2.

He didn’t know how, but somehow he had managed to drag himself up to the Bridge and perform his duties as if his wife hadn’t just told him she was filing for divorce. Rationally he knew that she wouldn’t go through with it, after all, they loved each other, they were having a baby together so she really couldn’t divorce him…could she?

“Commander, you have the Bridge.” He nodded to his XO and left to trace down his wife, something he probably should have done four hours ago but at the time he’d figured it would be best to allow her some time to calm herself.

Outside her office he quickly made sure she wasn’t in the midst of a counseling session, then punched the access panel. <Go away.>

“I don’t think so Dea, we need to talk.”

<You’re right> Will almost smiled of relief and readied himself to face his wife. <which position do you think will be best? Head of the Psychiatry department or teaching at the University of Betazed.>

“WHAT?!” she couldn’t be serious could she?

“Oh I’m damn serious Captain.” She greeted him once the doors opened. “But I’m surprised you’re so shocked, I figured you would like not having to worry about my mother paying visit or about me sensing things you’re trying to hide.” Deanna brushed past him and disappeared around the first corner. Riker, after a moment of surprise followed his wife to their quarters and hurried inside before she could lock the door.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“That’s very simple.” She held up a PADD. “These are the divorce papers and these” she picked up a PADD with her other hand as well “are several available positions.”

The entire scene was surreal to Will, or actually, his entire life since the accident was surreal. How could she –his best friend, his *wife*— be sitting there so serenely and announce their divorce! It had taken him nearly twenty years to admit his love and work up the courage to commit himself fully to her, they’d been married for over a year now and she was going to throw all that away because of one Away Mission gone awry?

“Damn it!” Despite her blocks he could feel her anger flare in her mind and to his utter amazement he could also sense how scared she was. “You’re not listening to what I’m saying! All I want is for you to be as safe as possible! I *understand* the risks of being in Starfleet, I accept them even though it scares the hell out of me to simply face the possibility that I have to raise our child by myself. But I can be strong; I *want* to be strong and to believe that all of us will be fine, despite the danger.”

This side of her, although he had seen it before, surprised him. It was not like Deanna to admit that she was scared. “Dea—“

“What I can’t handle anymore is you paying no attention to your health! We live on a ship with one of the most advanced medical facilities in the quadrant, the best doctors and nurses in Starfleet and yet you refuse to let them treat you. They save your *life* and you won’t even allow them to finish their jobs! It’s as if you just don’t care.” Angrily Deanna wiped away the tears that had fallen from her eyes; she had cried enough over him, no more!

Her words once again stunned her husband into silence. She hadn’t raised her voice above speaking level and yet to him it felt as if she’d been screaming in his ears. She was leaving him because he tried to get out of Sickbay as quickly as he could? She had to know that he tried that because he didn’t like not being in control, she had to know he disliked Sickbay simply because it reminded him of his own mortality. “Well then get over it!” she reacted again to his thoughts. “You’re *Human* Will, you’re not supposed to be immortal, FACE it!”

Rather than let her anger feed his own, he took a deep breath to stay calm. “I had no idea you felt that way.” He took a step towards her and dared to take another when she didn’t move. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Because I hoped you’d grow up and face your humanity, because we’re married now and are having a baby together. Because you *promised* to stay with me, no matter what.” Finally she stopped fighting her tears and allowed the salty drops to fall from her eyes. “Because I thought you had everything to live for.” Sadly she shook her head once, then squeezed her eyes tightly shut to fight back her tears and then she walked passed him and out of their quarters; leaving him once again behind.

He knew better than to run blindly after her. If there was anything he’d learned about fighting with Deanna Troi was that she wouldn’t listen to an apology unless you’d actually thought about it and meant it. Something she could easily discern because of her empathy. And so he remained behind to mull over her accusations.

* * *

“Computer, run program Troi Alpha and engage personal lock.” The black/yellow grid of the Holodeck was replaced by the familiar living room of her home on Betazed. She breathed in deeply a couple of times, taking in the scent of the room. Taking a comfortable spot on one of the large sofa’s she ran a quick meditation exercise to counter the anger and fear running through her mind.

Once she had relaxed a little she got up from the couch and sauntered through the room into the garden. Now that her mind was a little clearer she felt a little guilt over reacting the way she had. She could never divorce him over his refusal of medical treatment, especially not now that she was pregnant with their first child. But at the same time it was something that had been bothering her for years and now that she had admitted that to him, she would not apologize and forget about it.

The first drops of a Betazed summer rain caught her just when she’d reached her mother’s rose-garden. Deanna sat down against a large tree standing majestically in the middle and watched as the lewd rain saturated her surroundings while slowly rubbing her slightly bulging stomach and quietly singing an ancient Betazoid lullaby.

Even though she knew she was on a holodeck half a dozen light-years away from her home planet, the rain still had the same calming effect as if had during her youth. She could sit here for hours and let the smell and the sounds of the rain carry her away on a flow of thoughts. She didn’t have to think about her husband’s aversion to medicine or the way he enjoyed the risks of Away Missions, she could focus on the quiet evenings they spend together and the passionate encounters they often shared, but most of all she could dream about their future.

* * *

He had given her an hour and a half and used that time to work on his ‘I’m sorry speech’. The tricky part was to convince her emotionally. Due to the ethics Deanna had forced upon herself she would react to words first where humanoids were concern, using her senses more or less as a back up system. But when she was with close friends she would allow her empathy dictate her reactions, which meant that if she sensed he was holding something back or wasn’t completely genuine she would act upon that knowledge.

Now he stood outside the holodeck collecting the courage to step inside. He reached out with his mind to find out if her mood at improved, but he found her in an almost trance-like state, revealing nothing about her actual feelings.

Captain Riker took a deep breath and gave the computer the password it demanded. The doors slid open to reveal the large garden behind the Troi-Mansion and the humidity that attacked him felt oddly familiar. It took him a few seconds to even notice the raindrops that fell down on him, but once he did he was mildly annoyed. Since his childhood he had always enjoyed being outside and had spent the better part of his spare time strutting through the woods around Valdez, but one thing he’d never grown to like; rain. He hated the way it made his clothes stick to his skin and that he had to blink constantly to keep his vision from blurring.

Deanna on the other hand absolutely loved rain and thus he was now making his way to the large garden through pouring rain, hoping that tonight the two of them would be sharing the same bed again.

Tbc...