| Released May 3rd 2008 Back to Basics by Missbevcrusher Rated [16A] |
| Chapter 9
By noon the next day, Beverly decided that Artim was recovered enough to be sent home. After promising she�d drop by to check on him the following day, the young man and his father thanked her and left. As she closed the front door, she looked around and sighed. Since Jean-Luc had gone to the market, she found herself alone in the house. And now that she was, the events of the past day started to play over and over in her mind. Shaking her head, she decided she had better things to do than to sit around and over-analyze everything like she often did. �Might as well get some work done.� Instead of locking herself up in her room to do her research, Beverly decided to make herself a sandwich and sit at the kitchen table. Time flew by as she came up with new ideas to help the captain. In fact, she was so engrossed in her work that she was startled slightly when Jean-Luc finally came back. Looking at her watch, she was surprised to see that it was near dinner time. After glancing at the crumb-covered plate in front of her, her stomach reminded her that she was hungry once again. �Beverly?� Jean-Luc called out to her from the hallway. �I�m in the kitchen.� Jean-Luc came in carrying a basket of produce and set it down on the counter. �Still working, I see.� Setting her pad down on the table, she shrugged. �That�s what I was sent here to do after all. Need any help with that?� �No, I�m fine.� The captain proceeded to wash the vegetables. �I hope you�re hungry.� �I am, actually. What are you making?� He looked at her with a smile. �You�ll just have to wait and see.� Getting up, she went over to where he was and opened a drawer. Taking out a knife, she asked, �Can I at least just help you chop some of these?� He laughed. �Well, who am I to argue if you�re going to keep insisting?� Standing side by side, they started to peel and chop the vegetables. Beverly was completely focused on her task, but Jean-Luc couldn�t help but think about the weird vibe he�d gotten from her the night before. Glancing over to her, he decided to try to shed some light on it. �Beverly, can I ask you something?� �What is it?� she said as she expertly chopped what looked like the Bak�u version of an onion. �I know you said that you were okay after our swim yesterday, but last night�� He shook his head and struggled to find the right words. Stopping her task, she looked at him. �What about last night?� �I don�t know. It�s just that when you came in here, you seemed different� more distant than you were back at the river.� She smiled nervously. �I don�t know what you�re talking about. I was fine.� She then went on chopping the vegetables. Picard put his hand gently on the doctor�s forearm to get her to stop cutting. �Beverly... you�re not fooling me.� Exhaling in resignation, she turned to him. �It was nothing.� �I know you� more than you might care to admit. And I know what I saw. I was sitting here talking to Anij and the next thing I know, you�re standing in the hallway�� Suddenly, it dawned on him. �Oh, wait a minute� I think I know what happened�� Not wanting to go down that road, Beverly shook her head vehemently and walked past him to get a pot out of the cupboard. �Nothing happened.� He stood there with a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. �I can�t believe I didn�t see it sooner.� Taking the pot over to where the chopped vegetables were, Beverly was in full denial mode. �See what? There was nothing to see.� �You were jealous.� She shoved him gently on the shoulder. �I was not.� Laughter crept into his voice. �I believe you were.� �Jean-Luc,� she warned him. �You better stop laughing.� �Okay, I�m sorry.� Forcing the last hint of humor out of his voice, he continued, �But seriously, something was bothering you. Was it Anij?� Beverly her arms crossed in front of her chest. �You are very stubborn, aren�t you?� �No more than you are.� He waited for her to say something, but when she didn�t he asked, �So what was it? You can tell me, I want to understand.� Looking down at her hands, which were now fidgeting, the doctor answered, �Okay� maybe I was� a little bit jealous.� Looking back up at his face, she pointed her finger at him and added quickly, �Just a teeny tiny bit mind you.� With any hint of his teasing mood gone, Jean-Luc approached her and gently put his hands on her shoulders. �Look � Anij and I� it�s been over for a long time now. And it�s going to stay that way. Whatever might have existed between the two of us, it�s not there anymore.� With his gaze locked onto hers, he sighed. �I agree with you that we should take our time here. But we cannot deny that there have always been feelings between us. Metaphasic radiation or not, you hold a special place in my heart. A place no one else could fill.� Turning away from him, Beverly shook her head. �I�ve always been stubborn� it�s one of my worst faults. And I know that I�ve over-analyzed every aspect of our relationship time and time again.� The next few seconds seemed to go at a snail�s pace as the doctor debated what to say next. Finally, �Perhaps I was wrong�� As the doctor turned to face him once more, the captain remained silent, his way of urging her to go on. Smiling, tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks, Beverly approached him and touched the side of his face. �When it came to the two of us, I always used to have a good argument or an excuse as to why we shouldn�t explore what exists between us� But standing here with you now� I can�t think of one� Maybe that�s why I was reluctant at the river. I keep wondering if this place is the reason the walls between us are crumbling, but then again� does it really matter? The feelings have always been there, maybe we should stop fighting them.� Leaning forward, she swiftly kissed him. As her warm lips made contact with his, Jean-Luc closed his eyes momentarily. When she pulled back, he looked at her lovingly. �You can�t even begin to imagine what it means to me to hear you say that.� Beverly laughed softly and laced her arms around his neck. "Funny, I thought you were going to say, 'Finally, it's about time.'" Going along with the joke, he raised his eyebrows and said, �Well actually, it did cross my mind to say that, but in the end I thought better of it.� �A very wise decision, Captain,� replied the doctor as they shared a laugh. Pulling back and taking both of her hands in his, Jean-Luc regarded her for a moment. �What do you say we take this one step at a time? We could start slow and get used to this as we go along.� She raised an eyebrow and smiled. �Do you mean dating?� �Well�� He hesitated slightly. �I guess that�s what they call it. Yes.� He shook his head and chuckled. �I know, it sounds funny, doesn�t it?� �Actually, it�s kind of sweet.� Putting a hand on his cheek, she continued, �I love the idea.� Jean-Luc brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. �Well then, how about a nice quiet dinner, followed by some wine in front of the fireplace for our first official date?� �That sounds lovely.� �In that case, how about I finish making dinner?� �Sounds like a plan. I�ll set the table.� As each went about their task, they couldn�t help but steal glances at the other from time to time. Smiling as their eyes met, neither could believe the direction their relationship had taken. It felt so new, yet at the same time, comfortable�as though it had always been that way. After setting down their plates and utensils, Beverly took a step back and contemplated the tabletop. With her lips pursed, she thought for a moment. Then she swiftly made her way to one of the cabinets where she took out a single white candle and matches. Placing the slender candle in the very center of the table, she struck the match and lit it. Satisfied with the table setting, she pulled up the sleeves of her cream colored sweater and smiled at the captain. Making her way toward him, she said, �Smells good.� �Hopefully it�ll taste good as well. I have no idea what I�m doing. I�ve never tried these particular produce before. But the man at the market said I couldn�t go wrong with these.� �I�m sure it�ll be delicious.� Walking toward the hallway, she continued, �Now since you�ve got everything under control here, I�ll just go and freshen up before dinner.� she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. �It should be ready in about twenty minutes or so.� In front of her bathroom mirror, Beverly went about brushing her hair. Since she�d come here for the sole purpose of saving the captain�s life, Crusher hadn�t packed anything remotely fancy for such an occasion as a dinner date. The least she could do was try to do something with her hair and put on a bit of makeup. Although her wavy hair was gorgeous simply falling on her shoulders, Beverly opted to pull the top portion loosely back and secure it with a silver hair clip. Her bangs and slightly longer strands on each side of her face framed her face perfectly. Now for her makeup, Beverly looked through her things and brought out the basics. As she was about to put on some foundation, she stopped and looked more closely at her reflection. Most of the lines that had formed over the years were now gone, her complexion almost perfect. Even the delicate skin around the eyes looked youthful. Lately, whenever she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she was astounded. When was the last time that I looked this young? Recalling how she looked in some of her old photographs, Beverly guessed she looked about the same as she did before she signed on for her first tour with the Enterprise-D. Contemplating the bottle of foundation in her hand, Crusher hesitated and finally put it back in her makeup bag. She didn�t need it. Instead, Beverly opted for a little bit of eyeliner and mascara. A touch of natural looking lip gloss and a quick brush of sheer blush for her cheeks was all that she needed. After putting her makeup away neatly, Beverly looked at herself one last time. She pulled on the base of her v-neck sweater. The fabric wasn�t too heavy and the cut of it shaped her slender frame perfectly. Glancing over the counter next to the sink, she realized she hadn�t put on her perfume yet. Smiling, she recalled when she had first started wearing it. She and Jean-Luc had visited a small shop on Starbase 113 while the ship was undergoing some maintenance. Although the shop�s inventory ranged from pottery to various works of arts and jewelry, it also had a wide variety of fragrances. The quality of their perfumes was widely known and Beverly had been intrigued. As she had sprayed one particular displayed demo onto a fancy looking sample paper, the captain had remarked how lovely it was. �You really think so?� she recalled saying as she sprayed it onto her wrist. �Yes, I really love that scent on you,� he�d answered as she�d brought her wrist up a few inches away from his nose. She�d bought it right then and there and had since continued having some sent over whenever she was about to run out. After spraying a small amount on her wrist, Beverly touched each side of her neck. After placing the delicate bottle back where it belonged, she left the bathroom and headed toward the kitchen. When she got there, Jean-Luc looked up and took in the sight of her. No matter how many times he�d seen the lovely doctor throughout the years, not once had she not had an effect on him. Pulling her chair out for her, he gestured for her to sit down. Their dinner was absolutely wonderful. With the soft light of the candle flickering, they toasted to new beginnings. And although they had had dinner dates before, this one was different. Beverly set her wine glass on the table. �I didn�t know you were such a good cook.� �We didn�t have a replicator in the house when we were growing up. I had no choice but to learn.� She got up and reached for their plates. �Well, since you did most of the work tonight, I�ll take care of dishes.� After she was put them in the sink, she was about to turn on the water when she felt Jean-Luc come up behind her and put his hand on her arm. �Why don�t we just forget about the dishes for a little while? The plates won�t go anywhere.� Turning to face him, she laughed. �They won�t?� He shook his head. �No, they won�t. And you know� there�s still some wine left. We could go in the living room and enjoy some in front of the fire.� �That�s right. You did mention something about that earlier.� She smiled and went over to the table to grab her glass and the bottle of wine. Once they got to the living room, Beverly sat on one end of the couch, her legs curled up beneath her. Jean-Luc tended to the crackling fire in the fireplace, and then went over to join her on the couch. After a few moments of silence, Beverly turned her gaze from the fire to him and said, �This is nice.� �It is.� Grabbing the bottle that rested on the end-table, he continued, �Do you want any more wine?� �Please.� She extended her glass and he filled it for her. �Thank you.� �You�re welcome.� �You know, I have a fireplace back at my place in San Fransisco.� �You do?� She smiled and nodded with her blue eyes fixed on the dancing flames before them. �Yes, but I never took the time to enjoy it. All I did this past year was work, work and work some more.� �What about theater and dance?� She turned to him. �I kind of pushed those hobbies to the side, unfortunately.� Jean-Luc was taken aback a bit by her admission. The Beverly he knew from the years of serving together had always taken some time out of her busy work schedule to simply enjoy herself. One of her passions had always been the performing arts and he had a hard time imagining her giving all that up. �That�s a shame. You were always so enthusiastic about those hobbies when you were on the Enterprise.� �I know� I guess my way of adjusting to life planet-side was to bury myself in my work. For a while now, it seemed I hardly recognized myself.� �You shouldn�t lose yourself in you job, Beverly. If there�s one thing that I�ve always loved about you, it�s your zest for life� your ability at juggling both your career and the fun side of things.� With a glint in her eyes, she said, �You know, that sounds kind of funny coming from you.� Chuckling, he responded, �Well I may not be the most outgoing and fun person around, but I do indulge in certain recreational activities from time to time.� �Ah yes, I remember. Dixon Hill and fencing.� Laughing, she took another sip of wine. �And don�t forget reading too.� For a moment, Beverly regarded him without saying anything. Finally, she set her wineglass down and got up. She then crossed the room and picked up one of Jean-Luc�s books from a wooden shelf that was mounted on the wall. As she made her way back toward him, she looked at him lovingly. �Would you read to me?� At first, Jean-Luc wasn�t sure if she was serious or not. But as he read the look in her eyes, he knew she was. �You really want me to read to you?� He said it more as a statement than a question. She handed him the book. �I do.� �Alright.� Smiling, she sat down next to him and edged herself closer. As he opened the book with one hand, Jean-Luc put his other arm over Beverly�s shoulder. Immediately, he felt her relax as she snuggled against him. Then, he simply read to her, each line spoken softly in his baritone voice. The more she listened, the more he entranced her. The way he read to her showed her just how much this man loved and appreciated his books. He carefully recited each line in a way that seemed to enhance the already beautiful series of words the author had created. Underneath his captain�s exterior, Jean-Luc truly had the soul of a poet. To Beverly, it had always been an endearing trait. There was so much more to him than met the eye and the doctor had always felt lucky that she was one of the very few people who truly got to know him. Reflexively, she draped her arm over his abdomen and leaned her head on his shoulder. A few weeks ago, if someone would have told Jean-Luc that he�d end up curled up in front of a fireplace on Bak�u with his former chief medical officer, he would have thought they were crazy. The unexpected and somewhat extreme set of circumstances that had led up to this moment were becoming something of a blessing to him now. For the woman whom he thought he�d lost from his life for good was now in his arms, embracing the idea of exploring the feelings that they had fought for so long. It was still somewhat unbelievable to him that Beverly seemed as comfortable as she was snuggled up against him. Glancing at her from time to time as he read, he marveled at her beauty. The fire and the red hues in her hair almost shimmered in the firelight. Her scent� that perfume he loved so. The one he�d so often tried to bring to mind as he lay alone in his quarters during this difficult year spent apart from her. Tenderly, he started to stroke her hair with the hand that had held her shoulder. So soft. Contentment� it was exactly what he was feeling at that exact moment. Although he wasn�t certain where this new path was going to lead them, the only word that came to mind to describe that moment was perfection� As he finished reading the chapter he had chosen, he looked down at her again. Though her gaze was still fixed on the flames before them he was smiling,. Slowly, Beverly looked up into his eyes and said, �That was beautiful.� Smiling back at her, Jean-Luc lost himself in her gaze. Her face was so close to his. With the hand that had previously held the book, he gently caressed the side of her face. Although he�d been aware of the physical changes that had occurred with both of them since their arrival here, he hadn�t realized how profound they were getting. As Beverly looked into his eyes, she seemed to look more and more like the angel-faced young woman he�d met so long ago. Of course, to him, her beauty had never faded throughout the years. She�d always been gorgeous, but still� this experience was truly remarkable, unbelievable even. The hazel eyes that peered into hers too mesmerized Beverly. Now that she could see his every feature in the firelight, she was amazed. He looked so young, almost exactly the same way he did when she first brought Wesley up to the bridge on the old Enterprise-D all those years ago. The look on his face as he first realized who she was� it was chiseled in her memory. So was how she�d felt at that particular moment. It had been as if a million different emotions had soared through her at once. She�d never forgotten that day� Slowly, Jean-Luc leaned in until his nose lightly touched hers. Closing his eyes, he could feel her wine laced breath against his skin. �May I kiss you?� he whispered. As a response, Beverly closed the gap between them and kissed him, fully. Lacing her arms around his neck, she pulled him to her tightly. The kiss, though lingering, was soft and tender. From time to time, their lips would part, but only long enough for them to start kissing all over again. After a while, the intensity grew slightly and Jean-Luc trailed his kisses down to her neck. Tilting her head to one side, Beverly sighed softly. She�d often imagined what it would be to kiss Jean-Luc like this. She�d often envisioned him as someone who would be passionate and tender at the same time. And truth be told, she wasn�t disappointed, for he was exactly that and more. Lightly tracing his hand from her hair down to her lower back, Jean-Luc pulled her even closer as she reclined back beneath him. With one hand, he propped himself up so as not to let his entire weight onto her. Then, he brought his lips back to hers and they started kissing all over again. Time seemed to go right out the window for both of them as they lost themselves in the other. It was as if the moment was stretching on forever, yet at the same time it seemed like it was a nothing but a mere fleeting instant. After another while of burning, yet contained passion, Jean-Luc realized that if he didn�t pull away now, he might lose his resolve to do so at all. They�d promised each other that they would take their time with this. And seeing this was their first date of sorts, he didn�t want to jeopardize their chances by rushing into things. He�d lost her once before in a way, and he didn�t want to ever lose her again. Gradually, he eased his kisses from passionate to slow and gentle, until finally he pulled away slightly. Brushing strands of hair from her face, he looked down at her and smiled. Her cheeks flushed, she smiled back. Taking his thumb and lightly touching her lips, he said, �If we�re to stick to taking things slow� perhaps we should stop now.� Beverly laughed softly. �Perhaps we should.� �Do you have any idea how bewitchingly beautiful you are?� His gaze trialed from her hair to her eyes and finally to her mouth. �You really know how to sweep a woman off her feet, do you know that?� Smiling, they kissed swiftly once more, and then pulled away as Jean-Luc sat up again. Holding her hand, he helped her sit up as well. �I had a great time tonight, Jean-Luc.� �I did, too.� Hesitating slightly, Beverly said, �Well, I should turn in now.� �Alright.� Leaning forward, she kissed him softly and then got up to leave �Good night.� �Good night.� After he lost sight of her, Jean-Luc sat back and exhaled. Smiling, he still couldn�t believe how things were progressing between them. He was so happy, and as he tried to recall the last time he was this content, he found that he�d actually never felt quite this way before. * * * * Chapter 10 The next morning, Beverly awoke to sunshine peering through the curtains of her window. After stretching, she sat up and smiled. The night before had been such a revelation to her. She�d allowed herself to get closer to Jean-Luc and had no regret whatsoever about it. He was such a wonderful man. Getting out of bed, she went to take her shower. Afterward, she wrapped herself up in a towel and proceeded to dry her hair. Not even fifteen minutes after that, she was dressed and ready to go. Before leaving her bedroom, she quickly made her bed and checked herself in the mirror one last time. The smell of fresh coffee filled the hallway and with that she knew exactly where she would find the captain. Dressed in an attractive grey sweater and beige trousers, he was standing at the counter in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. �Good morning,� she said as she made her way over to him. As he turned to face her, he smiled. �Good morning.� When she swiftly kissed him on the lips, all the worry he�d felt since early that morning dissipated. He�d feared she would have regretted their little evening spent in front of the fireplace, but evidently that was not the case. �Coffee?� he asked her. �Mmm, that would be great.� She smiled and made her way to the table. Pouring her a cup, he then brought it over to her. �Here you go.� �Thank you,� she said as she reached for the little sugar jar that the captain had set on the table just before she joined him. As he went over to the stove, where he had a pan and some eggs ready. �I�ll be honest� I was uh� a bit nervous when I woke up this morning.� �How so?� She frowned in puzzlement as she took a sip of coffee. �Oh, I don�t know� it�s a bit silly, actually�� hH went about breaking one egg on the side of the pan and dropped its contents onto the sizzling hot surface. �A part of me was afraid you�d regret what we shared last night.� He shook his head slightly, embarrassment evident in his demeanor. Smiling sadly, Beverly looked down momentarily before setting down her coffee and getting up. She made her way up to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind, putting her chin on his shoulder, her cheek touching his. �I don�t blame you for feeling that way.� her voice was low, understanding. �I�ve backed away from you before. But just know that this time, it�s different. I�m at a stage in my life now where I don�t want to hang on to things that have been weighing me down. I� just don�t want to go through life like I did before� I want to actually live it now.� Turning to face her, Jean-Luc put his hands on her waist. �You�re so wonderful.� �You are, too� and last night? It felt right to me.� Tenderly, they kissed once more. When the sizzling and popping sound of the cooking egg next to them caught their attention, they broke apart. Laughing, Jean-Luc said, �I think I better tend to breakfast if we don�t want to eat dry and charred eggs.� �Oh, we wouldn�t want that, now would we?� Beverly teased as she headed back to her place at the table. Contemplating the man before her, the doctor felt more and more confidence in the fact that this was the right step to take. Sighing quietly, she smiled and took another sip of coffee. The remainder of the day turned out to be rather uneventful. Beverly still needed to keep working on a treatment for Jean-Luc. And one of the theories involved required recalibrating one of her bio-regeneration treatment units so that it would target specific genetic markers on a molecular level. If she managed to tune it to the proper output, the device might allow her to create a cure by genetically altering some of the cells so that they would regenerate themselves. It was a long shot, but she felt it might have merit, and if successful, would allow the captain to leave this world. Since Jean-Luc didn�t have any research or duties to perform during his time here, he found it more difficult to occupy his time. A short time after they�d had their lunch, Sojef dropped by to ask the captain if he would like to accompany him to one of stables where they kept some of their d�rael. They were the Bak�u equivalent of Earth�s horses. He was gone for nearly three hours. Beverly was glad he was out enjoying himself instead of standing around here with nothing to do while she worked. When she heard the front door open, she looked up from the medical equipment she was working on and asked, �Jean-Luc? Is that you?� �Yes, it�s me. Where are you?� �I�m working on the bio-regenerative unit.� When Jean-Luc peered through the doorway, he smiled in amusement. It was a funny sight seeing the doctor sitting on the floor, almost directly beneath the medical unit with various tools and isolinear chips sprawled out around her. Beverly brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. �I know, I look more like an engineer than a doctor right now.� He chuckled. �Well, if Geordi has an opening in his department, want me to notify you?� �Ha, ha.� She paused before asking, �So how was your day?� �Actually, I had a great time. The d�rael are magnificent animals. Sojef said he could teach us how to ride them one of these days.� �He could teach you maybe, but me? I don�t think so.� Beverly laughed and shook her head. She�d never been too keen on riding horses. Somehow, she didn�t feel she would enjoy riding d�rael any more. �So are you almost done in here? You�ve been working all day.� Glancing at the clock on the wall, she shrugged. �Well, perhaps it�s time I took a break from this. If I keep at it, I�ll be dreaming of diagnostic units and isolinear chips all night.� As he helped her to her feet, Jean-Luc asked, �Feel like eating out tonight? There�s this little terrace on the outskirts of the market where they supposedly serve the best cuisine Bak�u has to offer.� �That would be nice. I�d love to.� �In that case, what do you say we get ready and leave in about twenty minutes or so?� �Sounds like a plan.� Fifteen minutes later, the captain stood by the front door waiting for Beverly. He looked rather handsome with his white t-shirt with the dark grey jacket he�d chosen to put over it. With both hands in his pockets, he looked around him and admired the simple charm of this house. Suddenly, movement caught his eye and he turned to see Beverly. �That was quick.� Looking at her, up and down, he smiled. �You look nice.� �Thank you,� Beverly replied. Having gathered her hair up in a fancy-looking knot, she�d completely transformed herself. Her makeup was just right and the outfit she wore complimented her every curve in all the right ways. Her indigo sweater hugged her figure all the way down to her hips. The neckline plunged slightly, revealing the ivory of her skin. Her black trousers were fitted and tapered slightly on her calf. Beverly had always been practical in a way because she often chose clothing that could be quite versatile. There was nothing over the top about her attire, but it was still nice for an evening out. Arm in arm, they strolled through the streets of the village. Although it was already getting dark, the air was still rather warm. It was perfect. The houses and businesses were lit with their usual oil lamps and it created a soft lighting that only served to enhance the charm of the village. As they made their way through the market, they realized just how different the atmosphere was at night. During the day, the majority of the shops opened were those pertaining to the regular day to day life of the Bak�u people, such as produce vendors, meat vendors and so forth. There were also a large number of trade workers such as blacksmiths and woodworkers. Once night fell, however, the village virtually transformed itself into an even more relaxed and enjoyable place. Many artisans took to the streets, each displaying their talents to the passing villagers out and about. Not very far from the terrace, several young men and women sat playing music together. Many people had gathered around them and listened intently to the beautiful melody. A little further down, a man was helping a lady and her husband to climb on his d�rael drawn carriage. It was something he did almost every night, offering quiet rides around the village to anyone who was interested. �This place is so magical. It�s kind of like going back in time on Earth, minus all the ignorance,� Beverly said as she looked around. �I know what you mean. These people, they are so simple, yet are so advanced in their thinking. The harmony in this place� I�ve never seen anything like it anywhere else.� The terrace was just up ahead now. There were several tables, most of them occupied, underneath wooden beams entwined by the most beautiful vines and flowers. Several oil lamps hung above, creating a soft atmosphere for the diners below. Each table, although quite simple in their setting had candles inside red glass candle-holders atop. The mood of the people dining there was quite cheerful. Many were drinking wine and passing bread along. As they neared the terrace, a young woman standing at the entryway bowed her head slightly �Good evening ma�am, sir. Will you be dining with us tonight?� Smiling, Jean-Luc said, �We do not have a reservation, but if there is a table available, we would very much like to dine here, yes.� �Well, you�re in luck. I have a table ready for both of you.� With a small jerk of her head, she said, �If you would follow me.� Gesturing for Beverly to go before him, Jean-Luc waited until she was ahead of him before following. The hostess crossed to the far side of the terrace and with her opened hand gestured to an unoccupied table. �Would this table be suitable?� �Yes, this is perfect. Thank you.� �The waiter will be with you shortly. Have a nice evening.� With that, the hostess retreated and went back to her usual spot at the entrance. Pulling her chair out, the captain said, �Ladies first.� Smiling, Beverly sat down. �This restaurant is lovely.� �I thought you might like it here.� They�d barely had the time to admire the quaint little terrace when the waiter showed up. With him, he brought two menus as well as a pitcher of cold water. After introducing himself, he told them what the evening�s specialties were and proceeded to fill both of their glasses. Once the waiter was gone, Beverly and Jean-Luc opened their menus and frowned slightly. Breaking out in soft and quiet laughter, the doctor said, �You know� we should have figured we couldn�t read Bak�u writing.� Shaking his head, the captain laughed as well. �I guess we�ll stick to whatever the waiter recommends, then.� �It�s a better idea than trying to figure out what all these letters mean.� Soon after, the waiter came back, and with his help, the two of them were able to order their dinner. Wine and bread was then promptly brought to their table for them to enjoy while they waited. Bringing his wine glass up to his nose, the captain inhaled before taking the first sip. Swishing the wine around in his mouth, he used his vintner�s experience to analyze its quality. Finally swallowing, he raised his eyebrows. �This is very good.� �There�s no way it can be as good as Chateau Picard, though,� Beverly teased. �Well� no, I dare say not. But it�s still a very impressive vintage. I�m curious as to what Robert would have thought of it.� With a faraway look coming over him, he looked around slowly. �Robert� you know, I think he would have loved this place�� Eyeing him sympathetically, Beverly leaned forward and put her hand atop his. �You miss him very much don�t you?� �Very much so� and Rene� I think his death was the hardest to deal with�� �He was so young.� �Too young� He never really got the chance to live life.� At that, Beverly wasn�t sure exactly what she should say. So she chose to remain silent. As a doctor, she�d seen her fair share of death. Sometimes, the patients she�d lost had been children. By far, that was the most difficult thing she had to face as a physician� It always seemed so unfair. Trying to lighten the mood, Jean-Luc reached for a slice of the home-made bread. �You want some?� �No, thank you. I�ll wait for dinner.� �Alright, but just know there might not be any left by the time dinner comes.� He smiled and shook his head before taking a bite. �In that case, I�ll take one slice.� Beverly eyed him teasingly and reached for the bread basket. She put a little bit of butter on the slice and then tasted it. �Mmm, I love home-made bread� It�s just like Nana used to make.� Soon after, the waiter each brought them a tasty-looking soup. It was unlike anything they�d ever tasted before, but it was very delicious. And they were even surprised by the wonderful taste of the odd-looking main course. Overall, they had a very good time at the terrace. As they started to make their way down the street, someone called after them. They turned and saw Aree running to catch up with them. �Hello, Aree,� said Beverly warmly. The young woman was a bit out of breath, but was grinning ear to ear nonetheless. �Hello, Doctor.� She nodded toward Picard. �Captain. I saw you two walking from all the way over there and I thought I�d catch up to ask if you�ve been invited to the festival yet.� Crusher shook her head. �The festival? No.� �Well, a few people were talking about it today and they said that it would be nice if you came.� �Aree?� said a woman�s voice from among the many passers-by. �I�m here, Mom,� replied the young woman as she turned around slightly. �I was wondering where you�d bolted off to,� the woman said with a smile. �Mom, you know Dr. Crusher and Captain Picard, don�t you?� �Yes, I believe we met a few years back.� Extending her hand, she continued, �My name�s Yana. How do you do?� �Very well, thank you,� replied Picard. Aree smiled. �I was just telling them about the festival and how it would be nice if they came.� Yana put her hands on her daughter�s shoulders and smiled. �The festival is the event of the year here on Bak�u. We would be honored if you joined us.� After glancing at the captain to gauge his response, Beverly nodded. �We would love to.� �It would be a pleasure,� echoed the captain. �In that case, the festival commences tomorrow night at seven in the middle of town square.� �We�ll be there,� said Picard. �Alright, well,� Yana said, �see you tomorrow, then. Come on Aree, we have to get home now.� �Okay. Good night Doctor Crusher, Captain Picard.� �Good night,� said both Beverly and Jean-Luc, almost in unison. Resuming their walk home, the captain offered the doctor his arm. Taking it, she said, �I think it�s going to be fun going at that festival tomorrow.� �I think so too.� Looking up at the night sky, Beverly shook her head. �The sky is so beautiful here. It�s so different.� �It�s amazing, isn�t it? Who would have thought that there�s such a beautiful place right in the middle of the Briar Patch.� �Thank god it�s so well hidden, too. Can you imagine what would happen to this place if word got out about it?� �I shudder to think of it. Thankfully, Starfleet has classified this planet as well as the effects of the metaphasic radiation. But I�m starting to wonder,� Pointing back and forth between the two of them, Picard continued, �how are we going to explain this? I don�t think anyone would buy it if we said we went to a spa for a few weeks.� Beverly chuckled slightly. �Don�t worry, it�s already been discussed. In the event where we would have had to stay here for as long as we have, it has been agreed that we would explain it as a transporter malfunction. Kind of like the one that turned you, Guinan, Keiko and Ro into children several years ago.� Picard couldn�t help but smile as he recalled that period of time. It had been so awkward, but in the end it had helped them regain control of the ship after a group of Ferengi had taken over. �Except that this time around, the risks at returning to normal would be considered unnecessary since we have not essentially turned into small children.� �You won�t hear me complaining. I haven�t felt this energized in years.� �I know what you mean. And I agree� no spa in the quadrant would be able to do what this place has done to us.� They shared another laugh and continued their leisurely stroll toward the house. Once back, the captain opened the front door and let the doctor enter before him. Making her way down the hallway that led to the kitchen, Beverly passed by the room where her medical equipment was located. Peering inside, she remembered that she still had quite of bit of work to do if she wanted to get that bio unit to functioning as she wanted. Pausing just behind her to look over her shoulder, Picard said, �So it�s going to be a late night for you, then?� She sighed. �I�m afraid so.� �Would you like for me to get you some coffee?� �That�d be great.� �Alright then� a nice, hot cup of coffee coming right up.� �Thanks.� Beverly was already hard at work by the time the captain brought the coffee over. �Here you go,� he said as he crouched down beside her. She took the cup from him. �That was fast.� �Do you need anything else?� �No, I think that�s it.� �Okay, well� try not to stay up too late. The medical equipment will still be here tomorrow.� Beverly chuckled. �I�ll try to remember that. So are you going to stay up a bit?� Getting up, he shook his head. �Actually, I think I�m going to turn in early tonight.� The doctor nodded as she took a sip of coffee. �Well, uh� I�ll see you in the morning. Good night.� �Good night.� A few hours later, Beverly had finished about two thirds of the job. Tired, she rubbed her eyes and stretched. Picking up the empty cup next to her, she headed to the kitchen and washed it. With careful footsteps so as not to make too much noise, the doctor proceeded to her bedroom where she freshened up and then put on her pajamas. It was one of her favorites�a two piece made of white satin. The pants were loose and very comfortable. The top was a long-sleeved button-up shirt with an embroidered �B� on the breast pocket. It had been her birthday gift from Wesley and his girlfriend a few months prior. Every time she put it on, she was reminded of what her son had told her when he�d given it to her� �Since you hardly ever take time to just relax nowadays, Amy and I thought we�d get you a �time to sit back and take it easy� kit. So if you take a look underneath the pjs, you�ll see that there�s a box of genuine herbal teas too. And not the replicated stuff either� Happy birthday, Mom�� Smiling to herself at the warm memory, Beverly pulled her bed covers down and settled comfortably, curled up on her side. After turning off the oil lamp by her bed, the doctor adjusted her pillow and closed her eyes. She hadn�t been in bed ten minutes when a strange noise got her attention. Sitting up, she listened more closely� There it was again, but she wasn�t sure what it was. It sounded like someone talking, but it was really muffled. Getting up, she headed toward her closed bedroom door and listened again. This time, she heard nothing. Curiosity getting the best of her, she opened the door slowly and peered down the hallway. No sign of anyone and all seemed quiet. With cautious steps, she started to make her way down the hall. She�d barely passed the captain�s bedroom door when she heard the voice again. Stopping in her tracks, she turned toward the closed door. There it was again and this time, she could tell that it definitely came from the bedroom beyond. �Jean-Luc?� she asked quietly. The more she listened to it, the more it sounded like muffled cries. �Jean-Luc? Are you alright?� This time, her voice wasn�t as low. When the crying continued, she frowned and opened the door slightly. Peering inside, she could see the captain tossing and turning in his bed. �Jean-Luc?� He was mumbling something in his sleep and was definitely distraught. Concerned, she crossed the room over to where he was and gently nudged his shoulder. �Jean-Luc, wake up.� �No� Rene� you can�t be gone�� Although he was asleep, the overwhelming emotional pain he was feeling was quite evident on his face. �It�s a dream. Wake up. Wake up.� Startled, the captain opened his eyes and squinted a few times before his gaze locked with hers. �Wha� Beverly?� His voice was low, strained. �I�m sorry that I let myself in like this. You� were having a nightmare. I could hear you from all the way across the hall. I was concerned.� The captain exhaled and rubbed his face in his hands. �I�m sorry I woke you.� �Don�t worry, you didn�t.� Beverly sat on the edge of the bed and with the back of her hand gently caressed the side of his face. �Are you okay?� With the dark memory of his dream creeping back to him, he looked toward the window, a hurt so deep plastered all over his face. He took a deep breath and said, �I will be�� �Feel like talking about it?� Looking back at her, he smiled sadly. �I was dreaming about Robert and Rene� I often do�� Patiently, Beverly waited for him to continue. �In my dream, I can see the flames� sometimes� it�s like I can feel the heat too. And as hard as I try to get to them� I am never able to�� �I�m so sorry� I wish there was something I could do.� He took her hand in his and squeezed it. �Having you here with me helps a lot� Thank you. But in the end, I guess I�ll just have to accept that they�re really gone�� As his voice caught in his throat, Jean-Luc�s eyes started to fill with tears. It absolutely broke Beverly�s heart to see the captain like this. Wanting to comfort him, she moved so that she sat directly next to him, with her back to the headboard. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him tightly, with her cheek resting on the top of his head. They stayed just like that for what seemed like the longest time. Neither said anything at first. It was a quiet moment filled with compassion from a woman to the man she loved. Finally, Beverly felt him relax in her arms. Looking down at him, she spoke quietly, �I�ll go and let you sleep now.� As she got up to leave, she felt his hand gently grab hold of her forearm. �You can stay�if uh�� Jean-Luc paused slightly in hesitation. �That is if� you want to.� With a sad smile starting to show, Beverly nodded. �I�d love to.� Jean-Luc moved over a bit so as to give her room to climb in. Shyly, Beverly pulled the covers back and carefully lay down beside him. In the soft moonlight, the two lay on their sides, face to face. With the hurt now mostly gone from his eyes, the captain tried to recall one of the happier memories he had of Rene. Finally, he said, �Rene would be in his twenties now. And he probably would have followed in my footsteps too. All he would talk about when I first met him was how much he�d love to explore the stars as I did.� �From what you�ve said of him, I�m sure he was a fine young man.� �He was� and you know, I� I never really took the time to appreciate my family. I was always too busy and Robert� well let�s just say it took quite a while for us to see eye to eye on things. But now that they�re gone, I would give everything to have a chance to go back and not take them for granted� I�m the only one left. And after I die, there will be no more Picards�� �I�m sorry�� Beverly said gently. �It�s been several years since their deaths, but a part of me has never accepted it.� �The wound will never completely heal, but in time� it will get better.� �Thank you� for everything.� Smiling in the darkness, Beverly leaned forward and kissed him gently. Pulling away, she said, �I�ll always be there for you� remember that.� Grateful, Jean-Luc smiled and stroked her hair. Finally, slumber started to overcome them and they fell asleep. This time, there were no nightmares, just peaceful sleep. Chapter 11 When the first morning rays started to pierce through the curtains, Jean-Luc awoke. Nestled in his arms, her back to him, Beverly lay still fast asleep. Snuggling even closer, the captain gently kissed her hair and exhaled. A part of him couldn�t believe she was lying next to him like this. After a little while, Beverly began to stir. As the realization of where she was began to hit her, she turned to look over at the captain, �Good morning.� Her voice sounded groggy, something Jean-Luc thought was adorable. Chuckling, he said, �Good morning, sleepy head.� She looked somewhat embarrassed and rubbed her eyes. �I�m not a pretty sight in the mornings, as you can see.� �You look as beautiful as always, I assure you.� �How�d you sleep?� �Like a baby.� �I did too.� She stretched. �I really enjoyed sleeping here with you.� �So did I.� With a more serious look in her eyes, she asked, �How are you feeling this morning?� �I�m doing okay. Having you here really helped me. Thank you.� Beverly smiled and touched the side of his face. �Hungry?� asked Jean-Luc She laughed. �Do I really need to answer that? Of course I�m hungry.� Leaning close, the captain lightly kissed the side of her neck. �In that case�� He continued tracing his kisses up toward her jaw line. �I better go and fix us some breakfast.� With one final swift kiss to her lips, he smiled and got up. As he was about to reach the door leading out to the hallway, he heard her call out after him. �Oh, Jean-Luc, I forgot to tell you.� He looked at her. Sitting in the middle of the bed with her knees pulled up toward her, she smiled. �I�m almost done recalibrating my equipment. If everything goes well today, we might be able to start your treatment as early as tomorrow.� �That sounds wonderful.� �Now remember, there are no guaranties, but I�m cautiously optimistic about our chances this time around.� With a hopeful smile, Jean-Luc nodded. * * * * The two decided to share their breakfast outside. Although the sky was slightly overcast with only the slightest hint of a breeze, it was still a warm day. Since the backyard was beautifully secluded, neither had bothered to get dressed yet. Each had a comfortable looking bathrobe securely tied around their waist over their bedclothes and that was it. Having finished eating, the captain and doctor soon settled into comfortable small talk. For some reason, however, it seemed that Crusher was the one doing most of the talking. With her legs curled up beside her on the chair, Beverly took in the aroma of the coffee she held with both hands and then resumed the conversation. Her red hair was parted on one side, leaving most of her untamed locks to flow down one shoulder. On the other side of the table, her breakfast companion�s gaze remained fixed on her in admiration. Jean-Luc was amazed at how seductively attractive the doctor could be, even when she wasn�t trying. And her voice� even in small talk, always sounded alluring. It wasn�t high-pitched, nor was it low pitched. Its tone was soothing, rich, enticing even. As hard as he tried to focus on what she was saying, Jean-Luc�s mind couldn�t help but wander back to the other night in front of the fire. The way she�d sighed as he�d kissed her neck. �Jean-Luc?� With her eyebrows raised and a feeble attempt at concealing a smile, she waved. �Hello?� Snapping out of his wandering thoughts, he cleared his throat. �Huh? Sorry, what was that?� With a teasing look in her eyes, Beverly said, �You have no idea what I just said do you?� Looking embarrassed, he shook his head. �I�m sorry. I guess I got lost in thought for a moment.� �I see.� With a mischievous glimmer in her blue eyes, she pressed ahead, �What kind of thoughts?� Almost spitting it out the sip of coffee he�d just sipped, he asked, �I beg your pardon?� Seeming not the least bit daunted by his reaction, she nonchalantly added, �I�m sorry, it�s just that, um� your eyes were wandering quite a bit. If you know what I mean.� Trying desperately not to laugh, she brought her coffee cup up to her lips. �They were not.� �Yes, they were.� Knowing he�d been caught in a lie, he looked down and smiled in embarrassment. �Do you really want to know what I was thinking about just now?� �Very much so.� He knew full well what kind of game she was playing. She probably thought he wouldn�t go along with it. So as a way of beating her at her own game, he said, �I was just thinking about the other night� you and me in front of the fireplace.� He looked back up to her and tried to gauge her reaction. She set her cup down on the table before her and looked at him. �To be honest, I�ve been thinking about it a lot, too.� Getting up, she made her way behind him and encircled her arms around his neck. With her lips close to his ear, she continued in a husky voice, �You�re a very� very seductive man, Jean-Luc.� Then, all of a sudden, Beverly pulled away from him and started toward the house. Looking at her as she walked away, the captain found he had a hard time swallowing. He wasn�t used to this playful side of Beverly. Of course, they had flirted before, many times actually. However, they�d never done so to the extent they�d just done. Then just before the doctor entered the house, she looked over her shoulder and winked at him. When he lost sight of her, he breathed out slowly in an attempt at slowing his heart rate. Fresh in his mind, her last words echoed back to him. How she�d said he was seductive. Voicing his thoughts out loud, he said, �The very same can be said about you, Doctor.� * * * * �Come on, come on,� Beverly pleaded quietly as she finished her last adjustments on the bio-regeneration unit. Then looking closely at the readouts, she smiled and mouthed a silent yes! It was now well into the afternoon. After her interesting breakfast with the captain earlier that morning, she�d taken her shower and had immediately started working. With painstaking precision, she�d recalibrated the unit and at last had finished. Now all that was left to do was to do a few tests with some tissue samples and if everything went well, she could proceed on treating the captain. Speaking of which� is he back yet? A little over an hour ago, Jean-Luc had gone out. He�d said he needed to go to the market to get something. �Jean-Luc?� she called out as she made her way to the front of the house. Coincidently, at the same time, the front door opened and the captain came in carrying a medium-sized flat box. Beverly smiled. �There you are. I just finished working on the bio-unit and was wondering whether you were back or not.� Curious as to what he�d bought, she asked, �What�s that?� Closing the door behind him, he lifted the box and replied teasingly, �This?� Laughing, she nodded. �Yes, that.� �It�s a surprise.� �A surprise� For me?� �Yes, for you.� He handed it to her. Reluctantly, she took it from him. It wasn�t as heavy as she expected it to be. She shook it lightly from side to side. �It isn�t breakable I hope?� �It isn�t, no. Go on, open it.� Slowly, Beverly opened it. Whatever was inside was neatly covered with delicate white paper. She pulled the paper away gently to reveal whatever it was. She touched the delicate fabric of the carefully folded garment and gasped. �Oh, Jean-Luc.� Immediately, she recognized the delicate cream fabric and the ornate embroidery on it. �This is the dress I saw at the market when we first got here.� Slowly, she shook her head as she admired it. �It is. I thought you might like to wear it tonight at the festival. I was told by the locals that people tend to dress up for the celebrations.� �This is too much� I don�t know what to say�� �Seeing the look on your face right now is all the thanks I need.� �This is wonderful. You�re wonderful.� With that, she leaned forward and kissed him softly. �So you�ll wear it?� �Of course I�ll wear it.� �Well, in that case� I can�t wait until tonight.� * * * * The sun was setting and as the light diminished, Beverly carefully lit the two oil lamps in her bedroom. Neatly laid out on her bed was the dress she was to wear later that night. Looking at the clock on the night-table, Beverly realized she�d better hurry if she didn�t want to be late. She turned her attention back to the full-length mirror by her window and proceeded to finish fixing her hair. She�d opted for classic sophistication by curling her hair and then loosely gathering it back into an intricate-looking knot at the nape of her neck. Looking at herself closely, Beverly bit her lower lip and exhaled. A nervous anticipation filled her and she wasn�t sure why. Perhaps it was because the captain had gone through the trouble to get her the dress she�d loved so. She just wanted to look perfect for him. Of course, he would think she looked beautiful even if she wore a baggy gym-suit, but that was simply the kind of man he was� kind, caring, undemanding toward her. Picking the dress up, she carefully slid into it and proceeded to button up the back, starting at the waist. It sounded simple enough, but doing it was another matter. The buttons were so small and delicate that it was difficult to do them up. After a few minutes of this slow process, she was almost done. The dress fit perfectly. The round neckline was low, but not overly so and the short peasant sleeves gave the dress a sort of innocence. The waist was fitted and accentuated her small hourglass figure. And finally, the long flowing skirt brought it all together with its delicate layers of fabric. As she saw her reflection, she couldn�t help but feel a little silly, for she kind of felt like a princess. Well, the simplistic Bak�u version of one at least. But nonetheless, that�s what she felt like. She was practically ready, but she was having the most difficult time with the last three buttons. Suddenly, she heard soft knocking on her bedroom door. Damn, we�re going to be late. �Beverly?� �Come in.� As the door opened and the captain peered through, the doctor stopped fussing with the back of her dress and simply waited to see his reaction. The look in his eyes said it all. Awe. �You look absolutely enchanting�� Fumbling on his words, he added, �breathtaking.� �Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.� Looking down at his attire, he chuckled slightly. �Well, the lady down at the garment shop said that it�s the traditional men�s attire for formal Bak�u gatherings.� Although simple, the captain�s clothing suited him very well. He wore a white long sleeved shirt made of a fabric that looked a lot like linen, as well as grey colored pants. Turning her attention back to the last three annoying buttons on the back of her dress, Beverly said, �I�m sorry to have kept you waiting. I just can�t seem to be able to button up the rest of this dress.� Seeing she wasn�t getting anywhere, she sighed and looked at him in embarrassment. �Would you mind helping me?� �It�d be my pleasure.� Walking up behind her, Jean-Luc gently started to do up her dress. It wasn�t a very complicated task, but the captain still found that he had a hard time focusing. The soft skin of her back and the enticing scent of her perfume led him to utter distraction. And for a moment, he couldn�t help but wonder what it would be like to undo the delicate buttons instead of doing them up. Finally, he was done, and as she turned toward him, he offered her his arm. �Shall we go?� Beverly walked over to the dresser and turned the small knobs on the sides of the lamps to put out the flames. Then taking his arm, she said, �Lead the way.� * * * * Chapter 12 The festival was just getting started by the time the couple made their way there. The atmosphere was joyous and everyone was dressed in similar attires as the captain and doctor. The evening would start out with a feast. Several very long tables had been set in an open area in the middle of the village. Decorative lanterns set upon them gave a warm glow that only served to enhance the beauty of the settings. Jean-Luc and Beverly were soon joined by some of their acquaintances from the village and they were then assigned seating. With soft music being played by live musicians in the background, Crusher smiled as the captain pulled out a chair for her. �Thank you.� Once she was sitting down, Picard pulled out the chair immediately next to hers and seated himself as well. Directly across from them were Sojef and Artim, as well as Anij. �This is lovely,� Beverly said as she looked all around them. �We hold these celebrations every year,� Anij said from across the table. �It�s a time everyone here looks forward to. Do you have such festivals in your culture doctor?� �Well, I spent the majority of my childhood on the planet Caldos with my grand-mother. It�s a colony that was established with the goal of preserving my Scottish heritage. You see, my family originates from Scotland on Earth. So I guess with a colony that holds such values, it�s pretty much a guarantee there will be quite a few good festivals during the year.� �That�s really interesting,� said Sojef. �So, if I understand correctly, your colony and ours share a trait in common.� With a small laugh, Beverly replied, �I guess they do.� The doctor accepted a glass of wine offered by one of the many waiters catering to their crowded table. �What about you, Captain?� Sojef asked. �Do you come from such a colony?� Picard shook his head. �Not exactly, no.� With a warm glow in his eyes, he reminisced, �Although France has a strong hold on its heritage, the vast majority of people there have settled into a standard way of living as do almost everyone on Earth. You know, the same commodities and so forth. But my father�� He smiled fondly and shook his head. ��wouldn�t let any of those technologically advanced commodities into our home. My mother cooked every meal and the wine we produced at our vineyard was done the old-fashioned way.� �Then captaining a starship was a far cry from your upbringing then?� �Yes, it was. But then again, I think that it helped me in the long run. It gave me a sort of� understanding about how life can be for less technologically advanced civilizations as well as an appreciation for both ways of life.� Artim, who had so far remained silent, finally spoke, �You must be missing your ship then, huh?� After taking the time to swallow a sip of wine, Picard answered, �I suppose I do miss it, but then again, I think my time here has done me some good.� As he said it, he cast a meaningful glance at Beverly. Anij was keenly aware of the shared look between the two officers and she couldn�t help but smile to herself. Something special was developing between those two and that was good. The captain she knew from before had a sort of heaviness to him� it was almost imperceptible, but now that it was gone, it was obvious. His whole demeanor had changed, his mood seemed lighter. At that, his former flame was happy. �What about you doctor? How do you find life planet-side versus trekking the stars aboard the Enterprise?� �To be honest, I think I�m finally getting used to it. You see, I hold a position as head of Starfleet Medical back on Earth now. I�ve held the position for over a year now. At first, it felt strange seeing the sunshine outside my window instead of passing stars, but not so much anymore.� Artim broke in the conversation, �So you flew all the way out here just to treat him?� The young man got a disapproving look from his father. �Artim�� said Sojef. Knowing the boy didn�t mean anything by it, Beverly smiled and shrugged. �Well, I guess I did.� Looking at Picard, she laughed softly. Without breaking eye contact with Beverly, Jean-Luc addressed the young man, �And I�m very grateful to her for doing so.� The moment hung between them�a mutual understanding of how much they meant to one another. Finally, Picard turned to look at the young man. �Also, you�ve got to understand, it�s not every doctor that makes these sorts of inter-galactic house calls.� The little circle of friends all shared a laugh. Sojef lifted his glass. �So what do you say we all make a toast To good wine, good food and good friends!� �Here, here!� echoed the voices of everyone gathered at that section of the table. And together, they all enjoyed a wonderful dinner filled with pleasant conversation. Afterward, when all the plates were taken away, some of the men started gathering in an open area to the side of the tables. Sojef indicated to the captain that he was welcome in joining them. Picard did so. Beverly and Anij remained seated at the table. �What are they doing?� Beverly asked with a curious smile. Anij laughed. �They�re going to play a few games like they always do during the opening of the festival. Now, I don�t know if the men from your culture are like the ones here, always taking advantage of any time they get to compete against one another.� Beverly nodded. �Men really are sort of like the bigger version of children sometimes.� For the next few minutes, the two women looked on as the men played a game similar to Earth�s version of horseshoe. Glancing back and forth between Picard and Crusher, Anij could see how lovingly the doctor was gazing at the captain. From time to time, Jean-Luc would look back at Beverly and smile. �He seems really happy,� Anij commented. Beverly snapped out of her reverie. �Huh? You think so?� �He does.� With a genuine smile, she continued, �I�m really happy for the two of you.� The doctor didn�t know exactly what to say to that. Instead, she smiled shyly and reached for her glass of wine. After their game was done, the men headed back toward their table. As Picard sat back down, Beverly asked, �Have fun?� �Well, let�s just say that I�ll keep my day job, but yes I had a good time.� Suddenly, with various kinds of flutes and drums, the musicians started playing a lively tune. At that moment, practically everyone got up from their tables and headed toward the open area. �What�s going on?� asked Beverly. Anij smiled. �It�s a traditional Bak�u folk dance.� �Is that so?� Sojef turned to Anij. �May I have the honor of this dance?� �The honor would be mine.� Getting up, the couple turned toward the two officers. Sojef said, �Would you two care to join us? It�s really easy to learn.� Picard couldn�t help but wince inwardly. Though he often had to as a diplomat, he absolutely loathed dancing at social functions. However, the people here had been so good to him that he didn�t want to insult them by refusing their request. Turning toward Beverly, he got further encouragement by the look in her eyes� the one that said, �It�ll be fun, don�t worry.� He got up and extended his hand. �Would you care to dance, Doctor?� She took his hand. �I would love to.� As they got to the dancing area, Beverly and Jean-Luc looked around them a bit nervously. The steps being done by the other couples didn�t seem all too complicated, but they didn�t want to look like idiots, either. Sojef saw the question in their eyes. �Here, just do as we do.� Jean-Luc and Beverly closely followed what Sojef and Anij were doing and did their best to mirror it. First, the captain bowed, and then Beverly did a sort of curtsy. Then slowly at first, they started to learn the steps. On a few occasions, they got mixed up with their feet, enticing laughter from them both. �So much for not looking like idiots,� said Picard. �Oh we�re going to get the hang of it. You�ll see.� Then finally, the dance started to fall naturally into place. With a firm hand on Beverly�s lower back, Jean-Luc led her gently to the rhythm of the music. Once they had mastered the basics of the dance, their focus turned toward one another and their gazes locked. At some points, the steps required them to get closer, during which Jean-Luc could smell the sweet scent of her hair. He couldn�t help but notice that she seemed to be blushing, with the soft pink of her cheeks enhancing her beautiful features. Finally, the music came to an end. and just like that the dance, which had turned out to be surprisingly pleasant, was over. �See, you two were great,� Anij said as she approached them. Picard cleared his throat and said, �Uh, thank you.� Although it was getting very late, the celebrations were still in full swing. After their attempt at folk dancing, they had retired to their table and had spent the rest of the evening drinking wine and talking with some of the locals. �Want any more wine?� Picard asked. Beverly shook her head. �No, thank you. I think I�ll quit before I get tipsy.� Laughing, the captain looked around and noted that most of their table companions had left for another round of dancing. �Did you have a good time tonight?� �I did. Thank you.� �Now what do you say we take a stroll back toward the house?� �That�d be great. Let�s go.� As she got up, she looked at the dancing couples, �Anyway, with the way this party is going, I don�t think we�ll be missed very much.� �I think you�re right.� Hand in hand., they made their way through the streets, Picard said as he glanced sideways at Beverly. �So if this new treatment of yours works, our time here is almost at an end.� �I guess it is� if it works.� Jean-Luc stopped in his tracks and regarded her for a moment. �You know� our time spent here has meant a lot to me.� �It has to me, too.� �I guess a part of me doesn�t want it to end, but at the same time, I fully know that it has to�� Taking her other hand in his as well, he sighed and continued, �What�s going to happen to us? I mean, you have your life on Earth now.� Beverly knew that this conversation was bound to come up and it made her feel a twinge of sadness. With a low, almost choked voice, she said, �And you have yours on the Enterprise.� As much as she wanted to come back to serve with him, she knew that her former position wasn�t hers to take anymore. Furthermore, she couldn�t ask him to give up his ship. Much to her chagrin, the ship had always been his priority. And she loved him enough not to ask him to part with it. �Why don�t we just try to live for now instead of worrying about the future? If we�re meant to be once we�re away from this place then it�ll all fall into place. We have to believe that.� �You�re right. Tonight, we should focus on the here and now.� Smiling sadly, Beverly nodded. Suddenly, the sound of a drael-drawn carriage captured their attention. �Would you kind folks like a lift somewhere?� asked the man holding the reigns. Picard looked to Beverly to see if she felt up to it. �We don�t have to if you�re afraid.� She smiled. �I think it would be nice.� �You�re sure?� �I am.� Picard turned back to the man on the carriage. �We would love to. Thank you.� Carefully, Jean-Luc helped her to climb in the carriage, and then sat down beside her. As the carriage slowly started to make its way down the narrow street, he gently draped his arm over her shoulder. Smiling at him, Beverly snuggled closer, and then turned to look at the scenery that passed by them. Since the house wasn�t too far away, the ride wasn�t all that long. Once the carriage came to a stop, the couple thanked the man for his kindness and stepped off. The carriage then slowly continued on its way, leaving the two alone by a large tree near a narrow pathway that led to the house which was a little further up. Turning his attention from the retreating carriage toward Beverly, the captain saw that she was now leaning with her back toward the tree. In the near darkness, he could make out her eyes, their newly-found youthfulness evident. Now that they were away from prying eyes, Jean-Luc felt compelled to get closer to her. Slowly, he took the few steps necessary to close the gap between them and with his hand leaned on the tree just a little over her shoulder. With his other hand, he gently caressed her cheek. �Do you have any idea the effect you have on me?� She whispered, �Probably the same effect you have on me.� Slowly, they brought their lips together in a tender kiss. With a small breeze brushing against their skin, the two lingered in their embrace. A perfect moment. When the captain�s lips parted from hers ever so slightly, Beverly said, �I love you.� �I love you, too.� And they kissed again. Neither was sure whether seconds or minutes had passed, but they were soon interrupted by the sudden appearance of raindrops. Although falling softly at first, it quickly started pouring. Caught in the rainstorm, the two made their way toward the house as fast as they could, hand in hand. When they finally made their way through the front door, they were both laughing and soaking wet. �That sure came down fast,� said Beverly. �Look at us, we�re soaked.� Shaking off some of the water that dripped down from his hands, Picard said, �Why don�t we get out of these wet clothes and if you want after I could start a nice fire?� �Sounds like a good idea.� Once Beverly got to her bedroom, she shut the door behind her and leaned back on it. Closing her eyes, she sighed. The memory of his lips on hers was very vivid in her mind, just as his voice as he�d told her he loved her too. We�ve played it safe long enough. Their time here was nearing an end and if they really were to focus on the here and now, then she�d have to let go of any remaining doubts. Biting her lower lip, she pondered exactly what to do next. * * * * Jean-Luc lit the oil lamp that was on his dresser and proceeded to take a dry set of clothing out of the drawer. At that instant, he heard a soft knock on the door. He opened it slowly. Beverly stood on the other side, still wearing her drenched dress, her wet hair clinging to the side of her face. �Is anything wron�� He was silenced as she came forward and kissed him urgently. Forgotten, the dry clothes he held in his hands immediately fell to his feet. With his strong arms, he pulled her closer. As the passion within them grew, he only managed to ask, �Bev? Are you sure this�� �We�ve wasted enough time as it is.� she continued huskily, �This could be one of our last nights here. I want to make the most of it.� As soon as their lips met once more, the pair stumbled further in the room, both holding on to the other as tightly as they could. Beverly effortlessly worked her way through each button of the captain�s shirt until it was completely undone. Tugging the shirt�s fabric near his collar, she gently pulled down and back to reveal his shoulders, then his arms. Once he was completely shirtless, the doctor slowly ran her fingers down his back. As she did this, the captain took his hand and gently undid the knot in her hair. The fiery, drenched locks then fell seductively on her shoulders. Jean-Luc broke contact with her lips to admire her. He was totally lost in her and he couldn�t quite yet believe that he was finally going to have her. After all these years of secretly loving her, he would now be able to show her just how much. Gently, he put his hands on her shoulders and slowly turned her so that her back faced him. With his face close to her ear, he brought his hands down each of her arms in a gentle caress. When his hands finally reached hers, he clasped them lightly. He trailed soft kisses along the side of her neck. As he did so, he let go of her hands and brought his up to the delicate buttons on the back of her dress. Starting from the top, he carefully undid each of them. Beneath his fingers, he could feel her tremble slightly. Turning her slowly so that she faced him again, he lifted her chin and delved into her eyes �You alright?� With a small smile, she closed her eyes and nodded slightly. When she opened her eyes once more, they were filled with immense warmth. �Make love to me.� Capturing her mouth once more, Jean-Luc pulled her to him tighter still. He then proceeded to carefully pull down the short sleeves of her dress, revealing her smooth shoulders. Finally, the dress fell to the ground, leaving her clad in delicate white satin and lace. �Tu es tellement belle.� Jean-Luc whispered. Then he effortlessly scooped up her slender frame in his arms and headed toward the bed. Slowly, carefully, he lay her down and settled beside her. The soft light created by the oil lamp only served to enhance her elegant features. He couldn�t help but be in awe of her. With his thumb, he lightly traced her chin and bottom lip, until finally he kissed her once again. Not long after that, the remainder of their garments had found their way to the wooden floor, leaving them entangled in the white linen sheets covering the bed. And as he finally took her, Beverly let out a small gasp, followed immediately by a soft sigh. Their lovemaking was gentle, attentive. It was everything she thought it would be and more. Gently, she slid her hands down his back, feeling his toned muscles beneath her fingers. At times, they kissed passionately, while at others, they simply looked at one another with desire. Tenderly, Jean-Luc brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, and then brushed his lips against her neck. As he made his way toward her throat, Beverly tilted her head back. Trying to keep his breathing under control, he softly said, �I can�t believe I�m finally making love to you.� Never before had he experienced anything as intense. Of course, he�d made love to other women before, but it had never felt quite like this. Just the depth of his love for her would have been enough to explain the unbelievable nature of the moment they were sharing, but that combined with the emotional effect the planet was having on them made it on the verge of being overwhelming. And for the first time in his life, Picard grasped what a soulmate was. He�d never really believed in such a thing before, but now couldn�t think of a better word to describe her. �I can�t believe it, either,� Beverly whispered back. Time seemed to stand still for the both of them as they explored this new stage in their relationship. They were now one and it felt right. She�d fully given herself over to him, and in turn, he�d given himself to her. Neither held back, and both were willing to share as much as they could with the other. The intensity between them grew and grew until it could go no higher. Finally, it died down, leaving the two almost to the point of exhaustion. Beverly lay over him, with her head resting on his chest. As she slowed her breathing, she could feel his heart beating rapidly. Feeling his hands combing through her hair, she closed her eyes. �I love you, Beverly.� He�d said it first this time around and that brought a small smile to her lips. �I love you too.� As his heart rhythm slowed, Beverly relaxed even more. She felt so safe, so loved being in his arms. For a man with such a hard exterior to the people who only knew him casually, he had an unbelievable capacity to love. And at that very moment, the doctor couldn�t help but feel lucky, privileged even, for being the woman he held in his heart. What lay ahead for them, she could only guess. But she was determined to keep the memories of this night forever etched in her mind. Eventually, her reverie gave way to fatigue as she slipped deeper and deeper into slumber nestled cozily against the man she loved. continue to ch 13 to 16 Library |