| Released May 8th 2008 |
| Back to Basics by Missbevcrusher Chapter 13 �Good morning, beautiful.� Those were the words Beverly heard spoken when she first opened her eyes. Beside her, Jean-Luc looked at her lovingly, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. �Good morning.� She smiled back and caressed the side of his face. �So last night wasn�t a dream then. It did happen.� Exhaling while keeping eye contact with her, Picard thought back to the previous night. �It did. No regrets?� With a soft expression filled with sincerity, she answered, �None. Last night was wonderful.� She then pulled his chin toward her and kissed him. Although soft at first, it quickly became more passionate. When it was clear it was leading to more than just a simple good morning kiss, Jean-Luc teased, �Would you care for an encore?� Laughing softly, Beverly replied, �Oh, I think I can be persuaded.� * * * * Two hours later, the pair were showered, dressed and had finished breakfast. Beverly needed to run a few test runs on her bio-unit before attempting the real thing on the captain. She checked the readouts found them satisfactory. �So is it time for my appointment?� Beverly looked up from the console. �Well I�m pretty much done with the testing, so I�d say yes.� Wanting to look at what she was working on, he walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder. As she finished punching in a few command codes in the unit, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. With a smile and a raised eyebrow, Beverly teased, �You know, patients aren�t supposed to kiss their doctors like that.� Matching her mood, he replied, �Well, you should have told me that before I made love to you.� Turning toward him, she looked into his eyes and sighed. �Do you often think about what things will be like once the crew gets back here? Once we leave this place?� �It�ll be different, that is certain. We won�t be as free to express what we feel as much as we are now.� �I think it�s going to be a long journey back to the Enterprise. Having to always watch how we act toward one another, how we look at each other. I guess we were both aware of that eventuality from the get-go, but still�� He tried to assure her. �We�ll be fine.� She wanted to believe that, but she was still unsure. Their lives were positioned in such a way where a hundred different things could potentially go wrong. Their future together was far from certain and it was a prospect that frightened her more and more as the eventuality of them leaving Bak�u drew nearer. Trying to focus on the task at hand, she gestured toward the unit. �Why don�t we get started? We won�t know whether this works or not until we try it.� As the captain lay down on the bio-regeneration unit, he looked up at the ceiling with mixed emotions. He�d be happy if the treatment worked, but at the same time it, would signal an end to having her by his side on day to day basis. And that shook him more than anything else. Beverly was such a big part of his life that when she wasn�t around, he felt as though a part of himself was missing. That�s what he�d felt like during the whole year prior and he was now facing that prospect all over again. �Now try to relax. I�m going to initiate the regeneration process.� The captain closed his eyes and focused on his breathing as the unit regenerated his cell structure. After a few minutes, Beverly looked up from the readouts and asked, �How are you feeling?� �Couldn�t be better.� Once the process was completed, Beverly approached him and gave her his hand to help him sit up. �That was pretty painless, wasn�t it?� �How long before we know if this works or not?� �Well, we have to give your cells a chance to take over the work. So I�d say an hour or two would be enough to give us any indication whether this was a success or not.� He nodded. �Alright.� The wait felt like an eternity to them both. In order to help pass the time, Crusher brewed a nice kettle of tea, which they both enjoyed with small talk at the kitchen table. When Picard saw the faraway look in the doctor�s eyes, he reached out across the table and put his hand atop hers. Appreciating the reassuring gesture, Beverly�s gaze met his and she smiled sadly. Finally, it was time. The two headed toward the treatment room where Beverly placed him in a dampening field. �Here we go,� she said as she activated it. As she scanned him she looked impassive. Although curious as to what she was seeing, Picard refrained from asking. Finally, the doctor looked at him and smiled. �It worked.� As the captain was getting up, Beverly walked toward a window and looked out absently. Grateful for all the hard work she�d put into finding a cure for him, Jean-Luc walked up behind her and encircled her tightly in his arms. Kissing her hair briefly, he said, �Thank you.� �You don�t have to thank me. When I first learned that you were sick, I wanted nothing more than to be by your side. Then Nacheyev asked if I was interested in treating you directly� Nothing could have kept me back on Earth after that. I just couldn�t accept the notion of losing my best friend without giving my all. But I�m not the reason you�re standing here today. We have this planet to thank for that, not me.� Tears started to well up in her blue eyes. �Perhaps this planet kept me alive, but it was you who made me want to live life again.� He turned her so that she faced him. �For a long time, I was a shell of a man. After you left� I realized how truly alone I was in life. Not only were you my best friend while we were serving together, but you were my rock as well.� With a tear finally falling to her cheek, she asked, �Why did you let me go in the first place?� Her voice caught in her throat. Immediately, she wished she could take the words back. But she couldn�t. She pulled away from him and turned away. �I�m sorry, I shouldn�t have said that.� Ever since they�d reunited, he had sensed she was holding something back from him. It was now painfully clear to him what it was. Slowly approaching her, he put his hand on her shoulder. �Beverly? Don�t apologize. Just talk to me.� Spinning her around once more he continued, �Please.� �I couldn�t wait forever, Jean-Luc.� Finding all the courage she could muster, she pressed ahead. �I knew you loved me, but I also knew that you weren�t ready. Despite your brave attempt after Kesprytt, I knew how much you�d fought to keep everything from me.� Struggling to find the right words, she paused. �I thought that by waiting longer, I�d finally get a sense that you were past the issues that lay between us. But of course the opposite seemed to happen. We started to drift further and further apart until one day I realized that things would probably never change. When I left� a part of me hoped that you�d fight to keep me.� �I let you down.� �It�s not all your fault. I should have said something before I accepted the position at Medical.� �From the second you left the ship, I�ve regretted not fighting for us. You were the one good thing in my life and I simply let you go without doing anything. I know it�s too late now, but just know that if I were to redo it all over again, I wouldn�t have been the coward that I was.� �I know that now. And please know that I do not resent you for this. When I dove into this relationship it was headfirst, I knew what I was getting into. I saw a change in you and knew that this was the right time for us. But I also knew that we wouldn�t be here forever. There�s no place for me on the Enterprise anymore. We live separate lives now.� �Please don�t say that once we leave here, it�ll be the end of us. I can�t accept that.� With her hands on either side of his face, she pulled him toward her and leaned her forehead against his. �No, that�s not what I�m saying. I want our relationship to work, I really do. But we do have challenges ahead. We both know how long tours of duty can be aboard the Enterprise and how shoreleaves are few and far between. I guess what I�m trying to say is that I�m going to miss you like crazy.� �I could take some time off, you know. Perhaps I could even�� �Shhh.� She put her finger on his lips. �Don�t. Not yet. Feelings aside, we both know how this place can distort judgment. Let�s just wait until we�re away from here before making any decisions on how we�ll adjust to all this. Okay?� �Okay.� * * * * �Look at that one.� Beverly pointed toward the blue sky above. �Doesn�t it remind you of a lion�s head?� Lying on his back beside her, Jean-Luc laughed. �Either that, or someone with a very bad hair day.� Wanting nothing more than to simply enjoy the remainder of their time on Bak�u, the pair had decided to spend the afternoon outside on the hills overlooking the village. For the past several minutes, they�d taken to looking at the clouds and were now trying to match their shapes to known objects. It was a bit silly, they knew, but they didn�t care. Life was often all too serious for the two seasoned Starfleet officers and they just wanted to spend some uncomplicated quality time together before their regular daily lives took over. With the most adorable laugh, Beverly lifted her head slightly off the grass and slipped her hand underneath. She then settled against her open palm. �You have quite an imagination, Mister Picard.� Turning his head sideways, he glanced at her without saying anything. She was still looking above, her soft profile contrasting perfectly against the scenic backdrop beyond her. �I wonder what Wesley will say when he sees me.� She exhaled and went on, her eyes still to the skies. �The last time I saw him was on my birthday. My fifty-second birthday, might I add. He came to visit me with the new woman in his life. Her name�s Amy. She seems like a lovely girl. He looked so content with her� I was really happy for him. And I then realized that he�s a grown man close to his thirties now. Who knows, he might settle down someday soon. Get married� have children of his own. I�d love to be a grandmother someday. At least, before I came here, I looked like I could actually be one. But now�� She paused. �I look like I�m only slightly older than he is. How will he feel about that?� �I don�t think it�s going to matter either way. In his eyes, you�ll always be his mother. Plus, I�m sure that he�s seen way more unusual things than this during his time spent journeying with the Traveler. So try not to worry about that.� �Perhaps you�re right.� Rolling toward him, she smiled and looked down into his eyes. �You always know what to say when something�s troubling me. It�s one of the things I love so much about you.� She leaned in closer and gently brushed her lips against his. After a few moments of quiet, guarded intimacy, the two got up and started to make their way back to the village. It was almost dinnertime and they were both famished. Carefree, they walked hand in hand all the way back. Unbeknownst to either of them while they�d been nestled away on the hillside, two officers had been inquiring to the villagers as to where to find the captain and doctor. As they neared a busier section of the village, a voice caught their attention. �Captain Picard, Doctor Crusher. There you are.� Somewhat startled, the two spun around to see Commander Worf and Doctor Smith near a bustling merchant�s booth. Suddenly self-conscious about their open display of affection toward one another, they let go of each other�s hand. Although reserved in his emotion, the Klingon commander�s facial expression betrayed a small smile. �It is good to see you looking so well again, Captain,� he said as he made his way toward them. �Thank you, Commander,.� said Picard as he extended his hand to give Worf a warm handshake. �Is the Enterprise in orbit?� asked Crusher. �Yes, it is,� answered Worf in his customary low timbre voice. �We came with good news. Dr. Smith?� He looked at the chief medical officer to let him take over. �We believe we�ve identified the agent that first made you sick captain. Furthermore, we are confident we will be able to reverse its effects using the equipment at our disposal in sickbay.� Picard smiled and quickly cast a glance at Crusher, and then back at Dr. Smith. �Nice work, Doctor. However, I�m happy to report that Dr. Crusher here has already beaten you to the punch.� Taking her cue, Beverly elaborated as to how exactly she�d managed the task. Seeming more than impressed, Dr. Smith listened to her every word, nodding as she explained. Finally, she finished with, �And by a fluke coincidence, successful treatment was completed just a few hours ago. Now if I were you, I�d still monitor him sporadically to make sure there are no complications, but from what I�ve seen, he should be just fine.� �That is remarkable. I have to say congratulations on a job well done.� With a nod, Worf interjected, �So then you will be beaming up shortly?� �Once we�ve gathered our belongings and said goodbye to the folks here, I�d say we�ll be done here,� Picard answered. �Very well,� said the commander. �I�ll be expecting you in sickbay upon your arrival, Captain. Oh, and you too, Doctor. You both have undergone major genetic rejuvenation since you got here. I just want to make sure there are no unexpected side effects for such a long exposure to metaphasic radiation,� added the chief medical officer. �Will do,� replied Jean-Luc. A few seconds later, Dr. Smith and Worf had beamed back on board the ship, leaving Picard and Crusher looking at one another in silent understanding. They�d expected the captain�s yacht to arrive any day now, but neither had been prepared for such a hasty departure. In silence, they made their way back to the house that would hold special memories. The first thing Crusher did once she got there was to quickly inventory the medical equipment filling their makeshift treatment room, and then contact the ship to have everything beamed up. Afterward, she went from room to room to gather anything that might belong to either her or the captain. Eventually, she got to the room that had been hers since she�d got there. Carefully, she packed all her clothing and various belongings into the bags she�d brought with her. Once she was finished, she cast a final look around her before exiting the room. Across the hall, she could see that the door to Jean-Luc�s bedroom was open. Setting her bags down in the hallway, she then peered inside. Jean-Luc sat on the edge of the bed, his belongings already neatly packed. Looking ahead of him into nothingness, he was obviously deep in thought. Knocking gently on the door�s frame, she asked, �May I come in?� Turning to look at her, he smiled sadly. �Of course.� Slowly making her way toward him, she finally sat down beside him. �So we�re pretty much ready to go?� �Uh-huh.� Putting her hand on his thigh, she sighed. �I�m never going to forget this place.� The captain nodded. �We�ve made some pretty special memories during our time here.� �That we sure have.� Getting up, he extended his hand to her. �Shall we?� With a sad smile, she took his hand and got up. * * * * Chapter 14 By the time they got outside, they had already contacted the ship to have the remainder of their belongings beamed aboard. So with nothing but each other, they made their way further in the village to say their goodbyes. News of the Enterprise being in orbit had traveled fast amongst the villagers and many of them had gathered in the center of town, already deep in discussion about whether the captain and doctor were leaving for good. As they approached the small crowd, the two officers could see that pretty much everyone they�d formed friendships with since their arrival was there. In the forefront, Sojef and Anij stood side by side. �So is it true you will be leaving us, then?� asked Sojef. �I guess it is, my friend,� answered Picard. �My condition has been reversed, thanks to Doctor Crusher here and I must now be getting back.� With warm sincerity, Beverly spoke up, �Thank you, once again, for allowing us to stay here.� �It�s the least we could do after all you�ve done for us in the past.� After that exchange, people came over one by one to say their goodbyes. There were a lot of handshakes followed by, �Good luck� It was nice having you here with us�� And so forth. During all of this, Anij stood on the sidelines, silent. And once everyone had had their turn, she slowly approached them and smiled sadly. �So this is goodbye again, probably for good this time.� �Well, who knows, perhaps if we�re in the neighborhood someday, we�ll stop by to say hello.� �You will always be welcome here. Both of you.� Pausing, Anij turned to Crusher. �Take care of him, will you?� �I will.� With a hug, they each finished their goodbyes and stepped away from everyone. Taking his communicator out of his pocket, Jean-Luc looked at Beverly and momentarily squeezed her hand. Once he let go, he pressed the insignia. �Picard to Enterprise� two to beam up.� With a sense of finality, the blue transport shimmer enveloped them and the sterile environment of the transporter room replaced the picturesque surroundings of the Bak�u village. �Welcome back, Captain,� said Worf. �Thank you, Commander.� The captain stepped down from the platform. �Once you are up to it, I�ll be ready to brief you on the results of our investigation into the events of Saarus IV. Also, Admiral Nacheyev will be expecting us to report in as soon as we�re out of the Briar Patch.� �Of course.� Knowing they were expected in sickbay before anything else, Picard and Crusher made their way down the corridor. Gone was any indication of the changes that had occurred in the status of their relationship. Being the professionals that they were, their demeanor was all business. When they finally got to sickbay, some of the staff actually did double takes as they saw the evident change in their appearance. Not wanting to stare at the senior officers too blatantly, everyone soon focused their attention back to their work. �There you are,� said Dr. Smith as he approached them. �Now if you would just follow me...� He then ushered them into a private examination room in the back. Picard was the first one to be examined. Since Crusher had been his on-site physician on Bak�u, she assisted in the process. �This is truly remarkable. I�ve never seen such dramatic rejuvenation before. From the files made available to me from your previous mission to Bak�u, I had expected as much, but still. I�m absolutely amazed. Physically, you are, in essence, much younger than when we last saw you. So how are you feeling?� �To be honest, I don�t remember the last time I felt so good.� �Well, I don�t see any reason to keep you here further. Just report back here in the morning and be sure to contact us if you notice anything unusual.� �Thank you, Doctor.� As Dr. Smith turned to get something out of a drawer, Picard glanced at Crusher and mouthed a silent, �I�ll see you later.� With a small smile pulling at the corners of her mouth, she nodded. With Picard gone, Dr. Smith turned back toward Crusher. �So I guess it�s your turn now.� Inwardly, Beverly cringed. She was so used to being the one doing the examination that she didn�t like the concept of someone else doing the job. Well, everyone knows physicians make the worst patients. Resigned to her fate, Crusher sat on the biobed and waited for him to get on with it. As he ran the preliminary scans on her, Dr. Smith asked, �How does it feel to be back to civilization? You must be anxious to get back to your life back on Earth.� Trying to sound convincing, she nodded and said, �Feels great, can�t wait.� �Do you miss it sometimes? Your old job here, that is,� he asked lightly. Again, she tried to downplay her feelings. �Sometimes I do. But my place isn�t here anymore. It�s back at Medical. Besides, sickbay seems to be in very capable hands.� �Well, thank you. Coming from someone as highly regarded as you, I have to say I�m flattered.� Several minutes later, Dr. Smith read the results of his last tests and nodded. �Besides you looking about twenty years younger, I see nothing out of the ordinary.� �So I�m free to go?� �You�re free to go.� �Thank you, Doctor.� * * * * The ship was on its way out of the Briar Patch. Beverly had retired to her assigned quarters where her luggage had been previously transported. Knowing she couldn�t yet contact Medical due to the communication interference caused by the volatile nature of this region of space, she decided to work on the ongoing report she�d started at the beginning of this whole assignment. Saying it was lengthy was putting it mildly. But Nacheyev would expect nothing less from her when she reported back to her post. After a while, she set her padd down and activated the desk monitor. Now let�s see if this works� Pressing a few command codes, she saw that indeed communications were back up. After selecting the proper channel, Beverly waited. It took a few seconds, but finally a familiar face appeared on the small screen. �I was wondering when I�d hear from you again,� cheerfully said Dr. Winston. Suddenly becoming aware of her change in appearance, he said, �Whoa, wait� you look different� so young. You weren�t joking then when you said the planet had remarkable properties. This is amazing.� He shook his head slowly from side to side in bewilderment. �So I gather your patient made a full recovery?� Beverly nodded. �He did, in no small part thanks to the metaphasic radiation. He wouldn�t have survived without it.� �That was a good call from you. Congrats.� �Thanks. So tell me, how�s the place holding up?� �Couldn�t be better. You know, you should have told me how easy your job was. I would have applied for it sooner.� He was teasing. �Ha, ha.� �All joking aside, when are you coming back?� �Very soon. Depending on the Enterprise�s next intended destination, I could board a home-bound shuttle within the next day or so.� �Alright, in the meantime, don�t worry about us. Things are going smoothly on this side.� �Oh, I have every confidence in your abilities, Robert.� �Thanks. That�s nice to hear.� �Well� see you soon.� �See you soon.� With a touch of her finger, the screen reverted to its customary Starfleet insignia. Sighing, she looked out the viewport at the passing stars and she thought of Jean-Luc. Suddenly, the chirping sound of the ship�s comm. system resounded and she heard something she hadn�t heard in a very long time. �Picard to Crusher.� Smiling, she answered, �Crusher here.� �Doctor, Admiral Nacheyev is requesting we contact her during our senior staff meeting, which will be held in about twenty minutes or so. She�s requested you attend.� �Alright, I�ll be there shortly. Crusher out.� Not wasting any time, Beverly rummaged through her things and took out one of her uniforms. A few minutes later, she was fully dressed in the standard attire and left her quarters. Walking down the corridor, on her way to the meeting, she felt as if she�d never left in the first place. Entering the turbolift, she stated her destination, �Bridge.� With a hum, the lift then started its ascent toward the command center of the Enterprise. As the doors hissed open, a familiar scene greeted her. With the bridge crew functioning in their customary efficiency, Jean-Luc sat at his command chair while going over a report he held in his hand. When she stepped out of the lift, the captain lifted his gaze and met hers. Smiling, he started walking over to her. �Now there�s something I haven�t seen in a while, our own former chief medical officer on the bridge once again.� �Well, I was here not too long ago, but it wasn�t under ideal circumstances,� she said, referring to when she�d first gotten here to treat him. �So how does it feel to be back in the big chair?� �Surprisingly strange, but I�m sure it�ll pass.� Gesturing toward the doors that led to his ready-room, he said, �May I have a word with you for a moment?� �Of course.� Turning to Worf, who was conferring with the ship�s tactical officer, he said, �Number One, the bridge is yours.� �Aye, sir,� replied the Klingon. Being the gentleman that he was, Jean-Luc gestured for the doctor to go in first, and then followed suit. Once they were in the privacy of the ready-room, Beverly turned to him. �Is everything alright?� �Oh, yes, yes. Don�t worry.� Pausing, he exhaled. �I, uh, just wanted to see you without having an audience� and just let my guard down for a moment.� �Well, for the sake of appearances, you did just fine. I highly doubt the crew noticed anything between us. However, I wish I could say the same for Worf and Dr. Smith. They would have had to be blind not to notice us holding hands back on the planet.� Chuckling, Picard approached her and put his hands on her shoulders. �Oh, I don�t think we need to worry about those two. Worf isn�t exactly what I would call a gossiper and Dr. Smith� well, he seems to me to be a rather reserved person. If he knows one thing, it�s discretion.� �I know. Now it�s not that I�m embarrassed about our relationship. What I�m concerned with is the fact that some people might see it as highly, highly inappropriate. I was sent here as your physician� My only goal was to find a cure, not to get romantically involved with the patient under my care.� �Look, try not to lose any sleep over this. It�ll be fine� We�ll be fine.� �I really want to believe you.� Lifting her chin with his finger, he said, �So just do. Okay?� �Okay,� she whispered. Softly, briefly, they kissed. And once it was over, they looked at one another and smiled. �So you�re all settled in your quarters, I gather?� asked the captain. �Yes, they�ll do just fine.� �Hmm�� He contemplated her for a moment. �Does that mean I won�t see you tonight?� �Oh no, you�ll see me. I�ll just make sure no one notices.� Smiling, she kissed him once more. * * * * As everyone sat down at the long conference table in the observation lounge, Beverly silently contemplated everyone. As she did so, a sense of nostalgia hit her. Only Jean-Luc, Worf, and Geordi remained from her days as chief medical officer. Once the comm link to Nacheyev�s office was established, the meeting got underway. On the viewscreen, the admiral nodded as she was given a full briefing by the Enterprise�s senior staff. When all was said and done, Nacheyev�s customary severe features softened a bit. �I�m glad to see you looking so well, Captain.� �Thank you, Admiral.� �And Dr. Crusher,� continued Nacheyev, �great work. Now that you�ve successfully completed your mission, I believe there�s a little something called Starfleet Medical waiting for you back here on Earth. And as for the Enterprise, your next assignment will take you to the Alpha-Delta Sector. I will send over the details of your new mission statement shortly, Captain.� �Yes, sir.� �Nacheyev out.� If there was one thing the admiral was known for, it was her �to the point� and �matter of fact� responses. And just like that, the comm link was severed. Turning his attention back to his senior officers, Picard said, �Alright then, I think we�ve gone over everything. I will brief you on our new mission as soon as possible. Until then, this meeting is adjourned.� One by one, the officers began to file out. Crusher and Picard, on the other hand, stayed behind. Once they were alone, Beverly smiled as best she could. �I guess this means I�ll be leaving sooner than we thought.� With a pensive look, Picard nodded. The heading to the Alpha-Delta Sector would take them further away from Earth and so Beverly would have to board a homebound shuttle before they got underway. Seeing he wasn�t saying anything, she added, �We both knew this was inevitable.� �I know.� Smiling sadly, he got up and extended his hand to her. As she got up from her chair, she took his other hand in hers and looked into his eyes. �Well.� She sighed. �I guess I should go get my things. Would you care to join me?� Nodding slightly, he gave her a swift kiss. Then with both their respective professional masks on, they left the observation lounge. * * * * Since she hadn�t really had time to unpack anything, Beverly only had a few things to put away in her luggage. While she finished fastening the last of her duffle bags, Picard stood by her bedroom door and regarded her sadly. When she glanced up and saw the look in his eyes, Beverly sighed and headed over to him. Without saying anything, she put her hands on either side of his face and kissed him passionately. �Oh, how I�m going to miss you,� said Jean-Luc hoarsely in between kisses. �I�m going to miss you, too,� replied Beverly, a slight quivering in her voice. Pulling her even closer, Picard stroked her hair. �Thank you, Beverly.� �For what?� �For showing me what it means to live life once again.� With tears streaming down her face, she looked back at him. �I wish we had more time.� �I know.� With a soft caress to her cheek, he continued, �As soon as I can get shoreleave, you can be sure I�ll be heading to see you.� Laughing amid tears, she said, �You on shoreleave? Now that is something I didn�t think I�d ever hear you volunteering for. Remember how I used to have to order you to take time off?� He chuckled. �I do. But that was then� things are different now. You�ve changed me.� Once again, the two kissed. Knowing time was running out, there seemed to be a maddening urgency to the lingering moment between them. Finally, Beverly broke the kiss and with a heartbreaking hushed tone said, �I have to go.� Exhaling slowly, Picard managed a low whisper, �I know�� * * * * Having wiped away her tears and regained her composure, Beverly emerged in the corridor with the captain following closely behind. Having had her luggage beamed directly to the shuttle, they didn�t have to haul anything over with them. Settling into step right beside one another, the two made their way in silence to the shuttlebay. A young ensign was already there, waiting to pilot the shuttle back to Earth. Their public goodbye was nowhere near what their private one had been. The two shared a handshake, and a friendly hug, nothing that hinted at the new turn in their relationship. Only once Beverly sat down in the co-pilot�s seat, with the young ensign occupied with last minute checks of the shuttle, did she allow herself to drop her fa�ade with the look she cast the captain who stood on the shuttle deck outside. For a brief moment, their feelings were evident in their eyes. But as soon as the ensign took his seat beside her, both Beverly and Jean-Luc were all business again. With sirens blaring, the shuttlebay doors slowly parted, a forcefield the only thing separating the controlled atmosphere inside the ship from the cold emptiness of space. His heart filled with regret, Picard looked on as the shuttle that carried the woman he loved lifted up and headed toward the forcefield. As it pierced its way through the protective energy field, a soft blue shimmer appeared. And then they were gone, the large shuttlebay doors closing behind them. For a few seconds, the captain simply stood there. The ship once again felt empty without her, but at least he could find comfort in the fact that she loved him and that they would be together again soon. Thinking back to the mission statement undoubtedly waiting for him on his computer, Picard tugged at the base of his tunic and left the shuttlebay. Duty calls again� * * * * Chapter 15 By the time the Enterprise�s shuttle broke through Earth�s atmosphere, it was already 2100 in San Francisco. Their lengthy journey back had been tiresome and Beverly couldn�t wait to get some sleep in her own bed. Setting her things down in the middle of her living room, she sighed and spoke to herself, �Well, home sweet home.� Looking around her sadly, she thought, Funny, it doesn�t really feel like home, does it�At that moment, she began to recall how she�d felt back on the Enterprise. How she realized how much she�d missed it. But in retrospect, it hadn�t been the ship itself she had missed most. It had been Jean-Luc. Glancing at the framed pictures atop her fireplace mantle, she approached them. Most of the pictures had been taken during the past year. There was one of her and Wes� Picking it up, she looked at it closely. Seeing herself as she looked before this last mission was kind of a shock to her. Although she�d been more than aware of the physical changes she�d undergone, seeing the contrast between then and now took her aback. Knowing she had a very full day of catching up at medical ahead of her, Beverly set the picture back down and decided she�d better get some much-needed shut eye. * * * * With the expected reactions from her co-workers, and her subsequent fabricated explanation about the supposed transporter malfunction, Beverly�s first day back at work, although rather busy, went well. Dr. Winston quickly brought his boss up to speed on the various goings-on at Medical and afterward Dr. Crusher had managed to return most of the messages that had been left for her during her absence. With her long workday now behind her, Beverly got up from her desk and left her office. Looking her young assistant, who still sat at her desk, the doctor asked, �Any more messages for me, Jenson?� The petite blond woman shook her head. �No, ma�am.� �Alright, well.� She exhaled and shrugged �I think I�m going to call it a day, then.� �Of course.� The doctor went to take a step, but then hesitate., �You know, it�s a really nice day outside. You should go out and enjoy it.� �Actually, I�m just about done with these files. So I should be out of here in about fifteen minutes or so.� �Okay, see you tomorrow, then.� Beverly smiled and left. With a puzzled expression, Jenson watched her boss leave. During all the time working as her assistant, she�d never seen her boss leave as soon her shift was over. Dr. Crusher had always been a sort of workaholic, constantly pulling long hours. It seemed the changes that had befallen her during her absence weren�t just physical. There was just something more there now� a kind of zest for life that wasn�t there before. Must have been some mission� * * * * As soon as she got home, Beverly changed out of her uniform and put on a simple white sundress. With her long hair gathered back loosely, she walked barefoot out the large French doors that lead from her spacious contemporary living room to the large airy deck outside. With a glass of lemonade in hand, Crusher sat down in one of her lounge chairs. The warm rays of the late afternoon sun felt soothing, bringing with them a sense of longing for some of those long, lazy days on Bak�u. In that quiet moment, her thoughts naturally drifted to Jean-Luc. She�d sent him a communiqu� early that morning telling him she�d made it home all right. However, due to the distant location of the Enterprise�s latest mission, he would most likely only receive it later that night. Suddenly, she thought she heard a sound coming from inside the house. Listening more closely, she realized it was the chirping sound of her comm unit. Hurrying back inside, she walked across the dark blue area rug, passed the taupe sectional sofa and pressed the console atop a long, decorative table set against the far wall. As soon as she saw who appeared on the small screen, Beverly grinned. �Wes!� Wesley smiled. �Hi, Mom. I got just got your message. Sorry I couldn�t get back to you sooner. I�m so glad you�re back� wow �� Doing a double-take, the young man fumbled on his words. �You look� great! Wouldn�t it be nice if all the transporters had that effect?� Beverly kind of felt bad that she couldn�t tell him what really happened to her, but in her field of work, when things were classified she had to keep her mouth shut. �That would be something.� She nodded while smiling awkwardly. �To be honest, I was kind of nervous about how you�d react.� �Why?� She shrugged. �Oh, I don�t know, I guess� I was afraid you�d find it a bit odd. People will have a hard time believing I�m your mother.� With raised eyebrows and a smile, her son replied, �Mom, you�re talking to someone who�s been on other plains of existence� If that doesn�t fall into the odd category, then I don�t what does.� With a sincere expression, he continued, �No matter what you look like, you�ll always be my mom. I love you.� Reassured by his words, Beverly seemed to relax a bit. �Thank you, Wes� I love you too.� �So how did Captain Picard take his transformation?� �Very well, actually. He says he hasn�t felt this good in years.� �Lucky guy. Next time you talk to him, tell him I said hi. I haven�t seen him since Will and Deanna�s wedding.� �Will do. So when are you and Amy coming over to visit?� �That�s what I was calling about. Amy�s got some time off from the art gallery this weekend and as for my studies, I�m actually well ahead in my assignments. We were thinking of flying down to see you this Saturday. That is, if you�re free.� �Oh, that�d be wonderful! I�ll have the guest room ready.� �Great. See you Saturday then.� Nodding, Beverly smiled. �Fly safe now, you hear?� �We will. Bye, Mom.� �Bye.� With Wesley�s image gone from the screen, Crusher smiled pensively. She was so proud of her son. He�d recently started attending university. Majoring in physics, he was hoping to contribute advances in the field and perhaps even teach. Not surprisingly, he was already far ahead of his class. Furthermore, the fact that he was now planet-side brought a lot of comfort to Beverly, who had spent way too many sleepless nights worrying about what her son was doing and where he was. * * * * It wasn�t long before Wednesday and Thursday flew by. Then on Friday afternoon, Beverly finally received the much-anticipated communiqu� from Jean-Luc. Swiveling her office chair toward the window, she read and re-read the message displayed across the small screen of one of her handheld computer pads. Dear Beverly, I was happy to hear you made it home all right. How does it feel to be back? Starfleet�s keeping us busy as usual, which is good because it�s keeping my mind off the fact that you�re not here. I miss spending time with you� holding you. Now, I never thought I would say this, but I also miss seeing sunshine outside my window when I wake up in the morning. Hopefully, we�ll get to see each other soon enough. I meant it when I said I was going to start taking shore leave. I hope things are going well for you back at Medical. Take care of yourself, Beverly. And don�t forget� I love you� Sincerely, Jean-Luc * * * * Since the weather was so nice outside, Beverly had opted to walk back home from work. It wasn�t that far and it gave her the chance to see the city she loved so. There were a lot of people out and about, and seeing she was in such a good mood, the doctor couldn�t help but smile whenever someone made eye contact with her as they passed by. There was a lot of history in San Francisco and it was nice to see how the city had made a lot of effort to upkeep many of the historic buildings in town. Passing in front of an old theater, Beverly noticed a homemade sign that had been set on the sidewalk just by the main doors. It read, �Want to be in a play? Inquire inside for more information.� Contemplating whether she should go in or not, Beverly paused for a moment. Finally, she opened the old-fashioned glass doors and went in. When she got to the main theater area, the doctor couldn�t help but look around in awe. Everything looked perfectly preserved, as though she were stepping back in time to a few centuries back. The red auditorium seats, the golden curtains that were pulled neatly on either side of the stage, everything looked authentic. There was a lot of history here. Two women and a man sat casually on the stage, with their legs dangling down in front. They all had a script in one hand, and a coffee in the other. Obviously in light conversation, they suddenly paused when they spotted the uniformed Starfleet officer. The young man was the first one to get down from the stage. With a smile, he started to make his way toward her. �Hi. May I help you with anything?� Making her way down to meet him halfway, she said, �I saw your sign outside and thought I�d come in and see.� �Great.� When he finally reached her, he extended his hand. �My name�s Aaron Wilt.� �Hello Aaron, I�m Beverly Crusher.� �It�s a pleasure to meet you.� �Likewise.� �So tell me, do you have any prior stage experience?� At that, Beverly couldn�t help but chuckle. �Well, in a manner of speaking. You see I used to run this little amateur theater company when I was serving on starships.� �That�s awesome.� Aaron then went about explaining how they were short on actors for their next play. He told her they were holding auditions the following week and that she was welcome to try out. With her script in hand, Beverly left the theater feeling better than ever. It was about time she started enjoying herself again. * * * * �Strawberries and mineral water.� Beverly stood by the replicator and waited until it had produced the desired items. Taking the small bowl and bottle from the slot, the doctor headed back to her cozily lit living room. Wearing a white terry cloth bathrobe over her nightgown, Beverly sat on the couch and set down her snack on the small end table. She took the script she�d picked up earlier and started to read it. Suddenly, the computer monitor she�d placed on the coffee table started to beep. Not getting up, Beverly simply reached forward and tapped a few commands. When she saw who was on the comm link, her face lit up. �Jean-Luc.� �Hello, Beverly.� �Well, this is a nice surprise. I didn�t think you were close enough for live communications.� �We had an unexpected change of mission. It kind of brought us back in the neighborhood, so to speak. So how�ve you been?� �Good.� Lifting up her script, she continued, �I�m trying out for a play here in San Francisco.� The captain smiled. �That�s great. I�m so happy to hear that.� �I have no idea if I�ll get the part, but if not, I might volunteer to help them with the props and such.� �Oh, I�m sure you�ll get it. You�re a wonderful actress.� She laughed. �Why, it�s so nice of you to say, Captain. And do you know what else?� �What?� �When I went in and saw those young actors, I thought they�d only let me try out of the part of an older aunt, or a grandmother, but they didn�t. I�m actually trying out for a lead part.� �That�s wonderful.� �I�m still trying to adjust to this. I mean, I still see myself as a woman in her fifties, but that�s not what people see anymore when they look at me. It�s really strange.� Pausing, her expression softened and she exhaled. �I really miss you, you know.� �I miss you, too,� he replied softly. �I just wish we could have had a bit more time before you left.� �I do, too. But you know what?� There was a hint of mischievous humor in her eyes, �We can totally make up for it next time we see each other.� With a raised eyebrow, he said, �Oh?� With her index finger pressed up against her thumb, Beverly made the motion of closing a zipper in front of her mouth and said, �That�s all I�m saying for now. You�ll have to wait and see. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Wes and his girlfriend are coming over this weekend.� �That�s good news.� �It is. I spoke to him earlier this week.� �And how did he take your new appearance?� �He took it just like you said he would.� �You see, all that worrying was for nothing.� For the next fifteen minutes or so, the two spoke about this and that. Work especially. Finally, it was time to say goodbye as Picard had to report the bridge. Promising he�d do his best to try and contact her again before they got shipped out farther into space, he told her how much he loved her. �I love you too,� replied Beverly, who then kissed her index finger and lightly touched the screen. * * * * Chapter 16 Wesley and Amy finally got to Beverly�s house early Saturday afternoon. The three spent a lot of time catching up amid a few consecutive glasses of synthehol wine on the deck outside. Both Beverly and Amy got along just fine, to Wesley�s delight and relief. But as he looked at them as they talked, he couldn�t help but find it amusing that his mother only looked about ten years older than his girlfriend. They could pass more easily as friends than prospective mother-in-law, daughter-in-law. But what Wesley noticed more than anything was how happy his mother looked. He couldn�t put a finger on it, but aside from the physical changes, something about her was different. The reason only became obvious the next morning as the three of them were gathered around the table for breakfast. The comm unit in the living room beeped and his mother got up to answer the incoming communication. Since the house had an open floor plan, the monitor was in full view when the captain�s face appeared on the screen. �Hello, Beverly.� �Jean-Luc.� Wesley wasn�t sure, but he thought his mom looked sort of awkward for a brief instant. But the look was gone just as quickly as he�d noticed and her demeanor seemed to relax. �Wesley�s here with his girlfriend. We were just having breakfast.� Picard glanced over Beverly�s shoulder and saw them. �Oh hello, Wesley.� He smiled genuinely. �It�s nice to see you again.� �It�s nice to see you too, sir,� Wesley answered from the table. Gesturing toward his girlfriend, he added, �Oh, by the way, this is Amy Dimitrov.� Then toward the living room he said, �Amy, meet Captain Jean-Luc Picard.� �Hello, Amy. It�s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.� Captain Picard was a well-known figure and so Amy was a bit awestruck. Shyly, she smiled. �It�s nice to meet you too, sir.� Back to Beverly, the captain said, �Well, I�ll let you three enjoy your breakfast. I was just calling to let you know that we might be out of communications range for a little while. It�s not clear how long.� Beverly nodded. �Alright.� �I�ll get in touch with you again as soon as I�m able.� �Okay� be careful.� �I will.� There was a barely noticeable pause as though he wanted to say something more. Instead he just said, �Goodbye.� �Bye.� With that, the screen went black and Beverly seemed to contemplate it for a brief instant before returning to the table. * * * * One of Amy�s close friends also lived in San Francisco and Wesley had suggested that she at least go for a coffee with her before they left to go back to New York. So right after breakfast, Amy left to let Wesley spend some time with his mother, promising she�d return within an hour. Helping his mom to tidy up the kitchen, Wesley smiled. �You know, something�s different about you.� Putting away some of her good china in the cupboard, Beverly chuckled. �How so?� �Oh, I don�t know� you just seem to be much more chipper than usual.� �Well, I�m happy to see you and Amy if that�s what you mean.� �Perhaps.� Not missing a beat, he cleaned the counter and continued, �The captain seemed to strike me the same way as well. I wonder why.� He was trying to conceal the laughter from his voice, but wasn�t really being successful at it. Beverly turned to her son with both eyebrows raised. �Okay, Wesley, out with it. What are you getting at?� �Oh, come on, Mom. It was practically written all over both of your foreheads.� Beverly smiled defiantly and crossed her arms in front of her. Seeming not the least bit deterred, Wesley continued, �The way you reacted when he contacted you� then how he said he was going to get in touch with you as soon as he can. That little be careful at the end. You two are seeing each other� it�s plain as day.� The cat�s out of the bag, now� Beverly shrugged and exhaled. �Okay, okay. You got me. We are seeing each other.� Teasingly, Wesley said, �And you were going to tell me this� next year or�� Softening her features, Beverly approached him and put her hands on his shoulders, �I meant to tell you some time this weekend. Honest. I was just debating on how to broach the subject.� �Were you nervous about how I�d take it?� �Well, no� sort of� I guess.� �Mom, you know how fond I am of the captain. He�s been like a second father to me throughout the years. The only thing I have to say is� it�s about time.� �Really?� �Yes, really.� �Oh, Wes.� hugging her son tightly, Beverly continued, �Thanks.� �I just want you to be happy, Mom.� * * * * It had been over a week since she�d last spoken to Jean-Luc and since Wes and his girlfriend had returned to New York. At work, Beverly had a lot to do. They were in full evaluation period and so she and Robert were sitting in her office doing just that. �I was thinking of assigning Dr. Vienneau to the xenobiology department,� Crusher said as she looked over a work padd. From across her desk, Dr. Winston nodded. �Seems like a good choice.� Getting up, Beverly asked, �You care for some coffee?� �No thanks.� Without lifting his gaze from his work, he continued, �Now what would you think if we increased staff numbers in the viral research department? Intelligence has indicated that the biological warfare threat might increase within the next year or so.� �That�s a good idea. A fifteen percent increase in staff should suffice. I�ll get the word out. There are a few brilliant minds I�ve been wanting to woo our way. This might be the perfect opportunity� coffee, black.� As she waited for her order to materialize, Beverly frowned. She hadn�t felt well since the day prior. She felt fatigued and her head seemed to be in a cloud. Taking a slow breath, she tried to shake it off. �Doctor? Are you feeling alright?� �Yes,� she lied. �I�m fine. It�s nothing a nice cup of coffee can�t fix.� With a concerned look, Winston watched as she made her way back to her desk. She�d seemed off all day, but now more than ever. �You know, we don�t have a lot of hard data on what prolonged exposure to metaphasic radiation can do to human physiology. Sure a short while it�s only beneficial, but you were there for a considerable amount of time.� �It�s nothing, Robert. If I�m still feeling like this when I get home tonight, I can always do a quick self-examination. So shall we get on with this?� Reluctantly, he let it go. �Why not?� he said, sounding unconvinced. For the next hour or so, the evaluations progressed nicely. There was still a lot of work to be done, but they were well on their way. Getting up, Winston gathered his work pads. �I�ll bring these back with me to my office and I�ll finish wrapping up the details.� �I�m meeting with some faculty members at 1400 this afternoon. Would you be able to join us?� �I�m sure I can rearrange my schedule.� �Okay. See you later then.� �See you later.� He started to leave, but just as he was about to cross the door�s threshold, he turned around, �Oh, by the way�� he stopped mid-sentence as he noticed Beverly leaning slightly forward in her chair, a small wince on her face. Walking back in the office, he waited for the door to close behind him. �Okay. You�re definitely not fine. Considering how closely captain Picard�s follow-ups are being monitored, I think it would be safe to assume that your doctor would like to know what�s going on.� �Robert,� she protested. �This could be serious. And if it is related to the metaphasic radiation, it would be important to know.� With an annoyed expression, Beverly said, �You win. I�ll contact my doctor.� �Thank you.� �Now go.� she rolled her eyes, �You�ve got a lot of work to do.� Robert chuckled. �Yes, ma�am,� he said, and then he left. Once she was alone, Beverly sighed and shook her head. As she leaned back in her chair, she tapped her comm Badge. �Crusher to Doctor Mathison.� �Doctor Mathison here.� * * * * �Aside from above normal levels of neurotonin in your system, I detect no abnormalities in your cell structure,� Dr. Sheila Mathison said as she proceeded to scan Beverly. �How long have you been feeling this way?� �Since yesterday,� Crusher answered as she sat on the edge of the biobed. �I�ll run a level two spectral analysis. Perhaps that will shed some light on this.� Beverly waited patiently as her physician scanned her. �Hmmm�� Dr. Mathison said. �This is really interesting.� �What is it?� �Before your exposure to metaphasic radiation, you were post-menopausal, right?� �Yes,� Beverly answered slowly with a hint of anxiety in her voice. �Well according to this, you aren�t anymore. In fact,� closing her medical tricorder, the doctor continued, �you�re three weeks pregnant.� �What?� Beverly shook her head. �No, no, no, no� that�s impossible.� �Well, unless you tell me you haven�t had any sexual relations recently, then I beg to differ.� In total shock, Beverly said, �I did but� considering my rejuvenation, I took precautions by taking contraceptives.� �You might have, but obviously they didn�t work.� �Since when are 24th century contraceptives ineffective?� �If conception took place on Bak�u, then perhaps the metaphasic radiation reacted with them.� With her head in her hands, Dr. Crusher shook her head. �I don�t believe this� Why didn�t I consider that possibility? I�m a doctor, dammit, doctors don�t get pregnant by accident.� With empathy, Dr. Mathison said, �You�d be surprised� I�m sorry if it isn�t the news you were expecting.� Shrugging, Beverly sighed. �I�ll be alright. I just need to get used to the idea.� �We can schedule another appointment a few weeks from now, just to make sure your pregnancy is progressing normally.� �Alright.� �Good luck.� �Thank you.� * * * * With a whirlwind of emotion soaring through her, Beverly slowly made her way back home. Stopping by a park overlooking the bay, she looked out at the water and tried to sort through everything. Her last hours at work had been nothing but a blur. She�d managed to attend her meeting with the faculty, wanting nothing but to breeze through it. When she�d first gotten there, Winston had given her a look that asked how she was. Her answer had been short, to the point. �Everything�s fine.� What will Jean-Luc think about all this? They were at a stage in their relationship where they were just discovering and adjusting to each other as a couple. Furthermore, their rejuvenation also required some getting used to. Am I ready to be mom to a newborn baby? Is Jean-Luc ready to be a father for the first time? Out of the two, he was the one she was most worried about. He�d always been somewhat uncomfortable around children and she was certain he wasn�t expecting this at all. Everything was all so overwhelming� the three a.m. feedings, colic, diaper changes� basically having the responsibility of raising a child. She knew how much work it was. She�d done it before, and as a single parent for the most part. But now� Oh god� continue to chapter 17 Library |