Daydreams and Nightmares

[MajorZStarDust 0]

Ziggy knew it had to be too good to be true.

 

When he had come onto the bridge from sickbay, all he had intended to do was let the Captain know Telano had decided he was sane and telling the truth. Ziggy had no intention of letting the captain know that Telano was not happy with Ziggy himself. But as he stepped onto the bridge he got a shock that nearly rocked his faith in his own memories.

 

Her back was to him, but he knew it was Sam simply by the way she stood. The soft way a few hairs curled against her cheek from behind her ear, the dulcet tones of her voice as she spoke with Moose. He had missed why she was here, but heard something of Starfleet Intelligence, and then her backing up what he had been saying about the slaves. Almost simultaneously, two thoughts went through his head.

She's confirming everything I said! They have to believe me now!

This is too good to be true! It can't be Sam!

 

As she stood there talking, he would have sworn he could feel her in his head. It had to be an illusion. When they had first been together, Sam had taught him about Imazadi, the Betazed word for beloved. But it was so much more than that. With some exercises she had honed his mental capabilities and eventually they had been able to communicate, on a limited basis, telepathically. That tie had brought them back together once. Ziggy had long since thought that any ability remaining had been destroyed when he had been Rochelle's captive.

 

Once she had given her report, Moose had him show her to the quest quarters. It was kind of strange, since Sam already knew where they were. But he supposed the reason was to clear both of them from the bridge, and allow a reunion of sorts. They stepped into the turbolift, both unsure of what to say or do, and then he was holding her again. He heard her words of explanation, but in the back of his mind was still the thought that this couldn't be happening. It was like a daydream, not reality. The last time he had seen Sam she had been aloof, but polite. He had hoped that might soften into friendship at some point in the future. He had never imagined tho that she might soften enough towards him to want to resume a relationship.

 

Everything in his mind was screaming that this wasn't Sam, it had to be Rochelle, or someone else. But his heart disagreed. She carried herself like Sam, talked like Sam, felt like Sam. He knew Rochelle, knew the slight differences, and this couldn't be her. But his mind kept saying that Rochelle would be pushy, assertive, and well.. clingy.

 

When he expressed his doubts, she turned away and his heart froze. They had fought hard for one another, fought against one another, and he had done it wrong too many times. This might be his only chance, and he couldn't throw it away, no matter how much his mind said it wasn't her. As she turned and walked away, his heart won the battle, and he ran after her, shutting down all doubts.

 

Perhaps if Sam hadn't been a security officer before moving to medical he would have realized his mistake when they reached the shuttle bay. Her easy way with the weapons identified her as one who was more than familiar. Ziggy had run through training programs with Sam, so he never even thought twice about it. All was going splendidly...

 

 

When he came to his senses on the Blue Note, his guilt and shame were overwhelming. If he had gone alone with her, then Dana and Zukko would not be here, about to be subjected to Rochelle's delight in torture. When she raised her hand to slap him, he knew to duck and turn away. The best way to protect himself was not to fight, fighting her only made it worse.

 

As he caught Dana's eye, he expected to find anger and accusation in them. Instead he saw understanding and realization. She had known about his torture under Rochelle, but being here now confirmed something else. He was telling the truth about Marty.

 

The daydream had ended, the nightmare had only begun..