Chapter 7: A Reunion

Quark was on board a Vulcan science vessel heading into the Gamma Quadrant. He had stowed away and was sitting in the hold surrounded by crates full of biosamples and scanning equipment. Quark knew it was only a matter of time before the Vulcans noticed him, but he was hoping that he'd be far away from the station before that happened. He couldn't face being returned to Deep Space Nine to be arrested and prosecuted. Furthermore, he couldn't return to Odo.

The travelling circumstances were less than ideal, but there was no way he could have booked passage off the station while he was still the primary suspect in a murder case. Besides, stowing away was far cheaper. So there he sat, with a small box of replicated army rations, a blanket, and a case full of latinum that was disproportionately sized in comparison to the box of food.

It hurt to leave his life behind. To leave the bar that he had spent so much time and effort building up to the point that it was at now. It hurt to leave the profits behind knowing that there was a steady income pouring out of the establishment. It hurt to leave his family. Rom may be an idiot, but he was still Quark's brother.

And Odo. It hurt to leave Odo behind knowing that they were only just starting something that could have been incredible. Quark smiled sadly to himself in the darkness of the hold as he thought of the Changeling. Odo, watching him suspiciously from the bar entrance. Odo, leaning on the bar following him with his eyes as he mixed a drink. Odo, smiling mischievously as he started their usual banter. A game of wits, their own special brand of flirting.

Running away was the correct choice. It had to be. Even if it meant running away from Odo. After all, as it says in the Rules of Acquisition: "Anything worth fighting for is worth hiding from".

Quark's breath hitched in his throat. He had lost everything, and he only had himself to blame. There was fear attached to the idea, as Quark didn't know what could possibly have driven him to murder, especially when he had so much to lose. It was frightening not knowing who he was anymore, not being able to trust himself to make profitable decisions. In his right mind Quark knew he would never have killed Drisek and it was terrifying not knowing what had possessed him to do so. There was a lapse in his memory where the motive should have been.

Quark curled up into a tiny ball, pulling the blanket over himself. Almost subconsciously he pulled the case of latinum closer, hugging it protectively to his chest. There was nothing left to do but feel sorry for himself or sleep, and right now all Quark wanted was the later. He wanted the relief that sleep would bring, and mercifully it came quickly.

Soon, on some distant planet, he could start a new life and try to forget Odo. But for now, he would lie in the cargo bay of an unfamiliar ship. Cold, and alone on the floor, and let himself be carried away by dreams of the bar. Of Dabo girls dancing and an excellent turn out of high-tipping customers. And Odo, sitting at the bar, watching him with warm and loving eyes.

...

Odo pushed the runabout into warp speed. If he was going to catch up to the Vulcan ship he had to hurry. He was pretty sure it was the Vulcan ship, it was the only ship who's departure lined up with Quark's disappearance. At top speed, he knew his runabout could catch the Vulcan vessel in under an hour.

He was on the other side of the wormhole, headed towards uncharted space. The only way he could navigate was by following the trail the Vulcan ship had left behind. Finding Quark would be difficult, but Odo knew the real challenge would be to retrieve him from the Vulcans. They would require an explanation, and Odo wasn't sure he could fit everything into a quick debriefing.

Odo slowed the runabout as the trail ahead faded. As he eased out of warp drive the ship came into view. It was sitting near an asteroid. They were probably taking samples of the rock.

They hailed Odo the second he dropped out of warp. Taking in a deep breath, he accepted the transmission.

A stern-looking, uniformed Vulcan appeared on the screen. "This is the Vulcan Survey ship, T'miling. Identify yourself."

"This is the Federation runabout, Euphrates. I am Cheif of Security, Odo, from the space station Deep Space Nine." Odo paused. "I believe you have a stowaway on board. A suspected murderer who has since been proven innocent and is fleeing unjust persecution." That was the closest he could get to explaining it without pouring out the entire story. An act of hysterics that the Vulcans would hardly appreciate.

"Impossible." The Vulcan said, eyebrows drawing together. "There is no one else on this ship apart from the crew and our science team. But I will conduct a scan. What am I looking for?"

"He's a Ferengi." Odo supplied. "But I think it's best that I come over and speak with him directly. Let me be the one to go and find him. He'll be more cooperative that way."

"That seems logical." The Vulcan captain nodded. "Very well. I'll have you beamed over."

...

Odo had explained himself to the Vulcans who listened with interest. It was an odd story, and while they didn't express an emotional response, Odo did notice them leaning in closer. They were intrigued.

"A most interesting narrative." The captain had said when he finished. "And you believe that the Ferengi is hidden on our ship?"

"I do." Odo replied. "It was... the most logical possibility."

"In that case, we will conduct a scan." A member of the bridge crew scuttled off to conduct the scan, and the captain turned back to Odo. "This will take a moment."

Odo nodded and sat down. Nobody spoke. There were no further questions and Odo himself was too preoccupied to ask anything. Finally, the officer came back over to them.

"Captain, we do indeed have a Ferengi hidden in the hold." The officer stated. "Shall I retrieve him?"

"He's frightened. I think it's better that I go to him in person." Odo said. "He'll feel safer being approached by someone he knows."

The captain nodded and turned to go. "I'll escort you there myself."

Odo followed the Vulcan into the hold of the ship. The crates down there were stacked as high as Odo's head. They towered over Odo, making tiny ally ways that he slipped through, following the Vulcan who was scanning for signs of life.

He led him through the crates towards a tiny dot on the screen of his handheld device. Odo watched the light blinking as he hurried along. He nearly collided with his guide when the Vulcan stopped moving. He was staring intently at the screen. They were nearly on top of the dot now.

The Vulcan turned towards Odo and asked in a quiet tone: "He's just around the corner. Behind these boxes. Do you wish to confront him alone?"

"Yes, thank you," Odo whispered back. He smiled at the Vulcan, a meaningless gesture that he needed have bothered with. His guide did not return nor acknowledge the expression as he turned to go. Odo stared after him for a second, suddenly nervous again. Then he turned back to the crates.

Odo shook himself, squaring his shoulders he took a step forward. It was time to get Quark.

...

Quark was having a nightmare. He was lost in the corridors of the space station. The lights were down, and he was running from something. There was no one in sight, but he could hear voices. People yelling at him, running behind him. He didn't know why he was running, but he knew he couldn't stop.

At a certain point, he looked down at his hands, and they were covered in blood. The blood started dripping, growing in volume. Viscous and sticky it dripped down over his feet as he ran, eyes glued to his hand, frozen wide in horror. The blood was slick over his hands, and he was starting to slip as it began dripping down and covering his feet.

The voices were closing in on him, and Quark struggled against the blood to keep running, but it was becoming harder and harder to propel himself forwards. Panic mounting, he spotted a figure at the end of the tunnel. A new voice adding to the rest. It was Odo, saying his name softly. Relief flooded Quark, he was safe now. Odo wouldn't let them take him away, Odo was there. Shaking him.

"Quark, wake up." Quark opened his eyes to find the changeling staring down at him. Odo was kneeling on the ground beside him, hand resting softly on his shoulder. "Quark?"

Quark felt a tear track down his face, an overwhelming feeling of relief crashing over him at the sight of the changeling. "Odo? Where..." The fear of the dream was forgotten as he stared at Odo.

"I've come to bring you home," Odo said softly as if he were speaking to a frightened child. His kind eyes held Quark's own. "You're innocent, Quark." He reached up and gently whiped a tear from the ferengi's face.

"What are you saying?" Quark asked pulling away abruptly. "Odo, I killed-"

"No. You didn't." Odo hissed. "He framed you. Quark, you're not guilty. You've got to come back with me."

Was Quark still dreaming? Odo reached for him again, but Quark flinched away.

"They all miss you," Odo said. He was starting to babble. Something Quark had never seen him do. "Sisko told me to bring you back quickly. He feels awful about everything that's happened. Major Kira had been incredibly supportive. Oh, and they both know. About us, I mean."

"Awfully chatty when you're nervous, aren't you, Odo." Quark's voice sounded small even to his own ears.

"I can't help it. You're making me nervous." Odo paused, he started to reach out towards Quark again but thought better of it. His hand fell back by his side, fingers clenched into a fist. "You'll come back with me, won't you?"

"I can't!" Quark whispered urgently. "I don't understand why you're here. I killed a man, and if you take me back to the station I'll be arrested for it!"

"You're innocent Quark!" The fear in Quark's eyes stung to see. "Quark, do you trust me?"

A small smile broke out on the Ferengi's face. "That's an odd question." He said softly. "Surely you know that trust is-"

"The biggest liability of them all. I know. There's a Ferengi rule for everything. But Quark, I trust you. We've both got something to lose here, so will you take the same risks I've taken band just trust yourself?"

Quark wanted to. He wanted to trust Odo so badly. "Don't trust anyone who trusts you." He said so quietly that Odo had to lean in to hear him.

"What about someone who loves you?" Odo had such beautiful blue eyes, how had Quark never noticed that the changeling had found a way to create the most captivating eyes in the universe? "At least come with me out of the hold. Let's go sit somewhere where we can talk. I'll explain everything."

Quark finally reached out a hand, and Odo helped him up. He never let his eyes leave Odo's as they stood. "Did you say you loved me?"

"Yes. I can't remember if I've said it before, but I certainly haven't said it enough." Odo's tone was gentle as he began to lead Quark out of the hold.

"I love you too." Quark leaned harder on Odo, appreciating the sturdiness of his form. "I love you a lot."

"Not as much as I love you, you latinum grubbing scammer," Odo said fondly.

They were halfway out of the hold before Quark remembered his case of latinum and made Odo turn around to get it.