"Memories Like Poison"

Rahel approached the sectioned-off part of sickbay where the Jem'Hadar rogue was being held, treated for the wounded he had received during his escape attempt. Not only had she arranged a private room for him, but one with a level ten forcefield. There was also a watch posted just beyond the doorway. As she lowered the forcefield to enter, she felt them ready themselves to follow her.

"You two will stay right here." She said.

"Ma'am, our orders are to make sure he doesn't escape and harm anyone else," The Ensign had informed her.

"And you can do that right here. I don't want him agitated in his present condition. He's still my patient, even if he did murder Commander Vossik . . ." She added coldly, stealing a look at the Jem'Hadar on the bed.

"But with all due respect, Lieutenant, one of us should be in there to protect you." He said.

She shook her head and sighed.

"It would be the other way around, Ensign." She replied with a bit of irritation in her voice, most of it due to the face that she truly didn't want to do anything for this Jem'Hadar maniac who had wounded most of her staff and had killed the First Officer. If she had been there, instead of at a meeting with the science department, she would have been able to stop him, she thought sadly. She was met with a stare of disbelief. "If I need you, I'll call you. Keep your positions here. *That* is an order."

With a pause he nodded. Rahel finally entered the room and approached the bed. With her tricorder in hand, she scanned the rogue Jem'Hadar there, strapped to the bed. She sensed he was conscious. As she looked up from the tricorder, she saw his eyes opened.

"You are quite brave. Foolish, but brave." He said.

"Not all that foolish," She replied. "I believe you are the one wounded and strapped down. I, on the other hand am not."

"I could break these straps easily," He sneered.

"Fine, do it," Rahel replied, staring at him, completely unfazed. "Let's see what you can do."

"Have you not had enough of what I can do ?" he replied coldly. There was just the faintest twitch in Rahel's countenance, knowing he was referring to his escape attempt.

"If that was your best, I guess you need to do better to escape," She said. "Would you care to try me instead of most of my staff ?"

"You are no match for me, human female. Your species is weak. The females even more so," He said with almost the hint of a laugh on his breath.

Rahel arched her eyebrow. "Well, I'm not completely human and it would be a mistake for you to try to take me on. I would have no qualms about breaking your neck should you try to harm me or anyone else aboard this ship again. You might have been able to wound and kill here, but you won't win against me."

"Do you think you could end my life ?" He hissed.

She leaned toward him. "I have no doubt of it," Rahel replied meeting his eyes, her own as cold as green marble.

"There is no fear in you." He noted with a bit of admiration.

"No, there isn't," She replied, righting herself once more. "Make note of it, Jem'Hadar."

Finally pulling herself away from him and turning to her tricorder she nodded at the readings. "Your wounds are healing nicely. I'll give you a little more rest time in here, then you'll be beamed to the brig. I'll be in my office should you care to try your hand at escape again."

As their eyes met, she felt his desire to take on her challenge, but at the same time, he knew he would not be able to. As she straightened her uniform, she turned, lowering the forcefield and left the room. She left it down for half a breath, almost daring him to come after her before she raised the forcefield again and moved to her office to make her report to the Captain.

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Ashraf was going through some reports when he felt unrest in the back of his mind. Suddenly not being able to concentrate on his reading, he concentrated on that unrest. Memories began to surge up.

There was dead and dying all around. Crying and moaning could be heard. There was the smell of blood. Lights flickered and ODN relays popped and sizzled. He knew whose memories these were and a hint of worry went through him.

Pulling himself from the memories, he got up and headed toward sickbay. As he entered he went to the doctor's office and found his sister there, her head hidden behind her hair and her hands. She immediately looked up at him. No emotion on her face what-so-ever.

"Ash," She said with some surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I sensed you had something on your mind," He replied going to her.

"Vossik's dead." She replied, "Most of my staff are on those beds out there . . ." She sighed and shook her head. "Why wasn't I here ? If I'd been here -"

"He might have put you in one of those biobeds as well," Ash interrupted.

Immediately she met his dark eyes. "Look into my eyes and tell me that you honestly believe that he could take me."

He stared into her eyes for only a moment and then looked away.

"He's no better than the Proktolans," She said. "The only difference between him and them, is there's just one of him and he only killed one on this ship . . . If I weren't a doctor and I weren't Starfleet, do you know how easy it would be for me to go in there and kill him ?"

"Rahel . . ." He said as he felt her warring with her emotions. Something she didn't often do. He immediately went around the desk and embraced her tenderly caressing her blonde hair.

She took solace in her brother's arms as she leaned her head against his chest.