Dvorovoi Part One
By Karen Page
There is an NC-17 version available on my website. This is the edited version.
Chapter One
"Come in," Jean-Luc called. He looked up to see his chief medical officer walking towards him through his ready room doors. From the look on her face, Jean-Luc could clearly see that something was bothering her.
"I have some interesting news, Jean-Luc," she said taking a seat on the chair in front of his desk.
"Really?" he replied. "How interesting?"
"Very," Beverly sighed. "It seems that I have a family member that I didn't know about."
"Oh?" Jean-Luc raised his eyebrows slightly. "I thought you were the last Howard woman left."
"So did I," Beverly replied. "Turns out I was mistaken. My grandmother had a sister called Sarah. She and Nana stopped speaking when I was very young and Nana never spoke of her. But according to this, Sarah had a daughter called Anna. Our family is full of feminists. We are all supposed to keep the Howard name, but I broke the rules," Beverly laughed ruefully. "Nana didn't speak to me for a week! Anyway what I'm trying to say is that Anna had a daughter too. She is the only other Howard woman alive and she is coming to stay here with me!"
"With you?" Jean-Luc asked. "I don't understand."
"It's very complicated, but she is only nineteen years old. Anna had her quite late in life. Anna and Sarah died some years ago in an explosion at the colony where they lived and …" Beverly looked down at her pad. "A family friend who has brought her up since then took in Bailey. Unfortunately, this family friend died three months ago and because Bailey is under twenty, she has to have a guardian. Those are the new regulations. As the only surviving family member, they have asked me if I would be willing to be her guardian."
Jean-Luc raised his eyebrows. "Are you willing to do this?" he asked.
"How hard can it be?" Beverly asked. "She's already grown up. She can take care of herself, I just have to be nearby until she is twenty-one. She'll have her own quarters. Her own life."
"What is she going to do here?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"And you have already agreed to this, haven't you," Jean-Luc asked, raising an eyebrow.
Beverly nodded slowly. "It's okay, isn't it? I can hardly say no. She is family."
"I just hope you know what you're doing," Jean-Luc replied with a smile.
Beverly laughed, shaking her head. "I've done it before."
"When does she arrive?"
"Tomorrow sometime. I get the impression that she doesn't want to be here," Beverly replied.
"What makes you say that?" Jean-Luc asked, taking a sip of his earl grey tea.
"I sent her a message this morning to see what her travel plans were. She just sent a short message saying she gets here when she gets here!" Beverly rolled her eyes. "It might be hard for the first few weeks, but hopefully she'll settle in and begin to like it here."
"I hope so too, for your sake," Jean-Luc smiled at her.
Beverly smiled and got to her feet and headed towards the door. "I just hope to God she isn't a redhead," she said.
"Why not?" Jean-Luc asked, mystified.
"Because the redheads in my family are obnoxious little tearaways. I am speaking from experience and from what Nana told me," she laughed.
"Don't tell me you were an obnoxious tearaway," Jean-Luc laughed. "I bet you were awful as a teenager."
Beverly laughed. "I was so bad. But I got over it."
"Glad to hear," Jean-Luc laughed.
"Well I had better go and make the arrangements for her. I'll see you later," Beverly said before she left.
The next morning, Beverly met Jean-Luc as usual in his quarters for breakfast. She was off duty in preparation for the arrival of Bailey and looked a little flustered as she took her usual seat opposite him.
"Well it's the big day today," Jean-Luc said to gauge Beverly's reaction.
Beverly sighed. "I just hope she likes me," she said as she buttered a croissant.
"Of course she will like you," he replied softly. "Everyone likes you Beverly," he added as an afterthought.
"Will you come with me to meet her?" Beverly asked hopefully.
"Don't tell me you are nervous!" Jean-Luc couldn't help but laugh at her. He laughed harder when she glared at him, daring him to carry on.
Beverly rolled her eyes and turned her attention to her mug of steaming coffee. "Jean-Luc, if you had known me when I was nineteen years old, you would realise just what I am dreading."
"I met you when you were twenty-five, that's not much difference," he replied.
"It does make a difference, believe me," Beverly replied. "I was in medical school and the academy then. I had changed drastically over the past five years. If only Nana were alive, she would have told you what I was really like."
"Worse than Wesley?" he asked.
Beverly laughed. "Wesley got into trouble all the time, but he was also usually the one who sorted out the problem in the end. I, on the other hand, caused problems that couldn't be fixed. Which leads me onto something else I think I ought to tell you."
"Go ahead," he replied raising his eyebrows. Beverly's tone had held a warning.
"Bailey was expelled from university. That's why she is coming here now and not when her guardian died three months ago."
"Expelled? I don't like the sound of this." Jean-Luc really did look worried. "What for?"
"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest with you," Beverly replied. "Something to do with causing unwarranted disturbances and injuring one of her professors."
Jean-Luc looked horrified. This young lady was coming on board his ship! "She injured her professor?" he said as calmly as he possibly could.
"Yeah, I was trying to get her school file yesterday but it wouldn't let me read it," Beverly shook her head. "I need to get the official guardianship papers all filled out."
"Yes and please hurry," Jean-Luc smiled at her reassuringly. "I want to know what kind of person I have running about my ship."
Beverly laughed, "I'll sort it all out as soon as I have finished here."
"Bridge to Dr. Crusher," a voice called over the intercom.
"Crusher here, go ahead Will," Beverly replied.
"You're guest has arrived within transporter range," he replied. "She will be beaming on board in five minutes time in transporter room three."
"Acknowledged, Crusher out," Beverly peered at Jean-Luc. "Well it seems I will have to check out her record later. Are you coming?"
"I wouldn't miss this for the universe," Jean-Luc replied, climbing to his feet.
They travelled mainly in silence the whole way to the transporter room. Jean-Luc watched Beverly biting on her lower lip as she took her position up in front of the transporter pad. He stood beside her and ordered the transport to begin.
"Please don't be a redhead," she whispered under her breath.
Jean-Luc chuckled at her side and turned his attention to the young woman beaming aboard the ship in front of him.
Beverly swallowed hard. Bailey was indeed a redhead. She was tall and slender and stunningly beautiful. "Hello Bailey," Beverly said, stepping forward to great her.
Jean-Luc's mind was overcome with memories. Bailey reminded him so much of Beverly when he had first met her over thirty years ago in the bar just outside Starfleet Medical. It was uncanny. She even smiled the same way, a captivating and alluring smile that made many a man weak at the knees. But Bailey's face was softer and unlike Beverly, she had a sprinkling of blonde freckles on her cheekbones and across her nose and her eyes were not blue, they were stunningly violet.
Bailey smiled back. "Hi," she said, stepping down off the pad after picking her bag up and throwing it over her shoulder.
"I'm Beverly, and this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard," Beverly said, making the usual introductions.
"Hello Captain," Bailey said, smiling at him.
"Welcome aboard Bailey," Jean-Luc said, shaking her hand. "I hope you come to like it here."
"I'll give it a go," Bailey replied softly.
"Well, I'll show you to your quarters and let you get settled in," Beverly said, moving towards the door. "I'm sure you're tired after your journey."
"I am totally knackered," Bailey exclaimed as she followed the Captain and Doctor out of the transporter room and down the corridor.
Beverly frowned, wondering what on earth the word knackered meant. "Where do you come from?" she asked.
"Britain," Bailey replied with a wistful smile.
"Oh, that explains it then," Beverly said with a grin.
"Explains what?" Bailey frowned.
"Your accent," Beverly replied as if it were obvious.
"Oh right," Bailey nodded.
"Is that where you were living before coming here?" Jean-Luc asked.
Bailey turned and glanced at him before answering. "No, I was living in America. I was in the academy at San Francisco. I suppose you have heard."
"Heard what?" Beverly and Jean-Luc asked at the same time.
Bailey wished she had kept her mouth shut. "Never mind," she said quickly. She watched Jean-Luc and Beverly exchange looks discreetly. She realised that they both obviously had an idea about what she was referring to.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. Bailey took the opportunity to survey her new surroundings. She decided that she quite liked the look of the Enterprise NCC 1701E. If only it were as simple as that.
"Here you are," Beverly said, opening the doors to Bailey's new home.
"Captain Picard, report to the bridge," Will Riker's voice interrupted them.
"Acknowledged. I'll leave you two to get acquainted," Jean-Luc said with a rueful smile. "See you later Beverly?" he asked as an afterthought.
Beverly nodded absently to him as she disappeared with Bailey into the quarters. "Okay, I guess you already know how to work everything," Beverly said brightly.
Bailey dumped her bag on the floor by the bed. "It's just like the academy quarters, only a little more … luxurious."
"Well we have to live here for years," Beverly laughed.
"Yes. Don't we," Bailey snapped, rolling her eyes.
Beverly had been under the impression that Bailey was going to be all right and not too much of a handful, but now she wasn't so sure. "I'm sorry about the circumstances surrounding your coming here. But if you give it a chance, give me a chance, I'm sure you'll get to like it here." Beverly watched Bailey as she wandered around the guest quarters inspecting everything. Beverly felt a sense of foreboding and immense apprehension. Beverly had never reacted that way towards anyone before in her life and it scared her.
She left Bailey alone as quickly as she politely could and went straight to her quarters. She sat down heavily at her computer terminal and prayed to God that Deanna was in her quarters at the convention centre on the planet Halatia.
After a few moments, Deanna's face appeared on the screen in front of Beverly. "Hello Beverly," Deanna said happily. Her smile faded a second later. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"You know I told you about Bailey, my second cousin coming to live with me," Beverly asked, coming straight to the point. Deanna nodded so Beverly continued. "She's here," Beverly said and sighed heavily.
"What's so bad about that?" Deanna asked in confusion.
"I … well I have a bad feeling about her," Beverly replied, shaking her head and at a total loss of how to word the sense of dread that she felt.
"How so?" Deanna replied, frowning slightly. She couldn't sense Beverly through the view screen.
"I don't know," Beverly was exasperated. "I can't put my finger on it. I just feel it."
"How long a time did you spend with her?" Deanna asked.
"Not long, maybe five minutes," Beverly replied, running her hands through her hair. "I have never disliked someone on first site before."
"You dislike her?" Deanna was amazed.
"I think so, I'm not sure. I mean I hardly know her," she stared intently at Deanna. "What am I going to do?" she sighed.
"Get to know her," Deanna replied. "Or try to at least. I'll be back on board in three weeks time and I'll be able to help you and Bailey come to terms with the new situation."
Three weeks! Beverly had to wait three weeks for help! "I thought you were back at the weekend? What am I supposed to do in the meantime?"
"Beverly, you have raised a fine son by yourself already. I'm sure you can handle this. I have every confidence in your abilities as a mother. Go talk to her. Show her you care about her and understand her."
"I don't know anything about her," Beverly whined.
"You're scared, aren't you," Deanna teased.
"No, I'm not scared," Beverly said with a small grin.
"Go talk to her," Deanna laughed.
"Yes sir!"
"It's probably just nerves. You'll be fine," Deanna assured her. "Go talk to her. Invite her to a welcome dinner tonight."
"I can't, I've already said I would have dinner with Jean-Luc," Beverly said ruefully.
"Take her with you," Deanna laughed. "That will surprise the Captain!"
"I think I'll ask him first," Beverly said with a wild grin at the thought of her turning up to one of his romantic candlelit dinners with Bailey in tow.
They talked lightly about the conference Deanna was attending before Deanna urged Beverly once again to go and speak with Bailey. Reluctantly, Beverly had agreed and now found herself outside Bailey's quarters.
Taking a deep steadying breath, she signalled her arrival by pressing the door chime. Almost immediately the door whooshed open and Bailey stood in front of her.
"Hi," Bailey said pleasantly.
"Hi," Beverly replied. "I was wondering if you were settled in and if you needed anything."
"Come in Beverly," Bailey said stepping to the side.
Beverly walked through the doors and turned back to face her cousin. The false smile on Beverly's face was beginning to hurt. "Is there anything I…?"
"No, I'm fine," Bailey replied, cutting Beverly off mid-sentence. "But I want to know why you seem to be … scared of me," she added closing the doors. She smiled briefly and ran her fingers through her hair.
"I'm not scared of you," Beverly replied, raising her eyebrows. "Whatever gave you that idea?" she laughed.
"I'm majoring in psychology," Bailey replied with a grin. "Well I was majoring in psychology. Your body language tells me everything."
Bailey had Beverly there. She could lie through her teeth, but nothing could stop her body from betraying her. "I am a little nervous of… this. But I assure you I'm not scared of you."
"Oh, well that's good to hear," Bailey laughed. "You want a drink?" she asked, heading towards the replicator.
"No thank you," Beverly replied softly. Bailey didn't seem half as bad as she had done this morning. Beverly thought that maybe things wouldn't be so bad between them now after all.
"Well sit down," Bailey instructed with a wild grin.
Beverly hurried to the couch and sat down as she was told. Bailey giggled as she got herself a drink from the replicator and joined Beverly in the lounge area.
"So …" Bailey said gazing expectantly at her companion.
"So?" Beverly replied. "What are you going to do on board here for the next two years?"
"As far as I can tell I have two choices, I suppose I could either wait tables or do some gardening in the arboretum," she said sarcastically.
Beverly rolled her eyes. "There are lots of things to do on board a starship."
"Only if you are a Starfleet officer," Bailey countered.
"That's not true," Beverly replied. "My son Wesley worked on the bridge and even became an acting ensign."
"You have a son?" Bailey asked.
"Yes, he's ten years older than you. He impressed Captain Picard and the Captain eventually made him an acting ensign."
"So all I have to do is impress the Captain to get a better job?" Bailey grinned. "No sweat!"
Beverly laughed. "I was wondering whether you wanted to join me for dinner tonight to welcome you on board."
Bailey nodded. "Sure, why not?" she peered at Beverly for a moment. "So, how are we related?"
Beverly looked up. Bailey was looking at her expectantly, her violet eyes gazing intently at her. It was eerie looking at someone who looked so like herself. "You are my second cousin. Our grandmothers were sisters."
"Oh, you mean Felisa?" Bailey asked, recognition registering on her face.
"Yes, that's right," Beverly replied. "Have you met her?"
"Once," Bailey replied distantly. "Just after mum and dad died. I was supposed to be going to live with her, but she said no after she met me."
Beverly couldn't believe her grandmother would have turned her back on a family member in need of a home. But she didn't question Bailey about it because she could tell that Bailey was uncomfortable with the subject. What surprised Beverly more was that Nana had never mentioned anything about Bailey to her before.
"So …" Bailey said after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "How come we never met before?"
Beverly heaved a sigh. "To be honest, I never knew about you. I only found out about you and your mother last week."
"Why?" Bailey asked.
"Nana never spoke of her sister," Beverly replied. "I think she was hurt very badly when she and Sarah fell out."
"I knew about you. I even saw photos of you and your mother. My mother had them on the windowsill in the living room. I didn't know about your son. I think that my mother was in contact with someone on your side of the family, but I don't think my Nan knew about it."
This intrigued Beverly somewhat; she made a mental note of going back and reading through some of her Nana's older journals that night before going to bed.
"So what happened to your grandmother Sarah?" Beverly asked softly.
"She died when I was about four years old. She had some kind of disease. She was too proud to talk to a Doctor about the pain and discomfort so when the time came when she couldn't hide it any longer, the disease had progressed too far and it was too late to save her," Bailey said sadly. "She sounded like someone I would have loved to have known. But it was inevitable. The Howard pride might be good in some cases, but in others it stinks!"
Beverly laughed softly. "Do you know why your grandmother and mine fell out in the first place?" Beverly asked.
Bailey shrugged. "No, do you?" She watched Beverly shake her head negatively. "You don't know much do you?" Bailey laughed.
Beverly laughed with her for a moment before turning serious again. "Can I ask you something?" she said slowly.
"Okay," Bailey replied hesitantly.
"How did your parents die?" Beverly asked the delicate question carefully, noting every change that came over the young redhead's face.
"I don't want to talk about that," Bailey replied adamantly. "Ever."
"Okay, I'm sorry," Beverly said softly.
Bailey sighed softly and looked away. "What time is dinner going to be?" she asked, signalling that their conversation was over and that it was time for Beverly to leave.
"Nineteen hundred hours," Beverly replied as she got to her feet. "Why don't I pick you up at eighteen hundred hours and take you on a quick tour of the ship and introduce you to a few people."
"Sounds good," Bailey replied. "Is this dinner a formal occasion? I need to know what to wear."
"Just dress smart," Beverly replied as she headed out the doors. "We'll be eating in the Captain's quarters."
Bailey didn't get the opportunity to ask why, because the doors closed on Beverly's last words. Bailey stared at the doors for a moment, trying to decide whether she liked her guardian or not. Beverly appeared to be nice, someone she could probably get on with. But appearances could be deceptive. Her last guardian had appeared to be nice too, but had turned out to be horribly strict and controlling.
Bailey had only been nine years old when she stood in the ancient churchyard in Hertfordshire in England burying her parents on a freezing cold November morning. That was when she had first heard that she was going to be staying with her mother's friend, Elizabeth Harper. Elizabeth had a ten-year-old daughter and had raised her alone for the past three years after her husband had left her.
At first Bailey had been happy to hear the news. She liked Elizabeth and Elizabeth's daughter, Lesley. But as soon as Bailey moved into the small cottage, things had not gone well. Lesley hadn't liked the idea of the young clumsy redheaded girl moving in with them and hated the fact that her mother's attention had been divided between her and Bailey. Lesley started to bully Bailey and disobeyed her mother every chance she had got. Elizabeth soon realised that Bailey had caused all the trouble between her and her precious daughter and had resented Bailey. She made no attempts at hiding it and Bailey knew that she wasn't welcome.
Bailey had spent the nine years at home quietly reading and writing in her room in the attic and had done her very best to keep herself to herself. She had grown into a woman devoid of the love and attention that a child needed and now she was grown she was suffering the consequences. Bailey had little or no social skills. She only ever spoke when she was spoken to and had no self-confidence in anything she did. She was paranoid about everything and cried herself to sleep at night.
Bailey sighed and lay back on the chair staring up at the ceiling and wondered whether Beverly could help her. Would Beverly be her knight in shining amour? Would Beverly be able to show her motherly love and affection she desperately needed? With those thoughts, Bailey fell to sleep with a smile on her face.
Beverly arrived in the Captain's ready room ten minutes after leaving Bailey's quarters. She had to ask Jean-Luc's permission for Bailey to join them for dinner that evening.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Jean-Luc asked as he watched Beverly march past him to the replicator and order him a cup of his usual poison. She placed the cup on the desk in front of him and sat next to it.
"I have a favour to ask of you," she said smiling sweetly.
"Why do I get the feeling that you aren't asking me," Jean-Luc asked raising an eyebrow. "But are telling me."
"You know me so well Captain," she smiled mischievously.
"What is it?" he replied rolling his eyes in mock surrender.
"It's okay if Bailey joins us for dinner tonight isn't it?" she said quickly. "I can hardly leave her on her own for her first night on board. We have to make her feel welcome."
"I take it you have already asked her," Jean-Luc smiled at her.
Beverly nodded. "You don't mind do you Jean-Luc?" she asked softly.
Whenever Beverly said his name like that, Jean-Luc could not deny her anything. "It's fine," he replied. "I think I want to get to know this young lady. She seems a little mysterious and you know how much I adore mysteries."
"She is mysterious all right," she said. "I have just been speaking with her. I asked her about her parents and she told me she didn't want to talk about them ever."
"Did you ask about the incident at the academy?" he asked.
"No. After I asked her about her parents, she decided it was time for me to go. So I left and came here," Beverly eyes strayed to the computer screen. "Shall I fill in the guardianship paperwork and check out her records?"
"Be my guest," Jean-Luc said motioning to his computer terminal. He was about to climb out of his seat when Beverly promptly plonked herself down on his lap and activated the computer. Jean-Luc didn't know where to put his hands, he eventually put them on the arms of the chair either side of her.
Beverly grinned to herself; she loved teasing him and making him feel uncomfortable. "I just have to complete a few things to prove she has arrived on board," she said before peering over her shoulder at his face. "Then I have full rein on all her records."
"Did you try and access her school record?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Yes, I tried. But because I don't know what school she went to it was fruitless," Beverly shrugged. "It shouldn't be a problem now, there all done!"
"You've finished?" he asked as she leaned over so that he could see the screen too.
"Uh huh," she murmured as she tapped in a few commands and brought up Bailey Howard's records.
Jean-Luc was having difficulty concentrating on the words on the screen with her perched on his lap. "What does it say?" he asked.
Beverly laughed inwardly as she pulled up Bailey's personal record. "Okay here goes," she said glancing at him once to check that she had his undivided attention before beginning. "She was born in London, nineteen years ago on the 21st May 2357. She lived with her parents Anna and David Howard until they passed away when she was nine years old."
"Hang on a minute, didn't you say to me that Bailey's parents and her grandmother Sarah died together in an explosion of some kind?"
"I did say that didn't I," Beverly pulled up the file about Sarah Howard's death. "Bailey told me that Sarah died of some kind of disease…" Beverly's voice trailed off. "Yes, that's what it says here too."
"What about Anna and David Howard?" Jean-Luc asked. This was all very intriguing.
"Hold on," Beverly said as she punched in a few more commands into the computer. "Here it is."
"What does it say?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
"What is it?" Jean-Luc asked trying in vain to see the screen through the thick veil of red hair blocking his view.
"Anna was murdered," Beverly said softly. "David was serving away as Captain of the HMS Morgan. He came back after a five-year deep space mission. It was the day after his welcome home party that he woke up and found his wife dead in bed beside him. She had been strangled. The police conducted their search and found no evidence to suggest that anyone had entered from outside. His fingerprints and DNA were found on the wounds to Anna's body and he was arrested for her murder. He was set bail and returned home to look after Bailey until his trial. The next day Bailey found him hanging from the ceiling when she got up the morning after her mothers death."
"No wonder she didn't want to talk about it," Jean-Luc said after a moment as he allowed the information to sink in.
Beverly slid off his lap. "She also told me that she met Nana and that Nana had said no to becoming her guardian. I know I'm probably biased, but I can't believe that's something my grandmother could ever do. She would never turn her back on family even if she were from Sarah's side of the family. Bailey had nothing to do with the falling out. She wasn't even born at the time. I wasn't even born!"
"Maybe she felt that she was too old to become the mother figure of someone," Jean-Luc suggested as Beverly slumped down on the settee opposite his desk.
"Maybe," Beverly said reluctantly. "So why didn't she contact me? I would have taken her in. Wesley would have liked a sister."
Jean-Luc shrugged. He had no answer for that. The only time he had seen Beverly's grandmother was at her funeral seven years ago. "Maybe Ronin wouldn't allow it."
Beverly visibly cringed at the mention of Ronin's name. She nodded knowing Jean-Luc was right. Ronin was a very influential entity to be involved with.
"Can I look to see what caused her to be expelled from the academy?" he asked interrupting her reveries.
Beverly nodded and circled his desk again to stand just behind him as he brought up the information on the screen.
They both read the information on the screen in silence. Bailey had been in the middle of a few major disturbances where one or more people were usually left needing minor medical attention. One of these people had been one of the professors. His injury had been the final straw and Bailey was asked to pack her bags and ordered to get on the next transport to the Enterprise.
"Disturbances?" Jean-Luc said thoughtfully.
"Why doesn't it say more about them?" Beverly added. "This is all very frustrating."
"Why don't I call in a favour?" Jean-Luc said turning to look at Beverly.
"Go ahead," Beverly replied with a nod. "I'd like to know what I've got myself into."
Beverly watched as Jean-Luc tried to contact a friend of his at the academy. It took a while for him to find out that his friend Admiral Larter wasn't in and so he left a message for her to contact him.
"This is so frustrating!" Beverly said collapsing back against the couch.
"Why don't you just ask her?" Jean-Luc suggested.
Beverly looked at him evenly. "If I thought there was the slightest chance that she would tell me what happened to get her expelled I would have already asked her."
"Oh," Jean-Luc mumbled. "So what is she like?"
"Apart from mysterious?" Beverly said. "She looks like she is going to be trouble. She's a rabble-rouser. It even said it in her profile."
Jean-Luc sighed. "Well I for one can't wait until dinner this evening to found out for myself what this young lady is like."
"So how did you find your tour of the ship?" Jean-Luc asked as Beverly and Bailey settled themselves down on the settee in his quarters.
Bailey nodded her head smiling. "It's a nice ship, very big."
Jean-Luc noticed Beverly was watching Bailey with a peculiar expression on her face. Jean-Luc couldn't place the look; he had never seen it before. He wished there was some way he could get Beverly on her own for a moment to find out what was wrong or if something had happened that he should know about. But he didn't see how he could without Bailey knowing what they were up to.
"Where did you visit?" he asked distantly.
"Everywhere," Bailey replied.
"I showed her all the main places on board. Sickbay, Engineering, Stella Cartography," Beverly added. "Jean-Luc when is dinner? I'm starving," she grinned up at him, her eyes lighting up at the thought of food.
"It's ready when you are," he replied surprised at her sudden change in demeanour.
"Lets go to the table then," Beverly said getting straight to her feet.
Bailey followed her closely and took the nearest seat. Beverly followed Jean-Luc to the replicator instead of taking a seat.
"Help me," she whispered as she collected a few of the things that Jean-Luc had just replicated.
"What's wrong with her?" Jean-Luc asked in surprise. "She seems perfectly nice to me."
"Appearances can be deceptive, I'll explain later," Beverly whispered as they both joined Bailey at the table.
Jean-Luc placed a bowl of steaming soup in front of Bailey and then sat down to eat his. It felt strange to have someone other than Beverly to dinner.
Beverly was tucking into her vegetable soup when she felt Jean-Luc nudge her thigh with his. She looked up at him and he nodded towards Bailey.
Bailey was staring blankly into her soup and hadn't even picked up her spoon.
They both watched her for a few moments before Jean-Luc decided to speak. "Don't you like vegetable soup Bailey? I can always get you something else from the replicator."
Bailey jumped at the sound of his voice. "Uh… no no this is fine," she replied hurriedly picking up her spoon and taking her first taste. She looked up to find them both frowning at her. "This is nice," she said quickly.
"Is something wrong Bailey?" Beverly asked softly.
"No, I'm fine honestly," Bailey smiled quickly. "The soup reminded me of my mother. She used to make me vegetable soup every weekend for lunch. It smelt just like this," she took another taster. "It tastes just like it too," she added.
Beverly smiled. "I programmed in my grandmothers famous recipe into the replicator. I wouldn't mind betting your mother used the same recipe. I understand it has been handed down through generations of the Howard family."
Bailey nodded and turned her attention back to her soup.
Beverly exchanged looks with the Captain raising a perfect eyebrow. "Well…" she said. "Have you given anymore thought on what you're going to do here for the next two years?"
Bailey shrugged. "Not really," she replied.
"You could always go back to Earth to study," Beverly said helpfully. "As long as you are staying on campus, you could study anywhere."
Jean-Luc looked at his best friend and tried to suppress a smile. Beverly was trying to get rid of her. There was obviously something about the girl that bothered Beverly immensely. So much so that her motherly nature hadn't shown itself once. This surprised him. Bailey was obviously in need of motherly nurture, and Beverly was reluctant to give it. He knew she would in time, but couldn't help wonder what it was that had the good Doctors back up.
"I hadn't thought of that," Bailey said suddenly perking up at the prospect. She hadn't liked the idea of having to spend the next couple of years cooped up in the same ship.
"You could continue your psychology degree somewhere else," Beverly said encouragingly. "In any of the countries."
"You could do it on board here too," Jean-Luc added and received a sharp kick in his shin for the trouble.
"Could I?" Bailey asked him.
"Of course you can," Jean-Luc replied enjoying that he was able to wind Beverly up. "You use the computer here and the holodecks and whatever else needed. You can talk to your professors over communication channels easily. That's how Wesley did most of his studying on board isn't it Beverly?"
"Yes he did," Beverly replied tight lipped. "Before he was old enough to join the academy and leave for Earth."
"Counsellor Troi might even assist you with your training," Jean-Luc said. "What do you think Beverly?"
Now who was the rabble-rouser? Beverly thought to herself as she struggled to keep her temper in check. "I think Deanna would enjoy that," Beverly said diplomatically. Jean-Luc would pay for this later.
"Did I meet her today?" Bailey asked as she finished her soup.
"No, Deanna's at a conference for the next three weeks," Beverly replied.
"Is she nice?" Bailey asked.
"Very nice. She originates from Betazed. But her father was Human so she is only empathic and not telepathic," Jean-Luc replied.
"Cool," Bailey said happily.
Beverly sighed inwardly. Her supposed best friend had wiped out her only chance for freedom in five minutes.
The rest of the dinner went well. Jean-Luc told Bailey a few tales of various missions the Enterprise had been on in the past few years. Bailey was fascinated or at least appeared to Beverly to be. But the tour she had taken Bailey on before dinner had given Beverly cause for concern. Bailey had practically ignored everything Beverly had said during the tour and had even gone off by herself when Beverly was explaining important emergency drills and other points. Beverly had had to go and search for her several times and found her playing with computer consoles that were off limits to non-Starfleet personnel.
Jean-Luc went to the replicator for after dinner drinks and left Beverly alone with Bailey for a moment.
"Are you and he together?" Bailey asked with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"No we are not," Beverly replied steadfast.
Bailey peered at her elder for a moment. "Are you lying to me? I won't tell anyone."
"We are not together," Beverly hissed. The subject of her and Jean-Luc's relationship was at best a touchy subject and she did not want to discuss it with anyone let alone someone she barely knew.
"Why not?" Bailey continued not allowing the subject to drop. "He's really fit, for a bald guy and it obvious he fancies you like mad."
"Mind your own business," Beverly snapped glaring at her.
When Jean-Luc arrived with a decanter of brandy and three glasses. He set the tray on the table noting the tense atmosphere between the two redheads. Silently he poured the brandy into the glasses and was surprised when Beverly took the first glass he had poured and drank it down in one go.
She smiled quickly at him when she noticed him looking at her and promptly held out her glass for more.
Jean-Luc filled her glass and watched her down in again. He glanced at Bailey who was also watching Beverly with one eyebrow raised.
Jean-Luc set the decanter down and took a seat next to Beverly on the settee.
Bailey watched them both closely. She was almost sure there was more than friendship going on here. Being a quarter Betazoid herself, she could sense a little emotion from the people around her. She knew something was going on, but not being completely empathic and not having received any training in her abilities, she couldn't place it and it frustrated the hell out of her. Bailey loved to know everything that was going on around her; she supposed she would have to find out the human way.
Bailey drank her brandy in silence as she listened to Jean-Luc giving Beverly a few details on the next up coming mission. In those brief few minutes Beverly filled and drained her glass of brandy a further three times.
Bailey hid a grin behind her wine glass; Beverly's cheeks were turning pink. Bailey wondered if Beverly realised she was drinking real alcohol and getting very drunk.
"I should get going now," Bailey said breaking her silence. "I'll look into the options of continuing my training."
Jean-Luc showed her to the door and bid her goodnight before turning back to Beverly who was lounging quite comfortably on his settee.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he took a seat in the warm armchair Bailey had just vacated.
Beverly peered at him through a haze of alcohol. She knew she was supposed to be mad at him for something, but for the life of her she couldn't remember what for. "I'm fine," she replied after a few seconds of delay.
"Why are you drinking yourself into a stupor?" he asked as he quickly removed the decanter of brandy out of her reach.
"I'm not," she replied stubbornly, glaring at him when she realised he'd hidden the brandy from her. "I'm just enjoying an after dinner drink. Where's the brandy gone?" she asked propping herself up to look around the room for it.
"It's all gone," he improvised quickly.
"Oh," she sighed in disappointment and settled back down.
"Beverly?" he said softly.
"Yes Jean-Luc?" she replied just as softly.
"What is it about Bailey that bothers you so much?" he asked wondering whether he should get her some coffee from the replicator.
"I don't know," Beverly sighed as she stretched out fully on her stomach. The alcohol had released her inhibitions and she felt totally relaxed in his company. It made a nice change for her.
"Well something is obviously bothering you," he replied.
Beverly nodded, "She is," she snapped nodding towards the door. "She is rude, belligerent and cantankerous."
"That's a bit harsh isn't it?" Jean-Luc said in amazement. "Bailey seems like an ordinary teenage girl to me."
"What would you know?" Beverly spat. "She's perfect when she's around you. But when I'm alone with her it's a different story."
Jean-Luc was shocked at the venom in Beverly's tone and decided to put it down to the drink. "Beverly, she is probably seeing how far she can push you. You need to put her in her place. Just let her know who is in charge here."
Beverly sighed heavily. "All that coming from a man who has no children," she muttered to herself.
With his sharp hearing, Jean-Luc heard every word and it hurt him. Beverly of all people knew his desire to have a child of his own and how he regretted never having one.
Jean-Luc couldn't understand why Beverly was so agitated over one person. "I still don't understand," he pleaded with her for more information.
"I'm not being a bitch Jean-Luc if that's what your thinking," she said as she slid off of the couch to the floor and tried several times to get to her unsteady feet. "I care for her. We have a lot in common apart from the fact we are both Howard's. She lost her parents just like I did and we both have red hair."
Jean-Luc couldn't stand seeing her struggling to get to her feet any longer and gave her assistance. "So why were you trying to get rid of her?" Jean-Luc held her steady and she got her balance.
"I wasn't," she protested as she removed his hands from her waist.
"You were trying to convince her to go back to Earth and study," he reminded her.
"I want her to get her qualifications," Beverly replied rolling her eyes.
"Beverly?" he said to catch her attention.
"Yes?" she replied looking in his eyes.
"You remember when your parents were killed?" he asked softly.
Beverly's face fell at the memory. "Yes, I was seven."
"What did you need then?" he prompted.
Beverly shrugged. "Nana?" she replied in a dreamy voice.
"You needed the love and support of someone," he finished for her. "You needed your Nana to help you grieve. I know Bailey's parents died ten years ago, but maybe she hasn't fully come to terms with their death."
Beverly nodded slowly. "I understand," she whispered.
"She needs you and is probably too afraid to admit it. She seems proud and stubborn just like someone else not a million light years away from here," Jean-Luc smiled fondly at her. "Especially after her guardian just died too. To lose one parent is awful, to lose both is a tragedy. Now she has lost another parent figure and it must have devastated her."
"Okay, I'm wrong about her," Beverly said holding her hands up in defeat. "I promise I will do my best to be a good mother to her."
"Good."
Beverly smiled sweetly at him. "Can I go now Captain?" she asked brightly.
"You're dismissed," he joked as he showed her to the door.
"Goodnight," they said in unison and Beverly gently kissed his lips before turning and leaving.
Jean-Luc closed the door and heaved a sigh. One day Beverly wouldn't walk out of those doors until the morning.
Beverly stripped off her clothes and took a quick shower before getting into bed with one of her grandmothers old journals. She had picked the volume from ten years ago; the year that Bailey would have visited her after her parents death. Beverly wanted to see if Bailey had indeed visited her grandmother and if she had, she wanted to see if her grandmother had given any reason as to why Bailey couldn't stay and why she hadn't told her about Bailey's visit.
Beverly hadn't even got to the references about Bailey's visit before the drink forced her eyelids closed and she fell asleep.
In the darkened room, Beverly lay on her side deep in slumber land. Her red hair fell across her pillows like a fiery waterfall and the crisp white cotton sheet tangled round her hips as she moved about in her sleep.
The spirit looked at her form from above. To him Beverly was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her soft white skin was so tempting, he wanted to touch her, caress her and taste her.
It had been so long for him, he needed her. Needed her to feel wanted again. He needed to protect her, wanted her to feel safe again. He wanted to love her like no one had done before.
He lowered himself gently down onto the bed next to her and just laid close to her, breathing in her scent. She smelt wonderful, so alive and he couldn't resist touching her hair. He ran invisible fingers through the silky tendrils flowing across the pillow. It felt so good, so erotic.
Beverly stirred in her sleep and turned to face him. He gazed loving at her beautiful face, so soft and so milky white. Leaning forward he softly kissed her eyelids and smiled to himself when they fluttered open.
Beverly blinked in confusion and looked around wondering what had woken her. Nothing seemed to be amiss so she closed her eyes again and went back to sleep.
He watched her in wonder and his eyes travelled the length of her body. He lifted his hand and ran tender fingertips across the exposed skin of her neck and shoulders revelling in the immense pleasure it gave him.
She moved again as a result of his caress and turned to lie on her back, kicking the sheet off the bed as she did so.
He watched her chest rising and falling steadily before floating down to the bottom of the bed. Reaching up he ran his hands up her legs and over her thighs pushing up her nightdress as he did so.
Beverly jumped up when his fingers touched her intimately. She stood by the side of the bed breathing hard, her eyes wide as she scanned the room for possible intruders. "Who's there?" she asked walking around the bed slowly looking for any sign of an intruder. Her heart was pounding against her rib cage as she searched her bedroom. Slowly she moved into the lounge and called for the lights to come up. She walked around the back of the settee and looked in every possible place for the intruder to hide.
"Computer, how many occupants are in this room?" she asked breathlessly as she pulled her nightdress down self-consciously.
"There is one occupant in the room," the computer replied in monotone.
Shaking her head clear she wandered into the bathroom and splashed cool water onto her face. It was almost time for her to get up now and there was no point in trying to go back to sleep.
As she went back into her bedroom to get ready for her duty shift, she spotted her grandmothers journal lying on the floor beside her bed and glanced quickly about the room again. For a second she thought that Ronin was with her in the room. Then she remembered that she had killed him years before.
Realising that she must have imagined the hands running over her legs, she laughed at her own foolishness and put it down to the drink and the fact that she had been dreaming of Ronin again after reading her grandmothers journals.
As she collected the journal and put it back in its place in the bookcase she decided that perhaps she shouldn't read the journals before going to bed anymore. She would come back here for lunch and read them then.
She got dressed and decided to meet Jean-Luc early for breakfast. She arrived fifteen minutes before usual and rang the chime.
Jean-Luc looked surprised when he answered the door to find Beverly standing there. "You're early," he stated.
"I know," she smiled at him. "Why are you so surprised? It's not like I haven't ever turned up early before."
"You were drinking rather heavily last night, that's all," he replied with a shrug as he headed over to the table.
"I can handle my drink Jean-Luc!" she playfully warned him as she followed him to the table.
"I couldn't tell," he laughed as he began to set the table for breakfast.
Beverly watched him in silence as he set the table for three. She hoped it was a mistake.
"I hope you don't mind Beverly," he said when he saw her scrutinising the third placement. "But I took the liberty of inviting Bailey to join us."
"I don't mind," she replied quickly even though she really did mind. She smiled reassuringly at him.
Jean-Luc grinned back and headed over to the replicator. "I just hope she likes coffee and croissants as much as we do."
They were already drinking their coffee when Bailey arrived. "Good morning," she said grinning wildly as she took her seat. Beverly was here having breakfast with her Captain and she wondered whether Beverly had actually gone home the night before.
From the gleam in Bailey's eye, Beverly knew exactly what was running through her cousin's mind and prayed to God or whoever was listening, for her not to open her mouth and blurt it out. Beverly would be absolutely mortified if she breathed a word.
"Morning," Beverly replied in a mundane fashion.
"Good morning Bailey," Jean-Luc said in a more jovial manner. "How was your first night on board? Did you sleep well?"
"Like a log," Bailey smiled back at him. "Those Starfleet beds look uncomfortable but they certainly are not."
"I'm glad you approve," he replied glancing at Beverly once before offering Bailey some coffee.
"No thanks," Bailey replied. "I can't stand the stuff."
"D'you want some tea?" Beverly asked.
"No thanks," Bailey laughed. "That's even worse."
"Orange juice?" Jean-Luc suggested.
"Nope," Bailey giggled. "I can't stand that either. I'll get myself something," she said getting up from the table and ordering herself a glass of apple juice from the replicator.
End of part one