Chapter 2

The Recovery

The view from the large view ports on the upper level of Deep Space Nine's promenade was not as beautiful as it normally was. Outside the large former Cardassian space station was the remains of Clara's fleet. Many of the ship had returned from Trenzalore under impulse power, or were towed by other ships. Avenger herself was one of the ships that help tow a badly damaged Akira-Class back to DS9. However the only good news was that Starfleet had lost only five ships. But for Captain Oswald, this news made her feel far from good. In fact since returning from Trenzalore she had spent most of her time in the station's infirmary, sitting by The Doctor's bedside.

At 1300 hours Doctor Bashir finally forced Clara to break her vigil and to go and get something to eat and get some "proper sleep". This order didn't really go down well with Clara, however she got up and left the infirmary and went straight to Quark's.

"Here she is" beamed Quark as Clara entered the bar. "The woman of the hour, the female Ben Sisko".

"Shut up Quark" snapped Clara. "Just get me a jacket potato with melted chesses and beans on top".

"Coming right up" said Quark as he headed back around the bar and over to the replicator.

Clara's eyes scanned the room looking for a table. It was the middle of the day and finding a table was like looking for a ship in a dark matter nebula with no sensors to help. She was about to take a barstool when she heard her name being called out. Not Captain, but Clara.

"Clara".

Turning around Clara saw Thomas sitting in the corner waving for her to come over. She walked over to Thomas but stopped a few meter from the table. She stunned the Admiral for a few seconds. This was the man she had fallen in love with and knew her veryintimately; in fact she and Thomas were engaged to be married. But how could she tell him that she was having problems, problems with dealing with the death of over five hundred officers.

"Something wrong love?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh no not at all" she lied and sat down on the opposite side of the table.

Thomas watched his partner sit down. He looked down at her hands that were slightly shaking. He then looked into her lovely dark brown eyes.

"You're not ok" he said sharply "In fact I bet you're suffering from lack of sleep, survivor guilt and Post..."

"I am fine. Just hungry and..." Clara burst into tears just as her lunch was brought over.

"People never normal cry when I bring them a meal" said Quark looking slightly worried by Clara's sudden explosion of emotion.

"Sorry Quark. Just put it on my tab" said Thomas as he helped Clara to her feet, then with his arm wrapped around her, they left the bar.

Once the two of them had returned to the quarters. Clara was sobbing so hard that her breathing was being affected.

"Take it easy Clara. Nice deep breaths" said Thomas as he went over to the replicator and asked for a glass of water.

"How...Can...I?" sobbed Clara. "I have...the blood of...the...men and women..."

Thomas came over and placed glass of water on the small coffee table. He then placed an arm around Clara and pulled her forward, he smiled slightly when she felt her chin rest on his shoulder.

"I know how you feel. My first Mission as fleet captain was a nightmare" he said. "But back then it was The Borg who we were facing".

Clara lifted her head and looked into his greyish eyes. She mopped up her tears with the sleeves of her uniform jacket.

"How did you deal with it?" she asked.

Thomas sat back a little more. The sound of the leather on the sofa creaking was the only sound made in that few moments silence.

"I guess I just learned to move on" he said. "It wasn't easy to do, but when you learn to accept it as part of your job, well you then start to forget about it all".

Clara rested her head on Thomas' shoulders again. She closed her eyes and felt his hand softly stroking her hair. Clara gave a faint smile and soon she had fallen fast asleep.

The smell of pork chops was the first thing Clara could smell. She opened her eyes to find herself laying on the leather sofa and still in her quitters on DS9. She had a grey blanket laying on top of her, also her boots had been removed and now were located on the floor at the end of the sofa.

"Hey sleepy head" said Thomas as he walked in from the bedroom with a bottle of wine he had picked up on Beatazed. "Thought you could do with something large in your stomach".

He was right. Clara hadn't eaten very much at all since the day of the battle. In fact the last time she had sat down for a proper meal was almost five days ago.

"It does smell very nice" she said as she got up and walked over to the table. "Chops and wine? Something tells me this marriage will be great"

Thomas laughed "Don't expect me to cook you a meal every night. As my wife I will expect you to cook once or twice"

"I can't promise anything" giggles Clara as Thomas pulled out a chair for her. "anyway my cooking is really bad" she added as she sat down.

"Just use a replicator" said Thomas as he poured her a glass of wine. "That what I do, and that's why they are there".

"Noted" replied Clara.

The two of them tucked into their dinner, however it wasn't long before Thomas bought up some thoughts that he wanted Clara's input on.

"The Avenger" he started. "Did you find her ok?"

"Ok?" asked Clara.

"Yeah I mean was she a fine ship to command. Not too small and that?"

Clara took a sip of wine before giving an answer. "It was ok. Why?"

Thomas placed his knife and fork down, he then looked into Clara's eyes once again.

"Starfleet have given the Avenger to Captain Roberts. They have also re-named her Defender".

"I see" Clara said with a slight touch of anger in her voice.

"However" Thomas said not paying any attention to Clara's somewhat annoyed looks. "They have also given me a new flag ship. Galaxy-Class".

"You point please Thomas" said Clara sternly.

"I was hoping that if we changed the name and well...I want you to command her"

Clara raised her eyebrows. She had been a captain for only a few years. Her first ship Titanic had been lost during a confrontation with a Breen warship. The Avenger felt right for Clara and she did enjoy commanding her. Even if most of her missions were tactical ones. But to command a "flying hotel" as some called the Galaxy ships. That was a big ask.

"I am...Not sure" she finally said.

"Look the Olympic won't get here until late tomorrow afternoon"

"That's the Galaxy-Class you're talking about right?"

"That's the one" Thomas said as he cut up his last chunk of pork. "I think you should sleep on the idea. After all with the Olympic as my flagship, it would mean can see..."

"See each other every day and every night" Clara finished for him.

Thomas nodded, smiled then put his last bit of chop in his mouth. Clara on the other hand was now sitting there with a empty wine glass in her hand and thinking about what Thomas had said. She was just about to give an answer when a klaxon sounded.

"Security alert. Cargo bay 5. Security alert"

"TARDIS!" said both Thomas and Clara as they jumped to their feet and ran out of their quarters.

By the time Thomas and Clara got to Cargo bay 5 they found Ro Laren and her security team stood outside the bay trying to get in.

"come on guys try using your phasers" said Ro.

"No don't do that" said Clara "that doors is made of thick steel. You would need a photon torpedo to make any kind of hole in that".

"Do we know who is in their?" asked Thomas.

"No admiral" replied Ro.

"I do" said a male voice from behind them. Clara, Thomas and Ron turned to face Julian Bashir.

"My timelord patient has gone walks" he said. "And since..."

Clara cut him off "He's going for the TARDIS" she said.

"That what I guessed" said Bashir.

Clara tapped her combadge "Clara to Cargo bay 5. Doctor Please answer me"

There was silence for a second. "Doctor Respond" said Clara.

Again nothing then, The sound of the TARDIS engines came out of Clara's combadge. The Doctor and TARDIS had gone.