Chapter Text
Deanna Troi braced her hands on the shower wall and let the heat flow over her shoulders, soaking into the muscles there. Her right shoulder was stiff and sore from the heft of the phaser rifle, her calves were aching with the past day’s exertions and there seemed to be half a cave-in still caught in her hair. Not that Will had seemed to mind. She sighed as she inspected the damage to her feet, with a bit of luck the ship’s salon would still be in operation tomorrow and Troi could treat herself to a pedicure and maybe a proper massage to work the last of the kinks out.
It wasn’t as though it was the first time Deanna had been hiking, actually she’d done a fair bit of it although it had been a while. Will had taken her camping a few times too and it wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy it; she actually loved getting away from the crowded conditions of a starship and being surrounded by nature from time to time but nothing compared to the feeling of a hot water shower when you got home and if anything she was entitled to luxuriate in that sensation after this particular hike.
Nearly eighteen straight hours surrounded by tension, anger, fear; under fire or constant threat. So while Commander Riker was off briefing the Captain on the damage to the ship, there was a strict schedule to be observed; a long hot shower, something delicious to get rid of the taste of pack rations and then a long date with her bed. There had been very little off duty time in the last 48 hours and hadn’t been much sleeping when there was. Despite the temptation to wait up it would be far better if that date occurred solo.
Deanna let her forehead rest against the smooth, cool, shower wall and smiled to herself. Things had been so rushed after the Admiral’s interruption. Will had raced out with his jacket undone and a last kiss; she was certain he couldn’t have made the transporter room before the Captain had returned. Then just as soon as they were alone again Data had called to alert them to transporter readings in the Captain’s Yacht. Will had kissed her goodbye. Right there in the corridor outside the Yacht; he’d grabbed her hand and held her back till the others had passed and pressed his lips to hers; fast and fierce and filled with a plea to keep safe. They’d waited so long and yet it already felt like there would never be time.
Deanna’s eyes jerked open as her reverie was rudely interrupted by the voice of the computer warning that non-essential systems were being taken off-line. Deanna signed as the water shut off and the shower returned to standard sonic mode. So much for a hot chocolate before bed. Although the replicators would be working they would be restricted to sources of appropriate nutritional value only, and such a nutritional luxury would be right out.
Wrapped in a robe and still toweling her hair Deanna stopped short upon entering her bedroom. There on the bedside table, was a decadent looking hot chocolate, with whipped cream and shaved chocolate sprinkled across the top. Deanna crossed the room and activated the com link as she collected the drink, “Troi to Commander Riker.” “Riker here.”
“Will, have you been in my quarters?” Riker’s slow smile washed over her like a wave of light and the back ground noise of engineering dropped away as he sought a quieter corner.
“I wanted to make sure you got a nightcap before we diverted power.” There’s a warm pause as she sips her chocolate and basks in the warmth of his affection, fatigue carrying it; like slipping into a warm bath. “I’d have said hi but. . . I didn’t want to get distracted. We’re going to have a long night down here, the Captain wants us to make star base in 48 hours for a warp core replacement. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“It’s a date. Will, Thank you.”
Riker signs off with a soft good night, and Deanna tucks her feet under the sheets; falling asleep to the back ground hum of hundreds of minds.