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ladyfogg · 1 year

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May I? - 37/?

Fic Summary: Ensign Faith Diaz struggles to hide her mental illness from her fellow shipmates aboard the Enterprise until an intrigued Data goes out of his way to try to understand her behavior. At his insistence, Faith tries to figure out what she’s truly passionate about and eventually seeks the professional help she needs. Fic Masterpost.

Fic Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Data/Female OC

Warnings: tw: depression, tw: anxiety, fluff, friends to lovers, eventual smut

Data walked with Captain Picard, heading for the Observation room. They were to meet with Commander Riker and Lieutenant Worf to strategize prior to conducting their interviews. Instead of thinking of that, however, Data was more focused on taking in the world around him, including what he was feeling.

It was strange to have a sensation but no context or name for what it was. He thought back to what Dr. Crusher had said and focused on what parts of his body were reacting. His abdomen for sure, so he concluded he was nervous.

Data recalled Faith explaining her anxiety to him and he had to wonder how she managed to get anything done while feeling that way constantly. He was even more proud of her progress.

“Mr. Data, your head is on a swivel,” Captain Picard commented.

“I am sorry, sir. I was not aware of the intense difference between human sight and my own.”

“I imagine there will be many differences that will require adjustment. It helps to focus on the task at hand.”

As they entered the turbo-lift, Data considered his advice and came to a realization. “I have often heard Faith say, ‘Easier said than done’ and I believe I have a firmer grasp on the concept now.” The lift moved and Data felt the sway again, although this time he anticipated it.

Picard looked at Data with amusement. “One could say the silver lining of Q’s meddling is that you will be able to have context and understanding for why we humans act the way we do.”

“A silver lining indeed. I only wish it had not been done at such a crucial time.”

“I have every bit of confidence that you will adjust.”

They reached the Observation room where Riker and Worf were already gathered.

“Be seated,” Picard ordered, taking a seat at the head of the table. The other men followed his instructions. “Before we discuss anything further there is something that happened that I feel should be addressed.”

Data had intended on keeping his situation quiet to avoid distraction, however, he understood Riker and Worf deserved to know. As senior officers they often worked directly with him and, if Geordi was not on leave, he would be brought into the fold as well.

“Q has seen fit to test me,” Data explained when he had their attention. “He has given me the full range of human emotions but they have come at a price.”

“He did what?!” Riker exclaimed. “That son of a bitch needs to stop poking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“What price?” Worf asked.

“I no longer have the strength or mental capabilities of an android,” Data said. “I am sure there are other factors which have not surfaced yet. Q has refused to undo this until he believes I have learned my lesson.”

“What is the lesson?” Worf asked.

“With Q is the lesson ever really clear?” Picard posed.

Riker ran a hand down his face and leaned back in his seat. “When will ever be rid of that maniac? I swear, every time he shows up I sprout new gray hairs. If he wasn’t all-powerful I would have shot him out the airlock years ago.”

“You will be pleased to hear that Faith slapped him,” Data informed him.

Riker smirked and, to Data’s surprise, Worf looked amused as well. “I wish I had seen it for myself,” the Klingon said.

“It was extremely satisfying to witness,” Picard conceded. “However, Mr. Data now finds himself in a unique predicament. Considering what we have learned about our adversary and his knowledge of the ship, this information must stay strictly between us. Aside from Dr. Crusher and Lieutenant Diaz, the only others who know are in this room and it should remain that way. Counselor Troi will be made aware as well.”

“I ask that you do not treat me differently,” Data said. “I still have my experiences and core memories to draw from and should be able to function properly. Although, I may have questions.”

Riker’s smirk widened. “We would expect nothing less.”

“Given the circumstances, Will, I want you to partner with Data for these interviews,” Picard said. “Since both he and Lieutenant Worf are well-versed in this investigation it would be smart to split them between the two groups.” He paused for a moment before looking at Data. “I also feel Commander Riker will be able to assist with navigating your new emotional state.”

A sense of…something washed over Data. He recognized it as relief though it was more potent than what he previously experienced, and it helped quell his nerves. Not that he doubted the captain or chief of security but if there was anyone among the group who could help him deal with intense emotions, Data would say it was Commander Riker.

“I had a detailed list of questions, organized and based on possible answers,” Data said. “But unfortunately I do not have access to the entire list.”

“That’s fine, Data,” Riker said. “Don’t worry about that. Right now I want to know, how are you dealing with all of this?”

“I am feeling many things though I do not have the words for all of them. What I believe I can identify is apprehension and concern. There is also confusion. It is clear Q knows who is behind this and is aware we are heading into danger, which makes his timing inconvenient. I also do not know what would possess someone to spy on me, and for what purpose.”

“Hopefully that is what we will discover,” Picard said as he stood. “Lieutenant, why don’t you and I take my Ready Room?”

“Aye, sir,” Worf replied.

“We will take a few minutes to strategize amongst ourselves and then commence with the interviews from there. Dismissed.”

Picard and Worf departed, leaving Data and Riker alone. Once the door closed, the commander asked, “How did Faith react to the news?”

“She was troubled and concerned, which is understandable. I do not believe my reaction to her presence helped the matter.”

Eyebrows raised, Riker sat up with a look of amusement. “And what reaction was that?”

Data did not feel it was appropriate to go into detail about the specifics of his lustful actions, however, he concluded that Commander Riker would be able to provide some insight into the rush of emotions he had experienced.

“I was overcome with intense desire,” he explained. “Enough to be a distraction. How does one deal with such all-encompassing emotions?”

Riker grinned and reclined in his seat as he considered Data’s question. “Sometimes attraction and affection can supersede all reason, especially when you’re with someone special. The important thing to remember is there is a time and a place for sexual desire. Your partner’s consent and comfort should always be taken into consideration.”

“I understand,” Data said. “Thankfully I do not feel I crossed any lines but I will take care in the future.”

“All things considered, congratulations, Data.”

“For what?”

“If you had such a visceral reaction to Faith, that would mean your initial feelings for her are sound and were correctly interpreted. You do love and care for her, a great deal it seems.”

“Those feelings were never called into question, at least not by myself.” Data felt a brief wave of anxiousness. “Do you think they might have been for Faith? Do you believe she has had doubts about my feelings?”

Riker shook his head. “Not at all. Faith knows how much you love her. It’s clear as day to all of us how deep your connection is. I’m sorry, Data, I didn’t mean to worry you. I was hoping to offer comfort.”

“What will comfort me will be finding who on the ship is responsible for spying on us,” Data said. “The longer it takes to seek them out, the greater the chance that we will lose the element of surprise against our adversary.”

“Agreed.” Commander Riker reached for a PADD that sat on the table. A second later, he brought up the list of interviewees to review. “It seems we have a wide range of suspects, anyone from Ten Forward to the Bridge.”

“That is correct. Whoever is responsible would have to have come in contact with us on a regular basis.”

“But low enough on the totem pole not to draw our attention.”

Data cocked his head. There was a change in him that gave him pause, one he could not properly describe. “Commander, inquiry,” he said. “There is a sensation happening that I do not understand.”

“Try your best to describe it.”

“I feel we should focus our attention on anyone from Engineering. However, I do not have sufficient enough data to support my suggestion.”

“But you think it’s likely Engineering is where the mole is stationed?”

Data pondered for another moment before he nodded. “Yes, I do. I am sorry that I cannot give you a reason.”

“I think you already did,” Riker told him. “Usually an intense feeling of being right but having no logical basis for this is called a ‘gut feeling’.”

“Is that what a gut feeling feels like? Interesting.”

“And it is usually correct. As far as not having evidence, when you have the years of experience you and I have, your gut instinct can be your subconscious putting the pieces together you haven’t been able to.” Riker glanced at the list of names once more. “You have one name on this list from Engineering. What do you say we start there? No reason to beat around the bush.”

“I concur.”

Commander Riker cleared his throat and tapped his communicator. “Ensign Paul Sawyer to the Observation room as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir. On my way but it will take a minute.”

Data did not know much about Ensign Sawyer, only that he had served the Enterprise well during his time aboard. He had seen him around Engineering yet had not spoken to him, and Geordi and Faith only briefly mentioned him in passing.

While they waited, Commander Riker said, “All of this is so elaborate and complicated, it didn’t just happen. It was planned carefully and methodically. I just wish we knew to what end.”

“As do I. When viewing the situation as a whole, I believe what troubles me most is that my existence has put Faith in danger.”

There was a wash of emotion, a kind of heaviness that grew in Data’s chest once his concern was voiced.

“Faith is a Starfleet officer. She knew the risks of being on board the Enterprise and accepted them,” Riker reminded him.

“Yes, but this is not about Starfleet. It is personal. She was taken by Fajo because of how important she is to me and has been drawn into this investigation, again because of me. And while I know she does not blame me, I am starting to realize part of me blames myself.”

Commander Riker laid his hand on Data’s shoulder to offer comfort. “She is here with us and she is safe. Once we find out who is responsible, you will have your answers and hopefully some peace of mind.”

Will he have peace of mind? Data did not know when Q would return him to how he was or even if. And after this crisis was solved, what of the next one? Yes, he understood being a Starfleet officer came with risk, which he and Faith both accepted when joining. But Data’s protective protocol made him think beyond their current situation and about Faith’s mental health.

“I do not know if peace of mind is possible,” he concluded. “My worry for Faith is growing with every day. Commander, does love typically come with such feelings of anxiety? I know I can protect her in a physical sense, or at least I used to be able to, but I am aware I cannot be with her at all times. Of course, I also cannot protect her state of mind.”

“And that’s what being in love is like,” Riker said. “It’s a wonderful sensation, Data, but it also comes with deep anxieties. The key is to work through those anxieties together, and to have faith that your partner will be able to take care of themselves when you are not around.”

“I already have Faith.”

It took both of them a second to realize that Data had made a joke. It had not done so on purpose, it had just slipped out. Still, it made Commander Riker chuckle in amusement. “Deanna and I always talk about how fitting it is that two people named Data and Faith came together,” he said.

“That is true. And in response to your comment about her taking care of herself when I am not around, I wish I could be around her at all times.” Data paused for a moment and smiled softly. “I intend to marry her, Commander.”

Riker’s smile was bright as he squeezed his shoulder. “Smart man. Faith is a beautiful, smart, firecracker of a woman. You two make a formidable power couple and I for one can’t wait to dance at your wedding.”

A second later the doors to Observation opened and Ensign Sawyer walked through. The two men gave him their attention, expressions stoic and focused now that their interviewee was present.

“Commander Riker, Commander Data, you wished to see me?” Sawyer asked.

Though he stood at attention, with his hands behind his back, there was sweat on his brow and he subtly shifted his weight from one foot to the other, both of which Data instantly noticed.

“Yes, Ensign. Have a seat,” Riker ordered, motioning to a chair across the table.

The commanders watched him cross the room and sit. While his body was tight with tension, the fact that he was clearly nervous was not surprising given the circumstances.

Instead of immediately speaking, Riker let him stew in silence for several seconds. When he did speak, it was in a carefully constructed tone that did not betray what he was feeling. “How long have you been with us, Ensign?” he asked.

“Nearly two years, sir.” Sawyer sat ramrod straight with his hands folded on the table. He kept his gaze on Riker and Data noted he would not look in his direction.

“And do you enjoy your assignment?”

Sawyer nodded enthusiastically. “Of course. Nothing compares to the Enterprise.”

“What are your thoughts on the current hardships we’ve found ourselves in?”

“Which hardships?”

“Numerous ones,” Data interjected. “The boarding of our ship by intruders, being attacked by an unnamed ship, the capture of myself and Lieutenant Diaz, the Enterprise being shut down. Those hardships.”

Sawyer finally looked at Data and while his expression did not change, Data saw how his hands clenched tighter. “It’s part of being in Starfleet,” he said. “Expecting the unexpected is what we are trained for.”

Riker cleared his throat, pulling Data’s attention to him for a moment. He passed him the PADD, which showed a report they had just received from Lieutenant Barclay. While Data read it, Riker smoothly continued the questioning.

“Ensign, are you aware or do you have knowledge of anyone on board who has been behaving suspiciously?”

“In what way?” Sawyer asked. His eyes darted to Data briefly before returning back to Riker.

“There is only one way to behave suspiciously.” Riker’s voice was sharp, clearly unimpressed with Sawyer’s ignorance. “Suspiciously as in out of the norm.”

“No, sir. I haven’t witnessed anyone behaving that way.”

Data put the PADD down. “Ensign Sawyer, can you explain why someone would purposefully recalibrate the shield generator after it had already been repaired and calibrated to the correct specifications?”

At that, Sawyer swallowed thickly and his lips pursed for a moment. “I don’t know why someone would do that. There would be no reason to recalibrate a generator that is already running properly.”

“Then why did you do so?” Data asked. He found himself growing impatient with the ensign as Riker seemed to be. Months of subterfuge and sabotage had been plaguing them and he was determined to get to the bottom of it right then and there. At that moment, the best lead they had sat across from them.

“I didn’t do anything,” Sawyer denied.

Riker opened his mouth but Data spoke over him. “We received a report that you not only tampered with the shield generator but several of our minor systems and I want to know why.”

“Why do you think it was me? There are many others in Engineering.”

A surge of anger overtook Data and he found his hand clenched into a fist. “Ensign Sawyer, do not insult our intelligence and the intelligence of your crewmates. You tampered with the shield and have had access to all areas and personnel that have been affected by our enemy. Now you are going to tell us why.”

“Think carefully before you speak, Ensign,” Riker added. “What you say next could determine your future with Starfleet. From where we are sitting, it doesn’t look good but we are giving you a chance to explain yourself.”

“Commanders, I can assure you, I didn’t—”

Data slammed his fist on the table and something hot shot through his hand and up his arm. Pain. He registered that what he felt was pain. However, his emotions took hold and pushed the pain out of his mind.

“Stop dodging and lying,” he snapped. “You tampered with our systems and have the required access to spy for Konro. Tell us why you did and the most you will have to deal with is a court marshal.”

“Commander Data, at ease,” Riker ordered. To the ensign, he added, “Sawyer, this is serious and your denial can only hurt. We are trying to understand what is happening and why. It’s in your best interest to tell us the truth.”

“Commander Riker, Commander Data, I would never betray the Enterprise,” Sawyer insisted. “I’ve done only what is expected of me as an ensign.”

Data was on his feet in an instant. He reached across the table and seized the young man by the front of his uniform, yanking him out of his seat. “Your actions not only put me and Faith in danger but they have endangered the lives of everyone on this ship,” he yelled, his face inches from Sawyer’s. “I know you are lying and I will no longer listen to your false denials. Tell us what we want to know.”

“Lieutenant Commander Data, that is enough!” Riker snapped as he stood. “Let go of Sawyer, immediately.”

Data ignored him, shaking Sawyer for good measure. “Speak!” he ordered.

“Please, please don’t hurt me!” Sawyer begged, trying to pull away. “You don’t understand. I did what I did because I didn’t have a choice. Please.”

There was a beat of dead silence as the truth they had been seeking came to light. Even still, Data did not let the young man go. “Keep talking.”

“Please, let me go. Don’t hurt me. I’ll tell you, I swear I will. Please, Commander.”

Riker yanked on Data’s arm, forcing him to let go. He put a hand on the android’s chest and pushed him back from the table, putting space between him and the poor trembling ensign. “If you cannot control yourself, commander, I will order you to leave his room,” he snapped. “Are we clear?”

Data shut his eyes and took a deep breath, as he often instructed Faith to do. He found it helped marginally but the sense of anger was still brimming below the surface. When he looked at Sawyer again, he stared him down as the young man collapsed into his chair, shaking with fear. The expression on Commander Riker’s face had changed from friend to superior and Data tried to pull himself together.

“I will control myself,” Data said to Riker, his voice still tight with anger. “My apologies, commander.”

Riker pointed to Data’s chair and the android sat while Riker remained standing. Once he was sure Data was not going to move, he leaned on the table for support as he turned his attention back to Sawyer. “So you admit that you are Konro’s contact on the ship,” he said. “Tell us what happened.”

“I was approached about a year ago,” Sawyer explained, his voice trembling as badly as he was. “At first, I wanted nothing to do with any of this. I love Starfleet, my whole family has been in Starfleet for generations. When I got my assignment on the Enterprise, it was one of the happiest days of my life.”

“So what changed?”

“After I turned him down a second time, I received photos of my wife. It’s clear that Konro had been watching her for a while. He said that if I did not do as he ordered that he would…”

His voice faded, unable to voice the threat. He did not need to. It was the fear in Sawyer that settled Data’s anger. The realization that Sawyer was an unwilling participant caused an onslaught of other emotions that Data could not sort out and did not want to. He was more concerned about getting answers.

“What did you do for him?” he asked. “How involved were you?”

“I helped the Oz’ods with the shuttle tampering,” Sawyer explained. “And I transferred certain security footage through subspace to Konro. He gave me an encryption code early on so that there would be no trace of our communications.”

“Did you ever rendezvous with Konro in person?” Riker asked.

“No, never. It was all through written communication, except for one or two video calls so he could show me…show me that he was near my wife.”

That was something that interested Data. “What does he look like?” he asked.

“He’s a Cardassian but our interactions were too brief for me to give a detailed description.”

“You will give us access to this encryption,” Data ordered. “And you will provide us with a full list of your interferences.”

Sawyer nodded, tears running down his cheeks. “Y-yes, of course. But what about my wife?”

Riker sighed heavily and hung his head for a moment, before fixing Sawyer with a look of pity. “Ensign, had you brought this to us immediately we could have helped and taken her to a secure location immediately. Why did you feel like you had to do this on your own?”

“He said he would know if I reached out to anyone,” Sawyer explained. “He said he had other contacts throughout Starfleet and this ship.”

“And you believed him without doing an ounce of research?”

“He had my wife, sir.”

A heaviness fell in the room and Data felt sorry for Sawyer. He remembered what it was like to see Faith next to Fajo and how easily his captor had been able to use that to get him to do his bidding. Was that not what Ensign Sawyer had to endure for months?

“You should have told us,” Data said. “I could have helped you and you know Faith would have.”

Sawyer hung his head and a few tears fell as he did. “I’m sorry, commander.”

Riker took his seat. “Did you work alone? Or was someone else on the crew involved?”

“As far as I know, it was just me.”

“We should still conduct the rest of our interviews just to be thorough,” Data said to Riker. When he looked at Sawyer, it was not with anger but with the same pity Riker had. And empathy. “Aside from this discretion, your record is impeccable which should help your case. I do wish you had sought our assistance. Much fear and destruction could have been avoided if you had. I…also apologize for my lashing out. Faith is special to me and she has gotten caught in the middle.”

“I’m so sorry, commander. I didn’t know…he never said he was interested in her. Only that he was interested in you. If I had known…” The rest of his sentence faded into nothing.

Sawyer did not have much to say after that. He was taken to the brig where he would remain until they were able to finish their mission and return him to Starfleet for proper punishment. The rest of the interviews did not yield additional information which meant that Sawyer had indeed acted alone. Data was able to keep his emotions at bay, though by the end of the interrogations, he had the urge to return to his quarters.

“You’re probably tired,” Riker explained as they walked to the captain’s Ready Room to give their final report. “I know I am. I imagine Q didn’t just give you emotions but some human functions as well. You are most likely going to need to rest.”

“Interesting. That would mean I will also need to eat which may account for the empty feeling in my stomach,” Data mused. “Despite the seriousness of our current situation, I find myself excited to experience food properly.”

As they joined Worf and Picard, Data was surprised to find Wesley was there as well. All three men were gathered around Picard’s screen and, judging by their expressions, what they were reviewing seemed to trouble them.

“What’s going on?” Riker asked the moment the doors closed behind them.

“Mr. Crusher has found something disturbing in Fajo’s files that were sent from Konro,” Picard explained, looking at Data. “I also have received word from Dr. Crusher that you should go to Sickbay at soon as you are able.”

Data registered the sinking feeling in his stomach again and an anxiety spike based on the captain’s serious and careful tone. “What has happened?”

Picard stood and motioned for Data to take his now empty chair. Data did so with hesitation, unsure if he truly wanted to know what was wrong. However, the moment he saw an image of Faith on the view screen, he understood things were far more dire than they originally thought. He scrolled through seemingly endless photos of his partner, some of her alone in Engineering and others of them together.

“Where did these originate?” he asked, looking at the captain and Wesley.

“Taken from our own security footage the leak sent to his contact,” Picard told him. “Then it seems his contact sent them to Fajo. Or Fajo stole them. It’s hard to say.”

“We’ve rooted out Ensign Sawyer as the culprit,” Riker said. “I’ve already had security bring him to the brig. He has given us his contact’s encryption code and what channels they used to communicate. He’s expected to make contact in a few hours as part of a regular report. Not visually at least but verbally. Sawyer agreed to assist in writing a response that will not draw suspicion.”

“Captain, you said I am required in Sickbay, for what purpose?” Data asked.

“There was an incident in Engineering. Ms. Diaz was not seriously injured but—”

Data did not stick around to hear the rest of the sentence. He was out of his seat and through the doors the second Faith’s name was mentioned. No one tried to stop him or follow. There was a sense of urgency that drove Data as a different type of fear took over. He had not realized there were varying versions of the same emotions and if it had been any other situation he would have paused to examine the phenomenon.

The turbo-lift was too slow for his liking but once the doors opened, he bolted for Sickbay.

Dr. Crusher was tending to someone when he arrived, however, she turned to him when he spoke, “Where is Faith? What has happened to her?” he asked.

“Data, you can relax, Faith is alright.”

“Where is she?” He made a move towards the private rooms but Dr. Crusher blocked his path.

“She is resting right now and I will let you in to see her but not like this,” she said in a stern voice. “I understand you are probably overwhelmed right now. However, bursting into her room riled up is ill-advised. Take a deep breath with me.”

Data automatically followed her instructions, counting in his head as he did. It took twenty seconds for the emotional rush to settle.

“Dr. Crusher, I apologize for my abruptness,” he said. “Please tell me what is wrong with Faith.”

“She had a major anxiety attack to the point where she required sedation. Counselor Troi is in there with her now so she is not alone.”

Date sighed with relief and the intense urges melted into an elevated level of concern. While he was glad Faith was not physically injured, he was troubled by her anxiety attack. It had been months since the last incident and even then it had not been extreme enough to warrant medical attention.

Considering what he had been shown by the captain, he was able to deduce the trigger. “Was she shown the photos?” he asked.

Dr. Crusher nodded. “Yes, she saw them. Troi and I did as well.”

“May I see her now, doctor?”

With a soft smile, Dr. Crusher stepped aside and motioned for Data to go ahead. With a grateful nod, he walked deeper into Sickbay and towards the private rooms. There was only one with the door closed. When he poked his head in, he saw Faith asleep on the bed.

Counselor Troi sat beside her, smiling at Data as he entered. However, the moment he did, her smile fell. “Data, why am I sensing such strong emotions from you? How am I sensing them?”

“Q’s meddling,” Data explained. “Dr. Crusher or Captain Picard can explain further. How is she?”

“She woke briefly but drifted off some time ago,” Deanna said as she got to her feet. “The sedative was a powerful one but should be wearing off shortly. I’ll give you two some privacy and go see when you can take her to your quarters.”

“Thank you, counselor, for being here when I could not.”

Deanna offered him a hug which he gladly accepted, along with the sense of comfort it provided. As she left, he took her place at Faith’s bedside. The first thing he noticed was the gloves on her hands. He did not know their purpose until he saw a red mark on her collarbone. Carefully, he peeled back the collar of her uniform to reveal the angry scratches.

“Oh, Faith,” he said softly.

His voice stirred her and when he placed his hand on her cheek, she opened her eyes. “Data?”

“I am here, mi alma.”

Her gloved hand came to rest over his. “Did they tell you?”

Data nodded, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “They showed me the pictures. And told me of your attack.”

“We were wrong, Data. I was just as much a focus as you were.”

“So it would seem. Faith, I—” He paused, unsure of how he wanted to finish his sentence. “I am sorry that you were pulled into this by your association with me.”

“Hey,” Faith said, cupping his chin. “This isn’t your fault. You aren’t to blame. I’m not mad at you, I’m pissed at the person who’s been spying on us this whole time.”

“We found the person responsible,” he told her. “He has been taken to the brig and will face the consequences. Thankfully, he did not know of our plane to intercept so we still have the element of surprise.”

Faith took a steady breath and her hand fell onto the bed, too weak to remain upright. “Good. Who was it?”

Data hesitated to tell her, however, given her sedation, he concluded it was as good a time as any to let her know. “Ensign Sawyer.”

Tears filled her eyes. “God damn it. He was right under my nose this whole time.”

“While it does not excuse his behavior, he was coerced and his family threatened. He did not and does not harbor ill will towards you or me.”

Faith took another steady breath and nodded in agreement. “That’s something at least. Can you take me home? I just want to be in our bed.”

“Counselor Troi is speaking with Dr. Crusher now. I will have you out of here soon.”

Within seconds there was a knock on the door. Dr. Crusher peeked in and, when she saw that Faith was awake, entered the room with her signature warm smile. “How are you feeling, Faith?” she asked, standing on the other side of Faith’s bed.

“My head is clearing a bit,” Faith told her. “But I’m still really groggy.”

“Unfortunately, you will be for a few hours. However, I think it’s safe for Data to escort you to your quarters. I’ve already sent word to keep you off the rotation for the next twenty-four hours as a precaution, due to the sedative.”

“Thank you, Beverly.”

“Yes, thank you, Dr. Crusher,” Data added. When she left, he smiled at Faith and smoothed her hair back from her face. “Are you ready to try to sit up?”

“Yeah, give me a hand.”

Together they worked to get Faith into a sitting position. Her movements were slow but she appeared more clearheaded than when Data arrived. She removed the gloves and laid them next to her, before reaching to touch the scratches. Dr. Crusher must have treated them earlier because they appeared less irritated, though it would take hours for them to fully disappear. Data was overcome by a plethora of emotions and the only way he felt to show them was to wrap his arms around Faith’s middle and hug her tight. Still sitting, he buried his face in her chest and she slid her arms around his shoulders, cradling his head close.

They sat that way for a time, neither willing to break the silence but both knowing the magnitude of the events of the day would have repercussions. Data drew back just enough to look up at Faith, who cupped his face and pulled him into a soft kiss. He reciprocated, arms still tight around her waist. He was vaguely aware that he was able to hug Faith without the worry of hurting her, a small consolation given the circumstances.

When their lips parted, Faith kept her forehead pressed to his. “Take me home, Data,” she said, voice small and heavy with emotion.

Data did not verbally respond, only nodded as he leaned in for another kiss.

#Lt. Commander Data #commander data #lt commander data #data tng #data soong #star trek next generation #may I?#faith diaz #data x oc

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ackerslut · 3 years

Note

Hey!! Could you write something shippy about Boimler and Mariner? What if Boimler regularly spent time in the holodeck acting out certain scenarios and situations with Mariner? 👀

A/N: This was way angstier than I meant it to be. And way less sexier. I apologize in advance.

ao3

She glares at him, mouth pressed into a thin line. “What happened to having each other’s backs? I put my ass on the line for you. Repeatedly.”

He winces. This conversation is not going how he’d planned. “Mariner, I-”

Mariner clenches her fists and straightens. “No, you don’t get to say anything after what you pulled. Fuck you.”

The image freezes and Boimler resets the simulation.

What seems like years ago, he remembers lecturing Tendi overusing the Holodecks for fun. The details are fuzzy. It was before the “GUYS I MADE US INTO A MOVIE'' incident with Mariner, but after that weirdass thing with Rutherford and his rogue program. He thinks she and Mariner had been using it to watch Ransom in an array of—what he now admits-hysterical situations—but can’t be sure.

She and Mariner have gotten up to so much shit, he can’t keep track.

He doesn’t know why he’s remembering it now. It was a random conversation that happened a long time ago—a few months after Tendi was assigned to the Cerritos? –so there’s no reason why he should be thinking about it right now.

Liar, a smug voice intones in his head. It sounds vaguely like Mariner. Boimler aggressively shoves it down.

This isn’t for fun, he anxiously tells the voice in his head. The voice is quiet. It does nothing to soothe the turning of his stomach.

It’s been three months since Boimler requested a transfer back to the Cerritos. Three months since he’d run into Rutherford and Tendi on shore leave and the three of them got swept up into a ridiculous, interplanetary civil war that took three different starship crews to settle out. Three months since he’d almost died more times than he can count on all his fingers and toes, three months since he thought Tendi had died, miles away from her home, on a world which would never remember her name, three months since Mariner swept in and fixed everything.

It’s been three months.

Not that he’s counting.

Somewhere between being in a remote alien prison with Tendi and hiking for a month in a perpetually dark wilderness with Rutherford, Boimler had come to the belated conclusion that his career didn’t take precedence over his friends.

(Also, if he’s being completely honest, he missed the chaos of being a lower deck ensign. Not that he still doesn’t want to be in the upper ranks. Just not without his dumb, dumb friends.)

After it was all over—and he’d realized that Tendi was alive—he put in his transfer request, surprising all his peers.

“This just isn’t a good fit for me,” was his official statement.

Captain Riker gave him a bland look. “You worked with Beckett, didn’t you.” His voice was flat, but his eyes were amused.

“Is it that obvious?”

“She rubs off on people. Don’t let her give you a hard time,” he added, signing off on the request. “It was nice working with you, Boimler. If you ever need anything, let me know.”

And so here he is, a newly minted ensign again, on the lower decks of the Cerritos.

(Captain Freeman is thrilled. “All operations have been down by 18% since you left. Good to have you back, Boimler.”)

Tendi and Rutherford seem hyped to have him back-Tendi especially, who’s been a little clingy with everyone since her near-death experience-but are acting uncharacteristically nervous around him. This isn’t a surprise. The tension between him and Mariner when she’d shown up on Roxadt II was insane and was only getting worse with every day. It’s been six weeks since he’d transferred, and she’s found a reason to be in a different room for all six of them.

Hence the simulations.

That makes absolutely no fucking sense, the Mariner-esque voice in his head sneers. Just talk to her you fucking wimp.

Boimler ignores it.

“Scenario A-187,” the clinical voice of the simulation intones. The simulation restarts.

It goes exactly the same way 186 other scenarios had gone. He corners Mariner. She stays quiet. He apologizes. She explodes.

Mariner’s anger had always burnt red hot. He’d first experienced it when an ensign got a little frisky with Tendi after she’d repeatedly told him no. Mariner’s fury at the situation felt justified. Vindicated. The ensign had been demoted so hard, Boimler was certain they’d seen the last of him for like. Well, forever. At the time he’d been astonished that she’d managed to pull it off, but after finding out about her familial connection to the Captain, it made sense.

He’d seen a glimpse of that anger a few more times—when Captain Freeman had forced her to go to therapy, after Rutherford had been captured by rogue Klingons, that one-time Ransom tried to promote her. But never toward Boimler.

Oh, she’d get irritated with him. “Loosen up, Boimler, it’s not that bad.”

“Look, the worst that’ll happen is that we get a note to file-stop yelling!”

“Dude if you don’t chill the fuck out I might actually throw you out of an airlock.”

Standard Mariner reactions, right? Yeah, she’d been pretty pissed when he took the promotion (his voicemail had been blowing up for the first 48 hours after he transferred), but it had died down fairly quickly so he had logically assumed that she had gotten over it.

He assumed wrong. If her icing him out was to be taken into account. So here he was, six weeks in, desperate and stressed from his friend’s apparent dismissal. The obvious solution, his sleep deprived brain decided, was to simulate a conversation with her using his high-tech program on the holodeck.

This may have not been the best idea. But he’s calculated the probability of anything going wrong and it’s under 3%, so he’s almost guaranteed success.

(So, of course, it blows up in his face, in true Boimler fashion.)

“Okay, I have a pretty high threshold for weird, but this might take the cake,” a voice slowly says.

Boimler startles. Whirls around. Shuts down the simulation. “Ohhh shit-”

“Yeah shit,” Mariner says, stalking into the room. “What the hell, dude?”

“This isn’t what it looks like!” Boimler sputters out, panicked. The simulation is shut down, leaving them in the empty holodeck room, but the echoes of Holo-Mariner’s rage still resonate between them. Actual Mariner is staring at him, face somewhere between completely shocked and furious.

“Did you use your dumbass hyper realistic program to simulate a situation with me so that you could cheat later?”

“I mean, kinda?”

“Then it’s exactly what it looks like!” Mariner slaps a palm over her eyes.

“Well what was I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know—maybe talk to me like a person? Not use your creepy, hyper realistic simulations to roleplay it?” She drops her hand and glares up at him.

Boimler rolls his eyes. “You literally created a simulation to kill the entire crew because your mom made you go to therapy.”

“Yeah and it fucking worked.”

“Then why are you yelling at me?!”

“I’m not!” she shrieks. “I’m very calmly telling you to fucking talk to me next time!”

“There’s not going to be a next time!”

Mariner stops, mouth open. “What?”

“Look, I get it. I fucked up and you apparently don’t do second chances! I was trying to make things right but clearly it isn’t working. I’ll stay out of your way now.”

Instead of pacifying her, this seems to make Mariner even more furious. “You fucking asshole. what am I supposed to say to that?” she shouts, stomping up to him.

He groans in exasperation. “Apparently nothing, considering you don’t want to talk to me!”

Her hands grab his collar, pulling him down to eye level with her. “I literally just said to talk to me next time!”

“And how was I supposed to do that if you’re avoiding me?”

“You’re the one who fucked off in the Titan to god-knows-where,” Mariner grits out.

So they’re actually doing this. Boimler swallows hard. Takes a breath. Tries to quell the anxiety welling in his gut. “I’m sorry.”

“Right after you said you didn’t care about rank or shit,” she adds, twisting the knife.

“Yeah. It was really shitty of me.”

“And then you ghosted me for like six months.”

Boimler winced. “Yeah—I. Yeah.”

Mariner’s iron grip on his shirt loosens, but she doesn’t let go completely. “That was really shitty of you.”

Not sure what to say, beyond apologizing again, Boimler gives a jerky nod.

“You came back.” She stares at him, eyes unfathomable. “The Titan wasn’t everything you dreamed it would be.”

It’s not a question.

Boimler still has an answer, though. “It was.”

She stiffens. He pushes forward, intent on getting this out while he still has her attention. “It was everything I wanted in a career. I was doing what I wanted, everyone took me seriously. Our missions came straight from the Admiralty and they treated us like we weren’t a joke. I loved it.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I care more about my friends then I do about people taking me seriously.”

Mariner freezes and then lets out a strangled laugh. “Now I think you’re the simulation. Who are you and what have you done with Boimler?” She pokes at his cheek.

He grins. And then falters. “For what it’s worth—and I know it’s not worth much—but. I am sorry. I wasn’t a very good friend.”

“Yeah you weren’t.” She lets go of her grip on his shirt completely and draws back. “You said you were my best friend and then you left. For Riker.”

“That makes me sound like the love interest in a cheesy drama. And like I’m hooking up with Riker.”

“I said what I said.”

Boimler laughs. It feels real for the first time in a long while. “Are we good?”

“No.” Mariner smiles. “I’m going to give you so much shit and you’re gonna grovel for like months and then I’m going to tell my mom that you used to holodeck to simulate certain situations with me.”

“If you do that I’m transferring back,” Boimler tells her. “Your mom finally likes me; I don’t need her ejecting me out of an airlock.”

“She wouldn’t do that.” Mariner waves him off.

“She totally would.”

“Yeah, she totally would,” she agrees. Grabs his arm and begins dragging him out of the holodeck. “So maybe I won’t tell her. I am telling Tendi though and she’s gonna give you so much shit considering you reemed her out over misusing the holodeck.”

Boimler makes a face. “I’ll probably let her too. I’m such a hypocrite.”

“You are, but it’s super weird to hear you be honest about it. Stop being all apologetic, it’s weird.”

They’ve reached the corridor. Mariner steers them in the direction of the bar. “Only if you promise to deck me if I ever make a dumb decision like that again,” he says, giving in and allowing himself to be manhandled. It’s the least he owes her.

“Deal. And the next time you use your weird, hyper realistic simulator—which doesn’t even fucking work by the way, I’m not that much of a bitch—you gotta promise you’ll use it for sexy reason only.”

“Sexy reasons only,” Boimler deadpans. “You know they log everything we do down there.”

Mariner wiggles her eyebrows up and down. “I know.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“And you’re uptight, but you’re the one who was playing with simulations of me.”

“That sounds way worse than it actually is,” he cringes.

“No, it doesn’t. I would take some sexy action over your sad, sad trauma simulations any day. Next time I catch you, you’d better be having fun with it.”

“Mariner, what the fuck—”

They dissolve into good natured bickering. She says something lewd and he rolls his eyes and elbows her and she squawks in protest and threatens to get him thrown in the brig. It’s normal, but it’s also not. There’s something new in the air between them that wasn’t there before. Tension, but not negative. It’s charged with. Something else.

Boimler doesn’t examine it too closely. Better to let it work itself out naturally. After all, he has all the time in the world now.

#star trek lower decks #marinler #beckett mariner #brad boimler #fanfiction #my fanfiction #lower decks #star trek lower decks fanfic #prompts #lofi writes

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