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Thank you all for the encouraging reviews ;) I switched the rating from PG-13 to R for disturbing scenes. One chapter will be uploaded a week (on Fridays) I hope you'll enjoy the story (for as much as 'enjoying' is a correct word in this context…) and please, think of me every now and then and review? *sweet smile*

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Chapter Twenty-Seven: Welcome Home

The Present...

"Data...?" Before he could finish his question the android already answered. "Seven minutes Commander." For a second Riker's eyes remained on the back of Data's head. Was that sarcasm in his voice? Unconsciously he admitted that he'd asked the same question at least twenty times since he'd returned to the Bridge from lunch, which had been just over thirty minutes ago.

It made him feel better that even the Captain was showing signs of nervousness as well. All the Senior Staff officers were present at the command center of the Flagship of the Federation and all were eager to reach their destination, yet at the same time couldn't help being frightened and nervous. Jean-Luc Picard was seating in the center as usually, his left hand tightly holding that of his wife, Beverly Howard-Crusher-Picard who was seated on his left side.

Will's 'own' chair was occupied by Doctor Kate Pulaski, he had offered it to her, knowing his nerves wouldn't allow him to use it anyway. Data was seated at the left con and Raha Dax was in control of the helm. The Trill had four lifetimes of experiencing in flying just about anything and Riker couldn't think of anyone he'd rather have steering now. Jaka Fko was standing at her usual position behind the arch that held the weapon and shields controls and Geordi was standing near the Engineering station.

It was safe to say the Enterprise was prepared for just about every situation...except for the one they found.

"Captain," The urgency in Data's voice draw everyone's attention instantly, "the Hydra seems to be...decloaking."

"Decloaking? On screen!" Totally confused the First Officer and Captain briefly locked their eyes. In the weeks the Hydra had been followed by Starfleet ships, probes and sensor arrays the Hydra had never *once* decloaked. And now she was decloaking right in front of their noses.

"Sensors indicate random system failure, power fluctuations and off-line warp engines." If possible the confusion that had spread throughout the Bridge grew even more. "What is going on there?" Riker murmured to no one in particular.

"Sir," Jaka's surprisingly calm and steady voice sliced through the silence, "we are being hailed by Admiral Janeway."

"Half screen Lieutenant." Obediently the Security Chief pushed some controls and mere instances later Janeway's face appeared on the right half of the main viewer.

"Captain, our sensors are indicating some major problems onboard the Hydra."

"Yes, our sensors confirmed that. It might be a trap, but I sincerely doubt it." What he wouldn't give to have Deanna at his side now, the captain thought smugly. She could've told them instantly whether or not it was a trap.

"I tend to agree Jean-Luc, but what to do next?" His intentional reply was cut of by Fko who's voice had suddenly lost its calmness. "The Hydra is sending out a distress call."

"Let's hear it!" The tension that had replaced the nervousness hung like a thick cload around each officer. What was going on on that vessel? How could they bring Deanna back onboard?

Help us! Enterprise you have to help us! She's going to kill us all! Stop her! The man was absolutely terrified, his voice sent chills down Riker's spine. We did not know! We can't control her! She's driving everyone insane! People are killing each other and-- Abruptly the man was silent, just long enough for Picard to glance around his Bridge and see the reactions of his officers to the unknown man's plea. Then just as suddenly as the voice had died it began again, this time utterly calm. This is what we deserve and I accept it. We should never have treated her like we did. Her pain is unbearable I can feel it raging through my body and yet I feel a calmness so serene it's the best feeling I've ever had.

"The communication has been terminated Captain." Rendered speechless Jean-Luc merely nodded his acknowledgement. His mind, just like that of everyone else who'd heard the man, was trying to put what the man had told them in perspective, trying to figure out what he meant. After half a minute it was Data who calmly interrupted his strain of thoughts.

"The Hydra has dropped her shields. Scanning for Counselor Troi," everyone held their breath as they waited for Data to continue and after a long tensed silence he did, "I have located one half human/ half Betazoid female but I am unable to beam her up. She seems to be shielded." The face of both Picards fell for instance, but just as soon Beverly queried, "the same signature as before?"

"Affirmative Doctor, only the shield is approximately 300% stronger now." Everyone gasped at his words. Everyone except Will Riker, for he had no idea what they were talking about.

"Any ideas how to get her out of it? We can't beam over with the ship in the condition it is in now." To Will the answer seemed obvious, after all there were protocols for situations in which one needed to disengage an enemies force field.

"Take down the source or try and overload it."

"Impossible Commander." Confused he looked at his Captain. Impossible? What the heck?!

"Let me try." Beverly's whisper was so soft Will was surprised he'd heard it, he wondered what she meant.

"Beverly." The warning in Picard's voice was undeniable, Will saw how Beverly assuring squeezed her husbands hand before she withdrew hers and folded her hands in her lap, mimicking a posture almost characteristic to Deanna. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, drawing on the small amount of mind sending techniques Deanna had taught her.

She tried to picture Deanna's face in her mind and recalled the emotions she associated with her friend. Knowing there wasn't much time left Beverly formed an unspoken sentence and tried to send it to her best friend. Hoping with every fiber of her being she would receive it and listen.

~Deanna? It's Bev, let us beam you home.~ For nearly a minute Beverly remained seated with her eyes closed and just when she was about to give up a soft and unsure voice rang through her mind.

~Bev? You're here?~ Accompanied by the question she felt a slight tingle that she'd come to familiarize with a mental scan. She didn't bother to reply, knowing she wouldn't be able to send a message again. Instead she cleared her mind and focused on the woman that she had grown to love as a sister.

The tingle fainted and just before the link between the two women was broken she heard one word echoing through her mind. ~Home~

The officers on the Enterprise watched her in surprise as she also spoke the word out a loud, but before any of them could say anything a woman materialized on the Bridge. In almost the same second an explosion on the view screen made them turn and watch the Hydra as it exploded into millions of tiny shreds, but just as soon they shifted their gazes back to Troi, more concerned for the well-being of their friend then for the exploded vessel. Her fiery green gaze studied each of the staff present, seemingly burning their way into their minds. When those green eyes locked on the blue ones of the First Officer he nearly jumped back, startled by their intensity and unfamiliarity. Deanna on her turn reacted quite distressed.

"No," her voice nothing more than a faint whisper and her features drawn in horror, "no. That's not possible! Please, oh gods, please!"

Instinctively Will reached out to her, overcome the initial shock. "Deanna?" Unlike he expected she didn't whisper his name in return. Unlike Beverly expected she didn't attack him, but instead a silent scream left her lips as she staggered backwards and collapsed.

Again Riker reached out to her, hoping that he could draw her out of the nightmare in which she was trapped if only he could lock his eyes on her. Deanna crawled back, shying away from the hand that was trying to reach her and the piercing blue eyes she had come to fear.

Once back against the wall she was trapped. ~No where to run, no where to hide Imzadi, never." The calm and threatening voice echoed through her psyche, she had stopped fighting it long ago. But she was back on the Enterprise now, she was home and she would *not* let him take that away from her again!

The flames in her green eyes fired up again as she locked them on the blue eyes of the man standing before her. Thinking he'd come through to her Will's confidence grew and he closed in on her step by step never noting Beverly's warnings or pleas until she yelled at him. "Damn it Will! You're scaring her!!!" His eyes briefly left Troi's but it was already too late, Deanna's voice blasted throughout his mind on a deafening tone, ~GET AWAY FROM ME!!!~. He nearly blacked out by the sheer amount of anger and desperation behind her scream but managed to keep his footing, leaning on Katherine who'd jumped up behind him.

"Will, walk away from her." He shook his head. She needed his help, he couldn't leave now. "Don't you see she's terrified of you? Let her be." As he looked at Troi's bruised face he saw a lot of emotions, but none of them being fear.

"Number One, step away from the Counselor." This time it was Captain Picard who urged him, for he'd seen something in his counselor's eyes far more disturbing than fear. Sensing no one currently paid attention to her Troi slowly stood up in a nearly animalistic way.

It was only when she was standing Will realized something was wrong because he felt two large hands closing around his throat and lifting him into the air. When he tried to face his attacker he was unsuccessful for the simple fact that there was no one to be seen. It was now Troi who advanced towards Riker, her defensive stance made the others step back, leaving Will completely to her mercy.

His air supply was quickly diminishing and his face became redder with each passing second. "You cannot hurt me anymore, I won't let you!" she whispered the words through clenched teeth, keeping her furious gaze lock on him. As he ran out of air horrendous pictures popped up in his mind, despair, loss, revulsion and fear wrapped themselves tightly around his heart turning his breathing shallow and quick.

Desperately he glanced around, begging his friends for help. He saw Jean-Luc whispering to someone but he couldn't make out his words, or to whom he was speaking. Beverly was now seated in the Captain's Chair, her eyes closed and her features drawn in concentration. Kate was standing a few feet next to him, her eyes fixed on Troi's face and he spotted Jaka on his other side, aiming a phaser on the Betazoid who was strangling him. He wanted to yell at the Security Chief that she shouldn't fire at Deanna but he couldn't make any sound. He needed to get away from her invisible hold on him, he needed to convince her to let him go. And fast for he had almost run out of air.

Not being able to talk he tried to use their bond, unsure it would work because it hadn't been used for ten months. Surprise hit him when his thoughts reached her far more easily than ever before. ~Deanna, let me go. Please?! I won't hurt you, I promise.~ He knew for a fact she had heard him, but she didn't react at all.

Beverly in the mean time was quietly humming an ancient Betazoid lullaby she'd heard Deanna sing many times before. If only she could reach her friend she could help her but she didn't seem to be able to penetrate the layers of anguish, fear, pain and hatred that had wrapped themselves around the empath's heart and mind. Luckily for her, her human mind made it impossible to actually experience those emotions herself as an empath would've had.

For the first time in two months Troi's mind was confronted with sensations of friendship and love. Surprised by the unwavering strength flowing beneath the thoughts of those around her Deanna gasped and finally released Riker. Not a second to soon, he dropped on the floor and gulped in breaths of air for several moments, trying to compose himself. None of the others seemed to notice his release and kept their eyes on the pained features of the Betazoid softly whispering soothing and calming words to her.

When the ship's CMO realized Deanna's resolve began to crumble she pushed herself out the comfortable chair and approached her. With barely a meter left to separate the two women Beverly finally spoke aloud. "Shh Dea it's all right. You're home, no one will hurt you. We're your friends, we'll protect you and we love you." With each spoken word the fire in her green eyes died a little until, as Beverly spoke the last three words, she closed her eyes and allowed her friends' emotions wash over her replacing part of her pain if only for a minute.

She was home, on the Enterprise, safe.

And tears rolled down her cheeks. Some of joy, some of pain. Deanna lowered herself to the ground and buried her face in her hands.

As fast as she could Beverly sat down besides her and enveloped her within her long arms. Deanna's cries grew louder and more violently as she clutched the doctor tightly. "Shh...you'll be all right." Troi pressed closer against her, needing to feel her comforting presence. Everything Thomas had done to her was still fresh in her mind and the pain she had felt was still very present, but she hoped she could fight the memories with the help of her friends.

"S'srahi emit t'rei hiuiy." Surprised by Deanna's probably Betazoid words Beverly exchanged a glance with her husband, who turned to Data asking the android a question without voicing it.

"I believe she is asking for our help Sir." Picard nodded his acknowledgement and turned back tot the two women cradled in each other's arms. Without turning around he spoke again to Data.

"Can you tell her that's she's safe and that we'll help her?" Curious as to why the Captain would want him to speak to Troi in Betazoid Data asked. After a few words however he broke off the question, suddenly realizing the insignificance. He accessed the very few databases about Troi's maternal language available and when he'd gathered enough information he stepped closer to her.

"Ihiay Gaia Zinq, su veilag ra t'rei." Though the words were definitely alien, his pronunciation missed the musical tone most Betazoids had. Nonetheless hearing the words had an ever so slightly calming influence on Deanna.

Tears escaped her black eyes and strangled sobs worked their way up her throat. Soon her bruised and aching body was shaking from her unleashed pain and fear. For the first time in months she dared to let out all her anguish. Feeling save surrounded by the minds and thoughts of her friends.

Unconsciously the Bridge officers had formed a half circle around the CMO and the Betazoid, carefully keeping their minds on positive, loving and heeling thoughts.

When Beverly thought it was time she ordered direct transport to Sickbay for her, Deanna and doctor Pulaski and within seconds the three women disappeared.

The remaining officers couldn't help but let out a deep sigh of relief. Captain Troi had been rescued and with that the tense months of trying to track down the vessel carrying their First Officer. With their turmoil raging inside them each returned to his or her duty station, their minds lingering in Sickbay.

The expression on the stern face of the Captain was strained, which was a clear indication of his troubled mind. In the months of the search his goals were simple: get Deanna back onboard and support his pregnant wife. Now that one of the goals had been reached he was faced with more questions than he'd care to admit. What happened to the Hydra? Who had held Deanna and why? What had he done to her? Would she recover and if so, how long would it take her? Would Beverly be able to handle her best friend's treatment? Would the stress be too much for her?

And what about Will? How would he handle the entire situation? It was strange to realize how easily the man had slipped back into the position of XO, even though finding himself in a stressful situation after nine months of absence. Talking about XO's...what was he to do with two of them? Although it probably wouldn't be difficult to reassign either of them, he wasn't keen to loose Deanna or Will. It *was* about damn time Riker took his own command he figured.

At his right Riker wasn't battling as many questions as his Captain, but his worry for Troi was clearly etched on his face. Since his return to the Enterprise life had been one surprise after the other. Suddenly Riker jumped out his chair, drawing the attention of his Captain. "Sir, permission to go to Sickbay."

"Negative Commander." Picard's abrupt and matter-of-factly answer rendered Riker speechless. It wasn't often he'd heard him speak in such tone and when he did something either upset him personally or he was fighting enemies. "Sir?"

"You're not going Commander, sit down." Baffled by the sternness in his voice Will did as told and sat down. When he tried to reach Deanna mentally he only encountered silence, she was probably under sedation and being prepped for possible surgery. Kate and Beverly were probably the two best doctors in Starfleet, but that knowledge didn't quell his concern. In an attempt to keep his mind busy Riker decided to view the sensor logs of the Hydra's explosion.