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Author's Note: All paragraphs in italics are still flashback ;)
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Chapter Nineteen: The Healing
"Are you all right?" She gently pushed herself away from him and looked into his concerned eyes.
"I'm fine."
"What happened?" He released her from his embrace and together they walked to her office.
"Where's the black box she gave you?" He snapped his fingers and walked back to the window he had been standing by. When he returned he carried the box in his hand.
"She said it contained video-material." Beverly nodded and examined the square.
"Let's see if we can view it. Computer: upload document." She placed the box near her monitor and waited for the sounds of the computer system.
Up-load completed. A triumphant smile curled around her lips.
"Display." They waited anxiously. The screen turned first blue, then red and eventually black again. A pleasant female voice startled them.
Document 00156-Stf. Captive is a Starfleet Commander, female. Further information is as yet unknown. The Commander has been taken captive at 14.23 hours this afternoon. She has an extensive wound on her left thigh and is still unconscious. Suddenly the monitor showed an image of Deanna lying on the floor of a dark room while the voice continued.
We will wait until she has regained consciousness. Updates will follow. Kasheira. The couple frowned as they exchanged looks.
"They held a video log during her entire captivity."
"It seems that way. Let's hope you can use it." The Doctor nodded and pushed the 'resume' button.
Document 00156-Stf. Captive: Deanna Troi; Starfleet Commander, female. We are now accessing Starfleet's database to retrieve more information about her. She has been cleaned up and she has put new bandages around the wound on her leg. The voice was the same as the one before.
My brother has brought her to a more comfortable and larger room. I don't think I'm pleased with that. On the screen they could now see Deanna lying on a large bed in a bright and cozy looking room while the voice was silent.
We have just downloaded her personnel file. Rather interesting. Troi is a Human/Betazoid. Which means she has empathic abilities and probably slight telepathic ones too. This gives us options of which we could only dream of before. The sudden cruel tone of the voice send a shiver up Beverly's spine as she continued to watch the image on the screen.
~*+*~
Nearly three hours later the voice told them she would release their captive because she had become too dangerous and unpredictable. They witnessed Deanna breaking out her room and knocking out everyone who tried to stop her. Silent tears ran down Beverly's cheek as she uttered words of disbelief, sorrow and anger over what had happened to her friend.
Jean-Luc enveloped his wife in his arms and hugged her tightly. They spent the next five minutes in silence both thinking about what to do next. Beverly's suggestion of postponing Deanna's surgery until they had found out what had happened to her proved to be the right one.
Although he had been reluctant to agree with her then, he was quite glad he had done so now. Beverly on her part was relieved she had made the correct decision and had already started thinking of which treatment to use on her friend.
"Alright, I'll give the blood samples and brain scans to Data so he can study them while I'm performing the surgery." Beverly pushed herself out of his embrace and stood up.
"Won't the drugs in her system bring any risks?"
"No, I've already selected the sedatives that will not cause a chemical reaction with the drugs. There shouldn't be a problem."
"Maybe you should wait until you're sure that complications won't surface."
"If I could, I would. But frankly, postponing of the surgery even longer won't do her any good. Knowing precisely what happened to her will make the surgery itself easier and less risky." He nodded in agreement. Although he wasn't sure whether he -did- agree, he trusted her judgement enough to go along.
"All right, I'll see to it that Data gets the video material, blood samples and brain scans." The grateful look he got made him warm inside. "And I'll contact Lwaxana." Beverly looked into Sickbay thoughtfully.
"What will you tell her?" Their minds went back to the difficult, heated conversations they had had with Lwaxana the past four days. The elder Troi had felt her daughter's pain, but it was too nebulous to determine what was going on and thus she had contacted the Enterprise.
"Just that we have found Deanna and that she's injured for now."
"You know that she'll pull what ever string she can to come here." He nodded reluctantly. Lwaxana always contacted them when she had a feeling that Deanna was in trouble, but she only came if that trouble was very serious.
With a slight smile he kissed his wife and walked with her to Deanna's room. "Won't you be hurt again when you touch her?" She shook her head triumphantly.
"Nope, I injected a psilo-synine inhibitor as well." 'Of course.'
"Good luck Doctor."
"Thank you Captain." After her husband had left Sickbay she walked into Deanna's room. Her hands were itching, as they had since her friend was brought in. It was weird not to start a surgery immediately, especially when a patient had such serious injuries like Deanna, but instinct had told her not to; she only hoped her instincts were right. While two nurses brought Deanna to the Operation Room she assembled her team and prepared herself.
~*+*~
Meanwhile, Captain Picard gave Data the necessary information and with a speed only an android was capable off he viewed the video. By the tip of his head Picard knew Data was ready.
"Here is the full medical report, several brain scans and blood samples. Doctor Crusher would appreciate it if you could find out what the exact purpose and influence of the drugs was." Data accepted the Padds and blood samples and ordered the computer to download all information from the black box to a Medical Science Station in Sickbay.
"Of course Captain. I assume that Doctor Crusher is conducting Commander Troi's surgery?"
"She is Data." Satisfied that his assumption was correct Data nodded and went to Sickbay.
~*+*~
In his Ready Room Jean-Luc Picard immediately initiated a CommLink to Betazed, the Troi-Mansion. He was sure Lwaxana would kill him if he neglected to inform her that her daughter was safely back on board his ship for any longer. When he finally got a visual, it was instantly obvious that Lwaxana wasn't at her estate.
Oh don't look so surprised Jean-Luc. Of course I'm not going to stay home when my daughter is in trouble. Slightly startled he shifted in his chair.
"Mrs. Troi, I contacted you to inform you that we've beamed Deanna safely onboard." He was surprised when the worried statement on Lwaxana's featured did not disappear like he expected.
I know Captain, but that doesn't mean that everything is all right. Now, I'll be within transporter range within twenty-four hours. However, if I increase speed to warp seven I'll be there five hours and thirty-two minutes earlier. Anyway when I arrive I want a meeting with you, Doctor Crusher and that android...you know the yellow one. Data is his name I believe. A bit overwhelmed by the speed of her words Jean-Luc's mind took a moment to comprehend her words.
"I'll see to it Ambassador."
Good, now if you'll excuse me; I have a shuttle to pilot. The screen went black and the relieved Captain leaned back in his chair. 'That was less difficult than I had expected.' He was on his way to Sickbay when her last words hit him. 'She's flying herself?! Boy, she must have been really in a hurry.' When he walked out the Turbolift he was still caught up in his thoughts and bumped into a tall, bearded man, wearing a commanding uniform.
"Oh I'm sorry Number One." Without slowing his pace he continued his way until he remembered that Will was on 'shore leave'. Abruptly turning around he scanned the corridor, but no one was there.
"Computer: identify person in Turbolift 1."
Trubolift 1 is empty.
"What is the location of Commander Riker?"
Commander Riker is not onboard the Enterprise. Frowning he continued his way. 'Must be my mind playing tricks with me.'
~-~-~-~-~
Deanna had been in Sickbay for twenty-four hours now, and still hadn't regained consciousness. That wasn't the proper term to describe her condition. Technically she was just asleep, nothing more, nothing less. Only no one could wake her.
Lwaxana kept telling them that her daughter would wake up, but after twenty-four hours Beverly wasn't so sure anymore. Although she knew better she blamed herself. After all, hadn't she been the one that had treated Deanna? Hadn't she been the one who had told her she was perfectly healthy again? She shook her head in frustration, trying to stop accusing herself. But the little voice in the back of her head kept nagging and nagging.
~-~-~-~-~
Finally, after six hours of intensive surgery, they had done everything they could and Deanna Troi was returned to her private room. Beverly didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. The injuries had been healed as well as possible, but Deanna would have quite a long way to go before she would've fully recovered. Like she had expected Jean-Luc was waiting for her in her office.
"How is she?"
"As well as can be expected. I've healed the fractured cheekbone and arm. Her back is repaired as well as possible but it will be a while before she'll be able to walk again." Although his face didn't show any emotion he felt sorry for the tiny Betazoid.
"How bad was it?"
"She suffered a multi-fraction in her lower spine..." Just before she was about to spit out a flow of medical terms she caught his gaze. "...Two vertebrae in her lower back were broken. Fortunately the damage to her spinal cord was minimal." Jean-Luc sighed quietly. Like Beverly he felt guilty about what had happened. After all, Deanna had taken the blast meant for him.
"So she'll be fine then?" The man couldn't hide the hope in his voice.
"I'm not sure..." His eyes widened in a light shock. "...The blast she took hit her on her upper left thigh. The wound hasn't been properly bandaged and is infected. I've treated the infection with antibiotics but it'll take a while before it makes a difference. Her muscular tissue in the wound area has deceased. Several large veins have been cut and the edges of the wound have been slightly burned." The silence was an awkward and Jean-Luc felt he -had- to say something, anything. So he merely stated what he already knew.
"That sounds rather serious." A slight grateful smile curled around the Doctor's thin lips. When she spoke her words were a mix of happiness and sadness.
"She should have died. Thanks to all the deities she didn't, but putting all the events and injuries together she should've died." Together they stood just outside Troi's room watching the regular rise and fall of her chest.
"She seems so peaceful, relaxed. Anyone else who had been through such a trauma would be fighting for their lives, or would have given up already. But it seems as if she's just asleep, like everything she went through was nothing more than just a bad dream."
The Captain had to second his wife's observation. Beverly had voiced her concern that Deanna's current condition wasn't solely the repercussion of her captivity but that Will's absence probably had something to do with it as well. Although he hated to admit it, he believed she was right.
~*+*~
Sitting in his usual place he watched the Senior Staff members enter the Observation Lounge one by one. The seats at his side remained empty. They were all aware of Deanna's serious condition since each of them had been involved in bringing her back. Lifting up his head he tipped it towards Doctor Crusher.
"Doctor."
"I've just completed the surgery on Commander Troi..." Nervously the others exchanged looks before giving the CMO their full attention. "...There's a good chance she'll recover fully..." Sighs of relief filled the room, but when Beverly finished her sentence they all grew silent. "...physically."
"As you know there was a large amount of drugs in the Commander's body when we beamed her up. Commander Data has studied the effects of the drugs." As if on cue Data stood up and walked to the vid-screen behind the Captain. He pushed a few buttons and a list of long, unpronounceable words appeared.
"These are the drugs we found in Commander Troi's body system. They waited for Data to continue and enlighten them. "Each drug alone should not cause any lasting physical harm. A person who has any of those drugs in his system can suffer a headache, concentration difficulties and possibly amnesia."
The android paused dramatically and watched the response from his colleagues with curiosity. "All the drugs put together will increase their effects...on humans." Again he paused, but quickly continued when he observed signs of annoyance and irritation. "In Commander Troi's case however, the drugs caused her brain's production of Kyralite to slow down significantly."
"Kyralite enzymes enable Deanna to keep the emotions of others apart from her own." Beverly quickly explained.
"Indeed Doctor. That is what caused the shifts in emotion we saw on the tape." The other Senior Staff members had seen the first part of the tape. Jean-Luc and Beverly thought it would be wiser not to show the rest until they knew exactly what had happened.
"The drugs also increased her levels of psilo-synine, ardronine, neurotransmitters and communication enzymes as well as decreased the level of Gyronine." Before the android could continue Beverly interrupted, anticipating that if Data continued none of the others would understand.
"All that caused that Deanna's telepathic abilities to be increased by several orders of magnitude. But it also made it impossible for her to block out any thought or emotion from any life form around her."
"It must have been like sharing your head with thousands of others." The sadness in Picard's voice was clear, despite his attempt to hide it.
"Is that also the reason she developed telekinetic abilities?" Everyone's eyes shifted to the Chief of Security at the end of the table.
"That is possible, but we can't be sure. Hopefully Ambassador Troi will be able to answer that question for us."
"Ambassador Troi?!" They regarded their Commanding Officer with wide eyes.
"Yes; she'll arrive sometime tomorrow." Judging by the facial expressions of his crew they didn't know exactly how they felt about that announcement. "Starfleet Command has put us on 'inactive' duty for a week. During that time we will remain in orbit. Any questions?"
He gave each of his officers an intense but brief glance, his eyes searching for unvoiced questions or concerns. Finding no such emotions he sighed and raised his hand slightly. "All right, that will be all." His staff rose to stand and calmly walked out; leaving their Captain, CMO and Chief of Security behind.
"Ladies..." The two women exchanged a knowing look; Deanna had been right, he had loosened up. Though he saw the exchange he didn't ask; knowing he wouldn't get an answer anyway.
"Captain I'd like to know whether or not Counselor Troi still possesses her telekinetic powers." The Doctor and the Captain glanced at each other; their gazes acknowledging the fact that neither of them had thought about that until now.
"Doctor?"
"I'm...not sure of it..." Fko opened her mouth, ready to explain that Commnder Troi could be a serious threat to the ship and its crew but Beverly cut her off. "...I have decided to keep her sedated at least until Lwaxana arrives."
Feeling like she had to defend Deanna she explained her reasoning. "She is exhausted, mentally more so than physically. And the drugs are still present in her system. If she regains consciousness she will experience every single emotion and thought from every single crewmember. It's safer for her..." Catching the gaze of the other woman she quickly adjusted her sentence "..._and_for us if she remains unconscious for now." The others nodded in agreement.
"So what's next?" The cheery tone of the woman's voice triggered a smile.
"Nothing until Lwaxana arrives..."
"And then all he*l breaks loose huh?" His wife finished for him. They all laughed; their minds drifting back to the elder Troi's last visit.
///One year earlier"
Ah, I'm happy to see that Jean-Luc didn't hire such a primitive ape like -what-is-his-name-again- oh Mr. Woof."
"Mother..." Gently Deanna tried to interrupt, but failed.
"I cannot understand how any telepath or empath..." Lwaxana threw a meaningful glance at her daughter. "...Could live around a creature with such a primitive and violent mind for so long.
"Mother." A bit more emphatically Deanna tried again...and once again failed.
"He was even less civilized than a human!"
"Mother!" Deanna was on the verge of anger now, but contained herself. But as always Lwaxana continued without visibly taking notice of her daughter's protest.
"Let me have a look at you dear." With her hands on Fko's shoulders Mrs. Troi turned her around. The Chief herself was too stunned to protest. "Hmm, yes definitely better. Though I might need to talk to the Council and bring up a new model for uniforms."
Deanna stayed quiet, her mother had said she'd do so for four years now and she had yet to actually do so. The younger Troi just shook her head, smiling sadly and throwing a sympathic look at the woman who had taken over Worf's job. At that moment the First Officer of the Enterprise entered. His eyes briefly locked with the Counselor's and then turned to the elder Troi and the woman she held at an arm's length.
~Another trophy for you William?~ Hearing Lwaxana's sarcastic comment suddenly in his head he froze. Deanna too picked up on the thought and her eyes flashed with rage.
"How DARE you mother!" But the Ambassador didn't even blink her eyes.
~You know very well what I mean Little One.~ And she did. After all, hadn't she thought exactly the same thing when she introduced Riker to their new Chief of Security?
"Well William, since you're late I assume you have...other things to do." Her little hesitation had been intentional, and he knew it had been a warning to him...and to Deanna.
"Jean-Luc, will you see to it that my luggage is brought to my quarters? I'm sure the new Lieutenant here won't mind escorting me to my temporary residence. Deanna, please come see me in about an hour Dear." And Lwaxana Troi left; pulling a still dazzled Security Chief with her. Jean-Luc threw a sympathic glance at Deanna and quietly left the room.
"Well I guess that solves our problem as to how to tell her." Giving her his famous, or infamous smirk he closed the distance between them, enveloping her in his arms. She sighed in annoyance.
"It doesn't Will. She gives me a warning like this every time she visits. I think she warned you too this time because she must have felt that my feelings for you have increased." He looked at her incredulously, but then smiled and hugged her tighter. "What?"
"I just realized how well you know your family and friends." The empath simply smiled back and snuggled closer against her lover. 'Well, I guess the family part isn't that hard.' The thought was meant for herself, but her mother responded almost immediately.
~And what is that supposed to mean?~ Will felt her stiffen slightly and gently squeezed her arm. She pulled herself out his embrace and took his hand, completely ignoring her mother.
"Come on, let's get something to eat." Beverly followed them in silence.\\\
18 hours later...
"Mrs. Troi, welcome onboard..."
"Skip the pleasantries Jean-Luc, I want to see my daughter." Without wasting a second Lwaxana strode to the doors and headed for Sickbay, leaving the dumbfounded Picards behind. They exchanged frowns and hastily followed. They caught up with the Ambassador and followed in silence. "Doctor I want a full medical report on my daughter's condition." Beverly glanced at her Captain who nodded in agreement.
"Of course Mrs. Troi."
~-~-~-~-~
~D~