A/Ns: Mariethefallin - Thank you! :D SongOfTheSilverSpiders - You are too sweet! Thank you so much for all that, and I'm very glad you're enjoying it! I'll see about posting a snippet for the summary - great suggestion. And I am completely open to title ideas. :) I will have to check out that 'fic you mentioned too.

So you have something to look forward too, so far I have "The Naked Now" and "Redemption part 2" completely written and pieces of other chapters written. I just have to get those pieces flushed out a little and join 'em up, and then I can post away. :)

Thanks again!

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=/\= "Down the Short Rope" (cont.) =/\=

"I've never seen him act quite like that before, not to mention I've never seen him have a conversation like that with somebody before.", the somewhat astounded Riker commented to Picard on the turbolift ride back from their encounter with their new guests. Too close of an encounter, if you asked him, save for one rather authoritative young woman who caught his eye.

"I thought it strange myself.", Picard replied, giving it further thought. "The commander's never been one to act so naturally before, at least that I know of. But then, it's good they know each other - they already get along." He turned to him. "From what you say, it sounds like they may already know each other's strengths and weaknesses. I would see that as being beneficial to ship operations."

"Couldn't agree more.", he concurred as they entered the bridge for one last hurrah before their shift ended for the evening.

=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=

The lights came on upon their entry to his quarters, at which Spot woke from her slumber and jumped down off the couch. "Hi Spot.", she warmly greeted the orange-coated, yellow-eyed furball as she walked up to them and flicked her tail from side to side a few times. Tasha didn't know whether to bend down to try and pet her or not - she had heard how well Spot had gotten along with the other humanoids she had been introduced to - but she went ahead and gave it a shot by stroking her back. Spot snuggled into her hand and purred, then rolled onto her back. "Aw, that's a good kitty. Yeah."

"That *is* a very good kitty.", Data agreed. "Good kitty, Spot."

After a moment Tasha gave her one last stroke and stood up to let out an impressive yawn, followed up by a small hmph, as she realized that even though she could finally sit down, her night was far from over.

"You're exhausted. Please.", he motioned toward his bedroom door.

"Oh I don't think I can sleep, Data. There's too much I have to study up on. I need a crash course on Enterprise schematics, the security personnel, differences in..." she stopped herself and sighed. "See? Too much." She collected some PADDs out of her bag, and he just studied her. "Mind if I set up camp on your sofa?" she looked back at him in askance.

"If you don't mind me working at my desk.", he nodded to across the room.

"Of course not."

"Please help yourself to anything you would like." he offered as he made his way around his desk to sit.

"Thank you, Data.", she genuinely smiled before she pulled her legs in indian style and opened one of her duffel bags, laying out the PADD contents around in front of her. Spot cozily rebedded herself at the other end of the sofa, tail flopped partially over the furthest PADD.

=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=

"Nnnnn.", she groaned, turning on her side and running a hand over her forehead, then covering her eyes to block the low light. 'Ugh, I must have nodded off for a few minutes.' She started to sit up slowly, in a daze, while she asked, "Computer. Time.".

"Oh five ten."

"Oh my god!" She leapt off the sofa in a panic, not realizing she had been laying stretched out and covered in a throw with Spot previously nestled on top. "I can't believe I fell asleep, and for that long..."

"It's alright, Tasha.", Data advised from behind his desk. "You still have almost two hours."

'So he's learned to round off to sound generous.' She mumbled something unintelligible and held her head in her hands as she shook it to try and clear it before she opened and narrowed her eyes at him through her taut fingers. "Why didn't you wake me up? You know I can't learn all of this in 'almost two hours'."

"I know, and I apologize. But you were reading the same page over and over, apparently not absorbing what you were reading, and you really did need some sleep. You do feel alright now, do you not?"

"More or less, but that's not the point. I am going to look like an idiot today."

"I disagree with that outlook. I doubt Captain Picard expects you to know so much about this ship in the span of only a few hours, particularly given your recent schedule."

"Maybe not, Data, but if I'm not prepared, I'm going to be an encumbrance to the mission, and more importantly," she began to get angry, as much at him as at herself, "I'll be disappointing two captains." She rifled through her other duffel bag for a change of clothes.

He gave her words, and her tone, consideration. "Allow me to help you study?"

"Fine." She wasn't happy, but she didn't have a choice but to cram. "First I'm using your shower whether you like it or not." she informed him as she strode past him to the bathroom, clothes in hand.

"I don't have an emotional pref" was all she heard before the bathroom door swooshed closed behind her. She thought to herself, 'One of the only good things about Turkana IV was that there were old-fashioned, slammable doors in most homes.'

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A/N: I will add more chapters/eps as I receive feedback. :) Thanks!!!