Disclaimer: While the attempt has been made to be medically accurate, some artistic license has been taken, and statements made by Dr Bashir are not to be regarded as authoritative. Recognizable characters and plotlines are the property of Paramount and Viacom; all original characters and story © 2017 FemaleChauvinist.

Do not post without permission. Do not copy/print without including the above disclaimer in its entirety.

2381; Twins four

The lights of the station were dimmed as Dr Julian Bashir walked through the nearly-deserted corridors to his quarters. He and Jadzia had been putting the twins to bed when the call came over his combadge that the man injured in the recent alien invasion had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Hastily kissing Jadzia and the twins goodbye, he had hurried back to the infirmary.

The emergency surgery the man required had taken several hours, and now it was nearly midnight by the Bajoran time the station followed. He anticipated returning to quarters as quiet as the halls had been; perhaps Jadzia would be waiting up for him, but she was on duty tomorrow and he hoped she had gone to bed.

But as the door slid open at his command, he heard the sound of a child crying. Julie, he recognized instantly, and hurried forward to find out what was wrong.

Jadzia had carried Julie into her and Julian's room to avoid disturbing Jade, and now sat on the edge of the bed rocking gently and softly singing a Trill lullaby.

"Is she all right?" Bashir asked softly, sitting beside Jadzia with one arm around her and the other hand resting on Julie's shoulder. *

"Nightmare," Jadzia mouthed, turning to look up at him.

"Ah. About what happened, I suppose?" Julian asked heavily.

Jadzia merely nodded. Julie had been captured in the alien invasion; she had been rescued by Nog and Jade without being harmed, but the sensitive little girl had been deeply traumatized. Talking with counselor Ezri Tigan had helped, but Julian knew only time would fully erase the scars, and cursed the enhanced memory she had inherited from him.

"Daddy," she whimpered, and he gently pulled her into his arms. Her arms came around his neck, clinging so tightly that he was forced to break her grip to avoid being strangled. "They got me, Daddy!"

"Shh…I've got you now, sweetheart; no one's going to hurt you. Shh."

As he continued holding her and murmuring softly, her sobs lessened until she seemed almost asleep on his shoulder. But the instant she felt him stand, her arms tightened again around his neck. "No bed, Daddy; no bed!" she cried in almost hysterical fear.

"Julie, it's nighttime; you have to go to bed."

"No, Daddy! They'll get me again!" She burst out crying again on his shoulder, and he rocked her gently, thinking frantically.

"All right; shh. It's all right, sweetheart. Daddy won't let anything get you."

"But they will," she whimpered.

Julian cuddled her close, hating the thought of sedating her and knowing he would do it only if he had no other option. He supposed she would be willing to sleep in the bed with him and Jadzia, but while that might be all right for one night, Julie would expect it to continue, and a glance at his wife assured him that he didn't want that to happen.

As he turned back toward Julie, his eye fell on something else and he smiled, the solution coming to his mind. Crossing to the shelf, he picked up the battered teddy bear. "Julie, I have something for you."

"What, Daddy?" she asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"Turn and look," Julian told her.

She lifted her head slowly, a tiny spark of interest coming to her eyes when she saw the bear.

"This is the bear I slept with when I was a little boy," Julian explained, "and he used to keep all my nightmares away."

"Really, Daddy?"

"Really. And if I thought a dream was getting a little bit scary, I'd call, 'Kukalaka, save me!' and he'd come growling in and frighten all the nasty monsters away. Grrr!" He made a growly face as he wiggled the bear.

Julie giggled, one hand reaching for Kukalaka. "That's a funny name, Daddy."

"I suppose it is," Julian admitted. "And now it's time for you and Kukalaka to go to bed."

Carrying her back to the room she shared with Jade, he tucked her in and kissed her forehead.

"Kiss Kakaluka, too, Daddy."

Julian chuckled. "Kukalaka," he corrected, obediently kissing the bear. "Now go to sleep." **

"'Kay. Good night, Daddy."

"Good night, sweetheart." Pausing to check on Jade and marveling slightly that she apparently hadn't stirred at all, he returned to find Jadzia with her heels drawn up on the bed grinning impishly at him.

"When you were a little boy, Julian?" she teased. "You occasionally slept with that bear until the day we got married — and for all I know you still do when I'm on duty and you're not."

Julian grinned sheepishly but didn't deny it.

l Tucked In

Jadzia remained silent as he undressed, then sighed as he slipped into bed beside her. "Do you really think it will work, Julian?" she asked, wriggling closer to him and laying her head on his shoulder.

"Yes, I do," he assured her. "Most people have more control over their own dreams than they realize; the firm belief that there is a way to get out is often enough to make it happen."

"Mm. Or Kukalaka really can keep nightmares away," she teased. "What are you going to do without him, Julian?"

"What makes you think I still have nightmares? Besides, I have you now."

"Poor Kukalaka," Jadzia sighed with a smile. "Don't let him hear that, or he might get jealous."

Next chapter coming next week!

* Illustration for this scene can be found at femalechauvinist . deviantart . com [slash] art [slash] Night-Terrors-716722708

** Illustration for this scene can be found at femalechauvinist . deviantart . com [slash] art [slash] All-Tucked-In-716723456

A/N: Yes, I do have a story planned about the alien invasion; I might even write it someday if I can think of an ending and other "little" details like that! Barbie

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know! (Misspellings of Kukalaka's name in this story are intentional.)

Please note that I have internet access only once a week, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. If you have questions regarding my Deep Space Nine alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie