Dreams 
 Jazz Man
    
	He walked into the dusty apartment. The scent of a woman’s perfume mixed with the smell of sex, 
entered his mis-shaped nose. The lights had been turned down low and soft music played in the 
background. Sprawled across the large double bed was a scantily clad woman, the prostitute who had 
witnessed last nights killing, Kira Nerys. She looked so peaceful that he was loathe to disturb her 
slumber, but he had work to do.
	He knelt down beside the bed and gently shook her arm. Instantly she was awake. Instinctively 
she lashed out, but he stopped the clumsy blow with ease. 
	"Calm down, I'm police."
	"Lieutenant Odo?" she said eyes narrowed.
	"Yes, I'm investigating last nights murders."
	"And you want to know what I saw?"
	"That's right, Miss Nerys."
	"Just Nerys, or Kira if you want. I'd prefer if you call me Nerys, my clients do."
	"I'm not one of your clients."
	"Isn't that a pity." 
	"Not really, but that is irrelevant. I need a statement from you."
	"How long will that take?"
	"If you co-operate, not long. If you don't it could take a while."
	"I don't think I'll co-operate, get to spend a little time with you, handsome," she said with a 
smile.
	"Yes, well."

	
 	"How are you getting on?" asked the Chief as he walked into Odo's office.
	"Cause of death a single shot to the heart for each man," said Odo not looking up from the 
papers in front of him. "The second man has had his ears cut, sometime before he was shot. We have a 
rough description of the killers, but nothing else to go on."
	"Have you tried the prostitute again? She might have forgotten something or been hiding it in 
the first place."
	Now he looked up, "Why are you so suspicious of Nerys?"
	"It's 'Nerys' now is it?"
	"Answer the question," his voice was barely audibale, a show of restrained anger.
	"You are dangerously close to being thrown of this case, Lieutenant. It would not be a problem 
to get another officer to take over, and re-question all the parties involved."
	"You wouldn't dare," he said rising. "I'm the best you've got and you know it."
	"Maybe, but I want results not justice."
	"My job is to find out who killed those men, it's not the result I want, it's the truth. It's 
justice."
	"I stopped caring about justice and truth a long time ago. I suggest you do the same."
	Never, Odo said to himself as he sat back down. Never.

		========================

	Beep.
	What was that noise? 
 	Beep.
	There it was again.
	Beep.
	It refused go away. He opened his eyes to see where it was coming from. Then he remembered.
	"Odo here, go ahead."
	"Sir, sorry to interrupt your rest period, but there's something down in maintenance shaft K-9 
I think you should see."
	"I'll be there as soon as I can. Odo out." He closed his eyes again.
	This was the second night the dreams had come. It was the same as before, he woke up and 
couldn't remember who, or where he was. 
	The people in his dream where people from the station. The two that had been killed were Quark 
and a Bajoran man who worked with Rom in maintenance. Kira was the  prostitute. The other police 
officers where his deputies. The only one he did not recognise was the Police Chief.


	The shaft was small, just big enough to fit a man and no more. It must have been hard work to 
put a body into the shaft, but that's just what had been done. 
	A shaken engineer stood by, watching with sickening intensity the scene playing out before him.
	"What happened?" asked Odo as he looked into the end of the maintenance shaft.
	"Brooks here," the deputy pointed at the engineer, "Found him in the tube about an hour ago. 
When Davis chanced to come by he found Brooks and then called me. We discovered the body about half 
way up the tube." 
	"When was that?"
	"Just before I called you, once we were sure what it was I called."
	"Do we know who it is?"
	"Kad Riy. Worked in maintenance."
	With Rom, Odo filled in silently.


	"What have you found out so far?" asked Captain Sisko as he spun in his chair to face Odo.
	"We have a name; Kad Riy. Once Dr. Bashir is done we will have an approximate time and cause of 
death. We already know it was sometime between 2000 hours and 0400 hours, between when his shift ended 
and when he was discovered."
	"Is there further threat to the stations populous?"
	"At this time it's hard to say, but I don't think this was a random killing."
	"Good, the last thing we need is mass hysteria."

		=============================

	He heard crying the moment he stepped onto the fourth floor. Only as he got closer to her door 
did he realise where it was coming from.
	There on the bed she sat, curled up in a ball, crying her heart out.
	"What happened?"
	She turned, surprised to see him back. "I thought you would know, after all, it was your men."
	"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
	"They came here, and 'questioned' me. They . . ."
	He crossed to her, anger building in him, only for her did he control it. "Shh. It's okay, I'm 
here. Nobody's going to hurt you."
	They sat together for a long time, neither of them noticing as time sped by on it's never 
ending journey.

		=============================

	"Odo?"
	He looked up, "Yes, Major."
  	"How are you getting on?" she asked as she moved to sit opposite him.
	There was no doubt as to what she was talking about. "Dr. Bashir says that he died between 2000 
and 2100. Cause of death, a single shot from an old Earth pistol."
	"An Earth pistol?" Kira asked, her curiosity piqued.
	"I know. We're still trying to trace the gun. You would think it would be easy to trace, not 
many people will have weapons like that."
	They were interrupted by a call from the infirmary, "Bashir to Odo."
	"Yes, Doctor?"
	"Quark's been attacked."
	"I'm on my way."


	Odo barged into the infirmary, he had to know. "What happened?"
	"Someone attacked Quark," said the young nurse.
	"I know that much," growled Odo dangerously.
	"That's all I know, Dr. Bashir has just finished with him now."
	"Can I see him?"
	"You'll have to ask the Doctor."
	Odo went to find Bashir.
	Kira had silently followed and felt that she had to apologise for her friend, "Nurse, I'm sorry 
that the Constable treated you like that. He's under quite a lot of pressure right now."
	"It's all right, you don't have to explain, Dr. Bashir gets the same way."
	"I'm sure he does," said Kira with a smile.


	Quark had been attacked. He was down in the stock room, getting a bottle of kanar for Garak, 
when someone hit him from behind. They had cut his ears, something that Quark was not letting anyone 
forget. Quark had not seen his attacker and no one had drawn a connection between this incident and 
the murder of Kad Riy. Except Odo.
	It all went back to Odo's dream, the dream in which Quark and Kad had both been killed.

		===============================

	Lieutenant Odo stormed into the police headquarters, he was angry, very angry. How could the 
Chief have ordered someone else to 'question' Nerys? How could have someone have done that to her? As 
he hurried through the building people went out of their way to avoid him, they had that much sense at 
least.
	He had almost reached the Chief's office, it was just around this corner.
	"You can't go in there, sir," said the Chief's secretary from behind her desk.
	"Oh, yes I can," he said as he opened the door and walked in. 
	Inside he caught a glimpse of three people, the Chief and two that looked like the killers, 
then it all disappeared . . . 

		===============================	
	
	Odo sat bolt upright in bed, sweat running down his face. 
	"Constable Odo, I'm Constable Odo," he said as his memory slowly returned.
	He was investigating a murder, and an attack. They where connected. The connection was the 
three he had just seen in his dream. He had to find out who they were.


	"Major Kira?"
	"Yes, Odo," said Kira, turning to face him.
	Odo sat down at the table, "I need your help."
	"What kind of help?" she asked.
	He looked around to see that no one in Quarks was listening to them, "Bajoran records."
	"What type?"
	"Government personnel, past and present."
	"Why can't you get them yourself?"
	"I can't explain right now, but no one must know that it's me who wants these records."
	"I'll see what I can do."
	"Thank you, Major," he said as he got up and exited Quarks.


	In one of DS9's seedier bars a Bajoran and a human sat talking, one of them had attacked the 
wrong man, well Ferengi.
	"They all look the same, you know, big head, no hair and horrible teeth," said the Bajoran.
	"I know that, but the boss won't be happy, we have to kill this Ferengi. Who knows what he 
might all ready have said?" asked the human.
	Having finished their conversation the two left the bar and headed back to their separate 
quarters.

		===============================

	There was a knock at the door.
	"Who is it?" shouted Odo as he walked over to the entrance to his small apartment.
	"Me, Kira Nerys," came the muffled reply.
	Odo opened the door and let her in. "What can I do for you?" he asked.
	"I heard what happened with your chief. I want to help you find out who killed those men."

		================================

	"Kira to Odo."
	"Odo here. What can I do for you, Major?"
	"I have the information you wanted."
	"Good, where are you?"
	"My quarters."
	"I'll meet you there in half an hour."
	"OK, Kira out."


	"Did you have any problems getting the records?" asked Odo.
	"They were classified, they shouldn't be. My clearance level's high enough to get them."
	"You had to enter in your security details?"
	"Yes, that's what you have to do when something's classified."
	"Sorry, it's just that I don't what these records to be traceable."
	"Why not?"
	"They were classified and they shouldn't be, and I think that someone on the station is 
protecting government personnel from being 'found out'."
	"Found out? For what?"
	"I don't know yet."


	"That's him!" shouted Odo.
	"Who?" came Kira's much less exited reply, Odo had woken her.
	"The Chief, the one who's behind it all."
	Kira crossed from the couch to where Odo had been reading, "Odo, your not making sense. The 
only 'Chief' I know is O'Brien, and I somehow don't see him as a criminal master mind."
	Odo told her about his dream, about Quark's attack and Kad Riy's murder being 
connected. About the 'Chief' being behind it all.
	They looked back at the records.
	"Jora Ent, Deputy Minister for Bajoran Security," Kira read aloud over Odo's shoulder.
	"Wait, he's only been there for two months," interrupted Odo.
	"Yes, he replaced Abar Goth."
	Odo continued to read, "Previously worked in the illegal substances department of planetary 
security." he paused, scanning the rest of the document. "Family: parents dead, no siblings. One 
cousin: Kad Riy."
	"Kad Riy?"
	"That puts things into a different perspective," said Odo. 
	"Call up Kad Riy's records."
	Odo did so.
	"He took leave a few weeks ago," read Kira.
	"To visit his cousin?"
	"Could be, but we have no way of knowing."
	"Yes we do, Rom."
	"Rom, what's he got to do with it?" asked Kira, confused.
	"He and Kad worked together, and they were good friends."


	After they had spoken to Rom, Kira ordered Odo to sleep. He had been working for over 26 hours 
with no break. Reluctantly he had agreed.

		=============================

	Odo sighed as he looked at the clock over by the door, 1:30 AM. He had been working for too 
long, and not getting anywhere. Not yet at least. He turned to the next page of criminal records, two 
of the faces jumped out at him.
	"It's them, the two who said they were cops," said Nerys from over his shoulder.
	"They fit the description, that you gave, of the killers."
	"I know. They were, are, the same people. I didn't notice at the time, I'm sorry."
	He turned the chair around, pulling her into his lap as he did so, "It's okay, you were upset, 
and you thought they were police officers. Forgiven and forgotten," he said, kissing her lightly on the 
forehead.

		=============================
	
	Slowly but surely Odo made progress. He and Major Kira found that soon after the discovery of a 
large amount of illegal substances, an equally large amount of money had been deposited into Jora Ent's 
bank accounts. According to another officer who had worked on the case, some of the substance, mainly 
dust but including some hallucinogenic drugs, had disappeared. No one could be certain how much as 
proper counts had not been made when the drugs where discovered. 
	Kad Riy had taken leave at the same time, and according to Rom, he had stayed with his cousin. 
Kad had returned shaken, but had not said anything at the time. He had visited Jora only a few weeks ago
and this time had told Rom some of what he believed. Kad had sworn Rom to secrecy and only after Kad's 
death did Rom feel able to speak.
	The attack on Quark seemed to be a case of mistaken identity, Rom was the one who knew about 
Jora.
	During the small amount of time that Odo slept, under orders from Kira and on her couch so she 
could be sure the orders where being carried out, his counterpart worked.
	Together he and Kira Nerys discovered some skeletons in the Chief's closet. The two hired 
killers had been done for possession of drugs, but the amount they carried suggested they were dealers. 
They were. They worked for the Chief so he had saved them from a longer sentence. Kad Riy had discovered
this and was working to expose the Chief, the other man who had been killed was the brother of Kad's 
partner Rom.
	Both Odos had the proof, they now had to make it known.

		================================

	"Odo, wake-up," came the voice from above him, "I've got you some Raktajino."
	Slowly he sat up, "Why thank you," he said as he took the mug from her hands and sat it down 
beside the couch he had slept on. He pulled her down onto the couch beside him, "Now come back to bed."
	"Odo, what . . ."
	He didn't allow her to continue, he leaned in close and kissed her. Then he remembered. 
Raktajino. Not coffee. Abruptly he pulled back and ended the kiss.
	"I'm sorry, Major. I wasn't thinking straight, . . .well I was, but . . . I thought . . .
The other . . . They, well . . ."
	This time it was her turn to interrupt. "Don't be sorry, Odo," she said as she drew him closer.
	Beep.
	They parted and Odo tapped his comm badge, "Odo here. What is it?"
	"Sisko here, I'd like a progress report on the Kad Riy case."
	"Of course. We are ready to make an arrest."
	"Good. My office, five minutes. Sisko out."
	Odo closed his eyes and sighed.
	"Well it seems like you have to go, handsome. Why don't we finish this later, hmm?"
	"Good idea," he said.


	"You are sure, beyond reasonable doubt, that the Deputy Minister of Bajoran Security is behind 
this . . . this cover-up?" 
	"Yes, sir. Jora Ent is behind the killing, and the attack."
	"That's good enough for me. Now all we have to do is convince the Bajoran Government. What about
the two hired killers?"
	"We managed to trace the gun. It belongs to Jeff Allan, a known mercenary. The other man we're 
not sure about, but once we find Allan he won't be that hard to find."
	"Good. I want you to come to Bajor with me and present your evidence to the First Minister. It 
would be easier if we had confessions from Allan and the other man."
	"When do we leave?"
	"In four hours."	
	"I'll see what can be done."


	"First Minister, can you not see that all this is is Federation lies. They have bribed this . . . 
thing to say that I paid him to kill my own cousin?"
	"Calm down, Jora," said Shakaar putting a restraining hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I 
wish to find out the truth, do you not also?"
	"I wish to find out how my cousin was killed."
	"You mean you want to know what your men dreamt up for him," said Odo under his breath.
	This was apparently loud enough for Sisko to hear and he shot Odo a disapproving glare.
	"I will review Constable Odo's evidence," said Shakaar, "As well as the confession of Jeff 
Allan. If I find it to be correct I will commission a separate, external, investigation into the 
matters involved. Now gentlemen, it is late and I would suggest that you get some rest. I will give you 
my decision tomorrow." He turned to Jora, "I would appreciate it if you did not leave the Capital."
	"Yes, sir."
	The two Bajorans filled out, leaving Sisko and Odo alone in the council chambers.
	"I thought that this might take some time so I've arranged temporary accommodation. I suggest 
we get some rest, tomorrow will be a long day."

		================================

	"Now we have proof what do we do?" asked Nerys.
	"We can't go any higher in the police force so we have to go to the Mayor."
	"The Mayor? But, how?"
	"I grew up next door to him, that will get us an audience. The rest, we just have to hope our 
evidence is good enough."

		================================

	"Good enough . . . good enough," murmured Odo as he tossed and turned in the small bed. 
"Enough . . . good . . . evidence is good . . . good enough . . . must be good . . . must be good 
enough . . . enough . . ." He trailed off and fell into a deep, dreamless  sleep.


	"Good morning, gentlemen. I trust you slept well," said Shakaar as Sisko and Odo filled into the 
council chambers.
	Odo had slept well, in fact the night before had been his first night of good sleep since the 
dreams started. Sisko on the other hand looked like he hadn't slept at all.
	"I have read over the evidence against Jora Ent and find to be inconclusive."
	"Inconclusive? In what way?" asked Odo.
	"Firstly you say that you felt it was Jora, you had no evidence to point you in his direction."
	"True, but we found proof that it was him. Does it matter that we got to him in unorthodox 
ways?"
	"Yes. You were convinced it was Jora before you traced the weapon and before you got a 
confession. How?"
	"If I were a human I would call it a hunch."
	"Your not . . ."
	"Human," Odo finished for him, "Yes I know. I don't know what I would call it, but I knew."
	"Before you had any conclusive evidence."
	"What are you suggesting, First Minister?" Sisko asked, reading between the lines of Shakaar's 
words.
	Odo spoke before Shakaar could respond, "Are you suggesting, First Minister, that a Bajoran 
citizen and a member of the Bajoran Milita, which I must remind you that I am, would, for his own 
unknown reasons, try to have someone who he have never meet before removed from office?"
	"No. I am not suggesting that."
	"But you were thinking it."
	"I must admit the thought had crossed my mind, Captain."
	"Would you be more convinced if this was coming from someone you trust?" asked Odo
	"Yes, yes it would. It's not that I don't trust you, Captain."
	"It's that you don't trust me." said Odo. "You trust Major Kira, don't you. She worked with me 
on this case and will be able to tell you the same things that I have."
	"I trust Kira, yes."
	"It is settled then. Kira will come down from DS9 and confirm what Odo has told us," said Sisko,
ending the meeting.


	"I don't believe that you would not trust Odo. What reason would he have to lie to you?" asked 
an enraged Kira as she paced the length of the chamber.
	"I don't know why, I just know that there's something he's covering up."
	"About what?"
	"I'm not sure. I just have this feeling."
	Kira walked up to the circular table the First Minister was sat at, "I worked with Odo on this 
case, drew the same conclusions as he did. Jora Ent did employ two mercenaries to kill his cousin."
	"Why?"
	"You all ready know, but I tell you again. Because his cousin knew about the missing drugs." 
Kira paused. "Happy now?"
	"Happier."


	Sisko and Odo had felt it best to stay in small council chambers that they had briefed Kira in 
and let her talk to Shakaar alone. Now Odo wished he had not done so.
	"Shakaar's right about the problems in your evidence. How did you 'know' it was Jora Ent?"
	"I told Shakaar why."
	"You were hiding something from him, and you're hiding it from me now. What is it?"
	For a long time Odo said nothing, then he began to speak, "This is going to sound foolish, but 
it is true." He stopped.
	"Go on," urged Sisko. He had never seen Odo this unsure of anything.
	"It . . . It came to me in a dream."
	Sisko exploded, "A dream, a dream. That's all we need. Shakaar doesn't believe you at the moment 
and now you're going to tell him it came to you in a dream."
	By this time Odo was beginning to get annoyed himself, "It's all been proved. No matter how I 
knew it was Jora it has all been proved. The evidence is there, maybe Shakaar is just to stupid to see 
it."
	At that moment Kira chose to walk in, "To see what?" she asked. When Odo didn't answer her she 
turned to Sisko.
	"The evidence against Jora Ent."
	"So that's what you were arguing about. I heard you all the way down the hall."
	"It was hardly an argument," said Sisko.
	"More of a small disagreement," said Odo.
	Men, thought Kira, always trying to get themselves out of trouble. "Whilst you two where having 
your 'small disagreement', I was convincing our esteemed First Minister to conduct his own investigation
into what happened. Now, if you will excuse me, it's been a long day and I'd like to get some rest." 
And with that she left.
	"Women," commented Sisko, "Always trying to get the moral high ground."

		================================

	When they walked into the office he had his back to them. He was looking out the impressively 
large windows.
	"Mr. Mayor," said Odo.
	The Mayor turned round, "Odo! How are you?" he asked moving to shake Odo's hand.
	"As well as can be," said Odo taking the hand. "I'd like to introduce you to Kira Nerys," he 
said turned to Kira. "Nerys this is Benjamin Sisko, a good friend of mine, who happens to be the Mayor."
	"Pleased to meet to, Miss Kira."
	"Thank you, Mr. Mayor."
	Sisko offered the two a seat and then sat himself. "You know that I'm doing you a favour, Odo, 
don't you?"
	"Yes, I do. I know your a busy man and we won't take much of your time."
	"I'm glad that's is understood. Now what do you want to show me?"
	"Evidence that proves the Chief of Police was behind the murder of two men."
	"What?"
	"You heard me, Ben." He took a folder out of the small leather briefcase he had brought with 
him. "It's all in here," he said handing the folder to Sisko.
	Sisko flicked through the papers inside, "You'll have to give me time to read them."
	"Of course," said Odo.
	"When will you give us a decision?" asked Kira.
	"Tomorrow, I'll arrange for someone to have you to picked up."
	"Thank you, Ben. You don't know how much this means to me."
	"It means as much as justice has always meant to you."

		===============================

	Sisko knocked on the heavy wooden door that led into Shakaar's office.
	"Come," came the reply from inside.
	Sisko open the door and walked in. It was only the second time he had been into Shakaar's 
private domain, and that time the office had been housed in a different building.
	The room it's self was nothing special, it was small in comparison with the other government 
buildings. Shakaar sat behind a large desk, he had been studying a computer screen before Sisko had 
interrupted.
	"Captain Sisko, what a nice surprise."
	"Major Kira tells me that you have agreed to conduct an investigation into what happened on DS9 
and the affairs involving Jora Ent's time with the illegal substances section."
	"That is correct."
	"Will you want to keep Allan here on Bajor?"
	"Yes, If it's not to much trouble to you."
	"You would have to speak to Odo about that, but I don't think it will be any problem."
	"Good. The other man, has he been caught yet?"
	"No. Security is still working on it. As soon as we have anything you'll be informed."
	"Thank you. I'm bringing in people from outside the government and planetary security to 
investigate."
	"When do they start?"
	"They already have, Captain."
	Sisko smiled, "Then I think it may be time to return to DS9."
	

	"You wanted to see me, First Minister?" asked Odo.
	"Yes," said Shakaar moving from the replicater to his desk. "I wanted to know if it would be a 
problem to keep Jeff Allan on Bajor."
	"He has already admitted to killing Kad Riy, so we're finished with him except for his 
punishment. That would have been turned over to Bajor anyway, so I can see no problems. You would also 
want his accomplice. He has attacked a civilian on DS9 so it may be problematic to let him go to Bajor 
once we find him."
	"If you can get a confession from him that includes what Jora Ent had ordered them to do, that 
will do instead."
	"Is that all you wished to speak with me about?"
	"Yes. Thank you, Odo."


	"It's good to be back," said Kira Nerys as she walked out of the airlock and onto DS9. "I never 
thought that I'd think of this place as home, but I do."
	"I know what you mean, Major. It might be a half run-down Cardassian monster, but it's our half 
run-down Cardassian monster."
	"Don't think the Chief would like to hear you talking like that, sir," said Kira with a smile.
	"No," agreed Sisko, who was also smiling.
	"Major, Captain, if you will excuse me, I'd like to catch up on the situation with Allan's 
accomplice."
	"Of course, Odo."
	"I'll see you later on?" asked Kira.
	"Yes, Major."

		================================

	"How was the trip?" asked Mayor Sisko.
	"In that car you laid on for us?" asked Odo. "What do you think, Ben?"
	"All right, all right. Have a seat."
	Odo and Nerys sat.
	"Have you come to a decision yet?" asked Odo.
	"Yes, well at least sort of. The matter needs to be investigated further. No offence meant, but 
who is going to believe a prostitute and a man who's just been fired by the person he's trying to 
convict?. No one. We need to go higher, get someone in from outside."
	"How about the Senator?" said Nerys.
	"Senator Shakaar?" asked Sisko.
	"Who else? He used to be a client of mine, before he became senator."
	Odo bit back a laugh, there was no love lost between him and Shakaar, and now he had something 
on him. He had gone to a prostitute, that made sense, no one liked the man let alone anything more. 
Then voice in Odo's head began to speak, Isn't that what your doing? It asked. No, it's not like that 
with Nerys. It's more than that, he answered. The thought still nagged at the back of his mind.
	Sisko was agreeing with Nerys.
	"The Senator, yes. People trust him, they believe in him. If he says it's true, then people 
believe it's true."
	"Doesn't mean it is," said Odo.
	"True," agreed Sisko. "I don't want to talk politics with you, I know that discussion by heart."
	"So do I."
	"So it's decided, we go to Shakaar," said Nerys interrupting the men's reminisce.
	"Yes," agreed Sisko.
	"Then we should be going, Nerys," said Odo moving toward the door.
	"Odo, could I have a moment. In private?" 
	"Sure," he turned to Nerys, "You go on, I'll be out in a minute."
	Sisko waited until she had closed the door, "Odo, I'm not sure how to say this, but are you sure about Nerys?"
	"I don't think I know what you mean."
	"She's a prostitute, that's what I mean."
	"And you think that . . . It's not like that, Ben. It's more than that. She wanted to help me, 
to find out who killed Kad Riy and Quark. She saw them killed, do you know what it's like to see 
someone killed in front of you?"
	"No," Sisko replied honestly.
	"I hope you never find out. Ben, I appreciate your concern, but I know what I'm doing."
	"I hope, for your sake, you do."

		================================

	"Kira to Odo."
	Odo slowly woke. Once he realised what the hail was he tapped his comm badge, "Odo here."
	"I've been trying the door for the last five minutes, I can't believe you didn't hear me."
	"Sorry, I was asleep. Where are you?"
	"Outside your door. Let me in."
	"Of course, Odo out."
	Odo got up from the chair where he had been sleeping, crossed to the door and disengaged the 
privacy lock. That had been Dax's fault. Before he had became a solid the Trill had taken great pleasure
in moving Odo things. Then it had been an annoyance, now it could be dangerous, Odo might sit down and 
find that the chair had moved a few millimetres. 	
	A fate worse than death.
	But not worse than an angry Major Kira.
	"Odo, I said that I'd speak to you and then you disappear?" At that moment Odo would have given 
anything to disappear. "What did you think you where doing? I hailed you twice before coming here."
	"I'm sorry, Major. After I finished in security I came back here and then I fell asleep."
	"It's the dream, it's not over yet, is it?"
	"No," Odo confessed, "It's not over. It's tiring, I wake up and I'm still tired. I just wish it 
would end."
	Kira moved further into the room and sat down on the large armchair, the one Odo had just been 
sleeping in. "I'm sorry, Odo. I didn't know it had taken so much out of you. When we were working I 
thought it was just because you had slept so little."
	"It's okay." He sat down on the armrest of the chair. "Forgiven and forgotten," he said, 
kissing her lightly on the forehead.
	She looked up at him, "Odo, we need to talk."
	At one time Odo would have feigned ignorance, now he just acknowledged it, "I know."
	"I realised something whilst we were working together on this case. I enjoy just being with you,
it doesn't matter what we're doing. It's being together."
	"Well, that explains why you enjoy going over criminal reports," said Odo.
	Kira batted him playfully on the chest, "You know what I mean."
	"Yes, but what do you want to do about it?"
	"I don't know. We need to take it slowly, I don't want to lose what we already have."
	Odo looked her directly in the eyes, "You don't need to worry about that, I'm your friend first.
Whatever happens that will always be true."

		===============================

	It took Shakaar's men a month to do what had taken Odo and Kira less than half the time. Their 
decision was unanimous.

		===============================
	
	"They find Jora Ent to be guilty," Sisko told the two people in front of him. "Good work."
	"Thank you, sir," said Kira.
	"Thank you, Captain," said Odo.
	"Here's a copy of the report. I don't think you really need to read it, it's much the same as 
your own report. It's less interesting as well. Dismissed."
	As the two walked out of the office, Kira turned to Odo, "How about diner to celebrate?"

		===============================

	"Odo," said Nerys as she opened the door to his office, "Someone here to see you."
	"Who?" he asked.
	"The Mayor."
	"Send him in," said Odo rising.
	"Odo, I've good news for you."
	"Oh?"
	"Shakaar's men agree with you, your Chief's going to prison."
	"That's great news. Nerys, come in here."
	She open the door and came in, "What is it?"
	"The Chief's going to prison, Shakaar's men found him guilty."
	"I knew they would, your evidence was conclusive. Well done, Odo."
	"I think I'll leave you two to celebrate, Odo," said Sisko already moving toward the door.
	"You can go only if you agree to one thing."
	"And what might that be?"
	"To be my best man."
	"Best man? You're getting married?"
	"Yes."
	"Congratulations," said Sisko, shaking hands with his friend. "When's the wedding?"
	"Not for a while yet, I'll tell you when we know."
	"Good, now I've got to get back. Until we meet again."
	Sisko strode out the office and then to the door of the offices, he turned to read the door sign.

		Odo Ital
		Private Investigator

	His friend had done well for himself, very well.


End

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