Pain.

A pain so sharp and hot it seemed to kick-start Riker's heart- it launched him back to the waking world, anyway, and he inhaled so deeply he almost choked. The space around him was dimly lit and freezing, and there was a terrible, burning ache in his left leg, a pain that radiated up into his hip. For a moment he was entirely confused, and then memory returned in bits and pieces- away mission, mountain outpost, snowstorm, earthquake. Riker coughed again, trying to blink some of the blear from his eyes and the dizziness from his head as he sat up, but a firm hand pushed him back down again.

"I am sorry, sir," said Data's calm voice. "I had to set the- the bone in your leg. Healing it properly would be much more difficult if I did n- did not."

"Data," Riker groaned. "Oh, my God."

Data appeared in his peripherals like some kind of strange angel; in the low light (there seemed to be a camping lamp, or something of the sort, just out of sight) the android's eyes glowed, just like they had in the bar. That wasn't the only light he was emitting, either.

Riker tried to speak, but Data held a canteen up to his lips, and realizing his thirst he drank. Water as cold as the mountain. Yes, that's where they seemed to be- inside of the mountain. A hollow formed in the falling rock. Something in Riker's stomach lurched; what had he been thinking? Buried alive.

"Are you alright?" Riker asked when he was done drinking; with one slightly numb hand he made a swirling gesture over his own temple. Data cocked his head, unintentionally giving Riker a better view of it- the place where his shimmering golden skin had been torn away, a jagged cut from ear to temple. Inside, there was metal, and a flurry of multicolored lights that flickered and blinked.

"I am fine," he said, but Riker realized almost at once that he was lying; something was off about Data's voice; the glitching for one, but moreover it sounded tinnier than it usually did, more hollow, like a speaker missing half its frequencies. His left shoulder was held at a slightly wrong angle, the uniform there scuffed, and torn away outright further down the same arm, which- once Riker looked more closely- was missing skin, also. Some of the wires there were unmistakably bent out of shape.

Data seemed to follow his thought process.

"The damage is o-only mechanical," he said. Riker shook his head.

"You're hurt," he mumbled, trying to sit up again; pain lanced through his leg, and Data pushed him down once more.

"Sir. If I experience se-severe mechanical damage, I will shut down. Down. However, once the damage has been repaired, I- I can reboot again. You cannot do this."

The hand at his chest moved down his torso slowly, the touch of the open palm so light it almost wasn't there.

"Y-y-your left tibia is broken. I also detect a- a large quantity of surface bruises and cuts across your body. I do not think you have a concussion, but I- I- I- my sensors are not performing adequately. I am not entirely certain."

"So we're both a little worse for wear," Riker muttered with a smile that stung. He tried to look down at the leg that was aching- he could smell blood- his vision blurred and he turned away. The last thing he needed was to make himself sick.

"Okay," he said eventually. "Alright. Report. Please. What happened? How long have I been out?"

Data leaned forward to speak; the sharp imitation-breath that usually signaled the start of an explanation from him sounded not like a breath at all, but instead a static crackle.

"I- I- I believe the initial avalanche that buried the research outpost left-eft the structure severely damaged. The second earthquake broke the last of its su- su- support, and also brought some of the mountain down upon it. When you were standing in the doorway, the wall began to- to collapse, and the impact against your skull would have killed you, so I pulled you back-ck-ck. I attempted to shield you from the rest of the falling rock, however, you are taller than me-" Data's head turned mechanically from his face to his leg and back again. "-and so I had to- to- to prioritize your head and torso. Fortunately, the rock settled around us, so there is space to move. You were unconscious for nine minutes, fffforty-three seconds. I believe it was the pain of your bone- bone breaking that caused the change in state, rather than head trauma. This is good."

Riker nodded, licked his lips, and tasted blood. He tried to smile again, but couldn't say if it worked.

"Then thank you, Mr. Data. You saved my life."

"That remains to be- be- to be seen."

Riker took a few breaths to combat the feeling of nausea rising in him, and had another sip of the water.

"What happened to the shuttle, with the colonists?"

"I do n-not know."

"Well, let's hope they got away."

It was difficult to think straight over the pain in his leg, over the cold that dug into his extremities like an animal's claws. Data's form was a constant blur of busy motion at his side, but when he looked it didn't seem the android was actually doing anything- with his undamaged arm he kept moving back and forth the same few pieces of metal and rock, arranging them into lines and then rearranging them immediately. Okay, then. Sure. Riker's head spun, and he was forced to close his eyes for a moment.

"Alright," he said, "Alright. What about…about our getting away?"

"We are buried under approximately three-point-seven metres of- of rock," said Data at once. "The structure is not stable enough for us to safely tunnel out our- ourselves. We will need out- outside assistance. Given the disruptive nature of the planet's atmosphere, the Enterprisssse's best course of action will be- be to send another shuttle. From within it a short-range transporter can be set up. Alternatively, the shuttle tractor can be used- used- used to suspend the rock. A combination of these methods may also ap-apply."

"Right," said Riker. "Have you been able to contact anyone?"

"N-n-no, sir. The s-storm is disrupting transmission frequencies."

"Okay. Then we wait."

"The shuttle will- will not be able to land safely-ly-ly until the storm subsides."

"Mm-hmm. Yes. We wait."

"I calculate there are- are approximately six hours and nine minutes of oxygen avvvvailable to our position. Position."

Riker rubbed his face with both hands; his skin felt tender all over, like a pummeled fruit. The throbbing in his leg refused to go away.

"Alright," he said eventually. "How would you calculate our chances of survival, Mr. Data?"

"Your survival depends on- on outside influence. I cannot give you a numerical value with any degree of certainty at this t-time."

"My survival? What about yours?"

Data looked at him. How strange- Riker thought it was the closest expression he had ever seen on that face to unhappiness.

"M-m-my survival is guaranteed."

"Ah. Good. That's good, Data."

Riker looked back at the ceiling. Or 'ceiling', rather. The cold was becoming too much. Riker didn't think he had ever felt this cold in his life. A tremour had started up in his jaw, his teeth beginning to chatter despite his best efforts to hold them still. He couldn't feel his fingertips. How much oxygen had Data said- six hours? But then, he'd also said his sensors were broken…

A warm hand closed over his, so warm it was startling, almost painful at first.

"Si-sir. I believe you are going- going into shock."

Riker tried to nod, but he wasn't sure if the motion translated. He had to blink lightning from his eyes. Data was moving around him, slow and deliberate, and gradually Riker was lifted so his head lay not on the floor, but instead on Data's chest. From behind, warm limbs coiled slowly around his. The heat radiated, pressing in towards Riker's bones. Under his ear, he could feel the android's core humming. There was no more comforting a sound in the world. He closed his eyes.

"Are you being a shock blanket, Data?" he mumbled, when he could manage it.

"...y-y-yes, sir."

"Will."

"Wi-i-i-ill. Will."

"You know, I like your stutter more when it's because I'm kissing you."

Static popped in Data's voicebox. Riker snorted. Some of the pain in his leg was retreating- it was being replaced by a high, bright, almost giddy feeling, and also a nausea so bad he had to swallow down a dry-retch. Shock was almost certainly the right diagnosis. Six hours- six hours for the storm to pass, for the Enterprise to land a shuttle, for all the equipment to be set up and deployed. Six hours only. Well.

"Data, I need to show you something."

"Y-y-you should rest."

"No, Data. Look. Please."

Riker opened his eyes, forced himself to sit up a little straighter, so his head rested on Data's shoulder instead. With trembling fingers (better than numb) he pulled back the sleeve over his right wrist. The letters there were illegible in the semi-dark to his own bleary eyes, but he knew Data could read them. Let him read them. Let him read them and let it be out at last.

Against Riker's back, Data's core abruptly stopped humming for an instant- then it resumed, but at a higher frequency than before. Alarmed, Riker put his hand down and tried to turn despite the way his own body ached; Data did not move against him, frozen perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the place in the air where Riker's wrist had been. At least ten seconds passed. Then, at least another ten after that.

"Data. Hey. Data, are you okay?"

Ludicrous, horrible, insane thought: did I break him? Riker's own shivering had subsided, but it now started up again with vigour. Data was damaged, after all, no matter what he said- and Riker had just dumped news on him that was known to make humans faint away under even the best of circumstances.

"Data. Come on, Data."

Data's eyes snapped to meet Riker's; the exposed lights in his head were flickering like crazy, like a strobe, fast enough to induce epileptic shock.

"I-am-processing."

Riker had never heard him speak in a more robotic tone of voice.

"Okay."

The disconcertion had exhausted him, so Riker lay back down, listening to the high vibration of Data's heart. At least it was steady- was that a good thing? Riker wished for once that he had specialized in cybernetics at the Academy. He wished the Enterprise would show up right then and save them, and then at least Data could be taken to Geordi LaForge before his wiring overheated or- or his circuits exploded, or whatever it might be.

After several (painfully long) minutes of this kind of thinking, Data twitched against Riker's back and spoke, quite clearly and calmly:

"I understand the confusion, sir. However, it is not possible that I am your soulmate. Somewhere else in the universe, there must be- or must have been- another human with that name."

The stutter was gone, though Data's voice now sounded like it was coming from an old-timey radio or gramophone. His tone was disquietingly flat, his core still droning heavily away against Riker's back. Riker groaned, and then he laughed, passed a hand over his eyes. The giddy feeling wasn't going away.

"Okay, Data. I…why not? You're alive, you have a soul. I know you do, don't argue with me. Please."

"I do not have- I do not have- I d-d-d-do-nnnnnnnnnnnnnn-n-n-n."

Riker really shouldn't be doing this under these circumstances. A human would be surprised, sure, could be shocked, could react poorly, all that- but Data wasn't human. The wrong kind of input could shut computers down, Riker knew that. Foolish.

Wanting to make such a confession before death- well, that was a human impulse, also.

Riker took one of Data's hands in his, entwined their fingers; a grip that fit perfectly. An attempt to soothe. Riker hadn't the faintest clue whether it was working or not until Data pressed his face into Riker's shoulder, his next words a staticky murmur against his ear:

"My programming contains a faulty subroutine," Data said. "It is a subconscious program, and I am unable to access any information within it. I do not know what it is for. However, I do know that its file is very large in size, and that its coding is incomplete."

"Okay," Riker said dumbly (as though he could say anything else).

"I also know that it only activates in your presence. Or, if in your absence, when I am thinking of you. And I think of you very often."

"Do you?" Riker rubbed a thumb over Data's knuckles; he felt the android twitch.

"Approximately eight-point-six percent more often than any other crew member."

"That's a lot."

"Yes. It is."

Silence for a beat.

"The subroutine first activated when you touched one of my wires in Engineering, stardate-"

"Yes, Data," Riker didn't really mean to interrupt, but he couldn't help himself. "Yes, I remember. The wire where your mark is supposed to be."

Data twitched again. Then he released Riker's hand, turning his arm so his wrist pointed up. Riker pulled back the sleeve, revealing blank white skin. He looked at it for a moment- surely, they both did- and then on impulse, he pressed his thumb firmly into the space, pushing down where veins and writing would have been visible on a human.

Data shuddered all over. Riker heard another static pop in his ear- a gasp, that's what that was. Christ.

"Yeah?" Riker said, grinning in spite of himself. Data buzzed in his ear, then jerked his hand away, wrapping the offending arm rapidly (and a little tightly) around Riker's waist. Riker rather wished he were facing the other way so as to see Data's expression, but he didn't think his leg would appreciate the movement (his broken leg, which he was rather deliberately choosing not to look at). "What was that?"

"I do not know. I must analyze my reaction."

"Sure."

"Others have touched me there before. When I was activated by Starfleet, that area was of particular interest to some scientists. Maddox. Due to. Due to the same reasons. Human anatomy. I have never had this reaction to. To anyone else."

"Mm-hmm? Alright."

Data's chin shifted on his shoulder; Riker had the sense the android had turned to look at him more closely.

"This is not concrete evidence that we are soulmates."

Riker took a deep breath- let some of that smugness (and vague arousal) drain away. Serious business, he reminded himself, trapped in a cave with only six hours of air. Very serious business. Making the android glitch with a touch, probably not a good thing, probably shouldn't please him so much.

"No, I suppose it's not," he said eventually. "But…but maybe we could give it a shot, anyway. If you want. You know, I…haha. I think of you more often than other crewmates, also."

Data did not answer immediately; Riker felt his jaw open and close, and open again. He heard something crackle, and then a long static hiss. He craned his head to look at Data, who seemed surprised- his mouth was moving to the shape of words, but with no sound.

"...did your voice give out?"

A pause, followed by a nod. Riker swore he looked sheepish. Adorable.

"Okay. Okay, we…we'll talk more later. When we've been rescued. Okay?"

The hissing stopped, and Data nodded again.

"Okay."

Riker took another deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. Then he let his eyes fall closed. Data's grip around his midriff had loosened somewhat, so he took the android's hand in his again, and brought the back of it up for a kiss.

Data's heart hummed more brightly against his chest. In spite of it all, Riker smiled.

Brilliant white daylight crept through the crack of Riker's eyelids. He could hear voices calling out, talking to each other, overlapping- the chirp of the comms and the crunching of boots on snow.

"Will," a voice whispered in his ear, utterly toneless and nearly silent; still the sound of it was comforting. "You are saved."

The hand he was holding, he squeezed it a little tighter, and leaned back into the warmth that resonated against him.

Riker woke in sickbay to a wry smile from Dr. Crusher, and a glowing one from Deanna. The latter woman embraced him almost at once, and pressed a kind kiss to his cheek.

"Good to see you, Imzadi," she said warmly. "When the Enterprise lost contact with you, we were all worried."

"You're in pretty good condition for someone buried in an avalanche," said Crusher. Riker, internally, agreed- he felt better waking up then than he had with his hangover. "I've already fixed all the little scrapes and bumps, and somehow you avoided hypothermia. Your leg only needs another fifteen minutes or so. Though, you'll need to take it easy for a week, so I'll be giving you a cane."

Riker looked down at the chrome cast binding his left leg; the intense tingling sensation was unmistakable for a rapid cellular regeneration program. It rather itched- truth be told he was glad he had slept through most of the process.

"A cane?" he said, one eyebrow raised. "Come now, Doctor."

"You will use it," she said, and her smile didn't make the statement any less threatening. Riker bowed his head to her, and she went off with her scanner. Riker realized then that he wasn't alone in sickbay- some of the colonists were gathered there also, talking softly to themselves.

"How is everyone?" Riker asked Deanna. "The mission- did the first shuttle make it back safely?"

"Apparently navigating the storm was very difficult," Deanna told him. "But Worf made…a warrior's effort, let's say. Some of the colonists were shaken around, and others had injuries from before- but nothing serious. Everyone made it back in one piece."

"Good," Riker said, and then: "...that's not true though, is it? Not everyone."

Deanna's dark eyes turned warm.

"Data is recovering in Engineering," she said softly. "But you're right. Of everyone, he suffered the most damage."

"Is he alright?" the speed of the question was revealing, but Riker didn't care if it were so.

"I think so," Deanna told him. "I'm not- I'm not so familiar with…you know. But he was awake when we found you, and alert. He could walk, but not very well, and for some reason he didn't seem able to speak. Ensign Coulson and he were communicating in sign language at one point, but I'm not sure what they said."

"I see," said Riker. He looked resentfully at his itching leg. "When this is done, I should go see him."

"Should you?" There was a smile warming the edges of Deanna's lips.

"Yeah," Riker rubbed his chin. "I told him, Deanna."

"Did you?" The smile became a beam.

"Don't look so pleased," Riker said. "I thought I was going to die. And the news nearly short-circuited him, or something."

"Awww," Deanna laughed. "Well. You certainly must go see him, first thing."

So twenty minutes later, when the cast was removed and Dr. Crusher had explained the importance of using the cane and keeping strenuous activity to a minimum, Riker and Deanna set off for Engineering. In the turbolift down, Riker ran a hand a little self-consciously through his hair, remembering then that he hadn't technically bathed since before getting trapped in an avalanche, but Deanna, sensing his feeling at once, said:

"You look fine, Will. Besides, I don't think Data, of all people, cares if your hair lies flat."

"So it isn't lying flat?"

The turbolift doors opened and Deanna answered only with a blithe smile. It was too late, then, they were strolling into the crowded center of Engineering, so Riker had to straighten his back and look authoritative and thank all the crewmembers who approached to wish him well. They were directed, mercifully quickly, to one of the side offices, and when the door opened, there he was.

Data was sitting primly upright on an examination table, his hands folded in his lap. He was not wearing the upper part of his uniform, and Riker was a fully grown man yet the sight still brought a heat prickling in his cheeks. Data was beautiful, obviously- the perfect simulacrum of the perfect man. Well, perhaps a rather Greek, or Roman vision of the perfect man- strong but slender, pale and smooth, broad shoulders and a narrow, delicate waist-

"Will," Data chirped, and Riker forced himself to look aside as he stepped into the room; he had surely been caught in the doorway, staring like an adolescent, for too long. He could feel Deanna's knowing smile like a phaserbeam pressing into the back of his head. "Are you recovering well?"

"Yes," Riker said, and he realized only then that Data had not addressed him as 'Sir' or 'Commander'. The knowledge was a little lance to his heart. "Yes, I'm fine- just have to walk like an old man for a week."

He waggled the cane in the air and Data looked at it, cocking his head. But there were more important things. Riker had forgotten them too easily, seeing all that shimmering skin.

"And you?" he asked. "Your voice is back. Is everything all right?"

"The damage was all physical," said Geordi, who until that moment Riker hadn't realized was in the room. "No harm to his positronic net, or any of his core systems. So it's just a matter of soldering a few wires- though the shoulder socket did need to be replaced."

"Your shoulder?" Riker looked, and in doing so saw what he hadn't from the perspective of the door: Data's back was open, for lack of a better word, the skin somehow peeled or folded aside, revealing a whirl of multicoloured wires and blinking lights and pistons and bolts and gears. The sight was dizzying at first glance- and at second, and at third.

"Yes, Will," Data replied brightly. "The joint in my left shoulder was crushed by the falling rock. Geordi helped me remove it, and we reformed the piece with the same material, using the replicator. We finished re-installing the joint five minutes, thirty-four seconds ago."

"I'm just making sure nothing else is out of place, especially in the spine," Geordi said, having come around the table to poke at Data's open back with a thin metal tool. "Don't want to miss anything that could cause a problem later."

"Spine?" Riker asked dumbly, and he came around the table as well. Geordi raised an eyebrow at him.

"...yeah, Commander," he said, and he gestured with his tool to a segmented metal beam that traveled down the center of Data's back. There were wires emerging from it, as thin and fragile as angel hair, far too many to count. "A lot of Data's anatomy mimics a human body, not just the outside. This part supports his structure, of course, but it also carries information to and from sensors, electrical impulses and the like. This, here-"

Geordi raised the tool to gesture to a point midway up the back of Data's neck, where there was a cluster of fine copper wires, some of which looked newer than others.

"This provides power and information for his voicebox. Some of these also got squished during the avalanche, which was why he couldn't speak."

"I see," said Riker.

"But that was what you might call an 'easy fix', Will," said Data earnestly, meeting Riker's gaze over his repaired shoulder. "And my bioplast is self-regenerative. By my calculation it will have returned to normal thickness over the exposed areas in forty-two minutes and seventeen seconds."

"That's right, your face," Riker said, remembering; he touched Data's chin lightly to turn his head, and the android's eyes widened. Yes, now that Riker looked, he could see that the 'skin' where Data had been cut was thinner than on the rest of his face- dimly, he could still see the indicators blinking underneath.

"Like Christmas lights," he said softly, and Data let out a tiny, fragile hum. Deanna cleared her throat conspicuously from the corner, and Riker drew back; no way the blush on his face wasn't visible this time.

"Why don't we test your motion, Data," said Geordi, a touch too quickly. "Um…just to see if the joint installed all right."

"Very well," Data replied, unbothered, and he lifted the formerly injured arm, first in a graceful swanlike arc, and then in a smooth rotation. Riker watched the gears shift like muscles in his exposed back, watched how the wires flexed and curled to accommodate the movement. Now that Riker knew it didn't hurt Data to have his insides uncovered like that, the sight was rather hypnotizing. It made him want to touch.

"Looks good to me," said Geordi; Riker cleared his throat, and took a step back. That last thought could be addressed at a later date- likely a much later date. Baby steps, and all that.

"You can close it up," Geordi added, and he patted Data's other shoulder, reminding Riker amusingly of the way old Earth mechanics handled cars in classic films. Data rolled his shoulders (gulp) and a series of glittering plates slid back into place, sealing the machinery away behind human-like skin once more. When it was done, the seams were completely invisible- Riker thought he could run his hand down that back and not be able to detect them at all, those places where Data came apart.

Data slipped down from the table to put his shirt back on, which was rather a pity, and in that moment one of the Engineering ensigns poked her head through the door.

"Lieutenant LaForge?" she asked. "Could you spare a moment to look at something?"

"Of course," was his reply. "Data, let me know if anything comes up later. I think we got it all, but you know."

"Yes, Geordi."

"I'll come too," Deanna said conspicuously, edging out the door after Geordi and the ensign. She shot Riker an exaggeratedly knowing look, and before he could stop her she was gone, and the door had slid closed, and he was alone again with Data, who finished adjusting his uniform.

"I am sorry for your injury, Will," Data said; he was looking at the cane again.

"Not your fault," Riker was quick to say; he was probably blushing again, and just from having Data say his name. "You're calling me 'Will'."

Wide golden eyes snapped up.

"Is that inappropriate? I can-"

"No, no, I'm glad," Riker laughed, and he leaned carefully on the table Data had vacated. "When we're not on duty, that's what I'd prefer, if…if we're going to do this."

"'This', Will?"

Riker made a vague gesture from his wrist to some point around Data's midriff; though Data's head followed the movement precisely, he clearly didn't understand. Of course not. Riker laughed again.

"I would like…like to attempt a romantic relationship with you," Riker said after a moment's thought. "If you want that, also."

"I see," there was the comprehension. Data cocked his head. "I do want that."

Riker's face would have relaxed into an easy grin, if not for the unsaid 'but' that was written all across Data's face and body language. He waited.

"...however, I must remind you that there are factors which do not make me a desirable partner. I have no previous experience with romantic relationships. My performance may not meet your expectations."

No matter- Riker could teach him. Yes, the thought was a little hot.

"I am not capable of emotion."

Bullshit.

"...and I do not think it can be concluded with one hundred percent certainty that I am your soulmate. Will, this is the third time you have suggested you would enjoy a romantic relationship with me. The first two times, you expressed this desire in an altered mental state. Are you certain this is what you want?"

Data was more perceptive than Riker had given him credit for (likely, more perceptive than he gave himself credit for, too). But still- the argument had gone on long enough, in Riker's head if nowhere else. It was time to take a step from that well-trodden path of pros and cons- time to see where the fork in the road would lead them.

"Yes, Data," Riker said softly. "I am certain. And if you want, and I want, then…then I say it'd be a real shame not to try."

Data processed for a moment, and then visibly brightened, and Riker felt something catch fire in his heart.

"Come here, then," he said, and without hesitation Data took a step, just close enough for Riker to kiss his forehead. The android jumped slightly, and the fire burned stronger.

"Tonight," Riker said softly. "I'll take you out. How's that sound?"

"...y-yes, Will. I would like that."

The little glitch in his voice- it was telltale, that.

Riker couldn't conceal his grin.

The mountain air was crisp and cool, sweet-scented with the coming of spring. Wind rustled the branches where leaves were just beginning to bud, their ancestors forming a soft bed on the forest floor beneath the visitors' feet.

Data let out a quiet hum when Will kissed him, and Will chased the sound as best he could with his mouth, until the android was trembling and the man needed to breathe again. It was always like this, kissing Data- like drinking from some mythic fountain, drowning in clear water or shimmering wine, until it was impossible not to come back up for air.

In between these desperate kisses Will took his hand and ran- they would never reach the top of the mountain otherwise, for how often Will had the need to press Data's back to a tree and love him without words.

The sun was setting when they made it to the summit, gilding the landscape, turning the sky to molten gold. Will laughed at the sight, and whooped like a boy, throwing his hands in the air.

"We made it!"

Somewhere along the way, Data's hair had lost its customary neatness; now the wind took it in unexpected directions, but the pleased little smile on his lips was not unusual in the slightest- not these days, at least.

Once Will was looking at him, the landscape view could not compare; the golden light was in his skin, in his eyes, in his hair. Champagne, candlelight, butterflies and ore. A golden moment.

"You can sing, if you want," Will told him.

Data's smile brightened, and then he opened his mouth to do just that.