Answers

Rahel stood with Ash next to her over the body of the dead rogue Jem'Hadar. She had mixed feelings about his death. On the one hand, she felt some remorse for losing a patient, though it was of no fault of her own and yet on the other, there was a sense of relief. Also a sense that if he hadn't have died and he had tried to escape again, she would have indeed killed him herself. Tenderly, Ash put his hand on her shoulder. As she turned her head to look into his eyes, she sighed.

"I can sense all the mixed feelings you're having." He said.

"I'm fine." She replied as she readied her instruments to begin the autopsy to find out why this Jem'Hadar had died from the White.

"Rahel, you can pretend with everyone else." He said, "But I know you, I can feel you."

As she looked at him again her green eyes were desperate. "Ash, I'm okay. Now, I have to do my job just like you have to do yours . . . Of course, I bet you didn't figure on working with your sister like this, did you ?." She said as she began with the initial "V" cut at the collar and then straight down the torso.

The smell hit them, but they both barely flinched as they began their internal examination.

"Well, there seem to be no external or internal reasons for this, so it has to go deeper. We'll have to analyse his blood, cell structure, DNA."

"I'll get the necessary samples," Ash replied as Rahel finished up the exam.

"Everything else checks out as normal," Rahel replied. "We'll have to see what this reveals."

Ash looked at the samples and then at her. This was what they did best - work as a team to solve problems. No division between Medical and Science. Swiftly, they got to work.

It was a couple hours later, but when everything was said and done, Rahel and Ashraf had their answer. Rahel tapped her commbadge.

"Lieutenant Rahel Kahfre to Lieutenant Logan McQueen, we have completed the autopsy and have results for you. I think you'll be quite surprised," She said.

[I'm on my way.] He replied.

As Logan showed up, they sat down in Rahel's office. Rahel began as she looked at him. "Well, the initial autopsy of Ger'Tax, the Jem'Hadar rogue, basically didn't show anything abnormal in his body structure outside or within."

"It was in his DNA that we found the surprise." Ashraf continued. "Apparently he had a genetic mutation that caused him to be allergic to White."

"What ?" Logan replied with a bit of surprise.

"We've confirmed it twice. He died from an allergic reaction." Rahel added.

"Then how was he able to tolerate the White solution you created ?" Logan asked, looking at Ashraf.

"He had apparently been given a placebo very like it." He replied. "It's what his body was use to and needed."

"So if we had actually continued to give him what you had created he would be alive right now ?" Logan suggested.

Rahel and Ash looked at each other and nodded. Logan sighed and shook his head. Rahel rolled her head from side to side. She could sense his dislike for the Jem'Hadar, yet this death wasn't something he wanted either. Not like this. She felt much the same way. She would have taken this Ger'Tax herself had he proved to be a threat again, but for him to die in her care, as a patient of hers was not something that pleased her much. Finding out that this was something she couldn't have known about was little consolation.

"I would say our next best course of action is to find out who knew, and who else is like him." Rahel replied. "Who knows, it might be a clue, even something to do with why the scientists were taken."

As the meeting finally broke up, Rahel sighed. She was stretching, trying to ready herself to go back to work, but she looked worn. Logan studied her face carefully seeing it in her eyes especially.

"How long has it been since you've gotten any sleep ?." Logan asked as he looked at her, knowing they had all had little in the last few days.

Rahel paused for a moment as she thought. "Seventy Two hours." she sighed, "Give or take a couple of hours." She smirked gently.

"I want you off-duty as of now to get some sleep." He said.

"But my patients…." She protested.

"Will be looked after by the remaining staff while you rest. You'll be no good to anyone if you collapse and become a patient yourself."

She thought for a moment and sighed, knowing he was right. She nodded. "I only sleep four hours at a shot. I'll be back here in six or less." She said.

They looked at each other for a moment waiting to see what the other would do. Logan smiled. "Six hours then." he said. "Is she always this strong-headed ?" He asked Ash.

Ash smirked. "Always." He replied.

A surprised noise came from Rahel as she looked at Ash, her mouth open. She then gently elbowed him, since he had come up behind her. He grabbed his abdomen and laughed. Logan looked at the two and shook his head with a smile of his own. He then turned and left, seeing a similar bond between Rahel and Ash that he had with his own sister Lana.

"I'm always that strong-headed, huh ?" Rahel replied with mock anger.

"Absolutely." He replied. "It's what's gotten you this far." Tenderly he reached out and caressed her cheek. Instantly a smile lit her face and she melted into his warm embrace.

"What would I do without you, dear brother of mine ?" Rahel asked.

"Oh, I'm sure you'd find your way, dear strong-headed sister of mine." Ash replied.

With that she play punched him and laughed. He joined her in the laugh as he pretended to fall back a step.

"How about we grab something to eat, then I'll walk you to your quarters . . ." He suggested.

"Making sure I get to bed, huh ?" Rahel asked.

"Well, our Temporary Captain has ordered you to get some sleep, and I agree that you should, for your health."

She sighed and nodded, knowing if she didn't get some sleep Ash would probably give her a tranquilliser and make her sleep. As she stepped out of Sickbay with him beside her, she finally felt herself start to grow tired. She *would* sleep . . . as soon as she hit the pillow.