Hi everyone! Almost all my out-of-town family has left now, and the house is considerably less noisy. Only Rob is left! I'm sad they're gone and I liked having them around, but now that no one's on the computer, I can write!

Chapter Fifteen: A Complete Overreaction

Bashir

Still having one patient to tend to, Bashir reported for duty ready to duck behind a bio-bed if needed. His cautions seemed unnecessary at first, as the Major lay still on the bed, seemingly calm.

He began taking tests immediately, only to find that she was still feverish. The medication he was giving her was not working as it should. He started her on a larger dose of a different medicine that was stronger. That ought to do it, Bashir thought.

Just then, Kira squirmed in her sleep and Bashir quickly prepared a hypo-spray, just in case. Kira's eyes fluttered open and she looked around, seeming not to take anything fully in. She looked forlorn as she saw Bashir and forced words from her parched throat. "It's okay," she scratched. "I'm not going to fight you, Cardassian. I'm too tired and dizzy for that."

This was hardly what Bashir had expected. "Major, I'm not a Cardassian," he tried. "It's me, Julian."

Kira looked him up and down. "Right," she said, unbelieving.

"No, truly," said Bashir. "You're on Deep Space Nine, in the Infirmary."

"Uh-huh," Kira responded, obviously unconvinced.

Bashir decided to let the fever die down before trying to reason with her. "Well, I'll be working in my office if you need anything," he told her before walking away.

Odo

Knowing his efforts were futile, Odo obstinately pressed his gray, leathery skin onto the force field that shocked him, making him wish he could jump back. "I must get out of here!" he roared, although it came out as a smothered trumpeting sound.

That got the guard's attention, and he rushed into the room. Then he smirked at Odo, knowing also that he could never break out of that force field. He was not surprised at these escape attempts, especially after his first real mission, but really, couldn't he just accept defeat?

Apparently not. Odo kept at it until he could bear it no longer. He receded, out of ideas, out of faith.

Sisko

Interrogations were not going well at all. The Changeling simply refused to cooperate. And thus, it was being contained and constantly talked to. Maybe if it got used to being around humans, it would loosen up and speak.

Meanwhile, crime rates had elevated ever so slightly on DS9. The deputies were doing the best they could without the constable's leadership, but Odo's shape-shifting had come in handy more than once and still could. It had been a full day now, which meant Odo could be very, very far away.

They could go after him, help him as the Cardassians had helped their changeling. But that would only shake Federation/Cardassian relations more, and that was the last thing they needed. No, their only option was to wait it out and hope for the best.

Odo

The Cardassian guard laughed, pointing at the weak blob that was Odo. "You. . . you don't. . . give up. . . do you?" he managed to say through fits of guffaws. "You can't. . . break. . . a force field!" He advanced, clutching his side and shaking with giggles. "You're pathetic, changeling," he bellowed, dropping to his knees and chuckling violently.

Odo felt this to be a complete overreaction, but he saw how it could benefit him and tensed for another morph. The guard rolled on the floor, still laughing at Odo. Perhaps a "canned elephant" would look ridiculous, but really, he should control himself under the watch of the camera.

The guard reached up to grab the console, not able to raise himself up. Under its support, he stood, but not without accidentally pressing just the right button to lower the force field.

I had to add two Odo scenes, because one just didn't seem like enough. Hope you liked it, and whether you did or not, PLEASE tell me. It's sad for me not to get reviews... I LOVE REVIEWS! I would appreciate it if you could write one for me... please! (Puppy dog face...) Now, looking back, I see that this one's a little shorter than I would have liked. Oh well. It was important!