Odo and Data were lost in a transporter accident while transferring from an ailing Klingon ship to the USS Melbourne (they were on loan to the ship and they were beaming back to report on what supplies would be needed) right? If that was the case why are the crew of DS9 seeing what looks to be solid ghosts three months later? What has been hidden from reports that were given regarding the incident? And is there new trouble now on the horizon for the Federation?. This is set after the Dominion war but Odo doesn't leave to give the Founders a cure, instead the female Founder that signed the treaty was given the cure to pass onto the rest and also all of his knowledge of the solids to help prevent another war from happening out of ignorance. As for Sisko he remained with the Prophets for six months before being returned home to linear time and having all the knowledge that he needed for the future of Bajor and the Federation promising his wife that he was never leaving again by choice. And yes I know that Worf came to the station in season 4 and was on the Defiant when Odo became human, however I have decided that while most of what happened in season 4 happened like normal Worf didn't fully join the crew until Season 5 due to various other assignments given throughout the Season so as to deal with the Klingon war issue thus Worf wasn't there for the trip to Dominion space when Odo was judged. I don't know if Odo's rank was ever officially Constable or not but seeing as how he was referred to as that throughout the entire series that's what his rank is. There is a time skip and while normally I say what's happened during the time skip by year unless it's pretty routine this time it will be a retroactive time skip explanation and while it's partially routine if you've seen the episodes it's best that I explain what happens during the time skip

Sisko hears the doors to his office open and sees Kira Nerys enter the office

"How's Worf Kira?"

"No change, Julian says that if things don't improve soon he's going to have to force Worf into a medical coma in order to get nutrients into him, Ezri agrees with him by the way"

"What of Chancellor Martok?"

"He knows that Worf knew both officers personally and is giving him at least a year off starting from the day he heard the news, all he asks is that you or I keep him updated on Worf's condition since he gets the feeling that either Worf will lie to him or won't be in any condition to report himself"

"I see, I think I'll let you handle the communication for the most part, though if Bashir puts Worf into a medical coma I will be the one to tell him that Doctor Bashir will be the one giving him regular updates until further notice"

"Understood, Chancellor Martok also said that the Melbourne and his own ship have been going through their sensor readings ever since the accident whenever possible and still have no answer as to what happened, but that even with their deaths they're not going to give up looking for an answer until they have one"

"Thank him for me will you?"

"I will sir"

Kira turns to leave but suddenly turns back to face Sisko

"Is there something else you needed?"

"Yes sir, it's regarding Worf, I may not necessarily have read everyone's records but Worf is acting out of character to me, even more so than when...when we lost Jadzia"

"There's a reason for that actually, this is the second time Lt. Commander Data has been lost to him, between that and having personally served with both him and Odo I'm not surprised he's taking things as hard as he is"

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Stardate 43872.2 on his way back to the Enterprise from the ship of the trader Kivas Fajo his shuttle exploded and what was thought to be his remains was detected in the debris, as such Worf took his place on top of being ship's chief security officer. Eventually the Enterprise discovered Fajo's ruse and essentially rescued Data who was alive but prisoner on Fajo's ship, last I knew Fajo was still in prison due to kidnapping Lt. Commander Data and killing at least one person with a weapon that was outlawed by the Federation"

"How long did they think he was dead?"

"Fortunately only a few days, but this time..."

"This time it's been three months since they were lost and Worf is blaming himself for not being there"

"Exactly Colonel"

"But...he's an ambassador not an officer"

"He knows that on some level, but he's a Klingon Kira, you've served with him long enough to know what goes through that mindset"

"Blast it I hate that mindset!"

"So do I Colonel, so do I"

"In the meantime Julian is going to keep an eye on him like I already said and if need be intervene, maybe...maybe I might be able to help Worf slightly"

"What do you mean?"

"Odo...we may have never thought him dead before but I could tell him about the time when he nearly died because of his people so that he would return home for punishment"

"That's not the same thing Colonel, and you know it"

"That may be true, but maybe, just maybe what he needs to hear are stories of Odo before he came to the station, good and bad so that he can share stories of Lt. Commander Data, that might just be what he actually needs"

"Okay we'll give your idea a chance, but Ezri will always be there at first just in case we push things too far too fast"

"Understood sir"

And so the first tentative steps to prevent Worf from being put into a medical coma were made at Quark's