The Final Mission by Jadeblueafterglow17
Disclaimers: These characters belong to Paramount and Warner Brothers, and the late G. Roddenbery. Thanks for such likeable folks!
Note: Thanks for reading and your reviews have been just wonderful...thanks Jala, Jessie Marsh,..and Fluffy, you make me all gushy inside with your comments about my writing! **********************************************************************************************************
Chapter 10 - Forgiveness
Stardate 44311.3
As three days passed visitors came and went, but she would not allow them to see Wesley while he was still comatose, and she refused to leave his side. She eventually released Captain Picard to active duty but refused his presence in sick bay.
Deanna had finally convinced her to break away and eat before she collapsed as she sat by her son's side, but Beverly would go no further than outside the door as Deanna held Wesley's hand.
Counselor Troi smiled as she kissed Wesley on his forehead and spoke to him in soft tones that did not reach Beverly's ears.
Her staff continued to take care of the rest of sick bay. Each day she would open the capsule, hold and count Wesley's fingers rotate him onto his side to prevent fluid collection in his lung and listen as his vital signs finally began to improve. It'd been a day since she'd stop medicating him to induce a coma.
Beverly Crusher sat at her desk studying the computer on similar cases to Wesley's condition. She wasn't quite sure what she was looking for, part of her was just steeling herself for what she was to expect when he finally opened his beautiful brown eyes. She was too exhausted to be angry anymore, now she just wanted to be with her son...why couldn't they understand that and leave her alone. Food was inconsequential...the rest of the universe could move forward without her...she could not move until her son was ready to come back to her.
She stared at the napkin she'd been fingering in her left hand. She'd just been forced to eat by Deanna Troi and she refused to leave the area again. Of course it had been a trick because as soon as they were seated the captain slid into the room and had taken her place. She thought about turning and walking away but Deanna threatened to remove her from duty unless she stayed and ate. Deanna promised to sit with Wesley, and she trusted her to let her know of the slightest change in him. So she sat in ten forward and tried to ignore him.
His voice droned on for a few minutes before words that mattered to her reached her ears. She could not help but listen to his story of every horrid detail of all the things that had happened to her son, from being blown up, collapsing in the desert, being fired upon by phasers, and having a seizure that may have permanently injured his brain. She listened about how brave Wesley had been and how he'd fought so hard to stay conscious when it was so obvious he should have long since been gone. He also told her how scared he'd been when he heard Wesley talking out loud to his father Jack, and how he wished that he could've taken his place rather than ever see him suffer like that again.
Beverly still listened. She didn't say a word. They sat in companionable silence as she stared off into the distance. Eventually the captain stood up and kissed her forehead, and walked her back to her cabin. Suddenly her senses came back to her and she turned and began heading straight back to sickbay. He followed her, made sure she walked in the door and watched as the doors swoosed closed behind her. He stood waiting, and was not surprised when Counselor Troi emerged from the same doors.
"Did she eat?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it eating...but yes...some food did make it into her mouth."
"She won't last much longer like this, I am really worried about her."
"It's all up to Ensign Crusher now. Counselor, How is Wesley?"
"I sense that he is in some pain..and that he is confused. He is struggling to reach the surface of wherever he is right now. Hopefully the sound of her voice will bring him back to consciousness. He didn't really seem to recognize my voice." she replied sadly. Captain Picard sighed heavily.
"Keep me informed Counselor...of any changes, no matter how small."
"Yes Captain." Deanna stared at his retreating form, unsure of who this man was, but sure that he was carrying around the weight of a world on his shoulders.
Beverly Crusher returned to her searching as she threw the used napkin in the waste bin.
She turned to find Nurse Alyssa Ogawa, calling her.
"Dr. Crusher, he's coming out of it. He's starting to fight the vent."
"Thank you, we need to remove it before he wakes up."
Beverly gloved up, put on her mask, and opened the isolation pod. She removed the vent slowly and carefully as she could from his throat and laid the contents on the sterile table. Wesley coughed involuntarily but did not open his eyes.
Beverly ran her fingers through his hair, careful of the bandage around his head where the computer had cut into his delicate brain to save his life. Tears welled up in her eyes again.
She'd been crying for the last five days and just couldn't seem to stop. His chestnut brown lashes lay on sunken cheeks that had grown too thin and too pale for her liking. The bruise above his brow was healing, his thigh and side were shades of red and blue, his ribs were delicately wrapped and would need more time to fuse but were well on their way to heaing as well. His brain however had taken a massive blow and had multiple hairline fractures of the skull. The swelling had been immense but he began to respond to treatment. She knew he would need more therapy for many days and weeks to come.
She laid her head down on the side of his bed and held fast to his hand. She closed her eyes and prayed that he would come back to her. Before long, her breathing evened out and she was asleep.
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Stardate 44312.3
Wesley took a deep breath as he tried to reach the surface of the fog that surrounded him. He blinked several times against the light that assaulted his eyes. Everything in sight appeared white and he wondered where he was as he felt too weak to turn his head and look around. A sound reached his ears..."Crusher, Wesley, male, human, age 17 years, weight 62 kg, BP 100/58, Pulse 72..." the voice continued. He recognized that voice anywhere, it was the ships computer.
He looked to the ceiling and realized he must be in sick bay. A cough came to his chest and he let it out. He was surprised when it no longer caused crippling pain. When he tried to raise his left hand he realized he couldn't, something heavy was on it, heavy, warm, and a little wet. With effort he turned his head and felt his sore throat constrict. He reached his right hand over and gently smoothed her auburn red hair with his hands. It was a comfort to him. The touch of her reminded him he was home. He closed his eyes as his hand settled upon her cheek. His breathing evened out as he fell back into a light doze.
More than an hour passed again before Beverly awoke feeling a strange sensation of something laying upon her face, she reached to grab it realizing who it was attached to.
"Wesley?" she said softly smoothing her hand down his face. His eyes fluttered opened as he awoke from a light doze and was rewarded with a million watt smile from his mother. He tried to speak but could not make his voice work...
"Hi..." he whispered.
"Hi." she replied... " Oh God Wesley...Hi!" she said crying huge tears, as she removed her mask and planted kisses all over his face and then kissed his head and his hands and each finger.
"Mom...?" he croaked surprised by her actions.
Nurse Ogawa walked in with a hypo spray and a cup as Beverly adjusted the bed slowly upward.
"Its so good to see you awake Ensign Crusher." the nurse cried as she too patted Wesley's shoulder. Wesley smiled sweetly at her as she walked out of the isolation room and closed the door.
Beverly placed a hypo spray on his throat, and gave him a small spoonful of ice.
"Slowly sweetheart, this will soothe your throat."
He took the ice and sighed as he lay his head back and stared at her. His thin face still looked so tired.
Beverly tried to dry her tears but more just kept falling.
"Ok?" he asked weakly, confused by her tears.
"Wes, I'm fine. How do you feel? Are you in pain, How's your head? Are you...?" she ran her hand across the bands on his chest helping his ribs heal.
"Mom..." he whispered reaching up to wipe away her tears, a sad look fell on his face as he held his hand to her cheek.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm okay...s sorry...sorry." he whispered, his eyes growing heavy.
"Wesley-Robert, you scared me so badly, I thought you were ...Wesley you were so close..." she stammered.
"I'm sorry." he whispered as she buried her head in his neck.
They stayed that way. She sat on his bed with her head laying on his chest listening to the reassuring sound of his heartbeat. Wesley closed his heavy eyelids holding her with his bandaged right arm as he fell into a deep sleep.
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Chief Medical Officers Log -
Stardate 44311.3
"My current patient, Ensign Wesley Crusher has been under my direct care for the last 5 days. After his rescue he has been treated for extensive cranial swelling, and a dissolving shunt was placed near the hippocampus to remove excess fluid causing hydrocephalic pressure in the brain stem. At this time I am uncertain how this will affect his motor functions. He currently has full feeling in all four extremities, postive Babinski, however pupils remain somewhat sluggish to tracking. As expected, Ensign Crusher is experiencing significant gaps in his short term memory, and seems to have some extraordinary difficulty organizing his thoughts into complex sentences. This exceptionality is noticeable as Ensign Crusher has previously had an extensive advanced vocabulary, eidetic photographic memory, and an ease with complex thought. Perhaps with more appropriate therapy and time this problem will resolve itself. Until then I, Dr. Beverly Crusher, as his sole surviving relative and parent, will cease my duties as the Enterprise's CMO and return to Earth with my son throughout his recovery as necessary."
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Sick Bay 1230hrs
The next time Wesley woke he was out of the isolation room and was in regular sickbay. The bed was more comfortable and he was warm in soft clothes that made his wounds easily accessible. His own blanket covered him and pillows were propped around him. When he first looked around he thought that he was alone. Turning his head caused his head to ache but when he did he realized his mistake. There sat his mother in a chair beside him, sleeping. Soon he heard footsteps approach and turned toward the sound as his vision cleared to see the figure approach his bedside. He now found himself face to face with Captain Picard.
Picard seemed tentative as he stared at Wesley, and then at his mother in the chair. He quietly made his way to the head of the bed. Wesley thought he should atleast sit up, but found he just didn't have the strength yet, even though he'd been told he'd been unconscious for the better part of a week.
"Captain?" he whispered.
"Ensign Crusher." he closed the distance between them. "How are you?"
"OK sir. Thank you."
"You had us all very worried. We haven't been able to see you while you were in isolation, but Dr. Crusher assured us you are improving." Wesley nodded.
Wesley felt uncomfortable where this conversation was going. His mind flashed back to a dark cave...a fiery pain in his chest and streaks of lightning coursing through his skull. He knew he'd been hurt badly, and had been with the captain, but nothing else made sense. Images danced in his head, and streaks of pain tore at him as little reminders of the life he almost lost. He couldn't remember what happened, he only rememebered he'd been weak and unable to hold on any longer.
"You have a long recovery ahead of you, but I expect you to be in tip-top shape before you return to duty." Wesley smiled and rubbed his head.
" I also contacted Starfleet Academy. I'm sorry, but the space will have to be filled. I explained the circumstances and the Admiral assured me that you may start the next year as soon as you are well enough."
"Thank you sir." he stammered. He wasn't sure what that statement about Starfleet meant but he would have to ask his mother later.
"Well, I'll have Commander Riker create a new schedule for duty in the next few weeks, as well. It will be good to have you back at the Helm Ensign." Wesley nodded, he recognized that position well, he loved flying the Enterprise.
"You should get some rest," he said and patted Wesley's thigh as he cringed slightly.
"I'm sorry."
" S'ok sir." He said as Captain Picard began to walk away. He wasn't ready for him to leave, he had so much he needed to say to him, but his head hurt and the words in his mind were all still so jumbled up.
"Please wait." Jean Luc stopped and came close to the head of the bed.
"Thank you, for saving ...life...for...for keeping me alive."
"Ensign." He reached and grabbed his arm. "It was your own resolve that kept you alive, your inner strength, don't ever doubt that. I'm sorry I got you in to this mess." Wesley shook his head back and forth.
"It killed me to see you suffer like that. It makes me weary of sending you on any AWAY missions, but I know you could be injured anywhere, godforbid."
"Glad you chose me."
"Ensign, my reasons for choosing you were of my own doing. If you hadn't made it..." he trailed off trying to gather his thoughts. "Wesley, your value to this ship and crew is immeasurable. Your mother loves and adores you, I..." he said as he turned to leave. "I'm thankful you are still with us." He said with a smile. Wesley was shocked. He felt the deeper meaning behind those words and it surprised him coming from the captain.
As he left Beverly stood up and stretched and sat beside him, tucking the blanket around his hips.
"How much did you hear?"
"All of it." She whispered rubbing his shoulders mindlessly.
"We're barely on speaking terms. I know you don't remember much about what happened to you, but Wes, it wasn't pretty. "
He nodded.
"Well...I kinda attacked him when we got back. I was just so angry, and so scared at the condition I found you in. Wes, I could have throttled him with my bare hands." she wrung her hands together tightly as his eyes widened. She stopped to look at him and grabbed his hand and patted it.
" I told him I was resigning my postion once you were well enough, and we were going back to Earth."
"Mom!" he nearly jumped from the bed but instantly regretted it as a surge of electricity rocketed through his head. He laid his head back on the pillow.
"Shhh! Calm down son,... take a deep breath..." she admonished as Wesley closed his eyes and breathed deeply till the pain subsided.
"Good...Better?" he nodded.
"I've rationalized it, it was the fear of almost losing you, the fear of you going off on a final mission and never returning that shook me into a level of hysteria I didn't realize I was quite capable."
"What changed your mind?"
"You. You're a fighter, you survived all that and came back to me...how can I take away the one thing you love , and the man you admire from your life forever." she smiled and pulled him gently into her to hug him.
"Love you mom..."
"I love you too Wesley...your Dad would be so proud of you." Wesley smiled over her shoulder...he knew.
The End **********************************************************************************************************
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Continued in Part II
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