5

"I don't get it James, I could have sworn we took three med kits away from that camp but I can only find one in here." Ro waved her hand to indicate the whole room before shaking her head.

"Possibly could it have gotten taken to a different storage room?" Brown suggested.

"I don't think so. I asked everyone on the team and they said they put all the loot in this room."

Brown looked at the pad in his hand, "Maybe did one of the doctor's take it and not tell us?"

"Already checked with them."

Brown signed heavy and made a note on the list, "Unless they turn up anywhere else, this will be the third time this month that things have gone missing. I think it's time we told Deanic about this, its gone way past the idea of things being mislaid."

Ro looked up at him, noting the seriousness in his eyes, "You think someone is stealing supplies?"

Brown nodded, "I'd better go tell him. Keep looking and if you find anything, tell me as soon as you can."

Ro's response was a curt nod as she opened up a box to check inside.

She didn't hear the person that entered as Brown exited nor did she realize anyone else was in the room until she heard footsteps behind her.

Twisting her head around she found herself staring into Pat's face.

The younger girl's cheeks was streaked with tears and her brown eyes were still wet, "Pat are you okay?" Ro asked, concerned.

"I don't know why I ever liked you Ro. You are quite possibly the meanest, cruelest person I have ever known in my life." Pat hissed softy.

"What?" Ro questioned, confused.

"Talia told me the truth, the truth you wouldn't tell me."

"Truth? What truth?" Ro's confusion was changing towards anger.

"You really have no idea how lucky you are. You have a chance to talk, to make amends with your mother but you won't take it. Do you have any idea what some people might give for this chance, the chance that you are throwing away?" Pat asked softy, disgust apparent in her voice.

Before Ro could open her mouth to protest Pat cut her off, "I read your record. Talia was right, you're her daughter. And now your denial might be killing her."

"What?" Ro demanded, gripping Pat's hand, "What did you say?"

"I went after her after you left; we talked, and came back to the town. She was acting weak so I helped her to a bench but before she could sit she collapsed."

"No," Ro whispered as she released Pat's hand and bolted from the room.

8888

Her eyes gradually opened and Talia blinked them a few times to regain focus.

"How are you feeling?"

Talia smiled as she recognized the voice, it was the doctor who had treated her when she had first arrived.

"I'm not entirely sure what happened." Talia murmured softy as she focused on the doctor's face.

The doctor, Edmund Finch, carefully sat down on the bed opposite of Talia, "You collapsed in the square."

"Do you know why?"

Finch slowly nodded, "I have a fairly good idea."

Talia watched as he took a deep breath and collected his thoughts, trying to ignore the cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I'm not sure how to tell you this Talia, but you're dying."

Talia's voice caught in her throat, "How?"

"You have a rare form of cancer and it's already spread quite far."

It was odd, how calm she felt. She was just told she was dying of cancer and still she felt incredibly calm, "How long do I have left?"

"I'm not sure, a few weeks, a month if you're lucky."

"And there's nothing you can do?" Talia whispered.

"I can't but there is one chance. If you leave the DMZ and go to a Starfleet station maybe they could do something." Finch offered, "The best I can do is slow it. I know of a ship that's going to Federation space tomorrow and I could get you a place aboard if you like."

Talia closed her eyes. She could leave the Zone, that wasn't difficult. But to ask Starfleet for help…no, she could never do that.

She opened her eyes, "Thank you doctor for your suggestion but the answer is no."

"No?"

"The Federation never helped us during the Occupation and I will not limp to them, begging for help now."

Finch sighed, cursing stubborn Bajoren pride, "As you wish."

Talia sat up a little in bed, "Doctor, can you tell me something?"

He had been preparing to leave but stopped, "Yes?"

"Why didn't you discover this when I first came here?"

"It remained hidden until I was ran deeper scans of your entire body. Originally I only ran simple scans and they missed it."

Talia nodded and leaned back against the wall.

"Is there any family you would like to tell?"

Talia shook her head, "No, I have no family left."