Chapter 25

I was awakened by the chime from the comm unit on the wall. I opened my eyes to see Julian reluctantly tapping the button. "Bashir here," he yawned.

"The prosthetic leg you ordered has just arrived. Shall I prepare Tholme for the operation?" Selak reported.

"Yes. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Julian answered. "Bashir out," he said before switching the comm unit off and rolling over to face me.

I teased, "It's about time you got up."

He groaned. "If I fall asleep at work, I'll blame you."

I suddenly asked, "Would you like to know our future?"

"I want to be surprised. Why? Do you know something?"

"No," I honestly answered. I planted a kiss on his forehead. "Go get ready for work."

Julian mock-pouted. "Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"But I want to stay here with you."

"But Tholme wants his leg."

"Oh alright," Julian sighed. He surprised me by tightly wrapping his arms around my waist and rolling me over him to the other side of the bed. He held himself up over me.

I laughed as Julian lowered his head to kiss my neck. I playfully pushed him away. "Work, now. I'll see you at lunch."

With a kiss to my lips, he was off to the shower. Julian was ready for work in five minutes. "See you at 1300 hours he told me before going out the door.

I smiled to myself and before getting dressed and going to Garak's quarters. I knocked on his door, and, as soon as the Cardassian opened it, I pulled him into a tight embrace.

Garak awkwardly returned the affection. "Good to have you back as yourself," he said.

"You know about me and the Doctor?" I asked.

The Cardassian grinned. "Once a spy, always a spy. How was it having someone else in your head?"

"How about we discuss it over breakfast?"

"Of course," agreed Garak.

Breakfast was a long and pleasant affair. Garak liked to discuss different philosophical aspects of life. since it was all still new to me, he liked to hear my 

opinions. After about an hour, I went to visit Rose and the Doctor. Garak went to open his shop.

"Rose, Doctor," I greeted, ducking through the privacy curtain around the Doctor's bio-bed. The blonde woman and the now-conscious Time Lord smiled at me. I hugged Rose and asked the Doctor how he was feeling.

"Well, I'm glad I'm not you anymore," he replied.

"Likewise. I-you-we were very confused."

"Sounds like you still are."

"I hope that is only a residual effect and will soon go away."

The Doctor nodded. "The Jedi?"

"They-" I started.

"Wait a moment… I remember Bashir telling me-you-us about their condition. Has Tholme's leg come in yet?"

"Julian is putting it on him now."

"Actually, he just finished," Julian announced, coming through the curtain. "Tholme will have to stay in bed for another few hours, then we'll help him get used to his new leg."

"And, instead of running off after saving the day like he usually does, the Doctor will stick around for awhile," I announced.

"Oh, come on, Tengu. I'm a traveler. I'm supposed to… well… travel," the Time Lord instantly protested.

Rose countered with, "I'm sure we can spare a few days. You know, Doctor, a proper break."

We all knew that the Doctor wouldn't refuse his companion. "Oh alright," he gave in.

"Tengu, the Jedi, and I will go to Bajor in a couple of days," Julian informed. "Perhaps you'll join us."

Rose smiled at her time-traveler friend, then turned to Julian and nodded.

True to Julian's word, he, I, the Doctor, Rose, Tholme, T'ra, Kit, and Aayla were on a three-hour long transport to Bajor. Tholme had made much progress with his new leg. He could already walk, with a little help from a wolf-head-topped cane.

I could see from the transport window that Bajor was a very beautiful planet. We landed, and went to a public field park. Tholme held his cane out in front of me to prevent me from stepping onto the lush grass. The other three Jedi were abandoning their footwear.

"Take off your boots first," Tholme told me.



I stepped on the grass when I was barefoot. I froze in place, then relaxed, closing my eyes.

"Tengu?" Julian asked.

"I can feel the planet, Julian," I whispered. I reached out and held his hand. "Can you feel it now? The ebb and flow of Bajor?"

"I do now," was Julian's answer.

I opened my eyes and smiled.

Unexpectedly, Kit kissed Aayla on the cheek. He ran off into the park before she could say anything. She laughed and gave chase. T'ra and Tholme laughed too.

"Tholme, T'ra, what will you Jedi do now?" I asked as we started walking. The Doctor and Rose decided to give us some privacy and went in a different direction.

"We've decided that after we find a place to live, we'll do what we used to do. Going where the Republic, the Federation now, thinks that we are most needed," T'ra answered.

"I'm hoping that there won't be only the four of us," Tholme commented. "You would make a great Jedi, Tengu. Perhaps you'll do the same and join us."

"That sounds like a good idea," I agreed.

The eight of us spent the next three days on Bajor, relaxing and enjoying ourselves. It was obvious that the Jedi didn't want to leave. I knew that they would end up living on Bajor.

The Doctor and Rose Tyler left after we got back on DS9. "Places to go, people to save," had been his parting words. "I might check up on you every once in a while."

Tholme, T'ra, Kit, and Aayla settled on Bajor a few days later. Not that they were retiring from being Jedi Knights. If the United Federation of Planets needed their assistance, they would help. All four of them trained me, and, after a short time, I became the fifth Jedi.

At the moment, Julian was in the water shower while I got dressed for bed.

"Tengu," he said seriously after he came out in a towel and sat on our bed. He hesitated, as though trying to find the right words. "When I first kissed you, did you feel as though I was… taking advantage of you?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Technically, you were still my patient at the time. Many would call that 'harassment.' And the fact that I'm fourteen years older than you…"

I joined him on the bed. "Neither means anything to me."

"You don't feel as though I had pressured you into anything?"

"I felt no pressure. Everything was still new to me." I positioned myself until I was behind him. I could see the tense muscles in Julian's bare back. I didn't need to 

touch him to know why he was so tense. "You've been thinking about the Dominion War again."

"I can't help it. Sometimes, I wonder… if you hadn't come… how much longer it would have gone on… how many more lives would have been lost… if we would have been victorious or become slaves of the Dominion."

I nodded in understanding. "It's also the relief… yet remaining tension. Every day, not being certain you'd live to see the next."

"That's it," Julian confirmed. "How did we get on this subject? Anyway, you didn't feel like I was stopping you from being attracted to other men?"

"Julian, if I were attracted to anyone else, I'd be completely honest with you, like I always have been. Besides, would I do this, if I were attracted to someone else?"

I gently nibbled Julian's ear. He moaned softly. "You do realize that I just took a shower," he whispered seductively.

"I don't care," I replied.

Almost five months later.

I was reading a book titled Dune when Julian called me to the Infirmary. It was nearly time for his shift to end. Slightly puzzled, I did as he requested. Julian was studying the main computer screen. "You called?" I said in greeting.

Julian turned to me, very excited. "Odo is going to give me something to analyze shortly. I'll have to stay for a few more hours. But, I couldn't wait any longer. Besides, this is the place where we first properly met."

"What are you talking about?"

In answer, he took my hand, went down to one knee, pulled out a small black box, and opened it in one fluid motion. Nestled inside the velvet was a silver ring, with a shimmering purple stone set in it.

Julian Bashir stared up into my eyes. "I love you. Tengu, will you marry me?"

"Yes," I answered with a huge smile after getting over the initial shock.

He slid the ring onto my third finger and lifted me into the air by my waist. As he spun me around, he tilted his face up, and I tilted mine down, until our noses touched.

"Am I interrupting anything?" asked Odo when he walked in.

Julian put me down and grinned at the Changeling. I was so filled with happiness that I couldn't stop myself from rushing to Odo and hugging him tightly.

"Doctor Bashir, what did you do to her?" Odo inquired.

"I proposed. Tengu, I'll see you in a few hours."



Julian Bashir and I were married in a traditional Earth ceremony two weeks later. It was a small ceremony. Family and close friends.

Julian were on our way back to our quarters on DS9 to prepare for our honeymoon. We didn't know that something was waiting for us in our room.

"Doctor! Rose!" I exclaimed in greeting before embracing them both. Not only were they here, but they had also parked the TARDIS next to our bed. Julian shook hands with the two time-travelers.

"Just so you know, we didn't miss your wedding," said Rose.

"We didn't see you," I replied.

Rose grabbed the Doctor's hand. "Well, Mr Shy here didn't want to be seen."

"I didn't want people asking questions," the leather-jacketed Doctor spoke up. "That leads to picking up strays like you."

Rose playfully slapped his hand and shook her head.

"So, why are you in our quarters?" my husband asked.

"How about spending your honeymoon watching the creation of this galaxy? Now, I can't make any promises about having you back in a week, but two I can definitely do," offered the Time Lord.

"What do you say?" Rose prompted.

Julian and I glanced at each other and nodded. The two of us quickly showered and dressed, then left a note for whoever found out that we were gone.

Like the Doctor had promised, we witnessed the breathtaking birth of the Milky Way Galaxy. Our first 'adventure' was on Menakon IV. Our second was on Trebor. The third: Raxacoricofalapatorius. The Doctor told us to stay for one more adventure before he took us back home. We did.

A/N: Well, this was it. The last chapter. As with my other story, Dalek Invasion of Earth: 2007, I had a lot of fun writing Death's Shadow.

I have written a story that tells of Tengu and Julian's last adventure with the Doctor and Rose, if you would like me to post it. Please tell me if you would like to read this one.

I am writing a proper sequel to Death's Shadow, titled Death's Shadow 2: The Place I Called Home, that I will, for certain, post.

May the Force be with you.

Lady Sci-fi