Chapter 21

The same group that celebrated Kira's marriage to Rathaus a few month's before gathered again to celebrate the end of the legal investigation into his death.

"And you were never able to identify the drug in the bracelet?" Nog asked.

"He was an intelligent fellow, alright. It will be perplexing Starfleet Medical for some time to come," Bashir answered. "From all available evidence, we believe he used the same drug, or a derivative of it, on all of his murdered wives."

"At least it's finally over," Kira commented. The investigating committee had declared Rathaus' killing a matter of self-defense. After a month of physical and mental rehabilitation, she was finally free from all medical and legal entanglements.

"So what are you going to do with all that money?" Jake asked her.

She gave him an incredulous look. "Since the marriage has been declared illegal and Rathaus has no family, most of it is going to the planet of Windau. They deserve it. He terrorized them for decades."

"The colonel, however, has been awarded a civil settlement for her false imprisonment and emotional distress," explained Quark as he handed round drinks, "which I am investing for her for a modest fee."

"And is going entirely to charity," added Kira.

"Entirely to charity," parroted Quark, who obviously did not approve.

Kassidy turned to Odo, who had barely left Kira's side throughout the ordeal. "When are you returning to the Gamma Quadrant, Constable?"

He took Kira's hand in his as he answered. "In a few weeks. Nerys has a few more weeks of leave and I thought I would help her use it before I go back. Besides, the Link disdains the concept of time. For them, it is a preoccupation fit only for solids. I intend to use that to my advantage for a change."

Kira smiled at him. "But he'll be back for visits occasionally. For now, we thought we'd spend some time together on Bajor. We have some unfinished business to take care of."

Bashir lifted his glass. "Here, here." Their friends laughed around them as they toasted their happiness.

The end

Acknowledgments: I'd like to thank Tracy Hemenover for her DS9 Encyclopedia and Lexicon. It was a great help in looking up those technical details I can never remember. It goes without saying, or it should, that I do not own Star Trek nor do I intend to infringe upon Paramount's rights.