THE STARE
Deanna Troi looked over at Will Riker. She felt her pulse quicken. Then turning her head a little more she saw the beautiful blonde woman next to him. The woman was eyeing Will. It disturbed her that she felt nothing from this woman, while as she looked over Will, she could hear every thought that passed through his mind. Will turned, sensing her stare, and gave her a look asking what was wrong. Deanna gave a quick shake of her head meaning nothing and returned to looking at the data pad she currently held in her hand. But Will, knowing Deanna all to well, continued to look at her as if trying to get her to lift her eyes from the data pad she was still staring intently at. Captain Picard, directing the meeting, saw his "number one" Commander Riker staring intently at Deanna. It was no secret on the ship that they had had a past relationship, but everyone now thought it was over. But Jean-Luc told himself that he was reading too much into that stare and continued on. But for one of the few times in his life, Jean-Luc was wrong.
Will Riker knew that he had intense feelings for Deanna, but he never felt he could act on them. When he didn't show up on Risa, he thought at that time that he would never see Deanna Troi again. But when she showed up on the Enterprise, he could see that look of hurt on her face. And knew she remembered every awful detail of Risa. Will thought that maybe he could mend things, to the point that they could become a couple again, but know he knew that wouldn't happen. Every time he tried to flirt, make advances, he was shot down again and again. But finally he got to the point that Deanna and him were good friends, but much to his disappoint things never got any farther. Will had gone out with a few other people and had had fun, but never had that same connection that he had with Deanna. That was why the relationships had ended. Now Will was single.
Deanna knowing Will was staring at her continued to look at her PADD. She wasn't actually looking at it, but was trying to get a reading of the young blonde woman, who the Enterprise had picked up at Starbase 39. She was clearly not Human, however Human she acted. She would tell the Captain because she had listed her species as Human. Deanna stopped analyzing the mysterious blonde woman and focused all her thoughts on Riker. Will Riker was still looking at her, however now it was not as obvious. The meeting ended and all the senior officers left, but Deanna stayed to talk to the captain about the woman. "Captain" she began "The blonde woman that attended our meeting. Is she human?" "Uh yes I think so. Why counselor?" "Well" Deanna began "I couldn't sense anything from her and I have never meet any human that can hide their emotions completely. So I came to the conclusion that she was not human." "Thank you for your concerns counselor. I will look into it." Deanna gave a brief nod of thank you and left the room. As the doors swished closed behind her, she was surprised to see Will Riker standing there. "Yes Will?" Deanna asked with a small undertone of immpatientice. "Deanna" Will began... "Why did you look at me like that in the meeting?" Deanna momentarily caught of guard had no answer and instead gave a quick, "I have to go" and abruptly continued down the corridor without him. Will was left standing there with a very confused expression on his face.
END OF CHAPTER ONE