Chapter 1:
A/N: A fair warning- this is my first Star Trek Fan Fic. I can't promise to get all the technicalities right. I guess I'm a little new to this. But I have watched so many shows and read many of the stories on this site. Now, about this story- I always thought they got off easy when they rescued Wesley from the Edo. So, I've complicated a few things. And made it more PC of course. Anyway, this is a more emotional ending to the episode Justice. It starts after Wesley has been sentenced to death and after Captain Picard has brought Rivan back up to the Enterprise. Dr. Crusher has already begged him for her son's life in sickbay, but he gave her the Prime Directive speech and she stormed out.
Songbook proudly presents, Love for a Life.
Captain Picard sat in his room staring at Data. The Starfleet Captain in him knew how simple the arithmetic was: on life for thousands. However, the man in him could not let Wesley Crusher be sacrificed for the Federation's laws.
"Captain?" Data looked at him curiously; he must have zoned out again.
"Data, I can't do it." Picard rose, tugging on his shirt. "I can't bring another body home to Beverly." Jack Crusher's death still weighed heavily on his mind. He still had nightmares of when he showed Beverly her husband's lifeless body.
Before Data could come up with the proper answer, the door opened and Beverly Crusher walked in. Only she was not dressed in her appropriate blue medical uniform. Even her customary blue coat was missing. Instead it was a casual green dress that came to just below her knees. Without a word she walked over to her Captain and handed him a PADD.
"My resignation." She turned quickly on her heel, gave Data a nodding acknowledgment, and went out the door. Picard glanced down at the electronic device in his hand before throwing it on the table and racing after her.
"Beverly! Wait!" He ran out of his room, managing to catch sight of her down the hall. "Beverly, what the hell was that?" The red head whirled around and Jean-Luc knew the infamous Howard temper was at its peak.
"I should ask you the same question!" There was a wild desperation in her eyes and it scared him. "They want to execute my son. I know your obligation to Starfleet, because I have it to. Not anymore, I'm done."
"I won't let them kill Wesley, Beverly." Jean-Luc reached out for her hand and when he finally grasped it, he noticed it was shaking. She stepped forward into his embrace, laying her forehead on his shoulder. He rubbed her back slowly, letting her take in the moment. Facing your child's impending death was no small feat for a mother.
"Jean-Luc, I can't lose another person I love to Starfleet." Beverly's blue eyes stared intently into his. "I will do anything to save his life."
"That's what I am afraid of." She placed her quivering hand on his cheek and placed a chaste kiss gently on his lips.
"Don't worry about me." Beverly stepped away from him, her eyes still locked on his. "Goodbye, Jean-Luc." She walked away with purpose, heading for the transporter room. Captain Picard stood frozen on the spot as Data joined him in the corridor.
"Sir, it's almost sundown on the planet."
"Thank you, Mr. Data." Picard followed her to the transporter room, just in time to beam down to the planet beside her. Will Riker, Deanna Trio, Tasha Yar, and Worf were waiting as the two appeared. Deanna was instantly at her best friend's side, concerned for her well being. Will nodded to Liator, who motioned to his security to bring out the prisoner.
Wesley appeared unharmed, but very nervous. The sight of his mother calmed him slightly, but he could also see the pain she was in; the pain he was causing her. He started to move towards her, but was met by one of the guard's arms, holding him back.
"Mom!" Some words flew through the pack of people who had gathered. The boy's mother was here to see her son executed.
"Wesley...don't worry, everything is going to be just fine." She heard her own voice catch with emotion as her son's eyes flickered to the balding man standing next to her.
"I am not going to let you die, Wesley," he said calmly.
"The crime must have a punishment," spoke Liator. Before Picard could answer, Beverly stepped forward.
"I have a proposition." All eyes were upon her now. Deanna let out a small gasp, but Beverly continued before she could protest. "Someone has to die for the crime, but does it have to be Wesley?" Liator and Rivan exchanged a curious glance.
"Who do you propose dies in his place? Who would make such a sacrifice?" asked Liator. Jean-Luc turned to stare at her in disbelief. The rest of the senior staff seemed to realize what she was hinting at, but chose to stand in silence.
"His mother." Wesley's head whipped towards her, but she refused to make eye contact. "I am more than willing to die in his place."
"No, Mom, you can't!"
"Beverly..." warned Jean-Luc softly. Still, she ignored him. Liator seemed to think it over for a moment before nodding to the guards holding Wesley. Rivan looked uncomfortable.
"Take her into custody." Beverly strode forward and wrapped her arms around her only son.
"I love you," she whispered into his ear, not allowing her voice to betray her feelings. Pulling back, she placed her hands on either side of his face. "I want Captain Picard to beam you back to the ship, okay? Don't stay, my darling. You are truly your father's son- never forget that."
"Mom..." Wesley seemed to be at a loss for words. Tears brimmed his eyes. "I love you, too. I'm so sorry." His mother pushed him towards Picard and the others, taking his place across the room.
"This is ridiculous," said Riker in an outrage, shooting a look at his Captain to do something. When Picard shook his head, he stepped forward with authority. "Doctor, I order you to step down."
"She handed me her resignation just before we beamed down," said Jean-Luc in a defeated voice. She still refused to meet his eyes. "Transporter Room One, prepare to beam Wesley Crusher back aboard the Enterprise."
"Sir, we can't get a lock on any of you," came the reply. Worf cursed in Klingon under his breath. Tasha and Will took very defensive stances. There was no way they were going to let anyone be executed.
"God does not approve," muttered one of the Edo. "The boy is not being punished. Merely knowing his own mother died for him is not enough."
"Make him watch," suggested another.
"No!" said Picard in determination, before Beverly could even get the words out. "Wesley Crusher will having nothing to do with this." There was much conversation before Liator settled them down.
"If we administer the alternative serum, will our God allow the boy to go back to his ship?" Everyone seemed frozen for a few precious seconds before Chief O'Brian came over the comm device.
"Sir, I can transport on your order." Jean-Luc took a deep breath and for the first time blue eyes met hazel. They stared at each other intently, as if an entire different conversation was taking place.
"Alternative serum?" asked Tasha.
"It is reserved for capitol offences, such as murder," spoke Rivan with her head slightly bowed. "It is quite...painful. Excruciating, we've been told."
"Mom!" Wesley tried to leap forward but Riker held him back and at the same moment the Captain gave his order.
"Energize." Wesley Crusher disappeared in a blue haze. Deanna closed her eyes to shut out the tears.
"Please, Liator, tell me there is something I can do..." Jean-Luc practically begged the leader of the Edo. "Let me..."
"Sir," warned Riker. They all knew the Captain of the Enterprise had no business on the execution block. Beverly shook her head, lips pursed in determination.
"Deanna, make sure my son makes it through this." One of the guards was removing the cap on the syringe he had taken from a box. "Will, he thinks of you as a mentor...he trusts you. Guide him. And, Tasha and Worf...protect my son as I would. And Jean-Luc..." her voice finally broke.
"Beverly," his voice was calm, but Deanna could sense the emotional turmoil taking place within her captain. How he was managing to stay strong she had no idea.
"Damn it, Jean-Luc, I'm sorry. Promise me you won't blame yourself for this." A single tear slipped past her defenses. "I don't know why I pushed you away after Jack died...I was scared..."
"Beverly, you don't have to explain anything to me." Liator stepped forward.
"Are you ready?" Beverly nodded holding out her arm for the guard to insert the serum. She watched as he slipped the needle in and released the poison into her blood stream. Then, she glanced up at the man who had been her best friend for half her life. Blinking back her tears, she whispered the words that could have brought a man to his knees.
"I love you, Jean-Luc." Her knees hit the ground as the first shot of pain shocked her body.
Deanna threw herself into Will's arms, refusing to watch her best friend die. She could feel every painful moment without looking. The man she was holding on to was tense with anger and sorrow. Worf looked like he wanted to kill everyone in the room, but he was frozen on the spot, staring at the bravery of one woman. Tasha could feel the tears that were cold on her emotionless face. She had watched so many die before this, but there was something new to this feeling of devastation.
Jean-Luc watched as a shiver of pain shook Beverly Crusher's body. The last words that had left her lips rocked him to his core. He could not let her die alone, as a spectacle, as a sacrifice to the Prime Directive. He pushed aside Liator who tried to stop him as he knelt before the red haired woman who had more strength than any officer or admiral he had ever served with before.
"Beverly, I'm right here." Her eyes were closed tightly, as were her lips. She seemed determined not to scream. "Let it out." Wrapping tender arms around her shuddering frame, suddenly so frail and thin. He never realized how small she was for her height.
"Jean...I'm so sorry." His heart broke for her a million times over. Her hands gripped his forearms, squeezing in pain. Her body convulsed and he laid her gently on the ground. "I should...have told you..how I felt a long...time ago."
It wasn't until he felt Will Riker's hand on his back that he realized he was crying. His Number One brushed a piece of red hair from Beverly's sweating face. Deanna had come over as well kneeling on the other side of her dying friend; tears flowing freely from her delicate face. Beverly arched her back in pain, whimpering quietly.
"Beverly, I love you. I always have, my dear." Suddenly, Tasha was yelling and Rivan was pushing her way through the crowd. Before anyone could stop her, she stabbed a syringe into Beverly's seizing body. The woman who had been dying before an entire civilization lay still as death, eyes closed and body pale.
"What have you done?"
"I ended her suffering. I ended all of their suffering!" While they were arguing, Worf hit his comm device. Jean-Luc gathered her lifeless body into his arms trying to control his devastation.
"Six to beam up. Energize."