Dax exited the turbolift into ops and started towards Sisko's office, only to be blocked by her fiery Bajoran friend Kira. Dax smiled at her "Hey Kira"
Kira for her part did not return the smile, at least not in full, but further confused the Trill by saying "I'm here any time, if you want to talk or anything" sincerely, placing a hand on Jadzia's upper arm.
Dax looked, if anything even more puzzled "I know Nerys, thank you…me too!" she offered then paused as if realising something "You know who's in the office don't you!" Kira nodded briefly "but you can't tell me" hazarded Dax, Kira nodded again "okay" she said slowly her eyebrow crawling into her hairline before adding "Thanks for the offer"
Kira realising that she may have spooked her normally unflappable friend added "Jadzia, it's going to be fine, it's nothing life threatening" she said in a voice she hoped would ease the Trill's mild alarm.
Dax smiled at her grateful that the Major had tried to ease her increasing trepidation and then moved on towards her destination. She had reached the steps when the doors to the office opened and Sisko stepped out, the doors closing with a whoosh of air behind him.
"Old Man" he greeted her inclining his head slightly.
Dax raised a Spock like eyebrow "Benjamin"
"The office is yours for as long as you need it" he spoke before passing by her to his station in Ops.
Dax followed him with her eyes, frowned once more in consternation, then finally stepped into the office unsure of what was to come.
"Dax" spoke a hesitant voice from the shadowed recesses of the office seating area.
Dax recognised the voice instantly her spots paled in shock, finally understanding Kira's offer "Lenara" she breathed quietly before succumbing and muttering a heart felt "Q'est!" closing her eyes as she did so.
"Even I know that one Jadzia" replied Lenara Kahn softly stepping forward from the shadows "However, I would agree that, unfortunately the sentiment is probably quite apt"
"What are you doing here?" Dax managed to stammer out after a few aborted tries.
"Potentially making quite the fool of myself" Kahn replied with a self-deprecating laugh
Dax regarded her for a moment, took a deep cleansing breath then spoke to her former wife, trying valiantly to keep her voice neutral and as free from her emotional turmoil as possible. "Perhaps" she conceded her mouth quirking ever so slightly "But really, why are you here Lenara? You chose Trill over me, you left…" she trailed off
Kahn nodded in a sad manner "Yes I did, one of the hardest and most foolish decisions of this life…my life" she clarified
"You think by telling me that it's going to change what you did…how it made me feel? I offered you all of me Lenara, I couldn't have tried to give you anything more, I offered you everything and you left, leaving me in so many…pieces, I couldn't live like that!"
Kahn lowered her gaze "I understand Dax and it's not an excuse for what I did, but the pressure I felt I was under was too great, I couldn't take that on top of everything else."
"The pressure?" Dax half shouted incredulously "And what about how you felt, how we felt about each other, were you so willing to just deny you, us happiness because of the pressure?"
Kahn's eyes glittered with frustration "You make it sound so easy and simple…I'm not impulsive like you, I have my whole life on Trill, everything I've worked for. I'm not saying your sacrifice was any lesser or easier to make, but you at least have a life away from our home, you have friends here on the station, people who love you like family" she continued her voice having risen exponentially throughout.
Dax's became louder also "my family are on Trill, my mother, Ziranne, you don't think I'd be making a similar sacrifice, just because I have a life here?"
Kahn opened her mouth to respond, and happened to cast her gaze through the doors of Sisko's office and into Ops as she cast about for the right words for her counter argument, and noticed the distinct lack of activity and the glazed and shocked expressions the officers out there wore. She realised their argument had become loud enough for the whole of Ops to hear even without the comm. link open.
Kahn briefly closed her eyes, sighed and then muttered in a more subdued tone "It would seem that we have an audience Dax"
Jadzia frowned recognising the words from the welcoming reception held the last time Kahn had been aboard the station, but seemed unsure of their relevance, she shook her head in confusion "I'm sorry, what?"
Kahn indicated towards Ops with a slight motion of her hand, Dax turned, her mouth forming a small o of recognition before coming to her senses and quickly slapping her comm. badge "Chief" asked Dax sharply with a resigned sigh "Could you please beam both myself and Dr Kahn to my quarters so we can continue our…discussion with perhaps a lesser extent of embarrassment for all concerned?"
Miles O'Brien replied in the affirmative and swiftly located them both and their heated discussion continued for some time, until a disembodied voice sounded around them.