Big Doors

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine. This is an AU story.

This story is rated T for possible violence in later chapters.

Chapter One: The Little Hinge

"We are not going without our shuttle crew." Natasha Yar faced down the monstrous black creature that stood in her way.

"I warn you..."

"Enough." Tasha cut it off, her temper rising fast. "We have people who need attention. We won't hurt you, but we must help them."

The creature raised one arm - if you could call it that - and pointed directly at her. Before she could react, she felt something heavy crash into her, knocking her to the ground and pressing down on top of her. At first she thought it was the creature's doing, but then a voice spoke directly in her ear.

"Lieutenant Yar. Are you all right?"

"Data?" She looked up, trying to catch her breath, as the android scrambled off her. "What - what happened?"

"Whatever that thing is, it aimed some sort of energy beam at you." Will knelt by her side, Beverly close behind, tricorder already open. "Data jumped at you - I've never seen anyone move so fast - and knocked you down. The beam hit a rock," Will drew a deep, shaky breath, "and the rock exploded. If it had hit you..." He didn't need to finish. They all knew what could have happened - what very nearly had happened.

"You've got a few broken bones, and you're a little banged up," Beverly reported. "I want to get you to sickbay."

Data looked as horrified as an android could at the doctor's pronouncement. "I am sorry. I did not intend to injure you."

"Data, if you hadn't jumped at me, it would've been worse." Tasha rolled carefully onto her back, wincing as she did. "A few broken bones the doctor can heal. If that - whatever it was had hit me, it could have done damage no doctor could have fixed."

"She's right, Data." Beverly tapped her combadge. "Crusher to Enterprise, beam us up."

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"You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?"

"Data." Tasha bit her lip before continuing. "Data, I almost died today."

"But you did not."

"I know. But for humans, a brush that close with death - it makes us think about things we might not have otherwise. And I've been thinking about you. I want - I need to talk to you about the Tsiolkovsky virus. When I told you that it never happened, I was more than embarrassed. I was ashamed of myself, ashamed of what I did to you. I used you, Data, and then I was so ashamed of what I'd done that I couldn't even bring myself to apologize. And then today I realized that if I had died down on that planet, then I would never have told you, and you'd have lived for centuries not knowing how very sorry I am."

"I accept your apology. You do not need to feel guilt." He fixed her with a gentle look, tilting his head slightly. "I believe you are, as you say, being too hard on yourself. We were both behaving uncharacteristically, but I was as much a willing participant as you were."

"Data, there's something else." Tasha spoke quickly, needing to get this out before she could lose her nerve. "That day - I didn't lie when I said that I wanted gentleness and joy and love, and that I wanted them from you. That wasn't the virus talking, it was me. The virus just loosened my lips enough for me to say it. I'm - I'm in love with you, Data. I can't deny it any more. And if you're all right with it, I'd like to - to try having a relationship with you. A real relationship, not an intoxicated one-night stand."

The android looked surprised, if not displeased, but he responded quickly. "I would not be adverse to such a possibility."

"Not...adverse? Data, I -"

Data tipped his head slightly in confusion. "I do not understand. I believed this is what you wanted. Why are you not pleased?"

"I don't - I mean, I do, I just -" She stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts, knowing that her stammering explanations were probably just confusing him more. "I want to be with you, Data. But to coerce you into something - that's unthinkable to me. I only want this if you do too."

"You are very special to me," he said after a moment. "I find the idea of a closer relationship with you...quite appealing. However, it may not be possible for us to want the same things, as I am incapable of love."

"Oh, Data, you sell yourself short. Maybe you can't feel the emotion of love in the way I can, but you show me that you care every time I see you. You have ever since we first met."

"I suppose you may be correct. However -"

"Data, do me a favor. Stop worrying so much about the words and just kiss me."

He leaned forward, took her face in his hands, and pressed his lips to hers. Her arms went around his shoulders and she returned his kiss with every bit of fire in her.

I always loved this pairing, and I hated that it never went beyond the one-night stand.

NOTE, 5/1/2017: Quite a few years after starting this story, I'm going back and revising it, chapter by chapter. There were some things about it I never really liked, and I've finally decided to take the time to make the tweaks I've always wanted to have in here, as well as streamlining it a bit with some of the things that came into the arc later.

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