Warm breath trailed across her exposed flesh, sending a cascade of shivers through her heart. A soft sigh dipped from her lips as she unconsciously snuggled deeper into the warm embrace of her lover's body. A contented smile slowly spread across the features of her face as a restful sleep gently guided her dreams. Shifting slightly, she pulled her lover's body tightly around her own. Briefly, her body stretched before relaxing again and curling around her lover once more. A soft moan whispered from her parted lips as the dream escalated.
"The time is oh-five hundred hours." Her face scrunched together as she groaned, inwardly cursing the automated interruption of the station's computer. Pushing away the tangled web of blankets, she grimaced as the cool air assaulted her body. Leaving a trail of haphazardly discarded clothes in her wake, she stumbled into the sonic shower. Slowly the tremors riddling her body subsided as the steaming heat crept its way into her body, re-energizing the sluggish motors of her brain.
She choked, spurting water as fleeting images of the dream were unconsciously conjured. Tears slowly trailed a familiar path down her face as she slumped against the wall and slowly sank to the wet floor as her shoulders shook. Pulling her legs against her body and tucking her knees beneath her chin, she wrapped her arms around herself as she rocked herself back and forth. Her muffled sobs echoed in the catacomb atmosphere of her quarters as her grief threatened to ravage the remnants of her shattered heart.
The last four years had been spent sticking to the essentials, politely smiling as she declined another invitation to join one crew member or another onboard the station. Everywhere she went, another memory of their short time together surfaced. She knew that it would have been easier if he had been killed, that she might have had a chance to continue with her life if he had. Dax had seemed to understand how she felt and after a few disastrous attempts of attempting to enjoy their off-duty hours in one of Quark's holosuites, the Trill had given up and had voluntarily confined herself to socializing during their meal breaks. Privately, she was convinced that the Trill especially enjoyed tormenting her with Dax's stubborn instances that if she didn't have a private life that she should make it up with a social one.
While she understood their daily meals was Dax's way of supporting her, she still resented it. Guilt was convenient enough to follow suit when she thought of him and what he would say. The tears would soon follow on the heels of his voice whispering in her ear or the feel of his arms holding her, cradling her. The world never stood still for her or for the wounds of her heart to heal. The fact that he wasn't nearby didn't stop her from expressing the pain she felt with his absence, increased by the vivid dream her wishes had conjured. She lashed out at the most convenient substitute, letting her emotions have free reign for the first time since his departure. Her hands stung with each sharp slap against the insides of the shower stall until her sobs slowly dissipated.
Stinging red hands slowly reached upward, trembling fingers slid up the control panel. The last few warm droplets of water slowly dribbled from the nozzle and splashed on her upturned face, washing the stray remains of her tears down the curved features of her face. She shivered as the cool air slowly infiltrated the controlled environment of the shower, reflecting the numb sensation inside of her. She watched in a daze as the towel dried her goosebumped flesh. She was dimly aware of dressing before stepping outside of her quarters.
A/N
Alicia Jo Twain : Thanks for your review. Sorry this chapter is so short, I am working on the next one and it'll hopefully be longer.
Aurora West : Thanks for the review.