Course Correction Studio

Author: Brandie

  • Return to Normal – Chapter 2

    Dani walked into Ten-Forward at 1815 hours. The room seemed to be packed with dignitaries, ambassadors, and various Starfleet personnel. Dani looked around. There were a few familiar faces. The senior crew members from Deep Space Nine were in attendance, as well as the senior officers of the Enterprise. She spotted Will almost immediately, but she wasn’t sure if she should approach him. He was with some captains and a few admirals. Dani looked at the Deep Space Nine crew. They were talking animatedly amongst themselves. Dani didn’t know who to go to. She was, after all, only a Lt., and junior grade at that. And this dress uniform made her feel…different. She pulled uncomfortably at her collar.

    A Bolian waiter approached Dani with a tray of champagne and offered her a glass. She politely declined. How would it look if she were seen knocking back a glass of booze? Even if it was only synthehol, these people probably already had a low opinion of her. There was no use in making it worse.

    Will, standing with Captain Picard, Colonel Kira, and some admirals, scanned the room for Dani. His eyes landed on the entrance just as Dani walked through the doors.

    “You two have got to meet this girl,” Admiral Paris was saying to Admiral Jellico and Admiral Nechayev. “She’s phenomenal.”

    “And there she is,” Will said. He turned to the others standing around him. “If you all will excuse me, I’ll go get her. Admirals, Captain.” He left them and started to walk in Dani’s direction.

    When Dani looked away from the waiter, she saw that Will was coming her way.

    “Dani,” he said with a smile.

    “Will,” she said. Her own smile was absent. “I hope I’m not too late. I just didn’t want to be the first one here.”

    “No, no. You’re right on time. Admiral Nechayev and Admiral Jellico are dying to meet you.”

    “Me?” Dani asked, genuinely surprised.

    “Admiral Paris has been telling them all about you,” Will explained. “So has Colonel Kira.”

    Another waiter approached them. Dani turned him down.

    “Calm down,” Will said. It was quite apparent to him that she was a little on the nervous side. “You’ve got to loosen up a bit. Relax.” He picked up one of the glasses of synthetic champagne and handed it to Dani as they started to walk. She refused again.

    “I can’t,” she said. “I don’t feel like a drink right now.”

    Will nodded and took a sip from the glass. “Are you nervous?”

    “No,” Dani lied. “I’ve been doing this kind of stuff since I was a kid.” It was true. Her parents had been dragging her to these kind of functions since she was old enough to walk and talk. And she’d hated every moment of every one of them.

    “Yes, but you’ve never done this before as an officer,” Will pointed out.

    That’s what the problem was now. Now, Dani would be under the direct scrutiny of everyone here. Now, these functions actually counted for something. “Are you trying to make me nervous?” Dani asked.

    “No,” Will said innocently. “Just trying to remind you of the situation.”

    “Thanks, but no reminder needed.”

    By the time Will and Dani reached the admirals’ group, Will had drained his glass and was handing it off to a waiter. He cleared his throat and began.

    “Admirals, this is Lt. Junior Grade Danielle Janeway,” Will introduced. “Lt., may I present Admiral Edward Jellico and Admiral Alynna Nechayev.”

    Dani nodded formally to the admirals. “It’s an honor, sirs,” she said.

    “And you’re already acquainted with Colonel Kira, Captain Picard, and Admiral Paris,” Will continued.

    “Yes, I am,” Dani concurred. “And as always, it is a pleasure to be in the company of you all.”

    “And, of course, you know Admiral Janeway,” Will said finally.

    It took a moment for Janeway to register with Dani. When she finally did, Dani was already shaking her hand.

    “Mom,” she said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

    “What kind of greeting is that from a daughter to a mother?” Kathryn asked. “I would appreciate a hug, Lt. That’s an order.”

    Dani embraced her mother. “Now, that’s more to my liking,” Janeway said.

    The others standing around the little group chuckled and moved off to give the mother and daughter some space.

    “What are you doing here?” Dani asked Kathryn. It wasn’t as if Dani was embarrassed to have her mother there. She was just a little surprised.

    “I received an invitational message a few months ago, before you were transferred,” Kathryn explained. “I thought it’d be nice to surprise you and also to congratulate you on your new post and to celebrate.”

    “Thanks,” Dani said. “I’m glad you came. Is Dad here, too?”

    “Your father couldn’t make it. He had an anthropology symposium to attend at the Academy.”

    “Oh,” Dani said. Despite the fact that she and her father had smoothed over the rough edges of their relationship of the past year, Dani still wasn’t completely convinced that their relationship was as it was before Dukat. She didn’t know if it could ever get back to that point.

    Kathryn immediately noticed the slightly hurt look that crossed Dani’s face. “He really did want to come,” Kathryn assured her daughter. “He’s the keynote speaker at the symposium, though, so he had to be there.”

    “I understand,” Dani said. “I really do.”

    “I’m glad,” Kathryn said, smiling. Dani smiled back. “So, how are things with Will?”

    “They’re good.”

    “Just ‘good’?”

    “What is it with you and Dad and my relationships?” Dani asked with a frustrated sigh.

    “We just want you two be happy, Sweetheart. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for you.”

    “Well, I am happy,” Dani said, still with a smile – a real one.

    Kathryn smiled and nodded in the direction of the group of admirals. Dani nodded, and she and Kathryn rejoined Will, Picard, and the admirals.

    “So sorry for stealing my daughter away for a few minutes,” Kathryn said. “But she’s all yours, now.”

    “Wonderful,” said Admiral Nechayev. “I should like to have a few words with the Lt.”

    Dani cast a desperate look at Will and her mother. She’d heard much about Nechayev from her parents and from Will. The last thing in the world she wanted was to be alone with her. But she had no choice.

    “Of course, Admiral,” Dani said. She left the group once again, this time with Nechayev instead of her mother. Every possibility of what Nechayev might say to her was running through her head.

    Once they’d ventured a good distance away from the group, Nechayev spoke up.

    “I’ve heard a lot about you, Lt.,” she said. “Almost all of it good.” She stopped walking and looked at Dani. “I think you know what I’m getting at, here, Lt. I have no warmth anywhere in my heart for Cardassians, especially Dukat. I’m going to be frank. I was downright appalled when I learned that a Starfleet officer was involved with Dukat.”

    Dani’s heart was in her throat. She could feel the dressing down coming.

    Nechayev continued. “I was to the point of personally writing your court- martial report when I realized that I wouldn’t know what to write for the reason. You can’t court-martial someone for his personal life unless it serves as a threat to the ‘Fleet or the Federation, but your relationship with Dukat could very well have fit that bill. He was a former enemy of the Federation.” Nechayev took a step closer to Dani. “I’m going to give you a piece of advice, and I suggest you take it. Be careful who you become involved with in your off-duty life. You’re a good officer with a lot of potential. We need you. Don’t let someone like Dukat drag you down.” She took a step away from Dani, returning to her previous possition. “That said,” she concluded, “good luck on the Enterprise.” Nechayev left Dani alone.

    Will had been keeping a curious eye on Nechayev and Dani. The first thing he noticed once Nechayev left was the deathly pale pallor that had come over Dani. She looked petrified.

    “Excuse me,” Will said, extricating himself from the group. He walked over to Dani. “Are you okay? What’s the matter? What did she say to you?”

    Dani took a deep breath. “According to her, I was on the edge of getting court-martialed,” she said.

    “That’s what she told you?” Will asked. He’d never seen Dani so rattled before. Even when she’d taken the Academy entrance exams, she didn’t seem to be all that worried. Now, she looked like she was about to faint.

    Dani nervously fidgeted with her jittery hands. “She had already started writing the report when she realized she didn’t have a valid reason to finish it. She said she was writing it personally.”

    Will looked across the room. Nechayev had rejoined the other admirals. She returned his gaze with a steady one of her own.

    He looked at Dani. “You’ve got to pull yourself together,” he whispered in her ear. “Don’t let her get under your skin. That’s what some of these admirals do. Especially Nechayev. She’s a by-the-book type. I can tell you, it won’t be the last time you feel like this. You just need to develop a tougher skin, that’s all.”

    Dani nodded. Will was right. Nechayev had said she’d almost court- martialed her. But she hadn’t. Dani was still an officer. So, what was she so afraid of? She picked up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. She was ready for that drink now. She downed the liquid in one swift motion and placed the empty glass on the bar, directly behind her. She took a deep breath and walked over to the admirals’ group for the third time of the night, Will following her.

    Will studied Dani. She was the picture of composure. “Now,” she said, “who’s turn is it?”

    “I believe mine,” Admiral Paris said, stepping forward. He offered his arm to Dani. She accepted it, and they left the group. The remaining members of the group became engaged in a conversation.

    “Will,” Kathryn said. She was little distant from the rest of the group. Will stepped over to join her. “What’s the matter with Dani?” Kathryn asked.

    “She was just a little rattled by some news that Nechayev told her,” Will replied.

    “What kind of news?”

    “Dani, it seems, came very close to being court-martialed,” Will revealed.

    “What?” This was the first Kathryn had heard of any plans to court-martial Dani. She worked at headquarters. Any news like that would surely have crossed her desk at some point.

    “Because of Dukat,” Will said. “Dani said Nechayev told her she even started writing the report personally when she found out about the relationship.”

    Kathryn grimaced internally. She wanted to protect her daughter. What mother wouldn’t? But she couldn’t protect Dani from something she’d already done. “I have a feeling this is something that’s going to haunt Dani’s record for a long time to come, especially if things with the Cardassians flare up again.”

    “If that happens, Starfleet’s going to be watching her like a hawk,” Will agreed. “It’s going to be like Captain Picard and the Borg all over again.”

    Will and Kathryn looked across the room at Dani and Admiral Paris. “She’s strong,” Kathryn said. “I think she can handle it.”

    “That might not be the only thing she has to deal with,” Will said. Kathryn looked at him curiously. “This morning, I had a talk with Deanna. She said members of the crew have been coming to her with concerns about Dani receiving special treatment.”

    “I think everyone knew that was going to be an issue when Dani decided that she wanted a career in Starfleet,” Kathryn said. “That’s nothing new. She’s been dealing with that all her life.”

    “Deanna said many of the crew members that came to her also had concerns about Dani’s past with Dukat.”

    Kathryn looked at her daughter again. “As a mother, I wish there was something I could do to make it all better for her,” she said. “But as a Starfleet officer, I understand why people feel the way they do about her. She’s had a controversial past. The hard truth is that while we all have to prove ourselves, she’s going to have a much more difficult go at doing that than either of us did.”

    “I think she can do it,” Will said.

    “Of course she can. This is one of the few times I’m glad she inherited the stubborn gene that runs on my side of the family.” She smiled, and Will returned her smile.

    Xxx

    When Dani return to her quarters that night, it was late, as Will had predicted, and all she really wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep. As she pulled off her boots, she walked over to the computer console on her desk. She saw that her duty shift for the week had been posted, and she wanted to make sure for herself that her shift was as early as Will claimed it was. She opened up the file and learned that she was to be on the bridge at Ops at 0800 hours. Dani looked at the chronometer. It was 0145 hours now.

    “Great,” she mumbled, shedding her dress uniform and sliding into her bed. She immediately drifted off to sleep.

  • Return to Normal – Chapter 1

    Story #5 in the “More Than a Lifetime” series

    Author’s Note: This story is the fifth in a series of stories that do not follow cannon and should not be taken as such. The previous stories, in order, are: 1) Delta Wild, 2) Homecoming, 3) Graduation, and 4) A Love Less Ordinary. The events in these stories occur in an alternate universe in which Chakotay’s stint with the Maquis happened much earlier in his life. He is married to Kathryn Janeway, and they have a daughter. In this universe, Voyager did not combine with a crew from a Maquis ship, but instead reached the Delta Quadrant with a small loss of life and most of her crew in tact. The events of “First Contact” and “Insurrection” have already occurred in this timeline, but “Nemesis” has not. The Dominion War occurred, but with vastly different results. Many of the events of the final season of Deep Space Nine didn’t occur, which means the characters that died during the season are not dead in my story.

    Chapter 1

    The turbolift halted, and the doors opened, revealing ship’s counselor Deanna Troi, who had been waiting patiently for the lift to arrive.

    “Goodmorning, Deanna,” said Will Riker, who was already occupying the lift..

    “Will – goodmorning,” Troi said, stepping into the lift and joining the commander. “You’re just the person I wanted to see.”

    “Really?” Will asked. The lift doors slid shut, and Deanna instructed it to go to the bridge, Will’s destination as well. “What can I do for you?” Will asked.

    “Well, it’s about Dani,” Deanna revealed, with some degree of caution in her voice.

    “What about her?” Will inquired, caution creeping into his own voice.

    “I’ve been fielding some concerns about her serving aboard the Enterprise,” Deanna said.

    Will looked at her, puzzled. Why would anyone be concerned about Dani Janeway, Will wondered silently. He already knew the answer, though. He didn’t even know why he was trying to pretend like he didn’t. He had a feeling he knew the exact words that were going to come from the counselor’s lips.

    Deanna continued, answering Will’s unasked question. “People are concerned about her relationship with Dukat.”

    “She no longer has a relationship with Dukat,” Will said, immediately tensing at the subject of conversation. He knew it. Dani’s relationship – former relationship – with the infamous Cardassian was going to be a hot topic for weeks, perhaps months, to come. It had all ended almost a year ago, with the execution of the former gul by the Romulans, and Dani had moved on, apparently. She and Will had resumed their romantic relationship three months ago during one of his visits to Deep Space Nine. They were together again, just like the old days. Despite the fact that Dani was leaving DS9 having served Starfleet to the best of her abilities, and one rank higher to show for it, he and Dani both knew that her past relationship with Dukat would be all that a lot of people saw for a long time to come. It wasn’t something that was just going to go away. That much was obvious, given the fact that Dukat had died almost a year ago, and people were still talking about him and Dani.

    Deanna had expected the automatic defense that Will projected regarding Dani, and she understood his need to do so. But it didn’t change the fact that there were people on board the Enterprise who didn’t want Dani there. “Regardless, they’re questioning her loyalty to Starfleet,” she said.

    “That’s absurd,” Will said. “Dani’s as true to Starfleet and the Federation as you and I are.”

    “I know that, but many don’t.” Deanna didn’t like being the bearer of a lot of unpleasant news, especially on a day when she knew Will was excited, but there was more that he needed to be aware of concerning the crew’s attitude toward Dani Janeway. “People are also concerned that she’s going to be on the receiving end of some special treatment,” Deanna added hesitantly.

    “Special treatment?” Will couldn’t believe his ears. “Computer, halt turbolift.” The lift came to a complete stop. Will turned to Deanna. It wasn’t enough that Dani would have to deal with the backlash of her relationship with Dukat, was it? She would also have to deal with the backlash of being her. He didn’t know why it was so hard for people to accept that the daughter of Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay could come up through the ranks and prosper without the help of “connections”. “Who exactly has been coming to you with these ‘concerns’?” Will asked. It came out more harshly than he’d intended, especially since he knew Deanna was only doing her job by informing him. He knew she hated it as much as he did. She knew Dani, too.

    “A significant number of officers,” was Deanna’s calm reply. “There are a lot of people who don’t want Dani on this ship, Will.”

    Hearing her say the words Will had known were true was hard. How could people hate so much the woman he’d come to adore? He merely turned to the turbolift doors and said, “That’s unfortunate.” Dani didn’t deserve this kind of reception, he thought. All she’d ever wanted to do was be a good officer. “They don’t even know her,” Will said quietly. “But I don’t have time to go and personally talk to every officer on this ship who has a problem with Dani Janeway.”

    “I’m well aware of that,” Deanna said. She understood perfectly Will’s sentiments, and she thought he was well justified in feeling the way he did. But he did have a job to do here, as she did. In coming to him, she had hoped that this would aid him in his tasks as first officer. She continued. “But as the ship’s first officer, personnel matters do fall into your duties. I’m asking you to talk with the department heads and ask that they not give any special treatment to anyone.”

    “None of them would ever do that,” Will defended.

    “I know, but it would put a lot of people at ease if you talked to them.”

    Will considered the proposition. He had to admit he had thought of the possibility of personnel problems concerning Dani. He’d even submitted to the fact that those problems weren’t just possibilities; they were likelihoods. He just didn’t want to believe it. He acquiesced and nodded in response to Deanna’s suggestion. Calmer, he said, “Perhaps it couldn’t hurt. Computer-“

    “It would also be a good idea if you treated Dani like you would treat any other junior officer while you’re on duty,” Troi interrupted.

    “Of course,” Will said, bristling at the silent implication that he would ever act in such an unprofessional manner. Deanna picked up on it.

    “Will, I’m not suggesting that you would behave otherwise,” Deanna was sure to add. “It’s just a reminder.”

    “I know,” Will said genuinely with a sigh. He was getting all worked up over this, and Dani wasn’t even on board yet. Deanna was just trying to help, and he was snapping at her like she was to blame for all that she’d told him. “I appreciate it,” Will said sincerely, thanking the counselor for her help. “Computer, resume.” The turbolift began its ascent once again.

    “I just didn’t realize the effect having Dani aboard would create,” Will continued. “I’ve been aware of how we should both behave on duty. And I knew a few people would have some qualms with her because of Dukat and her relationship with me, but is it really that many?”

    “I wouldn’t have come to you if it were only a few people who had expressed concerns,” Deanna said.

    The turbolift came to a halt again, this time at its destination – the bridge. The doors slid open, and Will and Deanna glided onto the bridge. Data, who had been in command, stood from the captain’s chair and relinquished control to Will.

    “We have arrived at Deep Space Nine,” Data reported.

    “Thank you, Mr. Data,” Will said. “On screen.” A visual of the space station Deep Space Nine appeared on the view screen at the head of the bridge. Will tapped his comm badge. “Bridge to Captain Picard,” Will began, “We’ve arrived at Deep Space Nine.”

    “Very well, then, Number One,” Picard’s voice sounded through the badge.

    A few moments later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard emerged from his ready room adjacent to the bridge. His sight went directly to the view screen.

    “Captain, Colonel Kira is hailing us,” the communications/tactical officer reported.

    “Put her through,” Picard instructed. The viewscreen image of the space station was immediately replaced by that of Colonel Kira Nerys. “Colonel,” Picard greeted.

    “Captain Picard,” Kira said, “How good it is to see you again.”

    “It is good to see you as well,” Picard said. “How are things on the station?”

    “Things are running quite smoothly, fortunately,” Kira informed him. “Captain Bunche sends his regards. He regrets that he won’t be in attendance at the reception this evening. He was called away on official business. I’m sure you understand.”

    “All too well, Colonel,” Picard responded. He had been looking forward to talking with Captain Bunche again. They shared an interest in archeology, which made for wonderful conversations. He’d gotten to know Bunch much better than Ben Sisko, DS9’s former captain, who had taken a leave of absence to spend time on Bajor. The Dominion War hadn’t afforded Sisko or Picard the opportunity to become friendly with one another. War had a habit of doing that.

    Picard continued. “I understand we are to be taking on a former crewmember of yours.”

    “Ah, yes,” Kira said, “Lt. Janeway. I must say I’m sorry to see her leave. She’s become a valued member of the DS9 crew. We’ll miss her.” It was true. Despite Dani’s connection to Dukat, Kira had grown very fond of the young woman. She was a hard worker, a good officer. She would make a good addition to the Enterprise team. “She should be arriving shortly,” Kira said.

    “Captain,” the comm/tactical officer began, “Lt. Janeway’s shuttle has just docked in shuttlebay two.”

    “Thank you, Lt.,” Picard said, directing his attention back to the colonel. “I’ve just been informed that my new officer has arrived. If you’ll excuse me, Colonel, I’m going to go greet her.”

    “By all means, Captain,” Kira said. “I look forward to seeing you at the reception this evening.”

    “And I, you,” Picard said.

    Kira smiled warmly. “Kira out.” The communication was terminated, and Kira’s image was replaced by the image Deep Space Nine.

    Picard looked at Will and Deanna. The three filed off the bridge into the waiting turbolift.

    “I imagine this particular occasion must be a joyous one for you, Will,” Picard said, once the lift doors had closed.

    Will smiled, not even attempting to hide it. “Yes, sir. It is,” he said. Despite his earlier conversation with Deanna, he was still excited about Dani’s arrival. “It’s very fortunate for the Enterprise that Lt. Janeway will be joining the crew. She’s a valuable asset that any captain would be proud to have serving on his ship.”

    “Oh, yes,” Picard replied. “She graduated at the top of her class at the Academy and completed command school. And she’s matured into an excellent officer.”

    “That she has, sir,” Will agreed.

    The turbolift continued for a few moments before coming to a halt. When the doors opened, Troi, Riker, and Picard stepped out, walked down the corridor and into shuttlebay two.

    Will waited anxiously as the shuttle hatch opened. He noticed that his heart rate had risen, as had his body temperature. His palms were also sweaty. He had already begun to wipe them on his uniform when he realized that Deanna was looking at him. She could probably sense how he was feeling, although she didn’t say anything.

    Will turned his attention back to the shuttle, and there she was. She was just as beautiful as the last time he’d seen her, if not more so, and one rank higher. Her eyes rested on him briefly before falling on the captain.

    “Permission to come aboard, Captain,” she requested.

    “Permission granted, Lt.,” Picard said. Lt. Danielle Janeway stepped off the shuttle gangplank and onto the deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise 1701-E. Picard stepped forward with his hand extended. Dani stepped forward as well and met him, shaking the captain’s hand. “Welcome aboard,” he said.

    “Thank you, Captain,” Dani said.

    “It’s good to have you back on board the Enterprise,” Picard said.

    “It’s good to be back on board, sir,” Dani replied.

    “How are your parents?” Picard inquired. It had been a while since he’d last seen Admiral Janeway and Captain Chakotay.

    “They’re well. My father is enjoying his teaching post at the Academy, and my mother is keeping busy at headquarters.”

    “Very good.”

    “Welcome aboard, Dani,” Deanna said warmly.

    “Thank you, Counselor,” Dani said.

    “Hello,” Will said.

    “Hello,” Dani said, looking up at Will, briefly. She couldn’t afford to gaze at him to long. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to look away.

    “The commander will be showing you to your quarters,” Picard said. “It’s good to see you again, Dani.” He turned to Will. “I’ll be on the bridge.”

    “Aye, sir,” Will said, as the captain left the shuttle bay. He turned his attention back to Dani. “If you’ll follow me.” Will, Deanna, and Dani left the shuttle bay. None of them said very much during the journey to Dani’s quarters, probably because of the awkward situation the three of them were in. A man, his ex-lover, and his current lover – and all of them officers serving on the same ship in positions where they would all inevitably interact with each other. Despite the friendly smiles they sported, one didn’t have to be an empath to sense the tension and uneasiness surrounding the three officers. When they reached their destination, the tension wasn’t lifted.

    “Well, this is it,” Will said casually as the three of them walked in. “I hope it’s to your liking.”

    “Oh, yes. Definitely,” Dani said, looking around the living room area.

    “I know it’s not the lap of Cardassian luxury you’re used to,” Will said.

    “Believe me, I think I can adjust,” Dani assured him. “It’ll be nice to get back to a real bed for a change. I’d had about all I could take of those hard Cardassian excuses for beds.”

    A long, awkward, silent moment followed. No one knew what to say next. Finally, Deanna spoke up.

    “I’d better get going,” she said. “I’ve got to see how things are looking for tonight.”

    “Right,” Will said. Deanna nodded to them both before exiting. Will and Dani looked across the room at each other. They walked to each other and embraced.

    “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that,” Will said.

    “I bet I do,” said Dani.

    “I wanted to gather you into my arms when you first stepped out of the shuttle.” He looked at her. “But with the captain there. And Deanna…” Dani reached up and pulled Will’s head to her own. Her lips met his for the first time in months. When she pulled away, she expected him to pursue her and was surprised when he didn’t.

    “You haven’t seen me in three months, and all you want is one kiss?” Dani asked. She had to admit, she was somewhat confused.

    “I don’t think I can afford any more right now,” Will said, a hint of a smile on his face.

    “Affordability was never a factor before,” Dani pointed out, raising one eyebrow.

    “If I get involved now, I’m not going to want to leave for the rest of the day, and I am currently on duty. And tonight, we’re holding a reception and dinner for some of the admirals tonight.”

    “That sounds like fun,” Dani said, lacking enthusiasm.

    “The captain would like for you to be in attendance,” Will informed her.

    “Me?” Dani certainly wasn’t anyone important enough that her presence would be missed at a reception for admirals. Was she? “Why?”

    Will was surprised that she didn’t know. “Well, you’re only one of the most talked-about officers in the ‘Fleet,” he said.

    Dani was suddenly aware. “That was almost a year ago,” she said of her relationship with Dukat. Most of her colleagues on DS9 didn’t talk about what had happened between her and Dukat. Because she no longer heard anything about the whole subject, she assumed others on other ships had put it to rest, as well. She was wrong. “I thought everyone would be over that by now. I am.”

    “Captain Picard and Colonel Kira just want to show everyone what kind of officer you really are,” Will said, trying to justify everything. “He wants to give who ever wants it a chance to talk to you personally.”

    Dani stepped away from Will. She didn’t want to be hearing what she was hearing. “I can’t believe this. You’re telling me the whole purpose of this reception is to put me on display?”

    “No, that’s not the purpose of it at all. It’s just a get-together for the admirals. But the captain and Deanna both thought it would be a good idea. It would kind of serve as another opportunity for you to clear your name. Frankly, I think it’s a good idea, too.”

    “Why didn’t anyone discuss this with me?” Dani asked. While she, too, believed this was a good idea, she was a little upset that the decision to go along with it had been made without her consent.

    “That was inconsiderate of us. On the behalf of all of us, I apologize. But, Dani, you’ve got to realize what a good opportunity this is for you to explain your side of things.”

    “I do realize the opportunity. That’s why I’m not madder than I am. What time should I be there?”

    “The reception starts at 1800 hours.”

    “And I was so looking forward to getting re-acquainted with you,” Dani said regretfully.

    Will took her hand and pulled her to him. “We can still do that,” he assured her.

    “Tonight?” Dani asked hopefully.

    Will shook his head regrettably and said, “No, I don’t think so. We don’t know what time this is going to be over with, and I have an early shift tomorrow.” He kissed her. “And so do you.”

    Dani looked up at Will’s neatly-bearded face and could tell he wasn’t joking about the shift.

    “See you tonight,” Will said, this time kissing Dani on the cheek instead of the lips. He walked to the door and said “Dress uniform,” before walking out.

    “I hate those things,” Dani said once she was alone.

  • A Love Less Ordinary – Chapter 9

    Six months later on Deep Space Nine…

    “Computer, time,” Dani requested. She was comfortably buried in her bed, under the covers.

    “The time is 0830 hours,” the computer replied.

    “I guess I could go in early for a change,” Dani said. She considered it for a moment and then decided against it. “Nah.” She rolled back over, pulling the covers over her head more.

    The door chimed. Dani groaned. ‘Maybe if I just ignore it, they’ll go away.’ So, Dani lay there, silently willing her visitor away. She realized it wasn’t going to happen when the door chimed again.

    ‘Who is this?’ Dani thought throwing the sheets back and drudgingly rolling out of bed. She padded through the living room to the door on bare feet, wearing running shorts and a tank. She was already at the door when she realized that maybe she should’ve put on a robe or something, but the door chimed again, and Dani decided to just forget the robe. She was wearing shorts and a tank. That was enough. Besides, she wasn’t trying to impress anybody.

    Dani deactivated the lock and opened the doors. The last person she would expect to see was standing in the corridor.

    “Will,” Dani said.

    Will had been surprised at Dani’s attire. He knew it was a little early, but he’d expected her to at least be dressed. It’d been so long since he’d seen her, he’d almost forgotten how good she looked.

    “Hello, Dani,” he said. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

    “No,” Dani said. “Come in.” Will walked into Dani’s quarters and the doors shut behind him. “Actually, I was just thinking about getting up.”

    “You were in bed?” Will asked.

    “Well, I wasn’t asleep. I was contemplating going to my shift early, but I couldn’t think of enough reasons to do it, so that option lost.”

    Dani didn’t know what to say or do next. She walked over to the couch and sat down. Then, she changed her mind and stood up again.

    “What are you doing here?” she finally asked Will.

    “I was just passing through,” Will said casually.

    “You’re lying,” Dani accused teasingly.

    Will smiled and shook his head. “Same old Dani.”

    “Have a seat,” Dani said. She retreated to the bedroom and returned sporting a navy bathrobe. She sat down again on the couch, as he sat in the chair across from her. The ice was broken now, and Dani was feeling a little more at ease.

    “I’m on leave,” Will explained. “I came by to check up on you.”

    “Oh,” Dani said.

    The two stared at each other uncomfortably for a few moments. So, maybe the ice wasn’t that broken.

    “I just wanted to let you know that I’m sorry about what happened to Dukat,” Will said, breaking the silence.

    “No, you’re not,” Dani said, “and neither is anyone else who never knew him.” Dani knew an empty sentiment when she heard one. “You’re only saying that because it’s the polite thing to say.”

    “That’s not true-” Will started to say, but Dani stopped him.

    “I don’t like being patronized, Will,” Dani said sternly. “You should know that, as long as you’ve known me. You ask any Starfleet officer about Marac Dukat, and they’ll tell you he was a horrible man. He was a conniving snake, he was this and that. And they may be right. He might’ve been all those things at some point, but when he was with me, he was different. He loved me, and no one understands how I could’ve loved him back.”

    It became obvious to Will that this was still a very touchy subject with Dani. She was still feeling the effects of what had happened six months ago. “You’re right,” Will said. “We don’t understand. Maybe you can explain it.”

    Dani stood and walked over to a viewport. She turned and looked at Will. “How do you explain love? I sure as hell don’t know how.”

    Will stood and started to approach Dani. “What did your parents think?”

    “What do you think they thought? As soon as I told them,” Dani looked down at her hands, “they ended the transmission. It took me getting stabbed before they would even talk to me again.” She remembered that they’d contacted her while she was still on the Defiant. They had only been on non-speaking terms for a few days, but it had felt like an eternity. “They thought I was crazy,” Dani continued. “Much like they did when you and I first started dating.” A little smile broke out across her face. “You remember that?”

    “All too well,” Will said, a smile forming in his beard. “Boy that sure was something; trying to convince your parents that I wasn’t up to something.”

    “Yeah…” Dani trailed. She’d thought of a way to make things a little clearer for Will. “Now imagine what that would’ve been like if your past was Dukat’s past. And that I’m not just trying to convince my parents, but a whole station of people.” Dani could see a bit of understanding on Will’s face that wasn’t there before. “It’s damn near impossible. After a while, I just stopped caring what other people thought, even my parents.”

    “That’s not an easy thing to do,” Will acknowledged.

    “I know. But I was happy.”

    Will took few more steps toward Dani. “Dani, I’m sorry. Truly. About everything. About Dukat, your parents…about us.”

    Dani looked at Will. “I appreciate that. I do. It’s very big of you to be able to say that.”

    “Dani, I have missed you. I won’t lie. When I heard about you and Dukat, I was furious. But my situation was my own fault. I shouldn’t have let you go in the first place.”

    Dani realized what Will was trying to say and decided to let him finish. She looked out the window as he continued.

    “I was mad, we were both mad,” he continued. “I know a lot’s happened since then, but I want to try to work this out. If you’re willing.” Will stepped right up to Dani. “Are you?”

    “I don’t know,” Dani said truthfully. The fact of the matter was that she wasn’t quite over Dukat, yet. She turned and looked up at Will. She was being given a second chance at something special. “We’ll see.”

    Dani’s door chimed again. “What is going on today? Come in!” she called.

    The doors opened Chakotay entered. She’d been wrong before. These two people were the ones she’d least expected to see at her door.

    “Dad,” Dani said timidly.

    Chakotay stopped short when he saw Will.

    Will looked at Dani. “I’ll be around for a few days,” he said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

    Dani nodded. Will headed for the door, greeting Chakotay as he exited. Dani was left alone with her father.

    “Well, I didn’t expect to see you here,” she began.

    “Neither did I, to be truthful,” Chakotay said.

    A thick silence followed before Dani sliced through it.

    “Dad, I’m so sorry,” she said. “You know that I love you and Mom, but I loved him, too.” She didn’t need to say his name. They both knew who she was talking about.

    “No matter how hard that is to hear,” Chakotay began, “I’ve come to realize that it’s just one of those things you have to accept. This whole thing has made me realize, once and for all, that you’re going to do what you want to do, no matter what your mother or I think.” He laughed a little. It wasn’t because he found anything funny. He chuckled because a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

    “Daddy, it’s not that I don’t respect your opinions,” Dani said, walking up to her father. “I do. It’s just…sometimes I don’t exactly agree with them.”

    “I understand.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Dani, I need to apologize for my behavior. I was…a jerk.” Both he and Dani laughed a little.

    “Yeah, you were,” Dani agreed.

    “We love you, Dani, and when it comes down to it, all we really want is for you to be safe and happy. Well, you’ve pretty much always known what would make you happy. It’s always been your safety we’ve been worried about. Now, though, I guess there’s not much left for us to take care of in that department, either. You’ve been through the Academy. You made it through command school.” Chakotay sighed. “You can take care of yourself just fine.” With that, he let go of the strings of his balloon called ‘Little Girl’ for good.

    “Come on,” Chakotay said. “Your mother’s waiting in the replimat. I told her we could meet her there.”

    “Great,” Dani said. She was about to leave with her father when she remembered that she wasn’t dressed properly, yet. She let out a little laugh. “Maybe I should get dressed first.”

    Chakotay nodded. “Good idea.”

    “You can wait here. I won’t be long.”

    “Okay.”

    Dani went to her bedroom, quickly changed into a clean uniform, and combed her hair. She was out again a few minutes later.

    “Ready?” Chakotay asked.

    “Let’s go,” Dani said.

    On the way out into the corridor, Chakotay asked, “So, what’s going on between you and Will? Are you two getting back together?”

    “Dad…” Dani whined.

  • A Love Less Ordinary – Chapter 8

    Dani carefully stepped over a large rock, placing her hand on a nearby tree for balance and support. A few more steps, and she was at a more level clearing. She looked up from the ground and witnessed one of the most beautiful sites she’d ever seen. Merely a few feet away was a massive waterfall that emptied into a crystal clear lagoon below. She turned to Dukat, who was coming up behind her.

    “This is absolutely beautiful,” she told him.

    “It’s one of my favorite places,” Dukat said. He was speaking of Cardassia IV, where he and Dani had been for the last two days. Six hours after their conversation on DS9, they had been on Dukat’s ship on their way away from the station. Now, they were reveling in the new-found freedom of finally being able to do what they wanted without any regard as to who may be watching or what might be said about them as a result. They were alone.

    Dani turned back to the view of the waterfall. “Is there a name for it?” she asked.

    Dukat replied with something in Cadassi that didn’t translate via the universal translator. “What was that?” Dani asked him. Dukat repeated himself, and Dani still didn’t understand it. She concluded that it was a word not programmed into the UT system. Dani repeated the word softly to herself.

    “What does it mean?” she asked him.

    “It means ‘endless fall’,” Dukat informed her.

    “Endless fall?” Dani repeated.

    “Yes. See how the water appears to fall through the surface of the water and continue falling down to the bottom of the lagoon?” Dukat pointed out to her.

    Dani peered over into the lagoon as far as she could from her and Dukat’s vantage point. It did appear that the water broke the surface and continued falling.

    “How is that possible?” Dani asked.

    “No one really knows for sure,” Dukat replied. “There are many theories. One of the most popular is that it only occurs when an especially magnetic person is in the vicinity.” Dani’s eyes travelled away from the water and met Dukat’s. “I’m telling you the truth,” Dukat insisted.

    Dani turned back to the waterfall, deciding to advance toward it. Dukat followed her, curiosity brewing concerning her intentions. He followed as she moved closer and closer to the water.

    Standing near the water’s edge, Dani finally returned her gaze to Dukat and asked, “This stuff isn’t toxic or anything, is it?”

    “You could drink it, if you wanted,” was Dukat’s reply.

    Dani nodded, Dukat’s answer being enough permission for her. She sat down on a large boulder and removed the hiking boots and socks that she’d put on that morning. Placing them to the side, she tentatively dipped her right foot into the shallow pool of water. Like everything else Cardassian, it was quite warm for a natural water source – but not unbearably so. Satisfied that she wouldn’t be the victim of some type of temperature shock, she stepped into the water, planting both feet firmly on the smooth, stony bottom.

    “What are you doing?” Dukat asked her.

    “Wading,” Dani said.

    “Why?”

    “Plenty of reasons – it’s hot here, wading is fun, the water feels good. And perhaps the most valid reason of all: I was curious.”

    “About what? Whether Cardassian water feels any different than Terran water?”

    “I suppose. But not specifically.” Dani kicked at the water. “Haven’t you ever merely been curious about something for the sake of being curious. Like you just wanted to know more about something just for the sake of knowing? Like you didn’t always have this agenda to follow?”

    “Truthfully – yes.”

    This answer both surprised Dani but didn’t at the same time. She waited for Dukat to explain.

    “There have been instances when I’ve wanted to find out more than was warranted about a subject,” Dukat said. “However, various factors, whether they be orders or time constraints, have seriously limited my ability to carry out basic research. That coupled with the fact that I am not a scientist.”

    “You don’t have to be a scientist to be curious about things,” Dani said. She’d known, from her initial conversations with the man that there was more to him than the astute military officer he had always appeared to be. The man had a soul. And he’d shown it to her over the past few months.

    Dani had been walking away from Dukat, her back to him, but now she turned back to him and began the process of unbuttoning her her white, button-down shirt. She began to cross the water to his current position. She shed the shirt and tossed it to the dry water’s edge, moving on to her khaki hiking shorts. She carefully stepped out of them and also tossed them to dry land. Next, she quickly discarded her undergarments, abandoning them on the rocks just ahead of her and approached Dukat in the nude.

    “What are you doing?” Dukat asked Dani, his breath a little ragged.

    “Exploring,” was Dani’s answer. She urged him to remove the pack he was carrying, which contained any items they might need for the day. He did so, allowing it to fall gently to the ground. Dani began to remove Dukat’s clothing, following the same process she’d used to discard her own clothes. Within a matter of minutes, he was in the same state as she. She took his hand and gently pulled him into the water with her. “I take it you don’t do this very often,” Dani speculated.

    “No, I don’t,” Dukat said.

    “Well, that makes two of us,” Dani said, kissing him. She led him toward the waterfall, where they walked through the falling curtains of water and ended up behind the water. Dukat marveled at the sight of a wet Dani. A thought came to him that made him chuckle.

    “What?” Dani asked.

    “I was just thinking,” Dukat began. “We’re probably the first to do this.”

    “Why do you say that?”

    “No Cardassian woman would ever do anything like this.”

    Dani smiled and looked out at the view from behind the shimmering waterfall. It was an amazing sight. Everything looked like a water painting. Dukat turned to Dani and kissed her again deeply.

    Dani looked up at the night sky from Cardassia IV. It was a clear night, and the stars were absolutely breathtaking. That was one of the reasons she’d wanted to join Starfleet, because she wanted to be up there, among the stars. Now, that dream might have slipped away. She looked down at her cup of red leaf tea, which Dukat had made using the old-fashioned method of boiling. It was good, as it had always been when it had been replicated, but she just wasn’t in the mood for it now. She’d taken a few sips, but not many more beyond that. Her eyes rose to the small fire they’d started. The flames danced back and forth, every now and then flickering because of a stray gust of wind.

    “Tell me, Danielle-” Dukat began. Dani turned her body and saw that he was emerging from their little tent. He was carrying a bottle and two glasses. “Have you ever had kanaar before?” he asked her.

    Dani’s mind immediately wandered back to the first time she’d had kanaar, back when she was at the Academy. It’d been the night her and her friends had gone camping after their first completed semester. “Yes,” Dani said answering Dukat’s question. “While I was at the Academy.”

    “During some drinking escapade, no doubt,” Dukat said disdainfully, as he sat down beside Dani.

    Dani looked at him disapprovingly. He was right, but why did he have to automatically jump to that conclusion first? “You’re right,” Dani conceded. “I had friends who would drink it right along with Romulan ale and Saurian brandy for the sole purpose of getting drunk.”

    “And you?” Dukat asked.

    “I rarely ever got drunk, if that’s what you mean. I wasn’t particularly fond of that hungover sensation that accompanied it the morning after.”

    “So, you’ve never really…experienced kanaar before?”

    “No. I didn’t know there was anything to experience.” Dani was still holding her cup of red leaf tea. She was about to take a drink of it, but Dukat stopped her.

    He took her cup and handed her a glass of something, a clear liquid that resembled water. “What’s this?” Dani asked as she took a sip of the liquid that filled the volume of the glass. Her tongue immediately recoiled. The drink was desperately bitter.

    “It cleanses the palate,” Dukat said, as he took a sip from the same glass as Dani. Dani figured that he must be used to the taste because he didn’t flinch as the liquid flowed over his tongue. “That way, the experience is more fulfilling.”

    Dani kept wondering just what this experience Dukat kept mentioning was. A drink was a drink was a drink. And it was either good or bad. And from what she remembered, kanaar had been a very bad one.

    “Close your eyes,” Dukat instructed.

    Dani wanted to ask ‘why’, but didn’t. She sighed and closed her eyes anyway.

    Dukat took her hand and placed a kanaar-filled glass in it. “Smell it,” Dukat said.

    Dani lifted the glass to her nose and let the scent invade her nostrils. “Smells spicy,” she said.

    “Good,” Dukat praised. He moved closer to Dani. “Now-drink.”

    Her eyes still closed, Dani brought the glass to her lips and drank. Dani had tasted kanaar before, but it had never tasted like this before. Like Dukat said, Dani had never experienced kanaar before. It had a very distinct taste and caused a…peculiar feeling. The moment she swallowed, she felt an immediate sensation equivalent to what she would call a buzz. As the buzz wore off, it left a warm feeling throughout her body. She opened her eyes.

    “What do you think?” Dukat asked. He took a drink from his own glass of kanaar.

    “That’s amazing,” Dani said, looking down into the glass. “I’ve never tasted anything like it. I’ve had kanaar before, but why hasn’t it ever tasted like this before?”

    “Your palate wasn’t pure then,” Dukat explained. “Tonight, it was. And you probably didn’t have high quality kanaar before.”

    “Is drinking kanaar always such a ritual?” Dani asked, changing her sitting position slightly. One of her feet had started to fall asleep, so she moved it out from under her. In the process she inched a little closer to Dukat.

    “Not for everyone. Some chug it like the common beer,” Dukat said with a disgusted grimace. “But they have no true appreciation for the beauty of a good bottle of kanaar.” He drank some more from his glass.

    “You’re a man who appreciates beauty,” Dani observed.

    “Yes. And as a result, people often take me and individuals like me for vain and shallow. We’re not.”

    “I know,” Dani said. She was guilty of that herself, especially concerning Dukat. If she’d learned anything from him and from their relationship, it was that you really didn’t know someone until you actually talked to them and got to know them. Her skeptical side told her that even sitting down and getting to know someone didn’t guarantee you would get the truth, but it was better than making assumptions from afar.

    She studied him. His appearance in the firelight was striking. The flames seemed to make his blue eyes dance even more than they normally did. Dani placed her hand on Dukat’s face and began to trace his ridges with her fingers. “You fascinate me,” she said. “I’m intrigued by you. I never know what you’re thinking or what you’re going to say next, yet, somehow, it’s like I know what you’re feeling.”

    Dukat’s face inched closer to Dani’s, and he kissed her, long and thoroughly.

    Dani realized after a while that she was still holding her glass of kanaar. She’d wanted to continue to drink it, but she didn’t think she needed it anymore. At least not for the buzz. Dukat was giving her enough of one with just his kiss. She was so far gone that she almost didn’t hear the phaser blasts sound in the distance. She pulled away from Dukat, startled. She looked at him, alarmed.

    “I thought you said we’d be alone here?” she said.

    “We’re supposed to be. No one ever comes here,” Dukat said, curiosity and anger brewing because some idiot playing with a phaser had interrupted his evening with Dani. “Unfortunately, I don’te own the planet and have no say over who comes and goes.” He listened to the sounds of the phaser blasts. They sounded like they were getting closer. He looked at Dani. He knew she had to be thinking along the same lines.

    Jumping into action, Dukat stood stood and extinguished their small fire with some of their water. He realized it wasn’t a cure-all because the smoke from the extinction of the fire would still be an indicator of their location. But, he resolved, it was better than the light a fire emitted.

    He sat back down beside Dani, and they both watched for any sign of anything coming from any direction. All of a sudden, as suddenly as they’d first been heard by the Cardassian and the human, the phaser fire ceased. Dani and Dukat looked at each other puzzled. Maybe it was over.

    Before either of them had the chance to think anything else or do anything, a Klingon emerged from the darkness. Both Dani and Dukat, though obviously taken by surprise, stood slowly, cautiously, calmly, so as not to provoke the interloper. Dukat slowly positioned himself so that he was in between the warrior and Dani, and saw that another Klingon was approaching from the opposite direction of the first. He immediately realized the situation for what it was.

    These two men were not a pair of innocent, lost travelers. Dukat did his best to completely block Dani from the men with his own body.

    Dani appreciated the chivilrous gesture, but if they wanted any kind of chance of getting out of this alive, she would have to fight by his side. As they Klingons moved in on the couple, and it became more obvious that they would attack, Dani stepped out from behind Dukat. They looked at each other with mutual understanding and each turned to a Klingon.

    The attack came swiftly, as expected with this particular foe, but Dani and Dukat each held their own. Dani took a hit to the face, but recovered from it quickly enough to deflect another blow and deliver one to the Klingon’s neck.

    Dukat was having an even tougher time. His Klingon had a deadly batleth, and he was not shy with it. Dukat ducked out of the path of the swiping weapon. He grabbed the Klingon by the waist and rammed him into a nearby tree with as much force as he could muster. The act only served to momentarily stun the Klingon.

    He quickly recovered and caught Dukat in the side with the handle of the batleth. Dukat fell to his knees. There was no blood, but it hurt like hell. Before the would-be assassin could deliver a final blow, Dukat punched him in the knee, causing the assailant to abandon the grip on the batleth for his painful knee.

    Dukat took advantage of the situation and picked up the batleth.

    Dani, growling, ran her Klingon into a tree, as well. The move, however, had less of an effect than Dukat’s move had. The Klingon whipped out a dagger, dug it into Dani’s side, and pulled it out. Dani looked down at the gaping wound, shocked that she had actually been stabbed, and touched it. When she brought her hand back, it was covered with blood. She looked at her attacker, who was now sneaking up behind Dukat. Dukat had just incapacitated his attacker. He hadn’t killed him; he’d only disabled him by knocking him unconscious with the batleth.

    “Marac!” Dani cried out with her fleeing strength. She fell to her knees and grimaced as a wave of pain passed through her body.

    Dukat turned in time to see the Klingon in a position to strike. Dukat swung the batleth at the attacker. The blade caught him in the side and was firmly planted there. The Klingon’s eyes went wide as the dagger slipped from his fingers. He grabbed for the batleth, but didn’t succeed before life left him and he collapsed on the ground.

    Dukat turned to see that Dani had also collapsed on the ground, but she wasn’t dead. At least he hoped she wasn’t. He was at her side in an instant. He examined the wound. There was a lot of bleeding, and it looked bad. He felt for a pulse and was relieved to find one. It was weak but, nonetheless, present. He scooped her up into his arms, quickly, but carefully. While he wanted to get her out of here as soon as possible, their shuttle was a good distance away, and he

    didn’t know if there were anymore attackers in the vicinity. He moved to retrieve his comm unit from the tent but soon came to realize that it was the little device currently in pieces on the ground. It must’ve been damaged during the fight. And he didn’t have a spare. Damn!

    “Marac,” Dani said weakly into Dukat’s ear.

    “I’m here,” Dukat said. “I’m right here.” Whatever he decided to do, he had to do it quickly. Danielle wasn’t going to last much longer. He would just have make is way to the shuttle, he decided, and deal with any Klingons he encountered when he encountered them. It was the only option. “Danielle,” he said. “Stay with me. We’re almost there.” He started to move as fast as he could, with what he assessed to be a broken rib or two, in the direction of the shuttle. After about a minute or so, he realized that he should stop and plug

    Dani’s wound, as it was bleeding profusely. The very fact that he’d overlooked this one simple tactic reminded him of why he hadn’t been fit to be a field medic or emergency worker.

    Dukat stopped and carefully laid Dani on the ground. He pulled up her shirt. Her very life was draining from her through this wound. He pulled off his white linen shirt and tied it snugly around Dani’s waist, making sure to position the large knot he’d formed over the stab wound. He felt once again for a pulse. It was weaker than it had been when he’d checked earlier. They had to get moving again.

    He moved to pick her up but froze when three Klingons appeared. They appeared ready to attack, as the other two had. They were closing in on him, and there was nothing Dukat could do. He didn’t want to believe that this was the end, but it certainly looked that way. In one final attempt to protect Dani as much as he could, he covered her body with his, closed his eyes, and prepared for the death blow he knew was coming.

    But instead of feeling the sharp bite of a batleth or dagger, he felt the familiar sensation of a transporter beam. Was this what death felt like? Being transported? It wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be. When the tingling sensation had subsided, he opened his eyes and realized that he wasn’t dead. He’d been transported to a sickbay. But whose sickbay? At the moment, he didn’t care. He just wanted someone, anyone to help Dani.

    When someone carelessly shoved Dukat out of the way to get access to Dani, instead of being angry, he was grateful that someone was finally helping her. He was at her side, and he looked scared as hell.

    “What happened?” the doctor, a Cardassian, asked, as he walked around to the other side of Dani. He stood across from Dukat.

    “We were attacked,” Dukat explained.

    The doctor scanned Dani’s wound with a medical tricorder. “By whom?” he asked.

    “Two Klingons,” Dukat replied. The doctor silently absorbed the fact while continuing to tend to Dani. Dukat looked on eagerly, wishing the doctor would reveal something about Dani’s condition.

    The doctor looked down at his patient. She had various other minor injuries, such as bruises and scrapes, but he’d tend to those later. Right now, he had to get this woman’s life out of danger. He had managed to stop the bleeding. Now he had to close the wound and make sure infection didn’t ensue.

    A medic approached Dukat, with the intention of treating him for his own injuries, but he wouldn’t have it. He had to be assured that Dani would be okay.

    “She will be all right, won’t she, Doctor?” Dukat asked.

    “She’ll be fine,” the doctor assured him. “She lost a lot of blood, and she’ll be a little weak for a few days, but yes, she will be just fine. Now, it’s your turn to be examined.” He passed the medical scanner over Dukat. “You have a mild concussion, two cracked ribs, a sprained wrist, and an array of minor contusions and lacerations.”

    He snapped the tricorder shut. “You took quite a beating, as well. Come and lie down on the table.” Dukat looked at Dani and reluctantly followed the doctor to a bed.

    The next morning, when Dani awoke, it took her a brief moment to remember what had happened the night before. She looked around the room. It didn’t look at all familiar. Where was she?

    “Ma-” she began, but it turned into a cough.

    The Cardassian doctor who’d treated her was standing across the room at a console. He turned around when he heard the cough and saw that his patient was awake. He walked over to her bedside.

    “Marac,” Dani managed weakly. “Where is he? Is he alright?”

    “He’s on the next bed over,” the doctor said. “He’s sleeping.”

    “He’s okay?”

    “Yes. He suffered a mild concussion and a few broken ribs, but he’s fine. Would you like me to wake him for you?”

    “No. Let him sleep.”

    The doctor nodded. “My name is Dr. Sarat,” he said finally introducing himself. “You’re in the sickbay onboard a Cardassian science vessel.”

    Dani was utterly confused. The last thing she remembered was being attacked by two big, burly Klingons, and now she was onboard a Cardassian ship? “What happened?” she asked.

    Sarat proceeded to relay the story of her and Dukat’s rescue and arrival to the ship. “You’re going to be all right,” Sarat said reaching the conclusion of the tale. “You suffered a severe laceration to the abdomen, but I’ve repaired it. It doesn’t look like there will be any permanent damage, but you lost a lot of blood. I’d like to keep you in sickbay today for observation.”

    Dani nodded. This was all a lot of information to digest. Someone had been trying to kill her and Dukat. Dani imagined there must be a lot of people who’d like to get their hands around his neck, but she never thought that they would actually try to kill him. That thought had never entered her mind.

    Sarat decided that the time had come to let Dani be alone with her thoughts. “If you have any problems or questions, let me or any of the other medics around here know, and we’ll take care of you,” he said.

    Dani, again, nodded. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said. Sarat gave her a little smile and left her.

    The next morning, Dukat was at Dani’s bedside, holding her hand, watching her intently for any change in her condition, no matter how minute. Dr. Sarat had cleared him for release from sickbay earlier that morning, but Dukat was determined not to leave her alone if he could help it. It was his fault this had happened to her. She’d been injured trying to protect him. She’d almost died because of him.

    The perpetrators of this crime would not go unpunished, Dukat resolved. He would personally see to it that those responsible would pay for what they’d done.

    “How is she?”

    Dukat whirled around in time to see a uniformed Cardassian enter. The rank insignia on his uniform indicated that he was a gul, probably the commander of this vessel. Out of respect, Dukat stood, as the man approached the bed. “She’s going to be fine,” Dukat said, answering the man’s inquiry.

    “Good,” said the gul.

    “Gul,” Dukat began. “I’d just like to extend my sincerest gratitude to you and the good members of your crew. You’ve saved our lives, and I don’t even want to imagine our fates had you not intervened.”

    The gul seemed openly annoyed by Dukat and kept his eyes trained on the sleeping patient. “If you really want to know the truth of it,” the gul began, “the only reason I picked you up was because of the Starfleet officer. We have a treaty with the Federation, and I can’t have the problem of one of their officers being injured or killed on one Cardassia’s planets. If you’d been alone,” he raised his eyes to Dukat, “I doubt I would have even stopped. I would’ve been content

    to have left you to your own devices with the Klingons.” He cast a final, softer glance in Dani’s direction before turning and walking out of the room.

    Dukat looked at the closed doors, fuming. How had it come to this, that his position, his status among his own people, had become so low that they wouldn’t think twice about leaving him to die.

    The groan that came from Dani’s direction broke into his thoughts. He returned his attention to her to find that she was stirring. He once again took her hand in his.

    Dani opened her eyes and realized that Dukat was awake and he was sitting beside her bed holding her hand. “Marac,” she said.

    “I’m here,” he said. “Do you need something?”

    “No,” Dani said, shaking her head.

    “I’m so sorry this happened to you,” Dukat apologized.

    “It happened to you, too, Marac,” Dani reminded him.

    “It happened because of me. It was an attempt on my life,” he said. “And it probably won’t be the last time,” Dukat said gravely. Dani looked at Dukat. The whole prospect scared her, but she knew he was probably right. “One day,” Dukat continued, “someone is going to succeed.”

    Dani raised her hand to touch Dukat’s face. “Don’t think like that,” she said. “Please. Maybe this was an isolated incident.”

    Dukat covered Dani’s hand with his own. This had been no isolated incident. Last night hadn’t been the first attempt on his life. People had been trying to kill him for years. On five different occassions, someone had tried to kill him.

    But he didn’t want Dani to be bothered with all that at the moment. “Why don’t you get some rest?” he suggested. “You’ve got to get your strength back.”

    To Dani, it seemed that Dukat had something on his mind, something heavy. But she was tired, and if he didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t pursue it.

    She closed her eyes and let the soothing motion of Dukat stroking her hair lull her to sleep.

    The next day, Dani sat on the biobed in the Cardassian ship’s sickbay, waiting patiently as Sarat examined her, checking the progress of her healing wound.

    “Could you lie down, please?” Sarat requested. Dani promptly reclined onto the biobed, as the doctor had asked. He was a nice, gentle man, something Dani hadn’t expected from a Cardassian. She concluded that kindness must be a trait inherent in all physicians – all those except for maybe Klingon doctors. She couldn’t quite equate gentleness with any Klingon.

    The doctor examined the wound area, which had, only 48 hours ago, been a mess. Now, only a small scar existed where there had once been a bloody mess. And even that would go away after the final stages of treatment.

    “Your wound is healing very nicely,” Sarat commented, passing a medical tricorder over the area. Dani smiled and glanced over at Dukat, who was standing off to the side, out of Sarat’s way.

    Once Sarat was finished with the exam, he said, “You can sit up, now.” Dani rose to a sitting position on the bed. “I’m projecting a full recovery in a matter of days.”

    “Really?” Dani asked. She hadn’t expected she would heal so soon.

    “If you were an officer on this ship, I’d clear you for limited duty.”

    “Wow,” Dani said. “Thanks.”

    Sarat gave her a nod and a smile before leaving. Dukat walked over and joined Dani at the bed when the doctor left the room.

    “I never guessed it would be such a quick recovery,” Dani said.

    “You wouldn’t have to be going through any kind of recovery if it hadn’t been for me,” Dukat said, still very guilt-ridded.

    Dani sighed. “Marac, we’ve been through this. This is not your fault.” She wanted to convince him of that fact, but she knew it was useless. He wasn’t going to subscribe to the notion, and they would only end up going in circles. “Let’s just try to put this behind us, and move on, okay?”

    Dukat nodded. “As you wish,” he said. He picked up her hand and kissed it before bending down and kissing her lips. The kiss was interrupted by a heavy shudder caused by the impact of something on the ship.

    Dukat broke from Dani as the lights dimmed and ship’s alarms began to sound. “We’ve been hit by something,” he said, stating the obvious. He helped Dani down from the bed just as the ship was rocked a second time by another impact. The couple was almost thrown to the deck, but Dukat quickly regained his balance and kept both himself and Dani from falling. “Come on,” he said, holding on to her hand and heading for the sickbay’s exit.

    When the doors slid open, Dukat and Dani realized that their path was blocked by two Romulans with disruptors aimed directly at them.

    “You will come with us, or face the consequences,” one Romulan said.

    Dani and Dukat looked at each other. Some vacation this was turning out to be. First, someone had tried to kill them, now they were being abducted by Romulans.

    How much worse could it get?

    “Captain, we’ve got an incoming message from the Defiant.”

    Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned in his seat on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise to look at the officer who’d just spoken and then at Will Riker on his right. The Defiant? Perhaps it was just a greeting. “On screen,” Picard ordered.

    Colonel Kira Nerys’s face filled the viewscreen. “Captain Picard,” she said.

    “Colonel,” Picard greeted. “What can I do for you?”

    “We have a situation,” Kira began. “And we could use your help.”

    Picard looked at Will. The colonel looked gravely serious. Whatever was going on must be a matter of great importance, or she wouldn’t have enlisted the help of the Enterprise. He returned his gaze to the viewscreen. “Very well,” he said. “Beam over, and we shall discuss the situation.”

    Dani refused to believe that there was no way out of this cell besides through the path currently blocked by the forcefield. She knelt in front of the cell’s entrance, studying the forcefield emitters.

    Dukat lay on the meager cot in the dark cell they’d been placed in aboard a Romulan warbird. “I don’t mean to sound pessimistic,” he began, “but there is no way out of here.”

    Dani stood, giving up on the forcefield. Dukat was right, even though she didn’t want to believe it. This cell was officially escape-proof. She walked over and sat sullenly on the cot. She had a heavy sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew she was trouble, and she couldn’t think of a way out of it.

    Dukat sat up and brought his feet to the deck. He placed his hands on her shoulders and told her, “Everything will be alright.”

    Dani wanted to believe him, but at the moment, it sure didn’t look like everything would be fine.

    “Believe me,” Dukat continued, “I’ve gotten out of worse situations than this.”

    Dani turned and looked at up at him. His eyes had a calming effect, which she eagerly welcomed. “Why don’t we lie down? I don’t want you tiring yourself,” Dukat said.

    Dani reclined with Dukat onto the bed. “I don’t understand what they could want with us,” Dani pondered aloud.

    Dukat looked up at the ceiling as he thought of the real reason for their current state of captivity. The Romulans probably wanted Dukat, not Dani. “I wouldn’t worry about it,” he said. “There’s probably been some kind of mistake.” He was trying to convince Dani not to worry while he himself had every reason to worry. “All we have to do is bide our time, and opportunity shall present itself.”

    Dani nestled herself closer to Dukat. He seemed so calm, and it was comforting to her. She let her body relax against him and closed her eyes. When she did that, it felt just like they were in his bed in his quarters on the station, when things weren’t perfect, but definitely preferable to now.

    “I love you, Danielle,” Dukat said.

    “I love you, too, Marac,” Dani said.

    Dukat wished he could tell her that he never let anyone get to her, never let anyone touch her. But he couldn’t promise that. That had been proven when the Klingons had attacked them. He would do everything in his power to protect her, though. Her and Ziyal. And if he ever got the chance, he would have revenge against those who’d wronged them. Isn’t that what anyone would want? Isn’t that what Danielle would want?

    “Danielle?” he said quietly. He looked down at her. She’d fallen asleep already.

    ‘She must be exhausted,’ Dukat thought. And understandably so. She’d been through a lot over the past few days. Being stabbed tended to take a lot out of a person.

    He looked up at the ceiling. ‘Would she really want revenge?’ Dukat pondered. He looked down at the sleeping Dani again. She was such a caring, giving individual. She was good. Unlike him. He remembered that Kira had once referred to him as pure evil. Someone like himself would want revenge. But Danielle, he concluded, wouldn’t.

    What the hell was she doing with him? She was possibly throwing away her career, her life as she knew. For him. By choice.

    For what?

    The streak of wetness he found on his cheek when he brought his hand up to it surprised him. When had that happened? He looked up at the ceiling. Was there a leak somewhere? It took a moment for him to register the fact that he was weeping. He hadn’t recognized the sensation, it’d been so long since it had happened to him. The last time had been when he’d found Naprem’s grave site and had been reunited with Ziyal. He’d known, for a while before finding it, that she was probably dead, but it’d been the closure associated with actually finding the grave, of knowing that she was gone, that had gotten to him.

    Dukat looked down at Dani, yet again. All the pain he’d caused her by being a presence in her life – he would make it up to her. He didn’t know how, but he would.

    The sound of a rifle butt making contact with a body was what awoke Dani from her slumber. She opened her eyes to the sight of Dukat curled into a ball, grimacing in apparent pain.

    “Marac?” Dani said.

    “Get up, now!” a Romulan guard barked. Dani looked up from Dukat and saw that two were in the cell with them.

    Dukat had been in the process of sitting up when the guard hit him a second time with the gun, this time on the side of the face, drawing blood.

    “Marac!” Dani screamed. She looked up at the guard. “What’s the matter with you?!”

    “Quiet!” the guard ordered, moving to strike Dani with his bare hand. Dukat interjected, taking hold of the guard’s wrist.

    “Leave her alone,” he rasped. “Don’t touch her.”

    The guard shook free from Dukat’s grip. “On your feet!” he ordered the Cardassian. Dukat gained his composure and stood, wiping the corner of his mouth as he did so. He looked at his fingers. He was bleeding.

    Dani moved to stand, but the other guard, training a disruptor on her, ordered her to be still where she was on the cot.

    “Move,” the first guard ordered Dukat.

    “No, wait – where are you going? Where are you taking him?” Dani asked frantically.

    “It is none of your concern,” the second guard replied. He looked at Dukat. “Now, you – move!”

    Marac Dukat looked at Dani before he complied with the Romulans’ order, then stared straight ahead as he carried it out. He cast one more glance in Dani’s direction when he reached the cell’s entrance, desiring just one final view of her beautiful features. Dukat knew he probably wouldn’t be seeing the inside of that cell again. He pulled himself up and stood tall, holding his head high. He wanted Dani’s final memory of him to be one of dignity. Finally he exited the cell marched forward at the guards’ urging.

    Once the guards reactivated the cell’s forcefield, Dani was up and standing at it in an instant. She could still hear the sound of the guards’ and Dukat’s footfalls. They were still close. Suddenly, they stopped.

    “Inside,” she heard one of the guard’s direct. A few more footfall’s followed. Then she heard the guard say something else. “Marac Dukat, you have been charged, tried, and convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors by the Romulan Star Empire,” Dani heard him say. “I hearby sentence you to death by firing squad.”

    Dani took in a sharp breath. Death? Dani listened again. She heard the sound of disruptor fire, she couldn’t tell how many shots, and the distinctive sound of a body hitting the floor. And that’s when she lost it.

    “Marac?” she said aloud. “Marac!” She touched the force field. It was secure. There was no way she was getting to him. The tears came freely and plentifully.

    Dani called his name again. “Oh, my gods. Oh, my gods!” She touched the force field in vain, again. “No. Marac!” She slid down the wall, sobbing. “No.”

    It was all so quick. Less than ten minutes ago, she’d been on that cot across the room, lying in his arms. And now he was dead. It didn’t make any sense.

    The sound of more disruptor fire broke into Dani’s thoughts. She immediately got to her feet. “Get away from the entrance!” she heard someone yell. Dani quickly backed away from the force field. A small explosion disabled the field emitters and a figure dressed completely in black from head to toe entered. Even the face was covered, saving two little holes for the eyes. “Come on!” he said.

    Dani hesitated a bit. Who was this, and where were they going to take her?

    The man picked up on her hesitation. “I’m Starfleet,” he explained. “We’re getting you out of here. Now, come on.”

    Dani glanced at the man’s rifle and realized that it was a Starfleet-issue weapon. She walked out of the cell and found another similarly dressed figure in the corridor.

    Dani turned to the direction she’d seen Dukat and the Romulans walk. She wanted to go see for herself, make sure…

    “This way,” the figure, a woman, who’d stood guard in the corridor said. She led her in the opposite direction from the way she wanted to go. Dani let the rescuers guide her down the corridor to an apparently predetermined point, but was constantly looking back down the corridor. Maybe, just maybe, she thought, he would come striding out of that cell in his usual, arrogant manner. If she could just see him do that, she knew everything would be okay. She looked, but he never came. He never came.

    Once they stopped walking, the man pulled out a comm badge. He grabbed Dani’s hand and then opened a comm link. “Bring us in,” he said. Dani saw her surroundings disappear around her and be replaced by a transporter pad. She didn’t know what ship she was on, but she was happy to see that the transporter tech was wearing a Starfleet-issue uniform. Before she could even step off the platform, Julian Bashir was at her side, scanning her for injuries. She looked beyond Bashir at the opening transporter room doors. To her surprise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard entered with Captain Bunche. What was Captain Picard doing here?

    Dani turned around to have a look at her rescuers. The woman pulled off her cap. It was Colonel Kira.

    “Colonel?” Dani said. She looked to the other figure, who removed his cap next.

    “Will,” Dani said, flabbergasted. The second rescuer had been Will Riker, and Dani was truly speechless. She hadn’t even recognized his voice. She was so confused at the moment. She didn’t know what to think. She didn’t want to think. She was tired of thinking.

    “Let’s get you to sickbay,” Bashir said. He led her out of the transporter room.

  • A Love Less Ordinary – Chapter 7

    On the U.S.S. Enterprise…

    Will sat in his quarters staring thoughtfully at a still image of Dani on his computer console. He activated the program, and Dani came to life on the screen.

    The program was a collection of video clips of Dani that had been filmed at various times during her and Will’s relationship. The first clip was filmed at a Christmas party from the previous year. Someone, from a distance, had filmed them dancing together. They had later gotten in close, and Will and Dani had been made aware of the camera.

    Will stared at his own smiling face and watched Dani as she smiled and tried to avoid the camera by maneuvering the slow dance so that her back was to the camera. Will wouldn’t let her, and she would end up back on camera again…

    “I want a copy of that, Geordi,” Will said as Geordi moved with the camera to another couple.

    “You got it, Commander,” Geordi said.

    Will turned his attention back to Dani.

    “You don’t want a copy of that so that you can show it around to other people, do you?” Dani asked.

    “Of course not,” Will said. “Why would I want to show it around? You’re only the most beautiful woman here.” He bent down and kissed her quickly.

    “Will-you can’t,” Dani protested. “I’ll be so embarassed. Please don’t.”

    “I won’t if you don’t want me to.”

    “I don’t want you to.”

    “It’s just for us, then,” Will conceded.

    Will had to laugh at that memory. For someone who was always in the spotlight, Dani hated the camera. The next clip featured Dani and her family’s golden retriever rolling around on the ground playfully. Laughing, Dani got on her knees and sent the dog in the direction of the camera and it’s operator, Will. The dog jumped Will, who dropped the camera and lost the picture.

    “Is it damaged?” Dani asked running over to the grounded Will.

    The dog was still standing on top of him, licking his face. “No, I don’t think so,” he said between licks.

    “Molly, get!” Dani commanded the dog. “Get!” The dog obediently hopped off of Will’s chest. Will sat up, and Dani knelt beside him. “Are you alright?”

    “I’m fine,” Will said.

    “Sorry. I didn’t think she’d jump you like that. I guess she likes you just as much as I do.”

    “She’s cute, but I prefer you.”

    Smiling, Dani stood and held her hand out for Will. He took it, and pulled himself to his feet.

    Will was laughing when the next clip began with an overhead image of a sleeping Dani. She opened her eyes to the camera. For a long time, she didn’t say anything. She just stared into the camera.

    “Why don’t you put the camera away, and come back to bed?” Dani asked.

    “I want to get as much of you on video as possible,” Will said.

    Dani propped herself up on her elbow and rested her head on the palm of her hand.

    Will stared back at her. To him, she looked like an angel, wrapped in nothing but the sheer, white bedsheets.

    “Why, when you’ve got me here in person?” video Dani asked.

    “It’s for whenever I don’t have you in person,” Will answered from behind the camera.

    Will’s vision became blurry. As he stared at Dani’s beautiful image on the screen, it became larger and clearer as the camera slowly zoomed in on her.

    “That’ll never be,” video Dani replied.

    Will’s door chimed, and he promptly froze the image of Dani and wiped his eyes dry.

    He cleared his throat. “Come in,” he called.

    The doors slid open, and Deanna Troi walked in. Will thought of trying to close his mind, but he knew that Deanna had sensed what he was feeling before he even knew she was close.

    “I’m sorry,” Deanna said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

    “No,” Will said, hastily wiping his eyes. “Come on in.” Deanna stepped into Will’s office. “What can I do for you?”

    “I think I should be the one asking you that question,” Deanna said, taking one of the chairs in front of Will’s desk.

    “You don’t have to ask,” Will said. He lowered his eyes. “I miss her.” He turned the console so that Deanna could see Dani’s image. “It’s been two months, and I still feel like I can’t live without her. I’m miserable.”

    Deanna continued to listen.

    “I miss everything about her. I miss the way she used to smile at me. I miss the feel of her arms around me.” He laughed. “I even miss the way we used to squabble with each other.” He sighed. “Now, she’s with…Dukat.” He’d had trouble saying the name. “I can’t believe it. I lost Dani to Dukat.” He looked at Deanna.

    “Dani’s purpose for being with Dukat could possibly be her way of getting over her relationship with you,” Deanna offered.

    “You’re saying she could be doing this to get back at me? Retaliation?” That was a hard pill for Will to swallow. Dani had never been the kind of person who would resort to spite for the purpose of intentionally hurting someone.

    “No, not necessarily,” Deanna corrected. “This could be her way of dealing with your break-up.”

    A small ray of hope presented itself to Will. “So, this thing with Dukat could just be temporary?”

    Deanna sensed the mental leap of joy that Will did. She wanted him to be happy, but she also didn’t want to instill him with any kind of false hope. “Maybe; maybe not.” She sensed his temporary sense of elations fall when she told him that. She hated to be the slasher of dreams, but it was better to live with the truth that live with a false sense of security only to have it taken away some time down the road.

    Will sighed and leaned forward resting his elbows on his desk. He brought his hands to his forehead. “I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this.”

    “I think that maybe this is going to take some time. As you’ve probably already realized, this isn’t something you’re going to be able to get over overnight.”

    “I know. I just need to think.”

    Deanna stood. “Well, let me know if you need someone to think with.”

    Will nodded. “Thanks, De.” She nodded and gave him an encouraging smile before departing.

    Will let out a deep breath again and leaned back in his seat, resting his head against the back. All of this was his fault, he knew. If he hadn’t lost his temper…he’d known that Dani would never cheat on him, but he’d let himself be suckered in by mere rumors. If he hadn’t let his mouth run without thinking, Dani would be his fiancee, and they’d be making plans for their wedding right now.

    He’d told Dani that embarking on a relationship with her had been a

    mistake. That was wrong. The mistake had been made by him. And it had been one of the biggest mistakes he’d ever made in his life, it being along the same magnitude as the mistake he’d made by putting his relationship with Deanna on hold all those years ago. So many mistakes…well, this was one he planned to rectify, if ever he got the chance. He didn’t know how it would happen, but if he ever got another chance with Dani again, he was going to set the situation straight with her, make things right again. If ever he got the chance…