Author: Jadeblueafterglow17

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 72 hours before Ensign Crusher is due to return to duty. You have to read atleast the last 5 chapters of the first story or this will not make any sense!

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. Thanks for the reviews but how about some input...Please!

Characters: Wesley, Beverly, Jean Luc, Deanna, Data, Geordie, Riker, and a few minor characters like...Robin...: ) briefly ...

Chapter 2 - Dissonance

2030 hours

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Dr. Crusher sat at her desk documenting notes on a computer. The wife of Lieutenant Crowley just had twins earlier that morning. One boy and one girl. The girl was faring quite well, but the boy seemed to have some difficulty with his breathing. She worried about his lung capacity, as he seemed to wheeze when he breathed. Asthma had long since been managed with kethylamine implants. She stood up and walked over to the infant boy s bed. He wiggled around his tiny hands clinching open and close as a vent of oxygen flowed around his tiny frame. She rubbed his belly, the new skin feeling soothingly soft beneath her hands. She noticed his face start to wrinkle a bit as he was about to begin a soft cry. He smacked his gums as she smiled. She picked up the small infant and nestled him in her arms.

"C'mon little man I'll bet you're hungry." she carried him into the next room into the waiting arms of his mother. Baby Skylar would be just fine she thought to herself. She smoothed her hand through his feathery brown hair and smiled. She took off her jacket and headed out of the doors of sickbay and crashed into a hard but somewhat flexible object.

Beverly looked up into the cat like eyes of Commander Data.

"Did I injure you doctor?"

"Oh, hi, Data. No, I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting to run in to you like that. Did you need something?"

Data paused as if thinking carefully. "I wanted to invite Ensign Crusher to play chess."

Beverly bit at her lip, cautiously mulling over the idea as she considered Wesley's situation.

"Dr. I am aware of his current limitations. My curiosity was intrigued at your last update and I have been storing more data and information regarding his condition. The stimulation provided by playing chess requires active memory and long term interface. It should not further endanger his defective brain."

"Defective." she said out loud to herself. He was Data and he was trying very hard to help her son in his own very odd way.

"Perhaps a poor choice of words."

"Perhaps. Data have you had dinner yet?" Data stared at her confused.

"Well, no doctor, I do not require..."

"Well c'mon Wes is in our quarters. I'm sure he'd be happy to have a surprise guest."

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The darkened room was quiet. The hum of the air flow condenser as it chilled the near empty cabin was the only sound that could be heard. Wesley Crusher sat at the ledge of his portal, staring out at the streaking stars light years away in the depths of space. He thought about how amazing it must be to travel among the stars... as a voice echoed in his mind. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to make sense of the images in his mind.

"You have decades to travel among the starlight...go back ..." the voice whispered. Wesley grabbed at his head as more images and pain flashed into his mind. Trees, a forest, a man, wind whipping against his skin...falling, and then the dull ache that throbbed mercilessly at his skull. He didn't realize he was moaning until he felt pressure on his temple and the throbbing eased. He blinked his eyes in the dimness and made out his mother standing beside him in the dark.

"Wes, you have to tell me before it gets this bad..." she said pulling him from the ledge to the dinner table.

"Mom...it wasn't that bad." he felt woozy and knew he'd been sedated again.

"Wesley..."

"Alright...but that medicine is God awful mother."

"Lights up twenty percent..." Beverly stated.

"Hi Data!" Wesley beamed his face broadening to a bright smile that she hadn't seen in weeks. He looked like the 15 year old kid first stepping foot on the Enterprise.

"Hello Wesley, I thought we might play some chess."

Data and Wes played animatedly at the three tiered chess table. Chess was something that came natural to him, and he'd even beaten Data on two occasions. They continued to play through dinner as Dr. Crusher watched them engage in banter, Data making unintended jokes and Wesley laughing uncontrollably. The sound of his laughter made her smile.

When the last piece was placed on the chess tray Wesley sagged into his chair defeated.

"Checkmate." Data stated.

"Aggh! Dang it! Data what is that 20 to two?"

"Actually 76 to one, I did let you beat me one time."

"What? No Way!" he screamed.

"Shhh..." Data pointed towards Wesley's sleeping mother on the chair. Data got up and made his exit through the doors as the light from the corridor showed his shadow briefly on the wall before he disappeared.

Wesley went into his quarters and grabbed the blanket from his bed. He placed it over his mother gently and tucked it around her. He kissed her forehead and clamored off to bed.

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Starbase 343 - Office of Dr. Peter Grainger
Four days later.

"Thank you for locking the door doctor, I thought we were going to have to sedate her."

"You know if she really wants to get in here she can...she was head of Starfleet medical, and I've known her for years, not much can stop Beverly Crusher."

" I know. We can let her in once you're done. I've lost so much, at least let me keep the last remaining shred of my dignity."

"I understand. It must be tough being a doctor's son."

"Yeah it's really great for attracting girls when your mother brings your bodily functions up in general conversation." The doctor tried to stifle a laugh but was unsuccessful as he continued to examine Wesley.

"Well, in her defense, based on your charts I can see that she has taken very good care of you, you are lucky to still be here. So don't be too hard on her."

"Yeah...I know."

"You've had a few tests over the last few days...let's complete your physical to return to duty and we'll talk about them afterwards while we wait for a few more results."

Wesley smiled broadly, a contagious smile the doctor couldn't help but return.

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0900 hrs

The small office was sterile...white walls, white tiles with little green specs and small curtains hang in the windows covering the deep darkness of space. Wesley was on the other side of the pavilion being checked by another physician as they waited for the results of all his brain scans and neural testing from earlier in the week.

Beverly Crusher fingered the loose thread on the blue soft covering of the chair she sat in, smoothing and pulling the thread until she could no longer stand the feel of it beneath her fingertips. She sat staring at a green door. It was a titanium door, shiny but dull, as she pondered if she could make it open with her sheer will alone. She almost leapt to her feet as she stared at the chronometer on the wall.

"Beverly, the groove you are wearing in the floor is not going to make that door open any faster."

"His entire future could be riding on this...what am I gonna tell him. What am I gonna tell him when he walks out that door Deanna."

"You don't even know what the tests results are yet. You may be worried for nothing." Beverly rung her hands and chewed at her lips with manic frenzy as another doctor approached her and handed her a file. Deanna could feel the panic rising in her friend. She reached out and grabbed her hand as she pulled her down to the chairs before she fell down.
As she prepared to open the portable file, she heard her name being called.

"Dr. Beverly Crusher?"

"Yes?"

"Please come with me. It's your son." *****************************************************************************************************

Wesley sat bolt upright as the crippling pain ripped through his skull; the electrodes fastened tightly around his head. A floating scanner danced around his head frenetically taking pictures. He rocked himself trying to ride out the waves of pain. After a few minutes he fell back onto the bed shuddering and panting.

"Give him something, please."

"No..." Wesley whimpered shaking his head vehemently.

"Doctor the care you have provided to Mr. Crusher has been extraordinary but sedating him for this pain is doing more harm than good."

"I can't allow my son to suffer like this."

"Which is why doctors should never work on their own family. We have to do this doctor. If it was any one other than Wesley lying here you know I'd be right."

Beverly blinked back tears as she stared up at the orange peel grey ceiling. She walked the few steps to turn and stare out at the stars as she listened to her son s voice. He was growing up before her eyes, practically a man now. She'd been treating him like a little boy these past weeks and days and it seems all he'd wanted was to get back to normal...to being the independent young man he'd been. She'd enjoyed every minute of taking care of him, and pampering him. It was so nice to have her sweet Wesley back, but was she the one holding back his recovery?

"Mr. Crusher can you describe the pain?"

"Umm, it felt like pressure in the front, stabbing pain behind my eyes and like a balloon blowing up and popping in the middle...and..." before he could continue he was seized by pain again as he groaned and fell back onto the bed.

Deanna cringed from the doorway and grabbed her ears...she was assaulted by an aural dissonance. There were a multitude a voices surging through her head and she could hear them coming from Wesley's mind. She could tell that Wesley was lying about the intensity of the pain he was experiencing. It was obvious to her that it was excrutiating and she wondered how he was able to stay conscious.

As the scanning device beeped incessantly all eyes turned toward Wesley. He was no longer groaning but staring straight ahead. Dr. Grainger stared carefully at the computer results as Beverly turned to face them, suddenly stunned by the silence in the room.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

She looked at Wesley as he was able to return her glance but was unable to speak, or move his head. His eyes held an unspeakable terror she'd never seen. Panic rose in her as the possibilities flooded in her mind.

"Cystic or hematoma?" she stammered almost screaming at the male doctor.

"Based on the pain and the injury I would say hematoma."

"God, how could I have missed..."

"Beverly you were exhausted..." Deanna placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"But it could have easily formed either way Dr. Crusher, after the fact, and the important thing is we can see it now and get it fixed." They began preparing Wesley for transport.

"May I assist?"

"No." Deanna and the Doctor stated...simultaneously.

"We will find it Dr. Crusher, he'll be good as new in a matter of hours and walk out of here just as he walked in, I give you my word." Dr. Grainger advised pushing the levitating bio bed from the room. She ran to catch up with it, planting a kiss on Wesley's cheek. She looked into his eyes.

"I love you. It'll be okay Wes." but her tears betrayed her words as he blinked to show his acceptance and was whisked away.

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Please Review! Two more chapters to go.