw complete understanding, with no expectations, and it was very welcome. "And to think there was a time that I actually thought you were insensitive," she said.

"Sometimes you just need to be with someone who's been there."

She nodded, more relieved than she could say.

...four hours later...

"Then what?" Benjamin asked, leaning forward with his chin on his hand. They'd abandoned the furniture and were both sitting cross-legged at the coffee table, big bowls of ice cream with all the toppings melting in front of them. "You can't leave me hanging like that!"

Kira wiped a bit of chocolate sauce off her chin, slurping up another big spoonful. "I won't," she said with numb lips. "So anyway we sit down and he pulls out this flat package he's been carrying around all night and says, 'Happy Anniversary.'"

"Awww! He got you a present?"

She nodded. "Yeah, can you believe it? I hadn't even remembered we were *having* an anniversary until he told me."

"So what was the present?"

She looked off into the distance...or rather, the past...with a dreamy smile on her face. "It was a really lovely necklace. I was amazed."

"I bet." Sisko grinned, stirring his ice cream into mush. "I think Jenny gave me the best present on our second anniversary."

"What was it?"

"Jake."

"Hmm. Yes, I'd say that was better than a new shirt." She set down her spoon and wiped her lips. "You know what the strange thing is, Ben?"

"What?"

"I almost feel...guilty. Like I'm, I don't know...not entitled to share these kinds of memories with you."

"Why on Earth not?"

"Well, you and Jenny were married for many years, but..."

"You were only with Odo a short time. Come now, Nerys. Surely you know it's quality, not quantity, that counts." He leaned forward, pushing his bowl out of the way. "You and Odo may have only had a short time together," he said, "but from what I could see, the time you had was highly concentrated."

She smiled sadly. "Yes, it was." She took a deep breath.

"If I might venture a guess, I'd say you were feeling better."

"I am." She paused and laid her hand over his. "Thank you."

"My pleasure. Come back anytime."

Kira started to rise, then settled back down. "May I ask you just one more thing?"

"Of course."

"Did you...did you cry when Jenny died?"

Ben sighed. "Not right away. In fact, it was a long time before I felt I could express my grief. At first I was too concerned about Jake's well-being. Then, it just hurt too much to think about or feel. Eventually it became a habit to keep everything bottled up where, I thought, it could only hurt me on the inside where no one would see it."

Kira examined his face, intensely interested. "But you have since?"

"Oh yes, many times. Even now it sometimes sneaks up on me." He grasped Kira's hand. "Don't force yourself into anything, Nerys. Go with the flow. Grief is an intensely personal experience, unique to each person."

She nodded, appearing satisfied, and squeezed his hand as she rose. She paused at the door. "Captain...I'd like permission to begin arrangements for a memorial service."

Benjamin breathed an inward sigh of relief. "Just say when, Major."

Part 10: The Return

Ops was quiet. Abnormally quiet.

Briggs found herself, for once, with nothing to do. At the moment the entire Ops crew consisted of herself and Private Lallat, even though it was only 1900 hours. Everyone else was at Quark's at the memorial. Faced with a scheduling nightmare trying to accomodate everyone who wanted to attend, the Captain had asked for volunteers to stay on duty. Spurred by instinct, which she'd learned to listen to, Briggs had stepped up immediately. She'd caught Kira's half-puzzled, half-disappointed expression when she did, but she didn't recant. So it was her and Lallat tonight...and Lallat wouldn't say crap if he had a mouthful, as Harry would have said. She only hoped that some crisis didn't pick this moment to descend upon them.

She'd contented herself with listening to the memorial over the comm lines. Kira had been planning for a week, agonizing over what Odo would have wanted. Due to the lack of any appropriate religious rites (Odo being the very definition of an agnostic) and his dislike of stuffy, artificial sentimentality, the memorial became an informal gathering in which anyone was welcome to say a few words or pay tribute however they saw fit. She'd invited Dr. Mora, and Lwaxana Troi, and anyone else she thought would want to be there and they had all come. Lwaxana was suitably tearful but surprisingly kind and sympathetic towards Kira, who'd been a bit apprehensive at the prospect of interacting with Odo's ex-wife. Even Shakaar had come, and he appeared to be genuinely sorry.

It seemed everyone had something to contribute. Unbeknownst to Kira, Julian asked his friend Felix to make a few special modifications, resulting in a surprise musical interlude by Vic Fontaine, who sang "My Way" with a sad expression on his careworn face. In full Klingon regalia, Worf did some kind of warrior's chant for the honored dead, then solemnly presented Kira with the candle and the knife he'd used in the ceremony. Dax spoke for the first time of the memories she had through her zhian'tarra of what it meant to Odo to be a Changeling. The Chief told, in an adorably quavery voice, of how Odo had allowed him to save his daughter...then he gave Kira the holorod of his kayaking program, saying he didn't think he could ever use it again.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was Quark. Kira had been dreading what he might do or say, then he shocked her by insisting on hosting the service *and* the wake to follow, fully catered...on the house. At the service, he had stepped up and said simply, "Odo was the biggest pain I ever met. He never let me get away with anything...and I'm really going to miss him." Then he sat back down, laying a hand on Kira's shoulder as he passed her chair.

Briggs wasn't surprised when Kira herself did not speak. She knew all too well that Kira regarded her grief as very personal, and she wouldn't feel right standing up in front of everyone and proclaiming her undying love or some other such statement. So the gathering adjourned with a few typically eloquent remarks by Captain Sisko. The mourners were still down there, mingling and talking, enjoying Quark's remarkably *free* hospitality and sharing stories and memories. In short, a typical wake.

She was just considering calling Kolopak and telling him to get his blue butt up here and relieve her so she could go down there for a bit when the sensors began bleeping at her.

"Lieutenant, reading elevated neutrino levels near the wormhole," Lallat said, a note of concern in his voice. "Something's coming through!"

Briggs activated the viewscreen, her brows furrowing. Nothing had come through since herself and Kira two weeks before, and luckily so. Waiting on the other side was the demise of the quadrant. Her hand was on the red alert button when the wormhole opened and two medium-sized ships came through. Something stayed her fingers...they weren't Dominion ships, that much was certain, and not large enough to pose a serious threat.

"The computer can't identify them," Lallat reported. "They're..."

"Odo to Ops," came a familiar voice over the comm line.

"...hailing us," Lallat finished weakly.

"We're gratified you could come, Ambassador," Sisko said. "We've been concerned about you since the occupation. I know Odo had made some inquiries."

Lwaxana sighed, uncharacteristically serious. "This is one of the darkest times Betazed has ever seen, Captain," she said. "I was fortunate...or perhaps, unfortunate...enough to have been on Earth when the Dominion took over, so I haven't been forced to stay there like so many others, yet I cannot go back." She contemplated her drink. "This news of Odo's death makes things seem even bleaker."

"I agree."

Lwaxana's eyes were following Kira about the room as she made the rounds, thanking people for coming. "The Major does not look like herself," she commented. She met Sisko's eyes. "Is she taking it very hard?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"I can certainly understand that," the Betazoid said, wiping away a tear that had escaped. "I may not know her very well, but as far as that blasted changeling was concerned we're kindred spirits."

Briggs felt like someone had punched her in the stomach, hard. "Open a channel, for God's sake!" she wheezed at Lallat. The viewscreen clicked over to the ship's bridge. Sitting in the command chair was Odo. It's not necessarily him! her suspicious mind whispered. Could be an imposter! Yet she knew it *was* him, it had to be. The Founders might have been able to fool her, but they could not have fooled the Prophets. She opened her mouth, more than a bit curious to see what would come out, but he spoke first.

"Briggs! There's not much time. I want to get these ships out of sight quickly. Beam me to Ops, my associates can dock the ships. I'd recommend bays 11 and 12."

Briggs' mind was trying desperately to keep up and not having very much success. She managed to clear the bays and lock onto him with the transporter. "Okay, they're cleared to dock...energizing." She stood up and went to the transporter pad, her legs numb.

The matter stream coalesced on the pad and then he was there, looking so real and so much like himself that it made Briggs want to turn cartwheels. He was holding some kind of toolcase and dressed in trader's khakis and a long cloak. "Briggs!" he said with a smile as his eyes fell upon her.

Nora surprised herself by stepping forward and hugging him, hard. He stumbled back a step, equally surprised, but he hugged her back. "My God, Odo...what...how...I don't..."

"I know, I know. Later." He looked past her. "Where is everyone?"

Briggs stepped back, her mind catching up with circumstances. Great Caeser's ghost, they're all down there... "Oh for heaven's sake, Odo...they're all at Quark's." He just looked at her, puzzled. "They're at your funeral," she said. He blinked, his mouth falling open in shock.

"My WHAT?!? I'm only two weeks overdue! Is that all the time it takes for one to be presumed dead?"

"No, no...we saw...or we thought we saw...your ship, it..." She took a deep breath. "Odo, Kira and I followed you to Araf Galnac." His eyes widened. "We traced you to this Jem'Hadar scout ship, and then it took off and exploded with you aboard! We thought you were dead, so we came home!"

Odo shut his eyes tightly, an expression of agony crossing his face. "Sweet Prophets," he murmured. "*We* blew up that ship! I was just outside the bay when it exploded! To think we were that close to each other..." He cut himself off, thrusting the case into Briggs' hands. "Here, take this. Go down and meet my associates when they disembark. Bring them down to Quark's." He turned and ran for the turbolift.

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" he called as the lift descended out of sight. "To my own funeral."

The gathering showed no signs of thinning out. No one seemed to want to leave...instead, people were congregating in smaller groups and sitting on any available perch to eat and talk. Amazingly, the gaming tables were completely deserted. Kira had finally agreed, upon Dax' insistence, to sit down and have a drink with her friends.

"You were right, Jadzia," she said, looking around.

"About what?"

"People do need closure. I'm glad we did this."

"If there is such a thing as a 'successful' funeral, then this was it," Julian said.

Kira's lips twitched in what may have been an attempt at a smile. "I'm relieved that it felt right...at least for all of *you*," she said.

Jadzia grasped her hand. "It'll take time."

"Well, time I've got. The trouble is...I'm still not quite sure I even believe it," she said, her eyes searching aimlessly about the room. "I keep thinking I'm going to see him or talk to him." Jadzia glanced out at the Promenade...some commotion was rising outside. "Sometimes I even think I hear his voice."

"Nerys!" Odo called as he strode into the bar, leaving a wake of staring people behind him.

All sound and activity in the bar ceased as if guillotined. Kira, her back to the door, froze with her glass halfway to her mouth. I've snapped, she thought. Losing my mind. When she managed to look up, her friends were all staring past her with expressions of wonder and amazement on their faces. She wanted to turn and look but all her joints had cleverly fused together. She dragged her eyes to Dax's face. "Jadzia...did you hear that?" she croaked, half-convinced it was only wishful thinking. Dax didn't (or couldn't) answer, just raised a trembling hand and pointed over Kira's shoulder.

The silence was so deafening Kira swore everyone must be hearing her heart hammering against her ribcage like it was trying to escape. Odo waited where he stood, his gaze bolted to the back of her head. She turned in her chair, her gaze sliding painfully towards the source of his voice. When it finally fixed on his face, her eyes widened for a second, then she sucked in a sharp breath and shut them tightly, her forgotten glass falling from her boneless fingers.

"Nerys...it's me," he said gently. He took a step towards her. "I promised I'd come back...and I promised to keep this safe," he said, reaching into his pocket. Nerys stood up, scarcely aware she was doing so. The senior officers rose one by one to gather in a loose group behind her. He held out his hand. Nerys knew what he was holding before she even saw it...the Orb charm. She found herself walking forward. If I believe this and it's not true, I think it just might be more than I can take, she thought...but she wanted so desperately to believe. He dangled the charm before her...and was that *her* hand that reached out to touch it? She raised her head and stared into his eyes...*his* eyes, his kind blue eyes that she didn't believe for a moment could ever be duplicated, not well enough to fool her. She had lost herself in those eyes a number of times, and she knew them well.

She believed. He was alive.

Odo let the charm fall into her palm then gently covered it with his own, wrapping his fingers around hers. She stared down at their joined hands, trying valiantly to keep control of herself. No one breathed. Her chest heaved once, twice...for a moment it almost appeared that she were about to be sick. A single sob, short and harsh, tore from her throat and was quickly swallowed, then another and another. Odo, his expression at once agonized and ecstatic, laid his hand on her cheek and lifted her chin. She met his gaze, her eyes bright with long unshed tears. After one last moment of futile struggle, Nerys burst into hoarse sobs as Odo pulled her into a tight embrace. She threw her arms about his neck and surrendered herself to the tears that she'd so resolutely pushed away.

A collective exhalation went up from the mourners, who watched quietly out of deference to the moment. Nerys pulled back, unsure whether she were crying or laughing and not caring, and ran her hands over his face and along his shoulders. "Prophets, are you real?" she whispered, the words chopped into syllables by her hitching chest. "Are you really here?"

He nodded. "I'm so sorry, Nerys...if I had known you thought I was dead I would have found a way to get you a message."

She shook her head, tears flying from her cheeks. "It doesn't matter now, you're home, that's all that matters."

He cupped her face in his hands. "Yes, I'm home." He bent and kissed her with even more passion than he had the very first time, in coincidentally similar surroundings. She responded gladly, her arms clutching at him, as the onlookers cheered. Odo planted quick kisses all over her wet face then hugged her tightly, looking around the room for the first time at the faces of those who had come here to mourn him. "Don't mind us, go about your business," he said with a smile. Everyone laughed, and then the free-for-all began. People surged around them, all talking at once. Kira was nearly crushed in the onslaught but right now, she wouldn't have left his side for anything. Everyone seemed to want to hug him, shake his hand or squeeze his shoulder, and the usually reserved Constable accepted their welcomes with uncharacteristic good grace. Kira was the recipient of a great many happy hugs herself, most memorably from an incoherently sobbing Dax.

Odo glanced down at Kira as he hesitantly returned Lwaxana's tearful embrace, his expression a bit bemused. Seeing that she didn't object to the Betazoid's presence, he dropped a wink and a rueful smile at her. Kira chuckled, hugging herself, and for a moment she almost believed in utter happiness.

"Stretch!" a new voice called. Everyone looked towards the door in time to see a very strange-looking man with huge spiky blue hair come bounding through the door. Lallat was trailing after him, grinning ear to ear, followed by a ragtag band of about 25 people of varying species. The blue-haired man slung a familiar arm about Odo's shoulders and beamed at him. "I like this place already! I think I'll stay!" His snapping black eyes fastened on Kira and his grin stretched even wider, if that were possible. "Ooohhh...is this her? Is this Kira? You sure didn't exaggerate her beauty, Stretch."

Kira flushed as Odo nodded, seeming accustomed to the man's effusiveness. "Yes, this is Kira. Nerys, I'd like you to meet..."

"Nam Dietzbader, Major, call me Dietz. I can't tell you how anxious I've been to meet you," he said, grabbing her hand and pumping it up and down with vigor. Kira couldn't help but return his enthusiasm.

"Dietz helped me on Araf Galnac," Odo explained. "He saved my life, really."

Kira grasped Dietz' hand in both of hers. "In that case, I'm just as glad to meet *him,*" she said.

"Oh pshaw," Dietz said, bobbing his head and shuffling in an "aw, shucks, ma'am" attitude. He turned and motioned to the group by the door. "Hey guys! C'mere and meet Kira!" Their faces lit up and they came forward, excited.

"I'm sorry, Nerys," Odo said, a bit embarrassed. "They've all heard a great deal about you, probably more than they wanted to."

"It's quite all right," she said, caught in a sea of hand-shaking and greetings. "But...who are they?"

"Yes, who are they?" Sisko asked, smiling at the good-natured melee. "You've got yourself quite a fan club here, Constable."

Odo gave him a significant look. "I'll explain later, Captain. For now let's just say they helped me get home. I can vouch for their trustworthiness."

Sisko nodded. "Then they're welcome here."

The wake turned into a full-fledged party with the surprise return of the dearly departed. Poor Odo was bounced around the room like a pinball, and to everyone's surprise, he didn't seem to mind. Kira let them have him, content for the moment that he existed at all, and aware that she would have him to herself soon enough. She sat at a table with Dax, Julian, Miles and about 10 of Odo's new friends, who all seemed to find her utterly fascinating. The officers listened raptly as they were regaled with wild tales of adventures in the Gamma Quadrant.

"You're telling me that Odo *actually* disguised himself as a go-go dancer?" Julian exclaimed.

"Well, he didn't have much choice," said Kaylana, a lizardlike woman with cheerful violet eyes. "He was very convincing, too."

"Yeah, but then he couldn't get away before the manager shoved him onto the stage," another of the group added.

Kira spluttered her drink. "He had to dance?!?"

"Well...he was so surprised he just stood there for a minute. Quick thinker he is, though, he faded right into the curtains and vanished. They all thought it was a magic trick." Laughter rang out and the tale-telling continued. Kira sat back, feeling drained by the day's emotional plasma storm. Her eyes fell upon Dietz, seated to her left and watching the proceedings with a worldy-wise eye. She followed his gaze to the upper level where Odo was talking with Dr. Mora.

"I want to thank you for helping him," she said, laying a hand on his arm. Dietz turned a kind smile on her. "Prophets know I didn't do such a good job of it myself."

"Oh, think nothing of it," he said. "You helped him more than you realize. Anyway, I've become rather fond of old Stretch. A bit abrasive at first...but he grows on you," he added with a wink.

She nodded. "Yes, he does...it happened to me."

He watched her face for a moment. "He really loves you, you know."

She smiled, watching Odo and marveling at how at ease he seemed among his crewmates and colleagues. If he could only see how much he'd changed in six years..."I know," she replied with a contented sigh. She glanced at Dietz. His expression was so odd. "What is it?"

He gave a bit of a start then shook his head, looking embarrassed. "Oh, nothing. You just...remind me of someone I used to know. A long time ago."

She studied his features, curious. "Are you human? Were you stranded in the Gamma Quadrant at some point?"

He looked away. "No, I'm not human." The words seemed to carry more meaning than a simple answer to her question.

"What do you mean?" she asked, leaning towards him.

"Who knows? Half the time I don't know what I mean," he said hurriedly. Kira cast him a suspicious glance but didn't pursue it. Dietz changed the subject, knowing he hadn't fooled her.

"Quark," Odo growled to the Ferengi's back.

"What?" the barkeep answered without turning.

"I'm told that you are hosting this gathering...free of charge," he said suspiciously.

"What of it?" Quark snapped. He still hadn't turned around.

"I'm just wondering what possible profit there is in that. Can it be that there is actually a vestige of sentiment lurking in that profiteer's heart of yours?" he teased him. No response. "Quark, are you listening to me?" Odo said. He reached out and grasped the Ferengi's shoulder and turned him around...then drew back, amazed. "Quark...are you crying?" he said.

"I'm not!" Quark insisted despite the wet streaks on his cheeks. "I'm just...worried about my business!"

"Your business," Odo said doubtfully.

"I was doing better with the extra deputies! With you back, I'm ruined!" he exclaimed.

"I see."

"That's all it is."

"Of course."

They stared at each other for a moment. "Well I'd better see to those hors d'oeuvres," Quark muttered and hurried out from behind the bar. As he passed Odo he stopped for a moment, then suddenly turned and hugged him. Before Odo could react Quark stepped back, shifting nervously. He stared at the floor. "Welcome back, Odo," he said, low enough so that no one could hear. He glanced up into the constable's face for a second and then scurried off. Odo watched him go with a chuckle. What a night for surprises this was turning out to be.

Kira had no idea who started the music but she always suspected Jadzia. Regardless, within a few minutes Odo's new friends (who never seemed to tire of a good party) had cleared the tables away and were dancing up a storm. Soon enough most of the Starfleet and Bajoran officers and residents who were in attendance had joined in. "Well," Kira said, "I certainly never expected this evening to turn into a wild party."

Dax reached out and took her hand. "It's a catharsis," she said. "Emotional upheaval...people coming back from the dead, for example...brings that out, and it has to be expressed somehow."

"At least this does settle one question for me."

"What's that?"

"Starfleet officers have no rhythm," Kira said. "Just look at Exhibit A over there." She pointed to where Miles and Julian were enthusiastically going about what she guessed was intended to be dancing but looked more like a bodily interpretation of a warp core breach. Dax burst out laughing, turning to elbow her husband.

"You got any moves you'd like to show us?" she teased him.

Worf gave a small smirk. "Not in public."

"I'd just like to point out that my son has rhythm," Sisko put in.

"So he does," Kira said, nodding approvingly. "Which only supports my case...he's not a Starfleet officer. Now if we could get *you* out there we might have some good empirical evidence. Is it genes, or is it the terrible weight of that uniform?"

Sisko put up his hands. "Rank has its privileges."

Their laughter rolled across the room, acting like a salve on Kira's wounded soul that was now free to heal. She glanced up to the second level where Odo was and caught him looking down at her, his eyes so full of joy that they glowed like the midday sky. As she watched, he put two fingers to his lips and held them out to her. She smiled, feeling tears touch her eyes again, and returned the gesture.

The others did not miss this exchange. "I'm certainly anxious to hear the story behind all this," Benjamin said, earning nods of agreement. "You were so certain he was on that ship."

"Well, it must have been another changeling...perhaps one that was sent to retrieve him," Kira speculated, the idea occurring to her for the first time.

"I'm still amazed he got out of the Link," Dax said, "let alone back here in one piece."

"I'm sure he'll explain everything later," Sisko said. "For now let's just enjoy the moment."

The music slowed. A blue head bobbed through the crowd towards their table. "Oh beauteous one, may I have the singular honor?" Dietz said, bowing low to Kira and extending a hand.

She grinned. "The honor is mine," she replied grandly, taking the hand. Dietz spun her onto the floor and was soon leading her in whatever steps he could invent, disregarding the beat or tempo of the music. "Who do I remind you of?" she finally asked him.

He paused, a little surprised, then was off again. "The person who taught me to appreciate life outside the Link. She was a Bajoran who had been stranded in the Gamma Quadrant by accident."

Kira was dumbfounded. "Really?"

"Really! I was assigned to interrogate her, but instead she freed me. I am the man I am today," he exclaimed, twirling her out and back, "because of her." He studied her expression. "Why do you ask?"

"You seem to have accepted life without the Link. The one thing about Odo that frightens me is that he might someday decide that it's too hard to stay away from the Link and I'll lose him to it."

Dietz shook his head. "That might have been a concern before, but not anymore, I don't think. A lot can change in three weeks."

They both stopped upon hearing a familiar harrrumph. "May I cut in?" Odo asked politely. Dietz stepped back with a grin and made himself scarce. Kira hardly noticed his departure as Odo drew her into his arms. She noted that at some point he'd changed from the cloak he'd been wearing to regular civilian clothes. Must be nice not to have to leave the room to do that, some distant part of her mind mused.

They didn't speak as Odo led her into a far less buoyant dance, one that actually went with the music, now on to some slow instrumentals. She laid her head on his shoulder, one hand on the back of his neck and the other clasped in one of his and held over his chest. Sometimes she almost fancied she could feel a heart beating in there...as she did right now. "I missed you *so* much," he whispered into her ear.

She squeezed him tighter for a moment. "Let's not talk about it right now," she murmured. "I just want to hold you."

He tightened his arm around her and they danced in silence, unaware that every eye in the room was on them. When the music stopped they stood just holding each other for a moment, then her lips found his and they kissed each other tenderly, earning numerous "awwww's" and sniffles from the onlookers. The sound of applause broke them out of the reverie they'd slipped into and they looked around, smiling self-consciously.

That seemed to signal the end of the party, and the chain reaction began. People said goodnights, snuck another hasperat truffle off the table, and began to drift out, most of them pausing to say one last word to Odo as they left. He and Kira drifted over to the rest of the senior staff as Quark began gently clearing the room and shooing stragglers out. Kira glanced towards the door where Dietz and his band of merry pranksters lurked in a loose group...then something caught her eye. She squinted out at the Promenade...there it was, a flash of pale skin in the shadows near Odo's office. It slipped across the hall and was gone like a wisp of smoke. Kira smiled. Leave it to Briggs to keep a clandestine eye on things...especially when they involved developments as interesting as these promised to be.

"Well, it's very late, but we have things to discuss," Sisko said.

Odo nodded. "That is something of an understatement, sir." He took a breath. "I don't have to tell any of you that no one, myself included, gave my mission any great chance for success. I'm here to tell you that it did succeed, in more ways than I could have imagined, but my most important success is right here," he said, looking back towards Dietz and the others. "Captain...all of these people are Changelings." All eyes swung to fix in amazement upon the admittedly raggedy-looking bunch, some of whom waved or gave little salutes as their identity was laid bare. "And they're here to fight."

"I always thought that I was the only one," Odo began. The senior staff, plus Dietzbader, were in the conference room, a more appropriate place for a discussion than Quark's. Odo's new Changeling friends had been shown to quarters, most of them grateful for a secure place to regenerate. "I assumed that I was the only Changeling who was living as an individual, apart from the Link...the only one who couldn't stomach what his people stood for and refused to take part in it." He smiled at Dietz. "Of course that's just what they wanted me to believe. I learned many things in the Link, but that lesson was the most important. I learned that there were many Founder dissenters, scattered all over the galaxy, whom the Link was forever trying to convince to return...just as they did to me. Most ended up alone in much the same way that I did: they were explorers who had been sent out and had learned a little more about the universe at large than the Founders wanted them to. Some had been Linked but managed to leave on their own.

I spent what I now know was eight days in the Link. It still amazes me that I was able to hide my intentions from them...probably due to the fact that once I was Linked, my intentions ceased to be important. To answer your next question, Captain, they did trust me...due to a combination of their own arrogance and my assertions that I returned of my own free will. They revealed a great deal to me...I'm sure I'll be spending more time than I might wish to with Federation intelligence going over it," he said with a sardonic shrug.

"How did you escape?" Dax asked.

Odo smiled. "I would not have been able to on my own...but I had help," he said, reaching out and taking Kira's hand. She looked at him, surprised. "When Kira came to the Link, the sight of her made me remember...not everything, not even anything specific, just that I had to escape. It was only due to your presence that I could get away," he said, looking at her, his love for her shining so brightly from his eyes that it touched everyone in the room. "She and Briggs left, I knew they probably thought that I was lost. I can't tell you how much that pained me but I decided I had to take the next step before returning home. I knew I could return with something infinitely more valuable than just Founder secrets if I could make contact with others like me. The first thing I did was to find Dietz...I had acquired some vague knowledge of him through the Link. Together we set out to locate as many other Changeling dissidents as possible."

"You knew about the others?" the Chief asked Dietz.

"No," he answered. "Like Odo, I thought I was the only one until he told me otherwise. I am far, far older than any of the others. I left the Link long before the Founders began sending out explorers, so I knew nothing of these renegades. Naturally I was thrilled to learn."

"We spent two weeks rounding up Changelings. Most of them were on their own, part of the organized Resistance, and jumped at the chance to join up with others like them and come to the Alpha Quadrant with us. Here, there is a much greater chance for success against the Dominion than there is over there. They're too strong, too entrenched. If they can be beaten here, it will be the first step in a long process of overthrowing the Dominion in the Gamma Quadrant." Odo fixed Sisko with a meaningful stare. "Captain...we will have at our disposal a squadron of Changelings. They are ready... anxious, even...to be briefed and trained in all aspects of the conflict on this side of the wormhole. They share my commitment to justice and their sense of outrage over the Dominion's actions has only been intensified by what I've told them of what's been going on over here." He smiled, but it was a dangerous smile. "As much damage as the Founders have done to us with their knack for infiltration, so now can we do the same to them."

Sisko rose...more like jumped...to his feet, his eyes dancing with excitement and hope. "Constable!" he exclaimed. "If Starfleet doesn't at the very least put up a statue of you at headquarters for this I'll consider it a personal affront." Odo rolled his eyes while everyone else murmured in agreement. Sisko came around the table and took Odo by the shoulders. "I thought it was almost too good to be true when you came back alive, but this...this goes far beyond mine or anyone else's expectations. The most we hoped for was some useful information! I should have known that *you* would return with not only information, but with a team of secret weapons who will probably enable us to finally turn the tide of this conflict in our favor." He beamed the trademark Sisko give-'em-hell grin. "Good work, Constable."

Odo nodded in acknowledgement of the praise. "Thank you, sir."

Sisko looked around at his officers. "Well, it's been quite an evening, and it is very late. I think we'll have plenty of time for further dissection of these new developments and I have to contact Starfleet immediately. Shall we call ita night?" Murmurs of assent came in answer, and everyone got up.

"Captain, do you need me there when you talk to the Admiral?" Odo asked, dreading the answer. Sisko turned to him, seemed about to say "yes," then his glance flicked from the shapeshifter's face to Kira's and back again. He smiled.

"I don't think that'll be necessary right now. You can talk to them in the morning. Besides...you have better things to do," he said mischievously, winking at them.

Odo smiled. "Thank you, sir." Sisko nodded and clasped his shoulder, then offered to show Dietzbader to his quarters on his way back to Ops. The blue-haired Changeling agreed, earning amused smiles as he slung an informal arm around Sisko's shoulders and began questioning him about the station's springball facilities as they left the room.

The rest of the senior staff...what one might think of as the "social" group...lingered by the door. Odo kept his arm around Nerys' shoulders, just as he'd been maintaining some kind of contact with her since the wake/party had broken up...he almost seemed afraid to let her out of his sight, which was understandable. "Nerys, I think I'll be needing that holorod back now," the Chief said with a wink.

"Holorod?" Odo asked, puzzled.

"Oh, the Chief gave me his kayaking program during your memorial," she said.

"Wouldn't have felt right without you, Constable," he said, clapping Odo on the shoulder. Odo looked absurdly touched at the sentiment.

"So what say we head to Vic's tomorrow night?" Julian said. Everyone brightened at the idea.

"Oh yes!" Jadzia said excitedly. "Vic will be thrilled to see you!"

"Sounds great," Kira said looking up at Odo, her expression still one of amazement that he was actually there.

"I'm sure Starfleet will try to debrief me until I liquefy...but you can count on me," Odo said, his own gaze on Kira's face. The others exchanged 'we-know-when-we're-not-wanted' glances and made themselves scarce, bidding quiet goodnights that were scarcely acknowledged.

They walked along the Promenade's upper level, their arms around each other's waists, not speaking. Just being together was enough for now. He'd wanted to take the long route back to her quarters (their tacitly agreed-upon destination) just to have a look around the station. It surprised him a bit how much he had missed the place; rickety, temperamental Cardassian systems and all. He stopped at one of the viewports that faced the wormhole and looked out at the stars. She leaned against the wall, studying his face.

"You know," she began quietly, "you may have saved the entire quadrant today."

He sighed. "I think that might be overstating things, Nerys."

"No, I don't think so. If we do win the war now, with your friends' help...future historians will point to this moment and say, 'that's when it all turned for them.' You'll be a hero."

"I never wanted to be a hero. All I wanted to do was get home...which I never would have done had you not taken action." He faced her, one hand rising to stroke her cheek. "You saved me and you didn't even know it," he whispered. "You're the real hero. I would have stayed there forever and they would have won."

"When I was there at the Link, I didn't care about the quadrant or the Dominion or even Bajor, all I cared about was finding you," she said, her gaze lowered. "Some hero."

He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her. "Then I guess this proves what the humans say," he said.

"What's that?" Her voice was muffled against his chest.

"Love conquers all," he said, tongue in cheek.

They both laughed. "Now Constable...don't go turning into a cheesy romantic on me," she teased him. "There'll be a scandal."

He drew back and leaned against the viewport's sill. "I think we've inspired enough scandal for one lifetime, don't you?"

"Quite." She sobered and turned her own eyes towards the stars. "It was so horrible, Odo," she whispered.

He didn't have to ask what she was referring to. "How can I even begin to apologize, Nerys?" he said. "I know what I would have gone through if our positions were reversed. If it was even half so wrenching for you...well, I would do anything to make it up to you."

"Anything?" she said archly, one eyebrow cocking upwards, her eyes twinkling.

He nodded solemnly. "Anything."

"Would you handpaint the docking pylons pink?"

"With a toothbrush."

"Would you give Morn a haircut?"

"*And* a pedicure," he said, shuddering at the thought.

"Would you..." She dissolved in momentary snickers. "Would you prechew all Quark's food for him for a month?"

Odo got a pained look on his face. "I'd even sharpen his teeth. Now, if THAT isn't an indication of my dedication then nothing is!" he exclaimed.

She sat on the sill, leaned towards him and placed a hand on his cheek, her smile fading. "Would you promise never to do this to me again?" she said. "Would you promise me that whatever danger we might face in the future...we'll face it together?"

He covered her hand with his own. "Yes, I would." She sat back and withdrew her hand, turning her gaze back out the viewport. When she spoke again, her voice was low and calm.

"Would you marry me, Odo?" He said nothing for a moment, studying her profile, then stood up and faced the Promenade, crossing his arms over his chest. Nerys looked up at his inscrutable face. "Would you?" she repeated in a whisper.

"Oh, Nerys," he sighed. "Don't say that if you don't mean it."

"Don't I sound like I mean it?"

He shut his eyes. "I want to believe that you do...but I don't want you to do or say anything you might regret. We've only been together a short time. You never proposed to Bareil or Shakaar and you were with them for far longer..."

Kira stood and grasped his hands, her gaze forthright and lucid. "They weren't *home* to me, Odo. You are." He raised his eyes, hope dawning on his face. "I've had a lot of time to think about how I feel about you. It may have taken a long time and some extraordinary circumstances for me to tell you...but I do love you, with everything I am. I didn't just say it because you were leaving. I know it's hard for you to believe it," she said gently. "But do you think I'd say it if it weren't true? Do you think I'd have so little regard for you that I would lie about my feelings?" Speechless, he shook his head, gripping her fingers so tightly it almost hurt. She didn't care. "Then believe what I say because it's true." His eyes fell shut and a momentary liquid sheen passed across his features and was gone. When he opened his eyes again he was smiling, and Nerys' pagh rejoiced as she saw that he did believe her. She released his hands and slid her arms around his waist. "Besides, you just made me some pretty significant promises, Constable," she said teasingly. "I want to have some legal recourse in case you break them."

He ran a hand through her hair in a gentle caress that contrasted with the withering look he was giving her. "I never break my promises, Major. After all, I'm Chief of Security. It's my job to..."

"...keep order on the Promenade," they finished together with a familiar chuckle. Kira looked up at him and slid one hand up to the back of his neck. "But too much order isn't good for a relationship. Stifling, you know...restrictive," she whispered, leaning towards him.

"In that case, let's hear it for chaos," he murmured as he bent her backwards and kissed her, hard. Nerys was a bit taken aback...Odo had kissed her in public before (he'd proven himself surprisingly unselfconscious about that) but this was the sort of kiss that had previously been limited to more intimate settings...the sort of kiss that made it hard to think or move or even breathe and where you knew that very shortly you'd be doing more than kissing. She responded gladly, past caring if anyone saw them. When they parted...seconds later? minutes? hours?...she felt a bit quavery, and she could tell just by looking at him that it was mutual. "Prophets, you've gotten so good at that," she breathed.

"Well, practice makes perfect," he said with a half-smile, his hands roaming over her backand shoulders.

She smiled back, lacing her hands together behind his neck. "So does this mean you accept my, ahem, proposal?"

He breathed a sigh of utter contentment. "Well...I suppose. If you insist." He kissed her forehead and looked down at her. "When?"

They parted and resumed their course down the Promenade, their arms about each other's waists. "Oh, I don't want to think about that," she said. "You know what I do want?"

"What's that?"

"I want to have a loooooong engagement. I want to just savor it for months. I want to flaunt it in front of the universe and make sure everyone knows. I want everyone to ask 'when's the big day?' and wonder amongst themselves how long we're going to wait. Then, just when everyone thinks it'll never happen, I want to rush off to Bajor on a moment's notice, taking only our closest friends with us, and get married in a whirlwind. Then I want to vanish with you for an entire month, tell no one where we're going and just do whatever we want, no plans, no reservations. Then I want to come back here and resume our life...together." She grinned, a bit startled at herself for that little speech. He stared down at her, amazed.

"Well, Major...I say that sounds like an excellent plan." They moved off down the near-deserted walkway and into the nearest turbolift.

Silence descended upon the upper Promenade. Nothing moved...for a moment. Then, stealthily, a shadow detached itself from the darkness behind the information kiosk and revealed itself as a humanoid, which tried to slip unseen into a nearby corridor only to collide with a column of golden Changeling that had just slid off the wall as it coalesced into humanoid shape. Both parties jumped guiltily.

"What are you doing here?" Briggs demanded.

"I might ask you the same question," Dietz retorted, crossing his arms over his chest in a very Odo-ish gesture.

"Just...keeping an eye on things," she stammered.

Dietz regarded her suspiciously. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Lt. Briggs...and you're Nam Dietzbader."

"Briggs?" Dietz' eyes widened. "Oh! You're the..." Faster than he'd seen any humanoid move she was on him, her hand clamped on his throat.

"Finish that sentence, I dare you," she hissed.

"No need really, you just confirmed it anyway." She let him go reluctantly.

"Why were you spying on Odo and Kira?"

"Why were *you*?"

"I asked you first."

"So what?"

"So answer my question."

"Persistent, aren't you?"

"When I'm forced to be."

"Ooh, I'm scared."

"You should be."

"No, I don't think so."

"I don't believe you're as stupid as you seem."

"No one could be as stupid as I seem."

"Someone thinks he's a comedian."

"Now now, your teeth are showing."

"Just give me a straight answer!"

"Fine!" He cleared his throat. "What was the question?"

"Why were you spying on Odo and Kira?!?"

"I'm nosy, all right?"

"Me too!"

"Satisfied?"

"Very!" Briggs turned with a 'hmph' and stalked off. Dietz watched her go with a good deal of interest. Look back, he mentally told her.

C'mon...look over your shoulder, you know you want to. She was almost to the stairs when she tossed a look backwards at him, then she was gone. Dietz grinned and started towards the turbolift, feeling encouraged.

Kira Nerys opened her eyes reluctantly. She was in her own bed, alone, in her regular nightshirt, and it was a regular morning. She sat up quickly, a horrified thought passing through her mind. Sweet Prophets, could I have dreamed that? Oh please, don't let it...

Those upsetting thoughts were cut short as her gaze fell to the floor and she grinned. One of her boots was lying there. Its mate was a few feet away. She peered through the doorway at the rough trail of her clothes that led back to the door. She put her hands over her face, her shoulders sagging with relief. It hadn't been a dream.

Once in the turbolift the air of dreamy romance had evaporated like smoke...and the fundamental fact that three weeks had gone by since they had seen each other had slammed home like a sledgehammer. Upon reaching level 12 they had exited the turbolift and good deal faster than they had entered it. She'd walked a little faster, then he'd walked a little faster, and so on until by the time they reached her quarters they were almost running. She was amazed she'd had the presence of mind to secure the door behind them before all coherent thought deserted her.

"Good morning," came that familiar sandpapery rumble.

She dropped her hands and smiled up at him, feeling tears threaten again. "It certainly is." He came into the room, handed her a cup of ginger tea and sat behind her, massaging her shoulders in a way he knew she liked. "Oh, Odo...I can't imagine going to work today like everything's normal."

"I thought everything *was* normal."

She leaned back and planted a quick kiss on his mouth. "I stand corrected." She rose and went into the shower, stripping off her nightshirt as she went. Odo leaned against the bathroom door so he could talk to her.

"I have a feeling, however, that things might not be exactly routine today," he said.

"You'll probably be stuck in debriefings all day."

"Joy and rapture. All Necheyev, all the time."

"Oh come on, you know you have a secret crush on her," she said, snickering. It was a very old joke among the command staff. Anyone who was forced into spending any amount of time with Necheyev was immediately accused of having romantic inclinations towards her, irregardless of gender.

"Oh dear, my secret's out," he deadpanned. "It's too bad you had to find out this way, Nerys."

The sonic shower door opened and she came out, wrapping her robe around her. She paused and laid a hand on his chest. "Well, she'll have to fight me for you."

"Don't tell Quark, he'll want to sell tickets."

Kira pulled on her uniform, her expression thoughtful. "Odo...Dietz said something to me last night that I didn't quite understand."

"That's not surprising. He's the master of the cryptic remark."

She sat down to brush her hair, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "We were speaking about Changelings living apart from the Link. I told him that it worried me, that someday I'd lose you to the Link...and he said that he didn't think that was a real concern anymore." Odo nodded. "What did he mean by that?"

He sat down on the edge of the bed. "I can't quite express what it means to me that there are other Changelings like me, who survive quite nicely without the Link. When I thought it was just me...well, it made me feel unnatural or freakish, and as though there was something wrong with me because I didn't want to be in the Link. But when I met all of them...Dietz especially...it was as if suddenly it was okay, even admirable, that I've found my own existence."

Kira turned on the stool and grasped his hand. "You mean...they're your validation."

"Yes," he said gratefully. "I knew you'd understand. That's exactly what they are."

"You really like Dietz, don't you?"

He snorted brief laughter. "Yes, I do. He's hard not to like. In a way...he's almost become a mentor to me."

Kira cocked her head, curious. "A mentor? In what way?"

"He's very old, Nerys...over 650 years old. He's been on his own for more than 400 of those years."

She was astounded. "That's incredible!"

"I've never seen such a skilled shapeshifter in my life. Dietz can even imitate working machinery...I can't tell you how difficult that is, or how much concentration it takes. You can do a lifeform without doing all the internal organs, but machines are different. He knows everything there is to know about the Founders and their strategies, the way they think and their technology. He's the reason the rest of us lasted as long as we did...and he is probably the single most valuable person I brought back with me."

"A fact I'm sure Starfleet will recognize." She stood up. "Well...time to face the music."

He fetched a long-suffering sigh. "Let's get this over with."

The day was, indeed, a busy one. Admiral Necheyev arrived from Starbase 78 at 0900 hours amidst a cyclone of subspace communications, shuttles, Starfleet and Federation personnel and a bayload of paperwork and orders. Sisko had to pull both Kira and Dax off their regular duties to keep track of everything and everyone. Odo disappeared with the Captain and Necheyev into the wardroom, along with several Starfleet intelligence experts. Kira spent a good three hours coordinating the various orders to be carried out regarding the new changelings...luckily she found that Dietz, the group's de facto leader, was well-versed in and quite patient with bureaucracy. He conducted himself like a pro and was soon conferring with several captains regarding briefings for himself and the group.

Meanwhile there was normal business to attend to, and Kira was in a state of constant distraction. She kept receiving congratulatory messages from people who'd just heard the news of Odo's return, not to mention various crew members dropping by to share in the excitement.

By 1600 hours she was pretty wrung out, and she hadn't had time to eat all day. She was just considering heading to the Replimat when the turbolift appeared bearing Odo, Sisko, and the Admiral. They looked equally wrung out. "Major!" Sisko said as cheerfully as he could. "How are things?"

"Situation normal, sir," she said. Odo came down the stairs to stand next to her. He laid one hand on her shoulder.

"You look tired," he murmured. She just rolled her eyes at him in response. The Admiral harrumphed at him from the upper level. "You know, I really dislike her," he muttered, low enough so just Kira could hear. She smothered a chuckle.

"Mr. Odo, if you'd join us in the Captain's office when you're finished chatting with your girlfriend?" the Admiral sneered. Worf growled something under his breath in Klingon...but it didn't sound complimentary.

Odo sighed and squeezed Kira's shoulder, then headed for the office. "Right with you, Admiral...of course, Major Kira is no longer my girlfriend."

Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and stared. Dax shot Kira a horrified look, as did Miles. Kira bit her lip to keep from grinning, aware of what was coming. Well...she *had* said she wanted to flaunt it. "Oh, what a shame," Necheyev said, sounding like she couldn't possibly care less. Sisko stood, hands on his hips, and watched Odo intently as he climbed the stairs to the upper level.

"She's now my fiancee," Odo said pointedly, striding past the Admiral into Sisko's office. She gave a derisive snort and followed him, as did the Captain after directing a wide grin at his first officer. The doors shut behind them and Kira braced herself as her friends and colleagues descended on her like a horde of excited locusts.

...three days later...

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, Lieutenant," Kira said, contemplating Briggs' impenetrable visage. She stood and tossed the PADD she was holding onto the desktop. "I've just received word that you are being reassigned."

"That's right, sir."

They stared at each other for a moment. "Well?"

Briggs blinked. "Well what?"

"What the hell is going on? There's no name on the order, no indication of where you're being sent, the whole thing is deeply strange!"

The lieutenant sighed. "Welcome to my world, Major."

Kira flopped down into her chair, heaving a tired sigh. "Is this my fault, Nora?"

Brigg's brow creased. "How do you mean?"

"Are you being punished in some way for helping me?"

She chuckled. "Oh no, Major. I'm...let's just say I'm past the point where they can punish me."

"So this is a voluntary transfer?"

Briggs shrugged. "I don't know if I'd go that far."

Kira thought for a moment. "This wouldn't be connected to the fact that Dietz isn't going to tactical training with the rest of the squadron, would it?" "He's not?" Briggs said innocently.

"No, we were told yesterday that he's being given a special assignment. And another thing...there's a rather odd officer on the station with Admiral Korinth. No one's ever seen him before, no one knows his name, he doesn't wear any rank pips and he never says anything...and Odo's seen him and Dietz going off forprivate briefings since yesterday." Briggs said nothing, her gaze focused on some point over Kira's shoulder. "Nora...can't you tell me what's going on?"

"Absolutely not."

"You know what I think? I think Dietz is joining Section 31, and they're teaming him up with you. They're going to send the two of you out to wage some kind of guerrilla warfare on the Dominion, aren't they?" Kira's face was excited and apprehensive at the same time.

"My, you have an active imagination," Briggs intoned in such a flat voice that Kira knew she was correct.

"When do you leave?" she asked quietly.

Briggs sighed and sat down. "This afternoon."

Kira fiddled idly with the PADDS on her desk. "We don't seem to have had much time to talk."

"Come on, Kira. We both knew how it would be after we got back."

She nodded, her mind elsewhere. "If I ask you something, will you answer me honestly?"

"If I'm able."

Kira paused for a moment, seeming hesitant to speak. "Should I be looking over my shoulder?"

Briggs frowned. "I don't quite follow you."

"I've been wondering if I don't perhaps know too much about you for my own good." She met Briggs' clear gaze. "Do I?"

The agent's expression was a little too troubled for Kira's liking. "If you do, Nerys, it's my fault and not yours. Garak's right, I'm far too conversational."

This was not the resounding denial Kira had been hoping for. "That's not an answer."

"No, it's not." Nora took a deep breath. "Section 31 may be a bit of an alarmist organization, but they're not maniacs." Kira raised an eyebrow. "All right, all right. It's possible that I told you things you'd be better off not knowing." She leaned forward. "I'm sorry, Kira. You came to me for help and what did it get you? I'm not sure how much help I *was* and now I've brought this anxiety upon you...but I don't want you to worry. I will make sure that no one gets the idea that you know too much, all right?"

Kira nodded. "Don't blame yourself, Nora. You said it yourself, *I* came to *you.* And you helped me a great deal, don't ever think you didn't. I'm flattered that you trusted me enough to tell me the things you did, and I hope it goes without saying that anything you told me will be held in strictest confidence."

"Of course." Nora sagged in her chair. "I may seem like a machine, Nerys, but I'm only human. I've been alone for a long time, and my profession necessitates a numbing isolation. It's been a long time since I was able to talk to someone the way I talked to you." She sighed again and rose. "I don't think it's a good idea for us to have any more contact outside of our duties, just to be on the safe side."

Kira stood and nodded. "I'm sorry it has to be that way."

"So am I." Briggs turned to leave, then paused by the door, her back to Kira. "You receive fairly regular communications from Starfleet, yes?"

"Well...yes, I do," Kira said, a bit puzzled.

"Watch for my name popping up in those materials. If it does, start worrying. If they suspect security has been breached they'll start feeling you out for your reactions to me."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"One of their favorite techniques is to ask for 'performance evaluations' of the agent in question from the suspected breach. Even if the officer writing the reports thinks they're being objective our psych analyzers can always tell if they know more about the agent than they should. If you receive one of those requests, contact me immediately."

Kira nodded, touched that Briggs was giving her this advice. "Is there anything else I should watch for? Do you have an alias or a codename?"

Briggs turned her head slightly. "Yes...I have a codename."

"Well, what is it?"

She met Kira's questioning gaze out of the corner of her eye. "Nora Briggs." She gave a half-smile that could almost be called sinister and left the office. Kira sat down weakly, her breath whooshing out of her, feeling like she'd just looked out her viewport and discovered that the familiar stars outside were only a backdrop.

"I'm relieved, to tell you the truth. I was all for fighting the Dominion but I gotta say, I wasn't too keen on having to grok with all these Starfleet regulations. From what I'm told I won't have to mess with any of that stuff."

"Hmph. Lucky you," Odo said, eyeing the stack of PADDS on the corner of his desk that awaited his attention. He'd spent most of the preceding three days in debriefings and had scarcely scratched the surface of what his usual duties would require of him. "I don't suppose you're allowed to talk about it?"

"Let me put it this way: Admiral Korinth said I'd have to answer to her personally if I...what was the phrase she used?...'flapped my lips.'"

"Ah. Say no more." Odo knew Korinth. Starfleet's head of Special Operations, she was the most universally respected officer in the fleet. A native of North Africa, she cut an imposing figure at six feet nine inches tall with midnight black skin that was almost unnaturally smooth over her elegant features and shaved skull. She was the only person Odo had ever met who made him want to back up a step when she approached him. Odo leaned forward, lacing his hands together on his desk. "But you don't really have to explain."

Dietz raised an eyebrow. "I don't?"

"No. I've seen you with Korinth's little shadow, that anonymous officer? You don't have to tell me who *he* works for. Also, Kira told me this morning that Briggs is being transferred, but she wouldn't tell me anything more about it." Odo fixed Dietz with a significant look. "If I'm not mistaken you're both leaving on the same ship."

Dietz shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Umm...I'm new at this secrecy stuff, Odo. I don't quite know..."

"It's all right. You don't owe me any explanations." He smiled across the desk at the outlandish Changeling, who so far had steadfastly refused to alter his bizarre appearance one whit. "I just wish you the best of luck."

"Thanks," Dietz said. He rose. "Well, I better get to the airlock. Don't want to keep Korinth waiting," he said.

Odo came around the desk. "Dietz...I just want to thank you. For everything you've done for me."

He winked at him. "Don't mention it, Stretch. You did me a favor. For the first time I'm not alone, and it feels pretty damn good." He cleared his throat and looked at his shoes. "Before I leave, I want you to know that you're the only real friend I've had since Meru, and I really mean that."

Odo smiled, touched. "I appreciate that. I hope we can keep in touch."

Dietz grinned. "You just try and forget about me! I'm harder to get rid of than the fireox plague." He laughed heartily at his own joke, then reached out and hugged the Constable with genuine warmth. Odo returned the embrace, not surprised that he was feeling quite melancholy at the idea of Dietz leaving. He'd spent three weeks in close proximity to this man, and he had become as close to him as he was to anyone except Nerys. He would miss his c'mon-I-dare-yah attitude and his boisterous sense of humor. "Now, you better invite me to the big event," Dietz said as he pulled back.

"Count on it."

"Kira is really an amazing woman. You're one lucky changeling."

"I know," Odo said with a smile. Dietz moved to the door, then turned back.

"You know, meeting you has made me think seriously for the first time in forever about my first years away from the Link. I was so young and so confused...and I think that I did love Meru. It's too bad that I didn't know what I was feeling, it was so foreign to me. I'm glad that you're smarter now than I was then." He gave Odo a sweet smile, a final chuck on the shoulder, and walked out the door.

...one week later...

Odo strode decisively down the corridor towards the wardroom. If there was anything he hated, it was being late, which is what he currently was for a staff briefing. Leave it to Starfleet to contact him by subspace just as he was on his way out the door...and they didn't know the meaning of the phrase "I'll call you back."

When he entered the wardroom the rest of the staff were talking amongst themselves, looking as if they'd decided to wait for him. None of them looked particularly put out, though...Nerys shot him one of her blinding smiles across the table. "Sorry I'm late, Captain," he growled, taking the only empty chair between Nerys and Sisko.

"Quite all right, Constable," the Captain replied. Odo waited for him to start the briefing but he just sat there, smiling at him with this unfathomable look upon his face.

"Is...there a problem, Captain?" Odo said. He glanced around at his fellow officers. They were all looking at him with big smiles on their faces. His eyes got around to Kira...Prophets, were those tears in her eyes? "What's going on?" he asked.

Sisko pulled one hand from behind his back. In it was a small, flat black case. "Odo, I received this today, along with some orders direct from the Federation President himself." He stood up, prompting Odo to follow suit, glancing around the room as everyone else rose as well. Sisko drew himself up and spoke decisively. "For exemplary service to the Federation, for conspicuous valor above and beyond the call of duty, and for your bravery and dedication to the pursuit of justice, the Federation council has voted unanimously to award you, Security Chief Odo of Deep Space Nine, the Federation Order of Light medallion." Odo stared, disbelieving, while everyone else clapped. "It's the highest honor the Federation gives, Odo," Sisko said. "The last time it was awarded was, I think...nine years ago. Congratulations," he said, grinning and shaking the amazed changeling's hand. Odo was still speechless while everyone gathered round to congratulate him.

"Captain, I...I don't know what to say! I can't imagine how I deserve this," he said.

"Don't deserve it! Have you heard the latest tactical projections based on the information you brought back? Have you read the reports of Gamma sqaudron's progress? There's cause for hope in the halls of Starfleet headquarters for the first time in this entire war thanks to you! I'd say it's deserved." Everyone murmured assent and laughed. "Now, the ceremony..."

"Ceremony!" Odo cried, an almost comical look of alarm on his face.

"Yes, ceremony. This is a big deal, Odo, and we'll all be taking a little trip back to Earth in a few weeks for this." He laid a hand on Odo's shoulder. "I know you'll hate every minute of it, but it will be a big elaborate presentation, dignitaries, handshaking, receptions, speeches, the works."

Odo harrumphed, but it was a good-natured harrumph. "Well...I suppose I'll muddle through somehow," he said, smiling down at Nerys. Sisko gave her a significant look and handed her the flat black case he was holding. She stepped forward and took his place facing Odo.

"I'm afraid there's more, sweetie."

"Nerys, you know I hate it when you call me 'sweetie,'" he said resignedly.

"Why do you think I do it?" she teased him. "At any rate, when the Bajoran government heard of your heroics..." A derisive snort from Odo..."they decided to make their own gesture of appreciation." She opened the case and drew out a gold rank pip. "By order of the First Minister, I hereby grant you a field promotion to the rank of Major in the Bajoran Defense Force." She reached up and affixed the leaf to his collar, then put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him unabashedly. "Congratulations, Major Odo." More cheers. Odo looked completely floored by all this attention. "They wanted to promote you to Colonel but I told them you would never stand for all that paperwork. Besides, then you'd outrank me and we can't have that, can we?" she said with a laugh.

"No, we certainly can't," he agreed readily, hugging her with one arm.

"I guess this means I have to call you 'sir,'" the Chief said.

"Just plain 'Odo' will be fine," he corrected, "or...Constable, even."

"Constable!" Julian exclaimed. "I thought you didn't like that?"

Odo shrugged. "Well...I suppose it's grown on me." He looked around at the faces of his friends, his mind ticking off what each of them had come to mean to him. Julian, the sly commentator and verbal sparring partner. Miles, the kayaking buddy and mentor in all things loud and bawdy. Jadzia, the mover of furniture and an ancient voice of both wisdom and whimsy. Worf, a kindred spirit of order and sometime nemesis. Sisko, his dedicated defender to the uneasy powers that be and well-respected commander. And Nerys...his partner in crime, his best friend and soulmate, the love of his life. He even found himself half-wishing Quark were here. He smiled at them. "You know something?"

"What's that?" Nerys asked.

"It's good to be home."

Odo stood at the viewport in Nery's living room, staring out at the stars. He could hear her even, steady breathing coming from the bedroom and marveled at the sound, and that he was here listening to it. He wondered where Dietz and Briggs were at this moment. He had done a little under-the-table investigating and had determined that the two of them *had* been paired up by Section 31, but that was all he'd been able to find out. He suspected that Briggs had told Kira something before she left, but so far she had not shared this information with him. He didn't push her, aware that she had probably made a promise and would not break it, nor would he ask her to. He hoped they were all right...then had to smile to himself. They were probably having the time of their lives, infiltrating here, spying there, "kicking some righteous Dominion butt" as Dietz would have said.

"What are you looking for?" came her soft voice behind him. He felt her step up behind him and lay her head against his back, slipping her arms around him.

"I don't know," he mused, grasping one of her hands to kiss her fingertips. They stood there silently for a few moments. "They're out there," he whispered.

"Who?"

"Changelings. Ones like me and Dietz. There are more out there, I can feel it. Here in the Alpha quadrant and on the other side of the wormhole."

"We'll find them," she said.

"No, we won't," he answered. "That's the squadron's job. We'll help." He turned around to embrace her. "Our work is here, remember?"

She smiled slowly. "Oh that's right. I almost forgot."

"Right now I feel like if I never leave this station again, it will be too soon."

Nerys chuckled. "Well, can we at least go to Bajor for a long weekend?"

"Well...I think I could just about manage that."

"Good. But right now, I'm tired and I need sleep. Come to bed with me?" she asked, almost shyly. In the way of answering, he kissed her temple and turned to walk with her towards her room.

"I love you, Nerys," he said softly.

"I love you too. But if Starfleet ever asks you to undertake a suicide mission again..."

"I know. I'll tell them to...what's the Chief's phrase? Stick it where the sun don't shine? I'm not quite sure what that means."

"It means I'm not letting you out of my sight for awhile."

"I can live with that arrangement."

"Good, because pretty soon it'll be official."

"The sooner the better."

They disappeared into the bedroom and fell together into the warm dimness. As the night progressed a peaceful stillness descended as they slept entwined in each other, a single prayer candle casting over them a pool of soft light that held back the surrounding darkness.

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