Chapt. 6

Reluctantly she gazed into her quarters, her eyes tracing every toy, every piece of clothing and every drawing on the walls. The room looked almost exactly as it had that morning, save for a few toys here and there. Unconsciously she reached out for the minds of her children, finding nothing but silence. Not totally aware of her surroundings or her actions she walked into the living area and halted when she'd reached the center. She stood there for century-lasting seconds her eyes unseeing, her heart and mind frantically trying to find her husband and children.

When Riker arrived five minutes later she was still standing there, not having moved a muscle. He studied her for a while, trying to decide how to act. Finally he decided to simply give in to his first impulse and walked up behind her. Just as he started to slip his arms around her to pull her against him she moved away.

"Don't touch me." Her voice carried no emotion and when she turned around he saw her face was blank as well. Her jaw set in determination she threw her head slightly back and met his gaze squarely. "If you'll excuse me, I have an appointment." She strode past him and briskly exited the quarters, leaving Riker behind with a feeling of déjà-vû. A bit shocked by the sudden change in her behavior he watched her retreat with open mouth.

Her behavior was very much the same as it had been when she'd lost her empathic senses. Only this time there wasn't a chance the 'damage' would simply be undone. "Computer: location of Counselor Troi?"

Counselor Troi is in her office Of course. Denial was almost natural for Deanna that much had become clear over the years. When faced with emotional distress the counselor had a tendency of burying herself in her work.

Reaching that conclusion the captain tried to hail her and was coldly ignored. Of course. He sighed and for a moment allowed his face to fall in sadness before he barged out the quarters and hurried for her office. Once there she refused to let him in, which was a larger obstacle than it would've been, had she not been the ship's counselor.

To overwrite the lock on her office he needed to give the computer his security code, as well as that of his first officer or chief security. And with that in mind he paged Commander J'haq. Four minutes later the doors whooshed open and he was faced with the back of a dark-haired officer and a calm, collected counselor sitting cross-legged on the couch across the room.

He dismissed J'haq with a simple wave of the hand and moved far enough into the officer so her could recognize her patient. "Lieutenant Jmaeso, you're dismissed." His quiet order brought both the lieutenant and the counselor to their feet. "You cannot do that!" she exclaimed.

"On the contrary counselor, I can and I am" he returned calmly, and then spun to face the lieutenant. "Liza, you might want to reschedule with counselor Stewart."

"Yes sir" she mumbled and hurried past him.

Blazing black eyes welcomed him as he turned back to face a very dangerous looking psychologist. "How *dare* you disturbing a session like that!"

"How dare *you* even practicing psychology now!" He shot back, adopting full captain-mode to get through to her. "In case you haven't noticed --captain-- I'm *am* a psychologist." She almost made it too easy. Will stepped forward and placed his hands on her shoulders, waiting just long enough for her to look into his eyes.

"You're not a psychologist now Deanna." No captain there, just him, her best friend. "You're a wife. And a mother." She couldn't take the compassion radiating from him, the gentleness in his voice and angrily pushed him away from her.

"Keep you hand off me and leave me alone!" He did as asked --at least partially-- and stepped away as he raised his hands in surrender.

"All right. I won't touch you, but I won't leave you alone." She eyed him without apparent emotion and remained staring for a long, long time.