All Good Things__ - Michael Jan Friedman [2]
Deanna took his hands in hers. “Worf… I think it’s all right to concentrate on our feelings. Yours … and mine.”
Her smile was contagious. Gazing into her eyes, reassured, he began to forget about Commander Riker mand everything else in the world. As he leaned over to kiss her, she lifted her lips to his.
But before they could touch, the turbolift doors opened with a hiss—and the captain burst out of them. Worf stared in disbelief. Not only was Pieard uncharae-teristically wide-eyed with panic, he was wearing nothing but a blue-and-white striped bathrobe!
“Counselor!” cried the captain.
Coming between her and Worf, apparently oblivious of what he had just interrupted, Picard gripped Deanna by her arms. “What’s today’s date? The date?” he demanded.
“Stardate four-seven-nine-eight-eight,” the Klingon said, interjecting the answer.
Letting go of the Betazoid, Picard turned away from them and mulled it over. He seemed to be having enormous difficulty, considering the simplicity of the concept. “F0ur-seven-nine-eight-eight.. ?’ the captain echoed. Deanna looked at him. “Sir, what’s wrong?” Picard’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure,” he told her. “I don’t know how… or why, but…” He shook his’ head. “I believe I’m moving back and forth through time.”
A chill ran UP along Worf’s spine. His relationship with Deanna would have to resume its progress some other time. It was clear what honor demanded of him.
Looking up at the intercom grid, he called on Commander Riker.
CHAPTER
2
As Worf entered his quarters, he saw that the light was on in Alexander’s room. And that Alexander himself was at his desk, studying his monitor.
The security chief temporarily put aside his concern for the captain’s condition and approached his son. Noticing him, Alexander looked up and smiled. He had the smell of cookies and milk about him, though a human might not have noticed. “Hi, Father.”
Worf didn’t smile back. It was late—well after ten o’clock.
“Alexander… should you not be in bed?”
The boy shrugged. “I have an organic-chemistry exam tomorrow morning, and there are a few things I’m still fuzzy on.”
The security chief grunted and moved to his own room. He could hardly fault Alexander for taking his studies so seriously. What’s more, he felt badly that he hadn’t spent much time helping with them lately.
However, he’d had other things on his mind. Things that he could not seem to ignore. Like Deanna.
Removing his casual clothes, he changed into his uniform and noted how comfortable it made him feelm more so than any other garb. Commander Riker had ordered several scans done, in order to determine if the captain had indeed left the ship for some period of time. He was to report to the bridge as soon as he was properly attired.
As he reached for his heavy, ceremonial sash, he saw Alexander standing at the threshold. He was still smiling. “You were with Deanna, huh?”
Worf gave his son a quizzical look. “What makes you say that?”
“I can always tell,” the boy replied—and padded back to his room on bare feet.
The security chief followed him there. “What do you mean, you can ‘always tell’?” he asked.
Alexander peered at his monitor. “She puts you in a good mood. Whenever you spend time together, you come back with a smile on your face.”
Worf straightened. “I was not smiling when I came in the door.”
His son turned to him. “Dad… I know when you’re smiling, even when no one else does.” He paused. “You like her. It’s obvious.”
The Klingon wasn’t comfortable admitting it—but he couldn’t deny Alexander’s observation altogether. “Counselor Troi is a… close friend,” he said. “That is all.”
The boy nodded. “Right.” And without another word, he went back to his studies.
Worf thought for a moment. It had not been so long since Alexander’s mother had died from an assassin’s attack—and right before the boy’s eyes. He did not wish to cause his son any more trauma