Kassia remembered Troy next to her. He had been gently stroking her hair and whispering that everything was going to be all right. She had also remembered Paul and even Tarik . . . Tarik had been holding her hand and yet, she couldn't talk to him. It was as if she had been paralyzed. As it turned out, she had simply been unconscious and her telepathic abilities has logged the memories for her, as if reassuring her that she had not been alone. When her consciousness had returned, she had found Troy still beside her. He looked a little worse for the wear, but he was smiling . . . He had filled her in on all the people that had helped her since the initial accident aboard the transport . . . She remembered Toren Len and Danni, and the doctor on the planet, though she didn't remember much after that. She didn't even remember being back aboard the station, though she was happy to be there. It didn't matter to her that she had been there while the place had been boarded by the enemy. She wanted to be where she felt at home and this, for the short time she had been there, was home to her. She had made many good friends, had a business that meant something to her, she had a home aboard the station, and she had met Tarik . . . Everything a good home needed . . . A place, good friends, something to be proud of and love . . .
She was laying on her side in the bed in her room, staring out the porthole, gazing out into space. Being back in her own room was very comforting to her, and yet, she couldn't sleep. She mused that it might have something to do with the fact that she had been unconscious and sedated for so long. Though Dr. Cherrin had given her a clean bill of health after she had almost died, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong somewhere . . . She didn't feel right, but she couldn't explain further. With a sighed she rolled onto her back. Doctor Cherrin did say that she needed to rest also, but her mind wasn't cooperating.
She closed her eyes and let her mind wander. The murmur of voices was a constant now, but she was still able to keep them at bay for the most part. But there were certain voices and thoughts and were always let in . . . Like Tarik's thoughts . . . As her mind reached out, searching for his, she felt drawn to him. She could sense that he was asleep, but not deeply. His mind churning with the events of the last couple of days. But particularly the battles . . . the men he lost . . . and the fact that he had almost lost her.
Without thinking much beyond the moment, she got up from the bed and grabbed a black silk robe, wrapping it around her body quickly. Within moments, she was out the door and swiftly walking through the station. The only thing that mattered to her at that moment was being with Tarik. Though he had almost lost her, she knew that she had almost lost him as well . . . in that battle. She had seen him get hurt, had seen his blood . . . Nothing else mattered to her in that moment than him being near her.
Reaching the door to his quarters, she punched in the code. As the door slid open, she walked in. The lights were off, but she took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness rather than turning in the lights. She knew he was asleep on his bed and made her way to his room. As she entered it, she found him on his back, asleep. He looked peaceful, but Kassia knew what was really going on in his mind. As she sat down on the bed, she waited for him to wake. He did, just as she touched his face. Immediately, he grabbed her wrist with crushing strength, like he had done before. And like before, she waited for him to come fully awake.
As his eyes focused on her, he looked like he had stepped from a nightmare into a dream. So many emotions were churning with him and they were difficult for him to contain any longer. He had seen enough horror and death. As their eyes met in the darkness, no words needed to be said. He pulled her toward him, and with strength born out of passionate need and a desire to leave the real world behind, he kissed her. She melted into his arms as he lifted her over his body and onto the bed beside him. Gaining a moment of control, he pulled his lips from her and caressed her face.
"Is this what you want?" he asked. His voice husky with desire.
"Do you have to ask?" she replied touching his lips gently with her finger tips.
Together, they lost themselves in the moment. Nothing else mattered. The world beyond Tarik's quarters didn't exist. Only they did . . .
Kassia awoke with Tarik beside her on the bed. A thin blanket covered them and she could feel his arm draped around her waist. She sighed and smiled. But she also knew she needed to get back to her own quarters. Troy would be concerned if she wasn't there when he woke up . . . And with the club opening up that night, she didn't want to give him anything else to trouble his mind. Gently, she got up out of bed, careful to not disturb Tarik. She slipped on her robe, found a PADD on the side table and quickly wrote him a note. With that done, she left the PADD on the pillow and slipped out the door.
Tarik was surprised when he didn't find Kassia in bed beside him, especially with his memories from last night. He had never met another woman with such passion to match his own. But he was concerned. Why hadn't she stayed, he wondered. Then he saw the PADD. Picking it up, he read the note she left and smiled.
[I needed to leave, but not because of last night. In fact, last night was just what we both needed. Some things are just meant to be . . . I hope we can talk later. Kassia]
With that, he smiled and got up to shower.