"Angel Falls" [PG-14]
QDestinyy@aol.com

Notes:  A little peek at what we 'didn't' see during the fourth season episode "Family" (when the crew of the Enterprise goes on shore-leave). The television episode follows the Captain to France.  This story... follows Riker and Troi.  Who else? 

Disclaimer due to lack of time:  I wrote this bit of fluff in four hours total and I'm sure it's riddled with flaws.  It's not edited for clarity or content, so please enjoy 'as-is'! If I've given anyone a third eye or a sixth toe, I don't want to know about it!




"Angel Falls?  You're really going to Angel Falls... with Will?"  Beverly Crusher set the photo she was holding down into her carry-case and smiled at Deanna Troi's incredulous expression.  "Isn't that a little ...remote... for a vacation?"

"Remote is precisely the point, Beverly.  I intend to relax. The fewer people the better."

"Well, you shouldn't have any problem 'relaxing'.  Just you and Will Riker in the *secluded* Venezuelan jungle..."

"Beverly.  It's not like that."

"Like what?" Crusher's smile widened. 

"Beverly."

"Deanna."

The two women held eye contact until Troi could take the impasse no longer and smiled.  "You know what you need, doctor?"

"Yes.  I need my best friend--our ship's Counselor--to help remind me that I haven't been on a real date in more years than I'd care to count."

"That wasn't what I was going to do."

"Then maybe I need a massage.  You know, I haven't had a good massage in a lot of years, either.  I remember this place in Hawaii that Jack and I used to--"

"You see?" Deanna cut her off gently, "there.  Right there.  You and Jack.  Beverly," her hand came to rest on Crusher's arm, "you need to move forward.  Let yourself live again.  Professionally you're already there, but personally--"

"Deanna, that's very sweet but I'm fine."

Deanna regarded her without speaking.

"I *am* fine, COUNSELOR.  I promise."

"I just want to see you happy.  That's all.  Is that too much for your *best friend* to ask?"

Crusher smiled.  "No.  It's not.  And I'll tell you what.  If you promise me you'll go to Venezuela and have 'fun' with Will, then I'll promise you I'll make an effort to stop comparing everyone to Jack."

Deanna sighed.  "Beverly, my situation with Will has nothing to do with you and Jack.  We're going on vacation together--as friends--nothing more.  But I do promise to have a good time if that's what you mean.  I haven't seen Angel Falls in many years."

"Well, 'a good time' is all I really wanted to hear.  That, and every juicy detail when the two of you get back..."

"Beverly! You're incorrigible."

"I try.  Now scoot.  I have some packing to do, and by the sound of things, so do you."  Beverly grinned and shoved Deanna gently toward the door, "have FUN, Deanna."

"Thank you," Troi watched her friend disappear behind a closing panel.  She stared at the solid barrier for a single, thoughtful, moment and then sighed.  "You too."

*

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Deanna jumped and fell backward with a thump.  "Will!"

"Whoa, sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Riker smiled and pulled her gently from the wall.  "That doesn't happen often.  You okay?"

"I'm fine," she brushed him aside and straightened her posture.  "What are you doing here?  I thought we were leaving in a half hour?"

"We are," he looked her up and down.  "I was just coming back from a diagnostic."

"Oh.  Right."  They fell into step together in companionable silence before Deanna opted to speak.  "Will, are you sure you want to go to Angel Falls?"

Stopping short, he turned.  "What?  Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know," she hedged, "it's been a long time since we were there, last."

"You mean the last time we were there, we were lovers."

Staring back at him, she finally shrugged.  "To the point.  Yes."

"Does that bother you Deanna?" he shook his head, "because we can go anywhere else.  I won't mind..."

"No," she answered quickly, "no it doesn't bother me.  I just wondered if it bothered you.  That's all."  When he stared at her quizzically, she frowned.  "I just didn't think about it when you initially asked.  It didn't occur to me that it might be a problem."

"It's not a problem.  For me.  Deanna, you're the empath.   You should know how I feel about this."

"I do," she defended, "at least I know how you feel when we talk about it.  But I'm not sure how you'll feel once we're there."  They started down the corridor again and entered the turbolift at its end. "Deck eight," Deanna called.  "Angel Falls is in the middle of the jungle."

"I know that."

She glanced at him sidelong.  "It's fairly remote."

"I recall that as well."

"And you still want to go?" this time she faced him directly.

Taking her gently by the shoulders, Riker smiled.  "Deanna, it sounds to me like you're the one who's worried about going.  What are you afraid is going to happen?"

"You have to ask?"

With a wide grin, he shrugged.  "I think we're both adults, Deanna.  We should be able to control ourselves by now.  Unless you think you--"

She rolled her eyes and scowled.  "I most certainly do not."

Will stepped casually from the turbolift.  "If this is going to be awkward for you, then lets do something else."

"It won't be awkward." 

"Are you su--"

Eyes narrow, Deanna placed a hand on her hip.  She caught his deliberately solicitous expression and held it until he looked away. 

"Good then.   I guess it's settled."  Face forward through the corridor, Riker walked to his quarters and stopped--a door away from hers.  "I'll see you in a half hour then, Counselor.  Transporter room three?"

"Of course."  She watched him disappear inside.


                                           *
When the shimmer of transport released their bodies, Deanna's eyes were drawn immediately upward; over twenty-four hundred feet upward, where the pinnacle of the Earth's tallest waterfall emerged through the clouds.  Her quiet awe was just as profound as the first time she'd seen the magnificent wonder.

"Still incredible," following her gaze, Riker echoed her unspoken sentiment,  "every time I see them."

"Yes," she smiled and turned to look at him, "I'm glad we came."

"Me too."  Gathering both of her hands in his, he gave them a gentle squeeze before they started slowly along the jungle path toward a tourist resort in the near-distance.   "And it's really not that remote. Not a lot of tourists this time of year, but they do have every modern amenity where we're staying."

Deanna smirked.  "So did they when we were last here, but as I recall, we didn't spend a great deal of time inside the actual resort..."

"No," grinned Riker, offering her a meaningful glance, "we didn't."

"I'd like to see more this time," she mused thoughtfully. "There were some beautiful gardens for one thing.  And those ruins we never took a look at."

He nodded.  "I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities for all of that."

"Commander!" a voice from up the path called out jovially and both Riker and Troi turned toward it.

"Carlos!" Will beamed, "it's great to see you again..."

"Look at you," the man called Carlos clapped Riker on the shoulder, "the last time I saw you, you were just a Lieutenant, huh?  When they read me the guest-manifest this morning I almost dropped to the floor!  A full Commander on the Enterprise!" 

"What are you still doing out here?" Riker asked, "I thought you were off to join Starfleet..."

"Now now, Riker," Carlos admonished with a sly grin, "I have not even said hello to Deanna yet." He gently took her hand. "Señora, usted mira tan encantador como una flor del verano," he lifted her fingers to his lips.  "Más hermoso que el último tiempo."

"Forever a charmer, Carlos," Deanna smiled.

Will laughed and shook his head.  "Carlos, you may *look* Spanish, but you speak it just about as badly as I do."

"It wasn't that bad!" Deanna argued, stepping up next to Carlos.

"Oh, you would know would you?" Riker bent at the waist. "My lady of Betazed..."

Troi slapped his outstretched arm aside.  "I studied Terran linguistics for nine years, gentlemen, I probably know it better than either of you."

Carlos exploded with laughter.  "She has us there I think, Commander!"  Taking Deanna's bag from her hands, he slipped it onto his shoulder and waved away her moderate protest.  "You are on *vacation*."  He fell into step beside them.

Drawing a fragrant breath of air, Riker offered his companions a sidelong glance.  "So what happened?" he asked Carlos, "with Starfleet I mean."

"Will." Deanna reproached.

"I'm just curious," he spread his hands.  "if it's personal Carlos, feel free to tell me to shut up any time."

"Nah, it's not personal," Carlos shrugged, "my father was ill--he's all right now--but he was sick for a few months and I had to run this place by myself.  I found out that I liked it.  When I wasn't trying so hard to be the opposite of what he wanted me to be."

"Sounds familiar," Riker grinned, "I can relate."

"So-- I stayed.  Never looked back.  My father retired a couple of years later.  But we've been happy here, I think."

"You and your father?" asked Deanna.

"Me and my wife.  Of five years," Carlos offered them a proud smile.  "We have two children.  A girl, Maria--she's four--and my young son Domenic, just two and a half."

"Wow, congratulations!"  Riker shook his head, "that's great."

"I'll introduce you both if you have some time later on..." Carlos nodded and glanced at Troi, "You have any children?  You've been married nearly six years now, right?"

Deanna lost her lungful of air.  "What?"

"You and Will, you're married right?" off her discomfited expression, his eyes widened, "I just assumed, since the last time you were here, you were engaged to be--"

"It's all right, Carlos," Riker shrugged loosely, affording Deanna a quick smile.  "We're not married.  Our lives took ...different paths shortly after we left the last time."

"Different paths?" he frowned quizzically.

"We're not a couple anymore, Carlos," Deanna cut in gently, "we're here together as friends."

"Friends."

"Yup.  Friends."  Will stepped up onto the stairway that led into the resort and set his bag on the floor.  "It's a long story."

Carlos nodded.  "I can only imagine.  Well, we'll have to reassign your rooms then," he said apologetically, "I thought there was a mistake this morning when I read the reservation.  I guess I was the one who was mistaken!"

Deanna smiled.  "It was a very honest mistake."

"I'll take care of the arrangements," he continued.  "You give me an hour or two, and I'll have your bags delivered to your suites."

"That sounds reasonable," Riker glanced out across the lush expanse of jungle in the distance and then turned back to Deanna.  "Is that all right with you?"

"Of course," she nodded.

"Then please avail yourselves of our beautiful resort!" he reached for Deanna's hand again and kissed it. "Until then, Señora." Carlos took their bags and handed them to a runner.  Only when he was certain that he was out of earshot, did he shake his head and sigh.  "Tonto, tonto, Riker..."


                                          *
"He seemed disappointed," Deanna mused, smoothing her hands along the front of her dress.

"Yeah, I guess he did," Will agreed, "but you have to admit, the last time he saw us together, we were celebrating our engagement."

"True," she glanced up thoughtfully at the towering waterfall in the distance.  When Riker's hands came to rest on her shoulders, she started and turned. 

Watching her expression shift from surprised to pleased, he smiled.  "So, what do you feel like doing for two hours, Counselor?"

Deanna tipped her head back onto her shoulders and spread her arms in a wide and grateful motion, "I'm not a Counselor here, Will.  I... am on vacation!"

"All right," he grinned.  " So, what do you feel like doing for two hours, DEANNA?"

A slow smile crept along her features.  "Don't you ever wonder if it's still there?" she asked mischievously.

"What?"

"Oh come on, Will, I know you're curious too!"

"What are you--" he paused, "Oh... that."

"That." Deanna droned, "you knew precisely what I was referring to."

He grimaced good-naturedly, "You know, you being an empath sure takes the fun out of a lot of things."

"Oh please," she smiled, "I didn't hear you complaining that it made 'other' things even more fun..."

Riker's eyes flashed indigo and he stared down at her until Deanna was certain she could no longer look away.  "Are you deliberately torturing me?" he finally whispered.

"No," breaking his gaze, she captured his hand and marched them both down the steps of the resort.  "Lets go see if it's still there, shall we, Commander?"

"Commander?" he trailed after her, down the stairs, "I thought we were on vacation..."

"It's a pet name," she threw coyly over her shoulder.

"I'll try and remember that the next time we're on the bridge together."

"Don't press your luck, Will."

He grinned.  "No ma'am."




                                           *


The air was heavy with the scent of jungle flora, shrouded by the mist of the majestic waterfalls in the distance.  It was tropical and warm, just as it had been the last time.  And the deeper they made their way along a familiar wooded path, the more Riker realized just how little had really changed. 

"This is incredible," he observed, "after so many years of growth in the wild like this, so much of it looks the same."

"I always thought that of the Jalara jungle as well," said Deanna.  "There was a poet on Betazed who wrote:  'Nature works her miracles, yet all around her hands the world remains unchanged.'"

"Sounds like a fair description for this place."

"Will, look--" reaching the riverbank beneath the canyon-like falls, Deanna climbed carefully along its edge. 

"I see it," Riker followed behind her, taking hold of her waist as they ascended the edge of the shore.

"Oh, it is here..." she breathed, dropping to a crouch before a cluster of small boulders.  When she turned around again, hewas standing less than a foot away, holding a tiny orchid in his hand.

"May I?" he asked quietly.

Smiling inwardly before the sentiment touched her lips, Deanna nodded.  "Yes."  And then his fingers were in her hair; his touch gently fastening the delicate blossom next to her ear.

Presenting herself for inspection, she felt the mist from the falls cover her face with glistening droplets of water, and she knew that if they continued to stand where they were, they would both be thoroughly soaked in a matter of minutes.  It was a circumstance that hadn't bothered them at all--the last time they were here.

A long time ago, it seemed.  Another lifetime...

"You look breathtaking," he whispered, tracing the side of her damp cheek with his hand.

Clearing her throat, Deanna felt a sudden shiver engulf her body.  She turned away, drawing her arms across her chest.  "Don't you want to see it?" she asked quietly, facing the small conglomeration of stones.

Riker's hand fell away from her body and she felt as much as heard him sigh.  "Sure."

"I knew it would still be here," she went on, "the water level only rises twice a year and it rarely gets this far." 

Shifting onto her knees, she felt Will settle into a crouch beside her.  Together, they regarded the same pair of rocks.  "Now that I look at it again, it almost seems kind of silly," he smiled deprecatingly.  "Kiddish."

"Don't you dare," Deanna threw him a disapproving frown, "I loved it," she looked up at him.  "I still do."

"Why?" Riker rolled onto his hands and sat.  "It doesn't mean anything anymore."

For a long silent moment, Deanna stared back at him.  She shook her head.  "I can't believe you said that."

"What?" Mildly indignant, Will followed her when she stood.  "What else should I have said?"

"I can't believe you're even thinking this way," she went on as though she hadn't heard him. "It *was* something.  Once.  Maybe it isn't that way anymore, but that doesn't erase the meaning that was there."  Her dark eyes flashed at him and she was certain for an instant she'd almost lost her battle with the angry teardrops that threatened to fall.  She reined them in at the penultimate moment.  "You can't just wag your tongue and make it go away because you feel like sulking, Will Riker.  It doesn't work that way!"

"Deanna!" he yelled at her--as ready as he was willing for a fight.  But then he saw the look in her eyes.  And the way her fists were clenched at both her sides.  And suddenly all the avarice in his spirit melted quietly away.  "I'm sorry," he hung his head, "I didn't mean it that way. It's just... it's only a silly poem, Deanna.  One I can't even read anymore without cringing."

"Why?" she asked him, taking hold of his arm.

"Because it's terrible," he smiled back at her. 

"It's not terrible.  It's beautiful," Deanna took his hand and squeezed it. "It doesn't matter what happened later between us, or wherever we go from here, Will.  That poem will always be beautiful.  Because you wrote it from your heart."

"I should have left well enough alone with the first copy," he shook his head wryly, "I had to go and immortalize it on a rock for all eternity..."

"Two rocks, actually," she grinned.

"Deanna."

"All right.  But it's still a lovely poem.  And besides, no one else knows it's even here.  No one but us."

"Thank God," Riker smirked, "Carlos would have made it a tourist attraction by now."

Deanna swatted his arm. "That's not true and you know it."

"Couldn't we have just--forgotten about this place?" he asked feebly, "didn't you say you wanted to see those gardens?  The ruins?"

"I wanted to see if it was still here, that's all.  We can go now, if you'd like."

When she turned back onto the path, Riker's hand closed gently around hers from behind.  "Deanna," he stopped her, "thank you..."

Tilting her head, she regarded him curiously.  "For what?"

"For never letting me give in to my insecurities."

They held eye contact for a long time until Deanna smiled.  "You're Will Riker, remember?  You don't have any insecurities."

"Damn straight," he pulled himself toward her and wrapped a friendly arm around her waist as they started back down the path.  "Not that the rest of the universe knows about, anyway." 

Glancing up at him, Deanna saw him grin.  "Your secret is safe with me, Commander."

'God, I love you'. 

Deanna felt her mind swim momentarily out of focus.  "What?" she asked.

"I didn't say anything." Shaking his head, Riker's grin never faltered.

Her eyes narrowed and she shut them to reclaim her center.  "I could have sworn I heard you say--"

"Say what?"

Looking back at him, she saw the genuine innocence in his expression and she released her breath.  "Nothing.  It's nothing."

"Okay, if you say so," he smiled, "maybe Carlos has our rooms ready.  We can go check if you'd like?"

Refilling her lungs with the sweet, floral air of the jungle, Deanna returned his smile.  "Sure." 

Arm in arm, they returned to the resort.



                                           *
"I still think the Captain seemed a little odd about the whole idea of shore-leave this time.  Going to France to visit his brother... he was almost... too cheerful."  Will turned affably toward Deanna and offered her a puzzled frown.   They were sitting at a table in the beautiful gardens adjacent to the waterfall resort and he was absently stirring his drink.  "You didn't think so?" he finally asked.

Deanna sighed.  "Even if I did think so, Will, I could hardly share it with you.  It would be a conflict of interest, you know that."

"Deanna, I'm speaking as the Captain's friend now, not his first officer."

"I know that," she countered, "but I don't have the luxury of forgetting who I am--professionally--in this particular circumstance. Can you understand that?"

His slow nod was almost indiscernible.  "Of course, Deanna.  I'm just... worried about him.  Sometimes he's "Jean-Luc Picard", the same unflappable Captain he's always been, and other times..."

"Will, he's recovering from a situation that nether one of us can fully comprehend.  The Borg made him think things--do things-- that would be difficult for anyone to set aside.  He IS Jean-Luc Picard.  But he's also a man.  And he needs some time to heal.  Fully.  As his friend, you should be prepared to give him that."

"I am," he caught and held her gaze, "believe me Deanna, no one wants to see him recover fully more than I do.  I guess you're right.  Sometimes I forget that he's not 'unbreakable'."

"And if he turns to you more often than usual, you should also remember the reason why.  Continue to lend him your support, Will, just as you have been.  You are a tremendous strength--not only for the Captain, but for all of us on the Enterprise during his recovery.  Without your presence and your guidance, the crew would be far more aware of the Captain's recuperation.  Don't discount your own worth, either."

"Deanna," he reached across the table and captured her hands, "what would I do without you?"

"Me?" she smiled, "I just sit in that chair to the Captain's left and occupy space, remember?"

"Very funny," his eyes fell to her slowly melting ice-cream, "I don't believe it, you're not going to finish something *chocolate*?"

With a quiet groan, Deanna shook her head.  "I'm completely stuffed.  Did you want it?"

"Oh no thanks.  Just watching you eat that made me full."

"Now who's being funny?"

With a rogue wink, Riker diverted the subject.  "So what do you think of your room?"

"It's nice.  Not as nice as YOURS, but it will do for now."

He laughed.  "What does that mean?"

"Well for starters, you have a hot tub in your suite."

"It was supposed to be 'our' suite.  That's probably why," still grinning, Riker gestured amicably, "we can switch if you'd like.  I don't much care for bubbles--unless they're shared."

"Very cute, Commander."  Leaning across the table, Deanna placed her head in her hands, "No.  It's too much effort to unpack all over again.  I'm on *vacation* remember?"

"I can unpack for you..."

She lifted an eyebrow.  "Right, and then 'conveniently' forget to move into the other room afterwards?"

Riker mimed a knife in his heart.  "You wound me, Counselor."

"No Will.  I *know* you.  I think we'll be fine, just as we are," but then she smiled, "so long as you let me borrow your bathtub once in a while."

He reached for her hand.  "Deal."  They rose from the table, together.



                                           *


"Deanna?"  Riker pressed the chime on Troi's door for a second time.  "Deanna are you in there?"

There was no response.  With a thoughtful frown, he took the steps to the bottom of the resort and glanced at the crowd.  It was well after dinnertime and there were several patrons near the pool and by the bar, but no Deanna.  Not anywhere in sight.

Glancing up at the coyly lit pathway that led from the gardens into the jungle--and out towards the waterfall--Riker shook his head.  "Are you kidding me?"

If he'd been expecting a response, none came.  Following a winding trail of hanging lanterns, he started down the pathway into the jungle.

"Deanna?" he called out again when he began to near the riverbank. The roar of the majestic natural wonder assailed his senses but the pathway ended here.  A single lantern of a solid green color signalled the end of the tourist-walk, but there was still no Deanna in sight.  Not until he climbed along the riverbank--the way they had earlier in the day--and crept up past the shore.  "Deanna--there you are."

He found her sitting on the damp jungle earth, leaning against a pair of smiliar rocks--the very same pair of rocks that had earlier been a source of dispute between them.  She looked up at him, but only as an afterthought before she gestured him closer.

"Come and sit with me?" her smile was bright, even in the shadows. 

Acknowledging her request, Riker shifted the foliage and sank down into it.  "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" he asked.

"Watching," she gestured above their heads.  "It goes up for kilometres.  The moonlight catches the droplets of water in the mist and makes them glisten."

Following her gaze, he nodded quietly.

"It's exactly the way I remember it.  The way it was on our last night here together." Deanna went on quietly.  Her voice held a musical, mystical quality to it that Riker hadn't heard in a very long time, and he found himself almost absurdly wishing there was a way he could keep her talking forever.  "It's so beautiful," she turned toward him as though she'd heard the cadence of his thoughts.  "I had to see it again like this.  One more time.  For old time's sake?" Her voice dropped and her hand extended to brush against the side of his face.  "Will..."

"Deanna..."  Lost in her endless expression, Riker felt his body moving helplessly closer to hers; his face caressed the damp curve of her lips, his eyes slowly shut, and then ... without thinking or reason... his mouth closed hotly over hers.  His hands threaded through the dark thickness of her hair.  "Deanna..." he whispered again, and for a long and passionate instant, everything else vanished.  He felt nothing but the press of her moist body in all the right places on his.  The pull of her lips across his skin.  

When consciousnesses imminently interceded, he broke away from her with a breathless gasp; more disoriented than he could ever remember being.

"Kiss me, Will.." she took his face between both of her palms, coaxing him gently back toward her, "for old time's sake.."  But Riker was already shaking his head at the very familiar--very dangerous--look in her eyes.
"Deanna, this isn't what you want.   'Not while we're serving on board the same ship.'  Remember--?"

"I remember."  she cut him off with second, mind-numbing meeting of mouths; with a needful caress so imperative, he groaned in protest when they were forced to disengage.  "At the moment, we're not on any ship," she reminded him teasingly. "Are we?"

Searching her face for any hint of otherworldly possession, all Riker could sense was her spirit.  Was the very real, very familiar response of a woman he hadn't known this way in far too long.  

"You're right."  His answer was lost to the roar of the falls and the rustle of Deanna's body when she pressed against the front of his chest, bearing him gently backward onto the earth.

"Say the words for me, Imzadi.." her breathless plea accompanied her kisses; warm and sweet as honey along his neck.  At the edge of his face, the corner of his lips--still damp from the mist of the waterfall and her previous caress.  "Say them again," she begged, "the way you did that night..."

Riker rolled them both over--trapping her--recumbent on the ground between his arms.  He caught her fathomless expression and held it captive before leaning in closer, tasting her lips for a second, and then a third and fourth iteration.

He lost track of time. Of space.  Of everything but the softness of her and the warmth of their bodies when he whispered the words he knew so ardently from memory: 

"I hold you close to me..." 

"Yes..." Deanna shivered; closing her eyes and wrapping slender arms around his neck.  Her sigh spilled sweet as nectar across his ear as he quietly continued: 

"Feel the breath of you, and the wonder of you..."

The night grew dark as it always did in the shadows of the Venezuelan jungle.  The swell of the majestic waterfall and the rustle of the giant trees erased all other sounds. 

But had anyone really listened; pressed an ear to the earth of the tropical forest floor, there might have been a new sound.  The resonance of two bodies in concert; of two spirits whispering as one beneath the cascading torrent of Angel Falls.  Of two heartbeats, racing together... again and again.

For old time's sake.



                                           *



"I've already told you, Beverly.  Will and I had a good time. There's nothing more to say."

"Not so fast, Deanna," Crusher demurred with a grin. "You know there's such thing as: 'a good time', and then there's such thing as: 'a *very* good time'..."

Deanna watched while her best friend continued to unpack the remainder of her shore-leave belongings, back on board the Enterprise.   

"Well then," she glanced at the floor and smiled enigmatically, "I guess I'd have to say we had ... a very good time."




[end]