The Final Mission Part II - The Recovery
Disclaimers: I do not own these characters. I am borrowing Gene Wesley Roddenberry's characters because its more fun than coming up with my own.
Story Note: This takes place almost 5 days later and 48 hours before the arrival at Starbase 343, and 72 hours before Ensign Crusher is due to return to duty.
Feedback: Please read and review! Even if you're just writing to say, you didn't like it ...constructive criticism and positive feedback is always helpful and appreciated.
Characters: Wesley, Beverly, Jean Luc, Deanna, Data, Geordie, Riker, and a few minor characters like...Robin...: )
Chapter 1 - Confusion
Stardate 44375.22
Personal Log of Wesley Crusher ***********************************************************************************************************
"After the incident on Lambda Paz and the unforeseen problems with my recovery, I have not been able to resume my classes nor have I been able to resume my bridge and engineering duties as an Ensign. Dr. Crusher tells me that I am suffering from Aphasia as a result of damage to the brain from lack of oxygen or trauma of concussion. She assures me when we arrive at Starbase 343 in two days we have a more definitive outlook on whether this damage is temporary or permanent. It quite frankly frightens me that I can't remember simple equations that I use to know by heart, and many recent memories of the last few months are simply gone. My greatest fear is that I will be declared permanently unfit for duty...and will permanently lose a spot at Starfleet. My mother keeps saying one day at a time. It's hard to live by that philosophy when you can't remember what happened a few short days ago." **********************************************************************************************************
Wesley sat at his desk, his long legs curled beneath him criss crossed apple sauce as he poured over class notes and diagrams from his astrophysics class. He absently rubbed his head as he read the words over and over again to himself. It didn't make sense to him. No matter how many times he read it, the words might as well have been in Klingon. He threw the PADD on the floor in frustration and put his head on the desk unaware of the door swooshing open behind him.
A set of warm hands on his shoulders did not startle him as they provided a gentle massage, but he kept his head down.
"Wes, you're supposed to be resting." his mother said stroking the back of his shaggy hair. It was growing past regulation length, as she waited for all the incisions to heal before sending him off to the barber.
She picked his PADD and began reading. "Wesley, where did you get this?"
Wesley did not reply.
She pulled him back and forced him to look up at her, his angry red rimmed eyes nearly broke her heart.
"You're not supposed to be looking at this stuff yet. You were well ahead in all of your classes and all you need to do is take your exams in order to complete the courses. You have plenty of time. Now is not the time to be worried about this stuff."
"I can't understand it." he whispered, his head down, hiding his eyes.
She grabbed Wesley by his hands and pulled him to his feet. She dragged him towards his quarters and sat down on the bed with him.
"Wes, you have a brain injury. It will take time to heal. The pain you are having is called a migraine, and unfortunately, it may be harder to get rid of, but the problem with understanding words is called Receptive Aphasia. It is a temporary condition. Your amazing genius is still right there inside that gorgeous mind of yours." she said tapping his forehead.
"But I can't even..."
"Shhh..." she placed a soft finger to his lips.
"You should not even be up. I don't want you to read anything until we can get your headaches under control and I can get a few more brain scans in at Starbase 343 in a 48 hours." She pulled his lanky legs up on the bed and made him lie down.
"Mom, I'm tired of sleeping. "
"I know you are bored, but the more you rest the quicker your brain will heal. You are exempt from the rest of the term, and you were given credit for all the work that you completed. There is no need to rush." She covered him with a blanket and adjusted the setting on the hypo spray to the highest setting.
"I'm not a child. Please don't sedate me. I'll stay in bed." he pleaded.
"I know you're not a child Wesley, but you are 100% Crusher. Your mind never takes a nap. I have watched you every night since you have been conscious. You don't sleep, you've been tossing and turning the last few nights and you're going to wear yourself out." She pushed the hypo to his neck and pressed releasing the injection. His eyes almost immediately began to grow heavy as a look of sadness filled his eyes.
"I'll be back in a few hours and I'll make you dinner before I have bridge duty. I'll give you your medicine for your headaches also." Wesley did not reply, his unfocused eyes were heavily sedated as they drooped closed and his breathing evened out. Dr. Crusher smoothed her hand down his face and left him to sleep.
She left the room and headed back to sickbay.
More than an hour passed before Wesley began thrashing about in his bed.
He was in the throws of another nightmare. The forest was dark again. The only light came from the fire erupting from the beast that tormented him each time he moved. The shield in his hand was burning his knuckles from the immense heat of fire. Once again he found himself fighting. He was trying to slay a fire breathing dragon. He'd been burned multiple times, was bleeding and was quickly running out of strength. As he moved in to strike, the dragon swiped him with his tail striking him across his head. Wesley was dazed but quickly gathered his footing and stumbled backward to the ground. The dragon sneered as it approached its prey.
Counselor Troi could feel waves of fear, frustration, and anxiety coming from an unusual location as she sat in her office. Usually she felt a lack of confidence coming from him, and a shy aloofness that made him quite adorable. It was the crippling fear she felt from him that stirred her to action. It was as though he thought he was going to die. She was surprised again that she had such a strong vibe from him, but assumed it was because she was still quite worried about her dear friend and therefore him as well..
"Computer, what is the location of Ensign Crusher?"
"Ensign Crusher has been relieved of duty." Deanna let out an exasperated sigh.
"Computer locate civilian Wesley Crusher."
"Wesley Crusher is in his quarters." Deanna entered the turbo lift and went to deck 12. When she exited she went the short distance to rang the chime at the Crusher residence. While standing at the door, the intense emotions were overwhelming and she thought about calling Beverly, but decided to enter the quarters on her own. She opened the door and proceeded to look around the darkened room.
"Wesley? Are you ok? It's Counselor Troi?" There was no answer. She approached his room and found him thrashing about in his bed. She sat on the edge of the bed and shook his shoulders.
"Wesley! Wake up!" he continued to moan, and she could tell that he could feel pain, but was not hearing her.
The dragon knocked the sword from his hands as he climbed the rocks to try and escape. He felt sharp teeth bite into his leg as a blood curdling scream escaped his lips. He lost his grip and was falling to the fire below. His scream was muted as his fall was stopped by something very soft and warm.
Deanna Troi trapped Wesley's wildly swinging arms beside him and wrapped him in a tight embrace. His head relaxed in the crook of her neck as eventually he stopped struggling and calmed when her quiet whispers reached his psyche.
"There, that's better" Deanna said to herself stroking the back of Wesley's hair as he settled back down to sleep and turned on his side.
"Thank you." he said to her, but nothing escaped his lips. Deanna looked at him astonished.
She said out loud to him... "Wesley, can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you, but I'm really tired can we talk later?" Again no words escaped his lips...she heard him answer in her mind. Deanna's mouth fell agape. She was beginning to wonder whether she was asleep or Wesley was.
"You're telepathic?" she whispered to herself. Wesley did not respond. She covered him up and quickly left their quarters. She chalked it up to weariness as she headed back to her office, perhaps a nap would do her some good as well.
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Chapter 2 or end it here?
Wesley lost his eidetic memory but has he possibly gained another talent...or is Deanna losing her mind? Let the reviews decide? I'd like to get to 80 is before this story is done...geez how many chapters do I have to add to make that happen? Lets start with ten since this is a new chapter! Please! : )
Note: Receptive Aphasia is a real true, debilitating disease affecting the hippocampus and motor and language functions of the brain. It can be due to seizures, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. It is often treatable in younger individuals but tends to lead to dementia in the elderly.