"You WHAT?!" Kimberly Cloke leaned closer to the comm panel. "You did WHAT?!"

"I'm sorry, Kim," her younger brother Philip shrugged. "I didn't think you'd care."

"You didn't THINK?!" She could only stare at him in speechless frustration. "You didn't think that I might not want to hear from
your most miserable childhood cronie? Philip-" Her words were cut short by a beep from the console. "I've got another call
coming in."

Philip grimaced in sympathy. "That might be him."

"I'll get you for this Phil, I swear it," she growled.

"Sor-" his apology disappeared as she keyed off the transmission.

Taking a deep breath, Kim prepared herself for the worst and tapped in the access for the incoming signal. A face she had
never liked appeared before her.

"Kimberly!" It was Johan Regan. He had lived near her grandparents' home on Betazed and been a playmate of Philip's. Full
Terran, he enjoyed none of the finer subtleties of Betazoid awareness - such as knowing when people loathed him.

"Johan," Kimberly replied, trying to maintain a civil tone. Johan was the most irritating person she had ever had the misfortune to
meet. Five years her junior, he had somehow maintained his perpetual childhood demeanor of befuddled ineptitude. Her most
vivid memories of him were of her being fifteen and he ten. He would come to their house to play with Philip but would pester
Kim incessantly.

"Well..." never a great conversationalist, he fumbled for words. "Hello."

"Indeed," Kim waited for him to say something more. She didn't need to remind herself that she was an adult now, a Starfleet
officer and expected to behave with a certain degree of professionalism. Reverting to her teenage years - how ever much she
longed to - would be inappropriate. The long ago statement of 'leave me alone you scrawny little bastard!' had no place in the
present. Kimberly's grandmother had grounded her more than once for saying that to the grating neighbor boy.

He was still there, staring. Fighting down a curse, Kim said, "Johan, did you want something?"

"Oh," he shrugged again, "I just wanted to talk to you."

Arching an eyebrow, Kim marshaled all of her patience and said, "About what?"

"Oh, well... um...." he began fidgeting, looking away, mumbling.

Some things, Kim reflected despairingly, never changed. Her hand reached to shut off the transmission, but she knew he'd just
call back. She remembered those childhood afternoons when Johan would sit on their doorstep for hours if no one answered
the door. Persistence was the only quality he possessed that could actually be called a quality.

"Johan," she allowed an edge of impatience to creep into her voice, "I have to get back to work. What do you want?"

"I work in sports reporting now," he offered this as if it were a prize.

Suppressing a sigh, she said, "And?"

"I'm coming to Deep Space Thirteen to do a follow-up story on the Donassen team."

"They've done well this season," Kim nodded tiredly. Would he EVER, she wondered, get to the damned point?

"And... uh..."

She waited. She knew, better than anyone else, that rushing Johan just slowed things down all the more.

"I thought we could meet for dinner?" He finished with a beseeching blink.

Kim wanted to kill him. "You know, Johan, I'm engaged now. I don't know if that would be-"

"Oh, oh," now he hurried to explain. "I didn't mean it like that. Just... as friends. To talk over old times."

'Old times' must have been the time she pushed him out of the brachen tree in the front yard. Or when she and Philip tricked
Johan into climbing into an ancient irrigation canal. She had been so certain the poisonous grecka flies would have finished him
off. Such a pity that they hadn't.

* * * * *

"You're not going to believe this," Commander Giovanni spoke ominously.

"What?" Kim didn't want to know.

"Vester Olsen has shut down half of the guest wing."

"WHAT?"

"He says he's detected possible structure instability and he can't allow anyone in there until he's done extensive tests."

"You're kidding. He's kidding."

"I'm afraid not," the commander shook her head. "Why this couldn't have waited until after the biggest set of tournaments, I
don't know."

"Can't you veto it, or overrule him or something?"

"Lieutenant, that was part of the station's contract. The architect has the final say when it comes to the safety hazards of this
structure."

"For how long?"

"Maybe another year. The Perry Brother's firm isn't taking any chances after what happened with that warehouse cave-in on
Verenitor Three."

"Well, what are we going to do with only half our guest suites?" Kim wanted to know.

"Assign roommates, I rather expect." Giovanni sighed, "That's not the least of our problems. Mr. Tudor wants to change the
tournament schedule."

"He wants to do WHAT?" Kimberly's mouth dropped open.

"I couldn't get an explanation out of him, but he wants to push all the tournament times ahead."

"I'll talk to him," Kim proposed. Anders Tudor - her fiancée and the station's athletic director - never changed tournament
schedules. Not ever.

"You know," Giovanni confided, "I never dreamed the sports facility would generate so much extra work." When Kim didn't
respond she said, "Something wrong, Lieutenant?"

"Nothing, nothing," Kim waved a hand, but wanted to wave both of them above her head and run screaming. The second
biggest tournament week in DS13's history was about to start and here she was worrying about having dinner with Johan
Regan. She hated him all the more for adding to her stress.

"Well," Giovanni pushed herself up from the desk. "The shuttles are all coming in at once, we may as well get ready to greet
them."

Kimberly followed her commanding officer, wishing she were trudging to her own execution. The only good thing was that, with
all the extra work she wouldn't have to spend too much time with Johan. She was extremely grateful for small favors.

* * * * *

Officers lined up with padds and greeted the coaches, teams, pilots, crews, and sports reporting personnel as they came jostling
down the corridor. Each guest was assigned quarters and given quick directions - sending them through the main thorough-fare
as fast as possible. Kim and Giovanni stood side-by-side, each wearing the tireless smile of dedicated public relations
mindfulness. There would be time later for exhaustion and aggravation. Kimberly was beginning to think that Johan wasn't
coming after all and in her heart she celebrated. Her dark mood lightened and she welcomed the strangers with genuine
gladness. He wasn't coming! And suddenly, with foresight that she cursed, she knew he had arrived. Glancing up the left
corridor she could see him fumbling his way through the throng of athletes.

Johan Regan stood out like a Klingon at a Ferengi child's tea party. Clusters of sports participants hurried around him with
confidence and purpose. Johan ambled along as if he were on a school field trip - wearing an expression that said he had no
idea where he was or what he was doing but that he felt certain someone would explain it all in due time. People dodged
around him and went on their way. Kim wanted to hide. But she knew, from miserable experience, that the best way to deal
with a problem was simply that: to deal with it, not run.

"Johan!" She called sharply above the crowd.

Stork-like, he paused, eyes roving back and forth until he spotted her. His eyes lit up and, now with a destination to head for,
he cut across the flow of foot traffic. Several people had to stop to let him through but Johan was completely ignorant of the
glares he received. Taller than Kim, he stood too close and seemed to tower like a narrow windmill. She took and involuntary
step backwards.

"Well," Johan grinned foolishly down at her, "I'm here."

For a horrible moment Kim thought he was going to hug her. Quickly, she grabbed Giovanni and pulled her over, putting the
commander between herself and Johan. "Commander," Kim introduced, "this is Johan Regan, he's here to interview the
Donassen team."

"Pleased to meet you," Giovanni, initially startled at being dragged about, recovered instantly. She spared Kim only a single,
bewildered glance and then shook hands with Johan. "I hope you enjoy your stay at DS13."

"Your quarters will be C-49," Kim told him pleasantly. She was intensely glad that her own quarters were a good distance from
the guest wing.

Johan didn't answer, he just stood there, grinning.

Kim felt her childhood despise returning full-force in spite of her best efforts to be tolerant. Before any more could be said an
ensign came scurrying through the crowd.

"Commander!" The ensign called, glancing timidly back at the angry man who followed in her wake.

"What is it?" Giovanni stepped away, leaving nothing between Kim and Johan. He was still grinning silently, looking slightly
more dim-witted by the minute.

Kimberly turned to see what the ensign wanted.

"Listen here," the man pushed past the ensign to speak directly to Giovanni, "you've got me and the Chelva's coach in the same
room."

"I'm sorry if that's a problem," Giovanni consulted her padd. "But we've had to double-up a lot of the guests to make room for
everyone. Those are some of our larger quarters and-"

"I won't have it!" He raised his voice. "I simply won't! Not after what happened last season-"

Giovanni silenced him by raising a hand. "If you'll just calm down we'll find a solution."

"Maybe I can help," Johan came forward. "He could have my quarters and I could stay with Miss Cloke."

Kimberly's eyes bugged out in alarm. She turned to say 'like hell you will!' but Giovanni was already consulting her padd. "Is
that all right with you Lieutenant?" she asked off-handedly, scrolling through the room assignments.

"I... I..." Kim wondered desperately if she could bunk with the unpopular Chelva coach herself.

"It's settled then!" Johan was immensely pleased with himself.

Kimberly was speechless. She could think of nothing she could say in front of Giovanni that would amend the situation. Which
was just as well since the Commander was walking away with the faltering ensign and the trouble-making coach. Disbelieving,
Kim shot a glance at Johan and shuddered. She could think of nothing vile enough to pay Philip back for this.

* * * * *

Kim led the way to her quarters, cringing each time she thought of having this repulsive stranger in her personal living space. She
couldn't blame Giovanni, the commander was in the middle of a scheduling circus and couldn't be expected to understand the
situation. Kim hurriedly thought of trying to board Johan with Anders, but Anders was already sharing his room with three
members of the track team. Pausing before her door, Kim mentally braced herself. The doors parted and she stepped inside.

"Well, these are my quarters," she gestured to the somewhat expansive interior. She did have a generous amount of room. A
dark grey sofa separated the kitchen area from the living room and an antique piano dominated the farthest corner. Kim silently
thanked her own good sense for having tidied the place up earlier. "You understand I wasn't expecting guests," she explained,
crossing the living room to the door of her bedroom. "So I guess..." she activated the door panel but didn't walk in, "you can
have my room and I'll take the sofa."

"Oh... I can take the sofa," Johan offered.

Quickly Kim thought this over. She didn't relish the idea of Johan being in her room, she still harbored a particularly juvenile
memory of running from Johan yelling 'cooties!'. Nevertheless, she reflected, if Johan stayed in the bedroom she would still have
access to the main door. "No, I insist," she decided, "the sofa's fine with me. Go ahead and put your luggage in there."

Johan, obedient if nothing else, did as he was told. With an inaudible sigh Kim walked to the replicator and requested a glass of
water. Johan returned a few seconds later and watched her intently.

"Would you like something?" Kim stepped aside, giving him access to the replicator.

Wordlessly Johan shook his head. He watched Kim drink her glass of water as if he were witnessing one of the eleven wonders
of the Alpha Quadrant. Beginning to feel self-conscious, Kim put the glass back in the replicator and said, "I'd better check in
with Commander Giovanni and see if she has any more tasks for me." She headed for the door. Johan was two steps behind.
Kim didn't need to turn around to know he was there.

"Johan," she paused in the doorway. "Feel free to make yourself at home here. Or you can go explore the station if you like."

"I'll come with you," he decided.

Mentally cursing, Kim hesitated while she wondered what to do. It would take certain rudeness to get Johan to see that he
couldn't follow her while she was working. Rudeness didn't bother her so much as did the chance that he might give DS13 a
bad write-up in his Donassen report. She could almost read it: 'DS13 staff short-tempered and unfriendly.' Not that the station
relied on a tourist trade, but it would look terrible to have the crew master pegged as ill-mannered.

Wordlessly, Kim headed for Giovanni's office.

* * * * *

The Commander didn't even raise an eyebrow at Johan's clinging presence, but Kim could sense the other woman's mild
puzzlement.

"If you could handle all the complaints from wings A and B," Giovanni suggested, "I'll let Sheri take care of C and D. We've got
a crew of ensigns running errands and acting as tour guides and Mr. Tudor is working on the tournament schedule-"

"I haven't had a chance to speak with him about it." Kim couldn't help interrupting. "Do you still want me to check into it?"

"He said something happened," now an eyebrow raised in suspicion, "and that he had to make a few time-table corrections."

"You didn't ask him what it was?"

"I did, but he declined to tell me," the Commander shook her head, "he's been such an asset to us that I didn't want to force the
issue. I'm sure he'll have it worked out, but..." "You'd like me to make sure it's not a catastrophe?"

"That's what I love about Betazoids," Giovanni gave her a brief smile. "If you would, please."

"I'll do that now," Kim was desperate for the chance to talk to Anders. Maybe in the presence of her fiancée Johan would keep
his distance. As it was she nearly bumped into him when she turned around to leave. He just stood there in her way until she
stepped around him. Then he followed her out with less than an arm's length between them.

* * * * *

"Johan," Anders greeted with his usual good humor, "I've heard a lot about you." He didn't add that none of it had been good
and offered to shake hands. Johan reached out timidly, reluctantly. Anders shook hands firmly and said, "You play any sports?"

"No, I just report on it," Johan's answer - like himself - was painfully uninteresting.

"Well, I'm sure you'll have a lot to report on," Anders looked to Kim then, assessing the look on her face. He could tell she was
miserable and hid a bemused smile. It was kind of cute, after all, this hapless fellow hanging on her every word. "I trust Giovanni
sent you?"

"She wants me to report back in case this is a big deal. Is it?"

Anders sighed, still wearing that expression of repressed mirth. "You know the main net-court?"

"The one where a third of the tournaments are going to be held?" Kim felt her eyes widen. Whatever he was about to tell was
NOT what she wanted to hear.

"Well, that big cat of the Beckett's got out and sort of chewed the net in half."

"Sort of?"

"Okay, okay, he chewed it to a dozen bits. But don't worry, we're replicating a new one-"

"And that's throwing off the schedule? It shouldn't take very long."

"No, it's repairing the wall that's a problem."

For a single instant Kim was completely unaware of Johan's staring. She looked at Anders in mild panic, "What happened to
the wall?!"

"Well, when the cat pulled the net down some of the tie-down bolts that the net was hooked to came out of the wall."

Kim shook her head. "We should never have let them keep that thing here."

"Come on," Anders defended the sport center's full-time medical staff, "this is the first time their pet has gotten loose. It's not
like he hurt anyone." Again he smiled, "You should have seen it, that big happy bastard sitting there all covered with that net...."
he dissolved into laughter.

Any other time Kim would have laughed too, because Anders' good moods were contagious. But she was suddenly aware of
Johan and could find nothing even close to a smile within her. He was just standing there, watching her intently. She wanted to
punch him, at least twice.

"So," Anders finished chuckling and reached for a data padd, "that's the only hold-up so far. Do you have to tell Giovanni?"

"I'll let her know it's not the end of civilization," Kim allowed, "but tell the Al Beckett that this had better not happen again."

"Actually, I think it's his wife's cat."

"Well, then, tell her." Kim turned to go.

"Wait, Lieutenant," Anders beckoned for her to stay. "Could you take a look at this court layout?" He motioned for her to step
behind his desk and look at the computer screen that faced him.

Sensing a sudden mood of secrecy, Kim stepped past Johan who was standing in the middle of the room with all the presence
of a coat rack, and joined Anders on the opposite side of the desk. She repressed a smile when she saw the console bore a
message and no court layout. It read: need some help?

Quickly Kim tapped his shoulder, "Let me sit down, will you? I need to get a better look at this."

Anders stood and said, "Johan, take a look at this holo I picked up..."

With her guest distracted, Kim had a moment to type a hasty message to her fiancée. By the time she had finished Anders was
just running out of things to say about his Dayari Falls holo.

"I've made a few corrections to the overall design," Kim said, standing up. "But in general I have to commend you on your
idea."

"Thank you," Anders, growing more aware of the tension Kim was hiding, gave her a wink. To Johan he said, "It was nice to
meet you."

"Likewise," Johan nodded.

Back in the corridor, Kim wished desperately for Anders' company. She wished desperately for anyone's company but Johan
Regan's. He walked half a pace behind her - so close that she couldn't swing her arms as she walked. As a Betazoid Kim
valued the privacy of her own thoughts a tremendous amount. But as a sentient being she valued her personal space even more.
The notion of personal space was shared - to varying degrees - among almost all humanoid species, with Johan being perhaps
the only exception. Kimberly couldn't quite believe how close he persisted on being. She kept telling herself that it was just a
coincidence that he was constantly in her peripheral vision, just a moment's irony that he was never more than two inches away.
Down every corridor, through each brief meeting and introduction with a colleague, Johan was there like a three-dimensional
shadow.

After checking in with the Commander and approving of the revised tournament schedule, Kim's shift was over. She turned to
Johan - which required no more than a sideways glance which gave her the unpleasant feeling that she had two heads - and
said, "Would you like to get something to eat?"

"Yes."

Kim held back the sharp comment that came unbidden to her mind across the space of years. She could still see him as a
ten-year-old, staring at her while she threw down her book, shouting, 'If you've got something to say you miserable little creep,
you'd damn well better say it.' Apparently he was still short on words.

"How about Bristol Dreams?" She suggested.

He shrugged, "Sure."

'What's your brain for? Can you think? Do you have opinions?' The teen-age Kimberly raged in some forgotten corner while
the adult lieutenant politely led the way to main concourse.

Bristol Dreams was perhaps the most popular eatery in the whole station. It was true that classier restaurants got the evening
couples and that quicker coffee bars attracted the harried early shift workers, but for a good lunch, a casual dinner, a hearty
breakfast and everything in between, Bristol Dreams was the place to be. The proprietor, K'Larla Tauszik, made a small
fortune with her traditional ovens blazing away in the spacious kitchens. The aroma of warm bread, cinnamon rolls, and dark
chocolate glaze made its way through the entire restaurant-and-business area, drawing customers like hungry mice through a
simple maze.

Kim led Johan to an empty table. He was forced to sit on one side of the table while she sat on the other. It was only the space
of the table-top, but it bought Kim a welcome reprise. The head waiter, Hira Lal, paused before their table with a tray of dishes
in one hand.

"Hira, when are you guys going to start using at least a dish replicator?" Kim asked in bemusement.

"As soon as Kay gets tired of washing these."

"She has time to wash dishes?"

"Well," he amended, "I meant as soon as she gets tired of telling me to wash them. What can I get for you two? The day's list is
up there," with his free hand he pointed to the large menu-sign.

"I'll have the chocolate lemon-pastry," Kim decided. "And orange juice."

"Okay," he glanced at Johan, "and for you?"

"Um..." Johan considered, as if lives hung in the balance.

"Tell you what," Hira Lal got a better grip on the tray he held, "I'll go get rid of these dishes while you're thinking."

He hurried away and Kim said, "The butter-heels are really good and so are the toffee biscuits."

"Hmmmm," Johan propped his chin on his fist and stared at her.

Angry and self-conscious, Kim pretended to study the menu. Hopefully he'd have some food to pay attention to in a minute.
Hira Lal returned with her order and set it down. "Make up your mind?" he asked of Johan.

"Ah," Johan seemed to have trouble looking at both the waiter and Kimberly. "Nothing for me, thanks."

Pausing in the middle of a gulp of orange juice, Kim swallowed quickly and said, "You don't want anything?"

"How about a cup of coffee?" Hira Lal suggested.

"No thank you."

"If you change your mind, flag me down," Hira moved on to another table.

"So, what?" Kim asked, "Are you on some kind of diet?"

Johan shrugged - apparently it was his stock answer for every question.

Fine, Kimberly thought to herself, sit there and go hungry. She tried to enjoy her pastry, but she felt like a one-woman side
show act. Johan watched her the entire time until she began to remind herself that there were worse fates than being scrutinized
while eating. Such as being naked and ogled by Ferengi. Tortured by Romulans. Enslaved by the Khynah. Dismembered by
Klingons. Interrogated by Starfleet command. Five minutes into the ordeal Kim decided she would have suffered anything else
with a smile.

Pushing her half-eaten pastry aside, she said, "Well, I guess I'm ready to go."

"You not going to finish?" Johan blinked.

"All this worry over the tournament schedule has ruined my appetite," she lied, wishing for enough privacy to order three more
pastries. She had Hira Lal add the order to her tab and then headed for her quarters with Johan in tow.

* * * * *

When the arrived he actually had something to say. "Do you play the piano?"

"Yes," Kim headed for it. "Would you like to hear something?"

"Very much."

"Have a seat," she pointed to the sofa. He sat. Relieved to have some distance between herself and Johan, Kim went to the
piano. It was an antique, so old that it didn't have a built-in note screen. But Kim liked the oldness of it, the way notes held still
on paper pages. She went through the bother of having music printed onto paper and enjoyed how people thought her
eccentric.

She grabbed the top set of pages, an older but highly regarded piece called 'Desert Pavilion' and began to play. Vester Olsen,
in a rare moment when he wasn't fretting about the ceiling caving in, had redesigned the insulation for her quarters because the
piano echoed in nearby rooms. Kim played with the confidence of knowing she would never have to contend with stage fright -
she wasn't good enough to perform, but in her own living room she felt like a legend. Her sheet music was scrawled with x's
where she had crossed out harder chords. Simplifying music was a trick she had learned as a child - and it became a bad habit
she had never escaped. The song was beautiful nevertheless.

Kim was almost enjoying the moment, reaching to turn the page when she heard Johan leap to his feet. He hurried over and
turned the page for her. Kim felt her shoulders tighten. Her fingers had trouble finding the keys as he continued to stand there,
poised and ready to serve further page-turning duty. It was too much for Kim.

"You know," she stopped abruptly, "I don't feel like playing right now. We could listen to some other music though, what do
you like?"

"Oh, anything."

"Great," Kim stood up and walked over to the sofa. "Computer, play Jared Harper's jazz routine, album three-seven." She
chose precisely the worst music she could think of and concentrated on not wincing when the first song began. "I love this stuff,"
she lied with a smile on her face. Philip had listened to jazz during his rebellious teen years solely because Grandmother hated it.
And while he and Kim grew to like jazz a great deal, neither of them could stand Harper. It was simply horrible.

"Very nice," Johan answered, as if his ears were painted on and he was blissfully deaf to the terrible disjointed squawking. He
sat down so close to Kimberly that for a moment she feared he would end up in her lap.

"Um, excuse me a minute," she got up and retrieved a padd from the kitchen counter. "Tomorrow's schedule," she explained,
sitting down in a chair - purposefully choosing the one furthest from the sofa.

Johan nodded. He stared at her while she stared at the padd. He managed to sit still for a full minute and then stood and walked
over to stand behind Kimberly. He bent down to study the padd over her shoulder. Kim waited for him to move, but he didn't.
Her eyes left the schedule and focused on the floor as she ordered herself not to jump up, grab the chair and bash her guest
over the head with it.

With merciful timing, the door chime sounded.

"Excuse me," Kim stood up and crossed the room. "Enter."

She reached the doorway just as Anders stepped forward. He was right on time, ready with the story Kim had typed onto his
console earlier.

"I'm sorry to bother you," he delivered his lines like a veteran actor. "Commander Giovanni has asked for a private meeting with
you."

"When?" Kim asked to give the moment realism.

"Right now."

Johan stumbled slightly over his own feet as he hurried over. "I'll walk you there."

Anders, with a finesse that he could have patented, said, "Johan, as Kim's fiancée I must insist that that honor falls to me. Kim?"
He offered her his arm as if he were an English gentlemen from a storybook.

Kim took his arm, following him out and saying, "Make yourself at home, Johan. I'll be back soon."

The door shut, leaving Johan to blink at the door in silence.

* * * * *

As the door closed, Kim let go of Anders arm and grabbed his hand. "Come on."

"Whoa," he had to run to keep up.

"Hurry," she ordered. "He might decide to come after us."

"This way," Anders pointed to the nearest lift. They ducked inside. "I've got us reservations at the Dome Cafe."

"Very clever." The Dome Cafe let no one past the door without a reservation.

"Kim," Anders paused awkwardly, "this guy isn't, ah..."

"Coming on to me?" She guessed.

"Yeah. I mean, staying in your quarters and all-"

"Anders," Kimberly interrupted, "you don't have anything to worry about. I can't stand him."

"It's not that," he amended, "but do you want to do something about him?"

"Like what? Beat him up?"

"Oh, I don't know," Anders grinned, "I guess that wouldn't be too good for the station's image."

"Probably not."

The lift stopped and they got off, heading for the glass-domed restaurant that offered a view of the stars.

"If you get desperate," he offered, "you can put up a cot in my office. Or, you know, the Beckett's have a pretty big place, you
could bunk with them."

"And get eaten by that blasted cat of theirs?" Kim considered it. "You know, that might not be all bad."

Laughing, Anders confirmed their reservation and found their favorite corner booth.

"I'm starving," Kim looked over the menu. "I took Johan to Bristol Dreams, but he wouldn't eat anything."

"So you didn't either?"

"I got sick of him watching me."

Anders sat in pensive silence for a moment. "It's only for a few days, Kim. You can handle it."

"That's awfully easy for you to say."

* * * * *

After dinner, Kim did check in with the commander and spent an hour going over the revised schedule again. It was late when
she finally returned to her quarters. The living room lights were at half-brightness and there was no sign of Johan. He must have
gone to bed. Breathing a sigh of relief, Kim ducked into the bathroom and put on a pair of jogging pants and a sweatshirt. In
bare feet she padded over to the sofa. Pulling a heavy blanket up over her head, Kim closed her eyes and thanked whatever
fates or lucky stars had provided Anders Tudor to help her.

Kim was very nearly asleep when she thought she heard the sound of footsteps. Without moving, she listened carefully. But
even had she been deaf, Kim knew Johan was standing there beside the sofa. Being a Betazoid took a lot of the surprise out of
one's life. She held very still, knowing that he couldn't see her face beneath the blanket, couldn't see that her eyes were open
and she was scowling fiercely in the darkness. He'd go away in a minute. He'd realize she was asleep, and he'd go away.

"Kim?"

Damn him. Peeking out of the blanket, Kim said, "What do you want?"

He seemed startled suddenly, as if he had perhaps thought the motionless blanket concealed nothing more than cushions.

"Um..." he considered it for a long moment, weighing the possible answers to find the one that would prolong the conversation.
"Um... I was wondering... when... um... when you have to go to work tomorrow?"

"I'm working two shifts starting at oh-six hundred," this time she didn't hide her scowl, but glared at him openly. "Why?"

"Oh, uh... no reason, really... uh..." he trailed off then, leaving the sentence unfinished but remaining as if he had more to say.

"And?" Kim pressed.

Johan shrugged.

Kim waited for him to go. But he just stood there, staring. Exasperated, Kim looked pointedly at the wall chronometer. She
looked from her guest to the chronometer and back again, giving him a hint so broad it couldn't be missed. Couldn't be missed
by anyone but him. After two silent minutes, Kim could take no more.

"GOOD NIGHT," she said forcefully.

"Oh, yes," Johan nodded, and shuffled away.

Kim pulled the blanket over her head again and counted to three hundred.

* * * * *

It was early when Kim got up. She tiptoed to the bathroom and showered, hoping to leave before Johan got up. So what, she
thought, if I'm a terrible host - he's an even worse guest. When she turned the water off she realized that all her uniforms - all of
her non-pajama clothes for that matter - were in her bedroom. Then with a mixture of disgust and relief she remembered the
laundry hamper. There were clothes in there. Quickly she dried herself off and searched through the laundry until she found
clothes that were still reasonably clean. She studied the mirror and frowned at her reflection, her uniform was a good deal more
wrinkled than she would have liked. But there was no time to worry over it, if she was going to get to work early she'd just
have to live with a rumpled uniform.

Because she was in a hurry Kim didn't sense anyone nearby. She didn't have any idea that Johan was on the other side of the
door until she opened it.

"Hell! I mean, hello!" Kim nearly plowed right into him. He was standing with his face two inches from where the door had been
before she opened it. Regaining what was left of her composure, Kim sidled past him. "Sorry I took so long."

"No problem," he said, turning on his heel to follow her.

Kim paused in mid-stride. "Weren't you waiting to use the bathroom?"

Johan shrugged. When Kim started walking again, he followed.

"Johan," Kim stopped when she reached the kitchen, "I have to go to work, okay? I'll see you later."

For once he didn't shrug. He nodded instead.

Kim managed to keep a scowl off her face until she reached the corridor. She didn't care how insecure or strange a person
was, no one could possibly have a sane reason for standing two inches from the bathroom door. By the time she reached
Bristol Dreams Kim wanted to strangle someone.

"You're here early," K'Larla was grinding coffee at the main counter. "Alpha shift doesn't start for another hour."

"It's a long story," Kim grumbled.

"Well, it's just as well you're here," the Betazoid-Vulcan poured Kim a cup of coffee and handed here a message padd, "Tudor
dropped this by earlier."

"Thanks," Kim sipped at the coffee and said, "you know how everyone thinks you're crazy for grinding this stuff fresh?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, they're right, you are crazy. But you serve the best coffee on the station."

"So they say," K'Larla grinned.

Shaking her head at the irony of a grinning Vulcan, Kim scrolled through the message: 'Working late AND early to finish
net-court repairs. Will have it ready for tonight's tournament. Meet me at noon in the botanical gardens.'

Kim smiled. She could met Anders because she wasn't really working two shifts - just one. But Johan didn't need to know that.
Besides, she was on-call constantly and worked enough in her off-hours to equal two shifts.

"Morning," Hira Lal came in.

"You're late," K'Larla told him in an off-hand tone.

"Always," he agreed. "Hey, Kim?"

"What?" She glanced up from her coffee.

"That guy that was here with you yesterday-"

"What about him?"

"I just passed him in the hallway. He asked if I'd seen you."

"Hell and damnation," Kim glanced back at the entrance. "Kay, do you have a back door to this place?"

K'Larla and Hira exchanged a puzzled look. "Sure, there's a service tunnel back there that goes clear to the docking bay."

"I thought so," Kim gulped the rest of her coffee. "Do you care I leave that way?"

"Does the crewmaster have to ask?" Hira Lal laughed, "Follow me, I'll unlock the door for you."

"Thanks," Kim hurried behind him past the counter and through the kitchen. Heat from the ovens and the smell of fresh bread
greeted her and lingered all the way to the service corridor.

"That way," the waiter pointed, "leads to the dock. And the other way takes you past all the shops and restaurants on this side."
He paused, then asked, "You want me to call security?"

"No," Kim blushed, "I just..." she offered him a tired smile, "thanks for humoring me."

"Any time," he waved.

Kim hurried down the empty corridor, wondering what Johan wanted and hoping she could avoid finding out. He was an adult
for heaven's sake! He had managed to find himself a job, travel on his own, navigate through the professional business world -
why did he need someone to baby-sit him?! Her conscience criticized her for being unfair, for being juvenile and crass. And she
was embarrassed to admit, if only to herself, that if it weren't for the fact that her commanding officer would find out she'd tell
Johan to get the hell out and sleep on a bench in the shuttle bay lobby. But what would Giovanni think? Treating a guest badly -
even an unwanted one - would not sit well at a station that had a reputation for being welcoming. No, Kimberly would have to
try and maintain some sense of maturity about the whole situation, no matter how she might really feel.

* * * * *

"No more surprises, I hope?" Commander Giovanni finalized the schedule and handed the lieutenant a padd copy.

"None," Kim assured her. "I think we're ready for the tournaments to begin this afternoon."

"Good, good," Giovanni nodded and checked the time. "Lunch already? I wish we could add extra hours to every day, there's
so much to do with all these events."

"I can't wait for it to be over," Kim confided with deep sincerity.

The door chime sounded.

"Come in."

"Commander," Anders nodded as he stepped through the door. "I wanted to thank you for your patience."

"I trust there are no other problems?"

"None," he smiled with confidence. "We're ready for everything."

"Splendid," Giovanni stood up, "I trust the station will survive if I take fifteen minutes for a bowl of soup. Would either of you
care to join me?"

"Actually, Commander," Anders shot a quick look at Kim, "I was wondering if I might use your office for a moment. I had
some personal news to share with Kim but my office is packed with coaches and there doesn't seem to be a quiet corner to be
found any where this week."

"Feel free," Giovanni waved a tired hand. "But I'll be back in twenty minutes, I'm expecting a call from Admiral Watson."

She left and Kim turned to Anders, "What is it?"

"Your buddy's waiting in the corridor."

"WHAT?!"

"He's standing there looking like a lost puppy, I thought you'd like the warning."

Kim bit her lip and let her eyes wander around the room. "I can't take much more of this."

Anyone else might have been frustrated with her and said she making mountains out of derenga dens. But not Anders. He
calmly walked over to the corner and pulled aside the panel that revealed the Jeffries tubes.

"Coming?" He grinned over his shoulder at her.

Kim darted over and ducked in ahead of him. He shut the panel behind them and they climbed down to the next level. From
there they took the turbolift down the botanical gardens.

"This is crazy," Kim said as they walked to the locker rooms. "Sneaking around like kids."

"It's kind of fun," Anders headed for the men's locker area, "which pool?"

"Um..." she took a quick glance around, "that one," she pointed to the one surrounded by dark water-ferns. The gardens were
designed to look as natural as possible, complete with plants and rocks and waterfalls. No fish, of course, as the water was
heated. The senior staff had voted over adding some species of fish that lived in hot waters, but the vote had failed three to one.
Something about sitting in fishy water didn't sound truly relaxing, at least not to the majority.

Kim ducked into the women's locker room. It was more crowded than usual, with visiting athletes and spectators. She keyed in
the combination of her locker and found her bathing suit and towel waiting for her. Too bad she hadn't thought to toss a clean
uniform in there as well. She changed and met Anders at the pool, stepping into the steaming water that rippled silently around
her feet. They walked to the submerged benches and sat in companionable silence. The pool had a wooden roof over part of it,
with vines and leaves hanging down. Kim could almost imagine she was in a forgotten jungle somewhere, safe from the modern
world and all its trappings. Her imaginings shattered at the sound of a high-pitched and all-too-familiar voice.

"Have you seen Lieutenant Cloke?"

Kim turned and saw pairs of legs passing - it was all the view afforded between the foliage and the wooden beams. It wasn't
hard to spot Johan, his legs were the only ones in pantlegs, everyone else was wandering about in bathing suits.

"What'll I do?" Kim hissed to Anders.

Still enjoying the game, he said, "When he comes over I'll distract him and you can sneak out."

"But from here he can see the women's dressing room! I'll never make it!"

Anders studied the various exits and then said, "Look, you can make it to the men's room. My locker is number seventeen and
the combination is my birthday. Go in there, get dressed and try to get out from there."

"The men's room?!"

Anders held his dripping palms face-up, "Best I can do, Kim. Unless you just want to tell him to get lost."

Just then Johan's legs started moving in their direction. There was no more time for debate. Kim took a deep breath and
ducked beneath the hot water. It was dim in the pool, with lots of shadows. She made her way to the thickest set of ferns and
came up beneath them. It was like a very small, green cave. Peering out she could just see Anders.

"Nah," he was saying, "she was supposed to meet me here, but I haven't seen her yet."

"Oh," Johan's voice made Kim grit her teeth, "I'll wait then."

You do that, Kim thought spitefully, you'll have a long wait. Ducking into the water again she slipped around the corner to the
stairs nearest the men's room. With all the plants no one could see her from where Anders and Johan were. She walked as
quickly as she dared down the smooth stone pathway and right into the locker room. It wasn't as crowded as she had feared
and luckily the nine men who were there were all dressed to some degree. Kim punched in the combination and pulled Anders'
grey work uniform on over her wet swimsuit. It had taken her seventy-five seconds from the time she walked in to the moment
she stepped back out, but the nine men who stared speechlessly made it seem like a year.

Now, all she had to do was get to the main exit. It wouldn't be that hard. She was nearly free. Anders' shoes were a bit too big,
but she could live with that. Rounding the corner Kim could see the exit - with Johan waiting in the middle of it.

"There you are!"

"Hello," Kim could only admit defeat.

"I wanted you to give me a tour of the station." He did not seem at all puzzled by her appearance - the enormous shoes, the
baggy utility outfit, the damp hair. He did not mention that Anders was supposedly waiting for her to show up. He did not
wonder why Kim was not working her aforementioned double shift. Johan took the entire situation for granted, no questions
asked.

"You've had all morning to explore," she pointed out ungraciously.

Predictably, he shrugged.

Kim wanted to tear his shoulders from their sockets. "All right," she began. "Let's start with the sports complex."

* * * * *

Two hours later Kim turned Johan over to the tender care of the Donassen's coach. The tour had been interminable. Johan
made no comment, asked no questions, just plodded along beside her, staring at her instead of whatever she was pointing to.
She wanted to ask him just WHAT he was staring for, but it was such odd behavior that she really didn't want to know. The
entire experience was starting to remind her of a horrible amusement park ride, one of those things where it was best to just
hang on and hope it ended soon. But, like all misery, the tour did end.

"Coach Bouzereau," Kim introduced, "this is reporter Johan Regan."

"Pleased to meet you," the coach said, giving Kimberly a sideways glance. Perhaps Mr. Regan had overlooked his host's
astonishing appearance, but Coach Bouzereau did not. He could hardly believe that a Starfleet officer would go out in public in
ill-fitting utility garb, with huge men's shoes and a hairstyle that might have been attractive on a guinea pig.

"Well, I'm sure you two have a lot to discuss," Kim ached to make her exit.

"Thank you, er..." the coach fumbled, uncertain how to address this woman who was masquerading as an officer.

"Lieutenant Cloke," she supplied helpfully, painfully aware of his disapproval but more concerned with escape.

"Yes," he said without really agreeing. "Thank you."

Kim left, Anders' shoes flopping with each step. She reached her quarters and changed, moaning at the image in the mirror. Her
hair, just long enough to be unruly, had dried while sticking up in three places. Brushing didn't help. At least she had managed to
get a fresh uniform from her closet. Scooping up the borrowed outfit and shoes, she went to Anders quarters to return them.

"Hey," he greeted her at the door, "come in."

She ventured beyond the door, "Where are your roommates?"

"They left to warm up. They compete in another hour. Where's your roommate?"

"I left him with Coach Bouzereau."

"There's seven tournaments tonight, you going to any of them?" Anders, as athletic director, had to be present for all the evening
games.

"Sheri's handling this evening, I'm on tomorrow."

"Great," Anders stepped out into the hallway, "come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he led her to the turbolift.

"You'd better have a better hide-out than the pool this time."

"Don't worry. I've arranged an evening of total privacy for you."

"Thank you," Kim leaned again the wall and buried her face in her hands. "You have no idea-"

"Oh, I have some idea."

"It's NOT funny."

"I'm sorry," he fought back a smile. "But if you could see yourself-"

"I don't have to. I AM myself and I've seen more than I wanted to."

"So, what's wrong with that guy?"

"You're asking me? How should I know?"

"Well, you've known him since you were kids."

"Not really. He lived on Betazed for two years. I didn't really know him and I've never wanted to."

"Well, he adores you."

"Ugh," Kim shuddered.

"Do you think he's in love with you?" Anders wanted to know.

"I don't know. I mean, there's no reason that he should be, it's frightfully obvious that I can't stand him. But he never was all that
bright."

"Well," he paused, choosing his next words carefully. "I'd almost say he prefers the company of men, except for the way he
stares at you."

Kim closed her eyes and shook her head in misery.

"So, which is it?" Anders prompted.

"I don't know!"

"How can you not know? You're an Empath."

"I'm only half Betazoid," she pointed out. "And I don't get a real clear reading off people I don't know... or don't like."

"Maybe you should have him trade quarters with someone else."

"I'd love to," she said as they stepped off the lift, "but I don't think he'd go at this point."

"So tell him that's all there is to it. Tell him you can't stand him and send him on his way."

"He works for a reporting team. How will it look if he gives the station a bad review?"

"He works for Alpha Fore, no one watches that."

"True," Kim followed Anders to a short row of storage units near the mountain garden entrance. "What are we doing here?"

"Check door three. Go in."

Kim did as he instructed, letting the door close behind her. There, on the floor a few steps past the entrance, was a pair of
running shoes, shorts, and a sweatshirt. Kim smiled for the first time that day and changed quickly.

When she stepped out Anders said, "I've got two ensigns to guard the door."

"You mean," Kim glanced into the garden entrance, "no one else is in here?"

"Not a soul," Anders promised. "Sazuki owed me a favor so I got him to invent some rare seedlings that have to be undisturbed
for thirty hours in their new habitat."

"Clever."

"I thought so myself."

"How much time do I have?"

"You can run as long as you want. If you like I'll go tell your guest that Giovanni's put you on the evening shift and you won't be
back for a few hours."

"It's half a dozen favors if you'll do it," she offered.

"You just remember that the next time the Becketts get me into trouble." Anders waved and headed for the lift, leaving
Kimberly alone with the gift he had given her.

Privacy truly was a gift. Kim stepped through the garden entrance and found herself as much in the outdoors as possible. A dirt
path traveled around and around through a semi-tame land of trees, bushes, flowers, grasses, and even weeds. A creek
rambled through the spacious illusion and the "sun" was edging down to the horizon. Light-hearted in her solitude, Kim began to
run. Some of the tension fell away, lost in the imprint of her shoe upon the dirt. She cherished the alone-ness, the space and the
silence and the absence of a stranger's eyes. As her feet pounded their way down the familiar path she wondered why didn't
she just tell Johan to get lost?

* * * * *

It was hours before Kimberly left. But finally, considering that the security ensigns might have something better to do, she
dismissed them and took the turbolift to the apartment level. She walked past her own door without even slowing down. At
Anders' door she activated the chime and waited.

"Come on in!"

"Hi," Kim walked in, nodding to the three track team members who were camping out in the living room. "Tudor here?"

"Nope. He's still down at the sports complex."

"You guys care if I wait here for him?" Kim had no reservations about spending the evening with strangers, not considering the
alternative.

"That's fine," one of them was shuffling a deck of cards, "you want to join us for a game?"

"I'd love to," she sat down, safe in the company of people who had some clue of how to conduct themselves.

When Anders returned later that night he found the track members asleep on their cots and Kim curled up in a blanket on the
floor. Shaking his head, he retired to his room without waking any of them.

* * * * *

The next day Kim really did have to work two shifts. Then she spent the evening overseeing the night tournaments. She filled
every role from master of ceremonies to beverage-server. Working in or near any given court, floor or arena, Kim was part of
the event and inaccessible to the spectators. Johan was among them, watching her balefully the entire time. Let him wonder why
I'm been avoiding him, Kim thought to herself, let him wonder until he learns how to act like an adult. She chided herself for her
own immaturity, but at the end of the evening she was hiding out at Anders' again.

"You know," he said as they talked quietly in the kitchen so as not to wake the track runners, "I don't blame you a bit, but
you're not being a very good host."

"So? It won't dawn on him."

"That's my point exactly," Anders rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know, when he couldn't find you today, he hung around my
office all afternoon."

"Sorry. Did he stare at you?"

"No," Anders shook his head, "he sat in the corner and read."

"Bully for him."

"He's leaving tomorrow, isn't he?"

"Supposed to," Kim rolled her eyes, "but the way my luck is, who knows?"

"You going to see him off?"

"Not by myself."

"I'll go with you," he offered, "just to make sure he really does leave."

* * * * *

The morning came, finally. Kim and Anders hung around off to one side of the main concourse.

"Maybe he left on an earlier transport," Kim hoped.

"Wait, isn't that him?"

"Where?" Kim followed his gaze. "Oh, there. Yeah, here he comes."

"I found you," Johan beamed, setting down his luggage.

Kim had prepared herself for a barrage of questions from him: where have you been? why are you avoiding me? how come you
haven't set foot in your own home for two days?

But Johan asked nothing. He just stood there.

"Well," Anders filled the silence, "I hope your report is a success. I was glad to see the Donassens win."

"Of course," Johan answered without looking away from Kimberly.

The three of them stood there while people rushed to and fro. Anders watched the people coming and going, Kimberly
watched her feet, and Johan watched Kimberly. After a very, very long time a voice came over the comm system.

"Transport twelve, oh-seven hundred, disembarks in ten minutes."

Johan's face suddenly lost its sappy contentedness. "I'll miss you," he told Kimberly and burst into tears.

Startled, Kim took a step back and bumped into someone passing by. Of all the possibilities she imagined in this farewell, this
was so unexpected that nothing could have prepared her for it.

"Can I come see you again?" he sobbed.

Anders rescued Kim from making a jackass out of herself. Just as she was about to employ every unrepeatable phrase she
knew, Anders said, "Well, Johan, Kim and I are going to be married soon and then we're going to spend three years exploring
archeological sites throughout the Alpha Quadrant. But after that you can look us up."

Johan nodded miserably and looked to Kimberly expectantly.

"Well, ah," she paused, trying to think of something civil to say. "Have a safe trip."

Unsentimental as it was, her statement inspired another wave of tears. And still he stood there.

Finally Anders took control of the situation. He picked up Johan's luggage and handed it to him. "There you go, Johan. Don't
keep the pilot waiting."

Johan nodded miserably and at long last headed for the door, glancing back half a dozen times before he finally left.

Kimberly and Anders continued to stand in the concourse, amazement rooting them to the spot.

"Anders?"

"Yes?"

"I want you to promise me something."

"Okay, what?"

"When we get married we aren't EVER going to have any guests for any reason. Not ever, all right?"

"It's a deal," he agreed without hesitation.

They turned to go, walking through the crowds of departing athletes.

"Oh, Anders?"

"Yeah?"

"Archeology sites for three years?"

"Pretty clever, didn't you think?"