The challenge:

It's time to try your hands on a short or long story of your choice.

Parameters for the story are:

1. A Riker must be discovered part naked (your choice) in the
observation lounge, and you have a choice of two rikers to choose
from, never forget you do have a Tom option here

2. Data is to use the phrase "theoretically it is possible"

3. Beverly to say "you did what?"

4. Riker must be wearing something yellow

So the challenge starts now :-D

Have fun, and there is no time restriction with this. just something
short and sweet if you can :-D

JEALOUSIES AND OTHER ISSUES

Will Riker walked down the corridor of the USS Enterprise, headed towards transportation room three. He had every intention to wish farewell and safe voyage to the Counselor of the USS Enterprise, regardless of any emergency.

Deanna was going to be gone for seven days for an interplanetary psychology conference. It would be their first time apart since they returned from the Ba’ku home world. Without complaint she attended those sessions, every year since she had become a counselor aboard the mighty starship. He smiled slightly at the thought of her attempting to hide her dislike for the dreadful meetings she soon would be emerged within. Deanna was a professional and hid her dread tastefully in the most prim and proper manner.

He was also certain that she would no doubt be flirted with, there would be numerous amounts of debonair passes made at her by the male psychologist that were attending. Every year he had an underlying jealousy that she would come back and announce her love for a fellow psychologist or worse yet, announce her engagement.

His brain began to reason knowing that Deanna wasn’t the type who would take lightly her commitment to any relationship, he just hoped that their newfound love would stand the test. "No she’s not like that." He thought pushing away his insecurities. After thinking it through reason finally took the place of his jealousy.

She noticed him right away as he entered the room, her eyes lit up like a little girl at Christmas. And his heart profoundly went out to her.

He greeted her with a polite, "Hi." And a warm smile, love filling those big blue eyes of his.

"Hi."

"I just wanted to see you off, and ask you to be safe for me."

"Safe?" She rolled her eyes at the thought of the lengthy boring lectures she would have to endure for endless amount of hours or days. "The only true threat that I have to face is one of being bored to death, Will."

"I’m talking about your shuttle pilot…Mr. Crusher." He teased. "He hasn’t flown that much."

"We won’t tell Wesley you said that." She whispered, with a twitch of her nose.

Deanna Troi had a personality and an aurora about her that drove him absolutely mad. She was very intelligent, sensual, and playful…and it was all wrapped up in a body of that made him want to rip her clothes off, scoop her up in his arms and take her to bed. Instead he simply smiled and agreed in a whisper, "That’s probably a good idea."

A moment of awkward silence passed between them as their eyes locked. Deanna sensed his nervousness.

"I just wanted to say be careful, and…." Riker broke the silence as he reached out for her hand, placing her delicate fingers in the grip of his larger ones, "come back in one piece, all right?"

"And I thought you came down here to tell me that I was the love of your life, and you’re going to be lost without me." She paused at his reaction. "And that you’ll be hanging a yellow ribbon until I get back." She was teasing of course, but her eyes portrayed something different. He could have sworn that he saw love radiate from them and that look in her eyes choked his next words. So he just stood there, feeling like an idiot not knowing what to say.

She sensed his awkwardness and decided to lift it from him by gently kissing him goodbye, their lips met and held. He wanted this moment to last forever, but the kiss ended. "I’ll miss you too, Will." She whispered, brushing her hand against the side of his face.

Deanna Troi stepped onto the padd. She gave Will one last glance before she spoke again. "We are ready to transfer." She instructed the transportation chief, and giving Wesley a nod. Riker stood and watched as she vanished slowly off of the ship and out of his life for seven whole days.

"Way to go Riker." He mumbled as he turned around to leave. Why was he such a fumble headed idiot when it came to Deanna Troi?

"Sir?" O’Brian asked in puzzlement.

Riker pretended not to hear him as he stepped out of the room and into the hallway.

The next few days were long….long and lonely. Day after day Riker sat on the bridge; his thoughts were totally consumed with Deanna Troi. He was distracted, confused and found himself saying, ‘damn’ at almost every interval of conversation. Not knowing what it was exactly he wanted from Deanna, he couldn’t decide whether he wanted her as a friend, as a lover or as a wife. Hell, maybe he wanted all three. In all of his confusion the only thing he knew for certain was that, he couldn’t stop thinking of her.

"Damn…" he mumbled to himself, when Data informed him that his shift was over. Not realizing the time, he was again…not paying any attention, lost to his own thoughts.

"Is there something wrong, Sir?" The golden android asked.

"No…no Data." He stammered, "I’ll see you in the morning."

"What is wrong with him?" Beverly asked in a low whisper.

"I believe he misses the Counselor."

"What?" Beverly asked in disbelief. "You’ve got to be kidding?" she stated amazed as she watched Will leave the bridge.

"In my recent study of human emotions it would appear that our Commander is lacking positive personality without the Counselor. He is exhibiting all of the signs of someone pining for their loved one. It is feasibly possible and this would attribute to the commander’s attitude, and lack of concentration, Doctor."

By the time he reached his quarters Will was headed towards depression with each step. He stood outside of Deanna’s quarters wanting, wishing that she were inside. He rolled his eyes at his own thoughts.

When Riker entered his quarters he frowned. He had gotten used to a nice dinner and a warm loving smile greeting him everyday when he finished his shift. "Lights, one quarter illumination." He called out to the darkness, the room became illuminated with the soft amber’s of internal lighting. He flopped himself down on his couch and let out a long sigh. Looking over to his right he saw the holo-pic of Deanna. He gently picked it up and pushed the activation button…’She’s so beautiful’ he thought. Long dark hair and big dark eyes, reminding him of a playful kitten. His heart began to melt, just as it had done the first time he lay eyes on her all those years ago.

He let out a frustrated sigh. He hated his empty quarters, he hated meals alone…. And he was even starting to hate bridge duty, and that was the one thing he enjoyed the most. But, without Deanna life seemed dismal, dull and meaningless. "I’ve got to get out of here." Heading off he began to form a plan, something that would help in coping until she returned. Something that would help fulfill him for the next few days. Something that he hadn’t really thought through properly..

"What were you doing?" Deanna Troi asked the first officer as she carefully swabbed the blood from the corners of his mouth. He was sitting in the observation deck, after finishing one of Worf’s fight programs on the holodeck, dressed in nothing but a white Klingon warrior’s robe.

"Ouch! That stings." His voice slightly slurred as he peered at her with one eye closed.

"Will…. You’re intoxicated!" She scolded, from her kneeling position. He snapped his head away from her. Realization settling in, she sat back on her heels. "That’s why you turned off the safety controls of the holo-deck." Moving forward again, she grabbed his chin with her hand, snapping his face back towards her, and began to swab the cut on his lip. "What is wrong with you?" She tried to sense him but was getting a weird sense of sadness, anger and loneliness.

"You tell me. You’re the empath."

"You reek of whiskey." She stated with a sour look. She fanned her small hand in front of her face.

"What are you doing here anyway?" he asked his voice had a tinge of annoyance to it.

"You seem angry, why?"

"I’ve got to go." He started to stand, evading her question with his usual Riker skill.

"No, you’re not going anywhere." She pushed him back slightly, and to her amazement her small touch on his chest made his intoxicated body fall back into the chair. Their eyes met and held. Gods he wanted to kiss her, she was so beautiful and he had missed her so much. Taking his hands and cupping her face, he began to plant soft kisses on her neck.

"Will stop…stop. Not here!" She whispered her plea.

Her words made him look at her. Once she had his full attention, she asked again. "Why are you angry?"

He had no desire to discuss his anger, mostly with himself for missing her so much or his jealousy issues. "I’m not angry. I’m horny." He answered with a lopsided smile. He returned to his previous task of kissing her neck. His mouth made it’s way to her jaw line as his hands skillfully explored her body.

"You smell dreadful." She stated in a low moaning voice, bending her head backwards giving him full access to her neck.

He reached for her breast and began to gently knead the mound of flesh in his hand, while the other hand slowly made it’s down her back and cupping her bottom; she felt herself being slightly lifted as he pulled her closer to him. She gasped slightly as her body pressed hard against his. She could feel herself becoming lost in the emotions as his skilled hands preformed their magic on her body.

His mouth was against her cheek making his way towards her lips. The whiskey laden smell of his breath filled her nostrils, immediately snapping her back into the reality of the observation lounge.

"If you kiss me on the mouth" she protested in a low voice, "I swear I’ll throw up, Will."

Riker instantly released her and sat up straight in the chair. "You get right to the point don’t you?" He hissed disappointed. "I thought you were at a conference."

"I was." She answered casually, "By the way, thank you for stopping." She was referring to his sexual advances.

"What are you doing here?" he asked flatly.

"I belong here." She chuckled, and then she extended her hand in greeting, "Deanna Troi, ships counselor, and you must be the ship’s drunk." She watched him and knew the problem instantly. "I thought you might be pining for me. So I came back early."

She was kneeling in front of him, while he sat in the chair, and their eyes made contact once again. His blue eyes determined, hers confused and searching. "I love you." He said gently, and then he suddenly exploded, "But not enough damn it!" He then slammed an angry fist onto the table, making her flinch. She had no idea where all of this was coming from. Was he really pining for her?

This past week had been the worst week of his life, and perhaps the alcohol had given him the courage to say what he had longed to say. Perhaps the thought of men making passes at her, perhaps his own jealousy had prompted him…. Or maybe that stupid fight with the hologram had given him courage.

"I love you, Deanna. I love you so much." He admitted in a normal tone of voice. "But not enough…not enough to make you happy."

She stared at him silently. So, he continued; "I want to love you enough to let you go. To wish you happiness without me…" He paused for breath. "Because with me in your life…. Hell, I don’t know. All I seem to do is hurt you…and cause you heartache. Or make you cry." He gently wiped away a tear with his thumb that was trailing down her cheek. " And I don’t want to do that…. I never wanted to do that…. But, I always ended up hurting you somehow. I want to love you enough to stay out of your life, Deanna…and I can’t do it. Everytime I try…. It rips me to shreds…. In here." He took his thumb and tapped his heart.

She was in a daze; she hadn’t heard one word he said past that magic little sentence. "You love me?" she asked in wonderment. "But, you never told me."

"I didn’t think I had to." He answered softly, his eyes now downcast, as he began to feel insecure. "I thought you knew."

Her words were soft and almost shy. "I did know, Will. But, a women needs to hear those words sometimes…even an empath."

"Is that so?" he chuckled uneasily. "Well then, I guess I’ll have to say it everyday to a certain empath for the rest of her life." He bent forward and gently kissed the tear that was now trailing down her cheek. His eyes as if by magic suddenly became bright as he jumped to his feet. "I did what you said." He pronounced with pride.

"What are you talking about now, Will Riker?" she asked wiping away the moisture from under her eyes. Curious as to what he was now going to admit.

"I tied a yellow ribbon." His voice was full of excitement. "Look!" He threw open his warrior’s robe with such a display that she nearly choked from shock. Deanna’s focus slowly moved down his well toned body, and her eyes widened as her stare came to his groin area.

Standing proudly before her was William T. Riker, the Commander of the USS Enterprise completely nude, all except the bright yellow ribbon that hung from his manhood.

All she could do was laugh and cry at the same time, when he stated with a lopsided grin and a wag of his eyebrows: "It was the closest thing to an oak tree that I could find."

THE END