Life Support ( episode ) After a serious accident , Bashir struggles to save the life of Vedek Bareil while Kai Winn concludes a peace treaty with Cardassia . Jake and Nog reluctantly explore the differences between Federation and Ferengi cultures . Summary . Teaser . Jake Sisko is walking along the Promenade of Deep Space 9 when an old friend named Leanne walks up behind him . They reminisce and catch up briefly , and then set a date for the following evening at the station ' s Klingon restaurant . Just then Chief O ' Brien and Odo , accompanied by several Bajoran security deputies and Starfleet Security officers , come running along the Promenade , headed ( as it turns out ) toward the docking ring . Those men go to an airlock , where they are joined by Dr . Bashir and Nurse Jabara . The chief tells Bashir that the docking transport experienced an accident that caused casualties . Bashir asserts that the casualties should have been beamed directly to the infirmary , but the chief explains that the accident caused by a plasma coil release of radiation that made transport impossible . Once Odo opens the airlock injured passengers begin walking through . One of them is Kai Winn , but she says , " " the vedek – take care of the vedek ! " " Next out the airlock is Vedek Bareil , with a chest covered in third - degree burn s , being carried by two security officers . Odo activates his combadge and apprises Major Kira , the vedek ' s companion , of the situation . Act One . In the Infirmary , O ' Brien delivers a report to Commander Sisko about the cause of the accident , and Winn immediately inquires if sabotage might have played a part . Kira reacts to that possibility with skepticism , but the Kai says that she will only discuss the possibility in private , with Sisko . In the infirmary ' s operating room , Dr . Bashir is desperately trying to save Bareil ' s life . Meanwhile , Winn and Sisko are in Sisko ' s office , where Winn explains that she and Bareil were en route to peace treaty negotiations with Legate Turrel when the accident occurred . Sisko expresses surprise that Winn would be anywhere near such proceedings , but she explains that the underlying vision and the credit for the success of the negotiations is mostly due to Bareil . However , in the infirmary , Bashir is announcing to Kira that Bareil is dead , having never regained consciousness . After sharing this with Kira , Bashir suggests she take some time off to grieve , but Kira tells him she will do so in her own time . Bashir goes back to the table on which Bareil ' s body rests , intending to start an autopsy . However , he discovers that Bareil ' s nervous system is still transmitting to his brain . Bashir hypothesizes that Bareil ' s radiation exposure " might have fortified his peripheral membranes , " and he and Jabara resume treatment according to that hypothesis – treatment which proves to be successful . Act Two . Later , Bashir says Bareil " should " be back on his feet in a few weeks . Both Sisko and the kai credit Bashir with nothing less than a miracle ( according to the kai , by the grace of the Prophet s ) , but Bashir insists that it was simply the best of luck . Bareil is present and conscious , and says he ' s merely grateful , since it allows him to complete unfinished work . Kai Winn takes that opening to insist that the treaty negotiations be resumed quickly , but Bashir disagrees on account of Bareil ' s infirmity . However , the kai insists that Bareil will merely " advise " her while " she " conducts the negotiations , to which Bashir agrees on the condition that Bareil isn ' t tired out . Meanwhile Kira looks on the whole proceeding with a gimlet eye . Sometime later Nog goes to the Siskos ' quarters , where Jake tries to explain the date he ' s got with Leanne and cancel the plans he and Nog had to play dom - jot with some s . Nog ' s hard to reach at first , but finally catches on . . . and corners Jake into making it a " double " date . Back in the Infirmary , Bashir comes to Bareil ' s bedside to explain that his treatment caused damage to Bareil ' s circulatory system that is damaging his internal organs in turn . Bashir says he wants to put Bareil into stasis for an indeterminate length of time while an effective treatment is researched , but Bareil says that would be unacceptable , since it would likely become impossible to conclude the peace treaty as a result . As an alternative Bashir says they can try an experimental drug called vasokin , but only by accepting a 22 % chance that the damage will be made even worse . Bareil accepts that risk in lieu of being put into stasis . As far as Bareil is concerned , conclusion of the treaty is the will of the Prophets , and he is determined to see it through . Act Three . Later Legate Turrel , Kai Winn , and Commander Sisko are in the wardroom , continuing negotiations - but without much success . They recess , and the Kai complains to Sisko that she ' s at a severe disadvantage without Bareil ' s direct involvement . She declares that " " if he dies , then peace with Cardassia dies with him . " " Later Jake , Nog , Leanne , and Riska , who is Nog ' s date , are sitting at a table in the upper level of Quark ' s eating dinner . Nog is interjecting with insensitive comments – " " boy , Jake , she talks a lot for a female " " – while Jake tries to maintain a normal , respectful flow of conversation . However , Nog ' s attitude descends into what can be best described as the gutter . Leanne and Riska leave the bar in a huff , and then Nog insists that Jake blew it because he was " " treating my " female " as if she was an equal ! " " Jake is equally displeased with Nog , and the two of them stomp away angrily as well . In the Infirmary , Winn explains her difficulties to Bareil , but he ' s in obvious discomfort . Bashir tells her that Bareil ' s had enough stress , but the Kai insists that she needs more of Bareil ' s attention . Bashir steps in and tells the Kai that if she doesn ' t leave , she ' ll be thrown out by security - and Kira says that Security won ' t need to be called , because she ' ll escort the Kai out of the Infirmary herself . Only then does Winn back down and leave . Bashir explains that the organ damage he ' d feared is starting to take place , and that in order to keep Bareil alive without putting him into stasis , he ' ll need to transplant artificial organs . Bareil insists that Bashir does whatever it takes to get him through the negotiations . Act Four . After performing the transplants Bashir goes to Kai Winn , who ' s looking over PADD s in the wardroom . He explains that he wants the Kai to release Bareil from his obligation to be involved in the negotiations , since doing so is the only thing that will give Bareil a fighting chance to live . Kai Winn refuses , and Bashir ultimately deduces that in the event the negotiations fail , Winn wants a scapegoat handy . When Bashir starts to leave , Winn tells him " " And doctor , I won ' t forget what you ' ve said here . " " Bashir defiantly tells her he won ' t either . At their quarters , Jake ' s telling his father about the disastrous double date , and Ben ' s totally unsurprised , since Nog is a Ferengi and burdened by the tunnel vision imposed by Ferengi gender roles . Jake thinks that the cultural differences spell the end of his friendship with Nog , but Ben disagrees and insists that there ' s a genuine bond between the two that can be restored if the two of them will make up . However , Jake doubts that Nog is at all willing to speak with him . Bareil has suffered irreversible brain damage in the meantime . Bashir arrives just as Jabara is trying to stabilize him , and Winn there saying he had called her there , straining himself . Act Five . In the station commander ' s office Winn , Sisko , Kira , and Bashir are discussing the situation , and the Kai asks if something can be done to restore Bareil ' s brain function as well . Bashir says that a positronic implant would give them " something " to work with , but that it would cause Bareil ' s psyche to change in ways those present would find difficult to accept . Kira quickly agrees that it should be tried , since it is Bareil ' s last option for seeing the peace treaty through , and Bashir agrees to perform the needed procedure on account of Kira ' s endorsement . Meanwhile , Jake has come up with an idea that will give Nog no better choice than to speak with him : he goes to Security , asking Odo to arrest him and Nog , and put them into the same holding cell . In the Infirmary , Bashir has completed the positronic implant and , as he ' d predicted , Bareil is alert . . . but not at all himself . After some friction and Nog ' s discovery that Jake put Odo up to their arrests , the two of them finally come to an agreement that there is a bond of friendship between them strong enough to make them " forget " the differences between their two cultures . However , mending fences turns out to be much easier for the two of them than being promptly released from the holding cell . It turns out that the treaty negotiations were a success , and a party is being held in the Wardroom to celebrate the event when Bashir gets called back to the Infirmary . It also turns out that the remaining organic half of Bareil ' s brain is finally failing , and with the peace treaty concluded , the only person with a stake who can see a point to doing anything more to keep Bareil alive is Kira . . . but Bashir finally convinces her to let him go . Kira asks Bashir how long Bareil has before he dies . Bashir tells her he has three hours . Kira requests that she be alone with him , and Bashir leaves , bringing Jabara with him . Kira , alone with the unconscious Bareil , begins telling him all the things she never got a chance to tell him before . Recalling meeting him for the first time , she remembers he having such a serenity about him , she just assumed he had all the answers but she soon realized he was as confused as everyone else . He just accepted his confusion better than anyone Kira knew . " That " was when she realized she loved him . Memorable quotes . " " I ' ll be there . But this time , we ' ll skip the " gagh . " " " Definitely . " " " You " have been negotiating peace with Cardassia ? " " " " The Prophets teach us that while violence may keep an enemy at bay , only peace can make him a friend . " " " " Please , don ' t take this the wrong way . . . but I " never " would have guessed that " you " would be the one to bring such a bold vision of peace to Bajor . " " " " Thank you Doctor , I ' m on duty in Ops . Excuse me . " " " " Kira . . . I think they can get along without you in Ops today . " " " " Maybe , but I need to be there . I appreciate your concern , but I ' ll grieve in my own way , in my own time . " " " " Well , it ' s a little early to tell , but I ' m hoping he ' ll make a full recovery . He should be back on his feet again in a few weeks . " " " " You say that so calmly . But it ' s not every doctor that can lose a patient , and then have him back on his feet in a few weeks ! " " " " Indeed , you are too modest . You ' ve performed nothing less than a miracle here . The Prophets must walk with you , Doctor . " " " " Well , I , and the Prophets , were lucky . . . " " " " Money is money . But women are better ! " " " " Is that a rule of acquisition ? " " " " It ' s a personal rule . " " " " Just one thing , Jake . You ' re still pretty new at this " dating " business . Just promise me you won ' t do anything to " embarrass " me . " " " " But why risk your life for a few days ? " " [ chuckle ] " " I have no great desire to die , Doctor . . . but I am determined to carry out the will of the Prophets as long as I am able , and I " cannot " carry out their will if I - I ' m unconscious in some stasis tube ! Please . . . begin the vasokin treatments . " " " " All right . . . We ' ll start this afternoon . . . I only hope we don ' t regret this . " " " " So do I . " " " " I was chosen by the Prophets to lead our people into a new era . I know that ! But I was not meant to be in a room with a Cardassian , debating legalisms and diplomatic nuances ! " " " " She ' s so dumb . She ' s perfect ! " " " " That ' s it . Let ' s go . " " " " At the moment , he needs more treatment and less politics . Now , either you can leave here willingly , or I ' ll call Security and have you thrown out ! " " " " You won ' t need to call them . I ' ll do it myself . " " " " Are you going to call Security and have me removed from this room now , Doctor ? " " " " It hadn ' t occurred to me . . . yet . " " " " You ' re a coward . You ' re afraid to stand alone . " " " " Bareil ' s already made his decision , Doctor . I won ' t interfere . And Doctor . . . I won ' t forget what you ' ve said here . " " " " Neither will I . " " " " Odo , I ' d like you to do me a favor . I want to be arrested . " " " " Anyone who talks to a female with fawning respect is no Ferengi . It made me sick ! " " " " You want to talk about sick ? ! ' Sick ' is making Riska cut up your food for you . " " " " Well , at least I didn ' t have her chew it ! " " " " Chew it ? ! " " " " I guess we ' ll just have to deal with the rest of our " disgusting " habits as they come up . " " " " I guess so . " " " " . . . Allow me to introduce ' Kai Winn . ' " " " " I don ' t understand . " " " " In honor of the occasion , I ' ve named my latest creation for you . It ' s a chocolate soufflé . . . with . . . Haligian tongue sauce . " " " " Well , I ' m very honored ! " " [ takes a bite of the sauce ] " " Hmm . Hmm ! And you ' re also very popular . Believe me , I can ' t keep up with the orders so far . " " " " If I remove the rest of his brain . . . That ' spark of life ' will be gone . He ' ll be dead . . . and I ' ll be the one who killed him . " " " " But if we do nothing , he ' ll die ! " " " " That ' s right , he will . But he ' ll die like a man , not a machine . " " " " You had . . . such a . . . serenity about you . . . I thought you had all the answers . It really got on my nerves for a while ! Then I got to know you and I . . . realized you were just as confused as the rest of us . You just " accepted " your confusion better than anyone I ' ve ever known . That ' s when I realized I loved you . " " Links and references . References . Alpha Quadrant ; ambassador ; armistice ; artery ; axon ; Bajor ; Bajoran s ; Bajoran detainees ; Bajoran - Cardassian Treaty ; Bajoran transport ; Bashir ' s medical school professor ; blood plasma ; blood pressure ; brain stem ; Cardassia ; Cardassian ; Cardassian Central Command ; Cardassian Ministry of Justice ; cardiac arrest ; cascade effect ; cerebral cortex ; chocolate ; chocolate soufflé ; cordrazine ; cranium ; defibrillator ; election ; electricity ; Eminence ; Emissary of the Prophets ; encryption ; Ferengi ; Ferenginar ; Ferris VI ; " gagh " ; Haligian tongue sauce ; heart ; holosuite ; inaprovaline ; internal organ ; Ishka ; kidney s ; Leanne ' s father ; legate ; lung s ; magistrate ; " Massacre of Ferris VI " ; midbrain ; millivolt ; mining ; morphenolog ; neural tissue ; neuron ; neurogenic radiation ; neurostimulation ; neurotransmitter ; Occupation of Bajor ; Ops ; ; orb ; Osinar VI ; oxygen ; parietal lobe ; patient ; plasma coil ; plasma conduit ; positronic implant ; pressor field ; Promenade ; Prophet s ; Quark ' s ; reparations ; Riska ' s uncle ; Rom ; sabotage ; soufflé ; springball ; Starfleet ; synapse ; synaptic failure ; temporal lobe ; ; Tholian ; tissue sample ; tradition ; vasoconstriction ; vasokin ; Vulcan s ; ; wilderness preserve