Course Correction Studio

Tag: Dani Janeway

  • Return to Normal – Chapter 10

    Twenty-four hours later, Data was back on board, Spot was with her rightful owner, and it was Friday night.

    Ten-Forward was packed. Apparently, this was more than just a little performance, as Will had claimed it would be. At a few minutes before 1900 hours, there were at least 200 people in the room. Dani was surprised there was still an empty table or two remaining near the platform that would serve as the stage. She walked over and, after confirming that they weren’t being saved for anyone, she sat down in one of the chairs.

    She looked around the room. With this many people in attendance, she was beginning to think they should have held this event in the auditorium. Maybe there was something else taking place there. Then again, even if there were, she knew that Will would much prefer the casual, interactive setting of Ten-Forward over the formal distance of the auditorium.

    When the crowd became more hushed, Dani looked around the room to see what had caused the sudden change. Her eyes fell on Ten-Forward’s entrance, and she learned why the crowd’s noise level had dropped a few decibels. Will and the rest of the musicians in the group had arrived and were walking through the door. As they took the stage and prepped their instruments, everyone clapped. The quintet consisted of a trumpet, a saxophone, a trombone, a clarinet, and percussion. Will, the ensemble’s leader, stepped forward to the mic, his trombone in hand.

    “Good evening, everyone,” he began. “I hope everyone has had a wonderful day. And if you haven’t, I hope tonight can be the bright spot in your day. Let me start off by saying that this isn’t a formal concert. If you get the urge to get up and dance, by all means do so. Socialize, drink, eat. Whatever you want. Our purpose up here is to help ensure that you all have a good time. So, without further ado, here’s the music. Enjoy.”

    Everyone clapped as Will returned to his seat at one end of the row of chairs, which were arranged in a slight arc, with the exception of the drums, which were situated behind the rest of the musicians. They began with a slightly upbeat tune, which had everyone tapping their feet. Some had even taken on partners and were dancing in an area beside the stage which had been set up specifically for that purpose.

    Dani watched Will as he played. The trombone – it certainly wasn’t the most alluring instrument. In the wrong hands, it could look awkward and sound awkward, too. But it seemed to suit Will. She couldn’t really see him playing anything else. And he played it so well. He had such a command of the instrument. He made it look so easy, never having to distort his features in the slightest to reach those high notes.

    When the song ended, the audience clapped, and Will stood and approached the mic. “This next piece is an old Earth favorite, from the twentieth century, circa the 1940s. It’s called “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” The audience chuckled at the title of the song as Will returned to his seat. The song began with a trumpet solo that led into a very upbeat melody with a heavy brass influence. Some of those dancing caught her eye when they started to perform movements that Dani could only guess were swing dance movements. She’d learned a little of it herself when she was in dance classes as a child.

    Dani watched and saw that they were actually quite good. They had to have taken classes to get like that. They weren’t missing a beat. Dani had a brief urge to get up and join them, but decided against it. She didn’t have a partner, and she didn’t want to make a fool of herself. She contented herself with simply watching them. She was amazed when the man lifted the woman off the floor and swung her to either side of him before placing her feet back on the floor again. ‘They had to have practiced all this before they came here,’ Dani thought, watching them as they maneuvered through another set of complicated dance moves from another era. Their movements came to an end as the song did, and once again everyone clapped. Will walked up to the mic again.

    “Thank you, everyone,” he said, as the applause died down. “This next piece is a little something I wrote for a very special lady.” Will’s eyes landed on Dani, casting a mischievous gaze her way. “I won’t say who it is. I wouldn’t want to embarrass her by sending any unwanted attention her way.”

    ‘What a joke!’ Dani thought with a smile. That man was always doing things to bring unwanted attention to her.

    Will eyes spanned the audience as he introduced their next song. “Ladies and gentlemen, sit back, relax, and enjoy as we play for you our next piece, ‘Voyager Girl’” Will’s gaze returned to a blushing Dani, and he grinned, placing the mouthpiece of the horn to his lips.

    ‘No unwanted attention?’ Dani thought to herself. She looked around the room. Amused eyes had fallen on her from various locations in the room. A few tables away, she spotted Beverly, Deanna, and Geordi. They were all looking at her. Had they known about this, she wondered, as the music began to flow from the stage.

    Dani turned her attention back to Will. His was the leading instrument in the piece. As he played, he stood at the edge of the stage, his body angled in Dani’s direction. A waiter approached her table, offering her a glass of champagne, which she gladly accepted. She took a drink of it and listened to the music.

    It was a slow, soulful melody that featured distinct qualities of all the instruments involved. The conglomeration of these different attributes produced a scintillating effect. Will, in the forefront with his trombone, never averted his eyes from Dani as he played. His playing was so expressive, as was the look on his face, it was almost as if he were talking to her.

    Dani had taken a second sip of the champagne before she realized that it was not of the syntheholic variety. This was the real stuff! She looked around for the waiter, but he was nowhere to be seen. How did he get a hold of real champagne? Dani took another sip of it. Damn, it was good! She hadn’t had real champagne in ages. She looked back up at Will, who was staring down at her with amused eyes. ‘He’s laughing at me!’ Dani thought. Then she realized that he must have had the champagne brought to her table. She was inclined to laugh back at him. She watched him turn to the other members of the ensemble and nod to them. She secretly wondered if he had anything else up his sleeve for tonight.

    Dani turned up her glass, draining the rest of the liquid into her mouth. But the glass was not empty, she realized. Something had bumped against her lips as she was drinking the last of the champagne. Dani turned the glass back to its upright position, and the object clinked to the bottom. A ring? Dani poured the ring out into the palm of her hand. It was a pale blue diamond. She looked up at Will, who had left the stage and was now making his way to her table. She looked back down at the ridiculously shiny stone set in a platinum band.

    Will stepped in front of Dani’s table and knelt in front of her. The other musicians were still playing softly as Will began to speak. He took the ring, moist with champagne, in one hand, and her left hand in the other.

    “Dani. Danielle.” Will’s mind went blank. He’d planned everything, every detail, except what he was going to say to her. He decided to forego any long-winded rhetoric and just went straight to the point of it all. “Danielle Janeway – make me a happy man by becoming my wife. Please – marry me?”

    Dani looked into Will’s blue eyes and laughed. “You would be the one to ask me in front of 200 people,” she said.

    “Is that a no?” Will asked, a smile on his own face.

    “No, it isn’t.”

    “Then you’ll marry me?”

    “Of course.”

    Will’s grin widened as he slid the ring onto Dani’s finger. They both stood and wrapped their arms around each other. The room roared with applause and cheer.

    “I love you,” Will said into Dani’s ear.

    “I love you, too,” she responded. They kissed each other and embraced again.

    When they parted, they were surrounded by friends and crewmates offering handshakes, hugs, and congratulations.

    Beverly hugged Dani and congratulated her. “I’m so happy for you,” she said.

    “Thank you,” Dani replied.

    “Congratulations, you two.”

    Dani turned to find that it was Deanna who spoke to her and Will. “Thank you,” both said in unison. Dani didn’t quite know what to think. She knew that Will and Deanna had had a pretty serious relationship at some point, and she knew they were still very close. How close, though?

    “Dani? Dani Janeway?” a voice called out. It was a familiar voice that Dani hadn’t heard in forever. She turned to the direction from which she’d heard her name and saw a person she hadn’t seen in two years. “Rane Skara,” Dani said aloud, a smile coming to her lips. She watched the young Bajoran woman make her way to her position.

    “Dani!” Rane exclaimed, finally reaching her estranged friend. The two embraced excitedly.

    Dani didn’t know what to say. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on the Merriman?”

    “I was. I just transferred here,” Rane said. “I came aboard this morning at Medisna. What about you? I thought you were on Deep Space Nine?”

    “I transferred a few weeks ago,” Dani said happily. She couldn’t believe it. Her and Rane, together again, just like at the Academy. She hugged the woman again. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she told her.

    “I know. Looks like I got here just in time, though.” Rane smiled, pointing her gaze to Will Riker. “Dani…married?”

    “I know. Can you believe it? We haven’t even talked about it or anything. He just…surprised me.” Dani beamed.

    Rane quirked an eyebrow. “The last time I saw you, you were ready to say ‘to hell with Will Riker,’” Rane said, her voice lower than it had been previously. “What gives?”

    Dani released an exasperated sigh. “Oh, Rane – so much has happened in the past two years. I can’t wait to tell you about it all. What’s your work schedule look like?”

    “Well, I won’t know for sure until Sunday, but I think I’m going to be in Engineering during Alpha shift,” Rane surmised. She hadn’t received her official duty schedule, yet, but she’d already corresponded with Commander LaForge, and he’d told her he needed officers for that time.

    “That’s perfect!” Dani said. “I’m on the Bridge at Ops during Alpha shift.” The fact that they were working the same shift would allow them to spend off-duty hours catching up with one another.

    “The Bridge?” Rane said. “My, my – playing in the big leagues, are we.”

    Dani smiled. Skara hadn’t changed a bit. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

    “So am I,” Rane said.

    “We’ll see if you still are once you start helping me plan this wedding,” Dani joked.

    Some slow music started up from the band again, and Will gently lassoed Dani to him, deftly stealing her away from the small crowd of well-wishers. He draped her arms around his neck, and she leaned into him, just letting him and the music carry her. She looked up him, into those impossibly blue eyes, and something in her chest and stomach fluttered. Will smiled at her right after it happened.

    “What?” Dani asked.

    “I didn’t know I could still do that,” he said.

    “Do what?”

    “Cause that kind of reaction in you. Your eyes just got brighter. They dilated for a second.”

    “Yes, you still do it. Just when I think I’m used to seeing them, I’ll look up into your eyes, and my heart will miss a beat.” She sighed. “Oh, I love you so much.”

    Will pulled her to him, and her head rested comfortably on his chest. “I love you, too…imzadi.”

    Dani pulled away. At first she didn’t think she’d heard correctly, but looking up at Will, she realized that she had heard correctly.

    Will noted the expected puzzlement that invaded Dani’s features. “Come on,” he said, leading her to a more secluded spot by a viewport on the other side of the room.

    Will began, “Do you remember that night in San Francisco, before we started dating, when we had dinner with your parents?”

    “I remember,” Dani said.

    “You remember the walk we took afterward, when I kept asking you about Icheb.”

    “How could I forget?” Dani asked, remembering the great annoyance with which she’d fielded Will’s seemingly endless inquiries about her love life.

    “Then, you remember when I asked you if he was your imzadi.” Will looked at her. Her gaze rose to meet his.

    “Yes,” she replied. She wondered where this was going, how it had anything to do with why he’d called her ‘imzadi’ tonight.

    “I said something that night, and you probably just dismissed it as nonsense or whatever.” Will looked at Dani. She was waiting for him to continue. “I implied that your imzadi was someone you’d known but hadn’t become involved with, yet.”

    Dani remembered the conversation vividly. She did remember Will saying something to that effect, but then it hadn’t made any sense to her. Now, though, the pieces were all coming together. Dani stilled the swing.

    “You were talking about yourself,” Dani realized.

    Will didn’t say anything. He just moved in closer to Dani. Cupping the side of her face with his hand, he kissed her.

    Dani didn’t know what to think about what Will had just told her. She loved him, and he loved her, but now she was just confused. The conversation they’d just had awakened new feelings, new questions that Dani hadn’t really given any attention to before. She pushed those feelings aside, though, for the moment. ‘No need to ruin a good moment,’ she justified, returning Will’s kiss enthusiastically.

    xxx

    Later on that night, Dani lay in Will’s bed staring up at the ceiling. Will was beside her, also gazing at the ceiling. Her head rested on his shoulder, and her hand rested on his chest, her fingers playing in the fine hairs that grew there.

    One of her legs draped lazily over his, Dani asked Will out of the blue, “Have you ever thought about having children?”

    Will looked down at Dani. “As a matter of fact, I have,” Will replied.

    Dani hadn’t been expecting that answer. Her surprise resonated in her features. “You look surprised,” Will observed.

    “I am,” Dani said. “You’ve never shown any desire to have children before.”

    “Well, I’ve thought about it,” he said. “Maybe a daughter.” He thought about a little girl, perhaps a tiny replica of Dani, running to greet him after a hard day. Piggyback rides, cooking lessons…boys. An alarm flag went up in his head as he thought about all his previous flings and romps with members of the opposite sex. Suddenly, he wasn’t too keen on having a daughter anymore. He reconsidered. “Or a boy.” His mind suddenly returned to that incident with the alien who’d tricked him into believing that he had a son. It’d given him a taste of fatherhood, and after he’d gotten used to it, he’d liked it. He’d found that even though the experience he’d had had only been an illusion, he missed it.

    “I never told you about the time I had a son, did I?” Will asked.

    Dani looked up at Will, even more shocked than before. “What?”

    “A while ago, we came across this life form that tricked me into believing that I was the captain of the Enterprise and had a 12-year-old son.”

    Dani sat up on her elbow and looked down at Will. “You’re kidding.”

    Will shook his head and gazed at the ceiling, remembering. “No. His mother was supposedly deceased. When I looked through some of our family videos, it didn’t take me long to realize that my ‘wife’ was an image from a holo-program I’d encountered during my first year of service aboard the Enterprise.”

    “Who was the boy?” Dani asked.

    “The boy was the alien. He was lonely, so he took on the form of a human boy, created the illusion, and pretended to be my son.” He looked at Dani, as she began to stroke his hair. “Before that incident I’d never really contemplated fatherhood. All I knew was that if I were ever to become a father, I would be a better father than my own father was.”

    Dani looked down at Will. He would be a better father than Kyle Riker had been. Dani frowned. She imagined that Will must’ve had an unhappy childhood. He didn’t talk much about it, but she knew that he’d never known his mother, and the time he’d spent with his father had apparently been less than perfect. He’d abandoned Will when he was fifteen. Dani leaned down and kissed Will on the forehead. He looked up at her and smiled lightly.

    “What about you?” he asked. “Have you ever thought about gracing the universe with your offspring?”

    Dani laughed sarcastically. “Yeah. Okay. Just what this universe needs – someone who ends up being screwed up because of my wonderful parenting skills.”

    “What do you mean? You’d make a wonderful mother,” Will assured her.

    “No. The prospect of being a parent scares me to death. I mean, parents hold a lot of power. They could really mess a kid up if they didn’t know what they were doing.”

    “Your kid would be fine. In fact, if she was anything like you, she’d be perfect.”

    “Yeah, well, we’ll see,” Dani said, returning to her previous position, lying on Will. “That’s a long time coming, if ever.”

    They lay in silence for a while longer before Will spoke up again. “Since we’re baring our souls, there’s something else I want to tell you.”

    “Yes?”

    “It’s a mission we had a few years ago. Voyager was still in the Delta Quadrant, but here in the Alpha Quadrant, we engaged the Borg.”

    “I remember reading about it,” Dani said. “The Enterprise was supposed to be patrolling the Neutral Zone, but Captain Picard disobeyed those orders to go help fight the Borg. You guys destroyed the Borg cube, and that was it.”

    Will sighed. “No, that wasn’t it.”

    What did he mean ‘that wasn’t it’? She looked up at him “That’s what the report said.”

    “That’s what the public report said,” Will corrected her.

    “Huh?”

    “What I’m about to tell you is top secret. If I tell you this, you have to swear that no one else hears about this.” Dani was up on her elbow again, her curiosity running high. “Whatever I say stays in this room, between us,” Will continued.

    “I swear it,” Dani agreed. “Now, what happened on that mission.”

    Will sat up on his elbow so that he was face-to-face with Dani. “Yes, we destroyed the cube, but what the public report doesn’t reveal is that a smaller Borg sphere escaped from the cube and traveled back in time to Earth’s mid-21st century using some kind of temporal anomaly. We followed them back.” Dani could believe that. Time travel was frowned upon by Starfleet, and most of the missions involving it were usually deemed top secret.

    Will continued. “The Borg went back to assimilate Earth and stop Zephram Cochrane’s warp flight. We had to stop the Borg and make sure Cochrane’s flight went off without a hitch.”

    “You guys must’ve succeeded, or we wouldn’t be here right now,” Dani conjectured. Will nodded, but Dani could see there was more to this story.

    “Dani, Geordi and I were on Cochrane’s ship with him when he made his flight,” Will said. He watched her for her reaction.

    “Will Riker,” Dani said, “you’re bullshitting me, aren’t you?”

    “No.”

    “You’re saying you were on the first Terran warp vessel?”

    Will nodded.

    “Will, that-that’s incredible!” Dani sputtered. “What was it like? I mean, Cochrane – what was he like?”

    Will looked at Dani. “You want the truth?” Dani nodded eagerly. “The guy was a whino,” Will said frankly.

    “Will! Have a little respect! You’re talking about the man who invented warp drive.”

    “Dani, I spent a whole day with the man. The only time he wasn’t drunk was when we were actually going up. I had to stun him to get him that far. The man tried to run away from us.”

    “That certainly shatters my historical image of the guy,” Dani said, sullenly.

    “Yeah, me, too. But he finally sobered up, got serious.” Will lay down on his back again. “We all came out for the better.”

    Dani sighed. “I guess so.” She also lay back down. “As long as you don’t tell me that Shakespeare was a fake or anything, we’ll be okay.”

    xxx

    “…and so then the rock gave way, and I’m just sitting there with Q clinging to my hands, dangling from this little rock landing,” Dani said, telling the story of the adventure she’d just had on Garessa II a few weeks ago. Rane rested comfortably on the sofa in Dani’s quarters. She graciously accepted the cup of tea Dani had just brought her from the replicator.

    Dani finished up the story, as she sat down beside Rane. “I was able to pull him over, and he made it out of the caves with the rest of us, though.”

    “I think I would’ve let him fall,” Rane said, sipping on the warm liquid.

    “I couldn’t do that,” Dani insisted.

    “I could. Especially after he did what he did to you and Will.” Rane grimaced slightly. “And he really transported you to the bridge in the middle of…you know?”

    Dani nodded. She still hadn’t gotten over that completely. “It was so embarrassing. We’re just sitting there on the deck, nothing but a bedsheet around the both of us.” It was one of those things that would probably get funnier as the years went by. As of now, though, Dani felt like she would never live it down.

    She and Rane sat in silence for a while. In the past few hours of the afternoon, they’d talked about almost everything that had happened to Dani in the past few years. Will, life on the Enterprise, her parents. They’d even discussed the play she’d gone to rehearsal for that morning. But there was one chapter of Dani’s life that had noticeably not be talked about, yet.

    Rane was the one who summoned the courage to broach the subject. “Tell me about him,” she said.

    Dani took a long sip of her red leaf tea, and smiled inwardly. He had been the one who’d introduced her to it. “He’s the one who started me drinking this stuff,” she said, staring into the liquid. She placed the cup, now only half-filled with the tea, on the coffee table.

    “What was he like?” Rane asked. She genuinely wanted to know. What could’ve possibly attracted one of her best friends to a man she’d heard horror stories about as a young child?

    “He was…” Dani began, but decided to start again. “The man I knew was wonderful. He was kind and nothing but good to me.” She paused and brought her feet to a position underneath her body on the sofa. “He was a romantic. And he cared a great deal for his daughter. For all his children, but Ziyal was the only one he could actually have contact with. The rest of his family practically disowned him when they found out about her.”

    Rane swallowed. That was certainly different from anything she’d ever heard about the man. “You miss him,” she observed.

    “Very much,” Dani admitted. “The first few weeks after…they were the hardest. Everywhere reminded me of him. And Ziyal…” Dani laughed sadly. “She has his eyes.”

    Rane heard Dani sniff, an indicator that the other woman was on the fringes of crying. If talking about him was having this kind of effect on Dani this long after it had all ended, Rane understood clearly that this had been a man that her friend had been deeply in love with. She was still in love with him, despite the fact that he was dead. A question arose in Rane’s head.

    “If Dukat were still alive,” Rane proposed, uttering the Cardassian’s name for the first time that night, “and you had to choose between him and Will, who would it be?”

    Dani looked at Rane, puzzled. She’d never dreamed that she would ever have to make such a choice, and had never thought about it. How could she make a decision like that? She loved both of them. With Will, there was the history that they both shared. She’d known him since she was eight. Their time apart had been rough for her, and she didn’t want to go through it again. He was a brother, friend, and lover rolled into one person. Being at his side was so natural, it felt like breathing.

    On the other hand, with Marac there had been so much passion, Dani thought. Dukat had been like a drug that she couldn’t get enough of, despite the ramifications her relationship with him had for her personal and professional life. She’d needed to be around him.

    Her face visibly contorted as she grappled with the decision, she finally looked to Rane helplessly. If she were ever presented with the choice, she didn’t know how she would ever be able to choose.

  • Return to Normal – Chapter 7

    It was by chance that Will Riker looked down in time to see a little girl sitting on the deck. He was glad he’d seen her. He would hate to have stepped on her by accident. It was a strange sight, uncommon even on this ship. People didn’t just go around sitting on decks. He stopped walking and looked down at her.

    Eight-year-old Dani Janeway looked at the pair of feet that’d just stopped beside her. She followed the legs up to the face of the tallest man she’d ever seen in her life. He was even taller than her dad. He had a beard, wore a red uniform, and was looking down at her curiously.

    “Well, hello,” the man said.

    “Hi,” Dani replied. When he squatted down, Dani thought that she was going to get yelled at for being somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be without an adult. Instead, he looked at her with kind, blue eyes and smiled. That put Dani at ease.

    Will watched as the girl visibly relaxed. Good, he thought. He didn’t want her to be upset. “What’s your name?”

    “Dani.”

    “I’m Will.” He held out his hand. Dani took it and shook it as an adult would. Her eyes fell to the man’s collar. 1, 2, 3 full pips she counted. He was a commander. Commander Riker. She’d never seen him up close before, but she remembered her parents and others speaking of him.

    “What seems to be the problem here?” Will asked.

    “I hurt my ankle,” Dani replied.

    “Oh, really? How did that happen?”

    “I fell.”

    “Oh,” Will nodded. “Well, can you move it?”

    “I think so,” Dani said, tentatively moving her foot. “Ow. Okay. I think not.”

    “All right, okay,” Will said. “I don’t want you to hurt it anymore. Here, put your arm around my neck.” Dani did as Will instructed, and he scooped her up into his arms. He stood with her. “You all right?” Dani nodded. “Okay. Here we go.” He started to walk with Dani.

    A few minutes later, Will walked into Sickbay with Dani in his arms. He looked around.

    “Hello, Commander,” Nurse Ogawa said approaching them. She looked at Dani. “Hi, there,” she greeted the girl cheerfully.

    “She injured her ankle,” Will said. “My guess is that it’s sprained.”

    “Well, we’ll get you fixed right up,” Ogawa said. “Let’s get her on a biobed.” Will walked over to the nearest biobed and placed Dani upon it.

    Dr. Beverly Crusher walked out of her office and sighed with relief as she saw who her newest patient was. “There you are,” she said, joining the little group at the biobed. “Everyone has been looking all over for you.” She looked at Will. “Where was she?”

    “I found her in the corridor,” he replied. “I think she has a sprained ankle.”

    Beverly passed her medical tricorder over Dani’s injured ankle and confirmed Will’s diagnosis. “You’re correct, Commander. This little girl has some way or another sprained her ankle.” She looked at Dani, who sheepishly looked away. As the doctor began to heal Dani’s ankle, she asked, “How, might I ask, did this injury occur?”

    Dani hesitated before answering. “I was…running in the corridor, and I fell,” she admitted.

    “Mm-hmm…” Beverly said, finishing up the treatment. She turned the little device off. “Ms. Janeway, we’re going to have to do better than this.”

    Will’s eyebrows raised. Ms. Janeway? He’d heard that name before. Why did that sound familiar? He looked at Dani. “What’s your mother’s name?” he asked her rather straight-forwardly.

    “Commander Kathryn Janeway,” Dani said proudly. Will was amazed. It always amazed him when he met the children of people he’d known before they were parents. He and Kathryn had been in the same Academy class. He looked at Beverly, who had an amused expression on her face. He looked down at Dani. He could see it now. She resembled her mother a great deal, save for a few exceptions here or there.

    Beverly looked down at Dani and continued. “We want you in one piece when we meet your mother next week.”

    “Yes, ma’am,” Dani said.

    “That means being where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be,” Beverly said, in a mildly scolding tone.

    “Yes, ma’am,” Dani said again.

    Beverly looked Dani over. She reminded her so much of Wesley at that age- bright-eyed, intelligent, and always looking for an adventure. “Will, would you be so kind as to escort our little adventurer back to school room three?” Beverly requested.

    “Certainly,” Riker said. He helped Dani off the biobed.

    Xxx

    Dani looked at Clements. She’d gotten so wrapped up in telling the story that she hadn’t been keeping an eye on him.

    “Don’t worry; I’m awake,” he said.

    “You were a bit quiet,” Dani said. “I was just checking.”

    “So, continue with your story,” Clements said.

    “What more is there to say?” Dani asked. “We ended up together, so it’s pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it?”

    “I don’t know…people don’t just go from having this buddy-buddy relationship to being lovers,” Clements said.

    “It happens all the time, Clements. And yeah – that is pretty much what happened. I was twelve when Voyager became stranded in the Delta Quadrant. When we got back to the Alpha Quadrant, I was 19. We hadn’t seen each other in seven years. I wasn’t the little girl I’d been when we’d left.”

    “You can’t tell me your parents were okay with this,” Clements said in disbelief. There was no way. It was a known fact that Riker liked the ladies. There can’t be any way Admiral Janeway and Captain Chakotay would have let their 19-year-old daughter walk into that one.

    “You’re right,” Dani conceded. “They had a few qualms. My dad, mostly. He knew about Will’s rep.” She snorted. “Who didn’t? He liked Will. He thought he was a good guy – just not good for his daughter. He was trying to protect me because he didn’t want me to get hurt. I think he probably had a problem with his daughter’s boyfriend being that same age as he. I don’t know. It all worked itself out.”

    “What about Dukat?” Clements asked.

    Dani looked at Clements. She’d told him earlier that she didn’t want to talk about him, but the tone of that conversation had been different. He’d been attacking her. Now, though, he seemed to have a sincere interest.

    She sighed. “Marac Dukat,” she said. “That’s a whole different story. You know, I just don’t know what it was about him. Guess he just had one of those magnetic personalities. I couldn’t explain what drew us together if I tried. I couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him at first. I hated him. But I didn’t even know him. After I got to know him, it was different.” She shook her head. “It was just one of those things that you can’t explain. I know we loved each other.” Dani lowered her head. Talking about him brought back all those memories of the day he’d been taken away from her.

    Clements realized that Dukat was apparently still a difficult subject for her to discuss. He decided a change of topic was in order, but he didn’t know what to change it to. He couldn’t think of anything to talk about. It was this damn concussion. It was fogging up his mind.

    Clements was unexpectedly rescued from his predicament by Dani. “Don’t worry about it, Clements,” she said. “You didn’t know. No one does.” She left it at that. Clements took his cue from her and did the same.

    Xxx

    Fifteen minutes later, Will and Ensign Shields walked back into the room. Dani looked at them. She stood and walked over to them. “What did you find?” she asked them.

    “Most of the other passage ways are blocked by large rocks at some point,” Will replied. “There are a few more openings, but most don’t go anywhere. They’re little more than rooms resembling this one.” Will’s gaze flicked to Clements and back to Dani. “How’s he doing?”

    “He’s doing okay,” Dani answered. “He’s just got to stay awake. If he falls asleep, he could possibly slip into a coma.”

    Will nodded. A loud clap of thunder sounded. Dani felt the ground vibrate slightly beneath her feet. She looked up at Will.

    “This storm’s getting worse,” Will observed. He looked at the room’s opening as a young officer very excitedly ran inside.

    “Commander, the ceiling’s caving in!” he exclaimed. As he said it, rocks began to fall around Will, Dani, Shields, and Clements.

    Will and Dani looked at each other in desperation. Will had a decision to make. They could stay put, go deeper into the caves, or leave the caves. Dani had a good feeling that the first option wasn’t going to be chosen. Staying here amidst falling rocks would eventually mean certain death. Dani turned and looked at Clements. He was already getting dressed, with Shields assisting him.

    Will looked at Dani, his decision made. “Alright, everyone – let’s move!” he said walking to where the rest of the officers were. “We’re moving deeper into the cave! Let’s move! Quickly!”

    Dani turned and looked at Clements. He was fully clothed, and Shields was helping him out of the room. “I’ve got him, Lt.,” she said. Dani nodded at her. She walked out into the main area. Everyone was quickly filing out into another area of the cave system. She could see Will in the front, with a Lt. scanning for a suitable area as they moved.

    Dani made sure that everyone was in line and moving out of the area before she joined in at the end of the line. They entered a long narrow corridor, the only passage from the main room that actually went anywhere. The passage was pitch black, and no one had any palm lights. They had to slow down and feel their way along the passage by following the wall.

    “Everyone, grab hold of the person in front of you,” Will instructed. “It doesn’t matter if you’re holding hands or holding on to their uniform, just make sure you’re in contact with someone else.”

    Dani clasped hands with the person in front of her and followed along. It was so dark. She couldn’t see a thing. She tried not to think about the fact that each successive step could be a step to her death. Meanwhile, the cave’s ceiling was still coming down around them. Little rocks and dust were constantly raining on her head. She knew that, because she was still wet, the dirt would turn to mud in her hair and on her clothes.

    Just when she thought she was going to go crazy with the darkness, she could distinguish a small pinpoint of light in the far distance. Every few minutes, Dani noticed that the point of light grew larger. She wondered if they were coming to an exit from the caves. She hoped not. That meant they’d go back into the rain and wind. But if that’s where it led, then they wouldn’t have much of a choice. They couldn’t stay in the caves with them falling in around them.

    As they drew closer to the light source, Dani began to doubt that it was an opening to the outside. She suspected that if they were heading outside, they would’ve begun to feel some of the wind they’d experienced earlier. She also suspected that the thunder they’d been hearing would be getting louder. No, this wasn’t an exit. What was it then?

    Dani’s question, which she was sure was everyone else’s question as well, was answered as the passage became more illuminated. The passage opened up into a large room with a large illuminated body of water in the middle of it. It resembled a fountain. Dani would’ve instinctively taken a step forward if the officer in front of her hadn’t warned her to watch her step. Dani immediately looked down at her footing. That step she would have taken would have been her last. A deep, dark ravine separated her and the away team from the fountain. She looked at the rest of the team in front of her and realized the peril they were in. The amount of ground they were afforded to walk on was laughable. No more than a collection of scattered foot- and handholds. One wrong step would send someone falling to his or her death.

    Dani’s eyes eventually fell to Will. He was looking directly at her. He looked at the room around them. There was an opening to another passage on the other side. He studied the route they would have to take to get there. It was going to be dangerous, no doubt. He thought back to their journey through the dark corridor. Lt. Varak’s tricorder hadn’t indicated any additional openings they might’ve passed by on their route. No. This was the only way. Will looked to Varak, the young Vulcan officer who’d been taking sensor readings for him. “Are these footholds and handholds stable?” Will asked.

    Varak scanned the room with his tricorder. “Yes, sir,” he replied. “Sensors indicate the rock in this room is stable.”

    Will nodded. “Okay, everyone,” Will began, “just watch your footing and your handholds. Be careful, cautious. And take your time. You’ll be fine.” Will turned to the first foothold and said a silent prayer as he stepped onto it and reached out for the first handhold. He had to reach back and remember his rock climbing skills. It’d been a long time since he’d last rock climbed. And even then, there’d been safety measures. Here, there were none. It really was life or death.

    Before Will knew it, he was moving along the wall. His next goal was to reach the little landing a few feet away. There were a few of them settled along the wall en route to the passageway. They would be good for rests.

    Dani was the last to begin the task of braving the rock wall. Her heart was thudding wildly in her chest as she fought the urge to look down. She took a few deep, calming breaths to regain control as she left the security of the landing. Now the only thing keeping her from plummeting into nothingness were the few jutting rocks her hands and feet clung to. She continued slowly and steadily.

    Will’s next step took him to that first landing/resting spot. It was only big enough for two or three people at a time, so Will wouldn’t have very long to rest. However, any rest was better than no rest. There was no way he’d be able to make it all the way around that wall non-stop. When he noticed a third person joining them on the landing, he began to get a move on. He stepped out for the next foothold and reached out for the next handhold. He moved off the landing and began moving again.

    When Dani reached the landing, she was grateful for the rest. She was a little winded, and the urge to sit down and rest was great, but if she sat down now, she knew it would be all that much more difficult to get up and get moving again. She looked at the path that lay before her, at the number of people climbing and realized that something seemed different somehow. Someone was missing. But she was sure that she’d been the last one. She looked back at the landing they’d all left. That’s when she saw Q standing at the edge looking like a scared little animal.

    “Q,” Dani shouted, “come on!”

    “I-I-I can’t,” Q stuttered.

    “What?”

    “I…can’t,” Q repeated. “I think-I think I’m afraid.”

    Dani looked up at the ceiling, not believing this. A scared Q. But he wasn’t Q now, Dani remembered. He was mortal. A mortal who’d never had any rock climbing training before.

    “I can’t do it,” Q said again.

    “Yes, you can, Q,” Dani insisted. “Just take it one step at a time, Q. You’ll be fine.”

    “No, I won’t! I could fall, and there’s not even an end to where I could fall to.”

    “Q, you have to do this. We can’t leave you behind! Now come on – one foot, one hand at a time.” Q was still frozen on the ledge. “Q, you wanted to experience being human. Well, this is it. This is what it’s about. Taking chances, survival. We all have to do it at some point. I can’t come back there and get you, and I can’t stay here forever and wait on you. If you want to live, if you want to accomplish something, you’ll climb this wall.” Dani really didn’t want to leave Q behind, but she couldn’t afford to stay behind all day and wait on Q. She had to keep up with the rest of the team. She knew Q’s father would come and get him eventually if she left him. That was last resort, though. She’d rather he come with them. She stood staring at him, waiting for him to make a move. When he didn’t, she gave up on him.

    “See you later, Q,” she said turning her back on him and preparing to retake the wall.

    “Wait!” Q exclaimed. Dani turned back around to face him. “I’m coming,” Q said. Dani smiled internally. Something had clicked with Q. She watched as he took the first tentative step to the jutting foothold in the wall.

    “That’s it, Q – one step at a time,” Dani encouraged. She watched him slowly make his way over to the ledge. Dani reached her hand out to him, offering it as the final handhold of that leg of the journey.

    Will, who’d made his way to another ledge, was watching on. He hadn’t realized that Q had been left behind. He was practically willing him to make it across. This kind of climbing was difficult for those who’d had training. He knew it had to be ten times harder for someone who’d never done it before.

    Will wiped the sweat rolling down his forehead. It was burning up in here. He looked at the other members of the group. Many of them had already shed various layers of their uniforms. Will decided to take a lesson from them and do the same. He unzipped the jacket of his uniform and discarded it on the ledge he was on, making sure to transfer his comm badge to his newly-exposed vest. He pushed his sleeves up to his elbows. He instructed the members of the team who arrived on the ledge to continue along the wall without him. He had to make sure Dani and Q caught up with the rest of the group okay.

    Q had made it. With one hand, he reached out and took Dani’s hand. He stepped onto the ledge with one foot. When he brought his other foot to the ledge, however, the rock crumbled beneath him, and he lost his footing. He fell and would’ve kept on falling if Dani hadn’t been holding his hand. When Dani almost went over with him, Will nearly jumped off the ledge to try to get to her. His heart beat in his ears, and his stomach turned to jelly.

    Dani gripped Q’s hand with both of hers as he dangled from the ledge. She was in a squatting position, pushing away from the edge with her legs and using her body as leverage. “Give me your other hand!” she grunted. He obeyed and brought his other hand up and grabbed Dani’s wrist. Q was no feather weight, Dani realized. He’d grown since they’d last met. Dani mustered all the strength she could and pulled with all her might. She closed her eyes and pulled, not letting up at all. When she realized it was working, she opened her eyes. She was pulling Q back onto the ledge. She continued to pull until Q was safely on the landing. Once he was, she sat back, breathing heavily and sweating profusely. Her whole body ached from that exertion. She looked at Will and saw him breathe a sigh of relief and lean against the rock.

    Dani looked at Q. “Are you all right?” she asked him.

    Q nodded. “I think so,” he said. “I’ve never been so petrified.”

    The common response to that was usually ‘neither have I.’ In Dani’s case, that wasn’t exactly true. She’d been that petrified before on more than one occassion. So, she simply said, “I know.”

    “I almost died,” Q realized. “You saved my life. Thank you.”

    Dani nodded, acknowledging Q’s apology. “That’s what cousins do,” she said. She unzipped her jacket and left it admidst the pile of jackets and uniform pieces other’s had discarded. She took off the vest, too. She was hot. She pulled her communicator off her jacket and placed it on the chest of her red tunic.

    She looked at Q. “You ready?”

    Q looked at her and nodded. They both stood.

    Xxx

    By the time 45 minutes had passed, everyone had safely made it around the wall to the other tunnel. The team followed the same procedure it had used to navigate the last tunnel to make it through this one. Once again, they were in pitch black darkness. Will was once again at the front of the group with Varak taking sensor readings on directions. Dani had Q’s hand. She was going to make sure he wouldn’t be left behind again.

    This tunnel was significanlty shorter in length than the other. After only a few minutes of walking, they ended up in a cave, different from the one they’d originally taken shelter in, but still a cave. And, dark, although, not as dark as the tunnel. But colder. Much colder.

    “Sensors indicate a sharp drop in temperature,” Clements quipped, rubbing his arms.

    “Noted,” Will said. He looked past the cave’s entrance. Night had fallen. That might account for the dip in temparature. And it was still raining. There wasn’t quite as much thunder or lightning, but it still wasn’t safe. Judging by the erratic motion of those plants, the wind was still pretty high.

    “It feels like we’ve stepped into a freezer, sir,” Clements said.

    Will looked around at the team. Most of them had stripped out of their jackets, including himself. Many of them had also left the vests behind.

    “We can’t stay here,” he said. “Everybody back into the tunnel.”

    The group abandoned the cave for the dark tunnel. Immediate warmth greeted them. “Just get comfortable everybody,” Will said. “It looks like we’ve found another place to wait the storm out.” Everyone sat down, some leaning back against the walls.

    “So, is this what Starfleet is?” Q asked Dani.

    “Part of it,” Dani replied. “Not all the time, though.”

    “They train you for all this?”

    “Officers are trained for many different scenarios. It’s all about thinking and learning how to make it many different situations. A lot of the stuff you encounter, though, you’ve never been trained for before. It’s totally new. Like when Voyager was stranded in the Delta Quadrant. There’s no training for that. You just kind of have to…wing it.”

    “Wing it?” Q asked.

    “Yeah,” Dani said.

    “What’s that?”

    “Improvising. You know, making it up as you go along. You can’t really know how to be prepared for species you never even heard of before. But that’s what my mother did. And she got us home in one piece.”

    Dani rested her head against the rock wall. She didn’t care that it was hard. To her, it was as comfortable as a pillow. She was so exhausted. Her body was a giant knot, and she was sleepy. And she had to pee. She stood. “I’ll be right back,” she told Q.

    “Where are you going?” Q asked.

    “To the bathroom.”

    “Oh.”

    Dani began to walk away. Then she heard Q ask, “Can I come with you?”

    “No!” Dani said. She walked away before Q could protest.

    Dani walked toward the cave’s opening. She would have to brave the cold if she wanted to pee in privacy. She didn’t mind. She walked into the cave and found a little aclove that afforded her a little bit of privacy. She quickly took care of her business and walked out again. She would have liked to have washed her hands but realized what a silly thought it was when she looked down at her uniform. She was the picture of filth. Caked mud and dirt adorned her uniform pants. Her shirt was fairly clean, since it’d only recently been exposed to the elements. It was marred only by a few dust patches and sweat spots. She imagined that her hair was a mess with dirt and who knew what else.

    And on top of all that, she was getting a headache. Probably from hunger and all the work her body had been through. She walked around a corner and was surprised to find Will standing there. His hair was muddy and in a state of disarray. His face was dirty. His uniform was soiled with dirt and mud.

    “Are you okay?” he asked.

    “I’m fine,” Dani replied. “What about you?”

    “I didn’t almost fall off a cliff,” he said, taking a few steps closer to her.

    “I’m fine. We’re both fine,” Dani insisted. “I’ve got a headache, I’m a mess, and my body hurts like hell, but I’m fine.”

    “It’ll be over with in a bit,” Will comforted.

    “I hope you’re right. When I get back to the ship, I just want to take a long, hot bath.”

    “You know what could make your bath ten times better?” Will asked with a hint of a smile.

    Dani had a feeling she already knew what at least part of his answer would consist of, but she asked anyway. “What?”

    “Me,” Will answered. Dani knew it. Will had said exactly what she’d thought he would say.

    “Is that so?” Dani asked. “Well, we’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

    “Is that an invite?”

    A bright light flooded the two of them. Both of them instinctively held their hands up in front of them to shield from the light. It was blinding them, and they couldn’t see who was on the other side of the light.

    “Commander? Lieutenant?” It was Data’s voice.

    “Data?” Will said, unsure because he still couldn’t see. His eyes were still adjusting. “Is that you?”

    “Yes, sir,” Data replied. “I have a rescue team here. There was a break in the storms. The captain sent us down to retrieve you.”

    Dani and Will looked past Data at the cave’s opening. More Enterprise officers were entering, they noticed. What’s more, the rain, wind, thunder, and lightening had also stopped. Dani and Will looked at each other, smiling.

    Data, for the first time noticed their appearances. From the looks of it, they’d had quite a time. “I’m eager to hear your story,” he said. “Judging by the state of your appearances, you had quite an adventure.”

    Dani sighed. “You have no idea.”

  • Return to Normal – Chapter 5

    Dani awoke the next morning in Will’s arms. The alarm that had ripped her from her peaceful slumber was still blaring. “Computer, alarm off,” she said groggily. The alarm ceased and the room was blanketed in silence. “Computer, time.”

    “The time is 0700 hours, two minutes, 24 seconds,” the computer chimed.

    Dani sighed. “Will,” she said. “Will?” Will groaned. “Will, it’s time to get up,” Dani said in a sing-song voice.

    “No reminder needed, thanks,” he said, struggling to open his eyes.

    Dani sat up and looked over her shoulder at a yawning Will. He rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times to clear his vision. Slightly dazed blue eyes stared up at Dani as she leaned over and kissed their owner.

    “Mm…” Will moaned. He wrapped his arms around Dani’s waist and pulled her closer. “We’ve got time for just a quick one, don’t we?” he asked.

    “No, no, no,” Dani said, pulling away from Will. “Time is ticking.” She snorted. “I would’ve never thought I would ever be more concerned about the time than you are.” She sat up. “I’ve got to go shower.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood.

    “Mind if I join you?” Will asked, rising to a reclining position on the bed.

    Dani pretended to ponder over the decision. “Hmm…it would save time.” She looked at him. He was so cute when he woke up in the morning. His hair was disheveled, sticking out every which way, and a slightly sleepy gaze still graced his blue eyes. She realized then just how much she’d truly missed him these last few months.

    “Come on,” Dani said, inviting Will to join her in the bathroom. Will smiled and didn’t waste any time in following. As he was following her, he noticed the little triangular mark on her lower back. Her very lower back.

    “What is this?” Will asked. “I’ve never seen it before.” He hadn’t noticed it last night or any other time before that.

    “What?” Dani asked, as she turned on the sonic shower.

    “This,” Will said touching the little design at the base of her back.

    Dani looked over her shoulder and down at the spot Will’s finger was touching. “Oh. It’s just a tattoo.”

    “A tattoo?” Will repeated. Was she trying to be funny? “I can see that,” he said. “What is it of?”

    Dani turned and faced Will. “You have seen it before,” she insisted.

    Now, Will was downright confused. He’d seen Dani naked about a million times, and he’d never seen that mark on her before.

    Dani, deciding to finally put an end to Will’s confusion, told him what he wanted to know. “It’s the mark of my father’s people. It’s the same mark that’s on my dad’s forehead.”

    His curiosity piqued, Will turned Dani around and kneeled to have a better look at his new discovery. It was the same mark that he’d seen on Chakotay’s forehead. He traced it lightly with his finger, causing Dani to giggle a bit. He rose to his feet, and she turned around to face him once again.

    “When did this happen?” Will asked.

    “The night of the Academy graduation,” she replied. “I had a little too much to drink and had a Klingon buddy of mine draw it on for me.”

    At this confession, Will’s eyebrows rose in amusement. A grin instantly appeared on his face. “You? Drunk?”

    Dani ignored Will and the turn he was taking with that last comment. She instead turned her attention back to the sonic shower.

    “How long has it been since you had a real water shower?” Will asked her as he changed the shower from the sonic setting to water.

    Dani leaned back against the vanity and thought. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s probably been a few years.”

    Will stepped up to her. “Too long,” he said, moving in and kissing her deeply. She gently pulled away from him and stepped into the shower. She held out her hand for him. He took it and joined her inside the little stall. She kissed him again and realized she didn’t care where this would lead to.

    Will steered her into the stream of falling water droplets. The surprise of the forgotten sensation made her yelp.

    “Don’t worry,” Will said, smiling. “Water doesn’t bite. But I do.” Dani smiled. The sensation of the water on her skin had a therapeutic effect, and it was evident by the relaxed expression on her face. “This is why I prefer water showers,” Will said.

    Dani smiled again and played with the dark, damp hair on his head. “There’s no cleansing agent,” she observed. “You have to provide your own soap, don’t you?”

    “You could do that,” Will said. “Or you could just tell the computer to add it for you. Computer, add cleansing agent number 33 to the water, please.” The computer chirped as it complied.

    “I didn’t know you could do that,” Dani said, with wonder. Almost immediately, she began to notice a difference in the texture of the water. It became more like an oil. A sweet citrus scent invaded her nostrils as she looked down at the floor of the shower and saw that a slightly foamy lather had formed.

    “Is that better?” Will asked.

    Xxx

    When Will and Dani went on duty at 0800 hours, the Enterprise had arrived at Garessa II, a large, uninhabited M-class planet. The Enterprise was currently on a survey mission of recently charted star systems. The away teams’ assignments were of a variable nature, from simple science surveys of the mineral and metallurgic make-up of the planets to tactical surveys of the layout of the planets and their possible uses as Federation bases or colonies. Garessa II was one of these survey planets.

    “Will, I think it’s an honor to be sitting in on the senior staff mission briefing,” Dani said. She and Will were on their way to the observation lounge. “But I don’t understand my purpose for being present.”

    “All I know is that the captain wants you there, so you will be,” Will said.

    They both walked through the doors of the observation lounge. Will took his customary seat in the chair beside the captain, who was always at the head of the table.

    Captain Picard sniffed. The air around him had taken on a mildly fruity flavor just as Will had sat down. Picard looked at his Number One. “Is that a new cologne, Number One?” he asked.

    Will froze. He’d already forgotten about that aspect of the shower he’d shared with Dani earlier that morning. Next time, he’d have to pay more attention to the scent of the soap before he chose it. He looked at the captain, intending to reply to his question, but he found that Picard’s attention was already on something else.

    Dani took a seat much further down the table. As she sat, she pondered over why she was in on this mission briefing while no other junior officers were.

    “Goodmorning, everyone,” Picard began. “As you all know…” As the captain began to explain the purpose of the mission, the methods, etc., Will allowed his mind to wonder back to the bliss of the morning he’d shared with Dani. Her body was incredible. Those long legs…he was getting excited just thinking about them.

    “…Commander?” Picard waited for Will to reply. When he didn’t, Picard called his name again. “Commander?” This brought Will out of his reverie.

    “Sorry, Captain,” he said. “My mind was…somewhere else.”

    “Let’s try to remain here and in the present, please, Commander,” Picard said, a little annoyed.

    “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” Will stole a glance at Dani. She smiled and lowered her head.

    “Now, I was just saying that the away teams will be organized into groups of ten,” Picard said.

    “That’s right,” Will said. “The first two groups of ten will be the science teams. Tactical teams will follow, and after that, medical.”

    “Each group will also be accompanied by a security team,” Picard added. His eyes scanned the faces staring back at him. He stopped at Dani’s brown eyes. “Which brings me to you, Lt.” Everyone turned to look at her. “I know you’re wondering why you were summoned to take part in this briefing, Lt.” Picard said.

    “Yes, sir. It had crossed my mind,” Dani said honestly.

    “Lt. Janeway, your sole purpose on this mission will be to accompany Q to the surface.” Picard could see the puzzled, surprised, and wary looks on the faces of his officers. “If Q really is here to observe what being human is all about, I believe this would be an extremely valuable opportunity for him to observe human interactions within teams. Teamwork is the key word here.” He watched the concept sink in with his crew. He directed his attention back at Dani. “You are to be with him at all times. Understood?”

    “Yes, Captain,” Dani said. She was more than just slightly perturbed. She hadn’t transferred to the Enterprise to babysit. That was her job for this mission, as she saw it. She was to babysit Q. And she wasn’t responsible for Q, she thought sarcastically, her mind going back to the conversation she and Will had had the night before. She looked down the table at him. He was smiling.

    “Now,” the captain said, “everyone has his orders. Make it so, everyone. Dismissed.”

    Everyone stood and began to file out of the room. “Lt. Janeway, a moment, if you would, please?” Picard requested. Dani stopped and turned to face the captain. Will, who’d been on his way out, also stopped and looked at the captain. He looked at Dani again before walking out of the room, leaving her with Picard.

    “Yes, Captain?” Dani said.

    “Dani,” Picard said, taking a few steps toward her, “I know this isn’t exactly the assignment you’d like to be given, but you’re the one whom I believe best-suited for the task at hand.”

    “I understand, Captain,” Dani said.

    “I just think Q will be more likely to listen to you than anyone else aboard.”

    “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

    “I thank you for doing this, Lt.”

    Dani nodded. “You’re welcome, Captain.

    “Dismissed.”

    Dani turned and walked out of the observation lounge. Will was waiting outside the door. Before he could say anything, she spoke. “Don’t say anything,” she said, sternly.

    In the observation lounge, Picard noticed that after Dani left, there remained the scent of citrus fruit. He sniffed. Yes, that was it. Orange or tangerine, it smelled like. He wondered what this new-found affinity for fruit-scented colognes and perfumes was. First, Number One, then Dani. Who was next? Data?

    Xxx

    The first away team materialized on the planet’s surface amid conditions akin to those in paradise. Dani looked around. The temperature was perfect, and the sky was blue. If she hadn’t known that this was going to be a survey mission, she’d have mistaken the planet for a shoreleave planet. It was beautiful there.

    “All right, people, let’s get to work,” Will announced. “Standard away team procedures. No one goes anywhere alone.” The officers fanned out and began to conduct their surveys.

    Will tapped his comm badge. “Enterprise, this is Riker. We’re ready for the second team down here whenever you’re ready to transport.”

    “Aye, Commander,” came the tinny voice through Will’s communicator. “Stand by.”

    Dani and Q left Will and started walking toward one of the survey team pairs. The team had already ventured a good distance away, so Q and Dani, at the leisurely pace they were traveling, had a little walk ahead of them.

    “This is so humiliating,” Q said.

    “What?” Dani asked.

    “I don’t need a babysitter,” Q said defiantly.

    “You think I wanted this assignment?” Dani asked Q. “Believe me, this is not my dream job. I’d much rather be performing some of these surveys. But an order is an order, and I intend to follow it to a tee.”

    “Why? If you don’t want to do it, don’t do it.”

    “Q, there are certain things you’re going to have to learn about our society. I thought you’d already learned them from your time aboard Voyager, but apparently, you’ve forgotten them. Sometimes, you have to do things you don’t necessarily want to. You do them because there’s a bigger picture, and because it’s probably the right thing to do. You don’t disobey orders. Especially from the captain. So, here I am. Stuck with you.” The euphoric feeling Dani had first experienced after beaming down to the beautiful planet was quickly dissipating with the presence of her charge, Q.

    “Well, thank you for making me feel so welcome,” Q said flatly. “I’m honored.”

    “No,” Dani said apologetically. She was being mean to Q, and this situation wasn’t even his fault. He was just as innocent as she was. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault you’re here – it’s your father’s fault.”

    The two walked over and joined a team that consisted of Ensign Paul Milsap and Lt. Nina Carter. Milsap and Carter looked up from their work at the new arrivals.

    “Don’t mind us,” Dani said politely. “We’re just observing – if that’s all right.”

    “Of course it is, Lt,” Carter said politely.

    Meanwhile, Ensigns Eric Clements and Marta Shields were a few paces away taking soil and plant samples.

    “Is there no end to it?” Clements asked. “It isn’t enough that she’s in good with half of Starfleet’s hierarchy. No. She’s got to be in good with the Q, too. Who knows what kind of predicament she’s put us in, bringing Q’s son here? It’s only her second day, and already, I can’t stand her.”

    “Well, you can take comfort in the fact that she doesn’t have all of Starfleet in the palm of her hand,” Shields said.

    Clements looked at her. “What do you mean?”

    “There’s a rumor going around that Nechayev was this close to court-martialing her during that whole mess with Dukat,” Shields said, holding up her index finger and thumb.

    “That’s my whole point, though,” Clements said. “The only reason Nechayev didn’t go ahead and court-martial her was because she’s Dani Janeway. If it’d been anyone else, they would have been gone. If not that, they damn well wouldn’t be serving as a bridge officer on the ‘Fleet’s flagship. You know I’m telling the truth.”

    “Yeah. Well, she will have to prove herself at some point,” Shields said. “She won’t make it far on her connections alone. If she is all she’s cracked up to be, only time will tell.”

    Xxx

    An hour later, all the survey teams were down on the surface. There were about 40 people total on the surface taking surveys on the different physical aspects of the planet. Dani and Q had managed to visit at least one two-person team for each survey group, and in many circumstances, they had made it to more than one team.

    “I still don’t see the purpose in all of this,” Q said. “Why come down here and physically take samples when you’ve got the Enterprise and the ability to do all this from the ship? From where I’m sitting, this just looks like a big waste of time.”

    “Well, it’s not,” Dani said. “Believe me. Yes, we could do this all from the ship, but we get much better information if we do it first-hand. You get to see it with your own eyes and touch with your own hands, instead of letting sensors and transporters see and do for you.” She looked at Q. He still wasn’t getting it. “The point is teamwork. You’re supposed to be observing how people work together and what makes a team successful.” She looked up in time to see Will walking toward them.

    “There’s a system coming this way,” he said.

    “A bad one?” Dani asked.

    “The Enterprise sensors indicate that it’s only a line showers at this point, but it has the potential to develop into something more serious,” Will explained. “The captain has ordered that we return to the ship.”

    Dani nodded. She looked past Will at the first group of ten as they assembled and awaited transport. Will’s comm badge chirped. “Enterprise to Riker.”

    “Riker here,” Will said.

    “Stand by for transport,” the transporter technician’s voice came through Will’s communicator.

    “Standing by. Riker out.” He turned and watched as the first group of ten dematerialized. He turned back to Dani and Q. “You’ll be transporting with the last group.”

    Dani nodded. She saw the next team assemble for transport. After a few moments, the group dematerialized in the transporter stream.

    “Observe anything interesting today?” Riker asked. He smiled at her. A few paces away, the third group of ten assembled for transport. A few seconds later, they disappeared from the planet’s surface.

    Dani returned Riker’s smile. “Not lately,” she said. “But this morning…well, that’s a different story.” Riker’s smile broadened as he, along with Dani, Q, and the members of the last team assembled for their turn to transport. He tapped his comm badge. “Enterprise, this is Riker. The last team is ready for transport.”

    “Stand by, Commander,” the transporter tech replied. A moment later, the transport process began, and Dani began to feel the familiar tingling sensation associated with teleportation. A few seconds later, she, along with everyone else in their group, rematerialized and found that they were still on the planet’s surface. They all looked around, puzzled.

    Riker tapped his comm badge. “Riker to Enterprise,” he said. “What seems to be the problem. Why are we still on the surface?” There was no answer. “Enterprise, come in.” When there still was no answer, Will instinctively looked to Dani. She tried her comm badge, but got the same result that Will had.

    Xxx

    On the Enterprise, the transporter tech worked frantically to find the signals of the 10 crew members on the surface, but to no avail.

    “It’s no use, Captain,” the woman said. “There’s too much interference.”

    Xxx

    On the Bridge, Captain Picard was beginning to worry. He turned to Data, who was now second in command because of Riker’s absence.

    “Data, prepare a shuttle for launch,” Picard ordered. “It looks like we’re going to have to go in and get them.”

    “Sir, I would advise against that course of action,” Data said. “The storms approaching the location of the survey team have grown in intensity and strength. They are quite severe, now. Attempting to pilot a shuttle to the surface would be dangerous, sir.”

    Picard took this in and reconsidered. “Suggestions, anyone?” he asked after turning the situation over in his mind. No one offered up any ideas. “Well, then, I suppose we’ll just have to wait this one out.”

  • Return to Normal – Chapter 1

    Story #5 in the “More Than a Lifetime” series

    Author’s Note: This story is the fifth in a series of stories that do not follow cannon and should not be taken as such. The previous stories, in order, are: 1) Delta Wild, 2) Homecoming, 3) Graduation, and 4) A Love Less Ordinary. The events in these stories occur in an alternate universe in which Chakotay’s stint with the Maquis happened much earlier in his life. He is married to Kathryn Janeway, and they have a daughter. In this universe, Voyager did not combine with a crew from a Maquis ship, but instead reached the Delta Quadrant with a small loss of life and most of her crew in tact. The events of “First Contact” and “Insurrection” have already occurred in this timeline, but “Nemesis” has not. The Dominion War occurred, but with vastly different results. Many of the events of the final season of Deep Space Nine didn’t occur, which means the characters that died during the season are not dead in my story.

    Chapter 1

    The turbolift halted, and the doors opened, revealing ship’s counselor Deanna Troi, who had been waiting patiently for the lift to arrive.

    “Goodmorning, Deanna,” said Will Riker, who was already occupying the lift..

    “Will – goodmorning,” Troi said, stepping into the lift and joining the commander. “You’re just the person I wanted to see.”

    “Really?” Will asked. The lift doors slid shut, and Deanna instructed it to go to the bridge, Will’s destination as well. “What can I do for you?” Will asked.

    “Well, it’s about Dani,” Deanna revealed, with some degree of caution in her voice.

    “What about her?” Will inquired, caution creeping into his own voice.

    “I’ve been fielding some concerns about her serving aboard the Enterprise,” Deanna said.

    Will looked at her, puzzled. Why would anyone be concerned about Dani Janeway, Will wondered silently. He already knew the answer, though. He didn’t even know why he was trying to pretend like he didn’t. He had a feeling he knew the exact words that were going to come from the counselor’s lips.

    Deanna continued, answering Will’s unasked question. “People are concerned about her relationship with Dukat.”

    “She no longer has a relationship with Dukat,” Will said, immediately tensing at the subject of conversation. He knew it. Dani’s relationship – former relationship – with the infamous Cardassian was going to be a hot topic for weeks, perhaps months, to come. It had all ended almost a year ago, with the execution of the former gul by the Romulans, and Dani had moved on, apparently. She and Will had resumed their romantic relationship three months ago during one of his visits to Deep Space Nine. They were together again, just like the old days. Despite the fact that Dani was leaving DS9 having served Starfleet to the best of her abilities, and one rank higher to show for it, he and Dani both knew that her past relationship with Dukat would be all that a lot of people saw for a long time to come. It wasn’t something that was just going to go away. That much was obvious, given the fact that Dukat had died almost a year ago, and people were still talking about him and Dani.

    Deanna had expected the automatic defense that Will projected regarding Dani, and she understood his need to do so. But it didn’t change the fact that there were people on board the Enterprise who didn’t want Dani there. “Regardless, they’re questioning her loyalty to Starfleet,” she said.

    “That’s absurd,” Will said. “Dani’s as true to Starfleet and the Federation as you and I are.”

    “I know that, but many don’t.” Deanna didn’t like being the bearer of a lot of unpleasant news, especially on a day when she knew Will was excited, but there was more that he needed to be aware of concerning the crew’s attitude toward Dani Janeway. “People are also concerned that she’s going to be on the receiving end of some special treatment,” Deanna added hesitantly.

    “Special treatment?” Will couldn’t believe his ears. “Computer, halt turbolift.” The lift came to a complete stop. Will turned to Deanna. It wasn’t enough that Dani would have to deal with the backlash of her relationship with Dukat, was it? She would also have to deal with the backlash of being her. He didn’t know why it was so hard for people to accept that the daughter of Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay could come up through the ranks and prosper without the help of “connections”. “Who exactly has been coming to you with these ‘concerns’?” Will asked. It came out more harshly than he’d intended, especially since he knew Deanna was only doing her job by informing him. He knew she hated it as much as he did. She knew Dani, too.

    “A significant number of officers,” was Deanna’s calm reply. “There are a lot of people who don’t want Dani on this ship, Will.”

    Hearing her say the words Will had known were true was hard. How could people hate so much the woman he’d come to adore? He merely turned to the turbolift doors and said, “That’s unfortunate.” Dani didn’t deserve this kind of reception, he thought. All she’d ever wanted to do was be a good officer. “They don’t even know her,” Will said quietly. “But I don’t have time to go and personally talk to every officer on this ship who has a problem with Dani Janeway.”

    “I’m well aware of that,” Deanna said. She understood perfectly Will’s sentiments, and she thought he was well justified in feeling the way he did. But he did have a job to do here, as she did. In coming to him, she had hoped that this would aid him in his tasks as first officer. She continued. “But as the ship’s first officer, personnel matters do fall into your duties. I’m asking you to talk with the department heads and ask that they not give any special treatment to anyone.”

    “None of them would ever do that,” Will defended.

    “I know, but it would put a lot of people at ease if you talked to them.”

    Will considered the proposition. He had to admit he had thought of the possibility of personnel problems concerning Dani. He’d even submitted to the fact that those problems weren’t just possibilities; they were likelihoods. He just didn’t want to believe it. He acquiesced and nodded in response to Deanna’s suggestion. Calmer, he said, “Perhaps it couldn’t hurt. Computer-“

    “It would also be a good idea if you treated Dani like you would treat any other junior officer while you’re on duty,” Troi interrupted.

    “Of course,” Will said, bristling at the silent implication that he would ever act in such an unprofessional manner. Deanna picked up on it.

    “Will, I’m not suggesting that you would behave otherwise,” Deanna was sure to add. “It’s just a reminder.”

    “I know,” Will said genuinely with a sigh. He was getting all worked up over this, and Dani wasn’t even on board yet. Deanna was just trying to help, and he was snapping at her like she was to blame for all that she’d told him. “I appreciate it,” Will said sincerely, thanking the counselor for her help. “Computer, resume.” The turbolift began its ascent once again.

    “I just didn’t realize the effect having Dani aboard would create,” Will continued. “I’ve been aware of how we should both behave on duty. And I knew a few people would have some qualms with her because of Dukat and her relationship with me, but is it really that many?”

    “I wouldn’t have come to you if it were only a few people who had expressed concerns,” Deanna said.

    The turbolift came to a halt again, this time at its destination – the bridge. The doors slid open, and Will and Deanna glided onto the bridge. Data, who had been in command, stood from the captain’s chair and relinquished control to Will.

    “We have arrived at Deep Space Nine,” Data reported.

    “Thank you, Mr. Data,” Will said. “On screen.” A visual of the space station Deep Space Nine appeared on the view screen at the head of the bridge. Will tapped his comm badge. “Bridge to Captain Picard,” Will began, “We’ve arrived at Deep Space Nine.”

    “Very well, then, Number One,” Picard’s voice sounded through the badge.

    A few moments later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard emerged from his ready room adjacent to the bridge. His sight went directly to the view screen.

    “Captain, Colonel Kira is hailing us,” the communications/tactical officer reported.

    “Put her through,” Picard instructed. The viewscreen image of the space station was immediately replaced by that of Colonel Kira Nerys. “Colonel,” Picard greeted.

    “Captain Picard,” Kira said, “How good it is to see you again.”

    “It is good to see you as well,” Picard said. “How are things on the station?”

    “Things are running quite smoothly, fortunately,” Kira informed him. “Captain Bunche sends his regards. He regrets that he won’t be in attendance at the reception this evening. He was called away on official business. I’m sure you understand.”

    “All too well, Colonel,” Picard responded. He had been looking forward to talking with Captain Bunche again. They shared an interest in archeology, which made for wonderful conversations. He’d gotten to know Bunch much better than Ben Sisko, DS9’s former captain, who had taken a leave of absence to spend time on Bajor. The Dominion War hadn’t afforded Sisko or Picard the opportunity to become friendly with one another. War had a habit of doing that.

    Picard continued. “I understand we are to be taking on a former crewmember of yours.”

    “Ah, yes,” Kira said, “Lt. Janeway. I must say I’m sorry to see her leave. She’s become a valued member of the DS9 crew. We’ll miss her.” It was true. Despite Dani’s connection to Dukat, Kira had grown very fond of the young woman. She was a hard worker, a good officer. She would make a good addition to the Enterprise team. “She should be arriving shortly,” Kira said.

    “Captain,” the comm/tactical officer began, “Lt. Janeway’s shuttle has just docked in shuttlebay two.”

    “Thank you, Lt.,” Picard said, directing his attention back to the colonel. “I’ve just been informed that my new officer has arrived. If you’ll excuse me, Colonel, I’m going to go greet her.”

    “By all means, Captain,” Kira said. “I look forward to seeing you at the reception this evening.”

    “And I, you,” Picard said.

    Kira smiled warmly. “Kira out.” The communication was terminated, and Kira’s image was replaced by the image Deep Space Nine.

    Picard looked at Will and Deanna. The three filed off the bridge into the waiting turbolift.

    “I imagine this particular occasion must be a joyous one for you, Will,” Picard said, once the lift doors had closed.

    Will smiled, not even attempting to hide it. “Yes, sir. It is,” he said. Despite his earlier conversation with Deanna, he was still excited about Dani’s arrival. “It’s very fortunate for the Enterprise that Lt. Janeway will be joining the crew. She’s a valuable asset that any captain would be proud to have serving on his ship.”

    “Oh, yes,” Picard replied. “She graduated at the top of her class at the Academy and completed command school. And she’s matured into an excellent officer.”

    “That she has, sir,” Will agreed.

    The turbolift continued for a few moments before coming to a halt. When the doors opened, Troi, Riker, and Picard stepped out, walked down the corridor and into shuttlebay two.

    Will waited anxiously as the shuttle hatch opened. He noticed that his heart rate had risen, as had his body temperature. His palms were also sweaty. He had already begun to wipe them on his uniform when he realized that Deanna was looking at him. She could probably sense how he was feeling, although she didn’t say anything.

    Will turned his attention back to the shuttle, and there she was. She was just as beautiful as the last time he’d seen her, if not more so, and one rank higher. Her eyes rested on him briefly before falling on the captain.

    “Permission to come aboard, Captain,” she requested.

    “Permission granted, Lt.,” Picard said. Lt. Danielle Janeway stepped off the shuttle gangplank and onto the deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise 1701-E. Picard stepped forward with his hand extended. Dani stepped forward as well and met him, shaking the captain’s hand. “Welcome aboard,” he said.

    “Thank you, Captain,” Dani said.

    “It’s good to have you back on board the Enterprise,” Picard said.

    “It’s good to be back on board, sir,” Dani replied.

    “How are your parents?” Picard inquired. It had been a while since he’d last seen Admiral Janeway and Captain Chakotay.

    “They’re well. My father is enjoying his teaching post at the Academy, and my mother is keeping busy at headquarters.”

    “Very good.”

    “Welcome aboard, Dani,” Deanna said warmly.

    “Thank you, Counselor,” Dani said.

    “Hello,” Will said.

    “Hello,” Dani said, looking up at Will, briefly. She couldn’t afford to gaze at him to long. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to look away.

    “The commander will be showing you to your quarters,” Picard said. “It’s good to see you again, Dani.” He turned to Will. “I’ll be on the bridge.”

    “Aye, sir,” Will said, as the captain left the shuttle bay. He turned his attention back to Dani. “If you’ll follow me.” Will, Deanna, and Dani left the shuttle bay. None of them said very much during the journey to Dani’s quarters, probably because of the awkward situation the three of them were in. A man, his ex-lover, and his current lover – and all of them officers serving on the same ship in positions where they would all inevitably interact with each other. Despite the friendly smiles they sported, one didn’t have to be an empath to sense the tension and uneasiness surrounding the three officers. When they reached their destination, the tension wasn’t lifted.

    “Well, this is it,” Will said casually as the three of them walked in. “I hope it’s to your liking.”

    “Oh, yes. Definitely,” Dani said, looking around the living room area.

    “I know it’s not the lap of Cardassian luxury you’re used to,” Will said.

    “Believe me, I think I can adjust,” Dani assured him. “It’ll be nice to get back to a real bed for a change. I’d had about all I could take of those hard Cardassian excuses for beds.”

    A long, awkward, silent moment followed. No one knew what to say next. Finally, Deanna spoke up.

    “I’d better get going,” she said. “I’ve got to see how things are looking for tonight.”

    “Right,” Will said. Deanna nodded to them both before exiting. Will and Dani looked across the room at each other. They walked to each other and embraced.

    “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that,” Will said.

    “I bet I do,” said Dani.

    “I wanted to gather you into my arms when you first stepped out of the shuttle.” He looked at her. “But with the captain there. And Deanna…” Dani reached up and pulled Will’s head to her own. Her lips met his for the first time in months. When she pulled away, she expected him to pursue her and was surprised when he didn’t.

    “You haven’t seen me in three months, and all you want is one kiss?” Dani asked. She had to admit, she was somewhat confused.

    “I don’t think I can afford any more right now,” Will said, a hint of a smile on his face.

    “Affordability was never a factor before,” Dani pointed out, raising one eyebrow.

    “If I get involved now, I’m not going to want to leave for the rest of the day, and I am currently on duty. And tonight, we’re holding a reception and dinner for some of the admirals tonight.”

    “That sounds like fun,” Dani said, lacking enthusiasm.

    “The captain would like for you to be in attendance,” Will informed her.

    “Me?” Dani certainly wasn’t anyone important enough that her presence would be missed at a reception for admirals. Was she? “Why?”

    Will was surprised that she didn’t know. “Well, you’re only one of the most talked-about officers in the ‘Fleet,” he said.

    Dani was suddenly aware. “That was almost a year ago,” she said of her relationship with Dukat. Most of her colleagues on DS9 didn’t talk about what had happened between her and Dukat. Because she no longer heard anything about the whole subject, she assumed others on other ships had put it to rest, as well. She was wrong. “I thought everyone would be over that by now. I am.”

    “Captain Picard and Colonel Kira just want to show everyone what kind of officer you really are,” Will said, trying to justify everything. “He wants to give who ever wants it a chance to talk to you personally.”

    Dani stepped away from Will. She didn’t want to be hearing what she was hearing. “I can’t believe this. You’re telling me the whole purpose of this reception is to put me on display?”

    “No, that’s not the purpose of it at all. It’s just a get-together for the admirals. But the captain and Deanna both thought it would be a good idea. It would kind of serve as another opportunity for you to clear your name. Frankly, I think it’s a good idea, too.”

    “Why didn’t anyone discuss this with me?” Dani asked. While she, too, believed this was a good idea, she was a little upset that the decision to go along with it had been made without her consent.

    “That was inconsiderate of us. On the behalf of all of us, I apologize. But, Dani, you’ve got to realize what a good opportunity this is for you to explain your side of things.”

    “I do realize the opportunity. That’s why I’m not madder than I am. What time should I be there?”

    “The reception starts at 1800 hours.”

    “And I was so looking forward to getting re-acquainted with you,” Dani said regretfully.

    Will took her hand and pulled her to him. “We can still do that,” he assured her.

    “Tonight?” Dani asked hopefully.

    Will shook his head regrettably and said, “No, I don’t think so. We don’t know what time this is going to be over with, and I have an early shift tomorrow.” He kissed her. “And so do you.”

    Dani looked up at Will’s neatly-bearded face and could tell he wasn’t joking about the shift.

    “See you tonight,” Will said, this time kissing Dani on the cheek instead of the lips. He walked to the door and said “Dress uniform,” before walking out.

    “I hate those things,” Dani said once she was alone.

  • A Love Less Ordinary – Chapter 6

    Dani Janeway opened her eyes at 7 a.m. sharp at the sound of her alarm blaring in her ears. As she slowly sat up, attempting to gather her thoughts for the day, an alarming thought hit her like a phaser jolt – it was the day after her and Dukat’s interview with Jake Sisko.

    She stood and wandered into her living room, not exactly knowing how she should feel or what she should do. What was on the other side of the doors of her quarters? Would there be an angry mob? Or would no one care? Would people be as cold as ice to her? Or would they treat her like they always had, only to talk about her behind her back they were sure she was out of earshot?

    Dani looked at her computer console. Maybe she should check her messages for the morning…

    She sat down at her desk to access her messages. The first one was from Jake, confirming that he’d posted the interview with the Federation News Service. He’d attached a copy of the finished article to his message. Dani opened the attachment and skimmed over the article. It seemed pretty accurate and balanced, to Jake’s credit. He’d actually presented them for what they were: two people who were in a relationship and merely wanted to live their lives with the same opportunities as others in their position. Maybe this whole thing wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe when people read this, Dani thought, they’d be more receptive to the idea of her and Dukat together.

    When Dani read the next message in her terminal, that optimistic thought quickly dissipated. “You should be ashamed of yourself, you Cardie-loving bitch,” the message read. “The uniform you wear would be better-deserved by a Romulan, you traitor! Get off that station and go to Cardassia with that spoonhead and all the others of his kind.”

    Dani quickly deleted the message. Maybe the article hadn’t had the effect she thought it had after all. It hadn’t if the previously opened message was any indication. Dani moved on to the next message. This one was from a familiar face – Emma Shale. Dani immediately rolled her eyes and accessed the message.

    “Well, what a nice surprise!” it read. “Dani and Dukat – has a nice ring to it, if I do say so myself. So, I guess this means you’ll be resigning your lofty position on Deep Space Nine. I always knew you wouldn’t make it. Thanks for proving me right!”

    Dani angrily deleted the message, a sense of dreadful foreboding of what the remaining 43 messages on her terminal were about. And it was only 0700 hours. The day hadn’t even started, yet.

    Damn, she thought. What she feared most was becoming reality.

    She rose from her terminal, intending to return to her room to dress, but paused when the door chimed. ‘Somebody’s here to confront me in person,’ she thought. And here she was in her pajamas, a skimpy shirt with no sleeves and a matching pair of shorts.

    The door chimed again, and she dismissed the issue of her clothing, or lack thereof. “Come in,” she said. The doors slid open, and Dukat glided in. “Marac,” Dani said. She was relieved that it was him and not some angry reader.

    Dukat noted her sigh of relief. A glance in the direction of her computer monitor confirmed his thoughts. “I take it you’ve read your messages for the morning,” he surmised.

    “Some of them,” Dani replied.

    “They weren’t encouraging,” Dukat guessed, again correct in his assumption.

    Dani merely shook her head to the negative. She took a few steps and sat down on the sofa. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so insulted so many times in such a small amount of time,” she said. “And that was just one message.”

    “I don’t mean to sound pessimistic,” Dukat said, joining her on the couch, “but I don’t think you’ve seen the end or the worst of it.”

    “I know you’re right,” Dani said. “And that sucks.”

    “Danielle – I’m here for you,” Dukat told her. “We will get through this. Together.” Dani looked at him, unsure. “We will,” he insisted.

    When Dani walked into Ops that morning, she had that feeling that everyone had been talking but had suddenly stopped when she’d stepped off the lift. She quietly and quickly made her way to her station. She logged in and began to review the sensor readings from the day before. She hadn’t even been working ten minutes when Captain August Bunche stepped out of his office. “Ensign Janeway, could I see you in my office please?” he summoned.

    Dani looked at Kira momentarily before making her way across the room to the Captain. She followed him into his office adjacent to Ops. She stood at attention until he instructed her to sit, which she did.

    “Ensign,” Bunche began, “I believe you know why I have called you here. It appears that your relationship with Dukat has become public knowledge, thereby making it official to some degree.” Dani nodded, wondering where the captain was going with this.

    Bunche continued. “I’ve known about this relationship for weeks, as has most of the station,” he said, “but command is just now only hearing about it. This whole scenario makes them nervous, Ensign.”

    “Sir?” Dani said. She didn’t quite understand what he meant. Nervous?

    “Ensign, I received orders this morning to relieve you from your duties until further notice,” Bunche revealed.

    Dani couldn’t believe her ears. “What?” she managed to say.

    “Personally, Janeway, I think an officer’s private life and what he or she does off-duty is his or her own business and does not necessarily have any bearing on that officer’s on-duty performance. However, as I’m sure you’re well aware, you are, by no means, just an average officer, and Dukat is…well, Dukat. Starfleet is afraid of a scandal, which is where this is headed.” ‘It’s probably already

    reached that point, Bunche thought, regretfully. “I’m sorry, Ensign,” he said, and he truly was. This was a good officer, and she had the potential to be one of his best eventually. “I’m going to have to follow through on these orders,” he informed her.

    Dani couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d barely been on duty a couple of months, and already she was being suspended. This had to be some kind of record for the shortest time on duty before being relieved of duty. “Am I to be confined to quarters as well, sir?” she asked, making every effort to appear to be taking the news in stride.

    “No, I don’t believe that’s necessary,” Bunche said. “I do hope you understand Headquarters’ reasoning behind this, Ensign.”

    “Yes, sir. I do.”

    Bunche nodded. “You’re dismissed.”

    And so that was it, Dani thought. Her Starfleet career was probably over. She nodded to the captain and rose. She left the office and Ops without so much as even a glance at anyone on her way out. It wasn’t because she was too embarrassed to look at them; it was because she was too mad.

    The lift doors slid open, and Dani steamrolled through them and down the corridor toward her quarters. Once she entered her quarters, it was apparent to her that she wanted, needed to throw something, kick something, hit something. She would go to the gym and work off all the pint-up rage she was feeling.

    How could headquarters dictate to her how she was supposed to live her life? Who were they to tell her who she was supposed to be romantically involved with?

    She unzipped her uniform jacket and peeled it away from her body. It was then that the communications beacon on her terminal started to beep. She walked over to her desk and sat down at the computer. The comm, the screen showed, was from her parents. As she activated the message, hoped it was a recorded message and

    not actually live, with someone on the other end. Immediately, an image of both Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay appeared on the screen.

    “Dani,” Kathryn said, “we were just about to give up on you.”

    ‘Damn,’ Dani thought. ‘If only I’d come in a few seconds later…’

    “Yeah,” Dani began, “Sorry about that. My shift in Ops just ended.” She studied her parents’ expressions. They weren’t giving up anything. What did they know? “What’s up?”

    Kathryn and Chakotay looked at each other and then back at Dani. “Dani,” Kathryn began, “there have been some rumors floating around Starfleet. Very disturbing rumors. Concerning you and,” Janeway swallowed, “Gul Dukat. I’m sure you had to have heard of them by now. They’ve been floating around now for about two

    months.”

    So they had heard after all. “I have heard them,” Dani replied.

    “And I’m sure you’ve heard of the article on the news service concerning you this morning,” Kathryn said.

    Dani nodded. “Yes.”

    Kathryn continued. “Well, Sweetheart, we just wanted to hear your take on this. I mean, is this something that began as a prank or joke that spun out of control? Something like that? Or…it’s just that we expected what people were saying to die out, but the stories keep coming, and the article this morning-“

    “You want to know if it’s true,” Dani interjected.

    “That’s right,” Chakotay said, speaking for the first time. “We want to know so we can put an end to these despicable lies. Tell us you’re not involved with Dukat so we can stop this.”

    Dani’s head hung. Her heart was beating like a mad drum. Her stomach was nothing more than a twisted knot.

    “Honey, it’s okay,” Kathryn said. “We know that words hurt, but it’s not the end of the world. It isn’t-“

    “They’re not just words,” Dani broke in. She rose her head and looked at her parents on the monitor. They were both speechless. They didn’t know what they were hearing. “I can’t tell you that I’m not involved with Dukat because I am. They’re not just stories. That article on the Federation news wire is real. I did the interview with Jake Sisko yesterday. The things that people are saying…are true.”

    Dani watched her parents and waited for some kind of response, but they just sat there in silence for a few moments. She wanted to say something, but wasn’t exactly sure that there was anything she could say that would make things any better. She opened her mouth to speak anyway, but before any words left her lips, her father suddenly reached over and angrily ended the transmission.

    Dani was left staring at a blank screen. Tears welled up in Dani’s eyes and didn’t hesitate to fall down her cheeks. The worst had occurred. And Dani hadn’t been prepared for it.

    Dani rose from her desk. It was official, now. If her parents had heard, chances were, everyone had heard. Her worst fear had come true. Her parents had found out about her and Marac, and her father’s reaction had been worse than she had expected. He hadn’t said a word. She’d expected him to say something, even if it had been to just yell, but he hadn’t said anything. Dani hadn’t expected that.

    She understood perfectly his reasoning for his actions, though, and she couldn’t blame him. She understood what he believed. He just didn’t understand what she believed.

    Two and a half hours later, Dani, who’d previously left for the gym for a nice long workout, returned to her quarters. The intense regimen she’d embarked on had been successful in helping her alleviate some of the stress of the situation. It could not, however, get rid of the pain she felt as a result of being virtually disowned by her parents, or by her father, at least. When she thought about the sadness, the anger in her rose again. When the anger rose, she felt like punching something. This was the process that had manifested itself throughout her workout, which was why she’d continued for so long. She could never completely get rid of the feelings, and if there was any remnant of any feeling, the process started all over again. It was all so useless. What she really wanted to do was crawl into bed, burrow under the covers, and hide from the universe forever.

    Dani sank down onto the couch and buried her head in her hands as the tears came. Her entire life was falling apart, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. Well, there was one thing she could do, and doing it would probably get everyone off her back. But she couldn’t go down that road. Not because everyone else dictated that she should.

    The door chimed, and Dani’s head sprung up. “Who is it?” she asked. She wasn’t used to asking that. She usually just told whoever was out there to come on in. She didn’t think it was such a good idea to be so open now. Whoever was on the other side of that door might wish she were dead or something.

    “It’s me – Marac,” Dani heard Dukat say from outside.

    She almost breathed a sigh of relief. “Come in,” she invited. She stood as Dukat entered.

    “I thought we were meeting for lunch,” Dukat said. “What happened?”

    “I was relieved of duty this morning,” Dani informed him.

    “What?” Dukat asked, walking over to her.

    “I went to Ops for my shift this morning, and the captain told me that he had been ordered, by Command, to relieve me of duty.”

    “Because of me?” Dukat asked. Dani nodded and reclaimed her seat on the sofa.

    Dukat sank to the couch beside her. “I didn’t realize such drastic steps would be taken,” he admitted.

    “Me either,” Dani said.

    “I can’t see you any longer, Danielle,” Dukat said suddenly.

    Dani’s head snapped around to face Dukat. “What?”

    “Your whole world is falling apart all at the expense of me. Getting rid of me is the obvious solution to this conundrum.”

    Dani studied Dukat. He was right. It was the most obvious solution. But it wasn’t the only solution. “I’d rather not do that,” she told Dukat. Dani realized that she wouldn’t be willing to put herself through all this drama if she simply cared for Dukat or merely liked him a lot. “I love you,” she revealed.

    Dukat looked at her. He couldn’t believe his ears. Only a few days ago, she’d said that she couldn’t say those words, that she couldn’t tell him she loved him. But now she could?

    “I realized,” Dani began to explain, “that I wouldn’t be letting myself go through all this if I didn’t love you.”

    “Are you sure you aren’t letting yourself go through all this merely to prove a point?” Dukat asked her.

    “What point would that be? My whole life is a wreck. Everything I’ve ever worked for is slipping away. I know I’m stubborn, but I don’t think I would go so far as to risk everything just to prove someone wrong.” Dani stood and turned to face the viewports. “I just wish I could get away from this all.”

    Dukat stood and joined her at the viewport. “I have to go away to Cardasssia IV for business in a few days,” he told her. “I’d like you to come with me.” She turned and looked up at him as he continued. “I could arrange for my ship to leave early, perhaps as early as tonight, if you wish.” Dani returned her attention to the viewport, as placed his hands on her shoulders and whispered into her ear, “I can take you away from all this, if only for a little while, a

    few days. We’ll go somewhere where we’ll be completely secluded, away from everything that’s troubling you. Danielle, come with me.”

    Dani turned and looked up at him again. “Can we really leave tonight?”