Douleur

Synopsis: Alternate Reality. Takes place approximately 2374. Picard's shuttle mysteriously disappears, leaving tragedy in its wake.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to CBS, its parents and affiliates. Just taking the characters out for a jaunt around the galaxy, I warrant they will be returned in the same condition I borrowed them.

Part 1

Entering sickbay, Deanna observes Isabel Picard perched on the end of a bed in the intensive care area reading from a PADD to an elderly Andorian officer with a very pale blue complexion. Walking over to Beverly studying the sensor display, Deanna smiles lightly. "Hello, Doctor."

Turning around at the sound of Deanna's voice, Beverly smiles lightly, her right hand holding her tricorder coming to rest at her side. "Hi, Deanna. I didn't even hear you. What can I do for you?"

"Nothing, thank you. I haven't seen you today. I came to wish you a happy anniversary," says Deanna cheerfully.

Relaxing, Beverly grins. "Thank you. It's sweet you remembered. Nine years. Isn't that crazy?" A tech hands Beverly a PADD and she nods appreciatively. "Thank you."

"I can't believe we've been on the Enterprise over a decade," Deanna agrees. "Will you celebrate when the captain returns?"

"Uh, no," replies Beverly distractedly, briefly re-reading the patient's file on her PADD. " We, uh, we tried to plan this nice quiet dinner before he left, but it didn't turn out so nice and quiet."

"Why's that?" Deanna inquires conversationally as Beverly consults the sensors again.

"Well, the night before he left neither of us were on duty. We got the kids to bed at a reasonable hour. We had a delicious meal, exquisite wine, it was lovely. But, then Belle had a nightmare right in the middle of our main course. I got her back to sleep, we tried to pick up where we left off. Then he got called to the Bridge and I went to bed alone."

Frowning in sympathy, Deanna nods empathetically. If anyone can relate to this kind of occurrence, it is her. "I'm sorry. That's awful."

Shrugging, Beverly turns to her patient. "It doesn't matter. J.P ended up with an upset stomach an hour later anyway. Commander, I'm going to my office. I leave you in the capable hands of my intern, Dr. Picard. Be sure to be as difficult for her as possible, very demanding." Beverly jokes with the Andorian officer lying limply in the bed.

The small red-haired child giggles, setting her PADD down on the bed. "Mom!"

The Andorian officer smiles good-naturedly. "Doctor, your eight year-old assistant here is the only thing keeping me from losing my mind during my imprisonment."

"Recovery," Beverly corrects the Andorian gently.

"Whatever you want to call it, she's made it tolerable," the elderly officer supplies graciously. "Although, I'm convinced she's cheating at cards. No one's luck is that good."

Isabel giggles and Beverly hands her the tricorder. "You can have her until seven o'clock, providing she completes her homework and eats dinner."

"I will," the girl assures her mother, easily accepting the tricorder.

"Come get me if the Commander needs anything," Beverly orders her daughter seriously.

"I will," Isabel repeats, happy to be given a charge.

"I'll come check on you shortly," Beverly assures the patient before she turns to head to the office.

"She's adorable. The patients love her. She's the spitting image of you," Deanna remarks as they enter Beverly's office.

With a smile and small sigh, Beverly sits on the sofa. "Oh, I don't know. Some days I think she's inherited her father's stubborn streak."

"You have a bit of that stubbornness yourself," Deanna points out with a light laugh, slowly transferring to the sofa.

Laughing in self-deprecation, Beverly nods. " Yeah, you're probably right. The funny thing is, the boys aren't really like that. Wesley's not overly stubborn, and J.P is so easy-going, so eager to please."

"Well, you're lucky. Mine are far too hard-headed and independent for their own good. I'm hoping this one's a little milder," admits Deanna teasingly, laying a hand on her protruding belly.

Beverly bolts upwards. "Oh, Deanna. Did I miss an appointment? The schedule…"

Shaking her head, Deanna puts her hand on Beverly's forearm. "No, no. I didn't have an appointment. I just came to wish you a happy anniversary. Thought maybe you'd want some company while he's away."

"Thank you," Beverly responds graciously. "But, you know if you need anything you don't need to make an appointment."

"Thanks. I didn't need to see you. Just wanted to pop in," Deanna assures her. "Actually, it's almost time to get the kids from mok'bara anyway, so I'll let you get back to work."

"Will you send J.P down here when they're finished?" Beverly asks.

"Of course," Deanna replies easily.

"And then get off your feet," Beverly requests, looking at her friend warningly.

Rolling her eyes, Deanna pushes herself of the sofa. "Doctor…"

Beverly rises to her feet, steadying Deanna with a look of part concern, part annoyance on her face. "Don't 'Doctor' me. You should be on bed rest."

Lips tightening into a frown, Deanna folds her arms across her chest. "I'm fine, Beverly."

"I'll decide if you're fine," retorts Beverly with a peaked brow. "Deanna, you have to be careful. After the problems you had with Kestra…"

Cutting her off, Deanna raises a hand. "I know, I know. But honestly, I feel fine. And we're in the home stretch now. Just have to hang in a little longer."

Beverly nods reluctantly. "I just don't need anything to happen to you or the baby."

"Don't worry. I get enough badgering from Will. I promise I'll take it easy. I won't do anything to put her in jeopardy," says Deanna reassuringly.

Beverly moves toward the door to her office. "What makes you think it's a girl? I thought you were going to wait to find out?"

Beaming, Deanna follows Beverly. "I can't explain it, but I have an empathic link with her. I can just feel it, and I have absolutely no doubt of it."

Walking back towards the intensive care area, Beverly shakes her head in disbelief. "That's remarkable. Have you told Will?"

Shaking her head, Deanna laughs lightly. "No. And, it's not easy to keep it from him. I want him to be surprised, though. Besides, I like that this is something special I share with her. My kids are Will's. One hundred percent they are their father's progeny. Billy worships his father, and Kestra is her father's baby girl. I guess it's selfish, but I have a feeling this one will be mine, and I'm thrilled."

Glancing at her daughter reading to the ill Andorian officer, Beverly swells with pride. She is grateful to have three wonderful children. "I understand what you mean. They may resemble Will. But ,give yourself some credit, Deanna. Those kids would be lost without you. You're the most amazing mother I know. You have the patience of a saint."

Following Beverly over to the Andorian's bed, Deanna laughs in self-deprecation. "You have to have an abundance of patience to be married to Will Riker."

"That's true," agrees Beverly with humour as she turns to the patient. "Well, Commander, you sick of Belle yet?"

Raising a brow at Isabel, the officer's lips curl. "She skipped the part with the ferocious beast."

Frowning, Isabel reddens. "It's scary. I don't like that part. It's only good when Daddy acts it out with the voices and the hero saves everyone. Then it's not so scary. "

Smiling in understanding, Beverly puts a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"I'm going to get the kids. I'll bring J.P here before we go to our quarters," Deanna offers.

Turning, Beverly shakes her head. "Oh, no. Go home and rest. Just ask Jean-Paul to come straight here. He knows his way."

Inhaling sharply, Deanna's face is troubled. "I'll ask Worf to bring him down."

Refraining from sighing, Beverly reminds herself that although they are both raising children of the same age on the ship, she and Deanna are not always the same when it comes to parenting. Beverly had raised a son on her own before she had re-married and produced two more children. She is the Chief Medical Officer and her husband is the captain of the ship with two small children. She does not have the luxury to over-protect her children. Although her husband is more strict in disciplining the children than she is, Beverly tends to provide her younger son and only daughter with freedom and autonomy, wanting them to develop their own character and independence. She recognizes that the security of the ship will protect them from any grave danger and that along the way they may mistakes but learn in the process. By contrast, her husband sets high expectations for their five year-old son and eight year-old daughter that sometimes concerns her. Sometimes she believes he expects them to be perfect and behave like the rational adults he is accustom to managing. She often has to remind him that their young children are not officers, they are children who will occasionally act out and they need to have patience with them. Besides, she always points out, they have incredible children who are kind, well-behaved, intelligent and genuinely good-hearted. Whenever she reminds him of that, Jean-Luc smiles and asks what more they could ask for. Will and Deanna's eight year-old boy and five year-old girl are also well-disciplined with good characters for their ages. But, by contrast to her, Deanna has a tendency to over-protect and coddle her children. Perhaps the overbearing nature can be attributed to Deanna's own formidable mother, Lwaxanna Troi, Beverly cannot be certain. What she does know, however, is that Beverly has been through this before. She raised Wesley essentially single-handedly, although she had Jean-Luc and the guidance of some of her friends on the Enterprise while Wesley was a teenager. Beverly was a single mother with a demanding career raising a very energetic and intelligent boy. She could not excessively fuss over everything. When they came on the Enterprise, Wesley soaked everything up like a sponge. He wanted to learn and experience everything. As a mother, Beverly had been terrified of the potential dangers he would be exposed to as an acting ensign. Originally when he took the helm, she would be on pins and needles. Each time he would accompany an away team, Beverly's stomach would churn, silently wondering if he would be injured, if he would even return in one piece. The tortured memory of her late husband's death haunted her, reminding her that her son was choosing the same path. Would he have the same destiny as his father? She eventually taught herself to let go, to give Wesley the freedom to come into his own, choose his own destiny. Now, Wesley is proving to be a fine young officer and the fear of his service that used to paralyze her rarely crosses her mind. Wesley had weathered enough storms unscathed, and that gave her the wisdom and courage to expect that the children she shared with Jean-Luc would be strong enough to handle life on a starship, as well. This time around, Beverly is calmer, wiser, a result of experience that Deanna has not had the fortune of having. Furthermore, Beverly is sometimes just exhausted. She is older, tires more easily, and chooses to pick her battles carefully. She can recognize what is truly important. While Beverly would permit her children to roam the ship unescorted, Deanna does not prefer to have her children unchaperoned. Beverly recognizes that her children have been roaming the corridors of the ship before they could walk, they know it like the backs of their hands. Isabel and Jean-Paul have been well-instructed on what areas they are permitted to wander and what areas are strictly off-limits. Isabel is entirely rule-abiding, never causing any trouble at home or in school. If she is told to go to the cabin after her dance lesson ends, she would go straight to their quarters after her dance lesson without a thought otherwise. They usually do not have a problem with Jean-Paul, either. For the most part, he just wants to make his parents and teachers happy. He wants nothing more than to grow up and captain the Enterprise, the flagship of the Federation, just like his father. However, J.P also idolizes the older Billy Riker, and if Billy Riker wants to do something, J.P demands to be included. This causes consternation amongst them, forcing Jean-Luc and Beverly to remind their son that his friend sometimes gets to do some things he does not because Billy is older and more mature, and that rules do not always apply equally.

Envying the time and patience her friend has for all of the children, Beverly bobs her head wearily. "Thank you."