The briefing room was full again. Captain Sisko was at his proper place at the head of the table, relieving Kira of that uncomfortable role. She was quite happy to resume her own duties again, without the headaches of his.
"The most recent convoy from Andoria escaped with only minor damage," she reported. It was good news. With the destruction of the Dominion shipyards and the return of the Prophets the war had turned their way again. "A Tellarite freighter was the most badly damaged. Her captain has requested--" Demanded was more like it. "--docking space until the next convoy while they repair damage and Dr. Bashir treats their wounded." Something tickled her nose. She rubbed it while Bashir took up the report.
"They only have a dozen wounded, none seriously," he said. "Burns mostly, one broken leg." An explosive sneeze escaped Kira's control. Bashir glanced her way then gallantly ignored the interruption. "I finished examining them this morning and they will all be able to continue with their ship when it leaves."
Kira nodded, grateful they wouldn't have any extended guests. The Tellarites were the rudest people she ever met, and that included the Cardassians! "The convoy brought medical supplies for the station and the supply depots," she continued when Bashir finished. "They even brought the blood supplies from Vulcan the Romulans requested for the hospital on Durnas." Her grimace of distaste was a mistake, triggering two more sneezes in rapid succession. Bashir looked at her curiously. She knew what he was thinking and glared back before continuing her report.
* * *
The infirmary was packed with the wounded Tellarites and their unwounded crew mates, all complaining at the top of their lungs. Her head started pounding at the noise and her nose itched in sympathy. Dr. Bashir emerged to greet her before she could work up the nerve to plunge into the melee to find him.
"Colonel Kira," he rubbed his hands together briskly. "What can I do for you?"
The chain of five sneezes was probably explanation enough. "I keep sneezing," she explained unnecessarily. Two more sneezes reinforced the message. "I can't work--" A single sneeze. "I can't sleep--" Three more. "I--" Everything else was lost in a chain of sneezes that left her breathless and light-headed.
Bashir pulled her into his office out of the general hullaballo. He stood watching her sternly while the sneezing died down. "Nerys, I haven't seen anyone sneeze that much since--"
"Since I was carrying Kirayoshi," she sniffed. "Julian, I'm not--Achoo--pregnant! I would know!" She tried to sound fierce, but it was difficult with another sneeze threatening. "Besides, Odo's a Changeling, I'm Bajoran, it's just not possible," she said, trying to keep the regret out of her voice.
"Stranger things have happened," Bashir said. He pointed her to a chair and she obediently sat while he fetched a tricorder. "You may 'know' you're not pregnant, but I'm the doctor here and I prefer to be certain."
"I'm not--" She dissolved in sneezing again and could only shrug helplessly.
Bashir aimed the tricorder at her with his worst smug expression. The expression vanished in surprise. He tossed the tricorder onto his desk and grabbed a hypospray from a supply cabinet. He clapped it to her neck and the sneezes stopped.
"I'm not pregnant!" she forced out before they could resume.
Bashir chuckled. "No, you're not."
"I'm not?" Despite her denial she was both surprised and a little disappointed. "The sneezing--"
He chuckled again. "You, Maj--Colonel--have an allergy."
"An allergy? Allergy to what?"
"As near as I can tell--" He was back to smug, but still amused. "You're allergic to Tellarites. Worst inter-species allergy I've ever seen." He laughed at her expression.