Chapter Text
A. Sing Me Your Sweet Lullaby
Sometimes Geordi's VISOR made it difficult to sleep. It was scientifically documented that staring at screens for too long could wake your brain up. And since he basically stared at a sort of screen all day long, sleeping was always a bit hit-or-miss.
Usually he didn't mind; there was always something interesting to work on in Engineering. But after the day he'd had...
Geordi sat up with a sigh, reaching over for his VISOR. It was easy to find, perched just beside his bed. Pretty soon he was surrounded by color and rough outlines of the objects in his room. His pajamas were comfortable, his room was the perfect temperature, and his whole body felt like lead. But still he couldn't sleep.
There was always sickbay. They could always cook up a hypo that would knock out a horse. But sickbay was so far away, and he really didn't want this silly little bout of insomnia on his record. Too many of those, and the captain might start getting worried.
He'd only been chief engineer for a little while. A slip up now could send him back to maintenance work.
No, he wouldn't go to sickbay. But he wouldn't stay here either.
Geordi forced himself to his feet. The soft carpeting seemed to meld with his feet as soon as they made contact, making it almost impossible to move. His whole body ached from being jammed into that Jeffries tube all day. The only thing that had made it worthwhile was the company he had all day: his best friend Data.
A thought entered Geordi's mind as he padded across the floor. He wondered what Data was doing; what Data always did while everyone else was asleep? Often he worked the night shift, if only because nobody else wanted to. But Geordi was almost certain he wasn't working tonight.
What did an android do in his off hours? Geordi made his guesses as he tied a robe around himself; a heavy one that could keep him warm even in the ship's draftiest corridors. He slid on a pair of slippers as well; sturdy ones that didn't look completely ridiculous in public.
"Computer?" He asked quietly. "Where is Commander Data?"
"Commander Data is located in his quarters," the computer's ever-dependable voice replied.
Geordi smiled to himself. That narrowed down the possibilities for what Data could be doing. He wasn't at a poker game, he wasn't speaking to the captain, and he wasn't practicing chess in Ten-Forward.
Geordi thanked the computer and stepped out into the hallway. It was incredibly quiet at this time of night; some people found it peaceful while others found it creepy. Geordi didn't know where he stood on the argument; he'd always been more comfortable around computers than people, but it was strange to hear the soft groaning of the ship instead of laughter and commotion.
Geordi was fully awake again by the time he reached Data's quarters. His VISOR was fully operational and his body didn't feel so completely unmovable. He rang the panel on the wall and waited for Data's usual, "Come in please." before entering.
The first thing Geordi saw was Data's aura. It always calmed him, for some reason. Maybe because Data was always so calm. He was a good balance for Geordi's high energy bursts.
"Geordi," said Data, lowering the violin from his chin.
"So close." Geordi snapped his fingers. At Data's confused expression, he explained, "I guessed that you were practicing oboe."
Data cocked his head. He still had not returned to playing, just stood holding his bow in one hand and violin in the other.
"I do require more practice with the oboe. However, I am playing the violin in the concert for the Üg-hah ambassador."
Geordi smiled, stepping deeper into the room so that the door shut behind him.
"Do you mind if I listen?" He asked.
"Not at all."
Geordi sat on the couch as Data propped his violin up again. He flipped back a page in the music book he was looking at, and then started to play.
The tune was high-pitched and a bit too exciting for Geordi's taste. But, it being Data, he didn't mind. His fingers intertwined and then laced behind his head, where he leaned back against the wall. He moved just once more, to take off his VISOR, and then closed his eyes.
Suddenly the music stopped.
"Do you wish to go to sleep?" asked Data, in a soft and achingly kind voice.
Geordi smiled again.
"It was a long day. I couldn't get to sleep in my quarters."
Geordi heard some shuffling, but the violin music did not return.
Instead, Data said, "Perhaps I should play something more soothing."
"I'm the one who stormed in one you," Geordi reminded him. "You play whatever you want to."
There was a pause. And then Brahm's Lullaby entered Geordi's ears. He released a playful groan, shaking his head. Again,
Data stopped playing.
"I was attempting to help you to sleep. Lullabies are commonly used to lower heart and breathing rate, which promotes-"
"I know, Data. Thank you; do whatever you want to."
Another pause. And then Brahm's Lullaby started again.
Geordi leaned deeper into the back of the couch and let himself be carried away by the little tune. If anything, it did help him feel better about today. Maybe Engineering had seen a million different problems, half of which still had no solutions. But here, in Data's quarters, there were no problems.
Here, sleep soon claimed him; a sleep that had him dreaming of androids who wished to be composers.