A/N: Based loosely upon the events of Like Father, Like Son, Like Hell by White Stag Knight s/8751720/1/Like-Father-Like-Son-Like-Hell up to chapter 7, after which I take the story my own way. Read Like Father, Like Son, Like Hell up to chapter 7 before reading this to understand the context better. (EDIT: I have permission from White Stag Knight to post this. Enjoy!)

Dr Crusher entered sickbay, wiping the tears from her puffy cheeks. Everyone was silent as she walked through to her office, her head down. All the staff looked to each other, silently deciding who should be the one to talk to her.

"Must I?" Alyssa Ogawa said under her breath as all eyes fell on her. She was undoubtedly Dr Crusher's closest friend among the medical staff, but Beverly was still her boss. Making her way to Dr Crusher's office, she noticed Isla working stubbornly in the lab. She hadn't spoken to anyone in days about what she was doing in there. The image on the screen was definitely not related to the topic she was supposed to be researching. Frowning, Alyssa entered the lab and tried to see what Isla was doing over her shoulder. "Isla?" She asked. Isla gasped and turned to her. Seeing Alyssa standing there she calmed, fearing Dr Crusher might've found her. "What are you doing?"

"Promise you won't tell anybody?" Isla asked, a guilty expression on her face.

"Depends," Alyssa said skeptically. Isla had never kept secrets before. Something must be wrong, Alyssa deduced.

"I'm trying to see if there was anything abnormal about the ion storm," Isla told her. Alyssa raised her eyebrows.

"The investigation is over," Alyssa told her gently. "I'm sorry Isla, Wesley's dead."

"I don't believe that," Isla said bluntly and turned back to her work, a determined expression on her face.

"Isla, no science officer, engineer or even Data could find anything to indicate he's alive," Alyssa argued.

"They haven't found anything to say he's dead either," Isla snapped quietly, typing furiously into the computer.

"How long have you been working on this?" Alyssa inquired.

"Since they cancelled the official investigation," Isla informed her. "I thought that they could find something, but now everyone's stopped looking I'm doing it myself. My research can wait, Wesley's more important."

"You really think he's alive?" Alyssa asked in wonder.

"Yes," Isla said without hesitation. The certainty in her voice sparked a glimmer of hope in Nurse Ogawa. Isla could sense it.

"What makes you so sure?" Nurse Ogawa queried. Isla turned to her.

"I can sense people's minds," Isla explained, laying down the basics. "I've felt it when someone's died before. I can feel it. In here." She tapped the side of her head. "One less voice shouting. But when that shuttle exploded, nothing. Nothing! I don't believe Wesley's dead and as long as I believe that, I'm going to do my duty as a fellow officer and friend to try to help him." she turned back to her computer. Alyssa left quietly. She looked back over her shoulder in the doorway, seeing Isla crouched over the computer as she furiously inputted commands. Her hope was admirable, but worth nothing. Wesley was dead and there was nothing they could do about it, Alyssa thought sadly, turning to Dr Crusher's office. Dr Crusher sat at her desk, staring at the wall.

"Dr Crusher?" Alyssa asked, entering her boss' office cautiously. Dr Crusher looked up at her and blinked before registering what was happening.

"Alyssa," Dr Crusher said and looked back down. "Is there anything I can help you with?" Alyssa clasped her hands together in front of her.

"I just wanted you to know that you're not alone," Alyssa said, doing her best to comfort her friend. "Dr Selar, Dr Hill, all of us, we're here for you." Dr Crusher closed her eyes as more tears welled.

"Thank you Alyssa," she said quietly. She turned back to her computer monitor. Alyssa got the message and left silently. As soon as she'd gone, Dr Crusher let out a sigh and looked up desperately. She didn't look anywhere in particular. Perhaps she was looking for Jack, she didn't know. "Oh Wes!" she whispered before putting her head on her arms, crying quietly.