| Released April 24th 2008 Back to Basics by Missbevcrusher Standard disclaimer: They don�t belong to me. I�m just borrowing and I�m not making any money off of this. Yadi yadi yada� So please don�t sue me. Chapter 1 Dr. Beverly Crusher�s chair swiveled toward the large window behind her desk. As she took another sip of her coffee, she contemplated the world outside. The sun was about to rise and the dark blue sky faded to a soft pink at its horizon. Across San Francisco Bay, she noticed more lights being lit in the other buildings. People were about to start their day. She always came to work earlier than expected so that she could take the time to have a croissant and a cup of coffee. It had taken quite a while to get used to her new morning routine. She had been living on Earth for the better part of a year and yet it still felt like she had just gotten here. When you had known nothing else for the past few decades, starship life was something hard to shake off. Gulping down the rest of her coffee, she checked her daily planner. She was to attend a staff meeting at 1300 and then she was to meet with some of the faculty members from Starfleet Academy at 1600. With a nod, she turned her chair back so that she could start going over the various reports that filled her desk. Her work consisted of so many meetings and paper-pushing that she often missed just being a doctor. Although the position wasn�t really hands-on, she knew that what she was doing was important and that, indirectly, she could still make a difference and save lives. It didn�t take her long to go through the first three reports. Just as she was about to start on the fourth, her communicator sounded. �Admiral Janeway to Dr. Crusher.� Tapping her communicator, Dr. Crusher answered, �Crusher here.� �Doctor, could you report to my office immediately?� Frowning slightly, Beverly set down the pad she was holding. �I�m on my way, Admiral. Crusher out.� Now that�s strange. What could she possibly want? Since her position consisted of heading Starfleet�s medical division, Beverly hadn�t found herself really dealing with admirals since the beginning of her tenure here. She quickly got up and made her way toward the door. Once outside, she turned to the young woman sitting at the nearby desk. �Jenson, I have to go over to Starfleet command for a while. If anyone drops by, just take a message.� The young blond assistant nodded. �Yes ma�am.� Starfleet Command was a few buildings away from Medical. Beverly walked briskly through the grounds as the first rays of the sun started to emerge, creating a soft orange glow all around. She smiled politely and nodded as she crossed paths with officers she knew. Her intended destination was just ahead. The architecturally pleasing building was very big. The outer walls were as white as can be, with well kept gardens in front. The large doors parted and she entered the imposing main hallway. It didn�t take her long to make her way up to the second floor and get to the admiral�s office. Once there, she sounded the chime and the doors parted. Her curiosity quickly turned to concern when she saw that Dr. Robert Winston, her closest associate, and Admiral Alynna Nacheyev were there as well. Admiral Janeway sat behind her desk. �Thank you for coming so quickly, Doctor.� She then gestured to an empty seat. Dr. Crusher nodded and sat down. �What�s going on?� �A little over an hour ago, we received an urgent message from the Enterprise.� At the mention of her old ship, Beverly�s heart almost skipped a beat. Janeway got up and started pacing in the small area behind her desk. �They were on a diplomatic mission in the Derinian sector. More precisely, Saarus IV. The population consists of three major factions, each fighting in a war which has lasted for more than fifty years. A cease fire was established between the rival groups very early on in the negotiations and they were able to make a lot of progress. However, things began to go awry when one of the leaders fell ill. At first, it was thought to be random, but soon after, the other two leaders fell ill. Less than 48 hours ago, Captain Picard started displaying the same symptoms as well. Since only the major participants in the peace process have been affected, the logical conclusion was that it was not a random illness. Upon the initial investigation into the incident, a small dispensing device was found hidden in the negotiation chamber. However, air quality tests have been inconclusive and the device was programmed to automatically clean itself of any residue after the dispersion was complete.� Beverly tried to remain calm and professional, but wasn�t able to fully contain a small gasp. Janeway gestured to Dr. Winston. The normally cheerful Winston bore a look of deep concern on his features. He momentarily looked at the pad he was holding before picking up where the admiral had left off. �The early signs of the illness are that of fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and blurred vision�all of which have been reported by the Enterprise�s CMO. Upon closer examination, it was determined that something had caused a dramatic drop in new cell production. What�s worse is that they don�t know exactly what is causing it and the effect is accelerating.� He lowered the pad onto his knee and reclined a bit in his chair. As she heard the official assessment, Beverly couldn�t help but feel a lump in her throat. �So what you�re saying is that if we can�t figure out exactly what is causing this and can�t reverse it, the captain will die.� Dr. Winston�s silence confirmed Beverly�s assumptions and fears. Nacheyev broke the silence. �The Enterprise has been ordered to take over the investigation as to what happened. We should receive a preliminary report from them by this afternoon. In the meantime, the captain has been fully quarantined and the ship�s CMO will send reports on his condition every four hours.� Pausing briefly, Nacheyev looked at each of them. �I�m sure each one of you understands the severity of the situation. If we can�t find a cure for this, we find ourselves possibly facing a deadly biological or chemical weapon that, if it falls into the wrong hands, could prove to be a very serious threat for the Federation.� A heavy silence cast over the room as each person pondered the admiral�s words. The situation was serious and they knew they would have to get on top of things fast. * * * * �Jenson, please clear my schedule for the rest of the day,� Beverly said as she hastily walked past her assistant�s desk. Pausing briefly at her office door, she added, �Actually, clear it for the rest of the week.� �Yes ma�am.� Jenson hadn�t even finished her reply when the office doors hissed shut behind her boss. Must be something big. * * * * Dr. Crusher had received the preliminary medical reports from Dr. Smith, the Enterprise�s CMO, and was going over them in her office. She read and reread it several times so as not to miss a single detail. She took notes and came up with a few initial ideas on how to treat the captain�s illness. After a while, Beverly got up abruptly and carelessly threw her notepad on her desk. She turned toward her window and leaned on its sill. The helplessness and frustration she felt had reached a boiling point. She knew full well that Dr. Smith was doing everything he could to treat the captain and find a cure for this, but a part of her felt as though she was supposed to be the one doing that. That�s not your job anymore, Beverly. She had to remind herself of the fact that her job no longer consisted of being on the front lines, but to help prepare other brilliant minds for that task. Another factor that did nothing to ease her anxiety was the identity of the patient in question. Jean-Luc had been her patient for many years and her friend for even longer. Although their relationship had dwindled a bit in the past few years, a part of her couldn�t forget the bond that they once seemed to share. For a while, she had been hopeful that their relationship would blossom into something beyond friendship, but in the end things just hadn�t seemed to work out. So much for that, I guess. Rubbing her tense neck, the doctor turned to face her desk once more. Better get back to it. During the next few hours, she forwarded Dr. Smith�s findings to Starfleet Medical�s main lab and contacted both Admiral Janeway and Admiral Nacheyev to keep them posted on the situation. Just as she was about to get up and leave her office to go check if any progress had been made in the main lab, the voice of her assistant sounded over the intercom. �Jenson to Dr. Crusher.� �Crusher here.� �Ma�am, Dr. Smith is requesting to speak with you over subspace.� �Patch it through.� �Yes, ma�am.� Turning her attention to her screen, she saw the usual Starfleet emblem replaced by the somber face of her replacement. �Dr. Smith. How have things been coming along?� The man on the screen shook his head slightly, his expression leaving no doubt as to the situation there. �So far, nothing we�ve tried has worked.� He then spent the next ten minutes explaining the different treatments he had tried and what he was planning to try next. Dr. Crusher threw in a few suggestions of her own, which Dr. Smith seemed to genuinely appreciate. �Anyway, Doctor, I�ll make sure that you�re kept well informed on any developments happening on this end.� Nodding slightly, Dr. Crusher responded, �I really appreciate that. In any case, your findings have been forwarded to one of our labs and are being analyzed by one of our best medical teams. They will surely send any information that might help you.� �Thank you.� �No problem. Now tell me�� Lowering her gaze, her expression seemed to soften a bit. �How is he?� Of course they�d conversed on the nitty-gritty of the captain�s predicament, focusing mostly on the in-depth medical assessment. But what she was asking now, was more akin to a concerned former colleague asking about a friend�s condition. �Well, he�s been unconscious for the past two hours. At the rate in which his illness is progressing, some of his organs will start to fail soon. I�ve ordered him placed in a stasis unit until we can figure out a viable course of action. But even then, we�ll have to come up with something quickly. I�ve just gotten word from Saarus IV and one of the leaders has already succumbed. The others aren�t faring much better I�m afraid.� �I see,� Beverly said in a slightly hushed tone. Trying to look more encouraging, she sat up a bit straighter. �Well, let�s continue joining our efforts and hopefully we�ll find the appropriate treatment. Good luck, Doctor.� �The same goes for you as well.� With that, they severed communications, and left Beverly with a sinking feeling that they were in for a long ride. * * * * �Robert.� Dr. Winston had been about to step inside one of the building�s turbolifts when he heard his name. Turning around, he saw Dr. Crusher walking with hurried steps down the corridor. �Are you heading down to the lab?� she said as she caught up with him. Nodding, he answered, �As a matter of fact I was.� �I�m going with you.� It didn�t take long for the turbolift to reach its intended destination. As the doors parted, it revealed a long, brightly lit corridor. The two officers walked together in silence until they got to two large doors at the very end with the words �Authorized Personnel Only� written across them. Dr. Crusher touched the small panel on the wall next to her and a familiar female computer voice stated, �Level five security clearance required.� �Level five clearance authorization Crusher two, two, beta, charlie.� The doors parted and the two doctors entered the lab. Just the sheer size of it had amazed Crusher when she had first taken her position as head of Medical for a period of twelve months many years before. It consisted of dozens of testing stations, ten quarantined treatment areas, and eight completely equipped research stations. No less than forty doctors worked here at any given time. It was, after all, the medical research hub for the entire fleet. Whenever there was an outbreak of any kind or a chemical or biological attack that affected the Federation, the research would undoubtedly end up here so that appropriate counter-measures could be found. The doctors and researchers who worked here were among the best in the entire fleet. A lot of them had worked on starships for most of their careers and had decided to settle down a bit here on Earth and work at Medical. One of the doctors at research station five saw the two of them coming and headed toward them. �Dr. Crusher, Dr. Winston,� she said in greeting. Beverly spoke first, �Dr. Dobbs have you found anything?� �In fact, we have.� She gestured toward the bustling research station. As Crusher and Winston fell into step beside her, Dr. Dobbs continued. �We were able to determine that the attack was chemical and not biological. Although the air samples are still being analyzed, we can surmise that the agent was designed very carefully to attack the cell structure of its intended victims. As you must already know, the cells� ability to divide to produce new cells is at first slowed until it stops altogether. So far every attempt at cellular regeneration by Dr. Smith has proven unsuccessful. From the medical reports that he has sent us, it seems that for now, it�s the only noticeable effect the agent has. Luckily for Captain Picard, the effects of the agent don�t seem to progress as quickly in humans as it does in Saarusians.� �Dr. Smith has just informed me that one of the Saarusian leaders has died not too long ago.� �Well, rest assured, my medical team is working very hard to determine the exact chemical nature of the agent in order to be able to reverse its effect.� �We�re very confident in your abilities, Dr. Dobbs,� Dr. Winston said. * * * * In the midst of constant back and forth between Admirals Janeway and Nacheyev, Dr. Crusher had decided to remain in the lab with the rest of the team for the remainder of the day. She went over all the work that was being done and exchanged thoughts with the main researchers. While going over the latest report from the Enterprise, Beverly felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she looked up to see Dr. Winston�s face. �How are things going?� he asked as he sat in the chair next to hers. Letting out a sigh of frustration, Beverly rubbed her tired eyes. �Whoever concocted this garbage made sure we�d have a hell of a time finding an antidote. The air samples have revealed various gaseous elements not usually found on Saarus IV. However, none of them seem to be able to cause the illness. So what we�re perhaps looking at is a byproduct of a chemical cleansing if you will. Aside from cleaning itself of any evidence, the device might have been programmed to time release some elements in sequence which would have chemically reacted to the agent therefore changing it several times so that we couldn�t identify it." Shaking her head, she continued, �The problem is, the trace elements left are so common that they could have been produced in many, many ways. Finding out what comprised the chain reaction is like finding a needle in a haystack.� Getting up quickly in frustration, the doctor finally added, �And even then, it�s still just a theory.� Dr. Winston, who had listened intently to Beverly�s every word, said, �Doctor.� �What?� she answered hastily, her temper flaring. �You need to go home.� Turning to him, she said, �I�m fine.� �No you�re not.� Shaking his head he got up and put his hand on her shoulder. �You�ve been on this since very early this morning and it�s now almost 0200.� She started to protest, but her colleague interrupted her first. �Now we have a full medical team which is very qualified to deal with this thing. Staying here all night reading reports and getting angry over them won�t help us in the long run. So go home, get a few hours of sleep and come back in the morning with a fresh new perspective.� She gave him with a defiant look, her arms crossed on her chest. �Robert.� �Doctor,� he answered, in a tone that said she wasn�t winning this one. Letting her arms fall in resignation, she said, �Alright� you win.� �Good night.� She started heading toward the labs exit and without turning to look at him she added. �But don�t forget, I�m still your boss.� �Yes, sir.� He chuckled and shook his head. That Beverly. She�s so hard headed. * * * * When Beverly got home, she decided that a nice warm shower would help her unwind before going to bed. As the water hit her face, she felt some of her stress dissipate. If only it could wash away all of her problems as well. What if we can�t find an antidote for this? What happens then? Oh god no�stop it, Beverly! We�ll figure it out. After about fifteen minutes, Beverly emerged from the shower. Once she had put on her nightgown, she went to the mirror and started to towel dry her hair. Looking at her reflection closely, she started to notice how the years had started to wear away at her. She looked tired. Also, she saw a few more lines that she had never noticed before. She was still beautiful, but it seemed she had lost some of the fire that used to fill her eyes. Oh well� She shrugged tiredly and hung her towel on the towel bar. Leaving the bathroom, she headed toward the kitchen. Once there, she went to the replicator and stated, �Lemon tea.� Pausing briefly before retrieving the cup which had materialized in front of her, Beverly couldn�t help but recall his favorite beverage. Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. With her tea in hand, she went and sat on the couch by the large window that overlooked the bay. The city lights made the waves on the water shimmer. Taking a sip of the soothing liquid, she closed her eyes. Jean-Luc. The worry she felt over the prospect of losing him grew with each passing minute. They had been so close once. She thought they would always be. How could things have dwindled as much as they did between them? She actually knew the answer to that one, but found it hard to face. They had let it. During her last years on board, they had slowly started to grow apart. First, he had found love with another. Anij, a woman from Bak�u, had captured his heart. Although she had secretly hoped that he would have opened his heart to her instead, she decided that she had to accept the fact that Jean-Luc would probably never feel comfortable enough to be with her. Just being in love with her caused him to feel overwhelming guilt. She had been the wife of his best friend after all. Furthermore, despite her assurances, he had always felt responsible for her being a widow. I never blamed you. Though his relationship with Anij hadn�t seemed to progress, his relationship with her hadn�t gone anywhere either. They spent less and less time together. Even their customary breakfasts and dinners together had dwindled to the point of only a couple of times a month. Her eyes started to fill with tears as she recalled a pivotal moment in their relationship. Perhaps the moment that had caused them to slowly start going their separate ways. Those fateful words he had spoken in his quarters that night. �Perhaps we shouldn�t be afraid� to explore those feelings.� Words she had longed to hear for such a long time. In that very moment, that one most important moment, she remembered having recalled what she had felt from him beside the fire on Kesprytt. He hadn�t wanted to reveal his feelings to her. It had been his one secret that he had vowed to keep from her forever. It had been forced out of him and she knew that if it hadn�t been for the telepathic device, he never would have told her. So as she looked into his eyes, she knew what she had to say. It wasn�t what she wanted to say, but it was what was best at the time. He wasn�t ready. Despite his words, he was afraid. So she did it. She closed the door that Jean-Luc had never intended to open. �Or perhaps we should be afraid.� In the loneliness of her living room in San Francisco, Beverly cried quietly. It was something she hadn�t done for a long time. After reigning in her emotions, Beverly took one final sip of her tea and then set it down on the coffee table. She didn�t feel like drinking it anymore. I need to get to bed. Heading upstairs to her bedroom, Beverly prayed that a few hours of sleep would help her come up with new ideas that might save her former captain. * * * * After a few hours of tossing and turning, and then a brief period of restless sleep, Beverly got up. She got ready for work and hurried toward her office. Once there, she was summoned to another meeting with Dr. Winston, Admiral Janeway and Admiral Nacheyev. However, instead of being in Janeway�s office, it would be held in Nacheyev�s. They got around discussing the updates in the Enterprise�s investigation as well as the most recent findings of Dr. Dobbs� medical team. Courses of action were determined and various tasks in planning were assigned. After the meeting was adjourned, Admiral Janeway and Dr. Winston left the office. Just as Beverly was about to leave as well, she heard Nacheyev say, �Would you mind staying for a moment, Dr. Crusher?� Puzzled, Beverly turned around. �Of course.� Nacheyev gestured to the chair in front of her desk. Sitting down, Beverly waited for the admiral to continue. �Would you like something to drink?� Nacheyev got up and headed toward her replicator. �No thanks. I�m fine.� �Coffee, black.� With her cup in hand, the admiral sat back down at her desk and leaned back in her chair. �You served under Captain Picard for a very long time and, as I understand, you two are very close friends.� �That�s right,� Beverly answered. Where is she going with this? �Being on the front lines for so long, it must feel strange to have to be here at headquarters and serve as an on-looker.� Beverly nodded. �I must admit, I�m still getting used to it.� �Captain Picard used to say that you were the best doctor who ever served under his command. He had a lot of trust in your abilities, both as a physician and as a commander.� Looking down, she couldn�t help but smile sadly. �I have every confidence in the Enterprise�s medical team,� Nacheyev continued. �However, Captain Picard is very valuable to the Federation. We all owe him a lot and losing him to this would be unacceptable.� �I agree.� The admiral paused briefly and eyed the doctor carefully. �If you want to go, you may.� �What?� �Dr. Winston and I have already discussed it. We have some of the best doctors working on this case and he can take care of things over here while you�re away. That is if you chose to go.� The offer astounded Beverly. �Well� I don�t know what to say.� �Just think of it as a temporary assignment. You�d still have your position once this thing is settled.� Beverly just sat there, contemplating what the admiral had just said. �So what will it be?� Looking up at the admiral, she finally said, �When do I leave?� �That�s what I thought you�d say.� Getting up from behind her desk she continued, �A shuttle is ready to leave at a moment�s notice. Get your affairs in order and leave when you�re ready.� The admiral extended her hand, which Beverly promptly took. �Good luck, Doctor.� Beverly nodded and turned to leave. Just as she was about to exit through the doors, the doctor looked over her shoulder and said, �Thank you.� With that, she left the office. * * * * Beverly rummaged through her things to make sure she hadn�t forgotten any reports that might be important. As she rummaged, she rattled off orders to her temporary replacement. �So don�t forget to contact Admiral Nacheyev as soon as the lab reports the results of the tests. Also, Dr. Smith should send you an update before the end of the day. If the faculty members from the academy contact you, just tell them that they�ll have to wait for�� �Doctor,� Dr. Winston said as he looked at her while Beverly frantically ransacked her drawers. She raised her head to look at him. �What?� �You have nothing to worry about. I know the drill and I�m perfectly capable of handling the situation.� �I�m sorry, Robert. I know you are.� She shoved the last pads in her duffle bag and walked around her desk to where he was. �Thanks.� �No problem. Now go to him. If anyone can help him, it�s you.� �I hope you�re right.� * * * * Chapter 2 A few hours later, Beverly was well under way to the Derinian sector. It would take them a little over three days to get there. Luckily for her, a young pilot accompanied her. She was an ensign in her early twenties and her name was Kayla Hunter. She was to start her first posting on the Enterprise and she was very excited about it. The young woman seemed a bit awestruck at first to be spending this much amount of time alone with the woman who had been CMO on the Federation�s flagship for over fifteen years. Young officers often admired people who were as well known as Dr. Crusher was in the fleet. Beverly sat in the co-pilot�s seat, gazing at the stars that flew by. She was anxious to get to the Enterprise. Time was slowly running out and she knew it. She wasn�t about to let him die from this. For some reason, she felt that there was still a chapter left in their friendship. Even though things hadn�t worked out as she had hoped, she still wanted to have a chance to rebuild the basic foundations of their relationship. They had been the closest of friends once and they could perhaps be once again. She couldn�t help but remember the last time she saw him. It was a moment that had kept playing over and over in her mind all day. �So� this is it I guess.� She stood in front of him in transporter room three, moments away from beaming down to her new assignment. �I guess it is.� She could see the look in his eyes. The one she often saw when she was alone with him. It was the gaze that served to remind her how deep his feelings ran. It disappointed her to think of how many years went by without getting closer to sharing a life with him. She couldn�t wait forever and so she was finally moving on. A heavy silence settled between them as they just looked at each other for the next few moments. Jean-Luc then smiled as best he could and said, �I can honestly say that you have been the best chief medical officer that has ever served under my command and I feel privileged for having had the chance to work with you for so many years, Beverly.�Pausing briefly, he seemed to contemplate his next words. �And, if ever you get bored with being on one planet for too long, you�re welcome to come back here at anytime.� As she started to feel a lump in her throat, she replied, �Thank you Jean-Luc.� The irony in what he had just said was that she would have stayed. But just being his CMO wasn�t what would have kept her here. Did he know that all he had to do was finally and freely open his heart to her? What disappointed her more than anything was that he probably did know. �Good luck.� BeHe extended his hand as a captain would and shook it. Fighting back tears, Beverly managed to say one last thing. �I�m going to miss you.� Jean-Luc then pulled her toward him and held her tightly. �I�m going to miss you too.� A part of her was angry with him for letting her go, but she wasn�t going to let him see that. Instead, she pulled away from him and stepped on the transporter pad. Jean-Luc then went to the transporter console and paused briefly before starting to punch in the necessary commands. �Energize.� As the shimmer of the transporter started to make her surroundings fade away, she saw him lower his head. The only thought that came to her at that moment was, �Why Jean-Luc?� Willing herself back to reality, Beverly decided that a little bit of rest would do her good. �I�m going to turn in for an hour or so, Ensign. I�ll take over for you afterward so you can rest as well.� �Aye, sir.� With that, Beverly went to the back of the shuttle and let the sleep she needed claim her. * * * * The shuttle bay doors parted and Ensign Hunter carefully maneuvered the craft to enter and land. Once the forcefield protecting the shuttle bay from accidental exposure to outside space reactivated and the large doors closed once again, the two officers stepped out of the craft. Beverly looked around briefly. It felt strange being back on her old ship. At that very moment, the doors at the other end of the shuttle bay hissed open and revealed the very familiar face of the ship�s new first officer. Since Riker�s replacement, Commander Data, had perished, the captain had asked someone he knew he could count on to be his Number One. An officer he had worked with for many years and could trust implicitly. Beverly smiled and went over to him. �Worf, how nice it is to see you again.� She hugged him briefly. �I am glad you could come,� he said. �Any change in his condition?� she asked as her expression reflected the worry she felt. Worf shook his head. �I�m afraid not.� Together, they exited the shuttle bay and headed straight to sickbay. As they walked silently through the corridors of the Enterprise-E, Beverly couldn�t help but dread what she was about to see. Jean-Luc Picard was dying and she still didn�t have a clue as to what to do to save his life. Making one final turn in the long corridor, Dr. Crusher saw the familiar doors that led to her former workplace. Entering it made a series of memories flood back to her. She had spent many hours doing what she loved here. Though it still looked the same, the fact that she wasn�t running it anymore made it feel different to her. �Dr. Crusher.� Turning toward the now familiar voice, Beverly responded, �Hello, Dr. Smith. How�s the captain?� The ship�s CMO walked over to meet her. �The same I�m afraid.� He gestured toward one of the treatment rooms in the far end of sickbay. Beverly came to a dead halt when her dying friend came into view. Jean-Luc� He lay on a biobed surrounded by a stasis field. Pale and ragged, he looked nothing like the strong and vibrant man she said goodbye to less than a year ago. Beverly fought hard to keep a professional demeanor in front of the other officers, but below the fragile surface, her heart broke at the mere sight of him. Dr. Smith then went over the tests and findings he had made throughout the day. Unfortunately, every theory they�d had so far had turned out to be a dead end. One of the nurses peeked her head in the doorway of the treatment room. �Dr. Smith? You have an incoming message, sir.� He nodded. �I�ll take it in my office.� Turning to Dr. Crusher with an apologetic look, he added, �You�ll have to excuse me for a moment. Feel free to start whatever work you think might be needed.� Once Dr. Smith had left, Worf and Crusher approached the biobed and contemplated their friend in silence. �I hope we�ll find out what�s causing this in time,� Beverly said. �If anyone can save him, it�s you,� Worf told her as he laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She smiled gratefully at him. �Thanks. I hope you�re right.� The red headed doctor then turned her gaze back to the unconscious captain. Regarding her silently, Worf sensed that she needed to be alone with her friend, �I should be getting back to the bridge. Your quarters have been assigned and your luggage should be waiting there when you want to turn in. The computer will tell you which cabin it is.� �Thank you.� �I�ll see you later.� With that, he left. Feeling her eyes start to fill with tears, the doctor took a steadying breath. The last thing she wanted was for her replacement to see her cry when he came back. She took a seat on the chair by his side and got as close to the stasis field as she could, �I�m here Jean-Luc� It�s Beverly. You�re going to pull through this, I know it.� She could hear the quiver in her words as she softly uttered them. God, I hope I�m right� I can�t lose you. * * * * Along with Dr. Smith and his staff, Dr. Crusher worked feverishly until very late that night. They hadn�t come up with anything yet, but some of the tests she had conducted a few hours earlier were still inconclusive. Hopefully the next day would prove to be more fruitful. Making her way back to her assigned cabin, the doctor rubbed the back of her neck to ease the muscle tension she was experiencing. Letting out a slow breath, Beverly tried to let the familiar hum of the ship�s engine soothe her. It wasn�t until she had come aboard that she had noticed how much she had missed that sound. In a strange way, it made her feel at home. Passing by the crew lounge on Deck Ten, Beverly paused mid-stride and debated whether she should go in or not. It�s not as if I�ll be able to sleep right away anyhow. Deciding to postpone her bedtime for a few minutes, Beverly headed for the doors and strode in. Although it wasn�t as big as Ten Forward was on the Enterprise-D, it still was a nice place to come and relax after a long shift. Choosing a table by the viewport, she sat down and contemplated the stars outside for the next few moments. Suddenly, she heard the sound of drinks being set on the table. �I heard you were on board, but I didn�t expect to see you here so late at night.� Smiling, Beverly replied. �Now, I know that voice.� While turning to see the woman beside her, the doctor got up from her chair. �Guinan, I should have known you�d be here.� They hugged briefly, and then sat down at the table. Picking up the glass the hostess had brought her Beverly said, �Thelusian yaguava juice. Now that�s something I haven�t had in a long time.� Guinan smiled at her. �I remembered how fond you were of it.� Nodding, Beverly smiled and lowered her gaze to the tabletop. After a few moments of heavy silence between them, Guinan broke the ice. �Any progress?� Not lifting her gaze, the doctor shook her head. �How does it feel to be back?� �Strange� empty.� Finally lifting her gaze, she continued, �I mean, I�ve always considered this ship to be home, but without Jean-Luc in command� It�s like something�s missing, you know?� Guinan nodded but said nothing. They sat together in silence while they finished their respective drinks. Though somewhat different in nature, both women shared a special bond with the captain and each was dealing in her own way with the tragedy that was unfolding. Setting her empty glass on the table, Beverly sighed. �I should turn in. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.� Guinan nodded and watched as the ship�s former CMO got up. �Good night,� Beverly said. �Good night.� Just as she was about to reach the doors, Beverly heard Guinan speak once more. �He hasn�t been the same since you left.� Beverly turned back with a puzzled look on her face. �Just thought you�d like to know.� With that, Guinan got up from her chair, picked up the empty glasses, and headed toward the bar. Seeing that Guinan wasn�t going to say anything more, the doctor continued toward the doors and exited in the corridor beyond. What did she mean by that? * * * * The next week flew by with constant communications between the ship and Starfleet Medical. Sadly, whatever they tried failed. Time was running out. Commander Worf arranged for a senior staff meeting in the observation lounge. The investigation into the events that had transpired on Saarus IV hadn�t revealed much to date and the chance of finding out exactly what caused the captain�s illness was much slimmer if they didn�t know who the culprit was. �We�ve removed him from stasis and have started a new treatment regimen which might work, but it�s still pretty up in the air,� Dr. Smith said as the meeting shifted to the subject of Captain Picard�s current condition. �What options are available if that fails?� Commander Worf asked as he regarded the two doctors who were seated at the far end of the table. Dr. Smith continued, �To be honest, we�re running out of options here. His condition is deteriorating rapidly and his body won�t be able to take it much longer.� �Putting him in stasis has helped slow the deterioration in between treatments,� Dr. Crusher interjected. �But I�m afraid we won�t be able to take that route for much longer.� Frustration evident in his features, Worf nodded. �I see. In that case, I�ll expect a full report as soon as you�re finished with the latest treatment.� Turning his attention to the other senior officers seated around the table, he continued, �As for the rest of you, continue with the investigation and keep me posted of any developments. Meeting adjourned.� With that, all the officers got up and filed out of the observation lounge. * * * * With Dr. Smith by her side, Dr. Crusher walked in the small treatment room. �Any change?� she asked the nurse who was checking the captain�s vital signs. Shaking her head, the nurse answered, �Nothing good I�m afraid.� �Damn,� Beverly cursed quietly as she surveyed the monitor on the side of the biobed. �Cell production is down another three percent and some of his major organs are starting to fail.� Dr. Smith sighed and shook his head slightly. �We�ll have to put him in stasis once more, but then�� Dr. Crusher turned to him with an expression of someone who was fighting a losing battle. �If the next treatment doesn�t work, we�ll lose him.� * * * * Beverly had been sitting by his bedside for the better part of an hour. It was now past midnight and the activity in sickbay had slowed down quite a bit. �Hang in there, Jean-Luc. I won�t let anything happen to you.� She tried her best to sound optimistic even though she knew his chances were slim. Looking down at him, she wished she could hold his hand. However, with the stasis field in place, that was impossible. Along with Dr. Smith, she had devised a few more courses of action that might save his life, but there were risks. They still didn�t know what was causing the illness and probably had only one more chance at attempting a treatment. What if it�s the wrong one? The answer to that question was painfully obvious. She also knew that he couldn�t stay in stasis for much longer, either. Although it slowed the cell degeneration, the longer he stayed in the stasis field, the lower his chances at recovery were. They needed to act as quickly as possible, but with only one chance at treating him left, it was a huge gamble. The last thing she wanted to do was take chances with his life. We could put him through a series of ferentilium treatments, but then again we haven�t tried sopretna yet. Oh come on think, Beverly, think! What should we do? If only we could boost his cell production a bit. That would sure buy us some time. But without reversing the damage we can�t even begin to initiate new cell production� Her train of thought was suddenly interrupted as an idea came to her, �Wait a minute,� she said, optimism suddenly starting to grow within her. Cell production� why didn�t I think of that before? Getting up suddenly, she left the room with a surprising bounce to her steps. I hope this works. * * * * Between the senior staff meetings, communications with Starfleet Medical and various preparations from the medical team in sickbay, the hours of the night as well as the following morning flew by quickly. The captain�s yacht was ready, now fully equipped with medical equipment and a team consisting of a designated pilot and two nurses was assembled. Dr. Crusher made sure that no detail was overlooked. She then oversaw the captain�s transfer to the craft. He was still in stasis and would remain so for the duration of their voyage. Beverly knew that what she had proposed was unconventional, but she saw no other alternative. To her relief, her idea had been very well received by Dr. Smith, as well as Medical. The Enterprise had to remain in orbit around Saarus IV until the investigation was over. Since what she wanted to try could only be done on one world, the decision for his transport aboard the captain�s yacht had been approved without protest. Even at warp speed, however, it would take them over a week to get to their intended destination. They would stay in contact with the Enterprise as well as headquarters for the most part of their trip in case there were any developments on their end. But, the area of space at which they were going would eventually prevent any direct communication with anyone. They would therefore have to have the ship go back and forth from the planet to where communications was possible to relay or receive any information from headquarters. Beverly didn�t care about the unconventional method she was using. She was confident it could save her friend and that was all that mattered to her. * * * * * Chapter 3 �We�re no longer in communication�s range, Doctor.� Beverly nodded while visually scanning the orange haze outside. �Well, that�s the Briar Patch for you.� She sat in the co-pilot�s chair and checked the readouts on the console in front of her. The past seven days had been dreadfully long for her. So much so that the sudden boost of energy and anticipation that she now felt seemed foreign. We�re almost there, Jean-Luc. Close to an hour had passed when the pilot said, �The planet�s coming into view, ma�am.� Well, hello again� As the planet with its familiar ring came into view, Beverly couldn�t help but have mixed feelings about it. Her last and only visit here had been somewhat difficult, if only on a very personal level. She tapped in a few commands on her console, and then instructed the pilot, �Prepare to enter the atmosphere and land at these specified coordinates.� �Yes, ma�am,� The young ensign answered. Soon after, the craft started its controlled plunge into the atmosphere. The heat created by the air friction manifesting itself as a bright orange glow on the front and underbelly of the captain�s yacht. Then the rate of their descent gradually decreased until finally they set down gently on a grassy patch. �Disengaging the engines,� the pilot said as the humming sound of the craft gradually faded until everything was quiet. �Now let me make this clear again. This planet, and everything it entails, has been Classified by Starfleet. Under no circumstances are you to reveal or acknowledge its existence. Understood?� �Yes, ma�am,� came the crew�s response. Dr. Crusher quickly got up and went over to the captain�s stasis unit for a brief check to make sure that everything was well. She then instructed the rest of the crew to remain onboard while she went out to take care of a few things before the captain could be moved. * * * * * A small crowd of people had gathered near the craft. They not only bore looks of curiosity, but concern as well. As Dr. Crusher emerged from the spacecraft, a man came forward and approached the doctor. Upon seeing the man, Beverly smiled apologetically at him. �Sojef�� �Doctor Crusher?� the man asked, �what brings you all the way here?� He seemed somewhat worried. It was no wonder. The last time the people of Bak�u had a run-in with the Federation, all hell had broken loose. In the end, if Picard and his crew hadn�t decided to go against orders, the Bak�u would have been relocated to another world without their knowledge. Therefore their way of life and perpetual youth would have been destroyed. �I�m here regarding Captain Picard.� She looked at him, her eyes pleading. �He needs your help.� Then she went about explaining what had transpired. Sojef and the group he was with listened intently. �So, you see, since we were running out of options and his life hung in the balance, the only thing I could think of that could help him was the metaphasic radiation from your planet�s ring.� Although the Bak�u were naturally wary of any offlanders, the captain had essentially saved them and their home. Therefore, they had a deep sense of gratitude and respect for the man. Sojef looked at his fellow villagers before turning back to Beverly. �You�re welcome to stay, Doctor. Picard has done a great deal for us and we are truly indebted to him. Do whatever you think is best to save him.� Beverly�s features then filled with relief. �Thank you.� * * * * * It didn�t take long for arrangements to be made regarding lodging for the captain and the medical team. About a month earlier, a small group of villagers had decided to venture out in search of new medicinal plants and crop seeds. Their journey would take them several months to a year to complete, therefore that left a few lodging options open for the newly arrived crew. One of which was a house on the outskirts of the village. The owners had initially tried to find people willing to live in the house during their absence, but since everyone in the village was settled, that offer remained untaken. Sojef, who was a close friend of the owners, kept an eye on the place and it didn�t take him long for him to offer it to the newly arrived crew. Beverly went over to the house in question and looked around briefly. It was a very cozy home in the usual simplistic style of the Bak�u people. It had four bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a sitting area by a large fireplace that could pass for a living room. �This will do just fine. Thank you.� Beverly said to Sojef as she stepped out the front door. �Let me know if you need anything.� �I will.� She smiled warmly at him. �I better get everything ready and bring my patient over.� * * * * * They brought the captain over via an anti-grav gurney. The team efficiently set up one of the bedrooms as the captain�s treatment room. Dr. Crusher analyzed the readouts on the stasis unit and turned to Nurse Layton. �Once the stasis unit is deactivated, the metaphasic radiation should start to regenerate his genetic structure. Get the ferentilium ready so we can start treatment immediately in case the radiation doesn�t affect his cellular condition.� �Yes, Doctor,� answered the young woman. Hopefully the regenerating effects of the planet will buy us some time in case this treatment doesn�t work. Stay positive, Beverly� As Nurse Layton came back with the hypospray containing the treatment, Beverly nodded and started to deactivate the stasis field. �Here we go.� Although minuscule, the readouts displayed some change in the captain�s cell structure. Beverly unconsciously held her breath as the metaphasic radiation started to do its work. Then gradually, the changes became more and more pronounced. �I think it�s working.� Beverly couldn�t help but smile. �We�ll hold off on the ferentilium for now. I�d rather we give him time to recover a bit. Two or three days should suffice. Then once his condition has improved, it�ll lower the risks of side effects from the treatment.� The nurse nodded in acknowledgement. Beverly then turned to look at the sedated captain. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. His chances were much greater now. * * * * * Chapter 4 The pilot and one of the nurses had boarded the captain�s yacht earlier and were on their way out of the Briar Patch so they could relay the situation to Starfleet Medical. Nurse Layton had stayed behind and was keeping an eye on the captain along with Dr. Crusher. Beverly sat on the sofa by the fireplace and contemplated the fire crackling before her. With a cup of tea in her hand, she was taking a much-needed break. She thought about her relationship with Jean-Luc, their dwindling friendship, and the prospect of perhaps mending some fences between them. How she longed to be as close to him as she had once been. She was going to take him off the sedatives the next day and he was going to wake up. A part of her was nervous, really nervous. What if things would never be the same again? And then there was the question of his health. Yes, the metaphasic radiation was doing its job, but it wasn�t a cure. Hopefully though, the powerful regenerating effects of the planet would buy them all the time they needed to come up with a permanent cure. Beverly then set her cup of tea down on the small table next to the sofa. She folded her legs beneath her and rested her head on her arm that was leaning on the backrest. Deciding to close her eyes for a bit, the doctor let her thoughts drift away. �Penny for your thoughts.� He smiled. �You always seem to know when something�s troubling me.� �Well, I do know you. Quite well I might add.� Laughing slightly he responded, �So you do.� �Out with it.� �Oh, I don�t know� I guess the Dominion War is just taking its toll on me.� She nodded. �It�s taking its toll on everyone.� He looked down at his cup of tea and momentarily raised his eyebrows. She leaned in closer to him and put her hand on his arm. �It�s okay to feel this way, Jean-Luc. You don�t have to hide it, not with me.� He patted her hand. �I know.� He looked in her eyes and took a deep breath. �Thank you.� �We�re friends, Jean-Luc. We always will be.� She looked at him with a look of deep caring and sincerity. He nodded. �Always.� She laughed softly and briefly leaned her head on his shoulder. Beverly opened her eyes. We were so close back then� She ran her fingers through her red locks and decided she needed some air. Getting up, she called to Nurse Layton. She let her know that she was going for a walk and would be back shortly. The warm breeze in the night air felt very welcome to Beverly. She took a cleansing breath and folded her arms as she strolled about the village. Everything was exactly as she remembered it. The charming architecture of the houses, the vine entwined columns, and the many flowerbeds. It was no surprise to her. After all, time was something that seemed to stand still here. The people here liked it that way and their whole way of life was based on continuity. Turning a corner, Beverly couldn�t help but recall the moment right before their final beam-out years before. The memory still brought up many feelings within her. She had seen him holding her� kissing her. Although she had kept it hidden at the time, she was rather jealous of Anij. Deanna and Will had found their way together then and a part of her had initially thought that she and the captain would do the same. This place had a way with a person. It brought up so many underlying feelings. It was no wonder, too. When a person rejuvenates, it�s as though the boldness and emotional highs of early adulthood take over their entire being. In fact, she couldn�t help but feel a slight change within her now. As she continued her slow walk, she crossed paths with a few villagers. They exchanged brief greetings and they continued on their way. Suddenly, a woman spoke softly from behind her. �Doctor Crusher?� Stopping in her tracks and turning to look over her shoulder, Beverly saw that it was Anij. �Oh� hello.� She turned completely and gave her a sincere smile. Anij looked exactly the same as she did the last time she had seen her. Beverly had to admit to herself that she was really beautiful. It was no wonder the captain had been captivated by her so. She remembered the way she had felt when she had first heard of her friend�s relationship with her. A small part of her felt as though she couldn�t compete with the ever-youthful Bak�u woman. Anij smiled in turn and said, �I�d heard that you were here� with Jean-Luc.� �Yes, he�s very ill,� Beverly replied. �How is he doing now?� Anij asked, with obvious worry in her voice. �Well, he�s stable, sedated for now. The radiation seems to be regenerating his system.� She nodded and continued, �Bringing him here bought us a lot of time.� �That�s good.� Silence fell between them for a few moments. It was somewhat awkward for both of them. Then, Anij said, �Do you know when he�ll wake up?� �I�m going to take him off the sedatives tomorrow. I don�t know how strong he�ll be, though. It might take a few days for him to be out and about.� Anij lowered her gaze slightly. �I see.� Beverly looked sympathetically at her. �Well, if you want to see him, I�ll let you know as soon as he�s strong enough to have visitors.� Whatever her feelings were toward the relationship the captain had with the Bak�u woman, the doctor would never put her personal interests before that of her friend�s. She had no right to keep him from seeing her because of her feelings. That was really selfish and she wasn�t that kind of person. Anij was innocent in all of this too. She was a kind woman whose only wrongdoing was falling in love with the man. A man who was free to love whoever he chose. �Thank you, but I don�t know if I�m ready to see him just yet.� She bore the look of a woman who�d been deeply hurt. �Of course, well� I should get back now.� Beverly gestured toward the direction of the house. �Alright.� �Good night.� Beverly took a few steps and heard Anij speak once more. �Doctor.� �Yes?� Dr. Crusher turned toward her again. She seemed to hesitate for a few moments before continuing, �Did he ever told you why he never came back?� Shaking her head slowly, Beverly replied, �He never did, no.� Nodding, Anij smiled sadly and walked away. Beverly couldn�t help but sigh as she lost sight of her. A thousand emotions ran through her and she felt overwhelmed by them. I should get back to work. * * * * * Beverly stirred. The warm rays of the sun shone across her face and the lovely sound of songbirds filled the air. She�d had a very restful sleep. She stretched and opened her eyes slightly. Then she lazily shifted position from her side to her back and exhaled. Tossing the covers aside, she sat on the edge of the bed. Pushing a strand of hair away from her face she smiled. A hummingbird was hovering just outside her window. �Well, hello there.� The mornings were so beautiful here. Getting up, she slowly walked across the wooden floor to the bathroom. As she started looking through her things, she cast a glance in the mirror that hung over the small sink. Getting closer to get a better look at herself, Beverly couldn�t help but lightly touch the corner of her eye. A lot of the lines that she was now used to seeing were gone. She couldn�t believe how profound the changes could be in such a small amount of time. The last time they had been here, it wasn�t for very long and the changes she had noticed in herself then had been quite significant also. Although she had never been that concerned with her appearance, she was very pleased by what she was seeing. Growing younger, after all, wasn�t something that was usually possible and she knew that she was very lucky to get this chance. Smiling in satisfaction, she turned away from the mirror and went straight to the shower. * * * * * The two nurses and Dr. Crusher had gathered in the captain�s room so that he could be taken off the sedatives. Nurse Layton handed the hypospray to the redheaded doctor and took a step back. Beverly quickly checked the captain�s vitals and nodded. �Here goes.� She pressed the medical instrument on the side of her friend�s neck and released the counteragent to the sedative. Stepping back slightly, Beverly unconsciously bit her lower lip and anxiously waited. The captain stirred slightly. What? He felt disoriented and tried to open his eyes. Through a haze, he saw the ceiling. Not recognizing it, the captain closed his eyes once more. Where am I? �Jean-Luc�� He heard someone call out his name over and over again. He knew that voice, but in his cloud of confusion he couldn�t put a face to it. He had a feeling deep inside though that it was someone very dear to him. �Jean-Luc� wake up.� He opened his eyes once more, this time focusing more. �Jean-Luc.� He turned his head slightly and saw her. She looked like an angel. To him, she had always been the picture of perfection. �Beverly?� She leaned closer to him and smiled. �Yes it�s me, Jean-Luc.� �Wha�� He looked at his surroundings and then back at her with a look of pure confusion. The last thing he remembered was being on the Enterprise. Furthermore, Beverly was supposed to be back on Earth. Seeing the question in his eyes, Beverly took his hand in hers in reassurance and said, �I know you�re confused right now. It�s a long story and I�ll tell you all about it later. What�s important now is that you take it easy while we run a few tests on you.� Jean-Luc nodded and seemed to relax a bit. As Beverly ran the required tests on him, the captain�s gaze never left her. He still couldn�t believe that she was here with him. It had seemed like an eternity since he had seen her last. It had been a rather difficult year for him and he had missed her dreadfully. It took about thirty minutes to finish the preliminary rounds of tests. Dr. Crusher had gone over a series of questions for the captain and now seemed satisfied with the initial findings. She nodded and closed her tricorder. �Well, I�m very pleased with what I�m seeing so far. However�� She then crossed her arms and took on a more serious tone. �We�re still not out of the woods just yet. The agent that caused your illness is still unknown and we�re going to need to keep working to find a permanent fix to this.� She then continued and explained where he was and how he had come to end up here. The captain listened intently as Beverly finished the whole story. Then he just sat there in silence for a few moments as he let everything sink in. Then he nodded and said in a tone that sounded remarkably upbeat considering the situation, �Alright then. So we might be here for a while.� Beverly smiled. �Perhaps. It�s kind of hard to say. We might be here for a week, we might be here for a few months.� She laid a hand on his shoulder and added, �However, I promise I�ll do my best to ensure your prompt return to the Enterprise. I know you can�t stand being planet-side for too long.� �If anyone can cure me, it�s you, Beverly.� The doctor smiled and silently prayed he was right. * * * * * �Here�s the ferentilium, Doctor.� Nurse Layton handed over the medicine. �Thank you.� Dr. Crusher took the instrument and turned to the captain. �You might feel a little light headed with this. It shouldn�t last for very long though.� She put the device on the side of his neck and administered the treatment. The captain sat on the edge of the biobed with a blue hospital robe wrapped tightly around him. After about a minute, Dr. Crusher asked, �How are you feeling?� Picard took a deep breath and answered, �Well, I do feel a little light headed, but it�s really not that bad.� Beverly nodded. �Alright. So now all we have to do is wait about three hours. We�ll then proceed to put you under a dampening field. What that�ll do is shield you from the metaphasic radiation. If your cells regenerate by themselves while you�re in the field, it�ll confirm that the treatment is a success.� �And if they don�t?� Picard asked. Beverly crossed her arms. �We still have another treatment we can try. It�s a medicine called sopretna. However, if we need to use it, we�ll need to wait at least seventy-two hours. Your system needs to eliminate any traces of ferentilium in order to prevent some very serious side-effects.� The captain nodded. �Hopefully, one of the treatments will work.� �Well, if ever they don�t, we won�t give up Jean-Luc.� She then smiled encouragingly and added, �And if I remember correctly, you�re the one who told me one day that there�s a way out of every box and a solution to every puzzle. It�s just a matter of finding it.� The captain smiled at the realization that he had uttered that comment many years before. He thought about it for a moment and remembered that it had been during their time on the planet Kesprytt. He felt deeply touched by the thought that Beverly had remembered that simple statement. The captain�s train of thoughts was interrupted by the voice of the lovely doctor. �You must be hungry,� she said. ,�I am, actually.� Beverly smiled and started walking toward the door. �I�ll go get you something.� As he lost sight of her, the captain exhaled. It felt so good seeing her again. While he waited for Beverly to return, he turned his gaze toward the window and contemplated the beautiful scenery outside. He had been quite surprised to find out he was on Bak�u. This place evoked so many emotions and memories within him. He had often wondered how Anij was doing. He had fallen in love with her so quickly a few years prior. The short time he had spent on the planet with her had proven to be quite a whirlwind. When he had seen her last, he had told her that he would be coming back some day. He now felt really bad for not having kept his word. His duty to the Federation had consumed him once again, and before he knew it, too much time had passed. He sometimes thought about her, but knew that a future with her was impossible. She would never leave Bak�u and he would never leave Starfleet. So he had resigned himself to the fact that it would never work. * * * * * After his meal and a much-needed rest, Picard heard footsteps approaching his room. Dr. Crusher entered, followed by nurse Layton. �So how are you feeling?� Beverly asked as she went over his readouts. �I feel fine, actually.� �Well, that�s good.� She gave him with a dazzling smile. Nurse Layton brought over a device and clipped it to the side of the biobed. After tapping in a few commands on the small console on top of it, she turned to Dr. Crusher. �The dampening field is ready, Doctor.� �Alright, let�s get started then.� Beverly nodded and turned to the captain. �You�re going to have to remain still for the next few minutes.� �I understand.� A shimmering glow briefly came into view as the dampening field activated and formed a protective cocoon around Picard. The next few minutes felt like an eternity to the captain. The whole time, he stared at Crusher in anticipation. Gauging from her expression, however, he wasn�t sure how things were going. She analyzed the readouts intently with her lips pursed and arms crossed in front of her. Suddenly, he saw something that gave him a sinking feeling. Beverly was frowning. She sighed and deactivated the field. When she turned to him, the look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. �It didn�t work,� he said in an even tone. �I�m sorry.� She put a hand on his shoulder. �Don�t get too discouraged, though. We still haven�t tried the other treatment.� Jean-Luc nodded and tried to smile as best he could. �Don�t worry, I�m fine.� �I suggest you take it easy for the rest of the day. I�ll look in on you in a little bit.� The captain nodded but said nothing. * * * * * �Dammit.� Beverly cursed under her breath at the utter failure of the ferentilium treatment. Out of the two options she had, this was the one she�d had more optimism for. Come on, Beverly, you have to stay positive. Now evening, she rummaged through one of the cargo holds in the captain�s yacht. With all the haste to get the captain ready for his treatments, Beverly had neglected to remove some of the other bags she had brought with her. Finding everything she needed, the doctor exited the craft and headed back toward the village. Once Beverly had arrived back at the house, she brought her things to her room. She opened one of the bags that sat on her bed and carefully brought out the contents. At the very bottom of it lay a few books. She took one and sat on the edge of her bed. She lightly touched the embossed lettering on the cover and slowly opened it. Flipping the pages one by one, she couldn�t help but wonder how many times he had read each line. Jean-Luc had always loved literary arts and spent quite a bit of time reading in his spare time. Closing the book, Beverly brought it up to her chest and held it tightly for a moment, sighing as she did so. Finally, she got up and headed over to his room. Before knocking, Beverly couldn�t help but stare longingly at him as he looked out the window. Get a hold of yourself, Beverly. She shook herself out of her reverie and knocked. �May I come in?� His face lit up as he saw her. �Beverly, of course come on in.� She walked in but kept her hands behind her back. �I�ve got something for you.� He looked at her curiously. �Oh?� She came up to the side of his bed. �I just thought you�d like something to pass the time.� She brought the book out from behind her back and handed it to him. He smiled warmly at her and took it. �Thank you.� She sat down on a chair and added, �I had to let myself in to your quarters to get it. I hope you don�t mind.� He smiled and shook his head. �Not at all.� Although the captain was a very private man and seldom let anyone invade his private space, the woman sitting next to him was an exception. When they had been serving together, he had become accustomed to her presence in his private life. He had to admit, however, that for some time before her departure, they had slowly grown apart. As the captain slowly flipped the pages of the old book, Beverly decided it might be best to let him read and get some rest. �Well, I�ll leave you to your book.� She was about to get up when Jean-Luc protested. �You don�t have to go.� He set the book down and looked at her. His expression was sincere. �I would really like it if you stayed.� Smiling, Beverly nodded. �Alright.� Jean-Luc returned her warm expression and let out a breath. �I really missed you.� Lowering her gaze and licking her lips that now felt dry, she replied, �I missed you, too.� When her eyes locked with his once more, she realized that there was something there. She couldn�t really tell exactly what it was, but it was something she hadn�t seen a long time. She had grieved for their friendship for such a long time now, that with just a gaze he was able to take her breath away. �So, how is life back on Earth?� he finally asked. �Good.� She nodded, all the while trying to get a grip on her emotions. �It�s very different from what I had been used to, but it�s still challenging.� Jean-Luc eyed her for a moment, trying to divine her thoughts. He�d always wondered if she was really happy back at Medical. Her response to his question hadn�t really revealed anything, but he wouldn�t press the matter for the time being. He was just so glad to see her again. �I�m sure you must be excelling in your position. That I don�t doubt for one second.� �Oh stop.� She laughed and gently nudged his arm. �No, I mean it. You are a great doctor and commander, Beverly.� �Thanks.� For the next hour or so, they sat and talked. Without delving into anything deep and personal, they discussed their year spent apart. Mostly it was about their new co-workers and some of the major events that had occurred within the Federation. Finally, their conversation seemed to dwindle and a noticeable silence fell between them. Beverly sat there and debated whether or not she should say what she was thinking of saying. It was something that hadn�t been brought up yet, but was undoubtedly on both their minds. So, fighting to keep her facial expression in check and calm the butterflies in her stomach, the doctor took a breath. �I ran into Anij in the village.� �You did?� Jean-Luc asked with slight unease. They stared at each other for the next few seconds without saying anything. Finally, Jean-Luc looked down. He felt unable to meet her gaze. �Did you talk to her?� �I did.� The captain seemed somewhat uncomfortable. �What � did she say?� �Well, she was concerned about you.� Beverly tried her best to hide the feelings that were surging through her. Reclining his head on the pillows that were behind him, he looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. �She must be upset with me.� His voice was barely audible. �I told her I was going to come back� but I never did.� The doctor was curious as to the reason why he hadn�t, but she sure as hell wasn�t going to press further. It was no business of hers and she would leave the matter alone. If he ever did choose to open up to her, it would be of his own accord and at the time of his choosing. Beverly could see he was losing himself in his thoughts. She didn�t blame him. He�d been through a lot these past few weeks and having been brought to this place must have stirred up many buried feelings within him. Looking at the chronometer nearby, Beverly said, �Well, I should really be going now. You need your rest.� She got up. He nodded slowly. �Alright.� �I�ll see you tomorrow, Jean-Luc. Good night.� �Good night,� he echoed. He watched her leave and exhaled. Many conflicting emotions soared through him and he did not know how to deal with them as of yet. He closed his eyes and did his best to relax so that he would eventually fall asleep. continue to chapters 5 to 8 |