"Within The Confines of Time"
Chapter 8 ~ "Truth be told"
Star Trek: TNG ~ Again I absolutely own none of the characters, although I might secretly wish that I owned Data, unfortunately I don't.
Pairings: Data/Tasha - who else would there be?
Rated T for sexual references!
Summary: Q makes Data an offer neither can afford to lose!
Author's notes: Just to be forewarned, Data kind of gets a little tipsy in this Chapter but I promise that he does it for a good reason. Enjoy!
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"Data!" She shouted.
Tasha was transfixed by the way Saket abruptly ceased his retreat. His shoulders tensed up at the name of the android she had just blurted out. Slowly, he turned to face the woman who had undoubtedly discovered his secret – or had she?
Her eyes were fixated to his and she could visibly see his nervousness, as his Adam's apple kept bobbing up and down with each swallow.
"I'm sorry?" Data inquired hesitantly.
"His name – you asked for his name." She smiled a little to herself. "It was Data!"
Relief flooded Data's heart. "I see. That's an unusual name!"
Tasha looked off into the distance, as if in deep thought. "Yeah, well, he was an unusual man. I'm afraid he was one of kind."
He took a small step toward her. "May I ask why you believe he did not share your affections?"
Tasha looked down at the ground, pondering his question. Finally she shrugged her shoulders in defeat and gave off a small chuckle.
"Because his Creator didn't equip him with the emotions to do so." She whispered.
Data took another step. "Yes, but I am confident that he cared for you in his own way. Perhaps he was uncertain of your feelings towards him. Did you ever voice them to him?"
Tasha turned to meet Data's eyes and he could see the regret that was buried within them.
"No, I was kind of in denial. I didn't want to believe that I had fallen for a man who couldn't love me back, so I just brushed it off."
The smile upon her face was so distant, it literally made Data's heart ache for her. It reminded him of some words of wisdom Picard once shared with him shortly after her death. 'A smile hides a thousand tears and a broken heart', he once said. And of all the things Data has experienced or seen, could fit that statement alone, it would be the demeanor of the woman before him
She was obviously going back in time, to a moment or possibly a night that the two had shared together. He helplessly watched in silence as she wrapped her arms around her torso, as if to bring herself some type of comfort.
"I never even told him!" She confessed with disappointment.
The sadness laced within her voice, reminded Data of a sonnet and he boldly began to quote it.
"Let me not to the marriage of true minds. Admit impediments. Love is not love. Which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove: O no! It is an ever-fixed mark. That looks on tempests and is never shaken; it is the star to every wandering bark, whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle's compass come: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved."
Tasha quickly brushed away a tear that was threatening to fall. "That was beautiful. Who is it?"
Data smirked, a little embarrassed. "It's Shakespeare's one hundred and sixteenth sonnet. A personal favorite of mine."
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Wow! A Romulan with a romantic side, whatever shall we do!"
Data smiled at her sarcasm.
"So what does it mean anyways?" Tasha asked.
Data answered solemnly, "Well, it means that love is timeless and the only thing that can stop it is death."
"I guess Shakespeare wasn't aware of alternate timelines back then, huh?"
"I'm afraid not!" Data admitted and then in one last effort to comfort her, he remembered something that a friend told him one time. "A very wise man once said that sometimes love creates a second chance because time just wasn't ready for it the first time."
"Well, unless you can get me on a shuttle to Omicron Theta where I can find Noonian Soong and implore him to hurry up and create his son, then I'm pretty much screwed on the whole second chance scenario, buddy."
"Yes, that would be a minor problem, wouldn't it?" Data conceded as he closed the final gap that had been separating them. "But, let's just say in hypothetical terms, what if this android of yours was sent back in time by some omnipotent being to rescue you." He paused a moment as he dared to brush a strand of hair from her eyes, tucking it softly behind her left ear, his eyes pinned to hers.
"And….." She prompted him for more.
Data was astonished that she didn't retract away from his touch. But to his delectation, she welcomed it. Growing bolder, he tempted fate a second time as he leaned in close to whisper into her ear, his lips barely grazing the sensitive skin that now lied beneath them. The magical sensation sending chills down Tasha's spine.
"Then hypothetically speaking, I believe that would constitute for a second chance – would it not?"
His lips brushed ever so slowly from her ear to the side of her cheek, placing him in advantage where most men would kill to be, a mere inch from her lips. He waited and lingered as she leisurely turned to meet his eyes.
To him, it was a moment of pure bliss. Everything in his world ceased to exist; even the time and space that had so viciously separated them. He had waited, what seemed to be an eternity, just to be this close to her once more. And oddly enough, he would do it all over again, if it meant having the privilege of her by his side.
Startled, she quickly backed away from him at the sound of swooshing doors.
"Ah! I thought I just might find you here." Volskiar announced as he walked up to the occupants.
Data, nor Tasha spoke; both desperately fighting the urge not to look at one another.
Sensing the tension, Volskiar shared a look between the pair. "Was I interrupting something?"
"No, Sir. I was just leaving." Data answered.
"So soon, Saket? You should stay for dinner!" He leaned in to place a quick, apathetic kiss upon Tasha's lips then turned back to Data. "I would invite you to dessert as well, but I'm afraid that's reserved for the two of us only."
Volskiar's words, coupled with the kiss he just witnessed, literally knocked the wind out of Data's chest. All he could do was simply stare at the man he so utterly despised.
And through clenched teeth, he repeated his last statement. "I'm leaving!"
Tasha's eyes quickly snapped to his and the plea that was held within them didn't go unnoticed by Data's keen eye.
'Remarkable!' He intriguingly thought. 'Just one look from her and my plans quickly alter to please her.'
He smiled like a Cheshire cat. "Change of plans, Sir. I believe I will be staying."
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Data watched as the servant filled his glass with some sort of red liquid. He picked it up and brought the glass to his nose, a quick sniff was all he needed to conclude that he was completely revolted by its fragrance.
"What is this vile concoction, Volskiar?" Data inquired in displeasure.
The General laughed. "It's Rebetane; I believe an acquired taste is necessary first for most Romulans."
Annoyed, Data argued. "This isn't a drink for the Romulan Star Empire!"
Volskiar leaned up in his chair. "And what exactly is?"
Data smirked devilishly. "Romulan Ale!"
General Volskiar returned Data's smile. "Agreed!"
Within moments the servant was filling their glasses with the most intoxicating drink known throughout the universe.
Data raised his glass and downed it in one smooth motion. Volskiar followed closely behind, swallowing the alcohol in one gulp.
"Bet you can't do two in a row?" Data tempted.
"Of all people that I have served with Saket, you should know that I have always been able to out drink you."
"But you have to admit, I have been gone for quite some time. Who's to say I haven't improved." Data countered.
Volskiar motioned for the servant to refill their drinks, finally jerking the bottle from his hands. "I believe where going to be needing all of this!" He warned.
And just as quickly as his first shot, the General downed the two with ease. He briefly shook his head, as the ale burned down his throat.
Looking back to Data, he nodded. "Your turn!"
Data looked at the two shots, held his breath and swallowed the alcohol as fast as he possible could.
"Bet you can't handle three more!" Volskiar challenged as he refilled their glasses.
Already beginning to feel the effects of the intoxication, Data still refused to back down, accepting his challenge by drinking the three glasses before him.
He reached out in turn and began pouring the General's drink. "How about four?"
Volskiar fell into a fit of giggles. He was obviously well on his way to being completely drunk.
"Pour five, Saket. And let me show you how a real Romulan does it!"
Data did as he was asked and watched in amazement as the General guzzled each drink with ease.
Both men fell back, laughing hysterically. Volskiar scooted his chair closer to Data's holding his glass out. "Hows abouts one more, Sakeeettt!"
"Say pleasseee!" Data needled him.
The General smiled broadly. "Pours me some mo' of that um -" He paused a moment, his eyes narrowing in confustion. "Whats the hell is we drinkin again, Sucket?"
"Saket, Sir" Data corrected drunkenly.
He waved a hand of dismissal at his mishap. "Whatevah!"
"I believes we gots ahold of sum good stuff!" Data admitted
Tasha sat back with her arms crossed, annoyed to no end at the scene before her. The men were acting like children with a new toy.
The General abruptly stood from his chair, swaggering back and forth as he tried to gain his balance.
He held a finger up in the air. "I's got me a good ideas!"
He patted Data on the shoulder then motioned for him to follow him. "Lets get ons the balcony."
Data began to stand, holding onto the table for leverage. "Whoa!"
And just then, the two heard a loud thump on the floor as the guards rushed to the General's side.
Tasha angrily stood up, taking control of the situation. "Major Jarot, please take Volskiar to his room.
"I don't take orders from a human woman!" he spat.
"Well, this human woman will soon be the consort of the General and then you'll have to take orders from me, won't you? I guess you might as well get used to it now!" Tasha snapped back.
The man did as asked and picked Volskiar up, laying the drunken man over his shoulder as he carried him out.
Tasha turned to look at Data, fire burning in her eyes. "What was that? A walk down memory lane for you two, hmm? A chance to re-live your glory days!" She chastised.
Data drunkenly held a finger up to his lips. "Ssshhh!"
Tasha growled in frustration. She watched in silence as Data, whom appeared to have a death grip on the side of table, slowly began inching his way over to the sofa.
Taking mercy on him, she walked over toward him, ducking her head under his arm as she placed it around her neck. "Come on, let's take you to bed."
"Oooh, you is sooo naughty!" Data chuckled.
But Tasha on the other hand, didn't find his jest funny in the least. Instead she chose to ignore it altogether, as she helped him out of the dining area into the corridor.
Yet, un-phased by her silence, he continued to bantering jokes. "Sides, if you's take me tooo bedd. I's afraid ya mights take advantage of me."
Horrified by the insinuation, Tasha vehemently denied it. "I most certainly would not!"
Data stopped immediately, stumbling a little as he turned to face her. "Pleaaasssee!"
Tasha tried her best to fight the smile that was creeping upon her lips but failed miserably.
"Ah-ha! I knewed you wants me!" Data proudly announced.
Finally they reached his quarters for the night and Tasha helped him inside, slowly making their way toward the master bedroom, his alcoholic rants still filling the air.
"Gettin Dessurt tonightt, sheesh! Only thing he be gettin is a limp willy!" He slurred.
Tasha tried desperately not to fall to the floor in a fit of giggles. But despite herself, she still burst out into boisterous laugh at his drunken statement of General Volskiar's previous remark in the arboretum.
As they reached the bed, she gently laid him down, his feet still hanging over the side of the bed, when the thought hit her.
He had done this for her. He had planned it all the moment he made his comment over the rebetane not being fit to drink. He had every intention of getting Volskiar drunk so she wouldn't have to deal with his rogue attempts of what he so maniacally called making love.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you?" She whispered.
Data turned his head too quickly and winced from the pain of the swift movement. Only to mumble a barely audible, "Huh?"
"You intended on getting him drunk so I wouldn't have to deal with him, didn't you?"
"Ya ain't mad at me, is ya?" He slurred.
Tasha carefully picked his legs up, only to lay them completely onto the bed, leaning down she gently pulled one boot off after the other.
"No, not mad at all. Shocked? Yes!" After placing his boots neatly on the floor, she sat down on the edge of the bed beside him, taking a moment to look in his eyes as he watched her intently. And she knew, even in his drunken state, he was very aware of just how close her body truly was to him. "Thankful?" She slowly leaned in, closing the distance between the two, only to pause inches from his lips. "Yes!" she answered as she moved to place a gentle, soft kiss to his cheek.
She leisurely began to back away, only to hover a few seconds above his lips, smiling to herself from the contented, eyes closed look upon his face.
His voice answered her barely above a whisper. "You is welcome." Then mischievously, he patted the other side of the bed. A silent gesture that clearly got the point across.
Again, she giggled. "As tempting as that is, I don't think it would be appropriate or wise."
He sighed an inaudible word, as he slowly began rolling over to his side, again closing his eyes. "I knows the drill - Nevers happened!"
Tasha eyes widened in response to his slip-up; that was undoubtedly the alcohol talking.
And in the still of the night, she whispered to the man whom was now already snoring.
"Data, it is you!"
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Author's Notes: I got a good many reviews on the last chapter! So I figured I would surprise you guys with a new chapter to last you till the weekend. And please leave a review and I promise I'll update as quick as possible. Hope you all enjoyed it!
