Part 2

Discarding the tricorder on the biobed beside Jean-Luc, Beverly appraises her patient cautiously. "How's that headache?"

Trying to catch her eyes, Picard watches Beverly's eyes dart in examining him. "My head's still…."

"Foggy?" surmises Beverly, perching on the side of his biobed.

Nodding stiffly, Picard notices the dark circles under the doctor's heavy eyes.

"You have a concussion," Beverly reminds him. "I'll give you something else to make you more comfortable." She retrieves a hypospray from the pocket of her lab coat and presses it to his neck.

"I don't remember this…explosion," confesses Picard guilty. "Actually, I can't recall much right now."

Slipping the hypo into her pocket, Beverly tries to keep her expression dispassionate. "Memory loss, amnesia, is a common symptom with a concussion."

"When will I regain my memory?" Picard inquires urgently.

Smiling painfully, Beverly bows her head. "I can't say conclusively .From the scans I took the damage to your brain was to the part responsible for memory. Hopefully as you heal your memory will return. I can't guarantee, though. It's too early."

Pondering her response, Picard nods. "The…uh…the staff here seem to be avoiding me, speaking in hushed tones. They mustn't like me very much."

Smiling, Beverly shakes her head. "Not at all. You're highly respected, Captain Picard." Looking over her shoulder, Beverly spies her daughter-in-law, Marta, surveilling them from the corner. "They're just concerned, and maybe a little apprehensive."

"What is it I do?" asks Picard tentatively.

Swallowing hard, Beverly can hardly manage to look him in the eyes. She would never have imagined she'd have to tell her husband what his job entails."You're the captain of the Enterprise. You command this ship."

Bobbing his head, Picard absorbs this profound information. "I see. Sounds rather important."

Stifling her pitiful smile, Beverly bobs her head. "Get some rest. I'll come check on you in a little while." Standing off of the bed, Beverly rotates to leave.

"Doctor?" Picard clears his throat.

Turning back around, Beverly glances down at Jean-Luc expectantly. "Yes, Jean-Luc?"

Frowning, Jean-Luc runs his forefinger across his lips. "I have this…feeling I should know you. I'm very sorry. Can you tell me your name?"

Hot tears sting the back of her eyes, but Beverly plasters on a tiny smile. "Beverly."

"Beverly," repeats Jean-Luc, a warm smile spreading across his lips.

"Call if you need anything," stammers Beverly, desperate to duck out and escape. Looking at this man in Jean-Luc's boy without Jean-Luc's full personality, emotions and memory is devastating.

"Thank you," whispers Jean-Luc as Beverly turns on her heels and retreats down the corridor.

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"Oh, God!" Marta cries, gripping Beverly's forearm.

Rolling her eyes, Beverly retracts her arm. "Stop it."

"Beverly!" Marta sobs, following Beverly into the Chief Medical Officer's office.

"Not here, Marta," pleads Beverly, circumnavigating her desk.

"But, he has no memory!" sniffles Marta, circling the corner of Beverly's desk.

"Look," begins Beverly in exasperation. "I don't need this."

"What can I do?" asks Marta as Beverly sinks into her chair.

"Your shift ended ages ago," exhales Beverly wearily. "Go home and see Cheryl."

Frowning, Marta nods her acquiescence.

Sighing, Beverly hangs her head. "I'm sorry, Marta. I shouldn't be short with you. I'm just…overwhelmed."

"It's alright," Marta assures her. "If it were Wesley I'd be beside myself."

Grimacing, Beverly decides not to respond to her comment. "Can you pick up my kids and get them dinner?"

"Of course!" replies Marta without a beat.

"I think I'm going to stay here tonight," advises Beverly. "Can the kids stay with you?"

"Of course," agrees Marta without hesitation.

"Thanks," replies Beverly quietly, her head throbbing. "Marta? Please don't say anything about Jean-Luc. I don't want them to think their father has no recollection of them."

Nodding in understanding, Marta laces her hands over her slightly protruding baby-bump. "Absolutely."

"Thank you, honey," says Beverly in relief, finally offering a tiny smile.

PAGE BREAK

Sickbay nearly empty save for a patient she is keeping over night for observation and a skeleton staff, Beverly meanders through the corridors to the emergency ward where Jean-Luc is dozing. Automatically she examines him visually, already assessing his condition without a tricorder. As she approaches the bed, Jean-Luc opens his eyes.

"Hello, Jean-Luc," greets Beverly as positively as she can muster, glancing down at him.

"Hello, Beverly," greets Jean-Luc with a warm smile, shifting up on his pillow. "May I ask you a few questions?"

Bracing herself, Beverly nods stiffly before perching on the edge of the bed. "Certainly."

"Your staff don't appear too forthcoming with information. They don't want to chat," Picard tells her pointedly.

"You engender intimidation in some of the crew," admits Beverly, laughing lightly.

Raising a brow, Picard smiles. "Really? Is that so? Well, why is it that they refer to me as Captain Picard, but you're the only member of this crew thus far that has referred to me as 'Jean-Luc'? Do I not…intimidate you?"

Not able to contain her grin, Beverly shakes her head. "No, Captain, you don't intimidate me."

"Why is that?"Jean-Luc presses, intrigued by the playful smile tugging in the corner of her lips.

Not sure what to reveal, Beverly laughs. "Well, I think I can go toe-to-toe with you. We've known each other a long time. After all this time, I know how to play you."

Chuckling lightly, Jean-Luc is mesmerized by the doctor's contagious laughter, her flirtatious smile. He wonders if she is playing with him, or if the blow to the head has affected his ability to read signals. "I reckon you do."

Smiling, for a moment Beverly had caught a glimpse of Jean-Luc again, not the shell of a man sitting before her. "What did you want to ask?"

Giving his head a shake, Jean-Luc racks his brain. "Yes. I wanted to ask if I could see my personnel file. Get reacquainted with my life."

Heart beating profusely, Beverly's lips part. It's not that she does not want Jean-Luc to know who exactly he is, but she's gravely concerned about bombarding him with all the details at once and overwhelming him. She doesn't want to set expectations for him in the event that he cannot regain his memory and live up to his former life. She's worried that it would be detrimental right now to show him his life and create the expectation that he remember everything and jump back into it immediately. "Perhaps later. You should rest right now."

"I thought it might help jog my memory…" Picard begins.

Nodding, Beverly cuts him off. "Later. Just relax right now. You need time to recover. We can think about it later."

Furrowing his brows, Jean-Luc is thoroughly puzzled. "I want to know who I am."

"You will," Beverly says ruefully.

Pursing his lips, Jean-Luc exhales deeply. Extending his left arm, he turns his left hand over. "Very well. If you won't give me my file, will you at least tell me who my wife is?"

Dumbfounded, Beverly is speechless.