Fools Rush In by Teal

Chapter Eleven

The door chimed and Worf gave his customary reply. "Enter."

Julian, entering Worf's quarters, saw a very homey picture. Jadzia was lounging on the couch, reading some kind of interesting book, while Worf worked at the dining table. They both looked up at the same time and welcomed him. For some reason, he found the image very disturbing.

"Good morning. I just wanted to stop in and see how the patient was."

"Umm, much better. The last three days have been very nice."

"I'm glad you are getting plenty of rest."

She nodded in agreement.

"Is the Star Fleet nurse still on the station?" asked Worf.

"No. She gave up trying to get in here yesterday." He smiled appreciatively. "Good plan you had there, Worf."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Do you think she will give me a good report? Or will they be back to try another time?"

"Well, to be honest, I think she had plenty of information by the time she started the second volley of tests. Let alone the third. They just like to be thorough. In any case, she's giving you a good recommendation. She told me that, barring any interference from Star Fleet later, she thinks you should test out for a new and permanent position in our Star Fleet. They'd be willing to give you the rank you had in your world as well. And, she suggested you do the testing here on the base."

"That's awfully accommodating of them, isn't it?" she asked suspiciously.

"Um, that's what I thought too. Then she slipped, saying they were looking forward to the fresh, new perspective you could contribute." Julian pursed his lips together.

"They want the information she has about her reality in order to advance our technology."

"I think so, yes. Not very Prime Directive of them, is it?"

"No, but it is expected. Especially now, after the war. It could help us to protect ourselves in the future."

Julian nodded. "So, you have it made, Commander." He looked around him. "It is for you to decide whether or not to stay on the station as well. I think they'll offer you any position you want." He looked over at Worf, and then back at Jadzia. "In any case, I think you should think clearly about your options, and not make any quick decisions about your future now."

"Thank you for coming, Doctor."

"Of course. Why don't you stop in tomorrow for a quick check up, to see how you are doing?" Julian bristled at Worf's dismissal, but decided to ignore it. Take the higher road, that's best.

Jadzia nodded and waved good-bye to him as he left.

----

Worf spent the next several days showing Jadzia some of his favorite holo-sweet programs. Most of them, though, were fighting simulations.

"Worf, how about a nice walk on a beach some place? Something balmy maybe?" She rubbed the stiffness out of her neck. She had been sitting against a cave wall watching Worf defeat an alien enemy for the past two hours. And although it was intriguing at first, not being able to participate made it dull after the first twenty minutes. She was looking forward to getting better so they could defeat the holo-enemies side by side.

"Balmy?" He asked incredulously, his lip curled to one side.

"Sure, warm ocean breezes, the sweet smell of the sun baked beach." She looked dreamily at him. "The cool ocean water lapping up at our feet. Doesn't that sound nice?" She knew it didn't sound in the least bit nice to him.

"I am sorry I have been boring you." He sounded offended.

"Not boring exactly." She paused. "Well, yes, boring. You know, I don't just like watching the fight, I would rather be in it." She tried to sound apologetic, but it wasn't working. "Come on. You'll enjoy it when we get there!" She grabbed the bat'leth out of his hand and led him over to the door way.

Jadzia tapped in a series of requests on the computer panel until she found what she wanted. "Here, this looks just right." She pushed the larger red button and the world around them transformed into a computer generated vacation locale, complete with shade umbrellas and cabana boys running around asking for drink orders.

"Perfect." She sighed. "Have you ever been here?" She asked, suddenly realizing that he and his wife may have come here before.

"No. This must be new."

"Quit scowling. Pretend to like it for me, Worf." She ran over to a changing tent and motioned for him to go into his. "Get changed, we'll go for a swim."

Worf watched her enter the tent, then, with a chill down his spine, he entered his. Inside, he found swimming trunks in his size and a towel. Reluctantly, and without much enthusiasm, he changed his clothing. Non-Klingons and their love for swimming in lukewarm water. Would he never understand them?

When he emerged he caught a glimpse of Jadzia, just as she dove into the water. She'd wasted no time getting accustomed her new surroundings. Worf wandered over and sat down in the sand. Swimming was not something he enjoyed.

"Aren't you coming in?" She called from a far off rock, thirty feet out from him.

"Perhaps later." He said back, gritting his teeth.

Jadzia stood on the rock, her hand shading her eyes from the sun. "What?" She yelled back to him.

"Later!" He yelled, but she hadn't heard him. Before he knew what was happening a large wave had curled up behind her and was crashing down upon the rock where she stood. Its wake covered the rock, and as the tide lowered once again, Worf realized he had lost sight of her all together.

Diving in quickly, he raced for the spot he thought she had last been. Coming up, there was no sign of her. He dove down, again and again. On his third trip down, he heard her yell.

"Worf! Over here!"

Worf looked back at the beach. There she sat, safely, smiling at him.

He swam back in, rage pulsing through him. "That was on purpose?" He demanded, his control clearly waning.

"No, not exactly, but it got you in there, didn't it?" She grinned, oblivious to his anger.

"I thought you had drowned! How long were you going to sit here, watching me make a fool of myself?" He was livid, his eyes flashing hot, and his hands balling up into fists at his side.

A cold sheet of blame slipped up over her body. And, before she could say anything in explanation, he stormed off down the beach.

She raced after him, as quickly as she could. "Worf, wait!"

"Door!" He demand, and the computer complied, making the door to the holo-sweet immediately visible. Before he could hit the exit key, Jadzia caught his arm.

"Please. Wait." She was breathless. "I'm so sorry." Uncontrollably, she began to cough. Her lungs, not ready for the sprint she'd just completed, were rebelling against the abuse. She sank down, sliding her back against a tree.

"Sorry," she choked out, her eyes watering from the sting in her lungs.

Worf looked down worried about her. He waited until the coughs subsided. "What were you thinking?" He demanded.

"I was just joking. I didn't think. The wave came up and caught me by surprise, but before I knew it, I was on shore. Then, you were out there, and I just," She stopped. "It was stupid. Forgive me?" She looked up at him pleadingly.

Worf, lowering himself to her level, sat next to her. He reached over and pushed the wet hair back from her face. His hand lingered near her cheek, brushing the sand away.

"It was not funny." He said. Noticing that she was shivering, he ordered the computer to raise the ambient temperature. His arm came protectively around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. Jadzia, happily resting her head against his chest motioned towards the door.

"And just think, the bar would have gotten to see a side of you they had never seen before."

Worf, realizing he had almost run out into Quark's with only swimming trunks on, smiled faintly down at her.

"A close call." He said in a perfect monotone.

"Very close." She laughed.