2

Author's note: Well, people are taking interest, eh? I'm glad.

Well, here we go! Remember, this story is not to be taken seriously. At all. Which is why Tasha Yar's presence in it will not be explained. Just take it for granted that although this is after Skin of Evil, she somehow made it through. Also, I totally made up the bit a

"Number One, meet me in my ready-room in five minutes," Picard ordered before getting up and walking over to said ready-room.

Riker gulped nervously. It had been three days since the captain had caught him and Deanna in the turbolift. Three very awkward days, assuming he and Deanna sat on either side of Picard and had been too embarrassed to so much as look at each other or him. During the day that was. At night, the fact remained that they were in a relationship, no matter how secret it was. And people in relationships as physically passionate as theirs…well…um…we'll leave it at that.

Thankfully, none of them had really needed to talk. They'd had three very extraordinary days...for them. Well, they were extraordinary in the fact that absolutely nothing had happened. No space battles, no encounters with Q, no spatial or temporal anomalies, nothing that they normally had to deal with.

After the allotted time passed, Riker got up and walked to the ready room, surreptitiously squeezing Deanna's hand on his way over. The only person who may have seen it was Tasha Yar, but he honestly wasn't worried about her. She was in on their little secret, having on of the same nature herself.

It's probably not related to the...um, incident at all, Deanna reassured her Imzadi mentally. He wasn't so sure, however. There really wasn't anything to talk about other than that.

In the ready room, Riker sat down nervously and faced his captain. Picard displayed little emotion, but he looked quite stern. Riker wondered if he was in trouble for his shenanigans with Counselor Troi. He hoped not. Lat he checked, there were no Starfleet regulations against having a secret relations with other crewmembers. Maybe something had changed? Perhaps as first officer he wasn't allowed to? He really didn't know.

"Well, Number One, I've been looking at computer records. Seems as though this turbolift behavior has occurred a few times before. I've gotten reports of lines waiting for the turbolift because it is on hold," Picard began. "It appears to have gotten so serious that there have been a few complaints of people standing in line on other decks, waiting for the turbolift to resume. However, as we both know, only the Captain and the First Officer can override the 'on hold' command."

Riker was now extremely embarrassed. There was something so awkward about being caught by his captain. The closest thing he could compare it to was the way a teenager would feel if one of their parents caught them in a similar situation. And the traffic to get to the turbolift? Oh, god. That was even more embarrassing. He wished that something would happen. That anything would happen. He'd almost prefer a run-in with the Borg or something of that nature to this conversation.

"Looking at more computer statistics, you and Counselor Troi are typically the only inhabitants of the turbolift at the time of traffic-causing incidents. Although Lieutenant Yar and Lieutenant Commander Data have also caused considerable delays when they are in the turbolift by themselves."

Picard stopped and gave him a look. Riker sighed, seeing that he was now realizing the possibility that both his first and second officers, in spite of the latter supposedly incapable of emotion, were involved in secret relationships. Now that his captain had caught him and Deanna, he was bound to be more suspicious. He'd need to warn Tasha and Data that the Secret Couples Club the four of them had founded (aka the other three dragged Data into) was in danger. Both couples had either been discovered or were suspected by the Captain. Riker was really scared now. It was quite obvious his secret had been discovered and that he was going to get in trouble.

"I have but two words of advice for you," Picard was looking even sterner now. "First of all, turbolift-induced traffic is not desirable, so do not keep them on hold any more." Riker nodded dejectedly. It really was the best meeting place. No one suspected anything. Data mentioned Wesley, Geordi, and Worf had noticed but wrote it off as coincidence. If supposed child genius hadn't guessed anything, the four considered their meeting place still safe and secret."Second of all, as long as this doesn't distract either of you, I have no complaints. Otherwise, I can only wish you well, Number One," Picard's eyes suddenly were twinkling.

"So you're not mad, sir?" Riker asked. "Especially because we sort of started being together in secret and all?"

"How did you manage to keep it a secret?" Picard asked, not needing to answer the other two questions. "I am quite curious as to that fact."

"Why?"

"None of your business, Number One. Just tell me, will you?"

"So we're not in trouble?" Deanna asked later as she and Riker rode in the turbolift. Yes, they were simply riding in the turbolift, nothing else. They were too scared of being caught again to try anything.

"Nope. We just can't use the turbolifts for makeout sessions anymore. And Tasha and Data can't either. Too bad. They did a little more than get to first base in here," Riker replied with a smirk. Deanna laughed.

"So where are we going to conduct business of this nature now?" she questioned.

"I don't know. We'll think of something."