(DAX and BASHIR come hurrying along the corridor. DAX carries a small bottle in her hands.)

BASHIR, apparently deciding that he does not have said problem, backs away.

(BASHIR exits hastily.)

(He hands KIRA a small square package. KIRA, still seething, rips it open.)

(KIRA thumbs through the book, checking the flyleaf. She is surprised to actually find an inscription. She reads aloud:)

(KIRA smiles, impulsively reaching out and giving Odo a kiss on the cheek before disappearing into the docking bay. He stands stunned for a few seconds. DAX falls into step beside ODO as they start down the Promenade.)

(The most welcome red alert ever sounded interrupts DAX's question. DAX hits her com badge as she and ODO break into a jog.)

DAX and ODO exchange looks before picking up the pace.

(SISKO's officers all exchange looks of varying degrees of suspicion. BASHIR, who can always be trusted to ask the question that others might consider naiive, speaks right up.)

(SISKO studies the table for a moment. Finally he looks up, straight across the room at ODO.)

(Everyone turns to stare at ODO, who in turn stares back at SISKO.)

(Minor bedlam ensues. WORF, appalled, but remembering his chain of command, asks:)

That's about the size of it. (beat) Dax, I'm afraid that you're going to have to contact Major Kira and tell her that her vacation will need to be postponed.

(Helpfully.) Major Kira has certainly been under an unusual level of stress.

There is a long silence as SISKO looks from one innocently smiling face to another. Finally he stands up.

(The SECOND FERENGI, standing off slightly to Kira's side, thrusts a hypospray into her thigh. Kira stiffens before losing consciousness.)

(Silence reigns. Shot widens to include ODO approaching the group at the table.)

(The silence grows deafening. )

(The group exchanges alarmed looks.)

(ODO and DAX stare at each other, worried.)

(The DABO GIRL continues on her way. ODO turns to DAX.)

(ODO and DAX exchange glances.)

(DAX and ODO look startled.)

(Something about this statement doesn't seem right. ZIRIN nods in answer to DAX and ODO's unspoken question.)

The

Odo to Rubicon. Two to beam up, please.

(They dematerialize, to the trader's protests.)

That's hardly enlightening. All right, did anyone mention anything else distinctive about them -- what was their bargaining style?

(DAX abandons QUARK's ear, her mission accomplished. ODO and DAX start purposefully for the door, QUARK trailing blissfully behind them.)

CUT TO:

INT. -- A HOLDING CELL ON THE JEM'HADAR SHIP

(KIRA is lying a cot which is bare except for a light blanket folded at her feet. She moans as she comes to.)

(Sound of approaching voices. KIRA freezes.)

(Kira hurries to one side of the door and flattens herself against the wall. As a Jem'Hadar GUARD comes in, she jumps and tries to subdue him. Unfortunately, he has a partner, and between the two of them, with several well-placed blows, they soon have KIRA back on her cot, holding her gut and struggling not to faint or cry out.)

(Kira looks up. The leader of the FOUNDERs who she met on ODO's home world stands in front of her.)

I made the mistake, when I (beat) impersonated you, of responding that I -- you -- were in love with him too. That is how he finally saw through my deception.

(Kira is absolutely silent, remembering the incident and the little that ODO told her about it. Finally --)

If you think so highly of him, why do you find it strange that he might think equally highly of you? That he might even love you?

(KIRA stops, as certain small remembrances slip unbidden and unwelcome into her brain. She sinks back onto the cot and sits in a huddled position. She wears a faintly puzzled expression that shifts into one of worried amazement. For the moment her captors are forgotten.)

FEMALE CHANGELING exits. KIRA barely notices.

(Enter ODO, escorted through the door by two Jem'Hadar guards. They reactivate the containment field and leave. ODO hurries to KIRA's side. He sits down on the edge of the cot, reaches out and lightly touches KIRA's face, then lets his hand fall to his side.)

I understand. Odo, am I glad to see you -- (suddenly suspicious) It is you, isn't it? Tell me what we did the evening before I left on vacation.

(KIRA sags in relief while ODO takes stock of her generally bruised and battered appearance. He starts to reach out to touch a bruise on her face, but lets his hand fall abruptly.)

(KIRA tries to sit up again, this time with more success. She groans. ODO slips his arm behind her back to support her.)

(ODO looks around the room, and pulls the blanket off of KIRA's cot.)

(He tears a few strips off of the end of the blanket. KIRA unfastens her tunic top, but winces with pain as she tries to shrug it off her shoulders.)

(ODO gently works the tunic over KIRA's shoulders and slides it off her arms. KIRA is wearing her usual white, lattice-work undershirt underneath -- it is tight enough that ODO can begin to wrap the bandage around her over it.)

ODO Do what?

(There is sudden noise in the outside hall.)

(KIRA releases ODO's hand as they both shift into positions where they can move quickly if need be, KIRA wincing as she does so. They both stare at the doorway expectantly.)

(The FEMALE CHANGELING enters, flanked by 2 Jem'Hadar guards.)

FEMALE CHANGELING Your people are quite clever, Major Kira. Fortunately, we have what we want. (she nods at ODO.) Odo has decided -- of his own free will -- that he would prefer to stay here, with us.

(KIRA just stares at him, beyond speech. The GUARDS grab her, each to a side, and a startled cry escapes her at the sudden painful movement. The FEMALE CHANGELING steps forward and presses a small hypospray into KIRA's arm before she can protest.)

(KIRA flexes cautiously; she DOES feel better.)

(KIRA is silent. She has said all that she plans to say to ODO.)

(ODO steps forward and unexpectedly gathers KIRA into his arms, burying his lips in her hair. She stiffens, but doesn't break from his grasp. Then he steps away.)

(KIRA gives him a final anguished stare before allowing the guards to lead her away. The FEMALE CHANGELING pauses before following, looking at ODO.)

(ODO stares after her, a strained, anxious expression on his face.)

(The FEMALE CHANGELING looks suspicious, but motions to one of the guards to go and get it. KIRA, true to form, tries to overcome the other guard just as soon as the first one disappears. In her weakened state she is almost immediately subdued, her arms twisted behind her back.)

(KIRA takes the jacket from the guard, refusing any assistance as she shrugs into it painfully. She straightens, and allows herself to be hustled into a nearby transporter chamber.)

(KIRA disappears in a glimmer of transporter effect and another CHANGELING materializes on the transporter pad. The FEMALE CHANGELING nods in greeting, staring at the spot where KIRA had stood.)

(KIRA waves BASHIR and DAX back as they both start to leap to her aid. There is a ripple of golden gelid light around her, as ODO abandons his disguise as KIRA's tunic and resumes his usual form at her side. He helps her to her feet as the others pause uncertainly.)

WORF That is a fact that needs to be better established.

(The ship shudders; it is under attack.)

(DAX manipulates the controls dexterously and manages a fairly clean transition into warp.)

(SISKO turns and nods at Julian, who apologetically draws a blood sample from KIRA. SISKO then turns his attention to ODO.)

(Everyone is temporarily stymied. How do you go about confirming that your changeling is the right one? KIRA's look finally brightens.)

(DAX nods. KIRA turns back to ODO, who is hovering anxiously at her side.)

(ODO barely has to think about it -- for all its casualness, this inscription was something he anguished over for a long time.)

(KIRA grins and nods. The others visibly relax, although all but Worf were pretty well convinced.)

(KIRA suddenly freezes. Her face is white.)

(Without further warning, KIRA slumps over, ODO catching her and managing to lower her gently to the floor. BASHIR springs into action, hurrying to kneel beside her, his scanner already out and working.)

(They vanish.)

(BASHIR checks the readings over KIRA's bio-bed.)

(ODO shakes his head.)

(ODO watches BASHIR as he walks away. The lights dim as BASHIR exits, to the ship's simulated night.)

(KIRA reaches out and gently takes ODO's hand.)

Yes, Major?

(ODO remains silent, staring ahead of him. His silence screams a validation of her words.)

(KIRA pauses, helpless, at a loss for words.)

(She struggles to sit up and Odo automatically puts his arm behind her back to help her. ODO practically freezes as KIRA puts her arms around him, resting her head on his chest.)

(His face a battleground for fear and hope, ODO folds KIRA in his arms as though she is made of crystal.)