The traditional disclaimer here: Paramount owns all these toys, I'm just borrowing them for a while. I promise to put them back where they belong when I'm finished. Honest! Well, almost as I found them....!

A Final Holiday
By F. Carthew (dakhur@iinet.net.au) 1998

Kira was humming to herself as she piloted the runabout away from the station. Dax shot her a badly concealed grin, knowing EXACTLY what was going on in the Major's mind at that moment. Commander Benjamin Sisko had ordered his First Officer to take a holiday, before he departed for Earth for two weeks, to be de-briefed by Starfleet Command regarding the situation with the Dominion. Dax had a paper she was to deliver to the Bajoran science academy the Trill had offered to drop Kira off.

"I do not want to see you before the end of the week. In fact, if I do see you, I'll court-martial you for disobedience of a direct order!" Benjamin was grinning by this time, as he saw them to the airlock. "Now, go away and have a relaxing time. Oh, and Kira," the smile was deeper now, "say 'hello' to Vedek Bareil for me, and tell him he'd better make the most of this trip. Things could change rapidly when I get back from Earth."

With that, the airlock closed and the woman left for Bajor. Sitting back, Dax stretched and turned to Kira. "So, anything special planned for the next week, or are you just going to stay at the monastery with Bareil?

"No idea, to be honest." Kira grinned back, a little shyly. She was still getting used to having a close female friend who took an honest interest in her well being. Still, it was good to have someone she could talk to about how she felt about Bareil. "When I told him I had been ordered to take some leave, he laughed and told me to forget about planning anything, he wanted to organise something special for me."

"Sounds romantic." The Trill suppressed a chuckle, and thought back to when she had arrived back from the Gamma Quadrant after a mission, to find a very nervous Major desperately plying her with drinks, and asking her about Daxs' past relationships. It had taken Kira ages to admit that she was scared witless about getting seriously involved with the religious leader, but now, the two Bajorans were almost inseparable whenever they got together. It would take nothing short of a red alert on the station to separate them, particularly if it had been a while since they had seen each other.

"Could you take the conn for a while?" Dax was brought out of her reminisces by Kira's voice. "I'd like to go get changed before we arrive on the planet."

"Sure, not a problem." Dax straightened up and took control. "Actually, I know what you mean. I never feel like I'm on leave until I get out of the uniform."

"Exactly." Kira's muffled reply came through from the rear of the Runabout. "Although I can count my leave time taken on one hand. Sisko reckons I've got around 6 months accumulated."

"Keep seeing Bareil, and that'll disappear quick enough."

"Not really," Kira returned dressed in soft red trousers and green shirt. "We cheat by putting it under 'Liaison Duties'. It's easier than filling out the forms it takes to get leave."

Dax howled with laughter. "You're joking! Kira, congratulations, You've just out done Curzon Dax himself." As the Trill disappeared to get changed, Kira grinned and adjusted the runabouts speed. She couldn't wait to get to Bajor and Bareil.

As the two women walked through the landing-port, they spotted Bareil waiting for them near the transporter centre. Seeing them, his face broke into a broad grin, which was quickly tempered by the public nature of the surroundings. On the station, he and Kira made no secret of their love, but on Bajor, it was a different matter. "Hi. How was the trip?" The Vedek tried to keep his voice neutral, but he couldn't stop the grin on his face, when he saw the smile on Kira's.

"Quiet. Absolutely nothing happened." Kira wanted to be able to reach out and hug her lover, but knew that she would have to wait until they were in private. "Dax is going to the Science Academy, she's got a lecture to give."

"On the plants in the Gamma Quadrant." Dax grinned at them both, and glanced at a chronometer. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'd better get going. See you in a week, Kira." Jadzia turned and strolled off to a transporter room to go to the Academy.

Kira watched her friend disappear into the crowd before she turned and faced her beloved. "So, were you able to arrange anything, or are we going to stay at the monastery like normal?"

"No, we are both going to have a holiday." Bareil and Kira were swiftly walking towards the transit pads, both anxious to be alone with each other. "We have to go see the Kai first, though. She wants you to give her an update on how things are going with the station, and the situation between Bajorans and Starfleet personnel. Someone has sent her information that Bajoran officers are being abused by Starfleet officers."

Kira stopped dead in her tracks. "But that's ridiculous! No Starfleet officer would attack a Bajoran, it just doesn't happen!"

Bareil gently pulled Kira aside as he realised that passers by were slowing down to listen to the conversation between a religious leader and this Bajoran who seemed to be speaking to him in a most disrespectful manner.

"Kira, quiet. We're not in private here." Bareil ushered her into a transporter room and gave the operator the coordinates for his quarters in the Temple. After they arrived, he turned to Kira and spoke sternly.

"Nerys, don't ever do that again. If another Vedek had seen you, you could have been in serious trouble." As she hung her head and scuffed the floor, he put his arms around her and kissed her passionately. Looking into her eyes, he whispered "But here, here there is no need for shame or fear. It's okay, here you can say whatever you want, without consequences."

Pulling back, he took her hand as they walked to the door. "Now, let's go finish with the Kai, and then we can start this holiday of yours."

Dax had reached the Academy and was arranging her notes in preparation for her talk, along with the occasional glance out the window at the sunset. Much as she enjoyed telling other people about the new discoveries beyond the wormhole, she sometimes got the impression that the Bajorans would have enjoyed the talks far more if it were one of them giving it.

A knock at the door brought her back to reality, as a young male Bajoran entered her room. "Hello, I'm Kirasa Taleen, I'll be your assistant while your here." An easy smile was gracing his face, and coupled with his nose ridges, Jadzia found herself being definitely attracted to this man.

Dax noticed that his earing was similar to her commanding officers', and took a shot in the dark. Turning her head on the side in a way that she knew was distracting to men, she asked "You're not related to Major Kira by any chance, are you?"

Taleen laughingly replied, "I believe we're distant cousins, although that's good or bad depending on which side of the family you're on." Grinning, he winked at the Lieutenant in a most familiar manner. "Everyone under the age of 20 thinks she's great. The adults think she's a pain in the butt."

Dax laughed. "I think that's a universal thought."

"Well Lieutenant, we're glad you could spare us some time." The man glanced at the door and saw a large group gathering outside. "It seems to be time for your lecture." He looked back at her and smiled. "I've arranged a room for you tonight, with full communication access. Perhaps I could buy you dinner after you're finished?"

"I'd like that." Jadzia nodded, then opened the door to the room to start her talk.

"Kai Winn, I can assure you that these charges have no basis for you to believe them." Kira was attempting to hold herself under a tight reign, knowing full well that one wrong move could jeopardise her future with Bareil. "No Starfleet officer would ever lay a finger on a Bajoran."

"How do you know that?" Winn had refused to give Kira the name of the accuser at the start, which had immediately put the Major offside. The fact that she had then dismissed Bareil so that only she and Kira were present was, in Kira's mind, simply done to try and frighten her into admitting the charges were right. Or to provoke her into saying something that would give the Kai either an excuse to take her off DS9 or to refuse Kira and Bareil access to each other in the future. Either way, she was determined not to bite.

"Kai, if anything of that nature had occurred, Commander Sisko and I would have found out by now, and we would have dealt with it VERY severely." Nerys sat back down and adopted a relaxed attitude. "I find it significant that nothing of this nature has come to light during the entire time Starfleet has been present at the station, even during the attempted civil war, when such an act would have been blamed on the Circle." Kira had calmed down now, figuring that the Kai had made the entire report up. "I will, of course, notify Commander Sisko about these...accusations, and I'm sure he will investigate them very thoroughly."

Standing, she moved to leave. "I, on the other hand, am on leave by order of Commander Sisko, and am not to return to the station until the end of the week. He is leaving to visit Earth soon, and he wants me stress-free when I return, to take command of the station during his absence. If there is nothing further...?"

The Kai waved a hand, and Kira marched out of the room, straight into Bareil who was lurking just out of sight in the corridor. "Thought you were in your quarters?" She grinned as he took her hand and led her to the transporter room.

"I was, but then I thought we might as well leave as soon as you were finished with the Kai. I had our bags sent there already." Arriving at the transporter, Bareil nodded to the operator and within seconds, he and Kira were standing in a wood-panelled room. A four-poster bed along one wall, table and chairs, an overflowing bookcase and a computer console made up part of the furniture. The windows opened onto soft, green plains, folding away to far off mountains. There was barely a sound except for the birds outside the window and a very gentle breeze in the trees.

"What is this place?" Kira spoke in a whisper that was only just audible above the birds.

"My brothers house. He lives here, but he's gone away for a month on business." Turning, he reached out and drew Nerys into his embrace, as they kissed each other for a long moment. "This is my room whenever I visit, but for the next week, we have the whole place to ourselves." Slowly led her over to the bed. "Shall we continue our previous conversation from the station?"

"First, I have to call Sisko and let him know about the Kai's complaint." She drew away and ignored the groan from the bed, as she powered up the console and opened a channel to the station.

"Major, I thought I told you to have a holiday!" Sisko had a face like thunder. Why, oh why couldn't the woman learn to have a rest?

"Sir, just thought you should know that the Kai is in possession of allegations of abuse of Bajoran Officers by Starfleet Personnel. She's already interrogated me, but I told her that unless she will provide evidence to support these charges, we can't do anything." Kira managed to get it all out in one breath, knowing that her boss wouldn't put up with a long-winded explanation.

Siskos' face changed dramatically as he listened to his First Officer. "Major, please tell me you're joking." When Kira shook her head, Sisko exploded. "Just what the hell does the woman think she's playing at? Does she realise the complications that could occur if these allegations are allowed to circulate? What does she think we're doing up here, as if we haven't got enough trouble with the Dominion just behind the wormhole, and Starfleet not listening to our requests." Calming himself, the Commander regained his normal composure.

"Do you want me to return to the station, sir?" Kira held her breath while she waited for Ben to make his decision, while behind her, she could have sworn she heard her lover muttering in Bajoran, and using several very unreligious phrases.

"No." Ben Sisko smiled as he saw the look of relief sweep across his officer's face. "I sent you away for a holiday, and you need it! Odo and I will look after things up here; you relax and enjoy yourself. Thank you for the warning, though. Sisko out." As he closed off, Sisko realised that it would have been easier to take up Kira's offer to return. But then, he thought, it hardly would have been fair. Shrugging, he called Odo to his office.

On Bajor, Nerys turned and found that Bareil was sitting dejectedly on the bed. "Is this going to happen for the rest of the week?"

Standing, she strolled over to the bed and climbed on to kneel beside him. "Not a chance." Trailing kisses along his jaw, her deft fingers undid his robe as she felt his hands remove her shirt. Murmuring to each other in Bajoran, Kira felt the Vedek move over her and press her gently down onto the bed. Sighing, Nerys released herself to her desires and settled in to enjoy the next week as much as possible.

Dax was confused, something that didn't happen very much these days. One moment it would seem as if there was nothing wrong, and then suddenly her dinner companion would become almost hostile. Looking up, she spoke to her new friend. "Kirasa, is anything wrong?"

"Taleen, please, and there have been several reports of trouble on the station, and we're just all a little curious as to whether it's true." The Bajoran kept a smile on his face, but it went no further than his mouth.

Leaning forward, Dax became all business. "Trouble? What kind of trouble? The station's been going fine."

"A Bajoran has said that a Human beat him up, while he was working on the station." Taleen smiled grimly. "Word got around that you were here, and suddenly everybody is uptight about it."

"I think I've had enough to eat." Jadzia stretched and stood up. "How about we call it a day?" Dropping her voice, she muttered, "We need to talk, now." As the two people returned to the academy's main building, not a word passed between them. Arriving back at her quarters, the Trill rounded on the young man. "Right. Sit down and tell me what's going on."

"Basically, a Bajoran engineer has made it public knowledge that a Starfleet officer beat him up while he was stationed on DS9. According to him, the Command crew knew about it, but covered it up to protect your own interests." Pausing, he glanced at Dax. "Major Kira is supposed to have threatened to see that he would be gaoled for smuggling, if he told anyone about it."

"Does anyone know who this guy is?" Dax was clicking up all recently transferred personnel, trying to think of who might have a grudge against the station. "His being an engineer will narrow down the search." Sitting at the console in the room, she opened a channel to the station. "Benjamin, we have a problem."

"Let me guess. A Bajoran has accused a Starfleet officer of hurting him." Sisko could feel a throb beginning behind his eyes.

"Right, how did you know?" Dax was a little miffed about not being the first with the news. "Hang on, let me guess. Kira."

"Right. She called and told me that the Kai has already questioned her as to an accusation that a Bajoran was beaten up by a Starfleet officer. Have I missed anything?"

"My information indicates that the Bajoran was an engineer. He possibly has a grudge against the command crew, and Kira in particular, as he's said that she told him he would be arrested for smuggling, if he informed on us." Dax glanced at Taleen and asked, "Anything else?"

"Only that it's created problems with interaction between the Federation and Bajor. Right now, I wouldn't let anybody affiliated with DS9 on the planet, not yet anyway." Taleen had moved so that he was visible on Sisko's monitor.

"This is Kirasa Taleen, a scientist here at the academy." Dax grinned, "He's a distant cousin of Kira's, and the one who told me what's been going on."

Sisko nodded at the young man, before turning his attention back to Dax. "Have you had any trouble, any threats?"

"No, but these things aren't always obvious." Jadzia grimaced.

"Alright," Sisko sighed, then became all business. "For now, we'll continue as planned. This entire thing might just be smoke in the air. Odo and I will work on the evidence and try to exert damage control from up here. This is a one-off, so we'll treat it as such. Kira is with Bareil, naturally, so she'll be out of the firing line hopefully, and since you'll be returning tomorrow, there's no problem there. If anybody else asks you about this incident, you are to emphasise our position."

"Which is?"

"That these accusations are a bunch of plasma. No one, Human or Bajoran commits a crime against someone else on this station, and gets away with it. No-one, not even me." Sisko paused while he listened to a call from Odo. "The constable has just informed me that he has received a list of recent transfers of Bajoran engineers from the station, and we'll be contacting the Bajoran Militia to find and speak to all of them. I'll transmit Major Kira's location to you, and if you get into any trouble, transport to the nearest transit centre immediately. As I said, with any luck, this will turn out to be nothing more than a headache. Sisko out."

Dax turned to Taleen and smiled. "So, what is there to do around here?"

Taleen stood and bowed. "Consider me your guide to the wild and exotic night-life of a scientific academy. Let's go."

Dax grinned. Handsome, and a sense of humour to boot. This could be fun.

Kira found herself awake at dawn as sunlight pooled on the floor. Beside her, Bareil was fast asleep, one hand over her waist, his head resting on her shoulder, and a quirky little grin on his face. Looking at him, she smiled as she thought of how much she loved him, and of the times they'd had together. Slowly, Nerys raised her head and, careful not to disturb him, leaned over---and delivered a short, sharp breath into his right ear, and pulled her head back.

Bareil was dreaming of Kira, when suddenly he felt a powerful breeze in his ear. Jerking his head up, he narrowed his eyes, as he looked at the woman beside him, certain that he could see the corner of her mouth twitching. She seemed to be asleep, but Nerys had a truly wicked sense of humour when she was in a good mood, and after her enthusiasm of the previous night, he was sure she was happy. Putting his head back down, he realised that she was staying still--way too still to be asleep. Bareil grinned as he ran his fingers along her ribs.

Kira managed to hold herself for a few seconds, but he knew just where to tickle her and she soon was convulsing with laughter, as Bareil took her in his arms and kissed her good morning. "So, do you have a springball court hidden around here, or are you scared that I might beat you on your home turf?"

"Not a chance," Bareil smiled as she snuggled into his embrace. "There's a court out the back, and a river about 50 meters beyond that, and if my memory serves me right, it's great to swim in." He looked at her seductively. "You did remember your swimmers, didn't you?"

"Of course. But since we're alone, do I really need to wear them?" She asked with innocently wide eyes.

"Only until I take them off you!" Things were just warming up nicely, when they were interrupted by an alarm signalling that there was an incoming comm call. Bareil groaned and muttered to himself, as he pulled on his pants, grabbed his robe, and stalked over to the console. "It's from DS9." The Vedek frowned at the woman. "Better answer it I suppose." He slapped the communication channel open. "This is Vedek Bareil. What can I do for you?"

Commander Sisko looked at the Vedek, and apologised. "I'm sorry, Bareil, but I need to speak to Kira urgently. We've had some developments with the situation regarding these attack allegations."

Kira had got dressed as soon as the computer announced the caller to be from the station, and slipped into the console chair. "What's happened, Sir? Has something happened to Dax?"

"No, she's okay. She seems to have met up with a man who claims to be a distant cousin of yours, one Kirasa Taleen. Do you know him?"

"Taleen?" Kira was amused. "Yeah, he's alright. Charming, suave, and a real ladies' man. If he's working with Dax, it'll be an interesting match." Kira became all work. "So, what's happened then? Have you caught the guy who's saying this?"

"Not yet." Sisko paused, then spoke again. "Have you threatened a Bajoran Engineer with a false smuggling charge? Understand, I'm asking this for the record."

"No I haven't, and I resent the fact that I had to be asked at all."

"I respect that, but if this becomes an official investigation, then it's better that the record shows you were questioned at the beginning of the trouble." Sisko softened his look. "If it comes to that, then the accuser will have to come forward anyway, and everything will become much simpler. Sorry to have interrupted your holiday, but I thought I'd better check things out now, not later. By the way, Dax has the location of the closest transporter centre, and is under orders to go there if anything happens at the Academy. Sisko out."

Kira switched the console off, and sat at the table, brooding over her Commanding Officers information, barely noticing when Bareil gave her a cup of ginger tea. "It doesn't make sense. Why would someone accuse me of threatening them with illegal charges?"

Bareil leaned against the console table, and sipped his coffee. "Perhaps this person has a grudge against you for something else, and this is the easiest way to make your life difficult." Putting his arm around her, he bent and kissed her. "Either way, he's succeeded in interrupting us twice, and I'm NOT impressed. So, what shall we do first, springball or swimming?"

"Springball." Kira stood and grabbed a bat from her bag. "After that call, I need to work off some serious anger."

As he followed her out the door, the man muttered, "Who am I to argue with an angry Kira?"

Commander Ben Sisko was annoyed. Well, that's the politest way of saying it. He and Odo had contacted every recently transferred Bajoran engineer, and none of them had any bad feelings about their time on DS9. On the contrary, all were very happy with the time they had there. Not a single one of them had any idea who would have made the allegations against the command crew, and Major Kira in particular.

"Perhaps the accuser isn't an engineer at all." Odo was with Sisko in his office. "We haven't got any proof that it is an Engineer, except for a rumour from a scientist, who probably heard it in the mess-hall."

"I know." Ben Sisko sighed. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, because it means contacting over 600 people who have been posted here in the last 6 months. Some of them were only here for a few weeks, before transferring back to Bajor. Therefore, here's what we'll do: every department will contact all previous workers, and report to their department head, who will then give us a full list of any possible suspects."

"Awful lot of work just to find one person." Odo could envision the paperwork building up, until it snowed them both under. "Are you including my security staff in this internal investigation?"

Sisko looked warily at his security chief. Odo could be very sticky about any suggestion of illegal actions from his officers. "That depends. Can you confidently vouch for all of your department?" To his surprise, Odo actually took on a thoughtful gaze.

"Each of them on their own I wouldn't question, but together, if there was a plot hatched to discredit the management of the station..." Odo looked at his Commander. "Sir, this kind of attempt brings to mind only one person."

Sisko glared out into the stars. "Kai Winn. She's had it in for Kira ever since she was a Vedek. The woman has given me more headaches, than I've changed shoes. She has continually tried to interfere in our job, and that stunt she pulled on Kira two months ago, when she forced her to blackmail Bareil out of the position of Kai, is just about the last straw."

"Agreed. Unfortunately, it doesn't get rid of the problem." Odo thought for a moment. "She's probably hiding whoever made this charge, assuming this person actually exists. I'll get onto my department right away, and take a stroll through Quarks'. If anyone knows what's going on, he will."

"Get right on it." Sisko walked his Security Chief to the door. "I'll talk to the other department heads, and with any luck, we'll get this thing wrapped up soon, preferably before Kira gets back. She's convinced the station will fall apart without her."

Chuckling, Sisko turned and sat back down at his console. He had never quiet forgotten that, when he first arrived at the station, Kira didn't want to stay. Now, it was almost impossible to get her to leave the place, even with the enticement of a week with Bareil.

Kira and Bareil were relaxing in front of the downstairs fireplace, both swathed in bathrobes. Their springball and swimming had been interrupted by an unexpected rainstorm that had forced them indoors, but fortunately there were...compensations. Bareil looked at the woman lying beside him, and smiled. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to find something else to do."

"I'm sure that won't be too hard." Nerys cuddled Bareil, as she ran her fingers down his chest and undid the belt to his robe. "Pity, though, I was about to win my third ball game."

"Oh were you just?" Bareil began to mercilessly tickle Nerys, holding her down as she attempted to get away. Their fun was interrupted by the sound of someone ringing the door alarm, and both paused in astonishment, wondering who it could be. No one was expected. "Dax?"

Kira shook her head. "No, she should be on her way back to the station by now. However, I'd better go get dressed, as I'm hardly fit for company the way I am at the moment."

"You look fine to me." Bareil grinned as she headed for the stairs.

"YOU don't count!" Blowing him a kiss, Kira vanished into Bareil's bedroom, as he pulled on his shorts, and answered the door.

"Aavon! What are you doing here?" Bareil looked at his brother in shock. "You're supposed to be away on business."

"I know, but the meetings got cancelled." Looking around, as he dumped his bags on the floor in the middle of the room, he took stock of the open fire and the two plates leftover from lunch. "Bareil, I'm sorry!" Aavon swung to face his brother with a horrified look on his face. "I completely forget you were having company for the next week." Picking up his baggage, he moved towards the door. "I'll just go spend the week at...I don't know, but I'm bound to think of somewhere."

Bareil grabbed his brothers' arm. "Hey, don't leave in such a hurry. Since you're here, I might as well introduce you and Nerys." Grinning, he led Aavon back into the room, just as the storm made its presence felt again. "Besides, what kind of brother would I be, if I let you go out into the rain?"

"I was wondering when you'd get to that." A dry voice from the stairs made both men look up. Kira had dressed quietly, and was sitting on the top step smiling down at them. "The storm doesn't look like it's going to let up anytime soon, so it would hardly be polite of me to force you out of your own home, would it?"

Aavon's face broke into a smile, as he watched Kira come down the stairs. "I can see why you like her," was all he had time to mutter to Bareil, before he held out his hand to Nerys. "So, you're the infamous Major Kira Nerys. Bareil, why have you been keeping this woman under wraps all these months?"

"Because I was afraid if she met you, you'd scare her off and I'd never see her again!" Bareil was grinning, but still kept one eye on Kira for her reaction. "Nerys, this is my notorious older brother, Aavon. Aavon, this is Nerys, my..." He paused and gently took her hand. "I'm not sure what to call her, but I love her very much."

"Bareil, you're getting mushy about her again." Aavon looked at Kira, and she saw the twinkle in his eyes. "Ever since he met you, the man has been incorrigible." Tucking Kira's hand under his, he led her to the couch and sat down. "All he ever talks about whenever he comes to visit is Nerys this, and Nerys that."

Bareil threw himself into the opposite chair, and held his hands over his eyes, slowly shaking his head, and muttering to himself. "This is what I was afraid of."

"Bareil, hush! Shouldn't you go get dressed?" Aavon turned back to Kira, who was desperately trying not to laugh. "You'll have to forgive him, he's always been touchy about introducing me to his girlfriends. I'm told it's a common problem in younger siblings. As I was saying, you've made quite an impact on him. I don't remember ever seeing him this intense about anyone else."

"Well, it's always nice to know you're appreciated." Nerys shot a look at Bareil, and saw him looking at her from under his hand. "Mind you, if you'll pardon me being mushy, I love him too."

"Obviously he hasn't told you enough about himself." Aavon turned to face Kira, and pretended to be serious. "Allow me to educate you."

Bareil listened as his brother began to tell Kira stories of when the two of them were growing up together in the Relegeth refugee camp. Slowly, he found himself joining in, adding to the stories, until Kira raised her hands in mock surrender, and laughed at them both.

"Stop. I wasn't warned that flattery ran in the family." Kira stood and smiled at the two men. "I've got an idea. How about I go and get us some dinner, and then we can talk to our hearts content?" As the two men nodded, Kira winked at Bareil, and went into the kitchen.

Aavon turned to Bareil in mock shock. "Pretty, intelligent, a sense of humour, and she cooks too? Where did you say you found her again, and are there any more like her there?"

Bareil shook his head, and got up to pour the two of them a drink. "Not a chance. She's definitely a one-of-a-kind, non-repeat."

"So, are you going to marry her?" Aavon had dropped his voice, and walked over to stand next to his brother. "I can't see Winn making life easy for the two of you if you do, especially since she tried to kill you a year ago, and just cheated you out of being the Kai."

"I know." Bareil sighed, and glanced into the kitchen, where he could see Kira going through the cupboards, looking for pots and pans. "No, not yet. I've got a few things up in the air, at the moment, including this treaty with the Cardassians. Thankfully, Winn has supported me in that, and not buried the idea." Bareil smiled at Aavon. "I'm glad you like Nerys. I think we're going to be together for a long time to come. And now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'd better go into the kitchen and help Nerys, and then I'll go get dressed."

Aavon watched as his brother walked into the other room, put his arms around Kira's waist, and kissed her. "We'll see, Bareil. You've been alone for too long."

Dax strolled into Ops and flashed her usual cheerful smile at the surrounding universe. She'd had a very pleasant day on Bajor, and Taleen had proved a very interesting dinner companion. Glancing at the command office she noticed Sisko and Odo apparently deep in conference, and decided to see what they had uncovered since the previous afternoon.

"Ah, Dax." Sisko leaned back and nodded towards a chair. "We were just discussing your revelation from yesterday. The Constable and I haven't seemed to be able to uncover any evidence to support the allegation against the command crew, or against Kira."

Dax nodded slowly, thoughts churning. "I had thought that perhaps it was merely the Kai making trouble. If it is, she's managed to do what she set out for."

"Exactly what we thought Commander." The Changelings voice gravelled through the room. "We're all aware of how much the Kai dislikes Major Kira and Vedek Bareil, and I believe that something like this is probably very typical of her. But I doubt very much whether she'll go to the extreme of hurting Kira while she's on Bajor." He inclined his head gently. "I suspect the woman is just making trouble."

Sisko stood, and the others followed suit. "In that case, we'll agree to leave things as they are at the moment. Kira is well capable of looking after herself and doubt if she'll be in any great danger. Odo, I'd like you to continue trying to find out about this though, just in case this becomes more serious."

Odo nodded sharply. There wasn't much he could do about Kira, but he knew exactly who he'd be seeing next on the station.

"So anyway, here's Bareil, just been made a monk, and he STILL can't drag himself out of bed before noon. I cured him though." Aavon sipped his drink, and looked conspiratorially at Kira. "I replicated several alarm clocks at the office, set them all for seven, and hid them in his room."

"The dent is still in the ceiling, from where I hit it the next morning." Bareil glared at his brother, as Nerys cracked up. "Thank you so much for telling her that story. I'll probably wake up on the station one morning with the same thing happening again."

"Don't worry, I'm not likely to do that to you." Kira wiped her eyes, as she calmed down. "I'd never live to tell the tale for a start." Standing, she began to clear the table.

"Put those down!" Aavon took the plates from her hands, and pushed her towards the living room. "You and Bareil go settle yourselves. I'll take care of these, and then I'll leave."

"You don't have to go." Bareil moved over and helped finish putting everything away. "I think we could put up with you for one night. Besides, where are you going to go?"

Aavon turned to look at his brother. "You keep talking like that, you'll be sleeping in the doghouse tonight!"

"No, he's right." Kira had wandered back in, and put her arm around Bareil's waist. "Please stay, really. Now I've met you, I'd really like to get to know you. You treat the two of us like people, not an officer and a Vedek."

"Don't let the familiarity fool you." Bareil was smiling at her. "Outside this house, even Aavon treats me with the respect the title of Vedek demands. Here however, I'm just his younger brother."

The three of them moved in to sit in front of the fire, and got a drink each. Sitting on the floor, Kira leaned against the couch and felt Bareil brush his fingers through her hair. "So how, if you don't mind me asking, did you manage to keep a house like this during the occupation? This is the sort of place the Cardassians loved taking over."

"You haven't told her?" Aavon was aghast. "I was sure you would have told her about here."

"Until yesterday, Nerys didn't even know this place existed." Bareil's expression sobered, as he explained to Kira. "Due to my influence in the Assembly, we were able to keep the house. The Cardassians stayed away, and this left the place empty for...other activities."

"Namely, the resistance." Aavon continued the story. "It was perfect for undercover meetings between the leaders of the factions, and for planning raids on the occupying bases." He smiled. "I dare say a few of your missions were probably hammered out in this room. If these walls could speak, they would tell quite a few stories about the raids that happened during the occupation. What cell were you with again?"

"Shakaar." Kira was astonished. "You never told me about that, Bareil."

Bareil bent down and kissed her. "You never really asked, you just assumed I spent my time at the monastery. Mind you, I've never really been keen on telling people about my achievements." Reaching down, he pulled Nerys up to her knees. "But I do brag about finding you."

"Puh-lease." Aavon rolled his eyes, and grimaced at Kira. "And you put up with this voluntarily? You must have the patience of a saint."

"No, just in love." Nerys grinned at Aavon. "You know, Bareil didn't mention that he possessed such a well-mannered, handsome, and charming older brother. If he's hiding things like you, I'm beginning to wonder what else he's keeping from me."

Aavon laughed at the expression on Bareil's face. "Major, if the only thing he's kept from you is me, I wouldn't worry." Aavon looked at her with something akin to pride. "From what I've heard about you, you're a pretty amazing person yourself."

"So what's he been saying about me then?" Kira curled up on the couch beside Bareil, and stared sternly at her lover. "If you've been saying bad things about me, you'll regret it, I promise!"

"He told me that you are the kind of person, who'll hop into a broken-down raider, and take off to stop a war." Aavon looked at her steadily. "That you give a damn about the crew under your command, and will often take on the missions that no-body else wants, because they have to be done, no matter what."

"He described how you have put yourself on the line for Bajor's independence many times. You stood up to the Provisional Government when no-one else would, and although many ministers would like you to leave them alone, no matter how busy you are, you're always trying to find ways to make them help Bajor, not themselves." Aavon leaned forward, and spoke intensely to the Major. "I've heard how you've been shot at, shot up, kidnapped, tortured, rescued, played diplomat to Starfleet admirals, learned to cope with talking to Cardassians. How you do two jobs at once, run a space station, protect a wormhole, and in the midst of all this, you've found time to have a relationship with possibly the second most influential person on Bajor." Aavon leaned back, and sipped his drink. "I don't think I've missed anything, have I Bareil?"

Bareil looked down at Nerys and kissed her forehead. "Have I said anything I shouldn't?"

"No." Kira glanced over at Aavon. "It seems I've got a reputation to live up to."

Aavon broke into a laugh, and looked out the window. "Isn't tonight the first twin rising since the occupation?" When Bareil nodded, he stood and stretched. "Well friends, shall we take a stroll outside and watch?" The three Bajorans went out to the riverbank, and stood as two moons rose, for the first time in sixty years, on a free Bajor.

Odo was in Quark's, trying to find out if the Ferengi knew who was responsible for the allegations against the station, and so far, he wasn't having much luck. The little alien was being difficult to track down, deliberately. This signified to Odo that Quark had a pretty good idea what was going on, but didn't want to talk about it. Finally, the constable found him examining some new goods he'd just bought off a trader.

"Quark, just the person I wanted to see." Odo had succeeded in getting the Ferengi alone at last. "What do you know about someone claiming that he was beaten up by a Starfleet officer?"

"I know enough to keep my mouth shut!" Quark's little eyes darted around the room. "And even if I would talk, I certainly wouldn't do it here."

Five minutes later, Quark was hustled into the station security office, under the watchful eye of Commander Sisko and Constable Odo. Odo almost tossed the alien into a chair, and growled. "Right, you're safe. Now talk."

"Okay, but understand," Quark still looked nervous. "All this is only gossip."

"Is it ever anything else?"

"Occasionally." Quark had regained some of his normal attitude. "The rumour is that a group of Bajoran radicals are trying to infiltrate the station. So far, they haven't been able to do it, but apparently, they're still trying."

"And you didn't feel that this was vital enough to bring to our attention?" Sisko was deadly calm, and threatening. "I should let Kira deal with you when she gets back. She wants to use you for moving target practice. Right now, I think I could use the practice too."

"Assuming she comes back." His words shocked the two officers, as Quark continued. "Did you know that, out of the five officers that the government would consider to replace her if they needed to, three of them belong to splinter groups of the Bajoran Government?"

The officers sat, stunned. "Does Kira know?" Ben Sisko wasn't surprised if she didn't, sometimes the in's and out's of Bajoran politics confused him. He had no idea how Kira managed to keep up with it all, but she was always able to direct him towards the current top dog within the provisional government.

"The only reason I know, is that one of the ministers flight crew came into the bar." Quark looked at Odo. "It's amazing what people will say when they're drinking. Commander, these people are more dangerous than even the Circle. They want to get rid of Kira, and put their own officer in her place."

"So, are these allegations true? Was a Bajoran really beaten up by a Human?" Odo peered intently at the little man before him.

Quark licked his lips, and unconsciously flipped that coin that he always carried. Finally, he answered the question. "No. The rumour was started to create trouble, to try and force the Bajoran Military to remove Major Kira."

Sisko leaned forward, his eyes glinting with anger. "Have you heard anything about an attack planned on either Major Kira? It's been no secret that she was going on holidays this week to Bajor."

"I don't know, but none of them have been in lately." Getting up, the Ferengi moved to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bar to attend to. Commander, Constable." Quark walked out the door, and marched over to his bar as Sisko and Odo watched him go.

"Odo, continue with the investigation, but don't be surprised if we don't find anything. In the meantime, I'll contact Kira and tell her to watch her back."

"You're not going to recall her to the station?" Odo was confused.

"No." The Commander allowed himself a savage grin. "If I do that, then this group might guess that we know about them. If she continues as if nothing is wrong, then we'll have the upper hand when they finally make their move." Walking out the door, Sisko turned for a parting shot. "Besides, she's in safe hands."

Kira awoke to the sound of lowered voices behind her. Looking sleepily around, she found herself on the couch, with a blanket over her. "I hate sleeping on couches," she muttered, as she stood up and stretched the kinks out of her neck. Walking into the kitchen, she found her beloved and his brother sitting on the back step and drinking coffee. "Well. Nice of you to invite me for breakfast!"

The two men jumped up and spun around to face her. "Prophets above, Nerys!" Bareil clutched his chest dramatically. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not NICE to sneak up on innocent bystanders!" Strolling over, he turned to his brother and winked at him. "Excuse me for a minute." Turning back, he grabbed Nerys in his arms, swept her sideways, and kissed her passionately.

Aavon laughed as Kira first fought to keep her balance, then wrapped her arms around Bareil's neck and kissed him with equal enthusiasm. Still chuckling, he turned and pulled Kira's already-prepared breakfast out of the heater, and sat it on the table. Sitting down, he remarked to the still-kissing pair before him, "Are you two planning to come up for air sometime this year, or shall I get a bucket of water, to cool you down?"

Standing up, Bareil straightened his shirt, and turned to Aavon. "Well, I'm set for the day." Taking Kira's hand, he led her to a chair, pulled it out for her, and sat her down for breakfast. Grabbing his coffee, he sat opposite. "I thought you were going to sleep all day."

"What time did I fall asleep? Last thing I remember, we were talking about mining the asteroid field around the third moon." Nerys suddenly realised how hungry she was.

"Sometime around two am. One minute you were awake, the next you were snoring quietly as you curled up in the corner of the couch." Bareil smiled as he held Kira's hand. "I got the impression we bored you to sleep."

"Not really." Kira finished her breakfast and grabbed a drink. "It was just that I was still tired from the station." Kira had been going to blame it on the first night with Bareil, but remembered that Aavon was still present.

Aavon looked from Nerys to Bareil, and walked to the door. "Well kids, it's been fun, but I think I'd better get going, and let you two get on with your holiday." As the man picked up his bags, he turned and grasped Kira's hand as she and Bareil followed him to the front door. "Take care of yourself Nerys, and of him. It's been great to meet you, drop in anytime you need somewhere to stay on Bajor." Turning to his brother, Aavon clapped him on the shoulder. "Have a great holiday, and make sure you don't lose her, okay?" With that, Aavon shouldered his bags and wandered down the road towards the transit centre.

Closing the front door, Bareil turned and gathered Nerys into his embrace. "Now, where were we?"

"Who cares? Let's just start again from here." Kira pulled Bareil's face down to hers, and kissed him passionately. As she tugged at his clothes, Nerys uttered one word. "Upstairs."

Nodding, Bareil lifted his head, and led her to the stairs. Nerys smiled as Bareil led her to his bedroom, removed what little of their clothing remained by now, and they went back to bed.

Bareil groaned quietly as Kira's hands kneaded his shoulders, loosening up the muscles. It always took him until the third day of his time with Nerys before her really started to relax. And Nerys always enjoyed giving him massages. Bareil secretly suspected that the woman had a strong maternal streak, but one that was kept well hidden from the surrounding world. They had spent an enjoyable week together, but Bareil was beginning to wonder what he was made of. He had his family betrothal bracelet all ready and waiting in a small box above the fireplace, but he had been unable to work up the courage to propose.

He sighed a little, and then felt his lover's hands stop their movement. "Ale'al, what's wrong?" The concern in her voice, coupled with the Bajoran endearment made him smile wistfully. 'Ale'al' had no single equivalent in any non-Bajoran language, the closest phrase was 'Lover who is my very life itself, and who holds my soul within their own'.

"It's all right, darling." He rolled over to face her, "I was just thinking about something else." reaching up to hug her, then brought his lover down to lie next to him and turned to face her. "Nerys, are you happy on the station?"

Time seemed to stop as she thought of the implications of the Vedeks question. She'd been thinking deeply about her relationship with the man, and believed that she did love him, with all her heart. Staring into his eyes, her heart in her throat, she smiled. "I love working on the station, but I'd like to live on Bajor too one day." Her eyes crinkled as her smile widened. "With the right persuasion, of course."

He cuddled her tightly, happily. "Then I think you'd better make an honest man out of me, Kira Nerys. I know that the woman is supposed to ask, but... Will you marry me?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck, blushing furiously and nodded. "I thought you'd never ask."

An hour later, after several religious experiences for both of them, they were cuddling up under the sheets. Kira trailed an unoccupied finger down Bareil's chest and smiled sleepily. "I suppose you want me to resign my commission now?"

"That's up to you, Ale'al." Bareil began to think seriously about the future and life with Kira Nerys. "Now that I won't be Kai, baring something happening to Winn of course, I was wondering if you'd mind me taking over the station temple." He cuddled her closer. "You wouldn't have to leave the station, I could continue serving the Prophets from the very gates of the Celestial Temple itself, and we could be together."

Kira smiled and opened her mouth to swear loyalty and faithfulness to the man forever, when the computer communication panel beeped. Bareil kissed her quickly, then stood, retrieved his pants, and opened the channel.

"This is Vedek Bareil, how can I help you?" He had plastered his usual compliant smile on his face. A young female Prylar gazed at him nervously from the computer console.

"Vedek, I apologise for the interruption, but you have been called back to the monastery tonight." The woman was obviously nervous. She hadn't dealt with the famous Vedek Bareil before, and was a little in awe of the man. Aside from the Kai, he was the most powerful figure on Bajor. He successfully walked the line between politics and faith, something the new Kai had yet to learn to do.

Bareil sighed and glanced at Kira, who had groaned and buried her face in a pillow. "What is this in relation to?"

"The Kai has requested your assistance with several matters that have arisen regarding the fundamentalist groups." The Prylar was becoming more nervous with every moment. "She was very insistent."

"Very well." Bareil sighed again. "Please inform the Kai that I will be returning to the monastery tonight, and will stay for one day only. Bareil out." He closed the channel and glanced over to see his beloved studiously examining one of the several data PADD's she'd packed for the trip. Standing, he strolled over, pulled the PADD out of her hands, and tossed it over his shoulder. "We still have a few hours before I leave. We can still spend some time together until then." He smiled seductively. "I believe we were discussing the future of the station temple?"

Kira pulled him down to her and breathed "We were indeed. Perhaps I should continue working with you, to make sure you understand the position of the Bajorans aboard the station."

"I'm more than willing to learn, major." Bareil smiled and came to her, and they spent the rest of the afternoon together.

"What if we're caught?" A nervous female voice broke the silence.

"We won't be caught." The answering voice was calm and collected. "What we're doing is right and justified by the Prophets. Remember that it was a Human who defiled the Celestial Temple by speaking to them in the first place. And she is as guilty as they, because she has joined them in exploiting the Temple." The voice became harder. "She will be the first lesson to those who have forgotten their faith. And when she is gone, and a true believer in her place, then we will be ready to return the Prophets to their solitude."

"But I'm not ready yet!" A third voice chimed in, breathless and worried. "Not all is in place, there are some still--"

"No matter!" There was some irritation in the previously calm tones, but the iron control was still there in plenty. "We will move now. There can be no better time when she will be unprotected." A soft laugh filled the air, the kind of laugh that puts your neck hair on edge. "After all, she will have gotten soft by now, and I've already arranged for her pet Vedek to be removed for the night." The laugh got even nastier. "She will be easy to take, she has lived an easy life in space. We will take her -- tonight!"

Kira was woken by a strange noise from outside the bedroom. Lying still, she waited to see if it was repeated. When it did, the Major quickly assessed how far it was to the door, but suddenly realised that someone else was in the room. Gathering her courage, she silently sat up and reached over to turn on the bedside lamp--and gasped in shock as she saw that her visitor was Bareil's brother, Aavon.

"Aavon, what a surprise." Kira took stock of the mans' angry expression and the knife he held in his left hand, and thanked the prophets that she'd decided it was cold and had worn a shirt and trousers to bed that night. "Bareil got called back to the Temple this afternoon, but he should be back tomorrow, if you need to see him."

"Actually, I came to see you." Aavon moved towards Kira, as she climbed out of the farthest side of the bed, keeping it between the man and herself. "I wanted to speak to you, alone, so I had a colleague of mine arrange for Bareil to be recalled." Nerys recognised the look on his face. It was a look she'd seen a hundred times before, that of someone prepared to kill, and was shocked at the change that had come over him from when Bareil was present

"So, let's talk." Kira carefully began to edge away from the man, but it was no good, he merely walked around the bed to face her. "What do you want, Aavon?"

"Your life." Aavon's eyes began to glaze over with hate. "I belong to a group who despise what you and the rest of Bajor's traitors have made us become. You're an abomination to all those who died to set our planet free, you've betrayed everything the resistance ever stood for." He moved forward, tightening his grip on the knife. "I was given the honour of cleansing Bajor of your filthy hide. You've just been using my brother to further your own ends, corrupting Bareil until he can't see your true colours. Now, prepare yourself to face the wrath of the prophets, and may they banish you to burn forever in the pits of hell." Aavon suddenly pushed forward and raised the knife, intending to drive Kira up against the wall.

Unfortunately for Aavon, Nerys wasn't where she was supposed to be. The woman had dived down and sideways, rolling as she went. Thanking Sisko's insistences that all the command crew practice Starfleet self-defence techniques, Kira was out the door and halfway down the stairs, before Aavon had picked himself up off the floor and dived after her.

"I hope this is somebody's idea of a bad joke." Kira launched herself at the front door, as she hit the release button--and promptly hit the door when it failed to open. Spinning around, Kira raced towards the kitchen just as Aavon leapt down the last few steps and ran after her. Finding the back door locked as well, Kira turned to see Aavon breathing heavily and advancing towards her, still holding the knife. Opening a cupboard, Nerys grabbed a tray to use as a shield, and tried to draw the man away from the door.

"Aavon, this really isn't a smart idea." Kira was calculating how she could get upstairs to the computer console, to alert the Bajoran Militia. "Do you really think that Bareil will let you get away with this? And even if he can't touch you, Commander Sisko will find some way of avenging me, whatever you do to me."

"But they're not going to know it's me." Aavon had gotten past the initial rage now, and was focused on just one thought: kill Kira Nerys. "I haven't decided yet whether I'll find you, or whether I'll let Bareil discover your body, stabbed to death in bed by an unknown killer who broke in, thinking no-one was here. Either way, you'll be dead and we'll be free to place our own officer on the station within the command crew. Now, stay still." He lunged forward and copped a blow on the side of the head from the tray Kira held, knocking him to the floor.

Kira swung around the table and tore towards the stairs, but got no further than the first step, before Aavon's hand grabbed the back of her shirt, yanking her down to slide across the wooden floor. Turning around, Aavon hit the on switch for the lights and advanced on her, as Nerys struggled to her feet and faced him. Picking up the tray at her feet, Kira swung it and caught the man on the edge of his elbow, hitting the nerve and causing him to drop the knife. Kicking it away into the dark, she faced the now unarmed Bajoran male and muttered, "Now things are a little more even."

Snarling in reply, Aavon charged the woman and got his legs kicked out from under him for his trouble. Hitting the ground, he lay stunned for a second, until he heard Kira taking the stairs two at a time. Heaving himself up, he followed her and reached the door to Bareil's room just as she scrambled for the computer. Launching himself at her, Aavon shoved her out of the way before Nerys could get a channel open, and landed a punch on her jaw. Staggering back, Kira almost fell onto the bed, before she managed to bring a leg up and kicked Aavon in the gut, winding him completely.

Kira suddenly found herself actually beginning to enjoy what was happening. The fight brought out the warrior in her; something that hadn't happened in quite a while, since Sisko generally tried to keep her away from being drawn into fights. She'd heard him mutter something about red hair and fiery tempers to Dax, but the connection had been lost on her. Pushing away from the bed, Kira moved forward in a fighter's crouch, waiting to see what Aavon would do next. As he came at her again, she stepped sideways and delivered a short jab to his stomach, but at the same time, caught a violent blow from him to her ribs, and fell to the floor.

As they both swung around, panting in pain, they stared at each other. "I won't let you get away with this, Aavon." Kira found it difficult to breathe from the punch in her side. "You can't escape, so you might as well give it up now."

"Not likely." Aavon straightened up, and Kira prepared herself for another round--and froze as he pulled out a pocketknife, and opened it up. "It's not as good as the other one, but it will still do the job." Backing up, the man closed and locked the door to the room. "No-where to hide Nerys, just you, and me." Walking towards her, he began to swing the blade from side to side, waiting to see which way she would run.

Kira stayed still, her mind desperately trying to find a way out. As the man moved within range, Nerys made a grab at his wrist and tried to force him to drop the knife. Aavon transferred the knife to his other hand and shoved it up towards her face. Kira screamed in agony as it sliced her open from her chin to forehead. Yanking back, the woman brought her knee up into his groin, and yelled again as the blade cut through her shirt and gashed the skin, as the man fell to the ground.

Nerys staggered away from Aavon, who was gasping in pain, and slapped the control switch on the console. "Com... Computer, open a channel, to the Militia." She kept her eyes on the man on the floor, never knowing how long he would be down.

"This is the Brolan Barracks." A young man peered at her, confused. "Please identify yourself."

"I'm Major Kira Nerys." She could feel the blood running down her body, and a burning desire to collapse came over her. "I've just been attacked. Please send a squad to this location immediately. I've disabled my attacker, but I don't know how long he'll be down." Feeling a wave of nausea hit her, she told him "Better send a doctor too."

The young man gulped. "Yes Ma'am. I'll send them right away. Please stay on the line, until they get there." Nodding, Kira sat down, still keeping both eyes on Bareil's brother, who was struggling to get up. "You've lost, Aavon. They'll be here any minute."

"Then all they'll find is your dead body." Aavon stalked towards her, as she stood up to try and defend herself. Kira managed to ward off one blow, before he stuck the knife in her left shoulder. Gathering the last remnants of her strength, Nerys delivered a pile-driving right hook to Aavon's jaw. The man collapsed like a sack of dirt, as Kira swayed back into the console seat.

"Major? Major, are you still there?" The officer on the end of the line was frantic.

"Yes, just." Reaching out, she turned on the rooms' lights, and heard the man's gasp as he saw her face. "Now, listen closely. I want you to contact Commander Benjamin Sisko at the space station, and tell him I've been attacked. Then, contact the Vedek Assembly, and talk to Vedek Bareil, and tell him the same thing." Leaning back, she heard the sound of a transporter downstairs, and grimaced. "You'd better tell the team that the door has been locked from the inside."

"Relaying that information now." He looked at her. "You still with me Major?"

"I think so." Kira heard the team at the door, and the sound of a phaser being used as the lock was blasted off. Seconds later, the team entered the room, and took over. On the console, Kira heard the officer say, "I'll leave you now, Major, and make those calls you asked me to. Militia out."

Kira looked up at the medic standing over her. "How am I?"

"Just relax. I'm going to sedate you, and then transport us to the hospital."

"Just make sure that you lock him up, and throw away the key." Kira heard the hiss of the hypo, and a split-second later, everything went black as the drug took effect.

Commander Sisko was fast asleep when the call came through from Bajor. Rubbing his eyes, Benjamin stopped short at the words of the caller. "Would you please repeat that?"

"Major Kira has been attacked by an, as yet, unidentified assailant. She is currently at the Southwestern Medical Centre. Sir."

Sisko was half dressed by this time. "How badly hurt is she? Does she require surgery?"

"Sir, I'm just the Duty Officer at the Brolan Barracks Militia. The Major contacted us requesting assistance, and asked me to contact you and let you know what had happened. I don't know any more, at this moment, except that the man who attacked her is in custody here, and that the Major was transported to hospital. I wish I could give you more details, but I can't."

"I will be arriving on Bajor shortly to see Major Kira, and will also need to see the person you have in custody. Thank you for informing me so promptly. Sisko out." The commander called up the list of available runabouts, and requisitioned one, before calling Dr. Bashir. "Doctor, sorry to get you out of bed, but I need you to come with me to Bajor. Major Kira has been attacked, and is in hospital."

"Do we know how bad?" The doctors' voice held a note of urgency. "I'll grab her latest medical examination anyway."

"No idea. Meet me at the Mekong in ten minutes. Sisko out." Ben took a second to take a deep breath, and try and put the worst thoughts out of his mind. "The man in that cell had better not be Bareil, or Vedek or not, I'll belt him into next year." With that, Sisko marched out the door and headed to the runabout, tapping his commbadge as he went. "Sisko to Dax."

The comm. chime awoke Bareil out of a deep sleep. Sitting at his computer, the Vedek suppressed a yawn. "This is Vedek Bareil. What can I do for you?"

"Vedek, this is Ensign Davros, of the Bajoran Militia. Sorry to disturb you, but about half an hour ago, we received an emergency call from a Major Kira Nerys. She had been attacked and injured, and was requesting our assistance. The Major asked me to-"

"How badly was she hurt? Where is she? Who attacked her?" The Vedek could envision his beloved Nerys lying three-quarters dead in a pool of blood.

"Sir, I don't know. All I know is that she is in the SouthWestern Medical Centre, and that the attacker is in custody here. Should we put the Major in protective custody, Sir?"

"Yes! Prophets yes! Have you identified the attacker yet?" The Vedek had switched the computer comlink to audio, and gotten dressed. "You'd better contact her superior officer too. He's Commander Benjamin Sisko at the space station."

"Already done, Sir. He's apparently already on his way to Bajor, and has requested access to the prisoner, and Major Kira. As to the identity of the man, we have been unable to do so. Strangely enough, he has also gave us your name, but has refused to say anything since then." The ensign was obviously wondering what he had gotten himself into.

"Do you have a visual of the prisoner?" Bareil sat back down at the console, and switched back to be able to see the ensign.

"Yes Vedek." Pushing a few buttons, Davros called up the prisoners' photo. "Here he..."

"Prophets, NO!" Bareil recoiled in shock, as he saw who it was.

"You know him Sir?"

"Yes." Bareil could feel the shock hit his body. "It's my brother."

Kira came out of a drug-induced haze, to find Commander Sisko, Lieutenant Dax, and Doctor Bashir standing over her anxiously. Sisko stepped up to the bed as she opened her eyes. "Major, do you know who this is?"

"Yes Sir. It's kind of difficult to forget your commanding officer." Nerys tried to grin but winced as she felt the newly repaired muscles in her face tighten up. "How bad did he injure me, Julian?"

"Enough to get us worried." Bashir walked forward, and looked up at a few readings on the beds' bio-scan. "But, you're going to be fine now. How do the shoulder and the chest feel?"

"Sore." Kira's mind had cleared, and she looked around with a puzzled expression. "Where's Bareil? I thought he'd be here. Don't tell me he doesn't know?" Kira looked from one to the other in confusion, as Dax sat down, and gently held her hand.

"Bareil hasn't been in, yet. He went straight from the Temple to see the man who attacked you, and hasn't been here." Dax saw the confusion give way to fear, as her words sank in.

"He.... He went to see AAVON?" Kira let her head fall back onto the pillow, and stared at the ceiling, as tears came to her eyes. "That bastard tried to kill me, and Bareil races off to see him? I was right: Blood is thicker than water. I just never thought it would make even a Vedek that thick." She saw that they didn't follow, and spat out the answer. "Aavon, the man who attacked me, is Bareil's brother." You could have heard a pin drop in the silence that fell on the room, as the three Starfleet officers realised the enormity of what Kira had said.

"I'm sorry." Sisko was the first to break the silence. "We didn't know..." He stopped as Kira shook her head and looked at him.

"There's no reason why you should have." Nerys took a deep breath, and forced herself to sit up, ignoring that it seemed to set her chest on fire. "Don't worry Julian," she swung her legs out of the bed, as the young Doctor tried to push her back down. "I'm not about to go around getting into any more fights. But I've got charges to file, a station to run, and no time to spend lying around in hospitals."

"Major, I really think you should..." Sisko's voice trailed off, as he saw Kira staring at the door. He turned around, to see Vedek Bareil standing there, glaring at Kira. "People, I think we should leave." As he ushered the others out the door, he glanced at his First Officer and nodded. "We'll be right outside, when you need us."

Kira nodded back, took a deep breath, and faced Bareil. "So. How is Aavon today?"

"He'll live." Bareil moved into the room, and closed the door. "What happened, major?"

"Your brother sneaked into the house, and tried to kill me. I fought him off, but he managed to do me a bit of damage." Kira couldn't understand why Bareil was being so formal. "What's he saying about it."

"Aavon claims that he went to the house, and that you attacked him without provocation." Bareil fixed the woman before him with an iron gaze.

"WHAT!" Kira stood up, but had to lean against the bed for support. "Bareil, if I attacked him, how come I'm the one who ended up getting injured?"

"He was injured almost as badly as you were, Kira. At the moment we don't know who to believe." Bareil spoke softly.

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Please tell me this isn't what you really think." Bareil didn't answer her; he just stood and continued to stare at her. "Bareil, you can't be serious. Aavon attacked me; he tried to kill me. How could you even begin to doubt me?"

"Because he's my brother." Bareil walked forward until he was only centimetres away from her. "He has never done anything like what you have accused him of. I don't believe he has a vicious bone in his body, so I'll ask you again: What happened last night?"

"Your brother attempted to murder me, so that he and his friends could put another officer in my place, one who would do what they want." Kira looked into Bareil's eyes, and choked back the tears. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"I think there is probably truth in both your stories." Stepping back, the Vedek walked back to the door and opened it. "Major Kira, I think you should take time to think over the events of last night, before you make any attempt to lay charges against Aavon."

"Doesn't our relationship mean anything to you?" Nerys couldn't believe her ears. "You're doubting me, without even giving me the chance to defend myself, and you're going to trust him over me?"

"I have to." Bareil looked at her with anguish in his eyes for the first time. But by now, it was too late; Kira had turned away from him. "IF what you say is true, then I'm sure that he will back up your story, after he has been questioned. Until then, I feel it would be better if we discontinue our previous...liaisons. Goodbye, Nerys." With that, Bareil left his former lover alone in the room, and walked past her stunned friends without a backward glance.

Dax watched him go, and picked up Kira's uniform. "Benjamin, it might be an idea if you and Julian stay out here, for a few minutes." Sisko nodded, as Dax went back into Kira's room, to find her lying on the bed, sobbing into the pillow. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Dax cradled Kira's head to her shoulder. "That bad, huh?" As Nerys continued to cry, Dax spoke again. "Come on. You'd better go back to bed, you need your rest."

"No." Kira straightened up, and wiped her eyes. "I need to work." Grabbing her uniform, she got dressed. "Let's go home, where I really belong."

Commander Sisko stared out of the window of his office, at the passing stars, and thought about his First Officer. Since they had returned from Bajor, Kira had been morose and withdrawn, shunning even Dax's friendship. Benjamin had been unable to fault her work, but for a woman who usually had a ready smile, neither he nor Dax had been able to get Kira to grin at their jokes. Sighing, the Commander turned, and was just about to finish for the day, when he saw a familiar red robe enter Ops. Thanking his lucky stars that he'd given Kira an early night, Sisko opened the doors to his office, and beckoned Bareil inside.

"Well, Vedek Bareil. What can I do for you?" Ben allowed his voice to contain as much anger as it could, without crossing the diplomatic line.

"How...how are things on the station?" Bareil seemed to be very interested in the baseball on the commanders' desk, not raising his head to meet Sisko's eyes.

"All things considered, very well. Aside from the fact that I have a First Officer with a broken heart." Sisko steadily looked at the young man. "What will happen about the charges against your brother? I hope you haven't come here to try and convince Kira to drop them."

"No." Bareil lifted his head at last, and looked at the Human. "Actually, I came here to apologise to Nerys. Aavon has admitted that he tried to kill her. It seems that I made a.... Serious error in judgement." Giving a waning smile, he shrugged his shoulders. "I've been a fool. I don't know whether she'll take me back, but with your permission, I'd like to at least see her and say I'm sorry."

Sisko saw the fear in Bareil's eye's, and realised how hard it must have been for him to accept that his brother had tried to kill the woman he loved. "Vedek, I think you underestimate how much Kira loves you." Opening the door, he walked the Bajoran to the turbolift. "She's in her quarters at the moment. I'll let you see her, on one condition." Facing the man, Ben allowed his voice to become rough again. "That whatever happens tonight, you accept full responsibility for the consequences of this visit. Agreed?"

Bareil took a deep breath. If Kira refused him access to the station in future, or tried to hurt him, then he had to accept it without protest or reprisal. "Agreed." Without another word, Bareil walked into the lift, and disappeared towards Major Kira's rooms.

Kira was alone in her quarters when the door chime sounded. It had been two days since her holiday, and her relationship with Bareil, had been destroyed by Aavon's attempt to murder her. Sighing, Nerys heard the chime ring again as she saved the report she was working on. "Come in", Kira stood up as the door opened. Bareil stood in the doorway.

"Hello, Nerys." The Vedek carefully stepped into the room, knowing he was risking life, limb, and his future ability to walk upright, simply by being there.

"Well, to what do I owe the honour of this visit? Any more allegations to throw at me, or did you just come up here to add a few more twists to the knife you stabbed in my back?" Kira flung the words at her former lover. She didn't think it was possible for her to cry anymore after sobbing herself to sleep for the last two nights, but already the tears were building up inside her, threatening to spill out again. Nerys took a shaky breath, and grabbed for control, determined not to let the man see how close she was to breaking down at the sight of him.

"No." He reached out to her, but stopped as she automatically moved away, lowering his outstretched hands. "Please, listen to me--"

Kira broke in, "Why should I? You didn't listen to me when I needed you."

Bareil sighed, "I know, I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Kira broke in, "You were wrong! I have always believed in you, always!" Nerys turned to stare out the window at the stars. "Even when all the evidence was against you, I fought to clear you, and I didn't stop until I did." She turned back to face the Vedek. "You turned on me without any evidence, without even stopping to think that I might be telling the truth. And now, you come in here, say you're sorry, and that's supposed to make it all better, is it?"

"Nerys, please." Bareil was desperate to defuse her anger, but Kira wasn't in the mood to listen to his words.

"No. Get out." She stalked forward dangerously, the pain and hurt in her heart showing with every move she made. "Just leave me alone. Go back to Bajor and your brother, and let me get on with my life."

"Right! That's it!" Bareil reached out and grabbed her arms, forcing Kira to face him. "Listen to me, I know I was wrong in not taking your side. Even though Aavon is my brother, I know you well enough to know you don't lie, especially about something like this. He must have his reasons for what he did, but nothing excuses him for hurting you, and what he tried to do. If he had killed you, I swear to you Nerys, brother or not, he would not have lived out that day." The passion in his voice couldn't be ignored, as he looked at Kira and prayed that she would come back to him. Getting down onto his knees, he held her hands in his own. "I love you. Forgive me, please."

Kira looked at his upturned face, and let the tears flow down her face. Bareil believed her, nothing else mattered, but she needed to know why he had changed his mind. "Why the change? Did he confess?"

"No, he still refuses to explain his actions." Bareil stood up, confident now that Nerys was listening to him. "I needed time to think, to adjust. Then, I began to think about what my life would be like if you had died, and I realised that you're everything to me." The man reached out to touch her, but Kira held his arms away, still a little wary.

"This is a big turnaround. How do I know..."

"Nerys, I was in shock. Aavon has never done anything like this before; of course it was difficult to believe. But always in the back of my mind, was the knowledge that you wouldn't say what you did, unless it was true. The two of you were tearing me apart, I needed to think. Can you forgive me?" The Vedek-trained calm disappeared, and there was just a scared young man named Bareil looking out at her, and Kira didn't have the heart to destroy him. For all his faults, and the hurt he had caused her, Bareil was still a part of her soul.

"Hold me." The next thing Kira knew, the man had enveloped her in a massive bear hug that took her breath away. "Bareil, I don't mean to be rude but if you don't let me breathe, you'll do Aavon's job for him."

Bareil moved back, but still encircled her loosely with his arms. Grinning, he shook his head in wonder. "How could I have been stupid enough to risk losing you? I must have been mad!"

"Hmmm. Well, I'll let you get away with it this time, but don't do it again, right?" Kira had finally stopped crying, and realised that, for the first time in two days, she was looking forward to tomorrow. Looking into Bareil's eyes, she asked quietly "What will happen to Aavon? I won't drop the charges against him."

"I wouldn't ask you to." The Bajoran's expression hardened. "The last information I got before I came to the station was that he still believes that he hasn't done anything wrong. Actually, it was talking to Aavon that made me realise what an idiot I was being. He told me I was being led around by my pants, that I wasn't seeing you for what you really are, a traitor."

"Can I safely assume that you disagree with his point of view?" Nerys found herself wondering how she could talk Sisko into letting her have the next day off, in the interests of Bajoran-Federation relations of course.

"Well, if I remember correctly, I was the one who initially seduced you, not the other way around." Bareil moved in closer to her and began to gently kiss his beloved.

Slowly, the two Bajoran's migrated to Kira's bedroom, where Bareil apologised the best way he knew how.

The next morning, Commander Sisko arrived at Major Kira's door a little confused. One day, Bareil claimed Kira was the devil's advocate, and the next, the man was apologising for not believing her claims. Ringing the bell, he heard Bareil's voice telling him to come on in, and the Commander strolled into his Executive Officer's quarters.

"Nerys is just finishing getting dressed, she'll be out in a second." The Vedek was sitting at Kira's computer console, apparently finishing off whatever he had been working on. "Thank you for letting me back on the station. I wouldn't have blamed you if you had told me to get out and never come back."

"Well, I figured it was up to Major Kira to decide, since she was the person you came to see." Sisko smiled at the Vedek. "I take it everything is okay between the two of you now?"

"Yes sir." Kira walked out of her bathroom and came over to stand in front of her Commanding Officer. "We've just had word from Bajor that Aavon has finally cracked, after an intense interrogation. He's given the names of several people, both officer's and civilian's, who are involved with trying to infiltrate the stations command structure and various other governmental departments. Their object was to destroy the Starfleet-Bajoran relationship here, and to force you to leave. The Bajoran Militia has rounded up many of the people named, and is in the process of interrogating them, to get further leads."

The three people had moved to sit down at Kira's dinner table, as Sisko began to question his First Officer. "Are any current station personnel involved with this group? If there are, you and Odo had better clean house."

"None of our people are involved, but that's not the problem." Kira glanced at Bareil, and then looked back at Sisko. "It seems that Aavon had a more personal reason for his attack on me. It turns out that it was a case of me being in the right place at the wrong time. He had been told to try and break up Bareil and I, but when he found me alone in the house, after getting Bareil called back to the Temple, Aavon decided to go one step further, and dispose of the problem once and for all. In a way, it's a mixed blessing, as it's forced the group to show their hand, long before they were ready."

"What about Kai Winn?" Sisko knew he was stepping on thin ice with Vedek Bareil, but the man had always told him the truth before. "How much of this did she know about?"

"None." Bareil took over from where Kira's knowledge left off. "She's back on Bajor, and regretting ever hearing the allegations." He grinned at both officers. "For the moment, Winn is keeping a very low profile, but I expect that, in a week or two, she'll be back to her old self."

Sisko stood, and looked at his officer with pride. "Well, it seems that you've come through this better than I had hoped when we got back to the station. I suppose this means that you would like the next few days off?" He grinned, and bet himself that he could guess her thoughts at that moment, as she smiled at Bareil.

"Well, I DO have two days leave left, sir." Kira smiled at Sisko, as she saw the grin on his face.

"Done." Sisko walked to the door, but paused as he looked back at the two Bajorans. "As I said when this all started, make the most of it. We don't know what will happen after I get back from meeting with Starfleet Command on Earth." Nodding, he left the two people alone to finish their holiday in safety, as Nerys and Bareil took each other like there was no tomorrow, with the full knowledge that there almost wasn't.

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