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You Can't Fight a Tidal Wave	By : madradena Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation Views: 1693 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own ST:TNG nor Dreamland, nor the characters from either. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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"So you had no sleep at all..." Emma heard Beverly's bemused voice and raised her head sharply from her arms.
"I'm awake, I'm awake..." she mumbled and wiped the drool off her mouth with her uniform sleeve. Then put her head back into her palm propping her elbow on the counter and tried to get the room to stop from spinning "Bev..."
"I can see that you're awake." Beverly told her on a reprimanding voice "I sent you home to rest. You are exhausted."
Emma then looked at her and this time seemed fully awake, though she had circles under her eyes "Don't worry, Mother Hen! I'm fine. Don't ya have other chicken to take care about?" she teased her not too gently - her sarcasm got worse with the lack of sleep. She looked around and found Data standing wordlessly behind her and she frowned almost irritated "You know Deadpan, that I hate it when you sneak up on me like that!" she jabbed a finger at him. "Has Riker already left?"
Before either Beverly or Data could answer, the door opened and Reg and Sonya stepped through it.
Data replied to her question, while Bev went to greet the newcomers "We rehearsed the necessary scenes in the last two hours and twenty-six minutes. He does not have many lines. He wishes to participate only because of the experience."
"I see." she told him and somehow her irritation turned into a sudden sense of embarrassment by the thought that the two of them were left alone. Even with Bev and the others in the room. She gazed into his eyes as he stood there next to her. She sighed. Was I just dreaming? Or we kissed? We really kissed, Deadpan? Your lips were on mine? Must have been, because I can recall the feeling! I can recall your taste...
"I believe, we should join the others." he told her suddenly stepping away from her, and she nodded realizing that she should definitely not go down that road. Not for now - not ever, she reprimanded herself.
They rehearsed some of the previous scenes then went on with the new ones.
"This scene is the highest emotional point in the play." Beverly started to explain "The whole story is a roller-coaster of emotions. First starting high up with him looking for love, then we have some small ups and downs, while She decides what She wants, then we are soaring again, when they get together - we even have fireworks there - just to be very disappointed, when they break up. She sings 'Let love die' making the scene very depressing. And after listening to some very sad and melancholic songs, we get the hopeful atmosphere of 'Come back to me'. Even the melody has an upward motion as if climbing a mountain."
"I noticed that too, Doctor." Data replied seemingly very intrigued "I suppose we need to somehow preserve the emotional height the song reaches at the end and climb even higher with the next scene. It is certainly a climactic point."
Emma stood there listening to them and started to feel more and more uncomfortable. She never had the time to sort out her feelings about her kiss with Data just a few hours before, and here they were needing to perform a quite intimate, passionate scene. She had never before felt embarrassed about cuddling close to Data with the others around, but now she felt she would somehow sell their attraction, if she touched him or even looked at him. And she was not ready for others to consider them a couple! Hell, she was not ready to consider them a couple in her own head! Just cut it out! she yelled at herself. This is just a scene. The kiss we are supposed to do will just be for the stage. Nothing of consequence! Nobody will think anything! Try to act as an adult!
But no matter how much she tried to reprimand herself or reason with her own mind, she felt more and more embarrassed as they got closer and closer to the point of reconciliation in the play. It took all her energy to hide it from the others. By the time she was to knock on his hotel room door, her heart was gripped by a mixture of fear, embarrassment and excitement - she didn't have to act that she was out of breath, she was gasping from her strong emotions as she was.
He opened the door, and there she stood beaming with joy.
"Can I come in?" she asked breathlessly and stepped in.
"How did you..." he looked at her completely dumbfounded.
"I left right after the first 'Come back to me' ." she replied giggling and gasping both from running and from her emotions.
The next moment, Data pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips gently to hers. After a moment however, he tilted his head and deepened the chaste peck, kissing her fully on the lips. Her eyes shot open in shock for a brief moment just to close on their own accord from the irresistible sensations he was creating in her. This was definitely NOT a kiss for only the stage! His strong arms were holding her firmly against him, and he explored her mouth thoroughly with the most tender kiss she had ever experienced. She stopped being embarrassed then. It wasn't important that they were not alone or that they were rehearsing a play. She held him firmly clasping her arms around his neck and kissed him back desperately - Oh, please! Please, don't let go!
But the moment passed, and he broke away from her. She looked at him through her long lashes as their lips parted slowly. She could feel his hot breath on her wet mouth, and she couldn't help gazing from his eyes to his lips.
"Data!" they heard Beverly's voice suddenly, and the magic was broken.
They broke away and instantly let go of each other as if noticing that they were not alone for the first time. Emma hugged herself as she felt her cheeks burn. Beverly, Reg and Sonya were all looking at them with an embarrassed smile.
"Yes, Doctor." Data turned to Beverly with a neutral expression as if nothing just happened.
Beverly stepped up to them: "Data, I don't think that a kiss on the stage should... look the way you just..." she was not really sure how to finish.
Data frowned thoughtfully clasping his hands in front of him "I have thoroughly researched the subject when studying this scene, Doctor. The script states: 'He kisses her as passionately as He can.' So I attempted to find information on what is considered to be a so called passionate kiss." he sounded completely matter-of-factly. "I have to admit that I have found quite contradictory descriptions. For example..."
"Alright, alright, Data! Before you go into any descriptions... I understand, I suppose we all do." Beverly cut in now blushing slightly. As Data looked around, all three observers were now giggling or smiling. He didn't mind to be the object of ridicule - he was used to it to a certain extent - but then he looked over at Emma. She was standing there with one of her arms around herself, and a hand in front of her mouth. Her cheeks were deep red, and she looked really embarrassed - very unlike her.
Seeing her like that made his heart sink "I am sorry." he told her on a low voice regretting what he had done more than he ever thought he could regret anything. And she seemed to regret it just as much! Did she regret their earlier kiss as well? This is why she reacted the way she did just now? She had never shown embarrassment if they were to touch or cuddle on stage - or off stage. And now there she stood almost mortified. He suddenly felt horrible.
She glanced up at him, but before she could say anything, Beverly stepped up to them.
"No, no, guys. It's my fault. I should have talked to you about this before actually rehearsing it. Data, have you never heard about a thing called 'theatrical kiss'?" as he did not reply, Beverly went on "You don't need to actually kiss Emma passionately. It just should LOOK passionate."
Data just nodded and kept his gaze on Emma. When he didn't say anything, she finally looked up at him "I-I... I can help you with it... I'll explain to you... later." she stammered. Her cheeks were slowly returning to their normal color.
"Alright." Beverly told them and seeing that this scene would just lead to more embarrassment, she decided to let it go for now "Guys, let's just do something different, and we will get back to this scene tomorrow. Okay?" she turned to Sonya "Sonya, you were saying that you're almost done with the design of the costumes, right?"
"Yes, Beverly." the young woman replied, and Bev stepped to her.
Data looked at Emma again, this time with a remorseful look: "Please forgive me, I was inconsiderate."
She gazed at him with a surprised expression then smiled gently "Don't be sorry, Deadpan... Your research was quite fruitful, you know. I really think it WAS the most passionate kiss I've ever got." her voice was soft and tender, and somehow it made Data feel even more remorseful. But he tried to smile back at her reluctantly, and a moment later, they joined the others to discuss the costumes.
At the end of the rehearsal, Data stepped to Emma before she could leave. She was very silent throughout the rehearsal, and by the end of it, his remorse was worse than ever. He really wanted - needed! - to discuss with her what had occurred between them before and during the rehearsal.
"Emma, do you have a moment for me, please?" he asked, and she could see that it was really important for him.
She looked at him apologetically "Sorry, but not really. I have a session with Counsellor Troi... Data, if it's about that silly kiss on stage, never mind. I'm really not angry at you. You didn't know..."
"Yes, I did!" he replied finally blurting out the truth. And he felt just as horrible as he seemed.
Emma frowned at him: "What do you mean?" she asked shocked.
"See you, guys!" they heard Reg say goodbye for himself and Sonya as well as they passed by them. They politely said goodbye to them and to Bev and once again remained alone in the holodeck.
"What do you mean?" she asked on a lower voice now. She somehow knew that whatever she was about to hear will not be of her liking...
"I mean that... I did research the subject. And I knew about the fact that on stage... it is not customary to actually perform a real kiss. I swear I did not intend to! However before Commander Riker came in, I... you..." he shook his head lost "I do not know what happened! I do not know what to say. I do not believe I can find the words."
Emma looked at him for a moment longer just as lost, then simply turned: "I need to go, I don't want to be late." she told him on a silent voice and started for the door.
Data caught up with her in the doorway and touched her arm: "Emma, please..."
But she looked at him with the same bewildered expression she had given Riker earlier that day when she was touched. She had never expressed fear ever before in response to Data's touch, and his remorse reached new, never before imagined heights... He let her go instantly and just looked into her eyes pleading "Please, just say something. Please! I cannot tell you how sorry I am. Please, forgive me!"
She shook her head upset "Forgive you? How? ...I have no idea what to tell you, Deadpan! I even have no clue what to think or what to feel... You really think you're the only one confused about what is happening to us? Well, just for you to know, I'm just as confused!" she seemed almost desperate as she shook her head again "I don't want to talk about this now... I really need to go..." she told him on a silent voice.
He nodded and did not try to stop her this time. After a moment, she was gone, leaving him all alone in the holodeck.
Why?! Why was he so inconsiderate? What was he thinking?! This was the point... he was NOT thinking at all. How ironic! With Jenna, he was thinking too much not having emotions, with Emma he was not thinking at all only followed his emotions. And his emotions changed him so much, sometimes he could barely recognize himself. He couldn't find the logical processing thread that led him to kiss her that way on stage... and after a little time, he realized there weren't any.
He wandered aimlessly on the corridors after leaving the holodeck. He had no desire to go home. After a short while, he realized that he felt an emotion he hadn't for over two months now: he wanted company. He didn't want to be alone. Maybe Counsellor Troi was right after all. He WAS making progress.
He stopped at a panel and touched it: "Computer, locate Commander La Forge!"
"Lieutenant Commander La Forge is in Ten Forward." the female voice replied, and he sighed. He really did not feel like being among so many people, but it seemed he had no choice. Being alone seemed now the less appealing option opposed to being in a crowd...
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You Can't Fight a Tidal Wave