oo.com Received: from [66.218.67.200] by n26.grp.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 18 Feb 2004 03:14:22 -0000 X-Sender: stephenbratliffasc@earthlink.net X-Apparently-To: ascl@yahoogroups.com Received: (qmail 21268 invoked from network); 18 Feb 2004 03:14:21 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.66.216) by m8.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 18 Feb 2004 03:14:21 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO conure.mail.pas.earthlink.net) (207.217.120.54) by mta1.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 18 Feb 2004 03:14:21 -0000 Received: from sdn-ap-012dcwashp0417.dialsprint.net ([63.188.113.163]) by conure.mail.pas.earthlink.net with smtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 1AtIAD-0002hY-00 for ascl@yahoogroups.com; Tue, 17 Feb 2004 19:14:18 -0800 To: ascl@yahoogroups.com Organization: Alt.StarTrek.Creative Virtual Staff Office Message-ID: X-Mailer: Forte Agent 1.92/32.572 X-eGroups-Remote-IP: 207.217.120.54 From: ASC-VSO X-Yahoo-Profile: oldmanasc MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCL@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCL-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list ASCL@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 22:14:31 -0500 Subject: [ASC] NEW DS9: With Good Intentions (K, Ez) [PG] 1/1 Reply-To: ASCL-owner@yahoogroups.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 23:47:40 -0500, ASC-VSO wrote: Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 20:36:55 GMT In: alt.startrek.creative From: CaitN Title: With Good Intentions Author: Cait N. ( caitn @ mindspring.com ) Series: DS9 Rating: PG Pairing: Kira, Ezri Disclaimer: The characters and all things Trek are the property of Paramount, but the story is mine. Summary: Kira has a bad day, Quark steps over the line, and Author's Note: Takes place 6 weeks after the events of WYLB. I used some characters introduced in the DS9 relaunch novel "Avatar, Book 1." Those characters belong to Paramount and S.D. Perry. & Lov Note: This is the first story in my new (hopefully) "Friends ers" series. The PG version of the story I wrote for the FFF. Archiving: ASC* and my own site: http://www.asstr.org/~CaitN/dsn/goodintentions.html All others, please ask. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = It was just another in a long line of bad days. Kira couldn't actually remember the last time she'd had a "good" day. It had started out with two of the upper docking clamps malfunctioning; the clamps wouldn't extend. Nog had assured her he'd have a team right on it. Because of that, the Exeter and the Roq'vet had to be redirected. The shuttle carrying her new Chief of Security was running two hours behind schedule and the station refit was a complete disaster. They'd be lucky to have everything fully operational in six months. And she couldn't remember the last time she'd gotten a good night's sleep. "Colonel," her comm screeched at her, "about the charity auction tonight, I..." "Quark, I told you the last time to leave me alone. I'm too busy." "I know; you've got a lot of things on your mind," he wheedled, "but it's for a good cause: The Cardassian relief effort. If you'd just come down and bid on something, or donate something we could auction off..." "Quark," she took a deep breath, wishing she could count to ten, but knowing with that long a pause he'd start in again, "do you really want me to hurt you?" "I'll bid for you!" he said quickly. "Just give me your permission. I promise I'll be frugal." Kira snorted. Frugal was Quark's middle name. Still, if it would get him off her back... "Okay, fine, if it means I don't have to hear from you again for the rest of the day, you have my permission." "You won't regret--" She terminated the comm and sat back in her chair. *I wonder if I have time for a quick cup of--* Ensign Selzner's voice cut into her musing. "Colonel Kira, the shuttle from Bajor -- the one you wanted me to let you know about -- has just requested permission to dock." *So much for my relaxing moment*. "I'll meet them at the airlock." Time to welcome her new Security Chief to the station. ~*~ Kira's walk to the airlock was brisk and purposeful. No loitering or sightseeing for her. She'd been running on 23-hour workdays lately, with no sign of relief in sight. She knew what Benjamin would tell her if he were there: "Rest, Nerys, that's an order." "New Security Chief here?" Commander Jast asked, falling into step with Kira. "Two hours late but who's keeping track?" Most of the time Kira tried to keep her frustration to herself, but experience had told her she wasn't very good at it. She was afraid this was one of those times. She stole a glance at Jast. When the Bolian had first arrived on the station, Kira wasn't sure what to make of her. She was quiet, but personable and efficient. She took orders well, but didn't hesitate to tell Kira when she thought she was wrong. In time they'd learned to work favorably with each other. Actually, Jast had proven to be a blessing from the Prophets; she was magnificent when it came to dealing with Starfleet bureaucrats. Whatever Kira lacked in diplomacy, Jast more than made up for it. She couldn't ask for a better first officer. "I'd walk with you the whole way," Jast finally replied, "but I'm needed in Quark's -- an Andorian got a little too friendly with his new Dabo girl." She put her hand on Kira's shoulder and they halted their walk along the Promenade. "Just try to keep in mind that the shuttle's mechanical problems were not her fault." Kira nodded and continued on her way. Jast was right, as usual, but with all the delays in and around the station lately, it was hard not to try to put the blame on someone. It was easier to vent her frustration on a live person, rather than accepting things as the "will of the Prophets." She knew the Prophets would never give her more than she could handle, she just wished they wouldn't pile it all on at once. ~*~ As it turned out, Lt. Ro Laren was waiting at the airlock when Kira got there. "Permission to come aboard, Colonel?" "You're not in Starfleet anymore, Lieutenant," Kira answered testily. "I know; I was just being polite," Ro replied. If she wondered about Kira's attitude toward her, she didn't say anything. *Then again, she's probably gotten plenty of attitude from Starfleet and Bajoran alike.* "I'll show you to your quarters so you can stow your gear, then to the Security office." Kira hadn't been able to bring herself to enter the office since Odo had left. She assumed everything was in order. She took off walking, taking for granted that Ro would follow. After hefting her bag onto her shoulder, the lieutenant did just that. Her commission was from the Bajoran Militia; Starfleet had been persuaded not to press charges against her, and with the advanced tactical courses she'd taken at the Academy, plus the years of fighting with the Maquis, the Militia had given her the rank and the position. Reluctantly, Kira had agreed. They needed someone in charge of security -- fast -- and time would tell if Ro was cut out for the part. "Things are chaotic, to say the best. We've been designated as a 'middle-man' so to speak, in the Cardassian war relief effort. The station is seeing more civilian and military traffic than it ever has before. Add in the refits, the lack of adequate personnel, and the constant worry that the Founders will break the treaty and Jem'Hadar ships will pour from the wormhole at any second and, well... you're going to have your hands full. It's only been six weeks since the end of the war and--" "Do you always talk this much?" Ro butted in. Kira stopped in her tracks. "Excuse me?" *So much for starting out on the right foot.* "Sorry," Ro apologized, sounding sincere. "I sometimes have a habit of speaking before thinking." Kira resumed walking. She'd been accused of that on more than one occasion. "I was just trying to catch you up to date on the station--" "I had plenty of time while waiting for the shuttle to be repaired to read the latest reports. I think I'm pretty familiar with what's happening on the station." *Just as cocky as I thought she'd be. I give her a week, two at the most.* "Here we are." Kira's voice was filled with forced cheer. "Since you're so familiar with the station, I'm sure you know where the security office is." "Actually, I do." "Sergeant Wasa Graim is waiting for your call. He's been in charge since... since Odo left. He'll catch you up on the latest security reports." Ro nodded her head, and disappeared inside her quarters. Kira rubbed the bridge of her nose and headed back for Ops. *I wonder if it's too late to refuse my promotion, and settle down in a house on Bajor. The Kendra province is nice...* ~*~ "You what?" Kira had a hold of Quark by both lobes. If the squeal of pain he gave, and the reddish tinge to his face were any indications, it wasn't a love squeeze. "I can't talk with you holding my lobes," he whined. She let go, grudgingly, and stood with her hands on her hips. "You have five seconds to explain what happened last night." His words came out in a rush. "I couldn't find anything in the auction I thought you'd like. Sure there was this holoprogram featuring something called--" "Quark..." Kira warned. He sometimes had a habit of straying off topic. "I decided to..." He was visibly nervous, twisting his hands, shifting from foot to foot, acting more like Rom than like himself. "I put you up for auction!" "You put _me_ up for auction?" He'd done some stupid things in the past, but this had to take the cake. "Not you as in your person, but you as a date. 'A date with Colonel Kira Nerys,' that's what I said. I mean, who wouldn't jump at the chance to go out with a voluptuous, long-fingered--" At Kira's look of anger he hurried on. "After all, it's for charity. And I got a good price, too: fifty-two strips of latinum. Not slips, or chips but strips." "You're lying," Kira scoffed. "No one would pay that much for a date with me... unless..." *He wouldn't dare...* "It wasn't me!" he protested, following her train of thought. "It was Lieutenant Dax! She paid for the date with you." Kira was even more incredulous. "Ezri? Ezri paid fifty-two strips of latinum to go on a date with me? Why would she do that?" "I don't know, because she hasn't seen much of you lately? None of us have seen much of you lately, unless it's you walking from one crisis to another. Commander Jast said that you need--" "Commander Jast talks too much sometimes," Kira interrupted him before he started off-track again. "Yes, well, Ezri won the date with you, fair and square, and you wouldn't want to go back on your word, would you? You said I had your permission to participate in the auction in your name, and think of all the orphans that money would feed..." "Not to mention the ten percent you get off the top for hosting the auction in the first place." Kira shook her finger in his face. "You win this time, Quark, but don't think I'll forget about this anytime soon." "Of course not," he said, a placating whine to his voice. "Ezri said to tell you she'd meet you here tomorrow night, at oh-seven- hundred." "Is there anything else I should know? Any other surprises you have for me, Quark?" "No, nothing, not a thing." Quark was quick to reassure her. Kira walked out without a backward glance. *A date with Ezri. What in the name of the Prophets was she thinking? And I thought the meeting with Ro yesterday would be the most exciting thing this week. Boy, was I wrong.* ~*~ Kira was nothing if not prompt. She scanned the interior of Quark's looking for Ezri. She wished the counselor had chosen some place less prominent. *I wonder if it would be in bad taste to check the table for listening devices? I wouldn't put anything past Quark...* There she was, in a corner table at the far end of the room. Kira wove her way toward the table, sidestepping eager Dabo players and waiters with precariously balanced trays. Ezri saw her and stood up. *Nice clothes. Has to be by S'milla.* The seamstress who had moved into Garak's old shop was almost the exact opposite of the Cardassian pseudo-tailor; her designs bore an unmistakable mark of understated elegance. Ezri was wearing a magenta colored sleeveless wrap-around dress that made her blue eyes electric. Her short hair was styled in a spiky windswept look. *I knew I should have taken more time with my appearance...* Kira hadn't known what to expect, other than dinner with Ezri, so had worn tan slacks with a white blouse. At the last moment, she'd wrapped a scarf around her neck, one that Shakaar had given her, in colors of copper, red and ivory. Now she felt underdressed. *Oh well, grin and bear it, as Dax would have said.* Except that Dax was there, taking her hand and thanking her for coming to dinner and sitting across from her. She'd gotten used to the idea of a new Dax host with all of Jadzia's memories, but at times it was still weird. *I wonder if Benjamin ever felt like this?* "I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and ordered for us," Ezri was saying. "After the busy day I've had, I'm hungry enough to eat a targ." Kira's stomach rumbled at the thought of food and she chuckled. "I guess I'm a little hungry, too." Broik, one of Quark's new waiters, appeared and took Kira's drink order. She opted for some plain water. *Quark will probably find a way to charge me for that.* Ezri took a sip of her drink, a frothy concoction that smelled citrus-y and sweet. "I know what you're dying to ask me." Kira just raised her eyebrows. "Why I paid so much for a date with you." Ezri sat back in her chair, waiting for Kira to say something. "You're right. Why _would_ you pay so much for a date with me? Why would you pay anything at all?" She leaned forward and laid her hand on Kira's. "Because I consider you one of the best friends I have on this station -- one of my best friends, period -- and I've seen you maybe twice in the past month. And that's only been because you've had a question or two about some of the officers." Kira ran a hand through her hair. "You know how taxed the station is..." She shook her head. "Of course you do, you don't need me to tell you that." She took her drink from Broik and took a big gulp. "I apologize for not being around more socially. I've hardly had time to sleep, let alone socialize." "Okay," Ezri seemed satisfied with the apology. "How is Lieutenant Ro working out?" "It's only been two days. Fine, I guess." *She hasn't locked herself in a cell yet. That's a plus.* Ezri waited as their food arrived: baked salmon on a bed of rice pilaf, steamed broccoli and a salad made of Bajoran greens with a spicy Vulcan dressing. When Broik had left again, she replied, "I know you've been busy; as you said yourself, we all have. But Nerys, you've got to take time for yourself. Whether you're meditating, walking along Krelvek Beach on Bajor, or playing grav-ball in one of Quark's holosuites, you've got to have time away from work." Ezri's eyes were wise beyond her youthful appearance. "If you don't, you'll become an embittered old woman whose life is full of regrets." "Is that Dax speaking, or Ezri?" Kira asked, trying to lighten the mood. "Both of us," Ezri answered, smiling. "And consider that an order from the station counselor." "Very well," Kira said solemnly, "I promise to take more 'me time.' How's that?" "Not great, but it's a start." Ezri picked up her fork and speared a piece of broccoli. "Now, let's eat!" ~*~ Kira thought dinner was great. Excellent food, pleasant conversation, and no Quark hovering over their shoulder. *I'll have to ask her how much she paid him to stay away.* "Kira," Ezri said, a serious tone to her voice that Kira wasn't sure she'd heard before, "I have a proposition for you." "You've been around Quark too much." "No, seriously." Ezri had her full attention. "Okay, I'm listening." Ezri stared straight into her eyes. "I want you to come back to my quarters with me." *She's not saying what I think she's saying.* "What?" "One night, you and me, no commitments, no regrets." Ezri leaned forward, and determined look on her face. "Without going into the details right now, I need something -- I need to feel wanted, and needed, and attractive and... I need to _feel_, period." *She _is_ saying what I think she's saying.* "I thought you were seeing Julian." "I don't know what Julian and I are to each other anymore. I never see him, and when I do, it's always about what he wants, what he needs." "Maybe you should be having this conversation with him--" "Maybe, but I'd rather have it with you." Ezri ran her fingers lightly over Kira's cheek. "I want you to feel again, too, Nerys. I want you to realize what a loving, vibrant, sensual woman you are. I saw some of that in you, when you were with Odo, and I don't want you to bury that side of you." Kira tried not to tense up at the mention of Odo's name, but it was almost impossible. She was sure Ezri saw it, but didn't care. She'd loved him -- still loved him -- and no matter that the reason he left was a good one, it didn't make it any easier. *What she's proposing is ludicrous. If Julian knew, or if Odo ever found out...* "I think it's time for me to leave," Kira said, putting her napkin on the table and starting to rise. "Please, just think about it while you walk me to my quarters. Just... consider it." *I'd be crazy for even considering it in the first place.* "Fine, I'll walk you to your quarters." Ezri's eyes shone, even bluer than they were before, if that was possible. "Thank you, Nerys." The walk back to Ezri's quarters wasn't a long one. Along the way, Ezri told Kira about some of the more "eccentric" people she'd dealt with recently, and had Kira laughing with an anecdote about Quark and a pet tribble. When they got to Ezri's door, they stopped, neither one saying a word. Kira broke the silence. "Goodnight, Ezri." Ezri gave a sad little half-smile. "Goodnight, Nerys. I had a wonderful evening." She keyed the lock for her quarters and stepped inside, turning around to look at Kira expectantly. Waiting... Kira just stood there. *What are you doing? Just turn around and go to your own quarters. Get a good night's sleep for once. Spend more than just fifteen minutes meditating. Just do something...* Kira tried to smile but she knew it was a poor attempt. "Ezri... I'm flattered, really I am, but I can't." "You can't... or you won't?" *I wish I knew the answer to that myself.* "Does it matter?" Kira finally answered. Leaving Ezri alone in the dark, she turned and walked away. THE END -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek .creative or directly to the author. Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From ???@??? Tue Feb 17 22:59:35 2004 X-Persona: Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n14.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.69]) by vulture (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aTiMU5iK3NZFl50 for ; Tue, 17 Feb 2004 19:54:16 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-13208-1077076432-stephenbratliffasc=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yah