Chapter Three

Marina had just left the bar and just stepped into her quarters when there was a beep at the door. She quickly spun around. Someone had to have followed her. "C-come in," she called.

The door slid open. There stood Constable Odo.

"Constable, is anything wrong?" Marina asked worriedly.

Odo was temporarily distracted by Marina's quarters. It looked as if she had unpacked little else but paintings and other wall-hangings. The paintings were beautiful, mostly of medieval scenes and fantasy scenes, with a few of modern spaceships and planets. Most were in shades of blue and green. Odo quickly tore his gaze from them. "Yes, lieutenant, something is wrong. It would seem that a small number of the population of this station are… well, allergic to your condition."

Marina frowned. She felt her stomach knot up, as if she were on a roller coaster. "Allergic? To… me?"

"Yes." Odo seemed uncomfortable. "I'll let the doctor explain. Come with me. Bashir wants you in sick bay."

Bashir…

"Of course I'll come," Marina said quickly, stepping forward. She followed Odo into the hallway, asking the computer to dim the lights and lock the door on her way out.

(LINE)

Julian looked up, a sad smile on his face. "Ah. Marina. Odo."

"I'll just leave her with you, doctor," Odo said.

"That will be fine, thank-you," Julian replied.

Marina stood awkwardly just within the door, biting her lip.

"Come in, Marina." Julian turned back to his instruments.

Marina slowly walked to his side, feeling horrible. "I am so sorry," she suddenly burst out. "I had no idea I could do this to people. I--I think maybe… Should I leave the station?"

Julian frowned at her. "No. Not just yet. I'm working on something."

Marina peered deeper into the room. "Oh no! Is that Barnett? He's such a nice guy! I can't believe I did this to him!" She started to go to Tom's bedside.

"No!" Julian quickly reached out and grabbed her arm. "No," he said more gently. "It will make them worse."

"Why don't I make you sick?" Marina asked quietly. She felt like crying, but would not dare do that in front of anyone--especially in front of someone she was as attracted to as she was to this man.

"It's only certain people, people who have the bad luck to have just the right brain make-up for their brain waves to see yours as a threat to them," Julian explained. "I think if I could locate a certain mitochondria in your cerebellum…" He trailed off and started muttering to himself, his hazel eyes intent on his readings.

Marina watched him type things into his computer, then turned to look at the beds far across sick bay. What have I done? She crossed her arms and started pacing. I know what I've done. I've made these people sick. And more will get sick if I don't leave. That's right--leave. I don't care what Julian says. I have to get out of here. Didn't I hear Hannah mention some cargo shuttle leaving the station today? That's it! I'll sneak on it and leave this station--and Starfleet--forever! She quickly glanced at Julian. He was very intent on what he was doing. She reached out with her thoughts and gently touched his. His thoughts were all on finding a way to remedy the allergic reactions.

Ever so quietly, Marina started tiptoeing towards the door.

"Stop."

Marina groaned inwardly and turned around. Julian was still looking at the readings.

"If you try to leave this station, I'll have you put under watch," Julian said quietly, still not looking at her. "It's not your fault these people are sick. And I will find a way to cure them--and block whatever it is that causes these reactions. You have no reason to leave." A slow smile lit up his face. "And besides, you have a reason to stay."

Marina could not help but smile. She could listen to that British accent forever. Wait…a reason to stay? "I have a reason to stay?" she asked, feeling stupid.

Julian spun in his chair to face her, linking his fingers in that gesture they both shared. He was still smiling. "I want to get to know you. And I'm sure you want to get to know me."

Marina stared at him, eyes wide, then smiled. "Yes. I must admit, I am quite curious about you."

"Good. Then it's settled. You're staying." He gave her a smug smile, then turned back to his work. "Come over here. I need to do a scan of your brain."

Two Days Later:

"This should do it." Julian gently slid the clip into Marina's golden hair. "Not only will it block the brain waves that tend to hurt people, but it will also go perfectly with your uniform." He beamed at her proudly.

"Thank-you!" Marina exclaimed, hopping up from the sick bay chair. She reached up to touch the hair clip. "You're a genius."

Julian shrugged. "What can I say?"

Marina suddenly felt like hugging him, but decided against it. She might scare him. So instead… she stood there.

Julian cleared his throat. "Well, I think I'll go check on the patients. They should get well very soon."

"Good," Marina said quietly.

Julian abruptly took her hand. "You've been a model lab rat," he said, winking.

Marina laughed and squeezed his hand. "Thank-you. I've always wanted someone to say that."

He grinned at her, holding her hand to his chest, then suddenly released her hand and went to check on the patients. "You can go back to your station, now," he called back to her. "I'll see you later."

"I'll see you sooner!" Marina replied. She quickly left sick bay and headed towards her post. She and her fellow science officers were working with the engineers on a new science tricorder, and she didn't want to miss a moment of it.

But as soon as she was in the hall, she was waylaid--by two different people!

"About that proposition with you helping me--"

"Lt. Richardson, I hear you have mind powers…"

Marina held up her hands. First she pointed to Quark. "You--I don't know how I can help you. I don't know what you even mean by 'that proposition.' We haven't discussed anything!"

"Might I say that your hair clip looks very nice?"

"What do you want?"

"I just thought maybe your mind skills could be helpful in my bar," Quark said. "You could scan each customer and tell me which ones have the most money, which ones lie, which ones cheat, which ones have hostile intent towards me…"

"You want me to be a bouncer?" Marina asked incredulously.

"If you must put things in crude human terms--yes," he replied.

"No," Marina said. "And again--no."

"But--"

"She said no. Didn't you hear her?" the other guy spoke up.

"All right, all right. But… if you ever change your mind, tell me." He stalked off.

"And who are you?" Marina asked the young black guy.

"Jake Sisko, at your service. The captain's son."

"Oh. Well, nice to meet you." She shook his hand. "I must be going. I have to get to my post." She started to walk past him, then stopped. "You can walk with me if you like."

"All right." Jake held up his writing pad and pen. "Tell me about yourself."

"You a writer?" Marina asked, smiling at him.

"Yes."

"Me, too!" she exclaimed.

"Incredible!" Jake fairly skipped beside her. "What do you write?"

"Mostly fantasy stuff, actually. I'm a big fan of those old fantasy epics."

Jake scribbled furiously. "Tell me, lieutenant, how long have you been writing?"

Marina smiled. It felt good to be interesting.

(LINE)

Tired, but satisfied with herself, Marina entered her quarters at the end of her working day. The work with the tricorder had gone well. In fact, she herself had come up with half the codes to program into it, and her team had been very proud of her. Things were going well.

"Computer. Lights."

The lights came on, and Marina groaned. She still had lots of unpacking to do. The only things she had unpacked were her paintings and wall-hangings, and some of her clothes. And her books of course. Sighing, she stepped forward and started unpacking.

She had nearly finished when there was a beep at the door.

"Come in." She stood up and brushed a few strands of loose hair. Then she decided to take her hair down.

Just as she had ripped out her hair tie, Julian stepped in. He stopped, one eyebrow raised. "Catch you with your hair down, did I?"

Marina blushed. "Yes, I guess you did."

"Unpacking?"

"Yes."

Julian cleared his throat. "I just thought I would invite you to come with the chief and me to the holo-suite."

"I'd love to." She smiled at him.

"Are you feeling all right?" He took a step forward, peering intently at her.

"Yes. I'm fine. Why?"

"Your face is red and you're breathing rapidly." He stepped even closer.

"I must be worn out from all the unpacking," Marina said quietly. Oh no. My sleeves are rolled up. If he comes one step closer, he's going to see the goose bumps.

"Let me check your pulse." Julian stood very close now. He gently took her wrist and placed his fingers on her pulse. Staring straight into her eyes, he said quietly, "I think something has excited you."

Marina laughed nervously. "I've always had a rather rapid heartbeat."

"Then I shall kiss it and make it better."

Marina's eyes went wide as he lifted her wrist to his lips and kissed it.

Julian smiled crookedly at her.

"Better?"

"No. It's much worse," Marina heard herself say. "I'd say about a hundred and fifty beats a minute."

"Then the treatment will have to be much more extensive." He suddenly had both her hands in his.

I've only known this girl for a few days! he thought. I'm falling for her too fast!

I've only know this guy for a few days! she thought. Well, I always did believe in love at first sight…

Julian felt hypnotized. He couldn't help it. He leaned forward, closing his eyes.

Marina tilted her face up towards his.

"Julian? Are you in there?" There was a pounding at the door.

"Yes, chief." Julian rocked back on his heels and sighed, annoyed.

"With Marina?"

"Yes. With Marina."

"Well you two slow pokes get out here. England is waiting for her champions!"

Marina laughed, not taking her eyes from Julian's. "Shall we answer the summons?"

"We shall." He still held her hands. "And afterward, you can tell me all about these paintings and you can show Miles all your holo-suite programs."

"Sounds like a deal," Marina said. She felt like she was smiling so hard, her face would crack.

"And we can work on fixing your heart," Julian whispered, leading her towards the door.

Just what does he mean by that? Marina felt butterflies in her stomach as she followed Julian and Miles down the hall. She was suddenly worried. Did Julian take her seriously? Or was he looking for the wrong kind of love? Marina tossed her hair over her shoulder. There was only one kind of love any man would ever get from her--the true kind, the real stuff. No one was going to play games with her or use her. She glanced at Julian, and his smile made her heart do flips in her chest. Could she trust him with that all-important organ?