This was the challenge from Lisa ([email protected]):
Write a story including:
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
the 1920's
sheepskin
marble
a baby grand
champagne
and must occur off the Enterprise
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
1. This story includes the song "Baby Grand" by Billy Joel. No copyright infringements are intended.
2. This story takes place on the USS Farragut after "Generations."
3. Thank-you, Lisa, for giving me this challenge. I had a lot of fun with it. =)
STANDARD DISCLAIMER:Paramount/Viacom didn't, so I did...
Baby Grand
By: Sue Kisenwether
c July 1998
It was the middle of the ship's night. She stood outside his office and drew in a deep breath. She knew he wouldn't want to talk to her about what happened to his family, but she had to let him know that she was there if he needed her. She straightened her skirt, turned the doorknob, and walked into the office.
"Can I help you?" asked a woman with an extremely thick Brooklyn accent, then went back to chewing her gum very loudly.
"Yes, actually, you can," she answered, "I'm here to see Mr. Hill."
The secretary looked up at the visitor. Obviously, because of the way she was dressed, she was involved in what was commonly referred to as "the family" - most likely on of the more well-known gangsters girlfriends.
"You got an appointment?"
"No," she said, "No, I don't. But it's an emergency. You see, Mugsy - that's my guy - he thinks I'm having an affair, so he's got his thugs after me and..."
The secretary sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Tell it to Dix."
She got up, opened the door to his private office, and stuck her head inside. "Hey Dix! You got another one out here running from her boyfriend's thugs. Wanna see her now?"
"Send her in, Trixi," came the reply.
"Go on," said Trixi.
The visitor smiled and entered the office. The door shut behind her and she stood there, just watching him. He sat with his back to her, facing the window. She was studying something... a book bound with sheepskin, showing it's age.
He turned to face her and their eyes met. "Computer," he called, "pause program." He looked back to his 'client.' "Beverly, what are you doing here?"
Beverly Crusher laughed at his surprise. "I hadn't seen you after the crash... and, well, Deanna told me what happened to Robert and Rene. I wanted to come see you, make sure you were all right, and the computer told me you were here. I just thought I'd play along..."
Jean-Luc sighed, "Beverly, I really don't want to talk about it..."
"I knew you wouldn't," she interrupted, "but if you ever *do* want to talk about it, I want to make sure you know that I'm willing to listen."
Jean-Luc smiled slightly, "Thank you, Beverly."
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
Late at night
When it's dark and cold
I reach out
For someone to hold
When I'm blue
When I'm lonely
She comes through
She's the only one who can
My baby grand
Is all I need
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
Beep, beep, beep
Beverly Crusher awoke to the sound of her personal communications unit. She rolled over, pushed her hair out of her eyes and looked at her chronometer. *0342* The numbers slowly registered in her head. *No one would contact me at 0342 if it wasn't important,* she reasoned. Beverly slowly woke her arm and turned on the comm unit. "Crusher here."
There was a long period of silence, but then she heard a raspy, shaking voice whispering her name.
Beverly bolted upright in bed. She thought she recognized the male voice, but wasn't sure, "Jean-Luc..." she whispered, "Jean-Luc? Is that you?"
"Beverly," came more whispers, "Beverly, please, I need to talk to you..."
She jumped out of bed and threw on her robe. "Of course, Jean-Luc." She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail and ties her robe. "I'll be right there. Crusher out."
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
In my time
I've wandered everywhere
Around this world
She would always be there
Any day
Any hour
All it takes
Is the power in my hands
This baby grand's
Been good to me
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
He was sobbing. All she could do was hold him and listen to the words between his sobs and gasps for air.
"Beverly," he cried, "It's just not fair!"
"No, it's not," she whispered to him. "Death is never fair."
He raised his head and looked at her. "But the Picard family has thrived for hundreds of year, and once Rene was born, I no longer felt that it was my responsibility to carry on the family name..."
Beverly sighed, "Jean-Luc, I don' think that's what this is..."
"But that's not it," he interrupted her. "After I went back to Labarre, after Wolf 359, I realized how much I really did love Robert... and Rene..."
"I know, Jean-Luc," she whispered, "I know. Give it time. And I'm always here if you need me. No matter what."
Jean-Luc lifted his head and met his best friend's gaze. "Thank you, Beverly. For everything..."
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
I've had friends
But they slipped away
I've had fame
But it doesn't stay
I've made fortunes
Spent them fast enough
As for women
The don't last with just one man
But baby grand
Will stand by me
They say that no one's gonna play this on the radio
They said the melancholy blues were dead and gone
But only songs like these
Played in minor keys
Keep those memories holding on
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
The marble floor glowed the light of the fire, the colors of the setting sun came streaming in the windows, and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata played softly in the background. He picked up their champagne glasses and lead her to a nearby sofa where they both sat.
"Thank you for dinner, Jean-Luc," Beverly said, taking a sip of her drink, "everything was wonderful."
Jean-Luc smiled and sipped his own champagne. "It's the lest I can do after I made you come to my quarters this morning and listen to me cry for three hours." He looked away, reluctant to meet her eyes.
Beverly lifted his chin and looked him in the eye. She gathered up all the courage she had left inside and leaned forward to kiss him. When
they finally broke apart, she said, "I don't mind coming to your quarters at 0342 hours, and then bring invited to dinner on the holodeck, but, in the future, I wouldn't mind already being in your quarters when you wake up in the middle of the night..."
"Beverly, what...?"
"I love you, Jean-Luc."
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
I've come far
From the life I strayed in
I've got scars
From those dives I played in
Now I'm home
And I'm weary
In my bones
Every dreary one night stand
But baby grand
Came home with me
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
EPILOGUE
The couple stood, looking out at the stars. Somehow, they seemed different from the surface of a planet. Jean-Luc slipped his arm around Beverly's waist and she rested her head on his shoulder. It had been a long day - a long day full of small talk and congratulations. But it had also been a day full of love - the day in which the began their new life... as husband and wife.
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
Ever since this gig began
My baby grand's
Been good to me
**********~~~~~~~~~~**********
THE END
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Sue, Goddess of Pointless Information