Deanna woke up almost seven hours later. Slowly she opened her sore eyes; her body still twisted into the same position as when she had fallen asleep. Her entire body was aching; sleeping on the floor hadn't been good for her. With a great deal of exertion she managed to pull herself onto her feet. Her muscles protested to each move she made. 'Great, damn floors.' The Betazoid stumbled to her shower and got undressed. She bit her lip to avoid voicing the pain the movements caused. Only when she reached for the panel next to the shower did she see the blood on her hands. 'What the--?! How did this happen?!' She pushed the panel knowing it would be easier to wash the blood off under the shower. The warm water ran over her tense body, easing her muscles and mind. Slowly she began to relax, refusing to allow herself to think about Will, Lyana, or the planet below. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the water cleansing her body.
"Computer: one five cc bottle of X'Ta." When a little blue bottle materialized just within reach, she grabbed it and poured its contents over her hands and body. The small lacerations in her palms stung when the soapy substance touched them but Deanna ignored it best as she could. Slowly and gently she began to spread the elixir over her body, covering every part. She washed the suds off and stepped out of the shower. With a large fluffy towel she dried her hair and body before she climbed into bed and fell asleep again.
Fortunately, when she awakened two hours later her body wasn't as sore. Her muscles were still stiff and somewhat painful but not as unbearable as before.
"Computer: time."
1000 hours. 'KaRa!' Forty-five minutes until she would have to meet Will in Transporter Room 1 to meet the love of his life, something she dreaded immensely. Deanna stayed in bed for another fifteen minutes before she finally got up. She climbed out her bed, painfully realizing that her muscles still were too sore to walk normally. In order to get medication that would take the pain away she would have to get to Sickbay but Beverly would undoubtedly ask questions and that was the last thing she wanted right now. So Deanna just washed her face and put on some civilian Ryanaran clothing. After that she eased herself onto the couch and waited until it was almost time to leave for the Transporter Room. At 10.40 she walked to the replicator.
"Computer: one hypospray of Diolamyne. Authorization Troi-Med-PHD-0-1." She took the hypospray when it appeared and injected the medicine in her neck. Beverly would know that she had used it, but with a bit of luck she would be done with the meeting with Lyana by then. She felt the soreness fade away immediately and did a concentration exercise before she left to meet her best friend and the love of his life. In the corridor on the way to the transporter she ran into Will, who was carrying several Ryaran flowers and wearing civilian clothing as well. 'God he looks handsome like this.' Immediately she kicked herself mentally for thinking that. He had no interest in her anymore, why_should_she_ be interested in him?
"Deanna, right on time as always." 'He is nervous, very nervous.'
"Will, is something wrong?" It wasn't like him to be nervous at all. He climbed on the platform and she joined him, seeing him like this reminded her of their little adventure with Cochran and made her smile.
"You think it's funny that I'm just as nervous as Reg?" She looked at his grinning face and had to restrain herself from caressing him.
"That's not nice of you to say Will." He didn't miss her disapproving look, nor the mischievous one. He shifted his look to the transporter chief who nodded at him in return. The lieutenant's hands lightly touched the console and the familiar sounds of the transporter surrounded her.
Seconds later she found herself down on the planet in the middle of a park.
"Lyana lives about 3 miles south from here." She studied his face again, he was even more nervous than before.
"Will you tell me why you are so nervous?" His blue gaze met her dark eyes and then turned to the ground.
"Will, are you sure about this?" 'Please gods, let him say no!' But Will took her hands in his and looked straight into her eyes.
"I am, Deanna. It's just...well, it's just very important for me that you like each other." Her heart literally melted in her chest and she squeezed his hand encouragingly. Abruptly she turned her head away overwhelmed and scared by her need for him.
"So, this way you said?" Will looked at her quizzically 'what just happened?'
"Uhm, yes, just follow the road." They walked side by side silently, Deanna drunk in her surroundings; the beauty of the planet kept amazing her. In the distance she saw a shining white house with two deep blue trees in front of it.
"Is that Lyana's house?" He looked along her pointed finger and she saw his eyes filled with apprehension.
"Yes, it's hers." When Deanna started to walk towards it, carefully hiding her fear and anger, he suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her back. Unbalanced by the sudden counterweight she stumbled and fell down.
"OUCH!!! Will don't ever do that again!" She pushed herself up with her hands and Will's assistance. When she was standing again their faces were only inches apart. She saw his face coming closer and closed her eyes waiting for him. After two eternal seconds his lips gently brushed over hers but before she could respond he broke the contact.
"Still in pain Imzadi?" 'I don't believe this!' For a second he thought he saw something flash through her eyes something called 'fury'. But immediately afterwards a smile washed over her face, making him doubt what he had seen.
"Well yes, but I think Doctor Crusher will take care of it a whole lot better than you just did." Their coy routine had returned once again, but maybe it was better this way.
"Ouch." Semi-hurt, he placed his hand on his heart.
"So Commander, exactly why did you let me fall?" He raised his hand to defend himself.
"I_didn't_let you fall. But I wanted you to know that I told Lyana that you're my sister." Her brown eyes widened and again he thought he saw a flash of anger. 'SISTER! Just what do you think you're doing BROTHER?!'
"Oh really? Is there anything else you think I should know my dear brother?" What was it in her eyes now? Hurt? But she playfully hit his stomach, causing him to forget the confusion he had over her statement.
"Well, I also told her that our father died when we were eight." As she cast her eyes down he realized how insensitive that had been of him. He placed his finger under her chin and lifted her head up, allowing him to look in her eyes. With his other hand he wiped away the tears that emerged in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Deanna, I wasn't thinking." 'Where did it go wrong Will? When did you stop caring?' The tears weren't for her father, at least not all of them. Just like before, her mask slid back in place and let her smile weakly.
"It's alright Will. What about our mother?"
"She lives on the other side of the planet on a small island." This hurt her even more; he had been letting out her demons but had kept his safely hidden. 'What other lies did you tell her Will?' She didn't voice the question but was very much tempted; how _dare_ he use her father's death! Will had started walking again and dragged her along, growing more and more impatient as they approached the house. Deanna used every ounce of will-power she had to avoid letting him see how much he had hurt her.
They were standing at the edge of the garden. When Deanna reached out towards the door in the fence Will laid his hand on hers.
"I forgot to mention, she has a dog." She looked at him searchingly, he knew she loved dogs, so why give her a warning?
"Okay." She opened the door and stepped into the garden. Immediately a loud barking sound reached her ears and a second later a very large orange dog-like creature came running across the garden straight at her.
"Will!" Her shrieking voice amazed even herself. 'A DOG?!' The 'dog' had reached her now and reared up on its back paws and placing its front paws on her slender shoulders, its head towering above her. The weight of the animal caused her to loose her balance again and moments later she found herself lying on the ground with the orange creature licking her face with its red tongue. She pushed it off and quickly got back to her feet.
"Don't you dare do that again." Much to Will's amazement the dog seemed to understand her and lay down at her feet. Deanna bent over and scratched her nails behind its ears.
"That's better." She straightened her back and giggled uncontrollably when she saw Will's stunned gaze.
"Will, for future reference, dogs are not this big ok? THIS..." and she pointed at the orange ball at her feet, "...is _not_ a dog, it's an elephant!." Overcome by his amazement Will replied, "Well, you didn't seem to be affected by it anyway."
"Do you know her name?"
"Her?" Deanna shook her head in disbelief.
"Yes Will, _her_. You disappoint me Commander, surely_you_would_have known." 'What does she mean with that?'
"Hynda." She repeated the name softly to herself.
"Alright, so shall we go inside or what?" A broad grin appeared on his face and [] she knew she had said something very silly in his eyes.
"What?"
"Deanna, no one except Lyana gets that thing moving, and even she doesn't always succeed." The Betazoid shifted her gaze between the two and smiled victoriously.
"Hynda, what do you say we go inside?" Immediately the creature rose to its four paws and took its position next to Deanna, her head reaching Deanna's midriff. Deanna caressed Hynda's neck and started to walk to the front door, with Hynda following docilely. When they were halfway there Deanna realized that Will was still standing at the gate. She turned around and sensed his disbelief and wonder.
"Well, are you coming or not?" He shook his head as if trying to forget what he just witnessed and ran up to them. "Men" She said to the dog. Amazingly enough her encounter with Hynda had lightened her spirits; she loved being with animals....well...some animals. Suddenly the front door swept open and a slim figure walked outside.
"Hynda!? You didn't bother our guests, did you?" The dog barked happily but remained at Deanna's side. The woman, whom Deanna assumed was Lyana, had nearly reached their position. Deanna was struck by her appearance; she was indeed a beauty, exactly as Will had described her. Lyana walked with a certain grace and elegance towards Will and kissed him tenderly. Deanna felt a knife slide through her heart as she sensed the love and desire emanating from both of them. The animal at her side shrieked softly, as if she had sensed Deanna's pain. For a brief moment, woman and dog looked straight into each other's eyes until they were interrupted by Lyana.
"You must be Deanna." She managed a smile as she took Lyana's hand and shook it.
"I was a minute ago...and you are Lyana, I assume?" The gray woman smiled genuinely back. She was taller than Deanna, but not by much, one or two inches at most. Her deep brown eyes were soft and large; Deanna liked her immediately despite how hard she tried to hate her. 'Don't try, it's not her fault Will fell in love with her.'
"I hope Hynda didn't 'attack' you." Will answered before Deanna could.
"Well, they_did_end up on the ground." Lyana looked disapprovingly at her pet and Deanna felt she had to put in a good word for Hynda.
"She gave me a warm welcome." The other female smiled weakly back, took Will's hand and guided them into the house. Hynda looked at Deanna once again and if she hadn't know any better she'd say the dog was apologizing for Lyana's behavior. Deep in thought, Deanna followed the two lovers. 'Could Hynda be some sort of empathic creature?' The Ryarans weren't empathic or telepathic at any level, that she knew for sure. But did that count for all creatures on the planet? Some of Betazed's indigenous animals possessed some empathic ability, so why couldn't that be possible here? She looked down at the dog once again, she was actually quite a funny sight. So large and orange yet so good-natured. Deanna tickled Hynda behind her ears and then stepped into the living room. The room was rather large, just about the size of her entire quarters. Like the planet itself the room was colorful too. The walls were painted in several shades of red, the two strangely shaped couches were yellow and the accessories in the room were all the colours of the rainbow.
"Are you thirsty or hungry?"
"Well, I'd like a cup of Rak'Ta, if it isn't too much effort." Suddenly she sensed the feeling of thirst from someone else as well. She looked around and met Hynda's gaze once again.
"And a bowl of water if you have it." Both Will and Lyana looked at her quizzically but she pretended not to notice.
"I'll have a cup of your delicious homemade Stara." The wink between the two didn't escape her, but she refused to allow herself to feel the pain that it caused. When their hostess had left the room Will turned to her.
"And what do you think of her?" 'She's weird Will.'
"I like her, she seems a tender and loving woman."
"Oh, please_do_sit down." A bright voice emanated from somewhere within the house, causing an interruption she was frankly grateful for. Deanna sat down on the smallest of the two couches leaving the bigger one for Will and Lyana. Hynda didn't leave her side and stood beside her.
"She's very pretty." Will looked at her gratefully.
"She certainly is." Again she had the feeling of a knife slicing through her heart and again the orange-animal shrieked softly. 'I want to leave this place!' Lyana reentered the room carrying a large bowl with water. Deanna took the bowl and thanked the Ryaran who immediately went back to the kitchen.
"That thirsty huh?" She couldn't bear the grinning look on his face, the love she felt from him, a love that wasn't for her.
"Yes." She replied simply and put the bowl on the glass-like table in front of her. The dog met her gaze.
"Go ahead Hynda." Eagerly she began to lick the water inside.
"How do you do that?"
"What?"
"That dog, what are you doing with her?" Part of her wanted to explain, but she didn't.
"I don't know...maybe she just likes me." Before Will could ask her something else his lover returned with their drinks.
"Hynda! That's not polite!!!" Frightened by the sudden anger in her voice the creature almost jumped towards Deanna who had also moved away from Lyana in fear. The empath had been keeping an eye on Will and her senses told her that he was surprised and even a little scared. He was, however, the first to speak.
"Don't worry Lyana, Deanna intended to give the water to Hynda. She has...a way with animals." He explained. Deanna wondered how Lyana felt about all this and only now realized she couldn't get a clear reading of her. Deanna thought about this for a little while and came to the conclusion that she had instinctively blocked her senses of Lyaba. She lowered her walls and read the woman. The woman_was_in love with her Imzadi and the anger she had just expressed was gone, but she also sensed that the gray one felt threatened by her. She didn't understand this reaction since Will had told her they were brother and sister.
"Oh, I apologize. It's just that Hynda can be very brutal at times." She threw the dog a disapproving look and weakly smiled at Deanna. She took a seat next to Will and sought out his hand. The Betazoid cringed inside as the pair across the room shared a kiss.
"So, Will told me that you're an psychologist in Z'Kat. It must be a rather stressful profession."
"It can be...especially when certain patients refuse to talk to you." A meaningful look crossed the room between the two officers, a look Lyana didn't miss. Playfully she hit him in his stomach just like Deanna had done little less than an hour before.
"I take it this big fellow isn't much of a talker then."
"Oh, I could never see him as a patient. After all we are..." 'Imzadi' She swallowed her thought and hoped neither of that would noticed her hesitation. "...Brother and sister. It wouldn't be professional if I treated him as a patient." Will cast his eyes down briefly, knowing what her hesitation had meant.
"I can imagine."
"Lyana, I'm afraid Will hasn't told me very much about you...he tends to 'hide' his girlfriends in fear that I'll scare them away." Her voice was definitely coy but the underlying meaning was most definitely not.
"Well, I don't think you would succeed. You seem like a very nice person to me." 'Than why do I sense hostility from you?'
"Tell me, what's your profession?"
"Oh, I'm just an administrator; that's not nearly as difficult as being a psychologist." 'Taza' 'Deanna, shame on you! She has done nothing wrong.' 'She did_steal your Imzadi.' 'Maybe you should have shown your love more than you did.' 'I have shown my love.' 'Even if you did, you can't blame her. Your imzadi allowed himself to fall in love.' He shouldn't have.' 'Face it, he doesn't care anymore.' 'No! He DOES care!' 'Does he?' 'You scare away all the men around you; him, your son, your father.' 'NO!!!' Her demons overwhelmed her, and the fighting in her head became too much for her to handle; Deanna Troi fainted. Will had seen the change in her eyes just a second too late. He rose just in time to see her fall off the couch. Immediately he ran towards her.
"Deanna? Deanna can you hear me?" Lyana quickly ran into the kitchen and soaked a towel.
"Imzadi, talk to me, open your eyes." 'Imzadi? What does that mean?' The female placed the wet towel on Deanna's forehead and tried to push Hynda away who was pushing her nose against Deanna's hand.
"Hynda, beat it! You're in our way." To her surprise the dog growled aggressively at her.
"Ok, very well, stay." She muttered.
"Imzadi, please, open your eyes." 'I have to get her back to the Enterprise. Beverly will know what to do.'
"Lyana, I think she needs some fresh air. I'll pick her up and carry her into the park to let her come around."
"Alright, I'll get our coats."
"No, I'll go alone with her. She knows me, and I'm afraid you'll only confuse her." Will scooped a limp Deanna into his arms, kissed his lover goodbye and walked to the front door. Lyana and Hynda followed them closely. When Will walked out Hynda tried to follow but Lyana held her back, pulling at her collar roughly.
"Hynda! Stay!" But the dog broke free and ran after Deanna. Lyanna was close behind. 'I don't have time for this!'
"Lyana, it's alright. Deanna has always been comfortable around animals. Besides, Hynda seems to like her." Lyana nodded her consent and walked back into the house. 'There's something going on between those two...and what exactly does 'Imzadi' mean?' Will sighed with relief. 'I'll have a hell of a lot of explaining to do when I get back.' He studied Deanna's face, she looked horrified. 'What happened to her?' When they were out of sight he put Deanna on the ground, and the orange-animal immediately pushed her nose against her as if to comfort her. 'What exactly_was_there between those two anyway?' Deanna had seemed to like the dog from the beginning, in total contradiction with Will's expectations. He found her CommBadge very quickly. He couldn't believe that he had been foolish enough not to bring his own.
"Riker to Enterprise."
Yes Commander?
"Two, no three to beam up directly to Sickbay."
Aye Sir.
~D~