The Ties That Bind

This story and all themes and ideas contained in said story are the sole ownership of J.L. Scott. Any copyright infringements can be prosecuted in a court of law.

To borrow a phrase: Star Trek: The Next Generation no mine...no money, no sue, please?

"So," Will said conversationally, helping Miranda to clear the plates and cups away from her quarters, "I like your artwork" Data had talked her into parading several of his favorite pieces to her guests. The group, in turn, had finally succeeded in talking her into doing a gallery show with Data.

"It'll be great!" Wesley had exclaimed in that always excited fashion of his, "We can design a whole program on the holodeck" Miranda had agreed with a bemused smile.

"Yeah? Well, whatever" she replied, restacking the canvases. For a second though, she had sounded excited. Will wasn't sure if it was a sign of some sort of acceptance or not, but he decided to push his luck.

"So, are you going to tell me about Park?" Miranda didn't even turn around, but Will saw her stiffen.

"He's no one, it's nothing" she said a little too quickly.

"When people say that, it generally means it is something" Will prodded. There had definitely been something between the two of them. The way Park had looked at her made Will very nervous. And he'd called her "Randy". The way she had reacted to his sudden appearance didn't make Will breathe any easier. It wasn't that she'd been hostile...Miranda was always hostile to almost everyone...it was more the smell of fear rolling off of her.

It was back. She spun around swiftly, her eyes blazing with the look of a cornered animal. A wild wolverine, maybe.

"I said it was nothing, okay!" she yelled, literally.

"Why won't you talk to me" Will asked, keeping his distance.

"Why should I?" she cried back.

"I'm your brother for heavens sake!" Miranda puffed and flicked her dark hair, which she wore down to her waist, over her shoulder. Her blue eyes were like ice and Will saw that flash of Riker determination flare in them. He knew they'd reached a breaking point.

"What does that mean? It means nothing in our case"

"We have more in common than you think" he replied, then smoothed his tone, trying to soothe her, "We both had rough childhoods. It's not like Dad was there for me either. I know how you feel"

"No you don't!" Miranda took a threatening step forward, wild anger raging through her veins so strongly Will could actually feel it, backlash from her empathic abilities, "You don't know a thing! You weren't there!"
"That's not my fault, Miranda! I would've been there, but I didn't even know you existed!" Will replied.

"No, no he didn't even bother to tell you! I was so horrible he could tell you about me! He hated me! And you're just like him! You hate me!"

"Miranda, I don't hate you!" Will told her desperately. She should be able to tell he wasn't lying, but her own emotions were drowning his out. She was shaking now and Will took a step forward, afraid she would hurt herself.

"Yes you do! Yes you do! You hate me! I hate you! Do you hear me! I hate you! I hate you!" She threw a vase of flowers at him and it exploded against the wall behind him. She rushed at him, clawing and screaming and batting at him.

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" Will caught her and hugged her close to him, letting her pound away at him.

"I hate you!" she cried again, repeating it like a mantra until finally she burst into tears, sagging into Will, who kissed the top of her head and let her weep.

They stood there for what seemed like hours, until Miranda actually fell asleep standing up. Will carefully lifted her long form and carried her back to the bed. Tear stains were streaked across her face and her hair lay in tangles across the pillow. For the first time, Will noticed the bedding was acid green. The couch was hot yellow. She had found dark purple curtains for the windows. The now shattered vase had been brilliant orange. Will realized what a clash she was, with her antiques and paintings, blended nicely with wild décor. A reflection of her personality. Warm and cold and wise and young all at once.

She whimpered in her sleep and Will turned a loving eye on her. He suddenly thought he'd never seen a more beautiful girl. Not even Deanna could compare. Will suddenly had strong urge to make the universe perfect for her.

He must've watched her for a long time because the next thing he knew he was waking up. She had curled up next to him, her head resting in his lap. For a second, he wondered what had woken him, until she screamed again, and the ship shook at the same time.

"Miranda?" he shook her, but she didn't open her eyes.

"Picard to Riker"

"Captain, there's something wrong with Miranda" Will told him.

"Stay there, I'll be right down" Picard said. Will tapped his badge and Miranda shuddered.

"Riker to Crusher"

"I'm already on my way, Will" Beverly's voice came back, "Can you wake her?"

"I've tried. Her whole body's shaking, Doctor" Will replied.

"I'm coming as fast as I can" the Doctor told him. Will had to stop his sister from rolling off the bed as the ship shook again, accompanied by a scream from Miranda. The door opened and a staggering Deanna entered, still in her night clothes and with her hair in wild tangles.

"My god, Will!" she cried, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know" he answered, "I was hoping you could tell me"
Deanna shook her head with some obvious discomfort, "All I can hear is her screaming"

Miranda moaned and tossed a bit. Will hauled her into a sitting position and shook her.

"Miranda! Can you hear me? Wake up!" But she was unresponsive. Beverly arrived with the Captain, who had Data, Geordi and Worf in tow.

"Can you tell what's wrong with her Doctor?" Jean-Luc asked.

Beverly frowned at her tricorder readings.

"There is extreme cranial stress. Her neural pathways are overloaded. Sir, I need to get her to sickbay to run further tests" At that second, the ship rocked again and Miranda's scream yet again ripped the air.

"She screams every time the ship shakes" Will reported, "That can't be a coincidence"

"I think you're right, Commander" Geordi agreed. He was reading his own tricorder now, "Sir, if these readings are right, Miranda is the source of the attack on the ship"

"How is that possible?" Deanna, now rubbing her temples, asked.

"Human bodies do radiate a small electrical field" Data explained, "Theoretically, if enhanced enough, it could present a danger to the ship"

"Data, that charge is negligible. It would have to be enhanced a hundred times to cause even the slightest problem for the ship" Beverly argues.

"I am aware of that, Doctor" Data said. Another shriek from Miranda and concurrent roll of the ship seemed to confirm his hypothesis, however.

"How is she doing it, Data?" the Captain asked.

"I do not know, sir"

"Does anyone know anything?" Will demanded angrily, but no one took offense.

"Deanna, what can you tell us?" Jean-Luc inquired instead.

"Nothing, sir" Deanna replied, swallowing hard, "She's in great pain, but that's all. I can't feel or hear anything over her screaming" Another shriek rolled through the ship.

"Sir, I'd still like to take her to sickbay" Beverly said.

"Of course, Doctor" Jean-Luc nodded, and put a hand on Will's shoulder, who was still clutching Miranda's shivering body to his.

"Will" he said softly, "Let us help" So Will lifted her limp body and carried her down to sickbay, the grim look of determination on his face.