ROLLERCOASTER

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A/N - it was mentioned to me by a reader that 'Merde, He Wrote' felt unfinished, so here is a little bonus scene wrapping up Data and Tasha's part in the story a little better.

Hope you enjoy it.

Scribbles

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Merde, He Wrote – Aftermath.

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'That was good. That was really good.'

'You found it enjoyable?'

'It was just… I don't know. Really satisfying. Didn't you find it satisfying?'

'It was… a satisfactory ending, I believe.'

'Just "satisfactory"?'

'I found the climax to be… a little flat.'

'You think? Flat? I mean, this was my first time, so I wouldn't know…'

'Considering the build-up, I was expecting it to have been harder.'

'Come on. The bit where the two of us beat all those guys off, still chained at the ankles? That was amazing!'

'That was a highlight, I must admit. It is regretful that Captain Picard did not remain with us.'

'You think he'd have enjoyed it too?'

'I believe so. He did appear to have been anticipating this resolution earlier in the evening.'

'Maybe he's just gotten used to doing that sorta thing by himself. You know what? I'm actually glad it was just the two of us by the end.'

'Are you?'

'I think there's been a tension been building up for a while now… not just since yesterday. I think we needed to… thrash some of it out.'

'Hmm. I think that I may comprehend your meaning.'

'So am I forgiven…?'

'I do not believe that my forgiveness is here nor there. Do I believe that I can still trust you…? I am still unsure.'

'I think you showed trust in me tonight.'

'I think that you are probably right. Whether I am wise to have faith in you, however, is a different matter.'

'Well, it's a start, at least.'

'Did you find this evening's activities to be a positive experience…?'

'Oh, Hell, yes. Tonight was just exactly what I needed.'

'Do you wish to do it again?'

'Do you think that we could?'

'You enjoyed it, and it appears to have been beneficial to our interpersonal relationship. I am available the night after tomorrow.'

'It's a date.'

'And perhaps, this time, we could select something a little more demanding. If you believe that you can rise to the challenge, of course.'

'Oh, I'll be there with bells on.'

'"Bells"…?'

Tasha smiled, and watched as the burning wreck of the Bloom Brothers' cruiser finally collapsed into the sea. She shuffled her sopping stockinged feet a little closer to the equally bedraggled android on the wooden jetty and put a hand on his shoulder.

'Man, but I love busting crime.'

Data clenched his Calabash pipe between his teeth, removing a straggly frond of seaweed from the bowl as he did so.

'I too find sleuthing to be a most engaging pastime.'

'Yeah,' breathed Tasha. 'Yeah. That was good.'