Worf POV

'Lieutenant Worf. Come to sickbay.' Captain Picard ordered through my communicator.

'Aye, sir. I'll be there shortly. Worf out.' As I hurried through the Enterprise's corridors to the sickbay level I couldn't help but wonder why the Captain would feel the need to send for a security officer to sickbay. We had yet to encounter another vessel or planet in the last three standard days. The doors to sickbay opened and just inside I could see the Captain, Commander Riker, Lieutenant Commander Data, and Doctor Crusher crowded around the entrance to an isolation room.

"Ah, Lieutenant Worf. Thank you for joining us."

"Of course, Captain. May I ask what this is about?"

"Worf, do you remember about a year ago how we saved those cryogenically frozen humans?" Commander Riker asked.

"It's difficult to forget, Commander. Those people almost caused our deaths at the hands of the Romulans."

"Yes, you're quite right."

"Well I'm glad we all remember the same incident, but I do have to get back to my patient so if you will excuse me?" Doctor Crusher said as she moved into the isolation room.

"Sir, what's this about?"

"Commander Data found another ship like the one from a year ago drifting through space. Except that this one had life signs instead of just dead organic matter. Well more specifically, one life sign on board." Captain Picard explained.

"So, you called me in to assess the threat this humanoid could have to the ship and its crew?"

"Correct Mister Worf." Riker stated. All four of us made our way into the isolation room to meet our guest.

"How long before she regains full consciousness, Doctor?" Commander Data asked.

"The hypo-spray I used should have had an immediate effect." After the doctor stated this I finally looked over to the patient and my breath seemed to catch in my throat for a moment.

The female lying on the bed was neither lean nor thin like the females in Starfleet but she wasn't as broad as man. Her size was just right but she was far too pale for my liking. She also seemed to be too tense for someone still unconscious as well.

"I believe she's awake, sir. Her posture is too tense for someone that's unconscious." I advised the Captain once I regained my breath.

"Sweetheart, it's alright. You don't have to be frightened. No one here will harm you." Doctor Crusher soothed.

"Captain, I believe Counselor Troi would be a good choice to have now. She may be able to help the girl." Commander Riker advised.

"Good idea, Number One. Make it so." Picard ordered.

'Counselor Troi to sickbay-isolation room one.'

'Troi here. I'm on my way.' She answered back. Meanwhile, Doctor Crusher continued to speak calmly and slowly to the female. Suddenly the female opened her eyes and bolted into a sitting position. I reacted just as quickly and pulled my phaser out and pushed the Captain behind me.

"Hello, my dear. I hop you slept well?" Picard asked from behind me.

She looked over to the Captain at the sound of his voice and watched him closely as he stepped out from behind me and slowly approached her. When he extended his hand, she shook it and simply nodded. After they had released hands the female began to look around the isolation room but before she could make a full rotation around the room Counselor Troi entered and drew the female's gaze.

"Please forgive my rudeness, my dear. My name is Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The woman next to you is Doctor Beverly Crusher, then we have Lieutenant Commander Data, Lieutenant Worf, Counselor Troi, and Commander Riker." As each of us was introduced she would meet our eyes and nod in greeting before moving on.

But when her gaze met the Commander's she started to visibly shake and look around in terror before she bolted and ran to me, of all people. She clutched at my uniform. I could tell that she was also crying into my shirt because I could feel the tears start to soak into my uniform. For some strange reason I felt elation that she would see me out for protection and confusion at this elation.

"I'm feeling extreme terror, Captain, but only when she looks to the Commander. After she rushed to Worf's arms a feeling of safety and a kind of warmth pushed the terror back. I'm sorry but I don't think she'll leave Worf's side until Riker leaves the room."

"Strange, Captain, but I'll leave for the bridge if that is alright?"

"Of course, Commander. I'll debrief you afterwards." The Captain promised. The Commander simply nodded and left.

"Be calm now, dearest. He's gone now and no one will harm you." Counselor Troi said as she inched closer to us. I was suddenly overcome with the need to keep the female close and to never let her go. The feeling was so sudden and strong that my hold on her tightened for a moment before I released her. At my reaction Troi glanced at me but, thankfully, didn't say anything aloud.

Meanwhile, the female peeked over her shoulder to make sure that Riker had actually left. When she was certain that he was gone she visibly relaxed and left my arms. I tried to squash the disappointment and emptiness the female had left me with but judging from Troi's confused look I wasn't entirely successful. When I glanced down at the female all I could see was her light brown hair as she hung her head in shame.

"There's no need to feel shame, dearest. We all have fears we cannot control sometimes; it's understandable that you might hold fear for some of us." The female nodded and I noticed that she began to sway from side to side.

"Doctor!" I exclaimed as I moved closer to the female so that I could grab her before she fell to the ground.

"Bring her back to the med-bed, Worf. She's still physically weak from being in cryostasis."

"I do not recall the others we found like this being so weak when they woke up, Doctor." Data said.

"That's because they weren't, Data. They had been frozen after they died but she didn't have that luxury since she was still alive. Because of this she will tire quickly and require a lot more sleep." Doctor Crusher explained while I settled the female back onto the bed.

"Interesting, thank you, Doctor. But it seems that my manners have left me yet again, dear. What is your name?" Captain Picard asked. The female began to make some gestures before looking at our confused faces.

"Captain. I believe that she is using a gesture based language. It actually looks quite similar to one I have already learned. If you would not mind I could interpret for you."

"Please do so, Mister Data."

"She's very amused, sir. She seems to find our dilemma quite comical." Troi said from beside the Captain. From what I could see of her face it was true because I could see the smallest of smirks cross her lips. Captain Picard also chuckled before he turned back to her.

"I suppose it is quite comical to you, my dear. Now forgive me but I still don't quite know what your name is. Could you please repeat it for me?" She nodded and repeated the gestures while partially turning to face Data.

"Hello, Captain. My name is Karlee." Data interpreted. At his words Karlee shook her head in the negative and repeated the sign that must be her name again but slightly slower.

"I am sorry, sir, but I do not know the word she is spelling for me."

"Spell it for me, Commander Data." The Captain ordered.

"She is spelling C-H-A-R-L-E-E but that is not a name I am familiar with."

"It's pronounced Charlee, Mister Data, and was commonly used as a shortened name for Charlotte or Charles in the English Culture."

"Ah, I see." Surprisingly through this ordeal I had yet to leave Charlee's side and while I may have had to release her, she had yet to fully release me. It seemed that some part of her arm or hand was in constant contact with mine, even while she was signing. And if I were to be honest with myself, there was a part of me that rejoiced in the constant contact.

"Are you deaf, my dear?" The Captain asked. At his question she began to shake her head almost violently while she signed.

"No, Captain. My hearing is perfect but I am mute."

"Oh, forgive me rudeness, again."

"No need, Captain. Being mute is even harder in people than deafness, I presume." Data translated.

"Fascinating. Would you be opposed to a full medical examination, Miss Charlee?" Beverly asked.

"That would depend what that examination entailed, Doctor." Data answered while Charlee smirked. It took almost all of my self-control not to hold her close and laugh with her when she did that.

"Just me waging this over you while the computer gathers information. Maybe some blood samples." At the mention of blood Charlee lathed onto my hand and moved herself partially behind me. She then signed at Data with her left hand.

"Only if he can stay, Doctor."

"Of course. I'll allow it if both the Captain and Lieutenant have no objections."

"Mister Worf isn't due on the bridge for one more standard day, so I have no objections."

"I would prefer to stay, if that's what you want." I asked Charlee. She nodded and put both of her hands around my left arm.

"Very well, We'll continue our discussion after you are fully recovered and after the doctor has finished her examinations and tests, my dear." Captain Picard said and Charlee nodded in response.