Wellness was all relative, Tisk decided. The meds Izak had supplied him with controlled the almost constant nausea, ratcheting the debilitating sickness down to a lower level. As a result, the hybrid felt stronger and more alert than he had for longer than he cared to recall. Images from his first work shift were still haunting him and the improvement in his physical condition only added to the guilt that pervaded him as the eyes of the bound Bolian blinked slowly at him from within the preserve of his memory. He sat for a moment in the silent dormitory after Izak's departure. His roommates were either on shift or out attending to whatever passed for recreation in this place but his solitude was no boon with a head stuffed with things he'd have rather never seen.

In desperation, in self-defence - he forced himself to try to think like a Starfleet Officer. He demanded his brain turn its attention to the mission he had set himself. His mission to stick close to Izak, to discover what and who the spy was involved with, to complete the task his Starfleet mentor had set him, to win for himself the right to return to the Federation - and never to stray from it again. Which was why, as he emerged into the public foyer of the entertainment complex that housed the New Dawn, he turned with deliberation towards the public turbo lifts, instead of obeying his instincts and fleeing out into the light as fast as his feet could carry him.

The first thing he had to do was find out where the hell he was. Orion and Orias had not been part of his field of study and most of what he knew - he had learned in bars and on boards, from blokes who were three fifths full of shit. They had painted the place as some kind of whores' paradise of unlimited illicit fun. They'd left out the fact that blokes like him were regularly served up with fries. Sparing his feelings no doubt, he thought bitterly.

With surly concentration, he stood in the lift as it rocketed to the top of the New Dawn's elegant dome. Family groups and alien tourists belied the pervading evil he sensed in the place as if it were a dew on his scales. He realised it was a fine sheen of sweat coating him, as he carried the Bolian's moist eyes before him and the fear of what had befallen her at his back. Threat presented itself to him in the eyes of every other being in the place. Flush against the back wall of the elevator, arms dangling, slightly fisted, at his sides, he sank inside himself, his ridges and sinews becoming more prominent, his skin drier and greyer.

When the lift doors opened on the rotunda the flash of a reflection of water lit his eyes and his head snapped up, hopefully. He pushed forward, rudely past squalling Orion kids on the bosoms of ample Orion mums, the orange skinned variety. His momentary hope was dashed as he reached the edge of the force field and stood nose almost to the blast gazing at the drab, overcrowded city that sat on the squat, ugly island surrounded by a fat oily sea.

(0) Communications Room, Izak's Suite - An Hour Later (0)

"Well, well, well...." The face on Izak's communication station smiled warmly. ".. haven't you done *well* for yourself, Keir. You know.. One would almost think you were enjoying yourself."

Izak lent a little closer to the screen. "I am, Admiral. Thank you for your... such gracious concern." He grinned. "It gladdens my heart so much... to know you *still* care."

"Still a smart-arse son of a bitch, eh?" The Admiral chuckled. "Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way."

"No?" Izak raised an eyebrow. "Good to see you're still a sarcastic son of a bitch."

"Well then..." The Admiral laughed. ".. now that we're acquainted."

"Indeed." Izak nodded, a half-smile washing over his face. Admiral McCann could be such a trial at times. He was a patriot to the cause, yes. But an annoying, full-of-himself, patriot to the cause, none the less.

"I see you have left your scales behind?"

"Very perceptive." Izak smiled. "Yes, I have. Makarov was able to do it before I met with Koren again.... Thankfully for us."

McCann nodded.

"How are our plans progressing then?" Izak asked, cutting to the point.

"Eager as always." McCann sat back. "Well... we have been set back, I am afraid."

"What kind of set back?" Izak snarled. "I didn't risk my own cover, only for you and your starfleet lackeys to fuck it up. Let's remember who's boss here, Admiral. You're only in this because *I* can use you. You screw me around, and you're a dead man. You get me?"

"Calm down, Keir." McCann shifted in his seat. "I understand our debt to you... I won't forget who's running the show. We're allies, remember?" McCann pushed. "The set-back is a political matter.."

"Political?"

"Political." McCann nodded. "Regarding the Cardassian-Klingon aggression of the last few months..."

"Let me guess." Izak sighed, slumping back into his chair. "It's over?"

McCann reluctantly nodded. "I tried to use my contacts in the Klingon empire to keep it going.. but to no avail."

"Some fucking contacts then, huh?" Izak cursed.

"There was nothing they could do... It was all over very fast. No one even really knows how..." McCann began to sound like he was pleading. Izak hated pleading. ".. that fat Gul, Turak and his cronies managed to kidnap the Klingon command... they came to..."

Izak interrupted, shouting. "..A DIPLOMATIC ARRANGEMENT... what is it with Klingons these days?!?" He stood up, slamming his fist onto the table. "Have they no resolve? Couldn't they see what Cardassia has become?!?"

"Apparently not." McCann said sadly.

"Well then," Izak sat back down, a frown on his face. "The dumb oafs are even more stupid than I gave them credit for."

Izak breathed out deeply, before looking back to McCann. "What of the federation council then?"

"Good news there." McCann smiled. "I think they are being slowly swayed..."

"FUCK SLOWLY SWAYED!" Izak spat onto the screen, again interrupting the admiral. "This is NOT some game, McCann! This is a righteous war against all that is wrong with the universe!

I want you to get them on-side... not in a year.. not in six months.. but now! I want the reperations increased now! I want Project Gregarin put back on the agenda! - If we don't bring these Cardassians to their knees soon, we may never get the chance again!"

"Alright, alright." McCann gulped, putting a hand up to the screen in peace.

"NOT ALRIGHT!" Izak screamed. "I don't think you understand these grave matters! If the ridged menace isn't destroyed, they will disease our children for generations!! Do what your asked to do! Make things happen!"

McCann simply nodded. "Yes, Keir. I will work at it..."

Izak let out a deep breath, and smiled. "I am glad we are agreed." He paused, as he took in, with glee, the sight of Admiral McCann trying not to shake. "Now..." Izak said calmly. ".. how is the investigation going with the traitor's murder?"

"Sterok?" McCann breathed out, composing himself. "Well, the investigation is going nowhere... You are safe, my friend."

"Good."

"Except..." McCann seemed very hesitant to add.

"Except?" Izak glared.

"Well, have you heard of a... a.. Captain Killian?"

"One of the Lizard's ex-colleagues." Izak nodded. "From Kerok Nor. Why?"

"Well... it seems that he feels somewhat personally involved in the case." McCann said slowly. "My contact on Kerok Nor tells me that he is going to try and find this.. Tiskil Kendrak that you are holding."

"Becuase he feels betrayed, right?" Izak chuckled.

"Yes... err.. from what I hear anyway."

"And is there any chance of him finding a connection between Orias and the cleansing of sterok?" Izak asked.

"I.. doubt it." McCann said sombrely. "But, I would not completely discount it..." McCann said quietly, as if expecting Izak to explode in profanity again.

Izak simply grinned. "Well then... let's hope he does."

"I'm sorry?"

"I have always, Admiral...." Izak paused and stood up, his face beaming in excitement. ".. wanted to cleanse a captain."

"Kill Killian." Izak laughed. "See, it even sounds like it was meant to be..."

McCann forced a smile, nodded, and ended the communication.

Izak lent back into his chair. ".. meant to be." He muttered, smacking his lips.

Bajor

Two days later

Ministers Hall

2300

Her outfit was designed to blend in with the elegant tuxes and evening gowns that night. The dress was a vibrant violet that clung in all the right places and had a heart shaped bodice that showed her off without being too revealing. She’d allowed her hair to hang down tonight pulling it back so that it didn’t get in her way.

The click, click, click of her heels echoed against the marble floors of the Ministers Hall as she made her way to the ballroom. She couldn't quite remember why they were having a ball; some sort of trade agreement or someone grew a brain stem. Who knows? Who cares? It was an excuse to get dressed up and out do everyone else in the room.

Had nothing to do with her at all. In fact, she wasn't even invited. Which, of course, wouldn't stop her from waltzing right in. Instead of turning down the hall towards the ballroom Rei swerved to the left and made her way to an alcove.

The advantage of having several spooks in the family, Rei smiled ruefully as she pressed a few spots in the back wall. A retina scanner popped out. It meant never having your retina prints erased from the security database when you transferred. The panel slid aside to allow her access to the narrow corridor between the holographic inner wall and the real outer wall. She rapped her knuckles on the hologram. Yup, still felt solid. It was a security feature she’d always liked. Up ahead there was a spot under the staircase where she could enter the ballroom without being seen.

The sensors took note of her presence and scanned the surrounding area for people. When the coast was clear she slipped through and into crowd unnoticed. She stood there for a few moments, smiling, looking for all the world like a guest enjoying herself. A few people glanced her way, the First Minister himself among them, but before he could do a double take and get a closer look she was off meandering towards another part of the room and he was telling himself that it was just his imagination. She only looked like Rei'ani it wasn't really her.

And it was exactly what Rei was hoping for.

Rei just smiled prettily and took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter all the while scanning the room. Her make up and hair were not her usual style, changed enough for people not to recognize her right off. She carried herself with the ease and self-confidence of a high-class woman. She'd even changed her walk from the clipped steps of the military to the slow I-have-all-the-time-in-the-world stride of the rich with just a slight sway in her hips.

The security cameras would have caught her by now and no doubt someone in some room somewhere had recognized her and was probably shooting off a picture and a note to either Kira or Kaelinn but it didn't matter. Right now she couldn’t have cared less. She was here for one reason.

Jania.

The woman had been extremely patient with her the last week or so and it was time to reward it by telling her what she needed to know.

"Didn’t expect to see you here," a soft purr came from behind.

Rei turned and finished off the last of her champagne before replying. "You’ve been patient with me. I appreciate that." She gave Jania a once over and marveled at how the woman with ice in her veins fit in as if she’d been born to this life. The spider symbol on her Irulan clan earring sparkled in the soft light and elegant dress hugged her body in all the right places. Judging by the appreciative looks from the men around her, Jania was playing them for every scrap of information she could get.

Jania smiled and turned to her group of admirers. "Gentlemen, I know you’ll excuse me for a little while. My cousin and I have so much catching up to do." As the group of middle-aged politicians protested the loss of their object of affection, Rei smiled and slipped her arm through Jania’s.

Leading her away, Rei asked, "Doesn’t the debutante act ever get tiring?"

"On the contrary," Jania replied while keeping a bright smile tacked to her face as they made their way through the crowd and up the staircase, "it’s good for the ego." At the top of the steps she stopped them. "Turn around and wave at the camera, Sweetie."

* * * *

Lin’klai Corp. Main Office

56^th floor

The walk into the office building had been filled with useless small talk. Paranoia it seemed existed even though they were in one of the safest places for a Lin’klai to be. At this time of night the building was empty save the security guards stationed on every floor. They were challenged only once in the Lobby, stopping to allow for a retina scan. Normally, people went through fingerprint scans to access levels past the fifth floor. Past the twenty-fifth floor a retinal scan was added. The research and development levels below the Lobby required a retinal scan and a blood scan.

For Rei and Jania the retinal scan was their only option. They’d burned their fingerprints off a long time ago. It was the way things went in their line of business. The guard nodded his thanks and chatted with them for a few moments as he alerted the other guards in the building to their presence. The two women would go unchallenged after this.

The turbolift stopped on the fifty-sixth floor of the sixty-floor building, close enough to the top to feel the building creak when the winds decided to blow fiercely. They stepped out and looked around nodding to the only visible guard at the end of the hall.

The other guards were behind the holograms.

Paranoia brought out the creativity in Jania.

Who do you think suggested the holographic wall in the ballroom?

The door to each office was hidden behind a holographic painting that the owner could keep on or turn off at will. Those who had secretaries also used holograms to create false walls to hide their desks behind. It was very difficult to break into this office building.

An absolute pain in the ass really.

Jania led her down to a painting of a Dol’reia, an ancient mythical dragon, curled around Bajor. Standing in front of it as Jania entered the security codes for the office Rei took off her earring and stared at it.

Her family crest.

Dori’s nickname for her.

Dragon.

Her history.

And she’d never thought about it before. Not even for a moment.

Because she knew nothing about her family beyond her parents and siblings.

"Nice place," Rei murmured as the two women stepped into an office and she slipped the earring back on. She did a perimeter walk around it, poking into corners and looking into drawers. She recognized it as a slightly smaller version of Fiore’s office. She took a closer look around.

Nothing.

The office was an empty one.

View out the windows kicked ass though, Rei thought as she stood before one of them. "Whose is it?"

"Yours," Jania said sitting on the desk and crossing her legs. "That is if you want it."

A snort left Rei’s lips. "Who do I have to kill?"

"There’s the cynical bitch I know and love," Jania laughed and leaned back. "Fiore’s orders actually. This is your office if you want it. Everyone knows that after the military you were going to come work for the company. This office was designed for your…’unique’ abilities." She slid off the desk and walked to the end of the room and pressed a button. "Private turbolift, it’ll give you access to any floor on the building and to the shuttle bay on the sixtieth floor without having to use the main walkways. Vid screen, bathroom, mini kitchen, closet, couch, et cetera."

Leaning against the glass, Rei folded her arms. "What exactly is it that I have to do?"

"Trouble shooter. If there’s a problem you’re sent in to assess the situation, suggest solutions, negotiate if needed. Anyplace where the company has an interest, that means in system and, when we finally establish a presence in the Federation, out system as well." Jania silently cursed when those damn violet eyes locked on to hers and narrowed. Here it comes, she thought. Opportunity in the wind didn’t always mean smooth sailing.

"Well, now we know what the company wants and luckily it’s something I could be interested in doing. Now we get to the interesting part: What do you want from me?"

"The Wraith."

Those violet eyes darkened and damned if they didn’t spit lighting…No, wait, that was the thunderstorm starting outside. "No," was the answer growled back at her.

She sat on the arm of the couch. This was going to be an uphill battle Jania knew, one that she would most likely lose. "I want your mind that is. I want you in Intelligence." Rei opened her mouth to deny her once more but Jania spoke first. "I need a consultant, someone who knows the ropes and whom I can work with without wanting to throttle on a daily basis. You’ve taken the extra classes at the Academy, Rei. Your instincts--despite what you believe--are just as sharp as they’ve ever been. You were one of the best agents in the cell. Dammit, you were practically groomed for this job."

"And we both know what’ll happen. Sooner or later I’ll get sucked into the field work because I’ll want to see first hand what the hell’s going on." Rei looked out the window at the storm beginning to rage outside. "When does it end, Jania? Hmm? When do I get to go on and live a normal life with a wife and kids?"

Jania could only smile sadly at her. "Rei, baby, we’re Bajoran. We’ll never be normal." Then her brow furrowed slightly. "Wife and kids…Does that mean…"

"Yes."

"Formal?"

"Not yet, but I’ve claimed her and she’s claimed me and the baby…if there is one."

Jania’s eyes widened. "You’re still not sure?"

Rei got a far away look in her eyes as if checking herself internally. "Not yet. I will be soon. I’m just…waiting…."

"For what?"

"I’m not sure. A sign perhaps. I’ll know when I’m ready to know." With that Rei turned back to the window, a clear signal to Jania that she considered the subject closed.

Lighting flashed, throwing shadows on them and into the room and Jania watched Rei for a long moment. The younger children in the family hated being up here during storms. The shadows created were unbeatable monsters that changed shape with every flash and only the strong soothing arms of their parents could defeat them. As they grew older they learned that the shadows did harbor monsters but they were flesh and blood and beatable and it took people like her and Rei to do it.

Because, in a way, they were monsters too and who better to do the job then people who’d been there? Jania accepted this. Rei…accepted it on a certain level but craved what she couldn’t have: normality.

Sometimes she craved it too.

After all, even monsters deserved a little bit of happiness.

She wasn’t above manipulation to get what she wanted, however, out of respect for Rei Jania wouldn’t. Besides, remembered the last time Dori had claimed Rei. Endangering Rei’s well-being was an act that sent you to the Prophets that much quicker and Dori would be the one sending you.

No, a pissed off Dori was not on her list of things to deal with this week.

It was five minutes before Rei spoke again and then only to ask if there was anything else they needed to discuss.

"Yes, two actually." Jania slipped off her shoes and stretched before meeting Rei’s eyes in the glass. "We’ll get the unpleasant one out of the way first: Kerok Nor." She smiled tiredly at Rei’s growl of displeasure. "Honey, you were involved with an assassin. If Starfleet Security comes knocking on any of our doors I want to be prepared."

A necessary evil, Rei supposed as she rubbed her eyes and turned back to her spook cousin. Now all she wanted to do was crawl in bed next to Dori and just sleep. That would come later. Business first. "I need one of those padds that you can construct faces out of. Preferably one with a Cardassian features plug in."

This had Jania raising an eyebrow. "Cardassian features? Rei, Kendrak has a picture on his service record."

"No, not for Tisk," Rei said walking over to her. "For someone else. Two versions of the same face."

"What the hell goes on at that station?"

"Don’t get me started."

* * * *

Untold hours later Jania had it all. From the first moment Rei had laid eyes on Tisk to the day she left. Over and over again they’d both gone over the chronology adding facts, moving things around as Rei found errors. As Rei went over the file one more time, Jania studied the visuals of the beggar and the Cardassian soldier.

"They’re the same person." She looked at Rei and grinned. "Told ya your instincts were still good."

"Yeah…" Rei paused before opening a link to several databases including Kerok Nor’s and feeding the images through for a visual comparison. "But what the hell is the point of assassinating a Feddie ambassador?"

Jania leaned over Rei and watched the results of her search come up negative. "Rei, my dear…you…" she started typing in security codes, "have been…out of …the business…a little too long." They leaned back to wait for the results. "’The enemy of my enemy is my friend,’" she quoted. "Kill a Feddie ambassador and make the Cardies look bad. Federation responds…" She pointed to the dates in the file. "This was happening during the Klingon/Cardassian conflict. Their resources are stretched thin right now."

"Divide and conquer," Rei breathed. "The Cardassians can’t fight a two front war and crumble." They both swore as the search came up negative. So did the next two searches in the more classified databases. "Nothing. He’s a spook," Rei said looking up at Jania. "The guy is a fucking spook."

Jania grinned. "And if he could have pulled this off he would have been a fucking genius. If only the Cardassians and Klingons hadn’t ended the war."

"Yeah, peace does have a way of fucking up your plans."

* * * *

"Anij wants you down in B’halla."

Rei raised one perfect black eyebrow. "Why?" The sun was starting to peek around the other buildings in the city turning the walls in the bare office a gentle orange red. She accepted a cup of coffee and a xari pastry. Taking care not to ruin her dress, Rei spread a napkin over her lap she gingerly took a bite of the pastry. "Crap, as much as I like this damn thing the crumbs sometimes aren’t worth it." Gingerly she wiped her mouth. What Jania slid across the desk to her almost had her choking.

It was a picture of Anij holding a preserved scroll of a painting of her family crest. Underneath was a caption : There’s more where this came from. Get your ass down here.

Rei’s eyes rose to meet Jania’s all thoughts of breakfast completely out the window.

"I’ll make arrangements for you, me and Dori to go down there," Jania said before she wolfed down the rest of her breakfast and sauntered out the door. "I’ll be in touch!"

"Bye…" Rei sat back in her chair and stared blankly at the photo wondering how much more of her life was going to change.

* * * *

It was a long time before she could move again and then only to send a message to Dori about where she was and to come by and pick her up for lunch if she wanted to. Oh, and bring a change of clothing please.

The coffee and pastry had cooled and become distasteful and with a grimace Rei got up and dumped them into the reclimator. After that she walked into the bathroom and cleaned up a little. Presentable again, she made her way towards the windows and stared at the city as it woke up and came to life. She shifted a little the silk under her dress cool against her skin and Rei seriously wished she were back in bed under the sheets.

So much to do, she thought, so much to consider: Jania and her proposals, the job with the company, Dori and the beginning of their family. Oh prophets, then there’s my own family to deal with. Rei sat back down at her desk and picked up the picture of Anij and her family scroll. So much history she didn’t know. Now she had to find out for herself and for the next generation of children to come.

And then there’s…

It didn’t take long for her fingers to skip across the keyboard and before she even realized it she was looking into the eyes of a human male on the screen of her computer. "Um…" Rei blinked stupidly for a moment. "I’m sorry to bother you but…are you…" She wracked her mind for the name. "Mr. Murph?"

Sean Igantious Murphy rumpled his mad red dreads and tried to hold his wobbly head still in front of the vid screen. There were only two likely sources of a Subspace Comm call; Tish's family on Trill checking on the progress of their only daughter's pregnancy or Tisk .

His sleepy eyes determined that the caller was indeed a pretty if rather pouty and dark Bajoran, just as his ears mistook her attempt at human honorific to be his reviled nickname. 'Smurf.' He stopped trying to straighten himself up for In Law inspection and instead farted, scratched his balls and slumped into the sofa.

"Nice one Rep." He yawned and continued scratching. "It's not like unbroken nights are going to be rare anytime soon mate. Thanks for your thoughtfulness. As always. Ya bastard." From within a deep stretch he grunted. "Sorry Miss but you've landed yourself the universe's practical joke there. You had the shots before you slept with him didn't ya?" Murph deadpanned at the screen as footsteps in the hallway told him that Tish had woken up despite his stealthy exit. Behind him, through the long, wide, open verandah doors palms began to form into silhouettes as the sun started to tint a long distant marine horizon with the faintest hints of silver.

I should have had more to drink. Oh yeah a sleepy, rude human was really what I wanted to deal with tonight. Rei leaned back in her chair and waited until she was sure he was awake enough to understand her. An amused smile graced her lips as he unknowingly hit on one of the reasons she would call Tisk. But that would be a private conversation and one that would not take place until she determined if she was carrying or not.

"I apologize for waking you up. I completely forgot the time difference between here and Earth…And yes, my shots are always up to date, Mr. Murph, Thank you for asking." She sighed and straightened up in her chair a little. "I was wondering if Tisk had made it home safe."

Murph had slowly taken in the cool slightly amused flicker that had passed over the woman's face. The Bajoran accent was rather throaty and attractive, particularly at this early hour. He paid more attention as she spoke.

"You see, we resigned from the military at the same time and he was supposed to take the shuttle to DS9 with me and catch a flight home from there. Except he vanished in the middle of the night and no one's seen him or heard from him since. And considering everything else that's happened…I just wondered if he was all right and if his family had heard from him." She leaned forward to break the connection saying, "But it is rather early and I do apologize for disturbing you. I'll call back at a later time."

Murph's mind was clicking into place as he tried to put together the pieces of the story this woman was telling. Tisk had said he was detouring to Bajor, a bizarre enough action in Murph's opinion, and now this. His initial assumption that this Bajoran woman was the reason for Tisk's detour was clearly incorrect, and her rather casual hints at other troubles, snapped him into watchful alertness.

"No.." He was reaching out for his console just as the low rich tones of his wife joined with his rather more desperate shriek.

"No …" Tish demanded commanding the console and fixing on the signal in a couple of swift, practiced movements. A Starfleet Comms officer never quite looses the touch. "Who are you?" The Trill continued with a look that was part concern and part caution. "How do you know Tisk?"

Rei focused on the woman and noted with a slight stab of envy the round shape of her stomach. She hid her reaction under a smile though and answered her. "My name is Krysa Rei'ani…and I was…well, at least one of his lovers on Kerok Nor."

A smile tugged Tish's lips and she met the Bajoran woman's eyes. She didn't look the clingy, easily shattered type, this Krysa Rei'ani … but then Tisk's lovers generally weren't. Tish knew that. She'd been one of them. That's how she'd come to be living here, in Tisk's house, with Tisk's best mate, expecting Tisk's best mate's child. She decided this Bajoran could take the truth. If Tisk was dolallying on Bajor with someone else then they could both sort it out like grownups.

"Tisk told us he was taking a detour to Bajor before he comes home." She shrugged her shoulders and slithered next to Murph on the sofa. "Not something he's ever shown the slightest interest in doing before this date I might add." A small frown creased Tish's otherwise smooth high forehead. "He's never shown a lot of interest in Bajorans up till now either." She said a trifle suspiciously. "What did you mean when you said …considering everything else that's happened?"

The chimes to her doors distracted Rei for a moment and she unlocked them. Dori strode in dressed in her uniform and carrying a bag. "Really, Reia if you're going to spend your entire night being debriefed by an Intelligence officer bring your own damn change of clothes." She dropped the bag unceremoniously into Rei's lap and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You're lucky I have to be at work early," she muttered sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the desk and closing her eyes.

"Good morning to you, too," Rei said picking up the bag and laying it on the floor out of sight. She checked the chronometer and shook her head. "You should have just stayed in bed."

"I would have but I rediscovered the fact that I don't like to sleep alone and I'd rather miss a few hours of sleep if it means I get to see you."

That brought a blush and a pleased smile to Rei's face and in Kendra she said, "I love you, you know."

Dori opened her eyes. "I love you too…" Then she sighed. "And if I don't get some coffee I'm going to have to throw someone out a window. Excuse me." She got up and headed for the replicator.

Rei could only roll her eyes before turning back to the screen and picking up the conversation as if she'd never left it. "He said he was coming to Bajor?" This was a new twist. "Granted I haven't known him as long as you have…but I was sort of under the impression that he'd rather shoot himself in the head before setting foot on this planet."

"Guess he found a reason to change his mind." Tish replied flatly. "You didn't answer my question."

Tish's unease coupled with the Bajoran's evasiveness filtered through Murph's sleepy responses. "Why do you want to find him?" The red headed surfer asked the silence that had followed Tish's demand.

"He's suspected of conspiring to assassinate a Federation ambassador." Rei answered as Dori sat back down with a mug of coffee. Only to be startled when Dori slammed her mug down and swore. "What?!"

Eyes wide, Dori turned to her. "Ian. She forgot to talk to Ian. She talked to you but she forgot him."

For a moment Rei had no idea what the hell she was talking about and then the realization hit. "Oh hell. If Jania was so concerned that Starfleet was going to want to talk to me then obviously…Shit…Get her on a comm. line and tell her to get to the house."

She turned back to the screen and mentally cursed her stupidity as a blank screen greeted her. "Oh Prophets…and you're his family…"

to be continued....................