Pack
animals and Tribbles
"I
am sorry."
For a few seconds longer the couple kept their eyes locked and then their connection
was broken by a simple tap. Numbly she stared at the now black screen, not sure which of her emotions to give free reign.
Absently she took notice of the doors of her office opening, but she didn't bother
to turn around and welcome her visitor, her gaze still glued to the black screen. "Dea? Are you coming along?"
"No--no, I think Ill skip." She was even too shocked to attempt to sound normal,
something Beverly noticed instantly; her concerned flared into Troi's mind, but the Betazoid ignored it.
"Dea? What's wrong?"
With a push Deanna swirled her chair around and faced the red-headed Doctor.
"Tell me something; how come every man alive believes that the words 'I'm sorry' make everything right?"
The question made Beverly pause, her mind trying to figure out what caused her
friend to ask that question. "You're the psychologist, you tell me."
Troi snorted and stood up, quickly striding to the couch and dropping onto the
soft cushions. "Genetics and conditioning." She growled unhappily and then offered
an explanation. "It's only obvious that every male inherits the stupidity gene. Often in combination with the gene for insensitivity.
As for conditioning; they're supposed to learn that the proper way to apologize for a mistake they've made is saying 'I'm
sorry', treat the lady to a nice dinner or in the very least buy her a nice gift and offer and explanation."
Crusher nodded her agreement, not bothering to bite back her chuckle at Deannas
sarcastic tone. "But nnnoooooo," Deanna continued standing up again to pace around. "All they remember are those three words.
'I am sorry'. 'I am sorry that I am late. I am sorry that I must leave. I am sorry that duty is more important. I am sorry
that I lied. I am sorry that we're not compatible. I am sorry that I left you and I am sorry that I'm engaged to another woman'!"
To punctuate her last exclamation she hurled a vase against the wall, not even bothering to look back to see the shards fall
onto the floor.
Meeting Crusher's startled gaze she realized what she'd done. "I guess Worf rubbed
off on me. But you're a doctor, you can tell me; is it genetic? Cos I would feel a lot better if it were."
As amusing as Troi's ranting sounded to Beverly, she was both curious and concerned
as to what brought it on. "What happened?"
"Jadzia Dax happened."
"Who?"
"My thoughts exactly." She snapped her fingers and walked to the monitor she'd
abandoned just a little while earlier. "Computer: display service record Lieutenant Jadzia Dax."
The two women watched the file appear on screen. "Hey! I remember her." Beverly
exclaimed. "I met her when we docked at Deep Space Nine, I remember her because the station's Commander kept calling her 'Old
man'." She waited until she was sure that Deanna's jaw couldn't drop any further, then spoke again. "She's a joined Trill,
the symbiont over 300 years old."
"No!"
"Yes! Sisko and the previous host, a man named Curzon, were good friends, hence
the nickname."
"You're mocking me, right?" Deanna tried, trying her hardest not to laugh out
loud.
"I wouldn't dare. So tell me, what brought her up?"
"Worf did; they're engaged."
"What?!"
"Yep; he's engaged to a 300 year old symbiont being called old man by her commanding
officer. How can I possibly compete with her--or is that him?" For some reason Deanna found the situation damn funny; she
was still too shocked to be angry about his betrayal. He had, after all, promised her to return to her. But she just couldn't
believe he had picked a joined Trill!
Beverly opted for a few seconds on what to say or ask, she didn't wish to break
Deanna's mood, knowing the Betazoid would feel the full impact soon enough. "I just hope she and the Stations medical officer
get along well."
It silenced Deanna for just a split second and Crusher could see the wheels in
her head spinning. "Ha! After their first night together, she won't know what hit her!"
"Well, that isn't pretty obvious and I'm pretty sure Trills stay conscious during
the sexual act; just like every other life form."
Troi only laughed louder and was waving her hand to indicate that she wanted
to say something. When she'd composed herself enough she looked up at friend, biting her lip to keep herself from laughing
again. "I probably should've told you this long time ago, but those scratches and bruises, only a rare few were inflicting
during the sexual act" she repeated the Doctors words mockingly.
"Then how--?"
"Let's just say that Worf and I are both restless sleepers." Deanna smiled slightly
as she remembered their nightly episodes. It wasn't unusual for an empath to get caught up in other people's dreams and even
before she and Worf became intimate she had unconsciously been caught up in his dreams because they were so intense. During
their time together the empathic link they developed only made his dreams more vivid to her and often they ended up wrestling
each other in their sleep.
Beverly scowled and swatted the Counselors arm. "And you never bothered to tell
me! Damn! And here I was being damn jealous that you showed up in Sickbay practically every morning." She huffed and glared
at Troi, who couldn't help but giggle, perfectly aware of what the Doctor was thinking and feeling. "You're an evil, evil
person Deanna Troi."
"Hmm...maybe I have to remind Worf of that. He asked me not to come to the wedding,
it would make him feel...uncomfortable." She explained in reply to Crushers arched eyebrow.
"So, naturally, you're going." Deanna nodded, again struggling no to laugh. "Can
I come too?" Beverly asked eagerly.
"That depends...can you get your hands on a Tribble?"
"Oh! As I said, *evil*...but yeah, I think I can. Why?"
"It'll make a perfect wedding gift."
Deanna answered with a bright smile and pulled Beverly along out her quarters. "Come on, let's get a chocolate sundae and discuss
our battle strategy."
