Chapter 14

When Vicki Ann awoke, she was no longer alone in the room. A woman with long, dark hair
in a ponytail was standing with her back to Vicki Ann. Vicki Ann stood up and walked
forward, toward the woman. The woman was talking to the Prophets, asking for help so
that she and her new husband may have children.

Vicki Ann gasped when she saw the woman's profile. "Jadzia!"
Vicki Ann whispered out of shock. "Oh, my God! This must be the day she died." Vicki Ann
noticed a Cardassian enter the room. Vicki Ann grabbed Jadzia's shoulders and screamed,
"Jadzia, no! You'll be killed. Get out of here!"

Jadzia did not see or hear her.

A voice behind Vicki Ann said, "She can't here or see you. You have not traveled back,
you are viewing it through a mirror."

Vicki Ann turned around. Her father was standing beside her. "Daddy?"

"I am not your father. I am merely a Prophet taking a familiar form."

Vicki Ann turned back to Jadzia, who saw the Cardassian. Vicki Ann shook her head. "I
can't watch this."

Her father's voice replied, "Yes, you can and you must."

Vicki Ann watched as her friend was brutally attacked. The scene shifted to Worf by
Jadzia's bedside and Vicki Ann watched her friend's last few breaths. Vicki Ann's face was
wet with tears.

The scene shifted again to the bridge of a Klingon warship. On the bridge was Julian,
Quark, Worf and O'Brien.

Suddenly, Vicki Ann understood. "The shipyard," she said, smiling. "The shipyard." She
laughed. She went over to Worf and grabbed him, although it had no effect. "Don't you
see, Worf? The shipyard!"

The scene shifted again. This time, the assault. She gasped and the tears started to fall
again. "No." Stunned, she continued to watch the scene. "No," she repeated, her face
twisted in pain. She turned to the Prophet. "No. I can't relive this."

"Yes, you can and you must."

The scenes that flashed before her were the most painful ones, the ones she had tried to
bury deep in the back of her mind.

The scene shifted to Julian, sitting in Sisko's office, being told about the attack.

Vicki Ann could hear his thoughts, even thought the image wasn't real.

Oh my God. Somebody's dead.

Sisko explained what had happened.

Julian suddenly felt as if he were in a room slightly bigger that himself and that the walls
were beginning to close in on him. He swallowed, trying to compose himself. Why is it so
damn hot in here? Alright. Calm down, Julian. Think about someone else for a change.
Think about. . .Vicki Ann.

An image popped into his head. Vicki Ann smiling at him as he stood on the transporter
platform. The image changed to a bruised and beaten, tear stained Vicki Ann. Julian
though he felt his heart stop.

Gods, what am I going to do? I'm a doctor, I deal in physical wounds, not emotional ones.
How in the world am I going to help the woman I love get through something like this?

The scene shifted to Julian and Ezri talking in Julian's quarters.

Julian shook his head. "How do you deal with something like this? Better yet, how do you
help someone deal with something like this?

"You just have to let them do things their way. And you have to give them lost of love and
support," Ezri replied.

"Is that all?"

Ezri nodded. "Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do in a situation like this. Let's just
hope she's able to deal with it eventually."

"Why? What will happen if she doesn't?"

Ezri sighed. "Well, she could lapse into a Betazoid coma from the trauma. Or develop some
sort of psychiatric disorder. Or. . . . "

"She could kill herself," Julian finished.

Ezri was shocked. "Julian! Don't say that!"

"Well, it's true."

Ezri nodded slowly.

Julian put his head in his hands. "God, Ezri, I don't know what I'll do if I lose Vicki Ann."

"Don't say that, Julian. Don't even think it!"

Julian grew angry. "I can't help it! Since it's a possibility, I can't help but think of it. And
even if that didn't happen, if one of the other things you said happened. . . . "

Ezri stood up and went over to Julian. "It doesn't have to happen. She could be fine."

"But either way, I'd lose Vicki Ann. The only way to save her is to make sure she gets
through this."

"Julian, you have no control over whether she. . . . "

Julian was determined. "I will make sure she gets through this."

"Julian. . . ."

Julian grabbed Ezri by the shoulders. "Don't you understand, Ezri?" he screamed. "I love
her! I can't lose her!"

Ezri put her hand on Julian's arm. "I know you do, but. . . . "

Tears started to fall down Julian's face.

Ezri hugged Julian. "Don't worry, Julian. You won't lose her. I promise."

The scene changed to Julian and Vicki Ann in Julian's quarters. Vicki Ann sighed and said,
"I remember this."

The doors of Julian's quarters opened and he entered. Vicki Ann was sitting at the desk.
"Beverly told me that she's worried about you. She says you're not getting enough rest.
She's right. You haven't been sleeping very well. You haven't had more than a few hours a
night if that. She suggested that I give you a sedative and a REM blocker."

Vicki Ann replied, "I am a doctor, Julian. I can administer medication to myself if I need to.
Besides, I don't need it. I'm fine."

"No, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't be up half the night."

"I'm fine, Julian."

"Vicki Ann "

Vicki Ann interrupted him. "Julian, I don't recall appointing you as my personal physician."'

"I'm just worried about you. And I'm not the only one."

"Why don't you start a club?"

"Why are you being so defensive?"

"I'm not being defensive!"

"Yes, you are!"

"Maybe I wouldn't be so defensive if you didn't treat me like a child!"

Julian was shocked. "That's it, Vicki Ann! I give up! I don't know how to help you anymore!
I'm going to stay with Chief O'Brien." And with that, he turned around and left.

"Fine, then! Goodbye!" Vicki Ann screamed after him, but the door had already shut. Vicki
Ann put her head in her hands and began to cry.

The images disappeared. The only people left in the room were Vicki Ann and the Prophet.

The Prophet walked over to her. "As you know, you have a prophecy to fulfill. Part has
already happened and part is yet to come. It requires tremendous strength and therefore
you needed to be tested. This and everything that has happened has been your test. You
have far surpassed our expectations."

Suddenly, she understood.

Then there was a flash of light and all went black.

"Vicki Ann, wake up," a familiar voice said.

Vicki Ann opened her eyes and sat up. Ezri was standing beside her, as was Julian and
Kira. Captain Sisko and Constable Odo stood in the background with Deanna and Will, along
with Worf.

"What happened?" Ezri asked.

Vicki Ann smiled and looked at Sisko. "I spoke to your Prophets."

"You did?" Sisko asked.

Vicki Ann nodded. "I asked for reasons for everything that happened and I got them." She
looked at Ezri and then at Worf. "I know why Jadzia had to die."

Worf stepped forward.

Vicki Ann got up and walked over to him. "She died so that you could go to the shipyard
and win a battle in her honor for our side."
She smiled. "Her death did have a reason, Worf. She did die with honor."

Vicki Ann turned toward Julian, who looked quickly away. She went over to him. "Julian, I'm
so sorry I've been so horrible. I've been too wrapped up in feeling sorry for myself."

Julian smiled back. "It's okay. I guess I can put up with you if you have to fulfill a
prophecy."

Back in Vicki Ann's quarters on the Enterprise, a man paced. "Dammit!" He picked up a
picture of Vicki Ann and Julian off of the dresser. "You're stronger than I thought.
Especially when you have your friends." An evil smile crossed his face. "Well, how would
you feel if you didn't have your friends? Better yet, how would you feel if your friends
turned against you? If your friends weren't 'your' friends? Maybe that would be enough to
turn you against your best friend. And since your friends are your world, maybe that will
break you."

Vicki Ann walked onto the Enterprise bridge. Almost no one was there. They were getting
some routine maintenance done while they were at the station. The captain, was of
course, one of the last ones to leave. She walked into the ready room. "Yes, captain?"

He smiled at her. "Sit down."

She did.

"I've received some news. Tom confessed and the admiral has arranged for a lifetime
sentence in a maximum security Cardassian prison and therefore, there is no need for a
trial. He's being shipped tomorrow."

Vicki Ann smiled. "That's wonderful. Odo will be glad to be rid of him. Thank you, captain.
I'm sure some of this was your doing."

"Don't be so sure. I'm not your only influential friend in Starfleet."

Vicki Ann and Julian were having a goodbye dinner. The Enterprise was finished with
repairs and Ezri felt that Vicki Ann's therapy had progressed enough for her to move back
to the Enterprise.

"I wish I didn't have to go," Vicki Ann said sadly, looking down at the table.

"You wouldn't want to take a job on my staff, would you? Commander Sisko's been
petitioning the Admiral to allow another doctor to be posted here. You'd be perfect," Julian
replied, smiling.

Vicki Ann laughed. "Sorry. I've already got a job. Besides, that would be a big step,
wouldn't it?"

"Well, we could get you separate quarters."

"We could, but you wouldn't hear of it. Right?"

"I suppose so."

"Besides, things are fine the way they are. There's an old Earth saying, "If it ain't broke,
don't fix it." I think that would apply here."

"I believe I've heard that one. And you're right."

"Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Julian and Vicki Ann spun around to see who had spoken. "Q!"
they both exclaimed.

"The one and only." Q shifted uncomfortably when he saw Vicki Ann frowning. "What?"
When she didn't reply, he added, "Stop that! You look just like your mother when you do
that and I have no desire to turn to stone."

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Who says I want anything? Can't I just stop by and visit my favorite mortal once in a
while? And maybe I'm not even here to see you. I could be here to see. .
.what's-his-name over there."

"Julian," Vicki Ann replied.

"Whatever."

"What do you want?"

Q held his hands up. "Alright, alright. I'm here to talk to you." He glanced at Julian. "And I
guess he can stay, too."

"Thanks a million," Julian muttered.

"About what?" Vicki Ann asked.

"Recent events."

"Go ahead."

"I understand the Prophets spoke to you." Vicki Ann opened her mouth and Q held up his
hand. "Don't even ask. I do not reveal my sources. Anyway, I understand they told you
that the recent events involving Thomas Riker, as well as the other life changing events
you've experienced since I left, have been tests of your strength."
When she nodded, he continued. "This is true. I can also tell you that these tests are not
over. The prophecy is not just a matter of you being in the right place at the right time
and doing the right thing. It is a long, complicated series of events that all must occur for
the good of many races, the Q, the Bajorans, the Federation. Each event may seem
meaningful to one, but meaningless to another, but in the long run, all of the events
together are very meaningful. What is meaningful about each event is the timeline that is
averted. If just one event in the prophecy is not fulfilled, we will be thrown in alternate
timeline with catastrophic repercussions. As the Prophets told you, you must know nothing
about the prophecy before it is completed. As far as tests go, there are many more ahead
of you. Some are just that, tests. And some are tests, but at the same time, part of the
prophecy and essential. Is there anything I've told you that you don't understand?"

Vicki Ann shook her head. "It's a lot of information to absorb, but I think I got it. If I don't
watch, this could give me an inflated head," she said, smiling.

"Don't let it go to your head. Everyone is part of some plan for this timeline. You just
happen to know about yours and there are omnipotent beings trying to stop it."

"Thanks."

"As far as the situation with Riker's alternate, I wish to apologize for leaving you on the
Enterprise. Things in the Continuum-"

Vicki Ann placed her hand over his. "Don't worry, Q. I'm not angry that you left. You have
a high position in the Continuum now and can't be expected to drop everything for a
mortal. You also have a family that demands responsibility as well. Besides, I had enough
social support to get me through it," she said, glancing at Julian.

Q smiled. "Thank you for understanding, Vicki Ann. Speaking of the old ball and chain, she
will be expecting me back right about now. Little q says hello to his Auntie Vicki Ann and Q
says hello as well."

"You may return the sentiment." She stood, went over to him and hugged him. "Give little
q a hug from his Auntie, too."

Q nodded. "And don't forget about the chimes."

"I won't," Vicki Ann replied.

Q waved. "Goodbye, Vicki Ann. Goodbye. . ."

"Julian," Vicki Ann prompted.

Q nodded. "Right. Goodbye, Julian." He snapped his fingers and vanished.

Vicki Ann shook her head. She turned to Julian. "Now, where were we?"

Julian thought for a moment. "You were going to kiss me goodbye."

"I was?"

Julian nodded.

"Oh, well, I was going to wait until tomorrow morning for your goodbye kiss, but if you
want me to leave now, I'm sure Captain Picard won't mind me moving back early."

"Of course I don't want you to leave now, but do I have to wait until tomorrow for my
goodbye kiss?"

"I guess not, as long as I have a place to stay for the night."

Julian smiled. "I think we can arrange that."