Little One?

Yes, Mother?

Even her inner voice is full of exasperation, as if she cannot wait to be done with me, Lwaxana thought, trying not to send too many emotions or thoughts through their link. Is the doctor on board trustworthy? I'm not as familiar with her as with Doctor Pulaski.

There was a pause, and Lwaxana thought that she could hear regret in her daughter's mind before she once more sent her words. I would trust Beverly with my life, Mother. But is there anything that I can do for you?

No, she replied swiftly, though she tried to make the word sound light and breezy. No, I just need to have a routine exam before I go back home to Betazed. Thank you. She broke communication with her daughter once more and looked over at the mirror. She did not care at all for the haunted look in her eyes, but knew that there would be no way to expunge the ghosts tormenting her until she was safe at home.

With a shake of her head, Lwaxana stood and made her way over to the door. A tiny part of her expected to see Deanna standing outside her door, wanting to talk to her, but she was relieved when that was not so. And the corridors were blessedly empty of people as she made her way down to Sickbay, so she didn't have to block out any stray thoughts that might shout out from different, untrained, undisciplined, brains.

Again, she was blessed by the gods, as Sickbay was relatively empty, just a few nurses bustling about, their focus on whatever task was at hand allowing her to skim over their thoughts without being drawn in deep. Her movements, though, caught the attention of one, as the young woman looked up and gave her a surprised smile. "Ambassador Troi, what are you doing here?"

"I need to see the doctor. Is she available?"

The nurse cocked her head to one side, and Lwaxna fought not to comment on the thoughts running through her mind, especially about how she looked perfectly healthy. Some of her irritation must have shown on her face, though, since she finally nodded and indicated for Lwaxana to follow after her.

The office she was led to was larger than she had expected, antiseptic, white, and a touch too pure for her liking. Lwaxana was surprised to feel the tightening of her chest that signaled unwanted crying, and she wondered what had triggered that. The feeling grew and grew as she watched Beverly concentrate on the PADD in her hands until she had to start up a mantra to will the feeling away. I am Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed, and I will not let what happened to me make me cry. He is not worth my tears.

Wanting to get the exam over with, she coughed lowly, hoping to catch the doctor's attention. "Oh, Ambassador Troi, what brings you to Sickbay?"

There was a smile on her lips, as if she could feel how unsettled Lwaxana was, and this did little to remove the weight that was still increasing on her chest. "I…"

"Ambassador? What's wrong?" Beverly stood and closed her office door, offering them privacy. It was a combination of the concern in both her voice and thoughts, and the warm hand on her shoulder that broke the dam on Lwaxna's feelings, and she burst into tears, burying her face in her hands as she tried to make herself smaller, less noticeable. "Do you need me to get Deanna?"

"No." It was embarrassing, really, to be reduced to a sniveling mess in front of one of Deanna's friends, and yet, here she was, unable to control herself. "No, I can't talk to her about this."

"About what?" Beverly asked kindly, leading her over to the closest chair and helping her to sit. After she had taken a seat on the desk, her hand never leaving Lwaxana's, she leaned in and looked deeply into her eyes. "Ambassador Troi?"

"I need to know if I've cause to worry about anything. Would, would you please give me a thorough medical examination? Just you, no nurses, and with no documentation. I do not want Deanna to have any possible way of finding this out. I mean, it's one thing to be a flirt…"

She could read the dawning realization that swept over Beverly's mind, and bit her lip hard in order to not start sobbing once more. "Of course, let me get you to a more private room. Follow me." Beverly stood and motioned towards a door at the back of her office. From her mind, Lwaxana was able to ascertain that this was where she and Jean Luc conducted his medical treatments, and the thought of complete privacy set her at ease.

"Thank you," she murmured as she swept over to the examining table and took a seat. Absently, she picked at the ugly green fabric of her dress, wishing that someone had thought to bring Mr. Homm along, so that she would have anything else to wear. She did not want any reminders of what she'd been through, and yet, she was stuck with this repulsive garment until they were home.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Beverly asked as she helped her to lie back, running a tricorder up and down her body as she looked at the results.

"It won't change anything that happened."

"No, but it will chase away the demons that are gnawing at your mind. If I were Doctor Pulaski, I'd be suggesting that we look at the enneagrams where those recent memories are stored and have them removed."

Lwaxana closed her eyes, turning her head to one side as Beverly completed her exam. "Do things like that actually work?" she murmured, unable to look at the woman's face, reading the uncertainty in her mind. It seemed like her tears would never quit flowing, even as Beverly set aside the tricorder aside and clasped her hand tightly, as if she had to shore up her bearings before she spoke again.

"You've probably already sensed my answer, haven't you?" she asked, surprising Lwaxana. Opening her eyes, she met Beverly's cool blue gaze, taking in the deep well of sympathy there, and nodded. "Well, I didn't have much success the time I tried it, so I can't say what will happen if you do contact her. Just, know that it's an option that's available to you. And that if you want an ear to listen to you, I'm here until you head home."

It was a kind gesture, and Lwaxana could find no malice in her thoughts, but still, the idea of opening up to someone so close to her daughter held little appeal for her. "I will keep that in mind, Beverly. Now, about those test results?"

There was another pause, and she could hear the woman's thoughts clearly, smiling a little when she caught whiff that Beverly understood her reticence completely. "Well, according to my tricorder, there is nothing wrong with you, and you didn't pick anything up in your time over there. I am picking up residual effects of prolonged exposure to electric shock. Were you ever planning on saying something about that?"

"No. I did what was necessary to protect my daughter. I would do the same again." An image of the young man who was on the bridge flashed through Beverly's mind, and she knew then that she understood, more than she would ever let on. "Now, I'm going to be home shortly, Jean Luc is being most kind in his haste, and I must pull myself together. As long as everything looks fine here, I'll be going."

Lwaxana sat up, smoothing her hands against the fabric of that hated dress. "I have some replicator rations saved up, if you want something different to wear."

Their eyes met once more, and she gave Beverly a small nod. "That might be nice. Can your replicators come up with my usual standard of garment?"

Beverly tried to smother her laugh as she nodded, and Lwaxana gave her a smile, knowing that she would never forget this small kindness.