Daughter of Kela

By: Ginomo

Set in the weeks following "Change of Heart." Jadzia makes great efforts to fit into Worf's family, yet she never expects the same from her husband. In need of medical treatment, Jadzia has to return to Trill and is confronted by family resentments both old and new.

Author's Note: This is the first time I have written a Dax-centered story. Worf is still of course still a big part of it, but it is primarily about Jadzia and that's new for me. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 1

"It is wonderful. Just as it always is."

"Not so fast, not so fast," Helena Rozhenko said with a laugh, "You will make yourself sick."

"It would be worth it," Worf said as he stuffed another bite of rokeg blood pie into his mouth.

"Don't eat it all now, save some for later. Do you know the trouble I go through to send you these? I am always worried the cryo-freeze packaging will ruin the texture."

Worf shook his head, "No, mother it is perfect."

Helena could not help but smile at her youngest son. Seeing him happy was all she ever wanted. Her pies usually did the trick, but these days there was more in his life to make him smile and that warmed her heart like nothing else could, "You could save some for your wife, you know."

"Jadzia? I probably should. She tried to make it once but," Worf looked around to see if his wife was near, "Hers is not nearly as good as yours," he whispered into the monitor.

That brought another laugh from her, "Well a mother has to have something that's all her own."

Just then the door to their quarters slid open and Jadzia Dax entered. Across the room her husband sat at the desk, his mother's beaming face on the monitor and a half eaten rokeg blood pie in front of him.

"I'm glad you waited until you could call your mother before diving into that thing. He's been dying to eat it since it arrived," Jadzia approached the desk and kissed Worf's forehead and then addressed the screen, "How are you today Mrs. Rozhenko?"

"Oh just as good as always. Son, may I speak with Jadzia please?"

He looked up at his wife and then back to his mother. Since Jadzia was standing right here and could hear her just fine, Helena must have meant that she wanted a private word with her, "Of course," Worf stood, took his pie and went into the bedroom.

Jadzia sat, "What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to say… I apologize that Sergey and I have not been able to travel to the station. We were so sorry to miss your wedding. We are not as young as we once were and traveling so far away during a war-"

"There is no need to apologize, we completely understand. Once things settle down Worf plans to send for the two of you."

"I am glad that you did not wait to marry. I..." Helena paused, "I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to see my son happy. He has been through so very much," she shook her head, "So much loss for one person to bear. When he first told us about you he was certain he was going to mess it all up," she added with a laugh.

"He almost did," Jadzia added.

"Worf has a good heart, he just guards it tightly. I do not know how, but you have gotten him to let down that guard. I rest easier knowing he has you in his life."

Jadzia blushed, "I don't know what to say…"

"Now, I know he can be difficult, but he means well. Worf loves you more than he has ever loved anyone else. So when he is having one of his 'moments' just keep that in mind."

Jadzia laughed, "You know your son very well. And I'm happy to say that his 'moments' are fewer and fewer."

"His father had a good talk with him when he told us you were getting married. He cannot be so stubborn and set in his ways anymore, he needs to make adjustments to his lifestyle and think of what you need as well."

So that's where that came from, Jadzia thought, "Well, the message was well received."

"Good. I will not keep you any longer. I just wanted to let you know that we are thankful you are in our son's life, and a part of our family. I cannot wait to meet you in person."

Helena's smile was infectious. How could someone who scowled as much as Worf have been raised by someone as cheerful as Mrs. Rozhenko? "Thank you. We will see you as soon as we can," Jadzia returned the smile, "Good bye."

The transmission ended and Jadzia stood. She went into the bedroom to find her husband sitting on the bed with the pie, "You are NOT eating that in here."

"Why not?"

She shook her head, "I can't believe your mother sends you a pie whenever you want it. You're like a spoiled little boy when it comes to those two."

"Making me happy makes her happy," Worf stood and placed what was left back in the cryo-freeze package, "If that is 'spoiled' then so be it."

"There is no denying that."

Worf walked towards her and placed his arms around her waist, "I think you are just jealous because my mother sends me pies."

Jadzia laughed, "Oh yeah that's it," her laugh quickly turned into a painful wince. She squeezed her eyes shut and placed her fingers on her temples.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," she whispered, her eyes still shut, "I've just had a bit of a headache all day. I need to get some rest."

"Perhaps Dr. Bashir-"

"No, no, it's nothing. I'm just tired," Jadzia stumbled towards the bed and sank into it.

Worf sat at the foot and took her boots off for her, "You complained of a headache a few days ago..."

"And after a good night's sleep I was fine."

"If this persists-"

"I will be fine."

Worf sighed. And his mother thought he was the difficult one.

Chief O'Brien had been talking for several minutes and Worf had barely heard any of it.

"And of course the new quantum torpedoes Starfleet wants us to install don't fit into the Cardassian torpedo bays, so the upgrade is going to take longer than we anticipated," Miles said.

"Mmm Hmm."

"And while we are switching them out, the station will be virtually defenseless."

"Mmm Hmm."

The Chief wasn't expecting Worf to take that so well. He looked at the Commander and realized that his gaze was on his wife, who was seated at her usual post in ops. Worf and O'Brien were standing at the tactical station and could look down and see her seated at the command table in the pit.

"You aren't listening to a word I'm saying are you?"

Worf snapped out of it, "I apologize, Chief. Let me know when you plan to make the switch and I will have the Defiant and Rotarran on standby for backup defense."

O'Brien motioned towards Dax, "Everything okay?"

Worf could see Jadzia massaging her temples and squeezing her eyes shut again. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, "She is not feeling well. And she will not admit it."

"She's not pregnant is she?" Miles said with a laugh. Worf gave him a look that let him know he wasn't amused, "Uh, well, she knows herself. When she needs to go-"

Thud

In a flash, Worf had descended the stairs and was at his wife's side, "Jadzia!" she'd fallen off of her stool and was unresponsive. Worf gently shook her and checked her neck for a pulse.

Captain Sisko emerged from his office, "What''s going on?"

Worf didn't answer, instead he spoke into the air, "Computer, emergency medical transport to the infirmary for myself and Commander Dax. Energize."

It had been two weeks since Worf sat in this very position, waiting for Dr. Bashir to tell him if his wife was going to live or die after being attacked by Jem'Hadar patrollers on Soukara. At least this time he didn't have to wait as long. Worf stood as Dr. Bashir emerged from the rear of the infirmary and approached him.

"Is she alright Doctor?"

"Yes," he began hesitantly, "Has she had any other episodes like this recently?"

"She has had a headache for the last week or so. I insisted that she come to you, but she kept saying it was nothing."

Julian sighed, "Of course she did. I warned her that this might happen. You know better than anyone that she was injured very badly when you returned from your away mission."

"Yes, I know."

"She was so near death that the symbiont-host bond began to deteriorate," Dr. Bashir continued, "My hope was that as her body recovered, the neural connection would as well."

"But it has not," Worf surmised.

"That's correct."

"What can be done?"

"Unfortunately, nothing here. I have given her a hefty dose of some neurotransmitters that will keep her conscious temporarily. But this is going to keep happening unless she returns to Trill, the doctors at the Symbiosis Commission can treat this better than I can."

Worf nodded, "May I see her?"

"Yes, but," Julian lowered his voice, "I need you to convince her that she has to do this."

Worf was confused, "Why would she object?"

"I suggested she do this when she was initially injured but she insisted it wasn't necessary. Jadzia was adamant that she not return to Trill," Julian sighed, not wanting to betray her confidence but knowing it was necessary, "And even more adamant that I not mention it to you. My hope was that this would correct itself, but that hasn't happened. Without proper treatment she could slowly lose her connection to Dax and Jadzia will die."

Worf's eyes narrowed. He did not like the idea of Dr. Bashir knowing something about his wife that he did not, especially something so serious. "I understand, thank you Doctor."

Dr. Bashir cleared Jadzia to go home that evening. Worf did not broach the subject of returning to Trill while she was still in the infirmary- based on Julian's warning he thought it best to wait until they were alone.

"Okay, so maybe you were right," Jadzia said as they entered their quarters, "But I'm feeling much better now."

The door slid closed behind Worf, "Really?"

She walked to the replicator, "Whatever Julian gave me did the trick," Dax quickly changed the subject, " I'm famished, do you want something?"

Worf frowned, "So that is all?"

"Yes. What do you want to eat?"

"Jadzia…"

"What?"

"What else did the Doctor say?"

It was Jadzia's turn to frown, "Why do you keep asking me that?"

"You are not being honest with me."

She sighed, "What did Julian tell you?"

Worf came right out with it, "He told me that you need to return to Trill and that if you did not you could die."

Jadzia rolled her eyes, "Well that's a little dramatic. I told him I just need more time to get my head together after my injuries. Going all the way back to the Symbiosis Commission isn't necessary. The neurotransmitters he gave are working just fine."

"He told me those are just temporary."

"Well, it sounds like you two had quite the heart to heart," Jadzia sat down at their table with her food.

Worf approached the table and sat down with her, "This is no time to be dismissive, Jadzia."

"Travel all the way back to Trill during wartime? With as much as there is to do around here right now? Just to sit in the hospital and swim around the symbiont pools? No thank you. Julian is one of the best doctors in the quadrant, I'm better off here under his care."

"Why are you reluctant to do what Dr. Bashir is suggesting? If he says this is not something he can treat then I take him at his word."

Dax sat back in her chair and shook her head, "I'm not going to Trill," she replied defiantly.

Worf wanted to be angry at his wife for being so stubborn, but as he looked at her he realized there was something more to this and that perhaps anger wasn't the response the situation needed, "I cannot keep standing over your body in the infirmary. I cannot bear it."

Jadzia looked at her husband's face. It was usually so strong but the look on it right now showed an emotion she didn't often see from him- he was afraid. Going to Trill right now was the last thing she wanted, but she couldn't fight both Julian and Worf. They'd probably bring Benjamin in on it as well if she kept objecting. Maybe she could take care of this quickly without anyone even knowing she was there.

Dax leaned forward and took his hand in hers, "Alright, if it will make you feel better, I will go."

Worf let out a sigh of relief, "It will."