This series has been given a rating of PG-13 (US) and 12A (UK)
Chapter 9
A cat-like Sivaoan
Slipping the ring delicately onto her finger, Dreamfinder sighed and bit her lip. She thought that because she’d played the mating game before with Silverspot, the father of her two kits, she knew what she was doing now. After all, she had led Silverspot on quite a merry chase with all her flirtations and teasing, before they got down to business.
But Data is not Silverspot, she reminded herself. Although she had quite a bit of experience now in dealing with the males of her own species, she had none in dealing with the males of other species, and Data was a species unto himself. Briefly, she wondered if the bartender she’d spoken to last time she was aboard was still tending bar in the Ten Forward lounge.
“Kits, I’m going out! I’ll be back soon. Behave yourselves!” she called out towards the bedroom, and her son, a mouthful of candy, yelled back, “We will, Mom!” Dreamfinder strode down the corridor as quickly as she dared.
The doors to Ten Forward slid open noiselessly, and Dreamfinder took a moment to get her bearings and look around. The bar was on her left, and as she glanced over at it, she noticed the distinctive, platter-shaped hat that capped the dark head of Guinan, the bartender.
“Looking for someone?” Guinan asked smoothly as Dream slid onto a stool before the bar.
“You, as a matter of fact. I seem to recall you are a Listener, is that right?” her voice trembled and she fought to keep her hands from sliding off the bar, they were so slick with nervous sweat. Guinan nodded and reached behind the bar for a squat crystal glass.
“What can I get you? You look like you need a drink in the worst way.”
Dreamfinder shook her head.
“I don’t want a drink … I just … need advice. I spilled my heart out to somebody, and he accidentally broke it. I know now that he didn’t mean to, it was just his way of reacting to what I said. When he tried to make it up to me, I threw him out on his ear. Now I’m afraid that he’ll never forgive me.” the little felinoid said, burying her face in her arms on the bar’s slick white top. Guinan reached over and stroked her head, eliciting a soft purr from her throat. She continued to stroke Dreamfinder for a few minutes, as if she knew this was exactly what was needed.
Guinan
“You know, humans say you hurt the ones you love the most, and I think that’s what has happened here. You loved someone, with your whole heart, but he didn’t, or couldn’t, love you back … at least not the way you wanted him to.” Guinan said wisely, and Dreamfinder looked up, her face wet with tears. Guinan silently handed her a tissue, and Dreamfinder wiped her eyes.
“He … he can’t show love. It’s not … it just isn’t possible for him.” she explained and Guinan nodded.
“Vulcan?” she asked, and Dreamfinder shook her head.
“Android.”
“Ah. Commander Data. I wondered what all the kerfuffle was about. Riker came in here just a little while ago, saying that Data came up to the bridge and asked to take his shift fifteen minutes early, which is not like Data at all.” Guinan said softly, and stroked the felinoid’s head again, as if she were petting a favorite cat.
“It’s all my fault … he was going to ask me to marry him and I kicked him out.” Dreamfinder wailed, and Guinan shushed her with a finger.
“Give him some time … go find him in the morning as soon as his shift is over, and talk to him. Let him know that you made a mistake. Data’s very forgiving. I’m sure he’ll take you back.” Guinan told her and Dreamfinder nodded, twisting the cat’s eye ring on her finger.
Tonight … she would sleep on what she planned to say to Data in the morning, just before the ship reached Sivao and she was supposed to depart to return to her duties as an ambassador.
Tomorrow … she would find out whether or not Data would take her back, which she seriously hoped he would. If he didn’t, well … she would sleep on the fact that she’d tried, at least. Even if it meant her heart was still broken into a thousand pieces that only Data could skillfully knit back together.
