Chapt. 29

Deanna glanced around the filled tables in Ten-Forward and put her utensils side to side on her now empty plate. After wiping the corners of her mouth with her napkin she threw that too on her plate and stood up. When she passed the bar on her way to the exit she dropped her plate off, smiling at the man who took it from her. She felt the eyes of some of her shipmates on her back as they studied her walk and since it had been a long day and she had nearly overstepped her limits walking normally was out of the question and with each step she lost more and more of her balance and strength.

Alone in the Turbolift she leaned gratefully against the wall, as soon as the lift halted to allow a second person entrance however, she pushed herself into a normal position, hoping her legs wouldn't give out from under her. To her surprise it was Will Riker he entered. "Hello Will" she greeted him cheerfully, hoping that her mood would transfer onto him, but he just continued ignoring her, not even returning her greeting.

Enough was enough.

Determined not to let him get away with his behavior Deanna maneuvered herself between her captain and the door, just before it opened. "Deanna" he said warily.

"No Will, you've been avoiding me for weeks and I'd like some answers." She ignored the burning in her shins best she could, but nonetheless she felt it creep higher and higher as she waiting for Will to answer her.

But instead of answering he simply said "Counselor, I'm in a hurry, excuse me" and brushed past her when she wouldn't move away.

In her already weakened state Deanna failed to keep her ground and when he pushed her shoulder she yelped and fell. The fire that had been slowly burning her legs intensified and she couldn't stifle her cry of pain.

On the positive side, for the first time since three weeks did Will Riker pay attention to her. "Deanna!"

"I'm, I'm all right sir." She assured him through gritted teeth; determined not to allow him to see how weak she still was. But when he pulled her back to her feet she failed to keep standing when he let go. Troi now realized his mental blocks had cracked and concern dripped into her mind.

Before she understood what was happening Riker had lifted her in his arms and was on his way to Sickbay. Within minutes he'd reached their destination and put her down on a biobed, but as soon as he had alerted the Doctor he was gone, without as much as telling her good bye.

Frustration built up in Troi; what the hell was he thinking?! Not five weeks ago he'd promised to always be there for here after sweeping her feet from under her with the most earth shattering kiss she'd ever experienced and now he was avoiding her as if touching her was lethal. Why did he have to tell her he loved her and then act opposite? And for that matter...why had she fallen for him? Again. The tears were building up in her eyes again and she tried to keep them inside, but damn it Riker was well on his way to break her heart yet again!

When Beverly appeared at her side she rolled her head way, not willing to answer her friend's prying questions. "What happened Dea?"

"Will ran me over."

"What?"

"You heard me; he threw me on the floor." And not just my body, she added mentally and began to cry.