Odo was trying to busy himself with security details but none of the details were sticking to his consciousness very well and he kept thinking of Ensign Nollo who was sleeping nearby in a unguarded cell.

I wonder if she's actually sleeping right now.

Maybe she needs something, a blanket, a extra pillow or a glass of water.

I don't know why I'm so concerned about her.

I'm almost acting like I'm her father or like some hyper vigilant mother.

She's fine.

Leave her alone.

She needs rest so leave her be.

You have work to do.

Work, work, work.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

All I'm doing is looking at old Bajoran Police logs, I don't really have that much work to do and I'm not even that busy.

Oh this is boring.

I can't stand this.

I have to check on her.

I have to do something, at least something besides reading The Best Bajoran Police Logs ever Recorded in the last 200 years.

Odo felt strangely uncomfortable but at the same time he was a little bit excited as he peered into the cell.

Taya had a serene expression on her face while she slept.

She smiled a few times but even with that prominent scar she still looked like the still artwork of an ancient Terran painting.

She was actually happy and at peace, not nervous, angry or confused, just peaceful and content.

It was a nice change not to feel that familiar edge of her insecure anxiety.

He gradually began to feel rather at peace himself.

He walked back to his desk content in knowing she was resting peaceably without any sort of distress.

He reflected on why this was and exactly why she was so at peace.

I don't want to admit this to anyone but I really think this may be me that's responsible for this newfound peace.

She never sleeps well in her quarters but she sleeps just fine in here.

There's no nightmares from what I can tell, she's perfectly peaceful, she looks happy even content.

I don't think I've ever done that for anyone since Lwaxana Troi.

She was happy whenever she was around me, she was content with my company and I rather liked having her around, I remember how I got used to it.

Yes I got used to her presence, I got used to her face and I even got used to taking care of her.

She'd fall asleep in my arms and then afterwards when she woke up we would play silly games around my quarters.

I remember being happy with her too, I remember feeling that unmistakable contentment of having her constant company.

She was irritating at first but after awhile I found myself enjoying her company and I even found myself enjoying the constant care I could provide her.

I actually liked taking care of her.

I remember when I held Lwaxana in my arms how comfortable it felt to me, I remember wishing I felt that comfortable with Kiras.

I remember longing to feel that comfort, content and peace with Kira but that never came not in the way I wanted it to.

I still question to this day if she ever loved me in the first place.

I wish love had been like it had been with Lwxana.

I wish life with Kiras had been Beautiful like when I was with Lwaxana yet I wasn't in love with her, I was in love with Kiras.

Now I'm in love with nobody nobody except my work and my job here.

Nobody is in love me...I think.

Anyhow I wonder if Taya would mind if I took care of her.

I wouldn't allow her to move into my quarters but maybe I could have her quarters reassigned somewhere closer, right across from me perhaps, or right next door, like Lwaxana was.

Oh I don't know if she'd like that idea but then again she can't really refuse.

She can't refuse if I order her to.

Odo you're terrible.

You can't just order her to be close to you. That would be wrong, that would be imprudent, impertinent and improper.

You mustn't force her do such a thing.

Don't be such a villain.

Wait what if I convince her to move closer to me?

I could spend more time with her, really get to know her first, then I could offer and she'd be more likely to say yes because I made the effort to be nice and kind towards her.

How desperate are you right now?

You're going go through all that just for a bit of company.

You don't manipulate people to get what you want, you ask them first and then try to convince them later if they refuse or you just let it go afterwards.

That's always a option.

Yes just let it go.

Don't press her, don't bother her, ignore her for a time, avoid her like you've done with everybody for most of your life.

Only I don't think I can avoid her right now.

I work with her and she always seems to be on my mind.

I can't get her off my mind.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

Why do I have this constant desire to be near her?

I didn't even like her at least not at first but now things are different.

She's actually becoming honest with me.

I'd really like to know her whole story but I think she'll have get to know me better before she opens up to me like that.

She says she trusts me but I don't think she's willing to tell me everything that she's been through.

Oh how Am I going to go through with this?

No manipulation, Odo.

None whatsoever, you are better than that and just imagine if she finds out she was actually being manipulated by you.

She'll never trust you again.

Go easy on her just like Bashir suggested.

I have a problem with several of his suggestions.

I despise all his suggestions right now.

I shall be actively avoiding him for the time being or until Sisko's smooths everything out with him, even then I'm not that keen on talking with him.

If he apologizes I might consider speaking with him yet even that is pushing it for me.

I'd rather not talk with him at all, ever again but I know that will never end up happening.

Friends don't work that way and my friends don't work that way either.

Bashir is no doubt still in bed.

Maybe he'll stay that way for the rest of the day, I can always hope.

Odo heard a gasp coming from within the cell.

He almost lept out of his chair but he contained his eagerness and remained in his seat to wait for any further disturbances.

He didn't even know if his help was needed so as usual he was pretending not to care.

A few more hours passed by without even so much as a sigh or a whimper.

The peace had returned yet again and he enjoyed the contented peace that had fallen upon him and he smiled blissfully as he knew for certain that everything between them was going to work out.

It had been rocky at first but in the end there would be a beautiful friendship, possibly one just like he had with Lwaxana.

The hours seemed but brief moments and then the glorious moment came when she awakened.

Her pallid complexion was rejuvenated and full of life yet again.

The dark circles that hung under her eyes were gone and her mood had changed drastically as well, she was at ease and seemed to be rather non challant, charming and happily humorous about her life on the station in general.

"Good morning, Constable."

Odo nodded approvingly.

"I trust your sleep was satisfactory to you."

"Yes it was most satisfactory, almost too satisfactory, actually.

It was the weirdest thing but I didn't have one single nightmare.

I was just dreaming peacefully, completely nightmare free.

It didn't take much to get me to sleep either, I just closed my eyes and then I was out like a light.

I don't think I've ever slept like that before.

I've never slept that well ever in my life.

It's really the oddest thing.

I suppose you wouldn't have anything to do with it, would you?"

"Who me? I don't know what you're talking about.

It must be the change of scenery that did it.

Nothing to do with me, I assure you".

He smilled softly as he slid his tablet down onto his desk

"Yes I'm sure.

It must be the lighting, the new environment, the soothing hum of the machinery that did it."

"Oh I'm certain of it, may I get you anything this morning?

Tea, Coffee, sustenance?"

"How is the coffee aboard this station?"

"As if I would know.

According to Sisko it's fairly decent yet it all depends which replicator you use.

I find that the trick is to use precise terms when requesting something from the replicator a trick that Quark somehow has never found that little trick out and I'm never telling him.

I rather enjoy seeing him burn his fingertips over and over again while growling and grumbling over how that replicator needs to either be fixed or replaced.

I prefer him to be under the impression that it's broken rather than helping him fix the problem myself.

I believe Terrans call this "A source of Entertainment".

"Quark is definitely a great source of entertainment.

However I'm not sure if that replicator even needs be fixed or replaced.

I won't know unless I take a good look at it."

"I doubt if he would even let you go near that thing unless...unless I tell him it's a matter of security."

Odo eyes lit up with that bright idea.

"That's true but how would a replicator become a security violation exactly?"

"Oh that's easy, I'll just say the bio filters are leaking subatomic particles."

"Bio filters do not leak, at least not usually, there is a chance that one of the connections leading to the power core could be damaged but even that is a long shot because such a thing would need to be purposefully sabotaged by hand, so even that's not a likely scenario.

However the natural bio gel packets might easily over heat and spill on the warp core cables and then cause a major malfunction that way".

"I know but he doesn't know that, his brother Rom might know but he doesn't care to tell his Quark about it either.

Would the damage to the power core coupling have any sort of explosive effects by any chance?"

"Actually the subatomic particles would leak into the air which depending on what kind of particles were released that could either be extremely hazardous or mildly irritating to any carbon based lifeforms.

Most subatomic particles have horrible side effects yet for those that are on the lower scale of hazardous substances, they have to released over a certain amount of time before the particles actually become dangerous.

I do hope that there aren't any Polaran Particles aboard this station".

"I should hope not.

I happen to be allergic to Polaran particles.

Tell me more about the explosives, I'd like to hear more about that, just out of mere curiosity of course.

Nothing sinister I assure you".

"Sinister? You?

Preposterous.

Yes I often am curious about explosive replicators myself.

I mean you have no idea how many times I've sat and thought about exactly how replicators could explode, all on their own accord.

You could call it a hobby of mine.

Any number of things could happen to a replicator that could cause it to actually blow up in someone's face.

They just don't make replicators like they used to anymore, so I think something should really be done with all these exploding replicators.

I think this is a security matter, Odo, I mean just think replicators today and then warp cores tomorrow, why this whole station could fall to chaos if we don't stop these explosions from happening".

"So Replicators don't explode very often I take it".

"No, the best I can do for you is a tiny light show with a few slightly singed eyebrows."

"Disappointing but that will do for now, at least it will give me an excuse to harass him today".

Odo grabbed a subatomic tricorder and his tablet and strode to the door.

"Wait you're not actually proposing that I sabotage Quark's replicator are you?"

"You did it before why not now?

No, I don't need you to sabotage anything, you can leave power core, the bio gel packets and the all those nifty little couplings alone but do make it look convincing."

"No explosions?"

"No explosions will be necessary Ensign in fact it would be best if you didn't cause any permanent damage to that replicator, then somebody might actually think they need to fix it, someone like O' Brian and when that happens Quark might get it into his head that he's somehow important and we don't want that.

So just a minor malfunction will do, I don't want to be responsible for causing a crisis on this station just yet.

Meddling with Star Fleet regulated equipment is quite a serious criminal offense.

So don't get me in trouble now, I don't want to take the wrap for something you mistakeedly did, alright".

"Yes Sir. Perfectly understood yet again Commander".

"Grab yourself a Tricorder and a phaser.

We're going Quark's, don't embarrass me this time and don't call me Sir".