Embers Never Fade
By: Amanda A. Hilliard
A Story of Elektra and DeWolff

"You complete me." ~Jerry Maguire

~For Austin.

Part I: Parting

Some elements of life a person never forgets. Parts of nature wrap itself around a being and never lets go. Time almost stands still, even if for a moment. And nothing else matters except who you are and whom you are with.

Her grey eyes fixed on the stars above them. Something about the grabbed her life, placing themselves in her mind. Her heart was slowly sinking so she memorized the night to never forget.

"Love?" DeWolff watched her eyes, her breathing. He watched everything. He always did. Love does that to a person. Not just any love, but this was true love. The kind of feeling people believes only to exist in storybooks. They had what most never will.

"I'm just memorizing the moment," She whispered as the Mediterranean breeze clasped its arms around them.

"Be happy with me tonight," He pulled her closer to him. It was true that his heart ached knowing that they had to go their separate ways. Tonight, he was just thankful that the Republic was near home, and that he could see his beautiful wife before he left for his first assignment.

"I am happy, love. I just wish we had more time... always wishing for more time. The Republic is going into battle, and-" She started to worry. He knew what came next.

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Elektra. We are together forever," He tried to reassure her. His heart knew that the possibility of something happening to her was always there. That had to be expected in their line of duty.

"I'm just paranoid. I'm afraid of losing you, losing us."

He smiled putting his hands on her face, "Listen to me, you are not going to lose me. I have promised you that for the past nine years. It hasn't changed. It never will. My promises when you were 16 are still the same now that you are 25."

She smiled at him. It was something in the tone of his voice that made her happy. No, it was just he in her presence. Dark eyes with something golden in them reminding her of the sun, dark hair that was so smooth and soft to her touch, strong arms that made her feel safe and protected, and everything about him, every little detail from a scar or to the earring or the tattoos or anything made her love him all the more. He was everything to her, and she knew that she was everything to him.

They had grown together over the past nine years sitting in these fields and mountains in Greece. In this particular spot, they spent many last nights together. It started when she left for the Academy. Then, every break in between. When he went to the Academy, they watched the stars. She remembered them to look much like this. But this time, she was more afraid to leave him. He had just graduated from Star Fleet Academy and was going to his first assignment. Just a month ago, Elektra was made a Lieutenant. In the warm August months back home... that's what she thought of when promoted. She thought of being at home with DeWolff.

He kissed her gently, something he did to let her know that he will be there for her. They didn't have telepathy to read each other or empathy to feel each other, but the bond that Elektra and DeWolff possessed was so strong that they never needed those two factors. They could communicate without words.

"How long do you think it will be this time?" She started to memorize and remember again what it felt like to run her fingers through his hair.

"I do not know..." He said the truth to her. She just nodded in the way she did when looking for answers. At times like these, he wanted to mend her heart so badly and he felt that he fell short sometimes. To her, he could never fall short. Things were expected to not be perfect as in all things so he could never fail her.

The night was spent enjoying each other's presence. Not always did they need kisses and hugs, but simply enjoying the presence of the other could say more than any words or actions could possess.

The morning was even more difficult.

They were in San Francisco. Elektra had to round up her assistant helm officers, and DeWolff had to board his ship.

As they stood in the transporter room, he looked at her eyes and remembered how much he loves her eyes. He wasn't sure if she was going to cry. Sometimes Elektra could control her emotions. She knew that when she cried, it hurt him more to leave her or to do what he has to. She really tried not to; she never wants to make things more difficult for him.

"I will contact you when I get to the Republic," Elektra whispered because her throat was choking up.

"I'm looking forward to it," He answered wrapping his arms around her in a hug. She closed her eyes as tears started to roll down her pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be love. We'll get through this." He kissed the top of her head.

"I know."

"I love you, my beautiful goddess," He said making her smile. He felt she was more than Aphrodite could ever be. He could never tell her that because of her belief in the gods. Elektra was born in and raised heavily in ancient Greek myths, legends, and beliefs. She didn't make it naive. Elektra had a way to make it beautiful and inspirational.

"I love you, my beautiful man." As he kissed her, she didn't want to let go again.

"Okay, I have to go," He told her softly trying to make her belief everything will be okay.

"Be safe, my love."

"I will."

She watched him walk away onto the transporter pad. She was proud of him. Ensign DeWolff. She was very proud of him. DeWolff left happy seeing her smile for him. Lt. Elektra. He loved her and loved everything she did.

When he had faded away from her, Elektra turned away and tried to push the emotion away. She left the transporter room and saw one of her Republic crewmates waiting for her. She wiped the tears away from her eyes as Lt. Luc Monet smirked.

"You look like Bethany every time I have to leave," Luc told Elektra as she walked over to him. Luc and Elektra worked together for several years on the Republic. Ops and Helm. They know how to read each other's actions. They also became good friends sharing stories of the loves of their life.

"How is she now that all of her children are gone?" Elektra questioned wondering what that would be like... to have a family and to watch it leave. In this line of work, she knew that she most likely will not have a family. Something she regrets.

"Well, she's happy that Genevieve got onto the Enterprise-D. It will be a very good opportunity for Eve," He said more bragging that his daughter gets to work with Captain Picard. Elektra envied that. She had always wanted to work with him.

"Keely is in the Academy now?" Elektra questioned trying to job her memory... and trying to get her mind off of her missing DeWolff.

"Medical for Keely. My daughter the doctor. Her being Betazoid will help with the patients too... And Tagen... she's been changing, Elektra. I've tried talking to her while I'm here..." Luc's voice became very soft while speaking of his middle child.

"I'm sorry, Luc. I wish I could help... I could talk to her if you want me to."

"Then she'll accuse me of trying to interfere in her life... She's all security, Elektra. Honestly, I'm afraid of losing that girl. It's like losing a part of me... Tagen was always different than the other two. She didn't conform... I respect that in her."

"I think I understand, Luc. You just have to remember to let her live her life no matter where it leads her... It may be here or not. She's been in the shadows of Genevieve for so long that she needs to find herself," Elektra spouted out looking around the surroundings for her helm officers. She really didn't want to be looking for them.

"I know, Lectra. I know... Did your sister go through the same thing?" He looked at her as she was motioning to some Ensigns.

"Iris and I were different. When my younger brother came along, we were kinda pushed aside. Like we were some poison left over from my father. I know Eleni didn't think of us like that, but her 'Vulcan' husband seemed to. He still reminds me of a Romulan," Elektra said bluntly making Luc laugh. She started to make a mental note of which officers were there.

"I'll have to ask DeWolff about that. You need two more," He said finishing the count for her knowing her mind was preoccupied.

"He would agree... I don't know how I go on each time without him."

"I say the same thing every time about Bethany. It's part of our jobs. Just has to be accepted." Luc looked up and saw his daughter across the way from him. He was surprised when Tagen walked over to him without him having to say anything. Elektra looked at the girl. Her eyes seemed to be bitter. Elektra quickly noticed the scar on Tagen's face.

"Tagen Illyana," Luc smiled, "Meet Elektra. She's our helm officer."

"Just like Eve," Tagen replied almost coldly. Elektra wanted to know what was behind this one. There was a story to be told, and Elektra wanted to know it. She could almost see a version of her younger self.

"I've heard a lot about you, Tagen. All good actually," Elektra replied trying to be neutral.

"I'm surprised you'd hear of me when people like my sister and Iana Et`Kal receive the glory and praise," Tagen looked Elektra directly in the eye.

"You'd be surprised, Tagen," Elektra nodded as she received orders for their departure. Elektra's thoughts drifted back to DeWolff as Luc and Tagen exchanged words. She felt bad for Luc and Tagen. They had no clue how to communicate with each other.

"Just don't go run off and get a tattoo," Luc joked with Tagen. Elektra looked over glad they were smiling with each other. The mention of a tattoo had pulled her back into the conversation.

"What's so wrong with them?" Elektra arched her eyebrow jokingly.

"You have one?" Tagen looked at Elektra challenging her in a light way.

Elektra nodded with a smirk and turned around. She pulled up the back of her uniform jacket and T-shirt (she was thankful for two piece uniforms these days). Tagen looked at the image on Elektra's lower back. A dragon looked so majestic and brilliant on the back of the Greek woman. There was something about it that seemed to emanate a hidden power amidst the wings and claws.

"It's part of who I am," Elektra told Tagen fixing her uniform, "Part of who I will always be."

***

DeWolff sat on the bed of his quarters holding a framed picture in his hand. His dark eyes fixed on the image on his wife, his life and light. Everything he does is for her, and he would give anything to have her with him. He hoped that maybe in the future they could be stationed together. It wouldn't hurt as much. When they separate, each of them takes a part of each other. They can feel it

He was sitting in his Ensign's quarters wishing he was with her rather than in this uniform. He detested the uniform. For 29 years he lived in comfort without rank and uniform. Something in Elektra made him want to be something else, something better. Maybe it was their love.

He was heading to a Space Station to try to build this something else. This place is something new for a lot of people. Deep Space Nine. Not so long ago it was inhabited by the Cardassians as they occupied the Bajorans. But things change as they always do. The Federation holds it now.

DeWolff looked at the picture of he and Elektra. He prayed to his god and her gods that she would be all right, "Athena protect her."

Part II: Bridges Burning

"Athena protect him," Elektra whispered as she sat at the helm consul.

The bridge crew was different this time. They had picked up some new officers, and the usual Commanding Officer was away. His wife was very ill and Star Fleet excused him from this mission. It helps to know people. Captain McLane was in charge of them for this mission. All Elektra knew was that they were going after a Romulan ship that has been threatening colonies in the Federation space. The Excalibur and Majestic were to rendezvous with the Republic in 19 hours.

She watched the readings on her consul and listened to the conversations that were going on around her. Engineering was working out a few bugs, nothing major. Sick Bay was preparing for injuries. Normal. Things were normal. That is what worried Elektra. In her experience, if things started off perfectly, they never ended perfectly.

***

When Deep Space Nine first came into the view of his window, DeWolff wanted nothing more for Elektra to see this. He knew that she would find an appreciation in this view. He couldn't contact her anymore. They were going into battle. Elektra had to be called to the bridge quickly and they really didn't have a long chance to speak to each other.

This place was new and exciting. It would be interesting to work on. He was almost inspired by the setting, the diversity, and the mystery about Deep Space Nine. He would like it here, but he would love it if Elektra would be with him. He knew they would have their time. He had also heard that the Republic would dock here after they were done with their mission. That would be a very nice surprise for Elektra.

***

"Elektra, you have barely touched your food," Ensign Lewis said snapping Elektra's attention back to her surrounding. Elektra blinked her eyes to get focus back.

Jennifer Lewis, Luc Monet, and David Chase were her usual dinner crowd. They had all developed their circle of friends while placed on an away mission together. Steven Miller was the Executive Officer in charge of the mission to infiltrate a Maquis headquarters and to get out a Federation spy. David Chase was the Chief Security officer. He specially picked Jennifer Lewis to be one of the Security officers. The other two chosen were killed. Several other team members died, and the ships Executive Officer never forgave himself for that. Luc and Elektra were promoted that August for their actions on the mission. But during that mission, all four developed an incredibly close bond to each other.

"She's still mooning over DeWolff," David taunted taking a bite from his chicken. Elektra never saw him eat anything but Terran food.

"Well do you blame her?" Jen poked him drinking her tea.

"Mind if I join you?" Klanok, the half Terran/Klingon, asked them. Klanok was David Chase's assistant in security. Most officers would not be so direct to a superior, but they were like a family. Elektra found Klanok's presence somewhat uplifting. He was very Klingon in customs and battle, but he had a humor about him that he received from his Terran mother.

"You know you're welcome, Klanok," Elektra said pushing out a chair for him.

"I saw you with your man," He told her sitting down in the chair.

"Oh yea, what did you think about him?" She arched her eyebrows.

"I think Chase and I can fight him for you," Klanok joked with her.

"No need, Klan, no need." She laughed as the five of them finished their dinner before the impending call to arms would be heard.

"If he gives you any trouble, you know we'll help you out," David winked jokingly.

Elektra smiled. She felt very good with her friends, but part of her would always be missing. She wished that sometime DeWolff would know this, would know what it was like to be in her world for a time. She also hoped he was happy on Deep Space Nine.

As Elektra was sipping her tea, they heard the call over the Communications System, "Command Crew to your stations."

All five of them stood up and headed out of the mess hall. Elektra, David, and Luc broke off and headed to the bridge. On the way Elektra prayed to Athena for protection and to Zeus for strength. The consul felt like an entirely new place. Her palms were sweating. Today Elektra was nervous. Luc looked over at her and nodded trying to get her to calm down. But everybody was nervous today. They had a new Captain and were going into an uncertain situation. They had every right to be. The future was never written.

***

"So tell me about yourself, DeWolff," Lt. Junior grade Marque remarked as he and DeWolff stood at their Security post on the Promenade.

"What do you want to know?" DeWolff watched a Klingon walk by. The crowd he was going to meet didn't look too friendly. Marque nodded to DeWolff and they unnoticeably started to follow.

"Leave a girl behind like all good military men?" Marque joked making them look more casual.

"My wife is on the Republic, Chief Helm." DeWolff answered him smiling. Thinking of Elektra always did that to him. They lost the two Klingons in Quark's bar. Five minutes later they got a communication that there was a brawl.

"Figures," Marque mumbled and they ran to do their job.

***

The Excalibur led the team in. They were supposed to look like a regular patrol team on the Federation boarders. They were not to violate any territory. The Romulan ship apparently was violating on its own.

The Republic was on yellow alert.

"Helm, take it easy," McLane told her. Luc glanced over to Elektra as she scowled. She was keeping her pace. McLane had a problem with her. She could already tell.

"Aye, sir," She replied and checked her settings. She was fine; 'Maybe he's delusional.'

She remembered the reports. She watched their course... if Star Fleet was right; the Romulans should be in their area soon. It follows the pattern.

"Be ready to raise shields... we are nearing our target area.... Do whatever the Excalibur does..."

The bridge crew nodded in acknowledgment. The Romulans had their cloaking devices. They knew how to detect them more efficiently that before, but sometimes too late.

"Sir!" Elektra heard called out. That was it. "Romulans decloaking!"

"Shields up, red alert!" The captain called out.

Elektra kept watching the Excalibur's path. She noticed something not beneficial to their ship, "Sir, if they fire, we are a direct target." The usual Captain would want to know.

"That is none of my concern, Lieutenant," He snapped at her. She really did not like him.

The Captain of the Excalibur contacted them with their status. It wasn't good. The Romulans were claiming those colonies and were willing to fight for them. This was a renegade ship. It was obvious. They were out to start a war.

The Romulans fired first. Helm was ordered to take evasive maneuvers. Elektra followed orders. She always did. She didn't get to where she was by not listening. Things seemed to be going their way. The three ships against the one Romulan ship were an advantage in the Federation's favor. Shields were holding and weapons were going strong.

"Sir! More Romulans decloaking!"

It was a trap. Elektra was angry that they didn't see it. But it was a risk they always take. Four more Romulan ships decloaked. The advantage was taken away. The Excalibur sent out a signal for backup, which should have been near.

The Republic was rocked back and forth by phaser fire. There was too much for Helm to dodge it all. She was trying to get tactical good position. She did her job. But the Romulans wouldn't go down. Engineering couldn't hold the shields up.

Back up was on the way. The Majestic and Excalibur were holding strong. The Republic was being hit hard. McLane was not making good decisions, and the crew was suffering for it.

"Captain, Shields are at 10 percent!"

"Helm, get us out of here!" McLane ordered like it was her fault. No sooner than he could command and she could pilot them, the ship was struck again losing all shields. Another blast rocked the ship.

She got in the commands, but an explosion tore across the bridge. Elektra's body was thrown across the flood receiving the full blast of it. Captain McLane ordered them to keep going. Elektra lay on the floor dying as another explosion hit sending officers scattering. But the fire stopped when backup arrived. They were able to shield the Republic from any further blast.

Medical was ordered to the bridge, as Monet looked at the motionless Elektra horrific. Her body was thrown in a position where it shouldn't land, and she was bloodied and burnt. The embers from the explosion began to die down around her... For DeWolff's sake, Luc Monet prayed that Elektra would make it. He knew how he felt about Bethany Monet... and prayed.

But now, to Elektra there was a darkness. No light. Darkness...

Her body was transported to Sickbay as Jen Lewis was walking in helping an injured crew mate. She put the man on a bio bed and almost screamed. Klanok looked over at Lewis and saw her in a panic. He ran over to her and helped her stand up as they both looked at Elektra with the same eyes at Luc Monet.

"My God! You have to help her!" Lewis screamed at Dr. Stone. Stone turned away from a less injured patient and moved over to Elektra.

Stone pushed Lewis and Klanok from their friend and reminded them they still have a duty to this ship. Lewis left Sickbay crying with Klanok trying to comfort her with not much success. Stone called a nurse over to help him... he wasn't sure if she was going to live...

Nobody was sure.

***

The Republic docked at Deep Space Nine with several other ships left from the battle... The Federation had won. This time, Lewis, Chase, Klanok, and Monet didn't care. They were losing a valued friend.

Elektra's body was beamed into the Infirmary where Dr. Julian Bashir could help her. Bashir was joined by the CMO's from each of the ships. Steven Miller pleaded with Captain McLane to get Elektra special attention. McLane, feeling a pang of guilt, agreed.

***

DeWolff was sleeping... dreaming. Dreaming of his wife and of how happy they are together. He was thinking of her beautiful smile and face... and her eyes. He was happy in his thoughts of her. Elektra was his life.

But it stopped. The chime to his door sounded. And his heart panicked. He jumped up not caring how he looked, "Who is it?"

"DeWolff, let me in... It's Jennifer," She sounded hysterical. He let her in immediately. He had known her to be one of Elektra's friends by name. The blonde haired Ensign ran to him with tears rolling down her cheeks. He knew something had happened. His eyes widened and he felt like he was going to have a heart attack just thinking about something happening to Elektra.

"Take me to her," DeWolff said letting her say nothing else. He had fallen asleep in his uniform pants and a silk shirt. He brushed his hair back with his hands but didn't care. His heart was in his throat, and DeWolff was afraid.

"Luc said there was an explosion on the bridge..." Jen started to speak before breaking into more tears. When DeWolff neared the Infirmary he recognized the Klingon and the other two male Terrans. Elektra had pointed them out. Klanok tried to comfort Lewis again... It wouldn't help any. He was extremely broken up by this. DeWolff went to walk into the Infirmary but Monet grabbed his arm.

"It won't help," Luc told DeWolff.

"Get off of me. I want to see my wife," DeWolff said pushing him away.

"She took the brunt of the blow, DeWolff... McLane let her lay there. It's not pretty," Luc told DeWolff following behind him into the Infirmary. Luc's eyes were welling up with tears, as DeWolff looked incredibly helpless. He stared through on of the windows as Bashir and the other doctors tried to save his wife.

One of the nurses walked up to him. He silenced her before she could even speak, "Just tell me if she is going to live... nothing else." His voice was almost a whisper. He didn't know what to do. He was helpless, lost.

"They won't know for another 24 hours... and even then she may be in a coma..." The nurse told him with a long face. DeWolff slowly walked up to the glass to see what he could of her, and it broke his heart. Luc put his hand on DeWolff shoulder and told him to come wait with them. That standing here would only make it worse. DeWolff nodded feeling alone... the thought of living without her scared him.

She completed him. Elektra was his life... and he couldn't go on without her in it.

"Hestia, Hera, Athena, Artemis, Cerise, Aphrodite, goddesses... give her strength... protect her..." They were the gods of Elektra. Mythological or not... it was something her life was created on, and tonight her life was in their hands.

Part III: Mourning Becomes Elektra

Through the tears there was silence. What could anybody say to DeWolff? What could he say? What could he do? They were all helpless to do anything... Elektra's life was in the hands of Bashir.

They sat around a table on the Promenade staring at drinks and ignoring everything else. DeWolff stared at his glass and every moment of their lives played in front of his eyes. He wanted to save her, wanted to do something... But he couldn't. Her fate was out of his hands. He wished he could promise her forever; he wished he could touch her and hold her. He wanted to hear her voice again.

Luc Monet finished his second drink feeling like he should have been able to do something. Like he should have gone against McLane and helped Elektra sooner... He felt guilty for just watching her lay there and being afraid of disobeying.

Jennifer Lewis became so exhausted from the crying and the worrying that she fell asleep on Klanok's lap. Klanok stared in front of him at a glass of untouched blood wine. Elektra accepted him when many would not.

David Chase stared at a report of the battle. He remembered a time when Elektra saved his life on an away mission... he wanted to help her so badly... to return the favor.

Each of them wanted to save her, but none could imagine the agony that DeWolff was going through. He reached over to his glass and took one sip. Luc watched him, as his face became blank. Through the frustration and pain, his hand gripped the glass tightly cracking it and the pieces shattered to the table. He knocked them off of his skin unaffected still wanting to do something and hurting because of it. David gave him a cloth to stop the bleeding, and DeWolff took it silently nodding his head in thanks.... And he stood up to pace.

"DeWolff, please come to the Infirmary," Bashir said over the communications.

They all looked up at DeWolff as he stopped passing. The stood and followed behind him. Everything passed by him like a shadow... things were blank to him. The only thing he cared about was Elektra. He walked into the Infirmary where Bashir was waiting for him, blocking his way into the room.

"If she makes it through the night, she has a 90% chance of survival from this point on... after that... It's hard to say when she will come out of the coma," Bashir told him sympathizing with the pain he saw in DeWolff's eyes.

"How bad are the injuries?" DeWolff whispered looked at her through the glass.

"We stopped all the internal bleeding. Mended the broken ribs. She had a punctured lung from them... repaired it. There was a massive tear in her abdominal muscles and in the stomach. We repaired any neural damage. She hit the ground hard and it's hard to say when she'll wake up from the trauma..."

"So what would kill her?" DeWolff looked at him not understanding.

"If her body can't handle the trauma... the loss of blood, the battering her body went through... a lot of factors, DeWolff..."

"Do you believe she will live? Tell me the truth," His eyes started to glaze with tears.

"I honestly don't know. But if she wakes up, she won't be able to move for a time... her abdomen needs to heal.... And it may take quite some time. Extensive rehabilitation will need to be undergone for her to regain full control over her body."

"The burns?"

"Just cuts and bruises... we healed everything perfectly fine... She's beautiful, DeWolff. You are a very lucky man."

"Lady Luck be with me then," He whispered turning back to Elektra with tears streaking down his face, "Can I go in?"

"Yes, and I have talked to Commander Sisko... You can take a leave..." He said softly as DeWolff nodded.

Bashir walked away from DeWolff to go talk to Elektra's friends from the Republic. DeWolff walked to her side watching her soft breathing. He had it memorized for so long, and he didn't know if he could go on ever without being able to watch her, to memorize her again. His throat choked up as he tried to tell her the simplest of words. He ran his fingers through her hair wanting her to open her eyes to tell him that she loved him... He sat down in a chair next to her and watched her... touched her face, missed her.

DeWolff spent hours-holding vigil by her side. He had to see her through the night. If it was his last night with her, he would never forgive himself if he ever missed a moment of it. Around the Infirmary, her friends slept... but he watched her, prayed, and talked. She never quit breathing... that made him happy amidst the sadness and fears. Elektra was a fighter...

"You'll pull through, love," He whispered convincing himself as tears lined up along his eyes again, "I know you will."

The hours went by slowly, but DeWolff didn't mind. He was just being with her, being in her presence. He wanted to give her all of his strength. Bashir was hopeful when she made it through the night hours, but the question that remained was if she would wake up from the coma. It was uncertain.

DeWolff sat in Bashir's office for a while watching Jen and Luc talk to Elektra before they had to leave that afternoon. But it was time to call family... Eleni was in hysterics. Her 'Romulan' husband looked like he didn't appreciate the news because of Eleni's reaction. Surol said he would go home to his mother from school until she called down. Iris Medici said that she and her husband would get to Deep Space Nine as soon as they could. That was the family... and they were not his concern today. His only concern was Elektra, his Elektra... his beloved.

He promised to send word to the Republic of her status when it changed. He could tell they regretted leaving... but he was selfish and didn't want to share Elektra with anybody this time. He turned back to her and walked over to the bed.

He ran his fingers over her motionless hands. He always loved her long, slender fingers and when they would touch his face or hair... or just touch him. He looked at her with hope. He moved close to her to talk to her... he wanted her to hear him... even if she couldn't. He needed to talk to her.

"Elektra... come on, you have to pull through this... be strong for me. I know you can be. We've fought through so much..." He whispered starting to choke up again. She was his beautiful woman. He needed her.

***

Darkness... it was so dark. It seemed like and eternity of darkness. Memories flashed back and forth in front of her eyes and body, but nothing for her to grasp. She was weak. And when she grew weaker, it became darker. She didn't know how to find her strength.

Elektra didn't know anything. She didn't know where she was, what she was... but it was dark for a very long time... She sat down to watch a candle light flicker on in front of her. In that flame she saw everything... She saw what she was and what she meant, and she felt incomplete because something was missing from her and she was afraid. She didn't have a grasp on anything.

The flame went out as a voice finally broke through the darkness. She thought that she should know it... She felt like it belonged with her. She felt free and unafraid. But she still felt weak... and the weak cling to what has robbed them... and she sat in the darkness with no light.

"Elektra... I can't tell you how much I love you... no words can begin to describe my heart... and seeing you like this hurts so much because I couldn't have been there to save you... and I want to protect you... I love you so much..."

She looked up as a small light began to walk towards her... it was a figure that she knew. Her eyes looked at it in question as he talked to her.

"And I can't let go of the things we want to do together... Do you remember the walks through the mountains? There are still hills and paths we have yet to discover... we have more nights to walk along the beaches and to sit in the warm breeze... and we want to have children and to be happy together... we complete each other Elektra..."

"DeWolff?" Her voice questioned the figure weakly... she recognized him now. She could remember things... and she started to grasp the figure and see what he looks like. He looked like he was crying.

"I don't know what I would do without you... You gave me my hopes and my dreams... I need you in my life. You have to fight and be strong. You have so much, love..."

"I'm so tired, DeWolff... I have no strength," She said weakly. The figure leaned down to her.

"I love you, my beautiful goddess. I want to give you my strength and ability, but I cannot... you have to want to be with me to want to live... to want to love..."

He held out his hand to her and she looked at it not knowing if she could do it. But his eyes gave her what she was looking for. She found something to grasp onto, to obtain. She took his hand and pulled herself off of the ground... He leaned over and kissed her... and she closed her eyes using her heart and his love as her strength.

Light...

***

"I love you, Elektra... please come back to me," He whispered resting his head next to hers. He was becoming weakened by the lack of sleep. He refused to miss any time with her despite his failing eyes and body. He promised to never leave her, and this is when she needed him the most.

She stirred. His head shot up. He called for Dr. Bashir who came into the room, tricorder ready to take readings. DeWolff watched and hoped. Bashir looked up at him as Elektra started to mumbled and smiled.

"She's going to be just fine... but remember what I told you about her physically... She's going to be aching a lot especially in her stomach..." Bashir said to DeWolff who was staring at his wife.

"Just wait, Dr... I want us to discuss this with her also... it is her body," DeWolff glanced up to him. Bashir nodded in complete understanding.

Her body didn't feel like it belonged to her. She felt weak and lifeless, but she felt conscious. Confusion was going on through her mind, trying to assess what memories went where and where she was in her life. The lights in the room hurt her eyes. Blurred images were all she could see.

"Her eyes..." DeWolff noted and Bashir dimmed the lighting to reduce the strain.

She felt tired. It hurt to think and to breathe.

"She's disoriented... It tends to happen in these case."

She could feel DeWolff's hand on hers and his presence close to her. When she was weak, he had given her the strength and the reason to push forward. She didn't feel alone and things came together. Her eyes started to focus on the dimmed figures. She recognized DeWolff immediately... but he had no recollection as to where she was or what had happened.

"Elektra, do you feel any pain?" Dr. Bashir asked her while running the tricorder over her body.

She didn't even know if she could speak or move for that matter. Yes, she did feel pain. Maybe it was good that she could feel it.

"Yes..." She mumbled barely a whisper. DeWolff's eyes lit up just hearing her voice again. He didn't have any words for her. His heart was incredibly happy and tears started to stream down his cheeks. He was so afraid to lose her, and this was more than he could have ever asked for. She pulled out of it against the odds of things. Elektra wasn't expected to live through the night or open her eyes soon after.

Bashir held a hypospray to Elektra's neck to inject her with medication. It would reduce the pain on her and help the further healing of her abdominal muscles. Everything else was really up to Elektra to fight for.

"Do you know what happened to you?" Julian questioned her testing her responses to various stimulants.

"An explosion on the bridge..." She mumbled. It was the last thing she remembered before the darkness, the frightening darkness.

"Okay... What's your last name Elektra?" Julian asked her trying to see how much she remembered.

"I don't have one..." She mumbled closing her eyes. She didn't want to be bothered with this.

"When did we meet?" DeWolff whispered to her and she opened her grey eyes to look at him. A small smile came across her face.

"When I was sixteen... in the mountains... of Greece," Her light voice said making him smile.

"Elektra, you received extensive internal injuries which we were able to fix... the neural damage was also fixed. Your memory seems to be in tact. You are going to have trouble with your abdomen for quite some time. It needs to heal properly. It may take months or years. It's uncertain. Over the next few days, though, we have to try to get you to use your muscles again even if you can't sit up. The trauma put a lot of stress on you..." Julian told her. She slowly nodded her head understanding, "Without my consent or another Chief Medical officer... You cannot train, you cannot pilot... no extensive activity. And right now, it's hard to say if you can consider having children with this injury."

Elektra closed her eyes and nodded. DeWolff lowered his head a bit, but today, that didn't matter. He had his Elektra back, and he was going to help her get through this. Together they could do anything.

Dr. Bashir left the room to start writing his report, and to give DeWolff time alone with his wife.

And incredible wave of emotion had swept over DeWolff in the matter of hours. He had faced the possible loss of what matters most to him in life. The darkness and mourning were over. They were now going to face everything that comes their way together. The storm is not over yet, but neither of them will go through it afraid.

~Fin~