Subject:DS9-Drinking Buddies (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

This is my first attempt at a serious story. I'm not very pleased with it, but, I think it has its moments. I have also used a plot that would never be used by Paramount, and, some could argue, is occasionally out of character, but it is more fun that way. I would really appreciate constructive criticism. I am really new at writing fiction and am finding some aspects frustrating. Thanks.

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

"I'm bored." Sighed Major Kira Nerys as she propped her elbows on the table. She sighed. Even Quark's bar was dull tonight.

"Well, we could ask Morn over for some fun." Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax replied with a smirk. Kira just snorted in response. She wasn't even interested enough to be indignant. Her birthday was next week. 40.

*40 years and what do I have to show for it? An administrative military career, a string of past lovers, no family, no children...lots of scars.*

"I take it back, I m not bored, I m depressed."

"I could have told you that two days ago. You ve been moping around ever since Jalles Rens was here."

Kira scowled at the name. Rens had been one of her closest friends in the Bajoran Resistance. She had stopped over on the station on her way to a family vacation in the next sector. She was accompanied by her husband and two children. Sigh. They looked so happy.

"Biological clock kicking in, Huh? It s all right Nerys, it happens to every woman who puts off having a family. I remember when my first hos-"

"Forgive me Jadzia, but I'd rather not hear a "previous host story" tonight. Besides it isn't children I want per se, I just want to feel like I'm not, I don't know, missing something. Rens went through the same hell I did in the Resistance, yet she seems to have moved on with her life." She sank lower in her chair and absently played with the stem of her glass.

Jadzia mentally held herself back from telling Kira exactly what she thought she should do. It wouldn t help anyway. Kira got like this from time to time and most of the station personnel just hid until it was over. Her depressive bouts, while rare, were littered with moments of her infamous temper. In fact, Dax suddenly realized, she has been like this more often recently, ever since she delivered the O Brien s baby and then broke up with Shakaar.

"We could go play a game of spring ball."

"No thanks, I m not in the mood.

"How about a holo program, you remember the-

"Nah." Dax finally lost it.

"Well, what do you want to do Nerys! Sulking isn't going to help." Kira glared at her dangerously, so she changed tactics. "We could go find men." Dax smiled at her deviously.

"Ha! I'm through with men. They're too much trouble and it never works out anyway."

"You're hopeless Nerys. Come get me when you decide what you want to do." Dax stalked off and joined Julian Bashir and Garak at another table.

Kira watched her go with a pang of regret. *I always seem to push people away.* She ordered another synthale from Quark and continued to drink it slowly, watching the table top in front of her.

"May I join you Major?" Kira looked up, surprised to see Constable Odo. He had been distant with her for months. She missed him, a lot.

"Certainly, Odo. Have a seat." She replied in an overly welcoming tone. He sat down stiffly. He had watched her conversation with Dax and finally gave in. She was in pain and he could never watch her suffer, no matter how strong his resolve. Warning signals kept screaming in his head, telling him to leave it alone. He would just get hurt again. She would eventually find someone new. She always did.

He was already regretting coming over to her table, when he inadvertently caught her eyes. He felt the familiar tightening of his chest and the rapid increase in pulse.

She looked at him and was startled to see a brief look of deep emotion fill his crystal blue eyes. *Funny, I never realized how blue they are. At least the Founders didn t change that.* She looked away, embarrassed to have been caught staring.

"What brings you to Quark s, Odo? Checking up on everyone? I haven't seen much of you lately. He shifted a little nervously in his chair. She hadn't meant to babble, but, she was afraid he would find some excuse to leave. Odo recovered his thoughts.

"Actually, I was coming here to get a drink." She looked back at him surprised. She sometimes forgot that Odo was now human. She was so accustomed to him as a Changeling.

"What would you like Odo? The first drink is on me." She smiled. "I don't think I ve ever bought you a drink before."

"I like iced tea." He said self-consciously.

"What's that? I've never heard of it."

"It's an Earth beverage brewed from various leaves. The replicators can't seem to get it right, so Quark keeps some around for me." He added dryly. "He probably thinks it will make me go easier on him."

"Well, if it's that good, I ll try it too. Quark!" she shouted at the conniving Ferengi bar keeper. "Two iced teas, on my tab."

"Right away Major." Quark walked to the other side of the counter, giving Odo a long warning look. Odo looked away and refused to acknowledge it.

The drinks arrived and Kira switched the conversation to neutral topics while they drank.

"This is pretty good, Odo. It's very refreshing." She was stretching for conversation and she knew it. Damnit! She never used to have trouble talking to Odo. Why does everything good always change? She looked down at her glass and suddenly wished she had something a lot stronger, looking up sharply as a dangerous thought came to her.

*That's it! It would definitely loosen us up.* Odo was studying his glass also, and thus was surprised, when she reached over and covered his hand with hers.

"Odo lets get drunk." Odo stared at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Wa..what?" He croaked out. She smiled to herself. It was worth the likely rejection, just to see the look on his face.

"I need to let off some steam Odo, and you look like you could too." She favored him with a playful look. "Besides, I ll bet this is one humanoid experience you haven't tried yet." He was starting to look as though he might bolt from the table. She grasped his hand to restrain him. "We could go to my quarters. No one would see us, and you could view this as an opportunity to better understand humanoids. That would help you in your work."

Odo's mind was reeling. Part of him was yearning to flee, and, another part of him was arguing that he had nothing to lose. Mostly, however, he was absorbed with the fact that she was holding his hand. He had thought that his physical reactions to her were strong when he was a Changeling, but, this human body was much worse. There were times that he was almost incapacitated by the sight of her, usually when she smiled. He reluctantly pulled his hand away, so he could think.

"I don t think that would be a good idea, Major." She was

surprised at his uncertain expression. He looked like he might actually

be considering it. She felt the pleasant tickle of anticipation. She had

expected him to either run or become indignant.

"Look, Odo. I plan to do it anyway. I haven t been drunk in a

long time and it will help me to unwind. I would much rather have someone

with me. It s a lot more fun that way and I assure you, no one will ever

know." She grasped his hand again and looked up at him, smiling softly.

"Besides, I know I could trust you not to blab if I do something

embarrassing."

That soft look of warmth and trust was his undoing. He had never

been able to deny her anything.

"Well I could at least sit with you so you wouldn t be alone." He

added hastily. She smiled radiantly.

"This is great, Odo. We re going to have a good time, you ll

see." She smiled that beguiling smile again and he gave up any last

resistance as he followed her out of the bar. Kira looked back at him and

felt her spirits rise higher that they had in months. He might looked

like he was going to his own execution, but, he was still going. Maybe

tonight she would finally find out what was bothering him.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 2/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 2

Odo sat uneasily on the couch while she went to retrieve her case of

Dakurian whisky. She said Shakaar had sent it to her as a present, and

that she would enjoy drinking the expensive liquor without him.

*What am I doing? I must be crazy!* He walked over to the view port and

caught a glimpse of the book he had given her on her last birthday, laying

on the table. It was well worn, he noticed appreciatively. He sighed.

*I m so tired of being the one no one would ever suspect . Besides,

maybe it will be fun, everyone else seems to like it.* He shook his head

to clear it. *For once in my life I am simply going to enjoy something.

I m not going to think about it.* He looked up nervously, as she entered

the room smiling.

"You are in for a treat Odo, this is the best whisky made on

Bajor. Unfortunately, we lost most of it during the occupation, and new

production is taking a long time. I have no idea where Shakaar got an

entire case." Odo watched everything she did carefully. She laughed.

"There isn t going to be a test Odo, relax. I ll just be a minute getting

the rest."

************************************************************************

From the first sip, he knew he was in over his head. He didn t

care. She was smiling at him and laughing. He had missed that so much.

The fiery liquid was potent. It felt powerful and dangerous. He liked it.

Kira was enjoying an entirely new sensation. Watching someone get drunk

for the first time was almost as much fun as getting drunk yourself, and

Odo seemed to be throwing himself into this wholeheartedly. She had

always admired that about him. He never did anything half way.

She smiled slightly, relishing the opportunity to observe him covertly.

He was dressed in his standard Bajoran Security uniform, every clasp and

button in place. Except, for one strand of hair, that fell disobediently

across his forehead. The slight disruption of his perfectly groomed,

roughly, masculine appearance made him appear vulnerable, and cute at the

same time.

She turned her attention to his hands. She had long admired their slender

grace and strength. It still amazed her that he could shape such perfect

hands, and yet have such trouble with forming a correct nose. She sighed

quietly. It was a moot point, he couldn t shape shift anything anymore.

The Founders had seen to that.

She frowned as anger resurfaced at the thought. They had judged him, hurt

him, for doing nothing more than protecting the people he cared about.

She wished, not for the first time, that she had been with them when they

went to the Founder s world. She would have let those arrogant bastards

know exactly what she thought about their brand of justice.

She had watched him try to come to terms with his punishment since then,

and had longed to help. But, he had held her at arms length. She was

frustrated and hurt, but, had respected his privacy, until now. Perhaps

she had been wrong, she thought suddenly. He certainly seemed to be

enjoying himself. Maybe she should have pushed harder to get him to open

up. He absently tried to push the errant strand of hair back in place and

she smiled again. He was awfully cute sometimes.

Blissfully, unaware of Kira s thoughts, the object of her contemplation,

was intently staring at one of the bottles.

"Why are the flowers on the label swaying?" Kira collapsed in

laughter, falling off her perch on the couch, to the floor next to him.

After several minutes she straightened and looked over at him wiping the

tears from her face.

"I think we d better slow down Odo. I wouldn t want you to get

sick." Odo was looking at her with an odd expression on his face. She

couldn t place it, but her mind was starting to get foggy too. *I used to

be able to hold my liquor better than this.* She thought with disgust.

She looked away as a wave of self-pity consumed her again. Odo noticed

the change immediately.

"What is it Major, you ve seemed so morose lately." It was a long

moment before she answered.

"Reality. It has a nasty way of sneaking up on you." She grabbed

another bottle and forgetting her glass, took a long swig.

"I don t understand." She looked at him and saw his worry.

*He used to worry about me a lot, why didn t I notice it until he

stopped?* She tried to explain.

"I m getting older, Odo." He looked at her incredulously. She didn t

look any different to him. She was as beautiful as always.

"I still don t understand. That s natural, besides you are still a young

woman. Why does it bother you?"

"It isn t just my age, it s that I haven t done anything I set out to do.

At this point in my life I should be be Something more than a career

military officer that shuffles papers for boring diplomats." She paused.

"I should have a family." She stood abruptly and began to pace. "Most of

the women my age that fought in the Resistance have moved on with their

lives. Everyone I know is intent on rebuilding, both the planet and their

lives, and I m stuck in limbo." She stopped and looked out the view port.

"I sometimes don t feel at home on Bajor anymore."

Odo considered her words carefully. He had had no idea she felt this

alone, this unfulfilled. Those were things he understood well, but, Kira?

He stood wobbly, bracing himself on the wall until his head stopped

spinning. He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Nerys." She started at his use of her given name. He never called her

that before. She turned to look at him, warmed by the emotion in his

eyes. "I m surprised at how poor your memory is. Do you honestly believe

that you haven t helped Bajor since the occupation ended? It seems to me

that you have done far more than most Bajorans. Yes, some of your peers

have returned home to start families and such, but, you stayed here and

represented Bajor against a multitude of threats." He slowly ran his

hands down her arms and back up again making her shudder in unexpected

pleasure, her breath catching in her throat. "And you may not have any

family, but, you certainly have a lot of good friends people that care

about you a great deal."

Kira looked closely at him as he said that, causing him to look away and

drop his hands. She felt her heart start to beat faster and her stomach

flip a little, her mind racing.

*He couldn t have meant anything by that. This is Odo! I misinterpreted

it. Still, he is human now maybe What am I thinking? Why would he ever

be interested in me? He s the most ethical person I know, and I m

ethically expedient.* She shook the irrational thoughts from her mind,

and reached out to squeeze his hands in hers. He looked back at her

hesitantly.

"Thanks, Odo. I appreciate everything you said, and perhaps you re right.

But, that still doesn t change the fact that I m almost 40 years old and

alone."

As he gazed down at her face, she had never looked more beautiful to him.

He wanted nothing more, at that moment, than to remove her look of pain.

His alcohol clouded mind shoved away his normal caution and he reached out

and placed his hand on her cheek, catching her eyes with his. She

unconsciously moved closer to him, stunned and mesmerized by the intense

passion she beheld there.

His kiss was tentative and unpracticed, but, full of feeling. He quickly

lost any hesitance, however, and kissed her more passionately. She was so

startled at first that she didn t react at all, but, his passion quickly

awakened the unacknowledged desire deep within her, and she responded with

equal fervor. Their arms closed around each other tightly, hands

caressing, each seeking to get closer to the other. After several long

moments they both broke apart slightly, breathless and trembling. Kira

gathered the courage and looked up into Odo s eyes.

"Odo uh wow." She could feel his hands caressing her back and it was hard

to think, much less talk. Odo decided that he didn t want to talk yet and

kissed her again, this time with confidence. His fear and natural

inhibitions subdued by the alcohol, he put years worth of love to his

kisses. They fell to the floor, caught up in the tide of passion and the

rapid pounding of each other s hearts as they danced nature s most ancient

dance. Kira moved his hand to her blouse clasp-

"Hey, Nerys did you decide to sulk in here all eveni . Dax s voice

dropped off as she and Bashir stopped just inside the door, and, stared

speechlessly at their two friends. Kira and Odo jerked apart as though

electrically shocked. Odo quickly shot to his feet, still unstable, he

took one step away from Kira and tripped over the coffee table.

"Dax...uh...what are you doing here .we were just um." Kira stammered as

she rose unsteadily, trying to regain her composure. She gave up and sat

down heavily on the couch. Odo, having righted himself from his fall,

addressed the two with as much of his notorious gruffness as possible.

"Don t you know how to knock?" Dax finally recovered.

"I m so sorry, you re right, we should have knocked, but we thought Nerys

was alone in here and we were going to drag her to a party at Leeta s

quarters, we didn t think .Sorry, I didn t mean to babble. We ll be

leaving now. Come on Julian." She turned to walk away, but had to reach

back to drag the still stunned doctor.

Both Odo and Kira sighed in relief as the door closed behind them. Odo

sat down as gracefully as he could in the chair across the room as far

away as he could get. The silence grew lengthy.

"Say something." She said quietly. He eyed the floor nervously.

"I don t know " He rose dejectedly. The alcohol seemed to have left his

system. "I m sorry." She looked up at him sharply as he fled from the

room.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 3/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 3

Kira looked at her cup of Raktajino dejectedly for the hundredth time in

an hour. She hadn t slept much last night. Her body craved conclusion and

her mind was in turmoil. She had tried to talk to Odo twice, but, each

time he had avoided her. She also had a mild hangover, but, not enough

energy to ask Bashir for a remedy. Sigh. In truth, she wasn t ready to

face the Doctor s knowing smiles and questions. At least not until she

had some answers to her own questions.

Did he really have feelings for her or was this just a physical

thing? He was new to being a humanoid, perhaps he didn t know how to

handle his body s reactions yet. She sighed again, resting her chin in

her hand. That didn t sound like Odo though, and he certainly seemed

sincere.

More importantly, what were her feelings? Her own reaction

genuinely scared her. She had never lost control like that before. She

had been far drunker, many times, and had never thrown herself at anyone.

She had wanted him, with an intensity that frightened and excited her at

the same time. In fact, it had taken her hours of nervous contemplation,

as she stared at the ceiling above her bed, before she could even admit to

herself that she felt genuine desire for him, and not just alcohol induced

insanity.

To be completely honest, she had never felt anything that overwhelmingly

passionate in her life. She had had numerous lovers over the years, as

the Resistance forced people into living for each moment. She had thought

she understood passion, and had long ago abandoned the search for the

ground shaking fireworks, poets wrote about. Yet last night, she had felt

it was indescribable. Just thinking about it made pulse race.

*I m so confused.*

"Mind if I join you?" Dax sat down, not waiting for an answer. She had

sneaked up on Kira from behind, as sat at her favorite table in the

Replimat. Kira silently cursed herself for staying here this long. She

grunted by way of greeting, hoping to discourage Dax s innate nosiness.

It didn t work, of course.

Dax leaned forward with a conspiratorial smile.

"So?" Kira considered resisting, but, gave up. Dax would hound her until

she told her anyway.

"We had been drinking. Things got out of hand. You interrupted us. Odo

got embarrassed and left. I haven t talked to him since. There, now you

know everything." Dax sat back, a little surprised.

"I guess...I assumed it was more " She trailed off not knowing what to

say. Her friend was obviously hurt and confused. Yet, she knew what she

had seen last night. Their reactions were unmistakable. She had felt

like that before with several previous hosts and it should have been a

good feeling. She tried to be reassuring. "I m sorry, Nerys. I m sure

that if you and Odo talk to each other, you ll work things out." Kira

scowled.

"Odo, won t talk to me, and, even if he would, I m not sure what to say."

Dax fought down the urge to scream in frustration. She had watched her

friends grow closer and closer, and still refuse to acknowledge their

feelings for so long that it was starting to get annoying. She decided to

use another tactic.

"Nerys, how do you feel about Odo?" Kira looked up, reluctant, but

considering.

"I don t know." She shrugged. "I care a lot for him. He s my best

friend. I like to do things with him. I trust him more than anyone I

know .but, this is different. This is dangerous." She seemed to get a

head of steam. "I mean, what if it didn t work? I d lose not just a

lover, but, my best friend." She shook her head. "I can t risk that.

Besides, I have no idea how Odo feels. Maybe it was just physical for him,

you know, with the new body and all." Dax favored her with a are you

serious? look and Kira relented. "OK. He wouldn t do that, but still,

he might not want to go any further." Slumped in her chair. Dax sighed.

This was going to be difficult.

"Nerys, I m pretty sure that Odo would be more than willing to evolve your

relationship. Everyone on the station can see that you mean more to him

than anyone else. And, while it is a little dangerous, it could also be

the most wonderful experience you ve ever had. I know what it feels like

to share the kind of passion you and Odo experienced last night." Kira

blushed a little and sank lower in her chair. "That kind of feeling doesn

t happen often. You d be a fool to run away from it." Kira used her last

card.

"We were drunk." Dax shook her head in frustration.

"All the alcohol did was allow you to act on what you already felt! It

didn t create anything new." Kira leaned forward, her eyes displaying her

uncertainty and hurt.

"If Odo is so willing to pursue this, then why won t he talk to me?" Dax

leaned forward, whispering intensely.

"You two are too much alike in that way. He is probably worried that he

overstepped the line and you are mad at him. It isn t like you ve given

him a whole lot of encouragement." She added dryly. Kira looked away.

"I don t know " Dax reached out and placed her hand on Kira s.

"Please Nerys, don t let this opportunity pass you by. I think you re

perfect for each other." Kira swallowed hard and then got up to leave.

"I ll think about it, Jadzia. Thanks." As she left, Dax looked up at the

ceiling and shook her head again. *What those two need is a good swift

kick in the behind.*

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 4/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 4

Odo had been staring at the same screen for the last ten minutes. He

couldn t concentrate. His mind was in a full state of panic. *How could

I have done something so stupid? She ll never forgive me!* The more he

thought about it, the more agitated he became. He finally gave up working

on the report and resorted to pacing in his small office. She had tried

to confront him twice already, but, he had avoided her. He wasn t ready

to hear the words she would surely say, at best, words of pity, at worst,

anger. They needed time to dull their emotional response, before they

discussed what happened. At least that s what he told himself.

To make things worse, he couldn t stop thinking about it. He

remembered every moment with vivid clarity. Her smell, her taste, the way

her hands *Damn! Think about something else!* He had thought he had

desired her before, but, it was nothing compared to now.

By the time Dax entered the office, he had worked himself into a

complete state of panic and despair, and Dax was the last person he wanted

to see well the next to last.

"Hi Odo, how are you?" She asked the obligatory question, even

though she could see the answer for herself. He merely grunted and

returned to his seat.

"I m fine, Commander. I m really busy, though, perhaps we could

talk another time." Dax moved forward and sat in the chair across from

him.

"I just saw Nerys. The two of you really need to talk." He made himself

look as busy as possible, shuffling computer padds.

"I m sure we will, later. I m too busy right now." Dax leaned forward,

forcing him to finally look at her.

"She s as confused as you are Odo. She s scared that this will hurt your

friendship, and that you might not really have meant anything last night.

You need to tell her how you feel." She added with emphasis. "I know how

much you love her."

Odo stopped trying to fidget. He remembered hosting Curzon Dax during her

Zintara few years ago. He should have known she would have sensed his

feelings.

"I don t think she really wants to hear it." He said dejectedly. Dax

finally lost her temper.

"You two are pathetic. I ve never seen two people who are so obviously

attracted to each other who are so dense about it!" Odo looked stunned.

"Nerys isn t attracted to me."

"Of course she is! She looked pretty impassioned last night, Odo, and she

obviously wasn t protesting."

"She was drunk and I surprised her! She couldn t want me. I m " Dax

leaned forward again.

"You re what? Odo, trust me, you are an attractive man. More than most

in fact. There have been numerous women that have sought you out. Why is

it so hard to believe that Nerys could be one of them?" Odo was at a loss

for words. He wanted to believe, but, self-doubt had been with him so

long. "Just talk to her, Odo. Be honest. Tell her the truth."

"I don t know " Dax sighed and started to leave.

"What have you got to lose?" Odo stared at the desk top for a long

moment. He wasn t sure anymore.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 5/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 5

Ops was bustling with activity. Chief O Brien was running several

calibration sessions, and his engineers were moving at double time to meet

his exacting standards. There were also an unusually large number of

ships requesting docking, and a large group of visiting Bajoran

dignitaries that wanted a tour. Sisko had been hiding in his office for

an hour when Kira finally stormed in.

"If I have to explain to one more person that we cannot open and

shut the wormhole just so they can see it, I ll "

"You ll what, Major?" Sisko watched her with mild amusement.

Sometimes just watching Kira rant and rave helped relieve some of his own

stress. She paced in front of his desk a couple of more times, before

sitting down.

"I don t know I suppose you d be against booting the lot of them

out an airlock." Sisko chuckled.

"As satisfying as that sounds, Major, I wouldn t want to do the

paperwork." She grimaced. Sisko snapped his fingers in revelation.

"I think I can help get them out of Ops though. Sisko to Bashir."

"Bashir here, sir."

"Doctor, I have an assignment for you. I want you to give a

briefing on Star Fleet medical procedures to a group of Bajorans. Then

take them to the Promenade and tell Quark to keep them happy." He thought

he heard Bashir groan. "What was that Doctor?"

"Nothing, sir...uh...Quark isn t going to like this."

"Tell him it is part of his job as a community leader and I will

thank him personally later." Silence for a moment.

"Are you mad at me for something, Captain?" Sisko had to try hard

not to laugh.

"No, Doctor, I just think it is good for a junior officer s

development." This time he heard a sigh.

"Yes, sir. I ll be waiting for them here. Bashir out." Kira

chuckled as the comm link closed.

"That was cruel. Fun, but cruel." Sisko chuckled with her, a

sudden gleam appearing in his eyes, that instantly made Kira nervous.

"I think what the command staff needs is a morale raising,

sporting activity this evening, Major. Everyone is looking a little

overworked." This time it was Kira that groaned. Every few months, Sisko

would decide to subject the command staff to a group athletic event. He

operated under the illusion that it promoted team work and stress relief.

It never did.

"Not again. Last time O Brien and Worf glared at each other for a

week afterwards. Besides I m not really in the mood for group "

"Nonsense, Major. You have seemed even more preoccupied than the

others for the past few days. I think it will do us all good. Now, whose

turn is it to pick the sport? Lets see, we played baseball, then Bajoran

spring ball, Trillian Jamal, and finally Klingon Bat har...I guess that

takes us back to an Earth sport." Kira sank back in her chair in

resignation. Baseball hadn t been that bad, at least when Worf wasn t

pitching. Sisko smiled again. "This time I think we should play

football." She looked up suspiciously.

"I ve never heard of that game." Sisko leaned forward smiling.

"Trust me Major, you are going to love this game. It s right up

your alley. Now, I ll arrange for a holosuite at 1700. I m sure the

Bajoran dignitaries will be gone by then. You make sure everyone is

there." Kira stifled another groan. *Odo will be there.*

"Yes, sir. I ll make sure all the usual people are there on time." She

left the office more distressed than when she went in, but, for a

different reason now.

She hadn t seen Odo for more than a few minutes in the past three days and

she was beginning to think that she had lost his friendship for good. At

this point she just wanted things to go back to the way they were, and she

alternated between being angry and being depressed about it.

Dax looked up at her as she left Sisko s office. Kira put on her most

normal looking face as she met her gaze, hoping to prevent the Trill from

sensing her morose mood. It didn t work. Dax gave her the standard you

need to resolve this look, before returning to her work. She did that a

lot recently. Kira ignored it and set about informing the senior staff of

the impending football game.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 6/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 6

As it turned out, by the time 1700 rolled around Kira had convinced

herself that everything was Odo s fault. He had kissed her. He wouldn t

talk to her. The coward! The final few hours of the alpha shift had been

a living hell, as the enraged Major found fault with everything. The

shift change occurred at record speed as the battered crewmen fled Ops.

One half an hour later, Kira had stormed into the holosuite with her

temper only slightly contained. She glared at Odo through Sisko s entire

game rules lecture, and he wisely chose to put them on separate teams.

After dividing up, they all threw themselves into the new game,

vigorously.

One half an hour later, covered with holographic mud, Kira waited

for Jake to hike the ball with anticipation. Sisko was right. She did

like this game. She threw herself in front of O Brien causing him to trip

and fumble. There was a mad scramble for the dislodged ball, and Worf

eventually came up with it, changing possession.

They set up again. She was enjoying allowing her anger free flow

in at least some way. Sisko told both her and Bashir to go long for a

pass while Worf blocked for him.

"Hike!" She ran past Jake with some effort and headed for the

other end of the field. She had just grabbed the ball and started to turn

when THUD. Odo had launched himself at her middle, as she turned around,

and knocked her down, landing on top of her.

Odo was a little surprised himself. He had been playing only half

heatedly, up until now. He really didn t want to be here. But, as the

game had progressed ,he had seen Kira s anger grow, and was beginning to

feel some in return. He had done everything he could to prevent a

confrontation with her, to give them time, to preserve their friendship.

Yet, she still seemed to blame him for everything.

She was also taking genuine glee in making him look bad. She had forced

him to fumble twice and was pushing the soft tackle rules way to far,

but, only with him of course. So, when he saw her jump up to catch the

ball, he allowed his frustration a moments release and tackled her, hard.

Kira was stunned. She gasped for the air that had left her as she landed

beneath him, her mind racing. Her initial fear was gone after she got her

breath back and the only thing that was really hurt was her pride. She

opened her eyes and saw Odo s face poised inches from her s. They were

both breathing hard from exertion. A stray thought told her she should

try to get up, but, she didn t want to. Their eyes finally met and the

game ceased to exist.

*Prophets, his eyes are blue.*

*She is so beautiful.* The other players converged on them.

"Major, are you hurt?" Bashir s earnest face finally broke their gaze and

Odo rolled off her quickly. She got up slowly. Her muscles protesting.

"I m fine Julian."

"Well that s good, I was worried when you didn t get up right away.

Constable, you should take it a little easier. This is supposed to be

soft tackle." Odo grunted, but, managed to look a little smug.

"I m sorry Major. I ll try to be more careful in the future." He walked

away quickly, joining Jake and Worf who had taken the ball back to the

center. Kira shrugged off anymore help. She was embarrassed, at a number

of things.

"Let s finish the game. I have some things I need to do tonight." Bashir

and O Brien nodded and left to join the others. Sisko looked at her, his

eyes smiling.

"You deserved that you know. You ve been tackling him pretty hard all

afternoon." He chucked and turned to follow the others. "Nice catch,

though." Dax just starred at her for a long moment before joining Sisko.

She no longer needed to say anything. Her opinion was obvious.

Kira headed back towards the others, steeling her body to relax. Damn

hormones! She had never had such trouble controlling herself before. She

shook her head ruefully. How would Odo react if he knew how profoundly

her body responded to being that close to him? *He would be disgusted.

That s how he d react, Nerys.*

"Hurry up, Major. It s still your ball." Jake yelled to her innocently.

She jogged over to her side joining Worf, Sisko and Bashir in the huddle

She was about to find some excuse to leave the game when she caught Odo

gaze. He was looking at her with an arrogant grin on his face. Her anger

rose to the surface again. So, he thought he had put her in her place,

huh? *Well, we ll just see about that.*

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 7/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 7

The game had been going on well over an hour, when Sisko finally called a

halt to the blood bath. As it had progressed, each side had started to

take things personally, again. He shook his head in dismay. *Why can t

we just play a friendly game?* As usual, Worf and O Brien were at each

other s throats, although, Sisko suspected they secretly enjoyed being

irate. Bashir had tackled Dax once when she didn t have the ball causing

the Trill to repeatedly retaliate. Sisko chuckled. Bashir looked a mite

sore. Well, it served him right.

And finally, there were Odo and Kira. They were assaulting each other

with a vengeance. It didn t matter if either of them were even close to

the ball. In fact, they seemed to spend most of the time on the ground,

wrestling. Sisko smiled again, slightly surprised. The only time he had

played coed football like that, he had been interested in a lot more than

football.

By the end of the game, it seemed that the only he and Jake were

interested in where the ball actually was. Oh well, at least they were

all letting off steam. He walked over to his son and placed a hand on his

shoulder.

"Good game son." Jake smiled, but, looked puzzled as they walked to the

shower facilities.

"Was it my imagination, Dad, or was that game a little weird."

"No, you re right. It was strange. I wouldn t worry about it too much

though. People have just been wound up lately."

"If you say so. But, I could swear there is something going on with Odo

and Major Kira. They weren t paying attention at all." Sisko smiled

again.

"If it keeps up, I ll talk to them." Now Jake smiled.

"I don t want to be there when you do that." Sisko laughed with an

exaggerated look of fear, and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Me either."

As they entered the showers they noticed Odo had showered and was already

half dressed.

"That was quick Constable." Odo grunted.

"I don t waste time arguing." They could hear Worf and O Brien still

trading insults across the room at each other. It was a wonder they

bothered. They couldn t possibly hear much over the noise of the showers.

Odo straightened, nodded to the bemused father and son, and walked out.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 8/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 8

Kira had taken the shortest shower in history. She wanted to finish

before Dax, and make a hasty retreat. From the looks of it, Dax was

prepared to launch into another lecture, and Kira just wasn t up to it.

She was still fastening her tunic when as she hurriedly left the showers

and ran head long into Odo.

"Uh, Odo. Sorry." She stepped back nervously. Her body was still far to

attuned to his presence for comfort. He looked equally troubled.

"That s all right, Major. It was my fault. I wasn t watching where I was

going." They stayed rooted to the floor. Each avoiding eye contact with

the other, the silence becoming awkward. Kira ran her hand through her

hair self-consciously.

"I guess I ll see you later, Odo." She turned to leave, but, he stopped

her with a hand on her arm.

"Nerys " She quickly turned to look at him and caught his eyes. The

uncertainty there, tore at her heart and the passion made her stomach

tighten. She asked impulsively.

"Do you want to have dinner with me, Odo? I seem to have worked up quite

an appetite." She was unsure where that had come from. Food was the

farthest thing from her mind.

"I yes, I would like that." She smiled nervously, and he swallowed hard.

Her smile always got to him. They walked out on to the Promenade. Neither

knowing what to say and each cursing the awkwardness. They choose a

secluded table at Quarks, ordering absently as they tried to gather the

courage to speak. Kira finally broke the ice.

"That s an interesting game, football. I ve never played anything like

it." Odo warmed to the neutral topic.

"Neither have I." He smiled. "I confess though, it would have been more

fun if I was still a Changeling. I suspect I would have had greater

success." He snorted. "Although I probably would ve made a permanent

enemy of Worf in the process." Kira laughed at the thought. The tension

finally starting to lighten around them.

"I would have definitely have made sure you on my team then." He smiled

again enjoying her presence so much, he forgot to be nervous for a moment.

She met his gaze, finally daring to allow some of her feelings to show.

She reached out and held his hand.

"Odo, I ve really missed you the last few days." He squeezed her hand in

return.

"So have I." She leaned forward a little.

"Can we talk about what happened? Please?"

"I want to, Nerys. It s just I m afraid I ve done irreparable damage to

our friendship. She took his other hand intently.

"That could never happen, Odo." He sighed.

"It was wrong of me to attack you like that. I just lost control, and "

She shook her head sharply.

"Odo, you did not attack me. Believe me, if I d been unreceptive, you

would have known it. Besides, I lost control too." She shrugged a

little. "I ve never done anything like that before. It was a little

startling." He pulled her hands to him, wanting to be closer to her, to

show her how he felt.

"I am very fond of you, Nerys." She smiled at the characteristically

Odo-like sentiment. If it had been anyone else, she would have been less

than flattered, but with him, she knew it meant more.

"I care for you too, Odo." She felt his fingers caressing her hands. The

longer he held them, the more sensuous it got. *Does he know he s doing

that?* She swallowed hard and took the plunge.

"Odo, do you have romantic feelings for me?" He looked up sharply,

obviously fighting with himself over how to answer. Finally, he looked

deeply into her eyes.

"Yes." Then he quickly added. "But, if you aren t interested, I ll never

mention it again. I just don t want to lose you entirely." She had been

sitting across from him, but, now she stood up and moved to the chair next

to his, their legs touching. She leaned close to him, intently,

whispering so that only he could hear.

"I was a little confused about all this at first, but, I haven t been able

to think about anything else. I dream about you. I m obsessed. And, I

assure you my thoughts are not at all platonic." His heart was beating so

hard that he almost couldn t hear. He was drowning in her eyes. She

leaned even closer. "Let s go some place more private." He had never

heard a better idea. They absently paid the bill and left, oblivious to

the numerous surprised stares.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 9/? (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 9

Odo watched her sleep with more happiness than he had felt in his entire

life. She lay half on top of him, her head pillowed on his chest. He

wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he dared, without waking her.

When they left Quarks, they had just intended to discuss their

relationship and then progress slowly from there, but, after spending the

previous hour wrestling together during the football game, neither had

been able to deny their need for long.

They had been sitting at a respectable distance from each other on the

couch and had even begun to talk, when Odo noticed they had unconsciously

moved much closer to each other. He had looked cautiously into Kira s

eyes to see if she had noticed too, and that was the end of any coherent

discussion for the evening.

He would never forget the next several hours. He hadn t known anything

could be so wonderful. He had explored every part of her, he couldn t get

enough. Even now, he longed to wake her and demonstrate again the depth

of his love, to see again the reciprocal look of passion and love on her

face. He shifted a little, uncomfortably. Thoughts like that wouldn t do

either of them any good. They needed sleep.

He rolled slowly over onto his side and she sleepily moved closer in his

arms, snuggling her face into his neck. He smiled again. He would never

be able to concentrate on his job tomorrow and for the first time in his

life, he didn t care.

************************************************************************

Kira awoke to a feeling of warmth. Odo was sleeping soundly at her back,

his arms wrapped around her and his face buried in her hair. She smiled

to herself and then blushed a little as she remembered the night before.

She hadn t thought herself capable of such things.

*Well, I guess I m not all that stuffy after all.*

She snuggled closer to Odo, enjoying the intimacy. In all her life, she

had never felt this content with a man before. It felt right. Her mind

replayed the previous evenings events, savoring each memory. He had been

gentle, impassioned, loving...*and very energetic.* She thought with a

smile.

The cronometer showed 0620. He had slept long enough, she decided, and

rolled over to face him, placing a line of kisses along his neck.

He woke slowly, enjoying the sensations too much to want to wake from his

dream. Awareness finally returned in a flash though, and he looked down

into the face of the woman he loved.

"Good morning, Constable." Her eyes were warm with passion and good

humor. He settled into the mood with an ease that surprised him. It wasn

t as if he d ever been in this situation before.

"Good morning, Major. Are you ready to discuss this morning s staff

meeting?" She laughed a little and then gasped as his hands began to

roam. She returned the favor, causing him to gasp a little in return.

"If you re sure that s what you wan " He cut her off with a long sensuous

kiss, effectively blocking any further thoughts.

For the first time in history, both the stations First Officer and Chief

of Security, were late for the morning staff meeting.

Subject: New:DS9-Drinking Buddies 10/10 (O/K) PG13

From: hezromberg@aol.com

Date: 1996/12/03

Paramount owns everything except this particular story.

Part 10

Major Kira Nerys s 40th birthday rolled around three days later to a large

amount of fan fare. Captain Sisko insisted on holding a party in his

quarters to commemorate the event and most of the command staff spent the

day making gee, you re old now jokes. She handled it all with

uncharacteristic grace and humor. She didn t even punch O Brien when he

lavishly offered to help her out of the lift that morning.

Quark gave her a special drink (on the house, no less), native to

Ferenginar, that he said would help avoid sagging skin, and Bashir

gleefully informed her that she now fell into a new medical age group.

Worf honored her with a Klingon birthday salute, that involved singing and

chair throwing. It would have been funny, except that he obviously hadn t

intended it to be. She had a very hard time keeping a straight face, but,

somehow managed.

Dax gave her a copy of her favorite instructional book, which once Kira

saw the title, she was too embarrassed to open. *Well, maybe later * Dax

just smiled, the same smile she had been giving Kira for the past three

days. It was a mixture of parental amusement and friendly appreciation,

with a slight twist of I told you so mixed in. Kira endured it. She

was sure Jadzia meant well, and in truth, she would have been too happy to

care if she didn t.

Sisko s dinner party was the long and harmonious affair they had

all come to expect from him. He made several lighthearted jokes at Kira s

expense, but, finished with a very flattering speech about how he valued

her as a friend, and how much he had appreciated working with her over the

past five years.

When she and Odo finally left Sisko s quarters she realized that,

for probably the first time in her life, she felt completely happy. She

reached out and hugged Odo s arm as they walked back to her quarters. He

looked at her and smiled, his private smile, that she now knew, was

reserved solely for her. As they entered her living area he sat down on

the couch and pulled her with him, to sit on his lap.

"Did you have a happy birthday, Nerys?" She moved so that she straddled

him, leaned forward and began softly kissing his face.

"I had a wonderful birthday." She pulled back and looked at his face

earnestly. "I suspect that being with you is what made it so special."

She shook her head in amazement. "Prophets, we wasted a lot of time."

Odo grinned sensually.

"We will just have to make up for that." She smiled in return and resumed

kissing him, moving lower to nuzzle his neck. His hands were doing things

to her that were making it hard to think.

"By the way, Dax said she gave you a book to share with me. What is it?"

Kira pulled back and blushed a little, before deciding to throw caution to

the wind, and smiling playfully.

"Well, I suppose we could study it together. It might be kind of fun."

He frowned in momentary confusion, until he remembered Dax s favorite

subject.

"Ah, I take it this book is meant to be educational?" Kira nodded,

running her hands over his chest and shoulders. He chuckled.

"Well that explains the look she gave me." He paused in thought for a

moment. "I think we ll have to make a very thorough study." Kira

laughed a little.

"I still have four bottles of Dakurian whiskey left. Perhaps we should

have some. It certainly taught us some things last time." He kissed her

passionately, and after a long moment, drew back to face her.

"That sounds like a good plan. You have to remind me to thank, Shakaar

for giving them to you." She answered him with a kiss that shoved any

more thoughts of Shakaar or whiskey from his mind.

The End