Comfort and Confession

The encounter with the Jem'Hadar vessel was unexpected. Rahel didn't know exactly what had happened, but it would have appeared that the rogue Jem'Hadar had almost been able to attack the Saucer section and the two Jem'Hadar transports they were escorting. If it hadn't have been for the Captain and the Engineering section intervening at the last possible moment, they would not have been able to escape.

Rahel had tried to keep herself busy in sickbay, which was situated in the Saucer section. Her concern was overwhelming and a part of her felt as if she should be working in the auxiliary sickbay in the Engineering section, not the saucer section. After all, if someone got hurt what were they going to do, she reasoned. Perhaps she should have made her case stronger. Of course, if they lost . . . she didn't want to think about it. No prisoners. She knew that. She understood why. But she didn't want to lose Logan so soon after having found him.

Quickly she pushed the grim thought away and went through the inventory list for sickbay for the tenth time. Next she would review where everything was for the third time to make sure everything was it its rightful place. As if it could possibly move since the last time she checked. But she knew that if she didn't stay busy, she would go mad.

Suddenly, the doors to sickbay opened. This immediately got her attention. Another more important diversion, she thought. She watched as her brother Ash walked through the door.

He looked at her and smiled gently. "Hi ! I thought I'd see how my sister was doing."

She sighed and forced a small smile. "As good as can be expected, I suppose." She pulled herself away from the list and went to Ash. "Are you okay ? Anything I should check out why you're here ?" She asked.

He raised his brows. "Nope, just here for you . . . are *you* okay ?" He asked. "You seem like you're trying to keep your mind off of something. Like maybe the Engineering section of the ship ?" He ventured. "They're very capable. They'll be fine…" He tried to assure her.

"What if they aren't ?" She countered. "What if they need a doctor ? They have no medical officer. I should be there . . ."

"No you shouldn't…" He said. "I know what they'll do if they lose . . . They won't need a doctor, Rahel . . . But they'll come back."

"How can you be so sure ?" She asked, her green eyes filled with concern.

"Because I'm an optimist !" He smiled. "I always look for the best scenario !"

"Well, I see all angles." She said as she looked away taking a deep breath. "And some of the angles look pretty bad."

Tenderly he held her shoulders. "What it is ?" He asked. "I'm sensing that there is more to this than just worrying about everyone on the main ship."

She was quiet for a moment and looked away. This is what she didn't want to happen. Tears were misting her eyes as she thought of Logan. Suddenly Ash's arms were around her.

"I know you and Logan are close . . . and you count him among your closest friends . . . He'll come back." He said.

"You don't understand…" She said. "….I haven't told you this before . . . It just never seemed like the right time . . . But . . . Logan and I are a lot closer than friends . . . We're seeing each other." Her voice broke as she said it. "I love him . . .I don't know what I'll do if I lose him now . . ."

Tenderly Ash caressed her hair. "Oh, Rahel . . . Why didn't you tell me ? I am so sorry . . . He'll be okay. He will . . . He'll come back to you . . "

"You can't know that anymore than I can…" She replied, a tear finally falling from her green eyes.

Gently, he lifted her chin. His dark eyes penetrated her gaze. "You have to believe he will, Rahel. Hang on to that."

She nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner about Logan and I."

"As long as you're happy, I'm happy . . . But *when* he comes back, if he ever hurts you, I'll wipe the bulkheads with him," he said with a smile.

"Sure you will." She replied with a soft smile.

Gently, he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. "See . . . Just believe . . . He'll come back to you."

She nodded and allowed Ash to pull her into his embrace again.