Troy had been trying to catch a nap before he had to go to work. The attack on Kassia had left him physically and emotionally drained; his first experience with the transporter hadn't helped. Kassia was still sound asleep, attempting to stave off the trauma. Troy had tried all manner of diversions--reading, watching a holoprogram, going over the books for the club--but couldn't get his mind off of Kassia. The door chimed. "Enter," Troy said. Tarik entered, precisely at 1800 hours.
"How is she doing?" Tarik asked automatically.
"She's asleep" he said, as he rubbed his eyes with a hand, standing up from the couch. "Seems that the medication the doctor gave her keeps her from dreaming, or I'm sure I would be hearing her having nightmares right now." Memories of watching her have previous nightmares poured into his mind.
"I know. I remember the last time this happened," Tarik said. "Damn, but I wish I could have been there for her! Maybe if I'd been in the vicinity Kelly would have thought better of attacking her. Or if we'd caught him sooner..."
"As much as I do that myself, its not going to help her now," Troy said, looking worn out from worry. "All we can do is help her through it now."
"You look bad, Troy. How much longer before you have to go to work?" Tarik asked.
"About an hour," he replied.
"Are you going to be okay? Is there anyone you can call to take your place--you really don't look good."
"That's okay, I'll be fine," he said. "Thanks . . ."
Suddenly, they could hear crying. Kassia had woken up. Troy reached for the hypo spray on the coffee table.
"The doctor told me to give her this three times a day for the next couple of days. Said she needs to sleep for a few days to let her body fully heal and maybe ease some of the trauma . . . Though I have my doubts on that one," he said, his dark eyes a black storm of emotion.
"The drugs only push it away. Sooner or later it has to be dealt with," Tarik said, understanding completely. He entered the room with Troy. "I'm here, Kass," he said, taking her hand as Troy administered the hypospray.
Tears were shining bright in her green eyes as she tried to calm her sobs. "I was alone . . . And for a moment I thought I saw . . . It was Kelly, but then it wasn't Kelly . . . It was . . ." Another sob caught in her throat as she closed her eyes, willing the medication to work faster. She felt Troy immediately embraced her, knowing who she meant.
"Its okay, Kassia . . . Tarik and I are here. No one can hurt you now . . . Kelly is in the brig and . . . and my father is no where near SB901."
She nodded weakly as the medication began to calm her. He gently eased her back onto the pillows of the bed.
"Has she been asking about your father?" Tarik asked, remembering what she'd intimated to him months earlier.
He nodded. "I figured it would come up after what Kelly threatened . . . It might as well have been my father all over again, except that my father hadn't beaten her really . . . Not like Kelly . . . This was a double-whammie of sorts," he said, as he watched Kassia's eyes struggle to stay open for a moment longer and then close, sending her back into the realm of dreamless sleep, he hoped.
Tarik squeezed Kassia's hand, holding it as she eased back into sleep. "I've been meaning to discuss this with you, Troy. As soon as I am able to, I'd like to take Kassia to Vulcan to see a healer. She's been through a lot, and I think she could do with some truly professional help to get her back on her feet. I'll give her credit--she's very strong. But that only goes so far."
Troy nodded. "She is very strong . . . The strongest person I know, though she doesn't see it," he said. For a moment he was quiet as he looked down at his sister. "If you think this will help, then do it . . . I don't want her to keep hurting like this . . . Not because of that Son'a Commander, not because of Kelly and not because," he got quiet again and then spat the words, "Because of my father . . . Or Rojere or any man that has ever hurt her. She deserves me than that . . ." Tenderly he caressed her face, not looking at Tarik, afraid of betraying how deeply he was affect by this.
"As soon as I can, then, I'll put in for leave. I've been wanting to go back to Vulcan lately, and I did promise Kassia I'd take her with me. I've researched several healers and think I've found one that can help her," Tarik said, sitting down beside Kassia's bed. "We should be able to split our shifts up three ways now; Deveraux's back aboard the station and he's offered to keep an eye on her as well."
"Paul's back?" he asked, finally meeting Tarik's gaze. "I thought the Arizona wasn't back yet . . ."
"Indeed, it is not. But it's amazing what an armored transport at maximum burn can accomplish. Let's just say that Wallace was...convinced...that having Paul on board would not be the wisest idea," Tarik said, smiling wolfishly.
With that Troy grinned and nodded. "So when do we expect him to appear?" he asked.
"Paul will be ready to pick up here at 0800 hours, the start of Alpha Shift. I've scheduled him to work Gamma shift, so that won't be a problem. That will give you a chance to get some rest. Provided you get the rest, Troy! Don't turn yourself into a martyr. You'll do her no good and only end up doing yourself harm."
He nodded knowing Tarik was speaking the truth. "Only problem is I can't sleep," he admitted. "I keep seeing her in sickbay and that bastard Kelly . . . What he threatened to do . . . and then memories of my father keep coming into my mind also . . . " Frustration laced his voice.
"I understand," Tarik said, thinking of his own sleepless nights after the assassins had claimed his parents. They still came from time to time. "I've spent a lifetime trying to get past demons of that nature. Perhaps you should go to Sickbay and have them prescribe something for you, just to get you through this. And then, once things have calmed down, I'll show you a more creative solution to the problem."
Troy nodded gazing down at his sister once again. She needed him to be strong . . . stronger than she was . . . "I'll go before work. That way, when I get off, I can get some sleep maybe . . ."
"A very good idea. In the meantime, I recommend the strongest, nastiest coffee you can find! Hell, it works for guard duty!"
Troy allowed himself a small chuckle. "Sounds good. In fact, we actually have plenty of that at Soma at night for all of the workers . . . Some of us run on very strong Raktajino."
"I can imagine!" Tarik said. "If anything comes up, I'll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, hang in there. Between all of us we'll get Kassia back on her feet in no time!"
With another look at Kassia, he rose to his feet. "Then I will leave her in your very capable hands," he said. "See you around 0300."
"It's going to be all right, Troy. Just don't worry," Tarik said as he stroked Kassia's hand. Kassia stirred at the contact, but quickly fell back to sleep. As soon as Troy left, Tarik began consulting one of a series of PADDS he'd brought with him. One contained technical data on the research project that had fallen into his lap before the current crisis. Tarik stared at that for five minutes, and then tossed it aside. He then looked at the second PADD.
"Computer, search all Federation and allied records for references to Mikolo Havare Nevalla. Cross-reference all known aliases. List likely occupations and whereabouts for past ten years, if known," Tarik ordered. "Download results to this PADD." Tarik was a firm believer in dealing with root causes as opposed to symptoms. And he meant to deal with this root cause rather decisively!
The data scrolled onto the PADD. Tarik grinned as he saw a pattern. Then, setting aside the PADD, he turned to Kassia. "Kass, honey, I can't take away the pain. I'll get you the best help I know of. But I will make whoever hurt you very sorry he even thought of it!"
For a moment it seemed like she had stirred. Gently her eyes opened and looked at him. Fear was evident, unless her eyes focused and she saw it was him. "Tarik . . ." she said just above a whisper. Darkness of sleep slowly trying to pull her back.
"I'm still here. And I still love you," Tarik said, not quite sure what he could say to comfort her. "If you need anything, I'll be right here, or in the next room."
"Stay with me . . ." she said, the tears glimmering in her eyes again. "Please just stay with me . . . I'm only safe . . . if you're . . . here . . ." Her eyes closed again returning her to darkness.
"I'm here. And if I'm not here, Troy or Paul will be here. We won't let anything happen to you!" For the first time in his adult life, Tarik began to shed a tear.