Jukka-Pekka didn't even think of Suvuk as he hurried towards the Promenade. The thing about the possible tinkering with the Cardassian energy conduits was foremost on his mind, and all he felt was a sense of triumph that the sneak had finally been captured. Now they only needed him to prove it, and then he would be able to really get on with his work.

Absentmindedly, he pushed his way through the ubiquitous promenade throng. Quark was lurking behind a strut just two bulkheads removed from the entrance. Funny to think that the little toad had a stake in sabotage this time. He gave a smirk to the Ferengi, and was more than astonished when the barkeeper smiled back at his most slimy. "Yes, you go and worry him some more", Quark added merrily to his grin. "I can't say I approved of giving him a message, but of course, business is business. A customer is never a pain in the earlobes".

Something about this suddenly worried Äänekoski. This wasn't what he'd expected. Worry whom? Who? Because of what? Something was wrong if Quark was so happy about it, and for the last meters, he ran. O'Brien wasn't waiting outside any more. He almost ran into the opening door in his sudden haste.

Sisko said, "Lieutenant A., could you please come back at a later time", but that registered just as noise with Jukka-Pekka. They were all of them standing behind the desk like a firing squad of avenging angels, but he didn't care for that now, either. They could do all they wanted to him after he had done what he must. Everything fell into place now.

The one standing before the desk, his back turned, not noticing Jukka-Pekka at the least, shoulders hunched, shaking, silent and submitting to his death by his silence, was Suvuk. There was only one thing to do.

"Suvuk. My Suvuk. What are they doing to you? I am here. Give in. It is that easy".

With this, he took the shaking, semi-conscious Vulcan in his arms, pressing him against himself while touching the bare nape of his neck with the other hand. Give it up. Give in. Come off it. I am here, I am yours, it is all over.

Suvuk didn't move. Slowly, a stream of incoherent denial flowed through his mind, and he tried to shake off Jukka-Pekka's mental attention, tried to pull up his barriers once more, but it was pointless. In his state, he was wide open. His carefully polished logic and calm had fallen away, and his instincts had taken over. He leaned against Jukka-Pekka. There was relief. It was over.

But, noooooooo---!

As if he had taken new strength for his denial from the brief mental contact, he tried to pull away. His mind snapped shut. "You will leave me to my chosen course, and I will die as who I always was". His voice was calm, just as usual. The edginess of the last time was all gone.

Jukka-Pekka wasn't deterred. There was no stopping him now. No chance for Suvuk to go through with pointlessly sacrificing his very life to his stubborn principles. He'd had it, as far as Jukka-Pekka was concerned. He could forget his silly control and live.

Then he knew. There was no forcing him. It would have to be his own choice, his own last step. He stood back.

"Suvuk", he said aloud, "just forget all about your silly pride and come to me. I will not force you. This is your life, and I am willing to be part of it to all my ability. I am here. Just jump".

Suvuk looked at him as if he'd never quite understood what was going on until now, as if, behind all his self-inflicted suffering, he'd found himself again, and could make a decision freely. No forces now shaking him, inexorably pushing towards the inevitable, nothing. Just me here, you there, and if I take one step, I'll live as I always knew I should. Free.

And then he took the step, and then he threw himself into Jukka-Pekka's arms, and he was there, and he'd done it, and all his controls finally broke down, and he cried wildly. Cried his eyes out in the arms of his chosen mate, in front of all the officers, in front of whoever, not caring any more, just giving in to what he really was, alive, loved, belonging.

"What's this all about", someone murmured half-heartily, but they all really knew. Suvuk didn't care. He was himself now at last.

Open, he was, wide open with all his mind, had been so for some eternal instants, Jukka-Pekka finally taking root where he should be in his mind. There. And there. A place it was, of rocks and red sand, as Suvuk showed it to him in their mingled minds, and a small spring behind an outcrop, and a few plants, and there they sat sown together, and would never go away again. Could never, should never, would never. This was theirs. This is ours, and here we will be, you and me, connected. Parted, but never parted, never and always touching and touched. One. Committed. Done.

Emotions were there now as well. Relief first, a deeply buried need soon below, and then, only love. Whatever love was in the end, this was it. Tenderness. Belonging. Now never giving up, now facing the world together, now life, purely and simply, for each other, with each other. And relief again, and love, and then joy, jubilant, exultant. This is it now! This is what we will be together, shall be, must be.

There was a world outside, waiting, expectant.

First, there was Suvuk, in his arms, narrow shoulders under his hands, unexpected strength pulling him tight. Black shoulders, blue back, black legs shivering below, all that leaning against him, shivering, pressed into him, crying still. Head of black hair buried into his shoulder, one elegantly pointed ear sticking out behind. Yellowish brown neck, so fragile, so twisted with sobbing. Skin that was soft, that he'd touched before and now touched again, accepted. Consenting. All his emotions welling up towards Suvuk, flowing into his mind, answering the proffered gifts. Mine for yours.

The touch of cold human lips on his warm Vulcan skin seemed to wake Suvuk, and he lifted his head to look into Jukka-Pekka's eyes. Suvuk's face, large dark eyes green with crying, wet with tears, and a smile he'd never dared to hope for. Only one logical thing to do now, kiss him, whisper his love with his voice and his mind. All well now, beloved. And nothing left to protest. Just to live, and to enjoy together.

And then amusement, a little laugh, actually. Suvuk threw back his head, laughing, eyes sparkling, all fire rekindled, all the joy he'd never known now coming into its own. He quickly kissed Jukka-Pekka, just an acknoledgement for the world to see. You see, there is still a world out there, and they are as flabberghasted as ever anyone was!

There they stood, all of them, incomprehending, against the wall, having witnessed something so absurd-seeming, there was still only unbelief in their eyes.

Apart from the doctor. The doctor knew already. It was his job.

The doctor laughed out loud, and Jadzia Dax looked at him as if he'd gone just as insane as the Lieutenants.

"Pon Farr!", the doctor spluttered. "The Vulcan mating urge! Of course. You see, Vulcans..."

"I think we heard rumours, Doctor. All of us", Sisko said, amused now as well. "It seems the problem called Suvuk has resolved itself. It was all natural".

"They use these drugs, you know, to...."

"We know", Sisko interrupted. "There's actually a regulation about that. Suvuk tried to quote it to us, to tell us he had a right to the stuff".

Suvuk, one arm still around Jukka-Pekka, looked at his superiors with a twinkle they'd never seen in him. "Doctor? Would you do me the favour and put that stuff into the recycling unit? I promise this won't cause any brownish goo".

They all chuckled, ice broken, all except Major Kira. "Why now? I don't understand a single thing".

"I'll tell you later", Dax said merrily. "Ben, do you think Lieutenant Suvuk still deserves a court-martial, a dishonourable discharge or anything?"

"No. Except perhaps a reprimand for extreme stubbornness, and failing to communicate his needs to the officers concerned. Like, asking for a leave of absence for his - lover? Who is really needed on the station, but..."

"Bond-mate. Husband, if you will. Indeed, I will have to ask for several things". Suvuk interrupted, quite sure of himself now.

"First, I have to ask all of you to accept my apologies for my behaviour the human way, and to accept any amends I can make in the Vulcan custom. Then, leave of absence for my mate, a place somewhere planetside away from every sentient being, a shuttle to go there, and a legal marriage. The precise order of events is irrelevant, though, as long as we get there".

"Planetside? What do you want on Bajor?", Major Kira asked, still understanding nothing.

"It is called marriage seclusion", Äänekoski picked up from Suvuk's mind. "Vulcans in their mating urge go away from everyone else, lest their emotions are broadcast around, what with their strong telepathy not under control in this state. The station's just too populated".

"I even believe", Suvuk took over from him, "that the way you all reacted to me, your wild anger at me, and the way you all pounced on me, your glee at my downfall, was just mirrored from my own confused emotions, from my hatred of what happened to me. Over the last days, I have steadily been losing my control, the control of my telepathy as well. I am sure you are all safer with the two of us gone".

"Definitely", Odo now said. "If this concerns the safety of the station, I will advocate your going away at once".

"Go", Sisko said. "Only, where?"

Whoosh, said the door.

"I want to make a complaint", a new voice spoke up loudly. "There was a Ferengi just outside, and he - well, you can feed me to a firebiter! The no-good Earther and arrogant pointy ears, all one in love and happiness! I said so, and nobody would listen! Oh all you big idiots! I knew!"

All eyes turned to the fat little Bajoran woman just inside the door of the security office. "And who would you be", Sisko asked.

"Andra Adarys", Kira supplied. "Adarys, you wouldn't know of a secluded place somewhere in the temparate regions of Bajor, well away from anyone, sheltered and fit for habitation for a while?"

"What would you need that for?"

"I don't quite understand it myself, but believe me, we need it".

"There was the cave where I was when my brother and I had to vanish. It's in the middle of nowhere. I don't think there's anyone now. But what for?"

"The Lieutenants need to celebrate their marriage the Vulcan way or something. Don't ask me. I don't understand it. I don't think I want to, actually".

"I don't think I want to help them, after what they did to my brother, I think, Nerys".

"This is a matter of station security", Odo said, at his most grave. "It seems that Lieutenant Suvuk's telepathic abilities would otherwise somehow threaten us all. Including your brother".

"Andra Adarys", Suvuk said, " would you accept our apologies...."

"For myself, yes. For my brother, ask him, and if he forgives you, I will. Now, I want this explained".

"I'm afraid there's no time", Suvuk interrupted. "As for now, I am back in control, but this will only last so many hours longer, and then I will be beyond recall. We will need this time to get us to Bajor".

"Okay", Adarys said. "If you promise me one thing".

"Yes", they both answered, perfectly as one.

"If you ever again treat persons as things, and you are told to stop, you will at once, and apologize".

"We promise", they said.

A cave. On Bajor. A waterfall concealing the entrance, but everything dry inside. No threat to Suvuk's sensitive dry-climate lungs, even. All green outside, plants as green and copious as the blood in a battle in the old days, but whispering. Ringing with birdsong. Away from all suffering, all that could be suffer with them.

Suvuk was still in control. He had slept all the way in the shuttle, head on Jukka-Pekka's shoulder, weak with the relief and exhaustion of giving in. A whispering thread of belonging in their minds even as he slept. It would be like that, always, now.

It had even been Andra Laz who had flown them, in the end. In a resigned way, he had even accepted their apologies, as if he had no choice anyway. Jukka-Pekka knew they would have to talk again. But now was not the time to think of that.

Now, they knelt on a ledge, a thick cloth Suvuk had conjured up from somewhere between their kneecaps and the stone. Suvuk laughed again, kissed Jukka-Pekka, and then grew suddenly serious. "We can begin".

And then, for the first time ever, he put his hands to his bond-mate's temples in the position for a mind-meld, mentally guiding him to do the same. Over a grey plane of shapeless nothing, they flew together and merged as one. It had started now.