Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Star Trek in this story but my own characters; all else belongs to the Great Bird of the Galaxy.

Author's Note: After some thought I decided to continue this fan fiction because I sorely missed writing Star Trek. Plus, with the end of Enterprise, there is more demand for at least some Trek entertainment. Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Seventeen: Unforeseen

The Promenade was full of people peering out at the Victoria as she pulled the Calamity into dock at DS13. Word had spread quickly of what had happened beyond the solar system with the Breen ships attacking the transport. Concern about the safeness of the sector was beginning to weigh in on people's minds making them anxious about their and their family's well being. Little did Dr. Anja Senecal realize that the harshness of that reality was about to become apparent in her Infirmary to her own family.

Serea and Rilar had just arrived at the Infirmary minutes after a large compliment of casualties from the Calamity were beamed over. The medical facility was chaotic as nurses and formerly off-duty doctors were rushing about trying to discern the patients in the most need of medical attention. Serea and Rilar realized it was impossible to check the identification of all the passengers there and instead began seeking anyone out that appeared to match Lorias Brenal's description.

Dr. Senecal had not noticed them in the confusion since her own attention was directed at helping her patients as she moved from one case to the next while they attempted to stay one step ahead of her.

"He is not here," Rilar informed Serea after pushing through to meet her amidst the disorder.

"Contact the Calamity and check the uninjured," she instructed. "I will check the Victoria's Sick Bay."

"I appreciate that you are allowing me this search," Serea informed Captain Barsegayn as they quickly headed up the corridor to his ship's Sick Bay.

"I understand completely your predicament," Barsegayn commented. "Hopefully we can discover where this passenger is for your officer's sake."

They arrived at the doors to the Sick Bay and they swished open quickly. Upon entering it was clear that there were many injured as well as dead; however, the bay had less of the confusion than the Infirmary of DS13 did mostly due to a greater number of staff on hand and better facilities. The ultimate number of casualties would have overwhelmed the Victoria's medical staff and thus the reason to send some to DS13 despite the lacking of certain faculties.

Barsegayn and Serea approached the Chief Medical Officer who was instructing one of his nurses. After finishing, he turned to his commanding officer and visitor.

"What can I do for you, Captain?"

"Commander Serea from DS13 is looking for a certain passenger that was listed on the Calamity's manifest," Barsegayn informed him. "I know you may not have all the names of your patients but do you have a Trill among them?"

"Actually, I do," the doctor said. "However, he was badly injured. I do not believe he will last much longer than a couple minutes despite all that we have done for him."

"Take me to him," Serea told him.

They were led to a biobed at the far end of the room, isolated from most of the activity. A figure lay underneath the blanket, the console above him beeping shrilly as his bio-readings were failing. Serea stepped up closely to the person while Barsegayn and the doctor stayed back. The man was burned badly and several gashes were visible along his torso and face but Serea was still able to discern Trill markings. Noticing a presence, the man opened his eyes and glanced to Serea, his breathing heavily labored.

"Are you Lorias Brenal?" she asked him.

He nodded slightly in response.

"I am Commander Serea from DS13," she explained and saw the momentary flicker of recognition of the station name.

Lorias reached out a hand from beneath his blanket and clasped Serea's. He tried to lean up toward her but could not. She leaned in closer to him for his comfort.

"It was… to be a… surprise," he choked out quietly. "I… love her. Please… tell her. And Katja, too."

"I promise I will," Serea said, placing another hand on his.

"I'm… sorry," he struggled to say. "I should have… been better to her."

A release of breath escaped him as if his spirit was released from the broken body. Serea felt his hand go limp in hers as the biobed registered the stopping of his heart. She placed his hand upon his chest and silently said in her mind a Vulcan prayer. She then walked back to Captain Barsegayn, aware of what she now must do.

Rilar looked up as he saw Serea approaching the Infirmary. Things had calmed down and were under control finally. He had relocated to inside to help with the task of collecting information from those less injured after not being able to find Lorias Brenal aboard the Calamity. He was also keeping an eye on Senecal in case someone inadvertently informed her of her husband's possible presence on the transport.

Serea looked to him as she entered, nodding solemnly at him in the affirmative that she had found what they had looked for. He could not tell whether the news was positive or not from her lack of expression. She headed for Dr. Senecal who was checking the logs of her nurses.

"Doctor, if I could have a moment of your time in private?" Serea asked her.

"We can go to my office," Senecal said as she motioned over to the room just adjacent to the main examining area.

After arriving in the office, Serea turned to her Chief Medical Officer but tried to find words best to tell the news. From Rilar's knowledge Senecal was aware that Senecal had not known of her husband's travel plans because she had been expecting him not for another two weeks at least.

"Doctor, I know it has been a trying day for you but I must tell you of something that came to our attention," she said. "Lorias, your husband, was on the transport attacked today."

Her eyes betrayed the sudden worry first before any emotion reached the rest of her features. The rest flashed quickly through them as she realized the possibilities.

"Was he hurt? Is he all right?" she said, her voice quivering a little.

Serea attempted to maintain her eye contact, "No, he sustained extensive injuries to his body and the Victoria's medical staff was unable to save him."

The haunted look that appeared on Senecal's face next struck Serea to the very core. Senecal's face suddenly mirrored a familiar mix of emotion, pain, and anguish that rushes one unexpectedly when receiving such news. She shuddered as a chill passed through her body at the comprehension and caught her off guard. She hesitated slightly before catching Senecal by the arms as her legs gave out from under her.

The sobbing wracked her small frame as Senecal kneeled on the floor of her office. She reached out to the closest thing to her, Serea, and wrapped her arms around her commander as she cried from the depths of her heart. Serea did not move away but became uncertain as the blonde woman held onto her in her grief. She became more assured when she saw Rilar quickly come into the room.

He had been watching from the exam room and had seen Senecal collapse. He stooped down to them and placed a comforting hand on Senecal's back. Rilar looked to Serea with distressed eyes, as he knew what the news had been due to the reaction Senecal had.

An hour after receiving the news about her husband's death, Senecal had calmed a little; though her frail body still shivered like a leaf in the wind on occasion. Rilar stood by her side as she sat in a chair. Serea had informed her that she had come to Lorias' bedside in his last moments of life. She had just related that he loved both Senecal and their daughter.

"Why did he come back now and didn't tell me?" she asked the question out loud.

"He mentioned he wanted to surprise you," Serea responded.

Senecal shook her head and took a deep breath as she thought about what had been Lorias' plans.

"Did he say anything else?" she asked.

"No," Serea said. "I will leave you be now. You may take what time you need off for leave if you wish."

She turned to leave and was just outside of the office when she felt a hand grab her arm. Serea turned to find Rilar pulling her to the side.

"He did say something else, didn't he?" he whispered to her.

Serea answered quietly, "Yes. He said he wished he had treated her better but I did not think it appropriate at this time to inform her of that."

"I see," Rilar replied, his eyes narrowing at her response. "I will take her to her quarters to rest. It seems the Head Nurse has everything under control here."

"Understood," she said and headed out of the Infirmary.