Whoo-Hoo! Another one today! :)


Angel One:

Jean Luc Picard's POV

I feel horrible. This... this... well, this thing I have is not what we need at this time. Not only are things falling apart down on Angel One but we have the Romulans puffing their chests up like they want to start a school yard fight. What a time for me to come down with this... this... flu!

Brr! It is too cold in here! I can hear the echo of my teeth chattering in this room. I pull the covers around my body as I say, "Compu - ACHOO! - Computer, raise temperature in my quarters by 2 degrees Celsius."

"Affirmative, raising the temperature by two degrees Celsius."

"Like it'll help any." I can't help but keep the contempt out of my voice. "The least you can do is tell us what's infecting our crew." Great, now I know I'm delusional; I'm talking to a computer.

But never the less, it responds with, "Cannot detect any harmful airborne pathogens at this time."

Of course you can't. We already tried!

Okay, I need to stop having a conversation with the computer, in my head or otherwise.

Damn, now it's too hot in here. I'm not about to have another conversation with the computer so the best course of action would to remove the covers, but only from my chest. It seems like that would be the happy median.

There, much better, now if only I can't get some sleep.

Just as I close my eyes, I hear the door open. I peak to see Beverly walking in. Despite being cold earlier, my chest feels warm and soothed. Is it the sight of her or am I getting over this blasted... thing? I motion her over. Hopefully she won't take my heart rate. I have a feeling that despite my disposition, it would give my excitement away.

She is carrying a thermos and a cup. If it's warm soup, I might have to decline. Just her presence is warming enough to make a sick man charge into battle. Calm down, Johnny. It might actually be an antidote.

I can't believe this, now I'm having a two-sided argument in my head. Relax!

Beverly sits down next to me on the edge of my bed. Oh please, don't let this be a dream.

Her cool hand on my head is very comforting. It's almost more torturous for her to stop touching me than to continue on with whatever this thing is.

"It looks horrible and tastes worse but it's absolutely guaranteed to make you feel better."

There's that touch again and then her smile. I could live forever on the sight of her smile. But then I drank the liquid. UGH! I could vomit it right up and not feel sorry that it left my body. I would stop drinking if I could but she keeps pouring the disgusting liquid down my throat. If she wasn't so beautiful, I would hit her.

Then she lets up. I fall back onto my pillow. She caresses my cheek and lightly says, "I knew you liked it."

I like it when you touch me. Maybe that's the cure I need.

Where are these thoughts coming from?

Well, wherever they are coming from, at least my body has the good sense to keep them inside.

Now she's asking me if I'm wearing cologne. Really? While I'm confined to a bed? Half naked... why didn't I think of it sooner? But then she mentions 'Klingon', and my thoughts go back to when Worf and I were walking to the bridge and her damn boy threw a snowball at me. I tell her about what happened and she gets that look, like she just figured something out. Her eyebrows are raised and there is a gleam in her eyes. She looks very beautiful.

Maybe it's a good idea to tell her that. Just as I open my mouth, she places her hand on my chest. Every conceivable word flies out of my head. I can't do anything but concentrate on her hand and hope like hell she doesn't feel my heart beating a thousand times per second. She goes on and on about a smell, but to be honest, I can't comprehend a damn word she is saying.

Then she stands up and leaves. And I don't really know why. Something about work...

Well whatever it is, she's gone. But now I can rest comfortably with the knowledge of her soft touch still fresh in my mind.