It was 2am and I was in sick bay by myself, just catching up on some charting and making supply lists for our next Star Base stop. I was enjoying the unusual quietness of sick bay. There is generally always someone else here if not several other people. Tonight I was alone, no patients, no machines beeping out heart rates or alarms alerting me to a change in a patient's condition, just a peaceful, still quiet all around, until the door to sick bay swished open. Well, I knew it wouldn't last very long. Someone needed me. It was nice to be needed but sometimes it would be nice to be left alone for a while too. I left my office and was stunned to see Jean-Luc standing in sick bay looking confused and unhappy. "Jean-Luc, are you all right?" I asked as I went over to him.
He looked around, "Where is everyone?"
"Jean-Luc, it's o-two hundred, everyone is in bed, why are you up?" I asked. Was he ill?
"Shouldn't there be someone else here?" he asked.
"I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd catch up on a few things. I sent Ogawa off duty as long as I was here. No patients tonight, she might as well get some sleep. So, why are you here?" I asked, again.
He looked embarrassed so I knew something was wrong. He despises any sort of infirmity in himself, like he thinks of himself as more than human and is annoyed when his body proves him wrong. "I'm having some pain in my chest. It's not terrible but after what happened earlier today I thought perhaps I should have it checked out."
That alarmed me. Not only was he stabbed in the chest by Jono, a human raised as a Talerian, earlier today but he also has an artificial heart that could be malfunctioning. "Up on the bed, let me examine you." I ordered him. I try not to let it show but I do enjoy ordering the captain around. I don't abuse the privilege but I do enjoy it.
He did not want to be in the sick bay bed, "Can't you just scan me right here?" he asked.
"Sorry, I need to check all your vitals and I want to see them on the wall read-out. You'd better lay down, it will only take a minute or two." I told him.
He reluctantly got on the bio bed, took off his shirt and lay down. I placed all the sensors for his vital signs and breathed a sigh of relief when the read out was fine. His artificial heart was functioning well. His blood was pumping properly and getting plenty of oxygen from his lungs. The area where he was stabbed earlier was still healing but it was healing well. I couldn't detect any bleeding or infection. He was in excellent condition for a man half his age, one that happened to have an artificial heart. "Can you tell me more about the pain? What sort of pain is it and where is it located?"
He pointed to the center of his chest and said, "It's like a wad of cold, wet cloth was added right here."
I was perplexed but the description didn't sound like a symptom of his heart malfunctioning or anything to do with the stabbing. "Would you mind if I monitored you for a while, see if anything shows up? Right now everything looks fine."
He looked a bit beaten down and didn't object, very unusual for him. "Yes, I can stay. Is the wound Jono gave me healing well?" he asked.
"I think it is looking wonderful considering it's been less than 24 hours since you were wounded." I told him.
He was lost in thought for a moment and then he asked, "Do you think Jono is really ok with the Talerians? I was looking forward to introducing him to his grandmother and teaching him about earth on the way to drop him off at a Star Base."
I had to chuckle, "I think Jono is much happier with Endar. I know his grandmother will be heartbroken not to get him back but I don't think she would fare so well should she get stabbed in the chest. It's a sad situation but we all just have to be content to know that he is alive and well and happy where he is."
He looked like he was having more pain and then he replied, "Yes, I know. It's best for Jono and Endar but not for everyone. Speaking of teenage boys, Did you hear that Wesley made a connection with Jono, even got him to laugh?" He smiled at that thought and a diagnosis came to me from far away in outer space. I would've never thought it possible.
"Wesley thought Jono was interesting. He was glad he could break through to some of his human emotions, even if it was by accident. It was the right thing to send Jono back to the only home he's known, he will think of you fondly for the rest of his life. When he remembers he's human and different from his people it will be the memory of you that will make being human ok for him." I was testing a theory while I was talking. I was watching the vitals read out. There was some fluctuations when I talked about Jono that spoke volumes about the captain's health problem. I believe the captain had grown very fond of Jono and was desperately missing the boy, even though Jono had stabbed him. He had taken on a fatherly role and very quickly accepted and incorporated it into himself and then Jono was taken away. Well, if the captain wanted a son, I knew of another young man just Jono's age that needed a father and already adored Jean-Luc. Let's test the theory that Jean-Luc is already rather fond of him as well.
"Jean-Luc, I've been meaning to thank you for promoting Wesley to full ensign. He was extraordinarily pleased. He is hardly ever out of his new uniform." I said as I watched the read out.
"No need to thank me, Beverly, he earned that promotion. I was sorry that he missed the oral examination and had to delay his education at the academy but it is to the benefit of the Enterprise that he will be with us another year." he assured me.
I had to agree with him, "Yes, I know he earned it, he works very hard at all his duties. I'm very proud of him. I had mixed feelings about him missing the exam. Obviously I'd like him to start his training at the academy and he wants to be there so much. But, I am his mother and very glad to keep him with me for another year. Thank heavens he heard Will's message! Who knows how long it would've been before we got them back, if we got them back, if he hadn't recognized the pattern."
Jean-Luc smiled, "Yes, he is an exceptionally clever young man with a good sense of what to do with his mind. Instead of thinking up ways to get into mischief he applies himself to his duties and study. You should be very proud of him, Beverly, you've done a tremendous job under less than ideal circumstances."
Yes, I had a diagnosis and a prescription now. His vitals fluctuated quite a bit when he was talking about Wesley. I had a pain in my chest too but it was a good pain. Seeing how talking about Wesley could affect Jean-Luc's brain waves and blood pressure and heart rate could only mean that he had quite strong feelings for Wesley too. It gave my heart a squeeze of love and affection for both of my men. I already knew Wesley adored Jean-Luc. I could see with my own eyes now that it was reciprocated. I only had to get them together long enough for them to admit it before it was too late and Wesley wouldn't be with us every day. "I don't think there is anything wrong with either your heart or your wound. It will just take some time for you to heal." It was the truth, I just didn't mention that the healing he would have to do was both physical from the stabbing and emotional from welcoming Jono into the human family only to have him ripped away again. "Thank you for being a patient patient." I said teasingly.
He sat up and fastened his soft tunic around his waist, "I'm sorry I bothered you, Beverly."
That irritated me and I couldn't help but speak up, "Jean-Luc" I said quietly in a serious tone so that he would look at me, which he did, "I am the ship's doctor and a patient in need is never a bother. I am also your friend who cares very deeply for you. Should you want to wake me out of a sound sleep at o-two hundred just because you're bored and want to talk, it would be just fine with me."
He looked properly chastised, "Of course, Beverly, forgive me." Then he gave me a friendly kiss on the cheek and went back to his cabin.
I went back to my office but didn't get much accomplished the rest of the night other than plotting a sneaky and surprise adoption. I wanted Jean-Luc and Wesley to adopt each other as father and son. I also wanted them to admit how they felt to each other but that was certainly a long shot and I only had 10 months until Wesley would be off to Starfleet. I had to think fast.
I was having my usual breakfast with Jean-Luc several days later when I put my plan into effect. "Jean-Luc, do you think Wesley gets enough physical exercise?"
He looked at me with a curious expression, "He looks quite fit, Beverly. Why do you ask?"
"He's still young so he's staying fit without working at it but I think he spends far too much time with his studies and experiments and duties. He needs something physical to do. Maybe something that doesn't require a good number of friends like Parrises Squares. Something that takes just a couple people. Do you think you could try to teach him to fence? He'd be quite willing to learn if you were instructing him." I explained.
He thought for a moment, "I suppose I could find some time to teach him myself but I'm sure there are better fencing instructors on board, he could even learn from a holo-instructor."
"No, I think it would be better for him to interact with real people more. He spends enough time alone studying and running his experiments. Would you be willing to teach him?" I asked.
"Yes, I can manage that. We'll have to work out times when both of us are off duty and his school work permits." he offered.
I smiled, step one was behind me and the plan was in action. "Thank you, Jean-Luc, I'll let you know what times Wesley is free and you can let him know which of those times work for you. I think this will be very good for him." and for you too, Jean-Luc. "If you don't mind I will tell Wesley that he's learning so you can have another fencing partner that isn't a hologram. He would balk if he knew this was to get him more exercise."
Jean-Luc gave a nod, "I understand."
That evening at dinner I took the opportunity to talk to Wesley, I set him up for his part in the plan. "Wesley, I was hoping you could do me a favor."
He looked up, "Sure, mom, what do you need?"
"The captain has been a bit stressed lately . He enjoys fencing as a diversion but rarely fences anyone real and he knows all the moves of the holo-fencers. I was hoping you would be willing to learn to fence so he could teach you. It would be a big help to him." I explained, lying through my teeth.
"I'd love to help you out and it would be great to learn fencing from the captain but I'm so busy. Would it take much time?" he asked.
I was ready for this response, "No, we can work something out for when you are both off duty and you aren't bogged down with studies. Just a lesson or two a week would be great."
He looked intrigued with the idea of learning to fence, "Then, sure, I'll be glad to help out."
Time to cover my tracks, "Thank you, Wesley. Please don't tell Jean-Luc this is for his benefit, I will tell him you are very interested in learning fencing, ok?"
He had a small conspiratorial smile on his face, "No, problem, mom." There, step two down, plan progressing.