DISCLAIMER: I own nothing! Not even a Nintendo WII
CHAPTER 11:
"Danielle!" Riker let out breathlessly. Looking around almost panicked he realized that she was alone. "Where's Arriaty? Is she with Deanna?" He wiped the sweat off his cheeks and sat down on a bench just as the escape pod departed the abandoned ship.
"Don't you know?" Danielle raised an eyebrow. The pod went silent. The two just stood staring at each other, both noticeably out of breath.
She new. Danielle new that Arriaty had made it to Troi safely. And that they were in a pod heading for the planet they had been orbiting. But the fact that the Captain, who was not just responsible for the ship and his crew, but his wife and soon-to-be adopted daughter, had no clue where they were. But there they stood. One with a look of defeat and exhaustion on their face. And the other pure fury.
"Please Danielle. Most of the ship-wide systems went down. Including communication. I went back to our quarters and they weren't there. Please. I need to know." Riker pleaded. Still Danielle didn't answer. Riker waited a few more moments before he continued. Tears ran down his face. "PLEASE! I know you're a Betazoid. I know you can sense their presence. Just tell me if their alive!" He grew angry and glared directly into her eyes. His love for Deanna was obviously deep. Danielle had never seen a captain or anyone with position and rank for that matter, break down in front of his inferiors.
Danielle pulled back her glare and obvious anger she focused on him. She turned her face to let go of a tear.
Arriaty was all she had. She loved her little sister more than anything in the world. She was also more than ready to give up her own life to save Arriaty. It was at this moment where Danielle felt every brick wall in her body collapse, letting out every emotion she bottled up. She exhaled deeply covering her face trying to shake off the feeling of completely breaking down with Riker.
Riker had noticed that more than obvious attempt. He stood and walked towards the young teen. Taking her hands in his he tried his best to comfort her. "Hey. I'm sorry. I am just… so worried about them."
Danielle shook her head. "No. I'm sorry. I let her out of my site. I promised myself never to let that happen." She turned her head away trying to collect herself again. Her face now soaked with tears.
"You are too young to be that responsible. It's not your fault. If anything it's my fault for letting you two stay by yourselves. I just need to know if they're okay." He got down on his knees, still holding her hands.
She nodded wiping her face. "Yeah. They're with the other senior officers." She then smiled and let out a few laughs. "Arriaty got scared, so they've been playing a game of charades to keep her happy."
Riker smiled at this too. He stood and hugged Danielle tightly. "Thank you."
Danielle was a bit taken back from the gesture. No one, except her sister, ever shown her this much affection before. If you could call it that. Riker was just relieved that his new family was alright. At least, that's what she tried to convince herself. But feeling the same relief as the captain, she hugged back. Just then she knew. He was going to be the father Arriaty and she never had. She knew she really could trust this family with the most precious thing in the world to her. She was ready to let at least one more person into her heart. Just for a little while at least. This was probably the warmest she had felt in a long time.
Deanna would have loved to see this moment. Riker thought momentarily to himself.
Danielle pulled back with a look of pure amusement on her face. She obviously read his mind. "Don't you find that a bit creepy?"
"After meeting you? Nothing seems creepy anymore." They both laughed.