Silence.
Drawing another deep breath she forced herself to speak louder.
"Computer: Location of Commander Worf?"
This time short high-pitched beeps echoed throughout the Bridge, indicating the computer was trying to determine the location of her husband. Expectantly Deanna look up, half expecting her husband to be there.
Commander Worf is not onboard the Enterprise. The Betazoid sighed of relief, triggering a confused look from the officers around her.
"Computer: specify whereabouts of Commander Worf." It now dawned Riker that the first reply of the computer hadn't reached Deanna at all. Instead she seemed to belief that Worf was onboard. Quickly he got out of his chair and reach for Troi's shoulders, cutting of the computers reply as he did so. Gently but firmly he began to push her to his Ready Room.
"Will? What are you--?"
"Shh, just follow please." Reluctantly she did as asked. Why wouldn't he let her go? She wanted to see her husband, feel his strong arms around her, reassuring herself he was indeed there. But nonetheless she followed her Captain into his Ready Room.
Riker wondered how he was supposed to make Deanna see that Worf wasn't there? And more important, that he wouldn't return? He recalled the days after Captain Picard had died, back than it had been Deanna who had kept them together, who had made them deal with the loss of their Captain. But now, she was the one who needed help and he didn't have a clue how to give it to her.
The door closed behind them, extracting them from the curious and worried gazes of the other Bridge officers. "Deanna, have a seat." Still confused she sat down. Why wouldn't he let her go to see Worf? Why was he so serious? In her eyes her confusion was clearly visible, her hands were folded in her lap and her hair covered her shoulders and back. Will couldn't recall a day she had ever looked so beautiful. He sighed deeply and then sat down next to her, knowing the news he would have to tell her would be devastating to her.
"Will? Why have you brought me here?" He locked his eyes and momentarily experienced the most curious sensation of home. Shaking the feeling of he decided that to take Troi's own advice 'The best way out is through'.
""Deanna," He took another deep breath and hoped his heart would stop racing before it would explode, "Worf isn't onboard. He didn't return." She looked at him blankly for several moments and then, totally in contradictions with his expectations, began to laugh.
"Very funny Will, c'mon, you heard what the computer said." Realizing this would be tougher than he expected he sat down next to her, knowing there was only one way to make her belief him.
"What *did* the computer say Deanna?" She looked at him as if he was her mother being polite.
"You heard what the computer said. 'Commander Worf is onboard the Enterprise.'" Sadly he shook his head and at her quizzical look he called out to the computer himself.
"Computer: location of Commander Worf?"
Commander Worf is not onboard the Enterprise. For a minute she just sat there, frozen, not making a single movement. Finally hearing the truth rather than her hopes. Then she suddenly stood up, nearly pushing Riker off the couch in the progress. She bolted to the door, trying to escape the truth in a moment of despair.
"Deanna!" His urgent whisper reached her before the door opened and magically made her halt and turn around. In her black eyes he could now see the shimmer of unshed tears and she began to tremble a little more violently with each passing second. Her Worf wasn't coming back, her husband, the father of her children had disappeared and was now somewhere, somewhere where she couldn't reach him, no matter how hard she would try.