Self Therapy

Title: Self Therapy
Author: azhosking@cox.net
Setting: Pre Nemesis
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: They're not mine, but it's fun to play with them
especially on rainy days. :))

Counselor Troi walked into her quarters after a long, arduous counseling session, and as the door hissed shut behind her, she took in a deep breath, closed her eyes, and fell back against the wall. She stood propped against the wall and slowly released her breath.

No one's ever around to counsel the Counselor; she thought and opened her eyes. I could use a vacation, and then a small smile curved her lips as she thought of her pending nuptials and the three weeks off that accompanied them.

Three whole weeks to sit and bask in Will's emotions, Deanna stood up straight and pulled down on her tunic. Now there was something to look forward to. She shook her head, wondering what Will Riker was thinking when he requested three weeks off. There was no way she questioned his love for her, but she still couldn't picture him staying away from Starfleet for three weeks.

Troi took in another deep breath and felt her tension ebb away as she released it. She walked over to the replicator. "Hot chocolate" and as her order shimmered into existence, Troi picked it up and inhaled its sweet aroma, feeling more tension leave her body. Troi lifted the mug to her lips and took a sip.

There's no better therapy than chocolate. She thought turning back into the room. Except… and Troi felt the last of her tension dissipate as she realized someone else was in the room. She walked over to the chaise lounge and reached down for the book strewn open on the occupant's leg. Deanna glanced at the title before placing in the bookmark and resting it on the table. Then she placed herself on the lap.

"Strengthening Your Imzadi Bond," she whispered the title of the book and got a soft moan in reply before a pair of azure eyes opened and smiled at her.

Riker lifted his right hand and ran his fingers through Troi's hair before cradling her cheek in his palm. "I am going to be married to a Betazoid in a few days, you know."
Troi returned his smile. "So I've heard." The love and happiness Will projected threatened to overwhelm her and Deanna averted her gaze. Once more amazed at how content Will was just to be here alone with her. Their marriage may coincide with his promotion but Deanna knew Will's sense of completion only came with the knowledge he was able to share this time with her.

Somewhere Will put her in front of his career, and the thought he did this without her knowing it, sensing it, scared her at times. Riker sat up, shifting Troi's position on his lap. Troi looked back into his eyes, realizing too late she looked away for too long.

"Are you alright?" He asked concern now evident in his eyes.

"I love you," she replied.

The twinkle returned to his blue eyes. "I know."

Deanna shook her head. "No. I don't think you do." She gave him a wan smile. "Because I'm not sure I do. The emotions you send me are so strong sometimes; it's scary." Deanna started to play with the errant lock of hair on his forehead.

Riker reached up, taking a hold of her hand, stopping her musing, "Deanna, if you don't…"

Troi dropped her head and gave a nervous laugh. Looking down, she noticed Will had clasped both her hands in his. Then she looked back up into his eyes. "I would bask in your emotions all day if I could, Will. Sometimes they are the only thing getting me through the day."

She glanced over at her mug of hot chocolate, sitting untouched next to the book. "Well that and chocolate," she confessed and realized some of Will's sense of humor for dealing with stressful situations had rubbed off on her.

Will followed her eyes to the table and gave a laugh. "Well I'm glad I come before the hot chocolate."

Deanna looked at Will again and gave him a genuine smile. "You do," she said with mirth in her voice Will hadn't heard since the start of the conversation.

"It's not the strength of your emotions that frightens me. It's the fact they grew to an intensity I wasn't aware of. I'm Betazoid, Will, I should have."

Riker smiled. "You're half Betazoid, Deanna, and you can't."

Troi shook her head. "Yes, but still I should have."

Riker placed his hand on the back of her neck, stopping her head from shaking and bringing her eyes in contact with his once more. "You can't fault yourself for allowing your own emotions to cloud your senses, Deanna. Your passion to put other people's feelings ahead of your own is one of the reasons why I love you."

A tear escaped Troi's eye and rolled down her cheek, and Riker brushed it away with his thumb. "You don't think I know why you kept telling me, 'not while we're serving on the same ship'? I was well aware you thought catering to your own feelings would have a negative impact on your job. So it's only natural you were unaware of my feelings."

"And you made sure to keep me unaware, too. Even after I started seeing Worf."

Riker chortled. "Thanks, but I'm not that altruistic. You don't know what it took for me not to barge into your quarters and demand what you were thinking."

"Well something stopped you."

"If I stopped you from seeing Worf, you'd see right through me and that scared me to death." Will pulled Deanna to him. "So you see I do know what you're feeling" and then their lips coalesced with the same force as their emotions.

Deanna was breathless when they finally broke apart and Will gave her a smile. "You had a hard day; didn't you?"

"What makes you say that?" Troi asked as she fingered the zipper on his tunic.

"Your form of self therapy is rather distinctive, Counselor."
Counselor Troi murmured contently as she slid his zipper down.

"And you let your hot chocolate get cold which only leaves…"

Troi gave Riker a demure smile as she slipped her hand inside his pants.

The End