Course Correction Studio

Tag: Legate Dukat

  • Deliberation – Chapter 2. Third Time’s a Charm

    “Q?” Dani called aloud. Just a moment ago, she’d been in her family’s Indiana home. Now, she was on Cardassia Prime? What was Q up to?

    “What was that, my dear?” came a call from the bathroom.

    Dani turned in the direction of the bathroom, intending to walk over, but when she took her first step, she immediately realized that something was different, something about her body. She looked down at herself. She was pregnant. Really pregnant.

    Dukat appeared in the bathroom doorway, and Dani plopped down on the bed, speechless. “Darling, are you feeling well?” Dukat asked her, walking over in his robe. He sat down beside her. “Danielle?”

    Dani stared at him, tears building in her eyes. He was alive again. Could it really be? How? She reached up and stroked his face. “I’m fine,” she told him.

    “Are you sure?” he asked her. “You look like you’re about to burst into tears. What’s the matter?”

    “Nothing. I’m fine.”

    Dukat placed his hand on Dani’s swollen belly. “Is it time?” he asked.

    “No, no,” Dani assured him. “I’m fine. I promise.” She covered his hand with hers.

    “Maybe I should stay home today,” Dukat suggested. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”

    “Marac, I’m fine. I think I just got up a little too quickly. I was a little light-headed for a moment. I’m okay. Okay? Go to the office. I’ll be alright. Besides, if anything happens, Rowat will be here.”

    Dukat nodded. “You’re right, of course. I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay here.”

    “I will be,” Dani said. “And if I’m not, you have my permission to gloat and hold it over my head for as long as you’d like.”

    Dukat’s expression softened as the worry left his features. He kissed her and grinned. He stood and returned to the bathroom.

    This was Dani’s dream-come-true. Dukat was alive again, and she was pregnant again with their child. “I don’t know what you did, Q,” Dani whispered, “but thank you.”

    Xxx

    There were so many choices. Dani marveled at all the different flavors of ice cream that the replicator had to offer. She was having a difficult time deciding between Rocky Road and Pralines ‘n Creme. She’d just have to get both, she concluded.

    “Computer, one pint of Pralines’ n Creme and one pint of Rocky Road,” Dani requested from the replicator. “And two scoops of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream.” She watched anxiously while her order materialized. When it was all there waiting on a nice tray for her, she could hardly wait to dig in. She picked up the tray and waddled back over to the bed. She activated her bedside lamp and picked up a spoon. She didn’t know which one to start with first.

    Beside her, Dukat moved. “What are you doing?” he asked sleepily.

    “I had a sudden craving for ice cream,” Dani said.

    “But it’s nearly four in the morning,” Dukat said, yawning. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked at the tray Dani had replicated. “You’re going to eat all that?”

    “I couldn’t decide what I wanted,” Dani said a bit sheepishly.

    Dukat pushed himself to a sitting position. “What did you do? Order the entire menu?”

    “No … I forgot the sardines.”

    “Sardines?” Dukat’s brows furrowed as he searched his memory. “Aren’t those small fish?”

    “Yes! Will you get some from the replicator?”

    “I don’t think it’s programmed.” Dukat lay down, shifting back to a sleeping position.

    “But I really want some.”

    Dukat closed his eyes. He knew where this was going, and he didn’t like it. Why couldn’t she just be happy with the ice cream and the thousands of other choices programmed into the replicator? “Darling, isn’t there anything else that you would like?”

    “No. Right now I want sardines. Now.”

    Dukat had been through eight pregnancies before. He knew the futility of trying to talk through this rationally, because there was no rationale this early in the morning. She was going to bug him until she got the damned sardines, so he might as well get up and be on his way.

    “Okay, darling, I’ll go out and get them right now,” Dukat obliged and reluctantly forced his eyes open. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and placing them on the floor. Of all the days, she had to get a craving for sardines when both Melba and Rowat were away. If only this craving had come a few hours later, when Melba and Rowat would have returned. And she had to want something that no one could find on this side of the planet. Dukat would have to transport all the way to the other side of Prime to find these things.

    He stood and wandered over to the closet, found some pants and a shirt, and pulled them on. He hoped this place that he was going to was open. If not, he would have to order them to open just for him. He would have to see about having someone sell these sardines closer to home.

    Xxx

    The foot rub that Dukat had given Dani before he’d left for work had been pure heaven for her swollen ankles. When he’d returned with her sardines, her feet had begun to ache, so he’d sacrificed more sleep and masssaged them. His hands had worked magic, and she wished that he could have stayed home from the office today. She felt like she was about to pop.

    And then she started to. Dukat had been gone for a few hours already, and the lunch hour was approaching. Dani was on her way down stairs, headed for the dining room for lunch, when something inside her changed, and she knew what it was.

    She walked into the kitchen, holding her belly and breathing a sigh of relief when she saw that Rowat was there. That meant she wouldn’t have to go anywhere else to find him. “Rowat,” she said to him.

    Rowat was sitting at the table when Dani walked in. One look at her, and he knew immediately that something was wrong. “What is it?” he asked.

    “I just had a contraction,” Dani told him. “I think it’s time.”

    “Time?” Rowat repeated. “You mean time?” Dani nodded. Rowat sprang to his feet and was at Dani’s side immediately. He led her over to a chair and gently seated her. “Get us a transport,” Rowat directed Melba, who stood nearby.

    “Yes, sir,” she said, disappearing into another room to take care of the transport.

    Rowat turned his attention back to Dani. “How do you feel?” he asked her.

    “I’m okay right now,” she said.

    “Are you in any pain?” he asked.

    “A little. But it’ll probably get worse.”

    “We’ll have you to the hospital shortly,” Rowat informed her. “We would do a site-to-site transport, but they say it isn’t recommeded for pregnant women except in cases of extreme emergency.”

    Dani nodded. “Sounds like you’ve been studying.”

    “I wanted to be sure I’d be prepared in case something like this happened.”

    “Ohhh, I think – I think something’s happening. I’m having a contraction. Ay, ow, ow, OW!”

    “Here, take my hand,” Rowat offered. “Just breathe through it. Easy, now … there you go … breathe … that’s right. Good.”

    Melba reappeared. “The transport is ready, sir,” she informed Rowat.

    Rowat nodded. “Okay, Lieutenant, nice and slowly, we’re going to get up, walk outside, and get into the transport, okay?”

    Dani nodded. “Where’s Marac?” she asked. “Somebody call him.”

    “Don’t worry; we will. Right now, we have to see about getting you to the hospital. Okay, nice and easy. Put your weight on me to stand.”

    Xxx

    “Where’s Marac?” Dani asked again. She was in a delivery room at Capital Medical Facility, but the father of her child was no where to be seen. In his place was Rowat, who now stood beside her bed holding her hand. “Did something happen to him?” Dani continued, panic rising in her voice. “Why isn’t he here, yet? Hasn’t he commed?” Tears sprang to her eyes. Where was he? He wouldn’t miss this. Something must be wrong. Something must have happened.

    “Don’t get upset,” Rowat said, trying to calm Dani while silently cursing Dukat. He’d always had great respect for the man, but his not being here to witness something this important was making Rowat question his beliefs about the man he so admired.

    The grip on his hand tightened significantly, indicating to Rowat that Dani was experiencing another contraction. “You have got quite a grip there,” Rowat told Dani, offering an encouraging smile. “With strength like that, why do you need me around?” Dani seemed to smile, but it turned into a grimace as the contraction came full-on.

    “Doctor, isn’t there something more you can give her for the pain?” Rowat asked.

    Xxx

    Dukat’s body was at the meeting, but his mind was miles away. He’d gotten the call over an hour ago that Dani had gone into labor. He didn’t want to be anywhere else but in that delivery room with her, but this damned meeting was something at which his presence was required. He couldn’t get out of it even if he were having the baby himself.

    This waiting was unbearable. The doctor had informed them of the fact that Dani was probably going to have a difficult labor. He hated that she had to go through this without him.

    The beeping from his comm unit brought Dukat back from his thoughts. Everyone at the conference table looked his way. “Dukat here. What is it?”

    “Sir, there’s a message for you.”

    “Tell them I’ll get back to them,” Dukat said.

    “Sir, it’s urgent. It’s from the hospital.”

    Dukat’s heart rate skyrocketed. “I’ll take it in my office.” He stood and looked at his colleagues. “Escuse me while I take this.”

    When Dukat reached his office, he sat down behind his desk nervously. He’d had eight children. One would think he’d be used to this by now, but he wasn’t. He had felt the exact same way when each of his children had been born. He activated the monitor and Dr. Lurok’s face filled the screen.

    “Legate Dukat,” he began, “it’s my pleasure and honor to inform you that you are the father of a brand new, healthy son.”

    “A son … “

    “Should I tell the staff to make arrangements for your immediate arrival, sir?” Lurok asked.

    “Tell them I’ll be there later tonight.”

    The doctor hadn’t expected that response, but if that was what he wanted … “Yes, sir.”

    “Doctor, how is Danielle?” Dukat asked.

    “She’s fatigued, understandably,” Lurok began. “There was a time when I thought we would have to go in surgically, but fortunately it didn’t come to that. I expect her to make a full recovery.”

    Dukat nodded regretfully. “Will you tell her that I’ll be there as soon as I can get away from the office.”

    Lurok nodded. “I’ll tell her, sir.”

    Xxx

    Dani felt like hurling something across the room. She couldn’t believe he’d missed it. He’d missed it!

    When Dukat did finally walk into the room, it was after 2300 hours. It took all the self-control that Dani could muster not to launch her water glass at him.

    “Danielle?” Dukat said warily.

    Dani looked at him, daggers in her dark eyes. “So, you couldn’t get away,” she said through a clenched jaw.

    Dukat didn’t say anything at first. Then, “You have every right to feel the way you do,” he said.

    “You’re damned right, I do,” Dani seethed. “You missed the birth of our child. Our child, Marac. And why? Because you couldn’t get away from a meeting?”

    “Danielle, words can never express how sorry I am,” Dukat said.

    “This was one of the most important days of our lives. That meeting was more important than our son’s birth?”

    “You know me. You know that if there had been any way that I could have been here, I would have, but it’s a very sensitive, very complicated situation.”

    “I know, I know,” Danielle said, visibly calmer. “I really don’t want to hear it right now. I’m too tired …” She looked over at him and saw the genuine concern in his eyes. She had told herself that she wouldn’t give in and forgive him so easily. She cursed herself for being so weak. “Would you like to see your son?” She knew the answer. The question had only been a matter of formality. She pressed the comm panel on her nightstand. “Nurse, could you bring my son in, please?”

    Moments later, the room doors slid open, and a nurse entered with a wiggling little bundle in her arms. She walked over and carefully handed it to Dani. “Thank you,” Dani said, dismissing the nurse. Dani smiled down at the baby boy. “Hi there, little guy. How are you?” She turned her eyes on Dukat while she still spoke to the boy. “Are you ready to meet your daddy? He’s here – finally.”

    Dukat walked over to the bed. “Say hello to your daddy,” Dani said, gently handing the boy over to his father, who seemed completely at ease with a baby in his arms. A man with as many children as he should be.

    “Well, hello there,” Dukat said to the baby. “I’m your father.” Captivated, Dukat studied the child. There was no doubt about his Cardassian heritage, but his ridges and scales were less pronounced than a full-blooded Cardassian baby’s would be. And he stared up at Dukat with the most luminous brown eyes, courtesy of his mother. Dukat gently stroked the child’s forehead before looking over at Dani. “He’s amazing. He’s so beautiful.”

    “I know,” Dani said. She smiled, watching them. The baby reached up and grasped one of Dukat’s gray fingers with his tiny hand, eliciting a small chuckle from the father. “Look at that grip,” he boasted, gazing down at his son. “He’s so perfect.”

    A bright flash surrounded Dani, and her hospital room disappeared as it was replaced by the bedroom in Dukat’s house. She was holding her son and standing at his crib. Somehow, she knew that they’d just finished dinner and it was time for bed. Memories that she didn’t even know she had made their presence evident in her mind. She and Dukat had named the child Nathan Marac Janeway, and six months, she realized, had passed since his birth.

    Dani gently placed little Nate in his crib. He was sound asleep after a very active dinner. She stared down at him, just happy to have him asleep. He could be so fussy at times, a trait Dani figured must come from his father.

    Speaking of Dukat, Dani suspected that he should be home any minute, now. Dani glanced at the chronometer on the wall. 1930 hours. He should be walking in the door shortly. She looked over at Nate one last time to make sure he was okay before leaving the room. She yawned, walking into hers and Dukat’s bedroom. She hadn’t had the chance to read the day’s news reports, yet. Since Nate had arrived, she hadn’t had time to do much of anything. Reading the news had fallen to the bottom of the list, unfortunately. It was something that she’d tried to do almost religiously. She’d experienced what could happen if she didn’t keep up with the news on a regular basis. That could lead to … surprises, like when she’d read the news after weeks of neglecting to do so and discovered that Starfleet thought she was a hero for remaining in Cardassia, instead of the traitor she envisioned herself to be.

    Since Nate had come into her life, though, she estimated that she probably hadn’t read any news reports in about three weeks. Before that, it had been nearly two months. And even in those rare instances that she had gotten the opportunity to check up on current events, she hadn’t been able to go in depth and had simply skimmed the headlines.

    Dani sat down at the computer terminal and activated it. She accessed the news for the day, requesting that all the contents on the monitor appear in English. The first thing that appeared on the screen froze Dani. Initially, she thought it was a joke, but it couldn’t be; it was a legitimate news source. But her mind still couldn’t conceive what her eyes were seeing on the screen before her.

    ‘Legate Dukat to wed prominent socialite,’ was the headline. Dani’s watery eyes flittered down the screen as she read more of the article, which went on to discuss the engaged couple’s six month relationship and the plans for their impending wedding ceremony, which was to be ‘the social event of the year.’

    “Danielle?”

    Dani looked up from the screen at the sound of her name. Dukat was in the doorway. When he saw Dani’s face, the fresh tears that rimmed her eyes, he knew that she knew what he had come to tell her. He hadn’t wanted her to find out this way. It was so cruel. Why hadn’t he told her before now? But he couldn’t dwell on the possibilities that had passed him by. There was no time for that.

    When he walked into the room, Dani stood. She felt completely humiliated, and despite her best efforts not to cry, she did. For each step Dukat took toward her, she took one back, away from him. Finally, she was against the wall, but he wasn’t even halfway across the room. Dukat crossed the remaining difference between himself and the computer terminal. Viewing its display, he cursed. He looked over at Dani, who looked like she was about to break down. “Danielle, I didn’t intend for you to find out like this.”

    Dani couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Some small part of her had held onto the unlikely belief that perhaps it was a mistake. But here it was – the prime source, confirming the truth of it all.

    Dukat spoke again. “Danielle, I’m sorry,” he told her. “I’m so sorry.”

    “Six months?” Dani said, finally speaking.

    “Please, my love, allow me to explain,” Dukat said.

    “What is there to explain? You’re marrying another woman.”

    “My dear, it isn’t what you think,” Dukat insisted. “It isn’t what it appears to be.”

    “Then what is it?” Dani demanded. She was getting angry, now. She didn’t appreciate being patronized, and that is exactly what she felt Dukat was doing to her now. She walked over to the bed and sat.

    Dukat followed. “I don’t love her, Danielle,” he said. “I love you.”

    “Why are you marrying her?” Dani asked. As if answering her own question, she looked up at Dukat. “Is she pregnant?”

    “No,” Dukat replied, apparently appalled by the prospect. “This is a move that is purely political in nature. It’s for my career. That’s all. A marriage of convenience.”

    “It sure as hell isn’t convenient for me!” Dani sobbed.

    “Oh, Danielle – I never wanted to hurt you. Never. You know that.” His words head no impact. Dani sobbed even harder, which is why he didn’t want to tell her the rest of the news that wasn’t in the the reports. “My love, I’m afraid there’s more,” he said.

    Dani looked skyward. “Gods, what more could there be?” She looked at Dukat expectantly.

    “You and Nate have to leave,” Dukat revealed.

    “What?! No. No, I’ve – what?” Dani sputtered. “Why? I thought you said this was just a political move?”

    “It’s simply necessary, my dear,” Dukat began to explain. “It wouldn’t be right for appearances if you remained after Rubula moved in.”

    “Move in?” Dani didn’t understand. She didn’t understand how her world could be turned upside down in a matter of minutes when before it had been perfectly fine.

    “Danielle, I love you,” Dukat insisted again. “You and Nate. Except for my other children, you’re the only ones.”

    “How can I believe that?” Dani asked, on her feet again. “How can I believe anything you say anymore? You’re kicking me out!”

    “No. I’m merely sending you to the house on Four. I’ve had it remodeled. It should be more than adequate for you, Nate, Rowat, and Melba.”

    “You’re sending us away. Out of sight.”

    “Danielle, that isn’t the way it is.”

    “That’s what it looks like.”

    Dukat sighed. “It’s just better. It will be better for everyone.”

    “Even for your son?” Dani questioned.

    “Especially for him.”

  • Sweetest Sin – Chapter 9. Scratch

    When Dani materialized in the Enterprise’s transporter room, familiar faces awaited her. Captain Picard, Will Riker, Counselor Troi, Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay all watched on eagerly as Dani’s form solidified. She had hardly taken one step off the transporter pad when her parents engulfed her. It was as if they were in too much of a hurry to even take turns. Both of them embraced her at the same time.

    “Welcome home,” Chakotay said, a huge grin on his face.

    “You don’t know how relieved we are to have you back,” Kathryn beamed.

    “It’s good to be back, “Dani said, with a little smile. It was the truth. It was nice to be back in a place where the majority of the population didn’t hate you. She’d had two days to grieve for Dukat and look at the situation more objectively while being transported to Federation space. While she knew it would be a long while before she would be over Dukat, she was no longer in the state of shock she’d been in the night her life had changed – again.

    Dani looked from her parents to Captain Picard, Will and Deanna. “Captain,” she greeted.

    “Lieutenant,” Picard said. “I told you we would find a way to get you home.”

    “I know,” Dani said. She silently wished that they wouldn’t have been successful. Living among Cardassians hadn’t exactly been the highest point in her life, but she would gladly return if it meant she could have Dukat back. How ironic that the decision she had dreaded making months ago was now crystal clear. She looked up at Picard, trying her best to look happy, but feeling somehow that she was failing. “I never doubted that you or anyone else here would keep trying.”

    Picard smiled gently. “Welcome home, Lieutenant.”

    “Thank you, sir,” Dani said.

    Deanna had watched the interaction between Dani and her parents and now watched the exchange between the woman and the captain. What she found odd about the entire ordeal was that she didn’t pick up any sense of elation or joy from Dani. On the contrary, there was an overall sadness about the lieutenant that seemed out of place for someone who was returning home from captivity.

    Picard continued. “We’ll be on a course to Earth within the hour,” he informed Dani. “Starfleet wants to debrief you as soon as possible.”

    Dani nodded. She’d expected that. In fact, she’d been preparing for it and would continue to prepare for it until the Enterprise arrived at Earth.

    “Right now, I suspect that you want to see your quarters again,” Picard surmised.

    “Yes, sir,” Dani said.

    “Very well. I’ll let Will escort you.”

    Dani nodded and turned to her parents. “Let’s have dinner later on, okay?” she suggested.

    “Whatever you want to do,” Kathryn said.

    Dani smiled and turned to Will next. “After you,” he said, gesturing to the door. Dani led the way out of the transporter room.

    “How was your trip?” Will asked once they’d left the others.

    “It was fine – considering … ” Dani said. Her trip from Cardassia had been uneventful, even peaceful, providing her much time for reflection. The others on the little ship left her to herself in her little cabin, which was the way she’d wanted it.

    “Dani,” Will began, “what happened was not supposed to happen.” He felt the need to speak on the matter, even though he expected it would still be a touchy subject for her. “Killing Dukat was never part of the plan.” Will, along with Captain Picard and Admiral Necheyev, had received a report on what had transpired on Cardassia’s surface. Will, who had held a crucial role in the planning of the rescue attempt, had never called for Dukat’s murder. He knew that doing so would have crushed Dani. But somehow, it had happened anyway, and it was obvious, at least to him, that Dani was having a difficult time dealing with it. “You were supposed to leave Cardassia, but Dukat was supposed to be remain alive.”

    “Well, that isn’t the way it happened, is it?” Dani reminded him. She didn’t see the use in him telling her what should have happened. It wouldn’t make any difference. “Dukat’s dead, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”

    She and Will walked into a waiting turbolift. He hated that she was so upset. She wasn’t outwardly angry or sad, but inside was a different story. There was something in her voice and her eyes that was painfully melancholy. “Do you want to talk to someone about this? Deanna maybe?” he asked after giving the lift its command. The car began to move.

    “I think that would be a good idea,” Dani admitted. “There’s a lot I’m trying to cope with right now. I know that I can trust her.”

    The lift doors opened after a short ride. “I’ll have her meet you in your quarters at whatever time is convenient for you.”

    Dani nodded. She and Will walked to her quarters in silence. When they reached her door, Dani input the code, which she initially thought she’d forgotten. The doors slid open and she walked in, finding that the area was as she had left it. A little smile couldn’t help but come to her lips. The place was a mess.

    A little box sat in the middle of the floor. It was the only new addition to the room, but Dani knew exactly what it was. She quickly walked over to it and opened the grated door at its front. Sherlock scurried out to Dani and began to lick her face in his customary fashion.

    Will looked on, a surprised expression on his face. “Who’s this?” he asked.

    Dani looked up at him, smiling. “This is Sherlock. He was a gift.” She picked up the little dog and walked over to Will with it. “Sherlock, meet Will Riker. Will Riker – Sherlock.”

    “Very pleased to meet you,” Will said, delivering a nice scratch to the crown of the dog’s head. He looked at Dani. “I can’t wait ’til Data hears what you named him.”

    “Actually, I didn’t name it,” Dani revealed. “I think he already had the name when Dukat got it from the trader.” Dani bent down and the dog jumped from her arms onto the floor. When she stood upright again, she saw that Will seemed to be studying her, trying to assess her appearance. “What?”

    “How do you feel?” he asked.

    “What? You mean physically?”

    “Yeah.” It didn’t seem to Will that pregnancy was having that much of an effect on Dani’s physique. If he’d calculated correctly, she was supposed to be over three months along. Maybe Cardassian growth rates were different from humans.

    Dani looked at him oddly for a moment before it became clear to her why he was so concerned about her health. “Will, I’m not going to have a baby,” she told him regretfully. “I lost it a few weeks back.”

    “Oh, Dani. I’m so sorry. What happened?”

    “I don’t know.” She walked over and sat on the couch. “The doctor has been trying to pinpoint what the problem was, but he doesn’t really know, either.”

    “I’m sorry to hear that.” Will walked over and sat beside Dani. “You would have made a great mother.”

    Dani smiled unexpectedly. “You know, you saying that reminds me of that conversation we had about kids. Back before I left? I said that kids were a long way off into my future and that I didn’t want to pass on my messed up genes anyway.” She let out a little laugh. “It’s funny – who knew that that far off future would only be a few months away?” She looked at Will, her smile fading. “What are people saying about us? What all do they know?”

    “I haven’t made any kind of elaborate announcement, if that’s what you mean,” Will said. “I think everyone pretty much assumed that the plans for the wedding were on hold once the news about Starr broke. Then, after our meeting, I sent out a mass message to let everyone know officially that the wedding was off.”

    Dani nodded. “That’s good. I hate to think about what might have happened if thousands of people showed up for a wedding that wasn’t going to happen anymore.”

    Will chuckled. “You have to admit – it would be kind of funny, wouldn’t it? Kind of like the ultimate practical joke.”

    Dani laughed, too, an image of the whole scenario popping into her head. “Yeah.”

    The door chime interrupted them. “Come in,” Dani said. The doors slid open, and Deanna Troi walked in. Dani and Will stood.

    “I just came by to see how you were settling back in,” Deanna said with a smile.

    “Okay,” Dani said. She managed to return Deanna’s smile. “It’s a little strange. I feel like I’ve been gone for years, but it’s only been a couple of months. It’s nice being back.”

    “I thought you might like to talk,” Deanna said, testing the waters.

    Will took this as a cue for him to make his exit. “I’ll leave you two alone,” he said, beginning to make his way to the door.

    Dani called to him before he could leave, though. When he turned and looked at her, she said, “I’d really appreciate it if you would stay.”

    The request caught Will by surprise, and he glanced at Deanna briefly. “Okay. I’ll stay, if you want.”

    “I do, if you don’t mind,” Dani said.

    “You know I don’t.” He walked back over to the couch.

    Dani looked to Deanna. “Won’t you sit down?” She watched as the counselor sat in a chair next to the couch. “I’m sorry about the mess,” Dani said, sitting back down on the couch, Will also reclaiming his seat beside her. “I haven’t exactly gotten around to cleaning, yet. When I left, I was sort of in a hurry … “

    “It’s quite all right,” Deanna assured her. “Sometimes, a little disorder is a good thing.”

    “Don’t I know it?” Dani said. “It seems like every time my life seems to get a little order in it, something happens to disrupt it.”

    “Why don’t you tell me about that?” Deanna suggested.

    Dani looked at Will and then back at Deanna. Before she went any further, she had to make sure she knew the rules that were going to apply here. “Everything I tell you is confidential, right?” Dani asked. “You can’t go back and tell Captain Picard or Admiral Nechayev what I said?”

    “Everything that is said here stays here,” Deanna said. “I’m here to help you; not betray your trust.”

    Dani nodded. “Then there’s something you have to know before I tell you anything about what’s happened over the last three months.”

    “Okay. Go ahead.”

    Dani sighed deeply. “First of all, I feel like the biggest fraud in the universe,” she said.

    “A fraud? Why would you feel like that?”

    “Because what Hea Starr told you wasn’t exactly the truth about what happened,” Dani began to explain. “Well, it’s the truth as he saw it, but he didn’t see what he thought he saw. I didn’t choose to remain on Cardassia because I thought it would ensure his freedom; I stayed because I wanted to be with Dukat.” Her eyes looked up at the ceiling. She couldn’t believe she was actually volunteering this information. “I couldn’t pass up another opportunity to be with him, so I basically turned my back on everything I knew. But Starr saw me do it, and he must’ve thought … the point is, everyone thinks I’m this hero, but I’m not. I’m just a selfish deserter.”

    “Dani, it isn’t selfish to want to be with someone you love,” Deanna said.

    “I know, but duty was supposed to come first, over anything else, and I ignored that. I shouldn’t even be in Starfleet anymore. Do you know that what I did is grounds for a court-martial? People have been let go for a lot less.”

    “You can’t beat yourself up about that,” Deanna comforted. “You didn’t have any control over what Starr thought.”

    “I could correct it, though,” Dani said.

    Deanna realized what Dani was offering to do. She didn’t think it was a very wise course of action, considering that it would probably effectively end her Starfleet career. “If that’s what it takes for you to be happy with yourself, then that’s what you should do,” Deanna advised. “But you should only do it if it’s going to make you feel better about yourself. Don’t do it because you think other people will respect you for it.”

    Dani nodded. In all actuality, she had contemplated telling the truth about the nature of her purpose on Cardassia. But ultimately, she’d decided against it. What purpose would it serve now that everything was said and done?

    “I have something else I need to tell you,” Dani said. “It’s something that you probably need to know to counsel me effectively, I guess. I was pregnant … but I miscarried. The father was Dukat.”

    “Dani … ” Deanna trailed. The woman really had been through a lot.

    “No, wait. There’s one more thing I want to say before you say anything else,” Dani said. “I loved him. With every fiber of my being. But if it meant that he could be alive today, I would have never chosen to stay on Cardassia with him.” She choked up and had to stop for a moment. “Excuse me. I’m sorry,” she said, once she had regained her composure. “I’ve come to realize that the reason he is dead today is me. If I had never gone to Prime, there would have been no rescue attempt. And he’d be alive.”

    Xxx

    Jean-Luc Picard was standing at his replicator sipping on a fresh, steamy mug of Earl Gray tea when his ready room door chimed. “Come,” he beckoned. The doors slid open and his ship’s counselor sauntered in. “Counselor – what can I do for you?”

    “I’ve just had a meeting with Dani Janeway,” Deanna said.

    Picard walked from around his desk and settled into one of the chairs across the room. Deanna claimed the small sofa across from him. “How is she?” Picard inquired.

    “Not good,” Deanna admitted.

    “Oh, dear,” Picard said. He had suspected as much earlier when Janeway had first transported aboard. She’d seemed a little out of sorts for a person being reunited with her family. “What seems to be the problem?”

    “Dani is dealing with a lot of emotions at the moment,” Deanna said. She wanted to give the captain a good idea of what was going on with one of his officers, but at the same time, she didn’t want to reveal anything Dani had been adamant about keeping secret. “I can’t go into much detail, but she’s dealing with guilt, grief, loss. She’s trying to hold it together on the outside, but I’m afraid she won’t be able to keep it up much longer. If she doesn’t get some rest soon, there could be some serious emotional damage.”

    Picard leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs. He could order the counselor to tell him the cause of these feelings Janeway was having, but he knew Deanna wasn’t one to talk about her patients. He could only guess at what, or who, was at the root of these feelings, but he had more than an inkling about what was going on. “Counselor, have you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?”

    Deanna thought for a minute. That name sounded familiar … then it came to her. “Yes, sir,” she said. “That’s a condition that hostages sometimes develop. They begin to identify with their captors. In extreme cases, the hostages no longer wish to be free and actually want to join the people who abducted them.”

    “That’s right,” Picard said. “Could that possibly be an explanation for Janeway’s condition?” He knew that wasn’t it. But it would offer ample explanation. Especially to Starfleet Command and Headquarters.

    Deanna’s eyebrows rose. It was an avenue she’d never considered … until now. “Yes, sir. I do believe that could explain why Dani has been taking Legate Dukat’s death so hard.”

    “I see … ” Picard said. “And what would be your recommendation on a course of action for Lt. Janeway?”

    “I recommend that she take a medical leave of absence. Immediately. She needs time to recover from this. It’s all been very traumatic for her. I would say she needs at least six months away from active duty, but I suspect it will take her much longer to get completely over this. There’s no guarantee that she will ever be completely over it.”

    “I hear that isn’t unusual for sufferers of Stockholm syndrome,” Picard commented.

    “Not at all, sir,” Deanna replied.

    “Well, then. Make out your report and include diagnosis and treatment suggestions,” Picard said. “I’ll send my recommendations along with yours. I’ll see to it that Lt. Janeway’s leave begins as soon after the debriefing as possible.” He stood, as did Deanna. “Dismissed.”

    Deanna nodded, wondering on the way out if this whole Stockholm business was just a coincidence or if the captain knew more than he’d let on.

    Picard walked back around to his desk. He’d hated that this had all turned out so bittersweet. They’d gotten their people back, but at what cost? The emotional well being of one of his officers? Damn that Nechayev for sending Janeway to Cardassia in the first place. She’d known what she was doing when she’d handed down that assignment. Anything to catch Janeway in the middle of something that would get her kicked out of the ‘Fleet. But Picard had something for the woman that he knew she would never have anticipated. A little-known, nearly forgotten condition that he’d happened to come across in some recent research. The funny part was that any doctor who examined Dani Janeway would probably come to the same ‘conclusion’ he and his ship’s counselor had come to, and there wouldn’t be a thing Nechayev could do about it. The miracles of medicine …

  • Sweetest Sin – Chapter 7. Reunion

    Dani’s eyes scanned the news report she had downloaded into the PADD. She sat comfortably on the sofa in the living room reading. She had learned from the mistake she had discovered nearly a month ago – always keep up with the news. She looked up when Dukat entered.

    “Hello,” she greeted with a smile.

    “Hi,” he said. He walked over and sat down beside Dani. After he kissed her, he asked, “How are you feeling?”

    “Fine,” she said. “How was your day?”

    “Enlightening. I’ve got some news for you.”

    “Me?” Dani sat up a little straighter in her seat. “What is it about?”

    “Some Starfleet representatives want to meet with you. In order to ensure your welfare.”

    “Do you know who?” Dani asked.

    “Yes. Captain Picard, Admiral Janeway, and Commander Riker.” Dukat watched all the color drain from Dani’s face. “What’s wrong? I thought you would be happy.”

    “I am,” Dani said, “but it’s just a little … weird.” What perfect timing, Dani thought acerbically. At least she wasn’t showing that much, yet, as she was only two months pregnant.

    “Now, don’t get worked up over it,” Dukat said. “If you don’t want to meet with them, I’ll come up with an excuse.”

    “No, I do. Believe me, I do. When?”

    “Will next week be too soon for you?” Dukat asked.

    “No,” Dani replied. “It’ll be perfect.” How could she not get worked up, nervous, anxious about this? It was easier said than done. She took a deep, calming breath. She had a whole week to prepare herself for this encounter. Would that be enough?

    Xxx

    Will Riker didn’t like the look of this place. He didn’t like it two months ago, when he was last there, and he certainly didn’t like it now. He looked at his two companions, Admiral Kathryn Janeway and Captain Jean- Luc Picard, and could tell that they didn’t like it either.

    All of them sat on one side of a rectangular table inside a visiting room at Plakar Labor Camp on Cardassia Prime. They were there to visit Dani.

    Will didn’t know why they were all meeting at the camp. He along with both the admiral and the captain knew that Dani wasn’t living at the camp. She probably hadn’t set foot inside it since that day when she’d made that fateful decision, the day when she’d chosen Dukat over him.

    The three of them, Picard, Riker, and Janeway, had been waiting in the uncomfortably warm room for almost an hour when the large double doors on the other side of the room slowly swung open toward them. Two armed guards entered, first.

    And then, there she was. The three Starfleet officers stood as Dani Janeway walked toward them with a guard who appeared to be unarmed at her side.

    When she’d crossed half the distance to the table, Dani stopped walking and looked at Rowat. He nodded and remained where he was as Dani began walking again. She sat in the chair opposite Riker, Picard, and her mother, who all reclaimed their seats once she was seated.

    Dani smiled at them, though she didn’t really know what to say. “Hi,” she said.

    Riker, Picard, and Janeway looked at each other, not certain of what to say either. Janeway spoke first. “Hello, Dani,” she began. “How are you doing?”

    “I’m fine,” Dani replied. “Really.”

    “How has Legate Dukat been treating you?” Picard asked instinctively. Despite the passage of time, his experiences as a prisoner of the Cardassians was still a clear memory. He had no illusions as to what they were capable of.

    “They’ve treated me very well here,” was Dani’s reply. She almost wanted to say she was happy but didn’t, thinking better of it.

    “I’m glad to hear that,” Will said. His eyes fell to her left hand, and he saw that she no longer wore his engagement ring.

    Dani followed Will’s gaze to her hand and realized what must be going through his head. She self-consciously clasped her hands together.

    “Where are you staying?” Will asked.

    “I can’t tell you that,” Dani said apologetically. She saw the three officers across from her look at each other, alarmed. “It isn’t as if he would ever hurt me. He would never dream of it. In fact, he takes a number of precautions to ensure my safety. It’s just … it’s really for the best if I don’t tell you.” Dani realized that they probably didn’t know how difficult it was for her to tell them that.

    “Dani,” Picard spoke up, “we just want you to know that we are doing everything in our power to negotiate for and secure your release.”

    Dani looked at the captain. Release? But … she didn’t want to leave. “I appreciate that, Captain,” she said.

    The captain continued. “We all realize the sacrifice you made for the ambassador’s welfare, but Ambassador Starr is now safe and at a secure location. The Federation and Starfleet are eternally grateful for what you’ve done, Dani. Offering yourself to the Cardassians as a trade-off … I must say, that was a stroke of brilliance.”

    “You can expect a warm reception when you return,” Kathryn said.

    Right now, Dani felt like the biggest fraud in the universe. She was in this situation for purely selfish reasons, and people were making a hero out of her for it.

    “Dani, we’re working on a way to get you out,” Picard said. “We’re exploring every possible avenue. We’re going to get you back to Federation space.”

    Dani stared at him blankly. “Thank you for your efforts,” she said. That was all she had to say on the subject. It was all she could say while remaining honest. She shifted gears and went on to something safer. She looked at her mother. “How is everyone? How’s Dad?”

    “Your father’s fine,” Kathryn said. “He’s worried about you, of course, but now that I can tell him you’re fine, I’m sure that will make him feel a little better.”

    “I’m glad,” Dani said. “Send him my love, okay?”

    “Of course,” Kathryn agreed.

    Dani nodded and slowly stood. “I guess we’re finished then?”

    Janeway, Riker, and Picard stood, all obviously surprised by the brief nature of encounter. Cardassian officials had told them they wouldn’t have very long with Dani, but Picard wondered if five minutes had even passed since Dani first entered the room. He wondered if Dani had been given special instructions to keep their meeting brief, possibly to prevent certain things from being discussed, he surmised. “Yes,” Picard said. “I suppose we are.”

    Dani walked around the table to her mother. “Chin up,” Kathryn told her daughter. “We’ll have you out of here in no time.”

    Dani managed a weak smile as she hugged her mother. The two parted, and Dani looked to Captain Picard next. She shook his hand, and then looked from her to his first officer.

    “We’ll be outside,” Kathryn told Will and Dani.

    Dani looked at her mother and started to tell her that the time alone with Will wasn’t necessary, but the admiral and the captain were already heading for the double doors. Dani turned back to Will. Maybe they did need some time alone. Completely alone. She looked back at Rowat. He nodded and left the room, taking the two guards at the door with him. Dani turned back to Will. She sat down in one of the nearby chairs.

    “How are you doing?” Will asked. “Really.”

    “I’m doing very well,” Dani replied. “Really.”

    “And Dukat?”

    “He’s good. He treats me very well.”

    “What happened to your ring?” Will asked.

    Dani looked down at her bare fingers. “I didn’t see any reason to keep wearing it,” she said honestly. “I didn’t … I thought my life in Starfleet was over.”

    “The ambassador made sure that wasn’t the case,” Will commented.

    “I know.”

    Will sat on the table. “Dani, I don’t really know what to say.”

    “You and me both.” Dani stood, turning her back to Will and taking a few steps away from him. “I don’t exactly know where this leaves us, Will.”

    “You would be better-suited than I am to address that. You’re the one holding all the cards.” Will stood and walked over to her. “What do you want to do?”

    Dani shook her head and turned to face him, finally. “I don’t think it would be very fair to you.”

    “You don’t think what would be fair to me?”

    “It wouldn’t be fair to you if we tried to continue with our relationship,” Dani said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the piece of jewelry that had been her engagement ring. She turned around, picked up Will’s hand, and placed the ring in it.

    “I lose, then, Imzadi,” Will said looking at the ring.

    Dani couldn’t take it anymore. She couldn’t bear to hear Will call her that even one more time. She had hated it from the moment he started it. It was time to set the record straight. “I can’t do it, Will. I’m not your imzadi. But I think you know that already.”

    Will nodded. He knew. That didn’t mean he hadn’t wanted it to be true. “Deanna … ” Will trailed.

    “Will, you two have a connection,” Dani told him. “We have one, too, but it isn’t like the one you share with her. It’s different, and you know it. What are you doing with me?”

    Will knew she was right. Admitting to himself that she was right was difficult. He’d wanted to make their relationship work, but what he should’ve been concentrating on all this time was Deanna. It had taken Dani being away from him to realize that.

    “Besides, there’s something else I want to tell you,” Dani said. She walked over and sat down again. “I don’t really know how I should say it, though. It’s going to be quite a shock for you.”

    Will sat down in a seat next to Dani’s. “Just say it. Whatever it is. What do you need to tell me?”

    Dani took a deep breath. Why was she doing this? She couldn’t answer that question; she just couldn’t keep it a secret from everyone. She already felt bad about not telling her mother. Someone should know. “Will, I’m pregnant.”

    The first question that sprang into Will’s head was ‘Who’s the father?’ Dani answered the question before he could ask it.

    “It’s Dukat’s,” she said.

    Will’s heart sank. He had hoped that maybe it was his, possibly conceived before this whole mess had started. But he’d also known that the chances of that were slim to none. “How far along are you?” he asked.

    “About two months,” Dani said. “Will, please don’t tell anyone about this. I want to do it when I’m ready. That’s why I didn’t tell my mother today.”

    “You know I won’t say anything unless you want me to,” Will said. “Does Dukat know?”

    “He does.”

    “How did he take the news?” He figured the last thing Dukat needed was another half-Cardassian child. Will knew it would probably wreak havoc in the man’s professional life.

    “He’s elated,” Dani said with a smile.

    Will’s eyebrows rose at the statement. ‘Elated’ hadn’t exactly been the word that he’d expected to hear. So, that was it then. Dani and Dukat were just going to be one, big, happy family. “Is it safe to say that you don’t want to leave here, then?”

    “I can’t answer that. I don’t know. It’s like…” she sighed. “I do because I want to come home, but I don’t because this has kind of become my home. It isn’t as easy as simply saying that I want to stay or go. Does that make any sense?”

    “Surprisingly it does,” Will said. He stood. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

    Dani stood. “I’m glad you can understand my situation, and I want to thank you. For everything.”

    Will pulled her to him in an embrace. “Good luck, Dani.”

    “You, too.” They parted, and Dani watched him walk away from her and out the double doors across the room.

    Xxx

    “Danielle!” Dukat called out. “I’m home!”

    “I’m in the kitchen!” Dukat heard her call out. He walked across the living room to the kitchen entrance. Dani was standing at the counter sipping something out of a mug. The aroma was too faint for Dukat to put a finger on exactly what it was.

    “Hello,” he said, stepping into the kitchen.

    Dani watched him stroll into the room with a confident smile. She grinned when he bent down to kiss her. “How was your day?”

    “Delightful,” Dukat replied.

    Dani offered her mug to him. “You wanna try some?”

    Dukat looked at her, unsure about the substance. “What is it?”

    “Raktijino,” Dani replied.

    “Ugh!” Dukat scoffed. “Why are you drinking that awful Klingon excuse for coffee?”

    “Because it’s good. You should try it some time.” Dani took another sip of the drink.

    “No, thank you. I think I’ll stick with my tea.” He watched her drink from the mug again. “Will that concoction have any effect on our child?”

    “Well, usually the caffeine would be an issue, but this is decaf,” Dani explained. “The only effect I could foresee is eventually having someone else around here who likes raktijino.”

    “Wonderful,” Dukat deadpanned. “I have a surprise for you.”

    “What kind of surprise?”

    “A good one.” Dukat relieved Dani of her mug and placed it on the countertop. He took her hand and led her into the living room. “Wait here,” he instructed.

    “Okay … ” Dani said. She watched Dukat walk out the front door. After a few moments, the doors slid open, but it wasn’t Dukat who entered the house. Instead, a small brown and white puppy with floppy ears sprinted into the house. Dani smiled and crouched down to meet the puppy, which ran right to her and immediately proceeded to lick her face excitedly. Dani looked up at Dukat, who was standing near the front door. “What is this?” she asked him?

    “He’s for you,” Dukat said. “He’s the surprise.”

    “Oh, Marac … ” Dani looked down at the dog, stroking his shiny coat. “He’s adorable.”

    Dukat walked over and crouched beside Dani. “His name is Sherlock,” he informed her. “He’s already been house broken, and is here purely for your comfort and enjoyment.”

    Dani gazed down at her new furry companion. “Sherlock … “

    Xxx

    Three days later, Dukat regretted ever having laid eyes on Sherlock. He sat on his bed, looking down with dismay at the mangled boot in his hands. It was the third one in two days. That dog was supposed to be housebroken. When the trader had told him it was, Dukat had naturally assumed that included knowing the difference between a chew toy and a shoe. That’s what he got for doing business with a Ferengi.

    Dukat huffed with frustration. He would have to replicate a replacement shoe. He hated wearing replicated clothing. They were so inferior to handmade goods.

    Dani walked into the bedroom and stopped short when she saw the gnarled shoe in Dukat’s hand. “Another one?” she asked.

    “I don’t know what is wrong with that dog,” Dukat fumed.

    “He’s probably just getting used to his new surroundings,” Dani defended.

    Dukat stood and walked over to the recycler. He tossed the remains of the shoe into the little cubby hole and punched in some commands on the console. The shoe disappeared as its particles were broken down and reintegrated into the system’s resources.

    Dani walked slowly over to Dukat. “If he’s so much trouble, which he seems to be for you, we can always get rid of him,” she offered. “We could put him up for adoption or trade …it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. I haven’t gotten that attached to him anyway.” Dani could see how much trouble Sherlock was for Dukat and even though she had fallen helplessly in love with the dog, she would be willing to get rid of it, unfortunately, if it meant she wouldn’t have to endure anymore of Dukat’s rumblings about him. Almost from the moment the dog had entered the house, he’d been a source of irritation for Dukat.

    Dukat knew Dani’s proclamation was a lie. Over the past three days, Dani had nearly been inseparable from that dog. She’d be crushed if he told her they had to get rid of it. “No, no,” Dukat said. “I suppose I’m just being a bit of a grouch. He isn’t going anywhere. He’s your dog, now. He makes you happy, so obviously he has to stay.”

    Dani smiled and delivered a kiss to Dukat’s mouth. “Rowat and I will go into the city today and pick up some more shoes for you,” she told him.

    “Thank you, my dear,” Dukat said. Dani walked out of the bedroom, and he turned grudgingly to the replicator and input specifications for a new pair of shoes, size eleven.

  • Sweetest Sin – Chapter 5. Mall Madness

    “While I’m away today, why don’t you go into the city?” Dukat pulled on his uniform tunic and turned to Dani, who was sitting on the bed, wrapped in the covers. “You haven’t been out much since you’ve been here,” he said, walking over and sitting on the bed in front of Dani. “I know that being here this past month has been difficult for you.”

    “It isn’t all that difficult when I’m with you,” Dani cooed. She reached up and stroked Dukat’s face.

    Dukat took Dani’s hand. “I want you to enjoy yourself, have a good time. Don’t let these fools corner you into this house.”

    “I know,” Dani said. “I’ll try to go out and have some fun, but I was hoping to have some of that fun with you.”

    “I thought we had plenty of fun this morning,” Dukat said with a devilish grin. He moved in to kiss Dani, but she stopped him momentarily with a hand on his chest.

    “That wasn’t what I was talking about,” she told him.

    “You mean you don’t like it?” Dukat asked, mock skepticism playing in his voice.

    “I didn’t say that.”

    “That’s what I thought.” Dukat proceeded to peck at Dani’s neck and then her lips. “I know I’ve been busy lately, and I apologize.” The past few weeks had been a little full for him. Starfleet was still making steady attempts to negotiate for Dani’s release; Dani still didn’t know about it. It was lucky for him that she hadn’t seemed to have an interest in reading the news lately.

    But it wasn’t just the Federation Dukat was dealing with. He was also working on numerous other projects. “I promise you – I’ll take a few days off, and we’ll do whatever you wish.” He leaned forward and kissed her, which made her smile a little.

    Dukat rose and continued to get dressed. He spoke while examining his reflection in the full-length mirror that comprised the closet door. “You realize, of course, that I’ll be sending Rowat with you,” he said, commenting on Dani’s impending trip into the city.

    “Of course,” Dani said. She leaned back against the headboard. “I’m actually glad that you are.”

    “Oh?” Dukat questioned. He studied his reflection more closely, his eyes trained on his jet black hair. Was that a gray hair?

    Dani pulled her knees to her chest. “I’m not so sure people around here would take kindly to a Terran walking around freely,” she said.

    No gray hairs, yet, Dukat concluded. He smiled and looked at Dani in the mirror. “You know Cardassians well.” He wished she wouldn’t hide herself under the sheets.

    Dani smiled back at him. “Well, I am in love with one after all.”

    Dukat turned to Dani briefly on his way to the bathroom. “Get whatever you want while you’re out, my love,” he called to her. “Tell them to bill it to my account.” The light in the bathroom went out, and Dukat emerged. He walked over to the bed and sat in front of Dani once more. He took her hand into his and kissed it. “I want you to have a good time today.”

    “I’ll try,” Dani promised. She leaned forward and delivered a full, lengthy kiss on Dukat’s lips. He pulled her close, and she gently pushed him onto his back.

    “I just finished dressing,” Dukat protested mildly.

    “Getting undressed is the fun part of getting dressed,” Dani quipped. Sitting on top of him, she kissed him again.

    Dukat wanted more than anything to slip back between the sheets with Dani and make love to her all day long … but he had to get downtown. He gently pushed her away. “I should leave,” he said. “I don’t want to be late.”

    “Aren’t you one of the bosses?” Dani asked. She kissed him again, working her hands underneath his tunic, but he pushed her away again. She moaned and slouched, frustrated.

    “Darling, I can’t,” Dukat protested. “I really must go.” He would’ve kissed her again, but if he did it again, he wasn’t going to be able to get up from the bed and away from her. “I love you,” he added before getting to his feet. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” He stroked her disappointed face before walking to the door. He stopped short of walking out, though, and turned to look back at the Dani. Then he realized what a mistake that one action had been. The vixen had pulled the covers back from her nude body and now lay there innocently staring up at him with those big brown eyes. Now, he truly had no choice. He marched back over to the bed, climbed in, and kissed Dani. He knew he was thinking with the wrong head, but to hell with it anyway. Dani was right – he was one of the bosses. He could be late if he wanted to be.

    xxx

    A smile came to Dani’s face as memories of her morning with Dukat came to mind. She sat in a cushy leather seat, staring at the sights of the city through the tinted windows of one of Dukat’s personal ground transports. She sighed. Dukat had been like an animal that morning. So primal, powerful. It had been a far cry from the refined gentleman he presented himself to be in public. They’d tossed and rolled … the bed had been a mess when they were finished. It was almost too much for her to think about. A part of her felt like telling the transport operator to forgo the shopping trip and go to Dukat’s office. But no – it could wait until this evening.

    “Are you all right?” Rowat asked. Dani, pulled from her thoughts, looked from the window to Rowat. He eyed her curiously. “Your color has changed slightly. You’ve turned red.”

    “Oh,” Dani said. She hadn’t realized that just thinking about Dukat would have that big of an effect on her. “I’m fine. It’s … a bit warm in here.”

    Rowat nodded. He activated the comm link to the transport driver, who was separated from him and Dani by a transparent divider. “Lower the temperature a few degrees,” he instructed the driver.

    “Yes, sir,” the driver obliged. A few moments later, Dani felt a noticeable change in the temperature inside the vehicle. Rowat looked at her expectantly.

    “That’s much better,” Dani said. “Thank you.” She smiled a little and turned back to the window.

    The transport arrived in the retail district 10 minutes later. As Dani filed out of the vehicle with Rowat and two other guards, she secretly wished she had someone else to go shopping with besides three burly Cardassians. She was certain anyone would make better shopping companions that these three.

    The first shop Dani thought looked interesting, they stopped at. But before she could enter, Rowat had to ensure that the store was secure. That involved making sure no one was in the store except the store’s employees, checking all the back rooms for unlocked outside doors, and looking for any object that looked suspicious or out of place. All this, the guards had to do at each place Dani wanted to stop at.

    “It’s all clear,” one of the guards reported.

    Rowat nodded and turned to Dani, who was waiting impatiently. “All this is a little excessive, don’t you think?” she asked.

    “Just following orders,” Rowat informed her. “Legate Dukat gave explicit orders that each establishment was to be completely secure before you entered.” He gestured to the door, indicating that she should enter, which she did.

    When Dani walked in, she immediately wished she hadn’t. The racks and shelves were filled with clothing that she wouldn’t want to be caught dead wearing.

    “Oh, gods,” Dani muttered. There was no way she would ever want to wear any of the clothes in this store. They were all flamboyantly colored and designed. Before Dani could turn and leave, though, a middle-aged Cardassian woman, presumably the store manager, approached her. She wore an apparently condescending expression on her face despite the smile that also appeared there. She looked Dani up and down a few times before speaking.

    “Goodmorning,” she began. “I’d like to be the first to say that we’re all so delighted that you decided to grace our store with your presence today. We hope you’ll find everything to your liking.”

    Not damn likely, Dani almost said. But, she decided, since the woman was appearing to make an effort to be nice, so would she. Instead of her initial response, she merely replied with, “I’m sure.”

    “Please – allow me to show you our merchandise,” the woman said.

    “I don’t think that’s necessary,” Dani lightly protested. “I was just planning on browsing -“

    “I insist,” the woman pressed.

    Dani acquiesced and let the woman lead her to a nearby shelf. Folded on the shelf in neat little stacks were articles of clothing with the most hideous color combinations she’d ever seen in her life. Greens with blues. Reds with pinks. It was all awful.

    “These are some of our best designs,” the woman said holding up an absolutely criminal yellow and red number. It almost hurt Dani’s eyes just to look at it. She wondered if it glowed in the dark …

    “It is the must-have for the season,” the woman was saying. “This dress is a design that is sure to show up at all the major social events.” She turned to Dani, who quickly covered the dismay on her face with a pasted-on smile.

    “I don’t think it’s my color,” Dani said politely.

    “True,” the woman said, replacing the dress on the shelf. “Then again, I don’t quite know what would be your color. It isn’t often that we get many customers with such dark skin.”

    Coming from just about anyone else, Dani might not have taken offense at what had been said, but because it came from this woman, who seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem, Dani couldn’t accept that it was just an innocent remark. She’d held back earlier, but now it was time to bite back with a few words of her own.

    “That’s okay,” she said. “I don’t usually shop at places were employees are as ugly as the clothes.”

    The store manager appeared shocked that anyone would dare speak to her in such a manner. She regained her composure and looked down her ridged nose at Dani before moving on to another shelf, stocked with what Dani guessed were blouses. They weren’t as loud as the dresses had been, but they still weren’t anything Dani would actually wear. The manager picked up a lime green one.

    “These are a key wardrobe component for any woman of status,” she said. Then she looked at Dani, in her jeans and tee, and appeared to re-think her statement. “Then again, that probably wouldn’t apply to you.” What was that written on the girl’s shirt? ‘Take a dive’? What was that supposed to mean?

    Dani was getting pretty fed up with this woman’s sour attitude. It had been emanating from her since Dani had first set foot in the store

    Dani looked around the room a few times, then took a few steps toward the manager. “I’m glad it doesn’t apply to me,” Dani began. “Truly. I don’t want to be a woman of status if it means I have to wear these ugly clothes your store sells.” She looked down jeans and tee she was wearing. “I think I’ll stick to my own clothes, thanks.” She looked at Rowat, indicating that she was ready to go, and they walked out.

    “Well, that was thoroughly unpleasant,” Dani said, once she and Rowat were outside the building. She didn’t know where they were going. She didn’t care. She just wanted to get the hell away from that woman and her store.

    “I would tell you not to worry because it isn’t personal,” Rowat said. He turned to Dani. “But it is personal. She doesn’t hate you because you’re Terran. I’d bet my right hand that she doesn’t have a problem with Terrans when she visits other places. But you’re here, and that’s what she hates. She hates you because you’re not Cardassian, and you’re here.”

    “I’m sorry she feels that way,” Dani said.

    “It isn’t just she who feels that way,” Rowat hinted.

    “So, I’ve noticed.” Dani walked with Rowat and the other guards for a few silent moments. “Is that the way you feel?” she asked him.

    Rowat continued to look straight ahead of him. “If that were my attitude, I would not have accepted my current assignment.”

    Dani looked over at Rowat and smiled. His expression softened a bit, and he seemed to smile, too – a little. Dani looked up at the building they were approaching and stopped walking. “I want to go in here,” she told Rowat. From what she saw of the window displays, the clothes sold in this store might actually be worth having a look at.

    Rowat afforded a glance at the building before nodding to her. With a point, he directed the accompanying guards to enter the building in order to secure it. In the meantime, Rowat’s eyes darted around the area where he and Dani were standing, ever alert to anything remotely suspicious.

    Neither of them saw where the first shot came from. It had whizzed past Dani’s head and burned a hole into the wall behind her head. In an instant, amidst additional fire, Rowat had shoved Dani into the store and onto the floor, covering her body with his own. The two guards who had moved into the store to secure it were now outside attempting to disable the shooter or shooters with a counter-attack.

    Rowat had drawn a hand phaser from somewhere on his body. Dani hadn’t even known he’d had it. He looked down at her. “Are you injured?” he asked.

    “I’m fine,” Dani maintained.

    “Stay down,” Rowat instructed. He listened intently to the phaser fire that was being exchanged outside, hoping it would come to a stop soon. Those damned terrorists …

    Dani nodded. A patch of red caught her eye. Her eyes landed squarely on the side of Rowat’s neck. The skin there was singed, red and black in color. It looked very painful. “You’ve been hit,” Dani realized aloud.

    Rowat didn’t even reach up to feel for the spot Dani was talking about. He already knew where it was because it hurt like hell. But that didn’t matter right now. He had to keep Dani safe. “It’s just a graze,” Rowat claimed. “Just stay down. This should be over shortly.” He looked back at the door, holding his weapon so that he could effectively shoot anyone who tried to enter.

    xxx

    Half an hour later, Dani and Rowat sat in chairs in the store, being treated for injuries resulting from the attack. Rowat, as Dani had indicated, had received a phaser wound to the neck. Dani had only suffered a few minor bruises when she’d hit the floor.

    Dani looked over at Rowat. A medic was using a dermal regenerator on his neck. That burn had to hurt, Dani surmised. She knew that the cartilage that lined Cardassians’ necks were particularly sensitive. The blast that had grazed Rowat had clipped him right on those ridges. Burns hurt like hell anyway; a burn like the one Rowat had received was probably excruciating. However, Rowat was handling it very well. He looked remarkably calm considering what had just happened.

    Dani, on the other hand, was more rattled. She suspected it was the surprise of it all that had her so unsettled. She’d been shot at before, and she’d been in dangerous situations before. The difference this time was that she hadn’t been thinking in that mode. Getting shot at had been the last thing on her mind. She was glad it hadn’t been the last thing on Rowat’s mind.

    Something inside of Dani breathed a great sigh of relief when a distressed Dukat entered the store. Dani stood and walked to meet him.

    “Danielle – thank goodness,” Dukat breathed, relieved. “Are you all right?”

    “Yes. I’m fine,” Dani said. She turned to look at Rowat, who nodded to the medic who’d just finished treating his injury. He stood and joined Dukat and Dani.

    Dukat looked at Rowat, irate. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now. “Rowat, what the hell happened here?” he demanded.

    “Someone attacked from a nearby building,” Rowat explained. “He was killed in the exchange with our guards.”

    Dukat was angry, that much was obvious to anyone within a ten-mile radius. Dani wanted to make sure that anger wasn’t misdirected. “Rowat saved my life,” she told Dukat. “He deflected a shot that probably would have gone right through me.”

    Dukat looked at Dani, visibly calming a bit. Then he returned his gaze to Rowat. “Very good, Rowat. You’ve done your job well.” Rowat nodded, and Dukat continued. “I want all of these buildings searched for any accomplices or evidence. I want to know how this happened. I’m taking Danielle home. Contact me the minute you find something.”

    “Yes, sir. I’ll see to it,” Rowat said obediently.

    xxx

    Dukat and Dani walked into the house, glad to finally be home. Dani walked to the living room and sat down on the sofa. Leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees, she closed her eyes for a relaxing moment. Dukat watched her from the doorway. “Are you feeling well?” he asked her.

    Dani opened her eyes and looked up at him. “Yes. I’m just a little … tired, I guess.” Dukat nodded. “Are you going back to work?” she asked him.

    Dukat shook his head. “No. No, of course not.” He walked over and sat beside her on the sofa.

    “Why do you say it like that?” Dani inquired.

    “Like what?”

    “Like I should know that you’re not going back to the office,” Dani clarified.

    “I didn’t think it would be such a big surprise, Danielle,” Dukat responded. “Someone just tried to kill you.”

    “I don’t think it’s anything to make a big deal about, Marac. It was an isolated incident.” Dani stood. “Besides, Starfleet may not want me back, but I was a Starfleet officer. I’m not some helpless, fragile creature who doesn’t know how to conduct herself in a firefight. I went through combat training just like any other officer.” She walked over to one of the windows and crossed her arms.

    Dukat stood and walked up behind her. “I didn’t mean to imply differently. I know you can take care of yourself, but I have to make sure that I do everything I can to make sure that you’re safe. That’s why I send Rowat with you, and all those guards.” He reached out and gently turned her so that she was facing him. “I love you, and I’m going to do everything that’s necessary to protect you.”

    He sighed. What Dani had said about Starfleet had hit a nerve with him. This had gone on for too long. He should tell her what was really going on because it was obviously still eating at her. She was going to be mad, for sure, because he hadn’t told her earlier, but maybe she would take into consideration that he was actually telling her and not letting her find out from the media first. If he could just explain his reasoning …

    “Danielle,” Dukat began. “There’s something … that you need to know. It’s about Starfleet. And it’s about you.” At the puzzled look that arose on Dani’s face, Dukat urged her to sit back down on the sofa again. He sat beside her. “I have a confession to make. Starfleet has been attempting to negotiate the terms of your release. They do want you back.”

    Dani couldn’t find any words. They wanted her back? She looked at Dukat, a million questions racing through her head. He continued to speak.

    “They’ve been contacting our government ever since we let Hea Starr go, and you took his place,” Dukat said.

    Dani shook her head. Took his place? “What are you talking about?” she asked. “I didn’t … there wasn’t any kind of exchange. I told you that. My staying behind had nothing to do with Starr’s release.”

    “That isn’t what Starfleet believes,” Dukat informed her. “When they debriefed Starr, he apparently told them that you offered yourself as insurance for his release. You are a hero. I apologize for not telling you sooner.”

    Dani stood and wondered in the direction of the doorway. Her back was still turned to Dukat as she said, “You apologize … you know how this has been eating away at me almost from the moment that I made the decision to stay here.” She turned to him. “How could you not tell me? I guess it’s pretty convenient for you that I haven’t been reading the newspapers. All this time, I’ve been thinking that my career was over, that my family … and you let me think it. And these ‘negotiations’ – you’re probably the one they’ve been trying to negotiate with, aren’t you?” She was silent while the implications of what she’d just said sunk in.

    “I didn’t know how you would react,” Dukat tried to explain. “I didn’t know if you would want to go back.”

    “So, you would just let me stay here, probably for the rest of my life, thinking that all the people I loved hated me?” Dani didn’t want to believe that Dukat was still capable of manipulation of that magnitude. She had wanted to believe that he really had changed. Holding on to that belief, though, was hard with something like this staring her in the face.

    Dukat stood and walked over to her. “I didn’t want you to leave. If you had known sooner, you would’ve gone back.”

    “You don’t know that because I don’t even know it.” Dani took a few steps away from him. “I can’t believe you would let me suffer like that. You’ve manipulated Starfleet, and you’ve manipulated me. Right now, I don’t-I can’t be around you right now. I need to think.” She turned away from Dukat and walked out of the room.

    Dukat swore. He should have just told her that night they’d taken that walk after dinner. He would have avoided all this drama. This was his fault, there was no doubt about that, but how was he going to fix it? She probably wasn’t going to ever trust him again, or believe anything he said. And he didn’t blame her. Now, she would probably want to leave Cardassia, and what could he do? He could, of course, keep her there against her will, but what good would that do? She would just hate him even more.

    Rage boiled up inside him over the situation and his lack of options. He picked up the nearest object, which happened to be a flower-filled vase on the table beside him, and hurled it at the wall. The colorful glass shattered into pieces at impact and fell to the floor, leaving water and a few red petals trailing down the wall.