Published in the Star Trek Fanzine "Eridani" in 1994.

A HELPING HAND

By: MaryD
maryd_oz@yahoo.com

Author's note: The story is set just after the episode _Second Skin_

"You want me to do what?!"

Benjamin Sisko couldn't believe his ears. Before him stood his
old friend, Daniel Haycock. They had both served on board the
Saratoga, both went through a loss. Jennifer had been great
friends with Daniel's wife Sonya.

She, too, perished in the battle of Wolf 359 with the Borg. They
had both watched as the Saratoga was blown apart. All Daniel
had left afterward was his three old daughter.

Benjamin looked at his friend incredulously. "Where are you
going?"

Daniel Haycock was a stockily built man, his salt and pepper hair
matched his dark eyes as he smiled at his friend.

"Marisa asked me to meet her parents..."

Benjamin was speechless. He had know about the new woman in
Daniel's life but didn't think it was serious. He was happy for his
friend that he found happiness again after such a tragic loss.

"I just want you to mind Alexa until I get back."

"Where are you going?!"

"Um.." Daniel got up and walked to the viewport and looked out.
"Earth. I'm going home to Earth. Marisa means a great deal to me,
Ben. She helped me through...I don't know where I would be if she
hadn't..."

He couldn't finish his sentence as tears welled up in his eyes.
After five years it still brought him pain to think of Sonya in
the exploding Saratoga. He knew Benjamin would understand because
he had gone through the same process.

"I'm going for a week. I understand you have a school here..?"

Benjamin exhaled and tossed the baseball around. "We closed it
down. All the Bajoran children were relocated back to Bajor
because of the Dominion threat. Are you sure you want to leave
Alexa here, why don't you take her with you?"

"I thought of that...believe me. Can you do it?" Daniel looked at
his friend.

Sisko looked at his friend and sighed. He smiled and clasped him
on the shoulder. "I don't think it will cause any problem. Jake can
show her around the station and take care of her while I'm on Bajor
for the negotiations.

*****

She couldn't breath. The stench overpowered her. The rain fell
quietly outside and voices echoed around her. She couldn't
focus, panic overtook her.

The nightmares had returned. Her heart rate had been pounding
in her chest.

She made her way to the
replicator and ordered a hot cup of herbal tea. The memories of
her mother resurfaced. Her time on Cardassia was traumatic enough
but seeing her own frozen image...it reminded her of her mother.

She sipped her tea and closed her eyes. She wished she could see
her mother's image. She got up and went to her console.

"Yes, How can I help you?" An irritated Bajoran woman said tersly.

"This is Major Kira Nerys, Is Vedek Bareil available?" kira said
trying to keep her voice even and unemotional.

"I'm sorry Major Kira but Vedek Bareil is with Kai Winn for the
dedication of the Prophet's Temple. I could contact him if it
is of an urgent nature."

"Oh..no.."

"I will leave him a message for you."

The screen went blank.


******

Kira dressed and made her way down to Quark's Bar. She stopped at
the entrance.

"Major Kira. How nice to see you tonight. Drinking alone?" The
Ferengi bar owner said as he made a place for her at the bar.

"Quark, get me the best Saurian Brandy you have and keep it
coming," Kira ordered.
Quark obligingly handed her a bottle and a glass and she made her
way to the back of the bar.

She was determined to get as drunk as she could. She glared at
the drink in front of her. Quark's was busy but she didn't even
notice the yelling at the Dabo tables or the couple kissing in
the booth next to her.

"You had a rough day, Major?" Quark had appeared from nowhwere
with another bottle. A smile formed on his lips.

Kira glared up at him and snarled. "Go away, Quark."

"Oh, is that any way to treat a friend..?"

"Get this straight, you little troll. I am not your friend. Got
it?!"

"They all play hard to get at first. What you need is a good
holosuite program...to relieve those stresses...I hear Vedeks are
not--" Quark stopped mid sentence. Kira's angry stare made him
blanch. "Maybe some other time..." He said as he went to serve
some other customers.

Jadzia Dax, the Trill science officer, witnessed the exchange and
slid next to her friend.

"Hi. Tough day?"

Kira looked up and the trill and half-heartily smiled. "What's
the difference between a Vedek and a palukoo?"

Jadzia smiled. "I don't know."

"Palukoos don't go to temple dedications..." Kira said and she took
another great
big gulp. She thought of that man who had made her life so much
different. When she really needed him, he wasn't there.

Dax picked up the still near full bottle that Quark had left.
"This stuff will roast your insides..."

"That's the idea..."

"So you're getting drunk? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Yes I'm going to get drunk, and no, I don't want to talk..."

Jadzia watched as Kira downed another couple of drinks. She had
seen Kira drunk before but this time she wasn't drinking
synthahol. She remembered Curzon once drank two bottles of
Saurian Brandy and had a huge hangover the next morning. She
winced at the memory.

Dax slid out of the bench and went over to Quark who had been
serving Morn.

"Quark, let me know when Kira is ready to leave," she said and
headed out the door.

After what seemed like a just a few moments, Kira looked up and
stared at the empty Bar. The hours had sped past. Jadzia had
left. She was alone in the bar with Quark and Rom.

Then Jadzia re-appeared at the door.

"I'm glad you're here...you want to take her to her quarters? I
was going to call Odo.." Quark drawled.

"How much did she drink?"

Quark made a face. "Three bottles of Saurian Brandy. She is going
to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow...if she doesn't get
alcohol poisoning by then!"

Jadzia grimaced and went on over to the inebriated Bajoran. Kira
stared at her, her eyes glazed over and a crooked grin on her
face.

"Jadzia...my friend! Want a drink?!"

"Come on, we're going to bed..."

"Together?!" Kira yelped and fell back down on the seat. "I don't
want to go to bed...with you...I want Bareil...but he's gone..."

Dax rolled her eyes. This was going to be tougher than she
imagined.

"No, you're going to sleep in _your_ bed..." She helped her up
and Kira took a few steps, but her legs turned to jelly and she
fell to her knees. She sat on the floor laughing and looking up
at Jadzia.

Dax and Quark looked at her. Both looked at each other and went
and held her up.

Kira looked at Quark with a smile on her face. "Quark..did you
know you're kinda...cute..? Where's the holosuite?" Kira laughed.

"Jadzia that's a great idea! Let's put her in the holosuite..."
Quark half-jokingly suggested. He wouldn't mind getting the
Bajoran Major in a holosuite the way she was.

"Quark do you have a death wish? When Kira sobers up she'll kill
you!"

"It was worth a try!" Quark shrugged and helped Dax.

They struggled to get the drunk Bajoran to her quarters where
Quark left Jadzia to fend for herself and left shaking his head.

*****

"Jake!" Sisko's voice boomed inside his quarters.

"Yeah?" Jake Sisko said as he came out of his bedroom stuffing
clothes and word pads in his bag.

"Where are you going?"

"With Chief O'Brien on the Defiant. You said I could go --"

"I did? When?"

"Last week, don't you remember? I can still go, can't I?"

"Oh..yes.."

"What's the matter?"

"Admiral Haycock is going to Earth and wanted me to look after
his daughter -- I thought you would babysit while I was on
Bajor."

"Why don't you ask Jadzia."

Sisko snorted. He remembered the last time Dax babysat jake.
He could still remember Jennifer vowing never to let Curzon
babysit ever again.

"No no no!" Sisko said with a chuckle. "I'll find someone else..."

****

The computer alarm woke Kira from her drunken stupor. She groaned as
she got out of bed. Her clothes had been scattered all over the
room. She couldn't remember how she got back. She showered and dressed.

Afterward Kira looked at herself in the mirror and shuddered. A
message left on her console from Jadzia didn't brighten her up.
She checked to see if Bareil had sent her anything but he hadn't.
After a short stopover at the infirmary she made her way to Ops
hoping that Sisko wouldn't notice the way she looked.

The Operations Centre was a hive of activity as the turbolift
stopped. Kira Nerys closed her eyes and sighed. She walked off
very slowly.

Jadzia looked up and smiled.

"How are you feeling?"

Kira made a face. "I don't feel anything..."

"You would have if Quark had taken up your offer."

"What offer?"

"You wanted to go into the holosuite with him!" Jadzia chuckled.

Kira sat heavily on her seat and groaned. She was startled to
find Sisko looking at her from the top of the landing leading
into his office.

"You look tired, Major."

Kira narrowed her eyes. She knew Sisko. This was some kind of
trap. She could sense it. Her head also ached. She couldn't
remember the last time she'd gotten that drunk. Not even when
the Liberation came.

"Major, can I see you in my office, please?"

Dax looked at Kira and smiled.

Kira just shrugged her shoulders and slowly made her way to his
office.
She sat down in front of his desk and closed her eyes against the
pounding in her head.

Sisko stood in front of the replicator. "Major, would you like
some tea?"

Kira was taken aback. She wasn't expecting to be asked in for a
tea break. "Uh..yes..Bajoran herbal tea.."

Kira looked at her commanding officer and winced. This was going
to be big. Sisko just didn't invite her in for a chat. He could
have done that in Ops...

"Ractejeno, extra strong and a Bajoran herbal tea," he ordered
and two steaming mugs materialised.

"Kira, I've been thinking.." he said as he handed the tea to his
second officer. "I'm going to relieve you of your duties for a
day or so."

Kira stopped sipping the tea and stared in open amazement at
Sisko.

She had several crew rosters to do, several reports that had been
delayed and crew evaluations. She was already rushed off her feet
and now Sisko had wanted her to take a few days off? She put the
tea down and hit her communicator.

"Kira to Bashir. I think we have a medical emergency in Ops..."

Sisko smiled and continued to sip his coffee.

"Is everything all right up there? You're not still feeling sick,
Major?" Dr Julian Bashir's voice echoed in the office.

Kira grimaced. She had gone to Bashir for something to relieve
the massive headache she had. She didn't expect him to let
everyone know.

"Yes, everything is fine, Doctor. Just a mistaken diagnosis..."
Sisko smiled.

Kira smirked. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Perfect. Couldn't be better. But..how are you feeling? I hear
you had an interesting evening at Quark's last night..?"

"Jadzia has a big mouth..."

"Wasn't Jadzia who told me. I saw you nursing that Saurian brandy
last night.

Actually I had begun to think you needed a break. Major, you are
too tense. I have a more relaxing job for you for the next day or
so which I'm sure will be better for your 'headache'. My friend,
Admiral Daniel Haycock, is going to go to Earth for a few days
and because I will be tied up with the delegation from Bajor..."

"But I'm going with you for that..."

"You were. Vedek Bareil will be attending as the Provisional
Government's representative. Kai Winn suggested that a member of
the Vedek Assembly would be better suited in these negotiations."

Kira stared open mouthed. Bareil hadn't told her he was going be
there. "Bareil didn't..."

"Well I just made the arrangements with the Provisional
Government a few moments ago. I have a very special job for you,
Major. There is a very special person who will be visiting the
station. Her name is Alexa Haycock..."

"What do we know about this Alexa Haycock? Is she Starfleet?
Because if she is, wouldn't Dax be better suited--?"

Sisko stopped her in mid-sentence.

"Alexa Haycock is seven years old. She is the daughter of Admiral
Daniel Haycock. Admiral Haycock has urgent business to attend to
on Earth and he asked me if we would mind looking after Alexa."

"And..? What do I have to do with it?"

"I want you to mind her while I'm away on Bajor. I will be back
tomorrow evening."

"You want me to babysit?!" Kira jumped from her seat as if hit by
a lightening bolt, then slowly sat down again after realising
that shouting accentuated the pounding in her head. She held her
head in her hands and groaned. "What about Jake!"

"Jake is going with Chief O'Brien on the Defiant."

"Dax?" Kira asked hoping it was a way out.

Sisko put the steaming hot mug on the desk and leaned towards
Kira. "The last time I left Dax to babysit was a nightmare, both
for jake and for Curzon. So.." he picked up his mug again. "I thought
of you."

Kira groaned.

*******

Kira sat at Ops in half a daze for most of the morning. Her
headache had gotten worse as each hour passed. Jadzia sat at her
console looking very concerned for her friend.

"Are you okay? You look a bit green..."

"Oh, I'm okay. The drums going in my head should stop by the
time I go to bed." Kira said with a grimace. "Remind me never to
drink Saurian Brandy again..."

The turbo lift ascended and Benjamin Sisko, Admiral Haycock and
his daughter Alexa got off. Alexa looked around the Operations
Centre with amazement.

Kira glanced up and immediately walked up to meet them.

"Admiral, this is Major Kira Nerys, my second in command and the
Bajoran Liaison to DS9."

"Major, I've heard a lot about you. I'm pleased to meet you. This
is Alexa, my daughter."

Kira smiled at the young child. This is going to be a nightmare,
Kira thought to herself.

"Why are your eyes red?" Alexa said staring intently at the
Bajoran.

Kira scowled at Sisko.

"The Major had a long night last night." Sisko explained, smiling
at Kira, who only managed a grimace.

The two men stepped back onto the lift, leaving Alexa with Kira.
The pair descended the stairs and Kira sat down at her console.
Alexa stared at her, and when Kira had closed her eyes for a
moment, came right up to her.

"What's wrong with your nose?!" She asked and poked at Kira's
nose ridges.

Kira jumped causing the reports she had on the console to crash
to the floor. She groaned as the noise increased her discomfort.

Jadzia quickly came round and ushered the young girl to her
console.

"She's very jumpy, isn't she? Are all Bajorans like her?" The
young girl asked a bemused Dax.

"No, not really. Major Kira is feeling a bit sick today. Here
sit down here and.." Dax punched up a game quickly. "play this
game while Major Kira and I do some work."

Alexa sat at one of the consoles and played until she got bored
then she watched as the everyday
running of Ops swung into full gear. She was captivated by the
Bajoran who directed things even thought she looked sick.

At the end of a long day, Kira and Alexa went down to the
replimat to get something for Alexa to eat. Jadzia had mentioned
that Alexa might be hungry. Kira turned a little green at the
thought of food.

Alexa looked dazzled by all the promenade. She stopped in front
of Quark's and gazed in amazement at the different species.

"Do all sorts of people come here? Can we go in and eat here?"

Kira hesitated. The smell of alcohol was turning her stomach.
"All right," she said reluctantly.

"Well, if it isn't Major Kira..." Quark said with a smile. "I'm
still open to your suggestion about the holosuite--" He didn't
finish the sentence.

Kira was about two inches from his face, handfuls of his lapels
in her fists.

"Not in this lifetime! And if you ever mention it again I'll
break every bone in your body," she hissed into his ear, and
released him.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better," Quark replied as he
straightened his jacket.

"He likes you," Alexa observed as she sat down.

After what seemed like an eternity, Alexa finished eating the
steak and onion pie that Quark brought her and a double chocolate
ice cream.

Kira had turned pale as the aroma of the food overwhelmed her.

"I like it here!" Alexa exclaimed.

******

After they had finished eating they went and explored the rest of
the promenade. Alexa dragged Kira everywhere she could think of,
even getting a jum ja stick on the way.

As the day came to a close a very tired Kira ushered her charge
into her quarters. She practically fell onto the settee as Alexa
looked around.

"You don't have much. How old are you, Major?"

Kira stayed where she was. The thumping in her head had receeded
a little but her eyes remained closed.

"I'm older than you."

Alexa looked at the woman and frowned. "Do you have a family?"

The question came unexpectedly. Kira opened her eyes and
straightened.

"No...They were killed by the Cardassians."

"Oh..." Alexa fell quiet. "I had a mother but she died at Wolf
359 when I was three. My daddy told me."

Kira looked at the child and remembered her own childhood. She
was only twelve when she joined the Shakah. She couldn't remember
her mother. Her mother died when she was three in the Singha
Refugee Camp. Her image was foggy and it made Kira ache not
being able to visualise her.

How she hated being in those camps. She didn't know what bothered
her most...that she didn't have her mother around or the fact
that the precious image of her had grown hazy in her mind.

"My mother died when I was three as well." Kira whispered.

"What did your mother do? My mother flew the ship! I want to grow
up to be like her..."

"My mother was an icon painter in the D'Cor province."

Kira closed her eyes again and lifted her legs onto the setee.
They both fell silent. After a short while she fell asleep, still
in her uniform.

Alexa, who had been amusing herself with an ornament, looked at
the sleeping Bajoran for a long moment, then went to the sleeping
quarters and found a blanket to cover her up with...

*************

The sound of a woman dying surrounded her. She heard her name
and tried in vain to look at who was calling her. She could
hear the screams...

Her heart beat raced as she got out of bed and went to the
replicator to order some hot tea. Her hangover had subsided.
She sat in the living area, staring at the stars in the view
port.

"Are you okay?"

Kira turned, Alexa stood in the doorway with a worried expression
on her face.

"Why are you up?"

"I heard you screaming." Alexa said as she sat next to the Major.

"When?" Kira asked. She wasn't aware that she had.

"You had a bad dream. I get those dreams all the time. Daddy
tells me they will go away but I don't think so...You still have
them." Alexa said matter-of-factly.

"They do go away...just sometimes they come back."

"Were you dreaming about your mother?"

Kira nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The same dream kept
repeating itself.

She couldn't focus on her mother's face, couldn't see her clearly. It
was as if a shroud were between them.

"Do you have a first name?"

Kira smiled. "My name is Kira Nerys..."

"So you're first name is Kira? That is a beautiful name."

"No, that is my family name. My first name is Nerys."

"Do you want to sleep with me so your dreams won't come back? I
sleep with my daddy when I have bad dreams...Did you sleep with
your daddy when you had bad dreams?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes I would sit outside and watch the stars..."

Kira got lost in thought, going back years to when she sat
outside and watched the stars and prayed to the Prophets to bring
her mother back.

She got up and ushered Alexa into her bedroom.

"I think it's time both of us went to sleep."

*********

The next morning, Ops was busier than usual. Kira tried to keep
up with the pace but found she didn't have time to look after
Alexa.

Dax looked around to find Kira when a subspace message came
through for her.

"Kira, Benjamin is on the comm link for you."

Kira went into Sisko's office and sat down. "Yes, Commander."

"You look busy...Is everything all right?"

"Well...two freighters have broken down and we have a Bajoran
transport ship that lost half its cargo. We're searching for it.
Apart from that everything is running smoothly," Kira said with a
smile.

"Glad to hear it, Major. I have some rather bad news. The
negotiations aren't going according to the plan so it looks as if
I won't be back for another day or so."

Kira sat and stared at the screen. "We'll manage," she said
through her teeth.

"Good. See you in a few days."

The comm link went down and Kira swore. She went out to Ops.

Alexa was sitting at Kira's console.

"Alexa, come with me. Dax, I'm going down to the infirmary."

*****

"I would be happy to mind Alexa while you're busy," Bashir said
and held out his hand to the child.

"Thank you Doctor. Alexa, I'll be back to pick you up..."

The child nodded. This looked like a more fun place to be than
the Ops area. Dr Bashir showed the child around and they settled
on playing a game on the computer console until his nurse
approached Bashir.

"Excuse me, Doctor. Mrs Lanah has gone into labour!"

"Can I watch?!" Alexa exclaimed.

"Not this time. I'm going to be very busy. I want you to stay here
and play the game okay?"

The child nodded.

Bashir and his nurse went to Mrs Lanah as Alexa looked aroud and
then at the game. After a while she grew tired of the game. She
noticed that Bashir was still busy so she decided to go and have
a look around.

*******

Kira and Dax finally managed to get the last freighter going. It
had been a long and tiring day. She set out for the infirmary
hoping that Alexa hadn't been too much trouble for Bashir.

When she arrived at the infirmary she found Bashir hard at work
looking over the daily reports.

"Doctor,where is Alexa?"

"Alexa...oh..ah..."

"You do know where the child is?" Kira said impatiently.

"Not exactly. I was busy with Mrs Lanah and..."

Kira swore and left the infirmary. She looked in her quarters but
the child wasm't there. She went to Odo's office but found that
empty. She finally arrived at Quark's hoping the child had gone
to eat.

"Hi Major!" Alexa said, coming down from the top of the bar.
"I've been playing with Nog in a holosuite..."

Kira angrily looked at Rom.

"Rom, where's Quark?!"

"Q-Quark?" The Ferengi stammered, a stunned expression on his
face.

Kira exhaled loudly. "Rom, where is Quark?!"

"Ah...my brother is busy..."

"Mr Quark is in the holosuite. He said he was going to be a
while," offered Alexa.

"Did he now?!" Kira said as she started for the steps.

Her path was blocked by Rom.

"Get out of my way or I'll break you in two!"

Rom quickly stepped aside and let Kira pass with Alexa right
behind. She stopped outside the holosuite. She could hear voices.
Her eyes bulged when she recognised her own.

The little troll had made a holosuite program of her!

She opened the holosuite doors to reveal a naked Quark in a tub.
Beside him was an obviously well programmed facsmilie of Kira
Nerys giving Oomax to a very happy Ferengi.

"QUARK!" Kira yelled.

*******

Kira sat in the bar with Alexa. Quark had managed to save himself
only because the child had been there. Alexa quickly ate the
double caramel ice cream as Kira sat and watched.

"How could there be two of you?" Alexa asked between mouthfuls of
ice cream.

"Well...you can program the holosuite to project an image."

"Like Quark did with you?"

Kira grimaced. "Yes like Quark did with me and he will live to
regret it."

"Kira...could someone bring their mother back like that?"

Kira looked at the child. She hadn't thought about that. "I
could." She said quietly.

"I would like to see where you lived...can you show me?"

Kira wanted to cry. She wanted to go somewhere and be by herself
but she didn't. She walked over to Quark who had recovered
enough to be behind the bar.

She came back down half an hour later. Alexa had finishing her
third ice cream.

"Is it ready?" the child asked as she finished.

Kira nodded. They both went up together.

The doors parted to reveal the Sigha Refugee camp. The squalor
was everywhere. Kira was taken aback by the familiarity of
the program. Drops of rain began to fall on ground.

Kira closed her eyes.

Alexa looked at the starved population and shook her head.

"The Cardassians did this?"

Kira nodded. The images before her were too real. She picked up a
stone and felt the smooth edge. How many times she had picked up
rocks and flung them at Cardassian soldiers.

"Where did you live?"

"Over there." Kira pointed to a row of makeshift houses. They
slowly made their way to one in particular. There was no lock on
the door, there wasn't any need for one. They entered a cramped
room. Kira looked around.

It was smaller than she remembered it.

Over in the corner a man, his black hair peppered with grey,
knelt by a bed of a dying woman, herface gaunt from malnutrition,
her gaze empty.

Alexa looked up at Kira. The resemblence to her mother was
unmistakeable. They shared the same features.

The woman's dark eyes showed too much pain as she lay dying, her
husband still at her side, weeping silently.

"I don't like it here." Alexa whispered.

"Neither do I." Kira said, her voice betraying her emotions.
"Computer, end program and delete Kira1."

They exited the empty holosuite.

********

Admiral Haycock arrived back at DSN at the same time as Benjamin
Sisko. Alexa ran to her father as he stepped from the airlock and
embraced him.

Kira watched as the father and daughter were re-united.

Haycock smiled at Kira. "I trust she wasn't any problem?"

Kira found herself returning it. "No, we had a good time."

Alexa went over to Kira and hugged her. "Thank you." she said and
went back to her father.

Sisko and Kira watched as the two went into the airlock.

"Well Major, I think you've earned a night off," he said as he
watched the airlock close again. "I'll brief you on the
negotiations in the morning." Sisko said and walked away.

"Nerys.."

Kira turned and Vedek Bareil stood outside the airlock. She
smiled, glad he was here. He smiled.

The End