Will stood staring at the ceiling of Beverly's office, thinking about what he had just witnessed. If I met Deanna on Risa, we would have had three kids by now, maybe more. Then guilt entered his thoughts. He remembered the way she had looked when he was upset. She was frightened of me. Me. God knows I would never hurt her. But I guess she doesn't. I'll apologize when we have dinner tonight. I really shouldn't have jumped down her throat, but a kid? If that wasn't a false call, I don't know what I would have done. I mean, come on, a kid? Me a father? And Deanna the mother? We weren't together on Betazed for that long. And besides, she would have told me, wouldn't she?
Bev's voice broke into his meditation. "She sure is beautiful."
"Yeah," Will agreed, a wistful smile spread across his face. Beverly noticed it and took the bait.
"You're thinking about what would happen if she really was your daughter, aren't you."
All he did was smile in the way he had before.
"Not only that, but you want a baby. And with Deanna." The auburn haired doctor laughed delightedly.
"I thought Deanna was the only empath around here." Will turned his focus on her now.
"She is. But you don't have to be an empath to know what you're thinking."
"You're right. You're right," he admitted. Sighing out loud, he said, "I love her. And if I hadn't made some choices that I did, Katarina would be our daughter, for real. Not just her, but two others. It's like I'm staring back at the crossroads in my life and wondering what would have happened if I did meet Deanna on Risa? It's just so confusing."
Getting up from behind her desk, Beverly put a supportive hand on his shoulder. " I understand, but I'm not the one you should be telling. Talk to her. Tell her what you told me. She needs to hear it."
"Yeah, I know. I'll talk to her at dinner tonight. Thanks for the help." Checking his chrono, he added, "I gotta get to the Bridge. Thanks again." And with that, he disappeared through Sickbay's doors.
The walk to Troi's cabin was silent. Neither talked as they made their way through the long hallways. Finally, they stopped and entered Deanna's living area. Katarina recognized it immediately. It was almost the same as her family's cabin, only smaller. Was. Not anymore.
"Well," Deanna said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Your room will be in there. Why don't you go in and get settled? I'll pull something from the replicater for us to eat."
Deanna disappeared into the other room, leaving Katarina alone in a place that was both real and false. She slowly walked around the cabin, taking in every detail, every scent, every picture that lined the tan bulkheads. Making her way to the room her "mother" had indicated would be hers, she sat on the bed and started to let her mind drift. Soon, she felt the overwhelming urge to just place her head on the pillow and relax.
A few minutes later, Deanna returned with a bowl of soup and a new set of clothes.
"I thought these might be helpful. I hope they're the right si-." She stopped when she saw Katarina asleep on the bed. Placing the tray and outfit on a chair, she walked over and smoothed the hair out of the girl's face. "Rest, Little One. Rest."
Will Riker was busy in his quarters, preparing dinner when he heard the chime of the door. "Come in," he called. Deanna glided in and Will's breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. Her long black hair cascaded around her perfect face, just the way he liked it, and her red dress clung to her body like a second skin. My God, she's gorgeous! I wonder how she managed to slip out of her quarters without every male officer following her!
"Hello, Will." She said. Look at him! I wonder if I'll ever be able to tell him the truth. He just keeps staring at me. I bet he doesn't even suspect it. He still looks at me like he did when we were together on Betazed, before it happened. "It smells delicious." Pull yourself together, Deanna.
"I'm glad you approve, Counselor." He pulled a chair from the table for her. She seems so distant today. I wonder if she is all right. "Dinner will be ready in a minute or two," Will said as Deanna sat down. Quickly, he walked into the kitchen. Troi was happy that she was alone for a few moments to collect herself. Calm down. Breathe. In and out. In and out. He doesn't know and won't know until you tell him, whenever that is. Suddenly, she stopped. Deanna, you have to decide. Tonight is the night. I am going to tell him. He is my Imzadi, after all, and deserves to know.
True to his words, Will returned a few minutes later, carrying with him two plates of boiled shrimp, dipped in a marinara sauce. Pulling a lighter from his pocket, he lit the candles on either side of a vase that housed a dozen white roses.
"It looks wonderful, too." Deanna commented, pulling herself out of her private abyss. Will sat down opposite of her. At the same time they started, "We really need to talk." Looking in each other's eyes, they laughed. "You first," Deanna said. At least I'll have a few minutes more to stall.
"All right," he answered. "It's about Katarina." Deanna's breath caught in her throat. He knows, her mind screamed. Will, seeming oblivious to Deanna's present state, continued. "When I heard her call me 'dad', it felt right. Even more so when she called you 'mom'. I know we agreed to just stay friends while we're serving together, but . . . "
He was cut short by Troi. "Katarina!" She screamed, standing up, her dark eyes wide with terror.
"Deanna! What is it?" He got no response. "Deanna, Imzadi, answer me. What's wrong?"
"Katarina," Deanna gasped for air. "She's in trouble. We have to help her!" Her grip was like talons on his arm, she was holding on so tight. Her Betazoid eyes seemed to engulf her terror filled face. Will was truly worried about them both.
"All right. Come on." Together, they ran to Troi's cabin, not caring how many strange looks they receive from passing crewmen who were startled to see the First Officer and ship's counselor running through the halls like Death was chasing them. Once inside, they raced to the girl's room, only to find her screaming in her sleep and fighting the bed covers.
"Katarina!" Deanna called, both out loud and telepathically. "Katarina, wake up! It's only a dream." She grabbed the girl's shoulders and shook her vigorously. "Come on. Wake up, Kitty."
Suddenly, Katarina stopped thrashing and her true blue eyes flew open. Her blonde hair was stuck to face and she was breathing heavily. Those eyes that she had inherited from her father were wide with shock. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. "Oh God, . . . the Borg . . . they . . . " She gasped for breath as Deanna lowered herself onto the bed next to the shaken girl. She hugged the child tightly.
"Will, could you get us a couple cups of hot chocolate?" Deanna asked as she stroked Kitty's back lovingly.
"Sure." He answered and exited through the bedroom door to retrieve three mugs of the hot chocolate.
~Tell me what's wrong. Please Little One, tell me.~ Deanna felt Katarina stiffen in her arms as she heard her "mother's" voice in her head. Slowly, Katarina lifted her face to look at that of the woman who cared so much for her.
~My mother called me 'Little One' all the time before . . . ~ Tears fell down the girl's face once again.
~Before what happened? Please tell me what happened to you. What did the Borg do?~
Troi insisted. What could they have done to hurt her like this? What did they do to get her so upset? She looks at me like her mother, while I look at her like . . . No! She forced her mind to stay on track. Now is not a time to get all upset about something I can do nothing about. I have to help Katarina, whether or not I am comfortable with it.
~Let me start from the beginning. The Enterprise was en route to Betazed, when they received a transmission from Star Fleet announcing an attack by the Borg. It turned out that two Borg Cubes were orbiting Betazed and when we arrived, we were ambushed. The Enterprise sent a Priority One message out to any ship for help, but there were no other ships within range.~ Katarina paused as she felt Deanna brush the tears from her face. Then she continued. ~ Tommy and I, well, we snuck out of our cabin. I remember Chris saying that he would tell Mom and Dad, but we gave him some candy and he stayed quiet. Anyway, we went to Shuttlebay 3. That's where our ships, the Imzadi and the Hawkeye, were docked. No one noticed two small personal cruisers flying around in space until Betazed was destroyed. It exploded and Grandmother was still planet side. Tommy and I felt her die along with billions of other Betazoids. We also felt our mom's agony and grief. Tommy and I tried to send her reassurance and strength, but that only caused her more panic. Our cruisers had weapons and some shielding, but not enough to defend ourselves against the Borg, so naturally, being our mother, she got upset when we were discovered outside of the Enterprise. Then, the Borg, they focused all their attention on the massive ship. Tommy was caught in the crossfire. I remember hearing his voice telepathically during his last seconds. He said "Be strong, Kitty. Help mom and dad, and don't forget." Then, I couldn't feel his presence anymore. Shortly after that, one of the Enterprise's quantum torpedoes mixed with a Borg weapon and created a temporal rift. I was pulled into that rift, and as I was, I saw the Borg destroy the Enterprise. I knew I was truly alone in the universe. After sending out a distress signal, I fell cried myself to sleep with a picture of my family in my hands. When I awoke, I was in the transporter room, and you were sitting next to me.~
Deanna was heartbroken as she listened to Katarina's story, as well as seeing it through the child's eyes. All the shock, terror, grief, pain, and horror that Katarina had experienced during those minutes, came flooding back.
This time, Katarina spoke out loud. "I let them die! I couldn't help them. I should have died too. Why didn't I? Why? Why does the universe take pleasure in tormenting me?" Not for one second did she let go of her hold on Deanna.
"It's all right. It's all right. The Borg can't hurt you now. We will protect you, Little One. We will. I promise you that on my life. Nothing will ever hurt again as long as I am alive. I promise you." Deanna did everything she could so as to not to scream this at the top of her lungs. But Katarina was not listening. She had fallen asleep in the arms of the woman who was and wasn't her mother.
Will Riker walked back into the room, just as Deanna was pulling the covers up to surround Katarina. "I didn't think you would need the hot chocolate, just the time alone," he commented. "Did you find out what happened to her?"
"Yes," replied the petite Betazoid. "But let's talk about it in the other room." She walked into the living area, Will close at her heels. Both sat on the couch and Deanna retold Will the devastating story Katarina had told her. "That's why she has been acting so strange. She saw her entire family and everyone else she knew murdered in front of her eyes." Pain gripped Deanna's heart. Not only from Katarina's story, but her own private lie that she had kept secret for almost 15 years. I should tell him now. I might not get another chance to be alone with him for a while. No. I can't. I just can't. It's not the right time. I'll tell him later.
Will's expression was a mirror of the one that appeared on Deanna's face. They sat in silence for a few seconds, then Will said, "Um, . . . Data had a few personal items from her ship removed. They are in Cargobay 2. If we brought them here, do you think . . . "
"Will!" she interrupted. "That's a wonderful idea." Deanna grabbed Will face and kissed him on the cheek. "Come on. We need to get down there. We'll put them in her room, and when she wakes up, she'll have a piece of what she lost." She took Will's hand and pulled him down to Cargobay 2, where they collected some items that might possibly help the troubled young girl.
When Katarina awoke the next morning, she was startled to find she was in her room. A picture of her family was on her night stand, and the statues her mother gave her were placed around the room. Maybe it was all a dream. Or nightmare. Maybe the Borg didn't attack us, or Betazed. Checking her chrono, she jumped out of her bed and rushed into the living area that was sure to be bustling with activity at this late hour. "Mom? Dad?" She called, but only silence answered. "Come on. Stop joking. It isn't funny. Tommy? Chris? Where are you guys?" Then she noticed it. The room was different. The furniture rearranged, the layout unfamiliar. There were walls where there should be doors and entrance ways. The room was smaller and contained her mother's things. Her statues, her flowers, her pictures, her decorations. Not a single thing she recognized as her father's. His trombone, which usually sat in the corner, was absent. The smell of his cologne was replaced with the sweet aroma of Betazoid flowers. "No," she mumbled, realizing the truth. It wasn't a dream. It had all happened. The Borg, Betazed, the Enterprise, her family, her life all destroyed. "NO!" she screamed now. "It's not fair! It's not! They didn't deserve it. Why? Why did this happen?" She collapsed to the ground, screaming, sobbing, yelling at invisible tormenters. Katarina was so caught up in the unfairness of the Universe and her own grief, that she failed to hear the doors to the cabin whoosh open.
"Katarina!" she heard her mother call. No. Not my mother. Deanna Troi. The woman who looks, sounds, and acts like my mother but isn't. "Leave me alone!" She retorted , pulling away from both the hug Deanna tried to give her and the touch of her mind. "You're not my mother! You can't just kiss this cut and make it better the way you did so many times when I got hurt. But that wasn't you. It was someone else. Someone who you can never be. Never. She died and there is nothing you or anyone can do to change that. Everyone there died. Everyone except me. Why? Why did I survive? What's the point? What is it?"
Deanna watched as tears streamed down Katarina's face, leaving a trail of wetness behind. She went to the girl and placed her arm around the trembling child. This time she received no protest. "Please calm down. I know I am not your mother, but let me help you. I can help you. Please. Just open your mind to me." Deanna felt the slightest glimmer of hope enter Katarina's mind. ~Please, ~ she sent to her "daughter." ~ I can help you.~
~I know. I'm sorry I snapped. I didn't mean what I said about you.~ "I really am," she said out loud.
"Good." Deanna stood up and then reached down to help Katarina. "Now, let's get some breakfast. I am starving. Will and I were supposed to eat together, but he was called to the bridge on some small emergency."
"Okay." Katarina agreed, pushing away the rest of the rebellious tears. "But, can you call me 'Kat'?"
"Sure, Kat. Now, let's get something to eat and then get you ready. The captain is very anxious to meet you."
"The captain? Dad . . . I mean Will, isn't the captain of the Enterprise?" Now Kat was even more confused then she thought possible.
"No. Will's the First Officer. Captain Jean Luc Picard is in charge of the Enterprise." Deanna said, noticing Katarina's shift in emotion and the bewilderment that was spelled out on her face.
"Uncle Jean Luc still the captain? He made Admiral after commanding the Enterprise-D for four years. Then Dad took over."
"All right then. But when we go to the Bridge, I suggest that you address him as 'Captain' and not "Uncle Jean Luc." Deanna couldn't help but smirk.
"Agreed."
Bev's voice broke into his meditation. "She sure is beautiful."
"Yeah," Will agreed, a wistful smile spread across his face. Beverly noticed it and took the bait.
"You're thinking about what would happen if she really was your daughter, aren't you."
All he did was smile in the way he had before.
"Not only that, but you want a baby. And with Deanna." The auburn haired doctor laughed delightedly.
"I thought Deanna was the only empath around here." Will turned his focus on her now.
"She is. But you don't have to be an empath to know what you're thinking."
"You're right. You're right," he admitted. Sighing out loud, he said, "I love her. And if I hadn't made some choices that I did, Katarina would be our daughter, for real. Not just her, but two others. It's like I'm staring back at the crossroads in my life and wondering what would have happened if I did meet Deanna on Risa? It's just so confusing."
Getting up from behind her desk, Beverly put a supportive hand on his shoulder. " I understand, but I'm not the one you should be telling. Talk to her. Tell her what you told me. She needs to hear it."
"Yeah, I know. I'll talk to her at dinner tonight. Thanks for the help." Checking his chrono, he added, "I gotta get to the Bridge. Thanks again." And with that, he disappeared through Sickbay's doors.
The walk to Troi's cabin was silent. Neither talked as they made their way through the long hallways. Finally, they stopped and entered Deanna's living area. Katarina recognized it immediately. It was almost the same as her family's cabin, only smaller. Was. Not anymore.
"Well," Deanna said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Your room will be in there. Why don't you go in and get settled? I'll pull something from the replicater for us to eat."
Deanna disappeared into the other room, leaving Katarina alone in a place that was both real and false. She slowly walked around the cabin, taking in every detail, every scent, every picture that lined the tan bulkheads. Making her way to the room her "mother" had indicated would be hers, she sat on the bed and started to let her mind drift. Soon, she felt the overwhelming urge to just place her head on the pillow and relax.
A few minutes later, Deanna returned with a bowl of soup and a new set of clothes.
"I thought these might be helpful. I hope they're the right si-." She stopped when she saw Katarina asleep on the bed. Placing the tray and outfit on a chair, she walked over and smoothed the hair out of the girl's face. "Rest, Little One. Rest."
Will Riker was busy in his quarters, preparing dinner when he heard the chime of the door. "Come in," he called. Deanna glided in and Will's breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. Her long black hair cascaded around her perfect face, just the way he liked it, and her red dress clung to her body like a second skin. My God, she's gorgeous! I wonder how she managed to slip out of her quarters without every male officer following her!
"Hello, Will." She said. Look at him! I wonder if I'll ever be able to tell him the truth. He just keeps staring at me. I bet he doesn't even suspect it. He still looks at me like he did when we were together on Betazed, before it happened. "It smells delicious." Pull yourself together, Deanna.
"I'm glad you approve, Counselor." He pulled a chair from the table for her. She seems so distant today. I wonder if she is all right. "Dinner will be ready in a minute or two," Will said as Deanna sat down. Quickly, he walked into the kitchen. Troi was happy that she was alone for a few moments to collect herself. Calm down. Breathe. In and out. In and out. He doesn't know and won't know until you tell him, whenever that is. Suddenly, she stopped. Deanna, you have to decide. Tonight is the night. I am going to tell him. He is my Imzadi, after all, and deserves to know.
True to his words, Will returned a few minutes later, carrying with him two plates of boiled shrimp, dipped in a marinara sauce. Pulling a lighter from his pocket, he lit the candles on either side of a vase that housed a dozen white roses.
"It looks wonderful, too." Deanna commented, pulling herself out of her private abyss. Will sat down opposite of her. At the same time they started, "We really need to talk." Looking in each other's eyes, they laughed. "You first," Deanna said. At least I'll have a few minutes more to stall.
"All right," he answered. "It's about Katarina." Deanna's breath caught in her throat. He knows, her mind screamed. Will, seeming oblivious to Deanna's present state, continued. "When I heard her call me 'dad', it felt right. Even more so when she called you 'mom'. I know we agreed to just stay friends while we're serving together, but . . . "
He was cut short by Troi. "Katarina!" She screamed, standing up, her dark eyes wide with terror.
"Deanna! What is it?" He got no response. "Deanna, Imzadi, answer me. What's wrong?"
"Katarina," Deanna gasped for air. "She's in trouble. We have to help her!" Her grip was like talons on his arm, she was holding on so tight. Her Betazoid eyes seemed to engulf her terror filled face. Will was truly worried about them both.
"All right. Come on." Together, they ran to Troi's cabin, not caring how many strange looks they receive from passing crewmen who were startled to see the First Officer and ship's counselor running through the halls like Death was chasing them. Once inside, they raced to the girl's room, only to find her screaming in her sleep and fighting the bed covers.
"Katarina!" Deanna called, both out loud and telepathically. "Katarina, wake up! It's only a dream." She grabbed the girl's shoulders and shook her vigorously. "Come on. Wake up, Kitty."
Suddenly, Katarina stopped thrashing and her true blue eyes flew open. Her blonde hair was stuck to face and she was breathing heavily. Those eyes that she had inherited from her father were wide with shock. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. "Oh God, . . . the Borg . . . they . . . " She gasped for breath as Deanna lowered herself onto the bed next to the shaken girl. She hugged the child tightly.
"Will, could you get us a couple cups of hot chocolate?" Deanna asked as she stroked Kitty's back lovingly.
"Sure." He answered and exited through the bedroom door to retrieve three mugs of the hot chocolate.
~Tell me what's wrong. Please Little One, tell me.~ Deanna felt Katarina stiffen in her arms as she heard her "mother's" voice in her head. Slowly, Katarina lifted her face to look at that of the woman who cared so much for her.
~My mother called me 'Little One' all the time before . . . ~ Tears fell down the girl's face once again.
~Before what happened? Please tell me what happened to you. What did the Borg do?~
Troi insisted. What could they have done to hurt her like this? What did they do to get her so upset? She looks at me like her mother, while I look at her like . . . No! She forced her mind to stay on track. Now is not a time to get all upset about something I can do nothing about. I have to help Katarina, whether or not I am comfortable with it.
~Let me start from the beginning. The Enterprise was en route to Betazed, when they received a transmission from Star Fleet announcing an attack by the Borg. It turned out that two Borg Cubes were orbiting Betazed and when we arrived, we were ambushed. The Enterprise sent a Priority One message out to any ship for help, but there were no other ships within range.~ Katarina paused as she felt Deanna brush the tears from her face. Then she continued. ~ Tommy and I, well, we snuck out of our cabin. I remember Chris saying that he would tell Mom and Dad, but we gave him some candy and he stayed quiet. Anyway, we went to Shuttlebay 3. That's where our ships, the Imzadi and the Hawkeye, were docked. No one noticed two small personal cruisers flying around in space until Betazed was destroyed. It exploded and Grandmother was still planet side. Tommy and I felt her die along with billions of other Betazoids. We also felt our mom's agony and grief. Tommy and I tried to send her reassurance and strength, but that only caused her more panic. Our cruisers had weapons and some shielding, but not enough to defend ourselves against the Borg, so naturally, being our mother, she got upset when we were discovered outside of the Enterprise. Then, the Borg, they focused all their attention on the massive ship. Tommy was caught in the crossfire. I remember hearing his voice telepathically during his last seconds. He said "Be strong, Kitty. Help mom and dad, and don't forget." Then, I couldn't feel his presence anymore. Shortly after that, one of the Enterprise's quantum torpedoes mixed with a Borg weapon and created a temporal rift. I was pulled into that rift, and as I was, I saw the Borg destroy the Enterprise. I knew I was truly alone in the universe. After sending out a distress signal, I fell cried myself to sleep with a picture of my family in my hands. When I awoke, I was in the transporter room, and you were sitting next to me.~
Deanna was heartbroken as she listened to Katarina's story, as well as seeing it through the child's eyes. All the shock, terror, grief, pain, and horror that Katarina had experienced during those minutes, came flooding back.
This time, Katarina spoke out loud. "I let them die! I couldn't help them. I should have died too. Why didn't I? Why? Why does the universe take pleasure in tormenting me?" Not for one second did she let go of her hold on Deanna.
"It's all right. It's all right. The Borg can't hurt you now. We will protect you, Little One. We will. I promise you that on my life. Nothing will ever hurt again as long as I am alive. I promise you." Deanna did everything she could so as to not to scream this at the top of her lungs. But Katarina was not listening. She had fallen asleep in the arms of the woman who was and wasn't her mother.
Will Riker walked back into the room, just as Deanna was pulling the covers up to surround Katarina. "I didn't think you would need the hot chocolate, just the time alone," he commented. "Did you find out what happened to her?"
"Yes," replied the petite Betazoid. "But let's talk about it in the other room." She walked into the living area, Will close at her heels. Both sat on the couch and Deanna retold Will the devastating story Katarina had told her. "That's why she has been acting so strange. She saw her entire family and everyone else she knew murdered in front of her eyes." Pain gripped Deanna's heart. Not only from Katarina's story, but her own private lie that she had kept secret for almost 15 years. I should tell him now. I might not get another chance to be alone with him for a while. No. I can't. I just can't. It's not the right time. I'll tell him later.
Will's expression was a mirror of the one that appeared on Deanna's face. They sat in silence for a few seconds, then Will said, "Um, . . . Data had a few personal items from her ship removed. They are in Cargobay 2. If we brought them here, do you think . . . "
"Will!" she interrupted. "That's a wonderful idea." Deanna grabbed Will face and kissed him on the cheek. "Come on. We need to get down there. We'll put them in her room, and when she wakes up, she'll have a piece of what she lost." She took Will's hand and pulled him down to Cargobay 2, where they collected some items that might possibly help the troubled young girl.
When Katarina awoke the next morning, she was startled to find she was in her room. A picture of her family was on her night stand, and the statues her mother gave her were placed around the room. Maybe it was all a dream. Or nightmare. Maybe the Borg didn't attack us, or Betazed. Checking her chrono, she jumped out of her bed and rushed into the living area that was sure to be bustling with activity at this late hour. "Mom? Dad?" She called, but only silence answered. "Come on. Stop joking. It isn't funny. Tommy? Chris? Where are you guys?" Then she noticed it. The room was different. The furniture rearranged, the layout unfamiliar. There were walls where there should be doors and entrance ways. The room was smaller and contained her mother's things. Her statues, her flowers, her pictures, her decorations. Not a single thing she recognized as her father's. His trombone, which usually sat in the corner, was absent. The smell of his cologne was replaced with the sweet aroma of Betazoid flowers. "No," she mumbled, realizing the truth. It wasn't a dream. It had all happened. The Borg, Betazed, the Enterprise, her family, her life all destroyed. "NO!" she screamed now. "It's not fair! It's not! They didn't deserve it. Why? Why did this happen?" She collapsed to the ground, screaming, sobbing, yelling at invisible tormenters. Katarina was so caught up in the unfairness of the Universe and her own grief, that she failed to hear the doors to the cabin whoosh open.
"Katarina!" she heard her mother call. No. Not my mother. Deanna Troi. The woman who looks, sounds, and acts like my mother but isn't. "Leave me alone!" She retorted , pulling away from both the hug Deanna tried to give her and the touch of her mind. "You're not my mother! You can't just kiss this cut and make it better the way you did so many times when I got hurt. But that wasn't you. It was someone else. Someone who you can never be. Never. She died and there is nothing you or anyone can do to change that. Everyone there died. Everyone except me. Why? Why did I survive? What's the point? What is it?"
Deanna watched as tears streamed down Katarina's face, leaving a trail of wetness behind. She went to the girl and placed her arm around the trembling child. This time she received no protest. "Please calm down. I know I am not your mother, but let me help you. I can help you. Please. Just open your mind to me." Deanna felt the slightest glimmer of hope enter Katarina's mind. ~Please, ~ she sent to her "daughter." ~ I can help you.~
~I know. I'm sorry I snapped. I didn't mean what I said about you.~ "I really am," she said out loud.
"Good." Deanna stood up and then reached down to help Katarina. "Now, let's get some breakfast. I am starving. Will and I were supposed to eat together, but he was called to the bridge on some small emergency."
"Okay." Katarina agreed, pushing away the rest of the rebellious tears. "But, can you call me 'Kat'?"
"Sure, Kat. Now, let's get something to eat and then get you ready. The captain is very anxious to meet you."
"The captain? Dad . . . I mean Will, isn't the captain of the Enterprise?" Now Kat was even more confused then she thought possible.
"No. Will's the First Officer. Captain Jean Luc Picard is in charge of the Enterprise." Deanna said, noticing Katarina's shift in emotion and the bewilderment that was spelled out on her face.
"Uncle Jean Luc still the captain? He made Admiral after commanding the Enterprise-D for four years. Then Dad took over."
"All right then. But when we go to the Bridge, I suggest that you address him as 'Captain' and not "Uncle Jean Luc." Deanna couldn't help but smirk.
"Agreed."