Bajor: A Trip to the Market "
By: Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Margaret Rose MacAlister , Marine CO, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58206.29 0630

==Bajor - Kalkyra, Rakantha Province==

Wright slept rather poorly that night.  His dreams filed with images of fire, smoke, and dying children.  He woke for the day just before daybreak and went into the infirmary to check on his patients.  He found that they were resting comfortably.  Not wanting to disturb them he just did a visual observation and let them sleep.   Wright went out into the front room of the clinic.  There was no one up yet so he sat down at the table and watched the Bajoran sun begin to rise.  He was troubled.  This quiet little village was no longer the place he had left.  He needed to find out what was going on.   Madge was in the habit of getting up early to run, and this morning wasn't any different.  If her sleep had been disturbed it didn't show as she ran through the streets of the small town.  A person could see a lot this time of day, if they were observant.  And Madge was definitely observant.  Her long legs took her around a corner and she headed down the stretch to the clinic.   When she opened the door a few minutes later her breathing was accelerated and a light sheen of perspiration coated her skin.  It wasn't hard to guess what she'd been doing as she was dressed in typical Marine running garb.  Her long red hair was pulled back into a ponytail that brushed her shoulder blades when she moved.   "Why g'mornin' ta ye, doctor.  I dinnae expect ta see ye this early in the morning," she greeted Wright with a smile as she pulled a bottle from her pack and took a long drink of the water in it.    "I'm usually up early," said Wright.  He gestured at the chair next to his, "Have a seat.  How was your run?"   "T'was... interesting," MacAlister took the offered chair.  "Did ye sleep well, Doctor?"   Wright shook his head, "Not well at all," he said looking windows as the Bajoran sun began to rise.  "How about you?"

"Like a rock," MacAlister admitted. "'Tis a blessing and a curse," she smiled a little. "The fire disturbed yer dreams then?" She was either quite perceptive, or just a good guesser.   Wright nodded, "What do you have planned today?"

"Nothing specific," Madge admitted. "Thought I might hang around a bit and see how the wee lass is doing. What about yerself?"   Wright smiled, "They have a small farmers market not too far from here. I thought I might go down there and get pick up some supplies. We could all use a good breakfast."

"Aye, that we could," Madge agreed. "And would ye be liking some company then, doctor?" she asked curiously.

"That would be wonderful," replied Wright.

After Madge cleaned up and changed, the two of them left the clinic. Wright led the way to the market.

"What do you make of this Lyrr person," he asked.

"Other than he's a bully?" Madge smiled a bit, but then seemed thoughtful. "He's just a lad... War is hard. 'Tis impossible ta tell what happened that he would act this way," she mused. "But that does nae make him any less dangerous... Perhaps we should look inta it?"

"We might have to," he said, "This village is not the same place I left."

"I dinnae know what it was like before," Madge admitted, "But things aren't right here... There's nothing ye can see.. 'tis more of a feeling... and the looks on people's faces."

They rounded the corner and entered a large plaza. There were several farmers selling their wares here. Wright looked around. Things seemed to have improved since he was here last. The number of farmers selling had increased as well as the different products. Wright spotted someone he knew. Barl, had been one of the first vendors here. Wright walked over to his stand.

"You have done well Barl," said Wright to a Bajoran man with his back to him.

The man turned around, a huge smile breaking out on his face. "Well, Doctor John, it is good to see you again," he said.

"It is good to see you as well," replied Wright. He gestured towards Madge, "This is Madge," he said with a smile, "Madge this is Barl. He grows nothing but the best."

"'Tis a pleasure ta meet ye, Barl," Madge said with a wide smile, her Scottish accent quite pleasant on the ears. "What ye have here does indeed look like the best I've seen in a long time," she complimented him.

"Nice to meet you to ma'am," he said in a cheery voice, " Our produce is getting better. The land is starting to get its fertility back. Can I get anything for you?"

Wright smiled, "I'm making breakfast today."

Barl laughed, "Just like old times. I'll get what you need."

"You better double it," suggested Wright, "We have guests."

The smile slowly left his face, "Ah yes, poor Jess. You two did a good thing, saving his girls. It's good to have you back."

Madge listened and watched quietly. The slowly fading smile on Barl's face said a lot. "I'm glad they're doing well. The doctor took verra good care of the wee ones."

Barl's smile was back again as he began putting food together for Wright and Madge, "He has taken good care of many of us."

There was a loud snort form behind them, "Yeah, just like he takes are of that Cardassian half-breed."

Wright turned around and spotted a teenage boy. He regarded the boy with a even stare but said nothing.

"You go on Lyrr, don't be bothering my customers," snapped Barl the smile now turned to a definate scowl.

"I'll do what I want," said Lyrr, "Where is my pay."

Barl gestured toward a sack under a table, "In that sack. Get it and be gone."

Lyrr walked over to the table and picked up the sack. He cheked its contents and then looked back to Wright. "A word of advice," he said, his voice just above a whisper, "You should leave before you get into any more trouble."

MacAllister stepped forward when Lyrr took a more threatening stance. She didn't actually step between Wright and the boy, but she could have been there before either of them drew a breath should the lad actually make any moves.

Wright held the boys stare and replied, "I'll do what I want."

They stood there, their eyes locked for a few moments, then Lyrr shrugged and walked away.

After a moment Madge looked from Wright to Barl and back again. "The lad needs his ears pinned back just a wee bit," she pronounced wisely, and sounding like she'd be more than happy and capable of doing it. "And he needs a good, safe outlet for all that pent up anger and frustration he's dragging around with him like a bag of old rocks." Nordic blue eyes twinkled a bit as she arched a shapely brow at Wright. "And do nae provoke him, doctor," she added with a light, teasing smile.

Wright shook his head, "He needs a parent."

"Aye, that he does," Madge agreed with a nod. "But do nae go adopting him just yet, Doctor. At least, not without me there ta guard yer back."

Wright looked at Barl. "You are paying him for, " asked Wright leaving his sentence unfinished.

Barl grunted, "To keep him and his friends out of my hair." Barl saw Wright's next question coming and preempted it, "Don't go looking at me like that," he said, "They are just kids... orphans! I give them some food, it's not that big of a deal."

"You have a heart of gold Barl," said Wright, "But this is not going to help them in the long run."

Barl nodded, "They haven't ever hurt anyone before until the fire last night," said Barl with a sigh, "I am concerned."

"Ye should be," the Marine nodded. "The lad doesnae understand yet that his actions can have some serious consequences..." she observed. "He's just being a bully and doesnae see how the dynamics of that can grow bigger than himself."

Barl nodded as he tied off Wright's sack of groceries, "I know," he said sadly as he handed Wright the bag, "It's on me Doctor John, tell Jess I hope things get better for him."

"I'll do that," replied Wright, "Thanks Barl, you take care of yourself."

"T'was a pleasure ta meet ye, Barl," Madge smiled warmly at the vendor. "And thank ye verra much."

"Nice to meet you too," he replied with his best smile, "You take care."

"Let's go Major," he said, "We have breakfast to make."

"I'm right behind ye, Doctor," Madge turned her smile onto Wright and gave Barl a slight wave as she and the good doctor headed back towards the clinic.

"I can see by the look in yer eyes that yer tryin' ta find a way ta help the boy," she commented offhandedly and quirked a brow in his direction.

"Not just him, the whole village," he said glumly, "Believe it or not this used to be a very nice friendly little village."

"Ach well now... and ye can't be adopting the whole village, doctor," Madge smiled over at him. "I'll do what I can ta help ye put things right again. I have a wee bit of vacation time that I'm taking before my next reassignment, so I'm at yer disposal."

"I adopted this village a long time ago," said Wright with a smile. "Thank you for your offer. I could use the help."

"I'm not sure what ta do," she admitted thoughtfully as the pair wound their way through the streets of the small village. "But I'm more than willing ta follow yer lead."

Wright sighed as the walked along, "I wish I knew what to do," he said, "I guess we will just have to start at the beginning. Diagnose the problem, and try to figure it out from there."

Madge had to laugh at that and flashed a grin in his direction. "Spoken like a true doctor," she commented. "The Boys and I rarely get ta diagnose the problem. We just get sent in ta fix it. This'll be a new experience for me then."

Wright chuckled, "I will see what I can do about getting you to think like a doctor then."

She chuckled along with him. "I may have better luck getting you to think like a Marine."