Garek had heard the news about Kassia only a couple of hours ago, but this had been the first chance he had been able to pull himself away from his duties and get to sickbay. There had already been so much going on as the station had come back to life after the battle and this was a turn of events that no one would have predicted . . . Especially for Kassia the psychic. His heart had gone out to her and soon as he had what had happened, and if he could have, he would have arrived at Sickbay sooner.
"This is not what we need right now," Garek commented to himself as he approached Sickbay. Garek had grown closer to Kassia over the past few weeks. He became a frequent to the store where he and Kassia would talk telepathically to each other. It especially came in handy when they wanted to talk about people behind their backs, or to discuss private matters.
As he walked through the door to sickbay, he took in the scene. Major Tarik sat next to Kassia's bed holding her hand. His eyes never left her face as he looked for some sort of emotion. Troy, looking very worse for the wear after his rescue was also there beside his sister. He was gently stroking her hair, and the tears were evident in his eyes though they hadn't fallen. In the next bed was Paul. Though Troy had managed to get him back to the station just in time, Paul had almost died from the injuries he had sustained trying to rescue Troy. His bones had been repaired, including his fractured skull, but it was the internal bleeding the doctor had had difficulty stopping. Now he was sleeping, so his body could begin to recover.
Doctor Cherrin stood between the bio beds with a medical PADD in hand. He was equally concerned with both of his charges. "Commander," he stated as his eyes noticed Garek.
"Alistair, how are they?" Garek asked.
"Paul will recover . . . In fact, he's making incredible strides. In a day or two, I expect him up and around. But Kassia . . . its not good, Garek," he replied, the deep sadness in his eyes. "After the aneurysm, I was able to repair the damage to her brain. In fact, due to that aneurysm, I was able to see a section of her mind that had been injured prior, in the transporter accident, that I hadn't understood was damage . . . In fact, from what I have been able to gather, this section of her mind where the injury occurred controls her emotions and some rational thought processes and even some of her psi gifts, or at least their ability to control them. It was almost lucky that she had the aneurysm or she would have continued to deteriorate emotionally. But now, though I have repaired the damage, her synaptic pathways are still locked up. She's in a deep coma. I've tried to get some life out of her, but nothing's worked. And at this point, its not from the injuries," he explained, feeling a bit defeated. "It's up to her now."
"Maybe not," Garek replied hesitantly. He looked at Tarik, Troy and then at Alistair. "There's one thing that Betazoids are able to do. It's comparable to the Vulcan mind meld where an individual is able to enter the mind of another. It's not near as powerful as the Vulcan one, but I can try."
"Commander, anything you could do for her would be appreciated." Tarik looked at Garek.
Garek looked back at him with worried eyes and then at Troy, who nodded his approval. He could see how deeply troubled Troy was and felt that anything that could help his sister was worth a shot . . .
"All right, I'll try." Garek walked to the opposite side of the bed, as Dr. Cherrin moved out of the way, and sat down on a chair. He then placed on hand on Kassia's head, and closed his eyes...
Garek's mental projection of himself stood in the darkness that was the psychic plain. In front of him was a wooden door with a brass knob. He opened the door and behind it was that of a heavily wooded forest. This was Kassia mind. He had the sense that this forest represented much for her. Its darkness and mystery stretched out as far as he could see. In the forest were hidden some of her deepest, darkest memories he imagined. Progressing forward through the door, he looked around. He also realized that there was something calming about this setting as well.
The sun was warm. Garek looked around, and but wasn't sure where to go. Kassia was there somewhere. The problem was where . . . Suddenly, a pathway parted in the trees. As he walked into the dark canopy, he saw visions play out on either side of him. There were visions from her childhood on Trayva from the moment she had been found wandering around, tattered and torn and without a family or a shred of memory. There were other visions of the few happy times she had before her first foster parents had died, sending her away to Troy's parents. There, he watched moments of the abuses she went through. Could see the fear and tears and how much Troy had protected her. He saw her hide next to Troy in his bed many a night. And then, he watched in surprise as Troy's father tried to force himself of Kassia. If Troy had not stopped the man, he would have raped her. He had been stabbed in the process though, by his own father. Other visions played out as well. Sections of Kassia's life he had never heard her mention, but had placed so much pain in her heart. It was only through Troy's love for her and her ability to help others that had gotten her through. But even that was with Troy's help. It was evident how much Kassia felt she needed Troy. But he was also aware that much of her emotional state had been exaggerated due to her injuries. She had taken it for granted that Troy was dead. She had acted without thinking ahead or waiting. The injury to the part of her brain that controlled her emotions and rational thought that kept her from thinking things through . . . Suddenly, he saw light. There was a break in the trees.
As Garek walked past the edge of the treeline to the precipice, he saw Kassia. She was sitting on the edge, legs dangling over, looking out over the river valley thousands of feet below it. She seemed to be contemplating something very intently. Just for the fact that she was thinking about what to do was actually a good sign, he thought. But it also meant that though, she hadn't taken the plunge yet, she still might. She had to be convinced that she shouldn't. With her rational though processed back in place, he was sure he could do it. But, he was going to have to reach her through her emotional pain.
"Nice view." Garek commented, approaching her, and taking a seat next to her.
She softly smiled though it wasn't a true smile. "Thank you," she replied, "So you have come to talk to me about why I shouldn't just turn myself over to oblivion?" Her green gaze met his, with the gentle confrontation.
Garek gave her a lopsided smile. "I suppose you can say that." He looked out over the landscape. "Yeah, I've been in positions like this before. Not exactly the best thing you wanna do."
"Right," Kassia replied mockingly. "When did this happen? Seems like you've had a good life."
"Oh, most people assume as much. Of course, everyone's got their problems," he said, as he saw her nodded in agreement. He then picked a flower that was growing near the edge of the precipice and handed it to her. "Mine was with my Uncle Jack."
She took the small bloom and gazed at the delicate purple color and turned her gaze back to the valley. "What happened?" she asked. He had gotten her curious.
He chuckled. "Where to start?" Garek reclined, putting his hands behind his head. "Of all my aunts and uncles, he was my favorite. He's the one that really got me interested in engineering. He's the one that suggested to me to attend the Academy." Garek sighed, taking in the warm air. Even though it was just a mental projection, it seemed as real as ever. "That's why it was so hard for me when he was killed."
"Killed?" she asked, again turning her gaze to him. She wanted to know more, but didn't want to pry.
"Yeah. By two thugs. It was simple. They wanted something, and Uncle Jack gave it to them. Then, they just killed him." Garek wiped a small tear from the corner of his eye. "That's when I thought about what you're planning to do."
Her eyes narrowed for a moment, but not in anger, just in contemplation. She could feel the pain the memory brought to him and her first response was to somehow make it better. But just as quickly, her mind turned back to her current dilemma. She didn't seem to feel the same as she had about killing herself, ending it all, and yet, she still wasn't sure if she wanted to go back and live. "You know, if I so chose, I could jump off this cliff and just fly like any bird . . . " she said, looking across the valley into an un-seeable distance. Then she turned her haunting green eyes to him. "Or, if I so chose, I could just plummet straight down to the ground . . . and will myself for all of this to be over . . . No more loss . . . no more pain . . ."
Garek looked in to her eyes. "Believe me, I know." He sat back up. "I know perfectly well." He looked down and saw what looked like some deer running along the riverbed. "I wanted to make that jump," he said, as he remembered. " But then I thought about my parents, and my loved ones. I realized that I would be leaving so many people behind, and that I have a long life ahead of me. You've got the same." For a moment he paused, and thought of those waiting for Kassia to wake up. Their eyes filled with grief. "Tarik loves you, and wants you to come back to him. Are you just gonna let him go on with his life without you being in it? Or what about your friends?"
She was quiet and looked away, fighting the tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't know what to feel anymore . . . I have so many conflicting emotions running through me and I don't know which to trust . . . I love Tarik . . . More than anyone I have ever known in my life . . . I know he's my soulmate. But . . . I am wracked with guilt . . . Troy is dead because of me. And I don't know how I can live with myself knowing that I failed the only family I have . . ." Tears trickled down her cheeks as she tried to hide them by turning her face toward the setting sun.
"Whoah, whoah, whoah...." Garek stood up, and walked to her other side to see her face. "Since when is Troy dead?"
She was confused as she quickly wiped away the tears and fought the sting of others. "I was told by Captain Wallace that Troy's shuttle had been hit by and ion storm . . . that he was missing, but presumed dead . . . They found some wreckage from the shuttle . . ." she explained, as she remembered those terrible moments. "And I had a bad feeling when he left, but I hadn't had any visions so I just let it go . . . I was stupid to let it go . . . I should have known . . . I should have probed for the vision prediction. . ."
Garek helped her up to her feet. "Troy's fine. Paul searched for him and found him alive. He did this because he knew how much Troy meant to you, " He smiled. "In fact, Troy's beside you right now, stroking your hair, hoping that you'll wake up . . . " He paused for a moment. "You know, you guys should really have me look at your shuttle's structural integrity once in awhile. There ARE minimum safety standards after all." Garek smiled.
A smile of disbelief crossed her face as his news penetrated her. "He's alive?" She said, with a mixture of hope, joy, and fear. "He's not dead?" It was as if the truth of his words wouldn't sink in. It was too wonderful to believe!
"Would I lie to you?" Garek pointed up to the clouds. The sky vanished replaced by the image of Doctor Cherrin, Tarik, and Troy standing above her. Garek was to her side, his eyes closed, and hand on her forehead.
A happy sob escaped her lips. "I can't believe it!" she cried. "He's alive!" Tears of joy fell down her cheeks and she didn't try to hide them. She closed her eyes and let her mind seek him out. She felt his worry for her and how he wanted her to be all right. And Tarik . . . His heart was in so much pain as he looked down at her . . . The pain almost the equivalent of what she had been feeling and she knew she could never willing put him through that. Then, her mind wandered to Paul. He was there, but she couldn't see him. A shiver went down her spine. "What about Paul?" she asked, suddenly knowing for a certainty there was something Garek hadn't told her.
Seeing she already knew something, he realized that putting off the truth in this instance could backfire. "He was seriously injured, Kassia, but Dr. Cherrin assured me that he'll make a complete recovery," he replied.
Memories of the vision she had seen of him when they had first met floated in her mind. The frozen wasteland world . . . Paul being chased while injured . . . He had . . . he had jumped in order not to be caught . . . And it suddenly hit her. He had been on that planet for Troy . . . and for her. That if he had not been in her shop that night, this particular future would have never happened . . . He would have never been near that arctic world . . . Troy would have been lost and most likely have died with no one to rescue him. The realization hit her full force that on this station, for the first time in her life, she didn't have acquaintances . . . people who just wanted her to help them . . . but genuine friends that cared about her and her life. People who were willing to help her as much as she wanted to help them. And she realized that they were her family, just as Troy was. More tears appeared as she filled with a sense of home, family and love that she had never truly experienced before. She was overwhelmed with emotion.
So," Garek started picking up on her sudden strong emotions, "the way I see it, you owe it to us to come back. None of us want to live without you. You're a part of our lives, and our family," he said. "That, and I miss having our little telepathic conversations." His grin was broadening as he realized she was ready. Death wasn't an option anymore.
Her mind was a whirl. She suddenly felt as if everything was all right and laughed. "What had I been thinking?" she asked herself. "You all need me . . . and . . . I need you all too," she replied. "And of course, what would I do without you?"
"Thanks. It's nice to be needed." Garek grinned. Garek and Kassia hugged, and he then motioned her over in one direction. The landscape in front of them melted away, and in its place they found themselves before what appeared to be an old, oaken door with a brass doorknob. Garek motioned to the door. "This is the way," he said. "After you."
With one last look behind her at the forest of her mind, she reached for the knob and turned it, slowly pulling the door open. "Time to live," she said, her green eyes twinkling. With a confident stride, she took a step through it.
Several other people had entered sickbay. Some for just everyday things, but a few because of Kassia. Toren Len had shown up along with Danni. The sickbay doors slid open once again. This time Captain Wallace entered.
"How is Kassia?" he asked Dr. Cherrin.
Alistair shook his head still feeling things weren't good, but not knowing what had happened. But suddenly he saw Garek's eyes open.
Garek looked around and saw Troy was standing over him. Tarik still sat across from him. Alistair was standing at the foot of the bed, with Lieutenant. Deveraux, who, though was in pain didn't seem to want to sit down. There were also other friends of Kassia's beside them, and Lieutenant Tycho was there as well. She immediately walked over and put her hands on Garek's shoulders. Then he saw Captain Wallace. He was very concerned for this woman who had make her way into all their hearts. But his eyes quickly turned to Tarik.
"Garek, what did you find out?" Tarik asked, his dark eyes concerned. No one knew the depth of the Romulan's feelings, but Garek knew they ran deeper than anyone could imagine. Especially for the woman on the bed.
"Why don't you ask her?" Garek replied, motioning his head over to Kassia with a smile. Garek patted Kim's hand, and looked up a her with a sense of having done something wonderful.
~She is cute,~ Kassia commented mentally to Garek.
~I know.~ Garek looked over and smiled at Kassia, then at Kim again.
As Kassia eyes met Troy's, tears fell for both of them.
"I thought I'd lost you," she said.
"We thought we'd lost you," he replied motioning to all the faces surrounding the bed.
The emotions she had been hit with were still with her and she smiled as tears filled her eyes. She looked at each face in turn and knew that she had, without realizing, found her family. As she sat up, and gazed at Tarik, pain coursed through her. She remembered what he had witnessed. On her wrist, though there was no bandage now, was a light scar as a reminder of what she had done.
"I am so sorry for putting you through that," she said, her eyes locking with his. "I would never want to hurt you . . I -"
But before she could finish, he caressed her check and then leaned forward taking her in a kiss. "Its over and you're all right. That's all that matters now."
As he released her, she turned to Garek, who was still watching her intently. Immediately she embraced him. "Thank you for making me see that I have more family than I could have ever possibly imagined."
He returned her embrace as everyone watched, her words touching them. They all realized, as they looked back and forth at each other that they were more than just colleagues or crewmates . . . They were, just as she had said, family.