Big Doors

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

Chapter Twenty-Six: Friends and Otherwise

"Hey, Tasha!" The little Klingon came hurtling down the hall. "You want to see this cool new holodeck program?"

"Slow down, you'll run someone over." Tasha just barely kept back her laughter. "Now, tell me about this new program."

"It's the Parallax Colony. From Shiralea VI. It's all about having fun!"

"Well, it certainly sounds like fun."

"Why don't you come have fun with us?"

"Us? Who's us?"

"Mrs. Troi and me!"

Tasha sighed inwardly. She loved spending time with Alexander, and if she was to be honest with herself, the program did sound like fun. But she knew Lwaxana Troi didn't like her, and the last thing she wanted was to stress Alexander out by shoving him into the middle of that mess.

"I'm afraid I'm busy now. Maybe you can show me this program sometime later?"

"Okay!" Alexander skipped off down the hall.

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"Mother, we need to talk."

"Alexander -"

"Not about Alexander. About Tasha."

"What about her? I haven't even seen her since I came aboard, not that it's any great loss."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. You don't even give her a chance. You never did."

"A chance to do what? More damage?"

"She hasn't done damage! What are you talking about?"

"She's angry and tough and has no room in herself for sympathy or love."

"That's not true!"

"I'm a telepath, Deanna. I know what's in her mind."

"You're seeing what you want to see. Have you ever actually seen her with Alexander? Or Lal? Or any child? She's capable of more love than I could have imagined from someone who's been through everything she has."

"Ah, yes, there's the qualifier. You act like she's entitled to be the way she is, and why? She said her mother died. When? Five years ago? How long does this indulgence last?"

"She was five. Younger than I was when Daddy died. And it's not just her parents - yes, both her parents. That's only the tip of the iceberg! But you know what? I'm not going to tell you, because it's obvious you don't care! And I don't have the right to pour her story out to someone who will laugh it off."

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Picard couldn't suppress a sigh of relief when Lwaxana finally beamed off the ship. For that matter, neither could most of the rest of the senior staff.

"I tried to talk to her," Deanna was explaining. "She just doesn't listen. She could beat an ox in a stubbornness contest."

"I just wish she could understand."

"So do I." Deanna put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Hey, I have an idea. Something to make you feel better."

"Chocolate?"

"You know it!"

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Tasha had dealt with some odd things in her security days, odd enough that she thought nothing could surprise her. Correction: had thought. The young Borg in the brig had been one heck of a surprise.

If the idea of taking a Borg aboard hadn't been weird enough, the behavior of this one was the icing on the cake. When she'd heard that Beverly and Geordi had named him, she'd nearly burst out laughing. But that was before she'd guarded him. Hugh reminded her less of the enemy she despised than of a teenage boy, young and horribly frightened.

"Have you - ever been lonely?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "I have."

"What did you do?"

"Sometimes I found someone to stop my loneliness. Sometimes, all I could do was bear it."

Hugh circled the small cell, attaching himself to the adapter Geordi had designed and then detaching himself just as quickly. He paced again, and repeated the routine with the adapter. His one remaining organic eye fixed on Tasha, and she could see in it that he was both frightened and frustrated.

"We must have energy." It wasn't a demand. It sounded more like a plea.

"All right." She tapped her combadge. "Yar to La Forge."

"La Forge here."

"It's Hugh. He's saying he needs more energy."

"I've been rationing -"

"Geordi," she interrupted, lowering her voice, "the way he's behaving - if he were human, I'd say he was starving. He keeps attaching and detaching himself from the conduit. Maybe it's a reaction to being separated from the collective, I don't know. But I don't think it's right to withhold food from him like this."

A moment of silence. "All right. I'll give him a little more."

Tasha ended the connection and turned back to Hugh. "Try it now."

Hugh connected himself to the conduit, and Tasha saw relief in his face as his - the closest term she could come up with was hunger - was eased.

"Better?" Tasha didn't really expect him to answer. He hadn't when Geordi had asked him.

"Yes," he said to her surprise. "Thank you."

Tasha couldn't help smiling. "You're welcome."

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"May we ask you something?"

Tasha didn't ordinarily carry on conversations through forcefields, but this wasn't an ordinary case by any means. "Fire away."

"Why should we wish to harm you?"

Tasha stared at him for a second before bursting out laughing. "I'm sorry," she gasped out. "You reminded me of someone. It's an expression, it means go ahead."

"Are we friends?"

Tasha's laughter melted away instantly. "Excuse me?"

"Geordi explained to us the idea of friendship. He is our friend. Are you?"

"Yes," said Tasha with a thoughtful smile.

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Two weeks ago, Tasha had stood with Geordi on a bleak planet, watching as their mutual friend vanished into thin air. It had been difficult for both of them to watch him go. They were fortunate to have each other. Tasha could never, in a million years, have imagined losing Geordi. But he had vanished into thin air, just like Hugh. And he hadn't reappeared on the other side.

The transporter operator had tried everything, tried desperately to get Geordi and the Bajoran Ensign Ro Laren beamed back from the Romulan ship. She couldn't explain why a routine transport had gone so wrong.

When the news came through that she'd lost them, Tasha and Will exchanged despairing glances. She could see in his eyes the pain of losing officers under his command, and officers who were his personal friends nonetheless. She wondered if he could see the tears in hers.

"Transporter room," he said, and his voice was thick with emotion, "take the transporters offline and put a shuttle on standby. We'll be relying on the shuttles until further notice."

He put his hand on her shoulder and forced a smile. Tasha returned it with an equally forced one of her own.

"Come on, Tasha. We have a job to take care of."

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Data entered his quarters to find Tasha curled on the couch, weeping silently. He stepped up behind her, silently pulling her backwards into him. She twisted around in his arms, putting her own arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into his ear, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'm so sorry."

Data nodded silently. He couldn't feel grief or sadness, but he felt the emptiness of his friend's absence, felt it so keenly it was almost painful. He had become used to Geordi, to the man's friendship, and he could not stop thinking about how empty it would be without him around. Tasha's embrace felt good and he leaned into it, resting his hear on her shoulder.

"What can I do?"

"Your touch and proximity are comforting. I believe it would be beneficial to me if you continued them."

He felt her tighten her grip. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." She kissed the top of his head. "Grieve however you need to. I'll take care of you."

"I am sorry."

"For what?"

"You are crying. I should be caring for you, not the other way around."

"Data, I loved Geordi, I don't deny it. He was like my brother. But what you had with him was special, to both of you. You were closer than brothers, and it's understandable that you'd take his loss hard."

"I do not know how to process my reaction."

"Don't try to analyze it. Just let it happen, and know I'm always here if you need me." He felt her hands on his back, mimicking a gesture he had used countless times to calm her. He nuzzled his head into her shoulder, beginning to understand just why it was she'd asked for physical contact every time she was upset.

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"What are you doing?" Tasha watched with some curiosity as Data worked intensely at - something.

"The captain has given me permission to plan a memorial for Geordi and Ensign Ro. I am attempting to come up with something suitable."

"Can I see what you've got?"

Data handed over the PADD and Tasha looked over it. "Data, this sounds more like a party than a funeral."

"Then it is inappropriate?"

"Inappropriate?" She smiled, the first true smile that had crossed her face since the accident. "It's perfect!"

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely. Mind if I help?"

"Not at all."

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"You knew him on the Victory, didn't you?" Deanna asked.

"I did. It was, well, not easy to explain. That is, we - what the hell?"

The ground in front of Data and Picard, who had been discussing their departure nearby, was - sparkling. And not only that, a figure was beginning to take shape. A figure in the shape of two people. Two very familiar people.

Tasha wasn't the only one to notice either. Conversations were grinding to a halt all over the room, and Will Riker had stopped playing, followed shortly by the rest of the band. The figures on the floor became solid.

"Data," Geordi asked urgently, "do you see us?"

"Of course." The android stepped forward, extending a hand to each of them and helping them to their feet.

"La Forge to Engineering," Geordi said urgently, and Tasha could just imagine the looks on the faces of the people down there, "Take the warp engines off line until further notice. There's a muon wave build up in the dilithium chamber."

A long pause, and them someone finally spoke. "Captain, who gave that order?"

Tasha was sure they could hear his smile through the comm. "That was Commander Geordi La Forge, Ensign. Please follow his instructions."

"Aye, sir."

Geordi looked around. "Well, it looks like a great party. Do you mind if we join you?"

That broke the ice. Tasha rushed forward, hugging Geordi so tightly she had to be cutting off some circulation. Beverly and Will followed her, and then the rest of Ten-Forward, and Geordi and Ro were smothered in hugs and handshakes.

"Geordi," she heard Data say, "it is good to see you."

"Thanks, Data. I've never been to a better funeral."

Wow, I updated both my stories in one night. My muse is working overtime.

For anyone who's wondering, this chapter covers the episodes "Half a Life," "I Borg," and "The Next Phase." Next up is "Time's Arrow" which I know a lot of you have been eagerly awaiting!

A little bit of Tasha's dialogue in the last bit has been changed, for reasons that will become quickly apparent to readers of Perfectly Logical.

Please Review.