Desperate Measures
By: SherryGabs
Rating: PG
*****************
Part 3 - Epilogue
The captain wasn't thrilled when he was informed that his first officer was ordered to take a week off . But when the circumstances were explained to him, he immediately felt his own guilt arise. He realized Will hadn't had any extended time off in almost two years, while he himself had enjoyed two shore leaves during that time. He could tell something had been bothering his first officer for some time now, but never took the time to talk with him about it. Only raking him through the coals when errors were made. How could he have been so intolerant? Will was more than the best first officer he could ever hope for. He was a friend. He'd let himself grow away from his friends and didn't like the toll it was taking.
He remembered earlier times when Will would invite him to share any one of his holodeck programs and smiled at the warm memories. It was such times that made Jean Luc regret never marrying and having children to do such things with. One of his favorites was fishing with Will in a clear, cold Alaskan stream. He'd remarked to Will once that France had some good fishing of its own and he'd promised to take him there some time. Of course, it never happened. Things always got in the way.
The captain blew out a harsh breath and got up out of his chair. ~Not anymore. I'm taking the young man fishing! And we're going to do some long overdue talking.~ He tugged his shirt down resolutely and walked out the door.
Will and Deanna were both cleaning up the disaster area his quarters had become when the door chimed. Will wasn't thrilled with having to see anyone, but opened the door. His apprehension shot skyward when he let Captain Picard in. He wasn't sure what the captain had been told exactly and didn't know what to expect.
"Captain?" he swallowed nervously and quickly hid the handful of dirty clothes he was holding behind his back.
The captain quickly took in the messy room, but didn't comment. Instead he looked at an uneasy Will and smiled. "I've just been doing some thinking. It's been too long since you've had any decent amount of time off. Everybody else gets it, why shouldn't you? So take two weeks instead of just one."
Will could only think the captain thought he was too unsteady to do his job. He immediately tried explaining to the captain that he just needed a few days of rest and he'd be just fine, but the captain quieted him with a raised hand.
"You deserve it, Will. You give everyone else the time they need, but refuse it for yourself. Don't worry about your work, Data and I can take care of everything. I don't want you thinking about so much as even one report or duty roster for two weeks. I'm only sorry we're nowhere near a Starbase or suitable planet for you to be able to get off this ship for a while." He cast an amused glance towards Deanna. "I'm sure you can think of something to keep yourself entertained."
She smiled back in appreciation to him.
"I do ask one thing though."
"What's that, Sir?" Will asked, still not quite pleased with the forced time off, but accepting it.
"Save a couple of those days for me. I want to show you what France has to offer in the way of fishing. Via the holodeck, of course."
Now there was something worth smiling about. Which Will did widely. "Yes, Sir! I'll look forward to that."
Picard's eyes twinkled in merriment. "Excellent. Then I'll leave you to your.... uh, housecleaning." He picked up a plate with a many days-old half- eaten sandwich on it and gave it a curious look. "And I must say, it needs it." He winked and handed the plate to Will.
"It was very generous of the captain to give you so much time," Deanna stated after Picard left. "He is right, you know. You *do* deserve it."
Will put the dirty plate in the replicator and tossed the dirty clothes into a growing pile on the end of the sofa, which he dropped down next to. "I guess so. It just feels like I'm shirking my duty."
"You're not. Believe me, it's owed you. You've sacrificed alot for this ship and its crew." She picked up the pile of clothes, dropped them on the floor and sat down next to him.
"At what cost?"
"You tell me," she challenged in a non-threatening voice.
He could list them all to her, but the main reason was sitting there beside him. "You."
She shook her head and smiled. "I'm still here and I don't plan on going anywhere."
He regarded her silently for a moment. She still captivated him like no other person could. "Do you think there's still a chance for us?"
She touched his cheek and leaned closer. "Would my mother ever steer us wrong?" She gently touched her lips to his. It wasn't a kiss that would launch a thousand ships, but it was enough for a promising future. And enough to put a spark in Will's eyes that she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Ahh, so it doesn't just take the captain's invitation to fish to put a gleam in your eye?"
"Well, there's fishing.... and then there's fishing," Will grinned, wrapping his arms around her. "And you've definitely got a hook in me."
Deanna beamed with happiness. "Oh good, then I won't have any trouble reeling you in for your therapy sessions."
"Ohhhhh!" Will groaned, shaking his head at the unfairness of it all.
****************
In the next weeks between his talks with the counselor, the medication and a better diet, Will's health and attitude improved drastically. He had gone fishing with Captain Picard and felt comfortable talking with him about the problems he'd had. The captain in return decided it was time to share some of his own feelings and fears he'd never shared with anyone but Counselor Troi or Dr. Crusher. Will genuinely appreciated the trust the captain had in him.
Deanna had gotten him to understand that locking in his negative feelings was the worst thing he could do. That nothing would be resolved until he talked and worked things out for himself. The hardest challenge he faced was talking with his father. After many an argument, Deanna finally convinced Will that he *had* to resolve his anger with Kyle if he ever wanted to feel free of his issues of abandonment. She had contacted Kyle to see if he would be willing to help his son to happily discover he was more than willing. He had been worried about Will since their last communication and had even begun seeing a therapist himself.
Deanna hadn't liked the elder Riker very much when she'd first met him and could understand Will's hesitancy. But when the man broke down in front of her over the video screen, very distraught over how he'd messed up Will's life, she felt such sadness over their lost years. She arranged a video meeting between the two for that evening and warned Kyle to expect some anger, but that Will would *try* to be civil.
Later, after watching the two men test the waters of their struggling relationship for a while, she slipped out to give them privacy. Going to her own quarters, she felt the need to call her mother. It took a few minutes to get through and when Lxwana's face showed up on the screen the older woman smiled broadly. ~Little One! How wonderful to see you! Does Jean Luc still miss me?~
Deanna had to chuckle at her brashness. The captain literally hid whenever her mother came aboard! ~Hello Mother. I just thought we could chat for a while. It's been a while since we've talked.~
~Oh, Deanna, you're a dear. I've missed you too.~ Her mother then got a secretive look in her eye. ~So is everything running smoothly over there? Everyone all right?~
Deanna thought her behavior a little strange, but shrugged it away. ~Well, Will was ill for a while, but he's getting over it.~
~Oh, that's wonderful to hear. I'm so relieved....~ At Deanna's open- mouthed, shocked expression, Lxwana realized what she'd let slip and winced.
"Mother!" Deanna cried out loud. "How did you know? How did you talk to him telepathically? He's not a telepath!"
Lxwana stuttered afraid her daughter would be angry for interfering. "Oh, I'm sorry, Little One. But between the two of you I could feel what was happening clear from here! I'm sorry if you thought I was butting in, but the poor boy-"
Deanna shook her head through happy tears. "No Mother. I'm very glad you butted-in. You saved his life!" She had never understood just how powerful her mother's abilities were and it amazed her.
Lxwana relaxed. ~I'm glad he's getting better. I knew you were the only one to help William.~ Then her smiled turned mischievous. ~And what about things *between* the two of you. Are they getting better?~
Sometimes Deanna loved her mother's impishness. ~Yes, Mother. That's getting better, too.~
Her mother clapped her hands in glee. ~Ooooh! When can I start planning a bridal shower?!~
Deanna turned red in embarrassment and swiped moisture from her cheeks.. ~Not quite yet. Give us some time.~
~Time! Time! Time!~ Lxwana hmmphd. ~Well, I've waited this long. I suppose I can wait a little longer.~
In all seriousness, Lxwana knew how bad Will had been and that he would need lots of time and she knew Deanna would be there and not let things be rushed.
**************
Will went back to work refreshed and renewed. The captain was certainly glad to have him at his right side again. Only Will's close friends knew what had happened and gave him a party to welcome him back. Complete with cake and poker.
His counseling sessions with Deanna continued on a professional level once a week for a while longer. Will continued to talk with his father a few times a month if it was possible. He was surprised at the changes in Kyle. It turned out depression was a family trait that both men were now dealing with. He was discovering things about the man he never knew before, and was beginning to understand some of the decisions Kyle had made earlier in his life.
Will never again felt the need to hide out in the maintenance shaft.
In their personal relationship, Deanna and Will blossomed. Over time, they worked out the questions about career choices and possible problems they would face in transferring to new positions on new ships. Years ago, this would have been an issue neither one would bend on. Now they realized that their jobs should be secondary to their happiness. Not the other way around.
Years later, Will still thought about all the time they wasted and couldn't believe how stupid they'd been. With his pregnant Imzadi lying beside him on a ship he was in command of, he stared at her in the darkness and marveled at his luck and his love for her. In her ninth month of pregnancy with their first son, even with the weight she'd gained, she was still the most beautiful angel in the heavens.
He decided it was a waste of time thinking of the past and things he couldn't change. All that mattered was the here and now. He was going to be a father soon and the idea thrilled and terrified him at the same time. But he knew he'd get through it.
Will rolled over onto his side, spooned against his wife's back and laid his hand on her swollen belly. Seconds later he felt his son give a mighty kick. Deanna grunted in her sleep and pressed back against him.
~God, this is so good! Thank you!~ A tear escaped and slowly ran down his cheek, silver in the darkness. This was pure bliss!
He had no doubts everything would be just fine.
~The End~
*****************
Part 3 - Epilogue
The captain wasn't thrilled when he was informed that his first officer was ordered to take a week off . But when the circumstances were explained to him, he immediately felt his own guilt arise. He realized Will hadn't had any extended time off in almost two years, while he himself had enjoyed two shore leaves during that time. He could tell something had been bothering his first officer for some time now, but never took the time to talk with him about it. Only raking him through the coals when errors were made. How could he have been so intolerant? Will was more than the best first officer he could ever hope for. He was a friend. He'd let himself grow away from his friends and didn't like the toll it was taking.
He remembered earlier times when Will would invite him to share any one of his holodeck programs and smiled at the warm memories. It was such times that made Jean Luc regret never marrying and having children to do such things with. One of his favorites was fishing with Will in a clear, cold Alaskan stream. He'd remarked to Will once that France had some good fishing of its own and he'd promised to take him there some time. Of course, it never happened. Things always got in the way.
The captain blew out a harsh breath and got up out of his chair. ~Not anymore. I'm taking the young man fishing! And we're going to do some long overdue talking.~ He tugged his shirt down resolutely and walked out the door.
Will and Deanna were both cleaning up the disaster area his quarters had become when the door chimed. Will wasn't thrilled with having to see anyone, but opened the door. His apprehension shot skyward when he let Captain Picard in. He wasn't sure what the captain had been told exactly and didn't know what to expect.
"Captain?" he swallowed nervously and quickly hid the handful of dirty clothes he was holding behind his back.
The captain quickly took in the messy room, but didn't comment. Instead he looked at an uneasy Will and smiled. "I've just been doing some thinking. It's been too long since you've had any decent amount of time off. Everybody else gets it, why shouldn't you? So take two weeks instead of just one."
Will could only think the captain thought he was too unsteady to do his job. He immediately tried explaining to the captain that he just needed a few days of rest and he'd be just fine, but the captain quieted him with a raised hand.
"You deserve it, Will. You give everyone else the time they need, but refuse it for yourself. Don't worry about your work, Data and I can take care of everything. I don't want you thinking about so much as even one report or duty roster for two weeks. I'm only sorry we're nowhere near a Starbase or suitable planet for you to be able to get off this ship for a while." He cast an amused glance towards Deanna. "I'm sure you can think of something to keep yourself entertained."
She smiled back in appreciation to him.
"I do ask one thing though."
"What's that, Sir?" Will asked, still not quite pleased with the forced time off, but accepting it.
"Save a couple of those days for me. I want to show you what France has to offer in the way of fishing. Via the holodeck, of course."
Now there was something worth smiling about. Which Will did widely. "Yes, Sir! I'll look forward to that."
Picard's eyes twinkled in merriment. "Excellent. Then I'll leave you to your.... uh, housecleaning." He picked up a plate with a many days-old half- eaten sandwich on it and gave it a curious look. "And I must say, it needs it." He winked and handed the plate to Will.
"It was very generous of the captain to give you so much time," Deanna stated after Picard left. "He is right, you know. You *do* deserve it."
Will put the dirty plate in the replicator and tossed the dirty clothes into a growing pile on the end of the sofa, which he dropped down next to. "I guess so. It just feels like I'm shirking my duty."
"You're not. Believe me, it's owed you. You've sacrificed alot for this ship and its crew." She picked up the pile of clothes, dropped them on the floor and sat down next to him.
"At what cost?"
"You tell me," she challenged in a non-threatening voice.
He could list them all to her, but the main reason was sitting there beside him. "You."
She shook her head and smiled. "I'm still here and I don't plan on going anywhere."
He regarded her silently for a moment. She still captivated him like no other person could. "Do you think there's still a chance for us?"
She touched his cheek and leaned closer. "Would my mother ever steer us wrong?" She gently touched her lips to his. It wasn't a kiss that would launch a thousand ships, but it was enough for a promising future. And enough to put a spark in Will's eyes that she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Ahh, so it doesn't just take the captain's invitation to fish to put a gleam in your eye?"
"Well, there's fishing.... and then there's fishing," Will grinned, wrapping his arms around her. "And you've definitely got a hook in me."
Deanna beamed with happiness. "Oh good, then I won't have any trouble reeling you in for your therapy sessions."
"Ohhhhh!" Will groaned, shaking his head at the unfairness of it all.
****************
In the next weeks between his talks with the counselor, the medication and a better diet, Will's health and attitude improved drastically. He had gone fishing with Captain Picard and felt comfortable talking with him about the problems he'd had. The captain in return decided it was time to share some of his own feelings and fears he'd never shared with anyone but Counselor Troi or Dr. Crusher. Will genuinely appreciated the trust the captain had in him.
Deanna had gotten him to understand that locking in his negative feelings was the worst thing he could do. That nothing would be resolved until he talked and worked things out for himself. The hardest challenge he faced was talking with his father. After many an argument, Deanna finally convinced Will that he *had* to resolve his anger with Kyle if he ever wanted to feel free of his issues of abandonment. She had contacted Kyle to see if he would be willing to help his son to happily discover he was more than willing. He had been worried about Will since their last communication and had even begun seeing a therapist himself.
Deanna hadn't liked the elder Riker very much when she'd first met him and could understand Will's hesitancy. But when the man broke down in front of her over the video screen, very distraught over how he'd messed up Will's life, she felt such sadness over their lost years. She arranged a video meeting between the two for that evening and warned Kyle to expect some anger, but that Will would *try* to be civil.
Later, after watching the two men test the waters of their struggling relationship for a while, she slipped out to give them privacy. Going to her own quarters, she felt the need to call her mother. It took a few minutes to get through and when Lxwana's face showed up on the screen the older woman smiled broadly. ~Little One! How wonderful to see you! Does Jean Luc still miss me?~
Deanna had to chuckle at her brashness. The captain literally hid whenever her mother came aboard! ~Hello Mother. I just thought we could chat for a while. It's been a while since we've talked.~
~Oh, Deanna, you're a dear. I've missed you too.~ Her mother then got a secretive look in her eye. ~So is everything running smoothly over there? Everyone all right?~
Deanna thought her behavior a little strange, but shrugged it away. ~Well, Will was ill for a while, but he's getting over it.~
~Oh, that's wonderful to hear. I'm so relieved....~ At Deanna's open- mouthed, shocked expression, Lxwana realized what she'd let slip and winced.
"Mother!" Deanna cried out loud. "How did you know? How did you talk to him telepathically? He's not a telepath!"
Lxwana stuttered afraid her daughter would be angry for interfering. "Oh, I'm sorry, Little One. But between the two of you I could feel what was happening clear from here! I'm sorry if you thought I was butting in, but the poor boy-"
Deanna shook her head through happy tears. "No Mother. I'm very glad you butted-in. You saved his life!" She had never understood just how powerful her mother's abilities were and it amazed her.
Lxwana relaxed. ~I'm glad he's getting better. I knew you were the only one to help William.~ Then her smiled turned mischievous. ~And what about things *between* the two of you. Are they getting better?~
Sometimes Deanna loved her mother's impishness. ~Yes, Mother. That's getting better, too.~
Her mother clapped her hands in glee. ~Ooooh! When can I start planning a bridal shower?!~
Deanna turned red in embarrassment and swiped moisture from her cheeks.. ~Not quite yet. Give us some time.~
~Time! Time! Time!~ Lxwana hmmphd. ~Well, I've waited this long. I suppose I can wait a little longer.~
In all seriousness, Lxwana knew how bad Will had been and that he would need lots of time and she knew Deanna would be there and not let things be rushed.
**************
Will went back to work refreshed and renewed. The captain was certainly glad to have him at his right side again. Only Will's close friends knew what had happened and gave him a party to welcome him back. Complete with cake and poker.
His counseling sessions with Deanna continued on a professional level once a week for a while longer. Will continued to talk with his father a few times a month if it was possible. He was surprised at the changes in Kyle. It turned out depression was a family trait that both men were now dealing with. He was discovering things about the man he never knew before, and was beginning to understand some of the decisions Kyle had made earlier in his life.
Will never again felt the need to hide out in the maintenance shaft.
In their personal relationship, Deanna and Will blossomed. Over time, they worked out the questions about career choices and possible problems they would face in transferring to new positions on new ships. Years ago, this would have been an issue neither one would bend on. Now they realized that their jobs should be secondary to their happiness. Not the other way around.
Years later, Will still thought about all the time they wasted and couldn't believe how stupid they'd been. With his pregnant Imzadi lying beside him on a ship he was in command of, he stared at her in the darkness and marveled at his luck and his love for her. In her ninth month of pregnancy with their first son, even with the weight she'd gained, she was still the most beautiful angel in the heavens.
He decided it was a waste of time thinking of the past and things he couldn't change. All that mattered was the here and now. He was going to be a father soon and the idea thrilled and terrified him at the same time. But he knew he'd get through it.
Will rolled over onto his side, spooned against his wife's back and laid his hand on her swollen belly. Seconds later he felt his son give a mighty kick. Deanna grunted in her sleep and pressed back against him.
~God, this is so good! Thank you!~ A tear escaped and slowly ran down his cheek, silver in the darkness. This was pure bliss!
He had no doubts everything would be just fine.
~The End~