Chapter Seven

Marina read the mission briefing twice before deciding to go. She looked up from the view pad. "Yes. I'll go."

"Excellent," said Captain Sisko.

"Who else is going and when do we leave?" Marina asked.

"You leave in two days. Commander Worf is leading the team. You are going, of course, along with Ensigns Harris, Garcia, and West. Oh, yes, and Jake, my son, is going along. He is writing his story based on you, remember?"

"Yes. It will be nice to have him along." But not Harris and Garcia…

"I hear you had a bit of trouble with Harris and Garcia," Sisko spoke up.

"Yeah, they don't like me because I'm a psychogenotron," Marina explained quietly.

"You don't have to go, you know." The captain leaned back in his chair. "Catronis 6 is in an area where there was once heavy Dominion activity. There isn't as much anymore… but…"

"It's all right. Those people need me. I have a pretty good knowledge of meteorology, so I can help them with their climate control problems. I also have combat training, so I can help them with the animal control issue."

Sisko smiled. "Do you know who you sound like?"

"Who?"

"Dr. Bashir."

Marina blushed. "Maybe he's rubbing off on me." She frowned thoughtfully. "Why are no medical officers going?"

"There are plenty of those at the base on Catronis," Sisko explained.

"Oh."

"You're dismissed, lieutenant. Thank-you for volunteering. The team needed a science officer."

"No problem, sir." Marina started to leave the office, but was blocked by Major Kira Nerys.

Kira held up a hand. "Hold on for a moment, Lt. Richardson," she said. She turned to Sisko. "I heard all that, sir, and I have to object."

Sisko raised an eyebrow. "Oh? To what?"

"To sending Marina to a planet in that area! It is my responsibility, mine and Julian's and Odo's, to take care of her, and if she leaves us, we can't. I propose that you either send one of us with her, or not send her at all."

"Dr. Bashir is working on some vaccinations, and the security of this entire station is constable Odo's responsibility--not just the safety of one officer."

"Then send me, sir," Kira suggested. "I'm not working on anything important."

Sisko leaned back in his chair. "I will consider it, major."

"Thank-you, captain… Emissary." Kira nodded to him in appreciation.

"You are both dismissed."

Marina walked with Kira out of the office.

"Walk with me," Kira said to her, giving her a smile.

"All right."

"So why are you so eager to go to that place when it could be very dangerous to you?" Kira asked.

"I don't know. I guess I just feel like it's… right. We can't just abandon the base there. It's new."

Kira studied her carefully. "I think I understand. I just don't feel comfortable sending someone as valuable to this station, and to me as a friend, as you out so close to Cardassian space!"

"Well I'm glad you're going along," Marina said. "I'll feel a lot safer--and you're good company."

"Thanks. I'm flattered. So, where are you headed to?"

"My quarters, I guess. I've finished up all the science department work for the day."

"Dax tells me you're fast."

"Yeah--genius and psychogenotron. What can I say?"

Kira laughed. "You are starting to sound like Julian."

Marina grinned. "See you later, Nerys."

"Bye."

The two women parted and Marina went to her quarters.

Marina had just had time to unbraid her hair and plop on her couch when there was a beep at the door. She stood quickly. "Enter."

In walked Julian, with Jake Sisko following him closely.

"Hi, guys," Marina greeted them. "What can I do for you?"

"Well you can kiss me," Julian said, stepping forward. He swept Marina into his arms and kissed her.

Oh gosh. I'm going to miss him sooooooooo bad…

"I hear you and Jake are going on a mission to Catronis 6," Julian said quietly.

"Yes. In two days."

"I'll really miss you." His voice was low and intense.

"I'll miss you, too," she whispered.

Jake cleared his throat. "The good doctor and I were wondering if you would walk with us to the Promenade. You could answer some of my questions for my story, and you and your boyfriend could spend some quality time."

Julian winked at her.

Marina smiled. "Sounds good to me." She took Julian's hand and followed him and Jake into the hall.

"I'm working on chapter four of my story," Jake said. "My heroine, Marina, and her surgeon lover are on a mission when the Dominion attacks."

Marina raised an eyebrow. "Julian is, unfortunately, not going with me to Catronis. And hopefully, we will not be facing the Dominion."

Jake laughed. "Don't worry. It's just fiction."

I hope the Dominion part is… And I wish the Julian-coming-with-me part wasn't…

"Marina versus the Dominion--that's what I'm going to call it," Jake continued.

Marina and Julian exchanged a glance.

Julian made sure that Jake wasn't paying attention and pulled Marina to a stop beside him. "Marina, I'm so worried about you," he whispered as Jake kept walking.

"Kira's going with me," Marina replied. "I'll be all right."

Julian just stared at her. If anything happens to you… Impulsively, he pulled her into his arms and brushed the top of her head with a soft kiss.

Jake cleared his throat.

Reluctantly, Marina and Julian pulled apart.

Marina swallowed hard to keep from crying. How could she leave this station, these friends… Julian… She had to. Somewhere deep inside, she knew that she had to go to Catronis 6. She had to.

"Are you all right?" Julian asked, his soulful eyes concerned.

"Fine." The tightness in her throat made her voice sound a bit choked. "Let's keep walking."

They continued their walk, with Jake doing most of the talking.

(LINE)

Julian sat alone at the bar, staring into his drink, lost in his thoughts.

"You already miss her?" Quark asked, coming up to him.

"Yes." Julian snapped his head up. "I don't know what I'm going to do without her." Her bright smile whenever she sees me, her gentle touch, her passionate kiss good-night when I'm standing in her doorway, when I don't want to leave but I do anyway because she's not that kind of girl… He smiled dreamily at the memories.

"I miss her, too," Quark said suddenly.

Julian frowned at him. "What?"

"Her ideas are invaluable." The Ferengi leaned across the bar. "That Playground program of hers…" He sighed. "Everyone is lining up to be able to play in the Playground. For a human, that woman sure does know what people want."

"She's good with people--very alert, watchful, notices everything."

"It's that mind power. Or at least, part of it is, I guess." Quark straightened. "What are you doing here, doctor? You should be with her. She's leaving in less that two days!"

Julian blinked, his glass paused in front of his face. Quark was telling someone to leave the bar?

"Julian! It will make you feel better--and her, too--if you spend time with her before she leaves."

"You're right, Quark." Julian set his glass down and stood. "I'm going to see her." He fairly ran across the station to Marina's door. As soon as the door opened, he rushed inside.

There she stood, dressed in a belted green tunic and black pants. She didn't smile when she saw him, but her green eyes lit up. "Julian."

"Marina." He rushed over to her and kissed her. "I can't stand to think--to think that I won't see you for--for a week!"

Marina laughed softly and pulled his head to her shoulder. "It's just a week," she whispered, but her voice was shaky as well.

"It's been barely a week since I met you," Julian whispered, his breath warm on her neck. "And I--I don't know why, but I can't bear being apart from you. It's--it's wrong to even think about it." Marina felt him tremble in her arms.

"I know." She gently took his face between her hands. "I know. I'm coming back, Julian."

What is happening to me? To us? This is too fast. I can't even think straight… "You'd better come back." He regained his composure and gave her his arrogant smile. "If you don't, I'm coming to get you."

Marina pulled his head down and kissed him hard. "My hero," she whispered.

They embraced for a long time. Neither of them could bear the thought of being without the other.

"Marina…" Julian whispered suddenly, drawing back from a rather passionate embrace. "I have to leave."

Marina nodded, then leaned her head against his shoulder. "Yes," she said quietly. "But I don't want you to."

Julian laughed softly.

The sound of his laugh gave her goose bumps.

"I don't want to leave, either." He gently drew back from her and took her hands. "But remember, you're 'not that kind of girl.' That's one of the things I love most about you. You are very skilled in the art of kissing, but yet you're still such a lady. You swing swords and play on playgrounds, but you also sleep with teddy bears. My diagnosis--you are a genuine Renaissance woman."

"That's me," Marina said, laughter in her voice.

Ever so slowly, ever so softly, Julian bent and kissed her neck just under her jaw line. "I'll miss you so much," he whispered, straightening. "Good-night." He bowed gracefully, then turned to go.

As he was standing in the open doorway, Marina called, "Julian, I love you."

He turned to face her, his dark eyes wide. He couldn't speak, couldn't move. I must have just imagined that. There is no bloody way she just said what I think she said.

Marina smiled at him. It was that sad-eyed smile again, the one he had branded into his memory. "You don't have to say anything back," she said quietly. "Not tonight."

Julian gave her what he hoped was a smile, then turned and started down the hallway towards his quarters. He stopped at his door and leaned against it. He suddenly realized that he had forgotten to breathe.