"That was so awesome!" Kat said as she and Commander Riker stepped out of Holodeck Two. "Those mountains were the biggest ones I ever scaled. Dad must have shrunk them or something so I wouldn't get hurt." Katarina wiped the sweat from her face as they headed back to Deanna Troi's quarters.
"I guess that if I had a daughter I would have 'shrunk' them too. Usually, no one comes along when I use the holodeck." Will placed his towel around his neck. "You said your father use to take you climbing. Did he ever take your brothers?"
"Nope," she answered mimicking Will with her own towel. "Tommy was more interested in technology and machines. Chris, besides being too little, was a lot like mom. He would just sit there and stare at statues. Not my idea of fun." A small smile threatened to spread across her face. "I remember Mom trying to teach me some of the Betazoid mind discipline stuff, and when Grandma found out...." She rolled her eyes. "I never wanted to even think about telepathy again." "Lwaxana can be overbearing." Will agreed.
"'Overbearing' is an understatement! She was furious when I told her that I didn't want to learn how to become a 'Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed'. She was trying to pin the blame on my Father for putting ideas into my head, like he did to my Mother, but he was just never around when she was."
Will laughed. "You make him sound like Captain Picard."
"Yeah," Kat agreed, "but Dad had more hair.
Both of them laughed at that. When they had settled down, Will turned to Kat and said, "Before you mentioned something about Risa. What were you going to say?"
"My mom met my dad on Risa after their time together on Betazed. They eloped there."
Will pointed a finger at her. "But your medical file says you were born on the Hood in the year 2363. And you were born in September. That wasn't even six months after I transferred off the Potemkin."
"I know. Mom was all ready pregnant with Tommy and me when she went to Risa." She nodded her head. "Mom said she got pregnant on Betazed when she and my father were at the Janaran Falls on the night before he shipped out. And she was six months along when they got married."
"What?" Will's jaw was practically on the floor. "She got pregnant on...Betazed?" Slowly he came to a halt, stopping in the middle of a now empty hallway. Riker turned to stare at the girl, his azure eyes piercing. He pointed a finger at her. "You said time was different here, right?"
"Yes." She nodded at him, still not understanding why he had a crazed look on his face. Then she added slowly, "But only by one day."
Will mumbled something to himself, something Kat couldn't understand. Before she could ask him to repeat what he had said, Will had taken off, running down the corridor, headed straight for Deanna Troi's cabin.
Katarina tore after him, but by the time she arrived at the counselor's door, she saw Commander Riker standing there, pounding on it with almost enough force to break it. And he was yelling. Katarina had never seen this man, or the man who looked exactly like him, so wild, so upset. What could all this mean?
"Deanna! Open the door, now. We have to talk. Come on. Open the door!" Will was frantic and when the doors finally did open, Riker almost ran Troi over as he plowed into her quarters.
"What's wrong Will?" Deanna asked. She saw Kitty still in the hall and waited for her to enter before looking back at her Imzadi. "And why are you so loud? I'm sure half the ship heard you." She brushed a few strands of her hair from her eyes.
"I don't care! We need to talk, and we need to do it now!" He whirled back, grabbing her by the shoulders and backed her into a corner.
"Will!" She squirmed in his grasp, her eyes large. "Will, calm down. What do we need to talk about that's so important?"
"I know," That was all he said, still holding her in place. His face was red with anger.
"What? What are you talking about?" She kept staring at him, still trying to free herself. Who was this wild man?
"I know what happened at the Janaran Falls. I know what you didn't tell me."
Deanna's face went as white as chalk, her coal black eyes took up more of her face. "What?" she asked again in a voice barely above a whisper. Oh, gods, he knows. He knows. He knows.
"Dammit, Deanna. Don't lie to me again." He shook her violently. "Tell me what happened. I deserve to know. I need to know.
Katarina took in the whole scene. She saw Deanna's face, and the tears that streaked it. She saw the look in the counselor's eyes. The look of sorrow, pain, and fear. The last was not what Kat expected. She had never seen fear in this woman before. The Deanna Troi she knew would never have looked at the man known as William Riker, with fear in her eyes. But here and now, before her eyes, she saw the impossible play out.
Katarina ran over and started pulling on Will's arm. "Stop it!" she screamed. "Please stop. Can't you see she is frightened of you? Of you. Her friend, her soul mate, her Imzadi. Stop it! Please!" Tears were running down her face as well, and Kitty's eyes pleaded with his.
He looked at the girl, and then at the woman he had never expected to lie to him, ever. The woman he trusted most, who now was nothing more then a sad soul, in a body filled with grief, sorrow and pain. Frustrated, he let her go, then turned from the Betazoid as she sagged against the wall, overwhelmed with emotion.
Katarina ran to her, her face sympathetic, even though she still didn't understand it fully. "Are you ok?" she whispered, almost as if she was frightened of Will hearing her.
A grief-stricken Deanna, stared back, her perfect face streaked with tear stains. "I'm fine. Thank you," she said in a voice so quietly, Kat had to strain to her it. Backing away, she allowed the counselor a few moments to compose herself. The girl turned at stared at Will's back. How can he be so mean here? Why is he so upset? Oh, gods, if I did something wrong, I don't know what I'll do. He was so nice in the holodeck and before. What could have changed him into this wild man?
Katarina jumped slightly as she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder. She turned around to find Deanna back on her feet. In a voice in which she was sure Will could hear, Troi spoke to her.
"I know you would like to stay here, but Will and I need some time alone."
The child looked at her, fear for the counselor in her eyes. Then she felt Troi's mind brush against her's again.
~Don't worry. I'll be fine. But I really think that you should leave. Maybe, you could go and talk to Dr. Crusher?~
Smiling slightly, she answered. ~All right. I will.~ She turned and gave Deanna a quick hug before she headed for the doors.
Deanna watched as the doors closed around the girl. And once more she sent to her, ~Thank you, Little One, for everything.~ She was sure that Katarina was smiling. At least someone can smile around here, she thought as she turned back to stare at Will.
Finally, after several moments, Troi spoke, quietly and quickly. "Will? Will, can you at least look at me?"
Riker turned around and started back, his arms crossed in an 'I'm waiting' pose.
"I think, I think that we had better sit down for this." She lead him over to the couch and sat bracing herself for the moment she had been dreading for almost 15 years.
Doctor Crusher was in her office, reviewing some notes, when she heard a tap on the glass window. Looking up, Beverly was surprised to see Katarina standing there. She smiled, put down the PADD, and motioned for the girl to enter.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Doctor Beverly. I hope I am not interrupting anything important." Kat stood there, her hands behind her back, her eyes fascinated with the floor.
The red-haired doctor, smiled again. "No. You aren't. Why don't you have a seat?"
Now it was Kat's turn to smile, as she moved to sit. However, Bev could tell that there was still something bothering the girl.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked in a soft voice, hoping to soothe the child. "I know I am not Deanna or anythi...." Her voice trailed off as she saw Kat wince at the counselor's name. "What's wrong?"
Kat appeared nervous, almost scared. "Um, nothing." She lied. Looking into the doctor's hazel eyes, she could tell she was not very convincing. "Okay," she breathed. "I think I just made one of the biggest mistakes of my whole life."
Trying not to laugh, the CMO asked maternally, "And what exactly is unforgivable faux pas?"
"I'm not entirely sure! See, Will and I were walking to Deanna's quarters after a trip to the holodeck, and somehow we got on the subject on my mom and dad's marriage. Will asked something about the timing of my birth, and I told him that mom had become pregnant when on Betazed, and was six months along when they got married on Risa. Will said something that I couldn't understand, and then took off running down the hall to Deanna's cabin. He started pounding on the door, telling her to open it and when she did, he grabbed her by the shoulders and started screaming at her." Kat let an exasperated breath. "He said something like 'I know.' and 'You should have told me. Why did you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me?' He was so upset, Dr. Beverly. I don't know what I did. All I did was tell him about my mom and dad and the events surrounding their marriage. He started acting weird when I mentioned that Mom had gotten pregnant on...." Her voice trailed off and a light bulb went on inside her head. She looked at the doctor and noticed the same look on her face. Kat started to open her mouth to speak but it was Beverly who actually did.
"Deanna got pregnant on Betazed. And not just in your time line." She quickly punched up the counselor's medical file. "I knew Deanna was pregnant but I never looked into the details." She spoke as the file popped into existence on her screen. Scanning it, she said, "Yes. With twins in the year 2363. It doesn't say what happened to the children or even if she carried to term. I can't believe Will was the father." The last part was more to herself then to the child. "I wonder what happened?"
"I'm guessing something bad. She seemed very upset. And you said that a lot of information missing from that part of the file. Maybe Deanna or her mother had the matter closed she to bury a painful reminder?"
Or maybe they just didn't want Will to find out. I'll ask Dee about it later Bev added to herself. Tring to change the subject, out loud she said, "Well, there's no good worrying about it now. Why don't we go to Ten Forward and get something to eat. I'm starved!" The auburn haired doctor stepped out from behind her desk, and took Kat by the hand, leading her to the ship's café.
"I guess that if I had a daughter I would have 'shrunk' them too. Usually, no one comes along when I use the holodeck." Will placed his towel around his neck. "You said your father use to take you climbing. Did he ever take your brothers?"
"Nope," she answered mimicking Will with her own towel. "Tommy was more interested in technology and machines. Chris, besides being too little, was a lot like mom. He would just sit there and stare at statues. Not my idea of fun." A small smile threatened to spread across her face. "I remember Mom trying to teach me some of the Betazoid mind discipline stuff, and when Grandma found out...." She rolled her eyes. "I never wanted to even think about telepathy again." "Lwaxana can be overbearing." Will agreed.
"'Overbearing' is an understatement! She was furious when I told her that I didn't want to learn how to become a 'Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed'. She was trying to pin the blame on my Father for putting ideas into my head, like he did to my Mother, but he was just never around when she was."
Will laughed. "You make him sound like Captain Picard."
"Yeah," Kat agreed, "but Dad had more hair.
Both of them laughed at that. When they had settled down, Will turned to Kat and said, "Before you mentioned something about Risa. What were you going to say?"
"My mom met my dad on Risa after their time together on Betazed. They eloped there."
Will pointed a finger at her. "But your medical file says you were born on the Hood in the year 2363. And you were born in September. That wasn't even six months after I transferred off the Potemkin."
"I know. Mom was all ready pregnant with Tommy and me when she went to Risa." She nodded her head. "Mom said she got pregnant on Betazed when she and my father were at the Janaran Falls on the night before he shipped out. And she was six months along when they got married."
"What?" Will's jaw was practically on the floor. "She got pregnant on...Betazed?" Slowly he came to a halt, stopping in the middle of a now empty hallway. Riker turned to stare at the girl, his azure eyes piercing. He pointed a finger at her. "You said time was different here, right?"
"Yes." She nodded at him, still not understanding why he had a crazed look on his face. Then she added slowly, "But only by one day."
Will mumbled something to himself, something Kat couldn't understand. Before she could ask him to repeat what he had said, Will had taken off, running down the corridor, headed straight for Deanna Troi's cabin.
Katarina tore after him, but by the time she arrived at the counselor's door, she saw Commander Riker standing there, pounding on it with almost enough force to break it. And he was yelling. Katarina had never seen this man, or the man who looked exactly like him, so wild, so upset. What could all this mean?
"Deanna! Open the door, now. We have to talk. Come on. Open the door!" Will was frantic and when the doors finally did open, Riker almost ran Troi over as he plowed into her quarters.
"What's wrong Will?" Deanna asked. She saw Kitty still in the hall and waited for her to enter before looking back at her Imzadi. "And why are you so loud? I'm sure half the ship heard you." She brushed a few strands of her hair from her eyes.
"I don't care! We need to talk, and we need to do it now!" He whirled back, grabbing her by the shoulders and backed her into a corner.
"Will!" She squirmed in his grasp, her eyes large. "Will, calm down. What do we need to talk about that's so important?"
"I know," That was all he said, still holding her in place. His face was red with anger.
"What? What are you talking about?" She kept staring at him, still trying to free herself. Who was this wild man?
"I know what happened at the Janaran Falls. I know what you didn't tell me."
Deanna's face went as white as chalk, her coal black eyes took up more of her face. "What?" she asked again in a voice barely above a whisper. Oh, gods, he knows. He knows. He knows.
"Dammit, Deanna. Don't lie to me again." He shook her violently. "Tell me what happened. I deserve to know. I need to know.
Katarina took in the whole scene. She saw Deanna's face, and the tears that streaked it. She saw the look in the counselor's eyes. The look of sorrow, pain, and fear. The last was not what Kat expected. She had never seen fear in this woman before. The Deanna Troi she knew would never have looked at the man known as William Riker, with fear in her eyes. But here and now, before her eyes, she saw the impossible play out.
Katarina ran over and started pulling on Will's arm. "Stop it!" she screamed. "Please stop. Can't you see she is frightened of you? Of you. Her friend, her soul mate, her Imzadi. Stop it! Please!" Tears were running down her face as well, and Kitty's eyes pleaded with his.
He looked at the girl, and then at the woman he had never expected to lie to him, ever. The woman he trusted most, who now was nothing more then a sad soul, in a body filled with grief, sorrow and pain. Frustrated, he let her go, then turned from the Betazoid as she sagged against the wall, overwhelmed with emotion.
Katarina ran to her, her face sympathetic, even though she still didn't understand it fully. "Are you ok?" she whispered, almost as if she was frightened of Will hearing her.
A grief-stricken Deanna, stared back, her perfect face streaked with tear stains. "I'm fine. Thank you," she said in a voice so quietly, Kat had to strain to her it. Backing away, she allowed the counselor a few moments to compose herself. The girl turned at stared at Will's back. How can he be so mean here? Why is he so upset? Oh, gods, if I did something wrong, I don't know what I'll do. He was so nice in the holodeck and before. What could have changed him into this wild man?
Katarina jumped slightly as she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder. She turned around to find Deanna back on her feet. In a voice in which she was sure Will could hear, Troi spoke to her.
"I know you would like to stay here, but Will and I need some time alone."
The child looked at her, fear for the counselor in her eyes. Then she felt Troi's mind brush against her's again.
~Don't worry. I'll be fine. But I really think that you should leave. Maybe, you could go and talk to Dr. Crusher?~
Smiling slightly, she answered. ~All right. I will.~ She turned and gave Deanna a quick hug before she headed for the doors.
Deanna watched as the doors closed around the girl. And once more she sent to her, ~Thank you, Little One, for everything.~ She was sure that Katarina was smiling. At least someone can smile around here, she thought as she turned back to stare at Will.
Finally, after several moments, Troi spoke, quietly and quickly. "Will? Will, can you at least look at me?"
Riker turned around and started back, his arms crossed in an 'I'm waiting' pose.
"I think, I think that we had better sit down for this." She lead him over to the couch and sat bracing herself for the moment she had been dreading for almost 15 years.
Doctor Crusher was in her office, reviewing some notes, when she heard a tap on the glass window. Looking up, Beverly was surprised to see Katarina standing there. She smiled, put down the PADD, and motioned for the girl to enter.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Doctor Beverly. I hope I am not interrupting anything important." Kat stood there, her hands behind her back, her eyes fascinated with the floor.
The red-haired doctor, smiled again. "No. You aren't. Why don't you have a seat?"
Now it was Kat's turn to smile, as she moved to sit. However, Bev could tell that there was still something bothering the girl.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked in a soft voice, hoping to soothe the child. "I know I am not Deanna or anythi...." Her voice trailed off as she saw Kat wince at the counselor's name. "What's wrong?"
Kat appeared nervous, almost scared. "Um, nothing." She lied. Looking into the doctor's hazel eyes, she could tell she was not very convincing. "Okay," she breathed. "I think I just made one of the biggest mistakes of my whole life."
Trying not to laugh, the CMO asked maternally, "And what exactly is unforgivable faux pas?"
"I'm not entirely sure! See, Will and I were walking to Deanna's quarters after a trip to the holodeck, and somehow we got on the subject on my mom and dad's marriage. Will asked something about the timing of my birth, and I told him that mom had become pregnant when on Betazed, and was six months along when they got married on Risa. Will said something that I couldn't understand, and then took off running down the hall to Deanna's cabin. He started pounding on the door, telling her to open it and when she did, he grabbed her by the shoulders and started screaming at her." Kat let an exasperated breath. "He said something like 'I know.' and 'You should have told me. Why did you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me?' He was so upset, Dr. Beverly. I don't know what I did. All I did was tell him about my mom and dad and the events surrounding their marriage. He started acting weird when I mentioned that Mom had gotten pregnant on...." Her voice trailed off and a light bulb went on inside her head. She looked at the doctor and noticed the same look on her face. Kat started to open her mouth to speak but it was Beverly who actually did.
"Deanna got pregnant on Betazed. And not just in your time line." She quickly punched up the counselor's medical file. "I knew Deanna was pregnant but I never looked into the details." She spoke as the file popped into existence on her screen. Scanning it, she said, "Yes. With twins in the year 2363. It doesn't say what happened to the children or even if she carried to term. I can't believe Will was the father." The last part was more to herself then to the child. "I wonder what happened?"
"I'm guessing something bad. She seemed very upset. And you said that a lot of information missing from that part of the file. Maybe Deanna or her mother had the matter closed she to bury a painful reminder?"
Or maybe they just didn't want Will to find out. I'll ask Dee about it later Bev added to herself. Tring to change the subject, out loud she said, "Well, there's no good worrying about it now. Why don't we go to Ten Forward and get something to eat. I'm starved!" The auburn haired doctor stepped out from behind her desk, and took Kat by the hand, leading her to the ship's café.