Title: Recovery
Summary: Yeah, it's Riker/Troi mush. Sue me. <g>
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
Thanks to: Jen, Vic, Pete, M'Rae, and Dot, as always.
"Will is on his way. My Imzadi will find me."
The constant muttering overlaid every other sound in the Centre. Ril watched the woman huddled in the corner, and wondered wistfully if anyone would ever come for *her*.
Taking another spoonful of her vegetable broth, Ril looked around the Centre. Only three others sat at the table with her, eating obediently. Nurse Mer stood nearby, waiting patiently for them to finish. The rest of the patients were not as far ahead in their rehabilitation, and were scattered in various places around the main room. They would be fed soon, individually.
A tall man stared out the window. A young girl scratched compulsively at the skin on her legs, until a guard caught her hands. He spoke softly to her and led her over to a story screen. Over by the water fountain, a red-faced man was shouting. He wanted wine, not water. But they weren't allowed wine. He splashed water on the floor mats, cursing loudly, until a nurse appeared and spoke to him. Ril wondered what he had done in his past life, that had meant he had to go to the Centre.
"Will is on his way. My Imzadi will find me. "
The woman in the corner had beautiful hair. It was glossy, and black. Such a pity it had been hacked off roughly by the Centre staff when they had needed access to her temples for the treatment. Ril shuddered. The treatment was horrible - electrodes attached to the skull, brain afire with pain - but it was what they needed to become normal, and it was done out of care.
Ril finished her meal and waited obediently for the nurse to notice. Smiling, the nurse took her bowl. "Good, good. You ate it all."
Ril smiled back. "I was hungry."
"The Director is very proud of you, Ril. You have left behind your violent ways. It has been over two eightdays since you last had an outburst."
"I don't even remember it," Ril said softly. "I don't remember anything about what I was like before. Thank you for your help, Nurse. You have all helped me so much."
The nurse helped Ril wipe her face and hands, then told her to go to a story screen. The only one free was next to the dark-haired woman in the corner, behind a pillar. Ril patted her on the shoulder gently, then settled down happily on the soft, blue cushion in front of the screen, and pressed the control to show the list of stories.
There was a strange humming noise behind her.
Ril turned, curious, but not worried. Nothing could hurt them in the Centre.
Four men appeared. They wore strange uniforms, black and grey with shiny buttons at the collar. "I am Commander Will Riker of the starship Enterprise," rumbled the one in front. Ril couldn't see his face from behind, but he was tall, broad, and had brown hair. Unseen by the men, Nurse Mer left the room.
The dark-haired woman gasped, struggling to her feet. Ril turned to her. "Is this your Will?"
"Will," the dark-haired woman murmured. Ril wasn't sure if the woman had heard her, but she seemed happy, staring at the man.
Director Myi appeared in the room, accompanied by Nurse Mer. "What is the meaning of this?" the Director blustered. He ran a hand through his thick grey hair. Ril hated seeing him like this, hated that he was upset. The Director never got upset, even when people threw things, or hurt things, or said bad things.
The man next to Will, who had gold skin, spoke. "You have one of our officers." His voice was mild and pleasant.
"No, we don't," the Director said flatly. "We have Tirrian citizens, here to be rehabilitated and protected. We look after our charges, and you will not have any of them."
"Approximately 17 days ago," Will said urgently, "you picked up a woman in your Injata Sector. She'd suffered a blow to the head in a riot. Long, dark hair. Her name is Deanna Troi."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the Director sniffed.
"Spread out," Will ordered.
The golden man and the other men, both dark-skinned, one with ridges on his forehead, turned instantly to the corners of the room. Ril stood unafraid, knowing that the staff would protect her.
Will headed her way. Ril was pleased that at last the dark-haired woman would be reunited with her Will. He seemed nice enough, with kind eyes and lines of concern around his mouth. He stopped short, peering at the woman next to her, who smiled tremulously. Will took in a deep breath, and the muscles in his face and shoulders relaxed. He broke into an enormous smile. "Deanna," he said softly, like a symphony.
Ril moved aside, so that Deanna could come forward.
But Will followed her, and took her hand in both of his large hands. She stared up at him, aghast. "I'm not - what do you -"
Deanna was crying. Ril wanted her to stop. She could take the screams, she could take the anger and the fury and the confusion from the other patients, but she couldn't stand to hear Deanna cry.
Then Nurse Mer put an arm around Deanna's shoulders. "Come on, Lim," the nurse said, "I'll take you to your room."
Lim?
Then that meant -
Her world shifted, and she wobbled with sudden dizziness. Ril looked up at Will again, in wonder. She felt something - something pulling at the edges of her mind, a feeling of love, relief, and overwhelming joy in her presence. "Will?" she whispered. "I -"
"I know, Deanna," Will said, eyes wet. "I've come to take you home."
She began to remember.
***
Will asked, "Do you want to go to Ten Forward?"
"I'd rather be alone, just now," Deanna said, trying not to let her voice shake. It was amazing to be back on the ship, but she needed time to adjust to all the people, to all the concern.
"I'll take you to your quarters," Will promised. "A chocolate sundae should see you right."
"There's no lasting damage, Deanna. You were very lucky," Beverly said. "I certify you free to go. Let me know if you have any headaches or disorientation." She hugged Deanna quickly. The smell of Beverly's hair - roses - brought back a sudden memory of helping Beverly choose expensive shampoo, a treat from Starbase 143.
Deanna thanked Beverly, then she left Sickbay with Will.
"A chocolate sundae," Will said again as they stepped into her quarters. "Then I'll leave you alone."
"No," Deanna said, surprising herself. "You can stay, if - if you like?"
Will's expression softened. "Of course." He ordered the sundae and sat down with her on the bed while she looked at it. "Go on, eat some!"
She tried a bite. The icecream melted against the chocolate sauce in her mouth, melding with the nuts and marshmallows into a blissful mess. "It's good," she groaned.
Will grinned. "I bet you want to know what happened," he said. He laid a hand gently over her free hand.
Deanna took a deep breath, nearly breathing in chocolate. "Yes, I suppose."
"A diplomatic mission. The Tirr government requested our help with their neighbours, Iana. The Ianas have been trying to assassinate the Tirr leaders, so you and I were part of a team in the crowd listening to the Tirrians' latest address to the people."
Will's eyes darkened, and his hand tensed on top of hers. "Everything went wrong. It wasn't really the Ianas - well, not just them. One of the Tirrian councillors was part of an extremist group trying to assassinate the same Tirrians, in the effort to steer Tirr away from peace with Iana. The Ianas were working with them. There was a riot." Will swallowed. "I lost you."
"Oh, Will," Deanna said softly, overwhelmed by his remembered grief and fear. "I'm all right now. Thanks to you. I only remember bits and pieces. I - I think I was calling for you, when they brought me in. I guess Lim heard me, then the nurses made me undergo the treatment, and everything disappeared. . ." She was silent, lost in the half-memories.
"I'm glad I found you," Will murmured, then a smile bloomed on his face.
Deanna leaned closer and pressed her lips to his. She was shaken, and there were still gaps in her memory that scared her, but for now her lips were covered with chocolate, and Will - and that was more than enough.
