The BLTS Archive - Ashes To Prove It
third in the Shut Down the Sun series
by Quoth (qtheraven@geocities.com)

---

This is the third story in the "Shut Down the Sun" series. It contains
descriptions of the aftermath of rape, and other adult themes. Please,
if this upsets you, save yourself the distress and don't read on.

---
"I treasure your love,
I never want to lose it,
You've been through the fires of hell,
And I know you've got the ashes to prove it.
I treasure your love,
I want to show you how to use it,
You've been through a lot of pain in the dirt,
And I know you've got the scars to prove it."

Meat Loaf, "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
---

The sudden chill Geordi felt had nothing to do with the temperature in
his best friend's quarters. He stared with real concern at his
obviously distressed friend, waiting as patiently as he could for Data
to compose himself. He was determined to get his friend to admit why
he had been acting so strangely the past week, and especially to find
out why he was not fighting the blatant injustice of the sentence
levied at the court-martial.

The engineer was seriously worried, and also a little hurt that Data
hadn't come to him for help. Data wasn't even talking to Deanna. She'd
told Geordi worriedly that a week ago Data had suddenly decided he was
fine -- although it was obvious he was not -- and cancelled all
further appointments. Geordi had unsuccessfully spent hours racking
his brain, trying to figure out what could have upset Data so badly
that he couldn't even talk about it.

While Geordi waited anxiously, Data stood still, his hands over his
face, as if preparing himself for an ordeal. "The admiral," he finally
began, dropping his hands and lifting his head slightly. His shoulders
were hunched slightly, his fingers curling into his palms. Just
mentioning the rank seemed to make Data freeze, face reflecting fear,
instinctively turning inward to safety.

"What about the admiral?" Geordi said, beginning to panic. What the
hell had the bastard said or done to reduce Data to such cowering fear
and unhappiness?

"What did Elbrun do to make you take the blame for what happened?" he
asked, more insistently than he'd intended. He winced inwardly at the
loud, frantic edge to his voice.

Data closed his eyes slightly, steeling himself. "He threatened the
entire bridge crew. He used that threat to obtain my silence. Then
he..." The android's voice dropped to a bare whisper. "Then he
assaulted me."

"Assaulted you? How?" The question tumbled automatically from stunned
lips, as Geordi found his head shaking in denial, mind refusing to
accept the scenario that those words suggested.

Data shifted uncomfortably, swallowing, his every tiny movement
screaming misery as the pause seemed to stretch to infinity between
them. [Must I say it? Please Geordi, do not make me say it...] Finally
finding his voice, he forced the nearly inaudible word from his lips.
"... sexually."

Geordi stared in mute horror as Data finished talking, head bowed,
waiting for judgement. The engineer could still hear the soft words
echoing ruthlessly in his ears.

No. It couldn't be true.

But he knew, sickeningly, deep down inside himself, that it could be
and it was. That terrible dead tone in his friend's voice told him
that it was the truth. And it explained, so horribly perfectly, Data's
recent withdrawn attitude, his backsliding in his recovery from the
Borg, everything.

"Oh no, no, no," he murmured softly under his breath, hardly aware he
was speaking. "Oh, Data, I'm sorry..."

Data looked up then, surprise on his face. "For what, Geordi?"

"For not knowing, for not helping you... Data, why the *hell* didn't
you tell me?" he demanded, his voice suddenly fierce. "Or anyone?"

Data answered slowly, unsurely. "I... dared not, Geordi. I am certain
that Admiral Elbrun would have made good on his threats had I not
submitted. Afterwards, I said nothing, for it would not have served
any purpose."

"What do you mean, wouldn't have served any purpose? We could have
helped you and punished him for what he did, dammit!" [What threats?]
Geordi thought, desperately trying to think of something important
enough Elbrun had in his power to have persuaded Data to surrender.

"I had no proof. It was merely my word against his."

"Data, do you really think anyone on this ship would have for one
second believed that pompous ass over you? Dammit, everyone hates
Elbrun already for bullying us all. Trust me, anyone who knows you
knows you're telling the truth. It'll be hard to stop Will Riker from
punching the bastard's face in once he hears about--"

"No."

"What?" Geordi stopped short, stunned.

"I..." Data began to speak, haltingly. "I do not wish to tell anyone
about what happened. But I also fear the possibility that the admiral
may commit a similar offence in the future. I... do not know what to
do. But I can not bear the thought of telling anyone else."
Distressed, he pressed his hands into his face, hating himself for his
cowardice. [If only I had not been such a fool, if only I had noticed
the Borg beaming onto the Enterprise in time, if I had prevented the
shields from dropping while in temporal transit, none of this would
have happened... I brought this all on myself...]

"Data, we have to tell the captain."

"No," Data whispered, knowing that he must. "Please do not ask that of
me. It will mean another court-martial, and I cannot go through that
again. I cannot."

"Data, I know it's hard for you, but if we don't do something, then
the bastard'll never be punished for what he did to you! He'll get
away with it!" Geordi couldn't stand the thought of that. "Data," he
continued in a gentler tone, "what if he does this again? To you, or
someone else? You don't want that, do you?"

"No," Data admitted softly from behind his hands. "I will speak to the
captain, Geordi. It is just... difficult."

Staring at his devastated friend, Geordi felt sick at heart. Never
mind Riker; HE felt more than ready to personally smash Elbrun to pulp
with his bare hands. Without thinking, Geordi impulsively reached out
and touched one of Data's wrists.  The android flinched, gasping in
shock at the unexpected touch. Geordi cursed himself furiously. [You
idiot! You should have known how he hates that now. If he reacts this
badly to just being touched...] Deliberately, he moved his arm back.

Once Data had calmed from the momentary alarm, Geordi asked gently,
"Would you like me to talk to the captain first?"

Data nodded mutely, grateful for the relatively small unpleasantness
he was being spared. Asking permission with his gaze, Geordi kept his
eyes on Data's face as he reached out for his hand. Data saw and
nodded slightly, agreeing gratefully to the supportive contact. Geordi
squeezed his wrist comfortingly, and bit his lip at the weak smile
Data somehow managed to summon. The engineer did his best to project a
comforting image, despite the pain he was feeling.

Finally releasing Data's arm, Geordi gently promised, "I'll be back,
okay?"

Outside Data's quarters, he sighed in misery and leaned against the
wall. [Oh Data, why don't you trust me enough to have said something
sooner?]

---

"Prosecution, please call your first witness."

Everyone found themselves back in the hated courtroom, this time only
one Enterprise crewmember on trial. The rest of the bridge crew were
sitting in the seats, present mostly as character witnesses.

"The prosecution would like to call Mister Data to the stand," called
Commander John Rutherford, Data's lawyer. He could not help but frown
inwardly. It seemed so strange to be defending someone with only one
name, and now stripped of his rank as well. Like taking away another
part of his identity -- [as if what was done wasn't enough,] he
thought. Talking with his client, and his client's crewmates and
character witnesses, he believed the charges were true.

Thinking about his character witnesses, he nodded to himself. Quite a
good hearted bunch -- though both Commander Worf and Commander Riker
seemed too hot headed to be much use. They'd likely lose their tempers
and do more harm than good. He wasn't sure of the doctor's ability to
stay calm under cross-examination either, to be honest.

On the other hand, Captain Picard, and the Betazoid counsellor were
going to be especially good allies -- Troi could, in a pinch, argue
that she sensed Data was telling the truth. But she couldn't read the
telepathically stronger Elbrun and say if he were positively guilty --
and as Data's personal counsellor and friend, her word as to his
innocence might not hold as much weight as the testimony of an
impartial telepath or empath.

The chief difficulty in the interviews with the crew, though, had been
that in the pre-trial interviews, none of them could tell him why Data
had submitted to the threats -- the android had not told them. He had
had to tell Rutherford, of course, so that the JAG officer could build
his case, but he had done so privately and Rutherford could see why
the android was so nervous about this. Data's friends were not going
to be happy, hearing it for the first time here in this court room...
but then, there was nothing about this business to like.

He knew that this was going to be an ugly case -- an ugly crime, an
ugly charge and only the slightest chance of getting full justice.
Data would be lucky to get a bare retrial, and he doubted very much
that Elbrun would be found guilty of rape. This was corruption in the
ranks, and he had the feeling it went beyond this one incident. [How
many of the higher-ups knew Admiral Elbrun had a personal vendetta
against the Enterprise crew before they sent him there? The rot can't
have spread too far... can it?] He didn't like to think about it. He
had had a short, private talk with Picard, who was pursuing some
discreet inquiries through some friends in the Admiralty, and he was
left feeling rather uncomfortable. But he had a duty to defend this
one client, this one man, the sole but solid proof that there was
something very wrong in Starfleet.

Certainly, the instant assignment of Captain Noella Peyhlin --
Elbrun's defense lawyer -- to the case must have been more than sheer
coincidence. She was the sharpest and most tenacious officer in the
JAG, and one who had a reputation for pulling no punches. She had been
reprimanded several times in her career for harassing and being unduly
harsh with witnesses in her questioning. Rutherford had opposed her in
court only once, and had been royally defeated. The woman seemed to
care only about winning the case, not about justice. Heaven only knew
how she'd made Captain. She had no conscience about dragging
everything and anything about the witness, every habit, hobby, fear,
through the mud and using it against them to try and bias the jury.
Rutherford shook his head in despair. If Data so much as flinched,
she'd press him till he panicked, then mop the floor with what was
left of him...

---

Data could not help but shiver a little, so slightly only another
android would have seen it, as he saw Elbrun's defense counsel
conferring with the Admiral. His sensitive hearing could pick up
enough to know they were preparing their strategy for the
cross-examination. His own counsel looked at him sympathetically as he
gestured his client to the witness stand. Data stood, and slowly made
his way to the stand, feeling all eyes on him. The burning acid of
Elbrun's hate-filled glare, the concerned gazes of his friends, of
Geordi... the curious, scandal-hungry eyes of the general public.

This hearing was, as he'd expected, horrible. The worst part about it
was the knowledge that this was not only a criminal trial about the
charge of Admiral Elbrun's abuse of his Starfleet rank and power over
subordinates, but it also held the key to his own fate in Starfleet.
If it was proved that Elbrun's judgement was biased, then Data would
be reinterviewed and given a retrial regarding the Borg incident, and
possibly be reinstated. Data was not looking forward to yet another
interview about the Borg Queen. All he wanted to do was forget
everything that had happened. The weight of all the upcoming legal
tangles pressed on his mind, and it took all his determination not to
turn and run out of the courtroom. His counsel had been sympathetic,
but pessimistic about Data's chances of winning, unless the Admiral
made a bad mistake in his defense.

Glancing away to the side for a moment, he saw his friends, Geordi and
Deanna and the Captain... all of them, there to support him. He saw
them give him nods of silent support, and could see Geordi's tension
by the set of his lips, pressed together firmly. He nodded back
slightly, letting them know he was ready, if not happy about it. He
knew it was going to be the last time he dared look them in the face
for quite some time.

Geordi fidgeted slightly in his seat. He wished they'd get on with it.
He could feel Data's misery at being on trial again, and just wanted
it finished for the android's sake. He wanted Elbrun sentenced, and
the sooner the better. He'd have to be satisfied with a sentence to
compulsory rehabiliation, though, since that was the standard
punishment for most offenses. Briefly, though, he wished that
castration of rapists hadn't been done away with centuries ago. But
still, as long as Elbrun was punished, put away, kept far away from
Data, that was what was important now.

Besides, now he'd finally find out why the hell Data had let it happen
at all...

Rutherford cleared his throat and started to speak, as kindly as he
could. "Mister Data, you are formally charging Admiral Elbrun with
forcing you to submit to sexual activity. This is an extremely serious
charge. Do you understand the seriousness of the charge you are
levelling?"

"Yes, I do." Data tried to force himself to calmness. He succeeded
somewhat, though a small voice inwardly noted, [It has begun... no way
back now...]

"Do you maintain that this charge is the truth?"

"It is the truth." It was said calmly and firmly, and his face was a
picture of certainty.

"Very well. In your own words, tell the court what happened the night
you claim this attack occured."

Taking a breath, Data started to speak, plunging into the murky legal
waters.

---

Data automatically moved about his quarters, ordering food and water
for Spot, his thoughts still trapped in that hellish courtroom. The
experiences of testifying in court and being cross-examined had been
even worse than he'd expected. Worse than the original interview with
Admiral Elbrun which had started this whole ugly mess.

Giving his own testimony had been bad enough, though his counsel had
been as kind as possible, given the circumstances. But he'd heard the
gasps coming from the direction of his friends, and he fixed his gaze
firmly on his counsel, not daring to look at them. He didn't know
exactly how they were feeling, whether they were angry at him or
upset, but he knew for a fact that either way he didn't want to see
the expressions on their faces.

The cross-examination had been like a nightmare. Captain Peyhlin's
diminutive size was deceptive -- she was dangerous. He had guessed it
from the moment her voice went as quiet as the Admiral's had that
night... and he had been right. The position taken by the defense had
been that the whole story was a fabrication, revenge for being
discharged.

Every explanation of his behaviour was sneered at, cast in the
blackest light, made to look ridiculous, vindictive, spiteful,
promiscuous. He well remembered the look of doubt that had come over
people's faces when Captain Peyhlin had suddenly drawn off onto the
subject of his hobbies. He had been bewildered for a moment as he
mentioned his favourite pastimes -- until she pounced on the fact that
he occasionally played parts in Doctor Crusher's productions.

"So you like acting, Mister Data? I'm sure you're a *fine* actor,
aren't you? I'm sure you're finding this "victim" role the role of a
lifetime, aren't you?"

"No! I am not acting or lying!" he remembered gasping out, shocked.

"Objection!" his counsel had shouted.

"Question withdrawn," said Peyhlin, smirking along with Elbrun. But
the jury were looking at each other, the crowd whispering,
wondering... the damage had been done.

The only point that Rutherford had been encouraged by, had said might
be in Data's favour, was the fact that Elbrun suddenly changed his
testimony. Presumably, he had sensed the sympathy in the air as Data
first testified, and decided, without consulting Peyhlin, to try and
redress the balance. Originally denying it all, he had suddenly
changed his story and stated in his testimony that Data had offered
sexual services as a bribe in return for waiving the normal
punishments. This rape charge was merely spiteful revenge for refusing
the bribe and recommending to the Board dishonourable discharge for
the android's actions during the Borg incident.

Though his lawyer had been surprised -- and quite displeased -- she
recovered as quickly as she could and tried to cover it up. "Why did
you not report this before, Admiral?" she asked after a brief glare at
him. She did not want to lose this case over this mistake.

Elbrun hesitated for a moment. "Why, I did, when I told the Board that
he actively attempted to hamper the investigation and interfere with
it. I didn't wish to get any more detailed at that point."

"Why not, Admiral?"

"The young man in question obviously feels that he can buy what he
wants --  his safety, his career, his reputation and so on -- through
offering his body for sexual purposes. It seems obvious to me that he
has the mindset of a prostitute." Ignoring the infuriated shouts from
the Enterprise crew, he looked straight at Data, watching like a
predator, viewing the painful flinch as his reward, waiting until the
courts had been called to silence, then continuing his testimony.

"I would have been willing to ignore the illegal and personally
insulting offer, since he was already to be punished for his former
inappropriate sexual conduct. The revelation of this evidence would
have made no difference whatsoever to the outcome. The only thing that
could have come from my saying what the *details* were of his attempts
to interfere would have been just more shame for him. I thought it
would be unkind of me, as well as unneccessary, to humiliate Mister
Data publicly even further. Of course, given this false charge, I no
longer feel any compunctions about revealing his true... nature."

And that had been that. The mistake covered completely -- painting
Data in an even worse light than previously. He had heard Rutherford
release the excited breath he had been holding in a disappointed gust.
Despite the younger lawyer's best effort at cross-examination, he just
hadn't been able to shake that story well enough. Noella Peyhlin had
smiled -- back in control.

Still, Rutherford had told Data, the mere fact that Elbrun had changed
his story would go hard against him, no matter how believeable the new
story seemed to be -- there was no longer a guarantee for a win for
the admiral.

The final argument to the jury helped to repair a great deal of the
damage done by the defense. Rutherford had stressed to the jury that
the admiral's testimony was unreliable. Later, the commander quietly
told Data that no matter how well the Admiral and his lawyer had
covered it up, Elbrun had overplayed his hand.

The worst blow of all to Data, however, had not been the merciless
cross-examination, but the announcement that the judge and jury had
decided to hold off their judgement on the case until tomorrow. He had
to wait until tomorrow to discover his fate.

And he knew today was not yet over.

---

When the door signal chirped to indicate that someone was at the door,
Data sighed, certain that he knew what was to come. He had known it
when he had heard the angry protests in the courtroom, especially one
particular voice.

"Come in, Geordi."

The doors opened and Geordi stormed in, too upset to notice that Data
had known it would be him.

"Data, what the hell was all that about? Our *careers*? *That's* how
he blackmailed you, that's what all this was for? My God, Data, I
don't care about my career!"

"Geordi--"

"Data, it's *not* that important!"

"It is to me," Data said softly.

"Data, is that what you think of me?" Geordi asked, horrified at the
thought that maybe it was exactly what Data thought. "That I care more
about my career than about what happens to you? I don't! You're my
friend -- you're much more important than any promotion. Is that
really what you think of me -- of all of us?" The memory of Data
sitting there, looking so vulnerable and frightened, alone on the
witness stand... God, did Data really think that?

"No, Geordi," Data tried to explain.

"Well, then, would you please explain exactly what the hell you *were*
thinking?!" All the anger and guilt Geordi had felt over the past few
days was finally beginning to boil over, and he was on the verge of
irrationally venting his temper on Data.

"I was thinking," Data said tersely, on the defensive for the
hundredth time that day and finding himself perilously close to the
breaking point, "that I would not be able to live with myself knowing
that I had not protected you from a vindictive and psychotic man, when
I had the opportunity to do so!"

"Oh, that's just wonderful! So now *I'm* the one that has to live with
the knowledge that you let yourself be raped just so I could wear an
extra pip on my collar! Thanks a lot, Data!" The instant he'd said it,
Geordi could have gladly bitten off his tongue.

"Oh God, I'm sorry Data, I didn't mean that--"

"Yes, you did." Data said quietly, head lowering, a horrible
resignation in his voice. "And you are right to be angry at me. I am
to blame for this situation. The problem could have been dealt with
some other way. I have sold myself needlessly. Perhaps Admiral Elbrun
was correct. Perhaps I am a prostitute."

"No, Data, listen--"

"Just a prostitute." And Data simply stood there, terrifyingly silent
and still, staring at the floor with an expression of total deadness
on his face.

Geordi was appalled at what his angry, thoughtless words had done.
[You bastard,] he thought to himself furiously. [You tell yourself you
love him, and then you go and say something like that!] Swiftly moving
closer, he intended to comfort Data with a hug. The android's
instinctive step back reminded Geordi not to touch him. He ached to
help Data, but he didn't dare touch him without permission. He
tentatively held his arms out, not knowing of anything else to say or
do, to repair the damage he'd done.

With a strangled gasp, Data took a shaky step forward and buried his
face in Geordi's shoulder, holding tightly onto the engineer. Geordi's
arms instantly went around him, and he felt a little more secure.

[Geordi does not hate me, after all. He will keep me safe. Everything
will be all right as long as he is still my friend.]

Automatically, Geordi hugged Data and soothed him just as his parents
had soothed him as a young child. "Shhh. I'm sorry, Data. I'm so
sorry. I didn't mean that," he whispered, one hand reaching up to
stroke Data's hair. "You did what you thought was right at the time. I
didn't mean to sound like I was angry with you. I was just upset
because you were hurt, and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have. I'm
so sorry."

Data hugged tighter. [He does not judge me, after all. He is hurting
*for* me.] He felt grateful beyond measure for the unconditional
support.

"It'll be okay. It's okay. We'll get through this." [I swear, Elbrun
will pay for this. I'll make sure of it.] Geordi continued to whisper
soothingly as he held Data gently to reassure him, allowing his hands
to continue rubbing the android's back and head.

As Data finally began to calm, listening to the comforting sound of
Geordi's voice, he felt Geordi's finger trace gently, apparently
unconsciously, across his ear. Puzzled, he paused for a moment, trying
to determine why the gesture felt strange. It felt almost... intimate?

Not noticing Data's slight change in demeanour, Geordi kept on
murmuring quietly, just trying to reassure Data that he was here, that
he wasn't going anywhere. [How could I go anywhere... he needs me
right now. This is so unfair... why him? I love him...]

With an unpleasant chill, Data realised that Geordi's heart rate was
increasing. For no reason the android could adequately define, he
somehow suddenly felt uncomfortable and trapped in an embrace that had
felt so safe moments before. He jerked a little, trying to signal to
Geordi that he wished to move out of the embrace now.

Geordi instantly tightened his grip on Data as he patted his back
reassuringly. [He must be so afraid... afraid I'm going to desert him
and leave him to face this alone again... I swear, Data, I won't do
that. It's okay, you can relax. I'll be here.]

Data froze, trying to quell the unreasoning fear that rose within him
as Geordi pulled him even closer. [This is foolishness...  I must be
imagining things. Geordi is my friend. He would not betray me this
way.] Even as his body tensed, Data's thoughts grew increasingly
frantic; he insisted to himself that it was not this way, could not
be.

Geordi smiled as Data stilled his movement. It must have made him feel
much better, knowing that he would not be abandoned in his time of
need. [I'm here, it's okay, I'll look after you, I love you...]

Unconsciously, his hand slid across further to Data's cheek, stroking
it gently.

Data was stunned as he felt Geordi's hand touch his face, the
undeniable intimacy of the touches cutting through his attempts at
denial.

[No... I trusted you...]

A taunting voice within him whispered, [Obviously his support is not
as unconditional as you assumed.]

The bitterness of betrayal washed over him like an acid flood. For the
first time, he believed he truly understood the human phrase, "stabbed
in the back". Allowing himself the strangely liberating feeling of
giving the searing, painful emotions free rein, he cynically thought,
[Well, why not? What is once more, after all?] as he jerked away, this
time forcefully enough to knock the engineer right off balance.

Geordi staggered back, blue eyes wide with surprise. "Data, are you
okay, I ... what are you doing?" he stammered, confused at the
suddenness of Data's reaction. He was even more shocked to see Data
remove the outer shirt of his uniform, with a bitter, closed
expression that he had only seen once, when Data had been under Lore's
control. It was not an expression he'd ever wanted to see again.

"Data, what--"

"-- am I doing? I would have thought that was perfectly obvious."

Geordi could only stare in disbelief. By now Data's outer shirt was
completely off, tossed carelessly to the floor in a gesture so
uncharacteristic, Geordi could almost convince himself this was not
happening at all.

"This is what you want, is it not?" Data asked him, keeping his gaze,
eyes and voice filled with bitter pain, even as his hands fumbled with
the undershirt.

"WHAT?!" Geordi managed to gasp out, stunned by this sudden change in
behaviour. Had Data's sanity cracked under the stress? Where had he
gotten this twisted version of the truth?

"You need not bother with the pretence, Geordi. I suppose once more
would not make much of a difference to me. If my body is the price of
our... *friendship*, then so be it."

Geordi suddenly realised what had happened. [He knows. Oh, God, what a
time for him to find out. But how could he *think* that I'd...] Geordi
found himself suddenly getting angry.

Oblivious to Geordi's growing anger, Data said, "Take what you want
and let us just get this over with," a soft tremor in his voice that
all the bitter cynicism could not hide.

"Wait a minute, Data. Just let me get this straight. You've just
decided that *I'm* going to take advantage of you? No way. No *way*
would I ever try to pressure you into anything you didn't want!"

Data stared at him, the betrayal fading off his features, to be
replaced by confusion. Suddenly, he looked very childlike and
vulnerable.

Geordi, however, was too incensed to notice, all the repressed fury
and anger of the past few days coursing freely through him. "But you
obviously think I'm like that, don't you? Great opinion you have of
me!"

"Geordi--"

"I would NEVER do anything like that. I thought you knew me well
enough to be able to trust me. I guess this just shows how wrong I
was!"

Data's expression flickered as confusion was rapidly being replaced by
fear. [I am a fool. Of course Geordi would not force anything on me,
or demand a price for our relationship. I should have known that. And
if I do not apologise for my foolishness now, I will lose the best
friend I ever had.]

"Geordi, listen to me, please--"

Geordi continued his furious tirade. At Data, at himself, at Elbrun...
his fury burning brighter every moment. "And yes, I love you, but
you've changed so much that right now I don't think I even know who
you *are* anymore!"

"Geordi, please--"

"No, I don't want to hear a word. I've never been accused of anything
like that in my life before, and I won't take it. Not from anybody.
Not even you." Turning on his heel, he strode toward the doors in a
white-hot rage. As they parted, he heard behind him an intense
whisper.

"*Wait--*"

Ignoring it, he stormed out into the corridor, not caring who saw his
mood.

As the door closed behind him, Data fell weakly to his knees. The
tight bonds of control finally cracking, the first tear of a flood
sliding down his cheek, the last of his hope destroyed.

---

Geordi to his quarters, still fuming as he entered them and flung
himself down on the couch. After a few seconds, he found that sitting
was no help at all, and got back up again. He cursed as loudly as he
could and stomped around his quarters to work off his rage.

[How dare he? How dare he stand there and tell me to my face that he
thinks I'd do that? I can't believe him. That is just so... so...
Dammit, I won't take it.]

Finally, the worst of his fury spent, Geordi flopped back down on the
couch, this time staying there, rubbing his forehead. [What the hell
was that tantrum about? It's so unlike him. He's been acting so
strange ever since... since...]

Since the Borg mission.

Geordi massaged his temples, his emotions roiling. [It's all just
wrong. Damn the Borg, damn Elbrun. Damn them all. Look what they've
done to him. They've made him think he's only a thing to be used...]

The truth of that unexpected thought hit him in the gut. It was true.
Data hadn't meant the accusation, he'd just been upset. [And it's not
like *you* haven't had to apologise to *him* already tonight for
saying stuff you didn't really mean.]

Geordi remembered hearing the objections, the pleas for him to
listen... but he'd been so angry, he hadn't given Data a chance to
finish. With a start, he recalled Data's soft but intense cry of
"Wait" that had followed him out the door.

It had been so frantic... so desperate. As if Data had felt it was his
last chance to make amends. And his previous actions had already shown
how close he was to breaking...

Standing, Geordi headed for the door. It was time to make things
right. Now.

---

There was no answer to the door when he hit the door signal. Not
really surprised, Geordi tried again. "Data?" he called out. "Data,
please open the door. We need to talk." Finally, he overrode the door
lock and stepped into the quarters carefully, almost afraid of what he
was sure he would find inside.

Data was finally crying.

Geordi had expected that, but he hadn't been prepared for the sheer
raw pain that he now saw. Data was sitting on the floor, his lithe
figure curled into a tight ball, face buried in his knees, weeping
with a quiet intensity that truly frightened Geordi. The sobs wracked
his slender frame as golden hands convulsively gripped his shins. He
seemed totally unaware of Geordi's entry into his quarters.

Geordi knelt beside Data, not knowing quite what to do in the face of
such total despair. Hesitating, he decided to simply wait until Data
was ready.

After a few moments, Data realised that there was somebody there. Not
caring who it was, he raised his head despondently.

Geordi took a deep breath as Data finally looked at him, the
expression on the android's tear-streaked face wavering as hope warred
with disbelief. Tentatively, he extended his hand to Data, unsure of
whether or not Data would take it, whether or not he had made the
wrong move.

For a few moments, Data could only stare at the proffered hand in
shock. [He is here? He has come back?]

Still stunned, he reached out, taking the hand carefully at first,
then grasping it tightly, drawing the engineer's hand closer to him
and gripping it as if it were a lifeline.

Geordi's heart ached within him as he drew Data close and stayed
silent, simply holding him and allowing him to cry. This time Data
held his hand tightly, allowing his friend to comfort him, not
fighting at all. He was still stunned that Geordi had come back.
[Could he truly care for me that much?] He tightened his hold on the
engineer's hand, and felt Geordi's embrace tighten in return.

Geordi sighed and rested his cheek on Data's head, while the android's
face was still against his shoulder. [Okay, he's not afraid of me
touching him, anyway... but that might change once this fit passes.]
Inwardly steeling himself for a rejection, he spoke gently to Data.
"Are you all right with this?"

"Yes," Data whispered. "As long as you stay with me." [I do not
deserve it, but please, do not leave me...]

"As long as you want me to." The sentence was spoken with a quiet
solemnity that made it an absolute promise. No conditions.

Data nodded mutely, resting his head against Geordi trustingly. He
still did not know if he reciprocated Geordi's feelings, or what
tomorrow would bring... but Geordi still cared about him. And that was
enough.

"Thank you." A whisper of gratitude. "I want you to. Always."

---

the Shut Down The Sun series was never finished