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Chapter 4
The Mystery of Genetic Bonding

	"Commander we have a Borg ship at 10:00 o'clock." Lt. Worf
announced. "Not returning our hail, Sir."
	Will watched in terror as the gray metallic cube approached
relentlessly.
	"They are powering up their weapons." Wolf's voice was steady as
he continued to monitor the flashing lights of the console before him.
	"Raise shields, Sir?" Riker realized Data was standing at attention,
waiting. Waiting for what?
	"Direct hit! Commander, our phase inducers are off-line!" Geordi
LaForge cried in terror. Will wondered what the devil a phase inducer
was and what would happen if they went off-line.
	"Casualties coming in, now, Sir. On decks 6, 8 , 11." Worf locked
stares with Will. The look seemed hostile, but Worf was a Klingon.
Klingons always looked hostile he remembered.
	A terrifying blast rocked the bridge sending brilliant sparks of
red flying. Darkness engulfed the room briefly, followed by a flickering
orange light that finally stabilized. The silence was punctuated for a
moment by the solitary crackling sound of energy desperately trying to
ground itself. The smell of burnt alloid filled the air. Reports came
over the com system from all stations. Officers called out commands that
Riker heard over the intercom, Crusher reported injury statistics while
in the background Will heard the cries of crew members. Riker looked
around him desperately, searching for Picard who lay immobile on the
floor next to smoking shell of wires and flashing lights that was once
the main body of the android, Data.
	"Another hit, Commander, hull breach eminent on deck 10." LaForge
yelled. He looked at Riker as if waiting. Waiting for what? He was
supposed to do something. Or maybe he was supposed to say something.
What?
	Will Riker stood alone, aware that he should already have made a
decision. But what decision? He looked to Counselor Troi. Her blank
expression either indicated that she didn't know what decision he should
make or couldn't tell him. No use asking Worf who continued to glare at
him. LaForge would give a recommendation based on the action most likely
to preserve his precious engines. Which decision? What would Picard want
him to do? What would Picard do? Data! Data couldn't help. What were his
options? Perhaps LaForge did have an answer. Riker hadn't a clue what to
do.
	A flash slowly rolled toward the federation ship. A young helmsman,
what was his name Riker wondered, intoned, "Impact in 12 seconds, 11,
10, 9, 8, 7" Suddenly Riker remembered something. At least he thought it
was a memory, perhaps a forgotten fantasy. He was in a chapel. He was on
a stage watching Deanna slowly mount the steps. She was nude wearing
nothing but a white headband. A white headband. He should know what that
signified. What did it signify? Beverly Crusher was beckoning to the
Counselor. Riker stood staring at Counselor Troi as the computer
decreed, "Enterprise destroyed." Picard threw his padd down on the desk,
immediately regretting the action, then consciously calmed his anger
while waiting for Riker in the observation lounge of the holodeck. Why
won't he try? Damn him. Picard thought. He just ambles off the mock
bridge as if he has just finished his lunch.
	Troi felt Riker's relief that the exercise was over and Picard's
deep disappointment. Will returned to the observation stand. "Well," he
began, "I didn't break into tears, for me, that's progress."
	Picard gave him a sharp look. "Yes, well maybe after your rest
on Betazed we can try again." So upset was the Captain with his first
officer's performance and his own reaction that he turned and left
before saying something he regretted.
	Doctor Crusher gave Will a pat on the arm. "You did very well,
Will. You are right. You have made a lot of progress."
	Deanna felt Will's emotions change as he finally picked up on
Picard's anger. She took his hand. "So, we don't have to agonize over
another test for three weeks!"
	Will smiled, but Deanna knew it was covering up the hurt he felt
at Picard's frustration with his latest simulation results. "Right,
Betazed here we come. Beverly, are you having dinner with us tonight?"
	Crusher narrowed her eyes, "Who is cooking?"
	"Me of course! You can name the dessert!" Riker said, his grin
already returning, the humiliation of the test failure forgotten.
	"How can I resist?" Crusher smiled. "Do you serve blueberry
pie?"
	"Only for special guests!" Will laughed. "Deanna asked for Selanian
welisna."
	"What's that?" Bev asked suspiciously.
	"It's like chicken Kiev." Deanna said. "With different spices and no
chicken."
	"I'd be delighted." Crusher replied dubiously.

	Picard was not happy as he sullenly stood beside Crusher outside
Will's cabin. Beverly doubted Will would be any more delighted to see
his commanding officer.
	"Captain. Doctor!" Deanna greeted both, pulling them inside Riker's
cabin. "Look, Will, Beverly brought another guest."
	Will looked up from his cooking. His smile faded slightly at seeing
Picard, but he covered well. "The more the merrier. Come on in. Deanna,
maybe you can get everyone something to drink while I finish up."
	Deanna immediately picked up on Picard's discomfort. "Captain,
what can I get you?"

	Picard suspected that Crusher and Troi had arranged for this evening
to try and bridge the growing gap between him and his former First
Officer, but frankly, he would prefer to avoid Riker until he had
recovered. It was just too hard to watch Will in this state. It brought
back memories of his own recovery after his capture by the Borg, but at
least he had fought every step of the way to recover.  Will seemed to
just accept his fate. That was what angered Picard more than anything. 
The Riker he knew and respected would never have just accepted a fate
that precluded command.
	"Captain, perhaps, you would want to chop some onions." Deanna
handed Picard a large, dangerous looking kitchen knife.
	"Well, all right." Picard stared at the serrated edge of the knife,
wondering what to do with weapon.
	Will nodded as Picard stood next to him and looked around for a
chopping  board. "Here Captain, this knife will be easier to use. That
one is more for larger cuts of meat." Will lowered his voice and leaned
toward Picard as if conspiring with an ally. "Deanna means well, but she
doesn't have a clue what to do in the kitchen."
	"I know you are talking about me! I know you are criticizing my
cooking skills!" the empath called from across the room. 
	"Criticizing? Never, my dear.  Just commenting on your lack of
interest in the culinary arts! Its okay! I prefer to be master of my own
kitchen." Will teased. Will quickly assembled the various ingredients
and then went to the replicator ordering corn.
	"Ah, I'm allergic to corn." Riker caught Picard's glance toward
the doctor.
	"No problem," Will replied. "Brocoli?"
	Picard frowned.
	"Brussels sprouts?" 
	Picard looked at Will and deadpanned, "Broccoli would be fine."
	"Poule-au-pot?" Will posed the question to the Captain, who nodded
with a smile.
	"My mother used to make that! Do you have a recipe?"
`"Bien sur!" Will smiled. He dumped a skillet full of sauce in the
recycling bin, grabbed a handful of vegetables that had been cooking on
the stove, and began adjusting the recipe. 
	"Avec le pain Alsacien?"
	Picard's face lit up. "You won't have time!" Then Picard's face
fell. "Oh, you mean from the replicator?"
	Will looked shocked and insulted. Turning around, he uncovered a
dish that had a cloth napkin covering its contents. With a flourish he
dramatically drew away the napkin. "Of course not.  Here." Riker handed
Picard a slice of bread. "I made it earlier. It is one of my favorites.
I figured it would work. The brie is over there if you want. Triple
creme. I just got a some today when we got supplies in from the
Intrepid."
	Picard eagerly spread the brie on the bread, then gingerly took
a bite. His smile widen. "Yes, yes. Here Beverly try this!"
	Riker smiled at the Captain's enthusiasm. "I could whip up
Profiteroles for dessert if you wish." he whispered in Picard's ear.
	"Could you?" Picard asked in wonder.
	Deanna smiled. This was working out just fine.

	Picard walked Beverly back to her quarters after dinner. "I haven't
eaten like that since..."
	"Since Will cooked for Deanna's birthday before the accident?"
	"Yes, Beverly, I suppose that is right.  In the kitchen, he was
very much in control. That is the closest to the old Will Riker I have
seen since his accident. He didn't hesitate at all to change the menu,
he was organized. He managed the blueberry pie and the Profiteroles.
How? How could he handle himself so well tonight and do so miserably on
the command test?"
	Crusher shrugged. "More pressure? I don't know. He was more relaxed.
There wasn't any expectations tonight.  You need to give him time,
Jean-Luc. He's improving daily. Don't scare him away."
	"What do you mean 'scare him away'?"
	"I mean Star Fleet has been after him to accept a medical discharge.
They are going to be pressuring you next." Crusher said.
	They stood outside Crusher's door. Picard sighed. "They already
have. Its on my desk. Until tonight, I was thinking seriously of signing
it. I suppose if I did I might stand to lose a very good Counselor too.
Right?"
	Beverly shrugged without replying.
	 "Very well. Let him take the three weeks in Betazed and then
we'll evaluate how he is doing." 
	Beverly clapped her hands together and spontaneously gave him a
kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Jean-Luc." She went inside, waving
good-bye over her shoulder.
	Picard shook his head. Riker and Troi had obviously resumed
their romantic relationship. There were simply too many small signs to
ignore. The terms of endearment, the small touches, the good natured
teasing. He shouldn't condone it. Why then was he standing outside
Beverly Crusher's quarters imagining himself inside?

	Deanna felt Riker's growing interest as he watched her prepare
for bed. Slowly she undid her uniform top, folded it and tucked in the
drawer. Next she removed her bra and put it away, then delicately
stepped out of her pants. She made a great show of hunting for her night
clothes. Slipping on a gown, she finally slipped under the sheets and
ordered. "Lights out."
	She snuggled next to him, folding his arm around her. From the
dark she heard his voice. "When are you going to tell me who contacted
Wendy Roper?"

End of Chapter 4