Title: Untitled 2
Author: azhosking@cox.net
Rated: R

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. I just like to play with them.

Part of this story is based off of A Time to Heal by David Mack. If you haven't read it and don't want any spoils - don't read on.

*****

Commander Will Riker was submersed in a warm, chamomile-scented bath. He couldn’t wait to wash away the remaining traces of his captivity on Tezwa, and dreamed of little else than a good meal and warm bath while in sickbay. His Imzadi already took care of the meal, and now he was lying entwined in her legs. Riker shivered as Troi caressed his arm. “Imzadi,” he whispered.

Shhh… she gave him a mental caress, looking down to see his eyes fall shut. She felt his breathing slow and crossed over his mental barriers.

“Deanna. Don’t,” Will protested.

“Shhh…” she cooed aloud this time. “Do you hear my heart beating?”

“Yes,” Riker replied trying to resist the hypnotic sensation.

“Listen to it. Breathe with each beat.”

In the space of the next heartbeat, he was back in the Tezwa hellhole. He saw himself bound to the chair. Prime Minister Kinchawn standing over him. He squirmed and began to hyperventilate before he felt the calming presence of his Imzadi.

Breathe, Will. This is only a memory. He was in the warm bath waiting, watching his captivity play out in his mind.

# # #

“What are the codes for the Enterprise’s defenses?” Kinchawn demanded.

“Sorry. Can’t help you.” An electric pulse rushed through Riker’s body, awakening every pain receptor.

“Perhaps I can change your mind,” Kinchawn replied and activated the pulse again. When he switched it off, it took Riker a moment to find his voice.

“I don’t know the codes. And even if I did, I wouldn’t give them to you,” Riker spat.

“We’ll see about that, Commander.” Kinchawn turned the pulse on again. Then turned to the guard. “Do not touch this. If he starts talking, come get me.” Kinchawn left the room.

Hours later the Prime Minister re-entered the chamber. He turned off the machine and calmly stood by as Riker’s body relaxed. “I must say I’m impressed. A Tezwan would be squawking his head off by now. But that, Riker, was only the lowest setting.” Kinchawn adjusted a dial and flipped the switch on again.

A stronger electrical pulse rushed through Riker’s body, and he squelched a scream when it ended.

“Now. Those codes, Commander.”

“Codes? What codes?”

“You are wearing my patience thin, Commander. Keep giving me flippant replies, and you’ll regret it.”

Kinchawn turned the device on and once more left the room. When he returned, he turned it off.

It took Riker even longer to regulate his breathing, and as he did so, he took a mental stock of his injuries. “I need medical attention,” he finally managed.

Kinchawn laughed. “Our medical supplies are low. My people come first. You understand. However, if you were to –“

“Don’t know what you want, Kinchawn.”

“Fine. Then you have signed your own death warrant.” Kinchawn replied and turned the machine on - on an even higher setting.

# # #

Deanna squirmed as she watched her fiancé’s body twitch in pain. And as Will continued to defy him, Kinchawn continued to increase the pulse’s intensity until someone came bursting into the room.

# # #

“Minister Kinchawn, you must stop.”

“Not until he’s dead.”

“Minister. You don’t understand. Picard has captured General Minza. If you kill Riker, we lose our bargaining chip.”

Kinchawn shot the aide a look of disbelief and reluctantly turned off the machine.

# # #

Riker’s reality slowly came back to focus. He opened his eyes to see he never left the bath. He felt Troi’s feather-like caress of his arm. He heard the soft beating of her heart. He smelled the sweet chamomile in the water. All visions of Tezwa faded away. Will sat up, grabbing a washcloth and bar of soap.

“Here. Let me,” Troi said taking the washcloth from him.

“I’m perfectly capable of washing myself.”

Troi put the soap down and began caressing Will’s chest with the sudsy cloth. “I didn’t say you weren’t,” she answered, drawing the cloth down his torso. “But I haven’t touched your body in over a month.” She brushed over his penis. “Isn’t this nicer than washing yourself?”

Riker let out a soft moan.

Once his body was lathered, Troi rinsed the washcloth and explored his flesh a second time, rinsing the soap away. She watched riveted as Riker’s passion grew. Then he rolled over, kissing her full on the mouth. He entered her warm depths, climaxing all too soon. Troi screamed with her release moments after feeling his. She closed her eyes, spent both mentally and physically. She enjoyed the feel of Will’s fingers in her hair until she noticed how haggard his breathing sounded.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Deanna let it go, concentrating on slowing her own breathing. But when Will still sounded out of breath, she pulled him up to look at her. “Are you okay?”

“I told you, I’m fine,” he said, pulling himself up. He took in a sharp breath in pain.

Deanna sat up next to him. “You know better than to lie to me. I’m calling sickbay.”

Will stood up, grabbing a towel. “Please. Don’t,” he turned to look at her. “I just got out of sickbay. All I want to do is crawl into bed.” He wrapped the towel around his waist as he left the bathroom.

Troi unplugged the tub and climbed out. As she entered the bedroom she found Will struggling to put on a pajama top. She quickly slipped into a nightgown and walked over to him. “It’s your ribs.”

He nodded. “They’re a little sore. I’ll be fine.”

Deanna watched him button the shirt and relented, “If you aren’t feeling better in half an hour, I’m calling sickbay.”

“Thank you. I just need some sleep,” he answered, walking towards their living quarters.

“Where are you going?”

“We left the supper dishes on the.”

“They’re not going anywhere,” Troi answered guiding Will towards the bed. She tucked him in and slipped in the other side.

# # #

Deanna Troi opened her eyes, feeling as though someone was watching her. “How long have you been staring at me?”

“It’s been over half an hour.”

Deanna hesitated, confused. Was he answering her question? Then she laughed, “And I see you’re looking better.”

“Maybe next time you’ll believe me.”

“Depends. How long have you been staring at me?”

Riker shrugged. “ A while.”

Deanna reached out, caressing Will. “You’re really here.”

He smiled, “You better believe it.”

She reached across their mental link and felt his concern. “What are you thinking about?”

“Choices.”

“The Titan?”

“I read the reports on Data’s performance as first officer. He did an excellent job. If it wasn’t for me, he’d be a full commander.” Will swallowed. “Any other officer would have pushed me out of the first officer’s chair by now. He made it easy for me to get comfortable.”

“Do you believe Data’s lack of ambition is what kept you on the Enterprise?”

“Yes,” Will answered and then hesitated. “It made staying easier. But I couldn’t…” he stopped, turning away from Troi’s gaze.

“But…” she prompted.

“You know the answer, Deanna.”

“I need to hear it,” she turned his head, looking him in the eyes. “I need to hear you say it out loud, Will.”

“I couldn’t…” he looked down before raising his gaze again. “Bear the thought of leaving you.”

Deanna blinked tears rolling down her cheeks. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“You made it clear how you felt about renewing our relationship. Not while we’re serving on the same ship.”

Deanna swallowed the lump growing in her throat. “Oh gods, Will. I didn’t mean. I never wanted to… I was just trying to protect myself. I couldn’t take you leaving me again for another promotion.”

Will wiped a tear off her cheek. “Deanna,” he held her gaze. “I love you.”

What tentative control Deanna had over her emotions evaporated then and tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

Will pulled her into an embrace. “Are you okay?”

It took her a while to calm down enough to answer. She pulled away. “Just extremely happy.”

“Happy?” Will asked in disbelief.

“Yes. Happy.” Deanna sniffled and wiped her cheeks before swiping her nose. “Even an empath needs reassuring now and again,” she smiled. “Imzadi.”

Will returned her smile and then pulled her into a kiss. She fell into him, relishing in the love he was projecting. Then she pulled away. “Someone should contact Admiral Janeway before the deadline passes.”

“I’ll be right back,” he answered, brushing her still wet cheek.

She laughed as he climbed out of the bed. “Of that I have no doubt.”

THE END