I'll Be There

By Carrie

Disclaimer: The lyrics to "I'll Be There" belong to The Escape Club. Any and all Star Trek characters, places or things in this story are property of Paramount. No infringement intended.

****

Over mountains, over trees,
Over oceans and over seas,
Across the desert,
I'll be there.

In a whisper on the wind,
On the smile of a new friend,
Just think of me
And I'll be there

****

As he drew closer to the docking bay he felt the air chill around him. He knew that leaving was best. Before, he had the war to distract him from the loss of Jadzia. But now, with the war over and Jadzia still gone, Deep Space Nine was the last place Worf needed to be. He stopped short of the doorway, and took a deep breath.

He looked around and remembered the day he arrived here almost four years earlier; the trips to the holodeck with Jadzia; most recently his abduction by the Breen and the fatal fight with Gowron. But most importantly, Deep Space Nine represented to Worf everything about Jadzia. This is where they met and fell in love without realizing it. This is where they were married and where they were to raise a family.

This is where she died. He didn't realize until now just how alone he really felt. He instinctively looked to the one spot on the upper deck where Jadzia always stood to watch people come and go. His eyes fell upon Ezri.

He had found a great friend in the Dax successor, and he knew that somewhere, deep inside her was Jadzia. It gave him some comfort to know that Jadzia and all of her memories lived on. She gave him a crooked smile and offered a limp wave. He knew by looking at her that it was through Jadzia's eyes she was seeing him leave.

Don't be afraid, oh my love!
I'll be watching you from above.
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you.
'Cause I'm on your side,
I still care.
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

On the edge of a waking dream;
Over rivers and over streams,
Through wind and rain,
I'll be there.

Across the wide of the open sky,
Thousands of miles I'd fly,
To be with you,
I'll be there

Worf spent the first few nights on Qo'Nos awake. He thought of nothing except Jadzia. He felt as though he had walked away from her. Everything in his mind told him that it was not true, but his heart told him if he went back to Deep Space Nine, Jadzia would still be there. Every night in his dreams he could see her. He would drift in and out, and when he awoke, he thought he could feel her breath on his neck.

He placed their wedding picture on the stand beside his bed facing him so it was the first thing he saw when he woke. When he couldn't sleep Jadzia used to run her fingers through his hair. He tried to focus on thoughts like that to help get him through the night. He couldn't help but wonder most nights if his instinct was right. Should he go back? Just to appease his heart at least. Klingon instinct was usually flawless, the main element in the fact their hunting abilities are second to none.

His first week there, Worf got a communiqué from Ezri, just to make sure he was all settled in, that no strings were left untied. They sat in silence for a moment. Their talk was short, but Worf felt like DS9 was calling more and more. He tossed and turned on his pallet and finally was able to get some sleep after he decided he was going to go back.

Chorus:
Don't be afraid, oh my love!
I'll be watching you from above.
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you.
'Cause I'm on your side,
I still care.
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

In the breath of a wind that sighs,
Oh there's no need to cry.
Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

It took Worf two days to get back to the Bajoran system, the home of the Federation Space Station he had called home for four years. He planned out his entire visit. If things went the way he had planned, he would need no more than hour. As soon as he had docked he met up with Colonel Kira. No one knew he was coming. Amongst her questions, he did gather what he needed to know. With new insight into the primary Bajoran religion, he headed straight for the Temple. He stopped short of the entrance.

He had never entered the room before. He got chills thinking about its past history with his now dead wife. He didn't want to go in, especially since this was the place Jadzia had been attacked. But with a warrior mindset, he took a deep breath and entered. Ezri happened to walk around the promenade and caught a glimpse of him as he entered. She wasn't able to focus her thoughts today and decided to partake of a sick day.

Worf entered the small room. With small childlike steps he made his way to the Orb of Contemplation. He carefully lit the candles on either side of the Orb and slowly opened the decorated box to reveal the hourglass shaped object radiating with light. The entire time he was here he wondered where it was exactly Jadzia had been attacked. All of his thoughts were of Jadzia.

Then it hit him.

Ezri walked in at the exact same moment. She had been curious as to his purpose here, but instead of asking him directly, the orb saw it fit for the both of them to experience the same vision. What Worf started to see was pinning him on the spot with rage. He saw Jadzia do exactly what he just done; light the candles and open the box. Except once she started to talk, Gul Dukat appeared behind her.

"Grab your phaser!!" Worf thought. She had done just that, but Dukat was too quick for her reflexes. He shot at her a beam so strong and penetrating that it lifted her from the floor and held her steadfast. Ezri was filled the same rage, yet at the same time, she was experiencing the same fear Jadzia had when it had happened.

All of a sudden, Worf charged at Dukat. He never made contact. The vision changed. Worf was face to face with Jadzia.

"Par'machai" she said to him.

He reached for her hand. Somehow, far across whatever distance that spanned between the couple, the orb made it possible for them to be with each other one more time. He would have done anything to be with her from this moment on. He was even prepared to take his own life.

"Jadzia. Somehow I knew you were here. That is why I returned. I came to be with you par'machai."

"Oh Worf. I wish I could come back. We would be so happy together. But I can't Worf. I have to wait for you here. But you can't live your life like this Worf. There is nothing I want more than to be with you again, but I want you to go and live your life. Go be the Worf I fell in love with and I will be at the gates of Sto'Vo'Kor waiting for you."

The vision of Jadzia kissed him lightly on the cheek and brushed her hand against his jawline.

"I will always be with you, par'machai."

She smiled her sweet smile and the vision ended. Ezri now stood in front of Worf, with her hand on his cheek in exactly the same manner the vision of Jadzia had done. Ezri stepped back and instead of meeting a perplexed and disgruntled Worf, she looked up and saw nothing but understanding. Worf turned and walked out of the Temple, saying nothing.

Don't be afraid, oh my love!
I'll be watching you from above.
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you.
'Cause I'm on your side,
I still care.
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

Ezri walked with Worf to the outer docking ring. They met for lunch and talked little over their brief meal at the replimat. Worf was fixed on the vision they had just shared. He found a new respect for this Trill. She had to carry the memories as fervent as Jadzia's and try to be her own person.

They bantered about Julian, and their holo-excursions to ancient Earth. Worf talked little of his new position as Federation Ambassador, mostly because there hadn't been anything rousing since he commenced. They got to the door of the docking bay and Worf stopped to fumble in his duffle bag. He took out an envelope. Ezri looked at the paper. Rare it was to use this substance instead of just communicating through a P.A.D.D.

"Open it." Worf said. Ezri did as he told her. Her heart nearly fell on the floor. It was an exact replica of the wedding picture of Worf and Jadzia. Tears welling up inside, she started to say thank you, but the Klingon cut her off.

"You are a counselor. You will understand this. When I am feeling…" he stumbled trying to say the word on the tip of his tongue, "…lonely, I look at this picture and I feel comforted. It is Jadzia the way I know her. She was beautiful and happy." He paused and looked to his feet. "I dream of her. When I wake I look at her. This way she is always with me."

When he did look up, Ezri was in tears, but smiling. "I am giving you this because I know you sometimes can't control… who you are. Sometimes you are Ezri, other times you are not. This way, if you are ever… Jadzia, she will not be without me as well."

Still clutching the photo, Ezri gave Worf a hug. He held her until her light sobs were under control. He looked at her and smiled. He turned and walked through the docking bay doors. He looked back once more, and just for a second, Ezri seemed much taller. But only for a second. Hugging the photo to her chest, she smiled and waved at him through the glass. This time, he could tell by looking at her, that is was through Jadzia's heart she was watching him leave.

Think of me (whisper)
And I'll be there.

~The End~

Have something to say about this story? Visit the Discussion Area!

Go back to the Archive 1