"Hmmm, Deanna, I've missed this."

	"I'll bet you have Commander. Are you telling me none of your
other women..." Deanna didn't get a chance to finish as Will flipped
over and grabbed her slippery arms by the wrists pulling her sharply to
him.

	"No one compares to you, Imzadi," he whispered as he kissed her
arm tasting the lemon flavored massage oil.

	Deanna stretched upward to meet his lips and felt his hand sliding
down from her neck...he halted as the com badge chirped.

	"Worf to Commander Riker."

	"What again!" Will heaved a deep sigh as Deanna giggled. Frowning he
said, "He does this on purpose you know."

	Deanna slid down under the thermoblanket, nestling her face in
his side. He peeked under the blanket but was interrupted again.

	"Worf to Commander Riker. Please answer."

	"All right, all right, Worf. Riker here. What is it this time?"

	"Can Doctor Crusher, Geordi, Data and I join you in your cabin
in ten minutes?"

	"Mute." Riker ordered.   He fell dramatically back against the
bed as Deanna collapsed into another fit of giggles. Lifting the blanket
again he asked, "Why doesn't he bring the entire officer corp? We can
have an orgy!"

	"And Commander..." Worf's voice cut in again. "We seem to be having
trouble locating Counselor Troi."

	"Computer, audio. I'll make sure she's here when you arrive
Worf."

	"I'm sure you will, Commander," came the reply.

	Will jumped then, peeking under the blanket, he raised one eye
brow and said, "We have ten minutes."

	"Oh," Deanna laughed, "that's plenty of time."

	Nine minutes later Deanna caught her breath and whispered, "Come
on, get up. They've rung the bell chime three times. We can't leave them
all standing in the hall. They're going to know what we are doing in
here."

	Will sat up and stretched, "I don't think we've been all that
discrete, Deanna. Everybody who knows us has a fairly good idea what
we've been doing in here."

	"Oh hurry up," Deanna said. Riker watched her swing her legs off
the bed and pull her dress over her head while he got back into his
uniform.

	Then following her into the living room, he ordered, "Open."

	Everyone filed in wearing knowing looks except for Worf who simply
rolled his eyes and frowned, prompting Riker's own grin.

	Data stood as the rest found their seats. "Commander, Captain Picard
has rerouted the transporter grid and has transported several devices to
the planet surface."

	Will looked from face to face. There could be little doubt as
Picard's intentions - he was trying to help the Bak'u. "Damn. I knew
something was up when he left the bridge." Pausing only a second, Riker
stood up. "Come on, we're a team. We can't let him take the heat for
this alone."

	The senior staff filed out one by one with Will Riker bringing
up the rear.

	***

	The Captain tried to order the group back to their quarters, but
Riker quickly pointed out that Picard could not give orders out of
uniform. Once the Captain became convinced the group was serious in
their determination to help him, he gave in and ordered Riker and
LaForge to get word to Starfleet about the Bak'u and their struggle
against the Son'a. The odds were against all of them. A small armada of
Son'a ships surrounded the planet, including several warships that would
be a match for the Enterprise if they gave chase.

	Riker gave Troi a quick look. In his mind he heard the words she
had yet to whisper to him, "I love you, Imzadi."

	It had been years since he had even tried to answer her this
way, but he held his breath and tried his own promise, "I will return to
you, Deanna."

	To Picard Riker made a similar vow, "I'll be back before you
know it." Then he turned for what he knew might be his last look at
Deanna. Flashing a confident smile he spun smoothly around and left the
transporter room with Geordi right behind him.

	The turboride to the bridge was silent until LaForge said with a
touch of awe in his voice, "You are a lucky man, Commander. You know
that?"

	"Let's hope that luck holds out a bit longer, Geordi," was Riker's
only reply. "I have a feeling we are going to need it."

	***