Bright and early the next morning, O'Brien was walking to work when a Jam-Ja stand caught his eye. "Hmm." Despite Keiko's best efforts, he'd escaped without partaking of her latest breakfast concoction. He knew that if she found out that he had skipped her cooking in favor of a Jam-Ja stick, he'd never hear the end of it, but his stomach rumbled insistently.

"Hey, Chief, look over there," a voice in his ear said, just as a hand materialized over his shoulder.

O'Brien automatically started to turn, but then a half-forgotten memory caused him to spin around, one hand going protectively to his neck. "What the -"

A blond man stood behind him and O'Brien experienced a weird sensation of deja vu. Only something was wrong with the picture. After a moment's disorientation, O'Brien had it: the man had no hypospray in his hand. At that instant, O'Brien placed the memory. "Bennet! You bastard!"

Bennet nimbly ducked the swing. "Now, now, Chief. Remember you're an officer and a gentleman."

"You drugged me, you damned menace!" O'Brien snarled, winding up for another punch. "And I'm no officer!"

"It was Antarean Joy Dust," Bennet exclaimed, shocked. "Do you know how much it would have cost you to buy -- "

"That isn't the point!"

"Don't be so cranky, Chief," Bennet urged. "It was a long time ago, and I was very careful about the dosage. I only hope Beverly didn't interrupt your dreams prematurely."

O'Brien narrowed his eyes. "So you're the one Major Kira retrieved? I should have known it would be you. You turn up like a bad penny."

"Now that's not fair," he protested, hurt. "My timing has always been exceptional. And you really don't have to be so stuffy. When I left the Enterprise, it was on the best of terms. Can't you let bygones be bygones, for old time's sake?"

"Just stay the hell away from me, or I'll bust your nose. For old time's sake." O'Brien stalked away, heading for Ops.

Bennet jogged after him. "Let me try to make it up to you. There's going to be a party at Quark's this evening, after work. Why don't you and your wife come? Everyone will be there."

"No."

"Oh, come on. Surely the two of you could use a night out."

"No!"

"Chief, if you don't agree, I'll just have to keep bothering you. Besides, you're not being fair to your wife. The party is going to be a blast -- I personally guarantee it -- and how will she feel at having missed the social event of the year?"

"Listen -- " O'Brien began angrily.

"Chief, I can be very persuasive," Bennet warned sweetly. "Do you want me to try to enlist Mrs. O'Brien's help?"

"Stay away -- " O'Brien caught himself. This was useless. He glared at Bennet another moment but realized that in the end, he'd probably end up at the party anyway. "All right. But I'm only coming for a minute! And in exchange, you have to leave me alone!"

"Done! You won't regret it!"

"I already do!"

#

The next morning, Odo and Sisko were huddled in a council of war in the commander's office. "Yes, he does have extensive records in both Federation and Free Space law enforcement agencies, but there are no current warrants. To be fair," Odo added reluctantly, "the charges are mostly of a trivial nature."

Sisko looked gloomy. "So there are no outstanding indictments with which we can charge him?"

"Several years ago, Bennet had acquired an impressive list, but they were abruptly wiped clean, apparently at Star Fleet's request. Since then, he's been -- for him -- remarkably law-abiding."

"Which just means he's gotten more careful," Sisko replied in a tone that mirrored Odo's. "Can't we even find a reason to send him to Bajor?"

"He seems well aware of Federation regulations concerning aid to victims of starship accidents. I doubt he'd waive his rights to shelter."

"Great." Sisko's growl wasn't directed at his Security Chief, and Odo knew it. "I don't trust him. And after last night -- !"

Odo's sour expression deepened. "I have never seen the Promenade in such a state of disarray! Confetti is everywhere -- only the areas by Garek's shop and the school were spared. People acted most inappropriately. And when I sent some of my staff over to reestablish order, even they were co-opted into the frivolity! That man is a menace!"

"It began at Quark's, didn't it? Can we exert some pressure on him to prevent -- "

Odo was already shaking his head. "Bennet has a stronger hold over him than we do, at least for now, and it was a profitable night. It would take more than veiled warnings to force Quark to avoid future events of this nature, especially as he knows that our threats would be empty."

Sisko frowned. "I see. Well, if we can't manage Quark, we'll have to concentrate on Bennet. I've asked him to come by -- for a 'chat'. I'll see if I can't convince him to restrain himself from now on."

Odo politely refrained from voicing his skepticism. "Good luck."

The lift deposited Bennet on the Ops deck just as Odo was leaving Sisko's office. "Nerys!" he yodeled delightedly, swooping down and nuzzling the back of Major Kira's neck, oblivious to Odo's glare.

She started awake from where she'd been nodding off at her console. "Jake! Don't do that here!" she admonished, pulling free. "I'm on duty!"

He gave her such a hangdog look that she had to laugh. Then, before she could object, he dropped to one knee and seized her hand. "Major Kira Nerys, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I couldn't possibly let the woman who mixes such a lethal Bajoran Supernova escape."

Kira grinned. "You're already married, remember? Since when do Orionites practice polygamy?"

Jake tapped his forehead in mock dismay. "You're right! Well, you'll just have to promise to come to all my parties as honorary bartender. Deal?"

"You must be joking! It'll take me a week just to recuperate from last night!"

"Oh, don't be so stodgy!" Bennet clucked, rising to his feet. "Quark's already restocking, and there are at least half a dozen games I didn't teach you. Tonight will be even more fun!"

"I couldn't."

"Nerys..." He put his hands on his hips and regarded her sternly. "Didn't you have fun last night?"

"Ye-es," she admitted slowly.

"Then come again tonight! You'll enjoy yourself, I promise. Trust me."

"Well, maybe I'll just stop by for a minute," she murmured, her resolve weakening.

"Great! I'll make sure Quark has all the Supernova ingredients waiting for you!" Bennet bounced away to Dax's console. "Jadzia! Now you'll be there tonight, won't you?"

Dax's grin was eerily reminiscent of Kirzon. "Naturally! We didn't get through half the choruses of 'The Ballad of Virgos III'."

Bennet chortled in delight. "Jadzia, my dear, you're almost able to make me overcome my prejudice against joined species. Who ever would have guessed that centuries of experience in hell-raising are packed inside that demure little head?

"Uh oh," he continued, looking over at O'Brien. The chief was dozing at his post, dark circles under his eyes testifying to his late night. Bennet skipped over and draped one arm over his shoulder. "Miles, don't they phaser people for falling asleep on duty?"

"Unh?" O'Brien jerked awake. "Jake? What are you doing here?"

"Never mind me. If you don't keep on your toes, your surly boss will toss you out the nearest airlock. Here, let me get you one of my famous 'morning after' drinks." He walked to the synthesizer, towing a yawning O'Brien behind him.

"I take it you liked the party?" Bennet continued, keying in commands. "What about your lovely Keiko?"

O'Brien managed a chuckle. "She nearly gave the kids an impromptu holiday this morning."

"Well, at your next break go down and give her one of these," Bennet instructed, handing O'Brien a tall, frosty glass containing a foamy green liquid. "It'll perk her right up."

O'Brien sniffed the contents suspiciously. "Bloody hell! What's in this?"

"Tch, tch, don't ask questions if you don't want to know the answer. It'll work. Just hold your nose and drink it down. Trust me."

O'Brien looked at him skeptically. "Go ahead, Chief," Dax urged. "It's a Terolean Fizz. They really do help."

"Ah, Jadzia, you're giving away all my secrets," Bennet chided. Meanwhile, a reassured O'Brien downed the concoction.

An instant later, he was choking and grabbing at his throat. "Bashir! Get Bashir!"

"Chief!" Kira darted forward in concern, but Bennet intervened, seizing her anxious hands.

"It's all right, just give him a moment." And in a few seconds, O'Brien stopped gasping and blinked.

"Cripes, it worked!" he said in amazement.

"Your turn, Nerys," Bennet announced, tapping the synthesizer and holding out a second Fizz.

"Oh, I don't -- " she tried to demur, but Bennet was firm.

"Go ahead, Major," O'Brien urged. "After the first bit, you really do feel better."

"After the first bit? What's that part like?"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Bennet cautioned before O'Brien could reply. "No telling. Just drink it."

With a grimace, Kira accepted the glass and in another moment was gagging in much the same way as O'Brien had.

"I suppose this is why the Terolean Fizz never caught on in a big way," Bennet observed to Dax while O'Brien helped Kira off the floor.

"That -- that 'drink' should only be dispensed by a licensed physician!" Kira exclaimed once she had regained control of her voice.

Bennet snapped his fingers. "That reminds me! I'd better visit Julian! We can't have our CMO out of action!"

"Jake, what are you doing here?" Now that the Terolean Fizz had cleared her mind of cobwebs, Kira belatedly realized that Ops was not the proper place for Bennet.

"Never fear, m'dear," he quipped. "Your illustrious commander requested my presence."

O'Brien darted a nervous glance towards Sisko's office. "You probably should get up there," he urged.

"Right. I'll see all of you later tonight?" Their chorus of assent followed him up the stairs. Sisko caught part of it as he opened the door at Bennet's approach, and his brow furrowed even more.

"Hello, Commander. What did you want to see me about?"

"Mr. Bennet," Sisko began sternly, "I wanted to remind you that you are here as a guest of Star Fleet and the Bajoran people. You -- "

"Oh, I know that," Bennet assured him cheerfully. "That's why I'm so busy making sure that my presence doesn't inconvenience anyone."

For a moment, Sisko could only goggle at him in disbelief. "What?"

"Sure, I know that I owe you folks a lot, so I've nominated myself to be the station's social director so long as I'm here. You should have seen the party last night. It was wild, and people -- "

"I've heard reports. The Promenade was nearly wrecked."

"Nonsense!" Bennet scoffed. "A little bent, maybe, but everyone had a great time. Odo didn't get one complaint all night, did he?"

"No," Sisko admitted reluctantly, "but that's beside the point! This isn't a playground, Mr. Bennet, but a working space station! I can't have my people's efficiency undermined by your antics!"

Bennet tugged at his ear thoughtfully. "Gee, Commander, I didn't think that Star Fleet needed to play nursemaid for its members. Aren't they old enough to make their own decisions? I mean," he continued in the same innocent tone, "if you can entrust them with photon torpedos and life support systems, it just seems that you should be able to allow them to spend their free time as they see fit."

Sisko cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I wasn't suggesting that my staff was incompetent," he said stiffly. "Merely that you were unduly tempting them..."

"Well, if you really feel like they can't handle themselves, I'll be happy to cancel the party," Jake said earnestly. "I'll just explain that you didn't think they could be trusted with that much freedom."

"No!" Sisko had a good idea how such an announcement would be met by his crew. "I mean, that won't be necessary. I have every confidence in my people."

"That's the spirit, Commander," Bennet agreed approvingly. "Besides, I think you've got the wrong idea about the party. Why don't you stop by tonight's? I guarantee you a good time, and you'll see your concern is misplaced."

"Mr. Bennet," Sisko snapped, "I have exactly the right idea about your shenanigans, and I have absolutely no intention of falling under your spell the way much of my staff unfortunately has! Good day!"

Bennet walked sadly to the door. "I won't insult you by insisting, Commander, but if you and Odo get lonely, feel free to stop by." A wicked gleam crept into his eye. "The party will be going on at least until planetary dawn." With that last shaft loosed, he waved jauntily and departed, leaving behind a smoldering Sisko.